The Crazy Adventures of an American Mzungu

Some people know that I am heading back home on December first. God has revealed things deep in my heart that I get the pleasure of doing for the rest of my life. Going home will mean preparing myself to come back to the mission field as soon as possible. One thing I am still uncertain about is my education. I never graduated from Boise Bible College, and am looking at possibly going back to finish. I do not know how that will look like, but I am trying to accomplish whatever possible before going home. I am able to use my last few months as an internship for school, so I may graduate as fast as possible and get back into missions. Part of the internship is a book report. I cannot explain how many times God spoke to my heart while I wrote about this book. One of the most heart felt passages went like this: When we get caught up in ministry, it is so easy to get caught up in numbers. How many people came to the Lord? How many patience did we help? How many children did we feed, cl...

Through the past ten months, I have learned a rather large deal! The funnest has been living in the culture of Uganda. Now it is true that some of my learning moments were not fun in the moment, but great stories as I look back on the scenario! If anyone is planning to come to Uganda for any amount of time, believe me when I say I am no where near being an expert, but feel free to learn through me. Cut down on some of your own stories (because no matter how prepared you are, you will mess up and it will be funny... eventually). For this first story, I need to explain a few things to get the full picture. Neighbors know when a mzungu lives near by. Even if you never left your house, they would know all there is to know about you. Yes, it is creepy... especially for an introvert like me. Also, you always leave the house looking decent. No such thing as a Walmart outfit, which requires effort on lazy days. Finally, kneeling is a sign of respect. Women and children kneel when greeting ...

The past ten months brought me through some of the most difficult challenges I ever faced. As I served in Uganda, I witnessed life far different than I ever experienced. Death became a reality. Poverty surrounded me. I became accustomed to dirt, trash, and an abundant lack of garbage cans (seriously, I miss sidewalk trashcans!). True, I still found joy in what I witnessed. Nothing brings greater warmth to a heart than serving the Maker. Even though I seemed to battle more sickness than I ever dealt with before and had to quickly become accustomed to a whole new culture, I loved the life I was made to live. With such a choice, came a great desire to stop the gospel from spreading to people who needed such a hope. I was knocked down to my knees more times than I can count during the most challenging spiritual battles I have yet to face. So many times, I felt like just staying down and giving up. But I stood up once more because my Savior never gave up on me. With His nudge, I came to my...

Okay, let's face it – I quote Audrey Hepburn all the time. She is my all-time favorite actress, and she was one of the classiest ladies who ever lived. She once said, “I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it.” I wish I could claim these words as my own, because they describe my life. For as long as I can remember, I just let life happen. Whatever happened, happened, and I just went with it as I allowed God to work. I never imagined being able to experience the things I already cherish in my heart. I am only twenty three, and I feel I have a lifetime of unimaginably amazing experiences that I know many will never be able to experience. And I believe the best is yet to come! If life would have happened according to me, I never would have left Central Oregon and I probably would be som...

The biggest lesson I have had to swallow since coming to Uganda is simple: Life moves on. As a missionary, I ventured off into the great unknown. I left behind friends, family, and plenty of memories.... and good coffee from great people (Dutch Bros shout out!). I stepped forward to chase after what God called me to for 2014, and embraced life in Uganda. And for everything I left behind, I wanted to be just that, left behind. Never changing. Almost as if my American life was put on pause while I was in Africa. But life goes on. The loved ones in my life continued down their own path, and follow what God calls them to. My friends continued to be crazy. They continued to drive around Boise with the music blaring. They continued to make Dutch Bros trips -- just maybe not twice a day to my favorite one across town. As I changed, so did they. Life goes on. Yet, there are rare and beautiful moments when two worlds collide. I was able to have a taste of home for two weeks as my mom got a tas...

We drove down the red clay road no wider than the tires of local boda bodas (motorcycle taxi) in a fourteen passenger van. The rain clouds were rolling in faster than we made our way down the makeshift road. My mom, friend from the States named Lura, Ugandan friend Lisa, and I all prayed the rain would hold off long enough for God to do something in the hearts of Lisa's Muslim family. I once visited this family, and was able to share the scene of the Throne Room of God with them. Because of the rain, I needed to leave before I was stuck in the village. Lisa faithfully ministered to her family, and used her trials in life to teach them the hope of Christ. We did not want to be chased away by the rain again. We pulled up to their twenty by thirty foot home, and as the children swarmed us with hugs and love, rain began to fall on our faces. We were already there, and could not leave the moment we arrived. So we crowded into the smallest sitting room imaginable. Ten women and count...

Some of our children come from areas around Kampala. When they are out of school, we will send them home to visit families. This holiday, they were gone for two weeks and there were five of them. The house just seemed so quiet. Sure, there was still plenty of noise, but not to the extent of fourteen children enjoying life and running wild. By the end of their stay, I was ready for them to come home! I estimated what time they would be home, and every time I heard anything at the gate or any honk outside, I went to see if it was them. Finally they arrived home at around 8 in the evening. We had just started our nightly prayers, and were in the middle of a song. I saw the headlights through the gates and screamed to the top of my lungs, waving my arms in the air, and skipping out of the house. Everyone else followed shortly. The kids piled out of the van screaming with pure excitement. Ivan, who is just a solid rock of muscle, jumped into my arms as he shouted the most beautiful words...