Journal

March 29, 2012

RECAP:

I wanted to write this journal entry as a sort of recap of stories of things that have gone on thus far at House 2.  Today is day four and it already feels like a month has gone by, but in a good way.  We have done so many things to fill up our time here and it involves so much walking.  We have spent a lot of time “being still” here at the house in the beginning because we haven’t started our exact schedule yet.  I really want to sell my car though and just use a bicycle when I get home, but we’ll see if I feel the same when the time comes.  We have walked to our local store/market a few times, walked with Uncle Francis to get milk (which was 8km), walked to the paper mill, and almost 4 or 5 days a week we walk to Entebbe Road, uphill both ways, to catch taxis.  We learned today how to catch a taxi by ourselves.  I felt like a true Ugandan.

This was a journal entry that I wrote just to encompass what went on the few days after I posted my last blog.  Like I said in my previous blog, I find it much simpler and more meaningful if I add some of my journal entries to my blog so you can truly feel what I am experiencing in the moment.

June 1, 2012

Washed by the Water

The past two days we have spent a majority of our day at Rays of Hope.  Rays is a school that Joel, the house dad for House 3, runs with his mother.  There are about 300 kids from ages of 4 to 18 going to school there.  We spent the day Wednesday serving breakfast and lunch, teaching classes, moving sand for a project on site, and loving on the kids.  This place truly has no words that can describe it.  Desperate is the only word that comes to mind.  It is in the slum of Kabalagala and the land area is maybe the size of our beach house, if even that.  These kids either have families in the slums, some just outside the slum, or still some who are orphaned.  We met a deaf boy named George who Joel allows to come to school because he has nowhere else to go.  Joel says that he runs around the slum and hides at night so he can survive.  Because of his disability his family has disowned him and even though he has nowhere to go and no family and is deaf he has so much joy.  It is indescribable to see the smile on his face every time I walk into Rays of Hope.  On Thursday we spent the day serving breakfast and then put on a huge Field Day for the older kids.  We had relay races, some played soccer, and the kids loved the giant parachutes we brought.  It was a lot of fun and the Muzungus (“white people”) got more competitive during the races than the kids did.  Last thing I forgot to write about that happened Wednesday at Rays of Hope.  As I was washing dishes from lunch my hands got really dirty from moving the giant, heavy, metal pots for washing in the dirt.  One little boy saw my hands and how dirty they were, grabbed a cup full of water and washed my hands.  One of the most humbling experiences to stand there and watch this boy who was probably 10 years old continue to pour the little water he had on my hands and rub them for me until they were clean again.  It almost brought me to tears.

This journal entry taught me so much about the Lord’s design for us to continually grow and to use some of the most humbling situations we can even think of.  He has designed our lives and our journeys alongside of our Creator to always allow for divine interruptions.  I never expected this kid to come and humble me to the point of tears, but this interruption has taught me so much about the character of our Lord and how He so much desires us to be like Him. 

June 4, 2012

Worship through…

Song   Dance   Prayer   Stillness     Humility   Thankfulness   Encouragement   Attitude

Last night we had a family night worship session and I think it was just what most of us needed.  I know I did.  It had been a while since the last time I truly worshipped our Lord outside of church.  It felt so good to completely humble myself before His feet and His throne and abandon everything just to worship.  His presence was readily available because He knew we need Him. During worship I couldn’t stop thinking about Detour and the kids and leaders there.  Then this morning Lee, Blake, Ryan, Carly, and Zack came to my mind.  I’m not sure if this was the Lord’s way of telling me to pray for them or if was something more.  Either way Lord, continue moving in each of them.  I’m so thankful.

June 6, 2012

Skype: a missionary’s link to Home

I was able to Skype with Ryan tonight and even though it was for only 15 minutes, just the small link to home and the chance to talk with a best friend was worth every minute.  Ryan has grown to be such an incredible friend and more of a best friend over the past year or so.  I’m amazed by the way God worked through the both of us to bring us together.  His divine purpose and timing are unmatchable.

Lord,

Thank you so much for Ryan and the utter joy he brings to my life.  I’m blown away by His faithfulness.  Lord continue preparing him for August and his future.

June 10, 2012

All Things NEW

Although I have been living here for over three weeks now, new things continue to arise.  Problems.  Situations.  Experiences.  Mercies.  Opportunities.  Desires.  Everyday is an adventure and even though the Lord is always constant He always provides new areas for growth.  We have our first team here, living and working alongside of us.  I’ve had to have tough conversations with my family here about living out a good representation of Christ and being respectful of our elders.  More thoughts about the future.  Continued struggle brought back into existence. Many new and trying things have occurred over the past few days.  But good new things too.  Our first movie night with the kids.  First team.  Josh said I could be his dad while he was here.  Opportunities to connect with high school students.  Continued growth and investment with Esau.  Growth with Gilbert.  Soccer match: House 1 vs. House 2…we won.

Father,

I pray you continue making all things new.  Lord continue renewing my heart and body.  I am yours.  Use me.  Mold me.  Make me clean.  Pour your spirit upon me.  Give me the desire to grow in intimacy with you.  Thank you for your love, for your grace and mercy, for your death on a cross for me and ALL others.  Make that a reality in my heart.  May I understand the importance of spreading Your truth.  Thank you for the opportunities you have given me and will give.  Thank you for the impact you’ve made.  I love you with all of me.

The Lord has blown me away since the last time I’ve posted with His faithfulness, His opportunities to be still, and His love for me displayed throughout all His truth.  I am so thankful for all that I’ve experienced and I hope and pray that each one of you will get to experience the Lord in ways you’ve never imagined. 

“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

                                                                                    Mark 2:17

“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

                                                                                    Matthew 21:21-22