Day 8 - Classroom Dedication...

Wow… today was one of my favorite days. Once again we woke up early, got breakfast and headed to Suubi, the children’s village where we have been building the classrooms for the past week. We were all very excited because after many days of hard work under the hot sun, many bricks laid and many walls raised, we were finally coming together for the dedication of the classrooms.
Words cannot express what took place in that moment…

Moses

First we got to thank Moses and the local workers for their help, patience and dedication throughout these days. They were really amazing teaching us and helping us get the walls up right.

It was cool because they also got to share a bit and thank us graduates and Mercy Ministries for the hard work, love, support, finances and for giving of our time to come and build these classrooms.

The workers singing us a song...

The local workers sang a song for us, and us, graduates did too. It was a fun “Fresh Prince” rap mixed with some “Brady Bunch” chorus that some of the girls wrote the night before. It was hilarious! And they loved it! …we have it on video if any of you want to see it . ;)

But then something powerful took place…

In Psalm 127:1 the Bible tells us that ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, the labors that build it work in vain…’
So we prayed to dedicate the building to God. Those classrooms that were going to be used for people that hadn’t gone to school and because of their age, had lost any chance to do so. In the classrooms, these people are going to be taught different kinds of vocational skills so they can have a place to develop their gifts and talents and be able to get a sense of purpose in life, as well as be able to support themselves and their families with the work of their hands.

Dedicating the classroom...

Each one of us reached our hands towards the walls, touching the bricks we had placed -- the very own work of our hands. We raised that classroom and that place in prayer… we prayed dedicating that place and giving it completely to God for His work. We prayed for it to be a place where people would find hope, a place of miracles, a place where people would be restored, and touched by God’s love. A place where people would be trained, their capacity enlarged and a place where leaders would be raised. A place where people would encounter God. And a place where they would be filled to go out and change their communities, their cities, and ultimately Uganda upside down for Jesus.
That moment was so powerful, and God was certainly there. Tears fell down my eyes as I prayed and realized what we were doing. We didn’t just build a couple of classrooms for the people of Uganda… we were setting the foundations for future leaders for this country, we were marking a moment in history… we were leaving a legacy of hope and love, we were allowing many hundreds or even thousands of lives to encounter God and their purpose in life…. and when we realized it, our hearts were overwhelmed, full of joy and so thankful to God for the great opportunity to be able to do this.

It was a great time filled with many laughs, smiles, hugs, thank you’s and God’s presence so evident and tangible in that place. It was one of those moments we will never be able to forget.

After the dedication, we went to see one of the homes Mercy Ministries donated the funds to build several years ago. It was so cool to find Mary there. She’s the mom of that home and lives there with 8 Watoto children. One of the little ones was there with her. He was very cute. We had a moment there and talked to them, and she shared some stories with us. She was so smiley and happy that we took some time to come and see her. She thanked us for coming and for the support of Mercy Ministries in building the home she lived in.

Me (Giovy) with one of kids at Watoto

It never ceases to amaze me the simplicity and the love of these people. No complications, no luxuries and yet they never ask for anything, but they just want to give, love on you, and welcome you with a big smile. I believe that as we came to bless these people, we are going to leave more blessed than we could have ever expected. It’s amazing what a little bit of perspective does.

After that, we jumped back in the bus and headed back. It really was an amazing day.
You know how there are times when the presence of God renders you completely incapacitated… I believe for our team, today, was one of those days.

- By Giovy

Thanking the workers for their hard work!

The ENTIRE TEAM!!!  

The team with the family who lives in the home funded by Mercy Ministries - so cool!