from uganda to new braunfels

wow. i have blinked and a whole month has somehow passed by. what a whirlwind my life has been over the passed 4 weeks. what a gracious God i serve and how privileged to be where i am right now...

as i write this, i am sitting in bed on the eve of the first day of school for new braunfels christian academy. i still can't believe i am here. i still can't believe that i am in new braunfels living with my sister's family. and i still can't believe how God ordained all of this before time, but especially when i was still in africa.  it is by the grace of God and His sweet mercies that i here doing what i'm doing.

to make a very long story short...after a crazy turn of events, i was offered the position of being the varsity volleyball coach at new braunfels christian academy...while i was still in uganda. crazy huh!? after much prayer, i accepted the offer. before all of this came about though, i was already making the transition home after spending 3 months in uganda, but i didn't know exactly what i would be doing. however, the Lord had it all mapped out even before getting back onto the US soil. (it blows me away every time i think back on it)

the fam at greenie peek, nm

i arrived back in the states july 23 and spent the first week with most of my family in red river, nm. it was so refreshing to be back with them and to have that time together. the next week i spent in cleburne seeing people, spending time with family, unpacking and then re-packing (story of my life!). i headed south august 5. my coaching duties started the next day and that was just the beginning!! :)

i am 3 weeks in, with a few games under my belt. tomorrow starts another new season because on top of coaching volleyball, i am also working in the high school library. so yes, i am the new (and improved, i might add) librarian! haha...we will see! it still takes a lot for me to say that, but i'm trying to embrace it on a daily basis. :) anyways..all that to say, i will be with kids all the time which i am pumped about! that is where my heart is and i can't wait to see what God opens up being in that position. 

but beyond getting to do what i love, i have also been so blessed beyond measure with the friendships and community here. before i knew i was coming back when i did, i began praying for friendships like the ones i have now! i am so grateful to share life with these precious friends! my cup is full and overflowing with praise to the Lord for what He has does thus far! i can't wait to see what this year holds and how He will reveal Himself to me more and more! 

ready or not..here we go! 

(ps..to all my friends who i have been playing phone tag with or haven't had a chance to talk to, i apologize. it really has been a hectic 3 weeks but i am wanting to carve out time to chat! much love to you all!)

Pictures

A few pictures of my last week in Uganda..more to come..

Walking around Mawanga..

Went to visit a family who had a fire in their bedroom

Love these two - 

Pastor Paul and Edisa

Huge Matooke truck driving a little sideways

Lake Victoria at the Zoo in Entebbe

 Emma and Me

yep, I rode a camel in Uganda!

Made it to the Equator! :)

pics from rwanda

A few pictures from my trip to Kigali, Rwanda!

Tea Plantation in the valley

City of Kigali..a "city on a hill"

couldn't believe how nice it was!

am i in america? crazy nice streets i'd say! 

eating some maize with the teachers when I visited IWE 

(Institution for Women of Excellence)

"The Land of 1000 Hills"

crossing the border on foot! 

the sunrise is absolutely beautiful in africa!

It was a great trip minus the fact that I got sick on the bus ride back to Kampala! :) I guess it's just another part of the adventure... :)

beauty beyond the storm

This week the temperatures have been cooler. The ground has been more wet. The mud has been more present then usual. The sky has been darker. The clouds have been heavy. The rains have come. Making it difficult for everyone. It’s only a matter of time though when it will pass. When the calmness comes. When a tranquility of peace falls. When  quietness soothes the soul. And a feeling that only comes after the winds, the rain, the thunder, and lightening blows through. You get to enjoy the refreshing feeling if only you are willing to hang on. If you are able and strong enough to withstand the storm.

Being at rest and seeking the stillness your soul longs for can be difficult. When deep down you long for it but somehow you can’t get there. We can’t find our way by ourselves. We have to be lead by Him who knows. We have to be guided, directed, and lead by the Great Shepherd. He sees the best path, one that we can handle. However, at times, we as sheep, will go astray. We may think we know how to quiet our soul and choose our own way. But before we know it, our legs are broken…We are now being carried. We are on the shoulders of the Shepherd. He knows a better way, if we would only trust Him. If we would just let Him have His way. And now as He holds us close, we can see from His perspective. Through the pain of our legs being broken. The hurt. The suffering. We have to now endure the healing process. We have to wait. Be patient. And let God heal in His own and beautiful way. We are forced to be still. To rest and let His healing hands work.

Through the waiting period, we can haunted by our ghosts: fears, doubts, worries, insecurities, questions, uncertainties, etc…in the deep stillness, we are forced to face them. It's an ugly battle. One that we normally wouldn't choose. We may kick, scream, cry, be overwhelmed, or sit and hope it will pass. Then at the breaking point, we surrender. However, no matter what we may think or feel..we will win in the end. We win because we know the truth. We know that Jesus has overcome. We know that God's word is true. And in His very words He calls us His children. That He does not leave us. He leads us through what we think as a daunting and unimaginable journey. He leads us to a place of such freedom, peace, joy and abundant life!

Sometimes we don’t like to be still and rest, but oh there is such a treasure there. And the only way to really understand, one must still their heart and spirit. You must wait upon the Lord. You must listen in the quietness of your heart. Even though you may be wrestling with so much, your heart and soul long to commune with the Lord of Lords. It’s so worth pressing in and finding Him waiting for you. It’s worth the tears. The pruning. The molding of my heart to His. He sets these moments into action in order to draw us closer to Him. He is our loving Abba, Father, who knows what is best for us, who He has adopted as His own!

Below is what I read in my morning devotions from the book Streams in the Desert this mroning:

“For my words will certianly be fulfilled at the proper time.” 

Luke 1:20

“What the Lord has said…will be accomplished.”

 Luke 1:45

The Lord is sure to accomplish those things a loving heart has waited long to see; 

those words will be fulfilled to which she clings, 

because her God has promised faithfully; 

and knowing Him, she never can doubt His Word; 

He speaks and it is done. The mighty Lord!

The Lord is sure to accomplish those things, 

O burdened heart, rest ever in His care;

In quietness beneath His shadowing wings, 

await the answers to your longing prayers.

When you have cast your cares, the heart then sings, 

The Lord is sure to accomplish those things.

O tired heart, believe, and wait and pray. 

Though the cloud and rain and storm have filled the day. 

Faith pierces through the mist of doubt.

The Lord is sure to accomplish those things, 

O trusting heart, the Lord to you has told;

Let Faith and Hope arise…

“…you are God’s children because you know the Father…

God’s word lives in your hearts and you have won your battle with the evil one.” 

1 John 2:14