We are asking anyone who can think of items we should not forget please please let us know!
Our family is feeling very blessed today!
Angie
PS
If you want the plant in the background let me know!
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7
The HOPE Center Uganda Happenings
Monday, February 28, 2011
Excited!
We are asking anyone who can think of items we should not forget please please let us know!
Our family is feeling very blessed today!
Angie
PS
If you want the plant in the background let me know!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Our Amazing God!
I have worked on this post for a very long time, it is hard for me to write intelligently. It is also hard to revisit all the emotions this post brings up. So if it is a rambling post that does not make sense please do not hesitate to let me know!
I remember being a young teenager, 13 yrs or so, telling everyone I knew that I wanted to be a missionary when I grew up. I wanted nothing more than to show the love of Jesus and spread God's Holy Word.
I think I was a senior in High School before it became abundantly clear to me, I was NOT going to be a missionary, EVER! In my young mind, I felt not having funds to attend Bible college, not being independently wealthy, that my dream wasn't going to happen.
I accepted this decision and proceeded to get married at 20 and have a baby at 21. I never forgot about my dream as a young child, but realized that God had a different plan for my life. I remember sitting in church at times listening to the missionaries, loving their stories, amazed at what they have seen and squelching any green envy bugs. I was happy with the path of being a mom and wife. Honestly happy.
Fast forward to 4 years ago!
I still remember my first trip to Uganda, we had a court date in Jinja for adopting our children. The trip was stressful from the word go. So many questions that had too many answers and no definite answers. Chris, my son Alex and myself were spending hours in prayer that court would go smoothly and we would have no 'bumps' in the road.
Meanwhile, I was miserable in Uganda, the 2 yr battle to get my children home and adopted was wearing on my nerves. The morning of our court date I knew something was not right, I just felt it, I was praying without ceasing, constantly pleading with God that all would go smoothly and that He would remove the sense I was feeling that all was not right. I was definitely NOT in love with Uganda, in fact, my feelings were I was never going to return to this country, EVER!
We all go to court, sit for hours, wait patiently, and finally are escorted into the judges chambers, he looks straight at me, and then at our lawyer, and says, "I do not have time to hear this case today! I have to deal with this murder!" Our lawyer does her best to attempt to convince the judge that the fate of orphans is just as important as a murder, he is not buying her story and dismisses us. We get a new court date, in 2 1/2 months. I was so disheartened that my feelings for Uganda bordered on hate at this point, (as I look back on the events I can now see that my feelings are all adoption/stress related).
We return home to the states, as my husband holds me in his arms I can still remember looking up at him and informing him that i am NOT going back under any circumstances and that he may return and do the next court date all by himself. My husband, being the smart man that he is, just says yes dear, anything you want, because he sees that I am an emotional mess. He waits a week and patiently explains to me that he will be happy to go with me on the next trip but that I needed to go, as he did not feel he was capable of getting all the paperwork organized. I reluctantly agreed to return.
Now here comes the awesomeness of God! My husband and I stay is scheduled for 3 weeks, we arrive the day before court. the judge hears our case, PTL, but I am still not in love with my childrens country! We are patiently waiting for our rulings from the judge. My husband and I are spending time together for the first time in our lives without children. We are enjoying ourselves as best we can as we wait and wait.
We were there for around a week, when I looked at my husband and said, I love it here, could we please move here? I am astounded those words came out of my mouth, my husband is literally staring at me with his mouth open, and he says, "Who are you and what did you do with my wife?" I starting laughing at that point, and said, God is so incredibly beautiful and amazing that He changed my heart about 1 minute ago and now I cant get enough. I was not even praying for God to change my heart, I had not even considered that prayer, but God knew, and had plans for our family!
Now when you look at the whole picture, of a seed He planted when I was but a young child, to today as we are donating, selling, and packing our lives for a move to Uganda to be what? MISSIONARIES!!! God is good ALL the time, and even though we, as mere humans, questions why events happen, He has a reason, a greater purpose, an awesome lesson for us, His children.
Romans 8: 26-28
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
To God ALL the Glory!
Blessings, Angie
I remember being a young teenager, 13 yrs or so, telling everyone I knew that I wanted to be a missionary when I grew up. I wanted nothing more than to show the love of Jesus and spread God's Holy Word.
I think I was a senior in High School before it became abundantly clear to me, I was NOT going to be a missionary, EVER! In my young mind, I felt not having funds to attend Bible college, not being independently wealthy, that my dream wasn't going to happen.
I accepted this decision and proceeded to get married at 20 and have a baby at 21. I never forgot about my dream as a young child, but realized that God had a different plan for my life. I remember sitting in church at times listening to the missionaries, loving their stories, amazed at what they have seen and squelching any green envy bugs. I was happy with the path of being a mom and wife. Honestly happy.
Fast forward to 4 years ago!
I still remember my first trip to Uganda, we had a court date in Jinja for adopting our children. The trip was stressful from the word go. So many questions that had too many answers and no definite answers. Chris, my son Alex and myself were spending hours in prayer that court would go smoothly and we would have no 'bumps' in the road.
Meanwhile, I was miserable in Uganda, the 2 yr battle to get my children home and adopted was wearing on my nerves. The morning of our court date I knew something was not right, I just felt it, I was praying without ceasing, constantly pleading with God that all would go smoothly and that He would remove the sense I was feeling that all was not right. I was definitely NOT in love with Uganda, in fact, my feelings were I was never going to return to this country, EVER!
We all go to court, sit for hours, wait patiently, and finally are escorted into the judges chambers, he looks straight at me, and then at our lawyer, and says, "I do not have time to hear this case today! I have to deal with this murder!" Our lawyer does her best to attempt to convince the judge that the fate of orphans is just as important as a murder, he is not buying her story and dismisses us. We get a new court date, in 2 1/2 months. I was so disheartened that my feelings for Uganda bordered on hate at this point, (as I look back on the events I can now see that my feelings are all adoption/stress related).
We return home to the states, as my husband holds me in his arms I can still remember looking up at him and informing him that i am NOT going back under any circumstances and that he may return and do the next court date all by himself. My husband, being the smart man that he is, just says yes dear, anything you want, because he sees that I am an emotional mess. He waits a week and patiently explains to me that he will be happy to go with me on the next trip but that I needed to go, as he did not feel he was capable of getting all the paperwork organized. I reluctantly agreed to return.
Now here comes the awesomeness of God! My husband and I stay is scheduled for 3 weeks, we arrive the day before court. the judge hears our case, PTL, but I am still not in love with my childrens country! We are patiently waiting for our rulings from the judge. My husband and I are spending time together for the first time in our lives without children. We are enjoying ourselves as best we can as we wait and wait.
We were there for around a week, when I looked at my husband and said, I love it here, could we please move here? I am astounded those words came out of my mouth, my husband is literally staring at me with his mouth open, and he says, "Who are you and what did you do with my wife?" I starting laughing at that point, and said, God is so incredibly beautiful and amazing that He changed my heart about 1 minute ago and now I cant get enough. I was not even praying for God to change my heart, I had not even considered that prayer, but God knew, and had plans for our family!
Now when you look at the whole picture, of a seed He planted when I was but a young child, to today as we are donating, selling, and packing our lives for a move to Uganda to be what? MISSIONARIES!!! God is good ALL the time, and even though we, as mere humans, questions why events happen, He has a reason, a greater purpose, an awesome lesson for us, His children.
Romans 8: 26-28
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
To God ALL the Glory!
Blessings, Angie
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Busy Week!
This week has been filled with minor preperations in getting ready to leave for Uganda!
We finally set the dates that we will travel to Nebraska to see friends and family. We will be going the first weekend in March.
My desktop picked up a virus or just crashed not for sure which. It is at the repair shop. While i was taking it there i realized i had some errands i had been putting off. I picked up kids immunization records and also went down to renew drivers lincense (ewww).
We also had a meeting with an amazing missionary of 25 yrs he is now retired. He loaned me a book, which so far i would recommend, One Million Arrows, by Julie Ferwerda,its about Raising your children to change the world! Amazing so far.
Today i ordered half of our footlockers for starting to pack! Was very emotional and monumental to me. Tomorrow since it is pay day i will start shopping to fill lockers!
Please be in prayer about our paperwork that needs to be approved at the Ugandan Embassy. Prayers would also be appreciated that funding would come through.
I also got to speak with my Ugandan friend that said so far things are peaceful in Mityana. Please be in prayer for Uganda as elections are starting.
Emotions are starting to run high, when they do, I stop and pray and remember to take things one at a time. I need to write some lists, i am not very good with lists at all, wish i was some days. I need a list for necessary items to pack, a list for necessary HCU things i need, a list of things to accomplish before we leave, and the Randy needs a list of things to accomplish once we leave and he returns, phew, see told you a lot of lists! Please pray that we glorify God with our actions and that we continue walking in His will for us!
Angie
We finally set the dates that we will travel to Nebraska to see friends and family. We will be going the first weekend in March.
My desktop picked up a virus or just crashed not for sure which. It is at the repair shop. While i was taking it there i realized i had some errands i had been putting off. I picked up kids immunization records and also went down to renew drivers lincense (ewww).
We also had a meeting with an amazing missionary of 25 yrs he is now retired. He loaned me a book, which so far i would recommend, One Million Arrows, by Julie Ferwerda,its about Raising your children to change the world! Amazing so far.
Today i ordered half of our footlockers for starting to pack! Was very emotional and monumental to me. Tomorrow since it is pay day i will start shopping to fill lockers!
Please be in prayer about our paperwork that needs to be approved at the Ugandan Embassy. Prayers would also be appreciated that funding would come through.
I also got to speak with my Ugandan friend that said so far things are peaceful in Mityana. Please be in prayer for Uganda as elections are starting.
Emotions are starting to run high, when they do, I stop and pray and remember to take things one at a time. I need to write some lists, i am not very good with lists at all, wish i was some days. I need a list for necessary items to pack, a list for necessary HCU things i need, a list of things to accomplish before we leave, and the Randy needs a list of things to accomplish once we leave and he returns, phew, see told you a lot of lists! Please pray that we glorify God with our actions and that we continue walking in His will for us!
Angie
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Todays Deal!
Todays deal is.....if you donate $50 to HCU we will send you a free handmade
Ugandan necklace worth $20!!!
Just drop us an email at hopecenteruganda@gmail.com and let us know where you would like it shipped!
Just click the donate button on the side bar!
How can you pass one up when they are displayed by someone so beautiful!
(okay, okay, I am slightly biased!)
Monday, February 7, 2011
Newsletter
Here is our newsletter! You should be able to click on the pictures and then be able to read it!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Mile a Minute!!!
I have put off posting because I have been trying to get my thoughts together. I did not want to sound rambling. I have now decided that my mind is going 100 different directions at once, and that the ability to organize my thoughts may not come for months!
Via the God channel, (accidental/on purpose meeting people that He wants you to know, that is only explainable only through God's intervention), we have met a missionary that is actually renting in Mityana! She is making a series of books that are culturally relevant, creation to Christ, her ministry is called Imagine Acts Ministry. But she also helps at the local school/orphanage in the Mityana District. Through a series of emails back and forth we found out that there are no accommodations for children 0-5 in the Mityana district, and that they desperately need help in that area. The school/orphanage there is actually taking care of a 20month old that was dying due to malnourishment. Imagine that! God has pointed us to the right district in Uganda, one we have never visited, never before heard of until we knew we were going into ministry! God is so incredibly AMAZING! If we can prevent 1 child from dying due to neglect then everything we have done will be worth it!
We have several travel agencies looking for flights for us, one called today and said she found a flight April 1st! My first thought was WHAT? April 1st? BUT it means 6 one way tickets for only 4000!!! So we are praying about it. I am sad to say what is preventing us from saying yes at this point is monthly pledges, yes, this is the hardest part for us, and we are awful at it!! But the time has come for me to swallow any and all pride for the sake of the children that are dying deaths that are senseless!!! I am begging you all, please drop us an email pledging 5,10,15,20 or any amount you wish beginning in April. Help us stop the senseless dying of these babies.
My lovely friend Amy sent us some pictures of Mityana here are a couple for you.
We are excited to see our new home in person! Please share our journey with us!
Blessings!
Via the God channel, (accidental/on purpose meeting people that He wants you to know, that is only explainable only through God's intervention), we have met a missionary that is actually renting in Mityana! She is making a series of books that are culturally relevant, creation to Christ, her ministry is called Imagine Acts Ministry. But she also helps at the local school/orphanage in the Mityana District. Through a series of emails back and forth we found out that there are no accommodations for children 0-5 in the Mityana district, and that they desperately need help in that area. The school/orphanage there is actually taking care of a 20month old that was dying due to malnourishment. Imagine that! God has pointed us to the right district in Uganda, one we have never visited, never before heard of until we knew we were going into ministry! God is so incredibly AMAZING! If we can prevent 1 child from dying due to neglect then everything we have done will be worth it!
We have several travel agencies looking for flights for us, one called today and said she found a flight April 1st! My first thought was WHAT? April 1st? BUT it means 6 one way tickets for only 4000!!! So we are praying about it. I am sad to say what is preventing us from saying yes at this point is monthly pledges, yes, this is the hardest part for us, and we are awful at it!! But the time has come for me to swallow any and all pride for the sake of the children that are dying deaths that are senseless!!! I am begging you all, please drop us an email pledging 5,10,15,20 or any amount you wish beginning in April. Help us stop the senseless dying of these babies.
My lovely friend Amy sent us some pictures of Mityana here are a couple for you.
Blessings!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)