He's Sending Me!

I never thought I'd see the day that I would have a blog, but God is writing His story in my life and it is time to step out in faith to share my journey.  I am believing that God will lead some of you to join with me in what He is leading me to do. 

Since I was a young girl, I have been fascinated with missionaries, orphanages and adoption.  Those of you who know me know this to be true.  Those of you who have known me since high school will remember that I wanted to be a missionary to New Guinea!  Yes, my husband, Brian, still laughs about that.  He cannot see me living in such an environment.  But I have to say this isn't about me.  This isn't about what I am capable of doing. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory...  Ephesians 3:20-21

I'm like the over-zealous student in class raising her hand, squirming in her seat, "Pick me, pick me."  "I want to go, Lord, send me!"  How humbling then when He speaks and confirms and is....sending me.....to Uganda! 

There are two million reasons to go.  Two millions reasons to love.  Two million orphans.  Stories of these Ugandan orphans have melted me to tears many nights as I've read them to my family after dinner.  Brian and I have been praying for years for the Lord to lead us, to show us a ministry that we could be involved in.  In the past year, my heart has been burdened for orphans in Africa.  We considered sponsoring children through one of the many organizations that provide for the needs of orphans in that way, but longed to serve in a more direct way, to be more involved than just sending our check every month.  A couple of weeks ago after reading about some ministries in Uganda it became clear to me that we can indeed be involved in ministry there, even though we live here.  I told the Lord that day that if he wanted me to go to Uganda, I would go.   I didn't realize I would be leaving so soon.....

There is a christian non-profit organization called Visiting Orphans that organizes trips to orphanages around the world and helps form partnerships for people here to sponsor orphanages and ministries in these countries.  After a phone call to the Visiting Orphans coordinator for Uganda, I felt compelled to go in April.  The trip in April is to Jinja, Uganda, the very place I want to go.  The Karimojong people living in Jinja have captured my attention.  There is a local pastor there named Andrew, who is ministering to these Karimojong women and children, leading them to the Savior.

Once again, those of you who know me know that I'm not exactly the "let's go to Africa" kinda girl.  But I so want to learn to love others in the same way that He has loved me.  Can I not lay down selfish desires to be obedient to His word? 

This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  1 John 3:16-20

After I said "Yes," I realized how God has been preparing me over this past year and even now is very clearly directing my path as I trust Him.  It is very exciting, but I'll admit I am a little nervous.  He spoke to me so clearly, "Be still and know that I am God."  I still cling to that as I continue to take one step at a time trusting Him for direction and provision.

The total cost of my trip will be in the neighborhood of $3,200.  I did not realize that I would need $2,000 by February 14 for the airfare part of the expenses when I said "Yes" to God.  I'm sure God realized that if I knew, I wouldn't have thought it possible to go on the April trip.  It was better I didn't know.  Now He can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.  To Him be the glory!

This is not a short-term missions trip for me.  My desire is that this be a scouting trip to go and see what God is doing in Jinja, Uganda.  To meet Pastor Andrew and see the work he is doing with the Karimojong women and children.  To see these women and children and spend time with them and love on them.  And then..... come back and share with all of you what God is doing there in order that we who are willing can join together in partnering with the local Ugandan christians in spreading the love of Jesus to these precious people.  With the use of a website and the internet, we will be able to communicate with each other and hear from our partners in Uganda.

Please pray for me as I prepare for this trip.  Specifically that God will continue to direct me as I take each step forward, that financial needs will be met, that His perfect will be done while in Uganda.  There are eleven of us going.  Our team leader is Michael Smalley (Gary Smalley's son).

If you feel led to support me financially, you can donate to my trip through http://www.visitingorphans.org/.  There is a "Donate" tab.  My trip is "Uganda April 2012" and there is a place to enter my name as the team member you are sponsoring.  Or, you can send it directly to me at PO Box 404, Tribune, KS 67879, made payable to Visiting Orphans.   Additional money raised over the cost of the trip will go directly to an orphanage we visit while on our trip.

If you want to read some of the stories about what God is doing in Uganda, check out these sites:

http://www.canaanchildrenshome.org/.  Be sure to read Pastor Isaac's story.  This is where I will be staying while in Jinja.

http://www.sixtyfeet.org/.  I'm not sure if Sixty Feet is on this trip's itinerary, but their story inspired me to see what we can do from here with partners there.

http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/.  We will be visiting Katie while in Jinja.

Thank you for considering being a part of this endeavor.  Feel free to check back for updates on my preparations for the trip. 



The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."  Matthew 25:40