Uganda

John 15:9-12 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in My love. When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow. This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you."

The moment we returned to Uganda was one of the greatest moments I've ever experienced. After being there for 2 weeks last year, I have a special attachment to it and the people there. Being back made me realize even more how much I had missed it. I missed the smell and atmostphere, the bright red dirt and the bright green trees. I am so thankful for God allowing me to return this year! He made our week in Uganda incredible.

Our first day in Uganda, we visited Rebecca Sorenson's My Father's House and Royal Hope Academy. The kids at Royal Hope Academy always give the warmest welcome, lining the dirt pathway and singing for the visitors. I can't even explain the happiness and warmth that it fills the heart with. We then got to watch them perform and worship with them. Having been away from them for a year, I forgot how AMAZING it is to worship with them. They worship so freely, and their hearts and minds are completely focused on the Lord. They realize what God has done for them, and they can't help but praise Him with all that they are. It is beautiful to be a part of, and completely changes the way you worship. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to play outside and hang out with the kids for the rest of the afternoon. One of my all-time favorite things is sitting in the red dirt, being covered in it from head to toe, with kids piled all around, listening to their voices and singing with them.

We spent the following 2 days with Pastor Samuel at Return Ministries. The first day we spent with about 200 kids from the community, singing with them, spending time with them, and feeding them. The kids got to skip school because of the special visit. It was amazing to see a community that knows that God is the most important thing, and puts Him first. The kids were all respectful and full of life. Pastor Samuel does a great job of showing the kids how valued they all are. That night, the team got to babysit Pastor Samuel's 2 young kids so that he and his wife could go on their first date in 5 years! Our second day with Return Ministries consisted of home visits all over the community. We visited the land that they hope to purchase and build a school on in the future. They have complete faith that God will provide, and never doubt His goodness. We prayed with them, trusting that God provides every single one of His children's needs. During the home visits, we had the joy of passing out food, toothbrushes, and toothpaste to many of the different children's families and praying with each one of them. It was so special being welcomed into their homes and seeing what a day in their lives looks like.

That night we drove to Canaan Children's Home, which is one of my favorite places on earth! It was one of the best feelings being recognized by all of my friends there from last year, and hearing about their lives over the past year. It was amazing being reunited. This year we had the opportunity to attend their church, which was new. The team broke up into the different age groups for Sunday school and then all met up for the main service after. Three of the other girls from the team and I got to be with the elementary kids. They painted coloring sheets, then took turns telling us about the different Bible stories and miracles God had performed. It was humbling and encouraging to see how well they all knew the Word (honestly even the 8 year-olds knew more about most of the stories than we did). At the main service, which is much longer than church here (about 3 itself), we started with praise and worship. Again, I was blown away by the beauty of the way they worship. The kids from Canaan and people from the community were all there. Pastor Isaac, who runs Canaan's and is the pastor of the church, spoke a great message, and then had the 3 guys from our team talk. None of them are pastors, but God spoke through each one of them an amazing message. I was especially proud of my dad! I've honestly never been so proud or impressed. God used him to speak to us of His faithfulness. He talked about Israel, and how God took care of them time and time again. He never let them down, whether it was splitting the Red Sea or providing them witht the food they needed. He reminded us that we should never worry or doubt Him, because He is always faithful and always provides. After his message, we got to pray with all of the members of the church. It was so powerful to get to pray for them individually. I saw and was reminded of the power and importance of prayer!

The next few days at Canaan's we got to see the kids perform, see the kids' school, and spend as much time with them as possible. I loved waking up to them all singing, and the preschoolers out starting their morning exercises (jumping jacks, leap frog, etc.). The kids wake up at 5 a.m. and do their chores, followed by school at 7. The length of the school day depends on the grade level; the older kids stay at school until 6:30 p.m. They are all so hardworking!  In the evenings we got to play games, take pictures, and do whatever the kids wanted to do. I love Canaan's and can't wait to return there someday!

While in Jinja, we also visited the Karamojong tribe, which was new from last year. They are a people group that migrated in to Jinja and live remote, simple lives. It was an honor to get to visit their village and see their different way of life. Many of the hundreds of kids we met had only single mothers and a large number of siblings. I loved getting to hold the kids and show them that they are all special and loved. One little boy in particular stuck out to me. He was probably barely old enough to walk and was naked, with parasites in his big tummy. It broke my heart, and I wish I could've taken him home with me and given him the care he needs. But I know that God will heal him and take even better care of him than I could.

We got home early this morning, and I already miss Uganda so much. I'm thankful for all of the people I know there, and praying for them constantly. God has revealed Himself and taught me so much in that country, and I love it dearly. Thank you to everyone who prayed for our journey!

Ethiopia

It’s been an amazing, crazy week in Ethiopia. Our second day here, we went to the village of Korah, which is very dear to our leader Kari, because that’s where her daughter was born. Korah is a large community located on and around the city dump in Addis Ababa, that was originally where Lepers were taken to keep them away from the rest of the city. Now it has grown into a full community, with thousands of people. During our day in Korah we had the opportunity to visit the Leper hospital, paint a building for some of the women who make jewelry, and walk around with the children. The people spoke very little English, and the kids knew only a few words; but there’s still a special bond and communication just through holding hands, kisses, and smiling. The number of flies in the village was incredible; it was a constant battle to try to keep them off. Most of the kids were covered in them, but had adjusted to them and found it easier just to let them be. One little boy stood out in particular to me. He was probably 2 or 3 years old, and he was covered in more flies than any of the other children I’d seen. Blood, probably from a little fall, was all over and around his nose, most of it already dried in place. The flies lined his face even more so from the blood. One of our team member’s had Neosporin, which we put on and we kept him with us everywhere we went for the day. He didn’t smile the whole time, but when it was time to go, he gave us big hugs and energetically waved to us with the biggest smile as our bus pulled out. It was so cool to see that even in some of the “poorest” conditions, so many of the people still loved Jesus.

The following day we drove 4 hours in a more rural part of Ethiopia to get to the town of Awassa. We visited a nearby boarding school, called Shashamane, where some of the kids from Korah are given the opportunity to get a good education amongst some of the wealthier kids. All of the girls and women on our team had a talk with the 120 girls from Korah. The theme was “Gold,” explaining to them they’re valuable to God and to us. We did different activities and got to hear more about them. One of the main things that stuck out was the girls’ generosity. I got to hang out with a 14-year-old girl named Hayat the entire time, and she showed me so much about selflessness in just one afternoon. She was always thinking of me above herself, helping me carry things and giving me sweet notes and gifts. It was humbling and a great reminder of how Jesus lived serving others.

We spent the next day at Chuko, the village where Julie Neal and the Pirates Dig a Well are funding their water projects. One of Julie’s sons is adopted from Chuko, and seeing her get to interact with his birth grandparents and the rest of the village was such a blessing. We visited the different well sites they’re putting in and their current water source. It is amazing the difference that the project is going to make in the lives of those people!

For our last day in Ethiopia, we headed back to Addis Ababa. The drive was 5 and a half hours across the beautiful country. After arriving, we went back to Korah and got the opportunity to go back to the little building we painted on our second day. The women who were making necklaces in it were sweet and showed us how they make everything. We all took turns praying for them, and at the end they prayed for us. They prayed so passionately and sincerely; it was really moving seeing their deep love for God and the team. God is way bigger than any city or village, the same God in Branson is the same God caring for the people of Korah, and everywhere else. There is nothing like being welcomed by brothers and sisters in Christ from across the world. I’m humbled and in awe of the God of the universe. For the rest of the evening we went to a cultural Ethiopian restaurant, where we got to try authentic foods while watching tribal songs and dances.

Today we said goodbye to all of our friends in Ethiopia and flew 2 hours to Uganda. It feels so good to be back! I love all of the red dirt and welcoming hugs. I can’t wait to see all of the things God has planned for this week in Uganda!

1 John 1:9 “This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Africa 2012 Day 1


It’s a crazy thought to think that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It’s crazy that the same God who knows everything about life in Branson, Missouri is the same God who deeply loves and cares about people all over the world. Today was the day I got to return to Africa. I feel so blessed to be given the opportunity to do what I love most: love and serve those who need it the most. This year I’m so thankful to have my younger sister and parents here with me! We are staying in Ethiopia for a week, and then going to Uganda for a week. After a twelve-hour flight and 7 hours of sleep in two days, we arrived in Ethiopia. After we loaded our team and all of our luggage into vans, we embarked on the streets that are constant reminders of being in Africa… and I love it! Cows, horses, sheep, goats, and mules crowded the streets, interrupting the flow of traffic. Motorcycles weave between trucks, and people sprint in front of cars. After getting settled into the guest cottage that we’re staying in, we visited Fistula Hospital. The hospital is featured in the film, “A Walk to Beautiful” (which is available on Netflix), and was one of the most incredible places I've ever been. It was filled with stunning young women who were being treated, cared for, and taught skills to give them a better life. It was a beautiful, peaceful haven in the midst of a bustling capital city. Many have invested in the hospital and support the many things they’re doing for the girls. This evening we went to a Catholic orphanage with about sixty children. Outside, we hung out with the kids ranging from 3 to 17. Inside, we went up to a room filled with tiny babies… the cutest and most content babies ever! It was an amazing first day. God is truly Creator and Sustainer of all. In Him is healing, joy, and full life.

Matthew 6: 31-33 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”

Don't Play it Safe

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family." Hebrews 11:7

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrew 11:8

"By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger: he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible." Hebrews 11:27

As I get closer to graduating, I find myself in more and more situations that I ultimately have no control over (applying for college, scholarships, my future!). I'm moving into a completely new stage of life. As scary as it can be to think about the future, it is more exciting and reassuring to think about than anything. I love being in a position where I have to wholeheartedly rely on God, because I know  there is absolutely no way that I can do it on my own. I often try to think through my future and plan it all out, but when I stop and think about it, I'm reminded that only God knows my future and has the most fulfilling plan. When I start to get even slightly nervous about what the future has in store and feel the need to plan it out, I love being able to look at the ways God has already worked in my life and the lives of the people around me. On top of that, the Bible is full of stories of people who lived by genuine faith (all of Hebrews 11!). Not once has God ever let anyone down. Never has He failed to show up in someone's life. When we give ourselves up to Him completely, He will always lead us exactly where we are meant to be. So be encouraged and have faith. Don't play it safe, you're only shorting yourself. Trust in the One who created you and died and rose again so we can have the most abundant life: life that glorifies Him and lasts forever.

“Christians today like to play it safe. We want to put ourselves in situations where we are safe 'even if there is no God.' But if we truly desire to please God, we cannot live that way.”

-Francis Chan

Praise God

"Praise the Lord, God our Savior, who helps us every day."   -Psalm 68:19

When we were in Africa there were a lot of things that stood out that I absolutely loved: Bible names were very common, there was no holding back in worship, and so much more. One of the things that I noticed most was the fact that every time anybody got up to speak, they always started out by simply saying, "Praise God". I can't even explain how natural it was. When we were at some of the kids' Sunday School one day, a little eight-year-old boy got up to translate the message for us and that was the first thing out of his mouth. At one of the schools we visited all of the teachers were asked to give a few brief words about themselves, and again they all started out with the same thing: "Praise God". All of the prayers began that way also! How often do we start out praying by telling God what we need, getting on a roll about how long and hard our day was. Really we should start out our prayers by giving praise to our Savior. It was so cool to experience being with people who put praising our Father above any of our problems here on earth. When we're struggling, we're called to praise God just the same. When our God answers our prayers, remember it was Him and give Him the thanks He deserves! He is with us all day every day, constantly helping us and pouring His love into us. I just want to encourage you to start out everything you do by simply praising God, who loves you more than imaginable! Hope everyone has an amazing week.

An Honest Heart, Beautiful Love

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Romans 3:17-19).

For a long time in my relationship with God, I don't think I really understood how powerful and perfect His love is. It can be hard to grasp a love that is unconditional and completely does not depend on us. It wasn't until God showed me the importance of being honest before Him that I began to understand how all-consuming His love is. When things are going well, it's easy to be open with God and worship Him; His love is evident. But when you come to a time when things aren't going how you want them and you feel distant from God, it's easy to stop dwelling on God's love and just feel trapped where you are. But it's at those times that we can experience how genuine God's grace is. God doesn't expect us to be perfect and never get upset, He knows that we are imperfect and mess up. He showed that by sending Jesus to die on the cross (Romans 5:8). But He does want us to come before Him with everything.

God wants you to tell Him everything about you; how you feel, your fears, your desires. He's not just some controlling God who pushes His people around, but the opposite. He loves us and wants to walk through everything with us. He wants to walk through life with us and comfort us with His love. When we're honest with Him about all of those things, we draw so much closer to Him and can feel His love at a whole new level.

 It's not about pretending we always feel great or pretending life's going smoothly, it's about being open with our Father. When God puts us in places that are challenging, it can be difficult to remember how near He really is. But at those times when things are hard and feel overwhelming, don't hesitate to draw near to the One who's always there for us. He calls us to himself. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you". Don't try to do it on your own, turn to God and His mighty love.Trust that God's love is always sufficient and that He always has the best plan in store. Praying that you can be completely honest with God and experience His beautiful love more than ever before!

True Living

Philippians 1:21 (ESV) "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Up until just about a year ago, I don't think I really knew what it meant to live in the abundant life to which God called His followers. I knew what the "typical" teenage Christian lifestyle should look like (church, FCA, youth group, etc.) but I didn't understand what it meant to truly live my life in Christ. In order to live more than just a "typical" life, your mindset has to totally change.

Throughout junior high and even the beginning of high school I grew in my walk with the Lord, but I was missing a key part in my relationship with Him, which basically brought me to a stop in my growth....and that part was surrender. I'd never been outside of my comfort zone or felt like I didn't have control over things. I knew that God is in control of everything and that because I know Jesus my life should be radically different than those who don't believe, but I didn't really get why. Up until the summer before my junior year, my life felt pretty much the same as everyone else's around; I was comfortable and people knew that I was a Christian, but I still didn't get the concept of surrender. That summer God brought me to a point where He flat-out taught me what surrender is and showed me that my life was not being lived wholeheartedly for Him. He started to work in my life in big ways. The more I focused soley on Him, the more peace and joy I was filled with. At the end of the summer, He opened the door for me to go on my first mission trip, to Honduras. I'd always thought a life in missions might be what I was called to, but I'd never pursued it. While in Honduras, I knew it was God alone who'd brought me there. He showed me that when our focus is on Him, not on this world, then we can live the life of freedom and fullness He's called us to.

Way too often we get caught up in our lives and forget that this life is so short. For some people, it's getting content doing our own thing and feeling (sometimes subconciously) like we know better than God. Then some people let fear of what God might do in their lives keep them from walking in full submission to Him. If there's anything stopping you from submitting all-out to Him, I want to encourage you to center your life completely around God and His truths, because only then will your life be meaningful and used for a purpose bigger than you could ever imagine. In The Message, Philippians 1:21 says, "Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose." When you give your life completely to God, there's nothing to fear because no matter where He takes you, you will be living in Him. And let me tell you, that's when you are truly living.