- Kisses From Katie

Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Kisses from Katie

Home
Family, Parenting and Religion

Last updated on: October 16, 2007 at 7:24 am by auntie katie

2007-10-16T07:24:00+03:00 auntie katie

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

immy, my sweet african neighbor is washing my feet. just because. the is the sweet humility of these people. i was just laying here outside with the puppies and she came and started washing my feet. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He was a true servant. these people know how to serve, know how to be Jesus to others. they are Jesus to me every single day. last week i made my kindergarten assistant, “teacher patience”, a cake for her birthday; she was so thrilled. “katie, may God bless you abundantly” she said. but He already has, i thought. He already has.

Life has been soooo so busy lately but busy in the indescribably beautiful way that makes me feel purposeful; i know i am busy doing God’s work. i sponsored my first three girls to go to go to school last week (they are my friend patric’s daughters and i am sponsoring them personally so i was able to get a jump start, they are my trial kids). these girls parents use every penny they make just to pay their daughter’s school fees, so other things like school supplies and uniforms are not luxuries that these girls have ever had. i of course payed in full, so for the first time in their lives, these girls who wear the same dresses every day have uniforms like the other children at the school. instead of taking notes on scrap pieces of paper and napkins left over from lunch, they now have pens and paper. when i had finished paying the headmaster for everything, we called the girls into the office and gave them their new uniforms. they were so excited that they put them on right away. i have never seen anyone so happy or grateful. they were down on their knees thanking me as their father beamed with pride. and all of this for about 200 dollars, or what my family and i would spend on groceries weekly.

this is what makes no power, no running water, no english-speaking friends all worth it, that gratefulness. the fact that God can use me to make someone that elated makes me forget to miss tv and normal food and having clean feet. i would give everything i own for that one moment of happiness, to see the gratitude in those girls faces.

i mentioned this before but didn’t really go into detail: i have decided (with the guidance of the Lord and lots of help from my awesome supportive parents) to open an organization that will sponsor the orphaned and vulnerable kids that live in the villages surrounding buziika to go to school. i dont know a thing about opening a nonprofit. but what i know is the joy on the childrens faces when they find out they are going to be able to go to school. what i know is the gratitude of parents who work so hard to be able to provide their children with an education and still cant afford it. what i know is the faithfulness of the Lord. this is going to be another long journey, and God is going to walk with me every step of the way. i cant wait.

i teach 134 kindergarteners. every day i walk with them home from school and actually go home with one of them. i love my time with these children and being able to meet their families and see their homes. they all just have these stories that you wouldnt believe stories from movies or the news, and yet, this is my REAL life. the people that i meet have mostly never seen a white person. while white people have been at canaan before, none have ever ventured into these villages. they all run to bring me a seat, insist that i come their houses, and pray for me before i leave. it is the best feeling in the world, and once again word are just not sufficient. yesterday i walked home with twin girls, mercy and nlanga. they live about 2 miles from the school and walk here barefoot every day, over the rocks and mud, rain or shine. turns out they live with their 3 older siblings and grandmother, jaja christine. as we sat on her dirt steps she told me their stories. their mother (her daughter) had come to “visit” when mercy and nlanga were about 2 (so about 3 years ago). in the middle of the night the mother had left, leaving her mom to raise her 5 children. jaja christine does any work she can get her hands on, works all day on banana plantations and grows and sells her own casava (a root that is a staple food here.. kind of like a cross between a potato and a turnip) on the side of the road. all this work and she makes only enough money to send 3 out of 5 children to school. it is truly devastating. i told her about our plan to sponsor kids and she fell on her knees. “i am not alone in raising these children,” she said. “you see how God takes care of me? i am not alone. He has sent you to answer my greatest prayer.” and standing there in the stifling hot african sun, i had chill bumps. that is the greatness of our God. not just that He would bless jaja christine with me, but also bless me with her true faith, complete trust, and real gratitude. these people claim that i bless them, and i know that i do. somehow though, i think they bless me more.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 9, 2007

Next Post

October 20, 2007

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month November 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 September 2014 April 2014 March 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 April 2013 February 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 June 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 June 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What king was killed by an arrow in battle, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ahaziah Ahab Jeroboam Joash