This marks my 4th week here in Jinja! The days can be long, and it is rarely quite here. You hear the call of Islamic prayer, chirping of bugs at night and the singing/noise of birds in the morning, and maybe a creepy sounding cat a night! I even got to see two baby goats that had recently been born and still had the umbilical cords! We sleep under mosquito nets and geckos crawl on the walls in the house. Last night I saw a roach that was a healthy size and thankfully I didn't see it this morning! I have been able to to perform malaria tests and have cleaned wounds. I have waited over a couple hours to see a Dr and because of that time, the Lord allowed us to establish a relationship with another Dr that was able to see a couple of our kiddos. I still throw out the word "ya'll," maybe it will rub off on Emily and Sam before I leave here, my British friends: ). Saturday, I was able to eat with friends and ordered a bacon and egg sandwich and it was great and also got to meet with a friend and chat and have coffee, the real deal coffee! A lot of the kiddos living in the community went back to school today, so this morning there were not as many children outside. I have heard my name as "Auntie Sarah" :) and also "muzungo" which means white person. The kids will run up and yell "muzungo"! They may give you a hug, hold your hand, and often you can hear them say "bye". Sunday, for worship and time in the Word, we meet under the Eucalyptus trees. It is beautiful here, the sky, wow! You can go in to the local community and buy bananas, coke (plastic and bottled!), avocados, tomatoes, onions, African foods, and these tasty little fried breads, known as "half cakes".  Today is a special day back in the Sates, Memorial Day. A day that is often spent time off from work, cooking out, spending time with friends, go the pool. We live in a very privileged nation! Thank you to the men and women who have fought for our freedom in the land of the free and brave. Until next time,
                                                                                          Auntie Sarah :)

A cocacola and a brownie at the table (my dentist would be so happy, at least I have a straw:) This marks my 2nd week here in Uganda. I have tasted the local food, been bare feet in the house, if you know me this is a challenge :), have been to a local hospital, let's just say we have incredible health care services offered at home, cleaned utensils (ya know the old fashion way, boil them in water!), seen a lot of farm like animals, the neighbors pet monkey in one of Ekisa's trees, met new people.... the weather here is hot but it cools off in the evening. Dry season is to come in June. Tomorrow I get to be part of a great community of believers here in Jinja. The weekend is pretty laid back here, so I have down time.  I confess, I am the anxious type, I try and move in to the future instead of staying where I am. I carry around my burdens, instead taking them over and over to my Father. It's challenging to submit. I know I have friends praying for my time here. It seems like an extended amount of time that I am here, but it really isn't that long in the scheme of my life. I had the opportunity to speak with my brother this week. He spoke wisdom when he shared how the Christian life isn't meant to be a sprint he encouraged me to soak it all in, this time I am in, here in Uganda. It's more comfortable at home, easier to call up friends family at many times during the day. Will you join in praying that I will rely Christ. This up coming week isn't booked with a lot of things, for now:) I have the privilege in working with a local nurse here. She knows a lot and is familiar with the children, pray for wisdom and compassion as we work with the children. Enjoy the weekend, time with family and friends, and for many, fellowship.  and GO GRIZ!

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, she's wonderful. Not only is she my mom, she's my friend. It is so wonderful to be able to have internet/ phone to be able to communicate. My mom she loves much and serves. She has given much of her time to love and care for others, but she can because she loves Christ and He dwells within her. Mom when I get back, Las Tortugas please, Logan...maybe he can come too:) Love you so much

So, I made it! I made it here last Friday :). I am in town and recently had a chocolate croissant and a bottled coke, and I am getting a good connection for internet! It is for sure been out of my comfort zone here. I have the opportunity to ride on motorcycles (called botas here). I would be lying if I said I was not afraid. The driving here, well it's an understood craziness. There are geckos in the house, which is good, they eat the bugs, as long as they stay away form near the top of my bed or in it:)  As many of you may know, I am here help fill in for Erika the RN working at Ekisa Ministries. This week I have been to different parts of Uganda, been to a zoo, been to clinics, walked in town, tasted the local food, drank hot tea, and haven't drank much coffee (got the instant coffee today!) and what could take maybe a shorter amount of time to get somewhere, ends up being longer, traffic can get congested. I had the opportunity to meet other RN/missionaries here in town yesterday, which was so good. I have been able to see how things are run at Ekisa. The children here  loved on, cared for, Emily teaches, children visit Dr's, they do art, crafts. There is a lot that goes on Ekisa. One such even that took place this week, was a trip to a zoo! So all the children except one (needed a clinic appointment) were packed up and traveled to the zoo. It took planning, food, changes of clothes, volunteers, diapers, mammas,  ( this is what they call the women that help care for the children here, the volunteers that come are aunties and uncles), and more. It took a drive to get there, it was near the airport in Entebee. So after about maybe 2.45 min to maybe close to 3 hrs of travel, The children first ate a snack, on grass shared with monkeys that were out in the front part of the zoo, ya know the "steal your food & get to close to you" monkeys. In fact monkeys jumped on one of the children and another grabbed food out of the volunteers hands. Then as I was sitting on the ground, I felt what I first thought was maybe rain water. But then there was more coming down, I looked up, yep one was going to the bathroom in the tree above me, and way to close to me.
My friends and family, I am blessed to have them. I have been encouraged not just with words but with words from Him. I am thankful for the notes that my friends and family wrote. Encouragement is so important. Even my sweet GA girls wrote notes to encourage me, even instruct me! It's been tough, but His grace is so sufficient, now if I can trust in Him and His word. Pray that I will.
Thank you for praying for me, encouraging me. Until next post!:)

3 days and counting...3 days, wow. Over these past weeks, God's provision for this trip continue. You know, He is a good God. He's good. My parents give good gifts, like my dog, Tooley, Disney, my car :). But the Bible says: That my parents, who are sinners, (saved by God's grace), if they give good gifts, then my Heavenly Father, He gives greater than that. Gifts that are the best. So, He has poured out his blessings over this trip. I need to remind myself of His goodness. We can get so caught up in ourselves and self-pity, and not praise Him for His goodness. He's always good. One of the things I have seen and was convicted of is giving. I am selfish. I have seen friends give because they wanted to. They gave out of joy. It's not that they had all this extra money flowing in, but they gave because they love Christ and therefore love me. I think one of the best gifts we can give, is like the widow, (I am preaching to myself, too) in God's Word. She gave only a little amount in the world's eyes. But, she gave out of all she had. To give, when you have nothing to keep. That's what God wants. Our lives, everything, for us to trust in Christ with it all. That's hard. I struggle with it and still His grace is greater.

You know, God is good, when we call to Him, when we confess, when we are broken. But even when we don't, He is always good.  You may find yourself not really being sure about who He is, who His Son is. But He can show you, seek Him and you will find Him, when you seek Him with all of your heart. 

Well the ticket has been purchased! This journey, this whole process has not been easy. I have made it harder than it has to be. I struggle with sins of unbelief and legalism. Over the last weeks, I doubted that I should go. I sought counsel, and even in that...still I doubted. With more counsel, I was again encouraged to go, to be obedient. I had read over a passage in Jeremiah, and it says 31:21 "Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road you take." God is speaking to Israel, they wander and are unfaithful, that's me. God has ordained this time in my life strategically, the details of this journey, they are of Him. God is sovereign.  I think that we so easily get so consumed what God's will is for our life is or that we will mess it up. But Proverbs states that it is God who directs our steps, even in our own plans, it's His that prevail. So I have a lot to grow in, for the rest of this life here on earth, but be encouraged those who are downcast and have unbelief, oh my soul, know that God, He is faithful and good, he restores us to Him and makes all those who come to Him through Christ, new!

The God of details, perfect timing, perfect details, The God who hears, has opened the door for me to go to Uganda, Africa, to help serve as a nurse to special needs children at Ekisa.  Back in 2011 I sent a girl living in Uganda a message over facebook asking if they had medical teams that worked with the ministry.  Aug 2012, I sent a more detailed message asking if she needed a RN or knew of another place that would need one. Sep 26, 2012 I got a reply! Over the months we would correspond leading me to a nurse working in Jinja, Uganda with special needs children for a ministry called Ekisa. I had also pursued in applying for a job as a nurse for a local cardiology clinic. Well, I had an opportunity to interview with the clinic this January. The day I interviewed with the Dr I would be working for, I was at dinner with friends and had received a message from Erika, the nurse in Uganda. She wanted to know if we could do a skype interview! January 23, 2013 is a day that is a testimony to the goodness of the Lord.  The day before I received a phone call from the cardiology clinic stating that the Dr was still very interested in me and they would be attempting to start paper work. That evening I asked Erika if we could skype the following morning, and we did. January 23, we skyped for about an hour, after internet reception mishaps and lots of questions later, I still was not sure what to do. That morning, I met with a dear friend of mine for breakfast. During this time, I received a phone call from  the cardiology clinic, they were offering the job to me. It was truly an incredible offer. I told them I had an opportunity to serve in Africa and could let them know Monday. They needed an answer sooner than that and were going to have to move along in order to find another nurse. The two women were so encouraging and kind and encouraged me to go to Africa! So what else do girls do, but cry? So, there I was in Chickfila with my friend, crying, but not sad tears. The Lord had just showered His blessing on me.  I spoke with my manager that day and told her I was going to Africa, she is allowing me to take a leave of absence from work! Not only has the Lord allowed the door to open for Africa, but he also has allowed me to have a job when I return. The details over the last week have been incredible. I don't know what the future holds. But He does. He is a God of gracious details, He is my God that hears and heals. It's going to be an incredible journey, and all the glory may it be for Him. The plan is to leave in May and stay for about 3 months. Truth that my friend spoke while she prayed for me before the skype interview was from Is 55:8-9 stating that His ways and His thoughts are higher than mine and they aren't my thoughts or ways, amen!