Northeast Florida area friends! Important event Saturday, April 21st!!!

Friends,

A very important event is happening this weekend at Church of the Redeemer in Jacksonville, FL.  It is directed toward youth (high school and college age); however, let me bring to your attention a special session occurring Saturday evening and strongly encourage you to attend if at all possible.

Many of you may remember hearing a number of years ago about the terrible war in Northern Uganda being waged by Joseph Kony and his army, the Lord’s Resistance Army (alhough it was not God involved but the devil).  For over 20 years Kony abducted children and forced them to be ruthless killers, and took the young girls as brides for his soldiers.  Unimaginable atrocities were committed, thousands upon thousands of children and adults were murdered and maimed; those who survived were forced from their homes and ended up in IDP camps.  An entire generation has grown up in these camps, not knowing what a normal life might be.  Thankfully, Kony and his LRA left Uganda four or five years ago, but unfortunately they continue to wage war in Sudan, Congo, and the Central African Republic.  You may also have heard of the Night Commuters; children who walked for miles in the evenings to sleep on the floor of some “safe” place in order to avoid being abducted by the LRA, only to return to the refugee camps in the morning.  One well-known ministry that formed and has been working to help these children recover is Invisible Children.

Recently, Invisible Children released a video, Kony 2012, that went viral on the internet.  Although it was intended to be helpful and to raise awareness of some of the difficulties and issues the people in Northern Uganda still face, it was also misleading.  The Church of Uganda issued a response, clarifying the current situation in the north and providing information on how to partner with them and with Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF) in their efforts to help the people.  ARDF is ready to receive donations to help the church help the people.  A link to information on their website is here:  http://anglicanaid.net/?p=274

So, that’s basically the background.  Now, here’s what’s happening this weekend…

Since this issue and video went viral, especially among young people, Rev. Whis Hays and the youth ministry, Rock the World, are including a presentation during their RE:MIX 2012 conference at Redeemer this weekend.  On Saturday evening, Paul Wasswa, former Director of Missions and Evangelism for the Church of Uganda, (now attending seminary in California) will be speaking about these very issues, providing key information on what the current situation is in Northern Uganda, what the Church of Uganda has been and continues to do to help the people re-establish their lives after the war, and lay out some practical ways youth and adults in the U.S. can join in and help.  Here is the link to the Rock the World website where you can learn more about the conference:  http://www.rocktheworld.org/ .  And here’s the link to the Gulf Atlantic Diocese website for information on RE:MIX 2012:  http://www.gulfatlanticdiocese.org/remix

We are praying that this event will be used by God to breathe a fire of passion in people to learn, pray, share what’s happening in Uganda, and come!  My colleague here, Rev. Canon Dr. Alison Barfoot, has been in communication with Rev. Whis Hays and they are already working to develop the infrastructure both here in Uganda and stateside to facilitate new ministry and new partnerships we are praying will develop.  And, as the Lord has planned, I am now here in Uganda to help with these new partnerships and teams coming to minister to those in need.  Thanks be to God!

So, let me encourage you first to pray for this event and for God’s Holy Spirit to breath fire and passion into the people gathered for RE:MIX 2012; and secondly, to come to Redeemer this Saturday evening to learn first hand what the Lord is doing through the Church of Uganda to help the people so devastated by the extensive war to heal and rebuild their lives.

Thank you all for your prayers and support for me while I serve in Uganda.  We are in this mission together!

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

Long Time - No Post

Well, it has been an awfully long time since I've posted an update here. Believe me, it has been a crazy year; not at all what I had planned. In the midst of everything that's happened, though, I am reminded that God's plans are far better than ours. Let me catch you up with a brief outline of what's been going on in my life since the beginning of 2010:

January - Cancer diagnosis (what a bummer)
February - Surgery (no fun at all), then hugely successful warehouse sale (see earlier post) - AMAZING
April - SAMS Retreat and New Wineskins Conference - AWESOME
June - Trinity Seminary one-week class: Jesus Through Non-Western Eyes (Africa & the Middle East) - WAY COOL
July - Begin radiation treatment (not so bad at first, but really bad burns at the end. OMG)
August - Finish radiation treatment - THANK YOU JESUS
September - Now, what was it I was doing BC (before cancer)? Oh yeah, TEAM BUILDING FOR MISSIONS!

I am so very grateful to God for allowing the cancer to be detected early and successfully treated before moving to Uganda. It would have been a total bummer if I had already been in country and involved in ministry, then had to drop everything and return to the U.S. I have been so anxious to get there, but God's timing is always, always perfect!

So, the cancer shmancer has been dealt with. It's over and done; no longer a concern. Thanks be to God!

Progress continues to be made, even in the midst of all the distractions. My dear friends in Texas, Susan and Doug Claybrook, are keeping my family antiques while I'm in Uganda. Everything has already been shipped out and I was able to be there when they were delivered and spend a little over a week with Susan and Doug. What a wonderfully relaxing and fun time we had together. I am incredibly thankful for such dear, long-time friends.

This weekend I will be moving from my condo into a two-room garage apartment belonging to friends at church. Next is to determine which property management company to list the condo with, then turn it over to them to be rented out. Prayers for good, long-term renters to move in soon would be most helpful.

Well, enough catching up for now. More to come!

Be blessed, everyone!

Status Report

I praise God that so far I’ve received about 40% of the monthly support and 80% of the cash needed! Please prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to partner with me either by giving toward my monthly needs or with regular prayer, and let me know. Every gift gets me closer to Uganda!

Shalom in Yeshua

Redeemer Garage Sale - Huge Success!

My Redeemer family is AWESOME! The congregation put on a huge garage sale and raised over $5,200! So many people came together and prayed, donated items, spent hours and hours setting up and pricing things, and just worked so hard to make the sale such a huge success. There was everything you could imagine: toys, furniture, antiques, china, crystal, clothing, a piano, a telescope, office desks, golf clubs, appliances, and lots more. What a team!

As Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I thank my God every time I remember you…I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel…”

Fruitful visit to St. Bart's!

What a blessing it was to visit St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church in Tonawanda, NY - except for the super cold weather! Praise the Lord that He is sending this Florida girl to the equator and not Siberia!

The congregation was so welcoming and interested in missions in Uganda and Kenya. It was a joy to meet and talk with them, and I was very encouraged by their well wishes and offers of prayer. And, check out the updated funding goals on the right side of the blog.

Thank you, St. Bart's, and may the Lord continue to fill you with His Spirit and pour his blessing upon you so that you may always be a blessing to others.

Invitation to speak at St. Bart's

God is good - all the time! Today I received an invitation to speak at St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church in Tonawanda, NY (near Niagra Falls) on December 13th - at all 3 services! Hopefully this girl raised in south Florida, and headed to Uganda, won't freeze to death.
Please pray that God will be glorified in my presentation, that I can articulate the ministry with clarity and passion, and there will be new partners in mission. To God be the glory!

An example of the vision of Partnership Services with the Church of Uganda

"...our greatest power to change the world is released when we come together in collective action to organize and focus the resources of the whole body of Christ." Richard Stearns, President, World Vision, in his book The Hole in Our Gospel.

Two pieces of furniture sold!

Last Saturday I sold an antique rocking chair and today my antique wash stand went to a new home. Thank you, Lord! Now, if I can just sell the large highback sideboard, a couple of other small furniture items, and find a home for the cats. Please be praying, and thanks for following along as I prepare to go to Uganda.

Funding Status Report

We're off to a good start with raising support! My recent report from SAMS shows that I have one-third of the monthly/annual support required as well as one-third of the cash I need to have in my SAMS account before I can be certified to depart for Uganda. A big THANK YOU to all who have joined as partners in this ministry!

Please continue to pray for the remaining support to flow in. The required amounts are $3,000 per month in pledged support plus a total of $22,500 cash in my SAMS account. These amounts are what SAMS has budgeted based on the the various aspects of this ministry in Uganda and a small portion for my living expenses.

Blessings to you all, and thank you.

The Lord provides!

Thanks be to God, I begin a new job this Thursday, 7/16. It's with a good law firm located downtown and I'm familiar with some of the people there. I had actually interviewed with them a couple of years ago and was all but promised a job, but then the partners decided they really didn't need to hire another paralegal yet. They just had a paralegal leave and when they saw my resume, which I sent out yesterday, they called right away since they already knew me. :-)

God's timing is always perfect!

Update

FURNITURE. Well, another piece of furniture exited my front door this evening, and more cash went into my pocket. There are only a few more furniture items to sell, but lots of "stuff" left. I need to have a garage sale, so I'm praying someone will volunteer their garage/drive way for this - soon. Any volunteers?

CONDO. The couple that wanted to rent my condo have changed their mind, so I now need to list it with a property management company. I had prayed about this and believe this is what the Lord's best is in this situation. If the couple had rented it, I wouldn't have anyone looking after it or taking care of things if anything went wrong, or if for some reason they were unable to pay the rent. And now I don't have to move so quickly. Thank you for your hand in this, Lord!

I DO have a place to live now once my condo is rented. A dear friend has invited me to come live were her until I leave for Uganda. Again, thank you Lord!

CATS. My two boys need a good home, though. Please be praying for a loving home for them, and let me know if you are interested or if you know of anyone who might want them.

JOB. Oh yeah, almost forgot. When I asked to cut back on my hours at work, my immediate supervisor approved, but HR cut me back to zero! So, I'm looking for a job, preferably temporary or part time so that I can continue preparing for Uganda. I applied for two positions through Monster today. Please pray for the right job to come along - soon.

Thank you for your prayers and for partnering with me in this exciting journey!

In Christ,
Susan

UPDATE

After some long delays, it's now full speed ahead with my preparations to go to Uganda, and things have been happening quickly.

CONDO RENTED! In my last post I asked for prayer in deciding which property management company will handle my condo and that a long term resident will rent it. Well, God always gives us more thant we ask! A couple I know was looking for a place and they've decided to rent my condo for a minimum of two years. Hallelujah! This arrangement will also save the 10% fee that a management company charges per month. Thank you God!

HOME FOR CATS & MOVING. Of course, this means that I need to find a place to live in just a few weeks. Which alsomeans taking care of my remaining furniture, going through "stuff" to get rid of, selling morestuff (click on the link to my blog), etc., etc., etc. I also need to find a home for my two male, indoor cats - quickly. If this happens it will open up more options for where to live. Please pray that the Lord will provide a good, loving home for them. They are 7 and 8 years old and have been together for 6 1/2 years, so they really need to stay together.

NEED A JOB! So, I guess it's good, for now, that when I asked to cut back my hours at work, as mentioned in my last post, the firm cut me back to 0 hours! I now have time to tackle getting ready to move. However, I do need to find work beginning August 1st. Please pray for the Lord's provision.

LOCATION FOR GARAGE SALE. I still have lots to sell, so I need to have a garage sale this mnth (July). However, since garage sales are not allowed in my condo community, I need to find a place to have it. It would be a huge help if someone would offer their driveway / garage for this.

FUND RAISING. My next step is to contact the clergy I met at the innaugural provincial assembly for the new Anglican Church in North America and arrange to come speak at their churches. Please pray that many visits will be arranged and that they will bear much fruit toward the support that needs to be raised before I can head off to do missions in Uganda.

Road Trip!!!

Praise God! I will be going to the inaugural provincial assembly for the new Anglican Church in North America in Texas June 22 - 25. After being incredibly blessed to be at GAFCON last year and witness God move in power amongst those assembled, bringing everyone together as one, I am doubly blessed to witness this historic event as well.

This will also be a great opportunity to touch base with clergy and lay leaders from around the country and share the vision of continued mission partnerships with our brothers and sisters in Uganda. Please pray for divine appointments during this time and that God would use me to encourage churches and individuals to partner with Uganda in missions.