Health: something to pray for

What is health? Is it the absence of sickness, disease, or illness? Is it the state of being within the normal range on all the charts and statistics that are noted in medical publications?

I know for sure that health is one thing.

Health is something you can always pray for regarding people that live overseas. 

From the child that was born overseas and has never met his or her grandparents to the one that has lived decades across the ocean.....you can always pray for health.

Each week I think I hear about one or two people that are sick. This is anything from a cold to malaria to something unidentifiable. When people are sick, they cannot fully accomplish their goals; and if they try, then the sickness will last longer. 

But the other side of this is to pray for health of the friends and family that are still in the passport country of those overseas. It always makes the miles multiply when some in the passport country is sick and there is nothing that can be done from so far away. Ok...there is the Sunday school answer...pray about it. But when the miles seem to stretch farther than a trip to the moon, praying just doesn't seem like it is enough. Not having the ability to do something practical (such as: providing a meal or taking the kids to the park so a mom can rest or helping with errands so the spouse can accompany the other to the endless doctors appointments) is a constant struggle when the distance is great. 

Whatever you use to finish the sentence: Health is _____________ .
Know that it can always be finished like this: 

Health is something that always needs prayer for those living overseas. 

In my short time across the ocean, I have struggled with physical health and battled the distance when friends fight cancer, family chases a mysterious medical issue, and others battle this thing called health. 

When in doubt, pray for health. 

NEWSLETTER: February 2016

A little life update with pictures and a video.

TOP:

A storm rolling in quickly over the hills of Kampala.

Below (Top - Bottom):

Plane to go to Rwanda, reading so much, and an amazing sunset on my last night

A surprise trip....

A few weeks ago, we were looking at the immigration process and checking on my work permit status. Things have been progressing about as well as can be expected. Slowly my papers are getting through each office by the unending efforts of a Ugandan lady that works in the office. She serves us and helps us in countless ways by going to offices all around town. We are so thankful for her helpful, servant's heart.

With the steps that are left for my work permit, it was decided that I would be granted a mandatory vacation out of the country so I could return and get a new 3 month visa. I decided to go to Rwanda and visit friends from my orientation in Kenya one year ago.

Believe it or not, I actually managed to truly take a vacation. I read an entire book from start to finish, had some fabulous food, caught up on some sleep, and didn't even check my work email for over four days. I was also blessed to meet the other AIM missionaries there and learn a little bit more about their ministries. 

Before we get too far into year two.....I wanted you to know that I put together a video about most of the events of the first year. Click the link below to see it.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE VIDEO!!

Ugandan Elections....

Elections took place on 18 February. Generally the plan was to stay close to our homes and not do any unnecessary trips around town until the results were announced and we could get an idea of how peaceful the response would be. Saturday afternoon the electoral commission announced that the current president of 30 years was re-elected. There have been some very minor protests as the main opposition party was not happy about this result but everyone has been very safe.

During these days, I spent some time with friends. One of them even made some fabulous pumpkin soup and shared with me. I think it is one of my new favorite meals. One afternoon some of us gathered and played another of my new favorites: Ticket to Ride. It is a game I have only played one other time about a year ago in Kenya. I highly reccomend it to all!!

Countless thank you's to each of you for your faithful prayerful support throughout the election time!! Please continue to pray that peace prevails as we get back to our usual routines. 

Below (Top-Bottom):

Fabulous pumpkin soup and a movie with a friend, just a thought to consider, and a lovely game afternoon with more friends

(Text: Don't shine so others can see you, SHINE so that through you, others can see HIM.)

The First Year

A few days ago I wrote a short post about how it has been five years since God confirmed His calling for me to come to Africa. Every day I am amazed that I have now spent an entire year on this continent. To think of all the people that contributed, all the logistics to line up, all the prayers from so many, all the steps for each phase, all the tears at various points.......it only proves that God could have been behind all of this. 

The first full year here entailed many things I did not expect. Yet somehow I feel like I should have expected that. In an effort to capture some of the major points of the first year, I decided to make a short video. Let me say now that it didn't turn out to be so short. 

I enjoyed putting it together and hope that you enjoy watching it. 

Please go to Vimeo to see it.

CLICK HERE

Note: it is about 17 min long. What can I say? There was a lot that happened in the first year!!

NEWSLETTER: January 2016

Can I interest you in a little reading?

And thus begins year two...

It seems that the holidays can make time fly by no matter what country one lives in at the time. I can hardly believe that February will be here next week. I've been so focused on one day at a time that I didn't realize so much time was passing.

Since I last wrote, Christmas and New Years has happened as well as my one year mark since leaving the states. Unfortunately there was no snow for Christmas (not that I expected any). I had a lovely time with a family in Kampala and two other single ladies. It even included buckeyes!!! A huge blessing for Christmas came when a lady so kindle brought me many goodies from the states. So many of you sent such sweet notes and gifts that my heart overflowed for days.

I was very grateful to spend New Years with two new friends on a mini vacation in Western Uganda. We went to Kibale Forest near Fort Portal. It was fabulous to get out of the city for a few days. We saw some magnificent monkeys and enjoyed some stillness away from the hustle and bustle of living and serving in the city. (Stay tuned on my blog for pictures and videos.)

Picture at very top:
my new prayer card
contact Julie Cook or Community Life Church if you would like one

Pictures (just above top to bottom):
walking the last little bit to the office;
doing some language study while enjoying an affogato;
the wall of cards and notes from Christmas

Recently, I have been carving out some time to catch up on a bit of back blogging. It's a well known fact that I often think more than I say and I have enjoyed getting some of those thoughts into written form. I encourage you to visit my blog to read more about my time here.

Some days grief sneaks up on me and all I can do is try my best to smile and make it through the day. Read this post to learn more about a day that this happened.

When it was still fall and the days were challenging and confusing, I had asked a few friends to send me pictures of the season changing. I thought it would be a encouraging to see some glimpses of such beauty. One picture really signified the season I was in and I wrote about that. I just now got around to posting it. Be sure to check that one out also.

Most importantly, for my countless prayer warriors, you can also find current prayer requests on the blog.

Want to know how you can encourage not only me but also any others that serve overseas? Here are some ideas.

As always, you can reply directly to this email!! I would love to hear from you!Please share with me ways that I can be praying for you.

Grace and Peace,
Katherine

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.