Interesting how different people prepare for a BIG trip. Interesting how people prepare for a mission trip. Some people (like me) plan way in advance, buy supplies, get immunizations and start blogging months before the trip. Others on the other hand, may think about the trip but really take no steps to travel until right before they take off.
Our guide has a list, a kind of count down starting five days out....that is a great idea, because if you don't do it this way, you can get so overwhelmed with the packing process that you either forget the important items or take WAY too much.
There is such a vast unknown when traveling to a foreign country as well as when you are surrendered to God. It can be nerve racking, but if it is, then one should examine their true surrender. Do you actually trust God to take care of the details, BIG and small? Then why is it nerve racking?
It is our responsibility to do the things we CAN do and then God will do the things we CAN'T. So I guess the nerve racking part is making sure to do ALL the things I CAN do and then just trust. Trust God, that He knows my heart and that I intend to do it all and then He will then pick up the slack. TRUST HIM.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Not much left to worry about...I think :)
I am beginning to think about what it will be like when I get back from Africa. That is so weird. I haven't even gone yet. Mentally I am there in the tiny village of Zziba, I am thinking and praying about each child that we will meet and I am praying that I will not come on too strong, too American. I just want to have a teachable spirit, able to be welcoming and loving.
The team has a children's program planned. My first concern is that it won't be so structured and American that the kids will be intimidated and shy. There is a really cute story that we read to the kids in the Back Yard Bash at Belleview about 6 years ago. Hopefully it will be a story that these kids can relate to as well..
We plan to have some games and crafts and songs and prayer time. I know that the team will be shocked when they experience the spiritual maturity of the village kids. We will need to flexible. Willing to open our minds to understanding the way that the Ugandan culture does things. Americans are so rushed and inflexible. Timing and structure are all important to us. But for 5 days in January we are going to need to set aside the hustle bustle and let the Holy Spirit show us the way. My prayer is that I will be hearing from Him and responding to His leading all of the time. That - in and of itself, will be life changing :)
The team has a children's program planned. My first concern is that it won't be so structured and American that the kids will be intimidated and shy. There is a really cute story that we read to the kids in the Back Yard Bash at Belleview about 6 years ago. Hopefully it will be a story that these kids can relate to as well..
We plan to have some games and crafts and songs and prayer time. I know that the team will be shocked when they experience the spiritual maturity of the village kids. We will need to flexible. Willing to open our minds to understanding the way that the Ugandan culture does things. Americans are so rushed and inflexible. Timing and structure are all important to us. But for 5 days in January we are going to need to set aside the hustle bustle and let the Holy Spirit show us the way. My prayer is that I will be hearing from Him and responding to His leading all of the time. That - in and of itself, will be life changing :)
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
3 weeks to go - lots to think about
We are really getting close...I know I said that before, but now it REALLY is close. Starting to think about trying to get a little more "fit" so that I do not get so stiff on the long plane rides. Walking sounds best, but it is bitter cold out. Hmmm I think I'll try the treadmill.
Since we are right in the middle of the holiday season it is very difficult to to divide my thoughts. My desire is to focus on the trip but the world around me keeps hollaring - it Christmas, spend your money, put up a tree, light the lights... I'm not a humbug but is this really what Christmas is about? What about the birth of our Savior? I read an interesting little article
Since we are right in the middle of the holiday season it is very difficult to to divide my thoughts. My desire is to focus on the trip but the world around me keeps hollaring - it Christmas, spend your money, put up a tree, light the lights... I'm not a humbug but is this really what Christmas is about? What about the birth of our Savior? I read an interesting little article
“Xmas and Christmas: A Lost Chapter from Herodotus,” by C.S. Lewis
And beyond this there lies in the ocean, turned towards the west and north, the island of Niatirb which Hecataeus indeed declares to be the same size and shape as Sicily, but it is larger, though in calling it triangular a man would not miss the mark. It is densely inhabited by men who wear clothes not very different from the other barbarians who occupy the north western parts of Europe though they do not agree with them in language. These islanders, surpassing all the men of whom we know in patience and endurance, use the following customs.
In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound they have a great festival which they call Exmas and for fifty days they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe. First of all, every citizen is obliged to send to each of his friends and relations a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in their speech is called an Exmas-card. But the pictures represent birds sitting on branches, or trees with a dark green prickly leaf, or else men in such garments as the Niatirbians believe that their ancestors wore two hundred years ago riding in coaches such as their ancestors used, or houses with snow on their roofs. And the Niatirbians are unwilling to say what these pictures have to do with the festival; guarding (as I suppose) some sacred mystery. And because all men must send these cards the marketplace is filled with the crowd of those buying them, so that there is great labour and weariness.
But having bought as many as they suppose to be sufficient, they return to their houses and find there the like cards which others have sent to them. And when they find cards from any to whom they also have sent cards, they throw them away and give thanks to the gods that this labour at least is over for another year. But when they find cards from any to whom they have not sent, then they beat their breasts and wail and utter curses against the sender; and, having sufficiently lamented their misfortune, they put on their boots again and go out into the fog and rain and buy a card for him also. And let this account suffice about Exmas-cards.
They also send gifts to one another, suffering the same things about the gifts as about the cards, or even worse. For every citizen has to guess the value of the gift which every friend will send to him so that he may send one of equal value, whether he can afford it or not. And they buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself. For the sellers, understanding the custom, put forth all kinds of trumpery, and whatever, being useless and ridiculous, they have been unable to sell throughout the year they now sell as an Exmas gift. And though the Niatirbians profess themselves to lack sufficient necessary things, such as metal, leather, wood and paper, yet an incredible quantity of these things is wasted every year, being made into the gifts.
But during these fifty days the oldest, poorest, and most miserable of the citizens put on false beards and red robes and walk about the market-place; being disguised (in my opinion) as Cronos. And the sellers of gifts no less than the purchaser’s become pale and weary, because of the crowds and the fog, so that any man who came into a Niatirbian city at this season would think some great public calamity had fallen on Niatirb. This fifty days of preparation is called in their barbarian speech the Exmas Rush.
But when the day of the festival comes, then most of the citizens, being exhausted with the Rush, lie in bed till noon. But in the evening they eat five times as much supper as on other days and, crowning themselves with crowns of paper, they become intoxicated. And on the day after Exmas they are very grave, being internally disordered by the supper and the drinking and reckoning how much they have spent on gifts and on the wine. For wine is so dear among the Niatirbians that a man must swallow the worth of a talent before he is well intoxicated.
Such, then, are their customs about the Exmas. But the few among the Niatirbians have also a festival, separate and to themselves, called Crissmas, which is on the same day as Exmas. And those who keep Crissmas, doing the opposite to the majority of the Niatirbians, rise early on that day with shining faces and go before sunrise to certain temples where they partake of a sacred feast. And in most of the temples they set out images of a fair woman with a new-born Child on her knees and certain animals and shepherds adoring the Child. (The reason of these images is given in a certain sacred story which I know but do not repeat.)
But I myself conversed with a priest in one of these temples and asked him why they kept Crissmas on the same day as Exmas; for it appeared to me inconvenient. But the priest replied, “It is not lawful, O stranger, for us to change the date of Chrissmas, but would that Zeus would put it into the minds of the Niatirbians to keep Exmas at some other time or not to keep it at all. For Exmas and the Rush distract the minds even of the few from sacred things. And we indeed are glad that men should make merry at Crissmas; but in Exmas there is no merriment left.” And when I asked him why they endured the Rush, he replied, “It is, O Stranger, a racket”; using (as I suppose) the words of some oracle and speaking unintelligibly to me (for a racket is an instrument which the barbarians use in a game called tennis).
But what Hecataeus says, that Exmas and Crissmas are the same, is not credible. For first, the pictures which are stamped on the Exmas-cards have nothing to do with the sacred story which the priests tell about Crissmas. And secondly, the most part of the Niatirbians, not believing the religion of the few, nevertheless send the gifts and cards and participate in the Rush and drink, wearing paper caps. But it is not likely that men, even being barbarians, should suffer so many and great things in honour of a god they do not believe in. And now, enough about Niatirb.
Makes one think, huh?
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Exactly 4 weeks to go
The packing has begun. The big part of packing is to pack light. So quick dry clothes and reversible garments are handy. We also have to get things like electricity converters and eye covers for the flight. Most of the items have been purchased and have been placed in the staging area.
With the holidays upon us the trip has kind of taken a back seat. Ever present but not the constant focus that it once was.
We have checked out the village with Google Earth though-what a cool perspective! Isn't technology fabulous? If you want to find the village search for Nkokonjeru, Uganda. The village of Zziba is too small to locate.
You can search the region and view pictures that others have posted on Google Earth. It's pretty neat.
Have fun!
With the holidays upon us the trip has kind of taken a back seat. Ever present but not the constant focus that it once was.
We have checked out the village with Google Earth though-what a cool perspective! Isn't technology fabulous? If you want to find the village search for Nkokonjeru, Uganda. The village of Zziba is too small to locate.
You can search the region and view pictures that others have posted on Google Earth. It's pretty neat.
Have fun!
Monday, November 21, 2011
44 days and its nearly Thanksgiving
Considering Orphans, my eyes have been opened this past month. At church it has been 3 weeks of Orphan Sunday (http://orphansunday.org/) and prayers for the defenseless children of the world. Millions of children fall through the cracks of society and I have been made painfully aware this month by the wonderful caring shepherding of our pastors. The numbers are staggering, and it seems a nearly impossible task to make a difference. But we must try, each one reach one could apply here. Do something, is more than to stand stagnant and do nothing. Isaiah 1:17 tells us to Defend the fatherless, this is a command we must obey.
Our little trip to Uganda is just a scratch in the surface. But it IS a start. It has been almost 10 years in the making. Many lives have been changed through the efforts of the Olive Branch Ministries team and Gary Dickinson in particular. And here we go, off to continue the journey. We are building a medical clinic. We will teach pastors how to minister to the people in the name of Christ. And we will offer fun and joy to the children of the orphanage.
I was thinking how different the orphanages in the US are from other countries, especially in Zziba Uganda. In the US the goal is to find homes for the children; either for foster care or adoption. In Zziba and other third world countries, the goal is to support the children and create resource and opportunity. There are not enough parents to go around.
But truly the goal is to change the mindset of the "haves" and to help them see ways to help the "have nots".
We must start with prayer. Our heavenly Father desires that we answer the cry and if we pray He will answer. Next steps...He will open doors of opportunity if we ask.
Pray for our team as we go and for the children and community of Zziba. Thank you
Our little trip to Uganda is just a scratch in the surface. But it IS a start. It has been almost 10 years in the making. Many lives have been changed through the efforts of the Olive Branch Ministries team and Gary Dickinson in particular. And here we go, off to continue the journey. We are building a medical clinic. We will teach pastors how to minister to the people in the name of Christ. And we will offer fun and joy to the children of the orphanage.
I was thinking how different the orphanages in the US are from other countries, especially in Zziba Uganda. In the US the goal is to find homes for the children; either for foster care or adoption. In Zziba and other third world countries, the goal is to support the children and create resource and opportunity. There are not enough parents to go around.
But truly the goal is to change the mindset of the "haves" and to help them see ways to help the "have nots".
We must start with prayer. Our heavenly Father desires that we answer the cry and if we pray He will answer. Next steps...He will open doors of opportunity if we ask.
Pray for our team as we go and for the children and community of Zziba. Thank you
Friday, November 4, 2011
Some soul searching
Now comes the time when I look inward. Pastor Gary asked us to come up with "a 3 minute version of our testimony". At first I thought, what? There is no way to shorten this down to 3 minutes, but he gave us some guidelines and challenged us to keep it brief and to the point. So now I am trying to think back and look at the three sub-headings in order to help keep it brief and concise. The three sub-headings are:
The tough part so far has been examining what I was like before I met Jesus Christ.
This self-examination brings me to the "bad years". From about the time that I was 15 years old til I was 26 years old, I was searching; searching for Truth. I was raised in a family that went to church most every week. I was baptized when I was a baby, I was confirmed when I was about 14 years old and our family was friends with the Minister! Although I was raised in a privileged family atmosphere, there was an emptiness.
At age 15, I started to ask people in my life about the purpose of my life. I just felt sure that there was "more" to this life than the surface realities with which I had been raised; such as: looking good for people and doing the "right" thing so that people would approve, making impressions and having the "right" husband and and yes getting married. Being a virgin and having a Silver Tea Service, making my Debut, living in a big house in the "right" neighborhood. But, I just knew that life was about more than making good impressions and having a lot of material things. I asked my parents and my pastor and they all said that I was coming along just fine and that I didn't need to worry.
It's funny though, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, all I could think to say was that I wanted to help people. It wasn't to make a bunch of money, or to have a happy little family or to be famous. I just had a heart for hurting people and I still do.
Well anyway, when I was told that I didn't need to worry about it, I began to live a rebellious and purposeless life. It's kind of like the little kid that acts out in order to get the attention that he needs. Negative attention is better than no attention, isn't it? And with my parents; you were a good little child if you fit into the mold and didn't require any attention. And I was just that - BEFORE.
During the summer of 1966, my sister got married and I lost my friend. I felt I was losing control of my life and I was losing a lot more than that because I knew that I wasn't all that good, and I had "fooled" everyone into thinking that I was "just fine". The biggest loss was my self-respect. That summer I began to party a lot. My parents, not knowing what to do or how to handle me now that I wasn't fitting into the perfect little mold; shipped me off to boarding school. The same perfect boarding school that my friend went to. My friend's family was in the social crowd in our town and so my mom figured if it was the "right" school for her it would be the "right" school for me. A place where I could be locked away and learn to be a good little girl. Prep School - preparatory - prepared for what?
Interesting - I still had a heart to help people and I joined a group of girls that supposed to tutor poor kids in the inner city in Philadelphia. We took a bus down town to meet up with the kids and teach them for 1 hour per week. All the little rich white girls doing their civic duty. But for me it was an eye-opener. As we rode on the bus out of our safe privileged town to the dirty impoverished down town of Phily, it was like going through a tunnel and I saw for the first time the huge chasm between the way I lived and the way they lived. I felt very guilty and ashamed that all I could give was my little 1 hr tutoring session. My social awareness was broadened and I was changed!
During that time, I was still struggling with my inability to control my life. So many things were taken away from me when I was shipped off to school. My horse, my boyfriend, all of my friends from school, my school and clubs, my sister and my family.
I acted out by doing drugs, taking up bulimia , and seeking attention from boys. I threw myself at any boy that would look my way. I copied other girls and tried to look sexy like they did. I went with anyone that would invite me. I no longer had any discrimination or judgment as to what I wanted or felt, I just followed the crowd.
When I graduated from High School I was still out of touch with my parents. They didn't know me very well and they really didn't seem to care about me. As long as I was seeming to fit the mold they could go along as though none of the bad behavior was going on. I was really in a tug-of-war with myself - between being the good little socialite girl and living out the calling deep in my heart.
This vicious circle of behavior continued for the next 10 years. Meanwhile, I did a lot of crazy things, drove drunk, I was raped, I shoplifted, was caught and went to jail, I tried many drugs, I slept with any man that looked my way. During this time, I married the wrong guy, he controlled me or should I say I gave him control over me. He was a con and a wife beater, he convinced me to do wife swapping, open marriage, steal from insurance companies, and on and on. I was miserable. I was in search of myself and the answer to my existence. And my life was a lie. I tried to keep up the appearance of a perfect life, married, good job, nice belongings. But I had no self respect, I could not see that I had any value.
I had long since given up on a relationship with God. I actually can't remember when but I just somehow slipped away. When the people in my life didn't seem to care about my wishes and desires, I rebelled and went in search of my purpose.
As I look back, I know that God had been guiding me along the way, for many reasons, but mainly nothing truly serious happened to me. I can see His divine protection in the fact that I didn't die, I didn't have any permanent damage from my drug usage, no one physically hurt me...As I think about it, I was searching around in a maze. Trying every avenue, and finally the path brought me to Stan Stafford. We moved up to Grand Lake. Our plan was to get married and live in the mountains.
Somehow I just knew that I wanted to get married in a church. So in my search for the "perfect" church, I found a quaint little chapel in the woods in Grand Lake. When I went inside to check it out, I met a man there. This man was the Pastor and he asked me "why do you want to get married in a church?" I didn't know why but I just "knew" I wanted to. It was the turning point of my life. I went in there because it was the "right" thing to do and I found out that God had been waiting for me to come to him because it was the Right thing to do. We sat and talked about why I wanted to marry in a church and by a minister and the pastor led me to the truth - which was that I was hungering for God in my life. He told me that Jesus is God and not merely a good man or a prophet and that by asking Him into my life I could have a personal relationship with God. That day I met the Lord Jesus Christ. I had finally found the path that God was guiding.
As I have grown in Christ, I have tried to piece together my Swiss-cheese memory of those 10 years. I have tried to make some sense of it all. Someone asked me the other day while I was telling them this story..."why do you think God let you go through all of this? Your heart wanted a relationship with Him way back when you were in Junior High", (when I was confirmed). I loved Him then and I chose to break away and leave Him for those 10+ years. But God is faithful, he kept me safe until I would come back to Him and accept Him on His terms. Until then I had wanted Him to be the god of my parents. A god that was another trophy on my wall of accomplishments, the "right" thing to do.
Today, I know that there was always a God-shaped hole in my heart. And no matter what I tried - it just could not be filled by anything other than the God who created me. I now understand and deeply perceive that He is the only One who truly values me. This whole process had to be gone through so that I would find my value in God. So that I would find my calling in Him. So that I would understand how much God loves me. So much that He sent His Only Son to pay the price for my rebellion and sin so that God could spend eternity with me. I would never have valued the Gift if I hadn't seen my depravity and Price that was paid to save me from the path of destruction that I was headed down.
- What I was like before I met Jesus Christ and then came to the realization that I needed a Savior rather than my family's faith.
- How I met Jesus Christ (received and accepted His forgiveness)
- What Christ has done in my life since (How my faith has helped me)
The tough part so far has been examining what I was like before I met Jesus Christ.
This self-examination brings me to the "bad years". From about the time that I was 15 years old til I was 26 years old, I was searching; searching for Truth. I was raised in a family that went to church most every week. I was baptized when I was a baby, I was confirmed when I was about 14 years old and our family was friends with the Minister! Although I was raised in a privileged family atmosphere, there was an emptiness.
At age 15, I started to ask people in my life about the purpose of my life. I just felt sure that there was "more" to this life than the surface realities with which I had been raised; such as: looking good for people and doing the "right" thing so that people would approve, making impressions and having the "right" husband and and yes getting married. Being a virgin and having a Silver Tea Service, making my Debut, living in a big house in the "right" neighborhood. But, I just knew that life was about more than making good impressions and having a lot of material things. I asked my parents and my pastor and they all said that I was coming along just fine and that I didn't need to worry.
It's funny though, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, all I could think to say was that I wanted to help people. It wasn't to make a bunch of money, or to have a happy little family or to be famous. I just had a heart for hurting people and I still do.
Well anyway, when I was told that I didn't need to worry about it, I began to live a rebellious and purposeless life. It's kind of like the little kid that acts out in order to get the attention that he needs. Negative attention is better than no attention, isn't it? And with my parents; you were a good little child if you fit into the mold and didn't require any attention. And I was just that - BEFORE.
During the summer of 1966, my sister got married and I lost my friend. I felt I was losing control of my life and I was losing a lot more than that because I knew that I wasn't all that good, and I had "fooled" everyone into thinking that I was "just fine". The biggest loss was my self-respect. That summer I began to party a lot. My parents, not knowing what to do or how to handle me now that I wasn't fitting into the perfect little mold; shipped me off to boarding school. The same perfect boarding school that my friend went to. My friend's family was in the social crowd in our town and so my mom figured if it was the "right" school for her it would be the "right" school for me. A place where I could be locked away and learn to be a good little girl. Prep School - preparatory - prepared for what?
Interesting - I still had a heart to help people and I joined a group of girls that supposed to tutor poor kids in the inner city in Philadelphia. We took a bus down town to meet up with the kids and teach them for 1 hour per week. All the little rich white girls doing their civic duty. But for me it was an eye-opener. As we rode on the bus out of our safe privileged town to the dirty impoverished down town of Phily, it was like going through a tunnel and I saw for the first time the huge chasm between the way I lived and the way they lived. I felt very guilty and ashamed that all I could give was my little 1 hr tutoring session. My social awareness was broadened and I was changed!
During that time, I was still struggling with my inability to control my life. So many things were taken away from me when I was shipped off to school. My horse, my boyfriend, all of my friends from school, my school and clubs, my sister and my family.
I acted out by doing drugs, taking up bulimia , and seeking attention from boys. I threw myself at any boy that would look my way. I copied other girls and tried to look sexy like they did. I went with anyone that would invite me. I no longer had any discrimination or judgment as to what I wanted or felt, I just followed the crowd.
When I graduated from High School I was still out of touch with my parents. They didn't know me very well and they really didn't seem to care about me. As long as I was seeming to fit the mold they could go along as though none of the bad behavior was going on. I was really in a tug-of-war with myself - between being the good little socialite girl and living out the calling deep in my heart.
This vicious circle of behavior continued for the next 10 years. Meanwhile, I did a lot of crazy things, drove drunk, I was raped, I shoplifted, was caught and went to jail, I tried many drugs, I slept with any man that looked my way. During this time, I married the wrong guy, he controlled me or should I say I gave him control over me. He was a con and a wife beater, he convinced me to do wife swapping, open marriage, steal from insurance companies, and on and on. I was miserable. I was in search of myself and the answer to my existence. And my life was a lie. I tried to keep up the appearance of a perfect life, married, good job, nice belongings. But I had no self respect, I could not see that I had any value.
I had long since given up on a relationship with God. I actually can't remember when but I just somehow slipped away. When the people in my life didn't seem to care about my wishes and desires, I rebelled and went in search of my purpose.
As I look back, I know that God had been guiding me along the way, for many reasons, but mainly nothing truly serious happened to me. I can see His divine protection in the fact that I didn't die, I didn't have any permanent damage from my drug usage, no one physically hurt me...As I think about it, I was searching around in a maze. Trying every avenue, and finally the path brought me to Stan Stafford. We moved up to Grand Lake. Our plan was to get married and live in the mountains.
Somehow I just knew that I wanted to get married in a church. So in my search for the "perfect" church, I found a quaint little chapel in the woods in Grand Lake. When I went inside to check it out, I met a man there. This man was the Pastor and he asked me "why do you want to get married in a church?" I didn't know why but I just "knew" I wanted to. It was the turning point of my life. I went in there because it was the "right" thing to do and I found out that God had been waiting for me to come to him because it was the Right thing to do. We sat and talked about why I wanted to marry in a church and by a minister and the pastor led me to the truth - which was that I was hungering for God in my life. He told me that Jesus is God and not merely a good man or a prophet and that by asking Him into my life I could have a personal relationship with God. That day I met the Lord Jesus Christ. I had finally found the path that God was guiding.
As I have grown in Christ, I have tried to piece together my Swiss-cheese memory of those 10 years. I have tried to make some sense of it all. Someone asked me the other day while I was telling them this story..."why do you think God let you go through all of this? Your heart wanted a relationship with Him way back when you were in Junior High", (when I was confirmed). I loved Him then and I chose to break away and leave Him for those 10+ years. But God is faithful, he kept me safe until I would come back to Him and accept Him on His terms. Until then I had wanted Him to be the god of my parents. A god that was another trophy on my wall of accomplishments, the "right" thing to do.
Today, I know that there was always a God-shaped hole in my heart. And no matter what I tried - it just could not be filled by anything other than the God who created me. I now understand and deeply perceive that He is the only One who truly values me. This whole process had to be gone through so that I would find my value in God. So that I would find my calling in Him. So that I would understand how much God loves me. So much that He sent His Only Son to pay the price for my rebellion and sin so that God could spend eternity with me. I would never have valued the Gift if I hadn't seen my depravity and Price that was paid to save me from the path of destruction that I was headed down.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Its been a whirlwind
Its nine weeks and counting down to departure day on January 3rd.
We are doing a Fundraiser on November 12th. It should really be fun.
There will be a dinner, and music and an auction for some really great items such as vacation Condos, Auto Repair services, Jewelry and lots more. We are hoping to raise $6000 to fund the building or should I say the finishing of the Medical Clinic building in Zziba. Very exciting. Eventually there will be a nurse and a traveling doctor working in the clinic and we expect to impact the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people in the region.
We are doing a Fundraiser on November 12th. It should really be fun.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Information for donations
Checks can be made payable to: Rock Creek Church,
Mailing address: 726 Front St, Ste A, Louisville, CO 80027-1871
Phone: (303) 494-2927
Email: rccadmin@rockcreekchurch.org
Email: rccadmin@rockcreekchurch.org
Leaving myself behind
As the time is drawing near, I am remembering to seek God more to ask Him to guide me in this journey. Many ideas have popped up as to what we can do once we arrive, but it is my desire that I should be supporting God's plans rather than asking Him to support mine.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Fundraising letters are hair raising :)
I tried to send out a mass e-mail and it bounced back and then I tried to past a picture of Uganda on it and it wouldn't stick! Argh!!!
Lets see - will it work to copy past into this blog? Hmmmm, not bad.
Lets see - will it work to copy past into this blog? Hmmmm, not bad.
Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. And thanks to all for your support of our family over the years. By your prayers and gifts, we have been successful in setting Mike & Whitney on their own adventures. Mike in the Peace Corps and Whitney a Pediatric Nurse!
v On January 3rd, we plan to join a group headed for Uganda to spend time with the orphans and to do some of the early work on a Medical Clinic in Zziba.
v In the village of Zziba, Uganda, we support 34 orphans living at the orphanage as well as many children in the community that Zziba church supports.
v OBM’s goal is to provide resources like education & skill training giving these individuals the tools they need to become self-sustaining and radically increase their options for the future. http://www.olivebranchministries.net/.
v Can you please support our mission either by a gift of money or prayer or both.
Even a small gift will make a huge difference.
The cost for each person is approximately $2700. This includes the airfare, hotel and food. We are also hosting a fundraiser on November 12th to raise $10,000 to benefit the Medical Clinic project directly.
Even a small gift will make a huge difference.
The cost for each person is approximately $2700. This includes the airfare, hotel and food. We are also hosting a fundraiser on November 12th to raise $10,000 to benefit the Medical Clinic project directly.
Please mail your tax deductible checks to:
Cecie & Stan Stafford
1855 Icarus Drive, Unit D
Lafayette, CO 80026
Payable to: Olive Branch Ministries or Rock Creek Church.
Cecie & Stan Stafford
1855 Icarus Drive, Unit D
Lafayette, CO 80026
Payable to: Olive Branch Ministries or Rock Creek Church.
Check out the is a heartwarming letter sent from one of the orphans to Pastor Gary on the next page.
Please continue to monitor our progress by checking out my blog http://trippingtouganda.blogspot.com/.
Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call if you have any questions.
Thank you so much, Cecie & Stan Stafford
Almighty God has made known to us the path of life;
Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call if you have any questions.
Thank you so much, Cecie & Stan Stafford
Almighty God has made known to us the path of life;
He fills us with joy in His presence,
with eternal pleasures at His right hand”
(Psalm 16:11)
Monday, October 17, 2011
Counting Down to Take Off.
The plane tickets are purchased and seats assigned... we are busy in fundraising efforts for the medical clinic and our personal mission.
Yesterday we discovered a news flash.
Uganda president: US troops not sent in to fight - CBS News
The Uganda president said that US troops not sent in to fight but to investigate.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/16/ap/africa/main20121041.shtml
This is typical of the East African area. The village of Zziba that we will be visiting will be safe and we are not alarmed at this time. This said, please continue to pray for us and the team as we prepare to go to Africa. And more importantly, pray for the children and Orphanage to be safe.
Yesterday we discovered a news flash.
Uganda president: US troops not sent in to fight - CBS News
The Uganda president said that US troops not sent in to fight but to investigate.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/16/ap/africa/main20121041.shtml
This is typical of the East African area. The village of Zziba that we will be visiting will be safe and we are not alarmed at this time. This said, please continue to pray for us and the team as we prepare to go to Africa. And more importantly, pray for the children and Orphanage to be safe.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
You think you have it bad?
Through all of our preparations to go to Africa in January we have also been watch our son, Mike prepare for his new adventure, 27 month in the Peace Corp in Vanuatu. He has been an inspiration to us in his diligence to make sure he has the necessary items but no too much so that he can stay under the weight limit of 80 pounds total for his two years of living on an island.
Today he got on his plane and took off on the first leg of his journey. He got off safely around 1:30 PM and is in the air right now. His plane lands around 3 PM PT and he meets the Peace Corps tonight for registration. Then tomorrow all day staging meeting wrapping up with the flight to Vanuatu by way of New Zealand. about 24 hours of traveling all in all. He is excited but a bit apprehensive of the possible home sickness. We will miss him terribly but we know he is on a journey for God! We have had a great summer with him and he is ready to be on his own now. Drop him a line if you think of it or read a bit of his blog http://cogitoergocogito.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/hello-world/
So here we were in puddles of tears, already missing our baby boy of 23 years - he's no baby but we are :) then to put it all in perspective, as we are walking back to the car we think of all of the many men and women leaving to go fight in a war and we felt very fortunate.
And we think of our daughter who's husband of only 6 months, is also deploying today for a place far far away in a war zone. And the tears came right back.
Then we get a call, that our elderly aunt, who is already in hospice, has broken her hip and they don't expect her to live through it...maybe not even through the day :( very sad. But she has the hope of Glory and knows her Savior well. She has lived a long full life and will be in heaven soon.
And then the final blow of the day, I received this email report of tragedy that occurred on Monday morning…
Today he got on his plane and took off on the first leg of his journey. He got off safely around 1:30 PM and is in the air right now. His plane lands around 3 PM PT and he meets the Peace Corps tonight for registration. Then tomorrow all day staging meeting wrapping up with the flight to Vanuatu by way of New Zealand. about 24 hours of traveling all in all. He is excited but a bit apprehensive of the possible home sickness. We will miss him terribly but we know he is on a journey for God! We have had a great summer with him and he is ready to be on his own now. Drop him a line if you think of it or read a bit of his blog http://cogitoergocogito.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/hello-world/
So here we were in puddles of tears, already missing our baby boy of 23 years - he's no baby but we are :) then to put it all in perspective, as we are walking back to the car we think of all of the many men and women leaving to go fight in a war and we felt very fortunate.
And we think of our daughter who's husband of only 6 months, is also deploying today for a place far far away in a war zone. And the tears came right back.
Then we get a call, that our elderly aunt, who is already in hospice, has broken her hip and they don't expect her to live through it...maybe not even through the day :( very sad. But she has the hope of Glory and knows her Savior well. She has lived a long full life and will be in heaven soon.
And then the final blow of the day, I received this email report of tragedy that occurred on Monday morning…
Hello Papa!
Just to let you know that we have had a tragedy this end! Winnie Kayaga, Kenneth Kibirango, mary Nakagiri, Dan Kalinda and Allen Nambi have lost their mother! She died this morning and cause of death is not acertained! She has been perfectly alright and after milking her cow, one of her step sons found her crying out in pain by the road side. In a few minutes she was dead. Suspected is either a heart attack or arthma attack or a freak accident of sorts! Well, I was meant to visit the children at school which i did but sadly, she has been the one keen parent who visited along with me. Burial is tommorow monday and 4pm. Winnie fainted and was hospitalised on hearing the news. She was due for dressing on 13th over her recent swelling op.
Well Papa! Its a shame! Pliz let Dad know about this! God bless you Bye.
Rhona
Just to let you know that we have had a tragedy this end! Winnie Kayaga, Kenneth Kibirango, mary Nakagiri, Dan Kalinda and Allen Nambi have lost their mother! She died this morning and cause of death is not acertained! She has been perfectly alright and after milking her cow, one of her step sons found her crying out in pain by the road side. In a few minutes she was dead. Suspected is either a heart attack or arthma attack or a freak accident of sorts! Well, I was meant to visit the children at school which i did but sadly, she has been the one keen parent who visited along with me. Burial is tommorow monday and 4pm. Winnie fainted and was hospitalised on hearing the news. She was due for dressing on 13th over her recent swelling op.
Well Papa! Its a shame! Pliz let Dad know about this! God bless you Bye.
Rhona
This was a very shocking and sad email regarding a wonderful family whom we have served from the beginning of OBM. You might remember the story I sent out about them a year or two ago telling how the dad had been murdered by thieves attempting to rob their house, and now they have lost the mom. Winnie, the oldest, is a very loving young lady. You may also remember from the story that when the dad was killed, the mom disappeared for a while out of fear, and Winnie (at age 13) became the mom for the little ones who were left behind. Our plan is to send Winnie to vocational school after the first of the year. Kenneth and Allen (a girl - we would say Ellen) are two of our brighter students who hold very good prospects for making it to University in a few years. The loss of the mom will leave 2 small ones to be cared for and the older ones need to stay in school if possible. Please keep them all in prayer.
When situations like this occur, it reminds me of the strategic role that we play in the lives of these children and their families, and how thankful I am that Olive Branch has been there for them to bring resource and opportunity so they can have a future and a hope. Olive Branch will stand in the gap for this family - we just need wisdom and direction.
Thank you for standing with us and with them! - Pastor Gary
And so the day has come full circle and we feel blessed to be planning a wonderful mission trip to be with these beloved African Children in Zziba. As we prepare to go we will be praying harder than ever.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
This is a mission trip - prayer and gifts welcome.
Did I mention that this is a mission trip? We are using our vacation time to serve the children in the small village of Zziba in Uganda where we support an orphanage and church. About 20 orphans live at the orphanage as well as many children in the community that the church supports. In 2008, Stan went to Zziba and was able to install electricity in the compound. Until then their only source of light was from Kerosene lamps. Pastor Gary has been back to Zziba approximately 3-4 time every year since then. On each visit he monitors the children’s progress in school and their health and well being. OBM’s goal is to help provide resources like education, skill training, agriculture, small business and industry development, the result being to give these individuals the tools they need to become self-sustaining and radically increase their options for the future. Here is their website, http://www.olivebranchministries.net/.
If you are interested in donating, please send your gift to Rock Creek Church
(Administrative Offices, 726 Front Street, Suite A Louisville, CO 80027, Phone: (303) 494-2927),
make sure you put our name on the bottom of your check.
If you are interested in praying, PLEASE DO :)
If you are interested in donating, please send your gift to Rock Creek Church
(Administrative Offices, 726 Front Street, Suite A Louisville, CO 80027, Phone: (303) 494-2927),
make sure you put our name on the bottom of your check.
If you are interested in praying, PLEASE DO :)
Plane tickets and More Immunizations
We really are going - it is a reality now. We bought the plane tickets and have dates and reservations!!
Our group will be departing Denver International Airport January 3rd. We will fly through Detroit and then on to Amsterdam! After a brief layover we will board the KLM airplane headed for Entebbe Uganda.
We are in the process of getting inoculated for Yellow Fever, Flu, Polio, Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis A& B and Meningitis. It is quite a big process. First stop was the CDC and then the local doc. Friday we are headed to an Infectious Disease doctor. Then I think we should be all set.
Stan really got a bad reaction to his shots and had to take it easy for about a day and a half.
But we are still gung-ho and very excited. Our next step is communicating with a support team...Pray for clear communication and generous hearts.
Our group will be departing Denver International Airport January 3rd. We will fly through Detroit and then on to Amsterdam! After a brief layover we will board the KLM airplane headed for Entebbe Uganda.
We are in the process of getting inoculated for Yellow Fever, Flu, Polio, Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis A& B and Meningitis. It is quite a big process. First stop was the CDC and then the local doc. Friday we are headed to an Infectious Disease doctor. Then I think we should be all set.
Stan really got a bad reaction to his shots and had to take it easy for about a day and a half.
But we are still gung-ho and very excited. Our next step is communicating with a support team...Pray for clear communication and generous hearts.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Got Shots !!
Wow its a bunch of immunizations for traveling to Uganda.
Yesterday I received
Yesterday I received
- my first of 4 Hep A&B combination shots
- The Polio booster
- The Flu vaccine
- Rx for Malaria
- Typhoid pills
- Cipro (just in case)
- Ambien to help me sleep
- Meningitis
- and the big one YELLOW FEVER!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Getting Ready - 15 weeks to go
We had the first training session last Saturday, September 17.
It was great to get together with the other people that will be going to Zziba, Uganda with me and Stan in January. Zziba is very close to Nkokonjeru which is about 35 miles east of the capital Kampala. These training sessions are crucial to the effectiveness of our involvement.
The purpose of the trip is to visit the orphanage in Zziba and meet the children, Edith and all of the staff there. We are thinking that we might be helping to build or start building the Medical Clinic there.
Beth S. gave her presentation on missionary training and also the Wordless Book on how to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our next steps are the following:
1. Begin putting together a support team letter and contact list.
2. Practice your Wordless Book presentation. So that I am ready to "demonstrate" it at the next training!
3. Begin scheduling vaccinations and checking with doctor as to which ones I need.
4. Be in touch w/my prayer partner to encourage her and let her know you're praying for her request.
5. Assemble my training notes and other handouts in a Uganda file or notebook.
6. Start a todo list and get a packing list going as ideas pop into my head.
7. Check airfares and other travel ideas.
The hardest part right now is not having exact dates for the trip. I will be praying that that gets solved quickly.
It was great to get together with the other people that will be going to Zziba, Uganda with me and Stan in January. Zziba is very close to Nkokonjeru which is about 35 miles east of the capital Kampala. These training sessions are crucial to the effectiveness of our involvement.
The purpose of the trip is to visit the orphanage in Zziba and meet the children, Edith and all of the staff there. We are thinking that we might be helping to build or start building the Medical Clinic there.
Beth S. gave her presentation on missionary training and also the Wordless Book on how to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our next steps are the following:
1. Begin putting together a support team letter and contact list.
2. Practice your Wordless Book presentation. So that I am ready to "demonstrate" it at the next training!
3. Begin scheduling vaccinations and checking with doctor as to which ones I need.
4. Be in touch w/my prayer partner to encourage her and let her know you're praying for her request.
5. Assemble my training notes and other handouts in a Uganda file or notebook.
6. Start a todo list and get a packing list going as ideas pop into my head.
7. Check airfares and other travel ideas.
The hardest part right now is not having exact dates for the trip. I will be praying that that gets solved quickly.
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