Stormin'

I know storms are a 'brewin' back home right now ...and rainy season has officially started here in Mbarara...In fact to be honest with you God is stirring within me a spirit of broken-ness. The following poem kind of describes how I feel at this time.

"In my eyes, I imagine that my soul is an ocean where I am tossed by the raging storms of life. Emotions run through my being and all of a sudden I am sailing far beyond the existence of anything and everything. The shore is distant in my view and in light of all reality, it seems impossible to reach. As a sailor battles to stay afloat during a storm, I too, fight, not to stay afloat, but to stay focused on solid rock close to the shoreline, in hopes that I may soon walk again on dry ground." BY :BAC

Change Are You Serious???

Quite frankly -every since I was a small child -I've hated the word 'change' ...it meant something had to be different whether it was something small like a piece of furniture being moved to the other side of the room or a wall being knocked down (which happens often in my house purposefully - LOVE U MOM) or something major relating directly to Jena - like for example a failed relationship or something in my character that needed adjusting. But anyway, I was recently accused of having a 'stub - born' ;) streak. Yeah, believe it or not this girl can get feisty...and sometimes unfortunately if I am not careful it sneaks up in me and out of me. YIKES!!! So as I am now 24 years young :) ...you would think that I would have this change thing down pat...at least a little. But no -ugh ! God is reminding me that I am 'a work in progress' I am glad he sees the end - the finished project - because sometimes I wonder if it would be easier if he just toook me out. (took out meaning like with a gun - gosh the brother influence popping up here) Nways, after all my babble Enoch (our new pastor here and my good friend) reminded me today that we are called to change.

Genesis 12:1-9 'Then the Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives and your father's family. Go to the land I will show you. I will make a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make you famous. And you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you. I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you." 'So Abram LEFT Haran as the Lord had told him. And Lot went with him. At this time Abram was 75 YEARS OLD. Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and everything they owned. They took all the servants they had gotten in Haran. They set out from Haran, planning to go to the land of Canaan. In time they arrived there. Abram traveled through that land. He went as far as the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. The Canaanites were living in the land at that time. The Lord appeared to Abram. The Lord said, "I will give this land to your descendants." So Abram built an altar there to the Lord,who appeared to him. Then Abram traveled from Shechem to the mountain east of Bethel. And he set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. There Abram built another altar to the Lord and worshiped him. After this, he traveled on toward southern Canaan.'

Also read Eph. 2:1-10 & Romans 12:1-2

This man Abram LEFT - he was 75 and yet God was telling him to CHANGE DO SOMETHING/BE SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT. Guess if a old man can change a 24 year old girl has no right to shake her finger at God - and say "ARE YOU FOR-REAL??? " ....Plus he can snap my finger in half if he wants....Just a thought

Clinic with Maddie and Mom

Hey All! Sorry to leave you without an update for a very long time. ( I especially want to apologize to Amie Sexton ...who was probably about to get an ulcer from worrying about me here in Uganda...LOVE U MEAN IT!!) Nways, Wanted to share a 'few' pictures from the clinic...since I have yet to do that - and my stepmom was quite a blessing to have around because I always forget to take my camera to the clinic. Thanks Katie! Now that is out of the way...Alot of you have been wondering what it is I do in the Clinic so here it goes. Most clinic days (which are Mon,Tues, Fri) for me start around 9:00 am. The different days are broken into different age catogories...like for example infants come every Tuesday. The patients enter a small room and their patient 'paper' is laid on a table. Each 'paper' contains a pt identification number. One person looks for the pt's chart( like a file folder with a binder) in a filing cabinent and then when located inserts the 'paper' into the chart. Next the patient's name is read aloud and one by one the patient's are weighed and measured. After these vitals are obtained the patients are separated into two groups (or more depending on how many doctors are available to see children) The children then enter a hallway where they wait for their name to be called by the doctor. After seeing the doctor - the patient will hand me their 'paper' which contains the prescription hand-written by the doctor. I take the 'paper' and record every detail about the patient into a record book. I then package and instruct the patient how to take the drug(s). The patient receives general medication from me (ie: multivitamins,septrine, cough syrup...etc) before going down to the pharmacist to receive treatment for HIV.

What I like most about this job...is the interaction I have with these hurting children. To see them run up to me and hug me or just to stroke my arm because white skin is so uncommon to them. I also enjoy establishing relationships with my fellow employees and learning about culture from them. These people have touched my lives in so many ways. I thank Jesus that he has given me the privilege to work with them.

I want to not only thank my Savior but also my family! My step-mom and sister that you see pictured recently came to visit me here in Mbarara. It was a HUGE BLESSING to have them work alongside of me and 'walk in my shoes'. I appreciate the effort they took to travel so far away to a land so unlike their own...just because they love me that much.

Thank you Mom and Maddie! These people will never forget your generosity and I am not one to ever forget your love! YOU GUYS ROCK MY WORLD!!! MMMMMMWAH

For The Warriors

I AM BACK IN AFRICA!! Just wanted to let the faithful prayer warriors know...if you haven't already spoken to my mother via the telly. I am currently in Kenya for a conference but promise to write more when back to Mbarara. LOVE U ALL AND MISS U GUYS ALREADY