Pardon the delay in posting, but group one of the team (Pastor Dave, Deb Breeden, Greg and Kelsey Stiers, Sue and Michaela Hammel, Donna Coulter, and Dorothy Hampton) arrived last evening on time, with every piece of baggage fully in tact, and only slightly grouchy! The Lord was clearly guiding our path, because we only encountered a couple minor hiccups -- a monsoon attacked us coming through Lafayette, Michaela had boarding pass trouble in Chicago, and Dorothy's bag got flagged in Heathrow for an inappropriate liquid. Who knew SOLID deodorant was considered a liquid?! She made it onto the plane just before the last boarding call...phew!
On a positive note, British Airways must have been trying to butter us up, because they gave everyone but Donna and Greg upgraded seats...real silverware and a beef filet for dinner! The extra seat room, foot rests and noise-canceling headphones were a nice touch too.
Today, we all woke up to the warm welcome of a shining sun, feeling quite refreshed and french toast for breakfast prepared by the house ladies...nom nom! We have spent a lovely day getting aquainted with the Stevenson home and their staff. All of our extra luggage and donations (thanks to all of you) have been sorted and prepared for our weeks ahead.
Tomorrow morning, we will pack up and head to the village of Chai for a couple days. We will be spending the weekend visiting the people of Chai and their chuch. Thanks to the donations of the Joy Circle, we will also dedicate a house to a jja jja (grandmother).
Thank you all for your prayers and support! After we return from the village, we will update y'all again.
--Kelsey (and a little help from the peanut gallery :) )
Friday, May 30, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
A Change in Attitude ... by Deb Breeden
Two years have come and gone between my last journey to Uganda and the one soon to come. During that time, my life has been full of adventure and discovery, as well as, disheartening circumstance. But when I think about my life in comparison to those that suffer or go without on a daily basis I am reminded that in my life I have the choices and resources that can make a difference in my circumstance. I need to be occasionally reminded of what is necessary and what is want, what is an inconvenience and what is survival, what is temporary and what is permanent. All too often I find myself in the need of an attitude adjustment. Returning to Uganda is part of that reminder.
Recently, I read this definition of Joy, by Kay Warren, "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all of the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." Great in theory, more difficult in daily practice. As Holy Week unfolded on Facebook, I read many posts about living in the Saturday, not rushing from the emotional sadness of Good Friday to the euphoric celebration of the Resurrection without the time spent in the heaviness of not knowing of Saturday. Not knowing that everything is going to be all right. I think many people live life in the Saturday. Returning to Uganda reminds me how important it is to live in community. To share the burden of Saturday living while we wait for Sunday.
Like all trips before, it is necessary to do lots of fundraising and I don't know why, but Ed and I always take on more than feels comfortable in the two months prior to my departure, just in case, I haven't raised enough money to pay for the trip. At the same time, I usually want to slow down and try and focus on getting into a different frame of mind. One that takes me away from the hustle and bustle of this life to one where I will be intentional about being present in the moment. Being more still and listening to what God and others are saying to me. Kind of hard to do both at the same time, but God used different illustrations while we were working to remind me of important lessons to remember for this journey back to Uganda. An accidental head piercing from a single thorn and the split blood; a heavy tree limb laboriously moved from it's place on the low lying edge of the property, to it's place up the hill on the burn pile; the smell of burning straw and wet magazines; the expectation of more than what we were given; the voices and stories of those that dwell most days in the loneliness and despair of Saturday...all reminders of where my head and my heart need to be. Jesus...and his people. The widow... the orphan...the poor.
There are 27 days until departure ... and 28 days until arrival. The difference between those dates are not nearly enough time to transition to a place of mission mindedness. One must constantly be aware of the signs before us that lead us to life of service. I need this trip to Uganda to be reminded to slow down and be present in the moment so that I can be a help to those who are having trouble finding their Joy, even if it's me. I need to feel the pain of the piercing thorn and the breathlessness of the walk up the hill to be reminded it wasn't a privileged life... or death. That the Lord I serve was a servant, himself and I have been called to go serve with the hope of Resurrection Sunday.
Recently, I read this definition of Joy, by Kay Warren, "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all of the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." Great in theory, more difficult in daily practice. As Holy Week unfolded on Facebook, I read many posts about living in the Saturday, not rushing from the emotional sadness of Good Friday to the euphoric celebration of the Resurrection without the time spent in the heaviness of not knowing of Saturday. Not knowing that everything is going to be all right. I think many people live life in the Saturday. Returning to Uganda reminds me how important it is to live in community. To share the burden of Saturday living while we wait for Sunday.
There are 27 days until departure ... and 28 days until arrival. The difference between those dates are not nearly enough time to transition to a place of mission mindedness. One must constantly be aware of the signs before us that lead us to life of service. I need this trip to Uganda to be reminded to slow down and be present in the moment so that I can be a help to those who are having trouble finding their Joy, even if it's me. I need to feel the pain of the piercing thorn and the breathlessness of the walk up the hill to be reminded it wasn't a privileged life... or death. That the Lord I serve was a servant, himself and I have been called to go serve with the hope of Resurrection Sunday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)