Friday, January 2, 2009
The Nile, Sunburns and Kids!
Yup, it's been a busy week or so. Right now I'm sitting at the table, sipping a cup of Africa Tea (black tea made in milk and water, with a mix of spices called masala added- like a chai latte), and catching up on my writing. It's fun to think back to Christmas (which already seems long ago) and muse over everything that's happened since.
Let's see, first there was the adventure of white water rafting down the Nile River!!!!!! It was super fun! We'd been told about the trips before we even came, and were pretty sure that we'd have to end up doing it (who could resist saying that they'd rafted down the Nile?), but I'd expected it to be months from now. Well, there were a bunch of missionaries going on this trip, several of whom were leaving shortly after, so it turned out to be the perfect opportunity. It was about 6 hours of a trip, with lunch on an island and 11 rapids (grades 3-5), but one of my favorite parts was the calm stretches, where we just paddled, talked and laughed with our guide, or jumped out to swim/float down the Nile for a while. It was by far the warmest water I'd ever been in outside, and the rapids were great! Yes, we got flipped over, knocked overboard and even stuck on a rock at the top of a 16 ft. waterfall!
The only letdown to the whole trip didn't happen until we got home. SUNBURN!!!!!! Sadie and I didn't leave the house the next day, it hurt so bad and was soooo red! I was wearing capris, but my arms and my face were pretty well roasted. Poor Sadie's legs got fried! It wasn't until this past week that I realized how –completely subconsciously—I had been relying on my appearance to make a good impression with all the new people I was meeting, and then here I was with a swollen, red nose and a scabby face. The only reason I can talk about it now is that it's almost over. *brave sniff*
I've had the opportunity to do some more work out at the orphanage with Sadie! On an orphanage day, the alarm clock goes off at 5:45, in order to have breakfast and gather up everything we'll need for the day, and then walk into the bus stop in town to be picked up by the Good Shepherd's Fold van (which would fit in nicely out East End Road). The ride out into the villages and through the sugar cane fields is so fun, and so different, even from Jinja. You can tell that it's a completely different world in the villages; a much harder one. Once we reach GSF, we get to walk through the house yards greeting the kids and letting them know what activities are happening that day. I'm beginning to be able to put the right name to the right face, and I think I'll have them all straight just about when the other half of the kids come home from Christmas Holiday with relatives. They're all so much fun, and I can't help bursting into a smile whenever I hear a little accented "Aunt Megan!" coming at me. One of the best parts has been finding both kids and adults at the orphanage who remember my Dad's trip last spring! They all have such wonderful things to say about him as a friend, teacher and helper, and I'm so proud and encouraged about wherever it is that God is leading our family (I'm telling you, Dad, you've no idea how much you were used!).
New Years' Day was both fun and relaxing. Sadie and I went to Johnny and Jacob's neighborhood football game, got to cheer them on, and join with the other ladies there in mystified discussions about personal fouls and pass interference (which we were supposed to be watching for and calling). In the middle of the game, I had my first Ugandan thunder storm, which was beautiful, cool, and WET!!! The wind actually knocked a tree down in the back yard of the house we were playing at, and the boys loved getting dirty, wet and hardcore! That night Sadie and I had Stoney ginger soda, ice cream and homemade brownies, and stayed up until midnight to watch the beautiful fireworks display over the Nile (about two blocks away). After that was the perfect time to call the family back home (12 hours behind us) and let them know that I was in another year! Hehehe. I got to talk to my engaged sister Molly for a while, and she said that she was glad I was coming home before our birthday, because that would mean that I'd be turning 23 ten hours before her, instead of her having her annual 2-hour older-sister experience.
And finally, the most recent and very exciting news: I started teaching school today! It was just the two 9th grade boys, so I've still got to start with little 3rd grade Lynnsi, but it went really well (despite my suppressed fears), and I'm excited about becoming more familiar with the schedule and curriculum!!! Now, I'm finally settling in, not only to a new house and new people and . . . oh yeah, a new continent, but to a new job, and being useful! I can't wait to give God and these kids my all (Colossians 3:23+24), trusting Christ that it will be good enough.
Well, my tea is cold, which isn't entirely unpleasant, given the climate, but it's probably a sign that I've gone on long enough. Anyway, to save another thousand words I'll close with a picture of Sadie's and my week.
Thanks for all your prayers, and please continue to lift us up, as we settle in and begin to look around us, ready for what God has next. Happy New Year to you all!!!!!
(hmm, the photo for the blog didn't come over, so I'll have to send it separately)
Let's see, first there was the adventure of white water rafting down the Nile River!!!!!! It was super fun! We'd been told about the trips before we even came, and were pretty sure that we'd have to end up doing it (who could resist saying that they'd rafted down the Nile?), but I'd expected it to be months from now. Well, there were a bunch of missionaries going on this trip, several of whom were leaving shortly after, so it turned out to be the perfect opportunity. It was about 6 hours of a trip, with lunch on an island and 11 rapids (grades 3-5), but one of my favorite parts was the calm stretches, where we just paddled, talked and laughed with our guide, or jumped out to swim/float down the Nile for a while. It was by far the warmest water I'd ever been in outside, and the rapids were great! Yes, we got flipped over, knocked overboard and even stuck on a rock at the top of a 16 ft. waterfall!
The only letdown to the whole trip didn't happen until we got home. SUNBURN!!!!!! Sadie and I didn't leave the house the next day, it hurt so bad and was soooo red! I was wearing capris, but my arms and my face were pretty well roasted. Poor Sadie's legs got fried! It wasn't until this past week that I realized how –completely subconsciously—I had been relying on my appearance to make a good impression with all the new people I was meeting, and then here I was with a swollen, red nose and a scabby face. The only reason I can talk about it now is that it's almost over. *brave sniff*
I've had the opportunity to do some more work out at the orphanage with Sadie! On an orphanage day, the alarm clock goes off at 5:45, in order to have breakfast and gather up everything we'll need for the day, and then walk into the bus stop in town to be picked up by the Good Shepherd's Fold van (which would fit in nicely out East End Road). The ride out into the villages and through the sugar cane fields is so fun, and so different, even from Jinja. You can tell that it's a completely different world in the villages; a much harder one. Once we reach GSF, we get to walk through the house yards greeting the kids and letting them know what activities are happening that day. I'm beginning to be able to put the right name to the right face, and I think I'll have them all straight just about when the other half of the kids come home from Christmas Holiday with relatives. They're all so much fun, and I can't help bursting into a smile whenever I hear a little accented "Aunt Megan!" coming at me. One of the best parts has been finding both kids and adults at the orphanage who remember my Dad's trip last spring! They all have such wonderful things to say about him as a friend, teacher and helper, and I'm so proud and encouraged about wherever it is that God is leading our family (I'm telling you, Dad, you've no idea how much you were used!).
New Years' Day was both fun and relaxing. Sadie and I went to Johnny and Jacob's neighborhood football game, got to cheer them on, and join with the other ladies there in mystified discussions about personal fouls and pass interference (which we were supposed to be watching for and calling). In the middle of the game, I had my first Ugandan thunder storm, which was beautiful, cool, and WET!!! The wind actually knocked a tree down in the back yard of the house we were playing at, and the boys loved getting dirty, wet and hardcore! That night Sadie and I had Stoney ginger soda, ice cream and homemade brownies, and stayed up until midnight to watch the beautiful fireworks display over the Nile (about two blocks away). After that was the perfect time to call the family back home (12 hours behind us) and let them know that I was in another year! Hehehe. I got to talk to my engaged sister Molly for a while, and she said that she was glad I was coming home before our birthday, because that would mean that I'd be turning 23 ten hours before her, instead of her having her annual 2-hour older-sister experience.
And finally, the most recent and very exciting news: I started teaching school today! It was just the two 9th grade boys, so I've still got to start with little 3rd grade Lynnsi, but it went really well (despite my suppressed fears), and I'm excited about becoming more familiar with the schedule and curriculum!!! Now, I'm finally settling in, not only to a new house and new people and . . . oh yeah, a new continent, but to a new job, and being useful! I can't wait to give God and these kids my all (Colossians 3:23+24), trusting Christ that it will be good enough.
Well, my tea is cold, which isn't entirely unpleasant, given the climate, but it's probably a sign that I've gone on long enough. Anyway, to save another thousand words I'll close with a picture of Sadie's and my week.
Thanks for all your prayers, and please continue to lift us up, as we settle in and begin to look around us, ready for what God has next. Happy New Year to you all!!!!!
(hmm, the photo for the blog didn't come over, so I'll have to send it separately)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Missing Christmas?
When I would tell everyone when I was leaving for Uganda, the response would almost always be along the lines of “so you’re missing Christmas with your family?” Yes, it was kind of sad, especially with my sister about to be engaged (she didn’t know it and I did!), but I was just going to give it over to the Lord and be ok with missing Christmas. So then I got here, and realized a completely overlooked fact: it’s impossible to miss Christmas!
Yesterday Sadie took me out to Good Shepherd’s Fold Orphanage, where we got to visit the houses, play with the children and have dinner with a missionary family there. After that, we got to help organize and escort a busload of the children in to a Christmas nativity play and Christmas carol/lights show. It was at Riverside Academy, a primary school in Jinja, and it was amazing!
I don’t have any pictures, otherwise I’d post some, but it was too dark for that. Everyone sat down on the grass and watched the outdoor production of the Christmas Story by the light of flashlights and torches. Many of the children had never seen such a production, and laughed , leaned forward or held their breaths as the story unfolded. They all softly sang Joy to the World at the end, and that’s when I looked around, hardly able to take in the beauty that I was surrounded by.
There I was under the distant stars, with Venus, the Morning Star flashing and shining brighter than all the rest. The sloping garden fell away from me, to reveal the Nile River; a gray, sheeny body framed by the darker silhouettes of palm trees. I thought of Revelation 22:16, where Jesus tells us “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star”, and there, listening to the familiar words of the Christmas song, sung in the unfamiliar Ugandan accent . . . it was Christmas.
After the play, we all moved down the garden paths, where the surrounding trees were wrapped and draped with Christmas lights that blinked and alternated to the Christmas songs being played. The children loved it so much, and everyone was smiling, laughing and singing along. Sadie was ringed by several girls, pulling her into a dance full of twirls and giggles.
All that time I thought about how silly I was, thinking that it was even possible to miss Christmas. Jesus entered the world in that beautiful, humble way, for all people everywhere! I was so much closer to the actual place of His birth, and sharing the celebration with these beautiful, wonderful children, and praising Christ for all that He has done! So here I am, with what will be one of my greatest Christmas memories ever, made on the year that I “missed Christmas”.
So whatever you’re doing, and absolutely wherever you are, Merry Christmas to you!
Yesterday Sadie took me out to Good Shepherd’s Fold Orphanage, where we got to visit the houses, play with the children and have dinner with a missionary family there. After that, we got to help organize and escort a busload of the children in to a Christmas nativity play and Christmas carol/lights show. It was at Riverside Academy, a primary school in Jinja, and it was amazing!
I don’t have any pictures, otherwise I’d post some, but it was too dark for that. Everyone sat down on the grass and watched the outdoor production of the Christmas Story by the light of flashlights and torches. Many of the children had never seen such a production, and laughed , leaned forward or held their breaths as the story unfolded. They all softly sang Joy to the World at the end, and that’s when I looked around, hardly able to take in the beauty that I was surrounded by.
There I was under the distant stars, with Venus, the Morning Star flashing and shining brighter than all the rest. The sloping garden fell away from me, to reveal the Nile River; a gray, sheeny body framed by the darker silhouettes of palm trees. I thought of Revelation 22:16, where Jesus tells us “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star”, and there, listening to the familiar words of the Christmas song, sung in the unfamiliar Ugandan accent . . . it was Christmas.
After the play, we all moved down the garden paths, where the surrounding trees were wrapped and draped with Christmas lights that blinked and alternated to the Christmas songs being played. The children loved it so much, and everyone was smiling, laughing and singing along. Sadie was ringed by several girls, pulling her into a dance full of twirls and giggles.
All that time I thought about how silly I was, thinking that it was even possible to miss Christmas. Jesus entered the world in that beautiful, humble way, for all people everywhere! I was so much closer to the actual place of His birth, and sharing the celebration with these beautiful, wonderful children, and praising Christ for all that He has done! So here I am, with what will be one of my greatest Christmas memories ever, made on the year that I “missed Christmas”.
So whatever you’re doing, and absolutely wherever you are, Merry Christmas to you!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Hey from Uganda!
Hey from Uganda!!!!
Well, here I am, working on my forth day in Jinja, Uganda! Pretty cool, huh? The various flights went really well; I think the hardest part was being too tired to leave the London airport for my 8-hour layover, so I found two seats with the dividing arm rest missing, and slept. Customs went off without a hitch, and all of my luggage arrived safely too (praise God).
I was super-zombie for the rest of the day, but Sadie and the Fulks kept me busy and awake, with a shopping trip to Kampala on our way home. I held my eyes open all the way until 8:00, when Sadie bid me good night and went to lock the door. It was kind of loud and clangy, so she came back to apologize . . . I never responded, nor did I hear the door.
I love the house that Sadie and I are staying in! It’s so comfortable and homey, although there’s still so much to get used to. Having geckos shoot out when you go to close the curtains, and closing a window to keep the room cool!!! And then there are the chickens and goats roaming the compound (I’m looking at a family of chickens pecking around under a banana tree right now)! I love it!!!!
I’m using this Christmas time to settle in, become semi-familiar with my surroundings, and to prepare myself for the upcoming school semester (I have a whole stack of school books to go over). I’m so happy to be back with the Fulks children, and I hope and pray that I’ll be able to teach them well, as well as be able to help out John and Rebecca.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
In my quiet time this morning, I was reading Galations, and I came across 1:24 (already underlined in my Bible) “and they glorified God because of me.” Wow! What an amazing thing to be able to say! That’s my theme/goal verse for now. I want people around me to be directed towards praising the Savior! I pray that I will be able to live and help others in such a way that they would be more able to give God the glory!
Well, here I am, working on my forth day in Jinja, Uganda! Pretty cool, huh? The various flights went really well; I think the hardest part was being too tired to leave the London airport for my 8-hour layover, so I found two seats with the dividing arm rest missing, and slept. Customs went off without a hitch, and all of my luggage arrived safely too (praise God).
I was super-zombie for the rest of the day, but Sadie and the Fulks kept me busy and awake, with a shopping trip to Kampala on our way home. I held my eyes open all the way until 8:00, when Sadie bid me good night and went to lock the door. It was kind of loud and clangy, so she came back to apologize . . . I never responded, nor did I hear the door.
I love the house that Sadie and I are staying in! It’s so comfortable and homey, although there’s still so much to get used to. Having geckos shoot out when you go to close the curtains, and closing a window to keep the room cool!!! And then there are the chickens and goats roaming the compound (I’m looking at a family of chickens pecking around under a banana tree right now)! I love it!!!!
I’m using this Christmas time to settle in, become semi-familiar with my surroundings, and to prepare myself for the upcoming school semester (I have a whole stack of school books to go over). I’m so happy to be back with the Fulks children, and I hope and pray that I’ll be able to teach them well, as well as be able to help out John and Rebecca.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
In my quiet time this morning, I was reading Galations, and I came across 1:24 (already underlined in my Bible) “and they glorified God because of me.” Wow! What an amazing thing to be able to say! That’s my theme/goal verse for now. I want people around me to be directed towards praising the Savior! I pray that I will be able to live and help others in such a way that they would be more able to give God the glory!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door..."
. . . "if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
(Fellowship of the Ring)
Well, this is just a quick post (announcer voice) coming to you from the Anchorage airport. All of my bags have been checked all the way through to Entebbe, and I can start to enjoy the travel mode. The goodbyes were hard, as always, and I was just comforting myself with the thought of how much more fun it will be to come back and have all kinds of reunions and stories, then Dad mentioned that by then I'll have to say goodbye to all of the people in Uganda. So at the moment I'm caught up in the overwhelming nature of the 'goodbye cycle'. But I'm so gratefull to all of you for praying for Sadie and I, and for being a part of this trip!!!
I can't wait to come out of customs in Uganda, and see all the wonderful Fulks faces there to greet me (and hopefully Sadie's face as well, if she can get away).
Well, people are starting to stir around me, and boarding is in the air. I'll sign off for now, and the next time I post anything, it will be from Sadie's and my house in Uganda!!!! (can you guys believe it's really happening???? I'm having trouble with it, and I'm at the airport!)
Signing off in love, prayers, and thank-yous to all of you who have helped so much in sending me off.
Blessings!!!!
Megan
(Fellowship of the Ring)
Well, this is just a quick post (announcer voice) coming to you from the Anchorage airport. All of my bags have been checked all the way through to Entebbe, and I can start to enjoy the travel mode. The goodbyes were hard, as always, and I was just comforting myself with the thought of how much more fun it will be to come back and have all kinds of reunions and stories, then Dad mentioned that by then I'll have to say goodbye to all of the people in Uganda. So at the moment I'm caught up in the overwhelming nature of the 'goodbye cycle'. But I'm so gratefull to all of you for praying for Sadie and I, and for being a part of this trip!!!
I can't wait to come out of customs in Uganda, and see all the wonderful Fulks faces there to greet me (and hopefully Sadie's face as well, if she can get away).
Well, people are starting to stir around me, and boarding is in the air. I'll sign off for now, and the next time I post anything, it will be from Sadie's and my house in Uganda!!!! (can you guys believe it's really happening???? I'm having trouble with it, and I'm at the airport!)
Signing off in love, prayers, and thank-yous to all of you who have helped so much in sending me off.
Blessings!!!!
Megan
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Training and final Prep
Hmm, guess it's been a while since the last post, huh? Well, let me try to get you up to speed. A lot's been happening, which is a great (but tiring) thing! All plans are still on . . . no more terrible surprises/changes, with the exception of the fact that I'm leaving on the 17th, instead of the 15th.
Sadie and I went down to Mississippi; leaving snow and ice for 70 deg. weather. So, suffering through that adjustment (hehe) we got to meet the Global Outreach Home office staff, and spend a week with them, learning about all the parts to serving overseas that I hadn't thought of before. The training itself was really good, but fairly intensive. There was lots of lecturing . . .and sitting (that was the first time it's ever actually become painful to sit, like, sore muscles all the way from my knees to the middle of my back!), but most importantly, there was a lot of sharing from people who blew me away with their experience and wisdom. Sammy Simpson, the founder of Global, was such an amazing guy! He was 73, but his passion for the Lord and His work hadn't been even slightly dampened by all those years of the world bombarding him with its "reality". A couple who were on leave from their ministry in Haiti had some amazing stories of both the challenges and the encouragements to be had on the field. Wes White (the executive director) and Brian Tyndall (missionary development) gave the majority of the lectures, and were amazingly helpful at explaining and pointing out various things that you have to be ready for and have lined out on the mission field (things that I either hadn't given thought to, or had tried not to think about (i.e. insurance, fundraising, budgets and power of attorney).
The most important part of the training week, however, didn't have so much to do with the content. I had been (mostly unconsciously) resistant to joining an organization, and was pursuing the application process with Global Outreach because John Fulks requested it. I though I was on board enough, since I was following through, but I was still somewhat hesitant to place myself under the authority of an organization that I didn't know and that didn't know me or my specific abilities/ministry. Well, getting a chance to talk with and hear from almost all of the staff was just what I needed, and I was able to join, support, and become a part of Global Outreach, knowing what they (and I) stand for and strive after. Even though my workload is much larger now (with all of the organization andpaperwork I have to get done for them) I feel more at peace about going to Uganda as a Global Outreach Missionary!
One of the girls who was at the training was also bound for Uganda. Amanda is going to work in the islands on Lake Victoria, but she'll be in and out of Jinja (where her ministry's office is), so Sadie and I were super-happy to get a chance to start a fellowship that we were going to get to continue on the field!
Sadie left on the second to last day of training (ticket scheduling problems cut her training a hair short), and it was very exciting and sad at the same time, watching her head off on our adventure more then a month ahead of me! But I was very glad for that training time we had together, where we got to learn and equip ourselves, as well as have the time to just talk and pray together. At the moment, she's living in the Global Outreach Bunkhouse in Jinja, Uganda, and doesn't have much in the way of internet access, so she'll probably have to wait until we move into our house together before she can post anything, but please be praying for her as she adjusts, pursues ministry and reaches out to the people around her.
I'm down to about three weeks before departure, and still have a bit to do, so please be praying for myself and my preparations as well. This is the part that I struggle with, I am looking forward to being there and getting into the swing of my homeschooling schedule, and the culture of Jinja, but right now I'm working through insurance, support lists and other unpleasantries (like dentists). I need to stay focused on the Lord through the midst of this, and be ready for whatever He asks of me.
The Fulks are leaving next week for the lower '48, and then for Uganda (they'll beat me by about a week), so keep them in your prayers for traveling safety.
OK, thanks for all your prayers!!!! Let me know how you're doing/what you thing! Also, if you don't think you're on the mailing list to receive newsletters, shoot me an email or something and we'll fix that.
God bless!!!! :D
Sadie and I went down to Mississippi; leaving snow and ice for 70 deg. weather. So, suffering through that adjustment (hehe) we got to meet the Global Outreach Home office staff, and spend a week with them, learning about all the parts to serving overseas that I hadn't thought of before. The training itself was really good, but fairly intensive. There was lots of lecturing . . .and sitting (that was the first time it's ever actually become painful to sit, like, sore muscles all the way from my knees to the middle of my back!), but most importantly, there was a lot of sharing from people who blew me away with their experience and wisdom. Sammy Simpson, the founder of Global, was such an amazing guy! He was 73, but his passion for the Lord and His work hadn't been even slightly dampened by all those years of the world bombarding him with its "reality". A couple who were on leave from their ministry in Haiti had some amazing stories of both the challenges and the encouragements to be had on the field. Wes White (the executive director) and Brian Tyndall (missionary development) gave the majority of the lectures, and were amazingly helpful at explaining and pointing out various things that you have to be ready for and have lined out on the mission field (things that I either hadn't given thought to, or had tried not to think about (i.e. insurance, fundraising, budgets and power of attorney).
The most important part of the training week, however, didn't have so much to do with the content. I had been (mostly unconsciously) resistant to joining an organization, and was pursuing the application process with Global Outreach because John Fulks requested it. I though I was on board enough, since I was following through, but I was still somewhat hesitant to place myself under the authority of an organization that I didn't know and that didn't know me or my specific abilities/ministry. Well, getting a chance to talk with and hear from almost all of the staff was just what I needed, and I was able to join, support, and become a part of Global Outreach, knowing what they (and I) stand for and strive after. Even though my workload is much larger now (with all of the organization andpaperwork I have to get done for them) I feel more at peace about going to Uganda as a Global Outreach Missionary!
One of the girls who was at the training was also bound for Uganda. Amanda is going to work in the islands on Lake Victoria, but she'll be in and out of Jinja (where her ministry's office is), so Sadie and I were super-happy to get a chance to start a fellowship that we were going to get to continue on the field!
Sadie left on the second to last day of training (ticket scheduling problems cut her training a hair short), and it was very exciting and sad at the same time, watching her head off on our adventure more then a month ahead of me! But I was very glad for that training time we had together, where we got to learn and equip ourselves, as well as have the time to just talk and pray together. At the moment, she's living in the Global Outreach Bunkhouse in Jinja, Uganda, and doesn't have much in the way of internet access, so she'll probably have to wait until we move into our house together before she can post anything, but please be praying for her as she adjusts, pursues ministry and reaches out to the people around her.
I'm down to about three weeks before departure, and still have a bit to do, so please be praying for myself and my preparations as well. This is the part that I struggle with, I am looking forward to being there and getting into the swing of my homeschooling schedule, and the culture of Jinja, but right now I'm working through insurance, support lists and other unpleasantries (like dentists). I need to stay focused on the Lord through the midst of this, and be ready for whatever He asks of me.
The Fulks are leaving next week for the lower '48, and then for Uganda (they'll beat me by about a week), so keep them in your prayers for traveling safety.
OK, thanks for all your prayers!!!! Let me know how you're doing/what you thing! Also, if you don't think you're on the mailing list to receive newsletters, shoot me an email or something and we'll fix that.
God bless!!!! :D
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
So, what are we learning from this?
Hey, now it's Megan's turn to give the update.
Well, one thing we're learning right off the bat is the value of flexibility. I've been told this before, and also that it's a special requirement on the mission field, but I hadn't grasped the extent of it's need before now. We have thus far had five different departure dates, and two different tickets, but I know that every time things change, it's God nudging us a little closer to His perfect plan.
The Fulks family weren't ready to head back to Uganda in Sept/Oct, so they're resting here in Homer until the beginning of December. When we first found out about the change in plans, I wasn't sure what God was telling me about my plans. I had to turn to Him and really seek His will. It helped me to look at my own desires and surrender everything to God's plan. Sure, I felt called to Africa at this time, but when the idea came up of possibly staying in Homer, with the same focus of ministry, I struggled a bit. It took careful prayer and surrender to make sure that I wanted God's will, I wanted to be used by Him for His glory, wherever he wanted me, and not just in the adventurous and glorious Africa. Once this was understood, I was able to pursue Uganda with God's will as the sole goal, and the new plan was clarified.
The Plan: I'm going to stay in Homer until Dec. 15. While I'm here, I'll be spending time with the family, and continuing to get to know and work with the Fulks and their children. At the end of October, Sadie and I will be going down to Mississippi for MOT (missionary orientation training). Yes, that changes Sadie's plans again, but that's what Global Outreach wants us to do, and it should be an amazing week of learning, as well as meeting some remarkable people. Sadie and I will both be down there, but then Sadie is flying straight to Uganda, while I'll be coming back to homer for another month and a half.
It's amazing and exciting to see how much God is working in us even before our trip! To know that he is preparing us, and going to use us is a wonderful thing, and while I have no idea how exactly he will be using me, I know enough and have seen enough that God does know. He knows right now, and that is more that enough to lean on for me. So, the adventure continues, as we plow towards Uganda, learning what the Lord has for us on the way, which seems lately to be flexibility. Please continue to pray for us! God is not only preparing us for His work with this unexpected delay, He wants to use us right where we are during this time, and we need to be ready and willing for that. Thank you for sharing in this journey and helping us along with support and prayers.
Well, one thing we're learning right off the bat is the value of flexibility. I've been told this before, and also that it's a special requirement on the mission field, but I hadn't grasped the extent of it's need before now. We have thus far had five different departure dates, and two different tickets, but I know that every time things change, it's God nudging us a little closer to His perfect plan.
The Fulks family weren't ready to head back to Uganda in Sept/Oct, so they're resting here in Homer until the beginning of December. When we first found out about the change in plans, I wasn't sure what God was telling me about my plans. I had to turn to Him and really seek His will. It helped me to look at my own desires and surrender everything to God's plan. Sure, I felt called to Africa at this time, but when the idea came up of possibly staying in Homer, with the same focus of ministry, I struggled a bit. It took careful prayer and surrender to make sure that I wanted God's will, I wanted to be used by Him for His glory, wherever he wanted me, and not just in the adventurous and glorious Africa. Once this was understood, I was able to pursue Uganda with God's will as the sole goal, and the new plan was clarified.
The Plan: I'm going to stay in Homer until Dec. 15. While I'm here, I'll be spending time with the family, and continuing to get to know and work with the Fulks and their children. At the end of October, Sadie and I will be going down to Mississippi for MOT (missionary orientation training). Yes, that changes Sadie's plans again, but that's what Global Outreach wants us to do, and it should be an amazing week of learning, as well as meeting some remarkable people. Sadie and I will both be down there, but then Sadie is flying straight to Uganda, while I'll be coming back to homer for another month and a half.
It's amazing and exciting to see how much God is working in us even before our trip! To know that he is preparing us, and going to use us is a wonderful thing, and while I have no idea how exactly he will be using me, I know enough and have seen enough that God does know. He knows right now, and that is more that enough to lean on for me. So, the adventure continues, as we plow towards Uganda, learning what the Lord has for us on the way, which seems lately to be flexibility. Please continue to pray for us! God is not only preparing us for His work with this unexpected delay, He wants to use us right where we are during this time, and we need to be ready and willing for that. Thank you for sharing in this journey and helping us along with support and prayers.
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