Uganda

i made it to uganda! security was no problem. they didn't ask me one question. just stamped my visa and sent me on my way. thank you for your prayers in making that a smooth transition.
uganda is beautiful! the weather is cool and perfect. i arrived at matoke inn at 7:30 yesterday morning. it's a mission run by AIM. i was so thankful for a bed and a shower. i didn't sleep well on the flight here so i made sure to get a little nap in. it is so peaceful here. a nice yard to walk around and a covered porch to read a book. i have also met so many people here. a family from ontario, a guy from australia, a girl from new york, and another man from england. they are all here for different reasons. some taking rest, some transitioning from home back to mission field, and some retired and just visiting. they are all with AIM.
it is 6:15 here now. i am the only one up. all i hear are roosters crowing and dogs barking. my driver picks me up in a few minutes to take me to the MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) hanger, and from there i fly to Mundri.
thank you all for your prayers. talk to you soon.

Birthday with the Brits

a day in london! that's right. i know you're jealous. i got to spend my birthday in london! well technically it was the next day here but i allowed myself an extension. so i had a 15 hour layover in london, and i decided that was more than enough time to explore a bit of london. and that's what i did. as much as i enjoyed the sightseeing today, i'm about to fall out on the floor i'm so tired. I NEED SLEEP! ok, got to keep this one short. i'm paying for this and watching my minutes disappear quickly. oh, by the way, the lady checking my passport at airport security busted out in singing "happy birthday" to me! got to say that's a first for me. she is a woman after my own heart. made my day! pray for safe flight into uganda. also, i'm staying the night there and flying out on tiny plane the next morning. pray for smooth transition through ugandan customs, that getting visa is no problem, i am able to get to the "guest house" safely, and able to rest well through the night. love you all. and thank you for your prayers!

D-Day

it's finally here. departure day. all packed up and ready to go. thank you all for your prayers and support in getting me to this point. i know that you all will continue your prayers while i am there as well. i can't wait to share my experience with you and hope to keep updated with emails and blog posts. you can also check out the WHM team blog whmsudan.blogspot.com.

Garage Sale

the garage sale was a great success! the weather was nice and overcast, just as we had prayed it would be. it was a great turn out. i am so thankful and overwhelmed by all the people who donated items for the garage sale. thank you, thank you, thank you! even my neighbor, who is 80 something, saw we were having a garage sale, heard what it was for, and started pulling things out of his garage for us to sell. God exceeded my expectations.

Tassels

first, i must tell you about this wonderful group of ladies that meet at my house each wednesday night for bible study. we have studied together, laughed together, shared our hearts, and prayed for each other. and the best part...i'm the youngest one! i am blessed to sit among these women each week. i can only hope that a portion of their wisdom will rub off onto me. for now, i am soaking it all in.
we have been inductively studying various books of the bible, and recently finished exodus. we decided to take a "lighter load" for the summer and chose to go through a 6-week, "no homework" bible study titled LIVING LIKE YOU BELONG TO GOD. i was honestly expecting it to be a little watered-down after studying a book like exodus. well it has proved to be anything but that.
so at the end of bible study last wednesday, one of the ladies opens up a small bag and gives us each a tassel. we all squealed in excitement. i never thought i would be so excited about a tassel. why you may ask...well last week we were reading numbers 15:37-41.
"the Lord spoke to moses saying, 'speak to the sons of israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations...that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, so that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.'"
neat right? God so desired for His people to be set apart, that He had them wear tassels to remind them that they are to be holy...for who? for God. God knew his people well. He knew that their hearts were deceitful. "harlot" is the term He used to describe them. so many times i play the harlot and follow my own desires. but God has called me His own. and with that comes responsibility. i am to reflect His holiness. my life should be so different than the world that it compares to the difference between light and darkness.
my tassel now hangs on my key chain. i hope it will be a reminder that God has called me to be uncommon. and of course, it will always remind me of my community of spiritual mommas in bham.

Let There Be Light

God's first words were, "let there be light." from the very beginning, God separated light and darkness. not just physical, but spiritual. 1 john 1:5 says "God is light. in Him there is no darkness." Jesus also said, "I am the light of the world. he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." so, God is light. Jesus is light. what about us? what are we to do? ephesians 5:8 clarifies, "walk as children of Light." 1 peter 1:16 says, "be holy (separated), for I am holy (separated)." we are called to be holy, separated from darkness, letting our light shine. why? "that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (matthew 5:16) and "that you may proclaim His praises!" (1 peter 2:9) how will i proclaim His praises today?

It's Offical

i'm going to sudan! i can't believe it myself. i'm constantly reminded that God's ways are not my own. a month ago, i was informed of an opportunity to go to sudan for 3 months with world harvest mission. a missionary family was in need of a teacher willing to come home school their children. sounds crazy right? but the Lord was preparing my heart months before this. preparing me for change. preparing me to step out in faith. before i even heard about this opportunity, the Lord told me it would be ok. not to say it has been an easy process. but God has given me a peace that can only come from knowing i am in His will. i continue to take things one step at a time, asking God to direct my every move. moses pleaded with God saying, "show me Your way, that i may know You and that i may find grace in Your sight...if Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here." that is my prayer.