out & about

well today i finally feel like i am on uganda time. :) i woke up got some coffee, hung out with kiddos, read my bible out on the terrace, and helped graham with a little of his homework. from just discussing a little with him, i can see how important it is to come alongside him with his school work. he is having trouble reading and being diligent in his homework. i think that is with most teenage boys anyways. :) i have already observed a lot just in the small time i have been here with the family & especially graham. he is a bright boy with a future ahead of him and i just hope i will be able to ignite a passion in him to have goals and dreams. i know it will take time, as most things do. but i looking forward to learning not only from graham and the family, but even learning some language myself. :) 

so i ventured out today. dave picked me up from the house and i went to his office to exchange some money. then i went off by myself. (don't worry mom & dad, the area where i live is fine to walk around according to dave & amy). anyways, i was told to go try "coffee at last". it's a cute little coffee shop off makindye road. it has an american feel, especially with country music playing. what! texas country music in uganda?! crazy i know. BUT the coffee is good! i've been meeting all the people that work here. i have to say...ugandan's are so kind and hospitable! so as i sit outside on the balcony watching people pass whether walking, riding bodas, in cars, or in small buses...i'm soaking it in. i love it. i love interacting with the people, watching, smelling, and embracing all that is around me. it's so different from america, but in it's own way it already feels normal to me. 

tomorrow i will more than likely go up to ISU (international school of uganda) and meet with someone about tutoring graham. it will be nice to see the school layout and familiarize myself before hitting the a full day come monday. i am not sure of the plans for this weekend just yet; however, i may be going up to mawanga village, meeting pastor paul, or any other ROWAN staff here in the city.  

i am seeing how different life is and the experience thus far with not being with a team of some sort. i know there are pros and cons about both, but one thing i have enjoyed is the opportunity and ability to truly see and take in the culture here. i get to walk around, say hi to those traveling on foot and just be as normal as you can be. i am looking forward to truly getting the ugandan experience when i ride on a boda boda (a little motorcycle).

thank you again for the letters you have written. i take out a few a day and read them. my heart is refreshed each time knowing the incredible support i have behind me. so i leave you with a picture of me sitting on the balcony enjoying some african coffee this afternoon! i'm sure this will become a regular stop for me..i've already informed one of the managers and he has happy about that! :) 

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Cor. 5:20-21

Hello from Uganda!

i made it! after almost 24 hours of traveling i am back in africa. i am still getting adjusted to the time because my body sure thinks it's in texas time. sleeping on the plane didn't happen that much so i am thankful for a solid 8-9hours today.

the plan today and tomorrow is to rest and get adjusted. friday i will go to the school and meet with a couple people to get started working with graham. monday will be my official first day! :)

i am also looking forward in meeting some ROWAN staff. i believe pastor paul is the first to meet before he flies to the states to marry kelsey & thadd oct 15. :) hopefully i will be going to the village soon to start getting to know everyone there.

so as i sit in the living room at the rodgers house with the rain coming down outside i still can't believe i am here. so many adjustments are to come but i am ready for them.  thank you again for your prayers, excitement, and encouragement!

joy

a little reflection in Amsterdam

as i sit here at amsterdam airport waiting on my next flight, i can't help but be thankful for all of you who have been a part of my life. whether i have known you for many years or if i have only known you for less than that. each of you have been used to guide me to where i am. i believe God uses His people to speak. i believe He encourages, strengthens, challenges, loves, and guides us through the body of Christ.

i also can't help but reflect on the last time i was sitting here at starbucks in amsterdam. paying $7 for a tall coffee, sleeping on the couches, and getting to know each other. i was with my team from passion city church. and so as i sit here, i remember them! i am thankful for the relationships and friendships that were established through those 2 weeks loving on babies together. that trip we took had a huge impact on why i am returning. little did i know 1 year later, i would be moving to uganda. :)

for those who don't know the timeline and how quickly God moves here's what it looked like for me:

Sept 2010 - spent 2 weeks in uganda with watoto children's ministry. met my friend kelsey young (co-founder of ROWAN)

Jan 2011 - kelsey was in the states & came to texas to speak to several groups at church (from that point we began discussing a summer trip)

June 2011 - kelsey shares with me about the family she is living with needs a full-time tutor for Graham (who in fact is from Mawanga village that ROWAN is working in). met amy (the mom) and discussed the details.

Aug 1, 2011 - stepped in faith and bought a plane ticket

Sept 26 - i left for Uganda. moving in with the rodgers family, helping graham at the international school, and working alongside ROWAN

it blows me away of how quickly God moves when we are open to see it! every part has all worked in accordance to His ultimate purpose in furthering His kingdom!

off to entebbe....

my last night in the states...

its almost 3am as i am writing this. my flight leaves in 13hrs. i am about to take my 3 bags and move to uganda. it has come so quickly and it all feels surreal. but as much as i can be, i ready. i'm ready to get back to my second home and i'm looking forward to sharing it with you!

on the eve of my departure, many of my family and friends came by to "send me off" to uganda. i absolutely loved getting to see so many people. my heart was encouraged by our conversations, prayers, and worship. what a beautiful picture of the body of Christ! i am so grateful for the relationships i have been blessed with here in cleburne. God has used each one to spur me on and make me more like Him. no matter where i am, God has been gracious to bless me with wonderful friendships. i am looking ahead to who He will introduce me with and allow me to walk next to in life while living in uganda.

here are a few pictures from tonight...

britt and i

my friend jennifer drove all the way from dallas! 

i just love her! thank you for coming! 

the buren 3

 sweet prayer time!

Vickie and some of the Ford crew!

 Britton, Anna (left); JJ and the girls plus josh (right)

dad and us

thank you again for everyone's love, support and prayers! seriously, my spirit has been lifted because of you. i anxiously look forward to sharing the journey with you! my love goes out to you and the next time you hear from me i will be in route or in uganda!!! :)

a trip down south

sept 9-12 i was down in new braunfels for one of my best friends bachelorette party. we had a blast hanging out at the lake, going to dinner in gruene, and teepeeing the house of the bachelor party (we ended up getting caught and some of us got thrown in the lake). i also got to spend time with my sister, jamie, and her family before i leave the country. much needed fun and refreshing weekend! here are a few pictures of the weekend below...

my precious friend sarah!

love all the boots

my beautiful friend sarah!

gruene, tx

  the amazing sunset at my sister's house

i head back down on thursday for the big celebration weekend of sarah marrying matthew! i can't wait to  to spend time with them as we honor them on what will just be the beginning of life together! 

from months. to weeks. now DAYS.

i have just 7 days to have everything....either packed up in my bags or packed up to store. it has been a few weeks of stress, errands, packing, list making, and trying to prepare my heart and mind for the journey ahead.

i have days of excitement and energy. then days of overwhelming stress. i am starting to feel the tug between the two worlds. i am in the transition period. which for me is hard. i am packing up my life here but yet i'm still here for a week. i am trying to spend time with loved ones which brings the emotions and reality of me leaving, but yet i am trying to look at all the exciting adventures ahead! it is that push and pull. these moments and feelings are inevitable. they are just sometimes difficult to endure.

it is weird for me to think a week from wednesday, i will be waking up to the sounds, smells, and feel of africa. yes i will be living with an american family so the culture of the home will be similar to what i know here, but still surrounding me will be everything africa. it will be everything, i know, i hope for. as i wake up in uganda, you will be going to sleep in america. the difference in time. the difference in communicating. the difference in life. my world is about to collide.

though worlds apart. we both will still be living life. still striving for goals we have set. still dealing with struggles. still working hard. whether that is going to school at a university, being involved in a sorority or church group, leading small groups, working 8 to 5, being a tutor, a babysitter, a mom, a caretaker, a counselor. though we may have different tasks and living in different locations dealing with a variety of things, we have a common purpose. the purpose to which we were called in carrying the name of Jesus to others. may we recognize that we are a unified body, placed specifically by the Lord in unique areas to fulfill His plans in our lives. acknowledging that it is not about us, but ALL about Him!

may we continue to be unified in spirit to encourage, strengthen, and pray for one another.