A new year...

As I reflect on the past year I am amazed at how God has molded me and shaped me! Even reading through old blog posts I'm a little amazed that it was really me who wrote them. There is a maturity in some of them I wondered if I would ever have. God has shaped my heart and laid a passion on it for Uganda and Africa I never would have dreamed. Even just a year ago if you would have asked me if I would ever go to Africa I would have said no way. I never dreamed I would go to Africa, let alone fall completely in love with a country and the people there so much I am still looking and praying for any opportunity to go back! I have learned so much about the faithfulness of God and His provision for our lives! I have fallen in love with God in a way I never have before, and I have learned so much about what being in true relationship with Him means. I'm still not anywhere near perfect and know I won't ever be, but I am learning each day to give myself over to Him and His purposes and He can do the rest. There are so many things I have to look forward to in the coming year, but for the first time ever, I think, I am actually kind of sad to see 2012 go because of all the things I've done and learned! However, I also know you can't live in the past so I am looking forward to what God has in store for me in 2013 with great anticipation! I know it will be a year of joy welcoming a new baby into our family and me personally getting to be an aunt! But I also know it could be a year of challenges and even possible disappointments because of where I know God is already leading me. I will step ahead in faith though and continue to look forward to everything that will come my way. I will meet each bump in the road the best I can and turn to Him for guidance when I fall. I am so excited to see where God leads and I am looking forward to the adventure! Bring it on 2013!!

Missing Uganda

It has been almost two months since I returned from Uganda. One might think that as the time goes by the pain of missing that beautiful country and the precious people I left behind there would lessen. However, I miss it now nearly two months later as much as I ever have. I'm not as "emotional" as I was in the beginning, but it is a deeper more raw aching that I feel deep in my heart.  I am not a parent so I can't know for sure but I literally feel as though I left my very own children there! There are two precious little ones that my heart longs for and aches to be near. I love them with the kind of love I imagine a mother feels for her own children. I only hope and pray we will be reunited in Uganda one day sooner rather than later, but that is all up to God. Until then I will continue to pray for them and their caregivers, and pray for guidance and discernment for myself! I would appreciate my friends and family praying for the same!

Ekubo--10,000 Reasons to Give this year!!

Friends, Family, and Strangers...Let me share with you about an amazing ministry I was blessed to visit and be part of during my recent trip to Uganda.  Ekubo Ministries is an amazing ministry started by two very amazing people that blesses hundreds and hundreds of children and their surrounding community.  Christie and George Magera started Ekubo, and they are two of the most sacrificial, giving, loving, faith filled people I have ever met! 

 

I will let them speak for themselves about part of why they exist: "We exist to share the love of Jesus as we serve orphaned and/or vulnerable children."  The people of Ekubo have the biggest hearts you will ever see, and their love for these children just exudes from them!  They are in the middle of trying to complete their Children's Home so that they can accept and pour Jesus into more children. 

 

 Currently the home is bare bones, and there are still a handful of children living there.  In order to be able to completely finish the home they need about $20,000.  The first $10,000 is to actually finish the structure of the home $5000 for the inside (floors, painting the walls, plumbing, tiling the bathroom, etc.) and $5000 for the outside (outside of building, pit latrine, etc.).  The additional $10,000 is needed to build a security wall around the property to ensure the safety of the children.  Here's the good news!!  Two generous donors have agreed to MATCH up to $5000 EACH. 

 

 So...if Ekubo can raise $10,000 this month these two generous donors will match it and they will have the $20,000 they need to finish the children's home and provide more children with a safe place to stay and be shown the love of Jesus!  Here's where you come in!!  Ekubo also provides men and women of the village with various trades making crafts, jewelry, etc. and they sell these things on their facebook page to raise money for their ministry.  I guarantee this is a legit ministry and these funds go directly into the ministry!  Here's a couple ways you can help donate.  First, you can donate on their blog (http://compassinmyheart.blogspot.com/) and put "Baby Home" in the notes field.  You can also go to their crafts store Here or the jewelry store Here.  The directions on how to order are listed under each picture.  Think that the small amount you can afford to give isn't enough to help?  You're wrong!  Every little bit helps!  Look at this!

 

Just $5 can buy an entire WEEK's worth of cooking oil!!  And remember...every dollar you don't will be doubled during the matching grant.  Just make sure when you pay on paypal you designate in the Notes that your donation is for the Children's Home.  That way it will make sure to be included in the Matching Grant.  Please share this blog with your friends!  Share it on facebook, twitter, or wherever!  The more people that share it, and the more word we get out, the closer they will be to reaching their goal!!  Most importantly please Pray for Christie and George and all the people at Ekubo!  Thank you everyone for sharing and donating!  It will bless sooo many people!  God bless!!

In love...

I used to think I knew what it meant to be in love...but Uganda has taught me the true meaning of being in love!  God revealed Himself to me in ways I never imagined through the hearts and lives of people I barely knew.  I wish I could explain more clearly the ways He showed Himself to me, but I can't really out it into words.  I have always loved God, but for the first time in my life I know what it feels like to really be IN LOVE with HIM!!  It is an amazing feeling and it has taught me how to love others more like Him and how to rely more faithfully on Him and His promises!  I may not know exactly where He is leading or what exactly my future holds, but I do know that with Him anything is possible, and His plan for me is more than I could ever imagine.  I am sure it won't always be easy and there may be times I really want to give up, but I am ready to let Him take the reins!!  I am asking my friends and family to come along side me and pray for His leading and direction in my life, and that I will be able to discern His calling!  Here's to the amazing road ahead!  I love Him and am so excited to see where He leads!!

Homesick...

I have been feeling REALLY homesick tonight...homesick for Uganda and the people there, and that simpler way of life.  Not that life there is simple by any means because I have seen first hand how hard it is there! But, simple in the sense that all you may have is your Faith in God...And THAT is enough!  I miss the way I felt so at home and comfortable there!  I still miss being there so much it hurts!  I even somewhat haphazardly found myself Googling nursing jobs in Uganda tonight...didn't find much though.  I wish sometimes I could just pack up and leave to go back there tomorrow and just stay indefinitely.  But then I realize I would have no way to support myself or pay the bills I still have here.  I would love to be able to just go spend a few months there, but the realistic part of me knows that just isn't really possible for me right now.  I know with God anything is possible but he would literally have to plop thousands of dollars in my lap for that to even begin to be feasible for me.  So, for now I will continue to pray for God's guidance and provision, and continue to be in Uganda in spirit! My heart is there...maybe one day I will be able to reunite with it!