Knowing Christ and Making Him Known

Wedding Update!!!

2009-05-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I know that many of you have been eagerly anticipating this newest update and I’m sorry for the delay. I am writing to you, a very happily married woman!!! Douglas and I really saw God’s hand at work in the weeks just before the wedding. I was given enough strength to finish those final preparations and was completely healed by the Healer himself.

Sunday, before the wedding, Douglas and I woke up very early to pick up my brother, Joe, from the airport in Nairobi. Joe flew in for the wedding from Taiwan where he currently lives. I hadn’t seen him for about a year and a half. I was so happy to see him, that I burst into tears. We came back to the YWAM base with Joe for the day and that evening we took our second trip to the airport to pick up my parents. We had this great plan to have Douglas hold a sign saying “Mom and Dad” so my parents could pick him out of the crowd (they had never met before). But we waited for them for so long that almost the whole crowd was gone. Just as I was going to investigate where my parents were, we saw them! Immigration was terribly slow and then, three of their four pieces of luggage didn’t arrive with them in Kenya. But all of that was forgotten with the joy that came to have them there with us. As we were nearing the base, we spotted something big crossing the road: a giraffe! We got out a torch (or flashlight) and shined it on the beautiful creature. It was a very creative welcome gift for my family from God.

During that week before the wedding we were able to have some quality time with my family. The first day we rested, Mom and Douglas went back to the airport to retrieve the luggage, and I took Dad and Joe into the bush to see the giraffes, zebras, and other animals. That evening we had time to unpack the luggage (which the majority were things for us from home) and we were overwhelmed with many blessings. A special thanks to Mom and Dad for all that they blessed us with and to everyone else that sent cards or gifts with my parents!

On Tuesday, we set out for a safari. We rented a vehicle and went to Nairobi National Park for the day. We got to see lots of animals: baboons, zebras, giraffes, gazelle, wildebeest, ostrich, and many more. After our safari, we went to downtown Nairobi and took everyone to an internet cafe. Then we finished the day with a filling meal at the famous Carnivore restaurant with all you can eat meat.

During the week we also took a walk to the nearby town of Makutano, visited Machakos, played with children on the base, visited with the base staff, and did final preparations for the wedding. A few days before the wedding, Douglas’s immediate family and grandmother came from his home in Narok. Immediately the ‘dads’ got to talking and our families finally had the opportunity to meet! Those last few days before the wedding were very busy and seem like a blur as we ran up and down getting things together. Before we knew it the wedding day was here!

I spent the night before the wedding at the base director’s home and I got ready from there. My mom and some friends came that morning to help me get ready and prepared themselves from there as well. An hour before the wedding was to begin, my dad and brother came to the house. We rode together as a family to the base. As we were coming to the base, the cars hooted (or honked) to let people know I was arriving. We were a few minutes early, so we hid until the time when I was to walk into the dining hall for the ceremony. The wedding started on time, which is almost unheard of in this culture. Douglas was the first to walk down the aisle, followed by the wedding party, and then I came on Dad’s arm. The dining hall was full of friends and family; including many colorful Maasai from Douglas’s home.

The ceremony was a bit different than an American wedding. I was prepared for most of those differences, but still there were some surprises. Some of the differences were that instead of the pastor officiating the entire ceremony, there was a master of ceremonies. The atmosphere is much more relaxed and fun; so there is much more open laughter and shouting for joy! The pastor had us both stand to verbally confirm that we were ready to get married (a surprise to me). We had a time of praise and worship in Swahili led by friends from the base. During the sermon and scripture reading the wedding party was seated. When we put the rings on each other, we had to hold the other person’s hand up in the air (another surprise). We signed the certificate in front of everyone. And I’m sure there were many more. The ceremony was concluded with a presentation of Maasai song and dance by people from Douglas’s home (including his sisters). It was a wonderful ceremony and we all had fun. We planned for the ceremony to only go for two hours, which again is very unusual and we did it. After, we went to a neighboring location for pictures, came back to the base to eat, cut the cake, and had a time to receive gifts (Douglas and I stood while guest brought their gifts to us). The final event was unexpected, but fun, as Douglas’s relatives presented my family with some very special Maasai gifts. By mid-afternoon, we left the base and headed off to our secret location for the night. Okay, so it wasn’t exactly a secret because we brought my parents and brother along to take some more pictures, but eventually we found ourselves done with the wedding and finally we were Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Kileteny!

The following day, Easter Sunday, we took Joe to the airport. My parent’s flight didn’t leave until that evening so we went to Nairobi for breakfast, church, lunch, shopping, and to town. It was hard to see my family leaving after such a short stay, but we were all so grateful for the wonderful time we had together, especially as they got to know Douglas. I think they all enjoyed seeing the Kenya that I have come to love and call home.

After my family left, Douglas and I had our honeymoon in Nairobi where we had a relaxing time finally free from wedding plans. We rested a lot, went to see a couple of movies, ate wonderful food at the guest house where we stayed, shopped, and Douglas even had his first trip down a water slide! We were gone for a week and a half and got back to the base this past Wednesday. Since then we have been trying to organize the room where we are temporarily staying and wrapping up wedding things.

So far married life is going well. We still aren’t completely sure of what is next, but are praying and seeking God’s will for this new season in our lives. Next week we will likely go to Nairobi to the U.S. embassy to explore our options for a visa and go from there. Ideally, we would like to be in Wisconsin by August to meet the newest baby of my sister and her husband and Joe will be there at that time visiting as well. So please keep us in your prayers as we seek to get Douglas a visa and finally bring him to my home! Other prayer concerns that we have are: for our health; still there have been challenges and illnesses, direction for the future months, vision for future ministry, growth in our relationships with God and with one another, and overall effectiveness for God’s kingdom.

We love you all so much and wish that everyone could have been there on our wedding day. But I hope that you have got a glimpse of what the day was like. Thank you for your prayers that helped to bring us to our wedding day and that will continue to bless us in our daily lives. May the Lord bless you and encourage your heart today!

In Him,

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Kileteny

Healed...

2009-03-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

Family and Friends,
Jambo! I apologize for the delay since my last update. There are numerous things to report about.
Thank you for your prayers when Douglas and I traveled to his home for a visit. It was so nice to see his parents again and also to meet four of his younger siblings. His two sisters and I had a chance to bond as we went for a walk to the family’s “shamba” (garden), ate roasted maize, listened to my MP3 player, and just chatting. Everyone in the family does speak at least some English; which is so helpful to me!!! We informed Douglas’s immediate family and many others of our plans for the wedding. They are planning to take a mini-bus from his village to come on the wedding day, so we are expecting many of them to attend. Overall, everyone is doing well there and very exciting for the upcoming wedding. Douglas’s father already considers me his daughter and the community (as the culture goes) is ready to accept me as well!
These last few weeks have been filled with trips to neighboring towns, the capitol city of Nairobi, meeting with individuals, and getting things ready for April 11th. We have found a pastor to marry us, who is very flexible to work with our program for the wedding. (He is a friend of Douglas’s.) The wedding committee has been meeting weekly for a while now to delegate tasks, give advice, and pray for the wedding. God has really blessed us with a family-like community that is very willing to help in any way that they can. I also found a tailor and the fabric that I like for the wedding party’s clothes. Douglas and I have also sitting down with the base director (a woman from Switzerland) and her Kenyan husband for counseling. It’s great to be challenged to discuss various topics of marriage and ask questions to another experienced couple (especially cross cultural). We only have a few more weeks until the wedding and things are really coming into place. Without question, I know that we have God’s favor in what we are doing.
When we aren’t planning for the wedding, we continue to help out at the base. We have gone for ministry to another girl’s high school, led worship together several times, Douglas preached in a local church, we cook one day a week (all three meals) together for the base, and doing other things to help when we can.
We have also been looking into the possibility of Douglas getting a visa to come to the U.S. We will be looking more into the immigrant visa for Douglas, even though we don’t plan to stay long-term. We really need your prayers in this area. We believe that God can do anything and that He will provide a way for us. Please when you pray, pray for favor with the embassy, clear direction, finances, and wisdom in the whole process for us.
Recently I wrote about my battle against malaria and typhoid. On Thursday we decided to take a trip to Nairobi to visit one of the best hospitals. They did some tests and there is no more malaria nor typhoid in me!!! I am still a bit weak, but I am recovering. Everyday I get stronger and stronger. So praise God! While I was sick, I really felt these verse to be so true for me:
8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Corinthians)
God is with me, He has heard your prayers, answered, and Jesus is being revealed in me! So thank you for standing in victory with me!
Some other prayer points that I would like to share are: for the final plans for the wedding to be done and done well by everyone involved, protection against illnesses, spiritual attacks, guidance and vision for our future in missions.
We love you all so much and appreciate your continued prayers, support, and communication. Feel free to write or e-mail anytime. We may not respond right away, but we will do our best to get back to you. It’s such a blessing to have you part of our lives!
Love,
Becky and Douglas

Update Before Kenya

2009-01-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family and Friends,
I am writing to you once last update from Wisconsin before I leave for Kenya this Saturday, January 31. The Lord has clearly shown me that it is time to return to Kenya for my wedding. My trip will begin on Saturday as I fly from the Twin Cities, and ends on Sunday, February 1 in Nairobi, Kenya.
These past weeks have been a time of great blessings in my life as I have been able to visit with many dear friends, give several presentations, organize my things to move to Kenya, was prayed over and released with my church’s blessing, and through it all, the Lord has confirmed to me that I am doing what He has directed me to do. It is not easy to leave the comforts of home and especially loved ones, but it is amazing how the Lord blesses those who obey Him and this is what I am experiencing now. Sometimes I think I must be dreaming as the blessings are just so awesome!!!
Douglas and I will be planning our wedding for April 11th at the YWAM Athi River base in Kenya. Of course you are all more than welcome to attend, but we will be sure to take many pictures to share with those who don’t make it!!! As I mentioned before, my parents will be coming from the U.S. and my brother Joe, will also be coming from Taiwan for the wedding. After the wedding we would like to live on or near the YWAM base in Kenya for a period of time. Our hope is to work on getting Douglas a visa to come to the U.S. to meet everyone, know my culture more, and work on raising long term support for our future in missions. But, first the wedding, and then we will see how God works out all of these things. Long term, our dream is to live and work in Kenya as family, likely with YWAM. We also know our connection and ministry will always go beyond Kenya, especially as my roots are here in the U.S. Many of the details aren’t clear yet, but we are trusting that God will show us and bring us to where He wants us to be in the right time.
A few prayer requests that I would like to pass along are:
-strength, peace, and joy for these last few days at home
-safety in my travels
-encouragement to my parents as they release me to go to Kenya
-focus to always be on God as we plan the wedding and begin our lives together
Once, again I want to thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and prayers. You are part of this story; it isn’t just Douglas and I.
I will write again soon to let you know how the trip went. Until then, take care, may His peace reign over you and keep you!
Praising His Name,
Becky Lawrence
P.S. Once again, if you are not a regular recipient of these updates, but would like to be, please let me know!

Quick Update!

2009-01-04T20:02:00.001-08:00

Dearest Family and Friends,
Happy New Year! Since my last update, God has been really showing Douglas and I some new and different things than what we had planned. I had it set in my mind that we would get married here and refused to consider going to Kenya to get married. Obviously, with the denial of Douglas's visa, God had other things in store for us. God could have gotten Douglas a visa, but that wasn't His will. So I decided to let go and dream with God of the possibility of getting married in Kenya. And as I surrendered this to God, His joy and peace have been mightily upon me. I love being home, but these months away from Douglas have not been easy. Almost in the moment that I let go, life, in the form of God's joy, rushed into rescue my heart that was let down by my own plans. In short, I am planning to return to Kenya at the end of this month (January) to plan for our Kenyan wedding. And let me just say that things are coming together better than I could have even planned on my own. One thing that I really struggled with was the idea of not having my parents there on my wedding day. But when I surrendered, I let go of everything, even that. A day or two after I decided to return to Kenya, my mom came up to me with tears in her eyes to share that God had shown her that she and my dad were to come to Kenya for the wedding! Wow, isn't God awesome and so faithful to take care of everything?! That is just one example of how God is working things out.
I don't have a plane ticket yet, but am hoping to fly to Kenya in the very end of January. Douglas and I will be planning and preparing for our wedding, so that in early April, when my parents and brother come to Kenya we will have our wedding! There isn't a set date as of yet, but we are thinking the wedding will be sometime in the week before Easter (April 12). We are still working on locations, the exact date, and other details, but I felt it was time to update you all on this exciting news!
My prayer is that this e-mail finds you well and encouraged in the LORD as we begin another year of life.
In Christ,Becky
P.S. If you are not a regular recipient of my updates and would like to be added please let me know!

Christmas Update!

2008-12-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family and Friends,
Warmest greetings to you all from cold and snowy Ladysmith, Wisconsin! Thank you so much for your prayers as I traveled to Costa Rica for two weeks last month. I was flying stand by, but was so blessed to make all of my flights and even to fly first class for the majority of those flights! Wow, God is so good and really knows how to bless my heart.
The conference was a really great time of hearing more of what Youth With A Mission is all about, networking with old and new friends, praying for the nations, and developing vision for future ministries to further God’s kingdom. I was really praying for God to speak to me there and He did. Many things were confirmed to me about where God is calling me and about the things that He has been showing me in my life lately. One of my favorite parts of the conference was the gym-sized world map that was laid on the floor. There were hundreds of us there from different nations and together we proclaimed the world again for Christ. We also had some powerful times of intercession for the nations that we feel called to, so as you can imagine I spent most of that time over Kenya and East Africa. God really moved so many hearts and encouraged individuals to do their part to complete the great commission that Christ called us all to. After the conference, I spent the second week of my visit with my good friends that led my DTS in Costa Rica, an American family serving there. During my stay with them God continued to minister to me in awesome ways. It was rainy and cool from the tropical storms moving through during Costa Rica’s winter. And God literally shook me up as I experienced my first earthquake one night. In summary, I was so refreshed by God from this trip.
This past Thursday Douglas, my fiancé from Kenya, went for an interview to get a U.S. visa from the embassy in Kenya and they refused him. Thank-you so much for your prayers during this time. Although Douglas didn’t get the visa, we know God is doing something we don’t see or understand. Our hope continues to be in Him and we are still seeking Him to show us what He has for us now. We know that God will bring us together again and we are praying for Him to show us what to do next. There are several options before us, so we are just seeking the LORD to guide us to the right one. So please don’t stop praying, we still need your precious support!
Thank-you all so much for your love, support, and prayers that you continue to offer on my behalf and now on the behalf of Douglas as well. The LORD has done amazing things in me this year that have further equipped me to make Him known. I know that if it weren’t for your support, I wouldn’t be the same. There is so much to be thankful for especially as we celebrate and remember the humble birth of our LORD Jesus Christ. So rejoice in the LORD always and find your hope in Him. Merry Christmas to you all and may your days always be filled with the joy of the LORD!
Love,
Becky <><

Update Time Again!

2008-06-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

TimeFinal Greetings From Uganda!
Hello once again everyone! Only one lecture left and then final exams in my School of Biblical Studies and then this coming Saturday is our graduation. The nine months have flown by as I initially was told they would. There have been many challenging and victorious times, but I can only attest that its by the grace of God that I am where I am today! As the school comes to a close life is very busy: finishing assignments, reviewing for exams, cleaning up, mentally preparing to say good-bye to people, and also preparing to move onto the next step. It has really been a gift from God to have been part of this school of digging into the word of God with seven other amazing people of God from three other nations! Soon after graduation I will be traveling back to Kenya as I have been planning to stay for about a month. I will be traveling to different parts of Kenya to visit some friends and also serving at the YWAM base in Athi River as they host a large team from Holland. Kenya has become my "home-away-from home" so I look forward to my time there. Then in the end of July I am arranging to fly home again! I truly look forward to that so much and hope to see most of you while I am back to share more stories, pictures, and experiences. Thank-you so much for your love, support, and prayers that mean so much to me. For nine months I have been covered by God's protection and provision and for that I say "praise God" and thanks for standing with me! May God bless you and continue to call you closer to His heart!
Love,
Becky <><

Delayed Update...

2008-05-02T05:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!
Firstly I want to apologize for the delay since my last update. But your prayers, love, and support since I last sent a prayer request have really been felt on my end and I cannot thank-you enough. I am doing so much better these days and again can only praise God for His hand that has been mightily upon me.
Towards the end of March I had the opportunity to travel to another region of Uganda called Masaka to visit the home of another student in my school. His name is Valence; he's a pastor, father or eight children ranging from 1 to 19 years of age, husband, and man after God's heart. He invited myself and another student to come to his home to pray with his family and do some ministry over a weekend. So we left on a Friday afternoon and arrived there late that night. We were warmly welcomed and very well taken care of. The next day we did a bit of our assignment, then went on a hike to see Valence's land. After walking through his fields (some filled with bananas and maize), we visited some homes to pray with various people that Valence knew. Some were friends, others relatives, Muslims, Christians, all sorts of people. Finishing the day's ministry, we climbed a small hill and prayed over the community where Valence hopes to come back and begin ministry with his family. After a meal of matoke (Uganda's famous banana), g-nut or peanut sauce, and other Ugandan specialties the entire family gathered together in the sitting room. The older children who attend boarding school came home to meet us so we were honored to be with everyone! Valence, his wife, and children make many sacrifices as he studies with us in the School of Biblical Studies, one of which is financial. School fees are a great obstacle that most families face and the issue also affects this family. So together we sang some worship songs by the light of a kerosene lantern. And then we went into a time of prayer for Valence's family. It was a very powerful time and I was so blessed to have been able to be there to stand with them in prayer that evening. The next morning we all prepared ourselves for church a few kilometers away. Every one in the family was dressed very "smart" (as Africans say) or looking good. I took pictures of the family inside the home and then outside as well. Then we walked to the church which met in a boarding school classroom. I shared a teaching on the inductive bible study at the beginning of the service. Then I took all the children and youth outside for Sunday school. I taught them a drama that they acted out and we had a really good time. Before we knew it the weekend was over and it was time to head back home. I was so refreshed to get away from where I study and was honored to be welcomed by such a wonderful family as Valence's. God moved in their lives for sure, but to my surprise in my life as well.
Good Friday was the last day of the second quarter of SBS and because of God's grace we all finished! It was a victorious day to hand in the final assignment and to know that we had a week break ahead. Well that week break flew by so fast and before we knew it we were back in class again for the third quarter.
After our first week back I had the opportunity to go with the church that I attend for prison ministry. I had never gone before, but felt pressed in my heart to go. On the way there I was telling God that if He wanted to use me I was His and placed the time into His hands. The prison was nothing like what we have at home. It was just a few buildings with a fence around the outside. Almost immediately after stepping into the complex I felt that I should share what I had just learned and God had spoke in my life from the book of Jonah. So I was given the audience of the prisoners and was just led by the Spirit. God really took control and challenged many hearts. One heart was especially touched, Fred, and He received his salvation that day! It was an amazing experience and an example of how God is working His word into my life.
A month of the last quarter of SBS is gone and we're quickly moving forward to finish the O.T. by the last week of June. We have already covered many of the smaller prophets, Isaiah, and this week Jeremiah. To be honest we are all very tired physically, mentally, and even at times spiritually. But God has brought us to this place for a purpose and will bring it to completion in each of us. The work is much and overwhelming at times, but personally I am just astounded at God's grace working in me when I hand in each of the assignments. I can't explain how I'm able to continue doing the work that is required of us in this school by anything other than God. And the way that God has protected me and kept me safe and healthy...wow! There was one time a few weeks ago that I was sick for a week or so with what was probably a stomach bug, but even then I had no trouble keeping up with the work and overcame it! I've also been running well lately. Its hard to explain what God has been doing in me since I first came in September, but maybe I can illustrate it through my running. When I first arrived, on one of the first runs, we began to run up the hill that is near the base and after just a few minutes I gave up. For the first three months I tried to run, but was defeated by the pain in my legs. Over Christmas break I experienced a new strength and desire to run while in Kenya. Then I came back ready to hit the roads again. My legs were no longer hurting and I was going further than I had before. One day I felt especially strong and made it up that hill as my running partner never expected I would. One day last week I felt strong when we got to the location where we normally turn back at and decided to keep going. So we continued on and on...it was my farthest run yet, around 8 km. There is a 10km race coming up towards the end of May in Jinja that I'm hoping to take part in. I've never run a race before, but I know I can do it and am ready for the challenge. Life here has so many challenges and at times I really cry out to God because He's all I have. But I'm running the good race, growing in strength, endurance, courage, confidence, faith, perseverance...the list can go on and on. I'm trusting in God each day to be my everything and He has proved so faithful as He always comes through. Two more months of SBS to go and then I will complete this round and move onto the next. Following my graduation from the lecture phase of SBS around June 28th I plan to travel back to Kenya for a few weeks to visit and hope to help out at the base in Athi River a bit. Then towards mid to late July I'm planning to come home!!! I can't wait to come home and catch up with everyone. I should be around for a few months, but then I'm still planning to come back to East Africa in the fall to do the outreach phase of my school from the YWAM base in Arusha, Tanzania.
So that is the long and rather detailed update on my life and how the LORD has been so good to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your love, support, prayers, letters, packages, notes, e-mails, and recipes on how to be encouraged by God's truth (of the latter: let those who took part understand and smile). I love you and thank God so much for your involvement in my life! Be blessed!
Walking With Him,
Becky <><

Prayer Request...

2008-03-10T02:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings again to all of you! As I've mentioned before this school that I'm in seriously is spiritual warfare. Since my last update and revival of the heart from God I've been under spiritual attack. Its encouraging in some ways to know that I am a threat to the enemy, but hard to continue to fight...although I choose to do so everyday. I've been feeling extremely discouraged, homesick, depressed, and other things that are not of God. I have been learning from the Word about how God fought for His people and I know that He is fighting for me. I request that you prayer warriors would join with me, I really need you to stand with me! I praise God in advance for bringing me through victoriously in Him. I have so much to be thankful for and in those things are my supporters like you. Thank-you and God bless you so much!
Love In Him,
Becky

I'm Never Alone...

2008-02-28T06:46:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone! Its update from Becky time again! I have numerous testimonies of what the LORD has been doing in my life lately, but I will try to narrow it down to a few!
Mango Flies...
About a week and a half ago for the first time I realized I had "mosquitoes bites." These were strange because I really haven't gotten many bites and they were all over my body. A day or so later I realized they weren't mosquito bites when small white larvae came out...I have mango fly larvae living in my skin! It was really strange and foreign to me at first. But as my amazing room-mate helped me to rupture the boils that formed we began extracting the larvae. I have also been taking antibiotics to prevent infection, applying Vaseline over the boils to suffocate the larvae, and with much prayer I'm almost completely healed! It was quite the experience and I have learned many valuable lessons. One of which is that when I leave my clothes outside to dry, ironing them before wearing them again is NOT an option. Mango flies are common here and they embed themselves in clothing and then move into skin if they aren't killed by ironing. God has really showed me also His peace and faithfulness to bring me through all circumstances. Mango flies are common in equatorial Africa and now I can say that I've had my experience with them...hopefully the last time!
Lost Packages...
In December while I was still in Kenya, my parents sent me a package with my malaria medications, digestive aids, other meds, and of course goodies. It usually takes 4 or 5 weeks for a package to come, but after 8 weeks we really began to worry as the package had not come. It was especially urgent that I get it because I had run out of my malaria meds and went one month without taking them. My dad had the post office in the U.S. tracking the package and they didn't know where it was. So last week I contacted the post office in the capital city of Kampala. I have them the tracking number and they told me they had the package for the last month in customs!!! Grrr!!! Then they told me that I would have to come to Kampala, go through customs, pay taxes, and then I could get my package! On Monday I was ready to make a special trip to Kampala to retrieve my package, but before I made final arrangements to travel I called and they told me that I didn't need to come. They were releasing the package from customs to come to the regular post office in Jinja, no taxes required, and I could get it in a few days! A breakthrough like that can only be explained by God's divine intervention. As of today I still don't have the package because the man who takes packages from Kampala to Jinja is sick, but I'm hoping by tomorrow to have finally have the package. In the meantime I've found some malaria medications; some other American students who recently came to the base who are taking the same meds that have been generous to give me a supply until mine comes. So I'm learning patience, persistence in prayer, experiencing God's breakthrough, and I can say He has been so surprisingly faithful to take care of me.
Revival of the Heart...
Last week I had a bit of a breakdown before God. I was feeling so tired of being luke-warm and feeling like I was missing out on something greater from God. That afternoon we were supposed to be doing work duties, but I confess I ran away to be with God. I wept before Him and just poured my heart out at His feet. I had been feeling so homesick and wondering how I was going to make it through my school until June. I can't say that afterward I was miraculously healed or overflowing with joy, but I knew that God had at least heard my cries and knew my heart.
Saturday night a friend of mine really challenged me with some simple words that have left me stirring for change. He told me to not leave this place, YWAM Hopeland-where I'm living and studying, the same. At the time I was finishing up my assignment for the book of Deuteronomy and was really feeling impacted by the legacy that Moses led for the LORD. God came for me that night and woke me up from a slumber that I've been in for some time now. There are many ideas and dreams that God has put in my heart since I came to Uganda and honestly I have little or nothing with them. But things are changing...a new passion to made an impact for God's kingdom where I am, desire to be in God's presence, obedient to His call, and living out my potential each day are becoming more real in my heart. My perspective on life is being transformed each day. The LORD is teaching me to be faithful with each day that is before me. I've come to see how impossible it is to live worrying about the future and how things are going to happen. There is no guarantee that I will live to see tomorrow, but this moment that I am alive I can and am choosing to truly live! I'm still working to find a balance between life and SBS, but at least now I'm able to realize that God has more for me than my studies. He is opening my eyes to see what He is doing all around me and has been gracious enough to invite me again to be apart of it all! I'm investing in relationships more, praying for people when I feel led to, getting involved in a ministry to Northern Uganda, and choosing to be in passionate pursuit of what God is calling me to do and who He's making me to be. Being here in this place is challenging: I'm far from home, language, food, culture, communication, teaching-learning styles, bugs :), and much more are so different. But God is transforming me and equipping me for far greater things in the future! I'm so thankful that He has chosen to stir me up again to be actively living for Him. And I recognize that a great part of what I am experiencing of God is because of your prayers and support. Thank-you is not enough. I appreciate all of your love and support, that allows me to see God as the source of my revival, joy, my protector, sustainer, dream giver, fortress...my everything!
In the future...
I know that I said I'm learning how to live in the day rather than too far in the future, but its good to also have vision and dream with God for the future. I would like to share the direction that I feel God leading me for the near future. (Nothing is set in stone, but these are just ideas and dreams!) My school ends in late-June and afterwards I would like to return to Kenya for a short visit before returning home. I'm hoping to be back home, in beautiful and exciting Wisconsin, sometime in early July. While I am home I would like to raise more long term support, share what God has been doing, visit, see my family, and relax. But God has really placed the desire to do the outreach phase of my school called the Titus project in Arusha, Tanzania in October of this year. This organized outreach is geared specifically for SBS. The first few weeks they teach the students how to teach the Bible to others and then they send them out to do just that in leadership conferences, seminars, teach in SBSs, and much more. The outreach phase/Titus project is three months long. After finishing that I am considering the possibility of staffing an SBS somewhere. (It isn't an easy school to be part of but if everyone who goes through the school as a student doesn't stay around to pour into the program as staff...how will it continue?) These are just some ideas for the near future. God knows exactly where He wants me to be and I trust that He will bring me there as the time comes. But overall I feel a calling to invest in East Africa. The hearts of the people are for God, but I see a need for education in the true doctrine or Word of God to successfully mobilize Africans. Yes I said mobilize...I know God has called missionaries from Africa to places like the U.S. to extend the kingdom of God and God is making the way for it to happen. I feel like I can invest in the education of sound doctrine and studying the WORD in the East African church and so help to equip missionaries to go. African people are on fire for God and once they are armed and ready...look out world they are bringing the Good News! So this is part of the vision God has been implanting in my heart these past months and I'm so pleased to be able to share them with you. Please continue to partner in prayer with me as these plans and visions come into being. The LORD puts desires and dreams in our hearts to be actively involved in His kingdom and brings them to pass when we seek Him with all that we have. So I encourage you too to seek God and find what He is calling you to do, where do you fit in the great scheme of His mighty plans? I can't say I know exactly where I fit, but as I seek God He is showing me more and using me as I offer my life to Him. Many blessings to you and feel free to contact me if you are interested in knowing more.
Much Love In Christ,
Becky <><

Quick Update...

2008-02-12T01:34:00.000-08:00

Quick Update:
I just wanted to send a brief update to you to let you know how things are going for me here in Uganda. Today I finished my assignment for the book of Exodus, so we are rolling already into the Old Testament. I have been pleasently surprised at how much I am enjoying the Old Testament and at all that God is teaching me through it. A few weeks ago we had our oral exam to summarize the New Testament. Let me just say I didn't get an "A", but I did the best I could and know that I didn't miss God! This quarter has really gone by quickly, our next break is for one week in the end of March. The school finishes towards the end of June and its approaching faster than I know.
This past week has been a challenge as something in my back has been out of place. At home I would just go to the chiroprator and get it taken care of, but here in Africa its different. So I've been praying and can already feel God restoring it back to normal. After my back is healed I plan to begin directing pilates for anyone who is interested here on the base. A new discipleship training school of over 35 students just began last week and there is also an Addictive Behavior Counciling school of at least 25 people taking place. People have already shown an interest and I'm really excited to get that started! I don't have a lot of free time, but I want to give back with the time I do have and this is an oppurtunity to do so.
As a neighbor to Kenya here in Uganda, we continue to intercede and pray for the Kenya. Although the violence doesn't cross our borders into Uganda, the economic and spiritual effects are felt.
My sincere thanks again for your support, especially your prayers. If I could only describe the divine protection and encouragement that surrounds me each day, you would better understand my gratitude. God bless you and take care!
In Christ,
Becky

Back in U

2008-01-24T03:11:00.000-08:00

ganda!Greetings From Uganda Once Again!
Sorry for the delay in writing this update. I know that many of you have been fervently praying for me. Throughout the weeks that I spent in Kenya I was completely safe at the YWAM base I was staying at. Not yesterday, but the previous Sunday I took a bus back to Uganda from Nairobi. A Kenyan friend of mine made the over twelve hour trip with me to ensure my safety. On the trip I was able to see some of the effects of the recent conflicts such as displaced persons gathered in open lots, burned cars, looted shops, and burned buildings. But God’s protection was around us the whole way and late that night we finally arrived back at the YWAM base here in Uganda. I was so thrilled to be back that once walking through the gates of the compound I found myself almost running! I had come two weeks late for classes that began for the second quarter of the school. I delayed returning to class the first few days as I was driven out of my room by ants, rested, and relaxed. But by Wednesday I was back in class. I missed five or six books during the time I was away and I am still trying my best to catch up. It is very challenging though because as I try to work on past books, the class moves on to new books. There are less than two weeks left now before we have finished the New Testament, have our oral exam, and dive into the Old Testament.
Things have been quite different for me since I returned from my extended holiday in Kenya. First off as of last week, I am an aunt for the very first time to a beautiful baby girl Reese Marie. This makes for difficult days like today when I can’t stop thinking about the idea of being home to be with the new baby and parents. I also feel that God is doing something new in me. This quarter of my School of Biblical Studies is different that the last. Last quarter I spent so much time on my studies and turned down so many opportunities to develop relationships with others, have fun, relax, or even do ministry. I realize that my studies are important of course, but I really feel God calling me to find a balance between studies and life. In spite of how long six months appears to be at times, especially when I’m homesick, it will go by quickly. And before I know it, these nine months of the lecture phase will be over. I don’t want to complete these months and only have good grades and head knowledge to show for it. I am coming to realize the importance of also making time for relationships with others, with God, and even a little ministry. If I don’t, it is hard for me to apply what the Word is teaching me and application is the most important part of my studies. So this is my goal and challenge for these next months. It won’t be easy finding a balance, but I am really going to try hard. Just the thought of having more of a life along with the studies brings more joy and hope to my heart.
Thank-you so much for your continued prayers and support. The safety and security I experienced while in Kenya was surely done by the power of prayer. Please continue to pray for desire for me to continue on in this school and to press on through the hard times...especially missing home! God’s blessings to you all!
-Please continue to pray for Kenya as the turmoil continues in the nation. Thank-you!

Prayer Request for Kenya...

2007-12-31T01:04:00.000-08:00

As you may have seen on the news, read, or heard Kenya recently held its presidential election on the 27th of this month. Until last night the results were unknown and rumours of rigging the election were going around. There has been rising conflict between two of the largest tribes in Kenya and has put life on hold for many. In regions of the country there have been shootings, burning of shops and homes, looting, and closing of roads. Yesterday afternoon Kibaki was announced to have won the elections and was shortly sworn in for another term as president. Many say that if it had been the other tribe's candidate who had won, there was still be unrest, so in terms of being at peace it was a lose-lose situation. So I write this from Kenya still as I am unable to enter Nairobi where I would need to go to take a bus back to Uganda. There are many people who were traveling for Christmas that are now stranded where they are and facing many challenges to return home. But God is in control and always sovereign. The prayer request is that God would be glorified in the current circumstances Kenya is facing and that His people would withstand these trials, pointing to Him. Thank-you so much for your prayers!

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-22T00:31:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from Kenya everyone! I have been at YWAM Athi River in Kenya now for five days and am enjoying my vacation or holiday. I completed my first quarter of SBS absolutely warn out physically, emotionally, and spiritually...so I am so blessed to just get away to a place that I love like YWAM Athi River. (Its the closest to home I can get here in Africa!) As I approached the base I was overwhelmed to tears to realize how faithful God is. I remember in February, after our month long stay, I dragged my feet as we left. But now I am back and feel that I will return many times in the future. So far I have seen so many giraffe that I can no longer count of my fingers! I have enjoyed going for jogs through the bush trails and see them almost every time. Yesterday I saw a group of seven of them and when they saw me they decided to run as well. It was so beautiful to see them as they majestically glided in front of me. Along with my walks and jogs through the bush I have also enjoyed helping out in the kitchen and visiting with old friends and new friends from the current DTS. I really feel like this time that I have off from SBS is a time to renew my relationship with God. To be very honest somewhere in these last three months I have become so wrapped up in the work of SBS and other small things, that my relationship with God has suffered. I know that I haven't completely missed God, but I also realize I haven't made him my top focus. So I'm praying for God to revive my heart, restore, instruct, rebuke, and change me so that I may be able to commit to another quarter of SBS, but this time with my eyes on Him and not so much distracted by the small meaningless things that will pass. I really believe that God wants me in the SBS, but I also realize that I need to re-surrender myself to him in order for me to get the very most that he has for me. I really am seeking to hear God speaking me and directing me as I spend my time here in Kenya and also as I return to Uganda. For Christmas I am staying at the base with a few other people. We will have a chicken dinner on Christmas day and hopefully do some other fun things. I am planning to spend some time this upcoming week making cards, communicating, cooking, helping out on the base, and relaxing. Without snow, family, and friends it is hard to imagine that Christmas is almost here. But I am planning to make the very best of all that God has given me and will enjoy as best I can. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas as you spend time with your loved ones and celebrate the joyous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ who so humbly came to this earth so that we may be restored to the Father! God bless you!

I'm Still Here!

2007-12-02T05:26:00.001-08:00

Well its been a few weeks again since my last update so here comes another:Since my last update I went through about a week of life without water, except what came from the few times it rained. It was a very challenging time, but I made it and have grown from the experience. Thanksgiving was well, not really thanksgiving! My fellow American staff member got a turkey for a special dinner for my fellow students and myself. By the time the turkey was ready near 9pm I was on the phone with my family and missed most of it. But to be completely honest I was feeling a little sick to my stomach from the smell of the food and was sooo grateful to visit with my family!!!This past week we studied the book of Romans...wow. The book is very intense and takes a lot to truly understand it as Paul originally intended it to be. Previously when people would ask me what book of the bible was my favorite I often said Romans. But that was because of the verses I took randomly from the book that appealed to me. Don't get me wrong, I still love the book, but in a different way because I have never understood the book as I do now. It was written to unite the church, yet it has been the source of so much division in the church today. Of course the enemy came and attacked our school this week in that very area: unity. Disunity has been growing within us in ways that we don't understand or clearly see, and this week it finally dawned on us that it was even happening. Personally I have been transformed by this book. The ideas I had previously that weren't correct have been challenged and I have decided to exchange them for the truth.Two more weeks and our first quarter of the SBS will be finished! Honestly I am very tired physically and mentally and well emotionally at times as well...so I'm looking forward to it. I am still hoping to travel to Kenya where I will stay at YWAM Athi River for most of the time. This upcoming week we are studying the book of Hebrews and then the final week of the quarter is the book of Matthew. Yesterday I received several of my assignments back and academically I am doing well: mostly Bs, but again I am reminded that I am not here for grades. If I get an A on an assignment and miss God that week in what we are studying it might as well me an F! But I am working hard and God's grace abounds for me to finish my assignments and improve each week. So praise God!Things are changing on the base as the Discipleship Training School and Foundations for Community Development school are both on their outreaches. The DTS is still in Uganda, but is soon leaving for Tanzania and the FCD left last night for the Sudan. So the base has less people and the atmosphere is different. Some of my fellow Americans have also left this week who were on staff and that was been hard for me. But I am so thankful for the time I had with them to help ease my transition into being here in Uganda.As for me, I am well. I do have some specific prayer requests, but there will always be those. I am still having digestive challenges, although it has somewhat improved, it continues to be a discomfort! As some of you know I love to run and since I got here I have been struggling with pain in my left shin that has kept me for the past month at least from running. I have had problems with shin splints in the past, but this is really deep in my leg and doesn't go away even if I don't run for weeks. My friend and I were visiting the other day and I came to realize a few things: I have learned to take advantage of opportunities to pray for others as God puts them before me (special thanks to Greg and Kathy Smith who implanted this principle in me as we prepared for Zambia 2 years ago)! Many times while I have been here in Uganda, I have had the opportunity to pray for people and word has spread about me. My prayers work! People have been relieved of pain and healed after I have gone before the Father with them. It doesn't always happen, but word has spread about the times it has on the base. I truly believe in my heart that God can and does heal according to His will and it has been awesome to see Him using me, who is completely nothing, to bring restoration to others. I'm not saying that I have the gift of healing, because this is something very new to me, but I do know that God has heard my prayers for healing several times now. So my friend and I talked about this and she was telling me that this is a huge threat to the enemy, so where would he likely attack me? maybe in the same area, by causing me pain in my leg? I'm not certain of this, but it is a possibility. So instead of accepting the pain in my leg, I have decided to pray for God's healing and am asking that you would join me. Its not a matter of life or death, but running releases me and boosts my spirit. I feel God's strength in me when I do it because I know that without Him, I wouldn't be able to do it. Also, there seems to be some tension between my room-mate and myself. She is from Kenya and of course we come from completely different cultures. I won't go into details, but I am praying that God would break through whatever is standing between my room-mate, who I love, and allow us to live at peace and enjoy our time together.Well this has become a very long update! Tomorrow is our monthly day of prayer, fasting, and intercession on the base...so it should be a wonderful day. Thank-you so much for your prayers, e-mails, cards, and support. May the love of the Lord be with you all. ~Becky

Update At Last!

2007-11-12T03:16:00.000-08:00

My Dearest Friends and Family!
First of all, let me just apologize for the extended delay in communicating with all of you. Since the last time that I wrote we have covered the books of Acts, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and this upcoming week we will study 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. So time is really flying by and its hard to believe how much we have covered of the New Testament. We won’t finish it before the end of the first trimester, which ends around 16 of December, but early in the second trimester the New Testament will be completely covered. The school continues to be very challenging, but so enlightening and inspiring at the same time. As a school we have been learning to stick together as we go through these nine months of growing in God’s Word together. As in all group situations, there has been some friction amongst us, but that develops character so I praise God for it! Personally, I have been stretched to understand and appreciate the East African Culture more. Not that I have achieved these things, but God is developing them in me and it is a very humbling experience. Because of this, my worldview is also changing and that is exciting for me. I don’t want to live with a closed, small mind, but rather with an open and understanding approach to the world. So I praise God for these things. Also, I must mention how amazing God’s grace truly is. I don’t know how I am able to go from one book to the next as we do in this school, intensely looking into each. It takes such a toll and I honestly feel like I should and would be burnt out if this were anything other than God’s word. But with each new book, I am given the endurance, strength, and desire to press on. In the past there have always been days where I would wake up in the morning and not want to get out of bed to avoid the day’s challenges. Something is happening in my time in SBS. There hasn’t been a single day where I have desired to escape the challenges of the day, avoiding the challenges that will come with the day. I am not saying that my challenges are not great, they are huge, but the grace of God is upon me. Every morning I wake up somewhat early, often tired, and go to spend time with God. Of course there are days when I don’t get my time alone with God in during that time slot, but that has been the trend. I can’t explain how this is possible, there is nothing inside of Becky Lawrence that is capable of overcoming the giants each day brings. The only explanation I can come to is that the Lord’s strength is sufficient for me and by Him, I am conquering the impossible!
As I have mentioned before, this school requires serious spiritual warfare. Last week Wednesday, one of my fellow students from Northern Uganda received the news that his ailing father had passed away. Funerals in Africa are a very significant event that puts financial stress on families and if people aren’t careful it can drain someone’s spirit. (There is time of gathering of family, mourning for the dead, burial, and many other things that require life to be put on hold for the family). Amazingly our fellow student’s father who had denied accepting Jesus as his Savior his entire life, just before he died surrendered his life at Jesus’ feet. For that we had much reason to rejoice. But for him to leave during the middle of the week missing lectures, study times, intercession, worship, etc. cost him a lot. We have all come to realize how important it is that we pray especially for our families, that all attempts of the enemy to distract us with worrisome or disheartening news from them is cancelled. So that would be one of my prayer requests: please hold up my family: their protection from the powers of darkness that attempt to steal, kill, and destroy as I devote this time in my life to growing in God’s Word.
During the upcoming break between trimesters in December I am planning to travel with my Kenyan friends to neighboring Kenya. I am not sure exactly what will happen during the two weeks off, but I am planning to return to YWAM Athi River, where I spent a month of my DTS outreach to visit with old friends and spend some time serving the base again. Many people here ask me if I am going home to the U.S. for Christmas and to be honest I really wish that I were. How I would love to come home for a few days, see my family, friends, eat American food (how I miss it!), rest, and relax, but my heart, lack of money, and time tell me that I must remain on this continent! For many of you, I know that Christmas letters and/or cards are an annual ritual…please let me encourage you to send me yours here in Uganda. I would absolutely love to hear from you as individuals, even if just in brief. It really touches my heart every time a letter/card/note comes in the mail from my loved ones.
Other things to report: My digestive problems are still happening, but it is improving so thank-you for your prayers…please keep them coming! The seasons are changing in Uganda from rainy season to HOT season. Its not humid, but the sun gets intense and the heat does likewise. There is a refrigerator and gas stove in the complex where I stay, so I really enjoy cooking for myself, but even more for others. Some common things I make are eggs or omlets, scuma wikki (spinach finely chopped and steamed), and diced carrots. Today, after church in a neighboring village, I went and bought some meat in the market. The butchers here don’t use gloves or refrigeration, but just have the meat laying out and cut it right infront of you on a large stump, weigh it on a scale and put it in a plastic bag (only if you purchase the bag that is!). While he was cutting the meat, a piece landed on my foot and I was reminded of how far from home I really am. But with that meat that I washed thoroughly, boiled, then boiled again I made a beef-vegetable soup for my fellow students and staff. It turned out quite well and I enjoyed making it. Other than cooking in my free time I jog, sometimes go to town (Jinja), visit with others, take a nap, or go to a peaceful place where I can rest my mind. There are also opportunities to fellowship and mingle with others on the base throughout the week with various events, the majority being meals.
Well I am writing this right before I go to sleep, so I must wrap this update up. Thank-you all soooo much for your prayers and support. I continue to be so blessed in ways that I cannot explain, but know they are in part because of those who are lifting me up in prayers. I am truly honored that so many of you have chosen to stand with me during this time while God equips me with the knowledge of His Word, preparing me for the life of service in the ministry of making Him known to the world as He has called me to. May God be with you and become more real to you each day! Take care and God bless you!
In the Mighty Hands of God,
Becky <><

Sorry for the Delay...

2007-11-08T00:25:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Sorry that I haven't written on the blogpage for so long. Internet access is very limited and complicated here. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing well and hope to make a new post with more details this weekend. I love you all and am so blessed by your support!

This is War!

2007-10-13T05:32:00.000-07:00

Well it has been almost three weeks now of the SBS and God is on the move. This past week we were studying the book of Mark. It was really challenging and the workload was heavier than the first two weeks, but that is to be expected. During our orientation they told us that this was spiritual warfare, but it wasn't until last night that I really started to understand what they meant. The assignments that we have to do each week are really challenging and require a lot of time and work. Well I have been struggling to move a quick enough pace and even with very late nights of studying I was beginning to feel very overwhelmed. Last night I started to feel really sad and anxious about getting everything done by the deadline (tonight 12pm). Then I started to feel extremely homesick and my mind was just running away from me. At the base we don't have power often because well it is Africa and last night was without power. By the end of dinner it was completely dark and I was feeling like I was lost in the dark spiritually as well. I shared my burden with my brother/friend/fellow student in the SBS from Kenya and he was there to pray for me. I was being attacked and was carrying a burden that I couldn't carry anymore. So I had to just cry out to Jesus and run back into His arms. After His peace was flowing through me again and the anxiety fled, I realized that I was spendind so much time trying to get the homework done that my relationship with God was suffering because of it. That is exactly what the enemy wants!!! I am coming to know the truth and it is setting me free. I am a threat to the powers of darkness and am continuously attacked. Satin will make every effort he can to get in the way and I am sick of it! He has no power over me and I have realized his tactics at work around me. So last night I made the decision to lay aside my right to get distracted by the academics of the SBS and put my relationship with the Lord before it all. Because honestly the grade that I get, whether I finish making my charts, read each book of the Bible 5xs, or other distractions...I cannot miss God in this. I don't want to get to the end of my SBS and realize that I got wonderful grades, BUT that I missed God. I also realized that for a while now I have stopped dreaming with God for future ministries for myself and entending His kingdom. I need a vision for the future and am going to make that a priority, that is seeking God to instill vision into my heart again. So I would like to ask that you would continue to keep me in your prayers. More specifically for protection against the enemy, discernment to see what he is doing, stength to stand strong in my faith & fight it, my relationship with God to just flourish and grow as I go into His Word, my digestive system (having a really hard time digesting with the new diet), for vision from God, and an impact for the Kingdom of God everywhere that I am. Thank-you so much for your prayers and support. God bless you!
P.S. Fun facts: saw monkeys on the base, weather is very rainy...making it very muddy, rode a motorcycle back from a near-by villiage yesterday-exciting (they call them boda-bodas)
Here's what my schedule looks like everyday (roughly):
5:30-6:30 wake up get ready
6/6:30 prayer or quiet time with God
7:30 breakfast (bread and tea)
9 worship with SBS (I have led worship several times now-blessing me so much!)
9:30-11:30 class
11:30-12 tea break
12:30-1 class again
1 lunch
3-5 work duties
6:30 dinner
the times not mentioned are spent studying praying, reading, exercising, fellowship, washing clothes by hand, etc.

In Context

2007-10-02T04:23:00.000-07:00

Greetings to everyone again from YWAM Hopeland in Uganda. Already, I am into the second week of the SBS and things are going well. Last week we had the assignment to write a letter to someone we dearly loved. Easy enough, right?! Well we all handed our letters in and the next day the teacher brought them out. She would read a random sentence from each letter and that was it. We had spent so much time writing to our loved ones and there she was reading sentences. Our words made no sense to anyone and the meaning of our letters was lost! It was a great challenge for us all. This is the way most of us have or do read God's letters to us...the Bible. We jump around or use a scripture from here or there, without taking the time to understand His heart about the entire issue. The reason for which the book was written, to whom it was meant for, the historical context, what it meant as an entire message, but most importantly we rob God the priveledge of communicating to us His entire message. This School of Biblical Studies is all about this. It is all about praying, reading (countless times), looking again and again for insight, inviting the Spirit of God to speak, taking the context into consideration, and receiving the intimate communication that comes from the Living Word of God! As I have said before this course is going to require so much of me, but to have the oppurtunity to allow God's Word to pass through me verses me passing through it; I'm going to fight for it. I want the Word on my heart and it is already happening. So far we've only completed Philemon, but its in me now and it comes out, it plays itself out in my conversation, thoughts, and actions everyday. This week we have begun to study Galatians. And wow, more to hide in my heart and bring forth into the world as I live. Its truly powerful and such a blessing. Thank-you for your prayers and continued support in the spiritual realms for I am continuously uplifted. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen!

New Things

2007-09-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

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....

2007-09-12T18:47:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-09-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-03T11:18:00.001-07:00

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!