Uganda, here I come!

I am leaving to go to Uganda for 6 months on September 1st.

I am working with Africa Renewal Ministries' orphanage called Bethany's Village right on Lake Victoria (one of the most beautiful wonders of the world.) The I will be next to is called Gaba. You can check out ARM's website with the link on the left of this page. But here are some pictures and such of Bethany's Village, where I'll be living.

I will start off living with the Director's family. Uncle Willy and Auntie Milly. =) And their 3 beautiful children. I may move into one of the children homes which is what I'm hoping for, but we shall see. The homes are arranged by having 15 children (of various ages) in each home with a house mom. You see why I want to move into a home?? How do these house moms do it? I've had the privledge of helping out mothers of 3 children in America--I can't imagine 15!

Bethany's Village is completely staffed by Ugandans. I will probably be the only white/Western person there. I am very excited about that. The Lord has simply given me a strong love for Africans. It is one of those things you just can't explain. I do not glamorize them or pretend they are perfect. (My concerns will come on a different post.) I just simply love the way they talk, laugh, smile, joke, tell stories, the stories they have, and the strong character I continue to find within them. But I'm sure through out the next 6 months I will be able to observe many things about the Ugandan culture that I do not like or do not understand. I have done much research so I feel as though I will be as prepared as you can be without the actual experience.....so I don't know how much that really counts for. =)

I also plan to spend about a month at The Aids Orphan Rescue Program.
Hopefully with the education part or Vocational Training for Youth and Widows.

I have a connection with a Ugandan guy named Phillip who will hopefully be able to take me to at least one other ministry called Family Empowerment Uganda and possible more!

My hopes for the trip are rather simple:
--To support and empower the native workers and leaders at these different ministries
--To follow the calling the Lord has given me and be blown away by his faithfulness
--To learn how to interact with and love orphans and people of another culture
--To be pushed out of my comfort zone and to learn new skills that can be used to serve others
--To know my Father more deeply by experiencing him through the culture and eyes of Ugandans (Oh if we could all experience the Lord through the lenses of all the different cultures of the world....perhaps that is what heaven will be like?!)

I strongly believe our loving Daddy created us to live our lives in community so I have spent much time in prayer about what community will look like for this trip. Here are a few ways I see:
--I will be connected in Spirit with my home community in College Station who will be sending me off. I truly hope this leads to a partnership with my home community--through adoption or many other different possibilities!
--I am praying for other friends to join me in my time there. Please come! I'm not giving up hope that someone will come visit!
--I hope that my friends and family will take part of supporting me in this trip by contributing financially. I have learned that whatever we are connected to monetarily, if even in very small amounts, we are connected in Spirit and Heart as well—and I truly want to be connected as much as possible! Thus far my community has lived up to these expectations!

I made $1760 at a garage sale last week due to many people donating TONS of items and SO much help from everyone in putting it all together! And the money just keeps coming in!

Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer

"Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer; He had the boundless certainty that prayer is always answered."

Wow. I have definitely thought and heard about all the "ask and you will receive" stuff, but this line by Oswald Chambers hit me in a new way today.

Never a mention of unanswered prayer.
He always answers.

But what about when it really and truly seems like there is NOTHING coming down the communication lines for your Father and you're seeking all sorts of possible ways to hear him?

"Have we by the Spirit the unspeakable certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when God does not seem to have answered prayer?"

I have been believing that God always answers in His ways, according to His timing, and sometimes we are just oblivious to it.

Well, he got me again. Maybe I've just been oblivious. . . even though I thought I was checking every form of communication. Even telegram.

As for "his timing"--what about when the timing seems to run out? What about when you have to make a decision and there's been no answer? You don't make the decision? What about when you know he hasn't left you alone or anything, but it just really seems like he's being silent on a particular issue?

"God answers prayer in the best way, not sometimes, but every time, although the immediate manifestation of the answer in the domain in which we want it may not always follow....The danger with us is that we want to water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something in accordance with common sense; if it were only common sense, it was not worthwhile for Him to say it. The things Jesus says about prayer are supernatural revelations."

Lachrymation = the floodgates of our eyes

This might possibly be my most random post. ever.

I have been contemplating the phenomenon of crying.
So strange isn't it?

So strange how our physical body and our emotions are so connected without our mind even being aware of it sometimes?

We can be sitting there, doing or saying something we think is completely safe, and boom, the tears come. Something was happening in our emotions that our mind was not aware of, but our tear ducts certainly were.

(and keep in mind, our "emotions" are part of our "minds." its all so weird.)

And then, even when we put all of our mental and physical power into holding back the tears, sometimes the emotions are so powerful, there is nothing we can do. They just flow. Its actually a chemical reaction. Man, how I'd like to see those chemicals in action. I want to see the trigger, then another trigger, then the build up, then the mix, then the reaction. And all the while, my mind is doing everything it can to try to stop it....but its too late, the chemicals have been released.
Those emotions are sneaky.

And then, the tear ducts connect to your nose (how does this happen?? or actually, why does it happen??? why the nose??), and it starts flowing.

And then your voice--you know the tremble. Why??

And then, if the emotions are feeling extra confident that day, you feel it in your whole body. A little crunch in the back. The face contorts. (why so oddly?? why?) You become weaker. Your whole body is involved in the process, its harder to breath. Actually, the loss of breath can happen at any part in the process. Maybe from shock at what your body is doing? Maybe from overflow of emotions? Maybe from your nose being stopped up? Maybe from the fact that your body is focused on the whole crying process that it forgets to do the other functions?

And check this out: "Tears produced during emotional crying have a chemical composition which differs from other types of tears: they contain significantly greater quantities of hormones."
This is interesting because I've heard that a proposed theory for why we "feel better" after crying is because of the elimination of hormones associated with stress. "Crying is a mechanism developed in humans to dispose of this stress hormone when levels grow too high."
We truly are releasing things that NEED to be released!

Isn't is strange, overwhelming, sometimes beautiful, and sometimes really hard to be in that moment when someone is talking to you, completely normal, and then boom, it hits. Sometimes we are warned and we can see it building up....but sometimes....sometimes it just comes out and no one, not even the crier, is prepared! And then the tears change everything. Changes the whole conversation. And you know it changes the weight of the words. The minute the tears come--everyone starts listening closer. How does it have that effect??
And then for people like me, if I'm listening to someone speak (whom I'm not in conversation with), and they start crying--boom, it triggers something in me and you know its coming. why??? Why do tears have that effect on us?

But then other times, if I'm in conversation with someone, and they start crying, there's no way I'm going to cry--even if I tried. Its like my mind is just too focused on trying to figure out why they are crying, how I can make it better, and how I can be the rock for them at that moment.

Oh lachrymation...you perplex me, yet you are beautiful. You are your own beast. You have your own mind. You mark many moments in our lives. You communicate great things in our lives. What an interesting part of the human experience.

O death, where is your sting?

Breath.
One breath.
One breath is that which keeps you alive.

What a mystery, O death.

Nothing makes one more aware of the breaths they take than watching another take their last one.
Nothing makes one more grateful for that breath.

What a mystery, O death.

In one moment its over.
Or so it seems.
What a mystery.

There is a story about a woman named Annie. She's old and dying. Annie is reminded of when she was pregnant with her son Johnny. Johnny and Annie had a "conversation" while he was in the womb. Johnny was afraid to come out. He was warm and comfortable where he was. He knew his surroundings. It felt wonderful. He was being well taken cared of.
Johnny did not know what it would be like to come out into the world. No idea what to expect. That is terrifying. Annie assured him that when it is time, he must come out. And his time was soon. And when it was time, it would be wonderful. She started to describe the beautiful scenes he'll see, the toys, he'll play with, the fun he'll have, but then she realized that Johnny had no idea what a puppy was, what a toy was, or what sunshine and grass were. She told Johnny that she can not explain how wonderful life will be for him when he's born--he must simply experience it. But she assured him that it will be wonderful. He will be safe. She will take care of him. And if he stays in the womb for longer than he should--it will turn out to be very bad.

How incredible it is to be born?
Can you imagine what an infant must experience in those first few moments?
Simply terrifying.

Then Annie had a conversation with Jesus. He let her know how similar her experience of death will be to Johnny's experience of being born. Jesus could not explain all the things Annie will see, do, and experience, but he promised her it would be wonderful. She would be more than safe. She simply needed to trust him and let go.

What a courageous thing to face death head-on-- and let go.
How terrifying.

One breath.
One moment.
What a mystery.

What a mystery for a Spirit to leave your presence and join another in the same instant.

What a mystery.

What is the gospel?

A group of us are starting up an A&M chapter of International Justice Mission. (please, please, check out IJM) We were looking for an adviser so I emailed a professor and she replied with some questions about how us and IJM "shares the gospel." And things like that. So I replied....it was definitely more than she was asking for....but I felt compelled. This is stuff I am desperately passionate about and I'm learning SO much about. So maybe she asked the wrong person at the wrong time--but she got an answer. The stuff I shared with her is stuff that I want to share with the whole world....and the this is the closest I've got, so here it is....



"Second, all of us who are involved in starting up IJM are madly in love with Jesus and we want everyone to experience the abundant life he has to offer, which is the only reason we are doing what we are doing. In everything I say and do, I pray that it is sharing pieces of who Jesus is. Everything. Not just when I talk about certain biblical truths--everything. So of course, that would carry over into being in an organization with people and of course it is how I even choose what kind of organizations to be apart of. It consumes all my interactions with all people.

Something that I have been wrestling with and learning much about this past year is: what is the gospel?
Is it: 1. you're sinful 2.you need a savior 3. jesus died on the cross for you 4. pray, believe, and you'll go to heaven when you die?
Is that it, or is there more?
I believe all those things are true, but I've been blessed to see so much more. The LIFE of Jesus shows me so much more. Not just the death.
It can't just be those 4 points, because Jesus talks about "the gospel" before he even dies. He tells people to start believing and following the gospel and he had not even died yet. So obviously there's something more to the gospel than just Jesus dying on the cross. Jesus' LIFE is the gospel too. The things he did. They way he lived his life is part of the Good News. If we LIVE like him and did the crazy things he did, we will experience the Good news (the transformation of our minds and hearts)and so will those around us--sometimes with out us even saying a word. This is helping me see that its not just about TELLING people the gospel in a few simple sentences. Jesus didn't just do that. He DID a lot of tangible things too and THAT was the gospel too. He fed the hungry--and to the starving family, THAT is Bread of Life (which is Jesus). He loved (talked to, hung out with) those who everyone hated, like prostitutes--and to the prostitute, THAT is Unconditional Love and Grace (that's the gospel.) And he released the oppressed from captivity--and to the little girl in the brothel, THAT is the Good News, THAT is salvation, THAT is a real God who is dear and near to her through His Body.

The other question I've been thinking about is:
If I were a 15 year old girl sitting in a brothel tonight. I had just serviced 40 men and been beaten by my pimp many times. I have heard of this "god" who "breaks the chains of injustice, gets rid of exploitation, frees the oppressed, and cancels debts." (isaiah 58) And who "heals the heartbroken, announces freedom to all captives, and pardon all prisoners." (isaiah 61) And I've also heard this "god" has told his people "Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?" (habakkuk 1)
Man, I would be praying to that god. I would be praying to ANYTHING at that point. I would have no hope. I would think I'm worthless. I would think I don't have a soul. And I would probably have a lot of other psychological damage I don't even know about. So I would ask for help from any god. And in that situation, what would "good news" actually look like? What would "salvation" actually look like? How would I know those things were really REAL that I had heard about this god--about him freeing the oppressed and all that?
I think it would look like the Body of Christ taking their talents and gifts to investigate the injustice in that town, teaming up with the local police, storming through that brothel door, and saving me from that awful HELL I was living in. THAT would bring me hope. I would think I'm seeing Christ in the flesh.

And isn't that we are called to be? Little Christs? Hope to the hopeless?
Jesus did not come to just save us from hell when we die. He came to save us from the literal hells on earth too. He came to save us from our personal sins AND from the sins of others that beat us, rob from us, and hurt us all sorts of ways. He came to save us RIGHT NOW, on earth too! How glorious! AND, he's asked his followers to...follow him! Be apart of saving others! We have no power to save people's spirits. Jesus does not ask us to do that. Only HE can bring them to heaven or send them to hell. But he HAS commanded us to save people from the hells on earth--starvation, prison, diseases, poverty of the mind, heart, soul, rape, violence, etc. He has asked us to be apart of that great mission! How incredible is that! I don't know why--cause frankly, we are pretty messed up. But nonetheless, he's asked us.
The gospel is not just spiritual. The gospel is physical and mental and every other -al you can think of.

The hard thing with this injustice topic is that we, as Western Christians, have not really experienced REAL injustices. (i will not assume your personal story, so i don't know what you've experienced, but I'm generalizing here) So it is very hard for us to relate to this part of the gospel; to this part of Jesus. But the bible talks enough about it for us, as bible believing Christians, to just believe it and do it. (seriously, ive been studying all the places in the bible about injustice and oppression, and let me tell you--God ABHORS it.) So I don't know what its like to REALLY need to see Jesus as a savior amidst an awful injustice that's being inflicted on me, but I'm trying to put myself in others' shoes.

For the people experience this stuff, I want to show them an ultimate hope. I want to SHOW them Jesus and how powerful he is; how much he hates injustice; how much he LOVES them. So for now, while I'm a student, I can support a group of Jesus-followers who have the skills and courage to do what it takes to free these oppressed. I want to support them in BEING Jesus to the oppressed. Every day. Today. They're fighting And I can raise awareness. I can tell everyone I know about what's going on in the world and how Jesus feels about it.

The ultimate hope for IJM staff is the everlasting salvation of the clients (the oppressed) they work with. So after they do their wonderful, long, grueling work in freeing people from bonded labor or sex labor, they hope that they can put a name on what they just did--Jesus' name. They hope they get to form relationships with these people and get to use words to explain why they do what they do and all of that. But maybe they were just called to play one part in a person's journey to Christ. (Aren't we all? None of us play all the roles. Sometimes we get to explain a lot to a non-believer. Sometimes we don't say one word, but something we did showed them Jesus and that was crucial in their understanding of that Man.) So that's what IJM does. They do their part. They are only a PART of the body of christ. They work in the legal system and investigation part of it. Other parts of the Body reveal themselves through counseling facilities for girls who have been in the sex-trade and those people will use words to share part of the gospel. They may even use those 4 points that i mentioned earlier. But that's just part of a non-believers Good News journey. Maybe another part was that man who stormed through the brothel door and saved her after she had been crying out for help.

You had asked "does the organization not only help people, but in so doing share Christ and would that carry over to the campus chapter?"
I hope that answers it. I don't know if that's the answer you were looking for or not. I guess the way I see it is that helping people in the way Jesus said to do it IS sharing Christ. Fighting injustices in very practical ways within a country's authoritative justice system is part of sharing Christ.

"Feeding the hungry and righting injustice is good, but we still leave them going to hell in the end unless we share Christ. Their life ends up no better."

Maybe....or what if sharing Christ was inherent in feeding the hungry and righting injustice? What if those two things were not just "good," but were some of the very things that Jesus did and TELLS us to do as PART OF the Gospel?"

Conspiracy....

Before you start getting overwhelmed with the Christmas season, please, please, please watch this quick video.

Oh how i pray for this conspiracy to take over our holiday season.

Share this with your families, and help make it happen.

Here's some truth in trash

Gotta give it to her.

Please watch this short video.

And then you might as well check this out and browse a bit.

And then you might as well start thinking about adoption. =)

I'm not a big advocate of the government actually being able to do much for orphans (because what these kids really need is parents to adopt them, not just more band-aids from foreign aid), but I do think that if the government takes more of an interest in advocating for orphans, then that could raise more awareness for the "normal person" to take more of an interest in them.

And I don't see any harm from the government helping orphans--whether its providing education or medical help, etc.
I don't think its THE answer, but its something. It can help.
Think about the stuff that the government makes a big deal about--> whether its good or bad, the media picks it up and people check it out and become more educated on the issue. Who knows, maybe the government will advocate for Americans to adopt more. whoop!

And I'm not going to lie, Angelina Jolie has some major issues, but I do respect how she is using her fame and power to raise so much awareness about vulnerable people around the world.
AND she really is not "just talking" about it. She is DOING it.
Those celebrities that are actually doing it are few and far between.
Yeah, she thinks that the government is a huge part of answer and that's what will save orphans--and that's crap. (what else does she have to hope in??)
But, she obviously also thinks that adopting lots of them is a huge part of the answer too.


p.s. can we make this fun??
POLL:
1. How long do you think Brad and Angelina will last?? (throw out some time frames)
2. do you think they are the most beautiful couple alive? (throw out some yeses or an alternative)