What am I wearing?

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Big Girl Pants are defined as: pants you wear when you know you need to step up. Something you are called to do, the right thing no matter how hard it is to do it. Often it is related to listening and obeying the Holy Spirit. (These pants have NOTHING to do with weight and/or age.)

Earlier this week I had to put on my Big Girl Pants, something that I know I need to do more often but is not something that I jump in head first to do. The main reason I do not long to zip up my Big Girl Pants is because it means the Holy Spirit is working on something in me. He is convicting me and calling me to live in a righteous way. Now who would not want to live in accordance with the Holy Spirit?! I do, but repeatedly it means my sinful nature has won over my will to naturally do want I know I need to do. Yes, often when putting on my Big Girl Pants it is because, “I do the things I do not want to do and don’t do the thing I know I need to do.”

While the Spirit has been working on me to really see I needed to step up and put on my Big Girl Pants I came to a conclusion. One reason I do not love my Big Girl Pants is because they feel as if they were made out of wool! You know what I mean; it is that lovely article of clothing that is just itchy to wear because it is made from wool. You find yourself itching and moving often while in this garment. It just does not feel like your comfy yoga pants or worn in linen pants. While this analogy is true it is also convicting. Let me explore more…..

We daily live in our yoga or linen pants, daily we sin and break the heart of our Savior! So when it is made known to our continuous attention that we are in the wrong and need to make a change we put on the uncomfortable itchy wool pants. We then feel something outside of our norm. But in reality as Christian Ladies we should be wearing our Big Girl Pants each and every day!

The Word calls us to live in a way that is holy and upright, Micah 6:8. We are told to forgive as well as to go and seek forgiveness, Matthew 26:28 and Mark 11:25. But somehow this is not what we do first. Our sinful nature is comfortable with holding on to things and making excuses for why “we” do not need to go and ask for forgiveness. Hence why we are so comfortable in our yoga pants rather than our Big Girl Pants.

Trust me…. my sinful nature would be happy as a clam to forever stay in my yoga pants and to not have to feel the discomfort of my wooly Big Girl Pants. But God is working in me. He is showing me that I need to wear my Big Girl Pants every day. No matter how hard it is I need to be willing to zip up my Big Girl Pants every day. The hope and prayer is that God will give me the grace and strength to not just say it but to DO IT! The strange thing is God is telling me over time that these itchy wooly pants will become comfortable! Living in accordance with His Word, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, does wonders in our lives and that is what makes these irritating difficult pants worth wearing!

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!

Faces I have missed...

Hard to believe it has been one month, one month back in the great state of California. 

God is so good. He knows me more than I ever could and speaks to me in ways that just touch my soul! Over the last month there have been countless moments of sweet reunions. There have also been moments of pure and utter laughter! You know, the kind that makes you cry and almost pee your paints.....yes there has been much of that.


Thank you for all your prayers as I did make the transition to the States from Uganda. I will be honesty and I am not 100% comfortable here but it is blessed time. Learning and growing, trusting and surrendering.

Here are just some of the faces I have missed but are apart of my daily life for the next two months. I am one blessed girl!

Keri and I enjoying chatting, sunshine, and good friends!

Erik and I goofing off at my Birthday Party!

Jaylee Ann ready to take a ride with Auntie Cass

Beth and Erik making me laugh!

Faith, Hope, and LOVE

Life in Africa is hard. Often things happen and we wonder and pray. Someday we hope to understand but until then we have faith in God's master plan. We also walk in the true love and freedom.

“Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,    even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

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. Jeremiah 29:11

When I started with AIM I was blessed to spend three weeks with over 30 adults and 15 children. We all learned more about life in Africa, missions, the African would view, and more. So many firsts were shared together and life long bonds were created. 

 ¹³ But it is you, a man like myself,
    my companion, my close friend,
¹⁴ with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
    at the house of God,
as we walked about
    among the worshipers. Psalm 55:13-14

My fun ABO crew!

Julie Gennaro and I at our last ABO dinner!

One family I loved spending time with was the Gennaro Family. They answered the Lord's call to live along the people in the hills of Losatho in southern Africa. This amazing family of eight packed up and said goodbye to Sunny San Diego and headed off to the cool windy hills of one of the smallest African countries. They came to work with a vocational training center in a small village. Chris, the father, has indescribable skills in dress making and tailoring. Whether cracking jokes with Chris and his lovely wife, Michelle, having a sleep over with their three daughters, or running around outside with their three boys I LOVED being with this family. They truly love the Lord and seek Him in all they do. Each child is growing more and more into the person the Lord has created them to be with loving and supporting parents. 

One of the CRAZY Gennaro boys!

Can you tell I love this family?! Well I do. This morning I could not help but lift this family up in prayer. With tears in my eyes I learned that last night Chris went to be with Jesus. The family was blessed to say goodbye and be by his side. After a heart attack and three weeks in a South African ICU, the Lord called His faithful servant home. Please lift this family up in prayer as they grieve the loss of a husband and father. We have HOPE that this family will see God's loving hand in this dark season. We have FAITH that God's plan will bring Him glory for the Gennaro's obedience and work in Africa. We ask that the LOVE this family has for the Lord will be a testimony for all to see.

⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. Colossians 1:4-6 

With a sad heart I say goodbye but with a hopeful spirit I rejoice with the heavens as they welcome Chris home!

Keep Your Eyes Open!

I am so excited to post this news! There will be some guest bloggers coming soon!!

God has touched tuned my hears to worldwide missions.  He is doing so much outside of Africa. The world is so big and yet so small. Missions does not mean packing up and moving 1/2 way around the world. Yes, for some but God is calling each of us to be apart of what He is doing HERE and NOW!

There are amazing things happening all around us, so I am thrilled to highlight some of it. Also if you have some great stories of how God is moving, missions, and loving others contact me. I would love to hear all about it!

So, keep your eyes open....some great new posts are coming soon!

Where I Belong!

This afternoon, while driving home, Amanda and I listened to Building 429 "Where I Belong." I had goosebumps! What a reminder that we are not called to comfortable here on this earth.

 All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

Later in the evening I was on FaceBook, yes this missionary is on FB :) There was a post from a friend who is also here in Uganda. She is homeschooling 8 missionary kids! The post was a Francis Chan video. Again it was a reminder about how important it is to NOT live for this world. Just a small part of our existence is here on earth, the rest of eternity is awaiting us! Hope it put things into perspective for you as it did me! Francis Chan Rope Illustration

I may be out here in Africa living what the Lord has called me to do, for now. Both the song and video hit me....I am now in the Lord's will but I have to daily make sure I am walking where He wants me. Daily I need to do what He is asking me to do! For now it is Africa and what I am doing here has eternal value. It all comes down to just one thing......not regretting! He calls, I go.Whenever and where ever!

Lord, help me see that life here is short. There is so much more ahead. Help my selfish will be laid to rest so I can take up my cross and follow you. May my mind be set on eternal things and not the here and now. -Amen

Oh, what a shortbread cookie can do!!

That saying "The Lord works in mysterious ways, " could not be more true! I just got a call from a missionary friend working in the the North part of Uganda. She just had received a small care-package I sent to her via another missionary. 

She called with an excited voice, it brought a smile to my face! She proceeded to tell me how thankful she was for the care-package. The other day she noted she was walking around the house looking for something small to eat. She was craving some British Short-Bread cookies, which I just so happen to have picked up in town for her package. Her voice was so joyful as she told me how much the little gift meant to her. As I listened to her I could not feel that the Lord used me to bless her. He had me go into the right shop, walk down the right allies,  and pick the right cookies.

Really think about it. I know her but we had not spoken in weeks. I was clueless she was craving short-bread. Also I was so unaware you could even get them here in Kampala, but the Lord knew! This small event has made me stop and think. How many times does the Lord use me or uses others and we are unaware of how we are being used.   It just is a testament to how He knows best, His timing is perfect, and what great things happen when we obey Him! So from now on I pray to be better at being open to the Spirit! If He moves I will go, if He prompts I will respond, and so on.

Lord use me! Even in little ways. When you do something it is not for nothing. Help me see how every little thing plays a part in your master plan. Soften my heart so I can hear your Spirit better! -Amen

How could you say NO?!

Look at these faces?! Too cute! How could you say no to them?! I can't! I see most of these sweethearts each and every day. They life near the Central Region office.

Their families have answered the call of the Lord to serve here in Africa. Many are working among unreached people groups in Central Region. In many of these remote areas where they are ministering education options are slim to none! So most MKs are home schooled.

I am so excited to say Central Region Short-Term supports these AH-mazing families with home school support! Many of the families have expressed the need of support through a STmer coming out from any where to 6 months to a year. It maybe heard to think ahead to the next school year but it is coming! Two families here in Central Region are asking for help for the 2013/2014 school year! Please pray with me. Praying the Lord to touches people's hearts for these precious MKs. If you or someone you know would be interested in helping out...here is more info!

Is God calling you?

Do you have a love of teaching? Is your heart passionate about children growing into who God has created them to be? If so...WE NEED YOU!

Many families working in Chad, preaching God's word, have children. Children need to learn and in order for children to learn teachers are needed!

For more information: AIM US Office

8 New....

2013 is here! God is moving! This month alone 8 new Short-Term missionaries will land here in Uganda.

2 have landed this past week. Just yesterday they finished orientation and are headed to their ministry locations. It was so great to hear how each one had a different encounter with God and how uniquely His called each of them to Africa.

Every orientation gives me goosebumps! As each ST missionary tells their story I see how big our God is.  I also love to see them draw out their stories, yes we have fun in orientation with colors and markers! With 2 out of the 8 done I am getting even more excited for the rest of the month!

Post Bus our Short-Termes use to get to the South-West of Uganda

Please join me in prayer for the 2 new STmers and 1 skilled STmer who are traveling to the South-West of Uganda to their ministry location. They are enjoying a 5 hour bus ride to meet up with their Unit Leader and go through one more field orientation. Travel in Africa is never easy nor what one expects. We are praying for a safe and uneventful ride!


Also please cover the 6 yet to arrive here in Uganda. 1 New short-termer is currently at AIM's US office going through orientation and will be flying out on the 9th.

AIM US's last Short-Term orientation! A few of these STemers are here on the field already!

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?

God's glory & Pizza

(So sorry it has been to long. Lots to catch you all up on, but one story at a time.)

Tonight I had a great reminder of why I am here. After hanging out at the pool for the afternoon a short-term missionary came over for dinner. This girl is amazing!

While we made pizzas we chatted. She opened up about the joys and pains of ministry. We talked about how difficult it can be to be an outsider; as much as missionaries can become a part of their community they will never be native. Often this is very hard on people who come to share the love of Christ.

With pizza in the oven we just stood in my kitchen, chatting. I saw her heart. The warmth, the love, and the passion from shining through this missionary were so meaningful. While I identified with her struggles I also saw the hope in her. Things will not change over night, she may never see change while here in Africa, but it is coming!

The Lord works in ways that are beyond us. I cannot wait for the day I get to ask Him so many questions, face to face! For the time He has me here on earth and in Africa I am grateful for evening like this, thankful for a chance to see Him at work, in and through others, all for His glory! It is even better when food is involved! Don’t you agree?!

To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. -Jude 1:25

Day two in the Diginga hills of South Sudan:

How beautiful are the feet who bring good news!

As my fingers touch my cold keys I am reminded of so many people telling me how HOT Africa is and how they admire what I was doing. Yes, many African countries are hot hot, hot. With sun all the time and very little relief from it. But, to say all African countries are hot is not true.

Trust me, my friends working in Lostoth would tell you they are cold for ½ of the year with sown outside their door. And again, as I type this I am in a nice warm REI fleece (thank you Stanley and Harua!) with a big’ol scarf around my neck! Now understand, I am not complaining about the coldness of the South Sudan hills!  In fact, I am embracing it! When I left Kampala yesterday it was HOT and it was only 8am. So this cool change is a welcomed blessing.

Kitchen

Last night I was under three blankets with long sleeve pjs, and fuzzy socks….this would never happen in Kampala. The rain came pouring down on m Tookul (traditional Diginga housing). As the night went on I could hear drops coming through the thatched roof. Thankful, none of the leaks where over my bed, I finally dozed off to sleep that was sound and peaceful!

Welcoming the Hilderbrants at the air-strip

This morning as my computer and I sit outside in the open kitchen I hear the wild blowing, birds singing and, the bells from a near by heard of goats. The whole AIM Team up here talks about the beauty here. Personally, many miss conceptions on my part has never lead me to believe they were right, until NOW!

Really this is a lovely place. Yes, people live in mud huts, have very little and are very isolated but everywhere you look you see the handy work of the Father.

What could be so exciting in that box? Live CHICKENS!

long flight from Kenya+40 minute hick=FRESH eggs!

The team here is doing some great work with an unreached tribe. The two single ladies up here are AH-mazing. Just in the 24 hours I have been here there are stories to stress how truly amazing they are. Like today, a plane came in with some supplies. There was a box of chickens….6 hens and 1 rooster. When the plane landed and we looked in the box two hens were dead. One of the ladies was sad because that means two less hens to lay eggs.  After she closed up the box again she looked at me and said “Well I guess Sunday chicken dinner is tonight!”  So on joke, after she hiked over 40mins back to her hut she cut the head off, plucked the feathers, cut the feet off, and gutted them. Oh yeah, this is also after she taught a full day at the local village school. She’s hall of fame in my book!

What MKs do while waiting for dinner

Some how with all the daily life stuff of planes coming in, hiking to the air field, cutting up chickens, and cooking from scratch I was still able to meet with the Unit Leader to talk about Short-Term. We had great chats about how ST could help with some building projects all over the country. It was a blessing to have time to sit face to face in the mess of it all. The main reason I saw this time as key is because when the Unit Leader says it takes a special type of person out here….I can now literally see what he means. 

Day one in the Diginga hills of South Sudan:

The day started early! Very early! Like 5 am early……for some of you that is not early but for me it is! By 6am my cat was fed, house locked up, and I was in a taxi heading to the airstrip where our bush flight was taking off from. 

Before I lost my breakfast!

Yes, that is right, no commercial flights to where I was headed. Just small planes like a Cessna 206 or the occasional Caravan. This was my first bush flight, and the first time I ever up-chucked on a plane. Thankfully that was at the end when we were about to land and once my stomach was empty I was good.

The beauty of Africa from the air!

Besides losing my breakfast the flight was great! Africa is stunning both from air and road. This day I was blessed to see the beauty from the air. And I could not help but see the land of God. High mountains to flat plains…His handy word was there to marvel at, and I did!

The air strip where we landed

Where we landed by many people’s standers would NOT be an airstrip. A flat quasi smooth patch of land where the grass has been kept low on top of a mountain. Oh, I forgot the drop off on one end of it. But, our skilled pilot landed the plane after two fly-bys. Once the wheels were on the ground people, from out of nowhere, came to greet us! Not only people but cows and goats as well. Hills surrounded us. All you could see where hills and sky, beyond that were more hills. It did not take long to realize I was not in Kampala any more.

Once the plane was unloaded, people and cargo, porters came to carry the boxes of supplies we had flown in. Back home, you would picture a strong mountain man stepping forward to carry the things….but this is Africa! The men tended to the cows and goats while the ladies did everything. These ladies were small but WOW! They carried 50kgs of stuff with no problem, and one lady even had her baby strapped to her back.

The path to the compound

The ladies and I walked over the river and through the jungle to the compound where the team lives (about a 40min hike).

Colors of Hope

Africa is so colorful! Trees, flowers, people, and ever the fabric! Daily, I am blessed to see smiles as big an bright as the sun!

These bright smiles have become like family to me. I love them so much and thank the Lord I get to live among them! Some of my Ugandan family have the skill of sewing. They do it on the side as extra income. There is one lady that has made many lovely things for me in the past. The last time she made something for me she opened up. She told me how helpful it was for her and her family to have the side job of sewing. With the extra money she can insure there is enough for all her children's school fees.

After we had this conversation I thought for a while...."wish I could give her more extra business with sewing." I lifted her and her family up to the Lord with out a clear understanding of how I could be helpful to them. A few weeks later the Lord placed an idea on my heart. Something that only could come from HIM, I just love how He know the best way to plant His will into my heart and mind.

Just some of the fun and colorful fabric my friends will be working with!

Colors of Hope, the idea the Lord gave me, is just is the growing stage.....trusting in the Lord to lead it, as He sees fit.

The idea is that the ladies I know, who sew, will work on making African Tablecloths and Napkins. I will pay them a fair wage for each item. This will help insure their family can pay for school fees ( they pay school fees three times a year). Then I will turn around and sell the tablecloths and napkins. This will help me cover the cost I spend to pay the ladies and buy the materials. Also it will help me buy more fabric so they can make more table clothes.

Education is important, as we all know. But also it is so important to help people rise up, not just give hand outs. So, this is a way to support the ladies I have been blessed with getting to know while allowing them work for a better tomorrow! They will only make what they can, NOT becoming a sewing company or  NGO. Keeping it small, personal, and meeting needs.

Well what do you think?  If you are interested in buying a tablecloth and or napkins please contact me! It would be so encouraging to the ladies to know people are already interested.

All of us ladies also ask for your prayers. Prayers for wisdom and guidance. We are only looking to do His will and not our own. Thanks for your prayers and comments for Colors of Hope!

Oh, how He loves us!

The ladies all piled in my car.....this is how we roll!

Yesterday evening I was blessed! Over 60 ladies got together to enjoy fellowship, worship, and prayer. It was so amazing to be surrounded "like minded ladies." Truly the Lord knows what He is doing, call each lady here to Uganda to meet an need, while loving and supporting one another.

A group from the States came out to "love on" us missionary ladies here in Kampala.  They brought goodies from the States, a amazing worship leader, tasty things for a meal, and Mama Kits. As great as it was to get some goodies the icing on the cake was worshiping an praying with these amazing 60+ ladies!

Lingrid and Kristen

We sang under the stars and moon on a cool clear Kampala night. Kampala is a very hilly city and as we worshiped the lights of the near by hills were all a glow (imagine it....city power was on for the whole night.) It was so powerful to stand outside and lift my hands to the Lord in the natural beauty of the city!

As the song "How He Loves Us" started tears filled my eyes. Tears of joy. Our God is amazing. There are so many people in the world and He loves each and everyone of them. He knows how much pain and suffering millions of people go through each and every day. He longs for many to come to know Him. To trust in His saving grace! And I was reminded of this while worshiping with other ladies whom the Lord has called to Uganda. Each one is working in a different area, facing different challenges, but all have the same goal. Each of us long with the Lord to many to come to know Him!

Janice and I

Thank you Lord for like minded ladies who have a heart for your people here in Uganda. You are so loving and show me daily in little ways how big you are yet how personal you are with me. Oh, how you love me! -Amen

Ladies, Crafts, and Smiles...

If you enjoy crafting then you know the feeling that comes over you when a project is done. You also enjoy looking around for new ideas. Like-minded friends are always share tips with you. Often you get together with other to work on things and share some laughs. (Come on crafters.....raise your hand hand HIGH!) If you know these feelings you are not alone!

Last Saturday was the first "Ladies Craft Fellowship!" It was so fun!!! Over the last few months my heart has been feeling for ladies working on the mission field, specifically the ones that are in Kampala. Everyone is busy. They work 24/7 most days and are giving  giving giving. Now personally I know the feeling, due to the fact I have lived in the field for over a year, of being alone in a crowded city! So after thinking and praying for many months I asked ladies to come together! Asked them to join a fun filled afternoon with other ladies. We shared some craft ideas, ate together, and most importantly connected!

We made necklaces out of old T-Shirts! Not a stitch needed!

The turn out was small, due to the fact many could not come even though they wanted to. After everyone left and had mentioned how nice it was to get together I felt lead to do the fellowship monthly!

One of the lovely ladies that came on Saturday!

So now once a month we will gather together in my home to share ideas, recipes, crafts, and life. We are all excited! Your prayers would be a blessing at this point. We are trying to work out a time each month that works well for most of us....with our schedules you can image how crazy hard that it. Also if you have any craft or recipe ideas please share! We would love grow our idea list. Just leave a comment below.  We also promise to take photos of your idea if they come to fruition and post them for the world to see!

Is There Growth?!

So today I think I hit a wall. Not literally but defiantly mentally.

Today I sat with my field supervisor. We looked at my role, how the Short-Term Program is designed, how to implement what I feel called to do, and so much more. It took most of the day (yeah no joke I felt like my head would fall off). After this helpful but long and hard meeting I met with a Team Leader. She was so lovely....but my mind was on over load. Hope what came out of my mouth was cohesive, but truth be told, I am not sure I knew my own name at that point.  

With everything done and even more lists for tomorrow on my desk, I head to the store. Everything in me wanted to just head home but I couldn't. Needed food, air time (phone credit), and petrol for my beast of car.   So, with as much of a smile I could muster up I headed in the store. Got what I needed. Stood in the long lines to check out, guess others were in the same boat I was. I was next in line and this lady with two things came in front of me. I looked at her and she kept moving forward.

Ok, truth time. Inside I was pissed. Ready to tell her I was next and she was more than welcome to go after me, seeing that was her place in line anyways. Mentally I said a prayer it went something like this..."Lord I hope the clerk tells her "no" so I can go. I mean, why can she cut in front of me? We all have to wait our turn. It is what is nice and kind. So help me out here!"(Now reading that.... sounds selfish I know!)

Thankfully I was so tired and out of it I did not say anything (Trust me I could have gone all American on her if I wanted to.) I paid for my things and walked to my car. While I was driving to get petrol I saw all the faces of the workers I knew from the store came to mind. Every time I walk in I greet them, chat for a bit, and thank them for all that they do. (You could say I was thinking I was a good person at this moment in time.)

As I thought about the workers I knew, while getting petrol, I thought again of the thoughts I had in line. They were not of the Spirit. The fruits of the spirit  were NOT shining through me. That started more thinking.....yeah, I too am so lost on how I have any mind power left.

Have I grown at all? Do others see the Lord when they look at me? Do I leave the fragrance of the Lord every where I go? I pray so, but some days I  am not so sure.

Thanks Lord. Thank you for loving me even on my awful no good days. When I see a mess you see your daughter. It is so comforting to know how You hold me in Your hands when I through mine up in the air! Please work in me...for you know how much further I have to go. Amen.

Did you know....

Did you know that men and women were created in God's image? Yes, I am sure you did. But more over, did you know that we both reflect God is ways the other can't?

God made man, wired him a cretin way, gave him strengths just for him, and put qualities and characteristics in them only they can use to point back to God himself. Just as He did this for man He did the same for woman. There are things inside each  of us, men and woman, that glorify God.  

The qualities in male and female each are an aspect of God. This is so power. It hit me that we are living in a culture that says gender does not matter....but it dose. Each of us, created who we are weather male or female, with our characteristics that were given to glorify our creator. Think about how cool that is.

The world tells us other than the obvious differences, there are no differences between men and women. What a lie. The enemy is great at making us believe we are the same as men. I think Nike helped sell the States on buying into "anything you can do I can do better." Can you remember the male and female athletes going at it, showing how she could do everything he did and do it better. Well, I remember, and as a young girl I thought that was great. Nothing could hold me back.

After moving out to Africa....God has done a number on my heart. He is teaching me what being a woman means by His definition, not the worlds.  Many times before Africa was home Genesis 1 was read and never jumped out at me, well that was until Africa. Now reading it I see things with new eyes, and understand them with a new heart.

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

He created them! Them meaning both, both of them were created in His image. If God did not prosperously create male and female to point back to Him, this passage would be different. Think about the fact words like mankind, them, as well as male and female were used. There are only two genders that make up mankind. So, why stress over and over THEM?!

I think it is because it stress to us, His creation, we are created in His image and how that shines through men and women differently. Both point back to Him and give Him glory but both do it in different ways. So, yes. Gender does matter.

If you are a man, be proud to be created from the side that shows God's strength, courage, and manly qualities. And also, if you are a woman, then embarrass the fact you reflect the tender, lovely, and creative side of our creator! There is so much beauty within each of us, male and female, that tells the world of our amazing creator! So, let your light for the King shine in the fact you are comfortable being a godly man and or woman.

Father,
Daily show me more and more of how I can reflect your glory, because you have mad me a woman. Give me your heart for other ladies, who are not where I am on this topic. Give me your grace for those who will tell me I am equal to a man in every way. May your word of of truth on womanhood sink deeper and deeper into my mind, heart and, spirit. Amen.