Last night in Uganda, a few things I'm bringing back with me...

As I get ready to lay my head down on my pillow for my last night in Uganda there are many things I have taken away from this trip. Too many to ever be able to communicate in a blog post. Hopefully if you're reading this and want to know more we will get the opportunity to visit further.  But, I'll list some that are top of mind.
First, the people of Uganda are the most beautiful hearted people I've ever met. From the children up to the elders. Their sweet spirit is humbling and calming. Their thankfulness that God is meeting their needs and faith that He will continue to meet their needs is truly, truly amazing. Jesus's work on the cross is sufficient for them and they believe that the Gospel can work in everything they do.
Two, don't feel bad for all that I have in America. Feel thankful and blessed for what God has given me and be a good steward of it. Watch over it as if it were something that belongs to Jesus, because it does. Coming into this trip my natural reaction upon seeing poverty on the ground here was to wallow in guilt. But, a lesson I learned from some wise men this week was that we shouldn't feel guilty for what God gives us because he does it for a reason. Instead shepherd it well, be a good steward and don't put pride in possessions harboring as much up as possible for yourself. Be generous,  but not out of guilt. The people of Uganda are generous with what they have to each other as well as others out of thankfulness.
Three, God is not American. He came to save the world, not America. After meeting believers in Christ whose faith just oozes out of them this week, it really makes me wonder if the way I practice my religion in America, high upon my moral statue I've built in an attempt to earn God's love, often handicaps my walk with Jesus and ability to build relationships with others.
Four, sometimes what I as an American think other people need, they don't. One of the biggest takeaways for me this week is that hand outs aren't a solution. Sure passing free things out to people over here helps them in the moment, for a day, maybe a week.  But, the saying I heard from Charles "Chuck" this week was "Give me fish and I'll come ask you for fish again tomorrow. Teach me to fish and I'll never ask you for it again." Handing things out is good. Don't get me wrong. It provides answers sometimes to urgent short term needs. It also provides opportunity to talk with people and meet them. But, it doesn't solve the ultimate solution that people struggling in poverty need. The ultimate solution is providing people opportunity. That is what Water4 does.  "But Josh doesn't Water4 go drill water wells for people?"  Please visit www.water4.org and watch their videos or come talk to me to learn more about how Water4 provides people opportunity. Bank2 in partnership with Water4 has provided the Young Men Drillers opportunity, which I can tell you first hand they value above a hand out.
Five, but not last because I could go on forever, is...have fun! The people I met here this week have so much fun. They do everything with joy and a smile. They love to laugh. They do life together as a family,  as a clan, and as a village. They are happier and stronger because of it. Maybe our challenge isn't finding clean water or medicine, but we do have challenges. The more people we have with us through challenges the easier it is and better we become. Having fun makes any challenge easier.