Routine

Back in the village with my girl, Winnie!
(and her new dress!)

The reason I haven't been writing much about our weekly projects recently is because they've been the same for about a month and a half. This week wasn't different either. I think it's safe to say we've got a routine down. While routine isn't really a bad thing, it scares me! Any time I realize that I've settled into a routine, there's a little warning light that goes off in my mind, like God saying, "Emily! In your routine in everyday activities, don't let our relationship and My Presence become just 'routine.' Don't let the things you see and experience become something you dismiss as normal because you've seen them so much - the children and adults begging on the side of the road, the 10 year old caring for 3 younger siblings, the family that struggles to find meals each day - don't let your heart be calloused to these things because of repetition and routine."

Yeah, I know. She's just too cute!!

My family used to go to Colorado for vacation every summer. We would set up camp on some friends' land and drive all around the mountains. I loved it there!! The Rocky Mountains were some of the most beautiful and majestic things I'd ever seen. Everything about them - the smell of the pine trees, the sound of the little creek in our campsite, and the fresh, cool air in the mornings - all of it amazed me and put me in awe of who God is. However, when people ask me if I'd ever want to live there, I have to think twice. Why? Because I absolutely dread the day that I look up at those mountains and they seem normal, commonplace. That's exactly what I'm talking about in my relationship with God. I don't want to sit in God's presence, meet with Him, dwell in Him, and not be in awe of who He is. How many times have we heard familiar scriptures about Him, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life," and "The LORD is good; His love endures forever." I'll bet half of you just skimmed over those verses, right? You've heard them so much, you know them. But God wants us to know them!! He wants us to know Him, and obviously, He is not commonplace.

Grace & I

When we get into a routine of how we spend time with God, we run a risk of "forgetting" who God really is. Routine isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's good to have time set aside just to focus on Him and be in His Presence - but when it becomes more about the time, more about getting your study done, more about checking everything off your prayer list than it is about sitting and dwelling in the Presence of the King of Kings, Loving God, Righteous Judge, and Only Savior.... That’s when we have a problem. We cannot let routine overshadow the reason we made the routine in the first place – to know Him more.

Shakira and I

In the same way, I can’t allow routine to lessen my compassion for the hurting people I see all around me. You know, personally, I think routine is one of Satan’s biggest attacks on us – because when we get comfortable with everything, that’s when we don’t “feel” like we need a God. I want to remain uncomfortable in this world. Comfort is waiting for me in Heaven, but here, I want to be uncomfortable, out of routine, dependent on Him, so that I will never turn away from Him and try to do it on my own, so that I will always be in awe of Him.

Safari. Peace.

Yes. This blog in particular is most likely going to be overloaded with pictures. No. The pictures don't do it justice.... but I'll share them anyways!!

Last weekend one of the other girls and I had the amazing opportunity to go on a 3 day safari! I was a little leery about going at first. It was a weekend away from the house - preventing me from getting my laundry done and, of course, I had to draw more money out of my savings account - but it was SO worth it! We left for Murchison Falls National Park on Saturday morning with our driver and our guide. It's quite a long drive (6 hours!), and on the way, I fell asleep. When I woke up, I almost had a heart attack; we were driving on a road that didn't have any shops, people, or vehicles on the side - I was finally back in the country!!! It was an absolutely amazing feeling! (I hadn't realized how much I missed being out in the middle of nowhere! aka: Soldier, Kansas!). From that point on, there was a beautiful peace that just flooded into my heart and soul. Through the course of our safari, we went on two game drives (pretty much driving around the park, sitting on top of the van and looking for animals), a boat tour on the Victoria Nile (where we were able to see the bottom of Murchison Falls), and we also drove up to the top of Murchison Falls. Mixed in with all of those activities there were some delicious meals, watching sunrise/sunsets, 2 great nights of sleep, a run!!! (on my part), and some amazing quiet times with the King of Kings.

Being surrounded by God's creation is one of the ways I'm really able to connect with Him. As I was on safari I saw giraffes, elephants, a lion, wart hogs, monkeys, baboons, water buffalo, Ugandan Cobs (like antelope), Oribi (like miniature antelope!), hippos, birds, amazing flowers, trees and plants, the beautiful Victoria Nile, and the powerful force of Murchison Falls. I was simply in awe of His creation. Everything I saw, it was as if He was whispering in my ear, "I breathed that into life. I formed it with my own hand; I created it. It speaks of Me." It just reminded me of where His word says, "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth...For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm." (Psalm 33:6,9). And also, in the story of Creation, it says over an over again, "And God saw that it was good." If I'm so amazed by what I see now, after sin has entered the world, I absolutely cannot WAIT to see the world when Christ comes back and reveals the new Heaven and Earth!!

As I said earlier, the peace of God was overflowing on safari. When I came back to Kampala, however, I was overwhelmed with all the people, noises, and smells - I thought that peace had escaped me. Luckily, God set me straight! He's taught me that peace comes from Him alone - not a "peaceful place." Peace comes from resting in Him, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7). This is SO hard for me!! I want to hold onto all of my struggles, worries, and anxieties, but God calls me to lay them before Him - and leave them there. It's not as if I can bring it before Him and then after my prayer, take it back. No! I have to bring it before Him, say, "Okay, Father. It's in Your mighty hands now. I trust you," and walk away. Since we're on a sort of safari theme, I'll relate it to the Lion King. You lay it before the King, and then you can say to yourself, "Hakuna Matata!" No worries! Only when we rest in Him do we truly have peace - peace that transcends ALL understanding!!

Ugandan Cob

Riding on top of the van!

Katie & I at the bottom of Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls

The Victoria Nile

Blessings!

Remember. Learn. Grow.

After our water fight!!

The boys were a bit cold afterwards! 

Alright. Before we get into the "deep stuff," I'd like to give you a run down of the week. Okay, actually, how about a run down of the highlights of this week? On Saturday, we were invited to a Scripture Union "Handover Party" (when new students are placed in leadership roles in the Scripture Union of a school). It was a blessing to go and fellowship with the high school students and make a small presentation to them. Of course, Sunday was great as always. Tuesday was Uganda's Independence Day, and it actually marked 50 years of independence, making it their Jubilee! In light of the occasion, everyone at Empower A Child had the day off. It was a blast! The girls and I had American food for every meal (yes, that's how we decided to celebrate Uganda! haha). I was also super blessed by a water balloon fight with two of the other girls and the neighborhood kids; they're SO fun! On Wednesday we were able to go to a secondary school, City Side High School, and pray for the students who were preparing to take their National Exams. Thursday I was able to teach my class at Victory again, and today (Friday), I was able to go and just play some games with my class at New Brainstorm Primary School. So, yes, a very busy week, but good overall.

Now, something I feel like God has been laying on my heart this week is remembering what He has done, honoring Him for that, learning from it, and using that knowledge to grow in our relationship with Him and grow the Kingdom. So many times in the Bible the authors remind us of what God has done in the past. In Psalms it seems like the writer always points out God's deeds:

 "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." 

(Psalm 73:28)

Eating out at "I Feel Like Chicken Tonight..."
(Yep... a pretty brilliant name for a restaurant!)

"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears." 

(Psalm 18:6)

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy..." 

(Psalm 30:11)

Remembering what God has done in our lives is huge, as well as remembering what He did in the lives of people in the past. That's why the stories in both the Old Testament and New Testament are told over and over again. Through them and seeing what He's done in our lives, we can see His characteristics lived out; we can learn of His faithfulness, love, mercy, power, justice, and grace. Through remembering what He has done, we learn. Through learning who He truly is, we grow in our relationship with Him, and we are given the ability to grow the Kingdom of God. 

My Sunday School Class in Zirobwe! 

It's one thing to be able to remember, learn, and grow from something awesome God has done in your life. You know what I'm talking about - those spiritual highs that you get at camp or when life seems great. But when you can remember a struggle, a dark period of your life, and look at it as something you learned and grew from - that puts a whole new level of depth in your spiritual walk. I love the way Psalm 71 puts it, "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more." He also says in Isaiah 48:10, "See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." In that we can find hope: when you're going through the "furnace of affliction," take heart! God desires for you to learn through it. He wants to grow you, and the fact that He's allowed for this struggle in your life just goes to show that God's preparing you for a new level of intimacy with Him and new growth in you and His Kingdom. 

I'd like to issue you a challenge this week: take some time to simply write down what God has done for you. You can pick a time frame of your life to look at (I chose from the time my current journal started and easily had over a page full). Look at the things He's done for you through both the good and bad times in your life, the things He's taught you that brought a new outlook into your day to day life, how He's provided, answered prayers, and remained faithful. Don't allow yourself to forget all that He's done for you. Remember, learn, and grow! 

Blessings! 

Worship. True Worship.

We were in Kampala once again this week doing pretty much the same programs we've been doing for the last few weeks. That includes (in one breath), the babies' home, Victory Primary School feeding program and teaching, three different high school scripture unions, the children's hospital, and Brainstorm Primary School program and English lesson. One of our primary school programs got cancelled on Wednesday due to rain, but it was still a pretty full week! Now, some of the top moments this week:
           -Sunday School (of course!!)

Bryan and I have a special friendship.... 

           -Attending the Passion Kampala conference on Saturday night!
           -Teaching about past tense verbs at Victory - some pretty great P3 students!
           -Teaching another English class at Brainstorm using the story of Jesus calming the storm (we may or may not have acted the whole thing out, including the screams of fear during the storm)
           -worship. worship. worship.

Teaching about past tense verbs!

Ready for the Passion Conference!

I know I touched on worship a bit at the end of my last blog, but I've come to realize that there's absolutely, positively, NO WAY to even get close to summing up the idea of worship. It's become so much more to me than singing and playing an instrument; it's a way of life. Even as I sit here writing this post, I can't think where to start, what to say to explain what I've learned to you. Maybe I'll start with the last conclusion I made in my journal, "You know what? I think true worship is what happens when we see God for who He really is, which is only possible through the Spirit... Therefore, "worship in Spirit and Truth."

We were all sad at our first project without our sister, Cassie,
who went back home this week 

One of my favorite nights here in Uganda has become Friday night - partly because we almost always stay up late having "girl time" and laughing our heads off, but also because Friday night is Worship Night. Instead of having our typical devotions, we all come together to bless God's heart in worship. I think those times of worship are when our team as a whole is the most susceptible to the Holy Spirit, to His presence. When we draw close to Him, He speaks to each of our hearts individually. There are two quotes from the book Romancing the King by Brian Lake that I'd like to share with you:

          "The highest priority of worship is that God invites us in His presence; not that we selfishly invite Him into ours."

          "True worship eliminates the distance between God and us."

Worship draws you into God's presence like nothing else; it's amazing! But, as I've said before, worship isn't just that time of singing at church or devotions, it's a way of life - a sacrifice of all that you are so that every part of your life blesses our Beloved's heart. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is true worship." (Romans 12:1) God doesn't want just a part of your life, a part of your time, a part of you - He wants ALL of you! And we have to realize that worship isn't for us, it's not meant for us to be filled (although we are filled through being in His presence), but it's meant for Him. Our gift to God is our worship; it's how we bless Him.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name" 

-10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

Every blessing!