Conquering my Fears!

I asked a fellow MST, Lauren, to record the song Craig and I sang. Today I wasn't feeling well at all, but I wanted to do this. This whole week I have known I was going to sing and I asked everyone to pray because I get so anxious when I have to do things in front of other people. Craig was so encouraging and I told him I was going to take all of my cues from him.

The Remand Home is like DJJ. Empower a Child goes there every week and they like to do a special song/special music/special talent to encourage the children to use the talents the Lord has blessed them with. I felt like I would be a hypocrite to not sing for them. I am not the best singer by any means, but I refused to not praise the Lord through singing!

My friend Stefanie came up to me afterwards and said she cried because she knew how much I relied in the Lord to do that, she's amazing! I think most people who know me know, and don't believe, that I hate being in front of people. During this trip I have come to realize that the Lord deserves it and I will not be afraid! Anyways, I hope you enjoy it. At the end of the video you get to see the boys and girls we spent the afternoon with!

A Sweet Moment

You can't see her, but there is a girl who wouldn't let me go. You can just see her face on my left side (right side of the picture). She would help me get away from the little kids that were lovingly attacking me to see the pictures. And her hugs were delightful. I gave her a silly band for being a special helper and thanked her as we started to leave. While we were pulling away, she ran up to the van and gave me her green rubber band! She exchanged her green rubber band for the silly band I gave her! She has so little and she gave me the most thoughtful gift and thanked me! What a beautiful child and a beautiful heart!

These kids crack me up!

Right here on the end, in the green dress, is my friend who gave me her rubber band because I gave her a silly band! So selfless!

Wakulukuku School

Empower-A-Child has an outreach program called Feeding programs. We drive out the the slums and visit their schools. Today we went to Wakulukuku. It sounds just like it's spelled- WAH-KOO-LOO-KOO-KOO school. We prepare a meal of porridge for them and play games, sing songs and teach them a lesson from the bible. They are sweet, loving and fun children. They are amazing with the cameras and LOVE to have their picture taken. After you take their picture they look at it and laugh hysterically! We come to the site, buy supplies from people around the area- milk, oil, fire wood, water, sugar, wash their dishes, and serve them. Before we serve them we play games, sing songs and dance. They go back into their school and sit patiently as we hand out porridge to every child who wants some. We start with the older class first, then the younger children, the teachers, and then the street children who sit outside. They are all so sweet.

Above is Lizzy an EAC volunteer and Lauren an MST (Mission Support Team)

We were playing some games!

The children praying for our time together, that the Lord would be glorified!

These lovely children took a million pictures so they could look at them and laugh! It was sweet!

Mustard Seeds

Matthew 17:20 says, "...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain 'move from here to there', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

This verse excites me!! It makes me think of the people who questioned my trip- why Uganda, why Africa, why now, etc etc... I am so thankful that my Father in Heaven knows my heart and knew what He was doing when he called me here! In this verse Jesus is saying that if we have faith the size of a small, tiny little seed that the Lord will do amazing things with that through us, through me and you!

He could have said anything really. He chose a mustard seed, which is a tiny little seed. I started planting this year and it's amazing the things that grow from these little seeds or bulbs. I actually planted my very first bulbs this year and when they started coming up from the ground I was so excited! I showed them to Jeremy in the proudest way, just delighted in the work I had done. I planted these bulbs and they grew! But my bulbs are so much bigger than a mustard seed. I can't imagine how something so great can come out of something so little and how the Father delights in that! It's awesome!

This is also how I think of this trip. The Lord put Africa on my heart and, in faith, I followed His call here. Of course I was skeptical about things, scared and nervous at times, and I do miss home; but, the Lord is so awesome! He says that if my faith is even as small as a mustard seed I can move mountains.

Matthew 13:31 explains a little better why the mustard seed is so significant. It says: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and perch on its branches."

I hope you are encouraged today in whatever you are doing and have faith that the Lord has a purpose for you, your life, your job, and everything you are doing. Rejoice for the Lord is worthy of our praise!!

The Light of the World!

Today we went to Watoto Church Central in Kampala. It was amazing! It's a very westernized church, with a choir, praise band, big screens and words that roll across, and videos, outreach, everything. It was such an awesome experience. The sermon was on a part of Matthew that I started focusing on right before I came to Uganda.

Matthew 5:14-16 says:

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

It's so true! We are the light of this world! The sermon was about how Jesus said we are lights in a dark world. We guide people by the way we live. People are watching our moves, our words, where we spend our money, how we spend our money, our attitudes and mindsets. The pastor said this, "You may be the only bible that some others can read. How can you guide people when you are contributing to the darkness." You have no idea how a quick exchange at a restaurant, Target, Walmart, bank, anywhere can affect the way people view the gospel or Christianity.

Every day that I am here, I am more and more thankful for this time! It's really hard being so far away from home. I'm not just a drive away anymore; I am on another continent! But the Lord is great and worthy of all of my praise! My life has been so crazy, and it definitely wasn't a life kids dream about and boast on! But it was all for a purpose and a plan. To prepare me for this very moment. That's so awesome!

When I go home I will miss not being treated like an angel. If children are standing in their doorways and we are walking or driving by, they run inside and scream Mazungo! Mazungo! and they all run out to wave! It's like we are celebrities for Christ! :) I love to wave to all of them and smile. I don't know Lugandan at all, but one smile and their faces light up! It's so awesome! Jesus is greater than language barriers! I promise I'll add pictures tomorrow. I am exhausted!

Please pray for this week. It'll be my first and only full week of service, worship, playing with the kids and fellowship with everyone at Empower-A-Child. Pray that God would continue to work in this organization and in Uganda! These people are passionate for the living God! I am so thankful for their examples of worship. Pray for safe travels for my friends going home tomorrow and new friends coming tomorrow. And please begin praying for my return home- safe travels, that I wouldn't forget how the Lord made me feel here, how the Holy Spirit moved in my heart, and that it will move mountains back in the states! I LOVE YOU ALL!!

It's Raining. It's Pouring.

I was going to go to the store and grab a coke then go play with the neighbor kids, but now it's storming, so I will update my blog some more! Excited?! Thanks :)

I have been reflecting on a few scriptures during my time here and I would like to share those:

Proverbs 3:3

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."

This is something we keep in mind every day. We have no idea what each day will have in store; but, we are here to love and empower children for Christ. If we do that and are faithful in that, the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest!

Matthew 6: 33-34

" But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

I really love this scripture starting from verse 25, so if you have time read it. We stress so much about having things or not, we question things the Lord does, we compare our lives to other peoples and sometimes we just fail to rejoice in God's provisions! God has provided everything that we need and when we are concentrating on what we don't have or on what others have, we can not fully rejoice in what the Lord has blessed us with. I am so thankful that the Lord knows me better than I know myself and he knows my needs. He loves me more than I know and I want to spend my days praising him for everything!

1 John 3:1

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. "

I have thought about this maybe 20 times a day preparing for this and while I have been here. How great is this experience? How great is the faith of my family and friends who provided for this trip? How great is the Lord that he opened the doors?! I have seriously never cried in praise more times in my life than this year- 25 really is a wonderful year! People may think that I am crazy for coming here, but I was called on purpose and I rejoice in that and I pray that this trip will also change other people's lives!

Matthew 25:40

"The King will reply, ' I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

This scripture brings joy to my heart. We talked to the children about this one day in secondary school. We have no idea what each of us has. We have no idea where people have come from or what they struggle with. When we do something for someone else, we are doing it for one of God's children! I don't know about you, but that motivates me to do what I can for my brothers and sisters in Christ because my Father is SO good to me! What I am doing here will not stop when I get back home. That is my prayer! Praise the Lord!

A male giraffe. Our guide says a male's spots get darker and darker as they get older. This one must be old!

A mommy baboon and her little baby.

One of the only elephants we saw up close! This is a little baby.

Alisha, Rachel, Koley in the back and Jayan and me up front!

He's got the WHOLE WORLD in his hands!

Mazungo! Mazungo!

This past weekend a few of the other MSTs took a 5 hour drive west for Safari. During dinner one night Jayan asked us 2 burning questions she'd been thinking since we got there. All 4 of us were pretty new. I just arrived on Monday, Rachel arrived the day of the bombings, Coley came from Empower-A-Child Kenya, and Alisha also arrived the day of the bombings. Alisha and Rachel didn't know anything about it until they got here, but Jayan looked at me and said every day she checked her email waiting for me to cancel my trip. When the bombs hit 6 of the MSTs left and went home because they were scared. She was sure I wouldn't come. And I did. She wanted to know why! I told her that the Lord has a purpose for this trip and I strongly believe that with His purpose comes His protection! That morning I also received an email from Jeremy and it included this scripture from Isaiah 41:10.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

It was perfect for that moment and my explanation to her! I was so blessed to know that since the day I was accepted, the staff here has been praying for me and my preparation for this trip. It has been so awesome to get to know the Ugandans! They are amazing and are changing my heart for the Lord so much!

She also asked us if we thought that what we were doing is going to make a difference to the people here or if it will make a bigger impact in our own lives. All of us agreed that we felt like the Lord was changing us through this, and that we hope to change a child's life, but we are probably getting more out of it. It was at that moment that she shared her testimony for us. She was one of those children, in the schools that we now visit. When a Mazungo, white person, would visit the school the children would get in a frenzy. They love Mazungos! One day a Mazungo gave her a pencil and she cherished it forever! She always claimed to be a Christian, but even as a child didn't fully understand it until she was older and the Lord started preparing her for her future here at EAC.

She said that just smiling and waving at a child, because we are Mazungos, is changing this nation! The children don't understand how far we have traveled, but that we chose to spend time with them and to bring them gifts. They went crazy over the silly bands I gave them and I never realized that they would cherish it like it was gold.

It was so encouraging to hear because a lot of people have said they don't know what can be done in 2 weeks and my response is that the Lord can move mountains in 2 weeks! I am glad she encouraged me on that! Our consistency, our hugs and smiles, high fives, hand shakes, presents and playing are all helping change these children's hearts for Christ! I've never had so many children get so excited about getting a free hug and hand shake in my life and it has blessed me tremendously. I value it as much as they do! The Lord is amazing and my heart is over-joyed!!

I love these children! After worship, they hung around and talked. Grace is in white and the boys were being shy until I asked them to take a picture, then their faces lit up!! These are the children who sacrificed their lunch to worship with us!

The children love pictures and cameras :)

Heather, in yellow, praising the Lord with the children!

Craig, Kaylee, and Colin leading worship!

The view of our backyard and the city.

Praise the LORD!

I arrived safely in Kampala, Uganda around 2:30 am Tuesday morning. It took a while for me to fall asleep because of the time change and I spent the morning in bed resting. The staff and other volunteers were so gracious about that, I think mostly because everyone has made the long journey. Every morning the staff here leads us in praise and worship and devotion time! Even though I wasn't participating with them it was an incredibly powerful thing to wake up to people from all over the world singing "How Great is Our God!" I couldn't fall asleep for a while after that. I am so blessed to have heard their singing. It was so beautiful!

After lunch my joined a group for praise and worship at a secondary school not too far away from our house. (Our house, by the way, is completely surrounded by a brick fence and barbed wire... just for those who were concerned about my safety). These children are in school all day long from 8 am until 6/7/8 at night. When we, EAC, come to praise and worship with them, they sacrifice their lunch and free time to come and sing and hear our stories! They have the choice to come praise with us or to do their own thing, in front of their schoolmates. Can you imagine? I began to think about how little I sacrifice for the Lord and how easy it is to not show up or preach His word because we are scared or timid.

And, I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what to expect and I was honestly scared. I think I wanted to do my best for the Lord and it made me question who I am in Him! Those children were brave enough to come into that classroom and worship with us! Who was I to not want to love them and praise the Lord because I was timid? The Lord whipped me right into shape and as soon as we started singing I could literally see the Holy Spirit on the faces of these children!! I hope to have pictures up tomorrow, but they are beautiful, loving, strong children! I couldn't help but cry when I heard them praising and worshiping the same God, our God, our Father! I realized that they deserve my best, everything that I am in Christ!

I am excited about the next two weeks. Thursday I am going on Safari and I'll get to swim in a pool- that's the a pretty big deal! :) I'll probably be out of touch for a few days, but when I am back online I'll have plenty of pictures to post. I am so thankful to be here. I'll leave you with this, what the children say at school:

We say: "God is good"

They say: "All the time! God is good and we are a living testimony!"

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers! They have not gone unnoticed!

Getting ready!

This is all backwards. Below are pictures from Saturday before my trip and my departure day!

The plane I will be on from DC to Entebbe! I am ready with my laptop, neck pillow, iphone, ipod, movies, books, journals, scrapbook with sweet messages from amazing people, and my sweet Bible- ready for the long trip!

The first flight from Columbia to DC. I like little planes- they make my heart happy. Everyone is forces to be close and I love that!

Jeremy took me to the airport and Yogi surprised us there. I am so incredibly thankful for their family! I love you all so much!

I love him the most! You have been a wonderful support for this whole trip!

Saturday I got the spend the day with Mr. Jeremy Dickerson. We did everything I wanted! It was fun. We went to the Congaree Swamp to walk on the boardwalk, went antique browsing in Camden and had a lovely dinner date. I just wanted to thank him for a wonderful day.

I am so thankful for you and blessed every day by your love, encouragement, prayers and support!! Please know how much I appreciate everything that you are and everything that you do, for me and for others! xoxo- Ru

Waiting in Dulles Airport!

HEY EVERYONE! I wanted to write an entry before I went on my 20+ hour flight. I have had an exhausting week with last minute preparations and I still don't think I got enough done. It's also been exhausting, in an amazing way, with the out pour of support and prayers. Last Sunday I was brought in front of my church and members of the church all united in prayer for my trip! It was incredible and I felt the Holy Spirit in that moment!!

I gave up my worries about work. It was there before I got there and will be there when I return and I honestly was glad to give up those worries. I have been blessed to work in an environment where my co-workers are so encouraging and supportive of my crazy ideas! God is at work in my office and not a single person has been discouraging about my trip and I am incredibly thankful for that!!! The picture above has some of the sweet, sweet women I am talking about, the wonderful ones that I work with every day! :)

It's amazing to be going to Africa, but just having the overwhelming support is an incredible way for everyone to act on the calling they get from the Lord! There were so many times that I was worried about finances and safety, but people gave faithfully of their money, time, energy and through prayers! Thank you for your faithfulness to our Father! I love you all!!

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Yesterday during the World Cup there was a bombing in Kampala, Uganda. As I heard the news and read articles, I couldn't help but remember a few that the Lord put on my heart. All week I have been praying, and asking for prayer, as I prepare to go to Uganda. I am exhausted already because my mind has been going nonstop for a while now- preparing, praying, thinking, etc. In Sunday School my heart was encouraged in all of my concerns. Although I have lived this journey out, I still need to be reminded of God's overwhelming peace and how he provides. Part of our lesson was on Matthew 19: 28-30, which says:

"Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then." (NLT)

I have definitely been struggling with the things I'll miss while I am gone and the amount of

work, bills, etc that will pile up, but, what a wonderful promise! And what an answer to

my prayers! It is awesome to see the Lord speak through other people and have it touch your

heart! We grow so attached to our daily lives, every person, thing and circumstance, and we

forget sometimes that it's all a blessing. And so is being called to Uganda. It is a blessing and I

praise the Lord for calling me to this wonderful ministry opportunity! Please continue to praise

God for what he has provided and will continue to provide in the days to come!

I'd never spent much time in the book of Lamentations, but as I sat in church and heard the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" sung, I found it in the bible and it also touched my heart.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

How awesome! What a blessing it is to live every day new! Yesterday I may have fallen short, but today is a new day, and the Lord's compassion will never fail us. Can you imagine? How many minutes, hours, days we waste not having compassion for someone who messes up or hurts us or doesn't listen to us or disrespects us. We do all that, plus more, and our God is gracious and forgiving and compassionate. And how great is HIS faithfulness? Although the area of Kampala has been struck with such a tragedy, I have peace in the Lord's faithfulness that He has called me there and He will protect me and guide me! Please pray for the people of Uganda and all of the volunteers. Please pray for the Lord to continue watching over His people and protecting us all. Please pray for the people who took their lives in this plot and that as we read about this that our eyes would be open to the people who are so far away from the Lord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o&feature=related

Phil 2:3-5

I wanted to take some time to write about this scripture because it's what I have on the back of my t-shirts. The reason that I selected it is because I have been challenged to really reflect on what this scripture means by the Empower-A-Child staff. Their goal is to help build team unity and this scripture encourages us to be ready to work together with individuals from all over the world, to respect one another and help encourage each other to reach our goals!

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

As I began to reflect on this scripture, I tried to put myself in Paul's position. He is writing to the church in Philippi from his jail cell. In the first scripture Paul is filled with loving words for this group of people who aren't getting along. I kept reading that over and over again, trying to picture what I would say to a group of people who weren't getting along. Isn't it the easiest thing to just get angry, and have word vomit, just to regret it later? Already, before verse 2, he is encouraging them and reminding them of their purpose together, praying for them, rejoicing with them, and loving them. Then comes the challenge.

To me, Philippians 2 is our challenge! No matter the circumstance we are called to think about the attitude of Christ. In a few days I will be leaving for Uganda. I have no idea what it will be like, I don't know anyone that's there, I've never traveled abroad before, and I don't know what to expect. But, through it all I will keep this scripture on my heart. I already know there will be days with no water, no electricity, times where we might be running late or early for an activity. Imagine what God can do in those moments- moment of silence and weakness. I've never had to boil my water to drink it before and I've always had plenty to snack on. I look forward to moments like that. The lessons that can be learned from those thoughts, or realities once I get there. I also look forward to meeting the staff, the children, the villagers and the other volunteers and I pray that while I am there I will continually remember the attitude of Christ with everything that we do! Imagine how God can work in a body of believers who are all united in Christ and trusting that God's plan is perfect and just! It's exciting!

So my challenge to you is that as you continue to pray about me and my trip, you will also pray to have an attitude like Christ. We are fortunate that we can look to our bibles for examples of how Christ lived! I think when we start to live like Christ, we begin to understand how the Lord has provided everything that we need and through that we can be so thankful! Thanks so much for reading this and for your prayers and support :)

This is my story...

There are 5 significant things that have happened in my life that have lead me to this point of going to Uganda:

1. WinterJam 1996:

In 1996 I stepped foot into the Township Auditorium a regular pre-teen and came out saved! My mom forced us to go to an 89.7 WMHK concert as a family. I had no interest in being there, but it changed my life. A year later, I found out that night was supposed to be the last thing our family was going to do together because my parents were separating. I always questioned that night because it felt so random. I remember not wanting to go. I am pretty sure I was rude and ugly about being forced to go, but God had other plans for that night!

"For is it by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10

I am so thankful that He is a loving God! That night he began preparing me for the life He has planned! I don't even think my parents knew about this night, but now they do! :) A few years ago I graduated from college in that same building. I cried like a baby that day!

2. CRU Winter Conference:

In the Fall of 2005 I spent a semester in DC. When I returned I was given a "scholarship" go to the the Winter Conference. Again, totally did not want to go because I didn't know anyone but the Columbia College girls. The Lord had some amazing things planned for that trip. There are 2 scriptures that were talked about that really started tugging at my heart:

Matthew 4:19 "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 9:37-38 "The he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers until his harvest field."

I am thankful that the Lord knows best, and blessed me with such encouraging and faithful friends! They encouraged me to come to this conference with them and I am thankful that I did. After that conference I began to pray that I would be ready and listen to God's calling!

3. Brittany Jo:

At this conference I met Brittany Jo. She actually stopped me in the hallway of the hotel and said she talked to the Lord and he said I should live in their house on Rosewood with her and her 2 other roommates. Their other roommate was moving out and I had just mentioned that I was looking for a place to live. I was blown away by her boldness. She continued to be that way even after I moved into the Rosewood house. I had knows her 1 week before I became her roommate for 3 years.

Out other roommate, Amanda, loves Africa. In our 3 years living together she had visited Kenya 2 times. We always had some book or movie about Africa because she always wanted to know more! We used to talk about how much she loves Africa and I love the United States. When I decided to pursue a trip to Uganda I met with Amanda and told her about how the Lord has changed my heart. I am so thankful for Brittany's boldness and Amanda's love!

4. The Breakup:

I had been dating someone for years and known him for longer. We were best friends. A little over a year ago our priorities changed and in June we decided to break up. It was the hardest thing I did, but I think we were both given an incredible peace about the situation. Throughout the last year I spent time alone with the Lord. Literally. I was alone for Thanksgiving when I cried out to the Lord in confusion. I wanted to be with someone so badly and I couldn't accept JUST the love, grace and forgiveness of Christ alone. I sat alone in a living room of a strangers house (that I was house sitting for) on Thanksgiving and I couldn't have felt worse. I prayed that night, and the rest of the weekend, to be satisfied in Christ alone. It's like that song... " on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." From that moment I began to pray about how the Lord wanted to use me. I found strength and comfort in 2 Corin 12: 9-10,

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

All I can say, is that when you pray this scripture as your prayer- that Christ would help you to delight in your weaknesses, that you would find strength in the things that make you feel so vulnerable, that you would see God's glory in hardships, insults, difficulties and persecutions, no matter how hard- He will take you places you never imagined going! For me that place starts with Uganda!

That leads me to #5.

5. October 2009:

I literally woke up one day and Africa was on my heart. It's the hardest things to explain or understand, unless you have felt it. I asked my friend Michelle to start praying about that because it confused me. She and I talked a lot about seminary, mission work, whatever was next for me, and just never thought that would mean my heart would change for Africa. When I asked her to pray for me about this, she asked me what I thought it meant and my thought was "I have no clue." We decided that day that we would pray about why the Lord put Africa on my heart. Psalm 37:4 says: "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." I put my trust in the Lord. Because HE put Africa on my heart, I was confident that he would fulfill that.

The most awesome thing about this trip is that it has almost fallen apart so many times. It was only at the point where there was no other reason, but because of His glory and purpose, that this trip came together. It honestly has nothing to do with anything I have done. To God be all the glory!

All of these are shortened for the sake of the blog, but these were incredibly significant moments in my life and I know that they are for the glory of the Lord! It's been a wonderful past few years! I am excited about this trip and how the Lord has prepared every step and will continue to do so!