Wait for it, there now I said it...

We, Priscilla and I have applied for and have been accepted as GA missionaries. Yes Lord willing we are going back to lovely Uganda, Africa. I say Lord willing simply because we are leaving room for the Lord of all the earth to interrupt our plan if at any point it moves out of His will for our lives. But as of now we are moving ahead, as we believe the Lord is leading, to go back to Uganda for at least a two year stay. We still have lots to do and wrap up before this can happen. Our departure goal as of now is late-ish 2011. I would like to thank you all for your prayers in this matter before we visited Uganda and please continue to pray with us as we move forward in this new and exciting adventure lead by our great and wonderful God. Blessings

Doing What We Know He Last Said...

Yes we are still here working at flourishing in the court of our God, that is, where He has planted us for this time and this season. Remembering and keeping in mind that life is full of seasons some of which are enjoyed more than others. :) We got to share our trip to Uganda with the Jail Ministry Breakfast folks on Saturday it was a real blessing for us and we hope for them also. It was cool to go through all the photos seeing all the places we were and all the people we meet. It stirred up in me at least, the remembrance of why it is we would like to go back. It was like we were looking at pictures from home! All the smiling faces and the stories that go with those faces. Only the Lord knows when we will go back. My prayer is that it is sooner and not too much later. It was really cool to work jointly on this presentation with my lovely wife. Tomorrow we have a meeting with Pastor Neil, let's see what happens???? Please continue to pray for us as we seek the Lords will for Uganda. More to come later. Thank you and god Bless

My Heart Still Yearns...

...yes it is true my heart still yearns to see all the wonderful, beautiful people that we spent three amazing weeks with in Uganda. While it has been only a couple of months since we got back it feels like only yesterday I was getting ready to hop a plane, embarking on one great journey, not knowing at the time that it was going to change my life forever. Talking with Jess tonight via Skype was way cool, it made me home sick for a place I have only visited once but am looking forward, if the Lord wills, to spending much more time there. Only God knows what the future holds and since He holds the future we will continue to commit our ways to Him so that He can plant us where He desires.

Gone Way Too Long...

Okay, okay your right it has been way too long since I sat down and shared. I guess as we have been waiting on the Lord to speak with us concerning wonderful Uganda I have not felt like I have much to say. As a matter of fact I have been purposely keeping my big mouth shut so that my wife can hear from God and not from James! Oh by the way if you think this is the post that is going to announce some big decision about becoming full time missionaries you are wrong! This is just to share that we are still seeking God Almighty for His wonderful, perfectly timed, direction and guidance in our lives. One thing we will share: God is great and greatly to be praised! Thank you Jesus for saving to the uttermost those who call on You!!!

Here we are Lord send us...

No we have not made a decision about going to Uganda yet. We are still digesting and processing all that we saw, heard and felt as we visited beautiful Uganda. Let me tell you there was a lot! The hospital, prisons, Dinida, Loco, all the surrounding area's, the people, the beautiful people who love on you from the very first meeting and who are so very lovable, the many errands, the culture, the other missionaries so many pieces to sort and sift through. Let us not forget the many questions that come not from those around us but from within. I.E. "Is this what and where you would have us go Lord? While it is easy for us to lean in favor of going, the number one and main reason we go must be because the Lord is calling us there. It is sometimes easy to become distracted with all those who offer, "financial support when you go", those who offer encouraging words like, "you would be perfect for this work!" Please do not miss understand me it is very nice to know that the example we are living and the walk we are walking inspires folks to get behind us in what God would be doing. My point is these things alone can not be the deciding factors, our standard, our measuring rod which we use to make a decision like this must be, "Is God calling us there?" A very wise man shared with me once, there is a difference between filling the gap (doing or joining a work because it is open and there is a need) and being called to a work. The former after the novelty wears off and the flesh gets tired will become a burden that becomes a work of frustration and eventual will spring up into a root of bitterness which ultimately will cause meltdown or a rift in the existing work and the ripples from that can be more harmful than not having enough laborers to begin with. The latter will give those laboring the strength to endure all that comes their way, when hard times arise they can and will run to God because they know that it is He that has brought them there. They will be able to lean on Him when everything and everyone seems to be against them. They will be able to find peace and solace in His embrace, trusting that "He who began the work will bring it to completion." They will praise His name giving Him the glory for the victories because they will know and understand it was the Lord who did it. I love Isaiah's response (6.8) after being spiritually cleansed with the hot coal from the alter prepared for his commission if you will, "Here am I! Send me." Oh that we all would make this the cry of our hearts knowing that we have been saved, cleansed and raised up in the ways of the Lord fully prepared to be His messengers first in Jerusalem; our homes and community, Judea; surrounding areas and our state, Samaria; other states and our nation, the end of the earth; just that the rest of the world, the nations. Let us all cry today, Here am I! Send me!

Settling Back In...

Well it has been a long two days since we landed back home. I feel like we are finally getting back to normal if there is such a thing. Made it though my first day of work and am getting ready for (I hope) a good nights sleep. Of the many questions I was asked today I guess the one that really makes me think is, "What impacted you the most?" I was asked this question in Uganda and have now been asked the same question here at home. I am still not totally sure what out of all the things we saw and did impacted me the most. I tend to lean toward the hospital and the conditions I witnessed there, but the prisons were equally moving for me especially after spending 7 years in the Holiday Inns we call prisons here in New Mexico. In Uganda there are no cots nor are prisoners given clothing, they eat the same thing everyday, corn type bread, beans and rice. Another thing that impacted me was the amount of work done by the missionaries that are already living there in Uganda. Their impact is huge!!! It is like non stop go, go, go. There were a couple of statements made that will stick with me one I may have shared already but it bares repeating; "we can not make these people our project but must bring them Christ." I believe that while we do that the other things will follow. The other statement was one that rings true to what I also believe; "There is a difference between filling the gap because there is a need and being called." We could surely move to Uganda because of all that we saw and come along side the work being done there and I bet it would be appreciated too, but are we called there? Are we called to pick up, sale/keep, give away life here and exchange it for life there? For a season, two seasons, twelve or fifteen seasons? "I don't know yet" is my only response. Could it be? If the Lord wills it anything could be. I am confident that as we settle back in the Lord will make it clear. How will He do this? Will He fan the spark of love developed in only three weeks for the beautiful Ugandan people into a consuming fire that engulfs our thoughts and desires? Maybe. Will He speak to Jesse and Beverly Rich? Maybe. Will He lay a burden for Uganda on us that is so heavy we have no choice but to go back? God knows. I guess for now we will keep on doing what we were doing and wait for the Lord to reveal His pan to us. The one thing that I tend to forget is that my time table rarely aligns with His. Thankfully His time is always perfect and He is always on time!

Here We Come...

Half way home that is what we are. We touched down in London about 4 pm (London time) it was a nice flight and we made it to the Hotel okay for our layover. I do not think that my mind and my heart have had time to process it all yet. The Lord showed us many things some of which I may not fully grasp for some time. While I am not totally sure what one thing stood out to me the most; since the prison ministry was like nothing I have ever seen and the hospital prayer ministry blew my mind I think I will have to wait and see how those things effect "this life now." I think it is easy to forget what one has seen and walk away unchanged or to forget after only a short period of time and never step in to help. Yes we should always be ready to take action but one thing that was said during our stay has really hit me/stuck with me, "you cannot make these people your "project" when one views the extreme poverty or the harsh conditions it is easy to want to pick up the cause, but we must not forget that they need Christ!" And as my friend Jesse would say, "you have to keep the main thing the main thing." I am sure it will take some time for us to reflect on our trip and understand fully what we saw and how it should effect us, in the mean time we will continue the journey home and seek the Lord for His wonderful guidance. One thing is sure as we come home, we will never be the same. We were even blessed with one last sunrise as we got to the Entebbe airport, one more reminder of how great our God is!!!

Not Goodbye...

What a trip!!! It is hard to believe we are leaving on Friday. First it was hard to believe we were here, then it was hard to believe we were actually being used by God, now I can hardly believe that it is time to start putting everything back in the suitcases so we can leave. Looking back over our three week stay I can honestly say it was truly a blessing to be able to come out here and be used by God in so many ways. The bonds that have already been developed with these beautiful people who are so very loving are very strong and already tearing at our hearts. As we mingled after church tonight the tears were already flowing. It is surely going to be an emotional departure. As some of us said our goodbyes I was reminded that it is not goodbye but rather, "until we meet again" because the truth is if we do not see one another on Ugandan or American soil we will one day see each other with our blessed Savior. Thank you Jesus for the truth of your word!! God is so good! When it is all said and done I can tell you we shall surely miss Uganda and the beautiful people who dwell here. On a lighter note as you can see by the photo on Monday we got to go for a "fun" day rafting on the Nile!! While we had a great time it was not all fun and games the course we took is a class 5 just so you understand the magnitude of a 5, class 6 is only rafted by professionals or complete idiots. Kelli our dear sister in the Lord broke or fractured a bone in her foot on the third set of rapids. It was a very wild and crazy ride and I personally loved every minute of it!!

Sunrises and sunsets...

Maybe it is the fact that we are thousands of miles away from home, maybe it is because we actually have made time to stop and look, or maybe it is simply we have forgotten to stop and rejoice in what are Lord has blessed us with; what ever the reason this morning (July 3rd) we got up early and took time to view what the Lord had so wonderfully laid out for us. A beautiful sunrise trees, birds flying in formation, clouds, fresh air, the works!! A reminder that our God is great! A reminder that if I do not stop to look I will not see; a reminder that I must like Daniel, purpose in my heart to do the things that are important to me and the things that please our God, like taking time to enjoy God's creation; like setting aside a portion of my day for time with only Him. Deadlines will come and go, as soon as one task is finished another comes up to take its place. According to Solomon man will always have plenty of labor on this planet. While I have not been here to work personally with Ryan McCabe I definitely felt the love of Christ from all the lives that he touched during his service here at Calvary Chapel Jinja. As his friends and family here in Uganda wished him well on his next leg of an incredibly journey with God it was easily deduced that Ryan will be missed greatly by many here in Jinja, what a wonderful view God gave me of what it looks like when a life is poured out in love. While the sun may be setting for Ryan's work here in Jinja I know that the sun is rising on a new work with a new people who equally need to see how Christ loves them, I can think of no one better equipped than Ryan for the task.

So Many Sites To See...

Yesterday as we watched Jesse and Deanna take great leaps of faith, bungee jumping I was taken back by the wonderful beauty of the Nile. It is simply put a force to be reckoned with. I have never seen such splendor! It reminded me once again of the vast greatness of our God, and just how small I am in comparison. And as small as I am God loves me and cares for me and looks out for me. How awesome is our God!!! We have seen so many things here it is hard to describe them all. Again I see great extremes here in Uganda on one road you may see beautiful homes and the very next turn can bring you into a slum. Great beauty accompanied by great levels of harshness. You can not take in one without the other, they exist side by side. The part that gets me is that while I am sure these beautiful people somewhere know that they are not rich with worldly goods, they are rich in a different way; simplicity of life. While some of the struggles here are common to all there are some that I am not used to; malaria for one, it comes so quickly and so often that it is just part of life here. Life here is not caught up with the gaining of things (some still do) but in survival. To see how others live in the world has been one of the greatest blessings for me on this trip. It has helped me to see with my heart the sights that my God sees. Mankind on whole in need of a Savior! "There are none righteous no not one." We all need Christ, no tongue, no soul, no nation escapes this great need. Please pray for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers!!!

Hardcore mommy...

Today our dear sister in the Lord got to mark off one of her items from her bucket list!! As you can see she took a great leap of faith jumping off a 170' bungee tower!! She was not alone our wonderful host and brother Jesse also took the same leap of faith. If you are waiting for pictures of me or my wife you will not see them they are not on my list!! Although, I was inspired by their leap so maybe someday in the future I might give it a try!!! Praise the Lord! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

So much so fast...

Wow there is do much to see, taste, and experience here in Uganda! Every time you turn around there is another smell. With the sewage treatment plant, the fish cannery and the tannery so close that is not always a good thing! Extremes seem to be the norm here in Uganda. One minute you may be walking along smelling the fragrance of beautiful flowers then the wind hits and whew!! Its kinda like sweet and salty granola bars. This is one very beautiful place!

Monday not so blue...

We are anything but blue as we started this Monday out with a shout for the Lord!! We took a team out to the Remand prison (jail) where Sandy did his timbrel routine which the guys really loved! It was a great time for them to see a man take broken things and make a sweet melody with them. Sandy knocked it out of the park!!! I then gave my testimony; when it was al said and done six men took a stand for Christ out of the 600 we spoke to. It was awesome. Please pray for these new brothers in Christ. We rejoice with these men because there is great pressure from "other" religions in there. These men will most likely face hostilities from their fellow prisoners because of their stand. It was a very powerful service!!! Please pray for the men who did not take a public stand but who also prayed with us many could be heard praying along with us and when i looked out across the crowd at one point I could see lips silently moving with us in the prayer of salvation. A reminder to me that a testimony is a terrible thing to waste. Everyone of us have a story that was given to us by Him. Sharing that story does not have to be elaborate or only on special occasions but can be shared as He leads at anytime, with great effectiveness. I believe there is one factor that we often forget when sharing with others, that is; We do not know where God has brought this person from. God's timing is always perfect! We serve an amazing God who does amazing things with those who are His for those HE desires to be His.

Taking a deep breath...

Wow what a power packed week it has been!! The Pastors Conference was very successful. On Thursday we got to go and make a presentation to the entire main prison and condemned at the same time. Sandy did timbrel and then I shared my testimony it was a great time in the Lord. Later in the day we went out to one of the villages where the ladies had a bible study and I got to hang out with some of the local kids and play "hacky sack." They wanted to use it like a futbal so it was a very interesting time. I think the kids had more fun following me around pulling the hair on my arms. That is the strangest thing to them since they for the most part do not have them. While we were there it was brought to our attention that some of the local pastors family was extremely sick. 4 of his children either have malaria or they are sporting american flu as they call it. So we brought some of them into Jinja for testing and yes it was malaria which is very common here. This morning we went and visited them in the hospital once there we loaded two of the kids and took them for another test at a different place so that we could be sure they only have malaria and not typhoid on top of the malaria. This trip has truly been an eye opener for me!!! This afternoon we went to a place along the Nile river where we had lunch and some swimming (oh yes the conditions are really tough out here) a great time of just sitting back and taking a deep breath. Very pleasant afternoon. Tomorrow Priscilla will teach twice at the women's prison, Mark and Deanna will be going to the hospital ministry and I will be teaching in the prison three different services. Sandy has been doing timbrel every where they will let him it has been truly a blessing to see the faces in response to his music on cans chairs and stuff.
It is amazing to me how we as americans have this mind set that things must be done our way or a certain way when here on the other side of the world they are doing what most americans would say "that can not be done like that" and yet the Lord is doing it!!! I love the way the Lord opens my eyes to His ways a fresh and a new with some of the simplest things...

Second Day...

We had a very great day this the second day of the Pastors conference. These men are blessing our socks off. They are so knowledgeable and so hungry for the things of the Lord. It is amazing to be here sharing and visiting with them. The Lord is pouring out Himself in abundant measures!!! Too pooped to go much further tonight, Pastors conference is over tomorrow will post some more Lord willing, once I have rested. :O)

Well as you may have guessed by now I am having some level of difficulty getting things loaded on the net. Here is a couple for now know that i am working getting more loaded soon

Beautiful Africa...

Well family and friends here are some promised pics and a short video of some African worship no guarantee on the quality but I am hoping that it is audible. We are having an absolutely marvelous time here. Today Mark, Deanna and Priscilla all went into three different prisons today to minister the Lord blessed them greatly while they were there. Sandy got to practice and share some drumming techniques with some of the local worship team while Pastor Neil and I were blessed to go into the local hospital to pray with people. I can tell you that at our debriefing tonight all had been touched by the conditions and by the Lord and how He moved through each of us indifferent ways. Powerful stuff to be sure I can say we were praying that the Lord would baffle and bewilder us and He has not let us down. Tomorrow kicks off the Village Pastor's Conference we're very excited to see how the Lord moves.

Africa...

We are here! Yes after a very eventful day in London we are now in our destination, Africa!!! It is simply beautiful, currently it is pouring rain outside and the thunder claps are very loud and yet it is very tranquil. We have received a most gracious welcome and are finally starting to come alive after a really good nights sleep. I had my first Africa adventure and of all things it was with a stork. I am not sure of it technical name but it is one very large bird that is sorta like our buzzard. Apparently one landed for what ever reason in apportion of the compound that it could not take off from, its wing span is about 8 feet! They stand any where from 3 to 4 feet tall and are smelly! Yes that is how close I was to this thing. So Jess warns me that we need to watch out for his beak which is pretty gnarly especially once he starts snapping it open and shut in an effort to scare you off. Naturally I back off, I mean Jess is practically a local so he knows best. He comes out the back door with his sword/broom and starts fencing this massive angry, scared and trapped bird (dinosaur) which he does very successfully pushing it at me holding the gate closed. Jess instructs me to open the gate but I am a little late at the bird veers off to the left getting trapped again. Now it is my turn to fence the bird Jess quickly hands the sword over the fence to me and I start trying to shoo the bird out the gate. Thankfully it sees the opening and heads out into the courtyard where it is able to spread its wings and fly into the African sky. On the very first day too!!!

London...

We have had an absolute blast here in London today! Internet is a bit wierd, actually we don't want to pay so maybe we are weird! Photos will followonce we settle in and rest (ha) in Uganda. Our flight to Entebbe seems to be on track so we should see Africa by morning.

On the way...

We made it we made! Everyone is through the gates and enjoying sweet fellowship while we wait for our plane! God bless you all we are going to miss you.

No more days...

That's right there are no more days left between us and the plane only hours, we leave in the morning!!! Talk about flutterbys and all the crazy what if thoughts a guy can start to have if he let his mind go there. My thought right now is, "we are really leaving!" we have arranged for a ride, the house is covered, the documents are all copied and ready and the bags are packed there is nothing left but for us to leave!!! What an amazing ride this has been and we haven't even left Albuquerque yet. And again the Lord is right on time this morning I woke to some text messages (preferred communication method of teenagers) from both my daughters are you ready for this? "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1.9 Out of the mouths of babes. Our God never ceases to amaze me!!!

Show time...

Here it is folks it is show time!!! All the planning, preparation, all the prayer it all hits the pavement in just a few short days. Simply amazing is all I can truly say about our God! There is something about this trip, this adventure in the Lord that leaves me at a loss for words, I can not explain it, I can not put it to words, I can not formulate a response I must simply trust and know that He is the one doing all this. There is no other way to explain how this entire trip has come about. It is our God showing Himself to my wife, the other team members (who by the way are equally blown away by the awesome God that we serve)and myself in wonderful, spectacular new ways. Fresh and new snippets of how great He is and how willing He is to be strong on behalf of those who would dare to entrust it all to Him. How more than capable He is of baffling and bewildering His children.

Now that your out of the way James...

Yesterday God opened a door for me to speak into the life of my oldest daughter Tiana's life. It was His perfect time. I really wanted to talk to her and share with her but had not felt like I would have represented the God of John 3.16 correctly. You know there's a lot of love in that verse and that is exactly what this situation needed, God's great and amazing love. It did not need my "two cents" but the truth of His word. It was really cool being open and honest with my baby girl and I am happy to report that (as best I can tell anyway) it went well. It was a nice conversation between two adults, I even got a thank you text for, "spending time with me dad" which I locked and saved thank you very much. With all the stuff that has been going on lately and all the preparations things have been a bit hectic and then right in the middle of all this its as if God says "Be still and know that I am God..." Which is exactly what He has been saying to Priscilla and I for some time now. I am truly blessed by the great detail God gives to our puny, vaporous, 70 year if we make it that far, lives. I am reminded of a couple of Proverbs 25.11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." and "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" 15.23 Truly our God is great!!!

Awesome God...

So the other night the team heading out to Uganda in June got together for some grub, fellowship and prayer. It was simply amazing. Our God is so amazing. To be able to sit and talk of drums, red balloons and "being still" was just what we needed! This trip is going to be unlike any other for the entire team. God is moving and orchestrating so masterfully all we can do is step back in awe. It is a joy to see how God is doing this and it is with great expectation and excitement that we look forward to everything HE is going to do while we are in Africa. The Lord has revealed to Priscilla and I that we need to simply "Be still and Know that He is God, that He will be exalted among the nations, that it is Him that will be exalted in all the earth." Psalm 46.10 emphasis mine. When it comes down to it and all is said and done that is our goal that wherever we go or wherever we are we would simply be still and know that He is God and that we would always exalt Him!!!

Curve Balls...

Just when you think everything is as it should be: it seems life winds up and launches a screaming curve ball right at you, no where to run, no where to hide from the scathing speed the curve ball must be faced! Actually there is one place to turn, to Him! It is in times of greatest testing that I find myself most amazed at how great God is at giving me the grace needed to get through the curve balls of this life. It is easy to trust Him when all is well and as it should be, when His blessings are easily evidenced in my life; but will I trust Him when things are most hectic, seemingly spinning out of control, when every bone in my body wants to take control, lead the fight, exact justice or just plain do it my way. Will I fall on Him in my weakest moments and allow Him to show Himself strong on my behalf? Will I become the bat that He can use to knock the wild curve balls this life throws out of the park? Will I seek refuge in Him? Will I believe that He will do all that He says and has said He will do? "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4.15-16 and again in 10.23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." Yes our God is faithful, remember that truth today as you face the "curve balls" of this life.

One Foot in Front of the Other...

"Human Pin Cushion" that is what you can call us these days! We thought there was a lot to do getting ready for a trip such as this thenwe learned about all the shots. WOW! The Lord has really been working in great ways, His provision is right on time, His guidance is perfect, and His strength is so greatly needed and all the while His grace is abundant. He is totally in control and we are loving it. Thanks be to our God who is great and greatly to be praised. "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." Proverbs 21.30 We are so grateful that it is the Lord who is directing our steps!

Busy, busy, busy...

Okay, so like is it just me or is this month really crazy busy?! Work seems to be imploding: trying to get ready for my absence, hire a part time position, do my job and manage the men, its like totally wild. Home is equally wild and crazy: two graduations to attend and one graduation party to help plan, planning and prepping for the trip to Uganda, a wedding to attend, estate business in Espanola and many things that will not even come to mind right now!!! So on top of the "flutterbys" my head is now spinning. If ever I wanted to yell, "Calgon take me away" it would pretty much be now. I asked Priscilla last night, "if we were not going to Africa would it still be so crazy busy?" We concluded, "maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't." Seems to me taking a trip of this nature adds a certain level of urgency/craziness to ones life. You know I could not even imagine trying to do something like this with out the Lord. I would have no where to turn for solace were it not for Him. Psalm 37.4-5 "Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass."

Right on Shcedule, His Shcedule...

Well we finally got our itinerary, yahoo!!! Next week we go for our shots and anti malaria pills, booooooo!!! Not pleasant but necessary. It seems like only yesterday we were talking about possibly going to Uganda and today we are super close to being there live and in person. I just can't get over how great and awesome our God is. You know for all our planning and scheduling it has really been cool to see how He is pulling all this together, the support letters, time off from work, the side jobs for extra funds, the prayer warriors shrouding us in sweet prayer, the whole thing has been the Lord!!! I must admit there is something electrifying about stepping out and just going not knowing what the Lord has in store or exactly what to expect once you get there. "This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it-the Lord is His name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and mighty things that you do not know.'" Jeremiah 33.2-3

Blessed or a Blessing???

Have you ever been on your way to do a job or to teach somewhere or maybe to do a home/hospital visit and on the way you think to your self, "I am going to be such a blessing" or on the flip maybe you think, "this is going to be such a blessing for me." Well this past weekend I found myself thinking the latter. Here I was heading out to a moving job thinking about how the Lord had blessed me with some extra funds for our trip to Uganda coming up in June, when in reality the real blessing was for them.

Turns out that as we moved and shared with one another bits and pieces of who I used to be came up and before long without realizing or trying I had ministered to to a sister in the Lord who really needed to hear that our God changes lives!!! That in Christ there is hope for the hopeless!!! That even when all seems lost our God is able!!! This dear sister needed to hear how God had changed me, yeah me who had been a drug addict for nearly eighteen years. Why did she need to hear this? Because if God could do that for me then He could also do it for her wayward loved one too!!! She needed a simple reminder that our God saves!!!

So when it was all said and done I was blessed and a blessing, can I tell you our God is Great!!

Who knows what the Lord can do?

I think it was about a year ago that I had this crazy notion that it might be cool to adopt some kids. My thoughts were now that I know the Lord and am not a dead beat dad anymore it might be fun to give it another try. To raise some kids in the way of the Lord. Why not right? So I ask Priscilla, "Honey what do you think about adoption?" She rapidly responds, "I think it would be great! I have always wanted to adopt some African children." Me being mister practical quickly remind my lovely wife that there are plenty of children right here in Albuquerque that need some folks to love on them. To which she says, "Yeah I know but I would still like to adopt some African children." Well in my mind that was out. I guess it was just a crazy notion anyway right?
So last month when my passport privileges were reinstated and I was almost immediately asked to pray about taking a trip out to Uganda Africa I did not think anything about it. As asked I prayed about it for a couple of days, then I shared it with my wife who immediately said, "well we had better pray!" This is of course to my shock and wonder as I have asked for her thoughts about possibly going to the Philippines or Belize and both spots were dismissed with a crinkle of the nose and a solid "I don't think so."
So now I am totally getting excited because my heart has been to "go out." Not sure where or when just believing we are being called to go out. A few days go by we are praying and seeking the Lord desiring to hear what He has to say about Uganda wanting to make sure we are in His will and not mine. We are sitting at the dinner table having some tacos when all of a sudden my wife starts crying/laughing! I'm like what in the world is going on?!!! She looks up at me and says, "And you said I couldn't have any African babies." Needless to say I too start crying/laughing as we both start praising the Lord and thanking Him for the wild ways in which He brings things to pass. The preparation and guiding that He does long before the desire is fully birthed or even conceived. Our God is great and greatly to be praised!!!! I think I Corinthians 2.9 says it far better than I can. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

It is simply amazing to me how much work really goes into mission trips. The planning, phone tag, more planning, did I mention prayer, more planning, scheduling, itineraries, more prayer, difinately prayer! "Prayer is the engine that drives the hand of God." Even as Priscilla and I prepare to possibly go out to Uganda as long term missionaries I am stunned at how "tied" to our stuff we are. The house, cars, all the house hold goods. I thought I was free?!??!? The more I see this plan develop the more stuff I find that has to be dealt with provided for or sold. It is mind boggling!! Don't get me wrong I am by no means a minimalist, it is the Lord who has blessed us with the house and the cars and the stuff, but how easy it is to be deceived into believing that I must provide a safe place for all the "stuff." WOW!!!! The planning is going well; I believe we have narrowed down an itinerary and are excited to see how the Lord works it all out.

In the Beginning...

Well here it is, the very first post on a totally "new thing" for me, blogging. Currently Priscilla and I are praying about His call in our lives. Jinja, Uganda in East Africa!!! Yes we are totally excited to see how the Lord is going to do this. We are preparing for a vision trip in June, three whole weeks!