I’ve been in Uganda for two weeks now, which is crazy to think about, so much has happened since I left Kentucky a month ago. The Lord has been so faithful through the journey to get here; He has stretched me a bit and has taught me so much about Himself. I’m also fully funded which is a huge praise! Here’s a brief overview of the last month and then I’ll give some highlights. I flew out to Colorado in early August, where I spent about a week and a half with friends and family, before attending a week long orientation at the main EMI office in Colorado Springs. From orientation we (five other interns and myself) flew to Uganda, where we met up with three other interns, and have spent most of the last two weeks getting to know the culture, city (including how to get around), and the EMI office – we did start working toward the end of last week, which took a bit to get used to after having a month long break!
COLORADO
The time in Colorado was great! It was so good to catch up with friends and family that I had not seen in while, and to relax after the rush to get everything together at home before leaving. During that time, I had multiple “random” conversations (let’s call them divine appointments!) with people about the trip, or who knew people at EMI, or who had gone to Uganda themselves! Orientation in Colorado Springs was an incredible time for me personally. There were about 35 other interns heading to the seven global offices, and we all hit it off right away – after two days it felt like we had been there a week! We had several sessions a day about topics ranging from EMI’s history and vision, to culture, to our personalities and spiritual gifts. I just share one highlight from the week, though there were many! Typically I really dislike personality assessments because I feel like I’m being categorized and placed in a man-made box – and we took three (personality, strengths, and spiritual gifts). However, this time the Lord really used them to teach me about His love and plans for me. After taking the personality assessment everything seemed to match my expectation: stable and conscientious, with “peacemaker” as a description. I was thrown off though, because it said I’m similar to Moses (while Moses was steadfast and faithful to God, he asked a lot of questions first to try to understand how things would play out), so I decided to pray about it. While I was praying, the Lord said to me, “I called Moses friend, and I call you friend too. I know how I have made you, and there is nothing lacking in your personality. I made you how I want you.” That was really important for me to hear from Him, because for a long time I’ve thought something was lacking in my personality (that I need to be more outgoing for example) and that He wanted more from me, which made it hard for me to receive His love. Leading up to the trip, the most consistent things that people spoke when they’ve prayed for me were to rest in God and to be myself, and they prayed that the people of Uganda will receive “Paul Smith” – so it was fitting in that light too. God knows what He is doing!!!
UGANDA
So I’m living in Kampala, which is the capital of Uganda, and is about 50 miles north of the equator. Right now we’re in the rainy season, which isn’t as bad as I expected, but means rain at some point every day and most fruits are in season (aka, the best pineapple I’ve ever had…everyday)! The temperature is in the 80s during the day and 60s at night. Kampala is really hilly, so most views are about a mile, but in some places it opens up and you can see Lake Victoria. To get around we usually ride “Mutatus” (15-passenger taxis, though we’ve had 19 in one), sometimes we catch rides with the staff, or the backup option is “Boda-Bodas” (motorcycles that are everywhere and can carry one person – or 5 people…we’ve also seen bedframes, coffins, huge boxes, a 4ft fish, etc.)! I would guess that 20% of the roads are paved and the largest I’ve seen are 4-lanes but most are 2-lanes with about 4-5 lanes of traffic! Needless to say, we’re not allowed to drive while we’re here. People here are very hospitable and kind, though somewhat reserved until you get to know them. Yesterday, while I was walking with another intern, several kids came and walked with us and started talking to us in Luganda (the local language, though everyone I’ve talked to knows English) and had a lot of fun teaching us new words and laughing when we had trouble pronouncing them correctly!
As far as EMI goes, it has been great getting to know the staff! There are 11 full-time missionary staff, about 12 local staff, and the 9 interns (of the interns 6 are from the States, 2 from Australia, and 1 from Kenya). We have office devotions/ prayer each morning with worship on Friday mornings, and every day we eat lunch together, which is prepared by our cook, Janet (who is an amazing cook!). During the first week everyone shared their testimony – it was awesome to hear how Jesus has revealed himself and called each of us to himself! He is worthy of all praise and glory, and still he reaches down to call each person to come to him!
This week work is getting into full swing! Five of the interns and most of the staff are out on their project trips and the rest of us are working on several smaller projects for the time being. You can actually be praying about my project trip. The plan is to go to Livingstone International University for a rather substantial design; however, things may get pushed back to next semester. So pray that logistics will get worked out, but if the trip doesn’t happen I have plenty to work on here. Currently, I’m working on a design for an aircraft hangar, which is similar to some of the work I was doing at my previous job!
Aside from work, I’m praying about where to go to church and where to volunteer outside of work. We are actually allotted volunteer time during the workweek to work with other ministries around Kampala. I think at this point I’ll share another highlight! There’s a group of six girls from the States that recently graduated university and are working with people in the slums of Kampala, through a ministry they founded called “Doors.” Currently they have five boys living with them and sponsor five more at boarding schools (they also have a house mom and her kids, two “uncles” – older guys to take care of the boys, and a guard at the house). They got to know the past interns and came over for a cookout the other night. On Saturday nights they have worship at their house and we went this past weekend…it was great! I felt a lot of freedom to really pour out my heart to the Lord and worship him, and I know it was the same for everyone else! I got to talk with a guy name Henry while I was there that I had actually met earlier that day while working with some kids from the slums. He used to live in the slums, but came to know the Lord through the ministry of a local church and now wants to go to Bible school to become a missionary! When working with the kids that morning it seemed a little fruitless, but after talking to Henry I realized that each of these boys has a story like that waiting to unfold, they just need the love of Jesus to be shown to them! The girls invited us to help with evening bible studies at the house (they want male influence for the boys), and to help them in the slums during our volunteer time. Please pray for sensitivity to the Lord as I seek His direction about what level to get involved with this ministry.
Thank you so much for your love, support, and prayers! God has been so faithful calling me here, and orchestrating everything surrounding this trip, including your partnership. I am so thankful for the Body of Christ and that God has not sent me here unsupported, but has called us to walk together in the ministry of his good news to the world, and specifically Uganda. All praise and glory belong to our Lord and King, Jesus! Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
– Praise the Lord for safe travels and all the great things that have happened so far!
– Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in day-to-day interactions and longer term relationships (including church and other ministries)
– Confidence (ministering, getting out into the city, talking to people, design/drafting, etc.)
– The projects trips out right now…pray for unity, opportunity to minister to the people they encounter, and health (a few of the interns got sick)
– Logistics for the Livingstone International University project to work out
– For team unity and purpose…sometimes things seem a little shallow among the interns and I know this is a time that we can go really deep if we set ourselves apart!
– Please pray for intimacy with the Lord, especially in Bible study and prayer
In Christ Jesus our Lord,
Paul Smith
PAULinUGANDA2012@gmail.com
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