Wifely Sabbatical

As of August 12^th I have been a wife.

This choice to do so has become the best decision. I have never felt so treasured, so adored and so romanced in my life. As I had the biggest Princess Day it was only followed by continued awe moments. Moments that I still am not sure I have really been a part of. Moments that I never thought would really happen, and yet they are. It has been continual excitement to always be for someone else. To be the best that I can be and the most intentional that could possibly be. Marriage is the most beautiful and incredible relationship that I have ever been a part of in human form. The beauty of this all comes from our Awesome Father Jesus Christ and it is a wonderful thing to see that in His image, marriage is good. To be in and a part it has all been made much clearer. That in prayer and reading His word and serving together with my Husband as one it all is incredibly enhanced within a marriage. I really could not have imagined a relationship of Three to be so very immaculate. The Joy of accountability and the magnification of desire and the embrace of the Father as you are with another is just striking to me. Marriage came to me as a large surprise and I don’t know even really how to explain such bliss that I still am in.

It has been a joy to come back and slowly hear all the great stories of our wedding day. From a beginning of my parents families meeting for the first time and seeing a great blend there. Also seeing a broken relationship between my Grandma and my Step Grandma after 40 years of not a word spoken to an entire night and day of catching up on where they had left off. To my brother of course having a crazy trip to the wedding trying to make it back on time, and getting delayed by taking a ride with a surf bum in Colorado…quite a story and so thankful he made it to the weddingJ And fun with hearing who danced with who and what tasty food there was, because we didn’t get a lick of that:) Hah It has all truly been the best and really more perfect than I imagined.

And for me I have been brought to the South to the Beautiful Siloam Springs Arkansas. As we have established our place we call home and made plenty of meals and had probably too many laughs. Life here has been quite a pleasure. Although I still have sadness each morning Christian leaves for school, I have been quite a busy bee, which has come as a surprise to me. I never thought that making sure two people eat and stay organized and keep clean clothes, on top of setting up our “home” to be a good place to come back to, is really a task. I know things will slow down and I will begin this week reaching places I desire to work with a resume that states me on a piece of paper, in hopes that they will also desire me. This has been on my list for a few days but has not happen yet, which I am enjoying and I have really never taken so much time off, to just be and to develop the role as a wife. So really I am easing into it and going into it with much prayer and trust that my Father really knows what I will be doing and where I will fit into this town best. I really am thrilled to be a part of this sweet southern town! Thank you for reading and supporting and loving us. We feel incredibly blessed by those who have been in our lives; we wouldn’t be the same without you!

Marlena Outlaw

Joy+Freedom+Restoration=Our Engagement!!

This is the incredible story of our engagement on March 19th 2011!! Wow where do I begin, well I first start with the incredible last couple of weeks that I (Marlena) have had.....many of you know that I have been the one that Christian has been waiting on, really all of your relationship has been me coming through a bit later, since Christmas Christian had the ring and was thinking about it then, but my response to his desire was fear and unready feelings, so that leads me really until this past two weeks of feeling abundant peace and freedom with our relationship. Some of that may come from the fact the my parents told me in January that the were getting divorced which was crushing news, considering they had so much restoration from years before but they were done this time they could keep pressing through what wasn't going to work but (!!!) a week ago my daddy called me to share with me his thankfulness of my mom and that he asked if they could just have a separation and that they were going to do counseling and try once again. This of course brought me so much JOY! So with that preface it has been a journey to get to were I was the day before he proposed I let him know that I was finally at peace and felt that I wanted to be with him...For the rest of me life!!! Little did I know that he wanted that also and he was ready to go:) The following morning he had already been planning it all out, months before. He told me his parents would be in town early and that we were going to have a full day with them so I woke up and just did the normal, went for a run and spent some quiet time with my Father, but the Shannon who I was staying with here was very persistent that I get ready and I was a bit confused but once I was ready I thought his parents would be coming but she then gave me a red envelope with the first letter, this letter explained that the day was changed and he had a scavenger hunt for me. To begin it he made a video of himself of the last 10 days or so of leading up to me being here. In the videos were songs, scripture and recalled memories. As I was weeping, sweating and laughing I was still thinking that maybe it was just a sweet date he was planning, but I had a feeling it was a bit more than just a sweet thought. He wrote another letter then explaining his love for Jesus and how he really wanted me to focus and pray a bit before I left. Then his friend Julian came to get me and brought me to a bridge and gave me a map to get to Christian, he told me to walk and focus on those scripture and pray but I had a hard time doing that so once a saw him I threw me purse and started running across the bridge that lead to the pavilion he was in and I ran into his arms. As we were both so nervous, we had Communion together and then he brought out his guitar and began to sing a song he wrote for me!!! The name of the song is 10,000 and at the end he put his guitar down and pulled out the box and asked "Will you marry me?"!!!! Ahhhhhh I jumped into him and he put the ring on my finger...And the rest was history. =) Thanks for all your support and love to us. Please be praying for this time we have together and also when we have to part, hopefully the last time to do so, but that we would ultimately Praise our Father for His incredible love for us and for the healing and restoration he has brought and that we would enjoy all the following process!! Much love to you all!!

Wipes are essential

Today has been a thought processing day, with finals next week and Christmas just around the corner I have been overwhelmed to say the least. But within all of it I have had quite a joyous day with two of my favorite girls Eli and Emma. From about noon until 7 we have been doing it all from baking to dancing to crying, and sneezing and of course the joyous pooping and peeing:) All day though I have been using wipes, I wipe them after they have been outside and the minute they come in there is new yummies that love their hands, arms and feet. So I wipe them again and sit them down for a meal, within seconds this time all the real yummy things are on their hands and all sorts of different places by the time the meal is over....and this has contined on throughout the day and I feel like I am grabbing for the wipes quite frequently. Just to have even that few seconds of relief from the spots, stickys and gooeys is surprisingly the refreshing part of my day. With that said I turn in wards to my life, school, relationships, family and just the day to day, and realize I am striving for any bit of "wipe" I can find. If it is a hike, a bowl of ice cream, or just stocking some friends I really miss, I wipe away a little bit of my worries and crowded mind for just a moment and become so refreshed. As I realize these patterns and happenings of all the 'wipes' I am using especially this week of beautiful finals, I realize how temporay those things all are. Some much more than others but in the end with the bliss of Jesus in my life nothing can even be seen or thought of when I truly and in Love with my Savior. Quite a wonderful reality that I have continually been given, with first coming to the fact that what I feel should not be what my faith is. And realizing things really aren't perfect in my life and probably never will be. In all really just relizing I must have my roots in Christ above all, for then after that, after I seek His face and know His glory all else will seem so minute and miniature perhaps even microscopic that I won't even be able to see it with out the use of a tool. Wow isn't that a sweet image! I pray that you will see that reality and know the Truth of our Father today. And that it would do much more than just wipe away the crunchy bugurs from one's nose. But allow you to Abundantly Live The Life He Has Set In Place For You!!!

circumstance.

:a condition that affects what happens or how somebody reacts in a particular situation.

Most everyday we are faced with circumstances that we would not prefer, if it could always be mountain tops and rainbows we think...that would be the perfect life. Yet I stop and realize that when you live in mountains or one beaches or even in corn fields it all becomes normal and that is life. So really the mountian tops become what we choose them to be...if I don't look up and stop for a moment I could go a long time without even being aware that I am in mountians Humm I think what I am trying to grasp is why we let our circumstances change our attitudes and actions toward life...of course our feelings are apart of our flesh so those become hard to change but not the way we react or let them affect us. Today I am struck with a reality that not many people are content. That if some people had the chance to turn this dial or close that door they would and then....things would be complete but what if we took a look at each day for what it really is that in each morning we could realize our solid purpose for life: to be rooted in and loving our Father who has taken our aweful lives and given us...wow...oh so much His grace and forgivness and Abundant Life. What if we looked at each day through the eyes of the Gospel that we live because He died we Only have life because He has given His life! Isn't it just so incredibly beautiful and so much more yet we so easily get stuck and trap and distracted by what? Look into your own life I don't know what tells you to not choose the Abundant Life Jesus has today for you, perhaps it is bills that are unpaid, or relationships that are not so well. Or for me it is unperfect grades and listening to lies that I don't have what it takes. I am not sure where you stand today but I ask you to maybe stop and read Psalm 46 it is about being still and knowing God. Know God reigns today and take a step back and rest in that before being overwhelmed by the lies of this world. He is with you today...
"When you pass through waters. I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when yo walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame should not consume you. For I am the Lord your God,"-Isaiah 43:2-3a.

Just to open my eyes and see

Just he other day here in Manitou I was struck by the fact of no purpose. I did not know what I was doing or why I was living where I was. So I decided it was time to open my eyes, to try hard to not be so distracted by the schedule of my life and the plans I had. First off I started to bake, a normal thing or me when I am stressed or just feel as if I am not amounting to much, I can have control (for the most part) and have a finished product come out well. After doing so I prompted my self to give out majority of the cookies-oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookies mind you, and so I just began to ponder. Okay I have my roomie working down stairs and a few neighbors almost off to work also a neighbor guy I have never seen, and a friend moving out. So I decided that was a safe way to open my eyes to generosity and my community. Well He had a different plan for those cookies and really only one of those cookies. It was for Maggie a lady with a passionate soul who opened right up to me. It was sort of a gloomy day which is rare here in Colorado, and beautiful Maggie was sitting out side in a nook of a building reading what looks like the Bible and also sniffling from what seems to be tears. So I paced by her deciding I had a plan for the day I just kept walking...but couldn't keep walking. As my thoughts contradicted themselves over and over again I finally turned around just before reaching my car. I went back to see if the lady would look a cookie or some help. She dove right into the cookies humbly taking one for her self and boldly telling me what she was doing. She began with saying she was reading the Bible but just to learn Spanish it was an English and Spanish Bible. She also went on to tell me a portion of her life. After just losing a 15 year old brother due to the insufficient and toxic water in West Virgina she was on a mission to change the problem. Manitou was an incredible place to her, having fresh water streams every block of the town and real mountain streams that you cold drink from quite near, she is looking into moving herself and her 13 year old daughter her. She is saddened withe her families unwillingness to listen and hurt by the massive problem going on the east coast that "makes the oil spill look like a birthday party" she exclaims. As she goes on I am just in awe and refreshment of how whiling she was to just tell me about her. She has been on hunger strikes to protests to fight for the cause. What amazement I had when I heard her spoke. The reality that I barely ever talk to people about my desires and passions and just my life. Often I find my self becoming more passionate about complaints because it relates me to people. More Passionate than the ONE who Made me in my mother room. It brings me to tears to think that I speak of the things I am not content in than in the beauty of His majesty today. I was challenged in many ways by Maggie and what openness of word she had towards me. Look into your life what is the majority of what you talk about with the people that surround you, at home, school work and even church. Why is it that we are so easy to talk about negativity and fear rather than Life Abundant and Hope?! I challenge to just go one day without a complaint maybe just an hour and instead of complaining fill those thoughts and words spoken with Praise and Gladness for the Sake of His Glory. And maybe talk to someone new this week someone you wouldn't regularly, routinely talk to just a hello maybe a how is your day or even a what do you desire...

Beauty of the return

If I could just explain to you the way I have been feeling these past few weeks I would love for you to feel the way I have been feeling. Let me try to use my words correctly so you might get a glimpse of what I am experiencing as I am back in Uganda. I really cannot bring my self to reality as everywhere I look I know something or someone. To begin the great adventure as we returned to the Farm the women, children and boys were all there with welcoming smiles. Also OJ my pastor from before had been there for a few days and I was even able to hear him preach oh what a blessing. I was really in awe because Njeru is so far from the farm so I could not believe he was there greeting me. With his same huge smile I had to keep pinching my self. Many things have been happening at the farm that are so beautiful. One thing I love the greatest is the school girls that come over everyday to play with us. We are learning silly games and loud songs, oh it is such a joy to me! As we have been preparing to be a blessing and give the $5000 that we did receive from our (Laura and I) friends and family. Somehow of course with the grace of God he provided fully for us! Wow I fear so much but I know that He is holding me and bringing me more into Him with trust and provision. I have not learned fully what the purpose of somethings happening here but I know that with time I will be able to see what is going on.

Here in Jinja things have been more than perfect. It was a challenge to come to the city from the village, although this is only somehow a city there are many things happening here. But within it all so much good. The first night I arrived at the boys new home was a shock. They are living in a house that is much bigger and there is a nice compound around. Even they have this beautiful wireless internet so for some one more week I will be posting more. They also have a fridge and just few days ago got a microwave! We were also able to bake them oatmeal cookies last night as a evening snack! Things that seem not so needed in the village and things but are so helpful to have here. Caring Place and Sera have really been blessed this last year. The 16 boys are still bouncy balls all through the night and wake each day for school at 5. Then return home around 4. This is sad that they are not having a break right now but it is helpful so I am able to go see my lady friends throughout the day.

Yesterday I was able to visit Beatrice, Lillian and Prosperity, the most joyful family I knew here. I prayed along the way that they would be living in the same house and that by foot I would be able to find it. As a approached the little room I saw Beatrice with much longer hair and she was holding a much larger child. I was walking toward her and she seemed happy and then she saw my face and started to yell and laugh and shake. She was so grateful to see me. It was a time the for about 30 minutes I was unable to stop smiling and my face began to pain from all of the joy it was expressing. As I was recalling all that she had given to me in the past, including a matching African outfit and 3 kilos of sim-sim(sesame seeds), and so much love. I was so blown away. The feelings were unexplainable I was so glad to have them in my life. As we began to talk and catch on life I learned so much about them. Beatrice is doing well in Suubi and is still selling her fish from the market. Also Lillian is a part of Pi-Tech and is able to teach all of the older women new things and business practices. I was so over joyed wow these people are just so wonderful. And she of course served me her best meal which was beef and rice that was browned. I was fearing to take the meat but feel it is different here and she would have been so sad if I did not take it, so I prayed as it went down:) As I left she sent with me an avocado for Christian and told me she would also roast corn for him but the time was getting late I had told Hanifah my twin that I would meet her at one and it was becoming 4 or 5 but it is Africa I guess:)

So now Hanifah and I have met again and I was telling them that I would be back in maybe 4 years and now it has only been one so they are very surprised!! I love spending time and somehow relaxing here. Although the schedule is much different, the boys don't sleep until 11 or so and then wake early but we sleep later and then we just plan day by day. It is a different pace. I am praying that I will be able to reach now Mama Marlena and some Suubi women that have new children and things and That I am able to pray and bless them as I visit them. Please pray that this week in Jinja we would be used properly! Thank you for your love.

Then also as I will return to the Farm I will distribute backpacks and books and pens to the school. Laura is there now and she is bringing them to one school and then once I return I will bring to the other school. So now the children in the village will have something to protect the books they are having and be able to do the work that they need to in school and bring it home to work on it as well. I am thankful that we were able to come and see the need and then use the money that we have been blessed with to give. As we saw the children on the Farm that received shoes were not wearing them or they were not clean or they were already spoiled, we knew that would not be the best item for the children to get. Thank you for reading and for all the prayers I feel them I know I have so much support! Thank you and blessing to your day!!!

Backpacks for shoes:)

So we have come to a conclusion through lots of discution and visits to about 4 schools now that we will be giving to to seprate schools and the greatest need is books and pens and something that they can bring them in that will last, this being a backpack. This might be confusing but all the children are still without shoes but the majority of people are and that is the way of life but if they are without books they are not learning properly please pray with us thank you!!