Jinja Mission Team - Busoga Churches of Christ

There’s a tree in our yard that Spence and I were sure was dead.  It had lost all its leaves and when everything else around it was flourishing this tree showed no sign of life.  It looked like an eighteen -foot stick planted in the yard.  This was in January.

We left Uganda January 19th with the world falling around us.  The unspeakable had happened.  Death empties everything inside you, even if you’re not the one who has died.  When someone you love dies, something in you feels like it has died with your beloved (maybe all of you feels dead).

We don’t have any answers for the tragedy of losing Adam and Moses; and truthfully, I’m not sure I want any answers right now.  The things that did and have become certain during this time are somehow enough to hold us up when we feel like our breath has been knocked out of us and our legs refuse to hold us upright.  Christ came down and entered into this world to suffer with us.  Why anyone would choose to suffer is beyond me.  I know Adam was trying to suffer with those around him, and that the focus of this mission that even I have joined finds its roots in suffering with those we are with…but true suffering – the kind that threatens to steal your hope and your joy, really, really hurts.

From the time that we became aware of the tragedy unfolding around us, Christ was present.  He sent the mission team in Mbale into prayer as they searched for Moses and Adam for us while we were still in Jinja.  Ugandans and Ex-patriots alike came to our homes to offer tears and presence to share comfort and strength.  The mission team in Kampala began working quickly on details that we had not even begun to consider yet – (plane tickets to the states).  All of our beloved in America grieved heavily with us before we even reached home – we received emails and phone calls of prayers and condolences.  Money was raised to help with the sudden expenses of funerals and travel.  Individuals, families, churches, people that we do not know were covering all with prayers.  These pieces of love were the hands and tears of Christ.

March 2nd we returned to Uganda .  Adam and Moses still live in our thoughts constantly.  Condolences are still being shared…but something amazing – truly amazing has occurred.  The day before we left to return home to Africa , God blessed Ben and Kym (and all of us) with the life of a beautiful, healthy, baby boy.  God brought life into a world of suffering.  This life that God has given does not replace Adam or Moses or the grief that is ever present for all of us, but it brings the hope and the joy that was threatened back into the forefront of our minds.  This life reminds us that Christ did suffer with us, and he did not give up in this dark world but continued to be the creator and the comforter.

So we are back…trying to figure out what suffering with others really means – and that’s okay.  Christ will keep showing us.   Our tree, the one we thought was dead, is dressed in bright green leaves – giving life to this old world and reminding us that Christ really is ever present creating and comforting.

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