Beautiful Feet Wear Tire Shoes

One day while we were in Uganda, the women on our team went to the local market in Gulu. It's a huge outdoor "shopping center" where Ugandan men and women sell almost anything and everything you can think of- hand-made baskets, knives, old, raggedy clothing, produce, smelly, fly-covered fish, and... tire shoes.

There were several booths set up along the side of the market with huge stacks of tires- yes, the tires from automobiles. All different sizes and shapes and brands. We watched intently as men would sit on the ground or a wooden table and cut a strip of rubber from a tire. They would then cut out the shape for the bottom of a shoe, making different sizes for children, men, women, even custom sizes if you asked for it. They would attach "straps" to the sole with nails and sell them for about 3000 shillings, about $1.20. We were all so impressed by the uniqueness of the shoes and excited to buy a pair a a souvenir or gift for a friend. We were talking amongst ourselves, "How cool!", "I want to buy some to hang on the wall!"", "Wow, what an awesome idea for shoes!" We were fascinated, myself included.

But as we stood there watching, some waiting to buy a pair, I began to realize something. These shoes- they aren't just a souvenir. They aren't made for Americans to buy and bring home to look at. They weren't made with the intention of being unique or fashionable or comfortable. These shoes, made out of car tires, are made and sold, for what we would consider extra change, to people who can't afford anything better. They are literally made from thin rubber and nails and then worn day-in and day-out until they fall apart and can't, in any way, be repaired. This isn't some fashion trend for these people. This is their life. This is their reality. 

As we were leaving, still oooh-ing and aaah-ing over this new thing, Mrs. Holley, one of the missionaries with us, told us to look around when we are out in town or at the ministry land and we would see that most of the people in Gulu wear tire shoes. So I did. I looked around. And as promised, I saw feet shod with tires everywhere we went. I noticed something- most of the feet that wore these shoes were not physically beautiful. They were dry, dirty, cracked, wounded. Wearing shoes made out of nothing but tires and nails, how could they not be? But despite their physical appearance, I noticed something else- these feet were beautiful, not because of how they looked, but because of the heart of the person they belonged to. 

I saw people at church, jumping and singing and dancing and shouting, pouring sweat, in worship and praise to the Lord in these shoes.
I saw children laughing and listening and answering questions in Sunday school in these shoes.
I saw women conversing with each other, making jewelry out of strips of paper for a living in these shoes.

And all of these people had beautiful feet. Yes, physically not so pleasing to the eye. But beautiful, none-the-less, because of the blood those feet were cleansed with and the love of Christ that they showed. 

And that's what beautiful feet are all about:

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!"

Isaiah 52:7

And sometimes, these beautiful feet wear tire shoes.

Some Honesty Before the Beauty

 It's been almost three weeks since I returned from Uganda. What we experienced there was amazing. Breathtaking. Overwhelming. Several people have asked when I'd be posting again, and I completely understand wanting to hear all about the trip and the people and what God did, but honestly, I've had trouble trying to find where to even start.

How do I convey 2-weeks worth of beautiful Uganda filled with beautiful people filled with beautiful hearts? How do I express to you, the reader, through mere words the heart-wrenching stories, the hurt-filled eyes, and the juxtaposed joyful smiles of the Acholi people? How can I explain the importance of overseas missions? How do I even begin to tell you that there is more to life than our comfortable America dream filled with convenience, luxury, and security?


Honestly, I don't think I can.

For the past three weeks I've thought about where to start, where to begin, how to tell you all about Uganda and make it seem as though you're really there. I've wondered how to illustrate my experiences in words. I've thought about which stories to tell and what order to tell them in, what to include and what to leave out. And honestly, after three weeks, I still don't know.

So I'm just going to start. I'm going to start with the stories and the pictures and the Scripture and whatever else needs to be included. I can't promise that it will be eloquent or organized or put into beautiful paragraphs and perfect grammar. But I promise that it will be honest. It will be real. All of the good and all of the not-so-good. Whatever my heart is feeling, I will- to the best of my ability and however God chooses- tell you.

So, to begin, I'm going to be straight-forward with you. Uganda was not everything I expected it to be. It was so much more, in both good ways and bad ways. More joy, more beauty, more magnificence, more Jesus. More heartache, more loss, more poverty, more need. More adventure, more sadness, more exuberance, and more pain. Where there was happiness, there was also sorrow. Where there was hurt, there was also joy. While it was wonderful, it was also hard- in personal ways that I was not expecting. I was expecting to fall in love with this place and never want to leave. I expected to go and not experience any trials or conflicting thoughts (or at least not care about them). I was expecting to be so over-joyed that nothing else mattered. What I didn't expect was to be bombarded with discouragement, attacked with my own downfalls and lack of strength, and left wondering if I even have a purpose. I didn't expect to miss home. I want to be clear here- these thoughts were not caused by other people on my team. I believe they were thoughts from the devil, who wants me to feel discouraged and not good enough. I believe this was a small spiritual battle taking place in my heart.

About halfway through our stay in Uganda, I began to have these feelings. I would sit there and wonder: Can I really do this? Is God really calling me to full-time overseas missions? I'm not strong enough to do this. How can I be so far away from my family? I don't have what it takes. I'm too much of a princess to live like this. I'm not good enough. And what if I'm not supposed to go into full-time overseas missions? Do I even have a purpose?

Thoughts like this made their way into my heart, and honestly, like I said, it was hard.

But God has placed wonderful people in my life who reminded me of His truths: I have a purpose. And in actuality, I'm not strong enough. God won't make me "strong enough" because if I was strong enough, I WOULDN'T NEED HIM. God made me vulnerable and week and imperfect because I need to rely only on Him to accomplish His work through me. If it's a walk in the park and the easiest thing I've ever done- if I don't need to lean on Him to get me through even just a small part of it- is it really His will? I'm not strong enough... but He is.

Maybe full-time overseas mission isn't what He has planned for me. Maybe it's just part-time. Maybe it's just occasional trips. Maybe it's just not Uganda. But I know He has called me. I don't know where or when or what, but I KNOW He has called me. He has created me. He has formed me. He has a plan for me. He has designed me to do something amazing for His glory. He is molding me and shaping me to be everything He has created me to be.

I wanted to tell you these struggles that I faced in Uganda, because I don't want you to think it was easy. When you read my future posts, I don't want you to think I'm super strong or brave or anything like that. I want you to know that it wasn't all effortless and painless. I want you to know that I'm not perfect.

Now that I've dumped out all the bad, I can get to all the good. Now that I've gotten the "ugly" out, I can tell you all about beautiful Uganda. I'm excited to tell you the amazing things God did through us in Uganda and share stories and pictures of this breathtaking place. Some of the stories I may be crying as I write, and some of them may leave me with a smile spread across my face. And all of it is beautiful. Through everything that happened on our trip- from lizards and bugs in our rooms, to salvation for hurting people- God had a plan and I'm so excited to tell you all about it.

Thank you for reading my "honest" post. Check back later for the overwhelming stories that will follow.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

Worth It

As I'm packing for Uganda (WE LEAVE SATURDAY!), I can't help but think about the people I'm going to meet, the stories I'm going to hear, and the blessings I'm going to experience. As I anticipate this exciting journey of being the hands and feet of Christ, I think of the past mission trips I've been on and the blessings that He gave me through the people I was able to love.

I think about Olivia, the sweet 7 year old I met on my first mission trip to Mobile, Alabama in 2012. It was impossible not to love this olive-skinned, big brown-eyed girl who longed for love and attention. I remember sitting down with her and explaining what prayer was to this girl who had never heard of it before and telling her, "Prayer is talking to God- your Heavenly Father-whenever you want to or whenever you need help." "Like help with homework?" she asked, which made me laugh as I continued to explain what prayer really was. Being able to love on Olivia was one of the biggest blessings God had ever given me the privilege to have. I will never forget when I returned to Mobile in 2013, walked into the gymnasium at the daycare, and before I could even set my stuff down, had two chubby little arms wrap around my waist, looked down, and saw sweet Olivia looking in my eyes and straight to my heart.

I think about Elijah- The kid who was "too cool" for Bible games and silly songs with hand motions, the boy who was rough around the edges and would try his best to push me away, the boy who wouldn't participate in anything and only wanted to play with his GameBoy. This same boy was singing every song as loud as he could and grinning ear-to-ear at the end of the week. This boy, who had never owned a Bible, was so excited when we gave him one of his very own that he immediately asked how to find the week's memory passage and read it out-loud for our whole small group.

I think of Ana, the precious 6-year old, blond hair and blue-eyed little girl who's smile could immediately make your heart melt. She had told me on the first day that she didn't have a mom, that her mom had gone to Heaven. A few days later, she was walking with me hand-in-hand when she stopped, looked up, and said, "Miss Alex, can I tell you something?" I smiled and said, "Of course." And then, looking in my eyes, she said, "If my mommy were still here, I think she would be just like you."

I think about the woman who worked at the daycare. She was so overwhelmed and grateful that we would come from three hours away to spend time with a bunch of kids and teach them about Jesus. When we left, she had each of us write something in the front of the Bible we gave her because she never wanted to forget us.

I think of all of these people who I had the opportunity to love, to show Christ to, and I know that it is worth it. It's worth it to take a week out of my summer to love a sweet 7 year-old girl. It's worth going out of my way to see a tough little boy light up when we give him a Bible. It's worth running around with a bunch of loud, messy kids to have that one who holds your hand and warms your heart. It's worth dealing with grouchy adult daycare workers to show them Christ and see just one of them see why we do what we do. It's worth it because Christ is worth it.

And I know that it will be worth it in Uganda. Going to another country, raising thousands of dollars, doing several Bible studies and cultural studies, travelling across the world, possibly having no AC, no WiFi, the risk of diseases, the hot, humid climate, wearing skirts when I'm used to wearing shorts, going to a foreign place and meeting foreign people, eating meals that may not be the best, going out of my comfort zone, leaving the safety and security of my home... all of it will be worth it. Every last "sacrifice" will be worth the unmatched blessing of showing the love of Christ to others, of giving of myself yet somehow gaining so much in return.

I have found something worth dying for. Christ is worth dying for. And for me, He is also worth living for.

100 Days

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!

I May Be Weak

Click the link to listen to "Give Me Faith" by Elevation Worship.

"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.

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.