Thirst

I thought I would keep it simple for a first real entry.. wanted to share my heart!

While I was thinking about my upcoming trip, a lot has gone through my mind. I’ve grown up living a very privileged life. I have a mom and a dad. I live in a nice house. I’ve been in school for around 18 years. A majority of my friends and family are all alive and well. I get to go shopping for things, go on vacation sometimes, and many other things. I seek a humble heart, and open heart to all that waits in Uganda for I know my heart will be really challenged much more than it ever has before. Nothing can truly prepare me for what’s to come. I want to be challenged. I need it! I have everything I could possibly ask for and what any human needs, such as love/belonging, security, and food/water. I really am quite blessed in those ways!
And then as I think about love, security, food/water… I can’t fathom a life without. I AM spoiled by the ways of life here.
In Uganda, not all these aspects of basic human needs are met on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately for some, even all of the aspects are not met. Water around the country is filled with amoebas and dirt, which is a leading cause of serious health problems in Uganda. Food is scarce. Security is not promised. And in addition, the orphans in Uganda and around the world are alone with no one to call mom or dad. No one to teach them, raise them, and most importantly love them as their own child. This is truly why they are included in the “least of these”. This is why we’re going. Our needs have been met practically since birth and we have an over abundance of it. This is in the more basic needs sense. In addition, God’s love is also abundant and yet so many don’t know it. Perhaps one way to put it is this – we have an overfilling cup of water… it’s either going to go to waste, or we can choose to use it to water the thirsty ground.
People around the world are SO thirsty. I’ve seen it in the hearts of New York City. I’ve seen it in the hearts in Raleigh, Ohio, etc. Everywhere that I’ve gone, I have seen it. Everywhere I haven’t gone, it’s always there. Truly, it’s something so many souls long for. God’s love can soften the hardest hearts, fill an empty soul, and quench their thirst.

"Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
~Revelation 7:16-17

This is what all of the beautiful and broken souls need to know is there for them here on earth and waiting for them… A loving and merciful God.