Toodle-lu, Mzungu!

Here I sit in an internet café in Uganda, knowing this is my
last day in this country.  Whenever we walk down the street, the children yell or sing, “Bye, mzungu!”  “Mzungu” is the word they use here for any foreigner- or white person. I don’t think I will ever get sick of their little voices telling us goodbye and as we actually leave Uganda, I take their sweet faces with me. The Lord has
taught me so much in the past few weeks; I am so grateful! I came to Africa
Expecting to have my heart broken and to share God’s love with those who desperately
need it.  What I didn’t realize is that
God is using Africa to show His love for me in a new way- a way that can only
be done here.  By stripping me of all
that is comfortable, He is proving to be my only satisfaction, something I’ve
yearned to be content with for a long time. When I need comfort, I can no
longer eat comfort food, call my closest friends and family members, use money
to purchase material goods to temporarily satisfy, or anything else that I
would possibly turn to at home.  I will
admit: I have incredible team members and sometimes we search for chocolate
during downtime, but only the Lord can understand and satisfy my heart. I am
learning that God does not need me to spread His word and love here, but that He
has allowed me to be a part of advancing His kingdom and will use every step of
this journey to reveal His heart to me a little more.  I’m no longer anxiously waiting to be broken,
but excited for the ways He will change and refine me.  It can sometimes be messy, but I trust that
it will end in beauty.

Uganda has been a time of personal growth and team
bonding.  We’ve been doing a lot of
school ministry and have really gotten plugged into the local church and
community.  We have had to chance to
adapt to Africa physically and spiritually, build relationships within the
team, and other necessary steps of preparation the Lord needed us to experience
before heading off to Kenya and Tanzania. 
Tomorrow we meet up with Expeditions 1 and get on a bus for Kenya, where
we will most likely be doing hospital, orphanage, and mercy ministry, as well
as evangelism. I am learning that God is a God beyond plans and expectations
and only He knows what’s in store for Kenya, but I will walk in glorifying Him
no matter what He calls us to do there.

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to preach in the local
church, which in itself is showing how God is fostering growth in me; it’s
incredible!  I spoke about how God
provides and protects for those whom He sends. His faithfulness has proven true
so far and I’m placing my trust in His goodness.  Lately I cannot get enough of Psalm 145; it
really speaks to the season my heart is in.