First Update in Uganda - I am HERE!

October 14, 2009

As I am sitting here at 1055 pm Uganda time, I am realizing how real, true and faithful our God is. I am in absolute awe at how true His Word is. I know we believe and say He loves us and will take care of us, but when we are faced with situations we absolutely have no clue how to handle and all we can do is refer to His word telling us to “Cast all cares upon Him for He will care for you” and He shows up in full force….wow.

I have been praying and asking God to be the sole face and fingerprint in the work and interactions I am to do in Gulu. Nowhere do I want to be seen except when it is time to give Him glory. I was faced with a situation to handle as my first assignment in Gulu to which I knew the LORD was asking me to handle and trust Him. Many times I wanted to be anxious about it – but I relied HEAVILY on His word to encourage and guide me. As I did, He comforted me allowing me to feel the flesh and believe the Spirit inside me. Literally, I can now feel the combat that arises in me when flesh and Spirit are at a decision point for me. It is as if I can feel the two forces battling for my mind and will…a battle that I surrender to the Spirit and release control to Him. The more I am tested and follow these “procedures” the success rate is 100% and my faith is increased. During trials I feel struggle, discouragement and doubt but I press through on my faith and – GLORY – does He arrive!

It still has not completely settled that I have moved and am now living in Africa. It doesn’t seem foreign or strange to me. It feels completely natural. I know it has just been a week now and most of it was spent in Gayaza or traveling….but something beautiful and surreal occurs when my eyes, surroundings and my soul are all finally connected. I do not feel like a stranger – just someone who is not yet known. Not even the six inch HUGE bug that crawled on my foot in the shower threw me off – maybe it was because I did not have my glasses on. But I quickly and efficiently took care of it. No big deal. Or walking in the streets with my colleagues with no true lighting relying on them to get me home; or the fact that I can easily drive on the left side of the road behind a wheel on the right side; or the fact I do not understand the language that saturates my ears. It seems like the ten months ago just happened I have returned home. Do not get me wrong – I miss my family, friends, kitties and house…but this is home. I do not know how long I will be here…all I know is this is where God wants me and I am so thrilled to be called by Him.

I want my faith to be full, adventurous, unexpected, thrilling, and natural for me to be in. I do not want to live a life comfortably knowing 5 year plans and such. I don’t want to work for money or prestige or to do something that is fun. I want to walk in a life where each day is surrendered completely in His hands and He guides me to where He wills. Whether it be Africa or the States. I will go where He will send me.

I am reminded of a song that has the lyrics “I will never be the same again”. It was in my head throughout my traveling times. This, I believe, is the only expectation God wants me to have.