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We were driving along a dusty road in Kampala and I saw on a billboard the word: Amazima. I have seen it before, this is the word of the ministries that Katie Davis uses in Uganda  and so I asked Phiona and Abdul, “What does this word mean?” Truth.

It is pronounced like this: ah-mah-zee-mah

the kids greeted me for my surprise visit

Right about this moment I am soul hungry for some Amazima. It is nearly impossible to get it here, but  I didn’t say impossible. Those who are honest with me, I will keep close to me. The fastest way to sever a relationship with me is to hide an agenda, manipulate, and lie. I can handle the Amazima so much better than I like to go guessing around, wondering, and then discover too late that I have suffered lies.

The kids dance celebration after my arrival...priceless...if you could only hear the screaming and drums

We had a discussion in the car on the way to church today. Abdul and Phiona have not been outside of Uganda so they assumed that it is only Ugandans who are so guilty of all this lying when they want to get what they have to have so desperately. They apologize to me frequently for their countrymen’s deceptions with me. Finally, I said, “please don’t apologize, and don’t carry their burden as your own. I know that my own country is full of liars and corruption. And I have many friends who are from South America who also admit the corruption is out of control. So we wondered why this is for some time and this is what I think, if I am allowed to take it to its simplest terms…

 We need strong fathers to lead the families out of the moral pit. We need men who understand God’s design for the family, and to learn to lead compassionately, gently, with wisdom and self control that can only be found in the bible. The farther we go from God the farther we get from the Amazima.

I think if I ever had the opportunity to name a horse, or maybe a puppy some day, I will call him…what else…Amazima. It’s my new favorite word. I believe in the truth because God says it sets you free, and Jesus came to tell the truth. Really it is a much simpler way to live when all you tell is the truth.

This is Rebecca. She tells the truth.

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