Friday, May 21, 2010

A little vision...

This video was created by Kristi to remind us of the orphans across the world who need our help. Most of this footage is taken from their trip to Karamoja last year. (Double click on the video if you can't see the entire clip on my page...it'll show up on a separate page.)



And this video was created by the Fulks...just a glimpse into Karamoja and the Karamojong. :)

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Under attack...



This last week even up until now, I've felt so under attack from the Enemy. It's not that things haven't been falling into place...it's just that it's been extremely difficult to get them done. Many impetuses stemming forth and trying to make me swerve off track. I've got so much to get done but I KNOW that God is for this journey to Uganda. I KNOW He wants me to go. I seem to have people that support my going yet at the same time, I'm not getting any help from those that I'm closest to. I'm not trying to be selfish by any means. It just seems that I'm having to continue to reach out for help when people know that I'm in need or am struggling. But then...wow. When I shut off the noise for a bit, just hear the sound of my fingers tapping away at the keyboard, and take in what I am typing, God begins to speak to me.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." (Matthew 25: 40-43)

I hear this. I read this. And am reminded of eternal perspective. I'm convicted of my own faults of not doing, helping, going, being...just not. I've been on both sides of the fence, as well all have I imagine at one point or another. I've been completely "safe" and feeling like I'm in a stable position (financially, emotionally, spiritually...), but did I remain in complacency b/c I was "set"? And then in the last year or so, I've experienced TRUE need in various realms. Oh how it's easy to point fingers at others who don't seem to be there or seem to help when it's actually just my own mirror of how I can be sometimes.

I think if I can get across one thing about Uganda, it's this: it's not just some mission trip. It's a journey of love. It's put forth and set forth by God and is His desire for those of us going to be going...and to GO. It's not like summer camp where the goal is looking for a fun experience, lots of pictures, yet without yielding to ourselves...without struggling...without hurting. No, this is not it. This journey is about love. Love for God. Love for people...ALL people. Love for the least of these. LOVE.



Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should di it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. (1 Peter 4: 8-11)

How I pray for renewed vision...for inspired hearing...for a peaceable tongue...for a heart that loves like Christ. This week and weekend has been pretty rough and those of you who know me well know that I am pretty open about how I'm doing, where I'm at, or what's going on in my life. So, I speak all of this openly, humbly, and vulnerably to you all...that you might lift me up in prayer...that you might pray for renewed strength, patience, tenacity, and good health for me!! It has been quite challenging lately. My list of things to complete seems to be growing longer with my time here in Dallas becoming shorter. Time is fleeting...this is such a multi-faceted statement. The past couple of weeks my migraines have been exacerbated and considerably worse. It's detered me from work, my clients, getting things done for Uganda, and just taking good care of myself the way I want to. I realized that my wisdom teeth needed to come out and this is a big reason for my increased incidence of migraines lately. So, I'm going tomorrow to get my wisdom teeth taken out. Taking a couple of days off work. Not bringing in hardly any income currently. Praying furvently that God will provide somehow and someway. I've had a stomach bug additionally for the past couple of days. Sigh. I got a speeding ticket today driving to my basketball games that I coach. Just another bump in the road for me.

I don't tell you all of this to make it seem like I'm being a Debbie Downer and am having a pity party. I tell you these things to be honest. That I've never been more certain about moving to Uganda but I speak openly to show in a small way (without being extremely detailed) that the Enemy sure doesn't want me to go!! God wants to use me and my family there in Karamoja to do HIS work and the Enemy doesn't like that one bit. I'm led to this passage of Scripture regarding all of this...

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saaved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4: 12-19)

I take a deep breath. I inhale goodness, mercy, and grace and exhale negativity. I can rejoice at my present trials for the outcome is all for the glory of God. I do ask that you all keep me hard in your prayers for this next month especially...I leave a month from today. :) I love you and I'm so glad you all are walking, running, crawling, limping, victoriously traveling on this journey with me. :)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Walking this road alone? Reminding myself that my Beloved is with me always...


So this past week was really amazing. God's provisions just keep being brought to the surface, obviously in His timing and not mine. :) It's a complete time of TRUST...just total trust. God has proven time and time again just in the short month & 1/2 that I'm supposed to go to Uganda this June. It's incredible to look at the big picture of what has transpired thus far and how God's hand has been in this from the beginning. Really incredible. Of course, I have difficulty staying patient all the time and tend to have a couple of overwhelming days...like last night and like today. There are like 15 different tasks for work, for preparation for Uganda, etc., that are swirling around in my head and when this happens, I just seem to shut down temporarily. I can't seem to be productive because my brain is in overload and needs a rest. But alas, I go to the Father and He reminds me that I'm going into my "control mode" and I've just got to relax. He is in control. He's got me covered. I am safe in Him. I need to stop looking at things as pesky tasks that need to get done and instead, just look at things with an eternal perspective. It's not all fun...it's not all what I'd like to be doing...but things have to get done.














[L to R: The Fulks (Cody & Michaela, Joshua, Malachi, Janaya, Carter,Samuel), Andrew & Kerri Meador, Chloe Nelson, me, Misty Kearn, The Williams (Kristi, Kenneth, Nevaeh, Zion, Ezra, Israel, Selah in Kristi's belly)]

So, I flew out to Colorado last Thursday and came back to D town on Sunday. It was a wonderful time with my team, my new family. I got to reconnect with Kristi & Kenneth, who I haven't seen since college! And then I met my new family and it was as if we had known each other forever. I'm so excited to embark on this new adventure with these great people and to begin to share life with them. Very, very cool how God brings a random group of people together. :) So, we decided on a departure date in June and we bought our tickets!! We're leaving (the majority of the group) on June 16th. It's coming quickly!!! One passage of Scripture that I always come back to is Isaiah 55: 8-9 --

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Oh how I try to control things, how I unconsciously believe I know what's best for me, how I try to create my own way...I can do this only so long before I fall, I break, I become overwhelmed. Then I am reminded of my Beloved's promise to me -- "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). I have to keep in mind that things will eventually come together with getting my house rented, raising all the support that I need, and getting everything completed before I leave on June 16. I keep hearing the phrase "Finish strong. Stay strong. Finish strong."



Please continue to keep me as well as my new family in your prayers as we continue to prepare to leave. Also, please keep Cody & Michaela Fulk (and their kiddos) in your prayers as well. They want to leave in July but have financial obligations currently that are providing a roadblock. They need to sell their house, pay off some debts to be completely debt-free upon leaving, and to raise the appropriate amount of money to support their family in Uganda. God is big. He's good. He's called us to go and serve in Uganda and I am expectant that the Fulks' needs will be met. And mine as well. :) Thanks, as always, for your thoughts, prayers, & words of encouragement. :)

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Updating on God's Provision...

I just wanted to give an update on how BIG God is...how AMAZING He is...how He has his hand in EVERYTHING. My friends Kristi & Kenneth Williams have been in the waiting game with the selling of their house in Colorado. They literally needed to get a contract on it this week in order for them to be able to leave for Karamoja in June. Well, it literally came down to the wire with them getting a call yesterday evening around 5pm from their realtor saying that they had a contract on their house!! Talk about God's timing, right? We've all been praying for a literal miracle for their house to sell in time. Isn't this incredibly amazing?? God's hand is all in this trip to Uganda. He is providing for us, preparing the way, and continuing to show us all the possibilities through His good, good, good plan.

Never underestimate the power of prayer and how it is also so encouraging to know that you are being prayed for by others. Thank you so much for those of you who have been praying and are committed to praying for me and my team. It is so powerful and is also so uplifting. More to come! :)