To Live Is To Love

Wifely Sabbatical

2011-08-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

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!!

2011-03-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

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

2010-12-10T20:07:00.001-08:00

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.

2010-11-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

: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

2010-10-24T18:43:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-24T00:40:00.000-07:00

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:)

2010-06-11T03:43:00.000-07:00

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!!

throughout life...

2010-06-04T03:17:00.001-07:00

As the wind flows through my hair and around the people sitting in every area that there may be. I am reminded again of the times my Father has brought me to learn. As we traveled through the capital city every 100 yards a small child is seated with hands raised high wanting to feel the weight and touch of even just a single coin. Then you travel in to a village that is"deep deep" and the children there are filled with curiosity. Not really knowing what we are or where we have come from and why are we there. But they know we are something new for them and they only want to know more about us. Their beautiful laughter and smiling faces will never leave my mind. The first time that we reached the school on this trip was quite an amazement. The children had a break and just came running as if we had the winning prize. All squeezing in as tight as possible just to see and touch our skin. What an interesting and overwhelming experience to see so many children just wanting a touch! But how precious to see so many beautiful children. And how I would love to get inside of their little heads to see what they are thinking. Really in most situations I am in I pray that me Father would give me grace to know what loving actions I can move on and what words so pray for such things in the culture here. The ability to bring shoes to the beautiful children is going to be quite an experience and I thank you so much for being to way to bring support and provision for these children.

The very first day that we had been at the Farm the teachers house was being built. We werre all able to be a part of the ground breaking and digging the foundation. Over the few days that we have been building it has been an incredible image of the body of Christ. Beginning with a strong foundation that is very deep in the ground. That was then filled with the strong Rock and on top of that the cornerstones that were perfectly laid out to the exact millimeter. It will be such a joy and honor to hopefully stay in the teachers house for some time and see a house from the ground up!

Today we will be picking the group with a total of 23 people then being here in Uganda. Please pray that each of our skills and talent would be used correctly and that we would all be transparent and kind to our brothers and sisters both Ugandan and Americans. That also all transport and travel would be safe and smooth.Thank you all for reading these words and being a part of this for me! May the Father and Almighty King bless you were ever you may be today!!

" For he will satisfy the thirst and fill the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:9

2010-06-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

Back home!

2010-05-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

After about 40 hours of travel time I am welcomed by the beautiful smells and sounds of Uganda. I am comforted to see things that I saw when I was here before. I am amazed by the impact that this land has had on my and what it feels like to return to a place so unique. I feel so blessed to beable to travel to this place yet again!
It has been amazing to see my Father come in and provide for amost of the Childrens shoes. We have only $800 left to gather so that we are able to start sizing and purchasing the shoes. I believe that the desire and passion that the Lord has put on Laura and my hearts has be awesome to see Him come in and intervine. We serve such an amazing and powerful God!! Please pray for our time here this first week that we would be able to connect with the people and be a family so we are able to be real and divine with them and that the Lord would make to the way for the large group coming as well. Pray for protection and communication that it would be clear. Also the process of getting shoes is going to be challenging plese pray for smooth and direct guidance by the Father! THANK YOU all so much for your toughs and prayers and support they all mean so much! I hope to be updating you all about what we are doing and all that is happening! Blessings and Love to you ALL!!!!

As I return to the land of unknown

2010-04-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

As I sit here on my comfortable couch I have to smile. The beauty of life is so visible to me. That although there is so much I can try to do He has complete control. Oh how I love sharing with all of you that I will be returning to Uganda. I cannot express the feelings I have as the excitement of going becomes increasingly greater as my departure date nears. I have been in awe of the conversations and passion that comes out of people when real life hits the fan and is flying into beautiful directions! I would like to say that I know what it is going to be like to return to the place I feel most at home. It almost feels like I just got news I would go home for Christmas and I did not think I would get to come home. Oh the Joy that is within when I am reminded of all that I love so much. This time I will work hard at keeping updates consistent and vivid so that you can pray, laugh and hurt with me. The slender of this earth and all inhabitants of it are incredibly delicate to me and I cherish the time I am able to spend abroad. Thank you all for your love and support to the path I am on!
" From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries" Acts 17:26

The Desires Of My Heart

2009-06-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

The beats of my heart go with those of the deep bush. This last week I experienced something I never imagined. The bush and not even in its full. I went deep, maybe 15K into where there is no town no anything just hunts and very small "centers" which are a few brick rooms. I felt everything where there was nothing. The district is Masindi and it is not even all the way north. Cannan Farm is a place where many families were able to run to from the rebels or there own civil war. It is a project started my Ugandans that owned land and saw the need of many Acholi people. So even this very rural place seemed some how Civil and is developing well. Still there the school had 1000 children and maybe a handful had shoes, none with uniforms and all cramed into 7 class rooms. The P5 level was the class that welcomed me into sing to me and welcome me to there village. 114 students in maybe a 25x25 room all ready to learn. So with that being the school the clinic was just one room on the other side of the center with one lady there, really not a lot. But it was there! Praise God. The week I was there, 6 people died of famine in Kitgum. There is the real deep village were everyone fears and people are in a struggle just to find food and water. The needs here are endless, but I believce God can do mighly things. I feel the most alive when I am there though. I want to be permanently there. I was very tempted to stay but I am alone. I think God wants me here. Please pray he would use me in the way he is wanting. I have been planning nursing for sometime and now see it is needed! But really so much is needed please pray God would move here! He is much greater than any food and any amount of money!

some realities of it all

2009-06-04T05:24:00.000-07:00

On the real side these people have Joy! They have joy that is unheard of where I come from. Joy that overcomes all circumstances. A joy I could never grasp a hold of and obtain my self. I believe in the States we grow up with so much and it is given and taken away in moments and we can not be happy with having less than we once had. Well maybe just maybe if we were to have Nothing to begin with, a room of cement and a basin of cold water to wash. We would have the greatest joy to see even a plant growing. This is something I must take with me along side of every where I go. That happiness should not come from anything but a relationship. The end, that is all, so maybe if it comes to the end of the earth with no one person or God then my Joy could fade. This is something I must learn and teach. I am still and will always be learning. The truth of these things no matter were you turn we all are human just living in different places and different struggles. We are all in this together and from the way we have been taught to live we shall learn from each other in our ways so that one day we will be able to have the freedom to LIVE!

A day with my TWIN!

2009-05-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hanifah is a beautiful girl! I have been so blessed to get to know her. Through the V-Team urging me to meet this wonderful girl that was looking like me! Although the skin color is slightly differing people say we are looking similar:) So I have been with her in a out through this "holiday" she has. Philip with Young Life Jinja has taken her in to live with him and to send her to school. It has been quite a journey of knowing them. They have really thaught me so many things.
With Hanifah soon going back to school I decided to take her out for a day! We went to a very nice pool right on the Nile(in picture). She is just learning to swim so I was able to give her some lessons on how to become a better swimmer! She is learning so very well! She really loves it too which is so wonderful. The small bit she knows she holds onto and is progressively learning. It makes me very thankful for the, what feels like, being born with the talent of swimming. Essentially it is being born in a place where naturally you learn how to swim or go to "school" for it! So then after swimming and laying out in the relaxing breeze, we went to eat. There is a place Flavors that is Dutch owned and is very nice you can get lots of Muzungu food. I did not realize it would be a challenge when it came to ordering for Hanifah. She had never been to a place as this and was put into a hard spot. We eventually got through though and she really enjoyed it in the end:) I had a wonderful time with her on that fun filled day! Please pray she is able to go to school this term and that there is peace in her life!

Bathing under the banana tree

2009-05-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful place: Katente. The village I was able to visit over the weekend! To get there it took 2 taxi's and 2 boda ride's from Jinja. The place we went was were OJ was born and raised. It had been a complete jungle around his hut but now there was some farming taking place so it had been some what cleared out.
The father of OJ has 11 children and OJ was the last born. Musa is his name, he is 86 years old and still so strong. He is able to read the smallest bible letters and carry loads of wood and also slaughter a goat. As soon as I was there the slaughtering began! And over the course of the weekend we finished what seemed to be the entire goat, from the intestines , to the liver it was all consumed. All the food that was eaten was grown there. That is were all of there food comes from and if there is none grown then they are not be to be feed. Recently there was a famine and barely made it through, also Musa had just been bit by a "flying snake" and almost died but was still doing so much work while I was there! So incredible! He has been there since 1941 and there has not ever been a Muzungu(a white person) there. People were coming all night just to see if I was really there. Even some men had made some bet that I was not really there. It was quite an sight. Then al so to fetch water was a very distance process, first take cans about 1/2 mile away down into the jungle, then bath there so that you didnt need to waste water, then fill the can again and head out and up the hill back to the house. Also the house ha just been put there by on of Musas sons because his 3rd hut had fallen in. I could go on and on of stories that were told! It was really an amazing thing to see though, something I will never forget!

The way of Sunday...

2009-05-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

The way I am able to spend my Sundays is a beautiful thing!! I wake at 8 and get some food in me before I head to Njeru. It is 1500 Shilings to ride a cross the Nile and to the AOET on the hill. There they are empowering Ugandans that raise orphans. There is a small fellowship lead every Sunday by Pastor O.J. and his family. The community consists of mostly children which make for a joyous time. Always full of loud singing and they have even put together there own choir that practices every Saturday. I was able to get connected to this wonderful family through Sarah Ray. Pastor O.J. is one of the most incredible people I have ever known. I could be around him all the time he is always laughing and having caracter it is so great to see. He has had much stugggle in his life. He did not recieve shoes until age 17 if that tells you anything. He was rescued by an older sister that brought him away from his sick father that was unable to care for him. He remebers the pain of himself because he was so poorly taken care of. It was only little he was able to tell me because he said it was so painful to even remember. So now they live in a very nice place AOET has given them for 4 years then they must find a place and be on there own. This is there last year and he does not know what the Lord will bring him but if fully dependent on the Lord. His faith is incredible from even going some days with out knowing what he will feed his family for breakfast but the Lord providing a loaf of bread. It is so real. His family consists of Mama Sarah, Rachel who is an orphan and in school but on break now, then Panina who is so timid but a beautiful heart, Samuel who Sarah was able to pray and have the birth be complete, Joel also shy but is now not fearing me and baby Shalome. O.J. also tells me I am now apart of the family! I feel blessed. The way he lives his life is incredible. He has 9 pigs he feeds every morning at 5 he leaves his house on his bike and rides for 30-45 min to hotels to get scraps to feed them and that takes a couple of hours. Some days(Mon, Wen, Fri) he has to go directly from there to preach a study then from there he has a garden at home that is always needing work. Then if he has school he will go from 4-10 at night and when he returns the family will wait so he can eat. To top it off he make hospital envelopes at night to sell. It is unreal, and then he has children that needs his love and he gives them so much! I have learned so much from this true Man of God I feel so blessed to know him. This week I am praying that I am able to send his family including my self to see his village because his children have not seen yet. I do not know if things will work out there are some challenges so I ask you pray I am able to take them for a couple days. Thank you! Blessings!

Blessing to baby Marlena

2009-04-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

A beautiful journey to Masisi lead me to a child that had no name. The baby girl was just one week and there were many struggles with their lives. The mother had asked me to name her so my name is what I gave to here. I wrote it on a small scrap of paper and the mother took it to a very safe place. The mother is not a part of Suubi but had just gone that morning to talk to a chairperson in Suubi to see if it would be possible for her to join. As soon as baby Marlena was born the father ran out. Before the child was born she was cooking alchol to make ends meet but now she was unable to do that with the child being born she is now with no income. I can only pray now that the Lord will provide for her in some way. I am hoping with all God's power there is something she is able to do! Please pray as well! The more prayers the more power! I believe that her family and friends will beable to help her because I have learned they live in community and when one is down they are all down and are open to help in any way! I praise God for that! I feel blessed to have another Marlena on the earth!

Becoming An African =)

2009-04-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

It has been lovely living as the people do here. I have now done 2 steps of the farming here that they do. The other morning Mama Dorothy and her two daughters Margret and Charity footed me out to there gound. All people were stopping and wondering what in the world I was doing going out with them. I told them all I was digging! and they would just laugh and laugh! So once we got the the area I wraped my self so I would not get dirty and took off the shoes, grabbed a plow and awy we dug. I was blessed that it was a cool day becuase the work I was not used to. We just took out all of the weeds so the following week they could plant. After a couple of hours we completed the work and headed back home. There I was given water to wash and they brought me bananas and a coke. I then beaded some necklaces for her. Her other daughter had been cooking so she finally allowed me to help and I ground sim sim into a kind of peanut butter look. It was hard work but I was glad to be "managing" it!!
Today I have just returned to town from planting with a lady Betty, or Mama Grace. She is very fluent in English and knows a lot. Planting was much better. One would put in holes and the other would put a few beans or corns into the hole and cover it! It was a hot day though so I think I sweated more today! hah
So slowly I am learning the way of a realy African. I am not ever able to reallly become one until one thing: I marry an African!!! Iye Iye Iye!! Only if the Lord whiling!

Ahhh the beautys of Africa!!!

2009-04-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hello!!! I have now found a good place to connect to you all!! hah So this here is some food I was served before teaching English class the other day! JaJa Margret said I must eat before I teach, it is a nice chunk of fish with posho and white ants! yum!! I am feed more than enough to fill my belly every womans house I go to! It is wonderful that i don't have to worry about eating I can just go! The woman I am with there is Grace she is a whole lot of fun. Only little English but she knows how to have a good time. I really love her. Her energy is so friendly and welcoming it makes me feel as if I have known her for ages!!
I have just begun a Campeners here for Young Life Jinja which is just a few blocks away! It has been really fun to begin but wants me to stay permanently, I will just have to trust that God will keep it going when I depart. I am sorry I can't tell everything. Everyday is a new story and I will try to get them all to here sometime!!
Today is a off day I have just been roaming around with my friend Sera here that has the home of boys, she is showing me the good spots!! It is nice to have someone to connect to. She is from Rwanda but I feel as if we are long lost sisters :) She is wonderful!! Much love to you all i will try to keep writing!

mpola-mpola

2009-04-09T02:13:00.000-07:00

Slow-slow, the pase of the Africans! The way they live there life is something to take after. They walk and talk and be so at such a slow pase. Never in a rush or worry about things. This is something I love and hope to learn from. Things have been so wonderful here in Jinja Town. The team from Yobel Market has just returned home so now I will be really starting to connect here and find the way! The people here are incredible, there kindness is unheard of and there devotion is so intense. We have been traveling all about the town to the many different ministries here and about. People are really making an impact. We all need each other.
Today the first women of Subbi received a bank account. Natalina was so over joyed to have finally be able to hold her money in a bank safely. The account was free to open up she just had to have a certain amount to open it. She has 11 children under her and is always smiling. Such a wonderful women of God. The gift is so small but yet it is a day that she will always remember!
Last night was my first visit to the boys home. The ministry is Caring Place and is about a 2 minute walk. There about about a year ago some westerners came over and saw the need of a place for street kids. They connected with a gracous women Sarah from Rawanda and took the start. The boys they took in had been living off the streets. They range from 5-13 and there is 15 boys they care for now. They rent a house and teach them and play with them so that they will stay. They love soccer and games. Some have run away but the most of them have stayed for food and a bed to sleep. It is incredible the things that are able to be done here. That is just the gist of the organization but things like that just keep showing up! But there is never enough so much help is needed.Be inspired pary for Him to show you what you can begin!
Because of the oppression of the weak and the groan of the needy,God will rise Now! Psalm 12:5
Now off to visit a women Claira who was resently in a collision of 3 Bodas(motorcycle). I believe she is recovering well but a visit will hopefully bring more healing with prayer.

Miracles in the Preparation

2009-03-14T21:52:00.000-07:00

To say the least there have been powerful things happening as I prepare to head off to Uganda. As the day approaches, approximately 15 days, God is working throughout me.
To being, I knew one thing I must have before entering into Uganda was a Yellow Fever shot. As I began to find out where and how to get it, I knew that it was going to have to cost me. I had no idea what the price might be. Just days before I was going to receive the shot an unexpected check came into the mail for a very odd amount. It ended up that this check was just dollars aways from the exact amount that the shot was going to cost me! Tears of Joy came for I knew the Lord was working. About a week after that I also realized I must purchase Malaria pills, people helping me get things together just let me know to buy on month worth in the States because they are much cheaper in Africa. Once again I did not know how much these were going to cost me. As I went to get rung up for the month of pills I handed the clerk my insurance card,while crossing my fingers, although insrance companies do not cover for things like this. She had said to me " You cannot pay anything less than nothing". I was in shock. My doctors back home had the insurance information already and it was covered! I had later written my friends in Uganda to tell them that, they told me they had never herd of that happening! Tears of Joy kept falling.
As the date was approaching I really looked into my itinerary. I remembered that I would be staying a night in Ethiopia, as a layover. This now became more of a reality. Mind you I am already flying over there by my self. I was a little worried. A friend of mine,Sarah Ray,that helped me out with getting to Uganda, had told me there was ministry in Ethiopia that I could connect with. So I emailed her in hopes to get a plan for my night there. The very next day my travel agent called and told me that my flight was changed and I would not be staying the night and I would be leaving a day earlier! What a blessing.
That very night Sarah Ray called and had promptly asked me if it would be ok if she roomed with me my first week in Uganda! Laughing we agreed it would be a perfect plan. I just recently found out she would even be there for a part of when I would be there. So I could truly not stop laughing after getting that great news! What comfort He brings to those who need it!
Then to really top things off I had been planing on bringing 3, 100 dollar bills as my cash while I am there. The exchange rate is better with bigger bills.This was one of the last large things to get before leaving. I had not let anyone know this. Then it was gifted to me in the exact form and all. Many Tears of Joy came flowing out, as if He were right there letting me know not to worry about such little things as money. The least of my worries now is money. When before it was consuming all my thoughts.
He really will make things happen if it is what He is wanting to do in your life. Let Him be in control!!