Here I am in Africa, that still seems unreal to me and I have been here for over three weeks. As I lay here curled up on my bed, cuddling with a five pound baby boy who has captured my heart, I begin to wish time could just stand still, even for a minute.
I love it here. I love that I wake up to a rooster long before my alarm clock. I love that I get to start off my day with my Bible, a cup of VIA, and a view of Lake Victoria. I love that when I go downstairs I am greeted by so many beautiful faces that are so eager to love, and be loved. I love the kisses, the laughter, the cuddles. I love that I don't miss my Iphone, or my closet full of clothes. I love all this time I have to be still and listen to the Lord. I love being fully in a moment, fully engaged in a conversation, no plan, no text that is more important than the person I am with. I love that it doesn't matter if I wear the same outfit two days in a row. I love that I am learning so much about who God is from a group of 22 babies and toddlers without them even uttering a word. I love that God is growing me and revealing areas in my faith that I am weak. Yet he shows me with such love and grace that failure doesn't mean I can't try again. With Gods love and strength he is growing me and refining me each day I am here. I love it. My heart aches each time I think about the fact that I have to leave this place I love. Soon I won't wake up to 22 kisses from these beautiful children. I know that God has a plan for me though, and I know I don't have to be in Uganda for the Lord to use me and grow me. But I do know that Uganda will forever hold a piece of my heart. Thank you all for your prayers, they definitely have made an impact! I ask that me and the kiddos continue to be in your prayers that is definitely the biggest way you can be supporting me while I am here. If you feel called to support my trip financially you still can! I still owe the church 500$ when I get home but if you want to help me in that way you can give at ajesuschurch.com under give! I love you all! Sending hugs and prayers your way!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
10 days in!
Well, I have a big bruise on my arm. I wish I was in the U.S. only so that I would be asked, "What's that bruise from?"
Then I could say, "Oh no big deal I just got punched by an angry monkey." Thats exactly what happened and I have never been more proud of a bruise in my life.
On a different note, this last week has been absolutely amazing. God has been teaching me so much about life, his creation, and myself.
One of the Ugandan guys we were working alongside made a point this week that stuck with me. He talked about how no matter where we live in the world we all love and serve the same God. How he is just as much the God of Uganda as he is Portland. He is a big God though, one that in this life we can never fully understand or know. The cool thing when you travel to a new place, see a different culture, and interact with people so different from yourself, yet they are worshipping the very same God you love, is that piece by piece you begin to get a fuller picture of who God is. Wow is this true. I have learned alot this week about the Lord by just interacting with the people here.
My nightly ritual is securely tucking my net under my mattress, curling up tight in a cozy blanket, putting on my headlamp, and then journaling about the day. It has been a great way to unwind. Sometimes in the midst of my journaling though I stop and listen to the African night. My two favotire noises are the crickets because they are so loud it almost seems fake, and the rain because it pours here to the point you can hardly hear voices over its clatter. I love it.
I spent the last week in Arua which is much more rural then where I will be staying my last month. Most everyone lives in mud huts, and most the kids run around naked. We spent three days doing door to door evangelism. It was me, one other Ugandan guy, and an interpretter. All afternoon we would go from hut to hut telling people about Jesus. This was way outside my comfort zone but man was it awesome to see God work. He did some pretty amazing things over the course of those three days. It was amazing to get to share hope with a people who so desperately need it, and my prayer of getting to pray with someone as they accepted the Lord was answered above and beyond this week.
As for today we left Arua and came to an AMAZING resort where we are staying the night. We went on a Safari today and it was so awesome!!! We got to see a full grown male lion with a huge mane up close and personal. The coolest part is that he was one of only two in the whole entire park......and this game park is HUGEEE! God is good.
Well anyway I am off to bed! Tomorrow we wake up early and go on a boat safari down the Nile. I am pretty stoked! Then on Thursday I will arrive at loving hearts orphanage in Kampala where we will be for the next month. I can't wait to get to see the kiddos again.
Love and miss you all! Thanks so much for keeping me in your prayers! Nighty night!
Then I could say, "Oh no big deal I just got punched by an angry monkey." Thats exactly what happened and I have never been more proud of a bruise in my life.
On a different note, this last week has been absolutely amazing. God has been teaching me so much about life, his creation, and myself.
One of the Ugandan guys we were working alongside made a point this week that stuck with me. He talked about how no matter where we live in the world we all love and serve the same God. How he is just as much the God of Uganda as he is Portland. He is a big God though, one that in this life we can never fully understand or know. The cool thing when you travel to a new place, see a different culture, and interact with people so different from yourself, yet they are worshipping the very same God you love, is that piece by piece you begin to get a fuller picture of who God is. Wow is this true. I have learned alot this week about the Lord by just interacting with the people here.
My nightly ritual is securely tucking my net under my mattress, curling up tight in a cozy blanket, putting on my headlamp, and then journaling about the day. It has been a great way to unwind. Sometimes in the midst of my journaling though I stop and listen to the African night. My two favotire noises are the crickets because they are so loud it almost seems fake, and the rain because it pours here to the point you can hardly hear voices over its clatter. I love it.
I spent the last week in Arua which is much more rural then where I will be staying my last month. Most everyone lives in mud huts, and most the kids run around naked. We spent three days doing door to door evangelism. It was me, one other Ugandan guy, and an interpretter. All afternoon we would go from hut to hut telling people about Jesus. This was way outside my comfort zone but man was it awesome to see God work. He did some pretty amazing things over the course of those three days. It was amazing to get to share hope with a people who so desperately need it, and my prayer of getting to pray with someone as they accepted the Lord was answered above and beyond this week.
As for today we left Arua and came to an AMAZING resort where we are staying the night. We went on a Safari today and it was so awesome!!! We got to see a full grown male lion with a huge mane up close and personal. The coolest part is that he was one of only two in the whole entire park......and this game park is HUGEEE! God is good.
Well anyway I am off to bed! Tomorrow we wake up early and go on a boat safari down the Nile. I am pretty stoked! Then on Thursday I will arrive at loving hearts orphanage in Kampala where we will be for the next month. I can't wait to get to see the kiddos again.
Love and miss you all! Thanks so much for keeping me in your prayers! Nighty night!
Monday, September 3, 2012
The View From My Window
Wow....I am in Uganda!!! This is crazy! I am SO excited to be here and can't wait to see what God does. While on the plane traveling here I was looking out my window, zoning out, observing the evening sky, but all of a sudden I felt like God was telling me to look out my window from a different angle. I sat up in my seat and looked down, this new angle revealed something beautiful, a sunset, vibrant and glorious. An incredible sight when seen from above. I was amazed, it was a vibrant red against the dark sky. As I sat and took in the beautiful sight, God began to use that sunset to teach me something.
For so long I have been looking out my window in a certain way. I have seen the "sky" but not in all that it could be, not in its full beauty. Being here in Uganda is like me sitting up and getting to see the view from a different angle, an alternate perspective, and you know what?? It's beautiful. This first day blew my away by, the culture, the welcoming hearts of the people, and by this countrys amazing beauty.
One thing that began to change my "view" today was when we visited the Loving Hearts Orphanage that I will be staying in for my last month. The kids were all under the age of three. I held a little baby boy named Steven who was so cute. All the babies were pretty calm, but defintely desperate for attention and touch. When one of the ladies who worked there brought in a bucket full of bottles though the kids began to cry and get restless. They saw their food and couldn't wait. It broke my heart when I got Steven's bottle and began to feed him because he clung to it for dear life, it was as if he was terriffied it would be taken away. I have never seen a baby drink a bottle as fast as he did, he was so hungry, and his poor stomach was disteneded showing signs that he was malnourished. After he finished his bottle (so about one minute) he began to cry and try and shake out any last drop. He wanted more, he was still hungry, but I didnt have anything to give him and it broke my heart. God is teaching me to learn to be satisfied with what I have. To not take things like the feeling of fullness for granted. I have been so blessed, and to see this sweet child not having enough food to fill him up broke me down. All I could do in that moment was pray, pray that God would somehow satisfy him in a way his world couldn't. I ask you be praying that for him too, and all the other kids here. God is good..Always. I can't wait to see what else he shows me as he continues to offer me new angles to see the world, and stretch my window. Blessing to all of you!
For so long I have been looking out my window in a certain way. I have seen the "sky" but not in all that it could be, not in its full beauty. Being here in Uganda is like me sitting up and getting to see the view from a different angle, an alternate perspective, and you know what?? It's beautiful. This first day blew my away by, the culture, the welcoming hearts of the people, and by this countrys amazing beauty.
One thing that began to change my "view" today was when we visited the Loving Hearts Orphanage that I will be staying in for my last month. The kids were all under the age of three. I held a little baby boy named Steven who was so cute. All the babies were pretty calm, but defintely desperate for attention and touch. When one of the ladies who worked there brought in a bucket full of bottles though the kids began to cry and get restless. They saw their food and couldn't wait. It broke my heart when I got Steven's bottle and began to feed him because he clung to it for dear life, it was as if he was terriffied it would be taken away. I have never seen a baby drink a bottle as fast as he did, he was so hungry, and his poor stomach was disteneded showing signs that he was malnourished. After he finished his bottle (so about one minute) he began to cry and try and shake out any last drop. He wanted more, he was still hungry, but I didnt have anything to give him and it broke my heart. God is teaching me to learn to be satisfied with what I have. To not take things like the feeling of fullness for granted. I have been so blessed, and to see this sweet child not having enough food to fill him up broke me down. All I could do in that moment was pray, pray that God would somehow satisfy him in a way his world couldn't. I ask you be praying that for him too, and all the other kids here. God is good..Always. I can't wait to see what else he shows me as he continues to offer me new angles to see the world, and stretch my window. Blessing to all of you!
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