So for the last two days we’ve been out of power… and honestly, even though it was a pain at times, it was really a blessing too. Between not having a vehicle and not having power, we spent a lot of time at home yesterday and today. Even though I didn’t get much done, it was such a time of reflection, reading and recognizing God. I have been reading Max Lucado’s When God Whispers Your Name, and also reading a lot of Genesis and Matthew. It amazes me how many times God showed favor and mercy upon Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and even Sarah and Rebekah. They both went from being barren to having children; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all were disobedient at some point, and yet God showed favor and blessing upon their lives. Jacob lied to his father, swindled his brother out of his blessing, was cheated and then cheated and Esau, his brother, was the one who welcomed him home with open arms. Wow. Talk about unconditional love. I’m not sure why these chapters are affecting me so, since I’ve known the story as a child… but reading them today, it’s like a new story to me. I really love when God opens you up to something new, or you see it in a new light. And what’s truly amazing is that the God that did that for those men and women, is the same God that is with me today - the one who wipes away my tears, holds me when I need to be comforted, gives me unconditional love, and displays his mercy in my life every day. How undeserving I am! That has been the forethought this week for me – I’m totally undeserving. I’ve been singing two songs in my head this week, repeatedly – How Great is our God and Blessed Be Your Name. I just keep hearing the lyrics over and over again… “How great is our God, how great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God and all will see how great, how great is our God… Name above all Names, You are worthy of our praise, my heart will sing, how great is our God…”
And.. “Blessed be Your name, in the land that is plentiful, where your streams of abundance flow, blessed be your name… every blessing you pour out, I’ll turn back to praise, when the darkness closes in, still I will say… Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
Thursday, March 11, 2010
blog from 3/5/10
So today was day three of my trip… and probably one of the most rewarding days ever (except the ants, but that’s a completely different story). Today was my first day back in the camp, and boy, I knew I missed the kids, but I really had no clue just how much. As soon as we got there, I was inundated with memories and faces of the children I cannot forget. What makes them so special? Why do I have such a passion for the Acholi people? Simple: it’s a reflection of the love God has for them, and they’re amazing. They’re such a special people, so generous and loving.
Some of the children remembered me, but seven months is a long time for a child to try and remember, so I had brought along photos from my trip last summer to show them... they LOVED this! The photos were a huge success, and we did a couple name games, where I pointed to someone in a photo and they told me who it was... and they DID remember everyone from the trip last summer. It was so beautiful to see their faces light up with recognition. Just seeing them smile blesses me to my toes. I mean, these children are soooo beautiful!
Some of the children remembered me, but seven months is a long time for a child to try and remember, so I had brought along photos from my trip last summer to show them... they LOVED this! The photos were a huge success, and we did a couple name games, where I pointed to someone in a photo and they told me who it was... and they DID remember everyone from the trip last summer. It was so beautiful to see their faces light up with recognition. Just seeing them smile blesses me to my toes. I mean, these children are soooo beautiful!
I’m taking off, because I’ve already waited my turn!
2/26/10
As I’m sitting here in the London Airport, I’m extremely frustrated because this supposed “Free Public Wi-Fi” is NOT working on my computer… and here I thought I’d sit for a couple hours and get some work done with a decent internet connection. Well, I guess God had other plans… because as I’m sitting here waiting for my computer to try to “repair” the connection, I’m staring into the “great, wild yonder”, a.k.a the runway for the British Airways flights. I’m watching as different planes are waiting their turn for take-off… because if they take-off out of turn, it could cause harm not only to the passengers on that plane, but for all the planes waiting their turn, and even more delays. It made me think… how many times have I tried to “take-off” without it being my turn? How many times have I acted without waiting on God? I’m not usually an impulsive person; I like to plan, make lists, be organized (unless you’re my cubicle at work), and to cross things off my list… however, there have been times I feel I should have waited on God to see if that was really what He wanted (hindsight is 20/20, after all). I’ve said all that, to say this: this isn’t one of those times.
This is what I mean: It’s amazing what God can do to work something out, and even more so when HE is arranging it all! Not only did I meet my goal financially for my trip, and receive so many donations I had to cut back on MY stuff to fit it all (and I was allowed 3 suitcases and 2 carry-ons!), but I also received so much love and support that even now it brings tears to my eyes. I am one blessed chick. And that’s not all. This week I’ve been attacked in so many ways, that as I think back, it almost makes me laugh… okay, it did make me laugh. I was hit with one of the busiest weeks at work (last week and this week), and I know my supervisor was thinking “she couldn’t be leaving at a worse time”. I also came down with the flu, and not just the 24 hour one, but the one where the body aches keep you from getting up out of a chair or bed, and you have chills so bad, that your head hurts from your teeth chattering… and you get so dizzy that it doesn’t matter what you’re doing you can’t focus or make sense of anything. On top of all of that, I think I have tonsillitis – AGAIN! Oh, and I almost missed my flight to London… But, God is good. Yea, I’m still not feeling great, but He made me well enough to get through all this traveling, and to make me appreciate great health! Haha. And I also forgot a few things that I really wanted to bring, but nothing too important. But really, I am just trying to get across this point: often times we think “Oh, this is God” or “I know God wants this for my life”, but then there are the times when everything lines up so perfectly, even amidst the drama, and you have such a peace, that there really isn’t anything like it. That’s the way I feel now as I stare out onto the runway – peaceful.
I know you’ve listened to me blab on and on, but if you’re still reading, here’s a point I don’t want you to miss: it doesn’t matter where you are, what you’re doing or what you’re not doing, so long as you have the desire to seek Him, He will find you. He will meet you where you are, but you have to be willing to give it all up. This trip is important to me - not just because I FINALLY get to see all those beautiful Ugandan children that I love so much, or see the ECM staff, or Simon or that I’ve always wanted to be in Africa, it’s this: I want to know – is this where God wants me? So as you think about my trip, or you’re saying a prayer for me or Uganda, please pray that I’ll hear God and God only; that I will know what God wants to do with this passion in my heart. And, if this is where HE wants me, that He will prepare my heart, and my parent’s hearts and give all of us the wisdom in this endeavor. Thank you all again for supporting my trip, whether it be with donations, financially, with prayer and love or all of the above, because without you, it really wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you for letting God work through you, and for being a light in my life. I love you all!
Until next time,
Brooke
As I’m sitting here in the London Airport, I’m extremely frustrated because this supposed “Free Public Wi-Fi” is NOT working on my computer… and here I thought I’d sit for a couple hours and get some work done with a decent internet connection. Well, I guess God had other plans… because as I’m sitting here waiting for my computer to try to “repair” the connection, I’m staring into the “great, wild yonder”, a.k.a the runway for the British Airways flights. I’m watching as different planes are waiting their turn for take-off… because if they take-off out of turn, it could cause harm not only to the passengers on that plane, but for all the planes waiting their turn, and even more delays. It made me think… how many times have I tried to “take-off” without it being my turn? How many times have I acted without waiting on God? I’m not usually an impulsive person; I like to plan, make lists, be organized (unless you’re my cubicle at work), and to cross things off my list… however, there have been times I feel I should have waited on God to see if that was really what He wanted (hindsight is 20/20, after all). I’ve said all that, to say this: this isn’t one of those times.
This is what I mean: It’s amazing what God can do to work something out, and even more so when HE is arranging it all! Not only did I meet my goal financially for my trip, and receive so many donations I had to cut back on MY stuff to fit it all (and I was allowed 3 suitcases and 2 carry-ons!), but I also received so much love and support that even now it brings tears to my eyes. I am one blessed chick. And that’s not all. This week I’ve been attacked in so many ways, that as I think back, it almost makes me laugh… okay, it did make me laugh. I was hit with one of the busiest weeks at work (last week and this week), and I know my supervisor was thinking “she couldn’t be leaving at a worse time”. I also came down with the flu, and not just the 24 hour one, but the one where the body aches keep you from getting up out of a chair or bed, and you have chills so bad, that your head hurts from your teeth chattering… and you get so dizzy that it doesn’t matter what you’re doing you can’t focus or make sense of anything. On top of all of that, I think I have tonsillitis – AGAIN! Oh, and I almost missed my flight to London… But, God is good. Yea, I’m still not feeling great, but He made me well enough to get through all this traveling, and to make me appreciate great health! Haha. And I also forgot a few things that I really wanted to bring, but nothing too important. But really, I am just trying to get across this point: often times we think “Oh, this is God” or “I know God wants this for my life”, but then there are the times when everything lines up so perfectly, even amidst the drama, and you have such a peace, that there really isn’t anything like it. That’s the way I feel now as I stare out onto the runway – peaceful.
I know you’ve listened to me blab on and on, but if you’re still reading, here’s a point I don’t want you to miss: it doesn’t matter where you are, what you’re doing or what you’re not doing, so long as you have the desire to seek Him, He will find you. He will meet you where you are, but you have to be willing to give it all up. This trip is important to me - not just because I FINALLY get to see all those beautiful Ugandan children that I love so much, or see the ECM staff, or Simon or that I’ve always wanted to be in Africa, it’s this: I want to know – is this where God wants me? So as you think about my trip, or you’re saying a prayer for me or Uganda, please pray that I’ll hear God and God only; that I will know what God wants to do with this passion in my heart. And, if this is where HE wants me, that He will prepare my heart, and my parent’s hearts and give all of us the wisdom in this endeavor. Thank you all again for supporting my trip, whether it be with donations, financially, with prayer and love or all of the above, because without you, it really wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you for letting God work through you, and for being a light in my life. I love you all!
Until next time,
Brooke
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
