Everyone Deserves A Love Story

Hubby, we’ve been married for 23 years today.

I met you when you were only 12 years old and thought you were the cutest boy in the world.

I never dreamed we would grow up, fall in love, and have three beautiful children together.

You are a gifted daddy! You are a blessing to your children.

It’s strange celebrating our anniversary in Uganda 8 hours before you wake up. But, that just means I get a head start telling you how much I love you.

One of the things I love most about you is how you support my passions.

You know how hard the past year has been for me. You’ve watched me struggle with loss and waiting on God’s direction in my life. You stood by me strong, and encouraging, and praying through.

You are compassionate.

Your work ethic is resilient.

Being married to you has been a big, crazy adventure. I’m grateful to have you in my life. I love you, hubby and happy anniversary!

Today I watched a special family (to all of us) return back to their home for resettlement. The hardest part for me wasn’t the fact that their difficult journey to be jigger-free had just started, or that their living conditions were extremely poor, or even that mom would struggle daily to pay for basics needs and school for her children.

It breaks my heart knowing that Agati is a widow and doesn’t have a husband to provide for her, to help care for their children, to comfort her when she’s hurting and alone. Anna doesn’t have a daddy to teach her life skills or tuck her in bed at night, and keep her safe when she’s afraid. She has to face this life fatherless.

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.”
― Mother Teresa

Loneliness. None of us are immune to this dreaded episode. It can sneak up on us over time or in a sudden flash: divorce, death, rejection, loss of friendship or job.  Loneliness is feeling isolated and disconnected from meaningful relationships.

A teenage girl describes loneliness as, “It’s like being constantly surrounded by people, but still feeling like there’s no one.”

A divorced mom shares, ” What comes to mind is solitude. Longing for emotional and physical companionship.”

Do you feel alone? We can feel just like Agati at any given moment in life. You feel afraid, hopeless, and beat up by life’s hardships.

I want to encourage you to never give up. Think of those Godly people in the Bible who suffered through loneliness: Job, Joseph, Elijah and even our Lord, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene when He needed His friends the most (Matt. 26:36-45). Even the heroes of the faith felt exactly what we feel.

Agati taught me that. She had to face her pain and walk in faith as she entered the Sole Hope gates at the Outreach Center. She had no idea what she would encounter, or what would happen on the other side. She had one goal in mind… healing. She would sacrifice everything to help her family heal.

We’re not all alone during our times in the emotional desert of loneliness. There is always hope. How do you face your loneliness?

As we end our time in Uganda with Sole Hope our team has had the honor of loving big and serving even bigger. Every child and adult we served this week had a special purpose and story. They changed us. Our hope is that you will partner along side with Sole Hope and come visit, too. You are most welcome here.

You can help with offering HOPE, healthier lives, and freedom from foot-related diseases through education, jobs, and medical relief. You will have opportunities working at the Outreach center, visiting orphans, resettlement, and telling your own story. #solestories

Dear Anna,

My greatest hope for you is to grow up to experience the best love story of all time and that’s being a part of God’s story. He is love and a lifetime of abiding in Him. He will be your love story. When life is hard, your Father will comfort you, and provide for all your needs. You can trust Him and don’t need to be afraid. He will be your strength and song. His power is unlimited. He will hear all your prayers. You are loved by so many people all around the world who are praying for you. We are grateful that Sole Hope brought us together and now you are jigger free. We are thankful you can sleep well tonight on your new mattress, sweet girl. Always remember that you matter to us.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.—Isaiah 12:2–3

We bought a mattress for Agati and surprised them delivering it after we had already said our goodbyes. She danced and cried for joy! Y’all this is what it’s all about. When we feel loved it helps soothe the pain and hardships of life.