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2012 Prayer

"My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make ever effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 10-12

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Unexpected Adventure

"Adventure" sounds exciting, but "unexpected" sounds...well...abrupt and often unwelcome, especially if you're someone who likes to have everything mapped out ahead of time. If that's you, then you may need to loosen your grip on control." (Taken from The Unexpected Adventure by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg, 94)

That is a quote that Scott read to me just a day before I found out I too was going to be going to Uganda. It describes me totally. I always have things mapped out and I don't like last minute changes. However, I would find out over the course of the next two weeks that God wanted to show me differently. While, he did create me with a bent towards organization and planning, he desires for me to learn other qualities as well.

It is still hard for me to believe that I actually went. Yes, I have the pictures and the stories to tell, but everything happened so fast that it is still hard for me to believe. The last two weeks have been an awesome adventure and I am looking forward to reliving it as I share with you all the mighty things God allowed me and the team to experience while we were over in Uganda. I tried to keep a journal while over there so that I could just type it into my blog when I got back. There were a few chances to write in depth about each day, but then there were days when I was so exhausted I could barely hold my pen to write down short phrases or sentences that will hopefully trigger my mind about what happened that day. However, the first journal entry is from the first day of travel.

June 24, 2010
It is hard to put into words what has transpired over the last seventy two hours. After finding out for sure I had a ticket, plans to figure out what and where the kids would stay, packing, organizing and gathering everything together was amazingly crazy but smooth. The Lord enabled me to think clearly as the preparations were made. It was bitter sweet when it finally came time to leave. We had a family prayer at home and then Sharon and the kids drove us to the airport. Once there, we said our final goodbyes. I told Scott it is almost easier leaving the kids when they were younger because they couldn't really express in words what they were feeling. They couldn't say things that were breaking my heart. Once on the plane it was so hard to believe that I was even on the plane. It still feels that way as I am waiting in the Amsterdam airport due to fuel pump malfunctions. Thus, our 11:00 a.m. departure has been moved back to about 3:00 p.m. Here comes the plane now. I did find one of two comfortable chairs to sit in and reflect and write some of my thoughts down. I hope to be able to journal and catalog this trip in order to share it with others because God is obviously at work in it.








Yes, you heard right about the fuel pump. We had boarded our plane from Amsterdam to Entebbe only to find out about 30 minutes later that they would be moving us off the plane and onto another plane because the fuel pump wasn't working properly. This delayed our arrival time in Uganda by over three hours and we didn't get to our hotel until after midnight. It was a long day of travel, but we made it safely, I was able to get my visa without any problems and everyone had all their luggage. God had begun his work in my life in this unexpected adventure. My prayer now is that I will not forget his teaching and will be able to apply not only while I was in Uganda, but here at home as well.

"There's no doubt about it: the adventure is as much in the journey as in the destination. So open your eyes today to your surroundings. Become more spiritually circumspect. Yes, do your work, pay your bills, and attend to your hundred daily details. But remember that as a Christ-follower your mission is never just about tasks or achievement. First and foremost, it's about loving, serving, and reaching the people God place sin your life. Their interruptions can become portals into the realms of his supernatural activity and divine impact." (Strobel and Mittleberg, 95-97)

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to go on an unexpected adventure. Thank you for all the lessons you taught me. I pray that you would help me to continue on an unexpected adventure even amidst all the hustle and bustle of taking care of the many details here at home. May I not miss the opportunities you place in my life to experience you in a deeper and more personal way. I love you Lord. In Jesus name, Amiina.

1 comment:

  1. This is so sweet...I am so happy you are writing all of this out. It's a gift to me as I feel like I am about to journey your Uganda mission trip through your eyes. Plus, this is such a beautiful legacy to leave in writing the things God has and will do in your heart. I love you!

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