Experimenting with pictures

Ok. I am not very technologically inclined, but I thought I should see if I could figure out how to post a picture or two, and since Rebecca and I are the ones going on this trip to Uganda, I thought I'd let you see us.

I hope to post pictures and maybe some video clips when we're in Uganda---Lord willing we'll have a connection and it will work.

Pre-Uganda Journal 3

I am feeling great peace this morning. I feel like God has been showing me little by little what to speak about when we get to Uganda. I've been praying for quite some time about what to share at the chapels (the current plan is for me to speak at several high school chapel services with anywhere from 400-1400 students) and the Sunday services while in Uganda. I keep coming back in some fashion or another to the fact that Jesus is ALL that we need, and that He is truly our greatest treasure. Over the past few days the stories Jesus told of the pearl and the hidden treasure have been on my heart. I think I might be able to make those my beginning point, and to develop the concept from there. I feel great peace inside because I am seeing that God is going to show me exactly what to share. Having a few ideas on paper is helpful, too.
I still have much work to do for everything, but I feel a little less overwhelmed. A lot of people must be praying for me this week, because it is the first week that I feel like I've gotten something productive in the way of teaching preparation. If any of you has a great illustration for the process of our sanctification----that it isn't an instant change----that I could share at the women's conference, let me know. I had wanted to get some white flowers and put them in a vase with colored water, and then each day, the women would see the color of the flowers changing, and finally being bright like the color of the water. Unfortunately, there are no white flowers to be had, so if any of you has an idea, please, don't hesitate to share. Any ideas for illustrating our new life in Christ, being reborn, etc.... My resources are really limited there, but I want to make the teaching as visual and clear as possible.
Rebecca, Karin VanSweden (she's our friend from church who is also coming with us to Uganda) and I met again this week. We have sorted out which things we want to share in church sometime in the next couple of weeks. We've gotten most of the details worked out for our spaghetti dinner, we've begun putting some things in our suitcases. Thanks to so many kind friends, I am all set with skirts & dresses, and so are Rebecca and Karin.
Thanks to all of you who are praying for us. God is faithful. Pray for us, but also pray for the people of Soroti, Uganda----that we may be a mutual encouragement to each other, that God would truly be exalted in their lives, and that Jesus Christ would be their Hope and their Greatest Treasure.

Pre-Uganda Journal 2

It feels like our trip to Uganda is very quickly approaching. It's been so amazing to see all the ways that God is providing for us, financially, and also with so many people encouraging us, praying for us, and helping in a number of other ways. Yesterday a dear friend from church offered to put together our medical kit for the trip---one less thing to think about! Last week another friend made a skirt for Rebecca (we have to wear skirts the whole time we're there), and has offered to do more for her. God has been so good to us! I also feel like I am beginning to get some concrete ideas about what to do for the 3-day women's conference/teaching I'll be leading....Little by little it's coming together. Today, two people offered to help with our spaghetti dinner fundraiser on March 4. God is just showing me time & again that He provides whatever we need when He calls us to do something. I am particularly excited for Rebecca right now. Last week she had a "glimpse" class on liturgical dance at school, and on Friday, her group helped to lead chapel at school. For anyone who knows her, this is not exactly her comfort zone----but she did really well. When she came home, she asked whether that was something she could do while we're in Uganda, so I ran it by Tim & Angie (the missionaries who are hosting and directing our trip), and they were very excited about it. Rebecca will be able to teach her song to some Ugandan children, and together they'll be able to participate in a worship service there. It is exciting for her to have something concrete to prepare for this trip, too.

Pre-Uganda Journal

I decided that this might be the easiest way to keep everyone up to date on our Uganda preparations and journey. Today I realized that my and Rebecca's trip is only 5 weeks away----the time is fast approaching. I listened to a John Piper this morning that was so encouraging. It was about how faith glorifies God, and how when we trust Him with difficult things, He receives more glory. I'm listening to this series of sermons on the book of Romans. Many of them have confirmed that this short-term mission trip is exactly what He is calling us to right now. Anyway, many of you know that I have been dealing with many fears about this trip, but many of your prayers and words of encouragement have been so good. And, today's sermon also just encouraged me that I can and must have complete faith and trust in God and His caring for us in this trip. It's only as we trust Him that we are able to give Him the glory that He is due. Please, keep praying that Rebecca and I will not be overcome by fear, but by complete trust in our God who provides what He commands.