Well... Here it is. Thirty more minutes in the Dulles airport then my crew of 9 students and a co leader board a plane to Belgium, then to Ethiopia, then finally on to Uganda. We arrive sometime Saturday evening and have been invited to speak at the morning and evening services of a church in Kampala the following morning. Nothing like hitting the ground running, and we can't wait! Monday will be full of adventures as we work on getting our visas for S. Sudan then plan to catch an overnight bus up and into the country. One of our contacts will met us at the boarder of Uganda and S. Sudan and travel up with us to Juba where we will catch a flight to Wau, the city we'll be spending the next 5 weeks in. Amazing. It's really really happening, after all the planning and preparation over the last three months we are now just a few plane rides away. More updates will come based on internet availability so stay tuned :). Initially our contacts in S. Sudan have set up opportunities in schools in the area, a prison ministry, speaking in local churches and potentially government offices. My heart is beginning to burn for the people in these places and the chance of a life time where regardless of our backgrounds our lives will come together in unimaginable ways. Somewhere around the end of October we will catch a bus back down to Uganda and spend the remainder of our time at the YWAM base in Arua. Flying back to the states December 10th. I hope to update regularly, but if not here's a peak into what we will be up to. Blessings and thanks for all the prayers and support! Here we go!
Friday, September 23, 2011
For Kari.
I'm sitting on a plane, the first of 6 I will be on over the course of the next few days, feasting my ears on Coldplay's new single "Paradise" and letting my mind wander.
By Saturday these sun kissed feet of mine will be walking on African soil for the first time in their history on this earth. Africa. It all still feels so surreal...
It's wild to me that my first steps will be in the country of Uganda. I remember first really hearing about Uganda years ago when my younger sister, Kari, began supporting a non-profit called Invisible Children and their longing to counter act the monstrosity of children of all ages being kidnapped, brainwashed and forced to fight in wars they could hardly explain if asked. Her heart for the bruised and broken hearted blew me away. For some time Kari dreamed about interning with this organization, and one day traveling to Africa herself. And while her heart still burns for those things the Lord has lead her life down a different path, atleast for the time being...
So, as I sit here thinking about all this, the past leading up to this point, and the future potential of what these next 3 months hold, I can't help but feel like I've robbed her of something, or maybe more like I've stolen something from her. Stolen her African dream. But then, as I think back on this last year of staffing with YWAM, I am reminded of something very special.... It is only when we close ourselves off to others that our dreams are "our" dreams. But when we open our hearts up they become so so much more. Dreams within the context of family, be it biological or relational, and community, powerfully move from "our" to "each others." And the best part is people begin riding the wings of each other's dreams not because they lack of their own, but because they so love and believe in one another they willingly lay down their own dream to take up the dream of their friend or family members. Sounds a lot like something Jesus would do, and I love that.
So now, instead of sitting here thinking I've stolen something, I am realizing that I actually am becoming part of something. I am becoming part of my sister's dream to see a nation changed, to see hope restored, to see life renewed and justice restored.
I know I don't know all, or maybe even any, of the answers and can't bring in solutions to Africa's problems, but I can testify of someone who does and can. Someone who goes before me, alongside me and long after me. What a hopeful revelation when we realize we aren't on our own, when we realize someone has come alongside us and that we no longer walk alone.... Hmmm.
Ok, enough with the rambles. To my sister. To Kari. I want you to know that I will always walk with you and for you, and as I take steps through Africa over these next months I will walk on behalf of you and in support of you. I believe in the dreams God has placed in your heart, and hope to be a part of them whenever I can. I feel blessed beyond words to know that I am about to walk into not only your dream, but God's...
"into the stormy night she flies, dreaming para-para-paradise..." -- Coldplay "Paradise"
By Saturday these sun kissed feet of mine will be walking on African soil for the first time in their history on this earth. Africa. It all still feels so surreal...
It's wild to me that my first steps will be in the country of Uganda. I remember first really hearing about Uganda years ago when my younger sister, Kari, began supporting a non-profit called Invisible Children and their longing to counter act the monstrosity of children of all ages being kidnapped, brainwashed and forced to fight in wars they could hardly explain if asked. Her heart for the bruised and broken hearted blew me away. For some time Kari dreamed about interning with this organization, and one day traveling to Africa herself. And while her heart still burns for those things the Lord has lead her life down a different path, atleast for the time being...
So, as I sit here thinking about all this, the past leading up to this point, and the future potential of what these next 3 months hold, I can't help but feel like I've robbed her of something, or maybe more like I've stolen something from her. Stolen her African dream. But then, as I think back on this last year of staffing with YWAM, I am reminded of something very special.... It is only when we close ourselves off to others that our dreams are "our" dreams. But when we open our hearts up they become so so much more. Dreams within the context of family, be it biological or relational, and community, powerfully move from "our" to "each others." And the best part is people begin riding the wings of each other's dreams not because they lack of their own, but because they so love and believe in one another they willingly lay down their own dream to take up the dream of their friend or family members. Sounds a lot like something Jesus would do, and I love that.
So now, instead of sitting here thinking I've stolen something, I am realizing that I actually am becoming part of something. I am becoming part of my sister's dream to see a nation changed, to see hope restored, to see life renewed and justice restored.
I know I don't know all, or maybe even any, of the answers and can't bring in solutions to Africa's problems, but I can testify of someone who does and can. Someone who goes before me, alongside me and long after me. What a hopeful revelation when we realize we aren't on our own, when we realize someone has come alongside us and that we no longer walk alone.... Hmmm.
Ok, enough with the rambles. To my sister. To Kari. I want you to know that I will always walk with you and for you, and as I take steps through Africa over these next months I will walk on behalf of you and in support of you. I believe in the dreams God has placed in your heart, and hope to be a part of them whenever I can. I feel blessed beyond words to know that I am about to walk into not only your dream, but God's...
"into the stormy night she flies, dreaming para-para-paradise..." -- Coldplay "Paradise"
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