Sunday, November 28, 2010

Struggling with God

The sunday before I left Uganda I was in Kampala. I attended Kampala International Church. The Pastor preached from Genesis 12 about God calling Abraham out of his own country, away from his family and go to a land that He would show him. But not without a promise... a promise that he would make him great in order to be a blessing, so that all the families of the earth would be blessed. The pastor also talked how God would later give a name to this nation. The name was Israel, which means “one who struggles with God.” God chose a people that he would link himself to. A people to be forever loving and struggling with. In order that all the families of the earth would be blessed.


In a similar way God calls us all to a path that he has chosen for us. For me, right now, that is “the end of the road” Bundibugyo. And I have for sure been wrestling with God along the way. I struggle with how to respond to the multitude of requests and needs. I struggle with culture and language and how to love my friends well. I struggle to find time to be with God. I struggle a lot. But I am encouraged that God himself invites His people to struggle and as Psalms 118:2 says, “Let Israel (or the God strugglers) say, “His steadfast love endures forever”


I’ve been in Bundibugyo a year now. And I thankful for this short time in America to rest and reflect on the path that God has taken me. To be reminded again that as I struggled along, he held my hand the entire way. Tomorrow I return to this place so characterized by hardship. Pray for me as I struggle along that I would not forget that His love for me never stops or decreases. And that the wrestling has a purpose... not only to bring me closer to him but also to bless the nations... even the least of these in Bundibugyo. Pray that I would embrace the struggle!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

God's gift to me

11 Days ago I descended the escalator at the Charlotte airport after over 30 hours of traveling and laid eyes on my parents for the first time in over a year. I’m not a very emotional person... but I cried. The past 10 days have been one blessing after another. Here are just few!


Traveling to Boone, NC (a colder part of NC) to see my brother Randy. And wearing his down jacket to keep my thin African blood from freezing.


Getting 7 inches of hair cut off... after a year away from the scissors.


Hanging out with my parents... just the 3 of us.


Phone dates.


Going to Washington DC. Spending 3 wonderful days with Rachel. In which she patiently allowed me to say at least 100 times “Look at the leaves... oh my gosh... so beautiful.”


Warmish, amazing, beautiful fall weather! I was pretty worried about freezing my buns off after the eternal summer I've been living in for a year.


Lying in bed, under a lot of covers, talking late into the night with my sister.


Long breakfast conversation over oatmeal at the Caseys.


Trader Joe’s.


Seeing the Myhre’s. Getting a Julia hug... and a sweaty soccer hug from Jack.


Dunkin' Donuts with Erin on Sunday morning.


Catching up with friends.


Worshiping at Redeemer. The blessing of being prayed for. Taking communion and feeling the presence of the God right there with me.


Can’t wait for what the next 2 weeks have in store.


Mt. Vernon
Gardens... SO organized!
Billy goat trail at Great Falls
Oh fall color! I love you!
Kiddos I've been missing... now both taller than me.