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Jessie's Blog bio picture

Hello!

Creating an about me is always awkward…what to share when the reality is most people that will even come across my site to read my blog know me very well.  I have decided I will use this space to describe the trip that I am going on (or already on depending on when you read this).  My friend Janay had told me about six months ago that she wanted to go to Uganda this summer and immediately my response was, “I want to come.”  Therefore we set about planning a month in both central and northern Uganda.  With no team of people that we are going with, both of us are extremely excited to have our schedules more flexible and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  About a month before the trip Janay found out she was unable to come due to a mess up with her immunizations, so I set out for Uganda alone. Two weeks into working with street kids I fell in love and realized that this is exactly where God wanted me to be. So I decided to stay. Currently I have extended my stay to the end of January but as of right now I can’t imagine returning to the States in January without a plan to come back to Kampala.

If you do not know me and are eager to know the ins and outs of who I am, feel free to contact me and ask, I would love to share.


 

He wiped my tears….

08.02.2009 Posted in Africa

William

William

Walking into ministry in Africa I would expect difficulties. Deciding to work with and love street kids I knew that hardship was inevitable. But nothing could prepare me for this.

We opened our new halfway house yesterday and so it was a day that was meant to be filled with rejoicing and excitement. Two of the boys that were supposed to be staying in the house hadn’t shown up but we hadn’t been too concerned because sometimes the boys forget things or something small will happen that distracts them. Later on in the evening one of the boys started to tell an uncle about events from the previous night while we were buying porridge for the morning.

Boys had been taken.

Not by police or city council. Taken.

Three people had come in the middle of the night, one Ugandan, and two white people and had started grabbing kids. Four boys were taken. So far we only know the identities of three that are gone – William, Nicolas, and Mukenya. All boys that are ours, boys in our programs, all our children. William and Nicolas should have been there at the house. For those two boys it was to be their last night on the street before being somewhere safe and warm. I had talked with William the day before at our programs. He clung to my hand with such joy, looking forward to what Saturday had to offer. He is one of the sweetest boys I have met; humble and quiet, smart and respectful, always wanting to learn and study – never fighting or using drugs. As I said goodbye to William on Friday afternoon, the thought didn’t cross my mind that I wouldn’t see him again. Nicolas is so small, so fragile, so innocent. He wouldn’t stand a chance against anyone who wanted to do anything bad to him.

Sharrif is one who watched all of this happen, who saw his best friends be stolen in the night. Who saw Nicolas be pulled away while he slept. The men tried to take Sharrif as well but he fought hard and ran fast. My little Sharrif – I am so thankful he is a fighter. Sharrif saw my tears last night as I learned that my boys had been kidnapped and comforted me. As we prayed at the end of the night with all of the boys the tears still came. From his place in my lap Sharrif reached up and wiped my tears away.

Gosh it hurts, and I am so angry. Angry that God didn’t let us know somehow that we just needed to take them in on Friday night instead of Saturday. Angry that helpless, innocent boys are taken advantage of, are sold, are sacrificed. Angry that it had to be my boys. And I am filled with such intense sorrow and grief that I’m not quite sure yet how to handle. Please be praying. Despite the dark circumstances we know that with God all things are possible, that he is capable of saving all people in all circumstances. And please be praying that we would find the people who are kidnapping kids, that justice would be brought for them.

This week has been difficult due to the pain and thought of losing Ivan, but right now my heart just aches and I feel sick with pain. These are boys that will be forgotten, that few knew even their names. These are boys that each had a piece of my heart and will forever have that piece.

by jessie

13 comments

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August 27, 2009 - 6:03 pm Nikki - WOW Jessie, this is so powerful. I can't imagine how hard this must be for YOU; it brought me to tears just reading it. God must be working hard in and through you and it's seriously so cool to read about what you guys are doing there. I hope so much that I can meet some of these boys in the near future.

August 4, 2009 - 10:43 pm Your Name - Jessie We prayed for you, Abby, and specifically for the missing boys in my seminary class tonight. Lee Richards will bring the story and prayers to the seminary staff meeting on Thursday. Prayers and fasting are coming from literally across the world from you, from prayer warriors in Alaska. I pray that you and Abby and all will know the comfort of the Father's arms. Surrounding you with prayers and love. Kim B

August 4, 2009 - 10:26 pm Mark D - My prayers are also with you and the kids and the work you're doing.

August 4, 2009 - 9:40 pm Kimberly - Jessie- I am a colleague of Steve and Celestia's. I have been praying for the boys all of you minister to, and of course, especially for these 4. I am praying for all of your hearts as you have loved and continue to love face to face, eye to eye, skin to skin. As I read your entry, I wanted to share with you how the Lord has led me in praying for precious ones, for those whose names I do not know. I sing "He Knows My Name"... but instead, I sing "You know their name... You know their every thought... You see each tear that falls... and You hear them when they call..." And I sing this for these precious boys and the many more you love and care for. Standing together... thank you for loving so, just as He longs for us to.

August 4, 2009 - 5:55 pm Kurt and Kim Brownsberger - Jessie, Kim, I and our girls are in tears for the boys being taken. We are in petition prayer to the Lord for their safety. Satan is attacking the ministry through the most innocent. What these men don't realize is that they are messing with Gods children and the His prayer warriors around the world have risen up to counter this attack. We are in a spiritual battle, how like our enemy to take the children. Thank Shariff for me for staying alert and escaping. He will be a prayer warrior in the years to come. Hug your children like a mother does as they go off to school, remind them to stick and work together, and to sing the songs and praises of the Lord. ~ Kurt B

August 3, 2009 - 4:37 pm Heidi - Jessie, I don't really know how to respond other than to pass word along so that we can develop an army of prayer warriors. My heart is saddened to hear the news and my stomach sick. I cannot even imagine how real it must feel to you. I don't know if words can even offer the comfort that you, Abby, Lloutaya, and all of the other staff need at this time but please know that you are on my mind. Little William, Mukenya, Nicolas, and even Shariff are on my mind. I know that God is with them but I pray He would bring justice to these evildoers and do so quickly. I will join Steve and Celestia in prayer and fasting for this on Wednesday in hopes that God will use our faithfulness to bring redemption to a horrific situation.

August 3, 2009 - 1:37 pm Linny (from Colorado) - My name is Linn. My husband, Dwight, and our daughter Emma and son Graham brought a team to minister there in Kampala. (Abbie Tracy knows us.) Celestia called to tell me of the kidnapping. My heart is in such pain for all of you and the little boys. I have posted it today on my blog here: http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/ I am asking my bloggy friends to fast with Dw & I this Wednesday (8/5/09). Steve T. is letting their network know also. We are begging God for the safe return of the boys. It is not impossible or too difficult for Him!! And big things happen when God's people join together and fast and pray.

August 3, 2009 - 12:34 pm kathi g. - Jessie - i read your story yesterday and last night God woke me and wouldnt let me rest until i spent some time in prayer for these boys. I am so thankful that He has sent you and others to be there for the boys and love them to the point of aching hearts. That you can hurt at the things that hurts Him. i'm praying that the boys know that wherever they are taken, that Jesus is with them still. That He is the constant when they are taken away from people who love them so much. and that they will be returned to the house where they can be hugged and embaced by your arms. God bless you Jessie... i do miss your face! :o) but i'm so thankful that you are obedient to where God has sent you and kept you. ~kathi

August 3, 2009 - 12:27 pm Steve & Celestia Tracy - Jessie, All of Liz' comments echo mine. "I'm sorry" does seem hollow but it says what we feel; we are horribly sorry and grieve and weep with you and Abby. And Mukenya is a boy I got to meet and know how sweet he is and how powerfully you and the others have ministered to him. It is maddening and enraging that Satan, the god of this world, inspires such destruction and misery. Celestia and I know a bit of the heartache you feel through our abuse ministry, esp. what we've seen and experienced in Congo. There are no words to explain the evil of child sacrifice, sex trafficking, militia torture, or mass rape. And when the victims are people you know and love, it hurts worse than anything you've ever felt. At least for us, it often gives you nightmares. When those really hard times come in our ministry and I weep so much I feel like I'm going to go crazy and I feel I can't go on, God reminds me of Paul's words in 2 Cor 3:5 that I absolutely can't do justice/mercy ministry to the broken and oppressed. I'm not wise enough, godly enough, or just plain strong enough. "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy comes from God." Only Jesus can sustain you and Abby thought times like this. He grieves with you over this horrendous evil. Cling tightly to him. Keep pouring out your heart to him. Know that literally thousands of brothers and sisters in the U.S. are praying for you, Abby, the boys, and for God to thwart the evil kidnappers. Please know also that as the dad of your dear co-worker and one of your seminary professors, I am so thankful for your ministry and so proud of you. One of the ways we most honor Christ and show his heart to the world is by being willing to give up our comforts and security, risk illness and loss, and risk experiencing overwhelming emotional pain to love and serve "the least of these" that he loves (Matt 25). In many respects having your heart ripped in half in justice mercy ministry to "the least of these" may well be the most difficult sacrifice. And it is one of the greatest ways we are most connected with the sufferings of Christ (Col 1:24) and come to know his heartache and love for a broken world in a profoundly personal way. Mother Theresa often described the joy, privilege, and horrendous emotional and spiritual pain of going "into the dark holes" where human misery and evil is at its greatest. Thank you for being willing to go into the dark holes in the slums. Dwight and Linn Saunders, our dear friends here in Durango, CO (Dwight is the senior pastor at The River Church and brought a team this past June from The River to minister at African Hearts) have called their network of prayer supporters to fast this coming Wednesday for the boys and for this situation. We are asking our network to do the same. We stand with you in prayer to King Jesus for comfort, justice, and supernatural deliverance for these 4 boys. In Jesus' love, Steve and Celestia Tracy

August 3, 2009 - 8:55 am Love, Mom - Jessie, My eyes cloud as I read your last two entries. I feel naive that I did not realize boys were being kidnapped and I know how sad and hurt you are. I am glad that Sharrif made it back to you, to tell the story and to wipe your tears. I will pray for their safe return, and also that the new halfway house keeps your boys safe.

August 2, 2009 - 11:40 pm admin - Liz, Thank you for your heart and your prayers, hearing your response really is so encouraging. You are so right that Satan wanted to destroy such a joyous occasion. Your little guy was so amazing though, his compassion for me in my hurt was probably the most beautiful thing I have experienced since being here. And it continued into Sunday, he never wanted to let go of my hand or leave me for a moment :)

August 2, 2009 - 6:48 pm Matt - oh how my prayers are with you and the boys, Jessie.

August 2, 2009 - 8:05 am Liz - Jessie, telling you "I'm sorry" seems pretty hollow right about now. I cannot imagine the hurt and pain you feel right now. Oh sweet Jessie, I'm so so so sorry. I prayed and cried all night last night and PLEADED with God to return the boys and do a miracle. I will pray that every day until they are returned. I think it's okay that you feel betrayed and angry at God right now. David certainly felt that a lot in the Psalms. Just know that we love you so much. Satan is working overtime right now to try and destroy the situation. He is pissed that you guys were opening a house for the boys and we all no it is not a coincidence that this happened the night before it opened. I know God is good and I know that He can use what was meant for evil for good. I also know that doesn't make what happened any easier or less painful. I'm sorry. You're right. Those boys do have a piece of your heart that they'll keep forever. I love you. I'm so sorry Jessie.

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