How God used homemade enchilada sauce to teach me about creating a ministry

On Fridays, at Kitiibwa Home, we have, what we’ve lovingly come to call, Fiesta Fridays.

I cook an entire Mexican meal and a handful of friends come over to join in an evening of food, fun, and fellowship.

Each week, I’ve transitioned further and further away from store-bought and incorporated more “made from scratch.”

The first week, I made all the salsas- pico de gallo, mango-pineapple salsa, and guacamole. The second week, I made the tortillas. The third week, I made every single thing from scratch- including the enchilada sauce.

As I was standing in the kitchen simmering the enchilada sauce, made from fresh tomatoes, olive oil, flour, and lots of herbs and spices, I was talking with my best friend who is half the world away.

“Besides the fact that it’s easier, why do we even eat that pre-made junk?” I asked her.

Yes, it’s easy and fast (for Americans) to run to the grocery store and buy a package of tortillas for dinner.

But it only takes four ingredients and a little bit of time and you can have an entire batch of made-from-scratch tortillas that are so much better and definitely more fresh than the store-bought kind.

Sometimes, it’s the strangest things that I say or think that God uses to teach me something.

I haven’t posted a lot of details here or even on social media yet, but two weeks ago, God gave me a huge vision for beginning a ministry here.

When my plans were all shifted literally days before I boarded a plane to come here two months ago, multiple people asked if I was going to come and begin a ministry of my own.

I think I responded with something along the line of, “No way-- that would be crazy! There are thousands of ministries and non-profits in Uganda doing anything you can imagine. So why would I need the headache and hassle of starting my own?!”

Well, I was right. There are thousands of organizations doing lots of different things in Uganda, specifically Kampala. It is a lot of work and details to launch something from nothing. And it might be slightly crazy of me to begin a new ministry. (But a lot of things God has called me to over the years has seemed slightly crazy, to myself and others, and I’ve always seen God’s plan in them.)

So, I’ve been walking forward, one step at a time, on this path of building a ministry where there is an unmet need and I’ve seen God answer lots of prayers for clarity and direction.

There have already been a few times, though, where I think, “Wouldn’t it just be easier to partner with a pre-existing organization that is doing similar things?”

This is where God used my enchilada sauce as a life lesson.

The can of enchilada sauce that you can buy from the store (but not me because they don’t sell it in Uganda hah) is great. At one point in time, the creator had a dream to make good enchilada sauce and used their time, money, and resources to develop and grow it to what it is today. It’s good, it serves its purpose, it’s successful, and there is really nothing wrong with it.

But why do we feel the automatic need to go with something safe, easy, fast, and familiar?

Why can’t I spend a little time, money, and resources to develop something that meets the need I can see and has every part of what is needed or not?

I often alter store-bought sauces anyway. I add spices, herbs, and sometimes even other things like fresh produce to them to increase the flavor and make it the way I like it. So why don’t I begin from scratch and make it the way I want it to begin with?

Usually, it’s fear.

Fear of failure. Fear of trying something new. Fear of wasting time, money, and resource.

Or it just seems like too much work.

When I came to Uganda, I wanted to fall back on the safe, easy, fast, and familiar option. I knew of something pre-existing and I wanted to just step right in and help build on their foundation. Not a lot of risk. Not any fear. And, honestly, next to no strenuous work.

Thankfully, God had bigger plans and he made the comfortable option very uncomfortable for me.

I’ve left the safe, easy, fast, and familiar option and begun to fully embrace the scary, hard, slow, and unknown.

This upcoming week, a lot of things will (hopefully) happen.

There are mission and vision statements to write, a P.O. box to open, a social media presence to build, a website to consult with professionals about, projects to describe, a workspace to create, and artwork to paint and hang to complete its identity.

This week, Kitiibwa Ministries will transition from a big dream in a notebook to a tangible, operating ministry!

In the midst of the transition and the “to do” list being completed, I will also be writing a follow-up blog about the dream and meaning of Kitiibwa Ministries, in order to help you understand more about it.

But for now, I’ll provide you with a quick Lugandan lesson: 

kitiibwa means glory. 

Kitiibwa Ministries will bring glory to God by helping vulnerable, poverty-stricken children thrive through education, sports, and the Word of God. 

Prophecies, Prayers, and Provisions: The birth of Kitiibwa Ministries

"You want a better-paying job. God has plans for you that will include that soon."

"You have been missing days at school due to sickness but not anymore. You will leave here healed and able to attend school."

My skepticism is high at this point.

Of course a middle-aged man wants a better-paying job.

School children here miss classes every week due to some kind of sickness they are experiencing, so that’s not exactly profound.

The “official” church service has ended.

After four hours of meditation, worship, and preaching, we are free to go home.

In Uganda, however, there are hours of fellowship, meals, prayers, and prophecy that sometimes follow services and we have transitioned into the pastor prophesying.

I found myself praying, “God, I don’t necessarily think this man is faking, but the things he is speaking are very general. Give him words that prove to me that he is receiving all knowledge and revelation from you.”

Stephen, whom I went to the service with, was pointed at by the pastor. 

“Young man, come here.”

The words spoken over Stephen were very, very specific and very true.

“Ok, God. Thank you. There’s no way he could have known those things, apart from your revelation.”

But God is full of surprises; he had even more evidence to convince me.

Before he was allowed to return to his seat, the pastor looked at me. 

“You come up, too.”

This pastor was a man whom we had never met before. A man whose church we had never set foot in or even been in close proximity to.

He went on to tell me things that he had no worldly way of knowing.

He told me about my stomach issues and my recent illness. He told me it was a serious thing, but that it wouldn’t require the things the doctor told me would be a worst-case scenario.

(Long story that I’ll try to make shorter--

For those of you who are not on social media, on Friday, I was on day two of dehydration due to stomach issues. I was weak and very tired. I had also begun to feel intense pain around my abdomen and stomach. By midday, the pain was so bad, that I couldn’t move or breathe without honestly feeling like I was going to faint from pain. I know it sounds dramatic, but I was really scared. It came on so fast and was an intensity that I’ve never experienced before. When I could finally muster up the strength to walk down the road to the clinic, they did bloodwork and found that I had a very bad infection that had made its way to my bloodstream. It was now trying very hard to make its way to my organs and attempt to shut them down. The pain was my body fighting with everything it had to keep the infection away from my organs. I was given immediate anti-nauseas, pain medications, antibiotics, supplements, and a type of Pedialyte via an IV. I was given an oral regimen of those things to take for five days, as well, with the precaution that it might not work and, if I keep experiencing those symptoms and the infection stays the same or worsens, drastic measures will have to be taken. They mentioned blood transfusions and surgeries to repair ruptured organs. I decided not to mention that to my immediate family and friends until it was necessary, though, because- honestly- that really scared me. I just gave the facts and asked for prayer warriors. I’m feeling much better today. I finished my treatments last night and, while I’m not yet 100% and still get exhausted easily and a slight fever comes and goes, I feel the great Healer at work inside my body!)

The pastor also gave a quick recap of my journey to get to Uganda this time. He said that my journey this year was not easy; that the program and plan I had in place fell apart right before I came and that I was constantly walking in the unknown. He praised my faith and commitment to Jesus and said that things were finally starting to come together; that God is showing me pieces at a time and, very soon, big things are going to happen—that doors will be open and opportunities will be presented to me.

There were other things he said and a very long prayer that was prayed and I returned to my seat feeling very encouraged.

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The night before, I was praying for clarity about how my new home will be a ministry and a source of God’s love and will show his glory and be a testimony.

I was led to 1 Chronicles 16:8-12 as a verse to pray over the house and to be the verse of the house:

"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.”

The word “glory” jumped out at me.

Glory is one of those words I have always loved. It’s so powerful and has so much weight. 

Just go to an online bible resource (or even Google) and type in “glory” and read some of the verses that come up.

God’s glory is amazing and astounding. 

You cannot encounter God’s glory and leave that place unchanged. 

It’s powerful and life-changing.

I wanted this house to be a place where you encounter God’s love, yes. But I also want it to be a place where you encounter God’s glory and leave restored and changed.

After some quick research and consultation of local friends, I found the Lugandan word for glory: 

Kitiibwa. (Chee-tea-buwah)

I wrote it out a few times and knew that it was the name for this house.

Kitiibwa Home.

I knew the name and the vision, but I wasn’t sure how to move forward.

Was I crazy thinking of stepping out and starting a ministry from my home that will eventually have more branches of ministry within it? I told myself months ago that I didn’t want to start something of my own. There are thousands of organizations here in Uganda doing everything you can possibly think of, so why do I need to start something new?

Big and crazy ideas are how I know the ideas are not my own and are from God.

This is something I would have never imagined to do or even thought possible.

But God is opening huge doors.

Things are happening where there is no worldly way it should be happening.

Those words of encouragement and prophecy from that pastor were not a coincidence. They were God-given to assure me that what I was feeling and hearing was real and that Kitiibwa Home and Kitiibwa Ministries are in the beginning stages and they are bigger dreams that I could have dreamed for myself.

I am slowly, but surely, getting more clarity about the overall vision and ministries that will happen within Kitiibwa Home and those that will be outside, as a part of Kitiibwa Ministries.

A digital mock-up of what the front of the house will look like

Please join me in rejoicing at the birth of the vision of Kitiibwa and pray for continued guidance for the road ahead, as this dream becomes a tangible reality—as it becomes a place to experience God’s glory.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.”

The past two weeks I’ve been learning a lot about grace but even more about God’s plan.

To try and help you understand, but not to give too many details and stir up things, a few people whom I thought were friends were intentionally spreading false information about myself and others, believing said information without asking us about it, and, because of those words, took action that was done in a very poor and immature manner that did not reflect Christ. Those actions have deeply affected myself and others.

Throughout this time, I keep hearing the same quote over and over in my head:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.”

My mind keeps going back to the story of Joseph in Genesis.

Joseph’s brothers became jealous and self-serving. They put their own interests and jealousy above any concern for Joseph’s feelings and, even, his life. They had no regard for the consequences or affects that their actions would have, so long as it pleased them in the moment.

While I don’t think my life was in danger and then they decided to settle for malicious words, I have been empathizing with Joseph’s story.

I have felt hated, betrayed by those I trusted, confused as to what I did to cause them to harbor such feelings, angry at the actions they took and the way in which they did so, and sad at the disregard for emotions and how it would affect me.

I can only imagine what I have been feeling is just a small scale to the range of emotions that Joseph was going through as he was in chains being taken from everything he knew into a land of unknowns.

We don’t have a lot of details about Joseph’s journey from a personal point of view, but I can’t help but wonder what he was thinking.

Did he cry out to God and say, “What next?!”? Did he ever question what God was doing? Did he feel sorry for himself and weep at his unfortunate circumstances? Did he feel bitterness and hatred towards his brothers? Did he gleefully skip behind the caravan, his chains clanking, saying, “It’s ok because I know God’s in control!”?

(If he was anything like me, he did all those things at different times.)

I don’t know if Joseph’s revelation that I quoted earlier was something he always had in his mind and heart or if it took him the 14+ years of ups and downs in his new life to get to that point, but it has been an encouragement for me to lean into during this time.

I know this isn’t the end of my story!

I know my story’s barely just begun! 

 I know that the best place to be is in the middle of God’s will.

I know my actions or those of others aren’t a surprise to God and they cannot derail his plans. 

I know that God knew this would happen.

I know God has bigger plans than I can imagine. 

I know I can only see a step at a time, most times, but that he can see the entire journey. 

I know that humans can be selfish, hateful, and very flawed, but that God can use anything to bring about a testimony that glorifies his name.

I know that, in the end, Joseph stood before his brothers that literally sold him into slavery. 

I know he forgave his brothers for their actions and feelings. 

I know that he approached Pharaoh and requested land for each of his brothers. 

I know his brothers were given not just any land, but the best part of the land.

I know Joseph also provided food and resources for them.

I know that Joseph’s life became very different than he thought it would be.

I know the actions of those around him impacted every area of Joseph’s life.

I know Joseph knew the Lord was with him, even in the unknown.

I know Joseph got it right when he told those who caused him the most pain and invoked a drastic change in his life, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.”

There are still a lot of unknowns I am experiencing because of their actions, but I know being in the middle of God’s will is the best place to be—even if you don’t know what is happening next. I am still having to cycle through continuous forgiveness to those people. I forgive them, then I hear something else they have said or hear how their words have affected someone else and I get angry and bitter. I’m constantly reminding myself to have grace and forgive. I am taking life one step at a time and trusting God has a big plan for my life.

I’ve already seen God work in ways that are nothing short of miraculous in the past two weeks.

He’s provided ministry partners, a place to live, furniture to fill every room, and friends that have stuck around and been an encouragement through the difficult times.

My life today might not look like I thought it was going to when I was planning this trip, but I have no doubt that it’s so much better than what I could have planned, even with all the ups and downs I’ve been experiencing.

God cares about the toilet paper.

A week ago, I stepped into the unknown and trusted that God would provide every step of the way.

It’s been a week of peace and reassurances, despite a lot of unknowns.

He clearly showed me a house that met all my wants and needs so I began renting a house that, on paper and according to my budget, I couldn’t afford. Technically, I still cannot afford it, but God can. Not only was I able to pay for rent, but money has also come in to buy some small things to make it more like a home.

As I was telling my sister recently, I never thought my first place would be in Africa. I’m almost 28 years old and, besides living in the dorms for two years in University, I’ve always lived with my parents (or been traveling the world hah). But, that’s not even the craziest part to me; I never imagined my first place would also happen when I have no job.

I know that being a support-raised missionary is a job, just as much as being a journalist with a salary, but it’s also different. Instead of having an overabundance of money, or at least enough to get by with a little to save, I am living on a very tight budget (think meals of noodles like Ramen and eggs) and saying, “God, I know you’ll provide toilet paper this week.”

It is definitely stretching my faith. 

I never thought I’d be relying on my monthly supporters in order to buy toilet paper or a tray of eggs.

Do I feel slightly silly when I pray and ask God to provide toilet paper? I do. 

Would I change my situation where I had a giant account full of money while I’m here? Honestly, I don’t think I would.

In America, it’s very easy to place God in the background. We have everything we need and we can sustain ourselves. Until something happens that seems like it’s out of our control, we tend to rely on ourselves, our money, our experience, our knowledge to get through our days.

In Uganda, I can’t make it through a day with God in the background. I have to actively seek him and ask for my every need. I have to have complete faith and utter trust that he will provide exactly what I need, when I need it. It might be something small, like toilet paper, or it might be something bigger, like the ATMs close to me are down (things just stop working here for days or weeks at a time) and I have two hundred shillings to my name (about $0.05) and I have no food for the day. Logically, I have no way to eat for that day. But God prompts a friend to treat me to lunch, with enough left over for dinner.

I have to pray that the water is there for a shower after two days of no water; that the power outage will not happen tonight because I want to talk to my family for the first time in a week; that avocados will be in the market because I’ve been craving them for days and no one has them; that my boda driver that says he knows where the place I’m going is, actually does and I will arrive safely; that I can negotiate well with the small money I have and get food for the week; that I can buy the things I both want and need for my house to make it my home; that I won’t get sick from eating a street girl’s chunk of moldy bread that she offered me as a thank you for coming to her school (refusing someone’s food offering in Uganda is very rude).

And that’s just to name a few recent prayers from this week that I can recall. Some of them might seem silly to you but all of them have been answered and showed God cares about the little things just as much as the big things.

So, is it sometimes difficult to live a life of total dependence on God to provide your every need? Yes.

And sometimes I feel like I’m constantly asking for more money from people and checking my account balance, waiting on how and where God will provide. 

But since stepping out in faith, I haven’t had a single minute of a day where I doubted what I was doing or where I was supposed to be.

I know I am supposed to be here, in the Pearl of Africa, and that God will continue to provide if I seek him for my every need-- even the toilet paper. 

Old made new: How Mr. Nickolas' faith has brought a school from a dream to a beautiful reality

The boda literally skids to a stop and the driver turns off the engine.

That means we’ve arrived. 

I take a minute to try to figure out exactly where I am. I am used to the ministry van bringing me directly to the school. Although things look familiar, I cannot see the school from here. I hop down from the boda and pay the driver.

As I turn around, I hear a familiar laugh.

“Auntie Cassie! You are most welcome!”

Mr. Nickolas has walked up to the road to greet me with a hug and make sure I find the school.

As we walk down the windy, dirt road and through the neighborhood, people call out to Mr. Nickolas to say hello. It’s obvious that everyone knows him and he is well loved.

We turn the corner next to a few family-owned shops and I can’t help but smile.

The voices of children reciting a well-known cheer for their classmate who has answered something correctly rings through air.

A few children have yelled down the road, announcing my arrival, so some children have escaped their classes and are waiting for me in the courtyard.

With the smile that always stretches across his face, Mr. Nickolas says, “The children have been disturbing me a lot asking when you are coming! They are excited to see you!”

We walked around the back of the first structure and ducked into a small classroom, smaller than a bedroom, but seating more than thirty smiling children, none older than four years old.

Seconds after entering the room, I am immersed in a class-wide hug. All the children had left their seats and ran, as quickly as possible, to get to me.

Mr. Nickolas is talking, but whether to me or the children, I am unsure, because his voice is lost in the giggles of the children as they express their excitement to see me.

This happens five more times.

I am taken to five more classrooms of children ranging from three years old to thirteen years old.

Each classroom immediately greets me with hugs, songs, dancing, clapping, and lots and lots of giggles.

I have never felt more loved and welcomed!

The love the children at New Brainstorm give is in direct correlation to the love that they have received from Mr. Nickolas.

I first met Mr. Nickolas in 2012 when we came to his school to do a program. His joy and love were the same then and I left wanting to be involved with the school even more.

In 1996, Mr. Nickolas was part of a church fellowship. The pastor had a heart for orphans and street children. He fed them and provided for them. Nickolas was impacted by his pastor’s actions and had dreams to help out those less fortunate someday.

In 2010, after spending some time hawking curry powder and tea leaves on the busy Ugandan streets, Mr. Nickolas decided he wanted something more for his life. He approached a friend and told her about his vision to help village children and street children. He had a dream to start a school for them.

They secured a small piece of land in the highland of a swap for a very good price. And, through networking with friends and colleagues, they were able to get some timber given to them to begin the school.

In 2011, the first classroom of Brainstorm Nursery and Primary School was constructed. The small, one room timber structure was a beginning, but it was just the beginning of their dream.

2012

School in Uganda is not free. Even the cheapest village schools is something a lot of parents cannot afford. When they have to choose between food/rent for the family or an education for one child, education isn’t a priority. For this reason, many children are not in school.

Mr. Nickolas wanted to lift the burden of school fees for these families.

What started off as a few children from the neighboring community quickly grew to be more children than their one-room structure could accommodate.

They purchased more timber and added more rooms onto the pre-existing one. The more rooms they added, the more children showed up for classes.

With the completion of two building wings, Brainstorm had enough classrooms to allow each class to have its own room, from baby class to primary seven.

The structures in 2012

The following year wasn’t without challenges of its own, though.

Mr. Nickolas’ friend and partner at Brainstorm, passed away suddenly while delivering a child in her home. Suddenly, he was alone in his dreams for the school.

The same year, the local government was threatening to close his school and even imprison him for his wooden structure not being up to their standards. They told him he had no business running a school. He replied that he did not, but that God did, so he would continue running it for God’s glory.

Unfortunately, the poorly-constructed wooden structure couldn’t stand the test of time. After only a few years, it eventually collapsed upon itself. While saddened by its collapse, Mr. Nickolas didn’t lose faith. Instead, he placed everything in God’s hands and asked him to provide.

A man from South Sudan called Mr. Nickolas and made him an offer; he said he should come use his land and buildings in the middle of Kampala for the school- free of charge.

The school received new land, new students from the community, new hope, and a new name: New Brainstorm.

A year and a half later, New Brainstorm is continuing to grow and thrive in their new location.

Recently, Mr. Nickolas hired all new teachers, all of whom have a teaching degree or certificate; something that not even the big schools in Uganda care about when hiring teachers. He cares about the education of the children so deeply that he is striving to find the best equipped teachers in Uganda for his students.

In the five years since opening its doors, Mr. Nickolas has never chased a child from New Brainstorm due to school fees. While he asks for parents to contribute something- whatever amount they can, to pay for the teachers and supplies needed- he doesn’t demand anything. In Ugandan schools, fees are due after the first week of the term and, if you fail to pay, they chase you from school and do not allow you to learn. Mr. Nickolas realizes some things are more important than money.

October 2016

While they have come a long way, Mr. Nickolas believes God has even bigger plans for New Brainstorm.

They have recently purchased a plot of land in a village to grow their own food, both to sell and to be able to feed the children during their lunchtime (meals are almost never provided for children in Ugandan schools like they are in American schools) and many students go the entire day until evening without eating. Most people understand the correlation between a full stomach and the ability to learn. Their days are made even longer and more difficult when you know the distances they travel. In order to receive this free education, some parents send their children to school over two miles from their homes. Every day, these children, as young as three years old, walk two miles to and from school. Now, imagine walking two miles at 6 a.m. with no food, sitting and learning all day, packing your bags and walking another two miles at 4 p.m. to a home where there might not be dinner that night.

Teaching at Brainstorm in 2012

The man from South Sudan who has allowed New Brainstorm to use his land for the past year and a half is now wanting to sell the land or, at least, get money from the school to help him pay for it. Mr. Nickolas’ dream is to be able to purchase this large plot of land, parts of which are undeveloped and parts of which have structures on it, and develop the two school buildings into a beautiful, spacious compound with room for the children to play netball, football, and act like children. The land is also titled, something not too common in Uganda, which means its ownership would be completely legally theirs and the government could not do anything to it or take it away at any point.

He dreams to, one day, have all the children in uniforms. Considering most of the children cannot afford school fees, they certainly don’t have the money to purchase uniforms. Costing just over $6 for each child, even that is an amount the children simply cannot afford. Currently, there are around 25 children who are unable to afford a uniform at New Brainstorm.

God is doing a mighty thing at New Brainstorm and I’ve been honored to be asked to be a small part of it!

As of right now, I will be partnering with New Brainstorm every Tuesday from now until I leave.

(I hope that my schedule will remain open and available that I can go more frequently, but I feel like I am supposed to be there on Tuesday for sure. So, right now, that is what I’m committing to.)

During my time at New Brainstorm, I will be teaching some classes, helping with administrative things, and, of course loving on the children.

The children love to write letters and have always tried to find pen pals in other countries, so I’ve reached out on social media, as well, and found a good number of people with children and teachers who expressed an interest in having pen pals. I will also be helping the children improve their English and conversational skills through their letter writing. Plus, they’ll get to learn more about America and make friends, in the process!

My pen pals from 2012

If you couldn’t tell by the information I’ve provided, Mr. Nickolas and his wife have huge hearts and have larger-than-life faith in God and his provisions- both for their lives and for New Brainstorm. The 29-year-olds have three boys under six years old, a home that is always filled with children from New Brainstorm visiting, a successful primary school with certified and educated teachers, and a small fellowship of believers that they help feed with the Word of God and encourage, and a heart to continuously give more to those in need or to make others feel welcome.

While the door has just opened for my partnership with New Brainstorm, I couldn’t be more excited about the future and the possibilities that are ahead with them!

God's timing can be a funny thing sometimes!

I wrote that last blog post on Wednesday, when I was still in the village, and published it on Friday morning, when I returned to the city and the world of internet. 

I didn't yet know how much my life was about to change in the following 24 hours. Honestly, if I had any idea about what was to come, I might have crawled into bed and tried to hide.

Friday, I received a very hurtful and, quite frankly, hateful accusatory message from someone who I considered my friend here. Being a high feeler, it shattered me and left me sobbing and asking what I did to deserve that. A question, unfortunately, I still do not have the answer to.  

Saturday, I was presented with an ultimatum that changed everything. The decision I felt God leading me to was one that left me without a place to stay long-term and with separation from almost everything and everyone I had come to know here.

I got lost in selfishness and emotions and threw a pity party. I sat on a bed and silently sobbed for probably close to an hour.

Then, with the words of a total thinker personality telling me to basically get it together, I got up and started seeking God's direction.

Within an hour, I had a place to live; I officially closed on the negotiations for my house!

Though it still needs a final interior paint job and a deep cleaning before I try to furnish it, I had a place to sleep that night and for the next three months. 

God provided a house to make into my home at the exact hour that I needed it.

Even though almost everyone I knew was leaving for the village in less than an hour to spend a week there, I had an instant family support system around me. 

The family compound where my house sits, has two young boys who immediately came to check on me. They sat with me until around 10 p.m, when I said I had to go to sleep because I was dozing after an emotional draining day. But the very next morning, they were outside waiting on my veranda for me. They told me they would help me with anything I wanted or needed and the youngest even said he wanted to teach me how to cook, specifically how to bake a cake, if I would be staying a while. I assured him I would have plenty of time to make some cakes.

Family members that I have begun to call my own, were made aware of my situation and told I might call them at any time, if I felt lonely. They all offered to welcome me into their houses for as long as I wanted, whenever I wanted.

I received "random" messages from friends in country asking about my coming to see them at their ministry this week- something I had never thought of, for some reason. Their words were full of love, support, and reassurance that God will provide. Multiple times, he mentioned my being part of their family and how I would never be alone in Uganda. They had no idea what I had just experienced. 

I was shocked at how quickly everything I had become comfortable with had fallen apart in just over 24 hours. But, it was very clear that God was in control during it all. Within hours of my world seemingly crumbling, God used to broken pieces to put it together in a different way.

Maybe one day, I will default my mind to remember that Jehovah Jireh is my great provider and his plans are so much better than my own.

Maybe one day, I won't throw pity parties and get down when the world throws junk at me and I'll instinctively seek God for my next step.

I pray that one day those things will happen.
I know it wasn't the way things went this weekend, but I know (and God knows) that I'm a work in progress and God will give me chances time and time again to make that heart posture my default.

So, as of right now, everything has changed, once again.

I'm no longer a roaming nomad; I have a beautiful two-bedroom house to make into my home.
I have a large network of friends and family, both in country and in America, that are rallying around me in the easy times and in the hard times.
I do not have a ministry that I am committed to all day, every day, but I have opportunities to serve with some of my favorite people and places whenever I want.

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I am so thankful that God provided this beautiful, two-bedroom house for me to call my own! It has, however, added slightly to both my monthly and one-time expenses. At around $130 a month, my cost of living will be exceeding my current monthly pledged amount. I am also in need of one-time donations to purchase a few things to make this house a home- like a burner, saucepan, and utensils for cooking, a few chairs/small couch for myself and visitors to sit in the front room, and a shelf for my clothing and personal items in my bedroom. I have been allowed to use the mattresses for the time being, but will have to eventually give those back to the owner and purchase my own. To be able to purchase these things, I am in need of an additional $200.

If you can help me make this beautiful house a home, please use the link to make a tax-deductible one time or monthly donation:  https://worldoutreach.org/index.php/missionary-support-2 

(As you can see, there are still a few finishing touches to complete the house, like repainting all the rooms and giving it a final clean. That is why I wasn't originally going to be able to move in for a few weeks, but they are finishing those things right now while I am at the cafe.)

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Jehovah Jireh

My provider

His grace is sufficient

For me

My God shall supply all my needs

According to His riches in glory

He will give His angels

Charge over me

Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me

Jehovah Jireh cares for me

Two weeks worth of pictures and a few more exciting changes!

One month ago, I was preparing to come to Uganda; I can’t believe I’ve been here an entire month already!

Both so much and, yet, not a lot has happened within these four weeks.

Most of the time I’ve been here, I’ve been staying in “my” village.

Village life excites me and I love it, but, for American’s, it’s often too slow for them so I’ll give you a quick recap.

I’ve seen old friends and met new ones.

I’ve spent hours sitting inside a hut, laughing, talking, and enjoying local dishes prepared by my favorite mammas.

I’ve walked over ten miles on multiple different days to get to the house of those mammas, sometimes in the burning sun and sometimes in the coolness that happens right before a huge rain storm.

I woke early to see sunrises and purposed to sit on a veranda to see sunsets.

I saw a nine-year-old boy that had an entire papaya tree fall on his head and was pronounced dead. Now, just weeks later, he is not only alive, but walking, laughing, and beginning to speak again. His grandmother saw the healing power of God, heard our prayers, and saw the love of Jesus and decided to give her life to Jesus.

I helped hand out mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, and school supplies to over 300 children as they begin their new term at school. The joy on their faces as they received their mattress, blanket, and mosquito net- the first time many of them have ever had one- was something I was not ever forget.

I watched as a small team of pre-teen boys put on real football (soccer) shoes to play in for the first time and played with an actual regulation-size ball. I watched the smile spread across their mentor’s face as he saw the next generation of footballers he was training no longer playing barefoot with a ball made of sacks.

I carried a two-week old baby around for hours and couldn’t stop adoring his squishy face and beautiful features.

I ate more giant mangoes, jackfruit, pineapples, and avocadoes than I can even count. All of them were gifts from my families here or from sponsored kids.

I have split ends and broken hair strands from children running their fingers through it and braiding it anytime I sat where they could reach it.

I have tan lines on my feet, wrists, and arms from spending hours in the sun teaching kids how to throw a Frisbee or playing cat and rat.

My arm muscles are exhausted from carrying children or picking them up and swinging them around. I carried one small child on my back from her house to the village center, which was over an hour walk.

I’ve spent countless hours simply sitting in the grass next to the football pitch or on mats as children climbed all over me.

I sang and danced around a bonfire late into the night with new and old friends. 

I worshiped in English and a local language with people who were too old or unable to walk the distance to church.

I sent three of my kids off to board at secondary school and felt like a true mamma, as I choked back tears watching them leave because I am so proud of them and because I’ll miss seeing them every day.

I have sat and had conversations under the beautiful night sky, surrounded by the stars and bright full moon that have answered a lot of questions about my future and furthered relationships.

I rode on a boda with arms full and sitting side-saddle with nothing to hold on to, unafraid, while my Ugandan dad drove me to town to pick some things for dinner.

I stood in the downpour of a random rainstorm and laughed as the boys playing football were completely unphased by the sudden flood; after all, it was football time, so nothing else mattered.

I have fought hard to get medical attention for a sponsored child and cried when he cried.

I hugged a mamma hard when she delivered her baby too early and lost it.

I cried and cringed when a child with spina bifida and turned in feet that constantly drag on the ground discovered he has an infection and decaying toes from the constant wounds and rubbing. The doctor then told him his feet will likely be amputated next week. The young boy, however, never let his joy fade.

I prayed over jajjas who have been sick for weeks on end and desire healing more than anything else.

I have been frustrated and angered at a lack of respect for authority and requests by fellow mzungus.

I’ve spent days sitting around on my bed doing next to nothing and dozing off to pass the hot day.

I have searched and negotiated and am in the final stages of getting a house in my name and will hopefully have somewhere to officially call my own in a few weeks.

I know this is a lot of seemingly random pieces of information here, but it’s been such a random few weeks that I can’t even think of one cohesive story to write about.

Plus, I’ve been promising for weeks that I’d have an update with lots of photos, so I wanted to make sure I provided exactly that.

Like I mentioned up there, after a lot of prayer, budgeting, and using my network of friends and family here, I have finally found a place that meets all my needs! This will not only be able to serve as a home base for the next five months while I’m here, but it will also be a place for friends and family to have as a place of rest and community whenever they are around and will be a ministry for those in need.

It’s a beautiful, recently-renovated house with two bedrooms, two indoor bathrooms with running water, a sitting room and kitchen. And it’s in the neighborhood I’ve been working and living in every time I’ve come to Kampala. It’s not only close and familiar, but it’s also safe, secure, private, and owned by a friend. It’s literally an answered prayer!

At just over $130 a month, I will finally have my own place after 27 years.

My next project will be furnishing it! 

Buying two beds and mattresses, a few shelves, a table and chairs, a small couch, and some needed items for the kitchen will cost around $300. If anyone feels led to donate and make my house a home, please follow the link and complete a one-time donation. (https://worldoutreach.org/index.php/missionary-support-2)

Also, once again, things are changing. 

While the weeks I’ve spent here in my village have been great and I’ve loved it, I feel it’s just about time to move on to find my long-term ministry here.

I’ve touched base with my home and my families and did some ministry here, but, like I’ve been saying for over a month, I believe God is doing something big and different regarding ministry here.

I feel like I need to be settled with a place to call home before I venture out so that I have a place to come home to, so it will all depend on how long it will take to get into the house and get moved in. 

The biggest thing about the house will be a place to store all my belongings. Even if I venture out to ministry a few hours away, it is not plausible to haul all three 50-pound bags with me. If nothing else, the house will provide a safe place to keep all the thing I will not be using daily (like the six-month surplus of hair curl cream or shampoo and conditioner) so I can bring only what is needed wherever I go.

I still have plans to go out and see our friend working within a Muslim village in Lake Victoria and follow up with some organizations near Jinja and a few here outside Kampala. 

But the biggest thing I’ve been learning the past few months is to be still and wait for God’s timing. 

He usually makes it very clear when a door opens or closes and when I’m supposed to go. I feel that time is coming where another door is opening, but it’s not there yet.

So, now, I am back to waiting on the revelation of God’s perfect plan and the next step I need to take.