This week makes up for last week....phew I'm tired

Week 4 (10/25-10/31)

This week is going to be hectic, more people leaving, my first and second morning devotions, children’s ministry report, a walking trip down the hill, a trip to the craft marketplace, a celebration, and two trips to my new favorite restaurant “I Feel Like Chicken…Tonight”

Let’s start with a little weather report, as I might have mentioned once before it is the rainy season here and rains almost everyday and night. Well this past Sunday, God must have wanted us to feel His presence, because not just His spirit rained down, torrential downpour does not even begin to explain it. It rained very hard for about 2 hours straight. Now this would have been fabulous, except we hold one children’s church class outside, so we had to relocate all the students into one room, and have the two classes together in the same room. It was very exciting to say the least. We also had one member of the church who graciously shuttled the children from the main service to the class under his umbrella, 4 trips and we got it done. Everything else aside we had a very good class time, and I think the kids look forward to Children’s Church which means that it must be going well.

On Monday we just rested and hung out around the house, watching movies and taking pictures of the cowherds and herders who pass by the house, it is so wild. I live for Mondays, the day when everyone is so relaxed.

On Tuesday, I had my first devotion today. I woke up at 5:30 am, and studied one last time in preparation for my message. I just wanted to say a big hat’s off and thumbs up to all pastors and preachers, because sharing the word is definitely a labor of love. The Bishop must never sleep! I shared a message from Daniel 3:13-30, its about 3 Hebrew boys, Shaddrack, Meshach, and Abednego (those names are a mouthful). Everyone said I did a good job, and I think that it was nothing but God, because I was so nervous and talking so fast, but it was still a good 35 minutes, and I think people actually got something from it. Of course, I had no time to bask in my success, because I had another devotion to do on Friday. Whew.

 In other news two of the Pastors from Agape Global Missions, moved to Butamaya (sp?), where they have been called to plant a church. They have been preparing for months and it was great to see them moving into the next phase of their ministry. Please pray for them that God moves through them in that city and that hearts are touched and lives are changed in Butamaya.

Tuesday afternoon I took my first walking trip down the hill to the town below called Kansanga. The walk down the hill is very fun. I stopped to take pictures of the plants and matokee tress around here. When we got down to the road, I began to slightly fear for my life, there are no sidewalks, per say here so when you are walking it is like being on the side of the road, and since they were a British Colony, it feels like they are driving on the wrong side of the road and at any moment you are going to be hit. Soon enough, I got used to my surroundings and started to enjoy the trip a little more. My roommate Robinah went with me and we went to the store and bought snacks and things for our movie night. On the way home we stopped for sodas and had a relaxing time, before beginning our trek, back up the hill. When I say trek I mean it, because the house is on the other side of this hill you have to walk up a very, very steep hill, that curves, a little, and then around and down the other side. While we were walking up the hill, Robinah asks, “If someone offered you a ride would you take it?” to which I responded “Definitely, if I was walking up this hill, most definitely” (Under normal circumstances I would never accept a ride from a stranger, out here, not even a priest. Safety First J).  Anywho, after we made it up the hill it was a pretty enjoyable walk, and I would take it so many more times.

Wednesday was a pretty productive day, with a little hanging out with the vocational school ladies in the afternoon, followed by a trip to the doctor, with my friend Cliff (whose story is in the next blog) and Robinah, to pick up some MRI results. Cliff worked for Agape and has been living at the Agape House for the past few months. The MRI results brought good, and so a celebration was to be had. On the way home we stopped for a special treat, I Feel Like Chiken…Tonight (it has nothing on Nando’s), sodas, chips (fries), and chicken for everyone!

Thursday was a sad day for me, but also exciting because Cliff went home to live with his family outside of Jinja, which is about 1 hour from here. The house has been a little different without him; there is definitely a void around here, especially his booming voice singing during devotion.

Friday, was started off with my 2^nd devotion, woo hoo! I think I am becoming a seasoned deliverer of the Word. I am definitely being pushed and stretched in this new role of sharing the Word, so intense.

Saturday was Betty’s, a missionary from the Los Angeles, last day, so we went to the craft marketplace. So much cool stuff you will be overwhelmed quickly and will lose focus easily, it’s like going to Target without a list. I am going back before I leave, armed with haggling prices in mind and a list in hand, it should be a good trip. It was a very hectic day with lots of last minute visits to places and of course a trip to “I Feel Like Chicken Tonight” only this time it was so crowded that there was standing room only. It was another fun, but sad day to see someone else leaving, but she is on her way to Namibia and I know she is excited to visit family there and do some awesome work there.

That is all for now and it seems that as my time is winding up here I am getting so much more busy. But Let the count down begin in about 2 weeks I will be back to the land of hot running water, pizza, Taco Bell, and everything that has to do with the fun Fall season. There will more to come really soon! Peace and blessings. Please continue to pray for the ministry and me while I am here. Thank you for your love and support!

A fun and quiet week

I know it's late but I did want to post my last few Uganda  blogs!

Week 3 (10/18-10/24)

There is not much to report this week; I love it here. Sometimes I even forget that I’m in Africa until, I go to take a shower or brush my teeth (w/ bottled water of course). My memory is also jarred back to reality when we make trips downtown or to the store at the bottom of the hill, where the roads are dirt and the organized chaos of streets. There is no words that can describe what it is like being on the roads around here, it seems as though the only law is, avoid hitting things, street vendors, pedestrians, other cars, bodas (motorcycle taxis) …just avoid it…no lanes, no speed limits, no real rules, just try your best to not hit anything. Needless to say after 3 weeks here I have adjusted to life in Africa and I don’t know if I will be able to adjust to life in the States when I leave. 

This Sunday I had my first praise and worship devotion. It went well, it was my first time speaking in church and I was a bit nervous. They tell me I did okay, and that I will get better with time. I sure hope so, because I have weekday devotion in approximately 9 days, and it has to be 30-45 minutes. YIKES!

Children’s Church is going well, the kids are multiplying and there were 12 children this week. We are getting into the routine and the kids seem to be learning a lot. We are teaching the creation story and the kids are really enjoying sharing all the things they know God created. I also think they like praise and worship, this week we had a couple of the kids come up and lead the songs and they were so thrilled.

I have a made a new friend, her name is Gloria, but we call her Glory and she is 3 years old. She is one of Pastor Immanuel’s daughters. She is so smart and already knows 3 languages, and is pretty awesome, although she is definitely 3 and sharing and following directions are not her strong suits, yet. Any who, since they moved in she is becoming more attached to me I knew we would be friends when she would constantly ask me, “What is your name?” and “who is your friend?” Glory and I hang out pretty much all day while her parents are working in the office. We eat lunch together and explore the area surrounding the house. I know she is becoming more comfortable with me because sometimes she starts speaking in Luganda and I don’t know what she is saying, but she is excited about it is.

This Saturday we had some visitors from the animal kingdom. MONKEYS!!! A whole entire family of them, wild monkeys from the hills behind us!! They were eating papayas and bananas from the trees around the house and having a good time. There were little babies that were so cute and older ones of course, they stayed for a couple of hours and I have excellent pictures to show when I get home. 

Getting Down to Business-Week 2

This week so much has been happening here. One of the missionaries from the US, Mama Marjie, went back home this week. There were many festivities in her honor, Coke floats, a luxury, and lots of fun and sharing. She is an amazing woman, and has been to Africa 8 times on mission trips. She left and then Pastor Rita, a missionary from Uganda who is panting a church in another area of Uganda moved into the house from the back house, while she is preparing to go out and start her church. Also another missionary, Pastor Immanuel and his wife and two daughters (ages 1 and 3), moved into the back house, so now the property is full and it is very exciting. With everything that is going on it seems like there is a constant buzz moving through the property.
In other news this week I have been given the task of helping out the Children’s Ministry at the church here. I am on a tem with Minister Robinah, who is also my roommate and a 16-year old girl Denise, who lives on the property. They are starting from scratch so there is a lot to be done and so much to learn. My hat goes off to anyone who has started a ministry, there is oh so much work to do, and at times I think my brain cannot take in any more information. This week I have been making plans and creating templates, and so much more. I even drew some pictures, and Lord knows I am no artist. Things are shaping up pretty nice and tomorrow Sunday, October 18, 2009 we will have our first official day of Children’s Church. YAY, I can’t wait, pictures of this blessed even will surely follow. I pray that the lesson goes well and that the children learn from what we teach them tomorrow.
Finally in exciting social news, I got a Ugandan cell phone, because the power and Internet situation is so unpredictable here, and it is amazing. I am slowly but surely figuring out this overseas communication thing and I am excited about it. That is all for now. This is turning out to be an amazing experience and I have learned so much from it already. I can’t wait to see how I stretch and grow during the upcoming days and weeks. Until next time, love, peace and blessings to everyone. Please continue to pray for me and everyone here.

Daily Life Week 1, Part 2

Daily Life
Everyday I wake up with the sun, which is an interesting statement, especially coming from me, but here it is very true, I am up everyday at 6:00 am. Maybe that is one thing I will be able to carry over when I get home, though I am positive that it won’t be the case. Our mornings here begin with devotion at 8:00. I have to say that Daily Devotion is something that I have missed since leaving Abilene Christian University and daily chapel. Nothing gets your day started than spending time with the God. Devotion is taught on a rotating schedule with the pastors, ministers, and missionaries at the house and on staff for Agape Global Missions, my turn is coming up soon and I am so nervous; so much preparation to be done. After devotion we have breakfast, which is prepared by the GREATEST cook in Uganda, Harriet. After breakfast, depending on the day I have ministry meetings, or I go to town to help run errands, or help out in the Agape Global Missions office here. Lunch is served around 1:00pm and then the afternoon goes by so fast. Three times a week there is a vocational school that happens here on the property and women from the Kampala come and learns different skills. I am learning a lot too, this past week they learned crocheting (here the “t” is pronounced) and I did a couple stitches myself. Vocational school is over around 4:30/5:00, and the official workday is over. I usually go to read my Bible, journal or hang out with other members of staff and other missionaries. Dinner is ready around 6:00, but people eat at different times I usually eat around 7:00 or 7:30, with Cliff, he lives on the property in the back house, his amazing story is yet to come, and whoever else is ready to eat. Usually, the power comes back on around 8:00pm; did I mention they are working on the power in this area and it is very unpredictable when you will have it; at this point I decide if I would rather have a cold “shower” or hot “shower” (i.e. boil some water to bathe with). Then I prepare to go to sleep, just a side note when I say prepare for sleep I mean, douse myself in mosquito repellent, brush my teeth (w/ bottled water of course), and spread out the mosquito net. A word of caution to anyone who is even remotely claustrophobic, do not go anywhere that requires you to sleep under a mosquito net…its down right terrifying, at first. I usually watch a little film, or episode of Gilmore Girls and then it is lights out. The days here are going so well, even with all the challenges and nuances, I am getting a routine down and it seems as though time is flying by.

Journey to Africa- Week 1 Part 1

Whew, after 3 short plan rides and around 40 hours of traveling, covering almost 10,000 miles, I am in Uganda. I arrived at 8:15 pm and didn’t get to see much on the ride from the airport to the house where I will be staying, but I will have plenty of time to take in everything here. My first night was a blur, and I was asleep before I knew it. The next day I woke up to the sound of singing in the living room, I went out to see what was happening to discover devotion was happening, after devotion I had a short meeting with Dr. Linda Marcell, the main missionary/pastor who started Agape Global Missions, and then went back to sleep. Later that day I went to town with Pastor Rita, James (the resident driver), and Mama Marjie, a missionary here also from L.A. We went into town so I could exchange money, the money here is in 1,000 increments so you feel like a millionaire, even though you actually only have a few hundred dollars. Let me make a side note and just mention that here security guards are like an extension of the police department and they carry huge guns and so do police men…so nerve wrecking just to see those guns in everyday use, if I could take a picture I would, but they do not allow it and I’m not going to mess with that. Okay back to the blog, In town it is a very interesting atmosphere, since Kampala is the capitol of Uganda, there are many diplomats and dignitaries, and other businessmen all around, but you also have a lot of beggars and people who are like sidewalk vendors selling you everything from sandals and bracelets to newspapers and cell phone minutes (they call it airtime). Here the juxtaposition of wealthy and poor is everywhere, even in town, you turn the corner and it is like you’ve entered an entirely different place. Where the Agape house is located is in one of the wealthier parts of Kampala on a hill with a lot of other non-profit properties and properties owned by wealthy Ugandans, there is even a house here that has a helipad and swimming pool like mansions in the US.
There are a lot of people that work here in the house and the AGM offices and everyone is very nice. I already feel like I have a Uganda family here and it is so amazing. I could not imagine life without each and every person that is here. I am so excited to get to work. I can’t wait for what God has in store for me in these upcoming weeks. That’s all I have for now, so much seen, so many pictures, so many memories already. Until next time love, peace and blessings to everyone.

Journey to Africa- Week 1 Part 1

Whew, after 3 short plan rides and around 40 hours of traveling, covering almost 10,000 miles, I am in Uganda. I arrived at 8:15 pm and didn’t get to see much on the ride from the airport to the house where I will be staying, but I will have plenty of time to take in everything here. My first night was a blur, and I was asleep before I knew it. The next day I woke up to the sound of singing in the living room, I went out to see what was happening to discover devotion was happening, after devotion I had a short meeting with Dr. Linda Marcell, the main missionary/pastor who started Agape Global Missions, and then went back to sleep. Later that day I went to town with Pastor Rita, James (the resident driver), and Mama Marjie, a missionary here also from L.A. We went into town so I could exchange money, the money here is in 1,000 increments so you feel like a millionaire, even though you actually only have a few hundred dollars. Let me make a side note and just mention that here security guards are like an extension of the police department and they carry huge guns and so do police men…so nerve wrecking just to see those guns in everyday use, if I could take a picture I would, but they do not allow it and I’m not going to mess with that. Okay back to the blog, In town it is a very interesting atmosphere, since Kampala is the capitol of Uganda, there are many diplomats and dignitaries, and other businessmen all around, but you also have a lot of beggars and people who are like sidewalk vendors selling you everything from sandals and bracelets to newspapers and cell phone minutes (they call it airtime). Here the juxtaposition of wealthy and poor is everywhere, even in town, you turn the corner and it is like you’ve entered an entirely different place. Where the Agape house is located is in one of the wealthier parts of Kampala on a hill with a lot of other non-profit properties and properties owned by wealthy Ugandans, there is even a house here that has a helipad and swimming pool like mansions in the US.
There are a lot of people that work here in the house and the AGM offices and everyone is very nice. I already feel like I have a Uganda family here and it is so amazing. I could not imagine life without each and every person that is here. I am so excited to get to work. I can’t wait for what God has in store for me in these upcoming weeks. That’s all I have for now, so much seen, so many pictures, so many memories already. Until next time love, peace and blessings to everyone.

Today is the Day!!!

Today I start my journey to Uganda, a 2-day journey, stopping in Atlanta and Amsterdam along the way. The past few weeks leading up to this day have been hectic, filled with errands, doctors appointments (shots!), work, school, Bible study, learning a new language, and so much more. At some times I was so busy I thought I felt as though I could lose it at any moment. Then I was reading Romans my favorite book of the Bible and Paul writes: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13). After I read this verse I got excited, because I realized that I just needed to put all of my trust in Him. God is a God who will handle everything, more efficiently than I can. As this day goes on I try to rest more in His arms and think less of what I have to do and more of what He will do.

Today as I embark for a country on the other side of the world, I am just going to take more time to pray. First for my family and friends, then for myself. I pray for my family and friends, that they do not worry, for God has my back (Psalm 3) and He holds me in His hands (Isaiah 43) and that all they need to do is give their worries to Him (1 Peter 5:6-8). That I might go unafraid into unfamiliar territory, with the confidence that I can do all things through Christ and that God will supply all my needs. I pray that I might be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) and that I might be a sponge and soak up as much as possible. Lastly, please pray that God may bless me with the remaining balance for my trip ($1900) and that I continue with faith that He will do it.

Until next time, Love and Peace

Mission Preparation Update: Phase 1 Complete!!!

It is official!!!! With your prayers and the support of my lovely sister, I have been able to purchase a plane ticket to Uganda. This process is a true test of my faith in Christ and trusting in He who understands the situation fully, sees past the present, and knows the outcome far before I do. I have to constantly remind myself that I can not handle this alone, and I should not even try to do it on my own. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Sometimes it seems as though the process is not going quick enough and the instant gratification in me wants to take the control out of God's hands and just handle it my self. Then I remember that these plans are not my own, but God's, I am chosen (Jeremiah 1:5), He chose me to do this, and if I(we) allow it, His plans always come to pass and succeed. These past couple of weeks, I have been worrying more than praying and seeking God's wisdom. Afterall, it is easier sometimes to want to rush God and worry about things that are happening right here and now, but I think that if we take the time to step out of worry and remember God's promises to us, we will begin to realize the true power of our faith. God is on our side! If we follow His plans and are called to do something, it will come to pass! That is the most amazing thing to me, the most mind-blowing part of this journey (and I haven't even left the country).

I can't wait to see where God leads me as I continue to prepare for this trip. The closer it gets the more excited I become. There are exactly 40 days left until I embark on my physical journey to Uganda. The spiritual journey has been interesting to say the least. Please continue to pray for me as my departure date approaches. Thank you for all your support and good thoughts. I know that God is blessing me continuously throughout this journey and I hope that you will be blessed as well. Speaking of blessings, please notice that because of my sister's glorious contribution my trip cost has gone from $5000 to $3500, can I get a shout for that one!

Here is another chart to see how my donation collection is going:

Please feel free to donate to my trip, by clicking the button at the top of the screen. Thank You for supporting my efforts.

The Letters Are Coming...The Letters Are Coming!!!!

This post will not be long or insightful. This is just a celebratory posting and boasting of my accomplishment! After two days of strenuous work, with the help of a certain younger cousin, 140 letters are in the mail and should be on their way around the country tomorrow. Everything is chugging along at a good pace. I am going to take this opportunity to figure out how to add a graph to my post. All in all be on the lookout for a letter from your favorite college student/activist/young missionary. Peace and Love Until Next Time!!!!

Physical Preparation...hitting the ground running...

Today I started my day like I will start the rest of my days,(hopefully...) with a jog/run. In my information packet they reminded me that I should not only prepare myself for this trip spiritually and mentally, but also physically. As I was out there this morning watching the sun rise, I began to realize how much the spiritual and physical are intertwined. It made me think of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. " These verses ring true in both are spiritual and physical lives, we are running a race and we have to train, and it's not always easy. We run the race to the best of our abilities and push ourselves to do better each time we go out to run.

Each day as I go on this journey I began to realize that I might be getting more out of this trip than I imagined, and I am not even there yet! Till next time, don't forget that you are in this race, keep striving, keep training, keep running.

A Trial Run!!!!

Today I have done it, I am officially gong to Uganda. I have sent in my application to Agape Global Missions, put the finishing touches (just realized that touches almost looks like the word touche) on my informational/asking for donations letters and brochures. This an exciting and intense time for me as I begin this journey that God is leading me on. I hope that this blog will be an interesting and informative one. Here's to take 1....and Action!