The Crazy Adventures of an American Mzungu

"Are you fully engaged and running to the front lines to do battle with the enemy? Is your goal to be, and do, and spend whatever it takes to win this war? Enrolling in His army means Jesus Christ is our commanding officer, and 'making disciples of all nations' our marching orders. It means we will let vision pull or train, not budget, and trust God to supply everything we could possibly need to get the job done." -- The God Ask by Steve Shadrach. As I read these words, I never felt more like an author somehow looked into my life, and wrote directly to me for this very moment in time... especially in a support raising book, not one that would generally pierce the heart and make you stop and praise the Lord. Here. Let me explain. When I first began looking into AIM, I was informed on the final step in the application process called Connect Week. I was told I should begin to come up with around $1,000 for a trip to Georgia. If invited, I would be meeting people at th...

January 2015 -- Upon arrival back in Boise, I began to pray God guide me as I transition back into my life in Boise. He impressed on my heart to take a year and seek after Him. My world had just been rocked in the most beautiful way imaginable, leaving me drained physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He knew I needed this time to remember who I am in Him. Although all I wanted was to jump on the next flight back to Uganda, I listened to His impressions. March 2015 -- The passions God ignited in my heart while I was in Uganda earnestly began to take root. In Uganda, I came to realize many things I don't want to do. Those things such as working in an orphanage. Although a noble calling, I saw my life going in a different direction. Now, after having the time to slow down and reflect, I was able to see what I wanted to do. I want to keep kids in families. I want to walk along families and give them the tools they need to watch their children succeed. I want to tech children about...

The love of God is colorblind. I sit on the floor, his body so relaxed as he leans over into my lap. We listen to this week's Bible story, and I rub his fuzzy African head. His little hand slipped into mine, a contrast of color, and an out pour of love. This particular child is one of the youngest in our Children's Church program. Most weeks, he runs, screams, kicks, and hits all around as he is accompanied by two others his same age. All three are new to English, making any possible character breakthroughs a seemingly impossible task. But today, oh today was different! This week's story was on the Tower of Babel, and the kids were broken into several groups to see who could build the tallest tower. I helped these rambunctious little ones build their tower. They diligently built with blocks of different sizes. The goal was to stack from smallest to largest, but they were having a hard time grasping this concept. I helped them pick which blocks were biggest, and together o...

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...