Apple Farm Day Trip!

I'd like to share my Walgreens Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Today I am thankful for...

• The wonderful woman in my Ministry Management class who taught me how to search for periodicals on "Stewardship" in the library of three billion periodicals.

• The kind man in the campus security office who forgave me of my parking violation and enlightened me of the three square feet of the campus where I am permitted to park my car.

• Almonds. They are a beautiful creation of Jesus that my belly is fond of.

• Sweet little boys proudly wearing AWANA vests.

• Mr. Bissette from The Grain Mill, who delivers our eggs and other natural, organic, goodness on a bicycle.

• This Song, My lovely friend, Kenzie Jackson, who shared it with me, and my Savior, who makes beautiful things out of dust.

• My Best-Friend-Since-I-Was-Two-Years-Old, Amanda. She's great. She just pulled off (with some help from her siblings...) A huge surprise party for her parents 50th Birthday/28th Anniversary. It was so fun and thoughtful and well planned and... she's just basically like that. I like her a lot.

• My amazing friend Paige who just turned 18 YEARS OLD! (BAHH! CRAZYY!) Her mom threw her a surprise Luau and it was so cool. I love surprises. They're just so..surprise-y.

• My Family. I love learning how to love them better, and watching them inspire me to love others better. They are the best gift in the world. I wish I could live with them forever and always...

• Oh wait...Ha! Thanks Jesus! I will live with them again someday and together we will praise You. And when we've been there for ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing Your praise then when we'd first begun.

David Platt- What Happens to Those Who Never Hear the Gospel?

Please go watch this video. Take that half an hour that you would have used reading blogs and go watch this. Listen to it while doing whatever you were doing before you got on the computer or whatever you are actually supposed to be doing right now.

http://apps.sebts.edu/multimedia/?p=796

This is radical truth that needs to be screamed from the rooftops of our houses. Enough mamby-pamby Christianity. Enough living with our God-in-a-box who is ok with our busy lives and just pours down blessings when we need them. We live in a fallen world that is groaning for something more. Fulfillment. Love. Mercy. A sense of belonging.

They are groaning for the God who created them and loves them and MADE A FREAKIN WAY FOR US TO BECOME HIS CHILDREN!!! We, who were the poor, broken, ugly, wretches of this world, have been made His children through the blood of Christ. We were filled with sin and shame, too filthy to be in the presence of a holy God. There was absolutely NO WAY that we could ever make ourselves right with God until He stepped in in His great love and MADE THE WAY FOR US! HE did it. He sacrificed His one and only beloved son to come be the perfect sacrifice. He sent HIS son to come be the scapegoat for our sins. Not because of anything we did or could do for God. He didn't say "Oh hmm, these humans can help me out. How about I save them so they can help me out?" NO! we had nothing to offer Him and He sacrificed what He loved best to save us. "Us" being- those who hated Him and wanted nothing to do with Him. That is a God who is worthy of being praised! God poured His wrath upon His lovely, innocent son...all for our sake. To give us a chance to be washed white as snow and to be adopted into HIS family.

Why aren't we celebrating?

And If we are celebrating...what about the rest of the world who God made the way for... who have just never heard that this good news is for them as well?

What about the orphaned street child who is stealing food to survive and living the only way the world has taught him to live? WHAT ABOUT HIM?! What if He is never told of the God who loves Him and is waiting with open arms to heal and forgive him of His sins? The God who longs to show him that He is his TRUE FATHER? What if He goes through life miserably, never hearing this amazing truth that we celebrate and keep hidden to ourselves? WHAT IF WE NEVER TELL HIM?!

It doesn't matter so much that we feed orphans, and clothe them, and give them toys and mosquito nets if they never know of the love of Jesus! Orphan care is not truly orphan care until we bring them the Gospel. They need to know the good news that although they were sinners, unworthy to be in the presence of a Holy God, they have been adopted into a His family forever, have been forgiven, cleansed and redeemed. They need to have the hope that, although this life is hard and unfair, and injustice is rampant, this is not all there is. One day Jesus is going to come wipe away all of our tears and set all things right! He is going to make all things NEW! No more evil, no more injustice, no more exploited children, no more dying parents, no more not seeing Jesus face to face. We will be with Him forever. Safe, loved, with no worries...because those who believe and have trusted Him, are his children forever.

I want to spend my life for this orphaned street child. I want to spend my life telling others of this transforming, life-shaking, heart changing, good news.

This good news is nothing to be ashamed of. Let's quit living our lives, content with the amount of Jesus that makes us feel warm and fuzzy. Let's start living and loving the way He did.

God is transforming my idea of Christianity. It turns out, praying "The Sinners Prayer" isn't what its about at all.

(This is Henry. He lives in a village in Uganda. He is an orphan. Jesus died for him.)

Watch the video. Right. Now.

P.S. If you live in the Wake Forest area, David Platt is coming to speak at Chapel at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on Sept.9th. Come.

Blackening of the hair? Whaaa??

Mix up in the hair department. Black is the new brown? Maybe not. It's more shocking in person. i promise. I saw myself in the window at school today and nearly screamed. Hopefully I won't scare away small children.

In other areas of life, there is just as much craziness.Yay school! I am honestly more excited for this school semester than any other before it. I am taking classes on things that I am genuinely interested in! Amazing. It probably helps that this is the home stretch for high school! I told someone I was a senior today and it almost felt like I was lying. Sometimes I feel like I'm 12 and shouldn't be graduating, other times...i feel like it's about time school starting wrapping itself up.

The Littles have all started school (homeschool) and may just be the cutest little learning children ever to learn anything. Fo Real. They just started AWANA this week as well! Those little Bible verse spouting children in vests will be too much cuteness for me to handle!

How are your school plans turning out for this lovely fall semester?

Speaking of the Oh So Glorious Fall! { I am almost afraid to mention its name, lest it see me and my black hair and run away in fear.}

Sweetest season of all, please come quickly so that I can wear boots, and play in the leaves, and actually breathe when I walk out the front door. Thanks a million.

Mukama Yebazibwe {5-30-10}

Today was a glorious day filled with the presence and praises of God, clean water, sweet children, beautiful widows, and a precious little man named Marvin.

Church:

The Lord used to meet people in a tent in the wilderness. He never stopped. We had church in a tent made of orange tarps in the jungle. We used drums and our voices to Praise The Living God who works miracles in my town in America and in this impoverished village in Uganda. He is the same God that I praise at home, except here we praised Him in another language.

We didn't have to wear shoes or have air conditioning or even have a chair to sit in. We came as we were to praise God for being our deliverance, our redemption, and our hope.

I held a sweet little baby in my arms and I saw the story of the Widow's Mite in real life. She gave abundantly despite her need and danced all the way back to her seat. I want to give as joyfully as her, even if it means I might not be able to afford the things I had wanted, or maybe even needed. I want to trust God so much and love others so much more than myself that I will give without hesitation.

Please pray for this sweet church and for God to reach their village for Jesus in a tremendous way through them.

Marvin: Marvin spreads joy like no one I have ever seen. One of our Ugandan translators described him perfectly. "Mar-veen. Oh Mar-veen. He smiles unceasingly. He nevahhh speaks, only smiles...and that is enough."

He's a joy to be around. To say that he is less valuable than those of us who can speak is an outrage to God's heart. Marvin is fearfully and wonderfully made and I will treasure the moments that I got to spend with him.

The Well Dedication:

The Well Dedication was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. TONS of people from Namasujju and the surrounding villages came out for the celebration. It was an African Jungle Party and I've decided that these are the very best kind. There was music and dancing{...and when I say dancing, I mean dan.cing.}

They had put on their finest clothes and their brightest smiles.

We sang and played games with the kids, and then one of our team members, Kirk, beat boxed for them. {For the next few days when we would walk around the village, kids would see him, point and giggle and start "Pchhh, boom, kkshh"- ing. Then we would laugh with them and they'd run and hide behind something.}

After we'd all been there a few hours, I was walking to get something when the sweetest, most hilarious elderly woman I have ever met, grabbed my arm in a death grip. Our conversation went like this except in Luganda:

Me: *whiplash of the arm* "OH. Hi!"

Her:{ with the largest, brightest smile ever}: "Hello, girl! Please get me some water!"

Me: "Water? Oh, Ok..Ummm...I'll be right back."

Her: "AHHHHHHH!! You speak Luganda?!?! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" as she laughs hysterically and nearly falls off her chair.

Me: "Haha! Only a little bit!"

Her: "AHH! NO! YOU SPEAK LUGANDA! God bless you!!"

I found water and brought some for her and about five other widows with her and they bowed as I handed it to them. It was humbling and such a blessing to have the privilege of serving them. SUCH a blessing.

We became instant best friends. The original sweet woman grabs my wrist again and pulls me in to hug me. She asks me how long I am staying in Uganda and I tell her I'll be there about two weeks. She yells" AHHH two weeks?! NOOO. ONE YEAR! Stay one year!" She hugged me again and we talked for a few more minutes until I ran out of useful Luganda. Then we just laughed some more. For the rest of the day, when she would see me she would throw her head back and yell dramatically: "AHHH, GIRL!"

She was beautiful. Later, as she was leaving, she found me and hugged me/danced with me and began dragging me off. I wasn't sure what was going on until suddenly she snatched another woman's child and handed it to me. It was a sweet baby boy who was only two weeks old and was all swaddled in a pink blanket. They all stared at me and smiled their huge white smiles for a while and laughed hysterically whenever I would tell them how precious He was. Then they would all nod bashfully in agreement that their baby boy was indeed, a ham.

They were beautiful and I love them. We all laughed and hugged again and then they were off to their village a few miles away with their new mosquito nets. They would go to sleep tonight without fear of mosquitoes or malaria.

We distributed several hundred nets on this beautiful day.

Late in the afternoon, a member of Ugandan Parliament came out...

...as well as several other local government leaders such as this hilarious man.

...and soon the more organized festivities began. There was more music and more dancing and then each of the leaders went up and spoke..for a while. They thanked SafeWorld Nexus profusely for helping their people and for assisting them in bringing clean water to this remote area.

{The children entertained themselves in various ways during this time of listening. Some held babies as big as themselves, some danced; my personal favorite can be seen below.}

I held the sweetest little baby who slept {and drooled} through the whole thing.

I don't know who it belonged to, but it was an extremely cute one that almost everyone had held by the end of the evening.

Matt shared with them about the seven other wells that will be dug in the area this year and they praised God. I got to share with them about God's heart for the orphan and how we will be back to care for their orphans and begin an orphanage there. They praised God.

I held several little girls' hands as we walked together to taste this "New Sweet Wo-tah".

We all walked across the dirt path to the well where all of the leaders had a chance to pump the water. I tasted the water. I praised God. We danced some more.

Photo Cred: Hayley Catt

Mosquito Nets, Namasujju, Wells, A Wedding, Bugs, Squatty Potties, African Friends and Big Plans...Oh My!

(I do believe I need to work on my paraphrasing skills.)

Fact: Today at breakfast, I ate the most delicious banana I have ever tasted in all my days. Today we went to Gaba Community Church and picked up some volunteers from Gaba Youth. Martin's been with us since they got us from the airport but we went and picked up Angela, Eddie, Sylvia, Ivan, Andrew and Ms. Mary. They are hilarious and SO much fun.

We got to give out a few mosquito nets today in some of the villages after eating lunch at The Kasirey's house in Namasujju. It was delish. The people are all so lovely here and so beautiful! The kids are just SO precious!

There was a pretty big rainstorm and the roads became super muddy. We decided to walk the rest of the way to see the next well site. {Red dirt roads become Slip'N'Slide's after rain storms.} It's so exciting to see a little plot of ground that will bring forth life to so many people soon. I can hardly wait for them to have it.

Sadly, as we were walking to the well site, there were about three thousand and five flying ants buzzing around us at any given moment. In the hair, mouth, nose; everywhere. It. Was. Not-so-Awesome. The blondes on the team had the lovely advantage of visibility of the said bugs in hair. I love my brown hair when it comes to bug infestations. If I have ants in my hair, you can't even see them. ha! Also, if you run backwards with a scarf on your face, you can hardly tell that you are surrounded by bugs and they stay out of your mouth. But try not to run if it has just rained. Slip'N'Slide roads are not ideal for running.

We were going to distribute some more nets while we were out except there were no people around. Everyone was gone. Where were they? At a wedding! What did we become? Ugandan Wedding Crashers! It was the most exciting walk on a slippery orange road ever in my whole life. We showed up and the kids were laughing and yelling and so excited. Some of the older village men invited us to come speak. Matt got to share with them about the Well Dedication being held tomorrow at the Kasirey's house where we will be distributing more nets. We left enough with the village chief to distribute to the widows who would not be able to make the long walk to Namasujju tomorrow.

On the walk to the wedding today though,{the slippery one.} Matt began to tell me about the internship coming up next year. I am SO excited about it and can't wait to email home to mom and dad about it. Haha. How ironic. I've been praying for You to make your next steps clear for me Lord and You present this as I'm sliding and slipping and nearly dying all over a road. You direct my paths, even when they seem slippery to me. You hold my hand and you see every bump on the path. You are faithful to see me through! I'm so excited to see You continue to lead me where you will have me serve. Your will is the only place for me to be.

Uganda, May 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th (2010)

A Few Journal Excerpts:

5-26-10

“On the plane from Atlanta to London. About 5ish hours away still. Right now there is a simply beautiful lightning storm below us. BEAUTIFUL. It’s amazing how from underneath the storm clouds, everything seems so threatening. From above, it’s so small, you can’t even hear its noise. It’s just a beautiful masterpiece. Ephesians 2:4 “But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved- and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” We can see all things with a higher perspective because of Christ giving us new life and new eyes. Thank you Jesus. Give me your eyes to see what you would have me see in all things.”

5-27-10

Facts about London:

Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way…that’s about it.

We walked all around town today. We saw Big Ben, West Minster Abbey, and we went on the Eye of London. We ate some fish and chips at a precious little pub and then headed back to the airport on the tube. The architecture there is beautiful. Overall, a pretty great day trip with the brother and some new friends. :) Found a shower in the airport and I feel cleaner than I think I’ve ever felt in my whole life. It must be psychological but it’s still amazing. We’re now on the flight to Kenya where we will have a 6 hour layover and then a 1 ½ hour flight to UGANDA!!! I cannot wait! Thank you Lord for these opportunities.

Crazy eyes on the London Eye. P.S. That chocolate that I bought in London was the wisest investment I think I ever made.

Flight to Kenya is slightly delayed because of foxes on the runway. Our lovely pilot said so kindly in his African accent “It will be about five minutes until we leave because they are trying to chase off some foxes.”

5-28-10 Kenya Layover = extremely long and not very exciting.

Except for a miracle.

I went to exchange some money to pay for my visa for once we get to Uganda. I was searching my chaotic backpack (that I’ve been living out of for three days now) for my wallet and began attempting to reorganize it. Sadly, it was a failed attempt at reorganizing. I ended up putting my passport organizer on the money exchange counter and LEFT IT THERE. Epic lame move of the year. I had gone to the bathroom and an extremely honest man, who must have loved Jesus, found my brother and asked where I was. He was like “Umm, Whyyyy?” The man had seen us together and figured my passport would be safe with him. I had over $100, my passport, and my atm card in there. Luckily I had copies of my passport but you can’t exactly make copies of cash money. The Lord is a miracle worker for certain.

Who knows what date it really was...

Finally in Uganda! It’s breathtakingly beautiful. We went and got settled into our guest house, drove around the city a bit and went to the grocery store.

I had forgotten how heartbreaking it is to see babies begging in the street. There were multiple children begging tonight but one in particular ripped my heart in half. She must have been about 2 or 3 years old. My sisters’ ages. She was absolutely precious. Most people’s little girls at her age would probably be at ballet class right now in a pink tutu instead of in a street begging for money in shredded rags. Some things I don’t think I’ll ever understand. And I’m sure God can’t stand those things. She eyed us from the median and dodged two lanes of fast moving cars to get to our bus. Her little eyes didn’t even glance at the cars that were grazing her small body; I doubt anyone has ever taught her to look both ways before crossing. She came up to our window and reached up her little hands to our half open windows. It was all I could do to keep from sobbing or snatching her up to come with us. God, you know how many curly little hairs are on her sweet head and I just beg that you would protect her from harm and show her just how valuable she is to you. I thank you for allowing me to hurt for what hurts you. Move me to action and please don’t ever let me stop. Thank you for bringing beauty up out of ashes. Thank you for using what the enemy means for evil for good.

We also visited a mosque tonight. I hurt so badly for these people that have set their whole lives around something they believe to be truth. They are lacking joy and you can just see the worry all over each of their faces. My heart breaks for them and I pray that their eyes will be opened and that the good news of the freedom in Christ will reach their ears and hearts!

5-29-10

So, I just woke up in the complete dark to the sound of a Muslim prayer on a loud speaker and I’m soaking wet. (Hahaha. Oh where to begin explaining...) 1. Muslim prayer on loud speaker. I was heartbroken for them last night. This morning I’m even more heartbroken. That poor man is in such bondage that he has to wake up every morning before the crack’o’dawn and sing on a loud speaker. (some mornings the man was more talented than other mornings.) 2. It took me a while to figure out what in tar-nation has happened to make me soaking wet. Turns out, I fell asleep on my half opened, nearly full water bottle and it is now still half opened but only has a few drops left in it. I managed to lay on it and squeeze all the water all over me. I was terrified that I had somehow been in such a deep sleep that I had gone and peed myself. Praise you Jesus.

P.S. African soda is like, ten thousand times better than American soda. As in: I hate soda at home and love it here. We ought to use cane sugar in our soda. For. Reals. We also need to start importing Stoney…now that is what I’m talkin’ about. It’s a ginger root soda that is muy delicioso. And...Yes, sometimes I do praise Jesus in my journal for allowing me to not pee myself in a foreign bed in a foreign land.

More stories coming tomorrow!

Uganda. Numero Uno.

The Lord laid Uganda on my heart about two years ago. I began praying that the Lord would take me there someday and allow me to serve the Ugandan people.

I had no idea then what Uganda looked like, where it was on a map or how incredible it’s people actually are.

May 28th, 2010 My brother and I along with 16 others from our group arrived at Entebbe International airport in Kampala, Uganda after 20 plus hours of travel. Most people would have arrived feeling grungy and gross after such a long time sitting in airports and on planes and traipsing about London. Not me. Was it because I was just so excited to be in Uganda? No, not really. My friend and I tracked down a shower in the Kenyan airport and with a three ounce bottle of shampoo, a few paper towels and hand dryers, we managed to become the best smelling people on our team.

As our plane was descending, you could see lush green trees everywhere and even a few monkeys in palm trees. It was surreal. There were men on Boda-boda’s, or motor bikes, driving down orange dirt roads with bananas strapped on the backs. It was the most beautiful place I’d ever flown into. I couldn’t wait to get off the plane.

Finally, we made it through customs, found our bags, and met up with our in-country hosts. They were so warm and loving and excited to see us. They weren’t the only things that were warm though. We stepped out from the airport and slammed into a wall of African heat. It felt just like summertime in North Carolina…Hot.

We piled into a greyhound type bus with Chinese lettering all over it and began our adventures in Uganda. Along the road to Kampala, there are banana trees, little mud houses and small children running around. Colorful clotheslines that go beautifully with the green trees, orange roads and houses. Men are outside making furniture to sell and people are napping under trees. My full blown excitement to be in this place that I had prayed for so long was just about bursting forth.

Soon I would see the true beauty of this place. I would see a living picture of the true beauty of Christ. It is truly like light shining out of the darkness. The beauty of Christ is among these people despite their circumstances. Despite Malaria, HIV, poverty and the scars of war, Christ is visibly working in lives and people are truly living. Soon I would see just how much God means it when He says He can bring beauty up out of the ashes of our lives when we allow Him to work. The Lord would use Uganda to shake my soul yet again and change me forever.