Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Introducing two precious children...

After being home for a little over 2 weeks I still think about Uganda much (& as any great Auntie does) - I have a few kiddos to brag on today...

The first is Debra, when you meet Debra you will be captured by her beautiful smile. Put on some music and she will dance and dance. She loves the pool and is a wiggle worm. Debra is a beauty and a diva - she is sure to let you know her likes and dislikes, she is great at school and is one of the smartest 6 years olds that I've ever known. Ice cream, Orange Fanta and chocolate cake may just be some of her favorite deserts! She loves one on one times with her Aunties and Uncles and is sure to bring a smile to your face on the most difficult of days. This summer Debra got a stander, and her muscles are getting stronger EVERY DAY! Watch the latest video of Debra....So proud of her, her spunk makes her a go-getter - she doesn't give up!

The video is of Debra during snack time - working on feeding herself a Banana. Watch til the very end...that smile :)




The Second sweet kiddo is Walter, he has an app that is named after him "Walter's Flying Bus" is the name - you need to look it up!
Walter is shy at first but will quickly warm up. He can ride a bike like a champ and loves giving the other children 'rides' on his bus. Walter has BIG dreams. He loves when his aunties and Uncles tell him to get shoes on and he is quick to say "Sam too?" Sam is his best friend. He then asks over and over Auntie we go to Kimaka, Auntie we go? Auntie we go? - he loves time with his aunties and uncles. He loves to swim, ride his bike around Ekisa (almost hitting his aunties too), boda rides are a special treat as are trips into Jinja, which he loves. He has such an imaginative spirit and loves stacking pillows, rolling with his brothers and sisters or reading books, he especially loves reading his app 'Walter's Flying Bus' cuddled on the couch.

Sweet Walter is having surgery this week - will you keep him in your prayers and ask the Lord for quick and efficient healing so he can be back running at Ekisa soon!



See some sweet kiddos for you to pray for & rejoice with tonight (&& Inspiration for me to keep trekking along on this journey with school)



Wednesday, August 14, 2013

My Journey to Uganda and back...

How does one begin writing of their journey? Words seem so inadequate; I wish that it was possible to sit with each one of you, to share my heart - to listen to your questions and to pour out the journey this past year has taken me on. Alas, it isn't possible, so I am giving it my best attempt at writing my journey. I'm sure many details will be left out, because words (and even pictures) don't adequately represent what the last few years have held.

Yes, my journey began more than 18 months ago when I was reading a blog, the blog was written by one of the women who began the ministry147 Million Orphans, the blog mentioned a children's home in Uganda. The children’s home had not been in existence long, it was started by 2 young women, both named Emily. I read that this wasn't any ordinary children's home but one for children with special needs. You see, Several years ago through a set of circumstances this too had become my passion - seeing children with physical and developmental delays become all they could be. This combined with my passion for missions and for seeing the Nations come to Him - I knew that this ministry was one that I wanted to be a part of. In October of 2011 when it came time to meet with my advisor for advisement at school, I knew I had to talk with her. Would it be possible for me to take a semester off? Was it crazy that I wanted to serve these children and this nation - one that I had never been to and knew little about? That October, I sat with my school mentor and then my school advisor and told them that I would be taking a semester off and would spend approx. 11 weeks in Uganda serving with Ekisa, a special needs children's home.

After breaking the news to my parents around New Years that year, I was well on the way of applying, being accepted and beginning the task of fundraising to live in a foreign country for nearly 3 months, I was accepted in February of 2012, to serve as a volunteer from May -July 2013 (for those of you keeping up, I know this is a large gap - one that I didn't understand at the time). I still had a year of school and a summer serving as a Cabin Leader at Camp Pinnacle plus another semester of school standing in the way of my semester off and then boarding a plane to Uganda.

What I didn't understand at the time was why the Lord would call me to take a semester off of school to just work, I questioned why I couldn't just finish school, graduate THEN go to Uganda...His plans are always better my friends.

After finishing a year of school and spending the summer of 2012 at Camp Pinnacle, I returned to school for the Fall semester to finish core classes. In October of 2012, my mentor and friend told me of an opportunity that had arose for her and her family to go and serve in Uganda for 2 weeks in February. I read the testimony of the young man that the team would be partnering with and it BLEW ME AWAY. I was astounded and humbled and I KNEW that the Lord was calling my heart too...This left me in a large dilemma. I had confirmation that the Lord was already leading me to Uganda in the summer of 2013, how could He also lead me to go in February?

After sharing this dilemma of my heart and the fears of the world with my mentor she said "Stephanie, don't ask Him about the money, ask Him if He would have you go twice." This was a challenge and a moment where I had to let go; let go of the fear of fundraising, the fear of Uganda, the fear of jobs or school...Within just a few weeks - I knew the answer deep in my very being. The Lord was paving a way and His way had me on a plane, heading to Uganda in February of 2013. I wrote a check from the money that I had already fundraised for my summer in Uganda and that was that. I was headed to Uganda, to a remote village that you can't find on a map, that not many people have ever heard of, that few people are willing to go to.

And so on February 11 of 2013 I jumped on a plane in Atlanta, Georgia and I was ill prepared for how the Lord would flip my world upside down. While we were in Atlanta, I was handed a schedule and warned, this will change - it is a guide but it will change and that was the last of that schedule. I learned more than ever how to simply BE with people of a different culture, language and life. Few words can describe the experience of driving to the middle of nowhere plus a little further only to be greeted by women and children, dressed in their best, waving flags and banners and shouting praises that you had come. I was brought to tears as we climbed off the bus into a crowd of hundreds of people, many who had walked from miles around, just to come and learn WITH us. I was amused and full of joy to see HUNDREDS follow us to set up camp that first night in the village and stare with wonder and awe as they saw white people, many for the first time, set up Camping tents and unroll our fleece blankets for the night (much of our luggage was delayed in London - many of us didn't have our sleeping bags or sleeping pads the first 2 nights). We considered it JOY that we too were sleeping on a fleece blanket as many of those that we were there to love on that week were.

I rejoiced and danced and stood in awe as a team of people from many different walks of life stood in a concrete building with no roof and no doors WORSHIPPING in the building that soon would be filled with many children...many attending school and hearing TRUTH for the first time in their lives. I laughed and talked and smiled so much that it hurt as the team threw bricks into piles, moving them from the front of the building so the children coming to school wouldn't injury their barefoot feet. Who knew moving bricks could be so much fun?!

Our days were filled with learning from and with the groups of Leaders from various surrounding communities, Women, Children and Youth. We were able to share the Gospel, I saw miracles take place. I saw Him provide in ways like never before as He provided evening walks, translators and quiet moments at just the right time. We were able to see so much fruit, it was overwhelming to finally be with a people that we had prayed so much for - they already had our hearts...now many were truly becoming our Brothers and Sisters in Him.

After nearly a week in Angoltok, we boarded a bus back for Jinja, where we would be loving on other ministries there. As I sat on that bus looking out the window taking in all of the sights and sounds, the children playing, the mud huts, women and men working hard in the fields; I was in great turmoil over ever returning. I wanted too but you know there is always fear in the Lord asking us to do the hard things and living in a village with no running water or electricity where showers are under the stars with a headlamp and the bathroom is a 20ft hold in the ground - we want to RUN in the opposite direction and hide. I was there as I looked at the miles run by on that bus. I wasn't ready for Him to tell me to go back and to invest and to continue learning with those that not only needed help in the physical things but also in the spiritual. I just wasn't ready.

That brings me to being back in the states and sharing what God has done and is doing in Angoltok and in Uganda and how that in 10 weeks I will be returning - that's right, gone for 2 weeks, back for 10 weeks then gone for nearly 11 weeks - a journey that could only be from Him.

2 weeks after arriving back in the states and with just about 8 weeks til I am scheduled to board another plane - this time alone - the Lord calls me out. The Lord calls me to go back to Angoltok for my first week to serve and love the women and to see the Angoltok Outreach Center and be a part of ministries going on there once again. Yet in the midst of this, I'm scared, terrified really - you see this means more money to raise...Lord, I'm only a few weeks out I cry out to Him but He has made it clear - this is His journey not mine, I surrendered my life some years ago --- what I want doesn't matter...I surrendered that to Him.

So 2 weeks after arriving back in the states with all of this new stress of raising so much money the Lord gives me a number, a large number, a number that sends me running in the opposite direction. It is a number that the Lord tells me that He will provide as provision for my trip this summer.

Provision. Noun. something provided; a measure or other means for meeting a need.

So He said it, Stephanie, I'm going to provide provision for you, this will cover your expenses plus more - I will call you to things this summer and I will provide for you to be able to meet those needs.

And guess what happened? I began running, running from the number. It was too big, too scary, too unknown and not tangible for this human being to even fathom. However, the Lord never gives up and after just a few short days I wrote the number - I realized that if I didn't write it, it may never be real and I may never trust Him for it. So I wrote it in a journal. Over the course of the next several weeks it was confirmed by 2 dear Sisters in Christ in my life. That was it - I was running with it, circling it in prayer and begging for obedience from the Body of Christ.

Those 8 weeks stretched me in ways that I couldn't have imagined. I had my ups and downs, days where I rejoiced in the provision He was providing, the next day I would be discouraged that it may never happen.

Yet, when the day was done and the plane ticket and insurance was purchased, the medications had arrived and I was boarding a plane - the exact amount....



$10,000.00 was in my account


And I was awaiting in eager expectation of what the Lord may lead me to do with this provision, above what my expenses would be.

And because of your obedience to Him, my Brothers and Sisters, because of the provision that He provided,

113 women in Angoltok received sugar, salt, soap and oil plus a feast of rice, posho, beans and goat on the last day we had Fellowship together.

A university student is in school this semester.

Countless dinners were shared with Brothers and Sisters so dear to me.

Many journeys were had, friendships deepened and my eyes opened. I had the opportunity to visit Angoltok, Lira and the Islands.

vehicles were fixed and petrol money was provided.

One on one times with precious children were had- we went miniature golfing, swimming, out for cake and ice cream or soda.

A Saturday in Kampala doing Street boys ministry took place.

I got to experience and see the poverty and spiritual bondage that so many are still caught in.

AND  More ALL because of His provision!

After returning to Uganda in May, I spent 9 days in Angoltok with the Angoltok Outreach Center (AOC), I was able to hear the vision for the AOC. I saw the need that the school has, the needs of the church, I participated in Mercy Ministry - carrying branches, cleaning compounds, hoeing the fields and sharing the gospel with others. I watched in amazement at how just a few teachers could care and love and teach HUNDREDS of children each day. I saw posho and beans reproduced like never before, children climbing mango trees - laughing and giggling at the color of my skin. I was humbled and brought to my knees as Saturday morning we fasted and prayed for the AOC. Sunday morning was filled with worship and service – I have never before been so humbled to be a part of a church that took their offering and walked to a neighbors home – a man who had suddenly become ill and unable to work – and gave the offering to the family, because as it was explained to me – the church had all it needed, this family needed it more. 6 days opportunity arose for TRUTH from His Word to be shared in Fellowship with the women of Angoltok, by the end of those 6 days 113 women were meeting.

I was full and not ready to leave, yet the journey continued. The Lord saw fit that His daughter needed to be stretched and grew.

We arrived in Kimaka around 3:30 or so that afternoon and I was terrified and overwhelmed as we arrived at Ekisa, 20+ children greeted me, many who couldn't say my name, some who just layed, some who wanted to hug and greet and to be honest, I wasn't sure I was ready for all this. I nearly cried as I said goodbye to my Brother in Christ, Emma, and embarked on a brand new journey - one with 20+ sweet kiddos.

My first week or so at Ekisa was overwhelming to say the least, I didn't know what I had gotten myself into, many times I felt useless and was searching for my place in all this (something that I now realize pretty much EVERY volunteer goes through this questioning). It only took about a week for me to feel right at home - to fall in love with each child, to know their cries and when they weren't feeling well, to know how they liked to be fed or if they liked to be wrapped or put in a stroller for one on one time.

It was fun to discover the strengths of each child and their food likes and dislikes. So much to discover and learn and grow WITH them. I soon felt at home here, I loved walking from the volunteer house each morning alone or with other volunteers to Ekisa, walking in the gate and being greeted by Uncle Simon and the kids, how Zeke would say Auntie Stephanie (like I had never heard my name pronounced before) or how Paul would always run to hug and show you the latest booboo that had happened. Morning smiles from Amy or Debra, giggles from James and morning babble talks with Misach. Hugs and sheer delights of laughter from Mweru when He hadn't seen me in a few days. Some days I walked away feeling smothered in LOVE - it was a good feeling, even on the tough days.

So this summer I learned to love and laugh, I learned to play and run, I learned that love has no specific language - sometimes it’s a cuddle or a hug, sometimes it’s a laugh or a chase, sometimes love is a conversation or a listening ear. Some days love was shown through children who have been through way too much in their short lives, some days it was shown through the kindness of a boda driver or a waitress, some days it was a fellow volunteer or Ekisa staff member and sometimes it was through a friend. I have learned so much this summer that my heart can't even put into words...not yet.

I have friends that have turned into family. I have seen the hurt and false sense of Hope that false religion and cults have to offer but I've also seen the absolutely pure JOY that my Savior offers to all who call on Him.

You see, I thought my journey was ending on August 1st - the day I arrived home. After all, my journey was 76 days total. People could breathe a sigh of relief, Stephanie had made it back from Uganda, alive and well - for so many had been concerned for my safety. I won't say this wasn't a concern but when you step out, walking with the Lord, you are ALWAYS walking into unknown, uncertain territory.  However, being back in the states people aren't as worried for your safety. There is little risk for Malaria, or other common tropical diseases and so they praise the Lord for your safety and for bringing you back. I am grateful for my safety in Uganda and for the Lord providing protection against such illnesses but something happened on August 6th that changed everything for me. 

On August 6th, just a few short days after arriving back in the states. I was in a car accident. I was sitting at a red light when I blacked out, my car moved forward and a guard rail stopped me. As I came to at the accident scene and a young man was yelling at me "Are you okay?" I was confused, it was my car's horn that was blowing, it was my air bag that had been deployed, I was the driver, the one sitting in this car that was now in the guard rail. What had happened? What had happened? After calmly telling someone to call 911 and telling someone else to call my dad. The EMT's, police officers and fire truck were at the scene.  I was being checked out and taken to the ER. My sense of calm never disappeared - my mom actually said to me, "Stephanie, why are you so calm?" I had no answer - I still have no answer except for- it’s ALL Him.

I have struggled with this whole thing, I had barely begun processing Uganda, I am still very much missing it, asking Him what is next and preparing for school and work and then this - an accident. Something to recover from and heal from and work through so as not to be terrified of driving again.

I've been through every emotion this past week from being mad, frustrated, sad, angry, grateful for my life, rejoicing in His protection and knowing that He is in control. I kept wondering why Lord, I was reminded and challenged to keep my eyes on Him - for the opposition comes to kill, steal and destroy but He came that I may have life, life to the full. (John 10:10)

I didn't and still don't understand why this freak accident, as I like to refer to it, has occurred. But as I was worshipping yesterday morning - He whispered gently to my very being that THIS is a part of the journey and it is His story. And He quietly reminded me that so many people were concerned for my safety as I was in Uganda in February and this summer, yet in mere days of me returning to the states I was in an accident - in which I could have lost my life. He reminded me that no matter where I am in this great big world - He is there, He is in charge of my journey...He has ultimate control.

So as I sat letting this truth sink in - He challenged me to not let fear ever get in the way of being obedient to Him. There is great unknown and uncertainty on the journey that He leads us to - but He is always ALWAYS there and in charge of every detail. He provided a guard rail to stop me. He provided Good Samaritans to pull over and help. He provided protection in the form of an airbag and seat belt. He provided a green light at just the moment that my body (in its unconscious state) propelled my car forward. He had me driving at a time of day that isn't quite so busy. He had me at a red light and not driving down the road. These little details weren't overlooked by the God of the universe but instead they were set just so as to protect me.

I am taking precautionary measures and will be seeing a neurologist in the coming weeks but I know that He too is already there - in the future, with me and planning the details.

Friends - if there is anything I have learned it’s that He is the Lord and I am not, His plans are perfect as are His details - don't let fear stop you from walking with Him. He is God is Uganda and Kenya and Haiti and Korea and Canada and Iran and the States - He is the God of this World. He is the God of those trapped in the bondage of False religions, those who are searching and those whose hearts have been hardened; He has the power to break those chains and set them FREE - I've heard testimony of His saving Grace and know the power it has. We are His creation, "He saw all that He had made and it was very good..." (Genesis 1: 30) so friends, please don't be fearful of where the Lord has called you - precautions are necessary but He is Lord over all and we must learn to trust that. 


I pray that you have been drawn to Him through this journey. I have tried to be as real and transparent with my journey as humanly possible and I pray that your heart will simply be to know His heart more – It’s my prayer for myself and for you. 

As Bob Goff says in his book 'Love Does'

"That's because love is never stationary. In the end, love doesn't just keep thinking about it or keep planning for it. Simply put: Love does." 
In Angoltok with a sweet baby boy who I first met in February, he wasn't so little anymore - he was also the first child that peed on me this summer...but definitely not the last.

Can you see the red dirt on me?! The culprit the one hugging me. Mweru, I miss this kid every day. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

On May 18, 2013 the Lord gets on a plane with me...



The conversation usually starts off with questions of the adventures God has taken me on. He asks about what I did. She wants to know about the children, youth and women. They want to know if you went with a church and for how long. They inquire about the faces of the pictures they see. You excitedly tell them that the Lord did marvelous things that you were able to love, minister, serve, learn with them, that you experienced heartache with them and rejoiced as they came to know the love of your Heavenly Daddy. Then you tell them that you are going back for the summer for 10 ½ weeks, alone, you’re going to visit the village that has become like a second family, you speak of sitting with the women under the mango tree, and dancing to no music with a little girl, of holding a little boy while he sleeps and praying over a 16 year old's baby boy. You get excited about sitting on the floor with the women at church and of greeting everyone you seeing with “Yoga” as you walk down the dusty roads. You dream of learning how to mass produce posho, rice and beans for the nursery school and visiting the homes of women that you have come to love. You tell them of children who have special needs and how you will have the opportunity to see them make milestones; you will be greeted each morning with smiles even if no words are spoken. You get giddy just thinking of the faces that you have prayed for, for so so long. And then they say one little word that breaks your heart and makes it flip-flop inside your chest. They ask you “Why?” 


Then you try to explain that if no one will go then how will they ever hear? Don’t they too deserve to know that they aren’t alone in this world? That they were created for a purpose, they are not by chance, they too have something to offer the world? So my question is “Why not?” Why not pray for these beautiful people who need to hear of His love, who have gone years and years and years of their lives NEVER HEARING ABOUT A MAN NAMED JESUS. NEVER having The Good News to read for themselves, until now. Now, they are finally getting the chance – our Father has paved the way and the gospel is being made known. You begin telling them of the desire that you have to see baptisms happen in this place, to rejoice as they are immersed in water and publically proclaim that He is their LORD. Oh my desire to simply sit and learn and to be reminded by my Heavenly Daddy that I have SO much to learn. 


Dear friends, I don’t know WHY my Heavenly Daddy led me to go now at 22 years old, single and alone but I can speak Truth to you in this. I’m on a journey with the Lord, it is all my own and in the pages of the book that He has written for my life you will find at 22 years old, single and all alone on May 18, 2013 God gets on a plane with me. I don’t know the rest of the story or the rest of the words on the page but I do know that they include a Daddy that loves me, Brothers and Sisters lifting me up and an adventure that I couldn’t even imagine right now.



Join the journey and see the words unfold on the page! If you would like to receive e-mail updates please send me an e-mail at servinghiminuganda@gmail.com

Friday, March 1, 2013

The woman that I never got to meet, that impacted my life.


This woman's name is Beatrice Acen and this is her story. For 40 something years she grew up, she never knew the love of her Creator, she had probably never heard that there was a man named Jesus Christ who had come to save her, she had probably never heard that He came to rescue her from all of the bad things that she had done or that He loved her so much and desired to have a relationship with her. Beatrice Acen lived in the small village of Angoltok in Uganda, Africa. A place that you cannot Google or find on a map. A place seemingly unknown to the world, but it was NOT a place that God had forgotten for He had a plan - a BIG plan and His desire was to have a living relationship with the people of Angoltok including this precious woman, Beatrice.
20 + years ago a young boy was orphaned at 6 years old. He wandered from home to home for many years searching for food and shelter, several years later a man took him to a children's home in Jinja; there this young boy learned the love of a mom and dad. As he grew up he discovered that his biological parents left him one thing - a piece of land. This land located in Angoltok, a place unreached and in desperate need of the gospel of HOPE. These people needed Christ, but who would take the gospel message to them? That answer came in that orphaned 6 year old boy, Emmanuel. Emma gave that land back to the Lord and asked the Lord to use the land to bring others to Himself.
In October of 2012, Emma felt led to move back out to the village. He began making house visits and seeing the needs of the people there. One day Emma visited the home of Beatrice; about a week later he woke up and felt compelled to return to this woman's home and share the gospel with her. Beatrice Acen's name was written in the Lamb's Book of Life that very day as she entered into a relationship with Him. Oh how I couldn't even imagine the rejoicing that took place in heaven that day. The Sunday nearest Thanksgiving Day 2012, Beatrice stood in church for the first time testifying to the Lord's work in her life. Meanwhile Emma realized that Beatrice was very sick, a multitude of people in the states had already begun praying for Beatrice and rejoiced in hearing that they had gained a Sister in Christ. As we learned that Beatrice was ill, people began mobilizing here to assist in paying for the medical treatments - we later learned that Beatrice was sick with cancer. There is no cure, there is no modern day medicine yet The Lord sustained Beatrice and allowed surgery to take place to remove much of the cancer from her neck and chest. She continued testifying of God's work in her life and that others that she had never met loved her so much that they were willing to help her get the treatment that she needed.
Several weeks before heading to UG, we got word that Beatrice was saving white ants as a 'Thank you'. Although I was slightly mortified to realize what white ants truly were it was part of the adventure to know that this was her best that she was saving for us. Our hearts longing to meet this Sister in Christ that we had heard so much about and prayed so often for far outweighed the ewww factor of eating white ants. Beatrice's name came through my phone often as others asked how she was doing...We arrived in Angoltok and we're eager to meet this woman that we had prayed for and rejoiced with. I walked down the road to this compound and I saw the hut that is behind Beatrice with my own eyes but Beatrice Acen wasn't there. Beatrice Acen had already gone to be with the Lord about 1 1/2 weeks before we arrived. The Lord had called her home and although we rejoiced that she was no longer in pain we were overwhelmed with sorrow that we weren't able to celebrate with her on this earth. However, we know that a day is coming where we will sit with Beatrice at the feet of our Savior and what a JOYOUS day that will be.

I never knew that someone you had never met could make such a big impact on your life - however I know this, it was through the woman of Beatrice Acen that lives were changed and impacted. We were connected not through blood or through our country of birth but we were connected through the love of a Savior and because of His love we were made Sisters. I am forever grateful that the Lord had a plan in motion when a young boy was orphaned at 6, and that his biological parents left him a plot of land, and that through his obedience the gospel was taken to Angoltok at just the right time for a woman named Beatrice Acen to hear and accept the GOOD NEWS.

So even though our hearts are full of sorrow that we did not get to meet Beatrice this side of heaven there is more JOY because we know that one day we will sit together at HIS feet. 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Beatrice

In just a few weeks (less than 3 to be exact) a team from Alabama and Georgia, many of us who have never met, will be on our way to a country that each in our own way has stolen a piece of our hearts. It has been an incredibly deep, long, at times painful, joyful journey and the adventure is just beginning!

Several weeks ago a woman named Beatrice, became the first new believer in the village of Angoltok. Many of you have been following the story and have been praying for her - Thank you! The truth is Beatrice is not doing well. She had surgery to remove the cancer but the truth is that their is no chemo and no drugs there. Just last week she went to have the wound cleaned and she is in a great deal of pain. Her testimony has been such a blessing to the people of Angoltok. Tonight as I met with a team member/friend/mentor we began talking and praying for this woman. We are praying that His will shall be accomplished in Beatrice's life and that whether she be healed or whether he chooses to take her home to be with Him that others would be drawn to the One who saved Beatrice's life and has given her HOPE for every tomorrow.

I'll be honest, selfishly I want to be able to meet Beatrice in February. I want to hug her and hear her tell her story in HER words but I will trust that He knows best!

Please pray for Beatrice and for the village of Angoltok!

This is Beatrice, my sister in Him.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Ramblings...

Christmas was yesterday and it came and flew by way too fast. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is being able to see family, family I only see once a year. I got to see cousins that I haven't seen in years and oh how wonderful it is to be able to just spend time together! This Christmas though my heart was (and still is) in so many places. A family that we have known for years lost their father just before Christmas. I can still see Mr. Eddie walking the halls decorating for SO many Vacation Bible Schools at church. Friends struggling. And burdened to PRAY for family members hearts. As I prepare to go across the world and be His hands and feet there. The Lord is changing my heart and I'm being more and more burdened to be His hands and feet EVERYWEHRE. I know y'all think - you can't do that. BUT the Truth is. There is a sweet family who has given everything to love the least of these in Guatemala. Guatemala is a closed country to outside adoption so these family style housing gives HOPE and a HOME to these beautiful children. But we need the next biggest thing, new car, new clothes, no phone. So guilty - Lord, change my heart. The Truth is that all over the world there are hurting people and we I need to be HIS hands and feet and stop living the 'christian' life and instead throw the religion all away and instead be a Jesus follower, being transformed by His Word.

So....Uganda is less than 7 weeks out. Oh how excited I am. I can't stop thinking and reading and praying and actually just ordered 2 more books that I am hoping to get read before I step foot there! I look at this journey and never knew how much it could change ME. Oh how much it has changed me. I pray that is evident.

There are some beautiful children in Uganda who would LOVE to hear from YOU! Some girls and some boys and even some staff. Would you be willing to write? To let them know that they have not been forgotten? That you have seen faces and heard there stories and that you are praying for them?

 If you would be willing - would you please leave a comment - so I can get in touch with you about praying for a precious child!

Family on Christmas Eve

Cousins on Christmas Eve (minus a cousin and her baby)

Family sporting our 'Hope for Uganda' shirts on Christmas Day!