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.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, October 05, 2009
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
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