Dance!

I just have to tell you all about tonight.  It was so cool!  If this post had a sound track, it would be David Crowder's song, "Church Music-Dance" on his church music album.  Bty, it is a dance song in EVERY sense. The whole ministry is here for Envisioning and so we had a meal together.  Ever year they choose a different kind of food.  We had western Ugandan food.  There were 9 dishes all together, so there was a TON to eat.  The women sat on the floor and the men sat on the benches.  The men had their hands washed first and ate first.  Back at the ton of food, on my plate was all 9 dishes, including some sauce you put on everything.  My plate was heaped full, think Thanksgiving times 3.  I couldn't finish it all.
Next we took all the mats out and benches out to learn some traditional dancing.  They explained how the dances were usually to other gods, or to the animals themselves, but that we were dancing and singing for Jesus, because He has the victory and we want to thank Him.  What came next was so much fun!  There was all kinds of singing, dancing and clapping.  Everyone was so free and had so much fun.  There was laughing and just joy.  I was smiling and laughing and clapping, and I realized how good God is, to have brought me here.  I was so full of love and joy and laughter, I almost cried, but I just focused on having fun instead.  I could feel God's pleasure in all that we were doing, and how touched His heart was, at His children singing and dancing so freely for Him, in a way that He created in the western Ugandan culture.  I have never felt this kind of joy and freedom in America, to revel in Him in this way.  How great His light shines, especially when we just enjoy Him and celebrate!  We have so much to celebrate in our Lord Jesus, but how often do we do it?  How often do we even let ourselves feel that kind of joy, joy and peace that can only come from knowing that your sins are forgiven, that we are free in Christ, and we have peace in our hearts.  All of this should set us free to dance. Dance, for you are free!

making it

So, I'm here!  I have been here for a week and some change.  I am currently sitting in the dark, because the power is out.  I am blogging by candlelight and hearing the bats in my attic make their noises.  Two nights ago, I had a bat in my room.  I'm not gonna lie, I was calm at first and then screamed when it was flying around after I got out from under my mosquito net.  I could not then return to my room and go back to sleep, and I can always, always sleep.  Here I am, in Africa.  I'm not in Kansas anymore!  I love everything, except the bat in my banda (Luganda for my little cabin type dwelling).
I got to meet up with my family group today, it was a lot of fun.  This family group has about 18 kids, but only 5 girls.  I was talking to them while they did their laundry and when they were done, I asked them if they wanted to touch my hair.  (I was guessing they hadn't ever felt a muzugu's hair before)  They were very excited and loved how soft it was, (I don't have a blow dryer, therefore, no gel, therefore, baby soft hair) and they started putting it into microbraids right away.  I asked them to tell me a story.  One girl named Martha was telling a story about a monkey, a lion, and a chameleon.  The lion was doing all of this work in the monkey's garden, but then the monkey wouldn't share any food with him.  She kept going from english to luganda and the other girls were laughing.  It was so fun just to sit with them and learn about each other.
I'll be seeing my family group about 5 times a week, so it will be great to have meals, devotions and just play time with everyone.  I can't wait to see how God speaks to them, and through them.
Speaking of God, things were so busy before I left, my prayer life went down the drain.  Tonight I was able to spend a lot of time before Him, just praising, confessing, thanking and uplifting, and I can't begin to tell you how great it was to confess my sins and receive His grace.  It was so good to just be close to my Father, and pour out my heart and feel His love and presence. 
God is definitely in this place.  His love is everywhere I look and His name is revered.  One of the classes that graduated a couple of years ago, had a retreat/reunion time this weekend in Kampala.  I was so impressed with what they chose to give their time to.  They got caught up, but more than that, they took time to see how everyone was in their walk with the Lord, and what He is doing in their lives.  They prayed for one another, and looked at all they could do to support each other in what the Father is calling them to.  It was so deep, amazing, and real.  I couldn't help but think of my class reunion, where most people were drinking, and there was a lot of display of "I'm doing such and such, what have you done since high school??"  How amazing would it be if everyone when they got together really cared about how the other was doing more than displaying their accomplishments? 
We are in the midst of "Envisioning" this week, which is a time for all of the New Hope staff, from all over the country to come and focus on what God wants for the coming year.  I look forward to extended times of worship, and getting to know the heart of what this organization is about even more. 
Prayer points:
1.  I am just now starting the course work, and want to do a good job, keeping up, and with serving my family group.
2.  Pray that I would continue to have great time with the Lord, and I wouldn't loose focus because I'm busy.
3.  Pray that I will be a blessing in whatever way God wants to use me here, and that I can be a blessing to those back home in some small way.
4.  Most important, that God would be glorified.

I love and miss you all!  Till next time!