Uganda love!

Our time here is coming to an end and I am a little surprised by my feelings about leaving. I don't want to leave this place! And I mean I REALLY don't want to leave! I knew leaving would be hard after building relationships with these kids, but its more than that! As surprising as it may seem, I feel really at home here! I have fallen madly in love with these people and this country! There is still so much I feel like I need to process, but we have so little free time here its hard to really find time alone to really sift through my thoughts and process it all. All I know is I'm not ready to leave.  Here are just a few reasons why...

We are here!!

Hello from Uganda!! We made it safe and sound with all our luggage in Sunday afternoon. First of all Uganda is beautiful!! And the people here are just as beautiful inside and out!  We've spent the past two days ministering at Ekubo Ministeries (more to come on them). We received a welcome at Ekubo worthy of a king! The couple hundred children were singing and waving tree branches and giving us smiles that would melt your heart in a second! It was completely overwhelming, but amazing at the same time! The choir did several African song and dance performances that were amazing! Those kids are super talented!! We ended the first day with them attempting to teach us some of the dances...which in my case wasn't very successful, but fun nonetheless! Today we were able to go back and spend the day with the kids building relationships more and getting to know some of the kids better. The four of us nurses on the team worked in the clinic while everyone else went and helped teach in the classrooms. It was a first couple days! It's unreal how much those kids just want a hand shake or to have their picture taken. They are full if joy and abounding with energy! I wish I could really convey better how amazing it is here and how wonderful these children are but I just cannot even come up with the words right now.  As I close out please be praying for a 6day old baby named Joseph! He was takes to the hospital today very dehydrated and malnourished and is not doing well. Please pray for healing and God's provision for funds fir gis hospital stay. Thank you all so much for your continued prayers!!

~Kristin

Uganda Bound...

Well...I'm sitting here on my flight to Washington D.C. where I will meet up with the rest of my team. I absolutely cannot belieflve this day is here!! It is so surreal! In roughly 24 hours I will be in Africa about to begin a journey that God has been preparing me for for many months...perhaps even longer! I can only hope and pray that my heart is ready and open for everything He will have for me there. I know in my heart of hearts that God has something amazing in store for this trip and I can't wait to see what that is!

As I have been preparing for this trip I have been blown away by the snout of support and encouragement I have received.  As I said goodbye to my parents thus morning at the airport I am pretty sure I saw some tears in my dad's eyes as he told me how proud of me he is.  It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.  How blessed I am to have such wonderful friends and family that love and support and encourage me!! My best friend sent me a card about heroes and how she thinks I am one. I don't feel much like a hero. I am just doing what God has called us all to do...love the orphans and widows (James 1:27).  It just so happens that he's called me at this time to Africa for two weeks. 

As I think about this journey ahead I am so humbled He has chosen me! I am such an ordinary girl with lots of failures and time that I really mess up! But I've learned over the past few weeks that its in those weaknesses and failures that God can use you most! He uses our weakness to show His strength!  I pray that during this trip I am able to let Him work through me and that I don't let my human emotions, desires, or shortcomings to get in the way of His leading. A few months ago at church our pastor mentioned in times when you feel like you just can't love someone enough to let Him love them through you. I pray that God will love these kids and the people I meet along this journey through me! That in the moments when I feel emotionally drained or have moments of insecurity I will allow God to use me anyway and show His love through my weakness! I can only pray that I am open to His divine appointments and have a heart and mind open to His leading! This trip is His!! 

I should be packing...

I should be packing right now...but I thought I'd just write a quick update!!  I have This is really happening!!  In a little over less than 72 hrs I will be on a plane leaving for Uganda!!  I cannot believe it's really here!!  To say that I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and all sorts of other crazy emotions would be an understatement, but it's all in a good way!  Most of the nerves are just about little stuff like what will the hotels be like, what will the food be like, what will the bathrooms be like?  Then there are the things going through my mind like 'How will this impact my life?', 'What will God do with this experience?'  I know God is going to do some amazing things with this trip!  I only hope we can impact those kids lives as much as I have a feeling they will imact my life.  I don't know if I'll be able to update this blog while we're in Uganda, but if I have a chance I will.  Otherwise, my trip leaders may be updating their blog with updates as well.  You can find it Here.  You can be sure I will update this when I get back!  I'm sure there will be lots to tell!  Til then...I'm off to pack for now...

One week!

A week from now I will be my way to Uganda!!  I cannot believe it's only a week away!  I've been to the store and got some last minute things for the trip, started laying things out to pack, and have been getting things ready as much as possible ahead of time.  I've been anticipating this trip for so long, it doesn't seem like it's possible that it's this close now.  There have been so many hurdles to overcome in the past several months, but God has provided and guided me all along the way.  I have still been having some of the same health issues, but it's something that is more of an annoyance and inconvenience than something that prevents me from functioning or being able to do things.  I know God has ordained this trip and will be with me and protect me while I'm there.  I was really feeling discouraged for a couple weeks, feeling like this may not really happen, but over the past week or so I've really gained a real peace about it.  I have regained my perspective and remembered the real reason I'm doing this....those precious kiddos that I will be meeting so very soon!!  I cannot wait to love on them and play with them, and just make sure they know they are loved!  Those kids are what has kept me motivated and made me continue to look forward to this trip even in the midst of some challenges.  I know none of this would be happening without prayer, and I'm so grateful for all the support and encouragement I've received from all my friends and family!  I could not be more grateful for all of you and your prayers.  I absolutely cannot wait to meet my team and get to Uganda to see what God has in store for all of us!