I am who I am and I do what I do because...

From and early age I would hear things like….”You are one of kind Sunshine.” “You are special.” “No matter if you have a learning disability or not…you are smart.” “You are mine and you make me smile.” ‘You shine so bright.” 

A lot of the encouraging words I heard as a child came from this lovely lady!

How could anyone, hearing encouraging words like this see themselves as anything but one of a kind?! While hearing these amazing words I also learned how broken, sinful, greedy, selfish, and lost I really was. God did a miraculous thing in my heart when I was the age of 12. He showed me I needed Him more than anything else. With faith like a child I prayed for Jesus to save me. (He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24.)

To this day, I can recall all the detail of the moment Christ was made the center of my life. Now, when this happened that did not mean my selfishness, greed, brokenness, sin, and or dyslexia went away, never to be see or heard of again. In fact the opposite happened! All the CRAP in me, yes I am a missionary I said crap, was magnified. The Holy Spirit pointed out everything with microscope precision. And no matter what I do or how hard I try…until I reach Heaven’s joys, bright heaven’s son, I will not be fully Christ-like.  

Now here is the kicker. Knowing of all this I stand scratching my head. God in His infinite wisdom is using me in Africa, when He could fully well do it all on His own. Heavenly Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Yahweh, the great I Am is using me. He is using sinful, greedy, selfish, prideful, tattooed, and broken ME! 

 

 

“Holy Crap…why on earth,” is what I daily ask. And every day this is the answer I get…

Cassandra, you don’t have to know. It is ok if you do not see it. You just have to trust, trust in me. I know what I am doing, so you do not have to. You just need to walk by faith and not by sight, as hard as it may be. You have to know I made you just the way you are and I made you this way for a reason. Just because some one else does not see it, or get it does not mean there is no value. So, can you trust? Can you let go and daily do what I set before you? Everyday can you love and support the people I place into your life, no matter how long they are there for?  Daughter that is all I am asking you do because I am doing the rest for you. –Abba

So until the day I take my last breath and see my savior face to face, I will be who He made me to be and I will do what He is asking of me. For He has done so much more in order to call me daughter. (I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14)

Learning to love who I am and how Christ made me

An Open Door...

More than I would like to admit the phrase “God opened the door” comes out of my mouth. That phrase itself is not bad. In fact, it is good. It is acknowledging that God is at work rather than me. More of Him and less of me is a great thing!

In the last few weeks something strange has happened. Countless conversations have turned to the topic of “God opening doors.” The odd part is how a few friends and I started to see that there seems to be a hidden expectation with the meaning of this phrase. As we were talking, we all kind of had a moment of “Huh? Wonder why that is.”  For me, that moment has continued for over a week now. For some reason I cannot stop thinking about how an open door does not mean walking through will be smooth or painless.

Some how the idea that when God opens a door in our lives, whatever is on the other side will be easier than where we are now. Not sure how or why, but many, including myself hold on to hope of this unrealistic expectation. Yes, God is good and desires the best for us! 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Psalm 52:8  But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.

God is not anything if not loving.  But I think we have forgotten one key aspect. We have forgotten about someone that seeks to have power and influence over us. We have forgotten about the enemy.

Now, please, understand I do not want to give credit to the devil. But, face it, he is good at what he does! We have forgotten he is free and roaming this earth.  I believe  that has led us to think an open door means golden roads ahead.

Personally, I can look back at my life and see where I assumed there was going to be golden roads ahead when God opened a door in my life. And more over, I can tell you how many times I have been sorely mistaken. The lack of golden or easy roads on the other side of the door has never meant God did not open the door, but it hasn’t been a cakewalk! The thing I have been learning is God opens the doors in our lives and when we have the faith and trust to walk through them, the enemy panics.  Through the Lord’s strength, the fears of walking through the door did not hold us back, so his first strategy failed. So he goes on the attack!

The enemy understands that because we were obedient to the Lord, mountains are about to move. Lives are going to be changed and he will do what he can, even when he knows he will fail, to de-rail us. He makes the steps we take after crossing the threshold feel like we are under fire. Here we thought it was going to be a bed of roses because the Lord opened the door for us. Hate to spoil the ending for ya but, GOD WINS. 

 1 Samuel 17:47  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

The Lord wins every time. So when we are hitting the deck to avoid the attacks of the enemy we need to remember who has ALREADY won the war.  We need to stand strong and fight back with God’s word and TRUTH. We have nothing to fear. The Lord of angel armies is on our side.

Exodus 15:6  Your right hand, Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
    shattered the enemy.

Now I do realize it is much easier said than done. Our human nature tells us to duck or run away. So now my prayer is for us to be strong and realistic when God opens a door.  Praying for the Holy Spirit to instill peace and passion into us so we do not hit the deck but stand strong. Stand strong knowing God has already one the war!

Fast Update

 Many of you know I set out to do a 30 fast. Well I made it 10 days...10 out of 30 ain't bad, right?!

Let me explain. The first three days were very hard. The no coffee was a killer. Mornings were not good nor was I pretty. By day four I was feeling better but very weak. On day five I was feeling the better. By this time some hope was shining, making me think I could make it to day30.

After having a few low days, days 6-8, I listened to some really wise people. They pointed out it was my first fast..and 30days might be a little ambitious. They suggested I think about 10 or 15 days to start off with. After that I will be able to go a little longer next time and eventually work up to 30days.  Part of me was upset at the fact I was struggling so much while the other part wanted to end the fast that day!

Over the next day, day8, I  really prayed about ending before 30days and I felt peace about it. So I pushed through the next two days and finished as strong as I could!

It is strange to think of how much I learned about myself in 10days. Really I learned a lot. Saw some things that were not pretty but now I know about them so I can work on it. The growing process is not over, it will never be over.

For those of you who prayed for me, THANK YOU. It was need and felt. If the Lord ever asks you to do a crazy thing like a fast let me know. I would love to pray for you!

10 Things I learned about myself while on the 10Day Fast:
1. My flesh is selfish!

2. Often food is used as a filler (when I am sad, stressed, tired an so on) for me.

3. I can live without coffee (I do not like it but I can).

4. I do not pray as much as I would like to think I do.

5. There is a need to dig more into the Word daily.

6. God is slow to anger and quick to love, I need to be more like that.

7. Heath goes beyond food.

8. Others are often used to help us grow, we need to be open to listening to them.

9. I often wait to hear from God in big ways while missing the small ways He speaks to me.

10. God is so good and big! I often lose sight of that!

Walking life together and roaring like lions!

Yesterday a close friend came over, we will call her Fla for now. She is in University here in Kampala studying business management. Over the last year and half I have loved getting to know her.

Fla is a little younger than me, has a big family, works many jobs to pay for school, is a solid believer, has big hopes, single in a culture where that is not normal, and is just one of the most AMAZING Ugandan ladies I am blessed to know! Can you tell I love her?!

We normally meet every Saturday for bible study. We are going through a good book on Proverbs 31 and both are taking a lot away from our weekly studies. But for the last month Fla has been taking tests. She has been studying like crazy and we have not gotten together. It was just a month but it felt like FOREVER! As of yesterday the wait was over! We got together and hung out for over an hour, so not long enough but I take what I can get. We chatted about EVERYTHING. What else would you do after being apart for a while but yet life keeps going on?! She told me about her Christmas plans and how the family was doing. (She has the cutest niece! She is called Zoe and she and I are roaring like lions at a Christmas party.) 

While together we talked about how we were really doing, spiritually. I love the fact we can be real with each other. We just say where we are with the Lord, our faith, and the life we are called to live. By the end of our time she had to head off to work. We ended our time in prayer. It was the sweetest time, holding hands and giving EVERYTHING to the Lord as we prayed.  After Fla left I had some time to think and pray.

Many thoughts were rushing around my head…but the one that stood out the most is the fact God is asking me to walk life with Fla. Not here to tell her the gospel, she knows it and believes it! The crazy thing is God asked me to move ½ around the world to walk this crazy thing called life with her. To pray for her, spend time with her, laugh with her, cry with her, hold her hand, share blessings with her, and LOVE HER.

Often people think that a missionary is someone that works with people who do not know the Lord, yes sometimes that is true but not always what is needed. Something that has been forgotten is the “make disciple” part of the great commission.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit -Matthew 28:19

Jesus did not say go and make “converts,” people who say they believe in Him. From what I can see in this messed up, crazy, up side down world is there are more converts than disciples. Many people who can talk a good talk but that suck at being with people. We are called make disciples and to LOVE.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. –John 13:35

Love is an action verb. It is a daily choice, one we have to make no matter what kind of mood we are in.

The fact that the Lord has called me to Africa to walk life with a believer and that I daily have to choose love, is the biggest lesson the Lord has been teaching me. You might say “well that is not a hard lesson,” and you are right.

It is not a hard lesson to get but living it out is a whole other story my friend. Daily I am working on the living it out part. How about you?

Quotes, Thoughts, and Christmas

So I am not 100% me, still fighting the "flu" and spending a lot of time on the couch and in my bed. While I was resting on the couch today....with my first cup of coffee in three days (how did I live without it?!) I watched a documentary.  Little known Cassandra Fact, I LOVE documentaries!!!

It is in-tiled "Beware of Christians." There are many parts of the film that are the stereo-topical "college guy" adventures and behaviors. But if you wad through it you might be surprised, as I was, at the though provoking questions they ask about Christians and issues surrounding Christianity.

 To be honest there were points my soul and spirit were convicted. Yes, me the "perfect" christian. The one who lives for the Lord on the mission field each and every day. (if you do not know me well I was being sarcastic!) Some of the quotes that made me stop and think are listed below.....I would love to know if they make you stop and think as well. (it would be nice to know I am not the only one who doesn't have it all together)

Quote 1: " You know when you grow up in church, you always hear be wear of drugs, sex, and alcohol. We point our fingers at all these different things, maybe we should be pointing the finger back at ourselves. Maybe we should say beware of Christians! Beware of people like us, who know how to say all the right things but who have a really tough time giving their WHOLE lives to God."

Quote 2: "It really doesn't cost anything to know how you are spouse to live or talk about it, it costs a lot to actually do it!"

Quote 3: "The more I try to glorify God, with my life, the more I realize how much I SUCK at it! But, at the same time it shows me how much God had to LOVE me to send His son to die FOR me!"

All three quotes made me stop and think, deeply, about who I am and how my life reflects the the Gospel. But more over number three just hits me in the heart at this time of year. In just a few days we all will be celebrating the day our savoir was born. God in human form birthed in a stinky, dirty, and cold manger! The son of God who would die for all mankind. The lover of my soul!

 There is nothing I can say or do to repay the Lord for what He did for me, nor can you. But as I think about all my FAILED attempts to glorify Him, I just see how much He picks up my slack. No matter how many times I fall on my face He is right there. Every time I lose my cool and let my sinful nature get the best of me He forgives me. When my heart is in shattered on the floor and tears are flowing down He is holding me tight. Why? Why would the God of all creation do that? How could a sinless man take my place?

The only thing I can think of is He LOVES me. Something I will be thankful for and wonder about till I see Him face to face.

Playing in the Dirt!!!!

The Hippy, Green Lover, ECO Friendly, CALI Girl in me is coming out! I live in a second-story flat but that wont stop me from growing some yumm-o veg!

This evening I had some fun on my front and back patio getting my hands in the dirt, pulling some weeds, and singing out loud (sorry neighbors!). Before today there was a mix of want to be veg and flower on both patios. Taking some time to think, I do that some times. It made more sense to have all the veg in the back, right outside the kitchen door. So, all the lettuce, wild rocket, mint, rosemary, and tomatoes got moved around.

When things have sprouted, bloomed, and ripened I can not wait to taste their goodness. Even when living in a very green country like Uganda I miss Farmers Markets. Taking an early Saturday morning with good friends, thinking of you Miss Kari, while walking around and getting your shopping list knocked out. Oh, and the verity! There is a berry shape hole in my heart after moving out here! But I digress....

While having one of my "missing Cali" moments I realized I could grow some greens. It will never replace all the fabulous Farmer Markets but it is all one can do at this point.  Also I get to play in the dirt! So, fingers crossed! Here is to playing in the dirt and fresh veg!!!!

Lessons in Womanhood

This weekend I took some time to work on my  home. It is not crumbling but somethings needed TLC.

The hot item on the to-do-list was change water filter. H2O is so important out here and  I somehow missed the note the filter needed to be changed every 6 months....mine was 12 months old. Oops!

While cleaning and changing my filter I listen to a podcast. It was in-tilted Womanhood. When I pushed play I thought it was going to be all about how women are equal but have to submit.......blah blah blah. To my surprise it was amazing! The quote that grabbed my full attention was "The battle of the sexes did not start in the 60's. It started in the garden."

WOW! Ok, I was listing now! For 40min I learned more about my natural nature...the one that craves to live in harmony, before sin hi-jacked the harmony God He created between man and woman. Harmony that was built on love and respect. This truth fit in so well to what God has been teaching me....yeah I know I thought I was done learning to, guess I was wrong. ;)

Over the last few months the Lord has been showing me what I thought...about life and marriage was way off base! The line "your life will start when you get married," is false. God has things for me to do now, things I need to do as a single lady. He is not holding back "my happy ever after" because I do not trust Him enough, or because my standers are to high. It is because He has things to do in me and through me in the mean time. He also has been trying to get the understanding of Biblical womanhood through my very thick scull!

A book I am reading has shown me how much the world has jacked up (sorry for the language) what is means to be a woman. The book is rooted in God's truth, something that is so powerful. This power is something I am now learning first hand. Reading this book, studying God's word on the topic, and fully letting things go has become so freeing. Freeing from the lies of this world.

It may be hard to see or believe but this world has turned the idea of womanhood upside down. And while it was being turned upside down, the enemy blinded the church to what he was doing. If people asked the Lord to give them His eyes, we would see how off the mark even the church is on Womanhood.

There were many moments over the last few months I was kicking at screaming at the Lord. Me submitting?! Are you nuts Lord? Something in me, yes yes I know it is my sinful nature,  loves being a woman who can speak her mind. Maybe that is my California up bringing.

Ladies you all know what I am talking about. You feel it too. The verse that talk about how we are to submit, be under your husbands, or in my case father's authority. Your skin just crawls, your heart starts to beat faster, and you feel like showing the world how strong you are on your own.

Well, I know that feeling all to well. It is something that the Lord has been trying change in me. Something I was blind to . Something the world told me I did not need to learn, and I bought into it. God has been so loving with me. So loving He brought me to Africa to teach me who He created me to be. Created me to be a lovely lady with His understanding of womanhood.

Now trust me, I am not prefect and still have many miles to go. But the biggest battle has been own, God has shown me that when I bend  my sinful will to His concept of womanhood, peace like a river invades my soul!! So, I bend my will to His and learn a little bit more about myself and what it means to be a woman of God each day. I pray you do the same. And I pray the lies of the enemy lose their power over you through God's loving and powerful word.

Don't Be a Cow!

Yesterday I had a quite normal “driving in Africa” moment. While heading into the office a heard of cows were walking along side the road I was on. Again, VERY normal for me now.  As I was about to pass them a big cow decided he was not satisfied with the greenery on his side of the road, with the rest of his heard. He left them on the right side of the road and crossed over to the left, right in front of my SUV. Thankfully have good breaks and stopped well enough before we became closer than I would have ever wanted to be with an African cow.

Yes, welcome to the new kind of traffic jam!

While stopped and waiting for this big-headed cow to finish crossing so he could enjoy the greens on the other side I saw his heard being beaten on the right side. The herders were telling the cows “NO.” They wanted all of them on the same side, which make sense to me. Once, the cow was eating his new greens and off the road I drove off. As I did my heart, head, and soul were thinking. The first thing that came to mind was “Don’t be a COW!”  A little puzzled by that statement I kept driving.

As I got closer and closer to the office that statement started to take on meaning.  How often do we choose to go off and do our own thing? Many times we do it without regard or thought of others. Our actions hold a consequence for us and the ones around us. We hardly ever take into a count “the others.” We just think that if we can deal with what COULD happen, so then we can do it and be ok. But, that is not how it works.  We are a body of believers. And a body works together. Each part has a job. When one part does not do its job the others feel it. Just like the heard felt it when one of them decided to find better food for himself. 

1 Corinthian 12:26-28

²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

Now I am not saying that God is going to beat everyone else around us because we have walked off to do our own thing, our own way. But, I am highlighting the fact that they will be affected. As a body we are all connected.  And the fact we are all connected is something that is often forgotten or casted to the side as of little or no consequence.

“Don’t be COW!” means stop and think about your actions. Think of how they will not only impact you but your bothers and sisters around you. How it will impact the ones who do not know Christ. The ones you work with you. The ones on your sports team. The ones who live on your street and neighborhood. They are all connected to you in some way and will feel the consequence of your actions.

More often than not believes have cared very little what for what their brothers and sisters are doing and how it will impact the body of Christ as a whole. The thought “as long as they are checking with God than we are ok,” because the norm. But, how many times have people said that and never asked that person if they are checking it with God? Asking them why do you feel the Lord calling you do this? Or even point them to scriptures related to the topic.  Many times it is because we ourselves have been off doing our own thing. Also many are afraid to offend. But, again we are a body! The foot in every right can ask the knee why it is not doing its job. Of course the foot needs to say it in love and genuine caution for the keen. But the foot needs to tell the knee how its actions are creating consequence for him, he is carrying too much, the extra weight is now making him not faction correctly. 

Romans 12:3-5

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

That…coming out of love I want to let you know your actions are impacted others needs to happen. We need to tell people to not be a cow! It is time we stepped up and encouraged one another, supported each other in their roles, and more importantly hold them accountable in LOVE. A great lie from the enemy is that our actions only affect us. Our actions and attitudes affect the whole body. It is time. “Don’t be a COW!” 

Colossians 3:14-16

 

¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

Nothing is Impossible!

Tonight I was blessed to attend a youth conference. A friend working with a local church invited me to come, we have gotten to know each other and I love seeing her all pumped up about something.

A team from her home church was leading a youth conference for the kids of the local church and surrounding community. There were a good number of youth there. The visiting team lead worship and had a great speaker to close today's events.

In worship a song was song...it made me think of all my Short-Termers. Yes, I call all the STmers in Central Region "mine." They are doing the Father's work all over the region. The words of the song painted how they live daily.

Some are in the bush bush and other are in urban settings...but all of them live a life of faith and trusting that nothing is impossible with God.

Through You I can do anything
I can do all things
'Cause it's You who gives me strength
Nothing is impossible
Through You blind eyes are open
Strongholds are broken
I am living by faith
Nothing is impossible
I'm not gonna live by what I see
I'm not gonna live by what I feel
Deep down I know that You're here with me
And I know that You can do anything
I believe, I believe
I believe, I believe in you

They do not live by what they see...they can see beyond what is in front of them. Past things like poverty, malnutrition,  children living on the streets, HIV/AIDS, broken homes, children raising children, and lives shattered by sin.

They do not live by what they feel.....they ask God what to do with their mixed emotions, daily. They ask God to give them GRACE and LOVE for the days that are just to heard to keep working. They push back the anger when they are faced with the sight of injustice.

But they all believe that nothing is impossible with God. They have seen God soften hard hearts. They heard sinners sing for joy the day Christ came into their hearts! Chains are broken and they have been in communities that have done a full 360 because of that freedom!

They come out for months at a time, away from family and friends, all because they believe.

Call me byes, but the Central Region STmers are amazing! They are not prefect and will be the first to tell you so. Sometimes they want to pack it up and head home. But all in all, they are doing what they do because they truly believe...NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Connor working in Mbarar, Uganda with a discipleship program

Kelsea in Mbarara, Uganda working with discipleship and MK education

Leah in Tororo, Uganda working at SMILE Africa

The List

Dream List...
1. Enjoying the sun in Fiji
2. Seeing the wonders of the Aurora Borealis
3. Sing on stage (yes, even with my not so great voice)
4. Sleep under the stars in Alaska
5. Get the tattoo I have been talking about
6. Met my children and see them grow up
7. Visit my family in Finland (again, last time I was 9)
8. Go on a trans-Atlantic cruise 
9. Own a pair of obscenely expensive shoes
10. Go to a movie red carpet primer
11. Take a walking safari
12. Understand American football
13. Say I-Do with my best friend
14. Learn to play the ukulala 
15. Own a Land Rover (the old safari kind)
16. Attend a All Black in New Zealand
17. Host my grandmother's 90th  birthday party
18. Take my mom on an African safari
19. Name an OPI nail color
20. Raft the Nile river
21. Walk the Medina in Casablanca, Morocco
22. See the great migration in Tanzania
23. Visit all 50 States
24. Grow old with the man I love
25. Make a wish in a shooting star   

Thanks Dad....

As a young girl growing up I have countless memories of my father....building and making things, fixing many things around the house, and all the while dragging me around with him! At the time I hated it. Being woken up early in the morning to hold some drywall while he hammers it into place. Hearing over and over, "now remember this, it is very important." All the while thinking...."yeah right, when am I ever going to need to know this?!"

The building and fixing lessons were something I would smile at and tolerate. Truthfully, I rather enjoyed learning things like that but, the one thing I hated with a passion was doing the dishes. See we were the family with a dishwasher, just a broken one. And for some reason or another it was never as high on the "fix list" as I thought it should be. So, day after day I would hear him say...."Cassandra do your dishes. Cassandra we do not have a maid!" Soon my eyes would roll automatically at the sound of my name paired up with the word dishes. I did everything I could to get out of doing them. Things like eating without a plate, and of course get told that was not ok. Use a paper towel instead of plate and be reminded how costly that was. So needless to say I did dishes daily by hand for a LONG time.

Now fast forward a few years....living in Africa. I can not count how many times I have thought of how thankful I was for my father teaching me... (insert name of lesson). Really, so many things I thought were pointless as a kids were truly valuable lessons. I can check my own oil and tire presser. I can hang photos and art without needing help.  Making small repairs around the house can be done by me. And the most important one of all....I am used to living without a dishwasher!

Moving overseas is hard. There are many many things to get use to. So many things that you have to relearn, but thanks to good ole' dad I learned many well before I needed to. He could have thought of never teaching me these things. I mean most fathers don't. Teaching a son is one thing but your daughter.....not so often. So, all of this to say....THANK YOU DAD! I know you never thought I would need these lessons because I would live in Africa someday. You just showed me because you love me and wanted me to be a strong and independent girl, not a little princess, like so many you saw running around. God truly blessed me with a father who loves his little girl but never treated her like one. I am so sorry for all the times I have frustrated you or never took the time to really listen to your teaching. Just know now....1/2 way around the world I am thankful for you! Thanks for all the love and lessons over the past 28 years.

Love you papa smurf! xoxox

Lessons About Airports

I have been in to many airports to count. Some in developed nations others in developing nations. Here are some of the key lessons I have learned…

1.NEVER be in a hurry

When you are in a hurry, yes you know the feeling I am talking about, thinking you are as fast as the Flash and it never works. Your demeanor changes, you heart and spirit are not in tune, and you act as if you are the only on in a hurry. Granted there are many reasons someone will be in a hurry and running late for their flight…with that being said I have grace for others individuals. But for those of you who can come in plenty of time, do so. You start your travels on the right foot. You can smile and be pleasant to all those around. That sounds odd right?! Wrong!!! You can be a light and a testament to others while traveling. Think about it. All those that work in the airport are treated poorly (normally by the ones in a hurry). So how refreshing it would be to be working and see a smile and hear a warm greeting from travelers. This is a simple way to show His love even while traveling. So that is one lesson.

2. If you see good food where you are stop and eat it!

How often do we think I will just walk a little more….see what is down there. And when we do we are not thrilled. Most of the time there is nothing that caught our eye or our taste buds like what we first saw. Personally I just learned this lesson the hard way. While in Hethrow I saw a lovely little healthy café. Smelled great and there was room for me to sit, but did I stop? NO! I did the norm…lets see what is down there. And low and behold nothing like what I passed. Yes, I did get some food but nothing like what was behind me. So key lesson number two learned about airports…stop and eat when you see something that looks good.

3.The less you carry the better!

Ok, if you are a mom this one is hard but if you are not, like myself, then listen up. As we all get ready to fly we think of all the comforts we want to take in the cabin with us. Pillows, blankets, snacks, music, books, and so much more! Now be honest. When you bring your good size carry on how much of it do you really use? Over the many miles I have flown my carry on has become lighter and lighter. I to was all about carrying the comforts on the flight but then learned how much I did not use. It was needed for my trip but not used while sitting on the flights. So here is what I carry on…

*Slippers (the flights are always cold)

*Yoga pants (cumphy when sitting for hours upon hours)

*Laptop (do some work while sitting and I would NEVER check it)

*Camera (same I would never check that as well)

*Kindle (many books and it weighs less the one paperback book)

*A few toiletries (so you can be put together)

*Travel wallet and Passport (never travel without it)

*A few small bags of nuts (healthy and filling)

So, I carry on one bag and call it good. My shoulders thank me while I walk around the airport before the flight and it all fits under my seat. Now I will list what I have learned the airlines will provide you with (so you do not have to carry it on).

*Blanket (on all international flights and you can ask for one for domestic flights if there is none you can use your jacket)

*Meals (yes, some are small or you have to pay but it is one less thing to pack!)

*Entertainment (most have music or videos for you to watch…if not that is why I carry on my Kindle)

Really what else (with my list and what they provide) do you need? You are not moving in. There is a purpose for your traveling and it is not sitting in the cabin, you are on your way some where. So I have learned the less you carry the better!

Those are the three most important lessons I have learned about the airport. My you take note so you don’t have to learn the hard way, like I have.

A Realization...

It has been to long from the last time I posted. When March’s calendar was shaping up I knew it was going to be a busy month, but little did I know how busy.

For 19 days out of this month I will be traveling. Yes, seeing the world is a great joy as well as meeting more of my extended AIM family, whom is all over Africa and the world. While traveling is great it is a reminder of how much Uganda has become home and how much I missed being home.

The first time I got that home sick feeling this month is while I was in England. I was over the moon to be in a place where I could layer my clothes and feel cold. Truly, my body has changed to match the tropical climate I have moved to, but there is something about getting a chill! Gloves, boots, scarves, and jackets were all welcomed with open arms. I was in England for a total of 10 days and by day 5 I started to miss the bight sun and colors that are AFRICA.

One plus of being in England was chatting with my family. They were much closer in time zones than when I am in Uganda. But, one afternoon while chatting with my dad he asked me if the West was treating me well and if I missed Uganda. I answered with something like I was enjoying the cold weather but I did miss people back home. “Home?” he asked. To which my reply was Uganda, home. After we hung up it hit me. Home was no longer the States. Home was no longer the West.

Home is a hot place. A place where people smile SO big, when they see you. Where I fumble over the local language and laugh at myself daily. Sometimes even hourly. A place where nothing makes sense but that is all right. A placed call Uganda. A little area out side of the city of Kampala, an area called Najja. On a road called Wamala. In flat 3. Where a four legged friend lives, keeping the mice and bugs away. My little place in Uganda…..or as I call it “home.”

The Point of a Home

Home. So many people have different definitions for this word. Some that just make me laugh are...
A man's home is his castle
Home is where the heart is
A family makes a house a home

Now these are meaningful definitions, well maybe not the first one, but any way. The more I live out here the more I see the point of a home is fellowship. It is not about making a place were just a slect few enjoy its comforts. It is a place were doors are open, all are welcome, and where people feel the presence of the Lord. It is not a nice neat home with everything in its place. It is a place where the broken sit, the hurt find healing, and the weary know rest.

Countless beleviers see their home as "their space." The place their family finds rest and peace. But what if that is not the only thing a home should be use for?! I look at the scriptures and it clearly shows that Jesus used homes as one of the main places of ministry. He came for a meal or a place to rest His head but, so much more happened. People heard truth. He healed the sick. The broken were touch with the LOVE of their Father.

This concept, a home is a place of ministry, is something the Lord is teaching me. Out here people spend time together, they have meals together, and they come to check on you when you are sick. This all takes place in homes. It is a natural place people gather. It is a natural venue to speak truth to so many people around you.

Just look (a verbal look) at the complex I live in. There are four missionaries living in this building. Each of us have been called to a different role here in Uganda, but all of us use our home for ministry! My sweet neighbor across the hall has little ones from our neighborhood over all the time. They get to play, make cookies, and have her tell them how loved they are. Just today the little girls were in and out of her apartment. They were full of giggles and smiles. Daily these little girls help carry water, cook, clean, and look after their siblings. They love their times of just being kids in my neighbor's home and she loves having them over.

The couple that lives upstairs, open their home to any missionary traveling through Kampala. Just this last week they had someone stay with them because our AIM guesthouse was overbooked. They do this countless times a month. They care for the travelers, spend time getting to know them, and praying for them. Yes, the people coming through already know the King but they see their home as a place of ministry for traveling missionaries.

My door is always open! The Lord has touched my heart for missionaries coming and going and the ones that live right here in Kampala. This past week I had a missionary form South Sudan over for dinner. The couple upstairs came down and we all shared a meal. We prayed over our friend before he flew back up to South Sudan. Last month I had two sweet MKs over for a girl's sleep over! We had a blast! Watching movies, cooking, and doing nails. The other day a friend came over for coffee and to chat. She was thinking about a lot of things and it was a joy to sit with her and listen and then, pray with her. STer ladies are always in and out of my home. They come and enjoy a weekend away from ministry. They LOVE cooking and baking. The door is always open for them, and they know it.

I know this view of home and ministry was not there when I was in the States. God is teaching me, showing me, telling me through His word what a home is for. Daily I ask Him to show me more. I know there is so much more to learn. Daily I pray my home, the home He has blessed me with, would be use the way He wants it to be used.

Encouragement!

Missionaries come in all shapes and sizes. They all do different jobs. Some are in the bush working on church planting, Biblical translation, and more. Some are in the cities working with children, teaching about AIDS, teaching in local schools, and so on. Others missionaries are more in the background. They work with other missionaries, supporting them, and helping more missionaries (of all shapes and sizes) come out to the field.

I am the later of the missionary shapes. I work with long-term missionaries on getting help for their ministries through short-term missionaries. STermers come with AIM to many African countries; I help with 6 of them. This is the role I came to fill. Once I got here God showed me how to do my assignment. An assignment I thought was my main purpose but later God lead me to something else.

Yes, I am still coordinating the STer for the region but He has shown me how important it is to encourage and support the missionaries around me. Not just by getting STers to come help. God has given me a passion for encouraging missionaries around me with little things. We all love to get mail, have coffee and chat, go to movie nights, and so much more. Fellowship is so important.

Fellowship out here is not like back at home nor do we all have time for it like we did, back home. So that is where the passion for other missionaries comes in. My home is open to everyone. Movie nights, sleep overs (for the MKs), dinners, craft days, girl nights, game nights, coffee meetings, prayer days, so on.

Please join me in prayer for all the missionaries in Uganda and all over the world. Daily they try meet the needs of people in their communities, show the love of Christ, teach the Word, and give up the “comforts” of home in obedience to the King.

Please pray for me. I am asking the Lord how to bless and encourage these dear friends for mine. The ministries they are in are hard. They take toll on them and I see it. Many see illness, death, corruption, poverty, and hell on earth daily. God has brought me here to love on our Ugandan friends as well as my missionary friends. Please ask God to give me wisdom on lifting up these missionary brothers and sisters.

We Are Sons and Daughters of The King

In the times of kings and castles there was a clear separation of royalty and everyone else. It was a world of upper-towns and lower-towns with the royalties in the castle looking down over it all.

The people of the upper and lower town made the kingdoms run. Farming, washing, cooking, cleaning, and so much more come from the hands of these “ordinary” people. After watching Merlin, the tv series on how Merlin and King Author became legendary, this separation became event. But, it all so became clear that I am currently living in this kind of world. We all are, just unaware of it.

Most of us think this way of life is extinct but in reality 80% of the world still live this way. It is so hard for the West to think people live like this because of all the comforts and nuances of their 20% of the world lives in the “modern-day.”

Making the move ½ around the world to a place called the Pearl of Africa that still function in a contemporary medieval sociality has echoed, the fact that we all still live in the separation of the middle-ages in one way or another. Let me explain….

Here in Africa people in power are there because they took power by force. Most of them were un-pleased with how these were being done so they made a change. This happens though war, a cue, or political unrest. The Western World has seen this with many Northern African countries in the last year or so. This may seem like the total opposite to kings of the past, power being passed down from generation to generation, but look again. Once someone takes power, here in Africa, they stay in power. If and when they leave that power someday, they pass it along to someone they trust to keep things the way they are. A round about way of doing it but still very much like the kings of old.

These countries run on the backs of the lower class. In fact there in only two classes…. those in power with the ones that want the power some day and those that do not have the power nor will they ever. Farming is done by the lower class. Fishing is done by the lower class. All things that are exported by these countries are created by the lower class, again no different then the days of King Author.

But, that is Africa you say. That is true Africa is very similar to the middle-ages, but so it the West if you look closely and are not blinded by all the “bling.”

Power comes from elections. Some say they are fare and true others say there is bloat rigging and demand a recount. The party that expected the power to be passed down and it was not, is hot enough to start riots in the streets. The only difference is in the West there are police officers that will stop them from doing it. Governors and other political leaders work on deals to keep the power in their hands or if not theirs at least their parties. I fail to see the difference between that and their-world power holders excepting bribes.

The people that hold the Western countries together are the lower class. The ones on the factory lines, working the graveyard shifts, the moms that work three jobs to support her family, and the brave people that live day by day trusting it will all work out some how. Without these people the live style of the West would quickly become existent. They, like the lower class of the old kingdoms, are under valued, over worked, and looked down upon. There might be some perks for theses modern-day lower class servants like union breaks, minim wage, and Medicare but not much else.

After living overseas so many things about my homeland have been made clear. Yes, the West is good and holds many opportunities. But, at the same time it is holding people down and living backwards if you really look at it. Now I am not writing this to say Down With the West. But, more to say to the Christians living in the West take the blinders off. Open your years to the separation and lack of equality in your own country.

I see it daily where I live, it is blatant, never hidden in the dark but it is in the West.

I pray you all have a chance to open your eyes and see how the price of darkness is holding this world in bondage. I also pray that God would give you His eyes to see how the world with all of us in it was created to be. May the power of the Holy Spirit break your bondage to this modern-day slavery we are living in.

Back from Mada...Madagascar!

Greetings from Uganda,

I am back form Madagascar with a mind full of what needs to be implemented to improved in Central Region's STer Program. The forum was great! We had Ster Coordinators form all of our Receiving Regions (the regions in Africa that get STers), ST Coordinators from our Mobilizing Regions (the office around the world that people go through to get on the field), and our current ST Program Director as well as our new ST Program Director.

It was a blessing to know who I will be working with. More then 50% of the Ster Coordinators are new.....turn over is high in this assignment. This is one reason I feel God calling me to this assignment for a while (more then 2 years). We all were encouraged to see how each region is growing and changing. As well as praying for each region. Many of us feel the role we are in is larger and unsure how to meet all the needs. While we were praying for each region I heard a theme. Everyone asked for prayer because they are new. Being new is hard. Not sure of all that needs to get done, how to get things done, and feeling like you are not doing a good job are some emotions related to being new.


I am right there with them! So, I ask you to join us in prayer. Prayer for us newbies, for the Lord's leading, and for each of the Ster missionaries the Lords puts in our path. Each of us are excited about the role God has lead each of us to but, we are also nervous. I covet your prayers and I know the others do as well.

A note or two about Madagascar:
Lovely country. It was a former French colony. Most people speak Malagasy and some French. There was a coo about three years ago and that is still the current government. The country is somewhat stable but many of the Malagasy people and all the missionaries are praying for a true democratic government. One that is truly voted in by the people.

The Malagasy love their rice! It is eaten with each meal...yes, that is three times day. There is still a strong French influence on the food, homes, and feel of the country. The people of Madagascar are more Indonesian then African. They come form immigrants of Indonesia and have lighter skin, long hair, and stronger Asian features.

I loved hearing the stories of how God is moving in the country from a few AIM missionaries that work on the island. Most are working in the capital city but they are praying for more people to join in what the Lord is doing in more rural areas. Please pray with us as we share in the dream of more and more Malagasy learn of Christ's love and our heavenly Father that created and loves them!

Tired Today/Thankful Today

Today I am very tired. My mind is full, my day is busy, and my to do list is growing. When you face a busy day it is even harder if it is rainy and cool. Yes, even in Uganda there are days that are cool. On my boda ride I had a scarf and a jacket on and was still cold. My Ugandan friends tell me it is TOO COLD.

The day has been a successful and good...but I feel myself dragging! At lunch I was ready to ball up and take a nap in the staff room. By 2:30pm my body was telling me it was 4pm. Now as I type this it is 4pm and I am praying I can make it through till 4:45pm when I start the journey home.

Even with my body crawling along today there have been great joys! Even in this moment I am in the office while all the new STers are sitting on the grounds of the compound learning language. They are chatting with their language helpers, getting to know them, and fumbling over new words and sounds. There is joy in hearing someone push themselves to learn, for this learning is to further the Kingdom.

Thank you Father,
Thank you for all your blessings.
For how you love us and know us better then anyone.
Your eye never leaves us and your hand is always there to guide us.
Each day your love and mercies are new.
Every moment you look at us and say we are Yours.
Thank you is not even but it is all I can say to express my love and gratitude for You, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit you sent to live in us!

Faith...

What if God called you? Made it clear, you knew without a shadow of a doubt He was calling. If He called, you answered, and it was not easy how would you react? After pushing through out of love and obedience what if He told you to do it again? Could you walk in faith to do the thing you know is HARD but you are called to?

There is a missionary family is following in faith even when it is hard and sometimes painful. They see that God made has it clear there time where they are is not over. Even with many hardships and frustrations they answer the call through faith; the faith in the One who has called them. With a hearts and minds set on the work of the Kingdom they press on.

Could you do this? Really? If God called, made it clear it would not be a cakewalk would you answer with a YES? This family has been a great encourage! Their faith is so obvious in the calling even when it is not all roses for them! Just spending a few days with them has given me a new perspective and desire to do ALL God is asking of me.

Best Way to Start the Morning....

So I have found the best way to start any morning. It is not a cup of coffee or tea, that is just an added bounce! The way to start a day is by taking a boda boda drive!

Many of you have been asking what is a boda boda so, let me explain. A boda is a motorcycle taxi. It is my number one mode of transport out here. There are a handful of boda guys I have gotten to know. They are great at what they do and have become like big brothers to me. They ask me how my day was. Answer any question I have about language and culture. They also have the roads of Kampala and the surrounding areas memorized!

There is one diver, Q, that is just a joy to ride with. This morning he picked me up at my flat and drove me to my AM meeting (near my office). Each time he sees me he has a big smile on his face! Today he went the back way to the office. There is a main road right next to my home that takes about 15 minutes to get to the AIM CR Office. Thankfully today he went on the back roads. They take a little longer, have more pot-hole, and connect to the main road further on up. Why am I so excited about a few extra minutes on a boda in the morning? Let me explain why.....

It is all about what I get to see, smell, and soak-up! The back roads are like life lines to all the small communities tucked back in the hills by my home. Everyone is going somewhere in the morning. I see little ones all dressed in their school uniforms walking off to class. There are women setting up their shops on the side of the road. The smell of casava cooking fills sections of the road. Other boda men are picking passengers and taking them where they need to go. The most enjoyable thing I see and hear is CHILDREN!

There are some areas of the road that have open fields. Even in the early morning you can hear and see little ones (some have to be no more then 2 years old) running and playing with their friends. They are laughing, singing, shouting, and chatting away. They use the most ordinary things to create toys! A old tire, some sticks, a flat ball, rocks, anything and everything they find around them!

Really, what could be better then seeing the joy of children playing to kick off your day? In my mind NOTHING!