6.01.2011
It's Time, It's Time!
I can't sleep I'm so excited! I'm not sure what part excites me the most, but I am super excited to see how God will change me. As per my mom's request, I am completely packed. If it were up to me, I would be packing right up until the last minute tomorrow morning. But, thanks to a little foresight and planning, God provided me with a momma that forces me to do the right thing sometimes. Not to mention all the other ways she has provided, organized, and overseen this entire operation.
I love my momma.
My flight is at 4:05 p.m. but I will be leaving around 11:00. I've been told it's gonna be a long flight. I'm not gonna look at a clock until I get back.
As I was packing today, there were some interesting items on the packing list. Baby powder and toilet paper being two of them. Yes, baby powder and toilet paper. I realize we'll be living rough the next week or so and anything to help ease the strain of rural Uganda will be welcome... but baby powder?? I guess if I accidentally forget my toilet paper and happen to misidentify a poison leaf for a nice, plush sheet of natural toilet paper, I might need a bit of baby powder. With my luck, my ignorance at such odd items will probably come back and bite me in the butt (hopefully not literally).
I pray for a few special things on this trip. To start with, I pray that everyone I sit next to purchases the proper number of seats. I'm not too fond of the idea of sitting in a three person row with two guys that should have purchased two seats each.
Next, I pray that all my organs and necessary vitals are in proper concert with one another and myself. However, as noted above, my mom prepares for EVERYTHING. If I become ailed with anything short of a life-threatening injury, chances are I'm packing every necessary medication.
I also pray that neither of my shoulders become dislodged. Seeing as my suitcase is fully equipped to serve as both a closet AND a drugstore/grocery store, I fear the strain may be too great on my shoulders. And, if not mine, whichever poor fellow has to load and unload my bag every leg of the trip, I pray for his joints as well. If it weren't for the 50 pound bag limit, I'm sure my mother would have insisted I try and fit a hospital inside my suitcase as well.
Last, I pray that something goes wrong. Where's the fun in everything going right? How are you supposed to fully witness God's provision and omnipotence when everything goes right? I just pray it isn't my bag that gets lost and re-routed to Asia. And I pray it isn't my stomach that injects the one bad germ. ;)
Again, I am super excited. 10 days in a land far, far away excites me for some reason. I don't know why but I shall find out in no more than 48 hours.
The end.
I love my momma.
My flight is at 4:05 p.m. but I will be leaving around 11:00. I've been told it's gonna be a long flight. I'm not gonna look at a clock until I get back.
As I was packing today, there were some interesting items on the packing list. Baby powder and toilet paper being two of them. Yes, baby powder and toilet paper. I realize we'll be living rough the next week or so and anything to help ease the strain of rural Uganda will be welcome... but baby powder?? I guess if I accidentally forget my toilet paper and happen to misidentify a poison leaf for a nice, plush sheet of natural toilet paper, I might need a bit of baby powder. With my luck, my ignorance at such odd items will probably come back and bite me in the butt (hopefully not literally).
I pray for a few special things on this trip. To start with, I pray that everyone I sit next to purchases the proper number of seats. I'm not too fond of the idea of sitting in a three person row with two guys that should have purchased two seats each.
Next, I pray that all my organs and necessary vitals are in proper concert with one another and myself. However, as noted above, my mom prepares for EVERYTHING. If I become ailed with anything short of a life-threatening injury, chances are I'm packing every necessary medication.
I also pray that neither of my shoulders become dislodged. Seeing as my suitcase is fully equipped to serve as both a closet AND a drugstore/grocery store, I fear the strain may be too great on my shoulders. And, if not mine, whichever poor fellow has to load and unload my bag every leg of the trip, I pray for his joints as well. If it weren't for the 50 pound bag limit, I'm sure my mother would have insisted I try and fit a hospital inside my suitcase as well.
Last, I pray that something goes wrong. Where's the fun in everything going right? How are you supposed to fully witness God's provision and omnipotence when everything goes right? I just pray it isn't my bag that gets lost and re-routed to Asia. And I pray it isn't my stomach that injects the one bad germ. ;)
Again, I am super excited. 10 days in a land far, far away excites me for some reason. I don't know why but I shall find out in no more than 48 hours.
The end.
5.03.2011
“I Love It When A Plan Comes Together.”
First, I have been so involved in school and my sister’s graduation I have not had the proper time to capture my thoughts on paper (Or on the internet). Sorry, I’ll do better in the coming weeks. J
But, that in no way means I haven’t had the proper time to be overwhelmingly astounded. I have. Not only did God provide exactly what I needed to raise. He provided more. More! I didn’t even think, in the beginning, I could raise the required amount. In fact, I, alone, could not have. Yes I have an amazing mother who can put together an equally amazing fundraising plan. Yes, marketing is like sleeping and eating to her. Yes I have countless friends and family who were willing to bless a certain young man with their prayer and finances. Yes, I can make a website that informs said (amazing) friends and family of a certain need. However, GOD is the glue; kind of like super glue, I suppose. He is the one that organized and orchestrated this whole operation. He is the one that moved my many (amazing) friends and family to bless me. He is the one that gave my (amazing) mom her talents and gave her the time to formulate a fundraising plan. And HE is the one that said, “Here, let me handle that fundraising challenge of yours.” When God is in charge, the plan comes together.
I am loved. Thank you so much to everyone that graciously blessed me with their prayer and donation.
Once again, I promise to do much better with my posting as finals end, Madison’s graduation is complete, and I begin to actually think and focus on this super exciting trip!
4.05.2011
"I'll handle it..."
What do you say when you can’t describe what you’re seeing happen? I don’t know. I wish there was a word that fully encompassed all my feelings about what is happening right now. I do know one thing though; God is teaching me exactly what “Omnipotent” means.
“Let Me handle it…” Those are four words that I do not easily take from others. Naturally I need/want to handle situations on my own, work out my own problems, and take care of myself on my own. But how do I tell the Omnipotent God of the universe, “No thanks, I’ve got it under control.” I can’t! At least, not without making a complete fool out of myself. This is definitely one area of my life where I am red hot on God’s Anvil. He is molding me to rely on Him instead of myself.
Sure I could have raised some money on my own. But the amount that has come in in less than a week is only by God’s laying it on His people’s heart to give and letting HIM work it out. I’m not sure how much has come in because it keeps changing, drastically. One day it was $400, the next it was close to $1,000; and it keeps going up. People are making tremendous sacrifices so that I may be able to go to Uganda. That is both humbling and exciting. That is my Dad looking out for me and saying “Here, let me do it.”
I laugh when I think of God smiling down at me and saying, “Silly Brandon, I have just a wee bit more experience with miracles than you do.”
The amount my relationship with Him has strengthened is incredible and exponential. And I’m still at home. I haven’t even left for Uganda yet! God is blowing me away. It’s amazing.
Thank you, everyone, who has given sacrificially to support me on this Mission trip. Hearing Him say, “I’ll handle it…” is incredible.
3.27.2011
A short video...
Here is a quick video I made that quickly spotlights SOS Ministries. Their website is located here. I took none of the pictures in this video. I borrowed some of the ones I liked from another church and their excellent photographers. The experiences, pictures, and videos of their trip are located here. Enjoy!
God says yes...
After about two weeks of praying and looking for both closed and open doors that would indicate God's will for me regarding this trip, I believe God is saying yes.
He is saying yes I should go, leave my comfortable (albeit a little hot and mosquitoey) home and go and serve the people of Uganda.
Additionally, while I have no idea where the money is going to come from, He is also saying yes that He will provide. This part greatly excites me. I cannot remember a time where money just appeared out of nowhere other than in the washing machine after I accidentally left it in my pockets to begin with. I long to see how God will use my fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ to support me as I partake in serving and teaching the people of Uganda. I am not saying I expect it to just pop out of my washing machine, though. I fully intend to work hard and earn the money. However, I know very well that, of my own abilities, there is no way I can raise close to $2,300 in one short month. This is where my Provider shows one of his many talents.
To see Him work is one of my greatest desires for these next few months. To see Him work through finances is just the beginning though. I have known of several friends who travel to foreign countries expecting to share the Good News and to be involved in the changing of other's lives. But, what ends up happening, is they themselves become changed in all new ways. That too greatly excites me. Through my prayer and quiet time, I have grown closer to God because of what I've read. Now, I want to see. I want to see God working in both my life and the lives of the Ugandans. I want to experience His power and omniscience. Traveling to Uganda is no small task. Many things can and probably will go awry. Learning to trust Him is one thing I can very easily say I need to improve upon. This logistically complex trip seems the perfect training ground.
Above all, my utmost hope is that God will be glorified. I am His servant. This is His operation. I am not the commander, but an infantryman. "He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30 -- I plan to put this Bible verse into full operation.
He is saying yes I should go, leave my comfortable (albeit a little hot and mosquitoey) home and go and serve the people of Uganda.
Additionally, while I have no idea where the money is going to come from, He is also saying yes that He will provide. This part greatly excites me. I cannot remember a time where money just appeared out of nowhere other than in the washing machine after I accidentally left it in my pockets to begin with. I long to see how God will use my fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ to support me as I partake in serving and teaching the people of Uganda. I am not saying I expect it to just pop out of my washing machine, though. I fully intend to work hard and earn the money. However, I know very well that, of my own abilities, there is no way I can raise close to $2,300 in one short month. This is where my Provider shows one of his many talents.
To see Him work is one of my greatest desires for these next few months. To see Him work through finances is just the beginning though. I have known of several friends who travel to foreign countries expecting to share the Good News and to be involved in the changing of other's lives. But, what ends up happening, is they themselves become changed in all new ways. That too greatly excites me. Through my prayer and quiet time, I have grown closer to God because of what I've read. Now, I want to see. I want to see God working in both my life and the lives of the Ugandans. I want to experience His power and omniscience. Traveling to Uganda is no small task. Many things can and probably will go awry. Learning to trust Him is one thing I can very easily say I need to improve upon. This logistically complex trip seems the perfect training ground.
Above all, my utmost hope is that God will be glorified. I am His servant. This is His operation. I am not the commander, but an infantryman. "He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30 -- I plan to put this Bible verse into full operation.
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