Valuable Life?

Acts 20:24

Paul made this statement immediately after he said "the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me." In essence, Paul was throwing human caution to the wind and following exactly what the Lord wanted him to do. 

How many of us would willingly go when we knew we'd face hard times? How many of us go when we're told to not knowing what is going to happen? This is my prayer and plea these next few months as I go to Uganda. I don't know what is going to happen, but I do know that I have a course to follow and finish - testifying to the gospel of the grace of God to those around me. 

I am not worthy, but may I strive to be like Christ, knowing that my heavenly Father sees Christ when He looks at me!

1 Person with 4 Pieces of Luggage

There's so much still to do before MONDAY!!!! I can't believe that I leave Monday. It was just February that I bought my ticket....where has the time gone?! I'm taking quite a lot of stuff for the orphanage. A couple is shipping a bag of sound equipment, I'm taking a box of file folders (who knew that 600 file folders could weigh so much!), a suitcase of items from Ikea (excited to go shopping for it all) as well as other items that they need, and then one suitcase for myself. The total cost of 3 pieces of extra baggage? At the airport it would be $340, but online it's only $285.60. WHAT?! I found out too late that there is a process for wanting to take extra baggage for missions work....and you only get to take one extra at that. Thankfully I am allowed one free piece of luggage. On the way back to Chicago, I will definitely only be checking one piece in!

God is providing though. Will need to be very conservative with my living expenses as I don't have that much for each month. Again, God will provide exactly what I need. My biggest concern is food as I've gone to a plant-based diet....and before you ask, yes, it is different from a vegetarian and vegan diet. Although I can do vegan, so that's a plus. That's for another time though.

Please pray as I wrap things up here and continue to pack. Each piece of luggage can only be 51 lbs...23kg. What happened to the days of 70 lbs? Does anyone remember that or did I just dream that up? Happy packing!

Prayer changes things

I can’t believe that I’ll be in Uganda in exactly 2 weeks from today! Where did the time go? I would love to get on a plane now and go, but I’m not exactly ready for that. Was able to get a few pieces of luggage that I will be leaving at the baby cottage so I don’t have to pay to bring it back. Goodwill was so kind to let me buy each for less than $5. They aren’t exactly the size I wanted, but I’m very thankful that they were available. Just can’t believe how much I have to pay to take them…they will both definitely be below the 50 lb limit. British Airways lets you take one free piece and I found out too late that I could have taken a 2^nd piece for free since it’s a mission’s trip.

People have asked how they can pray for me lately:

Clarity while packing

Safety while flying

Servant’s heart while volunteering

Babies to be either reunited with their families or adopted by the time they reach the age of 5

Health while there – don’t want to deal with being sick while volunteering

Wisdom with what I can eat and that the Lord will give me ideas for recipes

Guidance for what the Lord wants me to do come December (hoping for some place warm)

What to do...what to do...

Found a bank today - absolutely free checking with no minimum requirement! That is a huge blessing. If you are traveling abroad anytime soon, there will be a 3% fee on your total amount when you use your debit card (possibly credit too, but since I don't have one, I don't need to know). If you use an ATM machine to withdraw, there will be a $5 fee on top of the fee to use the machine itself. Not too bad considering I won't be using an ATM frequently.

I somehow missed the fact that I only get to take one free bag of up to 50 lbs to Uganda. One extra bag is $60 and two extra bags would be $200. Trying to figure out what to do about that. Would like to take more bags for donations, so gotta work on figuring out what to take and what to buy there, then would try to figure out how to bring just 1 bag back since it's free. I know I can get stuff there, so I just might take the bare necessities.The only thing would be if I buy stuff (read trinkets) and want to bring it back, I would probably need another bag. Although I guess there's nothing wrong with leaving everything I took for them to use!

I am also trying to figure out what pieces of luggage to take. I have one suitcase that in of itself is already heavy, so I know I'm not taking that one. It's my largest one, so I'm a little sad about that. I might just go buy some sports-type bags to take donations in.

So many decisions are coming my way...what to do, what to do!

What's up with August?

I’ve been asked what I’ll be doing for an entire month off. First on my list of things to do is sleep. I haven’t been sleeping well with all the transitions and want to make sure I’m as rested as I can be physically and emotionally for the work God has in store for me.

I’m going to spend time with my family. Besides my sister and 2 nieces it’s been almost 1 ½ years since I’ve seen them. Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll see my brother who lives in North Carolina. Hopefully we’ll be reunited in December at some point.

I plan on spending time alone with my great God and Savior and taking a serious look at my life. As you all know, I don’t have any idea what I’ll be doing when I come back from Uganda in December. I want to make sure that I’m in a position to be able to hear Him speak to me – whether it’s something I need to change right now or telling me an idea of what I’ll do when I get back. Times like these don’t come around very often. I know it will be a struggle for me not to go into complete veg out mode and create a structure that centers on just me.

I plan on reading Follow Me by David Platt. 2 years ago I read his first book Radical. That book left me wanting to be completely open to whatever/wherever God wanted me to do/go. I look forward to how God will use Platt’s next book in my life. I just want to be open to the leading of the Spirit!

But, first off, I plan on spending time with friends in Phoenix. As you read this I’ll be wrapping my visit up…but as I type this I’m on the plane taking me to them. Here’s to a great month that will fly by in the blink of an eye!

In Other News

Uganda – I soon get to say Aloha to you!!! It has sort of hit me that I’m going. I think it will hit even more since I’ve left the island. People ask me if I’m ready – yes and no.

I am finally up to date with all my shots. My last Hep B shot was a doozy compared to the other 2 before it! The nurse kept asking me if I was ok – probably because I had a look for confusion and pain on my face while I was sitting there. Yep – just another day at the travel clinic really.

It was recommended that I get a flu shot before I go due to being in a confined space (2 plane rides) for such a long period of time going to the orphanage. I don’t know that I want another shot. I’m still praying about whether or not to get one…or if it’s even possible to find the shot in August when it’s not flu season.

I need to figure out what bank to go with. I don’t want to be charged an arm and a leg whenever I use my card at an ATM in Uganda, but don’t know if I’ll be able to find one that doesn’t charge exorbitant prices. I asked my mom to do some research, but don’t know if she’s had time. I want to be able to find one in the first week I’m at my mom’s so I can get my money in there.

Another thing is traveler’s insurance. I started looking online one evening and got a little bit overwhelmed. There are several to choose from and I’m not the most proficient in understanding insurance lingo, so will definitely be getting help on this one. Not sure how it all works either.

I’ve been asked by the orphanage to bring over pepperoni. If you would like to help donate pepperoni, please let me know! I think it’s the director’s husband that owns a café and “hotel” and they sell a lot of pepperoni pizza. It costs quite a lot to have it shipped in. I want to be able to take a duffel bag for donations. I need to call British Airways to see if they have some kind of deal with those going on mission’s trips to third world countries.

If you want to donate something, you can go to Amani Baby Cottage here and look at what they are in need of. Volunteers are a huge part in keeping this place going. You can’t find everything you need all the time like you can in the states. Would you consider donating to their cause?

The Lord has provided over $5,000 so far!

A Song of Praise to my God

1 Chronicles 16:8-36

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered,

O offspring of Israel his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

The covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,

Which he confirmed as a statute to Jacob, as an everlasting covenant to Israel,

Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.”

When you were few in number, and of little account, and sojourners in it,

Wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,

He allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,

Saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.

Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;

Tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult and everything in it!

Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.

Aloha Oahu

Today I said goodbye to my home for the past 3 years. I held an outpouring of tears back as I said goodbye to some incredibly precious friends. As I type this I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the goodness of God in putting these friends in my life just when I needed them the most. I’m also having a hard time not bawling my eyes out on the plane.

Wrapping up life wherever you are at can be very draining. I’ve moved many times in the past 10 years and it hasn’t gotten easier. I thought I would be ok with selling off most of my possessions that I had on Hawaii, but still ended up having to check in 2 bags plus have a roll carry-on (which, by the way, sort of lost some of the roller part to the wheels in the airport…am praying that it gets me to my mom’s place in Chi-town.). My goal was to pack the carry-on suitcase in one of the bigger suitcases, but I was 10 pounds over, so had to quickly unpack and repack at the last second.

I want to say a huge shout out to my church on Oahu – Central Oahu Bible Church. Thank you for your sweet fellowship over these past 3 years and for your generous love offering that you gave to me. I’m incredibly humbled that you would even want to do this…I still can’t believe it. Thank you doesn’t seem sufficient for your giving spirits. I wish I could come visit when I return from Uganda to give you an update – maybe one day. May God richly bless your ministry and your desire to put Him first in our ohana. Thank you Charles and Reina Hiers for following God’s call on your lives to take the pastorate position at this church. I look forward to hearing all that God does with you and your family!

To my friends at Hanalani Schools – thank you for loving me, even though I don’t deserve it. I could go on and on about how God has used each of you in my life to draw me closer to Him! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Continue to desire to serve Him in whatever capacity He has you at right now and in the future.

Thank you to my family for supporting me through all my many transitions over the years. Living an ocean apart from you for so many years has left me with a deeper love for each one of you and a desire to see His handprint on your life. I can’t wait to see almost all of you in the month of August.

Now – it’s on to the next great adventure that God has allowed me to be apart of. Amani Baby Cottage – here I come!!!