And then there was Sulli...

Hey All!!! I am sippin some sweeet tea here in the busy city of Kampala and thought I'd write and tell you about my new 'brother'. I am sure some of you are wondering how one acquires a new sibling while living in a foreign country...but then again maybe not because most of you know how the Thornton family rolls - really if you know my family pretty well you know that we have knack for acquiring people....That's what we do....It sort of defines us :) HAHAHA Nway, recently my fam connected with one of Cory's Corp buddies and well to make a long story - they adopted him as a son. Not a 'legit' adoption :) but something I definitely want to get on board with so to speak. Most of you in Y-town have probably already met Sulli but the 'new' brother idea has just reached me here in UG and I am totally 'down' with having another sibling!!!! Here's the little I know about Sulli so far - He's tight with Cory,He's a fighter, He's country (from Texas but we aren't loving him any less for that - especially since I just wrote my last blog on that very subject :) , He eats a lot, He swims, Calls Mom - Momma , He took over my bathroom at home and Saturday changed the oil in Lahonda...so to sum this all up I have decided to get on the bandwagon and join my family. I too have adopted him as part of us :) Welcome to the fam Sulli! Consider that your official shoutout from your sister in Africa! And you probably don't have access to this blog but but just so you are aware one of the 'requirements' for being a sister to Jena is that you MUST let me pinch your muscles!!! JK

So now I am getting a little carried away -Back to the real reason for writing this....My NEW Marine Brother is on his way to Iraq TODAY!!! That's right ladies and gentlemen you read that right :( I know that a lot of stuff is happening in our country right now and I know I don't have power to decide who stays on the home front or who goes overseas... but I can choose to PRAY. I could also choose to pout and get all emotionally and stuff - but what good would that do...SERIOUSLY.. That is not a good thing for a sister of NOW TWO MARINES to do. 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger right???' So 'in light' of Sulli leavin and Cory's soon departure just around the corner - I found the following story quite meaningful during my devo.

" In World War II, Ernest Gordon was a British captive in a Japanese prison camp by the River Kwai in Burma, where the POWs were forced to build a 'railroad of death' for transporting Japanese troops to the battlefront. They were tortured, starved, and worked to the point of exhaustion. Nearly 16,000 died. Gordon survived the horrors of that experience and wrote about it in a monumental work, Through the Valley of the Kwai, published in 1962...He describes one occasion when, at the end of a work day, the tools were being counted before the prisoners returned to their quarters. A guard declared that a shovel was missing. He began to rant and rave, demanding to know which prisoner had stolen it. Working himself into a paranoid fury, he ordered whoever was guilty to step forward and take his punishment.

No one did. 'All die!' the guard shrieked . 'All die!' He cocked his rifle and aimed at the prisoners. At that moment, one man stepped forward. Standing at attention he calmly declared, 'I did it.'

The Japanese guard at once clubbed the prisoner to death. As his friends carried away his lifeless body, the shovels in the tool shed were recounted - only to reveal that there was no missing shovel.

Unlike the situation of those prisoners staring into the cocked and loaded gun of a deranged guard, you and I do not face death from a fellow sinner. What we face is the righteous threat of furious wrath from a holy God. That is the threat faced by all who have gone astray, by each one who has turned to his own way. In our case, the shovel is missing; there is in fact a great deal more that's missing. We are indeed guilty of sin and deserving punishment... But the innocent One - stepped forward to die for the rest of us......."

Cross Centered Life By: C J Mahaney

If my memory serves me right I think the USMC motto - is God, Country, Corp....I am not really sure if my new bro has those things in order in his life or not - I can assume he has the Country and Corp part under control -but as far as God - I don't exactly know his thoughts about the one who hung the stars in the sky. So join me in prayer for Sulli not only for his safety but also that Christ would speak to his heart. That he would know what or whom rather he is standing for if he indeed does face a "All die" moment in Iraq.

THANK U FOR READIN AND PRAYIN AS ALWAYS X

Aslan Gave

Late last night I was having a little heart to heart convo with one of my fellow team -mates.. I don't want to go into much detail...but we both did alot of listening to each other and watching each others tears fall. Sarah and I basically discussed why we were here - to put it in the most simplistic terms - WE ARE HERE TO LOVE PEOPLE AS CHRIST LOVED US!! Now, that truth is definitely easier said then done - and trying to not let yourself be vulnerable to your emotions- knowing when to hold back and when to give in .. - This has definitely been a battle for me in knowing how to balance the relationships I have made here in UG. How much is tooo much to offer of one-self ??? And I as I prepare to leave this place knowing how to withdraw myself from the people my heart as grown so very attached too. As I with Sarah - fighting back tears....I came to the realization that her heart was like mine - I saw in her the same passion for the people of Uganda that I have. It was a moment that will be fixed in my memory for sometime. It was neat to have someone apart from the Lion actually know my heart. She too has truly connected with these precious people. Its a mutual feeling that not all can share....but I am grateful to Jesus we have that common bond. I guess it erks my spirit sometimes when I hear stories of missionaries who have been on the field for 20 plus years and yet still have yet to grasp the concept of Christ's love. Some think its best to sit indoors all day and just pray for the lost and suffering...Others (busy) themselves with excessive bible studying - ministry - or seminary classes. Then there is also the missionary tourist - who is all about his/her high techno camera and visiting all cool vaca spots because their children may never be able to see those places ever again....Don't get me wrong its not a sin to study the word or take family vacations - Trust me - I definitely don't have this missionary business all figured out...I must admit Jena Louise Tager has made mistakes with relating to people on the field. From the short two years I have been in Uganda - here's what I have learned about ministry: Life is all GIVING OF ONE SELF for another (To the suprise of many its not all about JENA :)

"Near the end of C.S. Lewis's The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the children Lucy and Susan are on the Hill of the Stone Table on a moonlit night. From a distance they watch tearfully as Aslan the lion submits to torment from the White Witch and her rabble monsters - who are there because of the treachery of the girls' brother Edmund. He is bound, shorn of his golden mane, muzzled...then tied to the table and killed. After these vile creatures have gone, the two sisters creep out of their hiding place to approach the table. They spend the rest of that night weeping over Aslan's body.

When dawn comes and the girls are shivering in the early morning coolness, they turn from the table to try and warm themselves by walking. As they watch the sky turn red and gold from the sunrise, they hear behind them ' a great cracking, deafening noise.' They hurry back, and are overcome with yet more grief at what they see: The Stone Table was broken into two pieces by a great crack that ran down it from end to end: and there was no Aslan.

Suddenly their cries and questions are interrupted by 'a great voice behind their backs.' They looked around. There, shining in the sunrise, larger then they had seen before, shaking his mane...stood Aslan himself.

Susan tries to ask him if he's a ghost. Aslan stooped his golden head and licked her forehead. The warmth of his breath and a rich sort of smell that seemed to hang about his hair came all over him. 'Do I look it?' he said.

Finally, after both girls have ' flung themselves upon him and covered him with kisses, ' Susan asks....'But what does it all mean????' "
The Cross Centered Life By : C J Mahaney

Chewin

" The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us." John Stott

FACES

"Everybody smiles in the same language. And for that, I am so grateful." Jena Lee

Kobusinge

Hey!!!!! Sooo - I maybe a little slow but it just dawned on me that my term here in UG is almost coming to a close...May is just around the corner. I can't believe its already March. CRAZINESS!!! Nways, I am amazed at how great my God is and I can't even begin to describe all the wonderful things HE has done in my life here in Africa. One thing that he has been teaching me lately is about peace. Kobusinge was a nickname I was given when I use to do homevisits. The name in Ruyankore means that 'peace is with you'. Its quite humbling to think that when someone looks at you they see peace. Its even more humbling to think about when you replace that with 'Jesus (himself) is with you'. Hmmm - Can't say I always live up to that one...I think of Bean, Angel Bunny, Baby Duck, Ms. Stephanies Fav, and the other random nicknames I have been given over the years - and though they are fun and mean much to me - they dont really have any spiritual significance. I mean don't get me wrong I can most of the time live up to Bean :) ...but Kobusinge is who I should strive to be. When people (whether white, brown, yellow, or red) look at me I hope they see the Prince of Peace. Peace himself gave me the above sunrise over the water setting to forever hold in my mind when I think of this place...and he also gave me this passage last night when my brain couldn't shut off. Proverbs 3:21- 26 'My child, hold on to wisdom and reason. Don't let them out of your sight! They will give you life. Like a necklace, they will beautify your life. - Then you will go on your way in safety. - And you will not get hurt - You won't need to be afriad when you lie down. - When you lie down, your sleep will be peaceful. You won't be afraid of trouble coming suddenly. You won't need to fear the ruin that comes to the wicked. The Lord will keep you safe. He will keep you from being trapped.'