I hate the word missionary. I'm not sure why, but ever since my 6 week trip in the spring I have. I absolutely do not mind when somebody uses it, but I cannot bring myself to say it without cringing.   

  

Maybe it's all the "cliques" of missionary girls nowadays.  The kind of girls who stroll through to take a few posed pictures of kissing babies and then leave and spend hundreds on rafting and bungee jumping.  They don't stop and see that as they enjoy themselves and fill themselves with pride of posting pictures to their Facebook walls of village children and children in the orphanages, that those are people on the other side of the lens.  They haves souls.  They don't need their picture taken, they need a kind word or a simple "how are you?". Those babies don't need fake kisses, they need to be held, to be important, to be sincerely loved. 

Maybe I hate the word missionary because most days I absolutely do not feel like one.  How can changing a child, kissing their soft cheeks, reading a story, or feeding a baby be a missionary? I'm trying to love like Him, but they already know He loves them.   How can painting walls, scrubbing beds to be painted or scraping door frames be a missionary- nobody's being told of Christ unless the spiders need to know.  

Maybe I hate the word missionary because there is so much need and I alone will never change it.  Missionary makes me sound like I'm changing something. But I'm not.  If I had never come life would go on in Uganda.  The need is so great, and most days I change nothing. 

I am just a girl who loves living life in Uganda, among orphaned and abandoned children. Among people who have more hope and faith in God than I do. Among so much need. It is not I who will ever change anything.  Nothing will change by my strength.  I am weak. I am prideful. I am afraid.  I am small.  But He is glorious. I am hopeful that God will fill Uganda with Himself, that these people will be overwhelmed at who He is and what He has done, despite poverty and illness.  

Christ has called me to this place not to glory in my own accomplishments, but to glorify Him in all He's done and is doing- He is good! 

Today I'm thankful for a lot of things. 

Thankful for my family back home who encourage me and bring me so much happiness.  I miss and love them more than they know.

Thankful for a God so big and powerful that He can use the weakest, smallest things to bring glory to His Name.

Thankful for a little country called Uganda, filled with familiar faces and new faces, joy that bubbles over and hope that fills you.  A beautiful, beautiful place I am so blessed by. 

Thankful for Amani Baby Cottage and the people who work here.  I have seen His love being poured out onto all these babies. 

Thankful for these beautiful orphaned or abandoned children that bring so much gladness, so much peace and make me laugh all the time.  Blessed that He has given me this opportunity to love them and learn from them. 

 Thankful for the little things; a mosquito net, internet, electricity, a fan, clean water, bug spray, a slight breeze, a friends laughter over skype, tiny hands that slip into mine...

This thanksgiving as I sit in a third world country, far from home and our family traditions, I am bursting with thankfulness.  This is where God wants me and if that means giving up all I know, I'm okay with that.  Because being here and in the center of His will for my life is more wonderful than anything.  

So thankful that when I am missing home I can walk downstairs and find children who are ready to hold my hand and tell me something exciting.  Babies who cherish kisses and hugs and I love yous. 

Thankful for this place and all those around me- so thankful.  

One year ago today they were fully given to us. 

Our hearts were tired from the games their relatives played and the lies they told. 

 

Jesus never let go, even on the days when we were exhausted and the babies were screaming and sick, He always sustained. 




 

Jesus brought three lives from hell on earth to a family who cares for them, who loves them and will fight for them. 

                  
                
                


           Read their story here.

I'm here. Safe in Uganda. 


First off-Thank you to my wonderful church -Point Mallard Parkway Baptist, I have never really "Belonged" to a church family, and I never really knew what it meant- until now. God had told me He was going to move in ways I couldn't even imagine and I know y'all are one of them. I feel like you have totally embraced me and I'm so thankful. God has provided and blessed me tremendously.

photo credit: Brittany Farris

Reading cards under my mosquito net on my first morning in Uganda.

                                           

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged, prayed for, and financially supported me. Without you I would never be here and never be able to do what He has asked of me. I would also not be able to emotionally survive Africa.

Well, it's so, so good to be back and see some of the sweetest little faces on the planet. Here's some of the little ones who will be in my life for the next 6 months. You know you're jealous.

Josephine. 

Mercy and Miriam

Justine

Silly girls!

Precious

Elijah and Edwin.

oh, those eyes!

Sylus. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11