Staying Connected - Jan B

Dear friends and family,

I know it has been less than a week since my last letter, but I write again today in the hopes that you could help me carry my heart’s newest burdens and echo my earnest prayers.

Monday marked the beginning of the Street Boy Ministry for 2009. Yet that day of joyful reunions was marred by some disheartening news; many of the boys had been removed from the streets by the police and taken to jail just a few days before. The law is that if they are found to be “idle” or “disorderly”, they are taken into custody. We were left to wonder if that is why many familiar faces were unseen that day. Even though their actions may have earned them such a fate, I think of the additional fear and danger that must accompany them there, and I can’t help but worry some. Still another burden on my heart from Monday is the number of new boys, boys not yet in their teens. What has brought these young boys to the streets? Did they run away because they stole from their family? Did their new Stepmother treat them badly? Is it simply rebellion or the hunt for adventure? I have yet to find out…

Derrick is one of these new boys. On Tuesday as I led the school portion of the day, it didn’t take long for him to make his way over to me with his completed work. As I marked his answers, not only did I realize that he was well educated, but I also noticed that his English was quite good. I said to him; “Derrick, you should not be on the streets; you should be in school. You need to think about this.” The next day he came over to show me his work after Luke had signed it with a red, “Very Good”. Again I told him that he shouldn’t be on the streets. I pray that this clever and cheerful young boy will seriously consider his decision to move to the streets before he is lured in by the “freedom” that such a life offers.

Sharif is another who is constantly in my thoughts and prayers. This young boy of ten has captured my heart with his charming grin and boisterous spirit, and especially as he reminds me so much of my oldest nephew. I was worried when he didn’t come to the shelter on Monday and Tuesday, but on Wednesday we found out why. He arrived with a story of his arrest and how a few days later he had climbed the tall outer wall of the prison, jumped and ran. He admittedly was very afraid, and he was very lucky not to have sustained any injuries from that high jump. I can’t decide which emotion is stronger: anger that a ten year old would even be in such a situation, or concern for his safety and future. But I don’t doubt that the tears that I am fighting back right now are those of concern and love for this lost little one.

Marvin has been on my heart from my first week at the shelter. He is a delightful boy, gentle with the little children that wander in and kind to the boys that others tend to ignore. He is also very smart with excellent English skills. But Marvin’s story is a bit different. I am not sure if he moved to the streets by choice, but his stay has been lengthened for lack of a place for him to go. His Mother and Father have no interest in him, and he has also been recently rejected by one of his Uncles. Jim insists that there are other relatives who can be approached to take him in, but how much rejection can a young boy take? It is hard not to take him seriously when he speaks of wanting to die; his hope seems to be fading.

Sserwa da (Joel) is one who brings my heart a lot of joy. He is always giving testimony of God’s goodness in his life or showing off by singing or dancing. What a delightful young man. But, during the teaching time this Tuesday, my concern for him grew. Last year I had noticed that he would only copy the questions from the board but not answer them; I thought he was just being lazy or stubborn. However, when I saw him doing this on Tuesday, I questioned him through another boy’s translation and found out that he is only at a P1 level. They told me that in P1 they are taught the alphabet and simple math. Taking his book I wrote “2 + 3 =”, and when I saw him start counting on his fingers to find the answer, I knew he wasn’t lying. Sserwa da is in his early teens but still does not know the alphabet! This should not be… I hope to work alongside him to help him learn these basics and improve his English.

Jakulin is a cute little thing who lives near the church that houses the Shelter. To me, she embodies the children that I would watch on those World Vision commercials with tears falling down my cheeks unchecked. Dirty and often bottomless, she will greet me with outstretched arms, her heart full of trust that I will not reject her. To be honest, sometimes the smell of her unwashed body is hard to handle, but nevertheless I lift her to my lap and hold her close. If my sin can’t keep me from knowing God’s love, how could I let a little dirt stop her from knowing it also?

The tears are still there, but I no longer carry these burdens alone. Thank you, my friends, for your faithfulness and care.

As you keep these young ones in prayer, and my future interactions with them, please could you also be praying about supporting me financially in my ministry here in Kampala? I have resisted making a direct plea for funds until now, but I would not be here if it were not for your gifts. To give you an update, I am still in need of funds for March through to June at $1350 CDN a month. In other words, if each of you who receives this letter were to give $30, the costs would be covered. That being said, please do not feel pressured to give. But if you do, let it be a gift offered cheerfully at the feet of Jesus.

His willing servant,

Erin Spring (www.actionintl.org/spring --- erinrachelspring.blogspot.com)

Mailing Address: c/o Robinette, PO Box 71249 Clock Tower, Kampala Uganda, East Africa

To support financially:

~ Cheques are to be made out to “Action International Ministries” and mailed to: 3015A 21^st St. NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7T1. My name cannot appear anywhere on the cheque. Instead, please enclose a separate note specifying it is for me.

~ Donations can also be made by credit card over the phone or debited monthly from your bank account or credit card. Simply call 403.204.1421 or 1.888.443.2221 (toll-free), and they will assist you.

~ Online donations are also possible. Go to www.actionintl.org/spring for my page.

Photo Descriptions:

~ Class 1: School time. Sserwa da is in the middle in the black sleeveless shirt looking at the camera. Derrick is on the right in the light green plaid shirt.

~ Class 2: Copying the questions from the boards.

~ Snakes & Ladders: Marvin.

~ Choir: Sharif is the small one on the left who is looking at the camera.

~ With Jakulin: Me holding my smallest African friend – Jackulin.

Staying Connected - Jan A

Dear Friends,

First of all, thank you for your prayers and uplifting messages in regards to my last letter. As for my sickness, I have since visited the doctor, yet the test results were inconclusive. Without anything to go on, I decided to do what I could to keep my body healthy and to continue praying for healing. Ever since, my energy levels have been much higher and my body seems healthier overall...besides the occasional cold or fluey day. Thank you Jesus! That health and energy was much needed for the busy December that we had.

Early in the month, I went to Namulanda to teach at a three day Children’s Conference. As it was the first day, only about 65 children were there. Yet despite the smaller than expected turnout, it was a great day of singing, games, teaching and stories. The best part though is that each of those children left with the knowledge that Jesus was born because of God’s love for them.

Soon after, we were fully immersed in orchestrating the Christmas outreaches. First was an outreach for about 500 children living in the slums in Bombo. The second outreach was in Bunga where about 600 children came out. At this outreach, about 25 children and one adult came forward at the Pastor’s invitation of forgiveness of salvation through Jesus. Praise God…that’s what it’s all about. Later in the week, we went to the slums of Nakawa where about 250 children packed into a tiny church to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Lastly, there was the outreach in Kamwokya where we shared Jesus’ love with over 600 children.

That day in Kamwokya is the highlight of my time in Uganda so far. Jim asked if I would like to help cook for the children that day, and always ready to try something new, I said ‘yes’. What I didn’t expect though was that my first task would see me cutting up the leg of a freshly killed cow for about two hours.  As I was later stoking the fires under the huge pots of cooking food (tears streaming down my face from the smoke that was continually in my eyes), the Pastor was inside the church telling the kids that a muzungu (white person) was out there helping cook their meal. And this is the part that really humbled me: the Ugandans, both young and old, were amazed to see a muzungu working hard alongside the Ugandan women. As the adults later came to thank me, I could see in their eyes that I wasn’t so much a muzungu to them anymore; I had toiled, sweated and cried alongside their women and they had a different respect for me now. I do not say that with pride in my heart, but instead in thankfulness that God gave me the opportunity to step deeper into this culture and show his love in a way that was very evident to them. What a fantastic day it was!

As for the street shelter, we had their Christmas party on Dec. 17th. The usual 30 boys more than tripled, making for a lot of new hands to shake and names to learn. I was the MC for the program portion of the day, and I also worked with Victoria (she works at the church that hosts the shelter) to organize a boys choir to sing “Joy to the World”. It was a wonderful time, and as the day wore on, I realized more and more how much I was going to miss these boys over the coming month. (The shelter closed for a month to give the Ugandan staff their required holiday time.) When it came time for Fred and Joseph to leave, Fred asked for a hug and they both gave me envelopes with Christmas wishes inside; I had to hold back tears.

Just that week, shortly after sending off my last update, God began speaking to me about the boys. He showed me that I was having trouble loving them because I had yet to give it 100%. So, that week I just threw myself in and refused to let their levels of trust or honesty determine my actions. I found that I loved them to pieces! I have missed them an awful lot this past month, and they have not strayed far from my thoughts or prayers. I am looking forward to seeing them all again this coming Monday.

I know you are all wondering, “So Erin, what did you do on your month ‘off’?” Well, besides getting some homework done, I concentrated on becoming better acquainted with Kampala. My initial fears about Kampala are now only faint memories; I now venture into the city by myself and even take boda bodas (motorbike taxis). During this holiday time, I also went to Jinja a couple of times to see the source of the Nile and go horseback riding...amongst other adventures. (If you haven’t yet read my blog titled ‘Our police “welcome” in Jinja’, and it’s later companion, ‘Revision: Turns out the police “welcome” in Jinja…’, then you should.)  It has been a restful month for our whole team, and God has brought healing and strength where it was lacking. He really has been so good to us…

In concluding, I would like to apologize for the tardiness and subsequent length of this letter. There have been a few factors that have delayed the writing of this update, but I do plan to write more frequently so that you don’t have to read a novel each time.

Thanks again to each of you for your continued support. Thank you for your prayers (see new prayer requests below), packages and e-mails, and also for the Christmas cards that I am still receiving…thanks!! Also, if you would like to help further God’s work in and through me financially, the details are below. Even as this world’s economy crumbles, I am thankful that God is solid, constant and faithful; he will provide.

God bless you in this New Year!

With joy,
Erin Spring (www.actionintl.org/spring --- erinrachelspring.blogspot.com)

Mailing Address: c/o Robinette, PO Box 71249 Clock Tower, Kampala Uganda, East Africa


To support financially:
~ Cheques are to be made out to “Action International Ministries” and mailed to: 3015A 21st St. NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7T1. My name cannot appear anywhere on the cheque. Instead, please enclose a separate note specifying it is for me.
~ Donations can also be made by credit card over the phone or debited monthly from your bank account or credit card. Simply call 403.204.1421 or 1.888.443.2221 (toll-free), and they will assist you.
~ Online donations are also possible. Go to www.actionintl.org/spring for my page.


Specific Prayer Requests:
- For the street boys. That the boys would choose to follow Jesus and desire to go back to their families (30 returned home in 2008!). Also that God would help me to serve wholeheartedly in this ministry.
- For Halima. That she would denounce her Muslim faith as God reveals himself to her. Also that I would know how to share Jesus with her when she comes to clean my room each week.
- For my host missionaries. That Jim and Kappy would continue to know God’s leading, healing, peace and rest. Also that Jim’s ministry to the local Pastors would have opportunity to grow.
- For me. For healing as my right knee and the tendonitis in my right wrist/arm have been giving me a lot of trouble. Also for safety each day, especially as I travel around the city; vehicle accidents are very common here. Also for my language training - I am talking Luganda classes twice a week now, and I pray that God would help me to learn quickly and that I would be diligent in my memorization and in using what I am learning.
- For Uganda. Please pray against the corruption that is keeping many in dire poverty. Also pray that this generation of young people would say “no” to the lures of the sugar daddies/mommies and that the number of new HIV infections will once again drop. (This is cyclical because, as the corruption robs the less fortunate, young girls and boys feel that the only way they can obtain money for their school fees is to give themselves away sexually. HIV is perpetuated in many ways, but it is this cross-generational sex that is one of Uganda’s biggest struggles right now.)

Revision: Turns out the police “welcome” in Jinja…

…wasn’t a “police” welcome at all.

Kappy was the first to know about the adventure that Luke and I had in Jinja. As we were led off the bridge by the gun-bearing man, I pulled out my cell phone, remembering I had heard it beep with a message just a few minutes ago. A message from Kappy. I read her message, and then quickly inspired, I began to type a message to inform her of our current circumstance. I thought at least she could be praying. I managed to type, “The police are making us…”, before our companion’s angry Luganda reached my ears. “I am checking my message”, I said, as I hit the ‘send’ button and shoved my phone back in my bag. Kappy would sure be praying now, I thought with a rueful chuckle. After the ordeal was over, I called Kappy right away to let her know we were ok and to tell her the whole story.

Yet, even though she already knew about our trouble with the law in Jinja, Kappy happily read aloud my blog one Friday as we met together. As she got to the part where I asked the officer where we were going and he replied, “UPDF”, she suddenly stopped reading.

“That’s not the police”, she said in awe, “that’s the army! You really were lucky…they are way worse than the police!” Sure enough, the UPDF is Uganda Peoples Defense Force.

So, please excuse my previous ignorance and join us in awe of God’s goodness and protection.

This heart

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” ~ Psalms 145:8

Although I have left my family, my friends, and the majority of my worldly possessions behind in Canada, I have been unable to leave behind the numerous wounds my heart still endures. My challenge therefore has been to allow them to come to the surface so that God can heal them, while not letting them jeopardize my current internship and ministry. But, in his kind way, God has shown me that this healing process is part of my life right now; it’s just being played out on an African stage. And he has been working! It is hard to even put into words the grace he has bestowed on me; my tears have been ones of sorrow, but also joy. Praise be to his Name! Guilt and shame have been denied stay, thus leaving more room for the affection of my Lord. May the weariness that my heart feels this day be drowned out by the joyful melodies of my spirit. Amen.

A police "welcome" in Jinja

“So sorry. We didn’t know. There were no signs. You need to put up signs.” – Me to the police.

Luke and I ventured into Jinja on Monday, leaving Kampala early in the morning. After about an hour and a half in the cramped taxi, we reached the outskirts of Jinja. Not having our bearing about us yet, we accidently crossed to the other side of the dam, actually needing to be on the Western side. Stopping the taxi, the driver continued on leaving us to walk back across the bridge. We weren’t worried about the extra walk; Luke wanted to take a few pictures of the birds in the water anyway. Pelicans and other water foul were enjoying the morning sun, and even I gave in to the temptation to take a few photos. But, we were so caught up in our photo-taking that we didn’t notice the gentleman in army fatigues approach. He sure didn’t look happy…

Despite the limited amount of Luganda we knew, and his limited amount of English, it was not hard to realize that we had done something wrong. He eyed Luke’s camera with undisguised interest, and I quickly stowed mine away. It seemed as though he wanted a payment of sorts, and I’m sure he would have gladly taken Luke’s camera off his hands. I told him I would not give him any money but that we would go with him as he was strongly suggesting. Nevermind his brusqueness, the gun at his side was enough to convince us to obey.

Was I afraid? Not really…but I was angry! As we walked, I was praying for God’s help, but also that my anger wouldn’t make our problem worse. I just wasn’t about to be taken advantage of because of my white skin.

I asked where we were going. “UPDF”, he said. The unmarked semblance of huts on the other side of the bridge turned out to be the police barracks. Luke and I were told to sit on the benches in an open hut to our left. I said something about not wanting to be late for our appointment, but then decided it best to be quiet and cooperative.

Over the next ten minutes or so, a few other officers joined us in the hut. The original officer that had found us out on the bridge explained to the others in Luganda why he had brought us there, but Luke and I were still having trouble figuring out what we had done wrong. The air was tense.

The bridge…the birds…the photos… it was becoming clear. We were told that one is not allowed to take photos of the bridge or from the bridge without previous permission. We, of course, were unable to provide the appropriate paperwork showing permission granted. I said, “Fine. I will delete the photos then. Here, come watch. Delete, delete, delete…” To be honest, in that moment the photos were tainted anyway, and I did not consider losing them much of a loss. A few of the officers watched over my shoulder as I deleted each photo I had taken from the bridge. Luke followed suit, although less willingly, he told me later; he really liked the shots he’d taken.

Even with the pictures now gone, we weren’t sure if this was enough to appease them. All the while I kept thinking...Alright, I deleted the photos, but I am not going to pay a fine. “So sorry. We didn’t know. There were no signs. You need to put up signs.” My anger had softened and I now concentrated on showing a truly apologetic spirit. I also stressed the lack of signage because in my mind that made it impossible for them to fine us; how could we know we were breaking the law if we were not informed?

Thankfully, they seemed relieved with the removal of the photos, but the one who spoke the best English next asked for our passports. I produced a copy of mine while Luke pulled out his Driver’s license. They were satisfied once again. Then, with no further fuss, we were allowed to leave. This was so sudden that I almost believed the last ten minutes to be just a bad dream. Not needing to be prodded, Luke and I hurriedly left the compound without looking back. (We were later told that they didn’t really have the right to ask for our passports and were actually looking for another reason for which to extract money from us, that is if we couldn’t produce ID.)

I really think it was a miracle that we came away from that experience with both of our cameras and all of our money still in our possession. And, although our “welcome” to Jinja and the show of Uganda’s corruption was very unsettling, we were able to laugh about this incident just a short while later. I’m thankful that God had our backs, and that he enabled me to have patience and courage (stubbornness?) in this situation.

(I could write a blog almost this long about the adventure with the taxi on the way back to Kampala, but I think one story about the unavoidable drama and unfortunate corruption in Uganda is enough for today. Just know that a muzungu (white person) really has to be on their toes here. I am learning that, when it doubt, look to see what the Africans are doing. If they are refusing to get off the taxi before reaching the taxi park, then I will too. Another great story you will have to ask me about when I get home. This one made all on the taxi laugh…except for the crooked taxi driver and conductor, of course. :) )