Last post in Arkansas!!

Crazy stuff has been happening this week..We leave TOMORROW!! And we have been crazy
busy! I've been having to say A LOT of goodbyes (not the funnest thing to do..) I have to keep reminding myself that i'm seeing all these people again at Christmas. But today Katelyn got a call that made her day! It totally turned the day around. Probably the best call she will get in her life! She got a call that they found Lamara (a.k.a Evi! to read her story clack here) I don't know all the details, but they have found her, and the team that went to Africa this year got to talk on the phone with her. And she is doing well! Praise God! So yes we do leave tomorrow!! It's been so surreal! I still don't this it has all the was registered with me :P Today Annie told me that she didn't want to leave cause she was going to miss her bed :( And that she was going to miss swinging, jumping, and playing outside, she is so cute! Yesterday we had to get shots. My mom told us (Me, Benji, Laura, Nate, Annie, and Garrett) that we were just going to get 1, but no..I had to get 3, Benji had to get 3, Laura had to get 2, nate had to get 1 (lucky) Annie had to 2 (but she was the most dramatic :P) and Garrett (sweet sweet Garrett) had to get 5..It was so sad, i started crying. What made me start crying was, the whole time we were calling Garrett Superman. And he would smile and stop crying, and show us his muscles. Finally it was his turn, and he looked at my mom and said "I don't want to be Superman." and started crying. It was so sad! Well this is my last post here in Arkansas, next time i post i will be at Boot Camp!! So exciting!!

Psalms 107:1-43

I read this chapter and fell in love with it,

^{Psalms 107:1-43}
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. ² Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. ³ For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south.

⁴ Some wandered in the wilderness,
lost and homeless.
⁵ Hungry and thirsty,
they nearly died.
⁶ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he rescued them from their distress.
⁷ He led them straight to safety,
to a city where they could live.
⁸ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
⁹ For he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
¹¹ They rebelled against the words of God,
scorning the counsel of the Most High.
¹² That is why he broke them with hard labor;
they fell, and no one was there to help them.
¹³ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
¹⁴ He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;
he snapped their chains.¹⁵ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
¹⁶ For he broke down their prison gates of bronze;
he cut apart their bars of iron.

¹⁷ Some were fools; they rebelled
and suffered for their sins.
¹⁸ They couldn’t stand the thought of food,
and they were knocking on death’s door.
¹⁹ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
²⁰ He sent out his word and healed them,
snatching them from the door of death.
²¹ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
²² Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

²³ Some went off to sea in ships,
plying the trade routes of the world.
²⁴ They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
²⁵ He spoke, and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
²⁶ Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
²⁹ He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
³⁰ What a blessing was that stillness
as he brought them safely into harbor!
³¹ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
³² Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation
and before the leaders of the nation.

³³ He changes rivers into deserts,
and springs of water into dry, thirsty land.
³⁴ He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands,
because of the wickedness of those who live there.
³⁵ But he also turns deserts into pools of water,
the dry land into springs of water.
³⁶ He brings the hungry to settle there
and to build their cities.
³⁷ They sow their fields, plant their vineyards,
and harvest their bumper crops.
³⁸ How he blesses them!
They raise large families there,
and their herds of livestock increase.

³⁹ When they decrease in number and become impoverished
through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
⁴⁰ the Lord pours contempt on their princes,
causing them to wander in trackless wastelands.
⁴¹ But he rescues the poor from trouble
and increases their families like flocks of sheep.
⁴² The godly will see these things and be glad,
while the wicked are struck silent.
⁴³ Those who are wise will take all this to heart;
they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

Trusting God

So we leave in a week (A WEEK!) life has been very stressful. But God has helped us by letting us have a empty house this week, (my grandparents left for Wisconsin) They get home tomorrow...I believe. In my last few posts you've seen that we have been having to do a lot of trusting in God. To relieve that He is the provider, of money, a place to live, and strength. The story that pops into my head about God providing is Jesus feeding the 15,000.

¹⁵As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

¹⁶Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

¹⁷"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

¹⁸"Bring them here to me," he said. ¹⁹And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basket-fulls of pieces that were left over. ²¹The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

5,000 is a lot (not including the women and children)! And Jesus took 5 loaves of bread, and two fish, and fed all those people! So He can give us the money to get to Uganda. So there is really no need to worry. Now we don't need to worry about little things like money, that is NOTHING to

God! We just need to trust that He will provide! If He could feed this many

people ---->

with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and STILL have some left over, then he can provide for us, so there is no need to worry. Another story that makes me think of God who provides is the

parting of the Red Sea.

¹⁹And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: ²⁰And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. ²¹And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. ²²And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. ²³And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. ²⁴And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, ²⁵And took off their chariot wheels, that they drove them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fight for them against the Egyptians. ²⁶And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. ²⁷And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. ²⁸And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. ²⁹But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. ³⁰Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. ³¹And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

Now this is the Red Sea we're talking about! This thing is HUGE, but that didn't stop God. Now if the Red Sea can't stop God, then neither can money, or anything else. So all i'm really trying to say is, TRUST GOD!

Smile :)

Wow the past few days have just been flying by!! We started packing!! Just reminds me how much longer we have left. We have been GETTING RID OF STUFF so fun...And we are house sitting for some friends over the day, and then come home at night, so we have so little time to pack and stuff. And while we are here, we are working on newsletters. So it's been like crazy busy! And tomorrow we have to go to the dentist!!! NO!! I hate the dentist (lets just be honest, who likes it??) Going through stuff has showed me, how much stuff we HAVE but don't NEED. Jesus's disciples went out on a mission trip and didn't bring any extra clothes, shoes, food, or didn't prepare a place to stay. But Jesus provided!! We need to trust that God will provide for us, and not worry all the time about silly stuff like, 'What will i wear today?' or 'What will i eat?' and my family has definitely learned that in the past few months. Here is a good verse to engorge us everyday

Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these thing; for your heavenly Father know that you need all these thing.

Matthew 6:31-32

Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more vaulable than many sparrows.

Luke 12:7

So we don't need to worry about these things, we need to trust that God is watching! Now look around you, do you REALLY
need everything you own, or could you give it to someone else that

really do need it.
There are plenty of people out there you are happy when they have NOTHING! But we can't be happy when we can't get the latest phone! Here is a heart breaking stories.

My mom's friend, named Cari, was walking in a village in Uganda, and everyone there is happy, but for some reason there was a little boy who wasn't happy. So she walked over to him and asked what was the matter. He looked at her and said "I'm very sick." he was close to dying (this boy was 5). So she took him to a near by hospital and bought him all of the medication he needed, all for $2.50 in American money.

Here is another touching story

Cari (the same girl) was walking through a village, with a boy around 11. His clothes was old, and he was a mess! People laughed at him, as he walked by, and spit on him screaming "Worthless!" This made Cari mad, and she took the boy and washed him and got him dressed in cleaner and better clothes. The boys face was glowing as he walked into the village in his new clothes. The people treated him differently, with respect.

(Fiona in blue)

Now th is story happened to my sister when she went to Uganda. This girl Fiona had been
following my sister around. Once they were playing duck, duck, goose. And Katelyn got picked, so she went around, and sat across from Fiona. So Fiona got up, and sat right next to Katelyn.

Fiona: What country are you from?

Katelyn: America

Fiona: Oh

(pause)

Fiona: I live with my aunt, but i don't like it.

Katelyn: Oh why?

Fiona: She beats me..

Katelyn: I'm so sorry (what do you say to that??)

(pause)

Katelyn: Where are your parents?

Fiona: Far away..

(pause)

Fiona: Will you take me back to America and be my mother?

Katelyn: I wish i could Fiona.

That just an example of the children hurting out in the world that we are living in.

So next time you are about to complain about something you can't have, remember the orphans around this world, who are suffering. They haven't eaten in days, and carry around a bottle of gasoline, and sniff it when they feel their hunger, and yet they are still happy, and smile everyday, even though they know any day they might die.

More Beautiful You

2 and a half weeks until we leave!! i've been having say goodbye more then anyone should. Yesterday was my 'going away' party, and i almost started crying. I thought leaving wouldn't be hard. I mean i felt like i was just that one girl in the crowd..no one knew my name, i was just there. And i felt like i was in certain peoples shadows. But then i heard this song, it is know one of my favorite songs, More Beautiful You by Jonny Diaz

There could never be a more beautiful you Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do So there could never be a more beautiful you

Those words engorged me. And i realized that God put me on this earth for a reason, and there could never be a more beautiful me :) I started making friends. The other day we were at our
cousins, and we were talking, one of them stopped, and just stared at her food. We asked her if she was ok, and what she was sad about. Finally i asked her if she was sad about us leaving, and she nodded and started crying. Then all of us started crying. I was wrong, leaving is going to be so hard. I never realized how many friends i had.
And i'm going to miss all of them so much! So this is for my friends,

Thank you so much for your friendship, I went through a phase when i didn't have any friends, and it was hard. So your friendship means a lot! I know God put you in my life for a reason. When i'm down I know i can turn to you for help, and i know that i can talk to you anytime.

So thank you

Time flies

1 month until we leave...man how time flies..But i'm SO excited!! But also sad. (it's a mix of emotions) I'm going to miss so many people..Life is busy right now in our family, with Africa and boot camp. I have to keep reminding myself, that this is God's plan for us. I find myself worrying a lot, about big things and little things. I mean we are moving to Africa! That's a whole other country! Another continent! But i remind myself that God's plans are greater then mine could ever be. The past few months i've been telling people of our (and mine) life plans, and yes i've been called crazy, and have gotten weird looks..But i just smile and saw "I know i'm crazy..FOR GOD!" and i get weird looks for that answer too...But i don't care :) It's what God is calling me to do, and no weird look will stop that :D One of my favorite quotes is 'Every knee will bow, every tongue will shout. "Jesus is the Lord, Jesus is the Lord"' And i want to say that i was apart of that! Even if i led 1 person to Christ, that's 1 more person who is welcomed to the Kingdom! Here is a great story, that inspired me and my family

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?" The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean." "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man. To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die." Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!" At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

There are 143 million children in this world that are orphans. 53.1 million live in Africa. Because of the LRA and HIV/AIDS there are over 2.5 million orphans in Uganda. Maybe I can't reach out to all of them, but if i only make a difference to 1, then i know i've done my part.

Now is that doesn't break your heart, i don't know what will (you should probably go to the doctors and make sure you have one) Now why don't they deserve to know about Christ as much as we do? God says to 'Go!' not 'Why don't you stay in you warm little house, and let all these little children die and go to hell.'