Hi Everyone, I'm going to throw this out there and see if someone would like to help. This is Carol, one of our widows that we have been working with for the past five months. Carol is a very regal woman. The first time I visited her house I saw the pride she had in taking care of her home. She walks with grace and is beautiful inside and out. One day we spent about two hours sitting under her mango tree. She told us that was the most important thing we could do for her. She's lonely and loves the company. She has five children. School fees are always a challenge for these single mothers and widows. She has a daughter who has finished the equivalent of our high school and wants to go to college. The cost is about $450 every three months. We cannot meet this need. I'm wondering if someone would like to sponsor this young lady through her higher education. It is a two year program. She also has a problem with her home. There are dirt floors in the bedroom and the ants are so bad that they crawl on the children in the night and bite them. We are working with YWAM in the village. They have Homes of Hope where they will help improve homes, and even build homes, for those in need. They work off donations and all the labor is provided for free by YWAM. If you would like to help with this, I will get you in touch with my Family Care Coordinator over there who can get you the information and cost. You can read more on the photos! Thank you so much. We were able to give the girls in the family washable sanitary kits and masks. We helped Carol with her business by providing capital for fish. We waited on the tracks for over two hours for the fish to come. It was a great experience to see how this small business works for her. Carol and our Family Care Coordinator, Tom, walking to the river to wait for fish. We sat under the mango tree for a couple hours one day, visiting and eating sugar cane. It was one of my favorite days.
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The beginning of 2020 I decided to read through the Gospels each month of the year. It really came from a heart of pain. I was feeling my life was valued more for what I could give people than for who I was. I was tired. I was tired of giving so much and not receiving in return. I was tired of filling everyone's cup while mine remained empty. I wanted to build walls around my heart. I wanted to quit serving and giving and do something else, which of course I didn't know what that was. I was experiencing "compassion fatigue" and I wanted to give up on compassion.
Well, like every challenge in life, Jesus met me where I was. He called me back to the simplicity of the Gospel. He called me to study his life once again, but this time in a different way. He wanted to show me how he interacted with the people he created, including me. He wanted to teach me new lessons, reveal things that I needed to change, encourage me and restore hope in his purpose for my life. For eight months of 2020, and now four months into 2021, I'm still studying his life. I am so blown away and cannot even yet grasp how he continued to meet every person right where they were and continue to do it moment by moment, day after day. I think I could spend the rest of my life studying his interactions with people and never exhaust them. Everywhere Jesus went was a church service. For three years, every day and night, thousands of people followed him, listening to his every word. Even today millions follow him, listening to every word. Every type of person in the world was among the crowds during that time. Everyone wanting something from him. Some had pure motives, but most did not. ("You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." Matthew 7:13-14) There were those that really wanted to know who he was. There were those who just wanted healing. There were those who wanted food. There were those, the religious ones, who wanted to continue to justify their sin so were always questioning, accusing, hating. Just think of every thought you or someone you know have had about Jesus and know that they were there too, trying to gain something from Jesus. There were times he was so weary and yet he continued to respond to their questions, demands, requests... How exhausting that must have been. What I am discovering this year as I read and re-read, Jesus never turned anyone away. He never told anyone to go away and never come back. He was never afraid to speak the truth to them, which caused some to follow, some to walk away, others to hate him. Nevertheless, they were always able to come back, seek or demand more, and he continued to reveal who he was; the Loving, Just, Merciful Savior that came into the world for each one of them... and for you and me. Who does that? What kind of person endures so much love, hate and everything in-between and continues to do it every day? Only our God, our Creator, our Savior. Can you even comprehend that? I can't. As I look at the world today, there is kindness and love in the world. But more and more we are seeing selfishness, greed, manipulation, hatred, lives lived for ourselves and not for God or for others. I'm just as guilty as the next person. I struggle with the purpose I've been called to. I sometimes feel I've done my part. I've given enough. I want life to be simple and easy, just for a little while. But that's not the world we live in. We live in a harsh world; one filled with more pain than anyone can handle. And the world needs people who will be the hands and feet of Jesus. People who will spend their lives not gaining for themselves but pouring themselves out for others. This type of life is not natural. It's supernatural. It is given by God to those who seek it. But there's a cost to that.You'll be loved. You'll be hated. And everything in between. And it's hard! When you feel you have nothing more to give, God will require you to give more. Because that's what he did. He gave it all. He sweat blood due to the stress of his calling. He begged God for a different life. But in the end, he surrendered and gave it all. As much as I daily read and re-read, listen and re-listen to two chapters of Matthew that we study each week with the ladies in Uganda, I CANNOT comprehend that type of sacrifice. Maybe I don't want to comprehend. Maybe I want it to be easy. I don't know! But I read and I re-read and I listen and re-listen, trying to understand how Jesus could deal with me, a sinner, and how I can deal with those he puts in my life. I want to know who he is so that I can make a difference like he did. When I feel like it's all in vain, I have to realize that it's not about me. It's about giving to others the hope he has given to me. It's about learning to love well, no matter what the motive is of the person pulling on me. You probably know by now how much I love music!!! It often speaks to my soul when nothing else does. I heard a new song recently so I played it over and over again until I could understand each word. I realized it is such a simple message of the Gospel. A simple way I could understand how to live for others and not for myself. Oh, if we could just live the words to this song, what a better world this would be. Here are some principles from the song. I hope you'll listen to it (it's country but has a nice beat) Always have an open door Honor your mother Visit your grandparents (they have so much wisdom to give) Be humble and kind Don't steal, cheat or lie Don't expect a free ride Don't hold a grudge Don't sleep around Say please and thank you On the path to the top stay humble When you get to the top stay humble and kind When you get to the top turn back and help someone else get there Learn to stop and enjoy life Always Be Humble and Kind These are such powerful truths and they are character qualities that Jesus exhibited. Think how different the world would be if we began to live these out. May God bless you as you seek to become more like Him! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzNHuGqoMcAs For two years I looked for a bag in Uganda to carry my computer and notebooks to town, instead of a bulky backpack.
I purchased several bags in the local shops but nothing worked, so I finally decided to design my own messenger bag. Here it is. I love mine (a purple one) and use it exclusively in Uganda, and now at home. For $55 (shipping included) you are helping pay school fees for kids in Uganda and helping Alyssa and I raise money for living expenses there! For a $250 donation to That The WORLD Will Know we will send you one for free. PM me with the design you like. You can pay via FB Pay or Venmo. We have 20 bags we'd like to sell as soon as we can. The beautiful models are my staff. They look like professional models. Thank you! Photos courtesy of Jesse!!! So many wonderful things have been happening the past couple months. I hope you will read about it and enjoy the photos.
I’m happy to announce we have filed for NGO status in Uganda. We have about ten families God had put in my life this trip and in order to serve them we needed to apply as a Non Governmental Organization. I have four wonderful Ugandan staff that I’m working with and training to run things when I’m in the US. We have paid for tuition for two students to go to school and are supplementing other families to make sure their children are in school. Thank you so much to those who contributed to their educations. We have started a weekly mentoring program where we are teaching skills to improve their income. We’ve been teaching sewing skills. Yesterday we had someone come to teach us how to make liquid soap for the ladies to sell. Each lady contributed money for the supplies and left with six liters of soap to sell this week. We are listening through the New Testament weekly and teaching them how to hear from God as they hear the Bible in the local language. The discussion is so good as we hear what God is showing individual ladies. We have started a savings program. This week (the first week) they brought money for saving and for emergencies. They are so dedicated to moving out of poverty. When I get back to the US with full access to FB I’ll update you all in the amazing transformations happening in their lives here. Even physical appearances are changing; gaining weight, smiles on their faces, their ability to pay school fees, etc. God is so good and wants these families to thrive. It’s been exciting to see the different skills coming forth from them. They are each uniquely designed by God with different strengths and gifts and watching Him restoring hope and helping them grow is the best thing in life. Pray that God will continue to open doors for them as we continue to work together to bring sustainability. Pray that God would bless every part of their lives every moment of every day. He loves us so much and wants each one of us to become all he created us to be. Wow, my time in Uganda is too quickly coming to an end this trip. We came for two months. Have been here for four, and I am not ready to go home.
As challenging as things are at times, there’s a simplicity and pressing into God that is growing deeper the longer I’m here. Last year I spent eight months reading and rereading the Gospels, needing so much to go back to the simplicity of the Gospel and relearning from Jesus how to love well in our ever-changing world. This year I’m seeing the Gospel in every book of the Bible I read and I’m constantly amazed at the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness that we are given each day and how much of that same love, grace, mercy and forgiveness is required of us each day. The Gospel is all about love; the love of God and the sacrifice of his son. That love is reflected in every single thing that God created. It is mostly reflected in his people. Oh how I want my life to be one that draws people to Jesus and not away from him. Like Granby in America is my place to go to rest in God, these photos are on Lake Victoria in Uganda where I find the same peace and rest. I love to go here and spend time worshiping God in the beauty of his creation. I would love to have a place on the lake where people can come and find rest in the shelter of God’s Word!!! I pray that each day you will find peace and rest in the simplicity of the Gospel. It was such a beautiful day today. I’ve been attending a wonderful church with a friend and her family. It was such a powerful message about being an encourager.
Barnabas was always willing to take the outcasts, the ones who messed up, and help to restore them to fellowship with their fellow believers. This quote from the pastor is so true, “when someone has a wreck on life’s highway, they need an ambulance, not a firing squad.” How often do we as Christians become a firing squad instead of an ambulance? Life is full of wrecks. It’s not whether we will have a wreck, but rather when we do have one will there be someone beside us to help us heal? Who do you know in your life that needs encouragement this week? As I sat in church pondering the message I noticed so much the beauty that was all around me. It was so peaceful to take in God’s word and his beauty at the same time and my soul was satisfied. It seems more and more lately all I can do each day is continue to remind myself who God is. I’m so thankful that he loves us and cares for us even when we feel so unworthy to carry his love!!! Thank you Jesus for loving me so much that you sacrificed your life for me. Help me to to serve you well.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 I hope you will join us in reading through the Bible this year. Who am I and why am I here? Find answers to life's questions from the Giver of All Life.
Don't worry about understanding it all. Pray before beginning your reading and ask God to show you one thing about himself and about man that you can think about during the day. He wants to communicate with his Creation. We are created in His image for a specific purpose. Every seven days it states "various." That is a day for reflection on what we've learned during the week. In The Daily Walk Bible they provide insights on reflecting back. Bringing answers, hope and healing through the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest act of love we can do as Christians. Will you join me?
A YEAR IN REVIEW... & THANK YOU!
It blows my mind what we have accomplished in 14 months. All I can say is...GOD IS GOOD!!! I'd like to share with you all what we, together, have accomplished in a year and thank those who have been part of it. There are lots of details on the photos and thank yous at https://www.facebook.com/ThatTheWORLDWillKnow/?modal=admin_todo_tour, so I hope you'll look through them and see what God has accomplished through the power of one multiplied. The photos correspond to bullet points. The journey begins, June of 2018. -First foot on Kamiigo soil and confirmation from God that this is where I am to serve. -Started feeding program -More children can attend school -Built state of the art pit toilets with future shower potential -Second trip with my son Matthew -So many firsts on the second trip -New dresses for girls sewn and donated by Destination Dresses -two suitcases of donations taken over -Teachers, cooks and pastor begin receiving small salary -Desire of Mama Sarah to learn to sew washable sanitary pads. We partner with Days for Girls to make this a reality and begin sewing. -Purchase vehicle for Pastor Peter and his family -Purchase land to build a multi-purpose building and construction begins -Third trip: Our first team, Karen, Anna and Alyssa (who has special needs) -Distrubute 200 Restoring Dignity kits in five villages -8 suitcases of donations taken over -Begin teaching sewing of the pads -Purchase sewing machine and Mama Sarah begins learning to sew -Young couple accepts the Lord in church after speaking -Building shell complete (except for paint) -Fence installation begins. Wow!!! and those are just some of the highlights. So many changed lives and little things taking place daily. I cannot even name them all. What a joy this journey has been! I cannot wait to see what is next and continue to be a part of it. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who is on this journey with us, through financial giving, prayer, support and simply reading the posts and encouraging me through comments. It all means so much to me and Kamiigo!!! Please let me know if you'd like to join us in Uganda in November/December. We would love to have you. If you'd like to support the work we're doing, click on the link below and you can donate http://thattheworldwillknow.com/index.html… Have a wonderful day!!! |
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