Skip to main content

What A Crazy Blessed Month!

Wow! I cannot believe it has been one month since I left everything I have ever known to embark on the amazing adventure God has called me to. I am still waiting to wake up to my alarm clock screaming at me, as I look out my window to see if I need to defrost my car, and crawl out of my bed in my tiny apartment. But this is real. I am in Uganda. Wow!
This month has been amazing. I have grown so much, and fallen more in love with this country. I have opened my heart to some beautiful children, and my life will never be the same. I have embraced the "honeymoon" stage of culture shock, as I am fascinated with everything that surrounds me.
I love the different encounters I have around here. It cracks me up when people ask me where I am from. When I say, "Idaho" they give me the craziest look. They do not believe Idaho is apart of America (Sorry guys. Looks like it is apart of Asia after all... *ehem* New Heart). I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked if I know of their friend in New York. My favorite was this: "How is Arnold doing?" Who the heck is Arnold?! I found out he lives in Florida. I don't know him. Other times, Ugandans will ask you if you know a celebrity. It is fun to mess with them, and say you have never heard that name. "WHAT?! You do not know Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie?!" No. The name doesn't ring a bell. "They are only the most celebrated couple in America!" That is nice. I don't follow sports! These truly make me smile.
However much joy has filled this month, I must admit, it has not been easy. God continues to challenge me, as he stretches me beyond my comfort zone. On more than one occasion, I go to my room and pray, "God, I cannot handle this. Please just tell me exactly what to do!" I am not saying that God wouldn't tell me exactly what to do, because I believe He is capable of doing just that! However, He knows me well. He knows that I would simply do exactly what He told me, and I would not grow in the situation. I am the kind of person who hates asking for help. Not because of pride, but because I HATE feeling as though I am a burden on someone else. I do not like interrupting people's busy schedules to unload more problems on them... MY problems! Just to add to their own! I have always been like that. And God is continually working on my heart. He continues to give me situations where I have to go to others. He gives me situations that are beyond my own ability, and He gives me wonderful people to turn to. I have made some great connections with missionaries and locals. I also have a wonderful support group back in America, who will help out to the best of their abilities. With such wonderful people in my life, God is teaching me to let go of my anxiety. He pulls me out of my comfort zone, and that brings me closer to His wonderful Throne. 

Comments

  1. FeraolJanuary 4, 2014 at 11:41 AM

    I'm glad that you are enjoying the ministry and I hope and pray that you keep going with joy.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It's Been A Year... Now What?

What a crazy year! I never would have guessed that my year back in America would be crazier than my year in Africa, but alas, God moved mountains and worked through many situations that reveal what His will is in my life. Yet the biggest question I am asked, "When are you going back to Africa?" Well, I may finally have answers to that question. At the end of October, I traveled to Richmond Virginia to attend the International Conference on Missions (ICOM). My intention was networking, and network I did! If you have never been to ICOM, it is an experience you must try if you are even slightly interested in what God is doing around the world. Speakers from all around the world come and share about their ministry. Workshops are set up for different ministry strategies or on mission topics. My favorite aspect of ICOM are the booths of ministries from all around the globe. I love wandering for hours, meeting different missionaries and hearing their stories. I am always encouraged...
1 comment
Read more

State of Praise

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 reminds us to have a spirit of praise in all circumstances. It does not say to rejoice in the good, when ministry is smooth and all things are going the way you pictured them. Nor does it say to give up in times of struggle. It says to ALWAYS rejoice, to be in a spirit of praise through thick and thin! The past few weeks have been a battle. Living in Uganda means you are surrounded by images of poverty, brokenness, and death on a daily basis. That alone will encourage anyone to lose a spirit of praise. But of course, that is not all I deal with. Lately, it seems like everything is coming down at one time. Dear people in my life are struggling, including people back in the States. These are people who I use to be there to hold a hand through difficult times, and now they are going through something else and I am halfway around the world. A couple have confessed they wished I were there instead, and no matter how much ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Life Long Commitment

When I came to Uganda the first time, God opened up my heart and mind in more ways than I can explain. The biggest lesson I learned was that God expects us to serve Him with all of our selves. No middle ground will do. It was this lesson that caused me to give myself completely to the will of God. I remember one afternoon sometime after I returned home, when I was struggling to find what I was suppose to do with my life. I laid my future down at His Throne, and I felt an overwhelming burden to go to the nations.... and well, there went my life! When you meet missionaries here in Jinja, one of the first questions asked is, “how long are you here for?” When they hear that I have committed a year, most respond with, “Oh that is a long time!” This then transitions us into the conversation about me wanting to do long term missions. I am surprised at the amount of people who say, “Yeah. Sounds like it! A year is pretty long term.” When that happens, I just shake my head, and change the su...
1 comment
Read more