A Taste of Heaven
Today was a full day in Kampala, Uganda. We visited with the Compassion staff at their 
headquarters here, and then drove outside of town on a very bumpy road to go to one of their children centers. In many ways, this was a brief taste of heaven while we dealt with the very real and fallen realities of our fractured world. As I write in my Heartlight.org article today, in many ways it was a little taste of heaven.
The mothers and children were waiting for us when we arrived. They children were dressed in their nice clothes and greeted us warmly. Several of the youngest children rushed to greet us and wanted to be hugged and held by the “muzungo” visitors. (Muzungo is a term for European or white people.)
The openness and warmth of these children was captivating and lasted
every second we were with them. It wasn’t that they craved attention or demanded something of us. In fact, they were extraordinarily well behaved! They were just full of love for us, and especially the people we were with who had come to see them regularly to help with their care and health. This is quite a dramatic change in their behavior with the good new health and social skills they have learned with the CSP (Child Survival Program). Several years ago, this same age group of children had been malnourished and very shy. The intervention of the CSP personnel and their close work with the mothers and children had a huge impact on everything they were now doing.
The CSP was the program that was so vital in helping Doreen, our sponsored child I talked about in Heartlight yesterday. They work with moms before their child is born and offer pre-natal, baby, and early childhood training in nutrition, spiritual values, immunization, and other services. We made home visits — the most powerful part of this trip each day for all of us, even though playing and spending time with the kids is more fun. Our group visited with a 23 year old mother of two. She is married and is HIV positive. We learned the infection rate is 6.7 per year. That’s new cases each year, so the number in the general population infected is very high. The mom asked us to pray for her healing. She also wanted us to pray that her children could be healthy and that her relationship with her husband be strong. While her home was very small, it was clean and neat as it could be. Her five month old daughter was absolutely precious and it was clear the CSP help had brought great reward to this little child. We later saw the group doing projects for which they could earn money.
After a time of music and celebration, we finished with a time of playing with the kids and enjoying each others company. It was very difficult to leave 
because of the love that flowed among us all!
After the overwhelming emotions of yesterday, today was good, fun, sobering, and hopeful. We can make a huge difference in the lives of children … one child at a time … all it takes is a little over a dollar a day a heart full of Compassion.
tHIS RESPONSE OF THE CHILDREN IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED IN HAITI. ONE CHILD (ABOUT 4) JUST WANTED TO ‘SIT ON MY LAP AND BE HUGGED AND LOVD.) sO VERY PRECIOUS!!! mAY OUR FATHER RICHLY BLESS YOU IN THIS WORK FOR HIM.!!!
AndrEA
13 Feb 08 at 2:17 pm
Wonderful pictures! I’m so happy that you got to meet Doreen and my heart is broken by her mother’s answer. She’s a beautiful little girl.
Be safe. Thanks for sharing God’s love over there. May He be praised.
not-so-deep Denise
13 Feb 08 at 5:37 pm
Just wanted to let you know that I became a Uganda sponsor last night!
Susie
Sherman TX
Susie Drummonds
13 Feb 08 at 6:23 pm
What a blessing it was to read about your experiences so far in Uganda. I just finished reading your latest episode in “Daily Heartlight”: “Down the Dusty Bumpy Road” and the tears were streaming down my face by the end.
I have been blessed to work with a number of churches in Uganda, large and small, and was further blessed to spend 6 months there last year. All you say is true. Many times was blessed to experience those “Kingdom Moments”.
It should be an encouragement as well that Uganda is climbing out of the spiral of poverty, not in small part due to the sizeable number of Christians in the Government, including the President and First Lady. It is going a long way to help combat the corruption that is crippling to the economy, and has helped make Uganda one of the shining stars in the fight against HIV/Aids in Africa.
There is a great deal of respect for Christians and Christian leaders in this largely Christian nation. One example of was when we addressed the National Security Council, and Minister for State started the meeting by welcoming the Pastor I was with and thanking him for the excellent work he was doing in the Country, bring the Love of God to the people. He also asked the Pastor to both open and close the meeting in prayer.
Bless you for your work there. And for spreading the message of Compassion to so many people.
William Metzger
14 Feb 08 at 5:20 am
i’m SO so so excited for you! and i am, honestly so jealous (in a great way). i’m praying for you and know God is growing you in so many ways to come back on FIRE for God’s plan….can’t wait to see what that is….
blessings!!! kimberli
kimberli
14 Feb 08 at 9:38 am
It is a privilege for you as God leads your heart to reach out to these lovely group of people whose hearts are innocent.
I am certain that God’s leading, guiding and presence is with you and your team there.
Let’s not grow weary in partnering with God.
God bless your heart. He is pleased.
Terence YEO
Singapore
Terence Yeo
14 Feb 08 at 11:50 am
Phil, Thank you for sharing God’s love! What an amazing experience. May God’s gory and love continue to grow in that country and with in us. My heart and prayers go out to you and the children ( and their families). “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD” –Amen! Thanks again for being a great example.
Jessica Bumpus (Macon’s daughter)
McKinney, Tx
Jessica Bumpus
14 Feb 08 at 1:53 pm
Your stories about the children bring back wonderful memories for me and my wife. Our church helps sponsor an orphanage outside of Kampala and we too have experienced the love of the children of Uganda as God is transforming this beautiful country by the influence of His Holy Spirit.
Tom Wiseman
14 Feb 08 at 8:18 pm
phil, thank you so much for what you guys are doing over there. the words of you and the other bloggers on this trip are inspiring.
my wife and i have been talking about sponsoring a child for a while now, and we made our commitment tonight. his name is muwonge bashir. if you meet him, give him a BIG hug for us.
we’re praying for you guys, phil… please keep the updates coming!
Jake Miller
14 Feb 08 at 8:43 pm
Hi Phil - Loving all of your posts. Our family signed up yesterday to sponsor a little girl named, Akitini Stella. She is 5 years old. It was such a blessing to pray for her yesterday.
Tammy Marcelain
15 Feb 08 at 8:59 am
Hi Phil, Because of your trip & blog and sending out the wonderful daily wisdom. I have sponsored a child in Tanzania, Africa, West of Dar Es Salaam. He is 8 years old his name is Athumani Ally Kitala, I will call him Ally.
Georgia Fuentes
20 Feb 08 at 1:04 am