Here is a video my friend Brittany help me put together of pictures from my trip to Africa. It was 16 min. but for some reason it said my limit was 15 min so I had to cut a min out to get it on here for you...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Amazima
Amazima is a feeding program in Uganda that a girl by the name of Katie Davis started. She is such an amazing woman of God. There is a link on the side of my blog to the website for you to learn more about Amazima Ministries. Katie's Amazima Ministries is the reason I decided to go to Uganda so I was so excited to get to see the ministry first hand. After signing up for the trip God had laid it on my heart to start sponsoring a child. There are so many ministries out there that have sponsoring programs. After reading more about Amazima and what they do I decided last May I was going to sponsor a child through them. I got the paper work for my child on my birthday in April, what a wonderful birthday present to see the face a read about who I was going to sponsor. I am sponsoring a sweet young girl Dina who is 13 years old! I am so excited that I am able to help her get food and go to school.
When we were preparing to go to Amazima on a Saturday morning to spend time, play, and feed the children I was a little nervous and excited. I was not for sure if Dina would be there and was preparing myself for if she was not there. But I so deeply wanted to see her face to face hug her and tell her that I loved her. Well we got there and played with some of the kids, I was a little nervous to start looking for her. At one point they gathered all the children up for a bible story and as we sat there I looked around seeing if I could recognize her face but did not see her. Once this was over we were getting things ready for the children to get lunch. At this time I went up to Katie and asked if she knew if she was there, she asked some of the kids but it turned out Dina was at school. I was so sad. But right before we left I asked if the school girls had returned and was told they should be back soon. Finally I saw a group of girls show up, while I was about to load the bus to leave. I heard the other girls yell and point at me, "Dina! Dina! Sponsor!" I grabbed my friend Jessica and gave her my camera. We went and there she was oh I was so thrilled I asked if she was Dina and showed her the letter she wrote me and she said that it was her! I told her I was her sponsor and gave her a big hug and told her I was so glad to get to meet her and that I loved her. I also had a letter ready and a picture of me to give to her. Then I got my picture with her. I was sad that it was a short little visit but so thankful I can say I sponsor a girl in Uganda and I have meet her in person!! I am so thankful God gave me that opportunity! I will be sending Dina the picture of the 2 of us so she has the memory as well.
When we were preparing to go to Amazima on a Saturday morning to spend time, play, and feed the children I was a little nervous and excited. I was not for sure if Dina would be there and was preparing myself for if she was not there. But I so deeply wanted to see her face to face hug her and tell her that I loved her. Well we got there and played with some of the kids, I was a little nervous to start looking for her. At one point they gathered all the children up for a bible story and as we sat there I looked around seeing if I could recognize her face but did not see her. Once this was over we were getting things ready for the children to get lunch. At this time I went up to Katie and asked if she knew if she was there, she asked some of the kids but it turned out Dina was at school. I was so sad. But right before we left I asked if the school girls had returned and was told they should be back soon. Finally I saw a group of girls show up, while I was about to load the bus to leave. I heard the other girls yell and point at me, "Dina! Dina! Sponsor!" I grabbed my friend Jessica and gave her my camera. We went and there she was oh I was so thrilled I asked if she was Dina and showed her the letter she wrote me and she said that it was her! I told her I was her sponsor and gave her a big hug and told her I was so glad to get to meet her and that I loved her. I also had a letter ready and a picture of me to give to her. Then I got my picture with her. I was sad that it was a short little visit but so thankful I can say I sponsor a girl in Uganda and I have meet her in person!! I am so thankful God gave me that opportunity! I will be sending Dina the picture of the 2 of us so she has the memory as well.
Me with Dina
Me with Katie Davis
Our group with Katie
Getting my hair braided by some of the kids.
Me with a few kids
One of my favorite pictures!
Katie Davis just wrote a book and comes out I think October 4th. I pre-orderd mine! Here is a promo for the book.
You Lead
Thought I'd share this song with you, I love this song by Jamie Grace and have been listening to it a lot lately.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Healing the Broken
I have been trying to think of where to begin with sharing with you the love, and joy, and sorrow, I experience during my journey through Africa. It was a time in my life that I hope to never forget the beautiful faces I meet along the way.
Let me begin with our first stop. An orphanage in Uganda named Cannan's Children's Home. Not only is this an orphanage but a school and a church. Imagine traveling for about 24hrs if not more by car, plane to plane, then a bus for several hours. The day is getting late and sun starting to go down and you are exhausted. But you arrive to this gated place. The gates open and the bus starts to drive in and immediately you see a line of children jumping up and down screaming and yelling "They are Here! They are Here!" I think we were all just filled with emotions. Some of us (me) were in tears to have such a welcoming. It was hard for us to get off the bus because the children were crowded around the door. After getting through we were welcomed by all the wonderful ladies that help take care of the children and Pastor Issac and his wonderful wife. I had this little hand cling to mine that was a little girl names Sarah. She was my friend from then on and was such a sweet quiet little girl. She never talked really but just wanted and needed someone to just hold her. I do not know of her background and I can not even imagine the things this little girl has seen or experienced. But what I do know is that this little girl is safe in the care of Godly people who love her and give her the healing that she needs. Without fail every time we would come out of the rooms we slept in or where we ate there was Sarah by my side holding on to me.
Pastor Issac told us at one point when he was sharing with us some of the heartbreaking stories of some of the children there he told us that; "When we are there visiting and loving on the children it is a healing process for the children". We are helping these children heal from their hard pasts just by giving them love and sharing with them the love of our Lord Jesus Christ!
We were only there in Cannan's for a total of 3 nights but I could not help but completely fall in love with all these sweet children. I did not want to leave these kids and would love to spend more time with them. I kept telling myself that we still had other places to go to meet more children but at the time I could not think about leaving them so soon. I got to have conversations with a sweet young 13 year old girl Molly about foods we liked and what animals that were in America and Africa and talk about what we enjoyed doing such as singing. I got to see a 13 year old boy Christopher show his leadership skills with the other children and watch him love on the younger ones who were upset and just goof off like any other 13 year old boy. I spent time with a joyful bouncy 4 year old girl Litisha full of energy and have her fall asleep on my back as I carried her around. Then hold on to a quiet 6 year old Sarah. Those wonderful kids are God's children and boy oh boy did I love them. I pray that for the short time I did get to spend with those particular children it was a time that healed a little more of their brokenness from the past.
Even though I cried and did not want to leave those children and would have LOVED to just bring them with me I knew that the place where they were at now was such a wonderful place for them. I knew that they were being taken care of and had so much love. I could just feel the love the children had from their caregivers and that gave me such a peace to know that they had wonderful Godly people loving them and caring for them.
Let me begin with our first stop. An orphanage in Uganda named Cannan's Children's Home. Not only is this an orphanage but a school and a church. Imagine traveling for about 24hrs if not more by car, plane to plane, then a bus for several hours. The day is getting late and sun starting to go down and you are exhausted. But you arrive to this gated place. The gates open and the bus starts to drive in and immediately you see a line of children jumping up and down screaming and yelling "They are Here! They are Here!" I think we were all just filled with emotions. Some of us (me) were in tears to have such a welcoming. It was hard for us to get off the bus because the children were crowded around the door. After getting through we were welcomed by all the wonderful ladies that help take care of the children and Pastor Issac and his wonderful wife. I had this little hand cling to mine that was a little girl names Sarah. She was my friend from then on and was such a sweet quiet little girl. She never talked really but just wanted and needed someone to just hold her. I do not know of her background and I can not even imagine the things this little girl has seen or experienced. But what I do know is that this little girl is safe in the care of Godly people who love her and give her the healing that she needs. Without fail every time we would come out of the rooms we slept in or where we ate there was Sarah by my side holding on to me.
Pastor Issac told us at one point when he was sharing with us some of the heartbreaking stories of some of the children there he told us that; "When we are there visiting and loving on the children it is a healing process for the children". We are helping these children heal from their hard pasts just by giving them love and sharing with them the love of our Lord Jesus Christ!
We were only there in Cannan's for a total of 3 nights but I could not help but completely fall in love with all these sweet children. I did not want to leave these kids and would love to spend more time with them. I kept telling myself that we still had other places to go to meet more children but at the time I could not think about leaving them so soon. I got to have conversations with a sweet young 13 year old girl Molly about foods we liked and what animals that were in America and Africa and talk about what we enjoyed doing such as singing. I got to see a 13 year old boy Christopher show his leadership skills with the other children and watch him love on the younger ones who were upset and just goof off like any other 13 year old boy. I spent time with a joyful bouncy 4 year old girl Litisha full of energy and have her fall asleep on my back as I carried her around. Then hold on to a quiet 6 year old Sarah. Those wonderful kids are God's children and boy oh boy did I love them. I pray that for the short time I did get to spend with those particular children it was a time that healed a little more of their brokenness from the past.
Even though I cried and did not want to leave those children and would have LOVED to just bring them with me I knew that the place where they were at now was such a wonderful place for them. I knew that they were being taken care of and had so much love. I could just feel the love the children had from their caregivers and that gave me such a peace to know that they had wonderful Godly people loving them and caring for them.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Man Up
There is a slogan I recently came across through my trip to Africa "Man up protect and love the fatherless". There are so many women that go on mission trips to love on the children in orphanages but those children need men to come love on them as well.
One thing that has really stuck out to me on my trip to Africa is that there were countless Godly African men I had the pleasure of meeting that were doing just that. Oh I was so blessed to see how these men were stepping up in their villages to share the gospel to these people and children and to show them love.
Let me tell you of a sweet 13 year old boy who I meet in Uganda. His name is Christopher and I could just see the love in him that Pastor Issac the man that runs the orphanage in this boy. This boy when asked what he wanted to do, "I want to have a bright future, I want to become a pilot, then I want to be a pastor and build my own orphanage." I held back tears when he told me his dreams. I just smiled at him and told him that he had a wonderful dream! To hear his dream showed me how much Pastor Issac has influenced him. I pray for Christopher that he can fulfill his dreams!
So you men out there who want to go on mission trips to build. Think of Christopher and all the other young boys out there who need your role model to show them the love of Christ. Those boys need your encouragement just as much as the women that go if not more!
One thing that has really stuck out to me on my trip to Africa is that there were countless Godly African men I had the pleasure of meeting that were doing just that. Oh I was so blessed to see how these men were stepping up in their villages to share the gospel to these people and children and to show them love.
Let me tell you of a sweet 13 year old boy who I meet in Uganda. His name is Christopher and I could just see the love in him that Pastor Issac the man that runs the orphanage in this boy. This boy when asked what he wanted to do, "I want to have a bright future, I want to become a pilot, then I want to be a pastor and build my own orphanage." I held back tears when he told me his dreams. I just smiled at him and told him that he had a wonderful dream! To hear his dream showed me how much Pastor Issac has influenced him. I pray for Christopher that he can fulfill his dreams!
So you men out there who want to go on mission trips to build. Think of Christopher and all the other young boys out there who need your role model to show them the love of Christ. Those boys need your encouragement just as much as the women that go if not more!
Me with Christopher
Me with Pastor Issac
Pastor Samuel
Some of the boys at Cannan's
Raoul sharing with the children at Amazima.
William who was the only man on our trip.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Go Love
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27
I have now been home about 2 weeks after a 2 week trip to Africa. It is still weird to be going through my normal routine of what my life was before Africa. This is the 1st of hopefully many posts about my trip. The 2 weeks in Africa would be too much to cram into one blog post and I don't want to leave stuff out. Now my problem is to where to begin....
I guess I will begin by sharing how I got to go to Africa....
I can begin on saying going out of country to love on orphans was laid on my heart a couple years ago. I have always wanted the opportunity to get to go and experience of going to care for and love on children who need to have fun, be kids, and feel loved. About 2 years ago I was sharing with my family about a resent trip I had to Mexico on a building mission trip. I shared with them my desire to go love on children in orphanages. I found out my aunt's church goes to Jamaica to love one children in orphanages. I went this past February to Jamaica and enjoyed loving on the babies there. While I was preparing for the Jamaica trip a friend of mine sent me a link to a girl named Katie Davis' blog (link is on the side Amazima). I fell in love with this blog and was in tears reading it. through Katie's blog I came across a website Visiting Orphans (link also on the side). I went through the website and wanted to go somewhere with them. I didn't know where at the time but just wanted to go. Ended up one night talking with a friend about my upcoming trip to Jamaica and about Visiting Orphans and she said she wanted to go to Africa. I told her I would love to go with her. After both of us praying we both agreed we were led to go to Africa now we just needed to decide on where in Africa were we going. After reading about Amazima and Katie Davis we both agreed on Uganda. There fore we signed up for a Uganda and Ghana trip. Some stuff happened with the Ghana part of the trip along the way of planing so we ended up going to Ethiopia instead.
So that is the story on how I was led to go to Africa and will have more posts to come on my amazing trip to Uganda and Ethiopia trip!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Is It Already July?
Well in February I went to Jamaica on a mission trip. I was great! I got to know some wonderful women, and spend time and love on some kids at the boy's home and with the sweet babies at an orphanage. Here are a few pictures from the trip.
This past May I finally graduated from Ivy Tech with my Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education!! It is such a relief to be finished with school! But now everyone is asking me what I going to do now...Well I am not sure yet. I am going to stay as a nanny for the 2 families for now one because they do not want me to leave them and two I love these kids so much I don't know what I would do if I didn't see them all the time.
In June Lauryn, Julia, and Abigail had their yearly dance recital and I was finally able to go because Abigail danced this year. It was great to get to go watch my girls dance! First picture is me and Lauryn, next is me with Julia and the last one is me with Abigail.
In June I also got the privilege to go with one of the families I work for to Disney World and on a Disney cruise! It was an amazing experience and so glad I got to go.
My next exciting adventure is that on July 14-27 I will be traveling with Visiting Orphans (link on the side of my blog) To Africa! We will be visiting orphanages in Uganda and Ethiopia for the 2 weeks we will be there. I am so excited to get to go and can not wait to see what God has in store for this trip!
I think my blog is now up to date. Ha I'm sorry I am not a very good blogger and do not keep it updated very often.
This past May I finally graduated from Ivy Tech with my Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education!! It is such a relief to be finished with school! But now everyone is asking me what I going to do now...Well I am not sure yet. I am going to stay as a nanny for the 2 families for now one because they do not want me to leave them and two I love these kids so much I don't know what I would do if I didn't see them all the time.
In June Lauryn, Julia, and Abigail had their yearly dance recital and I was finally able to go because Abigail danced this year. It was great to get to go watch my girls dance! First picture is me and Lauryn, next is me with Julia and the last one is me with Abigail.
My next exciting adventure is that on July 14-27 I will be traveling with Visiting Orphans (link on the side of my blog) To Africa! We will be visiting orphanages in Uganda and Ethiopia for the 2 weeks we will be there. I am so excited to get to go and can not wait to see what God has in store for this trip!
I think my blog is now up to date. Ha I'm sorry I am not a very good blogger and do not keep it updated very often.
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