Give Thanks.

Our God is so so good to us. He’s so good to us that sometimes, sometimes, we start to forget that we need to lean exclusively on Him. Subconsciously we start to think, oh I’ve got it, I can handle the things. I can do the things!

But as most of us probably know we don’t have it. We need Him. We know that. But sometimes we need a little reminder. We're forgetful people.

When we’re in rough situations it’s easy to reach out because IT IS NOT GOING WELL obviously.

But when it’s just going along sometimes it’s harder. It’s harder to see Him working or to gather what we should be learning. It’s easier to forget that we need Him for everything, even our next breath.

IF: Equip put out a study a while ago called, Enjoying Jesus, (seriously go check it out). The focus for part of it was Matthew 11:28-30.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - NIV

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. - MSG

One of the things they said as it focused on these verses was that Jesus lived a majority of his life like we do. In a daily routine, a humdrum existence. I’ve never thought of it like that. Jesus walked and lived life very routinely until he was in his 30’s, we’ve heard that. But the fact that he walked in a “humdrum existence”. This BLEW my mind. I’m not sure why. Life is hard. And good. And some days it’s just really boring, doing the things that need to happen, doing the work, making the food and just living life.

Jesus modeled for us how to exist in life, even the parts that are a "humdrum existence". He calls us to do what is fair and just to our neighbors, be compassionate and loyal in our love, and not to take ourselves too seriously- take Him seriously. (Micah 6:8 MSG)

So that's what we do. Love God. Love People.

SGU June 2017

SGU June 2017

Emmanuel June 2017

Emmanuel June 2017

Emmanuel + Daniel June 2017

Homework Club June 2017

Primary Two June 2017

Thankful for a Lord who loves me enough to remind me of this, sometimes constantly. What can I say, life's hard people.

Authenticity.

Authenticity is not something we have or don't have. It's a practice-- a conscious choice of how we want to live. Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.
--- Brene Brown

Beginning my time in Uganda in January was rough. As exciting as it was to be on the adventure of a lifetime it also was my life. I went from friends and culture and ease of stores and community to an entirely new way of life. Where nothing I did was right, where I couldn't predict anything and even simple things like food became all day tasks.

My hope here is to be authentic and the truth of it is that it was hard. Really really hard. Every day I was confronted with things that didn’t make sense to me or that I simply didn’t understand.

Why is it okay for that man to NEVER have pants on?

What’s the actual price for an avocado, without the skin tax?

Why are gender roles so strict here?

Hanging out with so many cuties.

Auntie Lydia + Baby Maya.

Auntie Lydia + Baby Maya.

Pool day with new friends!

I don’t ever want to forget those moments or thoughts even though now for round two they all seem so normal to me. Yes, even the man with no pants or the topless woman roaming around town, I don’t even think twice about it. But originally, I did and if I forget that truth then I’m robbing God of His story. I don’t want to say those things for shock value but for the simple truth of it’s what happens. If we’re not authentic about what’s happening we aren’t giving context to ALLLLL that God is doing. He’s doing so much here in Lira. He’s doing so much in me. But if I gloss over the ugly parts it doesn’t seem as powerful.

Saving Grace Primary School + Maize field.

Saving Grace Primary School + Maize field.

Ronald in class.

I want to always strive to be authentic, even when that hurts. To show up again and again and again and be real. Even when I'm told it's wrong. Or too honest. Or too anything. 

Being authentic is exactly how I want to spend my time, no matter the cost. Because if we allow that to happen, God can move and do things we could only dream of. 

And I'm content with that risk. 

Awkward + Awesome

Awkward:

• Hearing a crash in your room, running in with your flatmate to see.... nothing... and then realizing THERE IS A RAT IN THE CEILING. JESUS BE CLOSE. 
• Creepily looking up to the crack in the roof every time you enter the bathroom because you now have a real fear a rat will fall from the sky. 
• Hearing any noise at all that you automatically assume is a rat. 
• Dramatically throwing the door to the bathroom open because you think you'll catch the rat in a moment like Ratatouille the movie. 
• Obviously having a fixated problem this week right?
• Getting stopped on our run for a guy to ask, "Madams may I attack you for a moment?" We obviously don't know the actual meaning of the word attack I'm guessing? Ummm no you cannot. *Cue walking faster*.

Awesome:

• Daily workouts with my flatmate. 
• Being such good friends with her as well! 
• Being able to cook. Even if cheese is non-existent here. 
• My family officially and finally having plane tickets! 
• Boiled Peanuts (or at least an attempt at them)! 

Sharon is such a cutie.

Watching the football match.

Watching the football match.

These guys love taking photos [Denis].

Peter at his Engagement.

Feeding our new boys.

Reading with Jerrod.

Jinga

Traveling in Uganda is such an experience. But it’s become one of my favorites. Getting to go with a good friend down to Jinga (which is right on the Nile River!) was fabulous! One of my favorite Ugandan adventures thus far. 

Overlooking the Nile River

Overlooking the Nile River.

Overlooking the Nile River.

Boating down the Nile River.

Boating down the Nile River.

Going to the Source of the Nile.

Going to the Source of the Nile.

Going to the Source of the Nile.

At the Source of the Nile with Lindsey.

At the Source of the Nile with Lindsey.

So excited to the be at the Source of the Nile.

Source of the Nile.

Touching the Nile River.

Looking out on the Nile River.

At the Source of the Nile with Lindsey.

Boating down the Nile River.

Fisherman on the Nile River.

Boating down the Nile River.

On the Banks of the Nile River.

Happy + Thankful + Blessed

I honestly feel like being thankful is something I’ve been jumping on this week. Upon my return from the States a little apartment opened up in town on a secure (and Mzungu approved) compound. So I moved into my own little place, sharing a kitchen with my so wonderful flat mate from Australia and immediately we are cooking dinner together, sharing life and taking up running.

I got to come back to a place where I already had some good friends and knew the community. I got to come back to work with kids I adore and jump back into life in Uganda.

My little place is attached to a local café that has a generator attached so when power goes out (which is still does frequently) it takes a minute and then we’re back on. I can get work accomplished no matter the weather or the Ugandan factor. It’s a week full of blessings. And after my first three months I’m so thankful. Truly. 

Cutie at the soccer match.

Peter at his engagement ceremony!

Kennedy posing for his close up. 

Jerrod (one of our newest additions) when we first met him.

Awkward + Awesome

Awkward:

• Driving through town and a topless woman reaching in the window and pulling out a hunk of my hair. Yes this is exactly what happened. No I am not exaggerating even a little. WHAT IS LIFE HERE.
• When you take up running with your flatmate and suddenly every Ugandan decides they want to try and run with you. Just no.
• Getting hailed on and rained on during yet another walk. Which is fine. Except we were 3 miles out... 3 miles of rain + hail. YAY SO FUN. 

Awesome:

• A new place of my own- HUZAHH!
• Sharing a kitchen with one fabulous lady and getting to cook dinner together every night. COMMUNITY ROCKS Y’ALL.
• Upcoming trip planning.
• Having a known community and not feeling so alone in the middle of Africa.
• A God that has already started blessing my crazy planner heart and dropping nuggets of knowledge about what’s next on me [even if they are straight up terrifying].
• Having my own place- did I already mention that? 😉
• A kitchen with a legit fridge and stove!
• A generator for when the power goes out so we’re never in the dark for long.
• Hot showers after you’ve run three miles in the rain.

Walter + photo inception.

Stephen at pool day.

Sharon loving pool day!

Daniel is full of style.