Today...

...is a gift.

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I love life

"Morning Star,

I awake to the luxury of another twenty-four hours;

and isn't now a good time to remember, 

with deliberate and intentional reverence,

to consecrate this daily-ness?..." 

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Uganda, I miss you.

So... once again, I'm the guilty one.

But after already receiving the title of procrastinator, and realizing that being a procrastinator at some areas of life really isn't so bad.... I'm not so ashamed.

Life has been a crazy whirlwind this summer, 

and I have put this blog, as well as some others things, 

on the back burner for a while.

We got back from Uganda, Africa June 25.

And oh... the time has passed so quickly since getting back.

It was amazing, wonderful, encouraging, inspiring, enlightening, and incredible all at the same time.

So many ways to describe, but I still can't fully find the words.

How do I make someone understand?

Comprehend?

The only way you'll know fully know what it's like is to...

GO THERE!

Since going there last year I have eagerly waited to go back.

And it was like reliving my favorite dream.

Being reunited with friends I had made.

 Seeing the babies as they had gotten older, learned to walk.

Meeting new children who had come to the babies home, 

and rejoicing that some I met last year had finally found a home.

(Especially the ones who found there home in the arms of Jesus)

Dancing to the African drums in praise to Jesus like no one was watching...

the list goes on.

So many things I am thankful for.

And so many times I have cried because I just want to go back.

Something about just being there shows me the reason I love it all.

The smells, the dirt, the poverty even.

The smiles I find in the midst materialistic nothingness.

The gladness.

(a few Journal excerpts)

"I had almost forgotten how dear it all was to my heart.

I will miss each and every one of those precious children more then I can explain.

God has put such a love in my heart for them."

"...hundreds of Ugandan children raising up holy hands and praise to God."

"It has been a test for me being back... (in the USA)

Why does everything in me want to return (to Uganda)? 

I miss the dirt,

 the children,

the poverty, the food,

 the smog over the city,

 the sunrises,

 the flowers, the grass,

  

the people.

Oh how how I miss my country."

The statement really is true that, 

"home is where the heart is"

One of the best parts of the trip was when we were headed to the airport to go home,

we stopped at Cherish Uganda and met Rachel and saw the ministry happening there.

Wow. Such an incredible story! 

(Go see who they are here)

They are a home for HIV positive children 

who have been abandoned and brought here as their last hope.

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

all you who wait for the Lord!" {Psalm 31:24}

So there you have it...

Just a small glimpse of what it was like.

Just a taste of whats been whirling around in my head.

(therefore the reason it all might not make much sense.)

I just *might* write some more soon about it all. 

And share some more pictures.

And if I finish the slideshow I have been working on,

 I will post it on here.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support! 

I was so blessed by YOU!

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Headed to Africa

7 days. I can hardly believe it.

In 7 days I get on a plane to Uganda Africa. 

In 8 days I step out on Ugandan soil.

How I've missed it. 

And praise God, He's leading me back!

Many friends and family have asked me what I will be doing there.

Here is an account of last years trip,

that is, most likely, very similar to what we will be doing again this year.

We get into Uganda on a Saturday night, find all of our luggage 

(or as much as can be found that night),

load it and ourselves up in 3-4 vans,

and begin the 2 hour trek to Kampala (capital city of Uganda).

We then arrive at Namirembe Guest House and

 just about crash into bed if it's not for all the excitement of being here.

(Always very thankful for our lovely canopies. aka; mosquito nets)

(one of the bathrooms. shower on the left - toilet on the right)

After a good night of much needed rest,

We get up for a wonderful breakfast.

We then go to Watoto Church for the Sunday service.

What an awesome experience. I just love going here!

A large, open, concrete building, packed full of around 700 Ugandans 

all singing their hearts out, clapping , and dancing for Jesus!

(Note: this is one of the churches that the Watoto Children's Choir is from.)

(back to the Guest House for lunch) 

We then take a tour in the afternoon of the Mengo Hospital grounds

(Where we will be working at the next few days)

(the children's ward)

(the chapel)

(siblings of a patient)

So this is how we start our wonderful week at Mengo.

We spend the next few days praying for patients, handing out care packages, 

giving medical lectures to the students and nurses, caring for babies at Sanyu babies home,

and ministering in any way that the Lord calls us to.

Here are a mix of pictures from each day...

(some of the guys repainted the floors in the children's ward)

(view of Kampala from Namirembe Guest House)

(Andrew and two of the doctors and directors at Mengo) 

(on Wednesday evening we have a Celebrating Hearts dinner/party for the graduating nurses at Mengo)

 (complete with traditional dancing!)

(Dad and Brent) 

 Spending time at Sanyu Babies Home is one of my favorite things throughout the whole trip.
Here they have around 40 orphans under the age of 4.
We get to go and help bathe and dress them, do laundry, and help in any other ways needed.
Having a dozen babies and children crawling over you, holding your hand, and calling you mama all
at once is the best feeling in the world.
And I can hardly wait to get back.

(To read Beatrice's story, visit here)

(And we thoroughly enjoyed meeting Emma!) 

After staying in Kampala and working at Mengo Hospital for 5-7 days,

we then head 8 hours south to Rukingiri,

Where we visit a few rural churches and schools.

The rest of our days are full of singing with lots of kids,

painting school walls, face painting, playing games, etc.

Just loving on people. Which I love doing! 

And there you have it! 

You can keep up with my next journey over Facebook or Instagram.

I will try to keep the updates often, depending on internet.

Please pray for us!

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

It means so much.

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing.

-Mother Teresa-

If you realize that absolutely everything in this temporal sphere is dust and rot, then you will begin to have a zeal for God.  And when you have a zeal for God, you’ll have a zeal for missions.  

-Paul Washer-

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