“That Jesus might gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:52). Through our Father’s House family in Uganda, Jesus “gathered into one” fifty children ages 8 to 15 from the streets and out of a slum for a week of camp. Jesus received them so Father could kiss them and that He did! These children, together with Eric and Suzanne’s family and friends who came to help introduce the kingdom of God through art, music, dance, drama, and athletics numbered eighty. Our themes were The Creative Father, Eros and Agape, and Becoming a Delightful Son or Daughter.
The camp was held on a property right on Lake Victoria, which Father saturated with His presence. The eagerness with that He met and loved these “survivors” by His Spirit was overwhelming. Four of the orphaned children which Eric and Suzanne have received into their family came from this slum, and we have been developing relationships with many of the others. We were amazed that in Father’s presence the typical guarded, suspicious behavior on their own turf just melted away into a profound openness and vulnerability. One night we had a bonfire, and while roasting marshmallows Suzanne said, “After dinner at Father’s House, we each have a chance to give thanks to Father.” Thanksgivings poured out of these children for over an hour in Father’s manifest presence.
One girl said, “I never eat meat or fish, and I am thankful that today I ate ten pieces of meat and two pieces of fish!” Another boy said, “I have never seen the lake and I am thankful that today I got to ride on a boat and swim.” Another said, “I am thankful to feel safe.” In the presence of eighty people around the fire, one boy said, “I always wet my bed, but I haven’t wet my bed here!” Others said: “I am thankful to God that this is my first time to sleep in a sleeping bag in a tent.” “There is racism between black and white people, but I am thankful that in this family I am accepted.” “I am always sick, but since I came here I feel so good.” “Us street kids have been told we should know what a real family is and I am thankful this is the first family I have known.”
The fact that eighty people could be drawn together in such familial intimacy underscored just how big and awesome Father is; He has room for all. He even blessed us through these children; one said, “Thanks to Mom (Suzanne), may God bless you for making this camp for us and may you be able to do this again!”
While writing the trilogy, Delighting Father, the Spirit flooded Eric with Father’s nostalgia, His delight in the camps we held for orphaned children in Ukraine and particularly how much He loved working together as one with us to touch them. Eric knew Father wanted to touch children in Uganda in this way. Wow, it was a lot of work, but it was the Son’s joyful work of gathering children to Father, initiated by Him. Eric and Suzanne’s natural daughter Stephanie (15) supervised the cooking from 6 am to 9 pm each day making everything from scratch. Each of our older adopted children served, giving their affectionate strength wholly to Father’s delight.
Eric opened the camp saying, “We are all one family in one Father” and then had three of his kids testify. Lillian (26) and Rick (14) told about their parents being murdered by the rebels and how, as emotionally damaged orphans, Father adopted and healed them. Our Ukrainian daughter Vicka (22), shared about being beaten up by her alcoholic mother and sleeping in cardboard boxes as a homeless girl. She said, “Now I see that Father was loving and protecting me even then, before I even knew Him as my Father.” The children knew we comprehensively identified with them; they were understood.
Though we had not even mentioned baptism, one thirteen year-old boy named Gerald was prompted by the Spirit to come and say, “I want to be baptized.” As Eric immersed him into the name of Father, Son, and Spirit, scores of other children waded out into the lake to follow Gerald in baptism. What a rude awakening it is to the reality of Belial’s kingdom that such treasured children are living amongst trash in street gutters and alleys of slums, yet the reality of Agape proves greater as Father reaches to claim these precious ones as His own through “the Son of His Love.” The kids pleaded to stay longer, saying to Suzanne, “It’s not because of the food or eros or anything; we just love this family!” We are planning a reunion picnic soon and will continue imparting the life of the kingdom into these children through ongoing relationship.
We want to give thanks to you who affectionately and financially support both our Lifechangers family and the outreach endeavors Father entrusts to us. We pray…
“You will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgivings to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God” (2Cor 9:11-12).
