Down... Not Out

In a few hours it will be Sunday for me. The promise of a new week is glorious right now. It means that last week is done and gone and that I can move forward. Have you ever had one of those weeks when the weekend seems so far off it's almost just a dream? That was my week this past week. Sunday I was sick and in bed most of the day. When Monday came I wasn't feeling much better, but I was a part of a training conference so I had to face the day with a smile. The conference was all week from 8-5:30. All in all it went well. I met some very lovely people working with the Africa Gospel Church, I enjoyed catch-up time with some that I already knew, and got to see people's unabashed enthusiasm for Jesus and for His Kingdom to be furthered. Praise the Lord.

So even though the conference was good, I found myself very easily distracted. This might have been because the conference was held under a tin roof with hardly any air circulation. I'm not just talking a bit warm. I'm talking equatorial sun beating down on a tin roof that in turn radiates heat onto every inch of your body. Even the bible in my lap was hot from the roof's heat. The week was full of other stuff as well. I'm still teaching at the Center of Hope... twice a week now and of course I love it. My class is by far the best class there. :) Also we are still doing the Wednesday night worship service which is going really well. We're now doing storying for the message and I really think everyone likes it a lot. As I've said before, many who attend are not Christians and storying is a great way to teach the bible. I've enjoyed it a lot so far. This month is a bit hectic for WGM folk because there are so many people coming and going. We've had so many visitors and other people arrive that we've been very busy hosting for meals.

Life has just been very busy. Not bad, not stressful, just busy. Ministry has been going very well and I love knowing that I'm where I'm supposed to be. You know who does not love that I'm in God's will? Satan. And to be honest he's been working over time to bring me down. Unfortunately it's worked a bit. Since all has been going well and I'm somehow a threat and a bunch of new things have popped up just in the past week that are enough to bring me down. Sometimes we are asked to do things by God and we know they won't be easy, but we know they're right. So in doing things that I know are right I'm also paying the consequences of other people's reactions. I can't control how other's respond, but it's still been difficult for someone like me, who's all about relationships. On top of that I keep finding out little things here and there that discourage me.

Since I'm so relational it bugs me when someone writes me off. I just found out that I'm being stifled from doing some stuff because of someone's opinion of me based on something that happened years ago. It just seems silly. I know this is all very vague, but I guess I'm just asking for prayer. I'm trying to be graceful and to do exactly what Jesus wants and because of that I'm finding myself under attack. Would you join me in praying against the evil one? Against his lies and his efforts of disunity amongst God's people?

This is really what I've been focused on all week. God is so good and so faithful and it's refreshing to rest in Him. The only thing that got me through was little times here and there spent in the quiet of His presence. I never want to be too busy to pray. I never want to be too busy to seek the Lord and be in His will. Psalm 63 is probably my favorite Psalm and it's been a great comfort. I encourage you to read it today.

So while I've been a bit down, I'm definitely not out. I'm really looking forward to Holy week and celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I'm looking forward to an evening of worship Thursday night with a great group of people. I'm trusting the Lord and remembering His promises to me.

One last thing... I just want to remind you how much I love Uganda. I love being here and serving here. I love early morning boda rides when the breeze is still cool and people are moving about preparing for their day ahead. I love the beauty of the tropical land where I live. I love the smells of the morning dew. I took a boda to the conference a few days this week instead of driving. One day on the way home it was beginning to rain a bit, but I loved it. I loved the "cold" air hitting my wet face. My boda driver doesn't even think twice about maybe stopping because it's raining... he knows that I'd rather keep going and ride in the rain. The way that the storms roll in over the hills of Kampala during the rainy season is like artwork. There's so much beauty in the dark, looming clouds, the loud rolls of thunders, and the fierce strikes of lightening. I love coming over the top of Tank Hill and seeing Lake Victoria glittering in the sunlight. I even love the hectic roads... walking up hills with roads only wide enough for a car and a half to fit, having to jump out of the way of on coming cars. I love the little lizards that live in my house with me. It's like having pets that I don't have to care for. I love that when I go visit my goat the little children who live around him run to find him and bring him to me. They love to laugh at me as a pick Nico up and play with him. I love those short times of fellowship when a language barrier doesn't even matter because a loving smile is enough. I love laughing and joking with my "Uganda family". I love playing Uno with the Sudanese guys, knowing that they are cheating and calling them out when I see it. I love seeing people raise their arms high to Jesus, exalting His name. I love Uganda.