I went with 2 other missionaries to Uganda to research setting up schools for the deaf.
While we were in east Uganda visiting a hospital, I received an alert from the US embassy warning Americans to stay out of all public places.
There had been an uprising in Kasese, which is in the west. Villagers had killed seventy people, comprised of government officials and police officers. We had plans to travel to Kasese in two weeks to visit schools. We prayed and decided that if the schools confirmed with us that they still wanted to meet, we would go. The day before we were supposed to leave for Kasese one of the schools called us to confirm our meeting so we made the trip. When we arrived in Kasese there were armed police officers at both doors of our hotel. Without incident, the next day we visited the schools and even got to go on a half-day safari the next morning before leaving for Kampala!
Two weeks after we got back to Kampala there was another attack in Kasese. God had gotten us in and out of Kasese safely to accomplish our mission.
Truly there were many frightening moments on this trip —but when we followed God’s guiding, we were safe. I learned that it wasn’t a gun, a gate, or a man that protected me; it was God!!
When I became a Christian twenty-seven years ago, the following verse became my favorite: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). This scripture came to life for me in Uganda. If I had leaned on my own understanding, I never would headed to Kesese. . Trusting in the words of my Heavenly Father allowed Him to guide me, so that He could help many children through me. He knows the plans He has for each of us, plans for our good and not for harm.
Deb – Abington MA – March 2017
