white flags

Since being in Africa we have buried 6 babies, 6 precious creations of God. Painstakingly we cover and wrap the baby with a white sheet.  We sing it is well with our soul and in a wooden coffin no longer than two feet; people of different cultures pay their respect.
Recently Baby Raymond breathed his last and with it completely surrendered to God’s plan.
And then angels welcomed him into heaven.

White is a common color in the book of Revelation. It’s a symbol of blessedness and purity and a description of the redeemed. Heaven is not just filled with white but marvelous color.

A wise woman once told me, ‘There is a rainbow of opportunity open to me. I just need to go past the black and pick a color.’  Burdens, fear and pain all stop us from fully living. What is fascinating is that even though the black can come and go the rainbow never fades. It is always there.

Often the black in our lives blurs the rainbow.

Sometimes we are given the gift of seeing the rainbow more clearly but we just can’t seem to step past the crippling black.

 We need to continually raise our white flags, immerse ourselves in them as an act of surrendering. As individuals, as communities, as generations, as families of believers together RAISE our white flags as we RISE UP.

White Flag (noun/verb) : an all-white banner or piece of cloth, used as a symbol of surrender or truce. To give up; weaken; yield.

Surrender (verb) : to yield, to give oneself up, abandon or relinquish power and to submit.

We do have moments where we are inspired, moved, and changed.

These are gifts from God.

In that moment when the rainbow is clear, when we raise our white flags are the moments where God is tangible and when you can take a breath and the Holy Spirit fills you. Those moments where you decide to run to his arms and let him walk. The beautiful moment where the rainbow has never been clearer and you can taste the hope.  These are the moments that make us excited and ready for the days where we will be able to feel the rainbows. Be immersed in the rainbows; to be surrounded by the Glory of God and the majestic colors of Heaven.

When we raise our white flag with finality and realize we are finished is a moment we may fear but death is the ultimate fulfillment and the ultimate act of surrender.  Heaven. Nothing is greater. And I praise Jesus His kingdom has gained 6 smart looking black babies who have restored and complete strength, whose bodies have been perfected, whose tubes have been removed, whose lives have been transformed and perfected more than human hands could ever perform.

My limited understanding leads me into fear. If there is one thing I have learnt it’s that

Your fear MUST NOT be bigger than your faith.  

When this happen the rainbow blurs.

RISE UP.  Fear has no power in your life and death has no sting; if you choose to believe. The black in your life, it’s just one step away from the rainbow. There is always hope. Come awake! He has overcome the world, the war is won but a battle is at hand.

Will we choose victory??

He will fight for us, he will defend us:  we can overcome because he overcame the grave. Through Jesus HE has given us the victory.

Let us raise our white flags.

safari.

Despite African seeming to run on a slower time and pace of life, I know that isn't an excuse for keeping the world updated on my life : )

We returned from safari quite satisfied. Our accommodations were beyond beautiful and the food was a nice break from what we have been eating. The hotel also had a pool which was refreshing in itself. oh yeah, and we went on safari : )

I shall post pictures soon when I have better internet, but we saw lions, elephants, warthogs, hippos (too many !), crocodiles, baboons and water buffalos! The scenery and sunsets in their vastness were almost just as amazing as the beautiful creatures.

Returning home in three weeks, I'm having many mixed emotions. Excited to see my family and the comforts of home, but at the same time looking back on my time here with extreme fondness.

Sometimes when we only have a narrow 'earthly perspective' we can underestimate God's plan for our lives and I believe have the potential to miss out. But when we look with an 'eternal perspective' and respect God's sovereignty in our lives for whatever happens, well I think we live differently. It's hard and it goes against human nature to look at life through with a different lenses, but it's through different lenses that God helps us see the world more clearly. And by praying and reading his word is how I think we see the world how he sees it, not only presently but how he longs to see it change!

passion week

Last week was Passion Week; therefore the church we attend here in Kampala, WatotoChurch Central, had many activities going on. One we attended was the Praise Rally on Thursday night. Once again, hard to convey in words; often it seems you just really had to be there.

Here is my best description:

I’m talking a community of believers, mostly young people, gathering in love and gratitude all coming together for hours to worship their God.  To sing, to dance, and to pray with ridiculous excitement. 2000+ people all together in the church building, the stairwells, and the parking lot which was packed with overflow. The speakers are pumping and the big screen is screaming the passion that’s happening inside.

I didn’t have my ipod or camera to video this amazing moment that formed this beautiful memory. However, you know those moments where it actually may be ok that it wasn’t captured to be played over…for fear of the joy of the memory may be lost? It was a moment like that because the place it has been captured is a place it will never be tarnished but remembered with ecstasy at being surrounded by the presence of God.

 
So we sing, clap, yell, and attempt to dance. If you aren’t aware; this culture can dance. We get down. The men, the women, the children. Everybody gets down. Except the white people, where the dancing is more an attempt. We get down all the way to the floor. Yes we dance in church. All the time. :)

Let them praise his name with dancing…. Psalm 149:3

This is a video I got from a friend, I hope it conveys the energy and excitement that was at the praise rally. Enjoy !

new

So doing things by African time, we only moved to Kampala on Friday. Since then I have had quite the experience of a lifetime : the extreme sport of white-water-rafting, on the Nile! Grade 5 rapids (the more dangerous end of the spectrum) I can say I’ll never do it again, but it was worth the experience I guess. I thank God that my two friends and I stayed safe throughout the entire day. Only a little sore with muscles we never knew we had the days after. Praise Jesus. The adrenaline of those rapids is something I’ll never forget. pictures aren't in yet, but this is a sample of what we did.
yep. on the border of insanity.

Before we left Suubi I got my hair done by some of the vocational students. Even though it is mighty uncomfortable to sleep on it, I won’t lie, I quite enjoy this different hairstyle. I wasn’t aware I was getting black extensions and with 6 people working on my long unfamiliar blonde locks, well I didn’t really have a moment to protest. In a short 4 ¾ hours it was finished! And ta-dah!! This is the outcome !

For now we are back to work at the babies home here in Kampala, called The Bulrushes. I’m not particularly at peace with being here, which is resulting in not a willing or positive attitude. I am attempting to try and hold out hope that God has a plan and even though change is hard, it is good. There are very few toddlers here (small toddlers is what I usually worked with in Suubi) so mostly small, new, and sick babies are here. It’s significantly different in regards to personality, smiles, hugs and feeding. It’s different and new. Never mind oodles of new babies to learn, but a whole new staff team as well. As well as a new apartment, which comes with new problems (relevant to Africa:) and just a whole new load of new challenges.

It’s unfamiliar. 

I won’t lie to you. Life is hard. And sometimes I can’t even write hopeful or encouraging words, cause I feel like I barely believe them. Sometimes, well I’m just miserable. So there is the real truth. Sometimes I just wanna mope. Eat oreo’s and listen to harsh rock music.

 So I do.

Teeth update : the dentist told me he suspected I was grinding my teeth, so with that being said I’m persevering here until May!

I promise to write soon on my experiences in Suubi! :)