Not By Sight

"Live by faith not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Recently God has thrown me into this whirlwind called life.  Yes, He has hit me with various choices and decisions.  To travel, to question, to graciously accept, to wonder, to pray and to hope.  This idea that my faith outweighs my sight keeps throwing itself at me.  The idea that faith is bigger than any sort of belief I have in the system, the person or the dream.  And it's coming at me 90 mph.

Often, I feel like a batter without a bat.  I stand there waiting for something to hit me, but don't know where to bat.  I don't know, because I don't have a bat in my hand.  I'm not prepared.  The pitcher throws and I turn my back in defense of my "most important parts." ;)  Why is this? Why do I turn?  Fear? Not feeling equipped? Desperation? Misunderstanding?

All the while, God is watching me and screaming at me to trust Him in the midst of craziness as I hope that life really is beautiful and wonderful. I remember last year when I was in Africa, I couldn't understand why God would allow a man to die on a motorcycle in front of our vehicle.  It was awful.  Devastating.  The moment was frightening, cold and graphic. I remember feeling extreme sadness correlated with questioning.  This man probably had a wife, kids, chickens and maybe even a business. I remember feeling a shock of fear and butterflies in my stomach for a couple days.  Not the good kind. The kind you get when you can't eat.  The kind you feel when you're nervous about something.  I wouldn't go out and ride for a couple days cause I couldn't see a bike or waterworks exploded!

Then, a miracle happened.  I took a hike with a few friends up to a mountaintop.  We got lost for a while and I wanted to turn back.  We had one radio, a few snacks, and a lot of faith.  After a few hours of arguing and debating about how to make it up through swampy grass and scary rivers, we finally summited.  The top was beautiful.  A place of gorgeous scenery and rolling hills.  We looked down at our home and the villages below.  Everything was lovely.

In that moment I realized again how faithful God is to heal and accept us for who we are today.  Not who we are tomorrow.  (Although He will do that too)... He loves us today.  He meets our darkness and loves us.  He knows we are His and no one else's. He comforts us and holds us.  All the while knowing that we are suffering.  He wants us to trust Him.  No Matter What.  To rest.  No exceptions.  No what ifs, no questions.  Just to trust.  It's easy.  We always want to make it difficult.

So, as I sit and have doubt, even now about the future... I remember how faithful God is.
To give us peace and to give us joy.

Then, my dog comes to me and asks for a hug.  He trusts me.  To love him, to feed him and to hold him.  So I pick up my bat and trust again.  I feel warmth from God, and I know it's time to run.

"We live by faith not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Love, Davy

A Little Red House

It all happened so fast. 

One minute I was dreaming of traveling, seeing eternity and beyond.   The next minute all I wanted was to have it all back.  The smells, the memories, the pain, the beauty, the hurt, the sweet moments of surrender.  Potato soup, pizza nights, the smell of sage, hugging, kissing, arguing, shooting things, fireworks, tree-climbing, trampolines, bon fires, milk fights, horses, sheep, horrible chickens... The life we had created.  

Yet, often reality is not so glamorous, and everyone has to give up things they love.  To hold on too tightly would be to sin, to hold on loosely would mean never really living.  And so, we clasp our loves close to our hearts for a time... nurture them, steward them, hate them, want to leave them, and return to them, often kicking and screaming...  I was screaming all right.

I didn’t think it would be like this!

I couldn’t even walk down the hill.  Tears rolled down without my consent.  They kept coming unwarranted. I looked up again.  “Breathe, just breathe! In, out, in, out.” I kept repeating these words in my head for about 5 minutes.  I had to stop.  I had to face the place.  I always thought going back would be easy, but now I see I was attached in ...more ways than one.  Experiences, moments, hardships, tears, yelling, aching, heartbreak, laughter, holidays.  It all rushed back in a moment.  It rushed back so fast I couldn’t even tell what memories I was having anymore...  All i knew is I was crying.  

I remember when... 

...I took this place for granted.  I thought I had spent (too much) time here, and felt boxed in.  I wanted to “see the world.” And all it had to offer.  Yet, every time I would come home, I would grow even more comfortable in a place that was becoming less and less “mine,” and more “my vacation spot.” Still it was home.  It truly allowed us to live in it.  It allowed us to mistreat it sometimes, and still it stood there just for us!  Letting us live comfortably and free. 

And it really made life really good. 

The thing is, memories were made here in this little red-stucco paradise.  Beautiful ones.  Romantic ones, tragedies, mysterious stories, philosophical debates, late night movies, prayers for hope and family fights.  All things good and beautiful. Five rowdy yet lovely children were raised here... (although my parents might argue the latter part of that statement). 

It takes courage... 

...To face something you once loved and were forced to leave due to life’s hits. To walk around in it for a second and remember.  And this is exactly what I did.  The new tenant showed me around.  Not for long, but for only a few moments. I couldn’t take much more than that.  But I began to understand how much love truly went into building and living in such a wonderful place.  I loved it.  It was home, and always will be. 

Can I Get A .... Drumroll Please?

Dear Friends, 

Where In The World Is Davy? 

It’s been too long.  Literally too long! It was so nice to see everyone in Texas on my visit there.  I got to hold lots of babies, play in the heat and hug many necks.  It was just what I needed.  On the other hand, I have been currently working in Seattle, WA while I pray and seek God in all aspects regarding life.

  

I Have Not Fallen Off The Earth...

So... Guess what? I’ll be going back to Uganda.  I took some time off from Africa to rest a little and recuperate in order to figure out timing and take care of some things here.  (Also, to save money for Uganda!) 

What I’ll Be Doing 

I will be working with the same kids! :) I will be returning to work at the orphanage I was working with before.  There are 2-3 orphanages in South Uganda that I would like to establish a longer term commitment with.  I will be teaching, mothering and making sure these kids get to a very healthy place.  I will be going solo this time, (Unless you want to join)... :)  The reason for this is, I have had a hard time finding ministries working in this region.  I have considered starting a small non profit for some time, yet the time it takes to do that is daunting.  

What You Can Do 

Please pray for me. I need prayer and guidance from God to know exactly the correct time and wisdom to know exactly what to do at all times.  

Financially I know it’s difficult to help since I won’t be able to give a tax receipt to you.  If you are able to help I would be extremely grateful, (And so would the kids!).  Any bit helps.  There is an address below, and if you send a check you can put in the memo “Ministry”.  My goal is to raise $6000 dollars by September.  

Thank you so much for all your love and support throughout the years...I miss you all greatly.  I hope to see you soon.   God be with you in all you do.

Love,

Davy Desmond

2619 SW 149th Place 

Burien, WA 98166 

Miracles In The Dust or, "The Little Princess"

Once upon a time, there lived a princess. She wore a beautiful dress, and had a smile that shone from ear to ear. Every time one held her, she would gently rest her shoulder on yours in innocent comfort. Growing up, she was not held much at all, and because of this, she was in a ‘hug-deficit.’ Her parents died at a very young age, and she was left with a brother to care for. A little prince. Her skin is a light brown color, which contrasted perfectly with the color of her heart: a bright and pure-white! This little girl was smart, although there were many things she did not know. She did not know, that she was infected with HIV. She did not know that she was malnourished. She did not know that should be taking medication daily, and that she needed it soon. She did not know she was feeling sick, and this is why she was always tired. She always rested her head softly on my shoulder, although she did not even know how love-deprived she actually is.

This little girl is a gift.

Many times in our lives, we are not looking for miracles. Days we are doing mundane things, miracles seem dim and unreachable. How often are we looking for miracles in our daily lives? Often, miracles happen right in front of us, and we miss them because we are not looking. Miracles are everywhere, and they are not luck, they are gifts! Miracles are the people right in front of you. Who is in front of you today?

This little girl is a miracle.

Miracles are often defined with “BIG-attitude-mentality”, yet at times they are smaller, and much sweeter than we realize. They are often small moments that cause us to feel that...‘hmmmm!’ Sometimes, they cause us to ponder for a split second and realize how beautiful love is. Are we searching? This week, this princess is my little miracle.

This little girl currently lives in a village called “Bakka.” She is 2 years old, and is HIV+. She is extremely malnourished, and very weak. Yet, her spirit is strong. Her physical body is hard for us to see, but I believe there is hope.

This little girl is a princess.

Please pray for my little princess, as we try to get her help and treatment this week. Please pray for her heart to know Jesus' love. Let's help this little miracle have her own miracle!!

"Little Justina"

MARK 11:24 - Listen to me. You can pray for anything. If you believe, you have it. It's yours.

Towards A Deeper Sense Of Love

1st Timothy 1:5 - “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”


As a child I haunted the local library in our small town. I would sit for hours and scroll through books with brilliant themes: adventure, intrigue, romance, hope, fear and suffering. These stories always left deep impressions on me. The stories were usually centered around children who needed help and hope for their future. Usually the stories ended well. Most of the time they ended at home, safely in bed. These children would go to sleep with a deep sense of knowing, and an even deeper sense of love, as they drifted off to read their own adventure stories.

For most children in Uganda, this is not the plot or storyline. They sleep crowded on cold concrete floors, covered by small moldy blankets. Nights are cold, and so they are forced together to avoid the weather outside. Many times they get sick because of the crowded spaces as well as their own ignorance of hygiene. They are not the children in the books I used to read. They do not have a balanced story or happy ending, and definitely not a balanced diet. Their story does not include intrigue, genuine romance, or adventures in the forest. Mostly they are fearful of the night. They suffer from hunger, and are forced to risk their lives on the streets, just for a little cash.

For as long I can remember, I have always had a deep sense of love. From wonderful parents, amazing support, incredible friends and (oh yeah) an even better God. Recently this understanding has been even more apparent as I think about the questions asked of me, “why do you do what you do?” Apart from the age old answer, “my faith,” there IS IN FACT a deep sense of love I feel. Many do not have this, and it is injustice. The real reason behind what I do, is because I understand true love. I have always felt a “safe place,” with that deeper knowledge of love. I sensed it and felt it from day one. I often become so overwhelmed I get teary-eyed with gratitude. I never had to prove myself worthy, good or beautiful. All I had to do was be born. When a baby is born they are loved immediately . No good deeds, just crying and poop.

To believe in a deeper sense of love is exactly what I desire to people everywhere believe, and right now God has me in Uganda. So, to believe in a deeper sense of love is exactly what I desire this nation to CLAIM!!

I desire each one believes in love so much, that their little hearts burst with joy. Uncontrollable joy! My hope is that, at the end of the day they can trust they are understood as they go to bed safely-loved. They will know deep in their soul that the love they feel is real. Love that is much deeper than any social structure or abusive relationship can offer. My prayer for each one is that they will know how loved they are. I hope their story will incorporate adventure, hope, joy, beauty and love.

Suffering is always a factor, so my hope is a deeper sense of love becomes a lifestyle through hard times.

To believe in a deeper sense of love.

To believe in a deeper sense of love... in God.

Today In The Slums, I Stepped Over A Shoe...

... Today I stepped over a shoe. It was not any shoe. It was about a 7/ 1/2 U.S. size. It was covered in mud. feces and most likely some sort of disease. I thought for a moment about this shoe, and where it came from. Who owned it? How long had it been lying there? How did it end up in such a place? What did it do to deserve this life? Then I came back to earth.

Why am I thinking about this shoe? I should be asking similar questions about the child I'm currently hugging.

I am hugging the neck of a young boy in the largest slum in Uganda. Approximately 20,000 people squaller in existence, if you can call it that... The slum is located in Kampala, the capital of this bueatiful country. Despite it's many lovely places, Uganda's darkest side are it's slums. Full of large black fire-pits, gasoline, glue, urine, feces, chickens and a whole number of other atrocities. I should be passing out.

Life for a child in the slums is filled with excitement. They wake up at the crack of dawn after little-to-no sleep. To sleep means to get robbed or abused. There are two sets of street children in Uganda. One set sells scrap metal or bottles, and purchases a "safe-place" in video shop for sleeping during the day to avoid abuse or worst. Another set smells toxic gasoline on a tattered cloth all day, then gets so high that he passes out, only to wake up and do that again. So yes, life is super exciting.

As I hug this scrawny little neck, I cannot help but feel how Jesus' heart is aching. I know that this precious little one is loved beyond any controlling slum in this world. His heart is confused, yet he does not know it. 'How do I live without this glue in my hand or defense in my heart?' He thinks.

Jesus is bigger than this.

I am encouraged to pray for eyes to be open to truth. That blind scales on the eyes of his heart would fall off and he would ONLY see light. I pray that the light he would see would be that he is a precious child of God, and innocent. That nothing he has done in his life would separate him from this love. That he needs nothing but God to make him whole. Nothing but God.

I pray that soon he will know he is not worthy of being trampled over or stepped on. I hope he will know soon he is a child of the king, worthy only of love.

I cannot give him food today, for if he has a full stomach and empty soul, what good does it do?

What I can give him is much greater.

Jesus is bigger than any slum.

24 Years and 24 Days

Dear Friends and Fellow Missionaries,

I write this to you with mixed emotions. There are several reasons for this:

1) Life flies!!

2) The call is bigger

3) Africa is who I am today...

For the past 2 years I’ve worked, learned, and grown alongside Orphan Relief and Rescue. It’s been a great experience, and during my time with ORR the Lord confirmed to me that Africa is still very much a part of my future. For the past few months, I have been in a place of constant prayer and discernment about the next step. Seeking, looking, hoping and resting. Life Flies!!

I knew God still wanted me in Africa, so I began seek where He called. I traveled to Uganda, where I began to understand what it means to be “called.” When I returned to the U.S., I was tempted to run the race of a good “normal” life: to get a full-time job, live in the States, settle down. But... The call is bigger.

Through discernment, prayer, faith and sheer craziness, I have chosen to travel again to Uganda, seeking to follow this call. When I was there, what I felt in my heart was absolutely unbelievable and indescribable. I knew this place was a calling. "Calling" is an interesting word; one I've personally struggled with for quite some time. I have always felt a deep burden for Africa and feel very much at home there. Os Guinness writes it this way, “...the main way to discover calling is along the line of what we are each created and gifted to be. Instead of, 'You are what you do,' calling says, 'Do what you are.'" Africa is in my heart and this is where I am today.

It would be wrong for me not to listen.

I am asking you to pray for me and to pray about supporting me in this next big step! It is a joyous time and I’m excited to see God work. I am partnering with an organization called Show Mercy International. I will be working for 70 days starting October 1st and will work in “Hope Children's Home.” This is a home to more than 100 children. I will also help to build the “Field of Dreams,” which is a 25 acre plot of land designated for ministry (a school, a clinic and a church).

My goal is to return to my family for Christmas, then choose to make a longer-term commitment in Uganda after the new year.

I still have approximately $2000 to raise, and would love your help in any way.

Here is a link where donations can be made towards Uganda. You can use the drop down box to find my name.

http://www.showmercy.org/donate/index.php?productID=421

You can also mail checks with a note including my name (not written on the check) designating it for my trip with SMI.

I Leave in 24 days!!

With Joy,

Davy Desmond