2012

Happy New Year and happy holidays! Wrapping up the two month holiday period makes quite a few people relieved, I know I am. This is now a new year, where we all set goals to do something new in our lives. Lose weight, no more soda, spend less time watching T.V, Etc. Why can't things we do differently be like; be in the word more, go make disciples among nations, do a kind deed each day. Sometimes we use our possessions or our (idols) as a way for us to change ourselves. Why can we not use the time of preparation for a new year to create a better relationship with Christ? I am in preparation for a new chapter in my life, where I will be going back to Uganda and serving the people there. I have a lot of memories of that great place God created but always when I think about it, the ending memory is the tragedy on July 12th. I know a lot of people have blogged about it, but I never did and this is where I want to do it, a year and half later.

It was the beginning of our last week in Uganda before returning home of an amazing two month adventure in a new place. The World Cup tournament was going on just a few countries below us and everyone in Kampala was soccer crazy for that time. So being american we followed our team and would watch them play at different restaurants and shopping centers. One place had a huge projection screen placed on a patio with great chips ( french fries ). We would go there often because it would never be crowded and was always a great atmosphere to relax. So this time our group went to a pizza place which is weird that we would be eating a pizza place in Uganda but it was great food. So after we ate we were going to go to the Ethopian Village, the place with the huge projection screen. Well our ride was late so we were kind of late to watch the game. This time the restaurant was packed out! We couldn't find a spot to sit anywhere except for this room off to the side with a smaller T.V meant for children to sit. There was seven of us and we fit perfectly in this room with a few other Ugandans enjoying the game and drinking mountain dew. This was the final game of the tournament so it was a very close game and very interesting. Everyone was having a great time and it was getting close to half time and we were all getting ready to get up and walk around to stretch. The half time whistle blew and the next think I know there are screams, smoke, dust, glass, and my ears were ringing. Unsure of what happened the boys of the group gathered the girls against the wall away from the open door because what occurred we were unsure if it would happen again. Gathering our thoughts and things in such a frantic time we believe at the time minutes after that a bomb or explosion went off. Well a decision was made to get out of there and get somewhere safe. We went through the rubble and got to the street where everyone was screaming and sirens were going off. It felt like we were in a movie it wasn't real. We all checked ourselves and made sure we were not injured and by the grace of God only a few of us had just a scratch on us. Jay Clark and myself made a choice to go back in the restaurant to see if we could help and soon realized we were not ready for the sight we saw. It looked like a war zone something you would never think you would see in life. We decided to join back with the group and call our ride and get to the Sozo house as soon as possible. Luckily we were all able to fly back home two days after and be rejoined with our family. Come to find out after, we were apart of three bombing attacks made by terrorists. Where we were 14 people died, and in another spot 80 people died. And to have 7 people walk out of there unhurt and only being protected by a 6 inch thick wall is God. All this time has gone by and this is something I still think daily, how we were saved from such a tragic event.

The year of 2011 was one filled with new things and meeting great people. I am thankful to be able to be a foster parent during some of that time and living on an Indian reservation.

As we prepare for this new year lets all try and do something for Christ or for others that we may not do in our everyday life. This week is Passion 2012, I am so excited and thankful for the opportunity to be able to worship with 20 thousand other people and lift our Creator above all else. I came upon great scripture this past week that really has been on my heart the past few days.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

As we celebrated the birth of Christ last week, the day of joy and giving but the true meaning of the joy and giving to the celebration, is the crucifying of Jesus Christ. He was sent to earth to save us and only one day to the calendar is spent thinking of that. Shouldn't we always think of that?

I am excited for what 2012 is to bring and the new experiences for everyone. This could be the best one yet, lets live everyday better than the last and forever lift God up in worship!

Something New

This past year and a half has been one of the most amazing times of my life. Being able to go out and serve another country for two months in Uganda and leave all this behind was a blessing. Then being able to have the opportunity to move to Montana and help there for 8 months. God has truly shown me a lot this past year. As I am just finishing my second full semester of college I feel God working at me again. As we go through life God always shows us amazing things and opens doors for us as his children. He continues to let us grow into what he has created. But we being his creation we are made to go out and make disciples among nations.I have been in prayer about God leading me into that direction again. I have always wanted to go back to Uganda since we left in July of 2010 after the bombing. But I felt maybe it was not time for me yet I still growing in my relationship with Christ as each day goes by. He has shown me how to be patient and sit and wait for him, not to go off impulse, and let him guide me and not my selfish desires guide me.

I have been able to be apart of Sozo since it had started in the spring of 2010 and for it to start off with 17 children and one home in Uganda, to now being almost 40 children and two homes. Seeing the doors opened by him and the lives of these children change by him is such an amazing blessing in my life. I would like to say that I am preparing my heart and body for a new trip to Uganda. March first I plan to set off for my second home in Uganda and come back in July at some point. It is amazing to be continually growing in Christ everyday and always learning more. I hope to serve completely and give my all to the people of Uganda. Make new friendships and spread the gospel. I am not very good at blogging so I will be practicing by blogging once or twice a week preparing for my new trip. I graciously ask for prayers as this new journey in my life begins.

May 20, 2010

As I sit here in my room looking at the clock counting down the minutes till I meet the rest of the group at the church at 8, wow how its only 3 I have a ways. Funny how you get so excited about something you can't even sleep. It still hasn't set in that I will be going to Uganda today. All the emotions are going 90 to nothing right now I don't know what to feel. I know as I sit here that God is with me and he will watch over me and the rest that will be going with me. I still get amazed on how glorious my true father is, he shows me something every day that I smile at and get to say wow that is you God. Once again I want to thank everyone for all the donations and support, I guess it is time to try and get some sleep, which wont happen but I will be writing my next blog in Uganda how amazing.

Counting down the days, May 12, 2010

Well yesterday me and my mom went to walmart to get some last minute things for the trip and some stuff for the Babies!!! Only 8 more days till I am in the beautiful land of Uganda. Its crazy how busy you get before doing something so amazing for God, kind of gets distracting. We are having a final meeting tomorrow about schedule and money which will be exciting because that means one less day I have to wait. I know God has great things planned for me and for all of us, I pray that he shows us his plan and his will. It will be great to see what God has been wanting us to see but it is to hard to be patient. Once again I want to thank everyone for the help and support.

May 6, 2010

Wow how the time has flown by. As I count down the days to my departure to Uganda. 13 days left how the day can not get here faster. Even though the time is getting closer I feel myself getting more emotional, seeing pictures that Jay and Allen have posted and the words they have written, words can not describe how amazing God is working through us. I think every day leading up to this journey I think am I ready? Is this trip to serve others for God what I am supposed to do? As it is written in Matthew 8:26 as Jesus told the disciples little of faith they had, so he was the one to rebuke the winds and storms. The disciples saw what Jesus did day to day with his knowledge and miracles still they had little faith. God has open the path to this journey so why not trust him and do as he says? I mean it has worked so far. I know it is Satan working against me because he doesn't want me to do great things for God. I can not wait for this trip to start, for me to learn new things and to serve Him, so I am setting this blog up for you to see what is going on while I am in this foreign country. Thank you so much for the support.