Missions: Uganda.... Why Me?

I have not taken the time to write out what we have been up to for the last week basically. I will probably do a short synopsis when I get home so I can add pictures with it, but basically we have been hanging out and loving on a bunch of kids and getting to know the missionary families and the vision that they have for GSF. But tonight, Christmas night, I have some different thoughts in my head. Some things that have been on my heart and in my prayers. 

I know we have all said it at some time or another.... Why Me? Why did I have to fail the test? Why did my car break down? Why did my phone drop in water or screen break? Why are my parents so strict? Why....? Typically we ask this question not really looking for the answer, but rather to give ourselves pity. About two weeks before leaving for Uganda I started asking this question a lot, but truly searching for an answer from God. It wasn't because of a series of "bad luck", but rather wondering why I got a plate full of blessings while others get so little. Some get very little when it comes to material possessions, others get very little when it comes to spiritual direction, others get very little in the quality of family they are raised in, and others get little in many other areas such as education, skills, or physical abilities. And so while being here I have been asking and searching for the answer of Why Me? Why did I get blessed with a family unit that not only loves each other and me, but also love God? Why did I get parents that work hard and have always been able to provide for our needs and many of our wants? Why was I born and raised in the United States where purely because of my birth place I am guaranteed a good education, clean water, electricity, quality healthcare, and the ability to go to any country? Why was I placed in two churches that have significantly improved the understanding I have of Christ as I have matured in my walk so that I have a personal relationship with Christ? There are so many other questions like these that are running through my brain right now and over the last few weeks. 

I still do not have all the answers but I feel like God is telling me to continue to search for an answer to these questions. That by answering these questions he will make known His plans for these blessings. There is a reason for each one, and there is also a reason for each person that was not given such simple circumstances. He reminds me that to whom much is given much is expected. Each of us have been given separate gifts we are to use for Kingdom glory, but we also have ach been given eternal life and for that a sacrifice of the lives we desire to live is expected. So right now I am pushing on in my fight to give up the desires of my flesh that will please me now in order to achieve the desires of the spirit of God within me that will please me for eternity. And so I will fight on and 

Live Foolishly

Rachel 

Missions: Uganda,,,, Prayer is AWESOME!!!

Wednesday Dec 18:

This morning after getting a late start because they have missionary devotionals in the evening we headed out on a prayer walk through the local village, Bounda, with our tour guide Eric. Our first stop was actually Eric's house that he just finished. It was a little mud hut, but you could tell he was very proud of it. He is a very bright young guy that works for GSF and is sponsored in school by them. He has dreams of becoming an engineer and is currently the equivalent of a tenth grader, (S4), and is in pre-calculus and physics. We then moved onto his aunts house a met and prayed for his aunts and his nephew that has an umbilical hernia. Here in Africa these hernias are quite common because when children are born they stuff the umbilical cord with dung. While there we saw some kids playing on some very inventive "playground" equipment. The lady we met after this was one of my favorites, she was a Jaja (grandmother) who when we asked if we could pray for her literally THREW her machete and hoe to the ground and got in the middle of us and asked us to pray for healing. It was so cool to see her faith that prayer was going to be the way she was healed. 

One of the most rewarding and interesting individuals we talked to was Nathan who when we first talked to him he said that he wanted to be saved and then expressed that he was not saved because of his work and his children. We spent some time trying to explain the concept of grace and that what he does is not what makes him a believer, but the explanation got lost in transition. So we prayed for him and that someone would come along side him that understands and can explain it in his own language. Next we came along to Samuel, one of the men that works at GSF. He was sick and laying on a mat outside his home. The team prayed for him but I got caught up playing with his 12 children. His oldest was claudia, probably about 13-years-old, and was so precious. She was cooking for her family and watching her brothers. After she and I talked for a bit I walked over to where they were praying and the children followed until there were 12 of them sitting on a rock. It was so cute! As we walked to the new church we picked up more children and two of them followed me everywhere. There names were Iesha and Niema, they were walking to the watering hole to get water in their jerry cans, but made many detours to follow me along the way. We took many pictures and talked a little bit. They were in P2 and P4 (2nd and 4th grade), but they did not know how old they were, I would guess 6 and 9ish. We got to the church along with about 8-10 visiting children that had followed along the way and prayed over the church and the people of the village as all the children either played out side or sat quietly inside. After praying we took some pictures and showed the giggling children their pictures and walked on to the watering hole with many of the children in toe. The hill to the watering hole was steep and slick, but the children basically took it in one leap while all of us buzugo were very slow. When we got there we saw Iesha fill up their jerry can and women and children washing clothes. We gathered everyone up, held hands, and prayed for all of them. I don't think the women really understood us, but they had big smiles on their face. Finally we walked back to GSF and prayed for the missionaries, the ministry, the "mommies" or the children that live here and the children themselves. It reminded me again just how precious it is that I do not have to go to a building or a person to be heard by my God, that I can walk around a village in Africa or say a prayer in an airport in Ft. Lauderdale and he hears me all the same, because my God is bigger than it ALL!!!

After lunch we headed down with Carolina, one of the missionary kids to paint the nails of the girls still at GSF. They picked some pretty crazy colors and we had fun laughing with them as we painted nails and then played the land version of Marco Polo. As we headed to the missionary Bible Study that night we picked up a bag of peanut and peanut butter M&Ms to bring because on Sunday there had been a secret santa played and we brought peanut butter M&Ms and peppermint hand soap. By the way it went around you would have thought it was a pot of gold, so we decided we should share the M&Ms we brought for the kids with the staff since the children would not have a preference between smarties and chocolate. John talked about the story of washing feet from the bible and how the definition of Love changed when Jesus came to serve those that were his disciples. We then headed to eat dinner and off to bed. 

As always,

Live Foolishly

Missions: Uganda... GSF routine?

Monday Dec 16:

Every morning the missionaries gather to do a devo and prayer time on the porch of the highest house at the mission. It is just really a cool thought that every morning they come together for 10-15 to just stop and listen to God and each other and to share the prayers and praise of what has been going on. After devos 14 long term, mid term, and short term missionaries loaded up a bus with the 12 special needs children on campus and headed out to kingfisher resort with a clean pool and play ground. Every single one of the kids got in the water (3 of them had always refused) and they all smiled and laugh the entire time. They were telling us just how special it was to see all the kids break out of their shell with special one on one attention. It does not happen often with any of the children, but especially the special needs children are often grouped all together or with 2-3 kids. We also got to go with a national that was a trained occupational therapist and it was awesome to see how great he was with all the children. Any child that refused to get in the water he pulled in and by the time he passed them off or set them down they were laughing and giggling and just squealing. It really was such an exciting thing to see. After we got all the kids out and a little dried off we had a meal of chicken and chips (fries) or fish and chips. Having meat was quite a treat not only for the kids but also for many of the missionaries. I wish you all could have witnessed this. The kids eating and stealing food from each other and thinking everything was just sooo funny, it just made everyone smile. Finally we got them to the play ground and got them all on the teeter totter for the first time for many of them. Some of them LOVED it, others did not know what to think about it and a couple just HATED it. But all of them were fun to watch. Again Joseph was there helping them all try it out. 

After we got back we occupied ourselves in a house with about 14 toddlers 2-4 years old until it was time for dinner. We made pasta and veggies for us and Julie, Stephan, Sabrina, and Emily (another special needs teacher that was with us for the day). Sarah and I also made American boxed cake and American canned frosting for dessert and the above mentioned people were BEYOND excited. It was fun and a joy to just give them a little taste of America that we don't even consider to be a treat. 

Ok so now I have to talk a little more about Julie because well she was awesome and one of those people I just knew God sent me here to meet and to encourage me even though I doubt she realized she was such an encouragement. First of all to anyone who thinks missionaries are sheltered and boring people come live in Uganda or just about any other area where there are missionaries. I have learned you can not take life too seriously, and they love to laugh. Julie is no exception, she is likely one of the top 10 funniest and yet encouraging people out there. As I mentioned she is a 5th generation missionary with African Inland Mission and went to school in the states to be a special needs teacher and lived there for a total of 10 years, but you would think she just moved to Africa with her humor and english. When you see her interact with the natives however you know this is her home. This is the place and the people God has called her to serve, bless, and be blessed by. Her love and no nonsense for the kids and her desire to see them suceed reminded me so much of my mother. You could just tell that this was not her job, this was her calling, this is the "desires of her heart" that God has given her. That was such an encouragement. Her ministry is a traveling ministry and she has 1-3 short term missionaries that has training to work with children with special needs with her at any time. She travels around and stays where ever there is room. That may be in a school, church, house, or her tent right outside the police station. For about the last 8 months I have not been able to get TIMO, a 2 year program where you are working with a people group while also getting training off of my heart and mind or out of my prayers. Well long story short as she was leaving she said she had been thinking about and praying about doing a TIMO team for special needs population, but didnt know because she would be in charge of leading it. Selfishly I hope she does and that I can go, but honestly I pray that got would just give us each direction in when/if we should participate with the ministry. 

Tuesday Dec 17:

This morning we woke up and after distributing all the goodies we brought we gathered the special needs children to do some finger painting with them. We met a couple more kids that had been gone when we went to king fisher and it was fun to get to hang around them and do something so silly and fun. Julie used it as an opportunity to learn for many of them, while others just made some very interesting abstracts. When that was done we busted out the chalk and did some beautiful sidewalk art. After the finger painting the rest of the kids and MK's came out to join us so we taught them how to play hop-scotch and learned how to play some other games. It was a morning full of laughing and games and we had tons of fun. 

After lunch we gathered up all of the MK's and made journals with some composition books and scrap book paper I had brought. It was really a blessing to just hang out with these kids who by defalt have given their lives to serve the people of Uganda. By the way they act you would never think it was forced on them, but it is not something they got to make the decision to do.  

special needs kids finger painting and chalk

For dinner tonight we went to Claudia's house, which is the missionary my church supports, with her and her family of 7 children: Maggie, Hope, Emma, Anna, Mimi, Bobby, and Alex. As an appetizer she provided us with fried grasshoppers. I know... it sounds disgusting... and yes I did eat one. Honestly I really did not think it was a big deal, it is just a little insect, so I ate it and unexpectantly I gagged because I got a little leg stuck in the wrong spot. I played it off like nothing happen, drank a bunch of water and enjoyed the rest of the meal which was delicious. (BTW the grass hopper really just tasted like a greasy french fry... think Burger King). 

Missions: Uganda- Jet lag fight

Saturday Dec 14: 

We touched down in Uganda today! Oh seeing the land and knowing we were done traveling was awesome, but the excitement to hug some kids was even better. We got our visas and got waved through customs so cut off 30-45 minutes of extra time on that end. We walked out and the first and only "mzungu" (white person) we saw were Sharon, Tom, and Gracie our ride back to Good Shepard Fold (GSF). We loaded everything in the car and headed off. We made a quick stop to get some food and a little orientation to Ugandan culture and GSF, before we left Sharon and Gracie to pick up Gracie's mom the next day and headed on to GSF. We then made our little 3 hour trek in Ugandan traffic back and were met at the gate by 50 kids, staff, and missionaries singing us a welcome song. We got out and greeted everyone and decided to walk up to the guest house since we were so tired of sitting and all the little kids were hanging all over us hugging, squealing, and jumping. It was quite a welcome, and much appreciated after the 36 hours of quite sitting. We settled in and headed down to eat with the second missionary family we met, the Gwetney's. We ate peanut butter chicken that one of the house Aunties had prepared for us with chapatis and rice and a really good black bean and corn salsa. GSF is one of the only places in Uganda where you can get a HOT shower and drinkable water right out of the tap. Neither of which is a necessity, but both are nice. As we headed off to bed they warned us about an animal called the hyrex saying "if you feel like you hear a women screaming in the background, don't worry it is just our friend the hyrex." In my video I will put the sound it makes and you can decide if it sounds like a women, but I am glad they told me, because it really would have freaked me out when I woke up that night. 

Sunday Dec 15: 

We got to go to church this morning in the village with all the GSF kids and missionaries. The guy that spoke was Jonathan, the young guy in the photo below and the other guy is David, one of the elders. The pastor of the church left a couple weeks ago unexpectantly and they do not know if or when he will be returning. The really cool thing about David is that when he was a child he had polio (they think) and is very weak in the lower extremities. In typical Ugandan culture and churches he would be outcasted and not allowed to enter the church because of this "uncleanliness" but this village church does allow the individuals with disabilities to not only attend but serve on the elders if appropriate. 

After church we got a little time to talk to one of the interns (Steven) and make some guacamole for the Global Outreach missionary party which we attended that afternoon. The party was for all the missionaries currently serving with Global Outreach all over Uganda, and it was a really cool time to see what all was going on in Uganda and what each of the ministries does. One of the missionaries there was Julie (who you will hear a lot more about in the future) and she is a special needs teacher and a 5th generation missionary. She is actually with African Inland Mission (AIM), which is one of the organization I have been very interested in serving with, so it was really cool to hang out with her and Sabrina (a short term occupational therapist that is traveling with her). She told me that her typical accommodations was a tent that she pitched where ever she was and I responded with "I want to go with you." She laughed. I was being serious. That night was pretty quite, we went on a tour and hung out with the team coordinator (Sharon) and her husband Tom as well as Gracie (another intern) and her mother that arrived today.  They shared what they do at GSF as well as some of their dreams for the organization and children here and some of the initiatives they are starting/hoping to start. Then we were off to bed as jet lag set in. 

Live Foolishly 

Missions: Uganda. Take off?

Thursday Dec 12: 

The first day of travel- Ready. Set. Go! That is the text I got from my father this morning as he was waiting for his flight and I was headed to my last final. In a true procrastinators fashion I waited until Wednesday at 6pm to begin packing. I planned on going to church that night, but still had to pack my clothes as well as run to walmart to get all of the supplies for the activities with the kids in Uganda. I had told my friend Sarah I would see her at church that night but got a little too far behind, well she agreed to go to Walmart with me after sevice and our friend Julie came as well. In the walmart parking lot that night they prayed for my travels and the trip. It was a great time with some friends who are always there with me and for me! Well thursday i finished packing around 12:15 just in time for Sarah to take me to the airport at 12:30 for my departure at 2:40. At the ticket counter I got to talk to the guy weighing my bags about "why in the world would I ever want to go to Uganda?" I told him why, he gave me that slightly awkward look and said that he hoped it wasn't a bad trip. Haha I'll just call that one a seed planted. 

I got to my gate at 1:15 expecting to wait about an hour to board. I was so excited. Here it goes, I am really going to Africa! Well the plane came in late, but it's fine I have a 5 hour layover in New York... no rush. We boarded our 2:40 plane at 3:20 and at 3:35 a maintance person boarded the plane.... this is never good... The announcment: "ladies and gentelmen this plane is permently out of service. We will be deboarding this plane and are currently working on finding another plane. Take all of your belongings because you will NOT be getting back on this plane." Commence freakout! Well my version of freakout... I texted my dad "plane jsut got cancelled. I don't know what to do" He called me and there really was nothing we could do about it... I told him I would let him know once I did, in the meantime just pray. I also posted a similar message on FB and began my fervent prayers. Again Sarah to the rescue (thats three times in the last 24 hours if anyone lost count), she just stayed positive when I was doubting. I was questioning if I had heard God correctly. If I was really suppose to go. I mean they had 30 minutes to get a plane there or I was going to likely miss my connection to Italy, and since it was not the same itinerary there is nothing the airlines could do about it. 

As I was getting off the plane one of the passengers that had come in on the previous flight said to the flight attendednt " I was just on this plane and it was fine what changed so dramatically in the last 30 minutes?" The flight attendent said "It was fine for you all, but not for these guys" as she was pointing to the pilots. When we got off me and the 2-3 people in front of and behind me heard the maintence people saying "this plane will never fly again". Ok so the only hope is a plane comes in... and quick. When we deplaned they told us they found a plane and would be leaving around 6. This was about 30 minutes later than I could really afford with the process in NY. Well prayers continued and I was just asking God what he was doing. Why would he put everything together until this point and then this. I love the peace of God, I don't know how, but I knew I was going to make it. I knew he was working, he heard my prayers and the prayers of those I had told. About 30 min later they made an announcement that this plane (that was never going to fly again) had been fixed and we were going to reboard in the next 30 min. The couple that heard the maintance people say it was never going to fly again was like "I am not getting back on a plane that is never going to fly agian" I on the other hand was thinking "yep my God is an airplane engineer as well. Prayer ANSWERED!" Well obviously we made it, I got about 30 minutes to just sit down at JFK and then we were off to Italy. 

We learn so much in our crisis situations. Once they made the announcement and I heard the jabber about the planes flying capabilities I prayed immediately, but it was never to fix that plane but rather to find another plane in time. It is not a bad prayer, but I learned that on this trip I need to be asking God to do things that humans say can't happen so that everyone can see God at work through it. God reminded me of the Power and necessity of prayer in preparation, during, and after our trip. Finally i saw how he was answering a prayer request I had for the last year or so. I am sure I will get into this more this trip, but I am so blessed by things in this world. I have never lived in need and so I feel like I have often not had to DEPEND on God for anything. I know being homeless, without food, healthcare, and having to look to God to provide basic needs is unlikely for me because of where I was born and the education and opportunities I was given. But I began to pray that God would teach me what dependence on him looks like in my life. I think this was just one of the instances where I got to see that prayer answered. 

Friday Dec 13: 

The second day of travel: We made it to Italy at 11:00 am local time and our next flight was at 9:00pm. So we went exploring. We took a train to Milano, saw an INTENSE cathedral, a castle, got some italian pizza, and gelato (which was the only slightly disappointing part. It was a great time to get to know Sarah and John, the other two people on our trip (also a father daughter pair) and to just take a break from the traveling. I am happy to report that all travel was uneventful for the rest of the trip. 

Traveling is very tiring and with so much excitement I just wanted it to end. But I am thankful for it when I step back. I really did not have the time to spend the time I would have liked to in the Word these last couple of weeks to prepare for the trip, and I got the time to pray and just prepare spiritually, mentally, and emotionally for the trip after finishing finals week on thursday. We also got the time to just share stories and a little bit of our lives with the others going with us so we will be better acquainted with each other for the week and there will not be that aspect of getting situated when we get there. 

Well all I have to say for now is that God is good, that God is peace, and that God is LIVING! And I am excited to serve as an expression of his love for all in these next couple weeks. Love you all and please keep my team, those we got to hang out with this week, and myself in your prayers. Love you all!

Live Foolishly. 

Missions: Uganda... T-1 week until landing

I will be in Uganda in one week! It still is so surreal that I am actually going. To be honest I feel like I am going to another world, but I know that when I get there God will show me how the people and children of Uganda are made in the likeness of him just as I am... but for now it is another World, another people. 

I went home for a week at thanksgiving and had a wonderful time with family and a few friends. It was great to step back from the craziness of school and to rebalance my priorities. Coming back in the last week we have 3 finals and a project. I know that seems like a lot, and I feel a little overwhelmed with everything I have to do before leaving on the trip, but looking at it I realized how much worse it could have been. We took 3 finals before leaving for thanksgiving break that could have been scheduled for this week as well. With that being said I also have to get my immunizations, buy luggage, and come up with and buy materials for activities with the kids. It is overwhelming, but God has quietly reminded me on a daily basis that this is not my plan or my idea, this is a desire HE put in my heart and that HE loves giving me the desires of my heart as I trust in HIM. Watching this semester as he laid everything out for this trip I have so much confidence in what he is doing, but as the to-do list piles up and does not get checked off like I plan it is so easy to quickly forget. But I know these are the steps he has asked my to take so as I finish this last week I work hard, press on, and rely on HIM to do more with one life, with my life then I could ever dream possible!

Do not fret because of those who are evil

or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:1-6