Becoming A Pagemaster

Almost five years ago, I was at a prayer service at Light the World Church in Nansana, Uganda. It was my second or third service that week. I was well into my first trip to Uganda and was loving every moment. Each time I had gone to “service” it was with Jessica Hofschulte, and a pair of wonderful Ugandan ladies, Mama Resty, Deborah, and Mama Angel. That night I loved getting to sing praises to God with them, listen to the choir practice before church, and just be a part of the church body.

Towards the middle of the service, after we watched a group of Ugandan men carry out a woman whom Jessica believed to be possessed, the pastor, Pastor Wilson Bugembe, came to the front of the church. He began speaking words of prophesy over the congregation and over certain individuals, including Jessica.

What I didn’t expect, however, was for him to speak to me.

“You,” he said, “have come a very long way.”

Mumbling and indescribably nervous, I replied, “Yes.”

He spoke a few more words, of which I don’t remember. However, I will always remember the last thing he said.

“I prophesy!” said Pastor Wilson, pointing his finger towards me still, “That when you return to America, people will come to you for advice.”

I stood amazed, speechless, and then proceeded to worship God the rest of the night. If you have followed my story, then you exactly what happened after that moment, how my life was changed, how I returned to America and then again to Uganda two times. Yet, this is not a blog to simply reminisce on past experiences. This is a blog to show what can happen, long after the adventure is over.

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Since February, I have been working part-time at the Old Town Library. It is only a two-minute walk from my apartment building and mere steps away from the heart of Old Town Fort Collins. While I have loved getting the opportunity to work here, I will not lie and say that it has been easy. Having my best friend move away and having multiple health problems this year has made working mere hours a week seem pointless.

Recently, I advocated for myself with my job counselors and I got the opportunity to no longer merely “check in” books but to call patrons and shelve patrons’ holds. Having the opportunity to multi-task has been a blessing and has shown me that I am capable of doing many things, even if they aren’t what everyone else can do.

About a week or two ago, however, I was not feeling good. I was tired and didn’t really want to do anything. Then a lady came in and asked, “Can you help me find The Looney, looney, looney Bugs Bunny movie?” I then went to the appropriate shelves and while I could not find that specific movie, I found some others which I thought she would like. Then, when our search brought no prospects, I showed her how to search online and pointed her to the reference desk.

While I was helping her, one word came to my mind: “ADVICE.”

That day in Uganda, Pastor Wilson prophesied over me and said that people “would come to me for advice.” And since that day, over the years, I can count several instances where people have come to me for advice, for very “random” things.

And I would give them advice, even when I felt like I was stupid and had nothing else to give them.

Yet, helping that woman made me realize that I was not only giving her advice that day, I was working and getting paid to do it!

Ever since that my time in Uganda, I have wondered why God did not heal me there or allow me to stay there. Yet, as I remember Pastor Wilson’s words and ultimately God’s, I can see that the healing, purpose, and life God had for me, and has for me right now, is not in Africa, but here.

This Thursday, from 3:00 to 4:30 pm, I will be embarking on yet another adventure. I, Jacobo, thanks to the people of Voc Rehab, will get the opportunity to work at the Carmike movie theater tearing tickets and cleaning rooms. If I do well, this could turn into another part-time job.

While I am excited, I also worry, “What if I’m too slow? What if I don’t clean fast enough? What if I don’t look people in the eye enough? What if people laugh and talk about me? What happens if I just think they do?”

With all these fears, my assurance rests on one thing. God, His plans, and His purposes never change. His word is eternally true. And if even if I fail and don’t get a job from working Thursday, just by tearing tickets and telling people whether to go “right” or “left,” I will be doing what God revealed to Pastor Wilson oh so long ago, giving people advice.

Until Next Time,

Jacobo