Martin, Poster and a wedding

Martin is my friend - he is in his 50s and his hands and feet have been eroded away by some illness. He smiles, laughs and makes jokes. His English is excellent, and he sits on the street asking for money. I saw him on the corner of a road last Sunday, bent to say hello and commented on the busy road. A car spun round the corner and he yelled 'One way! This is a one way road... oh cars.' He cracks me up.

Poster Man continues to be a joy. It takes emotional strength to walk by that way and see him, because my heart is emptied of love whenever I see him. His face lights up with absolute delight, and he laughs throughout our exchanges. He grasps my hand with both of his and enquires where I am going and what I'm doing with his wordless gestures. He is the first one I loved in Uganda, and he continues to rule my heart.

On Saturday, friends from church got married. Andrew heads up Frontline Ministries which reaches out to homeless boys in Kampala. His wedding to Erina and reception was attended by around 35 street kids. Reading Matthew 22 and Luke 14, I can now picture the scene: a wedding feast attended by the poor, invited in by the Master. Dirty shoeless feet dancing to wedding music, hungry mouths eating a wedding banquet, homeless children celebrating a new family. It was wonderful, a sight I shall not quickly forget.

My most precious, heart-draining thought is of these friends in heaven. Poster Man walking up to me with restored legs, speaking in his God-restored voice... Martin dancing around waving his perfect hands around, laughing in the second life as he did in the first... Boys finally at home with their Father, accepted and redeemed and loved. Oh God, may my heart never become hard to this thought, this reality! 

I pray that these precious moments in Uganda are burnt upon my English heart forever, not to be forgotten but treasured. I pray never to forget these men and boys whose lives continue even after I've departed for home. And I trust God with them, for He alone holds them and changes their lives. I will have to walk away one day and trust that He will take care of them. This is hard... Below is Barclays Bank Man. I would gladly gather him up and take him home. As I would the others - giving them a home and family. What a heaven-like thought!