The 1st Mawanga Sleepover!
the cutest...We played serious games.....like Snarf! Thanks to Jessi! :) Hakim is gett'n crazy! 
Amaka means 'family'
12 years ago
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Pics from Uganda
the cutest...Monday, June 25, 2007
THIS JUST IN! Nala Eats Pumba!!
For those of you who are not familiar with the Lion King, Let's just say that I saw a 4 Lions HUNT down a Wart Hog! The past 3 days I went to a game park with Jessi and the missionary family we are staying with and it was JUST amazing. We were right along the Nile River in the the lush land of North Western Uganda.
Hippos
Elephants
Giraffes
LIONS- we drove right next to 2 female lions crouched down in the grass, looking out at the lovely little wart hog family chowing down on some grub. The male lions were
a decoy as the war
t hogs didn't even notice the females. 3-2-1 the ladies pounce on the screeching wart hog and TA DA! Breakfast is served!! And we saw it all in action!!
Ladies- isn't it interesting that the females are the hunters and do all the work, and the men come running when food is ready? hmmmmm ...
. hahahahaha...... interesting.
Hippos
Elephants
Giraffes
LIONS- we drove right next to 2 female lions crouched down in the grass, looking out at the lovely little wart hog family chowing down on some grub. The male lions were
a decoy as the war
t hogs didn't even notice the females. 3-2-1 the ladies pounce on the screeching wart hog and TA DA! Breakfast is served!! And we saw it all in action!!Ladies- isn't it interesting that the females are the hunters and do all the work, and the men come running when food is ready? hmmmmm ...
. hahahahaha...... interesting.
"Can I truly Forgive?"
I hear of forgiveness in the pews of my church. Of course I know what forgiveness is-Someone cuts me off on I-25 freeway? Sure, I'll forgive them. Someone is 5 minutes late to a lunch meeting? No problem.
Someone physically attacks my African Father (Pastor Paul)? I have a problem. Forgiveness suddenly becomes the LAST thought in my mind. The wall of anger rises. And the battle begins.
Let me back up. You know how you can meet someone and instantly see their potential? You think, "THAT is a future leader!" That was how I felt when I met Julius 5 years ago. He is the direct neighbor to Pastor Paul and- he's just special. He and his best friend Hakim are 21 years old and are the kind of men you want leading the nation of Uganda. They are my Dear friends as we have spent a lot of time together, prayed for each other, and encouraged one another...
Once Jessi and I got to the village, Pastor said, "Kelsey, there are so many challenges I have not told you....I could not email them to you. It was just too much for me."
He begins to tell me that a month ago Julius qualified for the Compassion International Leadership Program which would sponsor him through college. Only 3 students qualified. Pastor told Julius what he had to do in order to be accepted and continued to pressure Julius to get in all his paperwork. And sure enough, Julius was late. Too late. He failed to apply on time. By the time he remembered to finish his paperwork, the interviews had already happened and the process was in place.
Julius pleaded with the Pastor, but he had to be fair. There was nothing Pastor could do. One morning all of the kids were gone at school and the Pastor and his wife were the only ones home. All the people in the village were in their gardens- and suddenly a group of men came over to Pastor's home, including Julius. Julius' father, a former military leader from Amin's time, gathered his men and began to assault Pastor about Julius' situation. When Pastor Paul tried to explain, it was too late. Two men carried him out to the front yard and held down his arms and legs- one of them was Julius. Another man began beating him in the head and chest, not letting up.
My eyes began to well up with tears as I pictured this dreadful morning just a month ago. To imagine Julius, who grew up with Pastor Paul's love and care right next door, HOLDING down Pastor's ARMS! Edith, his wife, didn't know what to do. In a panic, she sounded the Africa alarm! (This entails a type of scream that is known for emergencies only). Soon villagers came to help and luckily no one else was hurt. Pastor was left beaten and bruised.
Pastor, in his soft humble voice said, "Kelsey, God knew it was going to happen because all of my children were gone and unaffected. I believe God used me as the sacrifice. And Kelsey, I forgive them. Yes, I do. I love them. They are taking me to court claiming I assaulted them. Julius is against me. But I forgive."
I saw Julius the next day. Man, it was tough. Where I would typically run up to him with the typical greeting, I just waved from afar. I could hardly look at him. And I didn't know what to do. I had not forgiven him in my heart and I didn't know what to say.
He came up to me and said, "I know you are suspicious of me...and I need to explain." While he was talking I just looked at him thinking, "Kels, you HAVE to forgive him. The issues of survival, poverty, and the sins of anger and selfishness is what you hate-"
When he was finished, I looked at him and said, "You know, Pastor has forgiven you.....and so do I."
We Believe that Christ was beaten.
We Believe that He was like a lamb as crowns were driven into His head.
And WE were the ones hammering the nail.
This story is the closest parallel I have to how I would feel at the cross. Paul's humility, love for his people, sacrificial lifestyle, and grace is NOT of this world. Why do things such as this HAVE to happen to men like Pastor Paul?
Because Christ said it would happen to His people.
Pray as Pastor continues to in this battle with Julius. Pray for repentance for Julius. Pray for me to continue in this process of forgiveness.
Someone physically attacks my African Father (Pastor Paul)? I have a problem. Forgiveness suddenly becomes the LAST thought in my mind. The wall of anger rises. And the battle begins.
Let me back up. You know how you can meet someone and instantly see their potential? You think, "THAT is a future leader!" That was how I felt when I met Julius 5 years ago. He is the direct neighbor to Pastor Paul and- he's just special. He and his best friend Hakim are 21 years old and are the kind of men you want leading the nation of Uganda. They are my Dear friends as we have spent a lot of time together, prayed for each other, and encouraged one another...
Once Jessi and I got to the village, Pastor said, "Kelsey, there are so many challenges I have not told you....I could not email them to you. It was just too much for me."
He begins to tell me that a month ago Julius qualified for the Compassion International Leadership Program which would sponsor him through college. Only 3 students qualified. Pastor told Julius what he had to do in order to be accepted and continued to pressure Julius to get in all his paperwork. And sure enough, Julius was late. Too late. He failed to apply on time. By the time he remembered to finish his paperwork, the interviews had already happened and the process was in place.
Julius pleaded with the Pastor, but he had to be fair. There was nothing Pastor could do. One morning all of the kids were gone at school and the Pastor and his wife were the only ones home. All the people in the village were in their gardens- and suddenly a group of men came over to Pastor's home, including Julius. Julius' father, a former military leader from Amin's time, gathered his men and began to assault Pastor about Julius' situation. When Pastor Paul tried to explain, it was too late. Two men carried him out to the front yard and held down his arms and legs- one of them was Julius. Another man began beating him in the head and chest, not letting up.
My eyes began to well up with tears as I pictured this dreadful morning just a month ago. To imagine Julius, who grew up with Pastor Paul's love and care right next door, HOLDING down Pastor's ARMS! Edith, his wife, didn't know what to do. In a panic, she sounded the Africa alarm! (This entails a type of scream that is known for emergencies only). Soon villagers came to help and luckily no one else was hurt. Pastor was left beaten and bruised.
Pastor, in his soft humble voice said, "Kelsey, God knew it was going to happen because all of my children were gone and unaffected. I believe God used me as the sacrifice. And Kelsey, I forgive them. Yes, I do. I love them. They are taking me to court claiming I assaulted them. Julius is against me. But I forgive."
I saw Julius the next day. Man, it was tough. Where I would typically run up to him with the typical greeting, I just waved from afar. I could hardly look at him. And I didn't know what to do. I had not forgiven him in my heart and I didn't know what to say.
He came up to me and said, "I know you are suspicious of me...and I need to explain." While he was talking I just looked at him thinking, "Kels, you HAVE to forgive him. The issues of survival, poverty, and the sins of anger and selfishness is what you hate-"
When he was finished, I looked at him and said, "You know, Pastor has forgiven you.....and so do I."
We Believe that Christ was beaten.
We Believe that He was like a lamb as crowns were driven into His head.
And WE were the ones hammering the nail.
This story is the closest parallel I have to how I would feel at the cross. Paul's humility, love for his people, sacrificial lifestyle, and grace is NOT of this world. Why do things such as this HAVE to happen to men like Pastor Paul?
Because Christ said it would happen to His people.
Pray as Pastor continues to in this battle with Julius. Pray for repentance for Julius. Pray for me to continue in this process of forgiveness.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
TWIZZLERS:
Ok, so the missionaries in Kampala emailed me with their list of things they ABSOLUTELY need! One of them being: Twizzlers, the REAL kind. SO, I'm in the candy aisle of Safeway analyzing the different choices of Twizzlers. And all of the sudden, I realize I have to make a HUGE decision:Strawberry, or Cherry? What IS the original flavor????
At first I think, it must be strawberry. But then I thought, "Well, Red Vines are cherry, so are twizzlers?" I had no clue.
I knew I HAD to figure out the original flavor. I race to the front of the store and in the mercy of the check out guy I asked, "WHAT IS the original flavor of Twizzlers???"
He thought, He probed, He answered, "Cherry."
But then a small voice behind him screams, "NO! It's Strawberry!"
You can see my dilemma.
In hopes to find the answer for Amy's undying cravings, the checker gets on the loudspeaker and shouts, "We need to know the original flavor of Twizzlers on aisle 10! Anyone and everyone come this lady!"
As I was about to deck out of there from embarrassment, the entire store was split- we had cherry die-hards and others strawberry-lovers. Torn, yet again.
For all of you dying to know the original flavor, google it. ;) I'll leave you in suspense. But know that Amy WILL be receiving the BEST original Twizzlers out there.
COME and LISTEN to what HE has DONE
As I head off to Uganda tomorrow, I can barely focus as my mind is flooded with thoughts...
"Don't forget to pick up your malaria meds..."
"Did you buy enough deodorant?" "How do I deflate this soccer ball?"
"How on Earth is this going to fit in my bag?"
"I can't wait to see Pastor Paul and walk the roads of Mawanga again..."
"Lord, I don't deserve this opportunity." "hmmm...I can't find my poncho..."
"God, like a pauper I come begging for your wisdom this summer."
"I am yours."
You know when you feel like you have Nothing to offer? When you come face to face with the fact that you are totally insufficient? When you realize your own sense of poverty? That's me. Right here. Right now. As I was praying yesterday, the song "Come and Listen to What He has Done" came on.
That's it. That is the mission of this trip. I'm going and Listening to what God is already doing. Nothing more, and Nothing less. And maybe, just maybe I will hear new revelations. I go expecting Big things. I go knowing it will be difficult. I go with the promise that "the Spirit of the Lord is upon me...The planting of the Lord...that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61).
Funny thing is, Jessi and I are actually going to be planting! :) 
For those of you who don't know Jessi, she is one of
my Dearest friends. She went with me to Ukraine
the past two years, and is just a bright LIGHT of
sunshine! She has desired to go to Africa for years,
and the time has finally come!
We head to Kampala for the first few days to rest and get
ready to go to the village of Mawang
a. Pastor Paul (on the left)will meet us in the city to take us 5 hours east to his home village. We will have about 9 full days in the village, where only God knows what is in store! Our desire is to "bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the broken-hearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives..." (Is. 61). Oh yeah, and we are planting Pineapples! Don't worry, we'll get pics. of that!
a. Pastor Paul (on the left)will meet us in the city to take us 5 hours east to his home village. We will have about 9 full days in the village, where only God knows what is in store! Our desire is to "bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the broken-hearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives..." (Is. 61). Oh yeah, and we are planting Pineapples! Don't worry, we'll get pics. of that! The rest of our time will be spent with Dave and Amy, a Mission Aviation Fellowship couple in the city. We will go with them to see the largest game park in all of Uganda, and simply encourage the missionaries as they continue their work.
So here we go! Tomorrow at 10:15 am we fly off....and we're ready. Stay tuned as I head to Uganda, then Kenya for my internship with World Vision. Many stories to come. Thank you for your support and your prayers. I wish all of you could see first hand what we are about to see.
Come with me and Listen to what He has Done.
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