The Crazy Adventures of an American Mzungu

At the beginning of 2013, I started a three week prayer and fast with my church in Boise. We spent the time praying over God to move throughout 2013. It was one of the most amazing times in my life. I have never been through such an awesome time of God moving in my life, and the lives of those who joined me. I believe that time of prayer was what got me completely through 2013. During that time, I spent a week of praying over my future in missions. I prayed that God would give me something big in my life when it came to getting back to Uganda. I prayed for something tangible, something I can look back and say, “2013 was my ticket to getting back to Uganda.” Then life happened. The fast came to an end. I got the job I desperately prayed for, and forgot about my prayer over Uganda. My life took a dark turn when summer rolled around. I just grew into a routine that didn't really allow me to let God fully work in my life. I had too many commitments that tied me down. I had a dear pr

This year was my first African Christmas. It was the first Christmas away from my family. Basically, it was a bunch of "firsts". Nothing was the same, and I had the time of my life. Christmas Eve in America always brought me to church to join with other believers in the celebration of our King.This year, it involved bon fires and dancing! I wish I could have got some pictures of the beauty. I am always taken away at night with a fire. There is just something beautiful about the crackling of the wood, and the smoke rising to the starry sky. We sang some African praise song. These were songs I learned at New Heart, my precious church in Boise. I was missing them terribly lately, and singing those songs with the beautiful kids of Redeemer House brought some contentment in my heart. Christmas morning was filled with hot chocolate and church. The kids had some friends from America come and spend the day with them. They had all kinds of sugar, and played and played and played! The

I have a bad habit. I pray about something, and my heart desires it. Take Uganda for example, I prayed for five years to return before God said, "Go". Now I am here. I am doing all that is within me to bring glory to His name. The bad habit, you ask? I get so caught up in the little details that I forget to pray for God's grace on a daily basis. Grace is a beautiful gift. It gives us the ability to show Christ to all around us. Grace fills us with the attitude of Christ, and brings a sense of peace. Without grace, we allow our human nature to grab hold of us, and we become no different from the world. If we pour out grace to all around us, we must remember that we also must be refilled with the grace of God. As we pour out, we must humble ourselves before the Mighty King and ask for more. He, being full of grace, loves to see us spread His gift around so the entire world will know His love. I am always prayerful of major events in my life. If I know I am going to do a b

My time in Uganda has been filled with teachings from God. He has moved me in many ways, and has taught me more than I will ever be able to describe. These things are deep and moving, and I know I will never be the same. However, not all my lessons are serious. He has given me plenty of times of full on belly laughs! And even in those times, I find God teaching me something amazing. I have four stories I would like to share, as I reflect my first few weeks in Uganda. Story Number One: Crickets are a Ugandan specialty! They fry them up, and chow down. The kids will hunt them down all day long. When I arrived, it was the beginning of cricket season. It is like the beginning of watermelon season in the US. Remember the joy inside when you find the first perfect watermelon of the season? That is what happens with the crickets. And bugs come in huge packs in Africa. Which means there are crickets everywhere! Before I came, the rule was “No live bugs in the house.” All the kids were tryin

I have been in Uganda for a week now. What an amazing blessing it has been! I have learned a ton, and have become more confident in my abilities to do this job. I know I am going to mess up. I know I am going to miss home. I know there will be days that I wish I never came. However, Christ will use me in more ways than I can ever imagine. I know this is where I need to be. In my first days, I have learned a great deal. First, driving in Africa is complicated!! Even though I know how to drive, I feel as though I am starting all over! But I will pick it up.... then scare people in the US when I come home (Be prepared!!). I learned that Africans think that one lone Christmas tree means that Jinja is decked out for the season. They think mzungus are crazy for all their decorations, but get three mzungus in one room with scissors and white paper, then every Ugandan gets a little more Christmas spirit! It was a blast to see them making the snowflakes for the first time. My biggest lesson h

Saying goodbye is never easy, and since I have been overwhelmed with a massive amount of them in the past few weeks, I have decided to simply look at the blessings. No one truly understands relationships that are built until someone leaves. I have spent three and a half years in Boise. I built amazing relationships with people I will never forget. I believe my time in Boise molded me into a stronger, more whole person. I know God brought more and more of His glory to my life because of my time in Boise. My faith was stretched time and time again. I was challenged in scripture, and grew so much in my knowledge.  I made a wonderful group of friends through school. In the past three years, I grew so close to these people! It is funny to think that I have only known these people for three years. I feel as though we have known each other forever. That is how close I became to students and professors. Together we opened our hearts, and allowed Christ to move in our lives in ways

The past two months completely changed my life. Everything has been made official for returning to Uganda. I will be working at Redeemer House Orphanage, in Jinja. I will be overseeing the staff that are already there, and making sure everyone has everything they need. I will also be in charge of the bookkeeping and organization that it will take to run the orphanage. This is a year commitment, and I know God will work within that year. I never would have pictured myself in a position like this before now. However, I can now see God working in my life over the past five years for just a time as this. In 2009, I went to Uganda where my entire life course changed. I went from planning on being a hair dresser, to giving myself fully to the mission field. I then attended Boise Bible College where my knowledge of the Bible grew beyond explanation, and my love for Christ deepened beyond measure. God used this time to further my passion for Uganda. He began to mold me into the missionary

I am overwhelmed with the reactions of people who hear about my heart for missions, and my upcoming opportunity to work with Redeemer House Orphanage. All warm my heart, and fill my soul with joy. Most reactions are filled with squeals of joy, tears, and enormous hugs. I hold them deep in my heart, and I am blessed. When I first was wrestling with the idea of applying for this position, I took a day trip to my home church in Powell Butte, Oregon. I did not share with many about what I was praying about because I didn't want to make a great big scene, and then not follow through. I hope that church will be behind me through whatever missions I do, but something in me told me to wait to share with everyone. I did share with some, and when I did, each one was ecstatic for me! Each one encouraged me to pursue this route, because if God wants me there He will open the door, and if He doesn't then He will close it, but let Him do it. Their words of encouragement blessed me more than

In 2009, I spent a life changing month in the country of Uganda. There, my life was ripped apart, as God tore my will away from me, replacing it with His perfect and Holy will. My desires of being a hairdresser were thrown out the window, as I saw God calling me to full time ministry in Uganda. After I returned home form such a life changing month, everything I did became about Uganda. I attended Boise Bible College to study missions, and to better understand Scripture. My time at BBC only intensified my passion for missions and Uganda. The past month of my life has brought answers to the calling God gave me back in 2009. A dear professor of mine spoke with me about my future. She encouraged me to step out, and find a ministry to work with before I had so many other commitments that when the opportunity came for me to leave, I would not be able to go. That conversation gave me the push I needed to go and make myself known to ministries, and allow God to get me on the mission field. I