Almost time....

It's coming....

What's really coming out?

The first week of June is already gone....what?! The end of this school year was the busiest one I have ever gone through....and I'm so thankful it's over with. The Lord sent many trials my way that the only way I got through them were with His strength and grace alone. It was not me!!!! I finally got around to asking my doctor about vaccinations and stuff I'll need to get before I can go to Uganda and today I was supposed to call the traveling clinic...did I remember? Of course not. That's been my life lately. I am an organized person...but with the way this school year ended, I feel as if I've lost a little bit of my brain!

Psalm 34 has really become dear to me:

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad. 
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

Everything that happens is for a reason - all things work for our good to make us more like Christ. Why then, when something doesn't go my way is my immediate reaction to complain or grumble? Sin, yes, I know....but how I wish that after how many years of being saved I would be over this stage. I've been noticing a lot lately when people complain....and not liking it. I have to keep asking myself, is that what I sound like? Am I turning others' hearts away from God? Oh man, heaven forbid!!! 

This Psalm almost became a mantra this past month and a half. I could tell when I wasn't meditating on it....my thoughts and words slipped back into the "old" me and my ways. Life isn't meant to be easy. If it was, then how would we grow closer to our ever loving God?! As a born again believer, I will suffer...whether at the hands of this world or at the hands of other Christians. It will happen. It's what I put into my heart and mind that will gauge my reactions to this suffering that is promised to come. 

As I finish my time here in Hawaii and look with great anticipation of going to Uganda, may this Psalm continue to be on my lips because I do want to bless the Lord at all times...having His praise come forth!!!

To give or not to give....

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So, it seems that there are several people who are trying to raise money for different reasons. I know some friends are trying to go to England and then Australia as missionaries. Another friend is going to Indonesia for close to a month. My dentist's office is raising money for children around the world. And then there's me. I too am trying to raise some money so I can head to Uganda and serve at Amani Baby Cottage. The question I'm posed with when someone has reached out to me and asked me to consider donating to them is to give or not to give financially. If God says give, who am I to say no.

I decided to give a little towards my friends going to England. I know God will provide my needs - in fact the money that I have in my bank account isn't actually mine, but His. Who am I to say that all of that is meant to be spent on me alone. I gave a little today and have received over 100% of that money back because a friend gave to my trip today. I stared at what she had placed in my hands and had no words. Tears immediately formed and I quickly breathed to try to get them to stop. I was so humbled that she would give so freely that amount. She knows me too well....as I was standing there not saying a word, she told me that she knew my immediate response was to give the money back to her. I had no words to that since it was absolutely true. I immediately thought of the now insignificant amount I had given earlier in the day and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord blessed me above and beyond what I thought possible today. 

God loves a cheerful giver....I am looking forward to seeing how God works in my friends' lives in England and then eventually in Australia. If I can be a part of spreading the gospel to the unreached people, count me in!!! When you feel the Spirit leading you to give, don't say no. Do it - you may not be blessed monetarily, but you will be blessed indeed.

I can pass the port!

I can officially go to Uganda...well almost. I'm one step closer that's for sure. My renewed passport came in the mail today. It's so stiff compared to my last one....I think it's time to do a little bit of traveling so it can get all limbered up! I am glad that it's a different picture...but if you're shown your picture and your forehead is all shiny, be warned, it shows up on the passport! I'd like to meet someone who is very pleased with their passport photo...or driver's license....or school photo.

Not much else to report for now. It's hard not to focus on the fact that so many people have seen my blog (over 600) as well as my fundraising page (over 500)....and yet I'm still $3,000+ away from my financial goal. I am so thankful for those who have willingly given. Someone made a comment to me that if you have to raise money people want something in return...they won't just give you their money. I didn't understand that because when I give to others I'm not expecting a return. Is my view skewed? I would just assume they would want the full amount, not a small percentage...even though I know they are thankful for that. What do you think?

The principle of 3's

So, I hear in interior design that the best thing to do is group items in 3's. Well, it seems like God followed that rule when it comes to cars and those that need one! Here's are two God-stories from some friends of mine...

Jake and Heidi are moving off island and needed to sell their car. They put it on craigslist and got a hit. (I don't know the exact details...but you'll get the point from here on out.) They said that they needed the car until a certain time...since they are on island until the end of this month. The guy looking at the car agreed to this timeline...which would leave Jake and Heidi without a car for several weeks. A friend of ours heard about this and talked with Jake about their need of a car. This friend and his wife are in the process of waiting for a lady to give birth to the child they are going to adopt. They would need to be on the mainland for an extended period of time after the child is born before they can bring him back to Hawaii. They offered Jake and Heidi the use of their car since they won't be here. Oh, and I believe this happened the very same day Jake met with the guy who bought their car. A God thing?! I think yes.

Beth lives in Waianae and drives to Mililani every day for work. She had an older Ford Escape that was getting 13 mpg. Needless to say, she was paying a pretty penny for gas...especially living here on Hawaii. While her parents were here, her dad suggested that she put her car on craigslist....which being the obedient daughter, she did :) She didn't think anyone would call her....but she got a call for the car the very next day. She hadn't been seriously looking to buy a car at this time either...so this could potentially leave her without a car. Well, she sold her car...with no idea how she would get around. Her landlord had an extra car that he keeps for his sister-in-law who works on island for several months out of the year. The day that Beth needed the car is the same day that the landlord's sister-in-law left island....and he graciously allowed her to borrow his car - which gets way better gas mileage than her SUV. Beth was hoping to have her dad help her look for a car, but that didn't happen. So, after a couple of weeks borrowing her car, she bought one with the help of her neighbor - who helped talk the guy down a lot! This car can potentially get 40 mpg....a HUGE change from what she had! A God thing?! I think yes.

The last you read I sold my car not knowing what I would do. A family in my church has a nanny who is off island right now. I knew she had a car...but didn't know if they would be using it or not. I swallowed my pride and ask them if I could borrow one of their cars for a while. They said they'd talk it over...this was Wednesday. If I could borrow a car, they would bring it on Sunday. My friends who bought my car used it on Sunday....and I was hoping to tell them they could keep it - and I could get rid of my insurance as soon as possible. Well, I'm officially DEBT FREE and am no longer paying insurance! The family brought the car and I'm able to use it...not sure how long yet. I actually got a lot more money back from my insurance than I thought I would...huge praise! God completely orchestrated that the nanny would be off island for a long period of time at the exact time that I would need a vehicle. Man - my God is awesome! A God thing?! I think yes!

Psalm 34:1 has been a verse I've been clinging to for the past several weeks: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." No matter what the circumstance I should always be praising God! How can I not after what He has done not only in my life, but the lives of my friends! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

I have now raised over $1000 for my trip! I'm continually humbled by the generosity of others...so undeserving of it. Thank you to anyone who has given and who will give in the future. You are not only impacting my life, but the lives of those children in Uganda for good.

My baby....

My baby was bought tonight! I've had people ask me about my car since they heard I was leaving...a few had the courtesy to tell me that it's just not what they were looking for while I never heard back from the other ones. I have been hoping/praying that a friend would buy it, mainly because I didn't want to deal with the hassle of craigslisting it or putting a sign on it.

A friend came by my office yesterday and started asking about it. I gave her details about it and she told me that depending on what they would hear about the car they own right now, they might be interested in buying it. Ok, I've been hearing that last part of the sentence for about a month or two now....kind of getting my hopes up, but just putting it in God's hands. Last night I got a call from her saying that she and her husband want to come talk to me more specifically about the car. REALLY?! Um, ok God....you know I need a car until June 8 or 9.....and they need a car like NOW.

We talked specifics and they wanted to do a test drive. Sure - no problem, tonight would be great! I got home later than I expected...so I was feeling kind of bad about it. Thankfully they were gracious about it and didn't complain at all :) Got home, they came shortly after that (they had to walk since they didn't have a car - I live down the street from them...a God thing?) and took my baby out. I really didn't care how long they were gone....and then they came back. I honestly thought by the looks on their faces that they weren't interested. I had resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to be able to help them out...or that they would think the price I quoted wasn't worth it.

Boy, was I wrong. They were actually going to give more for their down payment than what they mentioned earlier. That was a huge praise too since it is pretty much the exact amount that I still owe on the car! A God thing? I'm still in shock that in 2 days time they first inquired then bought the car. So, where does that leave me? Needing a vehicle really soon. They are graciously letting me keep the car until next week sometime. I have an appointment in town on Saturday....and will hopefully be able to take my baby to the North Shore one more time before she's no longer mine :) You know what....however God provides another vehicle will be....a God thing!