lessons

so sometimes you leave places when you really like them and it's really hard.
leaving home was one of those times.
leaving Uganda is one of those times too.

of course as we go we're looking back a lot at what we've done and the things we've learned.
here's some of those things i (tj) have learned:

-i've learned that you can get used to eating rice and beans and hardly crave anything else.

-i've learned that i had lost my first love that i had when i was younger, and i also have rekindled that love with my savior.

-i've learned how selfish and prideful i can be. how irritable and horible and sinful.

-in that i found out that i have two awesome friends who love me anyways and continue to challenge me to be better.

-i've learned some luganda andd some swahili...and i've learned that i'm not very good at either.

-i've discovered a family i didn't know i had and i have a new understanding of the "family" of Christ. i truely do have family everywhere there are believers. i can never really leave home.

-i have less fear. less fear of physical things, myself, and the future, and way way more hope and faith in God.

-i found out what Matt 11:28-30 means. His yoke is SO easy and SO light. When you're doing what He calls you to there is joy beyond words, and comfort beyoond description.

-i have been reminded daily of Him love and faithfulness.

-i have learned to choice my battles and shut up sometimes. (this was kind of a big one for me...)

-i've learned that hand washing clothes is not easy. thank you who ever made washing machines. you're amazing.

-i've learned that using a squatty potty is not very pleasant, but once you do it for a while, you can adapt to it. that leads me to believe you can adapt to just about anything.

-i now know how smart rats how, and how to catch them.

-i've learned to be more edifying. people here always: 1. say you're welcome when you come into a room, sit with them at a table, or join them in line. 2. say "welcome back" when you get somewhere, even if they were in the car with you. 3. say "sorry" if you drop something, get hurt, trip, cough...pretty much anything. 4. say "amen" to pretty much anything you say that they find encouraging. 5. if you say "thank you." they usually respond with "thank you for appreciating." basically they're just really encouraging and edifying even in the small things and i love it!

-i can buy paint, catch a taxi, ride on bodas, go to market, and go to the crazy taxi park with out any worry or stress even if there's not a guy to take us around.

-i am so much more ready to speak or sing in front of people. i could share a testimony, give a sermon, talk about my experience here, lead worship, or just sing a special for as long or as short as was needed without much notice. the idea of that would have just about killed me before.

-i've learned that Jesus really does work good out us flawed people. me being a really good example of that.

thank you Jesus.

i am sad to leave, but i know with complete faith that God wants me in America, at least for a little while. I'm pretty sure that i'm coming back here, bbut even if i don't, i know where i ever i go, God is going to keep teaching me awesome lessons about myself, my flawed self, and His forgiveness, faithfulness, and glory!




ok, side notes:
we're at teen missions right now.
we have had an amazing time here so far. i have been really really really blessed.
we helped with their graduation. it was a really eventful day. we helped lead songs and both me and marlee goofed on something. bahaha. but it was ok, and was fun.
we've gotten to spend some good time with the people we knew from before and have also gotten to know some people from kenya and tanzania who are so incredible.
it's making it really hard to leave, but we've been to blessed and encouraged here. good place to just talk and praise God together.
we asked if we could paint their classroom because we wanted something to keep us busy and we have been busy! buying paint, painting, talking to some guys from alabama we met at church last weekend, talking,doing paper work for isaac, laughing...tomorrow and the next day we're leading chapel here, and on friday we're giving our testimonies to a group of youth. saturday we're going to watch the guys here play a football (soccer) game and then sunday afternoon we head to kampala to spend the night there to we're closer to the airport.
whew!
please pray for:
wisdom as we speak and share
speed in finishing the paperwork and paint
grace as we leave and reenter
our hearts as they are feeling a little heavy with going...
joy in coming home, even though we are sad to go that we would have the full joy that God desires for us to have
peace
guidance
safety
that we would catch our flight
that the friendships we're making and have made here would be ones that remain. that we wouldn't loose sight of the things God has taught us, the things and people He has blessed us with, and that our mission doesn't end on the 18th when we fly away. our life is to be a continuation of this work, the work of the Kingdom, the work of the harvest!

-tj