The Crazy Adventures of an American Mzungu

As I share with friends and family about applying with a new ministry, I continually say, "if I get accepted...." Which is followed by a, "Why wouldn't you get accepted?" Which leads to, "Well, it isn't as though I think God can't make it happen, but if it doesn't that means God has something else in mind, and that is what I want." Which leads to an, "Oh I guess that makes sense," and I am left thinking, "you are still confused." This past Saturday, I was at church. As I was washing my hands, I struck up a conversation with a friend. She was doing her makeup, and we talked about how we feel when our makeup does not end up like we hoped. "So how has your new year gone?" my friend asks, "Good!" I reply. I mean, it was a week into the new year, and I still cannot wrap my head around the fact I am in 2016, "I have been working on an application to a new ministry. If all goes well, I will be bac...

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...

Mark chapter 5, Jesus met a demon-possessed man. He shrieked both day and night as he roamed the tombs of his home of Decapolis. The towns people tried to contain him out of fear of personal harm, but nothing worked. He broke through their chains, and left them feeling hopeless. Then Jesus entered. Isn't that how life works? Tragedy strikes. The burdens on this world break our backs. Hopeless anxiety settles deep within our souls, as we come to the realization we have no power to make things right. We fall on our face with no place to turn. Then Jesus entered. The demon-possessed man grabbed a glimpse of Jesus in the distance. He ran before Him, and fell to his knees. With a shout, “Why are you here, Jesus the Most High?! Why do you come to torment me so? We have no business together!” the spirits deep within this man knew good and evil do not belong together, that where God dwells evil flees. “Get out! Leave this man, you unclean spirit!” Jesus declares wit...

Wake up -- Pray -- Go to work -- Come home -- Bed -- Repeat. I am sure most of North America has a schedule pretty much like mine. Life looks the same in almost all directions, and so easily we can feel like we are stuck in a rut with nowhere to turn. We could accomplish our work with our eyes closed. Except -- I work in childcare, so maybe I need to keep my eyes wide open for any mischief. Our minds wander to other places, whether to things we need to get done after work, things we should have done yesterday after work but made some kind of excuse to not do them, places we rather be, or (like in my case) to far distant lands! Every time I find myself going through the motions of the daily grind, my mind comes to beautiful faces that I cherish deep within me. Faces so unlike my own , and my heart always longs to be with them. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus asks His chosen twelve -- those closest to Him -- those who witnessed everything, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They spou...

"This mountain that's in front of me, will be thrown into the midst of the sea," I sing along to the worship song I had on repeat for the last half hour. I continued to sing It Is Well by Bethel Music over and over, as it washed words of truth and peace deep into my soul. "So let go my soul, and trust in Him. The waves and wind still know His name," I sang as I heard the rain begin to pound on the carport outside my window. The sound takes me back to my room in Africa. Our outdoor kitchen had a tin roof, and when it rained, the sound thundered through my room. I ran to look out into the storm which happened as I sang. My face now drenched in tears, as I witnessed the sun beaming through the pouring rain. "Through it all, through it all my eyes are on you. Through it all, through it all it is well with me" my song continued. "It is well. No matter where I am. It is well because my God will get me through it all." I spoke these words to myself,...

"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made in full" -- John 15:11. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples. He taught them to abide in the Father, because Jesus abides in the Father. He is the vine. We are the branches. When we bear fruit, we bring glory to the Father. This is where our joy is found, according to Jesus. I am one of those people who often is accused of being "too happy" -- if there is such a thing! I was sharing a story with a coworker, and the punchline of the story was, "What happened here? I -- the white person -- happened here!" She looks at me and says, "Mary, I feel like that is the slogan of your life. You just happen!" Many times, this particular coworker would get to work before the sun arose. Then I would bounce in moments later ready to embrace the day, and I keep that attitude going the entire day. She walks around baffled at my energy. In college, I was always the...

Coming home has been a blast! I love sharing with others what God did through me in Uganda. I love igniting a passion of serving in others, in order to further the gospel through the passions of those I share. I love using my experiences as a tool to share the gospel with non believers. I never would have thought  God would use such a life changing experience for me would make such an impact in my life in America. I am continually reminded that my life will never be the same. The past few weeks, I was extremely tired, and no amount of sleep made me feel rested! I work four days a week, at ten hours a shift. I love this! I love having a day off in the week to get things done so my weekends can be designated to things I want to do, rather than responsibilities. This does mean that sometimes I have to work early, like 5:30 AM early. Sometimes this means I work late, like 8:00 PM late. Depending on the shifts I work in a week, it can be exhausting. A couple weeks ago, I had early morn...