Leavin' on a jet plane...

Thanks be to God for his faithfulness and provision!  I'm going home to Uganda!  Yes, I've been doing the happy dance since booking my flight a couple of days ago.  On March 21st I'll depart from Dallas, TX, go through London, and arrive in Entebbe very late on March 22nd.  In fact, it will be so late that it will most likely be after midnight by the time I clear customs, then I'll have about an hour and a half drive home.  Please pray for safe and smooth travels, strength and good health.

HOMESICK

No, not for Jacksonville, Florida, where my home church is and where I lived for the past 16 years.  No, not even for the U.S., where everything is familiar, orderly, clean.  Where anything and everything is readily available.  Where I can drink tap water that is clean.  Where electricity is constant.  Where there are stop signs and traffic lights, and people drive on the right side of the road.  I am homesick for Uganda and the ministry God has called me to there.

Gulu, Northern Uganda.  What a blast I had playing soccer with these girls!  Canon Alison Barfoot and I were attending meetings with the management committee of The Father’s House children’s center and checking on the progress of the construction of the new homes.  Outside, groups of children were playing soccer (football, to them).  During a break I got involved playing with this group of girls and we became instant friends.  They got such a kick out of the grey-haired muzungu (white) lady playing football.  What fun we had together!  Later in the day a group of the younger ones gathered around me while I read them some Bible stories – from my Kindle!  Of course, they’d never seen one before and were quite curious about it.  They were so sweet, and I was blessed to pray over them before we left.

Mbarara, Southwest Uganda.  Meet Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, bishop of Ankole Diocese, and his dear wife, Mama Alice.  Look closely and you can see their youngest peeking around his dad - what a cute boy!  In November I visited Bishop Sheldon and toured some of the diocese’s ministries: Ruharo Mission Hospital and Eye Clinic, Uganda Bible Institute, Bishop Stewart University, and the technical/vocational school.  I was struck by the sheer vastness of the diocese’s ministries, which include health, education, and social services programs for thousands upon thousands of people in the area.  And this is in addition to preaching the Gospel, identifying and raising up leaders, and making disciples for Christ.

So many opportunities for mission partnership!!!

It’s been almost three months since I left Uganda for what I had anticipated would be a fairly short visit.  Much good has come of my time here.  The best thing of all is that God has confirmed, in my heart and in other ways, that Uganda is where I belong! Mukama Asiimwe!  (Praise the Lord!)

Right now I feel a bit like this baby monkey; a little sad, but hopeful, looking up for help.  My eyes are on my Abba, Father, trusting in His provision so I can return to Uganda soon.  Please be praying as well.  Is our Abba asking you to partner with me in mission?

Gee, I don't feel that "old."

Question posed to me by salesman at department store in Kampala:

Why do people "my age" leave a prosperous country like the U.S. and come live in Uganda?

After getting over the "people my age" shock, the Spirit enabled me to share the Gospel! The young man said he was a Christian; I pray seeds of a deeper understanding of the love of Christ will take root and grow.

Rethinking Blog Format

I've been preparing my newsletters using Word and sending them out by email. Now I am rethinking how to include them in my blog. My current design isn't very good for lengthy updates with pictures. Please bear with me as I work through this. If you have any suggestions, please shoot me an email. If you are not receiving my newsletters yet and would like to, send me your email address and I'll add you to the group.

UGANDA: T MINUS 6 DAYS

June 15, 6:05 pm

Can you believe it? My departure date is so close I’m having a little trouble grasping it myself. After several years of preparation, many trials and much tribulation, a lot of growth and learning to depend even more on the Lord, I’m finally leaving my generally comfy life in the U.S. to begin life as a missionary in Uganda. And, oh, how faithful our God is to those who belong to Him!

Pray for me in these final days, that I will leave well and begin well!

Please keep me in your prayers as I work on wrapping up all the things I need to accomplish before the 15^th. Please pray also for God’s provision, as I still need to raise another $1,800 per month in order to be fully funded. I know that I have been called, and that the timing is now, so I am stepping out in faith that God will provide that which is needed, when it is needed.

“I thank my God every time I remember you…I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel…”

Contributions (tax-deductible) can be made online at:

www.sams-usa.org

Or mailed to:

SAMS

P.O. Box 339

Ambridge, PA 15003

(Please include my name in the memo line of your check.)

Updated Departure Date - June 15th

Well, a bit of a snag with the dates I'd planned on attending missionary training at MTI in Colorado Springs. I had hoped to attend the class beginning April 11th and ending April 29th; however, that didn't happen, so I'm attending the class that begins on Man 23rd. I won't return to Waco, TX (where I've been living with friends since 12/29/10) until Saturday, June 11th. So, I will now fly out of Dallas/Fort Worth the evening of Wednesday, June 15th, and arrive in Uganda the morning of June 17th. Then, after just a few days, we'll hit the road with representatives from The Global Orphan Project, touring some established and potential sites for orphanages. Talk about hitting the ground running! It will be fun, though, and I'm really looking forward to it. The next two months will be super busy - so much to do and so little time! Prayers appreciated!

Uganda - here I come!

Wow, so much has happened since my last post many moons ago. Quickly, after talking with SAMS, my missions agency, we have set a departure date of June 8th. I am not fully funded, but am going in faith that the Lord will provide what is needed.

If you would like to partner with me in ministry in Uganda and Kenya, you can do so on the SAMS website: www.samsusa.org