Inspiring Moms and the Power of Christ's Love

In my humble opinion, I have the world’s greatest mom! She is kind, loving, funny, hardworking, understanding, comforting, and if I am blessed to be a mom one day, I hope to be at least half of the woman she is to my own children. I’ve got big shoes to fill! I know a lot of people feel this way about their mothers, grandmothers, or know a mom that you look up to.

There is no difference when it comes to these women that are a part of the James Place! These mamas are loving, compassionate, caring, and hardworking and I was able to see this first hand back in 2014 on my first mission trip to Uganda. The stories of these women and how they have overcome adversity, poverty, abuse, and abandonment is truly inspirational. I fell in love with the women and children there and made real connections with them, so much so that I have gone back three more times, and I am leading another trip this summer!

I want to share with you about one mama that truly inspired me, and I want to tell you how the Lord is making a difference in her life. Harriet is the Supervisor of Cleaning Services, and one day on my most recent trip, my team and I had the pleasure of going home with her! This is a big deal in the Ugandan culture, and we felt so honored to be invited in! While in her home, she shared her story with us…

She and her three children were abandoned by her husband, could barely make rent, and had nowhere to go. But through friends in the community, she found HEAL. To make a long story short, through programs at the James Place, she was able to learn a skill, earn her own money, put her kids in childcare/preschool, move into a safer place to live, and learn the true love of Christ. Several years later, her husband came back and was intrigued by the change that he saw in her. Because of her love, compassion, and forgiveness, he learned about Christ and his life was changed. He gave his life to Christ, and they were able to become a family once again!

Emily with Harriet’s twin daughters

As you can imagine, my team and I were sobbing at this point in her home, and she was just beaming because she was able to share her story. Having us in her home, making us tea, showing us pictures, and her children showing off their most prized possessions, they showed us the true love of Christ and how one life can be changed by Love. I think I can speak for my team when I say we will never be the same. This was just one story that we heard, but there are many more, just like Harriet.

God is all over the James Place, and it’s so amazing to join the journey and be a part of the love there. These mamas have gone through so much, and because of the James Place and the Love of Jesus, these women and their children have hope and a future. As we celebrate Mother’s Day right around the corner, let’s remind ourselves of the love and sacrifice moms make every single day, and will continue to make for their children no matter what!