Five years later.....

So much can happened in five years. I think that statement can be understood by everyone. 

I find it hard to believe everything that happened last year, let alone the last five years.

It was five years ago, 26 January 2011, when I knew that God wanted me to go to Africa. It was that day that He confirmed Africa was part of His calling for me and not just something I wanted to do. You can read about that day by reading my very first post on this blog.

A few days after that post, I signed up for my first mission trip to Africa with Visiting Orphans. In August 2011 I set foot on the beautiful continent of Africa for the first time. You can read about how I journeyed from that day to January 2015 by looking at this post about my journey to Africa.

Now, it is hard to believe that I've spent a whole year on this continent. 

The last five years have been filled with so much.....

-wonderment at the first experiences in Africa
-feeling blessed to be able to return just 4 months later
-overwhelmed at the support of friends and family
-thankfulness to be part of a new church that became my family and helped in every way possible
-excitement as I researched long term options
-disappointment as the timing of things didn't happen as I had hoped
-rejoicing when leaps were made in the forward direction
-stunned at how fast God provided a way for me to go
-pain through physical and emotional aches
-relief that the journey would continue even if it looked different than I wanted it to

That is just a minor glimpse of so much that has happened in five years.

Now, I know I'll never truly feel at home because I have come to know and love so many people in a variety of places countries. I also know that God has complete control over this journey. Events will happen in His timing and the path will be one that He wills. I can step forward knowing that I have countless people supporting me in every way possible from emails to finances to pictures to packages. I have confidence that whatever I need will be provided and often in ways I was not expecting. God will bring new friends when I am lonely; money when there are unexpected financial needs; laughter when I am sad; encouragement when I am struggling. 

I am both excited and nervous for what the next five years will bring. But I know that I can tackle them because God has brought me through the adventures of the last five and He will do the same for the next five years.

Prayer Requests

Here are some current prayer requests....

1. Elections
Uganda presidential elections are currently scheduled for 18 February. Please join us in regular prayer that this will be a peaceful time. Pray for wisdom for AIM leaders as they make decisions during this time. Know that contingency plans are being reviewed not because we expect danger but because AIM monitors and prepares for possibilities.

2. Work permit
My visa expires in less than a month. The good news is that AIM has made progress in their application to renew the NGO status in Uganda which has allowed me to apply for a work permit. This will likely not be complete before the visa expires. I can apply for a "special pass" which is kind of like an extension of the visa. Please pray that all of this goes as smoothly as possible and that I'm able to get the right paperwork done and the right stamps in my passport.

3. Friendships to begin and grow
The reality of the situation is that I'm in a new place. It's hard to believe I've actually been here for two months already. Through so much transition over the last few months (or year actually) it is hard to start again. But for obvious reasons, I still need to have friends.

4. Newfound stamina, perseverance, excitement, etc...
I'm just a few weeks into year two. There are very few things in year one that I expected and it is daunting to consider having to do all of that (or similar) all over again.

5. Praise: I have come out of a strong bout of homesickness.
A little over a week ago, I experienced a new kind of homesickness. It was one that was all consuming. Know that somehow it seems to have passed. I am very grateful for that.

6. Language learning
This is a part of missionary life that is always applicable. There is always more to learn. After last year being dedicated to Kiswahili and to start over from ground zero with Luganda, it is a struggle. It takes intentionality and humility, discipline and humor, as well as hope and dependence on God.

7. Housing
As much as I have settled in my current place of living, it is almost time to pack again. The resident will be returning from home assignment 2 March which means he will want his place back. There are a couple options for what could be next. Please pray that God will guide myself and leaders in the correct decision for where I should live next. This applies to both now and a few months down the line. All options that are available now are limited so after a few more months I'll be in the same position.

10 Ways to Encourage a Missionary

Note: the title and idea for this blog came from The Gospel Coalition
I saw a link to their article by the same title on facebook.
I encourage you to read the original article. It is a few years old but still very applicable.

I abbreviated each suggestion and offered some of my own thoughts on each one.

1. Pray and let us know
It seems so simple but it is so true. I can't tell you how many times I received an email or a text message from someone to let me know he or she is praying either in that moment or throughout the day. In fact, just this weekend, I received an email from a lady I have actually never met but she had heard about me and the Lord laid a verse on her heart for me. She shared it with me and it was quite fitting and comforting.

2. Snail Mail
I feel like snail mail is a little known secret. There is no way to describe the excitement we get when we get a note. There is a subtle jealousy that emerges for a minute when someone else gets mail and you don't. Maybe it is because we know it took your time so you have us that time which is something that you can not get back. Maybe it is because it is really awesome to hold something and know that you held that same piece of paper a couple weeks ago.

3. Pray for the people that are served
AIM puts a huge emphasis on prayer. To my knowledge, all the office meet each day (of the work week) and spend time praying for unreached people groups and for those serving in the area. Some places have monthly prayer days. If you aren't sure where to begin, just ask. We can try to offer something more specific.

4. Recruit others to pray
This brings me back to number one. Remember how I said that I received an email from someone I didn't know? She was praying for me anyway. Moments like that truly lift spirits on the hardest days.

5. Go visit
Just do it. Enough said.

6. Send them updates and pictures.
I know you want to see pictures and get the newsletter and about 7 of you read the blog. To be honest, I really want the same from you. I do!! I want to know how your week was, what was vacation like, how your coworkers are amazing (or not), etc. Pretend we are going out for coffee or having a meal together or going for a walk.....send me your half of those conversations. One of the best things that I received in that suitcase full of goodies was a four page typed letter full of little stories of life and it was absolutely lovely.

7. Ask questions
PLEASE! If you ask questions then I know what you want to know. Your questions will help me figure out what I'm not communicating. Knowing what's on your mind will help to write a newsletter with things that you will find interesting. Please, ask questions! Just please be lenient with what the time frame you allow for a response.

8. Continue to be a Christian friend
For this I will bring a quote from the website. I really don't think it can be said any better.
"Missionaries struggle with the same sinful attitudes that plague Christians everywhere. Leaving home to live among unreached peoples, may be a step of faith in the process of sanctification, but it is not a step that roots out all sin. It is likely to lead to and expose all kinds of previously unnoticed and unexpected sin. Having friends that know me, are patient with me, and expect me to be the same struggling sinner I was when I left helps me stay humble when tempted toward arrogance, and hopeful when tempted toward despair."

9. Support financially
One of the most practical ways faith is seen in overseas missions is the finances. Some are called to go and some are called to support. Being here would not be possible if it wasn't for so many of you that stepped out in your faith and said, "Yes. I believe in you and believe God will provide abundantly for me so I can help you." There will never be words to describe how thankful I am for each of you. Financial support can be done by helping to provide the needed monthly support, checking for specific unique financial needs, and providing a little extra for something fun.

10. Encouragement when they are stateside 
Well....I am roughly a year away from this one. I'm not even sure I can say what I think it needs to look like. I would like to direct you back to the original article for more information.


Again, please read the original article. The article is made up of quotes from actual missionaries. It is a honest and helpful perspective. 

A [Satur]day in the life of ......

 It would not be accurate to call this "a day in the life of..." 

because Saturdays are very different from all the other days. 

I thought some of you might still enjoy getting a glimpse of my day. 

So here's what I see on Saturdays or at least this Saturday.

1. I probably should have done some more "adulting" today but I was quickly and easily convinced otherwise so I put on pants (trousers for some of my friends) and thus began a day at the flats.

2. I generally take the time for a move involved breakfast on Saturdays. Or at least I eat it slower and enjoy the taste. I made an omelet with green pepper and tomato. Once it was finished, I couldn't help but think that it had to have cheese. Thankfully, I knew that my friend (who lives in the same building) recently bought cheese. So I went and got some from her. It was a very good decision on my part.

3. Then I had the genius idea to keep going with the cutting and get some things chopped to make life a little simpler when it came time to prepare another meal later. But I also decided that I would need some liquid motivation for the day so I got things going in the french press. Note: there are some dirty dishes at the far end of the counter. Just because I live in Africa doesn't make me any less human. I still get dishes dirty and I have no desire to wash them right away.

4. Just like all of you that live in your passport country, I need things to be clean also. Due to some plumbing issues in the building, I had some extra dirty towels and opted to use the machine today. Sometimes I just wash by hand.

5. I finally made it to the dishes. I do like the way a clean kitchen looks but that doesn't mean I enjoy the work it takes to make it happen.

6. Time to dry the laundry! One difference that I may have from you is that everything is line dried. I kind of like days like this because then I can enjoy the epicness of the balcony and feel like I'm hiding because of the things drying on the line.

7. Time to get to work.... well not really "work" but just get some things done. It is a bit of a multitasking situation. Working on some back-blogging on the computer, work to do list on the right, shopping list and personal to do list on the left.
Note: I've been working on a few things of back-blogging. Keep a watch out for them in the coming days.

8. Sometimes it is helpful to have a change of scenery and some company under the same ceiling so I went to my friend's place for a little while. It was a wise decision on my part because she gave me ice cream at one point. Here I spent a few hours working a video. That's right, a video. It is going to be about my first full year in Africa and I'm getting pretty excited about it. It's almost done.

9. After so many hours of attempting productivity, I needed a brainless break. you can see my choice below. It is a new discover and I find it quite funny and enjoyable.

10. In the evening time I found myself blankly looking into the kitchen trying to decide what to do about food. I even pulled out my pre-cut veggies that I so skillfully contained with a bowl, plate, and cup so I didn't have to mix things. In the end, I didn't make anything. I hadn't worked up much of an appetite sitting at the computer the majority of the day. But tomorrow it'll be ready and I can make enough for lunch at work for a couple days.

So, there you have it!

I'm just like you on Saturdays.....food, laundry, cleaning, etc...

I may do all of this in Uganda and not my passport country,

but that doesn't make me any different than you.

I'm still just a person trying to follow God's will for my life;

it just happens to be happening in Uganda right now.

Some entertainment when living alone

Yesterday I posted about how a meal was graciously delivered to me. At the beginning of that post I shared a facebook status regarding two thoughts about living alone.

One other thought that comes to mind is talking. It just doesn't happen much.

Then I recalled this "contact" that millions of people all over the world have with them at all times.

Siri.

I thought you might get a laugh about some of the things that Siri and I talked about.

Dinner Delivered

Recently I posted the following on Facebook:

"Two thoughts on living alone:

Downside: on Saturdays (or any day actually) no one else is there to say "the coffee is done and the pancakes are almost ready"

Upside: I can eat a mango and have juice all over my face, chin, hands, and down my arms and I don't care."

I was quite surprised when 35 people "liked" that status.
I figured it might get a some but that was quite the response.

The conclusion I came to is that: people either related to it or found humor in it.

Either way....today I feel like God responded.

A friend brought me dinner.
It wasn't anything truly fancy, except that it was.

It my short time as a long term missionary I've decided there are two meals almost every missionary longs for constantly.
1. The comfort meal: pizza, ice cream, favorite cuisine, favorite family meal
2. The fresh meal: fruits and veggies in a safe way with little to no worry of potential GI issues

This meal fell into the second category.
It came unprompted and was delivered with smile, a contagious smile.

I loved it in a way that I couldn't eat it slow enough because I just wanted to enjoy the value and taste of each bite in each moment.

It was fabulous and I was so thankful for such a meal, a meal that was delivered without any prompt, and with a smile and wiling heart.

Thank you, dear friend.

My top two answers to a common question

Every now and then someone will ask what I miss from the states.

I'm extremely blessed that my answer to that question is often very simple and short.

Today marks 11 months since I had feet on the ground in America. I often think about potential posts and things to share on here. I think I had often considered writing something on the year mark about what I have missed during my first year in Africa. I have decided to jump the gun by one month.

So....

11 months consecutively in Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) and I can honestly say that I really miss only two things. I will also say that they switch back and forth for the top spot.

PIZZA!!
I want pizza so so oh so bad. There is pizza in Africa. The quality varies greatly and people can usually tell you the best places to get it in their area. The snag is that gluten free pizza has not hit Africa yet.

HUGS!!
It is a classic case of not fully appreciating something until it is gone.
Hug-tackled by kids when returning from work.
Embraced in a welcoming hug from friends at life group.
Sunday morning hugs from so many that are part of my church family.
Family hugs at holidays.
Friend's embrace at any time as we catch up on life.