Whirlwind

Uganda was truly a whirlwind trip. 30+ hours of travel to get there, on the ground less than 48 hours, and then 30+ hours of travel back. I really wish I could have spent more time there. Hopefully I will have an opportunity to go back. Uganda is beautiful. I got to see Lake Victoria when we drove from Entebbe to Kampala. I loved just people watching as we drove or walked around. The general atmosphere is so much more laid back and I love it. It helps me to remember to slow down here in the US. I was there for about 24 hours before I actually met the little guy and his mom. This particular 3 year old is anything but shy. He just ran up to me and sat in my lap. He sang me his ABC's and proceeded to just run around showing off his dancing skills. It was awesome :). We packed everybody up and headed to the airport. After some difficulties with paperwork, we made our first flight by about 10 minutes. God was definitely at work opening doors for us. We had about 9 hours in the Amsterdam airport and I ran the little guy up and down hallways and played all sorts of games. I wanted to make sure he was all worn out for the next long flight. It worked. He slept the whole 9 hour flight. He was such a trooper. That is a lot of travel for anybody, but when you're 3 sitting still is not your greatest attribute. We made it to our final destination safely, and even a few minutes early. He has already had his surgery and is recovering. I will get to see him in a couple of weeks when I go back to SA for Thanksgiving. I am really excited. People don't usually get to see the kids after they transport them for surgery.

During the short time I was in Uganda, I had the opportunity to meet a mom who impacted me greatly. I felt so privileged to even spend time around her. It's hard to explain, but it was a situation where I walked away thinking that I would never be the same but I'm not really sure why. I just know that God did something and I don't get to see or understand it right now.

So now I'm back and it's time to start work. I go to night shift starting tonight. I am actually really excited. I am working at the same hospital I did last year so it will be great to go back and work with them again. I love the people there and am looking forward to catching up and getting back in the swing of things.

Here's the link to the pics!

Always Ready

So I’ve been home from Mongolia exactly 4 weeks and am currently on a plane to Uganda. I would just like to take this opportunity to say that I LOVE my life. It’s crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Lord literally dropped this trip in my lap and I am so grateful. Despite the last couple of weeks being pretty busy, the Lord has been preparing me and there are a couple of scriptures that have been in the forefront of my mind.

The first is Psalm 139:5 -You hem me in-behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.-

There is definitely still part of me that is really nervous about this trip, but I read this scripture and find peace in it. I have never done a trip like this and it contains a lot of firsts for me, yet I know that God has it all under control. He coordinated some crazy logistics for this trip to even happen and I know He will continue to take care of every detail. I know that He has gone before me and is following me as I go.

The other is Exodus 33:14-16 - The Lord replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?-

I read this particular passage of scripture quite frequently while I was in Mongolia. It is certainly true in my everyday life, but it stands out to me when I go on a trip. There’s no point in going if God’s presence doesn’t go with me. It is Him in me that makes me different, and I depend on Him for everything; leaning on Him whether things go smoothly or not. This is easier said than done and I am most certainly in the learning process of trusting Him more and more. I keep finding myself in situations where I have to let go of a little more control and trust just a little more, or sometimes a lot more of both. I feel so privileged to be transporting this little boy. I am only one person on his journey who will be the hands and feet of Christ, but it only takes one bad example to leave a bad impression. In and of myself I am a messy example, so I pray for His presence to be with me. I have an advantage over Moses though, because God’s presence isn’t only with me, He’s IN me. I love that with His presence comes rest. Rest has been a focus for me lately and I find myself talking to my soul like David often did in the Psalms. Ps 116:7 says, “Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” If I am not at rest, I am always focused on the wrong thing. If I reorient my perspective on the goodness of God, then I find my rest again.

I have also been learning to be prepared in season and out. I really love my plans, and although God isn’t anti-planning, He needs me to be ready and willing to do things on short notice or without the preparation I might want to have, trusting Him to be and provide everything I need. Mongolia was a planned trip, but life happened and I didn’t feel as “prepared” as I would have liked going into it. Funny how that trip turned out awesome and stretched my faith and trust in new ways. This trip to Uganda happened very quickly. I had 10 days notice and I said yes knowing that those 10 days were going to be really busy. That’s just life. I have been spoiled in the past by having time off preceding most of my trips, but that’s not always how it will be. I want to be ready in season and out; always able to respond when God wants to interrupt my life to send me anywhere He wants. It might be my next door neighbor, my job, or halfway around the world to a little boy who needs heart surgery.

Sorry if this seems scattered. I am pretty tired, and I’m not really a good writer even when I’m not tired :). As I read over this prior to posting I thought, “wow, this is kinda deep”. Love me anyway :). Just wanted to share all of the things that have been running around in my head and heart the last few weeks. Thanks for listening.

P.S. I arrived to Uganda safely :)