Going Home

I am thrilled beyond measure to be returning to Uganda next month. In a strange way, it feels like going home. I was just sitting at my desk going through pictures from my last trip to Uganda and my heart aches to be back there. There are so many things I love about it.

The beauty of the land,

the thunder rolling in the night,

the African coffee...

but more than anything I love the people.

I can’t wait to wrap my arms around those children
and tell them how much they are loved.

It is my deep desire and prayer that God would use me to accomplish great things for His Kingdom and bring Him much glory. I am humbled that God would choose me for such a wonderful and difficult task. I am honored that the King of my heart would desire to use me as his hands and feet to bring the light of Christ into such darkness.

Without a doubt, the last trip to Uganda was way more difficult and way more wonderful than I had imagined. I can’t wait to see what God has in store. I want to be ready for anything He calls me to. I don’t want fear or self-doubt to hold me back from being apart of Kingdom work. I hope that everything I do would be an act of worship to my God. For His love for me is so deep and so passionate, I want more than anything to love Him back with everything I have. I want His love to flow freely from me and touch the lives of others.

The Adventure Continues

Mukama Yabazebwea!...translation: Praise God!

It's official...I am going back to Uganda this December! Praise God! The process it took to get to this place was intense, but I have been so extremely blessed. Thank you to all who are supporting me and have invested in this minstry. I am humbled by your overwhelming response. Thank you for being obediant to the leading of the Lord. No doubt, this is going to be an adventure. I am so excited to share with you in the work of the Kingdom. God is doing great things.

Ronald

I would like to introduce you to a very special person. This is Ronald. He has become like my Ugandan little brother. He is an amazing ten year old boy with a huge heart and tons of energy. When I first met him, he was a very aggressive child and would occasionally be too rough with the other children when he got upset. He was even at times too rough with me, but recognizing that he does not have the guidance and love of parents to show him how to behave and make him feel secure, I became very intentional in my interactions with him. Over the course of three weeks, I saw a significant change in his behavior. The two of us formed a special bond during that time, and I began to realize what a treasure Ronald is. He is funny, kindhearted, full of energy, and has the sweetest singing voice. Ronald has the strength to one day be a man of God and accomplish great things for the Kingdom. He, like the rest of us, simply needs the guidance of a trusted adult and the security of knowing that he is loved.

Trust

In all my troubles I will trust in the Lord,
He is my Rock. His faithfulness is steadfast.
His love washes over me,
It fills me,
And it flows from me.
I will praise the name of My Father in Heaven,
For He is the perfect Father,
Full of grace and Truth
I will worship His name.
In His presence,
Within His embrace,
Is where I want to be always and forever.

It is love...

It is love that allows my once dead heart to beat with life.

It is love that allows orphaned children to dance.

It is love that heals the hurting.

It is love that trades sorrow for joy.

It is love that brings peace to the afflicted.

It is love that has saved my soul.

In Christ alone, do I hope.

Living Hope

This summer my understanding of Hope grew as I visited Living Hope Children's Home in Uganda. Those precious children taught me a lot about Hope and I am filled with inspiration to share such light with those who dwell within darker shadows than I. And that, my friends, is exactly why I must go back.

Hope in the Shadow of a Storm

If I have learned anything this past year, it is that Hope is born in the midst of a storm. I used to never really understand the scripture that said, "...we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope..." (Romans 5:3, 4), but I think I am finally beginning to see. This last year I have been through one tumultuous storm, but the love that the Father has poured into my heart is unlike anything on this side of Heaven. The idea of hope has always alluded me, but although the storm wages on, I am beginning to taste the sweetness of the love that my Savior has lavished upon me, and for the first time in my life...hope is awakening within my soul.

Tabitha

Allow me to introduce you to Tabitha, a beautiful eleven-year old girl who has touched my heart in a unique way. Even at her young age she desires to grow spiritually and hungers to know God's Word. I hope this little story gives you a glimpse into her beautiful heart.
While my team and I were at Living Hope, we did devotions with the kids each night. When we first arrived at the Home each day, Tabitha always offered to carry our team leader's bag inside. Come to find out, Tabitha carried the team leader's bag in each day because she knew that the notes for devotions were inside that bag. Tabitha had been copying the Bible verses from the devotion notes into her own notebook, for she had no Bible of her own. Tabitha's inner beauty and obvious hunger for God's Word never ceases to inspire me. I am excited to say that during this upcoming trip we will be bringing Bibles for each of the children at the home.