Kampala is still as amazing as the first day!
Many of our readers are beginning to understand what they are reading and are applying it to their lives and it is just SO great to see them understand what we are trying to get across to them!
We tried fried grasshoppers!! And they were SOOOO good! I know it sounds bad...but I promise they were good!We tried another popular food here which is called a "rolex"...it is a lot like our breakfast burritos! AMAZING!!!!!!!My reader Jennifer brought me these to try because her brother makes them and sales them here on the streets of Kampala. She brings her little girl with her every time she comes to read and she is a very sweet little baby girl! Such a kind hearted woman!I have a reader named Bella who is VERY excited about learning English and is even MORE excited about the Bible lessons. She is helping her family learn English and it is so precious how she reads to them and explains to them. She is 5 months pregnant with her 7th child!She asks wonderful questions and has GREAT feedback and answers to my questions!
One of my readers asked me to pray for him....it made my heart so HAPPY!!I prayed with another one of my readers today and it brought tears to my eyes at just how amazing the spirit of God truly was at that moment!
One of the boys from the boys home told Anna that they will be closing the home down. They said that the owners cannot afford it anymore and that it must be sold...which means the boys will be out on the streets again. PLEASE PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS! I am not sure all of the details but pray for these precious boys! I love them all VERY much!
I started reading with one of the boys who's English is not very good. He asked if I would take him to America so he could watch a movie. He then asked me if I would teach him "american english". I just loved it! So of course I did! And I read with him...and he did SO good! He was SO happy when he read it all by himself. Made me so happy!I want these boys safe...I want them ALL with me in America! It just breaks my heart...I want them to have food...money...clothes..shoes that are not broken...a bath...and someone to love them!Luke 11:41-"But give what is inside the dish (or what you have) to the poor, and everything will be clean for you." Give...Give...GIVE..EVERYTHING!
I was reading Luke today and a sort of peace passed over me when I read it..Luke 12:6-7. I hurt for those boys from the home and I question God why those sweet boys!?! I often wonder if He has forgotten them if they are living in such a way! Then God revealed to me the answer to those exact questions I was begging...in his word...
"Are not 5 sparrows sold for 2 pennies? Yet not 1 of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of YOUR head are ALL numbered!! DON'T BE AFRAID!!!; YOU are worth more than MANY sparrows!" God heard and felt my plea to understand just what exactly he had in store for my boys! GOD KNOWS THEM AND I SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID!!!<3
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
It's a BEAUTIFUL day!
Today is a BEAUTIFUL day in Kampala!
Warm...with a rain shower during lunch...and everything is just shining!
Yesterday was church and it was an AMAZING service! Nothing can explain the way these people experience Jesus here.
One song they sang says...
Say to those who are fearful hearted
Do not be afraid
The Lord your God will come
And with His mighty arm
When you call on His Name
He will come and save you
Chorus:
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
Say to the weary one
Your God will surely come
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
Lift up your eyes to Him
You will arise again
He will come and save you
Say those who are broken hearted
Do not lose your faith
The Lord your God will come
And with His loving hand
When you call on His Name
He will surely come
This song broke my heart to hear these people SHOUT it to God. It was amazing to hear them...hurting..begging...and praising God for what they do have. They are so PROUD of the God they serve!
Later that night...we went and watched African dancing at the heritage center! It was SO amazing!!! We watched lots of different dancing styles and they played African drums as well....my brother Alex would've been AMAZED!...(I recorded them for him!)
I have LOTS of pictures and videos...but the internet is so slow here and would take a long time to load them...so when I get home...all of the videos and pictures will be loaded...It's only been one week...and I have SO many videos and pictures!
Today we just explored the city and got to play Muslim for a little bit...(They made us girls cover up when we went into the mosque!)We went to a baby's home...with hundreds of babies...laying around...crawling...begging for us to hold them...I just hugged and kissed on all of them for as long as I could...these babies just wanted the touch of another human being...so I did what I could!
We walked ALL over and tried NEW food! AMAZING!
We are about to go eat dinner and then relax the rest of the night!
I miss my boys from the home...but tomorrow they will be here and I cannot wait!
Keep praying because I know God is working here!
Love you!
Warm...with a rain shower during lunch...and everything is just shining!
Yesterday was church and it was an AMAZING service! Nothing can explain the way these people experience Jesus here.
One song they sang says...
Say to those who are fearful hearted
Do not be afraid
The Lord your God will come
And with His mighty arm
When you call on His Name
He will come and save you
Chorus:
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
Say to the weary one
Your God will surely come
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
Lift up your eyes to Him
You will arise again
He will come and save you
Say those who are broken hearted
Do not lose your faith
The Lord your God will come
And with His loving hand
When you call on His Name
He will surely come
This song broke my heart to hear these people SHOUT it to God. It was amazing to hear them...hurting..begging...and praising God for what they do have. They are so PROUD of the God they serve!
Later that night...we went and watched African dancing at the heritage center! It was SO amazing!!! We watched lots of different dancing styles and they played African drums as well....my brother Alex would've been AMAZED!...(I recorded them for him!)
I have LOTS of pictures and videos...but the internet is so slow here and would take a long time to load them...so when I get home...all of the videos and pictures will be loaded...It's only been one week...and I have SO many videos and pictures!
Today we just explored the city and got to play Muslim for a little bit...(They made us girls cover up when we went into the mosque!)We went to a baby's home...with hundreds of babies...laying around...crawling...begging for us to hold them...I just hugged and kissed on all of them for as long as I could...these babies just wanted the touch of another human being...so I did what I could!
We walked ALL over and tried NEW food! AMAZING!
We are about to go eat dinner and then relax the rest of the night!
I miss my boys from the home...but tomorrow they will be here and I cannot wait!
Keep praying because I know God is working here!
Love you!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
One Day
The past two days have been GREAT days!! Emotional...tiring...long...inspirational..and LIFE CHANGING!!
I still don't know if I really understand what I saw in the market and slums. It isn't real to me...people do not live that way in my "real-life" book. I try to grasp it...and just don't understand...and never fully will.
We played cards here at the church when we didn't have readers or electricity with others at the church. Electricity is a rare thing here...we treasure it VERY much!! I dont know if I have already mentioned this, but this place is ALWAYS busy!! People here...coming and going....studying..playing...reading...eating...talking...just being together.
We have laughed a lot and we feel as if we have been here MANY days already...it's only day 4!
We now have mosquito nets to protect us during the night! They are fun to sleep under. Quite an experience!! And we LOVE it!
We have eaten some different food but also American style food. The other night we ordered Domino's pizza and it was actually delivered here!! That was a treat!
I am learning SEVERAL words in Luganda...and I speak them regularly to my readers...and they always laugh at me...because I never say it right! But it's fun to learn and practice!
-Boonga: "pound it"
-omowanla: "girl"
-omonlazi-"boy"
-amazi-"water"
-allionvoo: "banana"
-aleevay-"hair"
-ameso:"eyes"
-baloongee-"good"
-bambi:"please"
I am not really sure where I stand in all of this hurt and despair. I just ask..."Why"...Why do kids lay in the streets...Why do boys live alone and drink milk every day for lunch...Why are all these people hurting and needing something!? MANY of my readers are refugees. One has ran away from the congo...left everything to be away from the wars and attacks. He was here..alone in Kampala...until his brother escaped and found him here one day. He calls it his miracle!
Cade has a reader who has aids and is CERTAIN that God will make a cure one day for this! ALL these people trust in God more than I will EVER know!
The way these people pray...is AMAZING...their prayers are so sincere and begging Jesus...just to keep them safe...one more day.
We learn new things every day. Yesterday we learned that a stray cat...who is scared of people...are called "sluts"...Funny huh!?
Alex the other day asked what was for breakfast when it was carried out to our table..It was just scrambled eggs and bread...Alex thought maybe it was called something fancy so he asked the lady..."What is this called?" She looked at him funny and said..."Eggs and Bread?" hahaha! Oh silly Americans!:)
One thing I LOVE is seeing the women and men carrying things on their heads-Bananas...water jugs...bags...barrels...baskets...EVERYTHING! So neat!!!:)
Today...was the first time that I cried and just held a little boys hand.
He told me his story...his parents were killed on a motorcycle...he was then taken to live with aunt and uncle..who told him to go get something at the store...he left and came back and they were not there...they left him. He lived on the streets for two days until someone came to him and told him to come to the boys home. They took him there where he has lived for a year. The food is very sparingly there...and when you have food...the older kids say "I can take that...I have been here longer" and they take it...which means no food for that meal. They have one or two outfits..where they have to take them and wash them themselves...in a sewer area that makes them sick often...usually no shoes...education costs money...which they dont have...unless they steal things..and sell it...so they do not go to school...
His name is Lawerence..his is 13...and he got VERY close with me today..and we spent hours together today talking...him telling me his story...holding back tears...telling me how people kick him out of public places..calling him filth...and he would just shake his head and say...It's a bad life...a bad life...
We talked and talked and he finally began to say that his life is good...he just wish it was better..that life would be better...with a family..in their car...driving to the beach...eating donuts.
He told me if an American came and took him home he would say "OH YES! Thank you! I would LOVE to come with you and live with you!"
I cried...and I held his hand...and I told him that I would take him home in my bag with me if I could.
He said to me over and over..." One day...One day...Jesus will come and it will be nice...One day."
One day...I will be with all these precious people again...one day...
Today was an emotional day for me...and I still sit here..and just start crying...It is NOT good here for these babies...It breaks my heart...
All I know to do is hold him...love him..and show him Jesus.
Pray for these people...
Pray for my heart...so that I can be strong with these people.
Love you ALL!!
I still don't know if I really understand what I saw in the market and slums. It isn't real to me...people do not live that way in my "real-life" book. I try to grasp it...and just don't understand...and never fully will.
We played cards here at the church when we didn't have readers or electricity with others at the church. Electricity is a rare thing here...we treasure it VERY much!! I dont know if I have already mentioned this, but this place is ALWAYS busy!! People here...coming and going....studying..playing...reading...eating...talking...just being together.
We have laughed a lot and we feel as if we have been here MANY days already...it's only day 4!
We now have mosquito nets to protect us during the night! They are fun to sleep under. Quite an experience!! And we LOVE it!
We have eaten some different food but also American style food. The other night we ordered Domino's pizza and it was actually delivered here!! That was a treat!
I am learning SEVERAL words in Luganda...and I speak them regularly to my readers...and they always laugh at me...because I never say it right! But it's fun to learn and practice!
-Boonga: "pound it"
-omowanla: "girl"
-omonlazi-"boy"
-amazi-"water"
-allionvoo: "banana"
-aleevay-"hair"
-ameso:"eyes"
-baloongee-"good"
-bambi:"please"
I am not really sure where I stand in all of this hurt and despair. I just ask..."Why"...Why do kids lay in the streets...Why do boys live alone and drink milk every day for lunch...Why are all these people hurting and needing something!? MANY of my readers are refugees. One has ran away from the congo...left everything to be away from the wars and attacks. He was here..alone in Kampala...until his brother escaped and found him here one day. He calls it his miracle!
Cade has a reader who has aids and is CERTAIN that God will make a cure one day for this! ALL these people trust in God more than I will EVER know!
The way these people pray...is AMAZING...their prayers are so sincere and begging Jesus...just to keep them safe...one more day.
We learn new things every day. Yesterday we learned that a stray cat...who is scared of people...are called "sluts"...Funny huh!?
Alex the other day asked what was for breakfast when it was carried out to our table..It was just scrambled eggs and bread...Alex thought maybe it was called something fancy so he asked the lady..."What is this called?" She looked at him funny and said..."Eggs and Bread?" hahaha! Oh silly Americans!:)
One thing I LOVE is seeing the women and men carrying things on their heads-Bananas...water jugs...bags...barrels...baskets...EVERYTHING! So neat!!!:)
Today...was the first time that I cried and just held a little boys hand.
He told me his story...his parents were killed on a motorcycle...he was then taken to live with aunt and uncle..who told him to go get something at the store...he left and came back and they were not there...they left him. He lived on the streets for two days until someone came to him and told him to come to the boys home. They took him there where he has lived for a year. The food is very sparingly there...and when you have food...the older kids say "I can take that...I have been here longer" and they take it...which means no food for that meal. They have one or two outfits..where they have to take them and wash them themselves...in a sewer area that makes them sick often...usually no shoes...education costs money...which they dont have...unless they steal things..and sell it...so they do not go to school...
His name is Lawerence..his is 13...and he got VERY close with me today..and we spent hours together today talking...him telling me his story...holding back tears...telling me how people kick him out of public places..calling him filth...and he would just shake his head and say...It's a bad life...a bad life...
We talked and talked and he finally began to say that his life is good...he just wish it was better..that life would be better...with a family..in their car...driving to the beach...eating donuts.
He told me if an American came and took him home he would say "OH YES! Thank you! I would LOVE to come with you and live with you!"
I cried...and I held his hand...and I told him that I would take him home in my bag with me if I could.
He said to me over and over..." One day...One day...Jesus will come and it will be nice...One day."
One day...I will be with all these precious people again...one day...
Today was an emotional day for me...and I still sit here..and just start crying...It is NOT good here for these babies...It breaks my heart...
All I know to do is hold him...love him..and show him Jesus.
Pray for these people...
Pray for my heart...so that I can be strong with these people.
Love you ALL!!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Kampala Uganda!!!!
WE ARE HERE!!
Sorry it has taken time to write...we have been so busy just the few days we have been here!
And man...in just a few days we have seen SO SO much!!
The plane ride was an experience in itself for me. I can't say that it was my FAVORITE thing...and I got extremely car sick...I am JUST NOW over it...after I took some meds...and now I am sooo much better! The plane ride seemed to take FOREVER! We finally arrived in Ettenbee around 11 where the leaders of the church were there to greet us with open arms! They drove us in a rented vehicle that they had hired out and took us into our new world.
Life is totally different here in Uganda than in America...and I mean TOTALLY different!
We have got to experience the food...the markets...the streets...boda boda's...rain...sunshine..misquotes...no English and SO much more!!! And we have SO much to come! We have learned so many new Lugandan words...and so many things about this place that we NEVER knew...( AND MOM...THEY DO HAVE BLACK MAMBAS-but they are in their "barracks" or so I was told!!)
We walk everywhere and most things are a 30 min walk away.
Right now...a 6 yr old little boy is sitting on my lap.His name is Jone and he is SO smart! We played in the rain together today...wrote the ABC's and he even did math problems. He knows English very well. He asked me today if America had snow and he was amazed!
We have met SO many people and they are ALL nice! Not one has been rude. The people love American's or "mazoongo". They love to see us!
We just started with our readers today...meeting them and setting up a schedule with them for daily or weekly reading...getting to know their lives....and letting them know about our lives. We will begin actual readings very soon!!!
Uganda and Kampala in itself is NOT like what the internet says....we were shocked...amazed...and in awe of what this place is really like!!! You will never know...until you see it with your own eyes.
The people here in Kampala....they don't depend on things of this world...because they have nothing of this world...but they depend on God...and His love...protection...strength...and the blessings of a NEW day!
I will write soon...or as soon as I can!!
I cannot wait to show you pictures and videos when I return!!
Love you ALL!!
Continue to pray and be in thought of our team...readers...Kampala...and others that we may come in contact with.
Sorry it has taken time to write...we have been so busy just the few days we have been here!
And man...in just a few days we have seen SO SO much!!
The plane ride was an experience in itself for me. I can't say that it was my FAVORITE thing...and I got extremely car sick...I am JUST NOW over it...after I took some meds...and now I am sooo much better! The plane ride seemed to take FOREVER! We finally arrived in Ettenbee around 11 where the leaders of the church were there to greet us with open arms! They drove us in a rented vehicle that they had hired out and took us into our new world.
Life is totally different here in Uganda than in America...and I mean TOTALLY different!
We have got to experience the food...the markets...the streets...boda boda's...rain...sunshine..misquotes...no English and SO much more!!! And we have SO much to come! We have learned so many new Lugandan words...and so many things about this place that we NEVER knew...( AND MOM...THEY DO HAVE BLACK MAMBAS-but they are in their "barracks" or so I was told!!)
We walk everywhere and most things are a 30 min walk away.
Right now...a 6 yr old little boy is sitting on my lap.His name is Jone and he is SO smart! We played in the rain together today...wrote the ABC's and he even did math problems. He knows English very well. He asked me today if America had snow and he was amazed!
We have met SO many people and they are ALL nice! Not one has been rude. The people love American's or "mazoongo". They love to see us!
We just started with our readers today...meeting them and setting up a schedule with them for daily or weekly reading...getting to know their lives....and letting them know about our lives. We will begin actual readings very soon!!!
Uganda and Kampala in itself is NOT like what the internet says....we were shocked...amazed...and in awe of what this place is really like!!! You will never know...until you see it with your own eyes.
The people here in Kampala....they don't depend on things of this world...because they have nothing of this world...but they depend on God...and His love...protection...strength...and the blessings of a NEW day!
I will write soon...or as soon as I can!!
I cannot wait to show you pictures and videos when I return!!
Love you ALL!!
Continue to pray and be in thought of our team...readers...Kampala...and others that we may come in contact with.
Friday, May 13, 2011
FAMILY TIME!
Today has been a good day!! I got to spend the day with my mom. We went out to eat in Mt. Home and then went to a few shops.It was just a good time to hang out and talk and be together. We came home and got ready to go to a family dinner at my Nana's.The food was SO good and it was a really good time together playing with the cousins and talking with family. My cousin Canaan was the CUTEST thing ever tonight!! Made us all laugh so hard with everything he was saying! LOVE HIM!! Once again...it feels GREAT to have prayers and support from the people I love. I can't wait to come back and tell them all about it!
Tomorrow I am going to my grandma's house and we are having breakfast for lunch!! HOMEMADE breakfast!! I am sure it will be as good time and the food will be great! I am hopefully going to see my best friend Grace afterwards. I love her with ALL my heart and more! She has ALWAYS supported me and loved me and pushed me and taken me by the hand through EVERYTHING! No matter what...we will be best friends! I love her and her support/love for me. After I visit Grace...I am going to go visit Tayler...my other best friend! This girl is getting married soon..kind of breaks my heart...bc she will be MARRIED!!ahhh!(As long as she is happy!!!) But I am gonna go see her and visit with her for a while. She is SUCH a strong woman! We have had such a great time together through high school and college both. She is a rock that I can always go to and I love that about her! We will catch up and I'm sure have some good laughs even in that short amount of time we spend together!
I love this family of mine who is so loving toward me and my decisions.
I am SO grateful for best friends who are the BEST things I could EVER ask for in my life!
Both are HUGE blessings in my life and I am beyond thankful for them!!
The days are getting close!
It's almost time to board the plane!! EEEKKKKK!!!!
Only a few more days and you will be able to read things FROM Africa!!! EXCITING!
Keep praying for our team and the people we will be working with!!!!
ALL my love!<3
Tomorrow I am going to my grandma's house and we are having breakfast for lunch!! HOMEMADE breakfast!! I am sure it will be as good time and the food will be great! I am hopefully going to see my best friend Grace afterwards. I love her with ALL my heart and more! She has ALWAYS supported me and loved me and pushed me and taken me by the hand through EVERYTHING! No matter what...we will be best friends! I love her and her support/love for me. After I visit Grace...I am going to go visit Tayler...my other best friend! This girl is getting married soon..kind of breaks my heart...bc she will be MARRIED!!ahhh!(As long as she is happy!!!) But I am gonna go see her and visit with her for a while. She is SUCH a strong woman! We have had such a great time together through high school and college both. She is a rock that I can always go to and I love that about her! We will catch up and I'm sure have some good laughs even in that short amount of time we spend together!
I love this family of mine who is so loving toward me and my decisions.
I am SO grateful for best friends who are the BEST things I could EVER ask for in my life!
Both are HUGE blessings in my life and I am beyond thankful for them!!
The days are getting close!
It's almost time to board the plane!! EEEKKKKK!!!!
Only a few more days and you will be able to read things FROM Africa!!! EXCITING!
Keep praying for our team and the people we will be working with!!!!
ALL my love!<3
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Team
My best friend Tayler sent me a message this morning that really made me smile. She was reading her daily devo last night by Rick Warren. It really related to me and this trip and I want to share it with all of you like she shared it with me today!:) I am so glad that I have friends and family supporting me and thinking of me as I prepare for this trip! Thanks Tay!<3
It's titled "Success Involves Help From Others" and is focused on Ecclesiastes 4:12... "And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
To reach your goals you may need to enlist a team for support [which made me think of your Africa group]. I've been to Africa many times and heard this proverb over and over: "If you want to go fast, go by yourself. If you want to go far, go with others." We think it's important to make a speedy decision, but it's more important to make the right decision.
Success is never a one-man job; it takes teamwork. God wired it this way because the most important lesson he wants you to learn here on earth is to love people. Not only that, there are some things in your life that you will never be able to change without the support, prayers and encouragement of other people. That's why it's so important to be in a small group.
Our verse today says it all. The stronger your team is, the more you can fulfill your dream.
I really love this and I think that it can apply to others and my life not just in Africa. Family and friends are so important to push you along and give you encouragement as well as walk by your side the whole way!
I am so blessed to have this in my life!
Today was a good day! Cleaned up ALL the junk I brought home from college...and yes...it is all JUNK! My grandpa took me out for breakfast and I loved every minute of it! I treasure moments like that! We went to the local restaurant..Hilltop...for some eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and hashbrowns. Nothing like a good breakfast...with people you know sitting around you...talking...and enjoying life!
FIVE DAYS and I will be flying...with my team...who are my family...and from that moment on..we will be getting stronger and bonding in love to fulfill these dreams!!
It's titled "Success Involves Help From Others" and is focused on Ecclesiastes 4:12... "And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
To reach your goals you may need to enlist a team for support [which made me think of your Africa group]. I've been to Africa many times and heard this proverb over and over: "If you want to go fast, go by yourself. If you want to go far, go with others." We think it's important to make a speedy decision, but it's more important to make the right decision.
Success is never a one-man job; it takes teamwork. God wired it this way because the most important lesson he wants you to learn here on earth is to love people. Not only that, there are some things in your life that you will never be able to change without the support, prayers and encouragement of other people. That's why it's so important to be in a small group.
Our verse today says it all. The stronger your team is, the more you can fulfill your dream.
I really love this and I think that it can apply to others and my life not just in Africa. Family and friends are so important to push you along and give you encouragement as well as walk by your side the whole way!
I am so blessed to have this in my life!
Today was a good day! Cleaned up ALL the junk I brought home from college...and yes...it is all JUNK! My grandpa took me out for breakfast and I loved every minute of it! I treasure moments like that! We went to the local restaurant..Hilltop...for some eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and hashbrowns. Nothing like a good breakfast...with people you know sitting around you...talking...and enjoying life!
FIVE DAYS and I will be flying...with my team...who are my family...and from that moment on..we will be getting stronger and bonding in love to fulfill these dreams!!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Home!
I finally made it home...DONE with finals!! DONE with my Junior year! What a great year it has been, too! I am praying that my grades come back good so that I am blessed with keeping my scholarship another year!! It's my LAST year...I am gonna be a SENIOR!! I feel like it was just yesterday that I graduated high school! I love my home. I love my town and the people here...even if I am related to half of the people here and the other half know ALL your business even if you don't want them to. My town is SO close...we take care of each other...we LOVE each other...and we know how to be strong. I love knowing that I can be supported here no matter what. I know that they are PROUD of me...REALLY proud of me...and who I am and what I am doing. No matter where I go...this place will ALWAYS be home. I love the connection I have with my old teachers...parents of my friends...and the lady at the bank and grocery store. I love that I can call my best friends from school...after not talking for weeks..pick up right where we left off...and talk for HOURS! I LOVE the community in which I have been raised and can ALWAYS come home to.
It makes me start to wonder about the community that I am going to experience in Kampala. I wonder if these people have parents to go home to when they are gone for a long time. I wonder if the people in their town know all their business...or if their people support them, have their back no matter what, and love on each other in hard times.
I cannot imagine NOT having this in my life. This community and love.
This is what I want to do for this town...I want and need to bring this community together. Combine them in love,trust,honesty, and compassion for one another. I want this church to reach out and make their people feel like my people do in a town of 1,312 in Arkansas.
I know that I cant do this on my own...but I can influence these people. And I feel that if one life is influenced in such a way...SO many more can be influenced in so many other ways!! One life is all I want to touch..one...in SOME way...
I may never know or see how I have touched these people...but that's okay...I don't think that is the way it has to be. God sees it...He is planning and preparing it now in advance for me!
Keep praying for our trip...which by the way...is SIX DAYS away!
Pray for our eyes to be opened..
our hearts to be available...
our ears to be open...
our arms to spread from east to west...
our minds to be cleared...
our joy to be overflowing...
our lives to be changed FOREVER...
to make the people of Kampala...a people of God's love.
It makes me start to wonder about the community that I am going to experience in Kampala. I wonder if these people have parents to go home to when they are gone for a long time. I wonder if the people in their town know all their business...or if their people support them, have their back no matter what, and love on each other in hard times.
I cannot imagine NOT having this in my life. This community and love.
This is what I want to do for this town...I want and need to bring this community together. Combine them in love,trust,honesty, and compassion for one another. I want this church to reach out and make their people feel like my people do in a town of 1,312 in Arkansas.
I know that I cant do this on my own...but I can influence these people. And I feel that if one life is influenced in such a way...SO many more can be influenced in so many other ways!! One life is all I want to touch..one...in SOME way...
I may never know or see how I have touched these people...but that's okay...I don't think that is the way it has to be. God sees it...He is planning and preparing it now in advance for me!
Keep praying for our trip...which by the way...is SIX DAYS away!
Pray for our eyes to be opened..
our hearts to be available...
our ears to be open...
our arms to spread from east to west...
our minds to be cleared...
our joy to be overflowing...
our lives to be changed FOREVER...
to make the people of Kampala...a people of God's love.
Monday, May 9, 2011
ONE WEEK!
One week from today, I will be boarding an airplane(for the first time EVER) and heading to Kampala, Uganda!
I would've never imagined myself doing something like this! It is a once in a life time experience and a dream come true!
We started taking our malaria pills today, got all of my things moved out of our apartment, and I have one final left to go before I am home! It has been a GREAT year...a year in which I have grown...cried...hurt...laughed...seen things...and learned more than I could ever imagine. I have seen babies healed...lives once torn apart, now put back together...hearts mended...lives in storms saved...health results come back positive...and SO much more...all through the POWER of prayer! I understand a different kind of Jesus than one that I have ever understood before. And I am SO glad that I know the Jesus that loves me, forgives me, and covers me by His grace!
The verse I want to share today is 2 Thessalonians 2:14- He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I LOVE this verse and I feel like it is SO fitting to going on this trip. I am going with an amazing group of people and I pray daily that our eyes will be opened to new things and that we will be changed forever. We were told the Good News....now it's our turn to go share it...to people in a city...in AFRICA...
A little girl from Arkansas...will be sharing the life of Jesus...to another girl from Africa.
That to me is beautiful...and I cannot WAIT!!!
SEVEN DAYS!!!
I would've never imagined myself doing something like this! It is a once in a life time experience and a dream come true!
We started taking our malaria pills today, got all of my things moved out of our apartment, and I have one final left to go before I am home! It has been a GREAT year...a year in which I have grown...cried...hurt...laughed...seen things...and learned more than I could ever imagine. I have seen babies healed...lives once torn apart, now put back together...hearts mended...lives in storms saved...health results come back positive...and SO much more...all through the POWER of prayer! I understand a different kind of Jesus than one that I have ever understood before. And I am SO glad that I know the Jesus that loves me, forgives me, and covers me by His grace!
The verse I want to share today is 2 Thessalonians 2:14- He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I LOVE this verse and I feel like it is SO fitting to going on this trip. I am going with an amazing group of people and I pray daily that our eyes will be opened to new things and that we will be changed forever. We were told the Good News....now it's our turn to go share it...to people in a city...in AFRICA...
A little girl from Arkansas...will be sharing the life of Jesus...to another girl from Africa.
That to me is beautiful...and I cannot WAIT!!!
SEVEN DAYS!!!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Love Never Fades
Today was mother's day...and I wasn't able to be at home with my mom for this day..but I will be in TWO days bc I only have TWO days until I am DONE with finals!! YAHOOO!!!
I hope my mother had a WONDERFUL mother's day!:)
I was thinking about my mom and all the things she has done for me and put up with and how her love for me grows more and more every day! It never fades away but ONLY grows stronger! I am SO blessed to have a mother who is like this! I don't know what kind of life I would live if I didn't have a mother that was this strong and this courageous! My heart goes out to those who never had a momma or who never had one who praised them even when they failed. That's a good mom!!
I love knowing that I have such a WONDERFUL family and support system who push me to my limits and guide me along the way. I love having family and friends who continually pray for me and for my life. I love knowing that even if I were to become a garbage truck driver..they would STILL be proud of me and would support me every step of the way! I AM TRULY BLESSED WITH A LOVE THAT NEVER FADES!
I have EIGHT DAYS until I leave...only EIGHT!!!!:)
I will miss my family and friends VERY much during my six weeks in Africa...but the time will FLY by...and I will be in touch as much as I can through facebook and my blog....
Keep praying and keep that love that never fades flowing from your heart!
I hope my mother had a WONDERFUL mother's day!:)
I was thinking about my mom and all the things she has done for me and put up with and how her love for me grows more and more every day! It never fades away but ONLY grows stronger! I am SO blessed to have a mother who is like this! I don't know what kind of life I would live if I didn't have a mother that was this strong and this courageous! My heart goes out to those who never had a momma or who never had one who praised them even when they failed. That's a good mom!!
I love knowing that I have such a WONDERFUL family and support system who push me to my limits and guide me along the way. I love having family and friends who continually pray for me and for my life. I love knowing that even if I were to become a garbage truck driver..they would STILL be proud of me and would support me every step of the way! I AM TRULY BLESSED WITH A LOVE THAT NEVER FADES!
I have EIGHT DAYS until I leave...only EIGHT!!!!:)
I will miss my family and friends VERY much during my six weeks in Africa...but the time will FLY by...and I will be in touch as much as I can through facebook and my blog....
Keep praying and keep that love that never fades flowing from your heart!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Unfamiliar Sounds
Today...my only day to sleep in...I was woken up by an unfamiliar sound...Not like a quiet..strange humming sound..but a LOUD banging sound right above me. I was confused for a while until I looked out my window to see a roofing company truck. Little did I know..there was some damage to our apartment roof during the tornado week. Needless to say... I was NOT happy to be woken up by these sounds. They continued on until I couldn't stand to lay and listen to them any longer. The workers began to yell back and forth from one roof to another and then began dropping their tools on the ground (which are ALL wonderful sounds if you haven't heard them before!) So I decided to go downstairs and see if the noise was any better down there...I was wrong...So this means that I was officially awake now. And when I officially was awake...sitting on the couch...checking out facebook...ALL of the noises stopped...and haven't happened since then...AWESOME!!!..Just my luck...
BUT it also got me to thinking about my trip...which is in...NINE DAYS!!
In Africa, I am sure that I will be woken up by unfamiliar sounds quite often. I cannot let this alter my mood or make me angry at the sound or the source of the sound. I am sure there will be times when I have no clue what the sound I am hearing is...This is when I have to be calm..watch my temper...and be patient...I may be woken up every day...EARLY...and I have to remember why I am there and who I am serving. I am NOT there to sleep or lay around, but to teach others about Jesus and show them His love through my life.
After I came down the stairs to get away from the noise, I checked my daily verse...and it just happens to be something I definitely needed to read.... Psalm 118:24- This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it...
So....roofers early in the morning or not...this is the day GOD made...and it is a gift from Him...I will be glad in it!
BUT it also got me to thinking about my trip...which is in...NINE DAYS!!
In Africa, I am sure that I will be woken up by unfamiliar sounds quite often. I cannot let this alter my mood or make me angry at the sound or the source of the sound. I am sure there will be times when I have no clue what the sound I am hearing is...This is when I have to be calm..watch my temper...and be patient...I may be woken up every day...EARLY...and I have to remember why I am there and who I am serving. I am NOT there to sleep or lay around, but to teach others about Jesus and show them His love through my life.
After I came down the stairs to get away from the noise, I checked my daily verse...and it just happens to be something I definitely needed to read.... Psalm 118:24- This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it...
So....roofers early in the morning or not...this is the day GOD made...and it is a gift from Him...I will be glad in it!
Friday, May 6, 2011
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!
The 10 day countdown begins TODAY!!!
I am finishing up finals this week...I only have two more left...out of six...and they are really starting to get to me. I am just ready to be home with my family and friends for a few days in a town I truly love.
I get a daily verse sent to my e-mail and for the past three days I have had some really amazing verses that have really spoken to me and my team going to Africa as a whole.
Psalm 66:5- Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!!!
I LOVE this verse SOOO much! And it really speaks to me and how I feel about Africa. I cannot WAIT to see what God has for us in store...and the AWESOME MIRACLES that we will see for ourselves!
They are preparing for us right now...getting people ready for us...and I KNOW God will show us great things!
1 Chronicles 16:24- Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell EVERYONE about the amazing things he does!
This is my sign...to tell them ALL...EVERYONE...I am going to Africa...to PUBLISH his GLORIOUS deeds....My life and how much the Lord has blessed me is to be published to His people!
Isaiah 40:29- He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
I will feel weak...And I will feel COMPLETELY powerless in a country where I know nothing. But God gives me power...and God gives me strength.
This is something I am VERY excited to experience!!! I cannot wait to feel His power through me and know without a doubt...relying on faith...that I am NOT powerless with Him by my side...
TEN DAYS!!!!!!
I am finishing up finals this week...I only have two more left...out of six...and they are really starting to get to me. I am just ready to be home with my family and friends for a few days in a town I truly love.
I get a daily verse sent to my e-mail and for the past three days I have had some really amazing verses that have really spoken to me and my team going to Africa as a whole.
Psalm 66:5- Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!!!
I LOVE this verse SOOO much! And it really speaks to me and how I feel about Africa. I cannot WAIT to see what God has for us in store...and the AWESOME MIRACLES that we will see for ourselves!
They are preparing for us right now...getting people ready for us...and I KNOW God will show us great things!
1 Chronicles 16:24- Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell EVERYONE about the amazing things he does!
This is my sign...to tell them ALL...EVERYONE...I am going to Africa...to PUBLISH his GLORIOUS deeds....My life and how much the Lord has blessed me is to be published to His people!
Isaiah 40:29- He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
I will feel weak...And I will feel COMPLETELY powerless in a country where I know nothing. But God gives me power...and God gives me strength.
This is something I am VERY excited to experience!!! I cannot wait to feel His power through me and know without a doubt...relying on faith...that I am NOT powerless with Him by my side...
TEN DAYS!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)