Praying for you and your household

Over the last few months I have been posting many thoughts and ideas about home. What is a home? How a home is a place of ministry. How my home has become Uganda.

I guess the Lord has been teaching me what the true meaning of “home” is. It is not what I thought it was. Not something I saw modeled in the West. Nor a museum here people live. It is not noun but a verb.

While thinking about my thoughts on home I have been touched to pray for you all. Praying that God shows you the meaning of home. Asking Him to lead you into a place where you can enjoy your home but it does not rule over you (moorage, remodeling, re-financing). Praying it is a place where people come and are ministered to, encouraged, and blessed. May you and your household serve the Lord.

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.”

AIM Family

While I was working on my computer I stumbled across a photo that made me laugh out loud. Literally, I was rolling on the floor. There mixed into my files of Short-Term stuff was a photo Jonathan and Brian in front of the Elfie Tower in Paris.

Now many of you might think that is normal. People always get their photo taken in front of the Elfie Tower when traveling in Paris. That is so true but here is why I was rolling on the floor…..

Jonathan works in South Sudan with is lovely wife and sweet little girl. They work way out in the bush. So far out they get their food flown in by AIM Air or MAF. Jonathan and family are working among an unreached people group call the Dadinga.

Brian works in the Central Region Office with me. He is the region’s RDO, Regional Development Officer. He and his wife live in a flat above me in Najja. They have become like my missionary parents.

Both Brian and Jonathan are living and working in Africa. There is no way they went to Paris, let alone went together! I am pretty sure their wives would have not been ok with that! So how on earth did this photo end up of my laptop? Well, lets just say we in leadership have a sense of humor. Also we get a little goofy when together for meetings. Thanks to CR Leadership meetings in Jan/Feb and a little program called PhotoBoth for MAC this lovely photo came to life!

So as you can tell we missionaries are not all high and mighty! We are the craziest down to earth people you will ever meet.

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.

What My Little Eyes Have Seen...

Oh, the things I seen living here in Africa. Yesterday was like most days for me office, getting things done in town, emails, office prayer times, emails, and so on. But, there was something unique about yesterday…allow me to explain.

The day before I got a package ship, which meant I needed to go down to the post office. So I was up and out of my flat by 8am the next morning heading to town. As I was walking down the road to the boda stage and I was praying one of my boda friends was at the stage. When going to town I prefer to have the same guy take me and bring me home. While walking I could see a few guys at the stage, normally they race up the hill and meet me, but not this morning. So I kept walking and then I was greeted by a man’s voice behind me. He said, “Eh, we go?” I turned around and it was my boda friend! He had been driving back to the stage from the other side. With a smile I greeted him in Luganda and we were off. We chatted a bit heading into town. Talking to the guys is my daily 411. They know so much about what is going on in town and all over. They also help me with my Lugandan vocabulary and Ugandan cultural questions!

Once we got into town we waved in and out of traffic to the post office. We got here and he waited for me across the street for me. Now, getting a package is a big deal! The package slip will tell you if you need to get it at the upper office or lower office, this one said it was in the upper office. Most people hate the upper office. You have to pay more to get your package and the customs guys have to look through the box. If the objects in the box are more than $50 (stated on the customs form the sender fills out) you have to pay taxes on it. But….I have made friends in the upper office. They greet me and I greet them! So it never feels like a task going to see them in the office. So, I paid for my box and was told to have the customs guy look it over, just like always. But, as he pointed to the customs counter his face looked confused. There was NO one there. I asked when they normally come in. He looked at the clock and said “by now.” At this time it was 8:30am. I said I would wait for them. What else could I do? I could not take the box home without them looking at it and I did not want to give the box back and come later. So I waited and I waited. Then I waited some more! An hour passed and I went and chatted with my friend. Asking when they would come. I told them I had a meeting to get to on the other side of town. They assured me someone was coming. Welcome to Africa I told myself. No hurry. So I waited some more. Finally the boss came. He saw no one at the customs counter…..lets just say he was MAD. He told me he is calling them. My Luganda is not that good but I knew he was not happy and they were going to have a hard time when they got in by what he said and his tone. The person did come and quickly looked over my box, as the bossed looked on, and let me go. As I walked out I laughed. I was over an hour late for my meeting, my boda guy was waiting for me, and I still had to get out of town (there is always a lot of traffic in Kampala)!

Once I got to the street and hopped on the boda I told whole story to my friend. He was laughing. “Well, you know” is all he could give as an explanation. I too laughed and replied with “Yeah, I know.” We were close to the end of the city and closer to being home. Soon after a round a bout I saw a boda that looked like there was blood on it. I told myself no, there is no way it was. Well the closer we got the more I was sure it was. As I looked at it I saw a cow head. Just the head! Then as we passed the bloody boda I was saw it was a whole cow in a bag with the head on top! You cannot get more African than this I thought! The guy was propably taking it to his shop to sell. Meat out here is call neyoma. I pointed and told my driver “neyoma” and he laughed and said, “YES!”

Town was unusual that morning so when I got back to the office and thought it was going to be a little more normal….I should have known nothing is normal out here! In the afternoon I walked over to the AIM Inn on the same compound as the office and saw a puppy sitting there. I took a second look. It was the same one I saw the morning before while driving to the office. He was so small and was going to be knocked (hit) by a boda. I kept driving because I told myself I could not stop for every animal I saw….I would never get where I was going if I did. Well, some how this little guy found his way up the hill and on to our AIM compound. The Innkeepers were talking about what to do with him when the cook, a lovely Ugandan lady, said she would take it. She had a dog put it was killed. She then took it and gave it a bath. One bath was not enough. This little guy was covered in bugs and dirt! I watched. She so lovely heated the water, rubbed him, and set him in the sun.

Now, I know God has called me to do “missions work” out here. But every now and then it is a joy to just LIVE a day out here. Truly just live a day where you see, hear, and do things just like your neighbors. That is what yesterday was for me.

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.