Ramblings of a Ugandan Journey...

Beautiful! I am so very proud of you! It's t...

2012-05-20T07:56:26.581-04:00

Beautiful! I am so very proud of you! It's true... "Daddy is with us my dear one, never to leave us nor forsake us. No matter where we go..... He is there! Rest in His arms and teach other's to do as well." Tons of love, mammak

Sheryl, that's exactly why I'm writing thi...

2012-04-02T00:35:39.542-04:00

Sheryl, that's exactly why I'm writing this all down. I know the hard days will come. I know that the support discovery/partner development journey isn't over. I know that I'll need these reminders for the rest of my life.

Diane, love you too! Dance party when you return? :)

God is so amazing Sarah!!!! And the DANCE :) Got m...

2012-03-24T22:44:49.054-04:00

God is so amazing Sarah!!!! And the DANCE :) Got me just picturing you doin it!!!! Praise God!!!! Thanks for living for Him! Love you!!!

So very cool! Thanks for sharing God's work i...

2012-03-24T21:09:30.529-04:00

So very cool! Thanks for sharing God's work in getting you back to Uganda.

I like the new "PD" term and all it encompasses, but I kinda miss the "support discovery" term. It was truly a discovery of how God was working. I'm glad you're writing all this down. You just may need to reread it when life is stinky.

Sarah, I really love how you summarized our MTI tr...

2012-03-22T14:21:30.099-04:00

Sarah, I really love how you summarized our MTI training on grief. I am sure I will reference this again after we move. Thank you for articulating this so well. I am praying for you. I am also overwhelmed right now with packing...you are not alone! Love, Sarah Blaine

Al, I wonder what they would have thought if you w...

2012-03-14T22:53:15.433-04:00

Al, I wonder what they would have thought if you would have said "absolutely not". :) I resonate with what you said: be certain and obedient. I've cried more this time around than ever before and know that many more tears are to come.

Sheryl, your description is beautiful and so true. Grief is indeed stickier making joy feel like breaths of fresh air amidst the muck.

Jim, thanks for being a part of this journey God's had me on. Would LOVE to have you come on out sometime. Bring Kathy and your kids (who are now adults??) too! :)

Beth, as with so many things in our faith, they're all so much easier to say than to actually do and live out. Living out our faith is difficult. I'm clinging to "joy comes in the morning".

I read this earlier and can't shake it. This i...

2012-03-14T22:03:20.249-04:00

I read this earlier and can't shake it. This is my thought- I feel like this missionary grieving your belonging process is in some ways like the journey towards spiritual maturity. On a much MUCH less tangible and real way. In teeny, tiny ways. (PS- I actually don't know what it is like to leave everything behind, I just tried imagining what it would be like for me to be in your shoes) You are living through on a huge scale what a person must face when faced with the decision to trust and obey Christ. It is such a HUGE leap from many people to come to believe that Christ can be their savior....and then to leap to He loves them gave His life for them....then leap to learning how to love and obey Him (don't even get me started on THAT). In the process you WILL loose things, sometimes you will feel like you don't belong and it will be rewarding despite all this. Only God could make something that painful or difficult bring glory. Praying!

Wow! Love you girl! Praying for you...and so many ...

2012-03-14T19:16:43.931-04:00

Wow! Love you girl! Praying for you...and so many others. SO proud of you!

Well said, my friend. There is so much grief. M...

2012-03-14T18:57:45.102-04:00

Well said, my friend.

There is so much grief. Missionary life overflows with it. Of course there is joy, but I think grief is much stickier than joy. At least it is for me. Joy is a hummingbird like thing; it flits in and out. Grief is more like dirt in dry season; it's ubiquqitous and impossible to eliminate. But they go together. Joy is much more triumphant because it contrasts so vividly with the muck of grief. Likewise, grief is so much more poignant because we know joy.

You'll encounter many more losses on this journey. As a journey of obedience, it's well worth the loss. It's hard, but worthwhile.

Sarah, I have been thinking about this a lot latel...

2012-03-14T18:37:18.364-04:00

Sarah, I have been thinking about this a lot lately myself. On Monday, I was at CCU speaking to a group of accounting students as a favor to one of my old professors. One of the reasons I wanted to share with them is that I wanted them to think about different opportunities that they could do with accounting decides just getting a job in the US. I was asked at the end though if I would recommend a career as a missionary. It was weird because in that moment I had previous 2.5 years flash in front of me, and I knew what my answer would be, "Absolutely not ." I had wanted them to think about doing something different with their lives, but I realized that was the wrong message. In realizing what being a missionary has cost me, I could only recommend being obedient to the life that they are certain God has called them too. As I was leaving Colorado the next day, I spent that evening saying goodbye to people. What you wrote about not realizing what you were saying goodbye the first time you went is really true. I cried myself to sleep that night and it certainly won't be the last time I do that as I say goodbye to friends and family in Idaho.

Sarah....... God has been so good to us to open do...

2012-02-13T11:36:39.892-05:00

Sarah....... God has been so good to us to open doors that many will never go through. To look into the eyes of His creation in other countries, cultures and faith's. This time in our lives is a practice time for us. Let's do our best to teach our beloved one's here in America who struggle to understand what we have learned about God, His children and His love, one person at a time. One day..... oh honey.... we will dance.... every one! One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen and Amen

Sheryl, you have been an answer to a prayer that I...

2012-02-13T00:23:25.815-05:00

Sheryl, you have been an answer to a prayer that I didn't even know how to pray. Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Diane, you are loved as well! It has been such an honor to see God shine through you and Scott. You both have challenged me in ways you'll never know. Thank you for your wonderful encouragement and example!

My sweet sister, bless your heart for being so ope...

2012-02-12T23:56:58.516-05:00

My sweet sister, bless your heart for being so open and transparent. I too long for the day we can worship together with believing brothers and sisters from across the world. Oceans and home ties and schedules and responsibilities keep us separated, but how I long for that day!!!! As your heart longs to be back in Uganda, know you are loved and respected, even at your young experience compared to others, YOU are my hero!!!! I love you! I love your heart! And with you, I long for you to be at home once again with the people the Lord has planted in your heart! You are beautiful! Because Jesus is in you :) Praise Him!!!!!

The conference is a perpetual reunion of family me...

2012-02-12T23:15:30.344-05:00

The conference is a perpetual reunion of family members you know well and ones you haven't met yet. I'm so glad I got to spend some time with you. I'm even gladder that one day we'll be at home together where we were meant to be.

I love this. Can't wait to read more. I have...

2012-01-04T16:02:50.016-05:00

I love this. Can't wait to read more. I have some fairly strong opinions on this myself. I was going to refer you to the stuff done by Jamie, The Very Worst Missionary. My sister and I talk about her take on short-term missions all the time. Looking forward to the next post.

Eagerly waiting to read what you have to say. I&#...

2012-01-04T13:40:56.391-05:00

Eagerly waiting to read what you have to say. I'll be happy to "weigh in" as well.

I look forward to hearing more. I always struggle ...

2012-01-04T10:28:16.630-05:00

I look forward to hearing more. I always struggle when I go on short term mission trips. Is it for them or us? Does it help?

I'm all ears... can't wait to dialogue wit...

2012-01-04T09:24:30.110-05:00

I'm all ears... can't wait to dialogue with you about this.

Loved this story .. I think it is the first time w...

2011-12-29T00:25:18.502-05:00

Loved this story .. I think it is the first time we have heard this one and you did an excellent job telling it. we could totally visualize every detail :-)

Jeremiah (and Leah!), I thought of you both when I...

2011-12-15T22:51:23.448-05:00

Jeremiah (and Leah!), I thought of you both when I wrote this. I just don't understand how God works sometimes. I'm so thrilled that God is showing you why He has you where you are! There is a peace that comes with that and I pray that you are experiencing that. Praying for you guys!

Sarah, your blog hit home. You know our story. Whi...

2011-12-15T21:50:11.530-05:00

Sarah, your blog hit home. You know our story. While it's been rough, God isn't through with us. Far from cast aside, I can see God's perfect hand at work. I had dinner with a Muslim co-worker tonight, regularly share Christ at work, and am faithfully serving the Lord. Would I rather be elsewhere? If you had asked me that a couple months ago, I would've said yes. Now, I know that this was God's plan for me and my family all along. We just had a few things to learn and training to receive before we were ready for ministry in Virginia. We're so happy for you and are so excited to see you living your dream and being fulfilled in God's plan for your life!
Jeremiah

Pauline, I miss you all so much! You are all so sp...

2011-12-09T01:57:12.811-05:00

Pauline, I miss you all so much! You are all so special to me as well. Can't wait to return!

you are so funny. ;) really enjoyed reading this ...

2011-11-24T18:00:07.617-05:00

you are so funny. ;) really enjoyed reading this and was blessed by it. miss you and excited to hear more!

Very cool! Our God is so wonderful, and He has gi...

2011-11-24T11:34:28.510-05:00

Very cool! Our God is so wonderful, and He has gifted you in a very special and specific way!

Woooe Sara, i am so happy for you that God has a s...

2011-11-24T10:34:00.119-05:00

Woooe Sara, i am so happy for you that God has a special calling on your life, i am very humbled by this message. You are so special especially for people like us(Hope Alive Students)

Saving God is the best ministry a people can do, i am glad blessings are coming your way.

We can't wait to receive here in Africa.

Much Love
Pauline from Uganda
Hope Alive! student