New Things

Well I am safely living and studying in Uganda! I have so much to write about, but unfortunately my time is limited for this visit to the internet cafe. Your prayers have covered me like a blanket since the moment I got on the first flight. God blessed my heart in so many ways on the trip there with things like having a Ugandan to travel with, visiting the Great Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt, staying in a hotel for the rest of the layover in Cairo, and countless others. I feel so spoiled by God! YWAM Hopeland is absolutely beautiful! It overlooks Lake Victoria and the surroundings are fantastic. My favorite place to be is in the prayer garden that over looks the bush and beyond that is the lake. I was a guest at the base until this last Monday when classes for my SBS began. There are seven students right now from U.S., Kenya, and Uganda. We are hoping that another two; one from India and another from Nigeria will still come to join us. The first three weeks of the school are orientation. We are learning how to study, what tools to use, how to lay aside our opinions, preconceived ideas, and just allow the Bible or living Word of God speak to us. So far we have gone through the book of Philemon! It was a great book to start with and I would have never guessed there was so much to it. This school is going to require basically all that I have and my prayer request is that I would be able to persereve through the nine months in order to know God more. I want to be equiped to serve Him and be closer to His heart. This is where I need to be and I am so thankful that I am here. Malaria and stomach illnesses are common at the base, so I have had several oppurtunities to pray for others and see God's healing hand at work. It is so powerful! But if you could keep that in your prayers I would greatly appreciate it. As I said before there are so many stories to tell, but time is short. Thank-you so much for all of your support and prayers. God bless you richly!

Seasons....

I would like to share something that God has been communicating to me lately. In the past I have struggled with the many changes that life brings. Recently, I have been wrestling with that idea of change. I was driving home from my last day of work a few weeks ago and God imparted something in my heart. My mind began to think of the passage from Ecclesiastes, chapter three that speaks of the seasons of life. The author writes, (Ecc 3:1) There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven: He then goes on to list the various seasons of life. I had heard this passage many times before in songs, sermons, readings, etc., but never like this! Let me share with you the relevance this passage has in my life today and maybe yours too.
I have a hard time dealing with the unavoidable changes of life, it is a simple fact. Death, good-bye’s, moving, mourning, making new friends, and countless other events of life are difficult for me to endure. I was reminded of the current season change happening all around me here in Wisconsin. Summer is coming to an end, the temperature is cooler, leaves are changing color, days are shorter, and creation is preparing for winter. Similarly, God is calling me to the other side of the world after over six months of living at home, in luxury, with my parents. A new season of my life is coming as I walk with the Lord. This season is unfamiliar and full of unknowns that make me dread the moments when I will say my farewells to my comfort zone and those that I love. There are parts of every season that I dread as well, like the humidity of summer, dying plants in fall, freezing temperatures of winter, and cleaning in the spring. But, moreover, are the beauties of each season: summer’s sun, fall’s colorful leaves, winter’s fresh fallen snow on the trees, and spring’s promise of new life. Creation’s changing of seasons is a reflection of how life is for us as humans. Seasons always come and go in nature and in our lives as well.
God has challenged me to see and embrace His hand as Creator, as He walks me into another season of the life He has given me. My perspective of change is changing and a new appreciation for all that my life lived for the Lord brings is developing in my heart. There is so much to look forward to as I enter into this next season. But the best part is knowing that through these changes of life my God is with me, holding my hand, molding me, and drawing me closer to His heart!

One Week...

One week from today I will be flying out of Chicago off to the land of Uganda! Exciting, nerve racking, amazing, and all other possible emotions all at the same time. Yesterday was my official send-off by my church and wow...the support I have is a gift from God. Having so many people praying over me, hugging me, crying with me, encouraging me, and supporting me is truly beautiful. With the past six months or so of living in my hometown of Ladysmith, Wisconsin has been wonderful. I am so blessed by His faithfulness to use me when I am willing to be used by Him and to continue to draw me closer to Him. This final week of being in the U.S. for a while consists of final farewells, packing...much packing, sending out some support letters, making final arrangements for travel and finances, spending time with my family and friends, and most importantly allowing the Lord to continue to prepare my heart for what is next. My words are not adequate to express my appreciatation to all who are supporting me with their prayers, financial gifts, and encouragement. But even more I lack the words to express my thanks to my living God who makes all these things possible and has called me to go upward and onward with Him!

Overview for Time in Uganda

The Lord has called me to take another leap of faith and on September 17th I am leaving everything familiar and comfortable to fly to Uganda, East Africa. My flight will bring me to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda where someone from the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) base in Jinja will come to pick me up. From there I will be taken to my new home for the next nine months as I attend the lecture or in classroom phase of a school of biblical studies (SBS). Through this course I will go deep into the Word of God to extend my head-knowledge, understanding of who God is, who I am in Him, grow in my relationship with the Lord, and also serve with the missionary base. (What these services will be I don't know of yet!) In addition to these things I trust that the Lord will provide someone to disciple me further in my walk with God. After nine months of studying the bible in the classroom, the school moves onto outreach phase where we leave the classroom and put all we have learned into practice. So if my math is correct I should enrolled in this school for one year. What will follow this I have no idea, but know that God will show me in His perfect time! So this is a very general overview of what the next year will look like for me. There are so many unknowns and possibilies that make this another true adventure with my Jesus! I am thrilled that God has chosen me to go out into the world and be a light for all to see, so that He will be praised!