Love That Lasts A Lifetime
HEAL Ministries, The James Place, where do I even begin? I had always dreamed of going to Africa, but never thought it would actually come to fruition. After looking at the last no-plans summer I will probably have for a few years, I thought why not now? And just like that God knit all the small pieces together. I found a ministry doing work I believed in to intern with, got my flights booked, packed a bag, and took off on my first international trip ever (and my first solo trip ever). I am not going to lie, I was scared. I had never been to a foreign country, never flown by myself, had never been away from my family for so long, and yet, the second I walked into The James Place the worries vanished. I was greeted with open arms and love that I had never seen before. The love that emanates through The James Place can be seen in every direction you look. From the look of joy beaming in the women's eyes to the smiley kids covered in sand and food from their last meal playing without a care in the world. God’s love is shining here. It is nearly impossible to not feel God’s love the second you walk through the gate at The James Place. And while I could talk about an abundance of things regarding HEAL Ministries I have chosen to write about the two that have most captured my heart: the women and children.
The women here are like no other. They are the most welcoming, happiest, and resilient people I have ever met in my whole life. I was nervous coming into The James Place knowing I would leave in a little over a month. When I put myself in the women's shoes, I thought, “Wow, that must be so hard to have some new person just enter into their lives for a few weeks then leave.” I figured they might be a bit stand-off-ish at first, but within the first few minutes of being there, I knew that wasn’t the case. The women were so welcoming and grateful to have me there. From hugging and smiling the second I walked in the door to asking about my family life and how I am liking Uganda. You could tell they were just happy to have a new friend/face at HEAL. It didn’t matter that I was going to be there forever, they were just happy to be in the moment (something that I really struggle with). Although I didn’t know it at the time, those women were teaching me all about living in the present for God each and every day through loving and caring for each person that I came across. They taught me that friendship isn’t dependent on time. You can become friends within a matter of seconds when both parties have mutual respect and care for one another. Which was exactly what I developed with the women at HEAL. It didn’t matter that I had met them only minutes ago, I respected and admired them which allowed for a relationship to prosper. The relationships that I made with the women at HEAL/The James Place are ones that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
As for the children, wow, I never thought I could learn so much from such small human beings. Being a future elementary educator, I spent the majority of my time in preschool and childcare. It was what fed my soul and my heart. If you know me, you know that I love kids; and the kids at The James Place were just so dang easy to love. Seeing their contagious smiles spread across their face and hearing them yell “Teacher Danyella” and “Auntie Danyella” left me walking back to the intern house each day with a smile plastered on my face. Another thing you should know is that I am not a morning person, yet each day I woke up excited to see the kids arriving at the gate in their checkered uniforms. I was thrilled to get to work in the classroom and to help the students learn, yet in doing so, I think I learned more from them than they learned from me. I learned not only some cute new songs and handshakes but also what it looks like to be patient as the children wait for all their peers to get their food and pray before eating. I learned how important the little things are when I would see a child’s face light up after giving them a high-five. I saw how crucial it was to let the kids accomplish something by themselves when they would bring their work over with a prideful smile on their faces saying, “Teacher, teacher look.” I learned what it’s like to love with my whole heart and to see Jesus so persistent in a little kid's eyes. I have been back in the states for less than a month and have thought about holding the kids' hands or giving them a big hug every day.
While my time in Africa did come with its trials just like life, there is no doubt in my mind that it was worth it. It was worth all the worry, nerves, FaceTime calls home, everything. I am so thankful for all the amazing people at The James Place/HEAL and the never-ending love of God that I felt throughout my whole time there. In my heart, I will always be “Teacher Danyella” and “Auntie Danyella”. I will carry the experiences, relationships, and love that I have made in a town halfway across the world with me for the rest of my life. It is a love that will last a lifetime.
