16 days

We leave for Uganda in just 16 days. I can hardly believe it. Before this month, my thought process was more focused on what we needed to pack, purchase, and take along with us. And also how to dress and care for the people when we get there. 

But now my thoughts are really leaning toward how we can be of use by Christ while we are in the continent, country, city, and Tender Hearts Baby's home. My prayers are redirecting. 

Lord, please use us. Mold us and show us what Your will is for this trip. Guide us along this path and put the people we are to meet, in our path.- Or put us in theirs. Present us with opportunities to show Your children Your gospel. Help us be impacted in ways we didn't know possible. Bless Ken and his family and staff for the work they are doing in helping to rescue these orphans and find Christian homes for them to be adopted into. And Lord, as I have requested before, please show me if your plan is for Les and I to adopt. Please either strengthen his desire for adoption, or weaken mine. But mostly, please continue to help me trust you and Your Perfect Plan.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Have a little faith- or a lot.

Today I was blessed to have God speak to me and also answer a prayer within just 3 hours of praying. 

This morning during church I had to excuse myself to go to the restroom and have a chat with God. I asked him to bring someone into my life to help me through what I'm going through. I told him I cannot handle it on my own but I will not lose faith in Him. The character of God is described by some to be complex but to me his character can be described quite simply- God is faithful, God is loving, God is just, God is merciful, but God is sovereign. God is the only thing that has remained constant throughout my whole life. God does not change.

About 12 weeks ago I asked God to present me with a trial because my life had become too cushioned and my faith didn't feel like it was being challenged. Not 2 weeks later my brother's wife left him. That has been extremely hard to watch my brother go through.

Then shortly after that I was presented with the opportunity to go to Uganda. I was elated! Then four weeks ago my husband informed me (with my knowledge & consent) that we are indeed going to sell our house and that it needs to be on the market by this weekend. I am working hard trying to pack up my home but also make it show-ready (we've only lived in it for 16 months so it is not much work) while also trying to help my brother pack up his wife's belongings and also preparing for a fundraiser garage sale, & the Africa trip in general. Then not to mention it is time to start putting up my vegetables and fruit.

It didn't occur to me until last week that I cannot possibly do all of the things that need to be done before it is time to move. But I know God is faithful.

 The missionary today at lunch mentioned that we are not to get anxious...about ANYTHING. The verses that came to my mind when I heard that were Philippians 4:6-7.  "Do 

not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

This missionary was the someone I asked God to bring into my life just 3 hours prior to my hearing his testimony. God is faithful. My oh my is He faithful!

I have struggled with feeling like I live too lavishly and too comfortably and my faith isn't tested or being strengthened enough. Then this past week it occurred to me that if/when our house sells, we will not have a house to move into. But we do own an office building that we will be able to live in. There is no shower or kitchen but we can manage. God is faithful. 

Selling our house is a leap of faith that we want to honor God with our finances and get out of debt. By doing this we feel we will be obeying His command of not having outstanding debt. 

I have faith in my husband. I believe in him and I believe he is getting wisdom from The Lord. But if we are wrong in trying to sell our house, and The Lord doesn't want it to sell (or want us to move) then it won't. God is sovereign.

My flesh wants to get angry or scared that we may not have a secure place to live but I trust in God and I trust in my husband. Where they lead me, I will follow. 

I thank God for allowing me to hear the testimonies of the missionaries. They were exactly what I asked for and said exactly what I needed to hear. I pray that someday I can have the faith that they have and continually serve The Lord by faith and perseverance. 

A new journey...

This is a beginning. I think I should have started this a while ago but here goes my maiden voyage in blogging!

A little overview about me- I LOVE Jesus! Also I have a hubby and a sweet yellow lab named Kona. She is our only child so far. We desire to have children, but it hasn't worked out so far. I truly desire to adopt (and have had that desire for 10+ years now) but my husband isn't quite ready for it (and maybe never will be). We are only on our 3rd year of marriage though...we have time, God willing.

I was raised on a farm in the amazing state of Nebraska, paid mostly for college by Pole Vaulting and picked up a little Spanish and Pottery and a lot of Sign Language along the way. After college I became a Strength Coach and Personal Trainer...then a Substitute Teacher & Pole Vault coach. Now THAT was a good time! I learned a lot about patience in those years. In 2011 I married my awesome husband Les and I became a housewife, online retailer, customer service representative, photographer, and bookkeeper. I still coach Pole Vault and I have added Homeschool PE Teaching to that resume since getting married. I love to wear my many hats but my favorite is housewife and COOK!

Since January 2013, I have been out of the state or country at least every month. Not bad for this housewife! It has been a whirlwind of a year! God has been doing a revival in my marriage and my life and I am so excited to be a part of it. Just when I thought my travels were about to be over, in June I was presented with an opportunity to go on a trip with my fellow church family, to Kampala, Uganda!! We will be visiting the Tender Hearts Baby's Home to help them with the building of a new baby's home. Tender Hearts With the approval of my husband, but the denial of his attendance, it became clear that I would get to go on this journey with 8 others from my church. I cannot begin to tell you how excited we are!!!

With that being said, I have asked God through this trip, to increase my desire for adoption, or to subdue it. In addition, I have been praying for Him to strengthen my husband's desire, or to have his direction be my answer. God is faithful. But God may not have adoption in our future. I trust Him...trust is the only choice I have. God has been the only...the ONLY constant in my life since I can remember. Every choice I have made, and throughout everything that has ever happened to me (good or bad), God has been with me through it ALL.

So I intend to journal about this Uganda experience but I decided I wanted to begin writing about it before we leave. We leave on September 11th...28 days to go. Follow us on this journey and join us in praising God as we see Him reveal Himself to us and the people of Uganda!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  -Romans 12:12