Sweeter Than Fiction

The more time I spend in Uganda, the more my heart breaks for those in need. I have seen so many people with so little. I often think about how many of the 48 students who attend the school I teach at walk miles to and from school each day and often go to bed on an empty stomach. It makes me sick.

I can honestly say that I've given up numerous of my school lunches because I can't stomach eating that food when I know my students will go home to nothing. I will return home to decent amount of snacks to choose from, where as they will maybe get a cup of porridge for dinner. And believe me when I say that porridge is neither filling nor that tasty.

God has truly been breaking my heart for what breaks his over the past month. I've learned things I never wanted to know about my students. I feel miserable standing in front of a child each day, who has close to nothing, while I have a guitar, iPod, iPhone, iPad, a stack of books, a bed to sleep on, snacks, toiletries, and a suitcase full of clothes sitting in my room back at the children's home.

And the fact is, it's extremely sad. But I've realized that God did not bring me here to Uganda to be sad, but to find joy and to bring joy to those in need. Whether it be sending a pack of noodles home with a student, or simply walking them home from school, I've been called to love.

God has given me the gift to teach and through teaching, he's allowed me so many great opportunities to share his love with the students and their families at New Creation Centre. The past month has been the absolute most challenging in my entire life. But it's also been the sweetest.

This past month I've committed to:

• Walking home with my students
• Sharing at least part of my lunch (if not all) with my students
• Serving the families of my students in different ways
• Giving basic needs to my students and their families
• Playing football and feeding my students on Saturdays
• Getting to know students individually

It has been one of the most rewarding months of my life. Challenging as I stated before, but also overwhelmingly wonderful. I end most days being extremely exhausted, but it's all worth it. I am happier than I've been before and I'm so content with where God has me and how he's using me.

So here is to the simple fact that life is sweeter than fiction, and that I will always stand next to each one of my students. I believe in my students and I know they will beat the poverty they live in. 

Hit the ground, hit the ground, hit the ground
Only sound that you hear is, "no"
You never saw it coming
Slipped when you started running

And now you've come undone and I've

Seen you fall, seen you crawl on your knees

Seen you lost in a crowd, seen your colors fade
Wish I could make it better

Someday you won't remember

This pain you thought would last forever and ever

There you'll stand, ten feet tall

I will say, "I knew it all along"
your eyes--wider than distance

This life--sweeter than fiction

Just a shot in the dark
All you've got are your shattered hopes
They never saw it coming

You hit the ground running

And now you're onto something

What a sight when the light came on
Proved me right when you proved them wrong

And in this perfect weather

It's like we don't remember

The rain we thought would last forever and ever

I'll be one of the many saying,

"Look at you now"
I'll be one of the many saying,
"You made us proud"

And when they call your name

And they put your picture in a frame

You know that I'll be there time and again

'Cause I loved you when you

Hit the ground, hit the ground, hit the ground

only sound that you heard was, "no"
Now in this perfect weather

It's like we don't remember
The rain we thought would last forever and ever

There you'll stand, ten feet tall

I will say, "I knew it all along"
your eyes--wider than distance

This life--sweeter than fiction

It's sweeter than fiction