jehovah jireh.

 “God uses His people, to help His people, for His glory!"

Sometimes, absolute miracles happen that change your life forever.  Miracles that remind us of how awesome… and sovereign… and mighty God is, and how perfectly He loves and provides for His children.  Sometimes these miracles make us stop dead in our tracks, praise Him, and repent that we ever doubted His provision, even if just slightly.  If you’re reading this blog today, let me confidently remind you – God. Is. Good.  Great actually.  This week God abruptly stopped me dead in MY tracks – when I came face to face with the most awesome financial miracle!  Dana and I received a letter that has changed our lives, and reminded us that our time in Uganda is truly a gift from the Lord.  This week I have enjoyed reflecting, yet again, on how my life (down to very small details, I previously thought were insignificant) has been orchestrated for this very time and purpose, and I praise God for the part I get to play in His will being done throughout Uganda.  If the author of our “miracle letter” is reading this blog by chance – THANK YOU!!  We look forward to seeing God glorified in Uganda and throughout the ends of the Earth.

 

I was so encouraged by these words which closed the letter we received this week, and I will close the same to you – “Keep going… He’s in front of you!”

* * * * * *

Photos from this week...

My girl, Victor, enjoying our new flowers - many are in full bloom!

Mato - starting our House 1 garden!

We need J3 Organics here, just sayin.

We sorted donations at the Babies' Home...

... lots of them!

And we kissed lots of babies... obviously!

We had Movie/Family night at House 2.

 

I probably shouldn't tell you about any "favorites"...

Saturdays = 7 chickens, you know this.

 Meanwhile, back at home in Birmingham... 

Lee & Katie were busy "Covering the Night" to raise awareness for Kony2012!  

Great job guys!!

Matthew 6:1-4:

¹ “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

   ² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

help for bibles.

Today, from Uganda, I have an important request…

for your support in helping us buy 25 new Ugandan Bibles.

We’ve been in Uganda for 3 weeks now, and one of the things I am most excited about is the Bible Study we started this week with 25+ women from Kabalagala.  Our first class was yesterday (and will continue each Wednesday afternoon) and went VERY well! Many of the ladies we met with are part of an existing women’s group that has been meeting for about a month now at Rays of Hope School.  Joel, the principal at Rays, agreed to let this group meet in one of his classrooms because he knew we would be coming soon! The women currently hold English/Math/Health/Trade classes on Monday and Wednesday afternoons– and our Bible Study will meet on Wednesday’s immediately before these important classes.  We are excited about the opportunity to jump in and help the teachers with their existing classes as well as add the biblical teachings before.  This week we simply had fellowship and discussed the Gospel and what it means for our lives.  The women were very receptive to this, and we plan on starting a study of the book of Ruth next week (based off David Platt's sermons on the book).  Everyone is very excited… however, there is only one woman in the class who currently owns a Lugandan Bible.  After asking if any of the women were interested in owning their own Bible (and seeing a resounding “YES!”) we let them know we would do our very best to get Luganda Bibles for them in the next couple weeks. This, is where y’all come in... The Bibles are $20.00 USD/each (unless like Lee suggested, we get our haggling skills ramped up for this one), and we do have access to purchase them here in Kampala. We would love for this to be possible so these eager women can begin to study scripture along with us and also at home. If anyone would like to donate to the women this way we are requesting you to go our website www.untilHisnetsarefull.com/support.html to give and write "Uganda Bible" in the comment section. If you have a Bible Study or friends/family you can pass this along to that would be great!

Please pray for these women as they begin hearing more about the Gospel and how much the Lord loves them.  We are so excited about helping equip them to learn the Word of God, and watch them make disciples among the women in their community…  

until His nets are full!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,

teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:16

brother.

Everything about Africa reminds me of my brother, Lee.  From the “botabotas” (aka: motorcycles) that everyone drives here to the Nakumat (a local grocery story only he would laugh about) and every “How are YOU?!?” and “It is just there…” in-between.  Lee is constantly on my mind here because I know his heart and mine both beat for Africa.   I often think about the discussion we had in February 2009 about the possibility of the two of us setting out on a brother/sister adventure to Africa.  It was very quickly after that we bought our 2 plane tickets to Nairobi, Kenya.  I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting more than the bonding experience of a lifetime in our short two week trip, but I should have known the Lord would use it to change my life, like he did Lee’s two Summer’s before.  When Africa was mentioned, it was obvious I would go, no matter how scared or nervous I was.  Lee is my younger brother by almost 4 years, but there is nothing actually “younger” about him.  He has been a leader to me (spiritually, emotionally, and physically) for as long as I can remember and I adore him more than life itself.  I remember that I couldn’t drive quick enough the day I was meeting Lee to tell him about the confirmation I had been given about serving long-term in Africa.  Over the next several years Lee never stopped encouraging me in this and provided endless advice and wisdom towards this leap.   It blows my mind to think about how the Lord used my brother to introduce Africa to me – and this calling on my life (God is just awesome like that). 

Anyway – as I sit here in Uganda watching the kids play outside this afternoon – I am so thankful for my amazing family, specifically Lee.  He is getting married in 5 months to one of the luckiest girls on the planet, Katie Pauley (I kinda think Lee did ok too!) and I can’t wait to see him take this next step in his life.  I am so amazed at the man he has turned into and forever grateful for his influence in my life.  I miss Lee today… and have every day since I’ve been in Uganda.  I am so excited to see what God has in store for the next step in our lives.  I love you Lee - and thank you again for introducing me to Africa!  =)

dinner.

Dana and I en route to Market (via BotaBota)

Picking out our chickens (7)

Groceries.

BotaBota back home.

No, I still don't want to kill one.

Dinner.

babies.

We spent our day off yesterday volunteering at a local Babies Home in Kampala, Uganda. 

I must confess: Now, I want a baby.  Great.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. 

 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

(Psalm 139:13-15)

resting.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30