Look Closely!

This is no typical snowman!
This little guy is in a wheelchair.
Kali and her cousin Austin created a snow chair
complete with wheels and armrests.
Then created a "snow Gavin" to ride.

I love the little legs sticking out!

Just Because He Makes Me Smile!

Just Because!

Curious Minds Want to Know!

I have had a lot of questions about our upcoming trip to Uganda, so here is the scoop, the whole scoop and nothing but the scoop.

When: April 4-16th


Where: Kampala, Uganda

For great maps of the location:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/ug.htm

Kampala is the capital of Uganda. It is on the north side of Lake Victoria.
It is said to be a safe place and quite beautiful. We will be there during the rainy season and it looks like it should get up into the 80's Yippee! Notice we are just above the equator.


Why: We are going to love on orphans. Some in orphanages and some that live on the streets. We are doing this because these children need people to love them and we feel it is our turn. We are God's hands and feet. It is His heart that these children are cared for. We know we will only be there a short time and I feel maybe we won't even make a difference. When we leave they again will need food and love. I pray this trip is one that will change eternity for someone.
I pray that through these stories maybe someone will feel God's call to adopt a child with no hope. I pray that someone will feel called to go long-term and serve where I don't feel I can. I pray that this will be the beginning of going as well as sending funds to assist these sweet children. I know there are kids around the world that need God and love and food. I pray that this will be a little flame that will help to begin to make a fire roar. A fire that can be felt and seen by "All the Children of the World".


Who: I am going with 2 of my friends from church, Terah and Kaylee. Both had only 24-48 hours to commit to the trip. Terah hadn't really planned on a journey like this but her and her husband have seen God leading this direction for their family so she is following God's lead. Kaylee has been ready for missions and has just been waiting for God to show her when and where.

We are going with a team lead by Linny and Emma. They are the wife and daughter of Senior Pastor of The River Church.

The River Church website if you are interested.
http://www.iriverchurch.com/

As you already know, I have been following Linny's blog for some time now. She loves the Lord and loves the orphans, and when you put those two passions together you get a dynamic ministry.
http://www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/

There are 19 of us on the team!

How: I saw the post on Linny's blog inviting crazy ladies to join her. I sent for an application and here we go. It was really a simple process. Linny and whomever she confers with said I could go. Yippee! So thanks to some wonderful friends and family and a nice tax return we will send in the money for the trip and off we go. My passport is in process and I still need to get my Yellow Fever shot. Maybe this week. :(

And the kids will be in good hands. While Jeromy is at work, my mom will have the kids. She does great with all of their needs and Jeromy is a super dad and can handle diapers, therapy, meds. and setting Gavin up on the Wii. The girls are great at helping with laundry and dishes and some sweethearts from church are helping with meals for the family while we are gone. So really I don't think they even need me, but I need them so I promise I will be back.

We do ask for your prayers. We pray that this will not just be a time of meeting physical needs but ultimately a time to meet spiritual needs. Maybe our true mission will be in the airport or on the plane, but pray that we can lovingly share the hope we have anytime the Spirit leads. Pray for us as I know it will be hard to be away from our own families and babies and it will be hard to leave babies in Africa with no mommies. Please pray for our children. God is working in the hearts of our kids. Little Gwen already has a heart for the orphan and Kaly and Ayla want to go with us. I know this trip is not just about this trip, it is giving these kids a passion at a young age to want to make a difference in this world to serve God and help others.

Thank you all for your support we could not go without hands and feet here in Idaho supporting us and helping us and our families during this exciting journey.

Tools or Chains?

Really I just have one question for myself and for you.

Is "it" a tool or a chain?

This "it" can be many things.

It can be your house, your car, your job, your credit card.
It can be Facebook, your blog, games etc.

I just want to consider each thing in my life. Is it burdening me, is it keeping me from doing God's will, is it taking time I need to be spending somewhere else?

Or is it benefiting my family and relationships, it it drawing me closer to God and doing His will.

I truly believe things like Facebook can be used as a tool. It can help us share God's love, we can rekindle relationships and connect with many people, but it can be a chain, it can take up our time, it can open us up to things we don't need to waste our time on. It can be used to hurt others. Lets commit before Christ to only let it be used as a tool.

Another area that is heavy on my heart. Our home. I feel like I walk a tightrope between our home being a chain vs a tool. I so want it to be a tool. I want to use our home to minister to others. I want our home to be a blessing to my family and allow us to be efficient with our time, but it does seem that homes can be such a chain. When my heart begins to just long for a nice house. I get so excited to decorate a real home, but then I quickly go from being excited to being discontent in my present circumstances. Then I feel all wrapped up in my chains again. Needing again to be freed and to keep my eyes on Jesus.

I don't mean to say we can't enjoy anything or that we can't just do something for fun.

We need time of refreshment and these fun things can be tools used to build relationships and to bless our family, we just need to evaluate if it is tying us up or setting us free. Is it adding value to our life and pointing ourselves and others to Christ or is it adding stress to our lives or using up time we need to put toward other things?

Kampala

When I was 6 we had a missionary visit our little church and talk about Africa. I really do not remember anything about it except, that from that day on I had felt like I was supposed to be a missionary to Africa.

I love to hear people's stories of mission trips to Africa and when I have heard of someone going I have always wanted to hide in their suitcase and go with.

Later in college I decided to pursue nursing school, so I could be a medical missionary to Africa.

Before Jeromy and I began dating. Way back when Jeromy was boarding the plane to go off to Alaska, as I was telling him see ya later. I said something to the effect that I was going to be a single missionary to Africa. Thankfully it only took him a week to decide to call me back anyway.

My long standing joke is that I tell God I wanted to go to Africa not Athol.

My late Gpa Dave would tease me every time Africa came up. He would always tell me he was praying I couldn't go to Africa. I would say No Gpa, I want to go and he would just laugh.

Jeromy and I have pursued trips to Africa, but none of them have worked out.

Not until now.....

See I have been following a blog....

...a blog of a very passionate woman, one that loves the orphans and loves Jesus.
A woman that is leading a team to Kampala, Uganda. Linny is quickly becoming one of my greatest heroes here on earth, and I am excited she is quickly becoming a friend through this process of getting ready for the trip.

No, I have never met her, but I love her and I am going to serve along side her, Lord willing.

Another amazing thing is I get to go with 2 wonderful gals from church. (this story I will post separately) We go sometime around April 4-16th and we get to love on little children in the name of Jesus.

Please pray for us as we prepare for the trip.

Terah's passport is going to require a little more work, pray she has time to get it through.

God calls all of us to serve him, to deny ourselves and follow him. For the last 30 years he has called me to Athol and Alaska and back again. Now as I get to be called to Uganda for 2 weeks I pray that God will show us His will. You see I really feel it is for much more than a 2 week trip. I don't think God would have prepared me for 30 years to go if that was all he had for us. I have no idea what his plan is but pray our hearts will be open to His leading.