• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Shop

Gloria Hope

January 27, 2014 by Joy the Baker 69 Comments

gloria hope

Last Friday I talked about SHOWING UP.  Showing up despite fear.  Showing up despite discomfort.  Showing up with open eyes and open hearts and reaching out to people in need.  The words are a big deal no matter how you’re deciding to show up this year.  Turning those words into action is an even bigger deal.

I’m in Uganda with Compassion International this week.  I’ve never been this far from home, and while I like to consider myself a person who travels a lot, there’s still a bit of anxiety shaking around in my belly.  I can feel the far away.

Halfway through our flight from Amsterdam to Uganda this past weekend, I realized I was going to have to set some things aside.  The scarf I’d been using as a security blanket for the past day and a half of travel would have to go in the warm Ugandan climate.  The neck pillow… outta here!  Did I really need that thing anyway?  Hand sanitizer… just enough already.

More real than the material comforts though, I realized way up in the air between continents, that I’d also need to set aside my comfort zone, my sense of normalcy, and my ridiculous weekday morning social media schedule because something much bigger is at work.

Can we talk about it?

over uganda

A dense crystal white fog hung over Entebbe this morning. Not the kind of fog that San Franciscans would name Karl, something more tropical, asking you to feel your skin.  We waited for the fog to disperse, revealing this lush green landscape as we flew the small plane to a town in Northern Uganda called Lira.

We flew to Lira to meet these beautiful children, part of  Compassion’s church center in Lira.

singing songs

We were greeted in Lira by these beautiful faces singing us a welcome song.  They’re the children of the All Saint Boroboro Child Development Center. As they sang I wondered if I had enough to offer them… if the nerves in my gut and the love in my heart would be enough.    Just to see these bright faces with a song on their lips trotting towards you is enough to send your heart soaring.  Their voices are all at once quiet and full.

By the end of their singing I, along with my security blanket and comfort zone, had also set aside my anxieties.  There’s just no room for those things where hope and love shine so bright.

Gloria Hope Compassion International

And then I met this little love, Gloria Hope.

I realized something big.  Like… brought tears to my eyes big.  All that stuff I set aside… the comforts of my big scarf, neck pillow, and regularly scheduled life and work… the comforts of who I am, and the love I have to share stays and thrives when the baggage is stripped away.  You don’t need a lot.  You don’t need anything, really.  You just need compassion.  Compassion enough to act.

Gloria Hope Compassion International

I’m Gloria’s sponsor through Compassion.  That means that every month, the money I donate goes directly  to her physical health, mental welfare, and spiritual growth.  She’s eight years old and she shines bright in the world. She wants to be a teacher, and I know one day she will be.  I can see it in her eyes.  To see Compassion’s work in Lira, to meet Gloria’s teachers, hear their songs, see not only their joy, but the good it brings their families… it’s incredible, connected, intentional, important work.

I made Gloria a little photo album of pictures from my life so she can understand me a bit better. I could tell she was perplexed by the number of cat photos in the book…  when you strip things away, you never do stop being weird. So there’s that.

1401UG-LiraDayOne 99

In other news, I’m trying to figure out how to translate “Hey girl, heeeyyyy’ into the local dialect.  So far, no luck.  I’ll keep trying… for all of us.


There are thousands of children just Gloria Hope all over the world that are waiting for sponsors through Compassion International.  You won’t need a security blanket or neck pillow to change the life of a child in need.  You just need to love that’s pumping through your veins exactly right now.  You also need to be compassionate enough to act, which you totally are.  This is real.  The change, the love, the success.  It really matters.  I’ve seen it.

Other perspectives from Uganda:

Grace. At Home on The Nesting Place

What Hope Looks Like on GoinsWriter

Choosing the One You Least Expect on Chatting At The Sky

 

 

 

 

 

Compassion provided me a link to share with you.  I am in no way compensated for your sponsorship or donation.  I love you and I’m glad you’re here with me on this journey.  

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « Creamy Avocado Hummus
Next Post: What It Means To Boil Water »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Jnan

    February 17, 2014 at 3:52 am

    Your intentions are good, Joy, but why must Americans force their faith on the rest of the world? Jesus is not the only way to salvation. If he was, the entire western world would be a very different place than what it is now. Respect all cultures. The planet has been around for millions of years before Jesus got here and there are billions of people leading rich, spiritual lives without knowing anything about Jesus. All Gods are one and all prayers reach The One and if you cannot recognize that ultimate truth and must insist that the entire planet prays to *your* god, then America must be more impoverished than I thought. Suggested reading: Proof of Heaven by Dr. Eben Alexander. It might just surprise you! Om :)

    Reply
  2. Enobe

    February 17, 2014 at 3:42 am

    This is amazing and I salute your effort. I am from a third-world country myself & here is my perspective for what it’s worth. While all the effort that so many of these organizations put in is nothing short of noble, many of us resent that it comes with conditions: convert to Christianity is the hidden message, the invisible carrot dangling in front of our eyes. Why is it wrong to hold on to our traditions, our culture, our Gods, our dieties? At the risk of sounding ungrateful, can you not help us if we don’t pray to the same God you do? Why must all of us be Americanized? I don’t ask any of this with anger, only with hurt & disappointment. I have seen the missionaries work in my country, relentlessly brain-washing my people to give up their Gods and pray to Jesus instead. I love Jesus, I really really do. But I have begun to resent His followers because they don’t let me be. So, Joy, what I want to say is, thank you for your contributions and effort and your pure heart, but also please can you convince your people to let us pray the way we want to and to whom we want to? Please?

    Reply
  3. Megan - FireWifey

    February 6, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    Love this. So so awesome that you got to meet her!

    Reply
  4. Becky

    February 1, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    I have never left a comment but decided this was the day : )… “No Way!!!!” audibly left my mouth when I ended up on your site through Ann Voskamps via Chatting at the sky! I normally come to you for things like irresistible cookies and to-die – for scones. But today I was super excited to see that we have much more important things in common- deeper, life changing things (not that a good cookie can’t change the course of an otherwise miserable day: ) ). Praying you continue to be brave and yourself and beautifully authentic all this week- and that the words you are given to share will change the lives of even more of these beautiful children we are honored to journey through life with!!

    Reply
  5. Allana

    January 30, 2014 at 2:26 pm

    In the summer of 2012 I spent a month in Rackoko, a village about an hour’s drive north west of Lira. I remember passing All Saint Boroboro Child Development Center and wondering about it. Thank you for letting me see what is inside & the good happening there!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      January 31, 2014 at 10:26 am

      are you serious!? that’s wonderful! i can happily tell you that they do really wonderful work there. compassion supports the local church there very well.

      Reply
  6. bakerkat

    January 30, 2014 at 8:24 am

    I’m glad your there. What a Blessing this trip and especially meeting Gloria Hope is for you.
    It is all so amazing.

    Reply
  7. alison bravenec

    January 29, 2014 at 10:11 pm

    What an amazing moment!!! I have a sponsored child too in Sri lanka and it would be amazing to meet him so I can only imagine the joy you two shared in meeting. So cool!! And I’m sure you can translate, hey girl heeeyyyy with your great smile and quirkiness too ;)

    Reply
  8. Emily Maynard

    January 29, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    Beautiful. In every possible way. Thanks for changing my thought pattern for the day. And hopefully tomorrow and the next day, too. Safe travels and soak it up!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

Oscars 2023 Party Menu

Since I was raised on movies, the Oscars ceremony is my Super Bowl. I look forward to it all year long and always try to watch all the contenders. Of course I’m in it for the films, the celebs, and the clothes. But I also love a good theme party—who doesn’t? My ideal Oscars party…

Read More

Fat Tuesday aka Paczki Day

Happy Fat Tuesday everyone! We’ve arrived at the day before Lent, where everyone loses their minds and indulges before 40 days of meatless Mondays and fish fry Fridays. Chicago, while having faith from all corners of the world, is an incredibly Catholic-centric city – kind of like New Orleans. Growing up non-denominational Christian I never…

Read More

New Year, New Orleans

If you can spend a holiday away from home, do it. Christmas on a beach with a cocktail? Yes, please. Santa can bring his swim trunks! This year I decided to ring in the new year in New Orleans, my favorite place outside of Chicago, with my girlfriend Breyon. A bae-cation, if you will. We…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.

Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

cowboy cookies close up showing texture.

Cowboy Cookies with salted cereal brittle

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a baking show stat. Here’s our very best chocolate chip cookies and all the little tips that make them perfection. ✨🍪 Find the full recipe linked in the profile!
We’re baking the classics on Joy the Baker this We’re baking the classics on Joy the Baker this month and up next, my very favorite Lemon Bar recipe with fresh lemon juice and the tiniest hint of coriander. ⁣🍋🌼✨
⁣
Find the full recipe linked in the profile and bust out the white chocolate and macadamia nuts for next week’s bake! ⁣
⁣
#lemonbars #easybaking #bakedfromscratch #joythebaker
Day in the Life: out in the woods writing a little Day in the Life: out in the woods writing a little cookbook about camp food. 💖🏕️🙋🏻‍♀️
Homesick Banana Bread. Recipe linked in the profil Homesick Banana Bread. Recipe linked in the profile (and you don’t have to be homesick to make it). #bananabread #sundaybaking
Let’s make one single GIANT PANCAKE which is the Let’s make one single GIANT PANCAKE which is the perfect Breakfast Dessert or Spiral Bake - whatever you need it to be. ⁣
⁣
Pro Tips: Smell you buttermilk and decide it’s probably fine. Flip the pancake with reckless confidence. You can sit to eat - you don’t have to eat like you work in a restaurant anymore. ⁣
⁣
Find a version of the full recipe linked in the profile. Xo.
🙋🏻‍♀️ still out here drinking whole mi 🙋🏻‍♀️ still out here drinking whole milk by the glass which is honestly hard to do when you live with a small indoor lion.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up