Uganda Day 1

Oh Africa! The place I love to be. Is it possible to miss something so much and then when you reach the destination it is like you were never gone?

Well that is me. Right now.

Sometimes I wonder why God chose me to come this far when it very well could be any one of you.

There truly is no better place to be. When I landed in Uganda I was in seat 16a so I was so excited because I thought I was going to be out super fast. Our plane was delayed due to a faulty seatbelt. Not the best news I had heard. The entire flight I thought what if it was my seat belt. J

                Christine my closest friend here greeted me out in the arrival area along with Luke (that boy who had the heart valve surgery in Sudan), Patrick, and our current Mzungu communications coordinator-Cassie. It was dark and quiet when I arrived at the compound, we lugged all of my suitcases to my room and I didn’t even open them I just left them there and sat in the living room for a while to let everyone know I had arrived- shortly after my head the pillow I was out! When I woke up this morning I stared at the same bunk I slept in the first night I was ever in Uganda. Which was pretty cool. I was greeted by familiar faces and introduced to new MST’s from all over we have a handful of girls coming and going right now.

Your perspective and mindset really have to change when you come back to a place like this. I am really trying not to relate EVERYTIHNG back to “when I was here…” statements. I am excited that things have changed and there is so much for me to learn coming back into Empower A Child. Like I said before though it feels like I never left.

Today is a public holiday in Uganda.  Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). All of Uganda celebrates this holiday. Muslim or not.  I unpacked most of my things today. Trying to hide some snacks away in the luggage that I am putting away that way when I find them several months down the road it will be like an early Christmas. I feel so organized this time around. Lots of containers and boxes to keep my things together in one place I am really excited about that. It really is the small things in life.

The weather…. It is HOT today. 73* but I am roasting. It is kind of cloudy and earlier the rain came through. I love the rain here. It pours and pours so hard and it all happens so fast. It rushes through and then the sun shines again. So strange, DEFINITLEY… not like Port Orchard.

I took a walk to Tusky’s (the local grocery) and picked up some things and exchange some of my money. A laundry basin, water jug, and a few of my favorite candies from.

                We are headed to the village Tuesday through Thursday this week. I cannot wait to see my kids and families out there. My heart is full.

This evening we lead a womens bible study for the women who are from the local brothel and we had four women here. One of the MST's who is here right now really spear headed this new outreach for women who are involved in prostitution. We get an opportunity once a week to speak God's truth into their lives. What a cool impact we can have. I am really excited about this new program and excited to see how God uses it in my own life. :)

Thank you for your support and following me on this journey I am so excited to see what God has in store for me.

Prayer requests: To be able to seek God first in times of frustration, to be flexible in all and every situation, be a part of EAC without holding anything back.

THE FINAL WEEK

I seriously am at a loss of words at the moment. I have so much I want to say and I don't know how to put it into a correct sentence. I cannot believe I am down to the last week before I head off to Uganda. At this time in one week I will be sitting in an airport terminal heading to London! And then to my favorite place. :)

As many of you know tomorrow (Sunday the 20th) is my last sunday before I leave for two years. I have a couple things for ya! If you would still like a t-shirt I will have the box with me and you will be able to purchase them tomorrow $25. I would love for all of you who do have a shirt to wear yours tomorrow so we can take a group picture in between services before I head off. Also I will have my address for you set to go- so you can send me letters or packages or stickers. I love stickers. so do the kids.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been so supportive through this whole journey and I cant wait to see hoe God is going to use me not only in Uganda but in the lives of those who are here at home.

I have a busy week this week. I am working everyday. Today, is the day I gut my room so I will be spending every moment I can trying to get things packed up and ready to go.

PLEASE be praying for my time. That I will be patient through this process and I will remember to hug everyone I can while I am here.

 

 

 

 

T- Minus 19 days

I cannot believe I am just few weeks out from heading back to Uganda. God is so good. It is weird to start winding down with the bajillion jobs I have. I am headed to Mt. Baker with the kids next week to be a camp counselor  and then I will only have one week after that! It is so surreal still. I have been collecting things- Here is a list of things for those of you who have expressed interest in donating items towards my trip. If these things are just lying around and you aren't using it anymore I would love to take it off of your hands!

List for Uganda Shan: updated 7/10/2014

snacks: dried fruit

External Hard drive- to back up photos & files 

headphones

Tums
Sewing needles

I was able to join my cousin in Everett to feed the homeless and share with some of the people of my plans to travel back to Uganda. It is amazing to be able to help out with people from all over the world who are struggling not just overseas but in my backyard! It was convicting to me that I need to be also reaching out to those that are closer to home. I now have 3 pen pals all young girls who are interested in knowing more about what is going on in Uganda. I LOVE that I get to encourage young ladies to be seeking after Gods plan for their lives. It is one of the most rewarding places to be. Thanks for thinking of me- I am beyond blessed when I think of how good you have been to me. I would not be able to be following after not only Gods leading in my life but fulfilling one of my biggest dreams. working hands on in a village that I consider family. God is doing big things for me and you. :)

A message that would change my life

6/12, 1:22pm

From: Erin Hostetler

"A few days ago I set up a small amount to sponsor you thru your blog. It is actually Violet that is sponsoring you. I know she was 3 when we moved but she is now 8 and has a heart for missions. For about 8 months she has wanted to do mission activities. We are always looking for things we can do that is 8 year old "safe". She attends Northwood Academy which is a Christian school affiliated with our church. Her school does a March Mission madness every year. This year she really got into it and earned money to help. Our church also partners with Water Mission International and holds an event every spring. Water Missions also does and annual 5K here in Charleston and our church has a team. This past year Violet, myself, a friend of hers and his mom raised money and walked on our church team in the 5K where you carry a bucket with water. Tough job for a girl who was a week away from turning 8. She has decided that she is old enough to start missions work and wants to continue projects. The funny thing about this is our churches sponsoring water projects is in Uganda. Two of our pastors went there this past Feb. and toured areas where the systems went. They brought back videos of the areas and the people sending messages. The Uganda part clicked with Violet as she has been fascinated by your blog and Facebook posts. She loves to follow what you post. While trying to think of her next mission project we talked about you going there again and what you are trying to do. She decided that she can do chores and earn money to sponsor you as one of her projects. She would like to be pen pals and share your story with her class and school when she goes back in August"

 

 

A few days ago I got this sweet message from and 8 year old girls mom. An 8 year old who I knew when she was three. We had no current connection. Except that God had planned it from the beginning. He knew the impact I would one day make and what a blessing an 8 year old could be to me. So often we get focused on the details and just looking at the outcome of the exact thing we are working on at the time and we often miss what is going on around us. Sometimes even failing to recognize the big ripple effect that we are causing through the work that is being accomplished. Praise the Lord for revealing it to me through the eyes of this sweet Violet. When Violet and her family moved away five year ago we had no idea the we would reconnect through something that we could have never imagined on our own. When I first started thinking about Africa I was concerned and excited at the same time which then in turn resulted in confusion. i think. I was reminded of Psalm 31:14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." I knew that God was using me for His glory but I had NO idea why?!  Like Violet I wanted to get involved and didn't know quite what I was getting into to be honest. My mom probably would have LOVED if I got involved in sending people overseas on my own when I was 8 for two reasons: a) to get housework completed and b) have time to convince me to stay in America. ;) When we surrender and allow God to use us in His plan we are able to achieve goals that we would have never been able to on our own. I wish there were more people like Violet who feel led to be involved in ministry whether it is missions or holding babies in the nursery on Sunday morning it is so important for us to follow the calling God has placed in our lives. Imagine if we all started to follow those convictions- what a radical difference we could make not only in our churches, but in our communities, and in part the world. okay, that may be a bit extreme. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9. Make a difference. Follow God's calling in your life even if it is out of your comfort zone...especially if it is out of your comfort zone.

 

Just some food for thought.

 

Thanks Violet.

 

The shirts are in-and the wait is over!

Today I was finally able to pick up the t-shirts and I am so excited.
Here are a few pictures of what they look like. My sweet sister Violet helping me represent :)

You don't want to miss this one...

So I have some news that I would love your support and prayers with. A volunteer opening with Empower A Child just came up and I have applied for the job. I talked on the phone with Wilson (EAC Founder)  today and I am the new assistant MST Volunteer coordinator and I will work with communications with the US office. I will be working with all of the incoming volunteers. I am hopping on a plane on July 26th.

This means there is so much to do between now and then! Here is a list of things for those of you who have expressed interest in donating items towards my trip here is your time to shine! If these things are just lying around and you aren't using it anymore I would love to take it off of your hands!

List for Uganda Shan:

Pens

Notebooks

Advil

Wet wipes

Water bottle.

Water flavoring

Costco snacks: Granola bars, fruit snacks, crackers, peanuts, beef jerky, protein bars, dried fruit....etc.

A small mirror

Socks

Small Packages of tissues

External Hard drive- to back up photos & files 

headphones

construction paper

scissors
US Flag
solar lantern/flashlight

Please be praying for this transition and that it will be made clear to all parties involved. Thank you so much for your continued support I am so blessed. :)
Letters are out.

Muwala Wamusumba

Life is funny.

Life is funny.

    For example, God puts things in your life that you never knew were there until He fulfills His plan and that is in His timing. period. Today I was reminded of this in a way I can not even begin to describe- But I will try my best. I was able to go to both my Junior High (Cedar Heights) and my high school (South Kitsap High school). While I was there I got to see some of the people that played a key part in my schooling as well as influencing what was next in my life. Though I only went to Cedar for my 9th grade year I was much encouraged by the sweet student store lady- Ms. Nixon. She constantly was telling me about her journeys to Ghana, Africa. When I was getting ready to move on to high school she gave me a list of encouraging quotes. I didn't really know why she was telling me this stuff because I DID NOT want to go  anywhere I was happy right where I was in little Port Orchard. When I got to high school our economics/history teacher Mr. Bergeson showed the film Invisible Children. My heart ached for the children knowing that this ongoing abductions were still going on. But I was still so fixed on getting through high school and then going off to college. little did I know that God's plan far surpassed anything I could have even imagined. Anyway, I got to visit Ms. Nixon, Bergie, as well as many other teachers that I had no idea were making little impressions on my heart before I even knew that I was going to be heading to Africa.

     Just to fill you in on what new with Ms. Muwala Wamusumba- I am on track to fly back to Uganda at the end of August. I have been looking at plane tickets this week and am excited to get a date nailed down and begin my countdown! I would return today if I could. I am currently working three jobs: A nanny on Monday on Friday for three young kids that I adore, and office by the company of Legacy telecommunications as an office assistant, and a team member at Blu Berry frozen yogurt so I am staying as busy as I can. When I head back to Africa I am going to be taking online courses through Louisiana State University's Distance Independent learning program wow that is a mouthful. :) I will be completing pre recs for achieving a nursing degree, Lord willing, from Grand Canyon University. I am also planning on taking some classes during this summer just to get a jump start on things while I am waiting.

     I just finished typing up a new support letter and I have half of the monthly support I need from people who have been so generous to me. I have been in contact with the team that is in Uganda everyday. we have been sending photos back and forth and I feel like I am right there again! I miss hugging on those sweet kids! God has been so faithful and I am confident that he will provide every step of the way.