Calendar Comedy

Yes, yes...I have resorted to an old fashion pen and paper planner...

I used to think I was so high tech with my cell phone calendar that gave me an hour notice before I had to be somewhere, the problem with that is that if you have more than 2 or 3 things on your calendar your cell phone gets mad and gives you nasty notes.

As a result, I have resorted to a paper planner and let me just say...its INSANE!

If you look at my January you will see cross outs, arrows to the margins, question marks, addresses, more cross outs and double bookings!

This whole fundraising process is challenging my calendar skills...it is also challenging my budget and my waistband....Truth be told, I haven't eaten at my own home for at least two weeks and of course my disaster of a calendar can vouch for that!

BUT despite my crazy schedule...I would love to get together with more of you :) If we haven't had the chance to hang out and chat give me a holler and I will get you scheduled somewhere...maybe at the end of an arrow :)

Just curious but do you know of any missionaries that have to resort to getting a personal assistant to keep their calendars and dates organized?? Maybe I should hire out :)

Oh wait...I'm a missionary with no money...Any volunteers? :)

Have a blessed day...I hope its not too busy!!!

My Motivation...

Are you in CULT??!!

Believe it or not I was accused of being in one this past weekend...and my answer is a loud and resounding NO!

The accuser said he believes that someone who is giving up a good paying job and a nice house to live on fund-raised support in Africa is someone that must be radical enough to be in a cult.

In all honesty, it is radical...but it is what we are all called too. Yes, it looks different for each Christian but God calls us to follow His example, and well, Jesus led a radical life that we should strive for.

My motivation for this whole missionary thing comes straight from God's word and I want to share some of the passages that spur me on to live radically for Jesus Christ, in spite of the persecution that comes along with it:

Proverbs 14:31 (NIV) He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 19:17 (NIV) He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.

Proverbs 20:24 (NIV) A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV) Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the mater: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.  

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

James 4:17 (NIV) Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Mark 16:15 (NIV) He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 

James 2: 14-17 (NIV) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Matthew 19:16-21 (NIV) Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied.  "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother and love your neighbor as yourself." "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Matthew 25:34-45 (NIV) Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me," Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?" The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are curse, into the eternal fire prepared or the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?" He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." 

I'm Speechless...

This video is about 8 minutes long...All I can say is WOW...

What's Next??

I get asked so many questions its not even funny but two of the most asked questions right now are:

1.) You're back??
2.) What next??

So in answer to those questions...yes...I am back in California until May. In may I am going to MTI (Missionary Training Institute) for 5 weeks and then Lord willing, I will be in Uganda in July.

My first 5 months in Uganda are so exciting to me as I have the opportunity to go and study at "New Hope Uganda". The place sounds amazing and I have had numerous people rave about it. There I will be doing more biblical training as well as cultural and language learning as I embark on this adventure that the Lord has me on.

Here is a glimpse of New Hope Uganda, I hope it excites you as much as it excites me :)



http://www.newhopeuganda.org/

A Miracle From God

My friend Rachel is truly God's miracle!

She continues to improve each and every day...as a matter of fact, she is scheduled to go home this wednesday, Jan 21st...exactly 4 months and 9 days after the train accident.

Here's a little video that our church put together to tell her story:



I love you Rachel!

Uganda via Van Nuys...

I am the lucky winner of award duty at work (and yes...that statement is dripping with sarcasm)...basically I write out the awards for the kids at the school that have perfect attendance, or receive student of the month or the citizen of the month...It's loads of fun I know!

Well, this past week as I was writing the awards I came across an African name. Strange because most of the names I write are of a Latin orgin and strange because the spelling looked somewhat similar to other names I have heard before.

Naturally, I decided I had to look into this whole situation a little bit futher and so out of sheer curiosity I looked at the room number...and yes...his class is right next door to mine.

Well, if you know me at all, I had no other option but to march myself next door and inquire where in Africa this student was from with an excited tone in my voice and a smile on my face. Together, the teacher and I did some investigating and well...can you guess where little Ethan is from??

Yep...you guessed it...Uganda!!! At this point I was really excited and determined to meet mom or dad.

Today I got that opportunity! I ran into mom in the office picking up Ethan and struck up a conversation by asking her if she was from Uganda...Well, when I told her I had been there twice I got a good ol' Ugandan welcome complete with an excited hollar and a hug.

We were like old friends, mukwanos, right there in the middle of the school office...chatting about the Lugandan language, the food and the countryside. I mean seriously...you gotta love Uganda for the people alone! They are so amazing!

So we decided we will have to chat again...maybe over at the local Ugandan restaurant that happens to be less than 5 minutes from my school and smack dab in the middle of Van Nuys, California!

A coincidence?? I think not! :)

Thank you God!

Walking...

If you look at any book of etiquette it would tell you to walk with your head held high, shoulders back and eyes glancing forward.

Me, being the klutz that I am tend to walk shoulders slumped and eyes glancing down...just to make sure I don't trip on my own two feet and bite the dust.

I don't know what your walking stance looks like but yesterday I got some great advice from a friend on walking and praying.

Her advice was to pray that you will always see God's back when you walk...in other words, when the going gets rough, or even when its easy, we should be desiring to be walking so close to God that where ever He is we are following right behind Him...looking at His back and following in His footsteps.

I love the idea that God will walk in front of me and that when the bumps in the road may surprise me...they aren't a surprise to Him.

So my challenge to myself, is to stop looking at where my own two feet are going...and start looking up and following the "back" of God that is walking right in front of me...leading and guiding me down the paths that He would have me to go.

Sick...

I never thought I would get to this point in my life but it is amazing how God has changed my heart.

I can now say that I hate sin and the reality of it literally makes me sick to my stomach. The last day and a half I have had this terrible rock in the bottom of my stomach when a private sin of someone I looked up was exposed.

I feel for the person, I am sad for them and I weep for them. I couldn't sleep last night and I can't shake this "I can't believe it" that keeps running through my mind. I want nothing more than for them to be restored to our Father but on the other hand I just want to smack this person in the back of the head and say "how dare you"! You represent Christ, you are not your own, you where bought with a price!

I realized just how much Satan is trying to tear down the body of Christ and how much pleasure he receives when he gets a stronghold in a Christian's life.

I want to urge you as my brothers and sisters in Christ to flee from any immorality...you are a representative of our God and Father. Please don't tear down His name for the fleeting pleasure of this world. After all, we are a family and your sin doesn't just affect you...it hurts all of us and it hurts our Father in heaven even more!

I Challenge You...

This video of my pastor is a few years old but I love it!!

This is my challenge to you for 2009...I would love to know what you do with it!!

My Florida Quirks...

Okay...it has happened...I have arrived in California from Florida and sound like I am from a foreign land!

A few of my friends have mentioned that I have new sayings that I have never had before and which I have NO idea where or from whom I have acquired them from. Here they are:

1. I use the phrase "come now" and when I did this last night with some friends one of them broke out with the song "come now fount of many blessing..." I know, I know...I wish you could have been there too!

2. I use the phrase "wait for it"...unfortunately people expect great sayings or stories when I tell them to "wait for it" and well... If you know me... I don't usually have grand things to say

3. I use the word "y'all" which can refer to a large group, a small group, an individual, a man, a woman, etc...This one I know I got from Kristy and it makes me think of her each time I am called out for using it so I don't mind it so much =)


Now in addition to my new words and phrases I have also acquired a skill that is DRIVING ME CRAZY! Actually, I don't think it is classified as a skill but more of an annoying habit.

In Florida, many people referred to the main highway through town (highway 41) as the 7-lane highway. Me being from the land of large and wide roads was amused that the largest highway was 7 lanes but I chuckled and made some comments and went on my merry way...

WELL...let me say...that I have been back for two weeks now and I unconsciously started to count the lanes on our streets and freeways...it is driving me crazy!!! Here is what my brain was doing today as I was driving...

Me:
Okay...going to my aunts place...take the 118 to the 210 off at maclay

Brain:
oh...Petit Place (2 lanes)
Balboa Blvd (7 lanes same as 41)
118 freeway (5 lanes each direction...5 x 2 = 10 lanes wider than 41 but ohhh look here it is 6 lanes so that is 12 which is HUGE!!)
210 freeway (5 lanes each...5 x 2 = 10...yep wider than 41)
and off at maclay (ahh back to 2 lanes)...

Do you see how annoying this can be??!! I can't stop myself! I have done this everywhere I have driven since I have been back...the 5, the 118, the 14, the 405, the 101, the side streets to and from my house AND you would think that if I had done it once I wouldn't do it again...NOPE...I think I have been on the 118 at least 5 times since being back and every time both there and back I am counting the lanes in the highway!

So now...someone please help me out...I want to know who I have acquired my new phrases from and how I can make my subconscious stop counting!!

Fundraising...On a fun note...

As I open a new chapter of my life as a missionary the joys & pains of fundraising are quickly becoming a reality of life.

As a missionary that has to raise her own funds, I must confess...I HATE FUNDRAISING...but...On the flip side...I like seeing the way God works through it and despite my feeble attempts.

Now I must admit...I have experienced a few people that respond to my fundraising efforts with looks of shock and small gasps...let me say...I want to avoid that at all costs!

So as a responsible and trustworthy partner with you in missions...I want to promise not to use any of the fundraising tips in the video below...

Okay...seriously though...I wish I didn't have to ask for money at all but God has not called me to serve alone. He has raised up a body of believers who are called to serve alongside of me...to partner with me both financially and prayerfully.

The bible says that it is God who is the ruler of all things and we are just the stewards of what He has so greatly blessed us with!

If you are interested in meeting with me and hearing more about my ministry, please let me know!