Our "special" dvd's

So here there's a pretty amazing bootleg dvd market. You can find shops on main street selling copies of movies that are still in movie theaters because why... they were most likely shot in the movie theater (seriously in some copies you can see the silhouette of people getting up) or they are just some how ripped off a random copy. The other night, we actually had kind of a fun and unusual DVD experience where we were watching Madagascar 2 (so good!) and all of the sudden it switches to some eastern european/slavic language, it was hilarious! So needless to say it's pretty entertaining whenever we get local copies of movies. Just thought you'd all enjoy another "only in Africa" experiences.

crazy times

The other night (Sunday) we were at dinner and Bev and Jess get a phone call that there was a smell of burning and the power was out at the compound. Come to find out that a large wire that goes over our yard caught fire and because it was severed and so all the electricity that would normally go through that went into the homes and so about 430 volts went into the outlets and now poor Jess and Bev are having to figure out how to fix what was the power company's fault. Right now we're suffering from a projector bulb that's fried, a washer, a refrigerator and then a few other things that they're having to replace. There's never a dull moment here, but it's a bummer having to pay for others mistakes...literally. Please just keep this in prayer that everything will be resolved and that it wouldn't cost too much.

I dare you to move

There's this Switchfoot song called "Dare You to Move" and it's so true. I encourage you all not to just live vicariously through me as you read these blogs, but realize that you have your very own mission field right where you're at, you seriously don't have to go to Uganda to be a part of His work. Never think for one minute that the way God is using you is any less important than what God is doing with me here. Take those steps of faith, talk to that person God's been calling you to talk to for some time, share with your mom who doesn't know the love of Christ that He loves her more than she'll ever fully comprehend, whoever it may be in your life that God has laid it on your heart to speak to be it a family member, friend, or the cashier at the grocery store. We're simply called to "move".

It was a very good day!

So today was an absolutely awesome day full of many little blessings. It started off with finding out that they have some booths in the market that sell big sun glasses (I know, it's a sad thing to get excited about) but that's just become part of the American girl persona that I am able to maintain here. I was able to go this afternoon and get some cool big white ones that I'm pretty stoked about.

I was also able to finally get in 5 packages that I've been waiting on (one of them was shipped in October, the rest were sent before Thanksgiving). And now for a little bit of a glimpse into what our post office is like and how things work there: The packages area is in the back where they have stacks of papers and random letters and then boxes and bags of boxes everywhere. You go in there after receiving a slip that says for you to get your package (unless you're like me who violated this rule and would just go back there all the time, in case my packages were there but they had failed to give me a slip - I kind of got in trouble about this about 2 weeks ago). Today, however, I went to check my boxes and after my rebuking that I had received didn't want to face the guy in the back again, I was almost thinking they were holding my boxes hostage, well I was there checking my box and there was nothing in there and all of a sudden I hear from inside "number 2244?"and I cringed and said yes, he had heard me because I was talking to Ryan (isn't that scary even people at the post office can recognize me by my voice?) Well, I went back there praying that he would be nice, and he actually had four boxes for me! After helping him find my boxes and then waiting patiently for him to write everything down, and paying about $10 for the taxes associated with them, I was a happy camper. Then later I get a phone call (he now has my number to call me in case I get packages in the future :) ) saying I have one more!

Anyways, I was able to open all those boxes and for those of you who contributed, thank you from the bottom of my heart, the candy, brownie mix, movies, coffee, etc... and presents for the kids (stay tuned for more pictures of when I hand those out) is such a huge blessing, I really don't think how much it means to me that you all did that. All in all...all those little things added up to a pretty amazing day.

A new perspective

I was blessed grewing up in an environment where I was able to hear some of the most amazing teachings from men who were so strong in their faith and who taught doctrinally solid and technically refined sermons where they've even mastered the art of being able to turn their notes without you even noticing. Well, being here, I'm getting a new perspective on pastors and church as a whole, in a good way. In order to be a great pastor, you don't have to have a fancy leather bound binder and color coded notes, you could just have a half sheet of paper (length wise) outline and if it runs over, there is a little bit of scotch tape holding the last part to the back of the front of the outline (it's hard to explain, but I hope you get the picture). Jess has become one pastor who I have come to respect more than most people I've met in my life. He gets up there, teaches from his Bible that is duct taped together on his half-page outline and teaches things I've never even thought of before. Jess is only a part of the perspective change though. I realize that it's part of the American culture and there's a difference between Africa and America (no, duh ;) ) but I grew up with nice bulletins, special programs that run the worship slides, cordless microphones, bright lights, fancy graphics, etc... but it's been so cool to be here and experience church in a very humble way. The cat hangs out in the part we actually refer to as the church, the computers we have are dusty and one of them is older than I am I think, but still does the trick, the benches are wood benches with cushions tied onto them, there are wall-mounted fans because there's no such thing as air conditioning, worship is a mixture of Ryan and locals who are just really learning how to play their instruments, and the Bibles that the people use when they come have pages falling out of them, but all that to say, the people still come and are fed verse upon verse line upon line. It's definitely eye opening to see how God works even when the conditions don't seem "satisfactory".

A little soap box

Right now I'm watching a certain channel which shall go unnamed. I know this may be a little controversial, but this is seriously something I wish I could scream out on the rooftops that Christianity is not based off of having money, being healthy, having the warm-fuzzies, or jumping around shouting out random things, it's about bringing glory to HIM. It's about being sanctified, being changed in order to show not how great our faith is, but how amazing our God is. Nowhere in scripture do you find (in its true context) that you will have a nice sum in your bank account and live a hunkey dorey life without problems.

James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (notice that it's not being healthy, wealthy, or wise). Matthew 5:11,"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." 2 Timothy 3:12, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." and finally 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Ok, phew! I'm done now.

Back to school

After a 2 week break, we are now back to school. In these next two months, we're set to cover New Testament survey, Principles of Preaching, Apologetics, Church History, Ethics (and I think there's a couple more). Today we dove into Matthew and I just love that no matter how many times I've read a certain book in the Bible, God brings out new things each time I read it. His Word is jam packed with so much, it's just amazing. One thing that's been blowing my mind lately is that I can't help but think of how Jesus came to be that example of what it means to live a life that's pleasing to Him. All those words that are written in red, aren't just random thoughts He had and thinks it would be swell if we tried to do them, what He spoke is what He did. He led by example, He loved His enemies, He was obedient, He was a servant, and many more things, He didn't just talk the talk, He walked the Walk, and I'm just so humbled that I can be (quoting Hudson Taylor) "The little servant of an illustrious master".