Day 11: The Seeds of Christianity

“Father you have made the blood of martyrs the seeds of Christianity. May the witness of St. Charles and his companions and their loyalty to Christ in the face of torture inspire countless men and women to live the Christian faith.” (The Divine Office)

What started out as a mission trip didn’t take long to turn into a pilgrimage. I have richly grown in my faith in one week in Uganda. The seeds of martyrdom have began to bear fruit in my soul. Those seeds were planted by a coffee bean farmer named Father Jude Ssenngendo. They were watered and cared for by the love for their neighbor in the Christian’s of Uganda. The words I most often heard besides, “Muzungu,” which means white person were, “You are most welcome.” Jesus Christ is weeding the garden and pruning the tree of my broken and conflicted heart as I tour the schools in the small towns and major cities. Uganda has the same learning gap in education as America does. Their gap is Between those who live near or can afford to attend schools in the cities where resources and teachers are sufficient and the distant small towns where the teachers are scarce and resources nearly nonexistent. Praising and worshiping my Lord and Savior with a million other Christians is a peaceful and joyful experience. One week ago I came to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in Uganda. Today He blessed me by sending me out to take the Body Of Christ to his beloved children at the Feast of the Ugandan Martyrs. St Charles Lwanga and the other 23 Catholic Ugandan Martyrs pray for us!