Personal Testimony For Uganda:
My life is a full of God’s immeasurable grace and mercy. When I look back at my life some experiences are way too painful to relive and others are too important to forget. My life has been redeemed by the supernatural power of the Spirit of God. I am so unworthy in my own self but God in His mercy and love found something valuable in my life. When I looked at myself like a useless rock He saw me like “ashmi” a sparkling diamond. The Lord showed me I had to stop seeing myself as worthless. I came to my “Komo” place. No longer could I see myself as worthless, I had to see myself through His eyes., Only God looking through His eyes of love could see something priceless in this human life of despair.
Growing up as a young child my home was full of hate and abuse. My Father was an alcoholic and would beat my Mother and I would awake to hear screams in the night. My neighbor’s home was my place of refuge. In those terrible days God was my “Ba Ba”, my Father whom I could trust.
When I felt like a lost sheep the Lord was my Shepherd. I was the lost “Ah Ma” that He searched for to redeem.
When I was alone and afraid and would cry at night, when I felt like an orphan the Lord was my “Kashne”, my comforter. It was the Lord that surrounded me with His love and protection when I didn’t have any one to watch over me.
In the darkest of days the Lord would show Himself to me and I knew one day I see myself in the light of His love. I would see myself as ‘Kali”, beautiful and restored. I would shine for His glory.
In my quiet time before the Lord I would sing songs that came from my heart. I was unable to sing in front of people because I was ridiculed and made fun of, and told my voice wasn't pretty enough. Which made my heart so sad, because it was my desire to worship and sing. To this day, it makes me cry when I think of the pain others caused me, and the fear that gripped me because I saw myself as unacceptable and unloved.
That pain would disappear when I was by myself with the Lord. I felt loved, valued and accepted.
This is not the way we should live, full of fear. But we do, and God in His love comes to us and says Arise, my daughter, and live! Arise, and see the love I have for you! No longer are you to feel like an orphan who is alone.
Look around and see the beautiful women God has created! Look around and see who needs to know God’s love and give it freely.
Now we can look to our Baba (Father) and see our lives as “Kali” (beautiful)
Now we can trust the Lord to be our Shepherd, and we are the “Ah Ma” the sheep of His flock. Walking in confidence that when we stray He will come look for us. When we are hurting, He will carry us until we are strong enough to walk again.
Now we can know He is our “Kashne” our (comforter) and restorer of our broken lives.
The Lord’s love shines as Bright as the Sun (ashmi) to light our path.
We have no fear for He is with us!
Psalms 23 says the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. We lack nothing in His presence and care. Now we trust in Him to show us the way!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Hearing From God!
The Word Of The Lord!
It is obvious this trip and passion for Uganda is from the Lord.
As I try to process the rapid pace it is taking I could become overwhelmed. That is when I remind myself it is not about me is it a work and moving by the Spirit of God.
The word that keeps coming is hope for the nations. It is the love of the Father for the nations to come to him. It is our place for this time to bring the good news of hope to people we may not never meet. God is going to great lengths to show His love and to make others aware of his “awareness” of their need.
His love is for the orphan and widows. He has not forgotten them he is aware of the cry in the night.
He is aware of those serving and caring for them. He is aware of the weariness, and He is here to bring strength and peace. He is bringing others along side to lift up the arms of the weary.
Just as Moses needed Aaron and to stand with him so we will stand.
See, I am doing a new work says the Lord, do you not perceive it? Do not let the distractions of life get in the way of what the Lord is doing in your life.
The Lord is drawing man unto Himself and at times you wonder how can we care for all the needs but the Lord is here. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Press in, draw close feel His presence he is near.
The Lord desires for His body to be healthy and whole, not divided by anything. No man can take credit for what God is about to do; all glory will go to Him. It will be clear to all that it is the hand of the Lord. Such favor has never been seen. You will walk in the favor of the Lord and will stand back in awe of His goodness. –Selah
We do not walk alone we must keep our eyes fixed on Christ the hope of the nations.
It is obvious this trip and passion for Uganda is from the Lord.
As I try to process the rapid pace it is taking I could become overwhelmed. That is when I remind myself it is not about me is it a work and moving by the Spirit of God.
The word that keeps coming is hope for the nations. It is the love of the Father for the nations to come to him. It is our place for this time to bring the good news of hope to people we may not never meet. God is going to great lengths to show His love and to make others aware of his “awareness” of their need.
His love is for the orphan and widows. He has not forgotten them he is aware of the cry in the night.
He is aware of those serving and caring for them. He is aware of the weariness, and He is here to bring strength and peace. He is bringing others along side to lift up the arms of the weary.
Just as Moses needed Aaron and to stand with him so we will stand.
See, I am doing a new work says the Lord, do you not perceive it? Do not let the distractions of life get in the way of what the Lord is doing in your life.
The Lord is drawing man unto Himself and at times you wonder how can we care for all the needs but the Lord is here. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Press in, draw close feel His presence he is near.
The Lord desires for His body to be healthy and whole, not divided by anything. No man can take credit for what God is about to do; all glory will go to Him. It will be clear to all that it is the hand of the Lord. Such favor has never been seen. You will walk in the favor of the Lord and will stand back in awe of His goodness. –Selah
We do not walk alone we must keep our eyes fixed on Christ the hope of the nations.
Monday, November 21, 2011
I Always Wanted To Speak Another Language! :)
As I pray about going to Africa the Lord has been revealing things to me that cause me to stand back in awe! I feel a little shaky right now, and can only imagine what is next!
The other day I heard the word "BA BA" on the Cd I bought from the Watoto Choir.
Today I wrote down some other words from my spiritual language and looked them up and they are all Swahili!
Ah Ma- Ewe or sheep
Kashne- Comforter
Komo- Coming to a stop, or a halting place or end.
Ashmi- As bright as the sun, sparkling diamond.
Ba Ba- Father
Kali- Beautiful
I stand in awe of the goodness of God and I must say I am a little overwhelmed!
Susan
P.S. I always wanted to speak another language :)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
I Was Looking For A Hobby, But I Heard The Call Of Uganda!
Here I am a wife, mother of a 32 year old, a Grand Mom Mom of 3 beautiful boys and a baby on the way. Not long ago I was sitting on the couch after work thinking I need to find a hobby, or something creative to do. Commuting 4 hours a day and Directing a Preschool just doesn't fulfill the creative side of my brain. I thought of knitting or crocheting, that's what Grand Mom Moms do, right?
Not long after shopping in Walmart and trying to find the perfect crochet needle and not seeing the right one. You know it has to be just the right size. (I remember what my Grandma Johnson's looked like) I decided maybe it wasn't the right time to crochet, after all I have a cat and she will just play with the yarn and make a mess.
Fast forward a few weeks. I am sitting in Church and Pastor Bill announces he is going to Uganda next year. He asked ,(I would like to point that out) does any one want to go?
That is where my journey to answer the call of Uganda began... in 3 weeks the Lord has put together a team of 8 people with a heart's desire to go to Uganda. In 3 weeks we have raised over $500.00 at the Preschool alone. This weekend the women at the conference raised more than enough money for Rich and Lisa's Passports!
Last Wednesday night, Watoto Children's Choir came to Church, and I picked up a CD for the kids at the preschool to listen to during Chapel. In one of the songs a man sings a "word" that sounds exactly like something from my prayer language. My heart jumped for joy, another confirmation this is of the Lord!
Any one who knows my life, knows this is totally unrealistic with the schedule I have! However, God in His infinite love and mercy knows exactly what we need!
So, my hobby is to raise funds to build a home for the Orphans in Budaka! :) The Lord also put it on my heart to write a book called "The Orphan Inside Of Me". I have no idea what it will look like but it will happen as quickly as this trip to Uganda, I am sure!
James 1:27 Has been on my heart and I know it is the heart cry of God, will someone answer the cry in the night of the Orphans in Africa? Yes, we will go!
Go ye into all the world and preach the good news... we have hope for these Orphans, God is aware of their cry, and He is aware of their fear. But fear not, for the Lord is near! -Selah!
Answering the call to Africa is not just for the Orphans, God has sent us to lift up the arms of the weary that are caring for them. Pastor Rogers and Laurie especially are on my heart. Although we had never met I knew we would partner with them to help build a home in Budaka. The Lord is aware of their love for these children, and He will make a way. He will train up those in the village to help carry the load. They will be strong in the Lord and will help train future generations the ways of the Lord! -Selah
Not long after shopping in Walmart and trying to find the perfect crochet needle and not seeing the right one. You know it has to be just the right size. (I remember what my Grandma Johnson's looked like) I decided maybe it wasn't the right time to crochet, after all I have a cat and she will just play with the yarn and make a mess.
Fast forward a few weeks. I am sitting in Church and Pastor Bill announces he is going to Uganda next year. He asked ,(I would like to point that out) does any one want to go?
That is where my journey to answer the call of Uganda began... in 3 weeks the Lord has put together a team of 8 people with a heart's desire to go to Uganda. In 3 weeks we have raised over $500.00 at the Preschool alone. This weekend the women at the conference raised more than enough money for Rich and Lisa's Passports!
Last Wednesday night, Watoto Children's Choir came to Church, and I picked up a CD for the kids at the preschool to listen to during Chapel. In one of the songs a man sings a "word" that sounds exactly like something from my prayer language. My heart jumped for joy, another confirmation this is of the Lord!
Any one who knows my life, knows this is totally unrealistic with the schedule I have! However, God in His infinite love and mercy knows exactly what we need!
So, my hobby is to raise funds to build a home for the Orphans in Budaka! :) The Lord also put it on my heart to write a book called "The Orphan Inside Of Me". I have no idea what it will look like but it will happen as quickly as this trip to Uganda, I am sure!
James 1:27 Has been on my heart and I know it is the heart cry of God, will someone answer the cry in the night of the Orphans in Africa? Yes, we will go!
Go ye into all the world and preach the good news... we have hope for these Orphans, God is aware of their cry, and He is aware of their fear. But fear not, for the Lord is near! -Selah!
Answering the call to Africa is not just for the Orphans, God has sent us to lift up the arms of the weary that are caring for them. Pastor Rogers and Laurie especially are on my heart. Although we had never met I knew we would partner with them to help build a home in Budaka. The Lord is aware of their love for these children, and He will make a way. He will train up those in the village to help carry the load. They will be strong in the Lord and will help train future generations the ways of the Lord! -Selah
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Uganda-James 1:27
The Bible is clear on how we should look after the orphan and widow. I am so happy with the response we are receiving at the Preschool. The children and parents are joining in and helping raise funds for Cornerstone Ministries in Budaka, Uganda.
Here is a picture of our first offering from Chapel on Wednesday. It was so delightful to watch the children walk in with their little envelopes. Some of them smiling and saying I brought an offering for Africa!
The picture is of Alma and myself with a picture of Moses and the offering from the children. So blessed to be part of making a difference in the lives of these children!
When we realize the world is so much bigger than just us, we can be His hands extended to make a difference in the lives of others!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Uganda Is Still Calling!
The children at Cornerstone Ministries!
I am standing back and watching the hand of God move on behalf of the orphans of Budaka!
It is unbelievable how good God is....
Can't wait to write more......
(picture of Xavier putting in his offering)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
