Honor & Humility | The Uganda Story

Honor - high respect, great esteem; fulfill an obligation or keep an agreement; something regarded as a rare opportunity & bringing pride & pleasure; a privilege

Humility - a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness; unselved - no pride or haughtiness; meekness, respect of self or others; sacrificing your own needs for others needs

Colossians 3:12-17 (NKJV)

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

In February, I had the privilege of going on a missions trip to Uganda with 7 others, including my husband. So many memorable things happened during the trip that it's difficult to decide which highlights to share. However, there are 2 takeaways worth your attention.

We were shown such great honor by the people in the villages and the children at the orphanages. They had so much respect for us and each other.

Children would curtsy when they were given a gift and said thank you in the sweetest manner.

A young woman named Joan took a week off from college to serve us and prepare 3 meals a day for us. She didn't even mention to us that she just adopted a 3 year old girl that is disabled and was literally left on the side of the road, abandoned by her family. She had been a mother all of 3 weeks and took time out of her busy life to honor us and serve us.

This was such a beautiful picture of humility.

They had no expectation of "oh what can they bless us with" - because their heart was to bless us!

A few years ago we raised funds to finish a roof at a church on the end of a dirt road in Fort Portal, Uganda. They had been worshipping with half a roof and a dirt floor. So, during the rainy season they worshipped in the mud. Their hearts are so pure for Jesus.

On our last day of our trip we were ministering at the church with the roof we helped purchase, they presented us with their very best offering as a thank you. A large goat, and 2 ginormous bundles of bananas fresh off the tree. The goat was valued at $400 and bananas valued at $50. Our hearts were overwhelmed by their generosity to bless us. To give you an idea of how much of a sacrifice this way to them, the average wage in Uganda is $60/month. This was such a beautiful picture of honor.

Romans 12:9-13 (NKJV)

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

We are called to honor the Lord in all we do. In what we eat, in what we speak, in what we watch, in how we live. There is much to learn from the simplicity and genuine hearts of our brothers and sisters in Uganda. The children were so full of joy, not a single person complained. My prayer is for our hearts to rest in the fullness of joy we have in Christ and learn to love and honor those He places in our lives and walk in humility every day of our lives. Selah.