It's February 27th, and our trip to Uganda is only 100 DAYS AWAY.
As I draw nearer and nearer to my life-changing journey, I get more and more excited. The team going to Uganda is composed of 11 people in our church ranging from 16 years old to 66 years old. There are 2 men and 9 women (yes, only 2 men). We have recently begun a team Bible study title "Before You Pack Your Bags, Prepare Your Heart" by Cindy Judge. We will be doing this study for the next 8 weeks. Not only are we "preparing our hearts", but we are also beginning to form relationships with each other, discovering each others likes and dislikes, what makes us frustrated, what calms us down, where we are in our spiritual walks, and so on. By doing this, we will be able to work more efficiently as we minister to others and take this journey to a foreign country.
Fundraising is almost complete. God has truly shown that He provides in all circumstances. Not only has He provided enough for me to go on this trip, but He has supplied a large excess of funds from family, friends, and people who I have never even met. I plan to use this money towards another trip or possibly donate it to the organization in Uganda that we are partnering with. The rest of the team is also almost finished with raising the funds for the trip. We also have an overflow account with donations from several people which will be divided between those who have not raised the total amount for the trip.
I will soon begin the process of getting all the required immunizations, medications, etc. needed to travel to Uganda. This will include several shots......eeeeeekkk.
When we get closer to our departure, we will start a culture class which will help us become familiar with where we are going, the people there, their beliefs and traditions, and other aspects of the culture.
As the mission trip to Gulu becomes closer, we will continue to grow as individuals, grow as a team, and grow as part of the body of Christ. To those of you who have supported us, both financially and through prayer, thank you so much. Although God does not need to use you to provide for this trip, He has chosen to use you, which I am so thankful for, and I pray that you would realize the privilege and blessing that that is.
Above everything, praise and glory be to God, who provides, strengthens, and equips us for the privilege of sharing who He is to others.
P.S.
ONLY 100 MORE DAYS!
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Monday, November 25, 2013
I May Be Weak
Click the link to listen to "Give Me Faith" by Elevation Worship.
Right at this moment, you are at one of three places; you're either in the middle of a trial, just getting out of a trial, or about to enter into a trial. Being a follower of Christ does not mean we will never experience hardship or pain. Accepting His grace does not make us exempt from tears or heartbreak. He does not promise that it will be easy and that everything will go perfectly; however, He does promise that in the midst of hardship and in the midst of heartbreak, He is there.
He is there and He will always be there.
I often hear people say, "God won't give you more than you can handle." Although I understand they mean this as encouragement, I'd have to disagree. Katie David wrote in her blog and book, Kisses from Katie, "I believe that God totally, absolutely, intentionally gives us more than we can handle. Because this is when we surrender to Him and He takes over, proving Himself by doing the impossible in our lives." That is what I believe.
So when it feels like He has given me more than I can handle, when my world feels like it's turned upside down, when I cry myself to sleep for a week straight, He is only drawing me closer to Him. With each trial, my heart is more dependent on Him, my focus is more aligned on Him, and my desire is changing to be Him and only Him. And through my weakness, His power is revealed. I am knocked down to my knees. Yet from my knees, I feel His embrace all the more. And I am able to worship and to praise and to serve Him even when it feels like I'll never get up again, because:
"My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:26
Right at this moment, you are at one of three places; you're either in the middle of a trial, just getting out of a trial, or about to enter into a trial. Being a follower of Christ does not mean we will never experience hardship or pain. Accepting His grace does not make us exempt from tears or heartbreak. He does not promise that it will be easy and that everything will go perfectly; however, He does promise that in the midst of hardship and in the midst of heartbreak, He is there.
He is there and He will always be there.
I often hear people say, "God won't give you more than you can handle." Although I understand they mean this as encouragement, I'd have to disagree. Katie David wrote in her blog and book, Kisses from Katie, "I believe that God totally, absolutely, intentionally gives us more than we can handle. Because this is when we surrender to Him and He takes over, proving Himself by doing the impossible in our lives." That is what I believe.
So when it feels like He has given me more than I can handle, when my world feels like it's turned upside down, when I cry myself to sleep for a week straight, He is only drawing me closer to Him. With each trial, my heart is more dependent on Him, my focus is more aligned on Him, and my desire is changing to be Him and only Him. And through my weakness, His power is revealed. I am knocked down to my knees. Yet from my knees, I feel His embrace all the more. And I am able to worship and to praise and to serve Him even when it feels like I'll never get up again, because:
I may be weak, but
Your Spirit's strong in me.
My flesh may fail, but
My God you never will.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
He Will Use Me
Beautiful Feet. It's kind of an oxymoron when you think about it. Beautiful and feet don't typically go together. Feet aren't usually something we find beauty in. They become rough and callused, dirty and smelly, sore and achy. So what could possibly be beautiful about feet?
When I was trying to come up with a name for this blog, I wanted it to have something to do with God's call on my life for foreign missions; however, I also know that a life in foreign missions may or may not be where He ends up taking me, so I knew the name had to somewhat do with missions, but also reflect my life purpose of going wherever He leads and doing whatever He calls me to do.
God brought me to Isaiah 52:7: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the goods news of peace and salvation, the good news that the God of Israel reigns!" So again, what makes feet beautiful? More importantly, what makes MY disgusting, smelly feet beautiful? Only God could do that. By taking the unworthy, sinful human I am and using me- my imperfections, my flaws, my mistakes, my life- to bring glory to Him and accomplish His purpose, He makes my feet beautiful. When He uses me to tell others of Him and to proclaim His gospel, He makes my feet beautiful. When He uses me to bring love and compassion to the least of these, He makes my feet beautiful. When He uses me in any way, my feet suddenly become beautiful.
The reason I decided to start a blog is mainly for you, my friends and family, to read about what God is doing in my life and where He is leading me. Many of you know I am going to Uganda after I graduate from high school in 2014. This is where the initial idea to start a blog came from- so that I could share my 2 week experience in Uganda with you; however, as I thought about it, I realized keeping a regular blog to share what He is doing in my life wouldn't be a bad idea. Even if no one is reading it, it will be a great way for me to look back on how He has worked in my life. I'm not some super-genius inspirational writer and I don't always have the words to get my thoughts across effectively. I'm a mess. I'm emotional. I'm confusing. And I don't really know how to do this whole blog thing. But I know something- He can use my mess. He can use my emotions. He can use my confusion. He can use all of my imperfections for His perfect plan. And I know that is exactly what He will do.
When I was trying to come up with a name for this blog, I wanted it to have something to do with God's call on my life for foreign missions; however, I also know that a life in foreign missions may or may not be where He ends up taking me, so I knew the name had to somewhat do with missions, but also reflect my life purpose of going wherever He leads and doing whatever He calls me to do.
God brought me to Isaiah 52:7: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the goods news of peace and salvation, the good news that the God of Israel reigns!" So again, what makes feet beautiful? More importantly, what makes MY disgusting, smelly feet beautiful? Only God could do that. By taking the unworthy, sinful human I am and using me- my imperfections, my flaws, my mistakes, my life- to bring glory to Him and accomplish His purpose, He makes my feet beautiful. When He uses me to tell others of Him and to proclaim His gospel, He makes my feet beautiful. When He uses me to bring love and compassion to the least of these, He makes my feet beautiful. When He uses me in any way, my feet suddenly become beautiful.
The reason I decided to start a blog is mainly for you, my friends and family, to read about what God is doing in my life and where He is leading me. Many of you know I am going to Uganda after I graduate from high school in 2014. This is where the initial idea to start a blog came from- so that I could share my 2 week experience in Uganda with you; however, as I thought about it, I realized keeping a regular blog to share what He is doing in my life wouldn't be a bad idea. Even if no one is reading it, it will be a great way for me to look back on how He has worked in my life. I'm not some super-genius inspirational writer and I don't always have the words to get my thoughts across effectively. I'm a mess. I'm emotional. I'm confusing. And I don't really know how to do this whole blog thing. But I know something- He can use my mess. He can use my emotions. He can use my confusion. He can use all of my imperfections for His perfect plan. And I know that is exactly what He will do.
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