Expect Love & More Love

Me & Sweet Jackie from the new home! 

5/22- Tuesday

The youngest Mengo girl, Winnie

            Today was the best day! This morning we went to one of the new Cornerstone homes which housed five girls from the streets. Knowing the girls were new, we expected them to be closed off and hard to connect with, so we prepared for that and prayed about it. When we got to the home, we found the opposite to be true. As the gate opened and we hopped out of the van, the girls ran up and started hugging all of us! Many of them haven’t been in school before, so they know very little English. Still, they sat with us, played with us, sang for us, and loved on us. The aunts of the home explained that they have been trying to get more girls, but many return to the streets, because it is what they are accustomed to. However, the girls that choose to stay, love their new home! The girls taught us a new game, which was an African version of dodgeball! After our time playing with the girls, we were able to sing a few songs with them, that they knew, and pray over them. Leaving the home, we were all glad that we had decided to visit, despite our anxieties. This morning we were surprised and blessed!

Joy and Shallot!

            Tonight was our last night at the Mengo house, so we planned something special! Katie had the idea last week to have a spa night for the girls and make them feel special. The team really took the idea and ran with it! We had the girls line up outside the house and let Jake and Jared escort them into the house one by one. They then sat in the circle of chairs we had created, where we had bowls with water and soap to wash their feet and puma stones to scrub with, like a pedicure. We also had girls painting their toenails and adding decorations, like flowers on their polish. Meanwhile, Jake and Jared took their drink order by saying, “What would you like to drink, Princess?” Then they served them sodas and fruit. When their toenails were dry they were given a lilly wrapped in ribbon and taken outside for a headshot. After all their toes were painted, Melissa and I shared with the girls about their beauty. We focused on two points: that God loved them, and they were beautiful.

            After, several girls came up saying “Thank you so much! We didn’t know we were beautiful!” I love sharing with girls about their worth and beauty and have gotten to in America, but it was so special to have the opportunity in Africa! Specifically, a country where women are viewed with little value and as property. One of the verses I used tonight was from Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” But I love what it says in the Message: “God told them, “I have NEVER quit loving you and NEVER will. Expect love, love, and MORE love.”” The girls loved tonight, but we also loved tonight. We loved loving on the girls. They are all sweet, beautiful, young women of God who will bless so many.

            Tomorrow we go to Jinja to go to a craft market and go to the Nile! I am very excited! Expect Jinja updates as well as updates on the final happenings here! Team updates also at luugandamission.blogspot.com

Foot washing! 

The Mengo girls, aunts, and team!