Back at training camp
we were told that we shouldn’t be surprised to be on a bus for around forty
hours or so. Well they weren’t kidding. We finally made it and have been working with a local Anglican church here in Kinkiizi, Uganda
(Jin-jiizi).
all over the place for the next few weeks. Recently we painted the inside of
the church. We also will be doing things like construction, door to door
evangelism, to preaching, and speaking publicly about various topics to the
local youth, like aids awareness.
After seeing some of
the scenery here in Uganda,
I would say it has been more of what I thought I would see once arriving here
in Africa. Tanzania
and Kenya
were nice but where we were at there it was more desert than anything. When got
on the road here heading to Kinkiizi there were rolling hills and lush scenery.
To just look to either side of you, you could see how awesome God’s hand is.
To add to the change
of scenery we have gotten team changes again. We were given new teams the other
day on the way here. Jon and Eryn were placed on new teams and we received our
two new teammates Ellen and Holly. It really is crazy to look back and think
about where we have all been and how fast time has gone by. In thinking of it
all it almost seems like a blur.
It truly is a
blessing and an honor to be here and I thank you all for your help and
continued support. I can’t tell you all how grateful I am towards God and all
of you. This trip continues to be a humbling experience. Our team was talking
the other day about what we first were like going into this trip and how we see
ourselves coming out of it. One of my teammates said something that was rather
profound.
Here is basically
what was said, “I know who I was going to into the Race, and would rather come
out of the race not really knowing who I am, than being who I was.� I think
that this is something we all deal with as Christians. Knowing who we were and
never wanting to be the same again. It is a process that never stops. It’s a
continual process of being transformed by and with the renewing of our mind.
Ever growing and drawing closer to Christ-likeness.
I am reminded of an
analogy I heard awhile back and have come across again since being on the race.
I can’t remember if I have said this already in a previous blog or not but
forgive me if I have. Think of a caterpillar. All it’s little caterpillar life
it eats and gets fat. Goes up and down a few plants then one day falls asleep.
Now imagine what must go through it little caterpillar brain when it wakes up
and discovers it can fly! Does it continue walking along the ground as if it
were still the stubby little caterpillar it used to be? BY NO MEANS!!!!
The same is true for
us having received Christ. How could we, or better yet why would we want to
continue crawling around the ground in all the filth and garbage of who USED to
be, when we can fly in who we now ARE!!!! In finding who we are in Christ let
us fly into the glorious future He has planned for us. Let’s let Him show us
who we are and never look back again.
Again thank you all
for your continual prayers and support. I am almost fully supported and am
still in need there to finish out the race. So if you can help please
prayerfully consider doing so. Thank you all. Please keep my family in your
prayers as they are still working through and moving forward as best they can
in a life without Fran (my step-mother).
Pray for clarity and discernment for the road ahead. To my family and
friends, I miss you all and love you all very much!!!! May God bless you and
help us all to fly in this glorious gift of life that he has given us.
