Reflections. . .

2/26/10 7:30PM
Uganda; day 59

This week has been one of reflections, and realizations. Having been here for about two months I’ve been asking myself a lot of questions. There have been some good days and some challenging days. The challenging days are the ones where I find myself questioning if we’re really doing any good here. If what we’re trying to teach them on budgeting is really going to stick, or if they will return to their old ways as soon as we’re gone. If I’m making any impact in the girls study group, or if they’re just sitting through it to humor me. I didn’t have clear expectations for what a mission trip would be like, but I didn’t expect it to be like this. I pictured having more impact on people’s lives, on making a significant and noticeable difference. I came because I felt like God was telling me to come, i didn’t know why, but I was willing to do whatever he put in front of me. . .

Two months later, I find the only thing in front of me is His word, and a lot of free time. I’ve come to understand what it’s like to meditate on His ways day and night. To give glory to Him even in the small things. I have a deeper understanding of the relationship that’s possible with Him. And most importantly, I feel like I’m beginning to understand in a way I’ve never seen before, the love He’s given to us, and the love He commands we return, and share with others. If you had asked me two months ago if I needed to go across the world to figure these things out I would have told you no, I probably would have even thought that I already knew about those things. But that’s just it, I knew “about” them, I’ve read the bible, I know the greatest commandments of love, I’ve followed the rules, I’ve talked to God, but I wasn’t grasping the fullness of it. Now I realize that the significant and noticeable difference i was looking to see in other people has happened within me. That though I had a plan of helping others, apparently God had a different plan for me first.

I may go home wondering if I’ve really helped anyone on this trip, but I will leave with a renewed heart and mind for God.

-Brandi

Calvary Chapel

2/21/10 9:10PM
Uganda; day 54

It has been a wonderful Sunday. Kurt and I started the day off by taking a taxi to town, and then walking about 25 minutes to Calvary Chapel of Jinja. We got there just in time, and were pleased to see that there were no electronic sounds coming from the band. We got to listen to songs we were familiar with for the first time in two months, and the message was in English. Aside from just being happy that I could understand it, it was also a great service. We will definitely be going back. It also gave us a chance to meet some other missionaries that are living in the area, and we’re excited to get to know them better.

-Brandi

2/20/10 3:45 PM
Uganda; day 53

It’s a rainy day here in Jinja, one of those days you just curl up inside and enjoy the sounds while staying dry. The power went out again last night around 1:00 AM which was actually before it started raining. It just came back on a few minutes ago. It was to hot for sleep, even after 53 days of getting used to the heat, sleep is impossible without a fan. Being here has definitely made me appreciate all of the comforts of the states that much more.

The kids received a truckload of supplies this week, it’s unusual for them to receive things from the states because the cost of shipping is so high. But it was wonderful to see them get so many things that they truly needed, there were clothes, bibles, shoes, towels, and toys. There were even some Tom’s shoes in the bunch, which made me smile. It was great to see how excited they get over getting such basics, and how grateful they are for them. Unfortunately when it comes to buying food, or clothes for the kids we have to go with the more immediate need and buy food, so it’s good that God is providing their needs in other ways.

I’ve contacted Compassion International and they are arranging my visit to see Paul in Kenya. I’m really excited about it. We have it set up for March 29. Our 3 month Visas expire on March 28 so if there are any problems with renewing them we will be able to go to Kenya that day on the visas we will have there. I would have done it sooner but they require 8 weeks notice which I wasn’t aware of. They’ve been really helpful and are making an exception to let us meet that soon. We’re also going to take advantage of being in Kenya, since they are known for their safari’s we’re looking at a 3 day 2 night camping safari which sounds awesome. It’s at one of the best reserves in Africa, the Masai Mara Reserve. So I’m really looking forward to that little adventure.

-Brandi

2/17/10 9:30 PM
Uganda; day 50

Yesterday brought more sad news from the states, my Grandmother passed away yesterday morning. I didn’t have a close relationship with her, but it is difficult to get this kind of news from so far away. It has been just over 7 months since my Dad passed away, and it breaks my heart that my Mom has to deal with the loss of another loved one so soon. There is little I can do from here to offer comfort. I pray that God is offering her the comfort that I’m unable to. Please keep my Mom and the rest of her family in your prayers.

-Brandi

Political unrest

2/15/10 2:00PM
Uganda; day 48

The atmosphere here in Jinja has changed over the past week. I noticed small differences on Sunday when we went to town, but nothing major, just enough to notice that something was up. Today however, was a different story. On our way to town men walked in front of our taxi in Bugembe, they were yelling something in Luganda, and it appeared they wanted the driver to stop so they could talk to the passengers, the driver steered right for one of them and didn’t slow down until the man jumped onto the curb out of the way. Something similar had happened on Sunday, so I became curious as to what was going on. I mentioned it to Kurt, but since we don’t speak Luganda we were left in the dark. So we headed to our normal spot, the Source Cafe, on Main street. As we were sitting there drinking coffee a political parade went by, tons of people on motorcycles, bikes, trucks or walking, all holding signs. Most of them said things like “Homosexuality is an abomination”, “God love’s homo’s but hates homosexuality” you get the idea. From what I’ve heard they are having a vote, something to the effect of, if people are caught doing homosexual acts they should be put to death. So this is pretty serious stuff, I’m going to find out more details so I understand exactly what they’re voting for. But in the midst of all of this I’ve noticed a definite change in attitude toward us as we’re walking in town. I can only attribute it to the fact that most of the population here appears to be against homosexuality, and everyone is well aware of how much of America not only accepts it, but supports it. People were, giving us odd looks, and making comments to each other as we passed by, some of them even called out to us asking if we agree with everything going on in our country, another asked if we think homosexuality is ok. Considering how high tensions seem to be here over this vote, it tends to make one nervous when your getting put in the group of “opposition” just because of the color of your skin.


-Brandi

2/14/10 12:45 PM
Uganda; day 47

We spent the morning walking all over Jinja, we were looking for Calvary Chapel. We finally found it, but they were nearing the end of their service so we decided to go next week. I’m excited about going though, I could hear the translator from the street. My main dilemma with churches here has been even when there is a translator I can’t hear, or understand them. So next week it is.

I gave the message at the nightly devotion at the home on Friday. It was a first for me, talking in front of people has never been my thing. But with God’s help it went better then I expected. And if they got nothing else out of it they at least learned what the two greatest commandments are, which I was surprised they didn’t already know.

Kurt and I keep getting emails, and comments that different people are praying for us. Just thinking about it gives me warm fuzzy feelings. Not only is it nice to know that our friends and family haven’t forgotten us, but to know that we’re being covered in prayer is very reassuring. So thank you to all of you that continue to do so.




Prayer focus

That God will be behind everything that we do, that he will guide us, so we use our time wisely.

That he will use the study group to reach these girls, that they may live a life for him.

To Give or not to Give . . . what is the deciding factor?

2/13/10 12:08 AM
Uganda; Day 45

From a biblical standpoint, when if ever, is it ok not to give when someone in need asks something of you?

In the states you have the occasional beggar, or homeless person that will ask for money. If you go to any homeless shelter training they will tell you not to give money but to give food, or supplies. That’s understandable, you want to know that you’re actually helping the person, not contributing to his/her addictions. But in the states, you can ask a person what their need is and provide it, without dealing with a language barrier, or a different culture full of unknowns.

Now I’m in Uganda, every time I step out of the home I’m faced with the needy, the sick, the hungry, the least of these. . . the training books tell you while your on a mission trip keep things in perspective, know and understand that you can’t remove poverty from the world. On a large scale I understand that, there will always be poverty. However, not being able to remove poverty from the entire world, or even one country doesn’t mean that you can’t meet the needs of those within your reach. That brings me to a question, every verse I’ve read in the Bible about giving, says to give without reluctance. To give to the poor. Paul tells us we don’t have to give to the point of having nothing, but to give that their may be equality. So if all of these verses say to give, to not worry about the possessions you have on this earth, but to know that by giving to the needy you are storing up treasures in heaven. Where have all the training books, and people come up with all the rules on giving? Are they rules of the world, or rules from other verses in the bible that I’m not familiar with? Are we following the commandments that we’ve been given, or changing them to fit into our culture? Is it up to us to take control in deciding what is best for the people in need who are asking for money, food, etc? Or are we to depend on the verses below and know that God is in control of every situation, and that we are simply called to give.

I want to hear thoughts on this, leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Matthew 5:42 (New King James Version)
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Matthew 10:42 (New King James Version)
And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Matthew 19:21 (New King James Version)
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Luke 12:33 (New King James Version)
Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

2 Corinthians 8:8-14 (New King James Version)  
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (New King James Version)
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

      “ He has dispersed abroad,
      He has given to the poor;
      His righteousness endures forever.”