Have you ever been walking along a path and then once you turn a corner, it's going in a totally different direction than you were previously going? That's sometimes what life is like, and currently that is what is happening in my life.
I was headed head-long into marrying Richard and being a missionary in Gulu, Uganda Africa for the rest of my life....
Then the turn in the road came and the Lord showed me "that's not exactly how it's gonna go"
So plans have drastically changed, and what can I do but trust that His ways are higher than my ways? He promised to lead me along the BEST pathway for my life, and I believe He is doing just that!
The wedding has been cancelled and Richard and I are no longer together. Also, I am not staying in Uganda but going back to the US to be with family and heal. This is important for me right now, and know it's right.
I am so thankful, though, that He has given me a different direction to go and I'm not just wandering in some wilderness, off the path altogether. He is calling me to go to the Forerunner School of Ministry (FSM) at IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City, MO. starting this fall. My sister is there in the music school, and we'll be able to live together, which is so exciting! And lately God is bringing friends (both new and old) that will be there as well :D He is so good.
The school will help me to get more grounded in the Word of God and further equipped for the next mission assignment He has for me, whether it be back in Uganda or in another country. I am still called to missions and this is just a new leg of the journey...
If you feel led to support me financially as I'll be at FSM, you can donate by clicking on the button in the right hand column or send a check to my home church made out to New Day Fellowship at
4977 Vann Rd. Newburgh, IN 47630
God bless you!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Wedding Prep
Apwoyo! (Pronounced "Ah-foy-yo," means "Hello" in Acholi)
I haven't been writing on here much lately, so I thought I'd share what I'm up to these days :D
I'm getting married!!!
Richard Kakanyero, the love of my life, and I are tying the knot in August in the US, and we cannot wait! We are so psyched!
This season is a challenging one because God has removed me from a lot of the ministry I was doing so that I can prepare mentally, emotionally and physically for our upcoming wedding, married life and ministry when we return to Gulu.
He has me learning a lot about self-sacrifice and being willing to do the mundane tasks of life in Africa (washing dishes, laundry, cooking etc) and not always looking for the adventurous ministry opportunity. I am learning that my family needs to be my first priority and major ministry before I can do any ministry outside the home. This is such a good thing for me!
There is a precious large white missionary family that moved into the big house on my compound, and they are a total God-send. They are the Riegers, and they have 7 children (6 are here in Uganda). They have come to teach marriage and parenting classes, and I am blessed to benefit from their many years of experience! They have adopted me as a daughter in their home and family, just like Mama and Baba did in the previous season of my life :D All I can say is Thank you Jesus!
My next-door neighbors, Will and Etta are also still a big part of Richard and my life as they are doing premarital counseling with us... so helpful to see our blindspots!
Another great thing about this season is that Richard and I are getting to spend a lot of time together:) We have submitted his visa and will be traveling to go to his visa interview in the next couple weeks. Pray for favor! We hope to be receiving the money for our plane tickets (God will provide) and flying mid-May after Richard gets his visa. If you'd like to help us get to America, you can donate through Paypal by clicking the button in the right-hand column.
So that's what's new! I'd love to hear from you when you have a free moment:0)
Grace and Peace from our Father
I haven't been writing on here much lately, so I thought I'd share what I'm up to these days :D
I'm getting married!!!
Richard Kakanyero, the love of my life, and I are tying the knot in August in the US, and we cannot wait! We are so psyched!
This season is a challenging one because God has removed me from a lot of the ministry I was doing so that I can prepare mentally, emotionally and physically for our upcoming wedding, married life and ministry when we return to Gulu.
He has me learning a lot about self-sacrifice and being willing to do the mundane tasks of life in Africa (washing dishes, laundry, cooking etc) and not always looking for the adventurous ministry opportunity. I am learning that my family needs to be my first priority and major ministry before I can do any ministry outside the home. This is such a good thing for me!
There is a precious large white missionary family that moved into the big house on my compound, and they are a total God-send. They are the Riegers, and they have 7 children (6 are here in Uganda). They have come to teach marriage and parenting classes, and I am blessed to benefit from their many years of experience! They have adopted me as a daughter in their home and family, just like Mama and Baba did in the previous season of my life :D All I can say is Thank you Jesus!
My next-door neighbors, Will and Etta are also still a big part of Richard and my life as they are doing premarital counseling with us... so helpful to see our blindspots!
Another great thing about this season is that Richard and I are getting to spend a lot of time together:) We have submitted his visa and will be traveling to go to his visa interview in the next couple weeks. Pray for favor! We hope to be receiving the money for our plane tickets (God will provide) and flying mid-May after Richard gets his visa. If you'd like to help us get to America, you can donate through Paypal by clicking the button in the right-hand column.
So that's what's new! I'd love to hear from you when you have a free moment:0)
Grace and Peace from our Father
Trip to Sudan
So I had to make a trip out of the country recently in order to purchase another visa to remain in Uganda. I wanted to make it as quick of a trip as possible (due to lack of funds), so I took a bus to the Sudanese border.
Oh, was it an adventure...
First, the bus got stuck behind a semi that fell into a hole and was immovable off the road. Several men had to dig out the side of the road with pick axes which took an hour or so. I got out of the bus while it was attempting to squeeze by the semi on VERY slippery muddy ground, and I'm so glad I did! I watched in horror with a few other women as the bus hit the semi, slid every which way on the road, even moving horizontally at times and almost tipping over, but it made it through safely somehow, and our journey, albeit delyed... continued.
When we reached immigration at the Ugandan border, I asked an official if he could renew my visa. He had me wait until everyone else went through and then still denied me a visa. Instead he stamped my passport with exit for Uganda and told me to go to the Sudanese border. Which would have been fine, except while I was waiting, the bus left without me unknowingly!
So here I am by myself on the border of Uganda trying to find a way to travel the half hour to Sudan... I called a friend of a friend who works up in Sudan, and praise the Lord he came to pick me up and take me to Sudan! He was definately a God-send because he knows all the officials, and it was very easy from that point on to enter and exit Sudan and come back to the Ugandan border to purchase a new visa.
Mission accomplished after a lot of prayer!
Next task was to get back to Gulu. All the buses had already gone through for the day and no more were coming. I resigned to waiting a couple hours for a taxi to come, but because of the favor of God, one of the officials got me a ride with an NGO truck going to Gulu with three men. This was a divine appointment because once when we were stuck in the road (again!), I got the chance to share the gospel with one of the men and pray over him for the healing of his ulcers! He had no clue what it meant to be "born again" so it was an amazing seed planted! All glory to God.
Also on this trip I was able to show the love of Jesus to a precious Muslim couple who owned a restaurant at the Ugandan border. The man said he might come to visit my church!
All in all, I knew God had great things planned when my own plans fell apart... isn't that the way He always works? His way are certainly higher than our ways!
Oh, was it an adventure...
First, the bus got stuck behind a semi that fell into a hole and was immovable off the road. Several men had to dig out the side of the road with pick axes which took an hour or so. I got out of the bus while it was attempting to squeeze by the semi on VERY slippery muddy ground, and I'm so glad I did! I watched in horror with a few other women as the bus hit the semi, slid every which way on the road, even moving horizontally at times and almost tipping over, but it made it through safely somehow, and our journey, albeit delyed... continued.
When we reached immigration at the Ugandan border, I asked an official if he could renew my visa. He had me wait until everyone else went through and then still denied me a visa. Instead he stamped my passport with exit for Uganda and told me to go to the Sudanese border. Which would have been fine, except while I was waiting, the bus left without me unknowingly!
So here I am by myself on the border of Uganda trying to find a way to travel the half hour to Sudan... I called a friend of a friend who works up in Sudan, and praise the Lord he came to pick me up and take me to Sudan! He was definately a God-send because he knows all the officials, and it was very easy from that point on to enter and exit Sudan and come back to the Ugandan border to purchase a new visa.
Mission accomplished after a lot of prayer!
Next task was to get back to Gulu. All the buses had already gone through for the day and no more were coming. I resigned to waiting a couple hours for a taxi to come, but because of the favor of God, one of the officials got me a ride with an NGO truck going to Gulu with three men. This was a divine appointment because once when we were stuck in the road (again!), I got the chance to share the gospel with one of the men and pray over him for the healing of his ulcers! He had no clue what it meant to be "born again" so it was an amazing seed planted! All glory to God.
Also on this trip I was able to show the love of Jesus to a precious Muslim couple who owned a restaurant at the Ugandan border. The man said he might come to visit my church!
All in all, I knew God had great things planned when my own plans fell apart... isn't that the way He always works? His way are certainly higher than our ways!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Pruning
Imagine you are a tree.
You see yourself as a strong tree that is is is rooted deeply and bearing good fruit...
But then the Gardener comes and prunes many of your branches
Snip snip, here... snip snip there...
He begins to reveal who you really are inside, in the wickedness of your own heart. He starts to expose the pride of thinking you were "perfect" and holy. He allows circumstances to come to bring to the surface all those character flaws that need to go so you can be pure and holy... like Your God
You feel like saying "stop cutting me down already! I won't produce any fruit this way!"
But the Gardner knows best, and you trust the Gardener's love and care for you as His beautiful tree.
You may not feel like you are producing abundant fruit now... but just wait... If you will be faithful and humble enough to allow the Gardener to remove all that is not good in you, you will one day be bearing fruit every season and your leaves will be for healing the nations!
And it might happen faster than you expect... Stand still and let the Gardener cut you... it will be painful I can guarantee it, but the reward is worth the little and temporary pain now.
You will stand tall and be a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor, and countless people will be blessed through you.
Trust the Gardener... He is never wrong. Don't fight the process... it will delay and complicate matters if you do. Don't give up... He knows how much you can handle.
You see yourself as a strong tree that is is is rooted deeply and bearing good fruit...
But then the Gardener comes and prunes many of your branches
Snip snip, here... snip snip there...
He begins to reveal who you really are inside, in the wickedness of your own heart. He starts to expose the pride of thinking you were "perfect" and holy. He allows circumstances to come to bring to the surface all those character flaws that need to go so you can be pure and holy... like Your God
You feel like saying "stop cutting me down already! I won't produce any fruit this way!"
But the Gardner knows best, and you trust the Gardener's love and care for you as His beautiful tree.
You may not feel like you are producing abundant fruit now... but just wait... If you will be faithful and humble enough to allow the Gardener to remove all that is not good in you, you will one day be bearing fruit every season and your leaves will be for healing the nations!
And it might happen faster than you expect... Stand still and let the Gardener cut you... it will be painful I can guarantee it, but the reward is worth the little and temporary pain now.
You will stand tall and be a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor, and countless people will be blessed through you.
Trust the Gardener... He is never wrong. Don't fight the process... it will delay and complicate matters if you do. Don't give up... He knows how much you can handle.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Visiting Another Village!
This time it was my friend Tracy's village called "Alero Mulago" It was similar to other village visits I've taken except I learned new things about how to prepare Acholi food :-) The processes they go through just for a meal is astounding!
They let me do all the things they do. First up was beating the beans with a big, log-like stick so the 
shells would come off each one of them. Hard work! (picture on right)
shells would come off each one of them. Hard work! (picture on right)Then they gather the beans into a bowl-like container and pour them in such a way that the left-over shell casings blow away and only the beans remain in the basin. (picture below). This'll take some practice on my part if I ever want to be able to do it successfully. Tracy's uncle had to help me. LOL
Along with cutting off the head of a chicken (yay for me not freaking out this time!), I had the chance to grind food for my first time on this man-made contraption (picture below). They built it right into the ground (like they do their stoves) and use the rocks seen here to grind g-nut, sim-sim, millet or a combo of the three! I got to kneel down and try it, and I was sweating like crazy and not getting anywhere! I'm tellin ya it takes skill :) 
I had a nice time with the family talking, learning Acholi, and eating. It wasn't yet time for harvesting (they were going to start the week after I was there), but I realized I might enjoy "digging" in the future. Maybe I'll live in the village and become a pro at all these things! Only God knows. It was fun to learn, though. And since you can't be here with me, hopefully this blog has helped you learn a little too:) Lubanga Ometigum ("God bless you" in Acholi)Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Help Send My Spiritual Family on a Vacation!
I know we are the Body of Christ, so I want to let you know about a need that one of your fellow members has. The missionary pastors that I am working with (Ron and Joy Muinde) are in desperate need of some R & R after having served in ministry non-stop for 4 years. They are believing God that the whole family (them plus their three kids) will be able to go to Kenya next month. Of course, it is very expensive to do this; it looks impossible in the natural realm, but what is impossible with man is possible with God! You may not know them, but believe me when I tell you that these people are the real deal! They love Jesus with everything within them and are constantly willing to lay down their lives for the kingdom to be advanced. I love them like my own parents and know that God will provide all they need so that they will not burn out but will continue being vessels of transformation through the Holy Spirit.
I am asking you to pray about whether God is calling you to give financially to this cause for the sake of Christ. We cannot travel this road alone; we all need each other. They need you, so please... if you feel led to help, click on the donate button on this page, and I will be sure that they get all the money. When you give, you are giving to Jesus and He will pour out a blessing so great you will not have enough room to contain it! Please also join me in praying that God will do a miracle and provide all the money they need to go and the perfect timing.
Asante Sana! (Thank you very much)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
From Death Comes Life
Hello All!
So much has been happening in my life lately!
Prayer and death
"Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it produces much fruit" (John 12:24)
I went to a mountain... to die. Die to my desires, my dreams, my rights, my way
Has God ever sent you somewhere to die? It's scary at first, but God met me in a powerful way, speaking reams of revelation! He answered all my questions I'd been asking Him and brought healing to my heart :D He graciously gave me a greater passion for prayer, and the Word became my Rock.
It wasn't easy... not in the least... but it was so worth it! The fruit that He promised is coming... From death comes...
LIFE!
The Holy Spirit fell on me this past Sunday, and I was wrecked by God for the whole service, on the floor convulsing, drunk in the Spirit with laughter, receiving a boldness and freedom I have never known before! I feel like a bomb has been deposited in my belly and it's always on the verge of exploding!!
I know this impartation is not just for me to enjoy; it's for all those whom I will minister to. In the Swahili fellowship today, me and a Congolese lady who was also radically touched by God at the same time as me, layed hands on all our brothers and sisters, and God came down in transforming POWER!! Ladies were delivered of demonic bondages and people healed of their sicknesses. Prophetic messages were delivered and hearts encouraged... Heaven coming to earth, Ahhhh... so sweet :D
And this is just the beginning! I have prayed for this season for so very long... REVIVAL is on its way!
ALL GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
So much has been happening in my life lately!
Prayer and death
"Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it produces much fruit" (John 12:24)
I went to a mountain... to die. Die to my desires, my dreams, my rights, my way
Has God ever sent you somewhere to die? It's scary at first, but God met me in a powerful way, speaking reams of revelation! He answered all my questions I'd been asking Him and brought healing to my heart :D He graciously gave me a greater passion for prayer, and the Word became my Rock.
It wasn't easy... not in the least... but it was so worth it! The fruit that He promised is coming... From death comes...
LIFE!
The Holy Spirit fell on me this past Sunday, and I was wrecked by God for the whole service, on the floor convulsing, drunk in the Spirit with laughter, receiving a boldness and freedom I have never known before! I feel like a bomb has been deposited in my belly and it's always on the verge of exploding!!
I know this impartation is not just for me to enjoy; it's for all those whom I will minister to. In the Swahili fellowship today, me and a Congolese lady who was also radically touched by God at the same time as me, layed hands on all our brothers and sisters, and God came down in transforming POWER!! Ladies were delivered of demonic bondages and people healed of their sicknesses. Prophetic messages were delivered and hearts encouraged... Heaven coming to earth, Ahhhh... so sweet :D
And this is just the beginning! I have prayed for this season for so very long... REVIVAL is on its way!
ALL GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
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