8/11/11 Update!

Greetings! Sometimes I sit down to write updates and try to collect my thoughts and find it difficult to summarize everything the Lord is doing in and around me. Then other times words simply pour out of me onto paper as I type. It’s often difficult to put into words the thoughts I think, the feelings I feel, and the experiences I face and go through on a daily basis. Even as much as I love writing, it’s still a struggle at times to find all the right words to express so much of what I desire to say. I desire to capture everything and write it in such a way you can experience it as closely as I have. I also write this with the knowledge of knowing that I could never truly cause you to see it through my eyes perfectly. However, I want to remind you all that I carry you with me in my heart. Like I always tell my home church, “I take you all with me wherever I go.” Words cannot express how truly grateful and humble I am for your continued prayers, encouragement, messages, and financial support! I testify to so many individuals here about the amazing family and church family I have in the U.S. and they too are literally amazed. It’s so comforting and humbling to know the Lord has set individuals in place to fully sustain me during my mission here. Thank you again for being obedience to the Lord. You may never know this side of heaven whose lives you are touching and impacting and what work and ministry is being accomplished through the prayers and finances you are continually offering up to our Father. So truly, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you for everything! I love each and every one of you so much.

Gosh, I feel as if so much has happened since I last wrote so I have a feeling this journal entry will be a bit lengthy. For those of you that really know me that shouldn’t come as a surprise. First of all, the Lord has answered a huge prayer request and has provided me with my first, very own house. While I’m overly excited, it’s been a bit overwhelming at times honestly. It has definitely been an adventure though. There is nothing like someone who doesn’t know how to swim jumping into the deep end head first…lol. Sometimes that’s how I feel learning how to live on my own for the first time in a foreign country. I’ve really been humbled however. Might as well make it big. I’ve always been highly adventurous. It just makes sense that I would do it that way knowing myself…lol. It’s one thing to move out and remain in an area you are familiar with, with food you know how to cook, and can still call Mom and Dad to come help you. But it’s another when none of those things are familiar and Mom and Dad are half way across the world. I’m recovering from another wave of homesickness. I’ve noticed it tends to come in waves. It will flair up for a bit, then ease for a little while, which I’ve heard is normal. As I was picking out curtains and items for my new house, the realization came over me all of the sudden that my Mom wasn’t here to assist me pick out all those things I hadn’t necessary thought Mom “should” be there to help me decide on. So I had a mini tear fest, then I recovered….lol. However, I was so grateful Lisa acted on behalf of Mom for a month and was there to assist me. But as much as I love you Lisa, no one can replace my sweet Momma! Sometimes I feel as if I’m living in the 1900’s because Uganda is much more underdeveloped than the U.S. I never considered myself as a person who took the blessings I have for granted, however, when you leave the comforts and accommodations at home for a little while the Lord really teaches you how to appreciate where you have come from in a different light. Suddenly all those things you observed Mom and Dad do your entire life, you find yourself doing and remembering. You remember all your parents little quirks and how they did things. For example: Dad always use to push cancel 50 times on the ATM machine after he withdrew money to ensure no one could get his personal information. I found myself doing that and teaching Lisa the other day. I found myself laughing afterwards. You really do not realize all you have until you suddenly do not have it at your fingertips anymore. It has changed my perspective on so many things and has truly humbled me. I can tell you this, I have learned the difference between genuine needs and wants (what is considered “needs” to us Americans are truly considered luxuries here). Like washing machines and dryers. I wash all my clothes my hand in a wash bin and lay them out to dry. So before you lay your head on your pillow at night, thank God for your washing machines and dryers. That may seem silly, but I’m serious. It’s hard work and I’m reminded that I’m only one person, washing for one person. I do not yet have a large family like most Africans have. I do not yet have a hot water heater so cold showers are the norm. You just take a deep breath before entering…lol. Squatty potty is also the norm…it really teaches you a new appreciation for toilets…lol. So I’ve literally started from stratch in my new house. It’s not like the U.S. where you have built in cabinets, kitchen and bathroom countertops, appliances such as a built in stove/oven, ect… I wash my dishes also in a wash bin, because the typical African setting has no kitchen sink. It really takes some relearning. I cook on a gas stove and officially got my stove hooked up a few nights ago. Moses and I officially cooked our first meal together. We cooked some eggs and shared an egg sandwich and mango juice under the candlelight because there was no power. My rechargeable lantern died because the power had been off for three days in a row. Usually, it was on one day, off the next so it was predictable when we wouldn’t have it so I could plan ahead and charge things in advance. I say all this to tell you how humbling it has been because I realize it can be much worse. Compared to what I see on a daily basis, the poverty around, I live an exceptional life. So I’m very grateful! I’m so thankful for what the Lord has provided for me, please don’t hear me saying anything but that! Sometimes I just sit or stand in my house, look around, and just give Him glory! I have a bed, food in my stomach, and a roof over my head. Honestly, that is more than a good percentage of the population has here. I heard someone say, “Uganda is immune to poverty.” It’s really true, but the overwhelming joy, faith, love, and peace that overflows from the Ugandan people still absolutely blows me away. I walk by Ugandans on the side of the dirty street daily with no legs who are literally walking on knubs, but when you look down at them and they look up at you, they just light up and a giant smile swallows their entire face. It’s amazing and truly beautiful because you honestly wonder, what’s the future look like for them? Here they are with no legs, probably no food, and are begging for money on the streets. In the eyes of the world it doesn’t make sense for me to move halfway across the world to breath in the overwhelming amount of dust and gas of the city, to drive on the roads day in and day out that are covered with potholes, to trench through 5 feet of mud during the raining season and risk getting stuck and sliding off the road, and to risk contracting malaria and various other diseases, but through spiritual eyes people get what’s really important here. They have no choice to depend on the Lord to literally provide their every need because He is ALL they have. Their faith and desperation for the Lord still absolutely blows me away and has taught me so much. You see firsthand what it looks like to really hunger and when I say hunger I mean hunger for Him! I can talk about it all day, but until you actually come see and experience it firsthand you could never fully get the impact of it all. I can only stratch the surface. I was having a conversation with Moses and Barbara just the other day and Moses was worried about my eating habits because until I got my stove fixed I was living on PBJ sandwiches and Pringles…haha. Sounds like a typical college student living on Romaine noodles right after they move out. I found it comical. However, Ugandans never eat sandwiches so they do not see that as filling. Some of them do not even know what sandwiches are. You see the meals here are served in mass quantities. They pile on the food, which at first sounds ironic because you think of them being poor and of them having little food. Most of them do have little food, but when food it available, they it pile on as much as possible because they never know when food will be available again so they stock up. I was telling them that I’m use to eating several small meals a day at home and the realization came over me that that’s our culture. We grew up assuming food will always be in abundance and we do not know what it’s like to be without much of anything really…I’m talking true needs, not simply wants. At first it almost makes me feel guilty, while knowing guilt is not from God. It makes you wonder why am I so blessed to live here and how can they live here? Only God can answer that question and I believe it’s in one’s perspective on how you define what a “blessing” is. Whether you see it through spiritual eyes into what really matters: things such as spending quality time with people and loving others or through earthy eyes and see only blessings as material possessions.

So even though at times it gets really difficult living here, it’s still not nearly as difficult as what the majority of the Ugandan population has witnessed, seen, and experience on a daily basis. Even though at times I get homesick and miss home, it really pairs in comparison to the rewards I receive and will receive. It’s totally worth the sacrifices! I would even go as far as recommending at least every person if they had the opportunity to live in a 3^rd world country for at least a month. It will change your life forever. Truly you will never be the same.

Back to my house, the Lord has provided the perfect individuals to assist me. My boyfriend, Moses has been a huge source of support through this time. Shopping in Africa is very different from shopping in the U.S. If anyone of you have been to a 3^rd World country you will understand firsthand what I mean. While there are set prices on all items in the U.S., here one has to pretty much bargain for everything you buy and unfortunately the system is often corrupt, even more so when you are “White.” The assumption on behalf of a good percentage of Africans in the community is that a white person=dollars ($). Sometimes I will find myself burdened and discouraged by this assumption because I have such a high respect, love, and deep appreciation for the Ugandan people and it’s hard not desiring that same love and respect from them. I desire them to see me for who I am, not for what they may think I have ($). So, Ugandans in the community markets needless to say typically attempt to charge white people more money than a typical Ugandan. So one night as Moses and I were shopping I decided to test this theory of the Ugandans charging “White people” what they call Muzungo price. Muzungo=white person in the local language. It’s not a derogatory term, simply a label like we would call black people black. So Moses and I agreed on pricing a certain TV in a local appliance store. Moses walks in first by himself as if he was shopping for a TV. He casually asks a lady who works in the store how much this TV is. She tells him 1,000,000 Ugandan shillings, lowest price, which is around $500. He says, “ok” and walks out of the store. Meanwhile, I was hiding outside the store as he walked in so no one would know we were together and charge him a higher price because he was with me. So about five minutes later I walk in the same store, price the same TV, and ask the very same lady. She tells me 1,300,000, Ugandan shillings, which was 300 more expensive than the price she just gave Moses. I could only laugh at how corrupt the system was and how individuals intentionally charge white people more money because they assume we all have it. So I say all that to say, Moses goes before me and bargains and gets good deals on items I need for my home. Then we travel together to those places and purchase the items together after they’ve given a good, reasonable price.

I actually found out about the house through Barbara, a Ugandan friend of mine. She actually is my next door neighbor. It’s in an area I’m familiar with, it’s secure, and there is also support from Watoto nearby. It has a storeroom, a sitting room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. It’s plenty big enough for just me. So far I’ve purchased a refrigerator, a stove/oven, cooking utensils, pots & pans, curtains, a fan, rugs for the floor, a bed, mosquito net, and other odds and ends. Your funds are being used very practically and items are being purchased in an attitude that desires to be the best steward of the money that is given to me. Please pray with me in regard to finances. I’ve been hit with a lot of expenses all at once and it’s been a bit stressful. I’m a saver not a spender so sometimes it creates stress within me to feel as if I’m spending so much all at once when I worked hard to save and build that savings up. However, they are all necessary items. I’ve had to pay for the car I now drive around the crazy roads of Kampala J. Also, for my stay at the Watoto guesthouse, 4 months rent in my new house, plus all the furnishings. I’ve had to also pay for car repairs, added expense for fuel and food. Although, now that I’m driving, I’m saving more on transport, which is a blessing.

My immediate boss, Brent Smith, who I came over with has been in the U.S. since the beginning of June so I have basically been free to make my own schedule and have been staying very busy actually. I’ve enjoyed the freedom that has created. Although he’s really been good to me, on somethings I’ve been left to learn the ropes alone, which has honestly been good for me. It’s been stressful at times, but the Lord has sent the right ones to help me at the right times and I’ve learned a lot in the process. Throughout the time he has been away, I’ve almost completed all of the education training with the mothers and teachers in Bbira and Suubi Village. I have copied below the outline of what I’ve been teaching and speaking to the mother’s and teachers in the villages about. It’s my prayer the following information gives you a better idea of what my work has consisted of.

Education Classes Outline: Assets Management

The Lord desires us to be good stewards of what we have, so how can we do that?

When I began the training in Bbira Village I teamed up with the head of maintenance of that village, Richard. Each village has a supervisor who is in charge of maintenance. Each village also has a maintenance team who works to keep the villages looking nice and presentable to teams and visitors that come to Watoto from outside. Richard and I co-taught the mothers of one circle of homes at a time. We chose to teach only 9 mothers at a time opposed to holding one mass meeting so we could easily communicate intimately about concerns and questions they had. We also wanted to ensure we created an atmosphere where they could honestly and freely voice their concerns and raise any questions they had that they may not have raised had we met in a large group. It’s easy to get lost in a large group and shy away from honest concerns and questions. Each circle contains 9 homes, with nine mothers, with 8 children in each home. In each circle there is a senior mother who is in charge of handling issues, concerns that come up within the mothers and children in each circle. So mainly the training consisted of me introducing myself, explaining to them my role in Watoto, the work I’ve been doing, long-term goals, and the purpose of what I’m doing what I’m doing.

1. Getting to know me:

a. Who I Am:

b. My role in Watoto:

1. Discovery stage (I walked through every building: home, school, clinic that Watoto owns and took notes of everything that needed repair.)

2. Report stage (I compiled the above information into written reports for each village.)

3. Financial stage (Then I put a cost to items that need repair in order to present the pressing need to the ministry so action may be taken. I’m acting as a voice of hope (liason between the mothers and the ministry, advocating for them.)

4. Education stage (The stage I’m just finishing now. It consists of training mothers and teachers to report, organizing a new system of reporting repairs.)

5. Fundraising stage: In the meantime, the money has to be raised to fund repairs.

6. Inventory stage: We also discuss long-term goals: One of those is for Watoto to build a storehouse with 50% of all items in the home on reserve at all times. That way when one items goes out and is installed into the home, another comes in. Then we can control all the inventory. Will build this up gradually.

7. Easily maintained from there

c. My purpose for being in their homes is:

1. To show them where we’ve been, where we currently are, where we’re headed as a maintenance staff.

2. Assets Management Training:

a. What is assets management? How can we do it?

b. The purpose of the training:

Who (is doing training): Richard & I

What: Assets management and/or maintenance training

Where: in each senior mother’s home

Why:

1. To build trust with the mothers. We want you to know that we care about you and that someone is hearing your requests. That your requests aren’t simply falling on deaf ears. We want you to know the big picture of what goes on behind the scene and understand the process. I’ve found that when we seek to understand, we find compassion.

2. We desire to empower you and give you a voice in the process. It begins with you.

3. Instill in them a sense of ownership. It’s your home and it’s important for you to take care of it.

3. Goals: What is the purpose of goals? To help us achieve things in life right?

a. To bring all the maintenance work, repairs and cost on a level playing ground. Once this is accomplished, then we will need to have at least 50% in parts on reserve at all times. The goal is then to maintain and control inventory. (When one part goes out and is put in a home, another item is ordered)

b. To get the mothers to buy in and learn that as they report=results happen (items get fixed). Mom’s have to know there’s a point of beginning (with them reporting). They have to report in order to raise awareness to Management that something’s broken.

c. We want to empower you by giving you resources that will give you a voice, to include you in the process, show you that your concerns are being heard and aren’t falling on deaf ears.

d. Local Facilities Manager to oversea all processes

Then we go into teaching them the new system of reporting repairs. I’ve implemented a few forms and I’m teaching them how to use it, ect…

I’m still praying about other opportunities to open up for me within Watoto, while focusing on being busy and meeting a need now in the maintenance department. The Lord is good about reminding me and showing me different small ways I’m making a difference. For example: I called a meeting about a month ago and I invited both Richard (maintenance supervisor in Bbira village) and Moses (not my boyfriend Moses, but a different one who is the maintenance supervisor in Suubi village). After the meeting Moses said, “this is the first time I’ve set foot in the office for a meeting since he got hired awhile back. “ The Lord is using me to bring people together and to build unity within the team.

In addition to holding trainings and meetings, I spent the week with the South Haven Baptist Church team from Springfield and assisted them in building a medical clinic from mud brick. I also got to spend some quality time treating Lisa to a relaxing few days before she headed back to the U.S. She trusted my mad driving skills enough to allow me to drive her around to all my local hangouts around Kampala J. Although it was difficult saying goodbye and part of me was envious that they were returning to my home, the Lord pulled me through. I’m to a point now where today it is 4 months until I return in December. I will arrive back in the U.S. 12/9/11. Although I’m enjoying my stay here, my heart still longs for home.

As far as prayer requests are concerned…

1. Please pray I get my work permit. I really need this to move ahead with other legal documents.

2. Please pray the Lord protects me as I’m now driving myself around all the time by myself in the major city of Kampala.

3. Pray for continued strength, wisdom, and encouragement. At times I can get a bit lonely, discouraged, and homesick now that I’m in a house by myself.

4. Please pray for the people here and the ministry I’m doing here.

5. That I will continue to walk in the Lord’s love, light, and strength.

6. Please pray for Moses and I and our relationship. We are making serious plans for the future and want the Lord to direct our steps in everything we do!

Finally, as I conclude I’m almost finished taking the discipleship class on Thurs. evenings. It’s been a great course. I will be attending an overnight evening of prayer this Friday from 9pm-6am.

I believe overall the most important lesson I’ve learned thus far is how to put self on the back burner and how to live a selfless life. I pray you received a blessing from reading this lengthy journal entry, but I had a lot of catching up to do! I love you all!

Praise God!!!

Huge praise: I looked at a house last Friday evening and I will be moving in today! It's reasonable, in an area I'm familiar with, secure, and right next door to Barbara, a good friend of mine. There are also a lot of Watoto employees around close in the neighborhood! It's not furnished so I will have to buy everything, so please pray I'm able to find reasonable prices. I'm excited to have my very own place and begin decorating!

Gifts Journal (Please read)

I am currently taking a discipleship class at Watoto Church. It’s a 14 week course. We are studying the following topics:

(Level 1: Focuses on Your Relationship With God)

Introduction & Trinity

God the Father

Jesus: His Life and Work

The Holy Spirit

Building Your Relationship With God

(Level 2: Focuses on Your Relationship with Yourself)

Who am I?

What can I do?

What can I do (continuation)?

Wholesome Living

(Level 3: Focuses on Your Relationship with Your Church/Cell)

Vision, Values, and Cells (Cells are like small groups that meet once a week)

Cell Group Purpose

Role of a Cell Leader

(Level 4: Focuses on Your Relationship With Your Community)

Your Community

You and Your Cell

We have an assignment this week to complete. I am currently studying about discovering my spiritual gifts and passions. I wanted to invite you all to assist me. Sometimes we may not see giftings or passions in ourselves that others may see right away. If you would be so kind, could you please answer the following questions about me to assist me in this self discovery? Please copy these questions and answer them in a private message to me (charitygray3@yahoo.com). Thanks so much!

1. When you look at me, Charity, what do you see? (Answer how you feel led whether physical, emotional, personality, or spiritual traits).
2. What would you say are my spiritual gifts?
3. What would you say are areas of giftedness, talents, passions, ect… in my life?
4. Overall, what would those closest to me say I’m really interested in or passionate about?
5. The people I would most like to help are:

Infants, Teen moms, Divorced, Career women, Parents, Unemployed, Orphans, Prisoners, Children, Single parents, Widowed, Young marrieds, Empty nesters, Elderly,Widows, Poor,Youth, College students, Singles, Refugees, Homeless, Disabled, Hospitalized, OTHER...................

6. As you’ve observed my life, what would you say are the issues or causes I feel strongly about:

Here are a few examples that were included in the study material:

Environment,Discipleship, Worship, Music, Violence, Education, Economic, Health care, Abortion Church, Child care, AIDS, Injustice, Addictions, Reaching the lost Poverty, Hunger, Homosexuality, Politics, Racism, International, Technological, Family, Literacy, OTHER........

1. (Questions for my family only):
   1. As you have watched me grow since the moment of conception, what have you observed as I’ve grown?
   2. What do you see as my gifts, passions, ect…maybe something you’ve never told me before?

7/3/11 Update!

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” -1 Peter 3:8-9

“love, serve, give” This is the theme the Lord continually brings me back to.

It has been pressing upon my heart to write another update for quite some time, however, it wasn’t quite the right time. The Lord has shown up in huge ways in my life recently. He’s given me a steadfast peace in every area of my life. I know I’m at the heart of His will. What an amazing place to be. Through all the joys and sorrows my Lord continues to remind me that what you’re doing now is so worth it My child. You’re making a difference. I’ve brought you here to love, serve, and to give of yourself completely to the Ugandan people, to pour into them everything I’ve give to you. Wow! It always comes at just the right time. As I look back on my stay here, I can remember three significant times the Lord has brought me back to this simple truth…just love My child. Every time I give, every time I simply stop and listen to someone here as they pour out their heart to me, every time I take the time to care for people, I feel that much closer to Christ. It’s who I am, Charity, a beautiful child of God! By the Lord’s grace, I strive to simply live out my name…meaning living a life full of sacrificial selfless love.

Last Sunday was a life changing day in my life. The Lord revealed His truth to me personally during the worship service. My heart has been overflowing with such a peace and a joy ever since. The Lord spoke to my spirit again how I am and can continue to make a difference simply by loving the people around me. Nothing profound, but simple in nature. It was this realization that came over me again that the individuals here need me. Yes, I miss certain things back home, but it really pales in comparison to the difference the Lord is using me to make here in the lives of those He’s placed around me. And just to be part of such an amazing ministry. LOVE!!! That’s what it all amounts to. I prayed and asked the Lord to help me put self on the shelf and give of myself fully to those around me. They need me. I think the most important lesson I’ve learned by being here is how to put myself on the back burner. Yes, I have certain desires and I miss certain things and I’ve sacrificed a lot to be here, but it’s so worth it. The Lord is using Watoto to change lives and I’m so incredibly humbled to be a part of what He’s doing here.

I am currently still residing at the guesthouse and am praying about where the Lord would have me live. I’ve been checking into moving into the staff/volunteer apartments, however, I am still awaiting a response from Watoto’s volunteer coordinator. However, this week my good friend, Barbara, recently moved into a house. She asked me if I would want to move in with her. It’s located close to where I’m currently staying so I’m familiar with the area and the house is brand new. Rent is also very reasonable. Please pray with me that this will work out. I’m supposed to look at it very soon. Please continue praying my work permit comes in soon so I’m able to get my Ugandan driver’s permit.

For the past two weeks I have been working in Bbira village. I’ve been doing some training and education with the mothers and the teachers there. I’ve been co-teaching with a Uganda who has assisted with the language barrier. Most of the mother’s speak English however. We are implementing a new process of reporting repairs in the mothers and teachers homes. We are offering them resources to empower them and show them they are valued and cared for. Due to the shortage in finances, repairs and improvements haven’t been made as timely as they should be, so we are striving to make the necessary improvements. We have implemented new reporting forms for the mothers and teachers in the villages where they can document themselves what items are broken and have been educating them on what all the components in the home are and what their function is. As I was driving away from the village one day last week, Richard (my co-teacher) was walking along the dirt road back into the village. He was carrying all 150 copies we had made of the forms. We made eye contact, a large smile stretched across his face, as he gave me a thumbs up that he had finished making the copies. It was just a small little gesture, but to me, it was as if the Lord was reminding me that He is using me to encourage Richard, to walk beside him and help him. He was so proud to be carrying those copies and I believe we both felt a sense of achievement and success. It was a neat moment! It’s been fun watching him lead the mother’s and answer questions.

Will write more soon! Much love!

5/23/11 Update!

Greetings! I pray this update finds you all doing well! As I write to you, I’m just finishing up what was quite an amazing weekend! The Lord is so amazing! I had the priviledge of heading out to Suubi Village Friday evening and spent the night with some wonderful Ugandan friends. I was welcomed with a large, friendly smile and open arms by an individual named Carol. I actually hadn’t met her before, but she is a teacher in the Watoto village there. She used to room with my friend Elizabeth that I got acquainted with two years ago. When I returned to the States after I visited Uganda the first time in 2009, Elizabeth and I remained in touch. Carol and I chatted for awhile until Elizabeth and Abby (her current roommate) returned from town. Then we all laughed together and had a great time. I spent the entire day with them last Saturday. We had a Ugandan breakfast and lunch. Later in the day, a guy named Patrick came, who is actually Elizabeth’s daughters father. I rode home with Patrick and two of Elizabeth’s sisters children. They were with me in the back seat. The littlest one I kept hugging on. He was so sweet. Then he got really tired and fell asleep on my arm, so I picked him up and sat him on my lap and held him. He laid his head on my chest and slept the entire way home. He was so precious. I was loving it. The thing that kept going through my mind is this: you see here you never know what these little ones have gone through or what they’ve seen. This nation has seen so much war and poverty. “Love them like Jesus” kept going through my mind and as I sat there holding this boys little head in my hand, I too experienced the love of Christ as I extended His love to this little one. It was such a precious moment. Also, at the same time as Patrick continued to drive me home we had a wonderful conversation about what it means to follow Christ. He considers himself to be a Catholic and began asking me about what it means to be born again. I could sense he was really searching and trying to understand how to be a follow of Christ. I basically shared the story of Jesus’ life with him, shared a few Scriptures that the Lord brought to mind, and asked him a few questions. He said he feels like he’s really close and that he understands what I was saying to him. He’s such a sincere guy. I was also able to share with him about Freedom in Christ and he was really interested in receiving the material. So I’m going to get him the books and try to burn the sermons off onto a CD. Please join me in praying for Patrick.

Sunday I was able to lead worship for three services at Watoto Church South. They were amazing services and the Holy Spirit’s presence was so strong.

In conclusion, overall, I’m really enjoying it here, but for whatever reason last week was a little more difficult. I feel interesting things and a lot of those thoughts and feelings I cannot exactly put into words in order to help others to understand. There are days (like last week) I’ve was missing the “comforts” and “familiarity” of home, which I haven’t before honestly. I’ve been really looking forward to being home again. Then other days, I feel this strength rise up within me that says, "I can do this, I can live here,” which I sense as the Lord’s encouragement and in His strength of course. It’s just so different here. I have a level of independence I’ve never had before on one hand, then on the other hand I can’t necessarily just get up and go anywhere and know where I’m going and have that level of independence that I had back home. But I’m learning my way around and with time. I was having to depend on a ride everywhere so I did a lot of waiting. Now, I’ve begun branching out and calling a bota to take me on what they call motorbikes here around in the city. They are 100CC miniature cruiser’s basically. They aren’t exactly the safest routes, but it’s a reminder of riding my bike at home with the wind running through your hair. Plus it’s a cheaper route to get around the city. That’s probably the thing I miss most is riding my bike with dad through the windy roads of the beautiful countryside. I sometimes miss the clean, clear air of the country. I haven’t learned the taxi system yet, so I call what they call a “special hire” to take me if I need a car, however, they are fairly expensive so I have to use them sparingly. However, a huge praise is that I will be buying a car very soon, a Honda CR-V. The next challenge will be navigating and learning my way around in chaos…ha in the midst of a very busy city. If any of you have been overseas you will understand what I’m talking about. It’s certainly an adventure…J. But I know that where the Lord sends me, He will provide the grace to keep me. I’m often reminded, “just trust Me.”

A lot of things are still up in the air in regard to housing, my current job position, ect… I don’t really ask a lot of questions and just trust that God will work those things out in due time. I’m really striving to be obedient and thankful and trust God with where I’m at in my current position still, and it’s honestly been a bit difficult as more time goes on in staying put in an office. Please pray with me about this as well.

Thank you so much again for all you prayers and support! I love you all! God bless!

5/7/11 Update!

5/7/11 Update:

Greetings to those I love! Again, it’s with much excitement that I write to you and attempt to put into words all the amazing things the Lord is doing in me and around me in the wonderful nation of Uganda! So this is my attempt to organize my thoughts and revelations from the Lord as best as I can. However, like anything with much growth sometimes comes much difficulty. One has to struggle through some things in order to realize what the Lord was trying to show them and teach them through the questions, struggles, trials, and difficulties. That’s really where I’ve been lately. I’ve persisted through a time of questioning and now I’m gaining answers from the Lord, mainly through mentors in my life. A few weeks ago I was really questioning and asking the Lord…Lord, what are my passions? What are my spiritual gifts? Because I wanted to know them so I could be sure I was utilizing them, operating in them, and using them in my mission here in Uganda. I’ve always had certain things I enjoyed, ministries I’ve been a part of, ect…but I still felt as if I was trying to discover what I was born to do. Recently, job wise it’s been a bit hard for me because sometimes I struggle to see the vision really as to where I’m going, the results I guess of my current position in maintenance. Honestly, I have no concept or understanding of maintenance and how it works. But at the same time, I’m so thankful to be here serving, at least within the bounds of what I know to do. I still feel like I don’t really know what I’m doing in my current position sometimes. So I just take it day by day, trusting Him with every step I make. But what I do know is that He’s definitely using me to make a difference and overall, I love it here. I’m forming all sorts of friendships. The Lord has been so good to me and I’m certainly not complaining, but was just feeling as if I wasn’t operating in my passion in what I’m currently doing in Watoto. I have had meetings and discussions with Brent, but I was just having difficulties being passionate about the work I’m currently doing. I felt like I was just kind of going from day to day, doing mundane tasks. In my mind I was thinking, I simply do not want to waste any time and sometimes I felt as if I was just wasting precious time, which were lies from the enemy by the way. However, the Lord has reminded me that I am making a difference. Even by me simply being here, offering my presence, and loving on the Ugandans. A mentor of mine pointed out how sometimes what may appear to be minimal, mundane tasks to us are huge in the eyes of the Lord. Because at times I may not “feel” as if I’m being productive or “doing” anything “huge” in the kingdom. But again…no kingdom work is insignificant and my “feelings” aren’t always reliable and do not reflect reality if they aren’t based on truth (Those of you who took Freedom in Christ at Selmore know exactly what I’m talking about). I see this current position as a stepping stone into whatever is to come so I’m just waiting on the Lord. This is the work He has for me now, so I will give it my best. My mentor also pointed out to me, that work is significant in and of itself because it is unto Him. I simply needed that simple reminder. Just yesterday one of the older gentlemen I work with, Tom, has really been struggling lately. He told me how much he appreciated the work I have been doing with all the sincerity he could muster. And I sensed the Lord reminding me again that, Charity, you making a difference. I need to heed this and not believe the lies of the enemy attempting to discourage me. Please pray with me in regard to this. I will just give you an overview again of what I’ve been doing, in hopes that helps paint a picture in your mind as to what my current position/work looks like.

When I first came, I spent about the first month and a half in the villages. Just meeting the house mothers and the children. Building trust with them, talking to them, spending time with them, offering them my presence, and loving them. I am that liason between them and the ministry. I began in Suubi village and then went into Bbira village. I took a notebook and went in every home, school, teacher apartment, medical clinic, laboratory, ect…and wrote down every item that was broken and in need of repair. For example: broken windows, furniture, beds, if the buildings needed patchwork done, interior paint, ect… So I did a full evaluation of all interior, exterior, and property of all Watoto homes and property. I did enjoy that because I was interacting with the people and building relationships. I met all the house mothers and most of the children in the homes. Each home has a mom and 8 children. So once I finished that, I typed up all the notes I had taken and organized written reports. Then once I finished the written reports on each village, I took all that written information and organized it into a spreadsheet, summarizing the items and then calculating the cost of all the repairs. That way we could tell very fast how many door locks we needed, ect…just by looking at the spreadsheet. I work with a guy named Tom. He does the practical maintenance work, the hands on, fixing aspect, while I do the paperwork side of things because I certainly have no clue how this or that fits together, much less how to fix it…ha. It’s just not the way my brain is wired. I’m much more interested in figuring out how people work, how they are wired, what makes them tick, how they think, ect… the mental/interactive side of things opposed to the practical/mechanical side of things. However, I have learned a lot and have kept an open mind and have been positive and obedient as to where He has me now. This position has allowed me the opportunity to meet and build relationships with the mothers and children in the villages and build trust with them and that is significant in and of itself. I was yet again reminded of my purpose for being here. I am here as an extension of the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. I’m here to do what Christ spent His entire life doing, loving, serving, and giving of Himself. To spend time with the Ugandans, to love them deeply and practically, to get into their lives deeply not merely superficially, to build into them, to pour of my life into them, to find out what’s important to them, what frustrates them, what they fear, what their achievements are, to find out how they think, what concerns them, and what their victories and triumphs are in life and bring Christ into all of that. As much as I desire to know and do the Lord’s will in my life, it’s always about Him! The Lord simply desires me to want His will and plan for my life. It’s His role to actually carry that out in my life. Phil 1: 6 says, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” When God begins a work of salvation in a person, He finishes and perfects or refines that work throughout the entirety of a believers life. It’s amazing to see this perfecting process unfold in my own life as I’m typing to you here and now.

Ever since the Lord called me to Himself, I’ve always had such a zeal, passion, and desire to find what I was made to do and handcrafed by God to do, my own special mission from the Lord, then to go after it with everything in me. Now I know it’s missions and interacting with people, but was still wrestling with ok Lord, I love people, now what do you desire me to do practically and specifically with them?

Again my precious mentor put it this way: “I climb into my hammock and rest while trusting in His abilities to perform His will. In other words resting in the fact that God is capable of bringing about His plan in my life.”

In conclusion, basically what I’ve been learning and my mentor put it best when she said, “it sounded like you are bogged in what I call "the someday complex", which, by the way, most of us Christians have been caught in one time or another. So you are in good company. The "someday complex" is when we think that what God "wants me to do" is "out there somewhere" and not here and now. Believe me, I have been bogged in it as well. The reality is our God is using EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY to achieve His purposes in us. Nothing is "wasted", absolutely nothing. While He is always building our lives towards "the next step", that "next step" can be huge in His estimation and very minimal in ours; in fact so minimal that we don't even see it as such. Sometimes, but only sometimes, and usually rarely, we can look back and see how different minimal things added up to the revelation of the "next step". It really is a lot like The Weaver poem -- "My life is but a weaving between the Lord and me, I cannot choose the colors. He works steadily. Oftentimes He weaves sorrow, and I in foolish pride, forget He see the upper and I the underside. Not til the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful hand, as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned." If there is a "BIG", Dear One, He is perfectly capable of revealing it to you. IN THE MEANTIME, do what is at hand and do it as unto Him. Visit the people and get into their lives, not superficially, but deeply. Talk to/with them about the Lord, their daily lives, what is important to them. BE THERE for them in every way the Lord opens to you and don't be surprised at the times of day these things occur or the mundaneness of the task. You are not there in a "job" in the American/western mindset sense of the word, you are there as the aroma of Christ, building, encouraging, doing for others. Get lost in that and you will soon find He is in every moment of your time there.”

“Remember, our God is much more into changing you into the likeness of His son, than He is into you "achieving" things.” For me this quote has totally changed my perspective. As I think about the ways I can already see the Lord has been changing me into the likeness of His Son, it’s definitely been learning about:

1. Sacrifice-what it means to leave everything behind

2. Obedience- even when it may not always make sense

3. Faith/dependence on the Lord-learning how to have more faith (relying on Him for things I never have before. For example: I had planned to meet a friend for the day, however, she was caught in traffic and we were planning to ride to church together so I was in need of a ride. So I prayed, “Lord, please provide me a ride to the church.” Literally 2 seconds later, the CEO of Watoto “happens” to drive by…ha! God provides even in the what may be considered silly “little” things.

4. Patience-not having the independence I use to in regard to just getting up and going anywhere and had a means to get there (car, bike, ect…) That’s very different here, being dependent on others for rides and such as I continue to get familiar with the transportation system in a large, foreign, city.

5. Flexibility-those of you who have served on the mission field and in the ministry…need I say more J

6. Selflessness-learning how to truly put others before myself. “Giving of self into other lives with no regard for cost to personal time, freedom, agenda, etc.”

7. Servanthood/Service- I’m here to serve (learning what true servanthood really looks like). Serving even when what you are doing maybe isn’t your passion or what you like to do. Serving anyway and keeping the main picture in perspective.

8. Maintaining a positive attitude. I met another missionary here and she said, “the one thing that makes an amazing missionary isn’t their skill set, but their attitude.”

9. Character

Thank you all so much for your continued support, encouragement, messages, prayers, love, and financial support! As you continue praying, please pray for the following:

1. That everyday I will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and carry out the tasks He has for me to do each day.

2. That I will continue to walk in His strength, in His light, and in His love. That He empowers me to love, serve, and give!

3. Peace within my current job position in Watoto and wisdom to carry out His will there

4. Wisdom and discernment in relationships here and knowledge as I continue to adjust and learn how to live on my own in a foreign country.

5. Strength in the difficulty it is sometimes in being away from my family and friends back home. It’s really an interesting place to be because sometimes it feels like the closer I get to individuals here, the further I feel from individuals back home. Pray for wisdom in balancing the two. Establishing a new life here, but yet maintaining communication back home.

6. Continued physical, mental, and emotional health here and safety.

7. Pray against any discouragement from the enemy and that I continue to walk in truth

8. The Ugandan people

Please pray for Kampala!

Just when I had thought the riots had calmed down, there were riots right outside the office today, tear gas being sprayed on the streets, roads are blocked. There is just a lot of political unrest. There is also a food shortage, so the cost of food has been raised causing riots. Continue praying for the entire nation of Uganda! 'If my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray, He promises to heal the land.' Thank you all!