I can't believe how fast these last five months have flown! It seems like only yesterday I was boarding a plane to fly to Uganda!
Over these months I have learned so much about loving the unlovable, i'm still learning what it means to F.R.O.G. (fully rely on God), I've been streached and broken, my heart has been tugged in so many directions and life has not always been a piece of pie. God has taught me the true meaning of letting go! Of trusting him and relying on his promises!
I don't know how long i'll be in Uganda or even what the future looks like, but I do know that i'm walking in God's will and he will take care of all the rest. :)
Prayer points: Pray for Joe. He is still very sick and his little body can only take so much.
pray that God would open doors up North for an orginization, if this is where he wants me.
Thank you all so much for the prayers you have already prayed and the support! May God bless you and keep you, may his face shine upon you and stay with you forever!
Finances for the month of March:
Goal- $500.00
received- $250.00
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
God is good and his mercy endures forever!!!
Since I last wrote there have been a lot of things that have happened. I will see if I can remember all of them. :)
First off I had a chance to go to Kenya to get a new visa. I still had a month left on the current visa but I wasn't sure if I'd get another chance to go with someone. So off I went to Kenya with the volunteer coordinator at Amani and her son. It was quite the adventure! It took us about two hours to get to the border, two and a half hours to cross to the other side into Kenya, and another two hours to Kitale, where we were dropping Linda and her son off. The drive to the border went really well. When we arrived they wanted us to do a lot of things with the car. We needed insurance, and other things that I don't even know what it was for or why it was necessary. But this is Africa! :) So after walking from here to there and back again we finally had all we needed to be in Kenya for one day! I got a three month visa for the five hours I was in Kenya, which cost fifty dollars! But I couldn't get a visa for just one day... so we payed the money and off we went to Kitale.
When we reached Linda's friends we ate lunch and I got to talk to them a little about why I'm here and what i hope to be doing. I enjoyed being there and being able to talk to them. I stayed there for a couple hours then started my journey back to the border and beyond. I was a little nervous about crossing back over the border by myself but it ended up being fine. I got another visa for Uganda but only for two months this time. I was really disappointed, because I was hoping for a three month visa. As we were starting our drive back to Jinja I wanted to cry because I had just spent 135 dollars on visa's and transport. Instead of crying however, I started to read Psalms and all the chapters I read started with "Praise the Lord!" It was such a wonderful reminder that even though things didn't go how I thought, or even wished they would, I still needed to Praise the Lord!
Last Thursday I found out that the little boy I told you all about was placed into an aids orphanage here in Jinja! I was so excited to here that because i know the director's and they are amazing God fearing people whose focus in on children with AIDS. I know that this was the answer to a lot of prayers prayed. Thank you so much!!!
I went to Amani on Wednesday with Malia to meet Judy and I was able to visit with the babies. Also while i was there a new little one arrived and I got to hold her. She is so precious and tiny, I would guess her to be no older than one month. Well, anyone who knows me knows that I can be a baby hog and yes, I held her from the time she arrived until the time I left three hours later. :) I love to love on babies. I heard there was another little one who arrived yesterday, she is only two weeks old and I am hoping to go see her today. :) Oh how I love little babies!!!
So all in all I've been able to keep really busy these last couple weeks!
God Bless!
Rochelle
First off I had a chance to go to Kenya to get a new visa. I still had a month left on the current visa but I wasn't sure if I'd get another chance to go with someone. So off I went to Kenya with the volunteer coordinator at Amani and her son. It was quite the adventure! It took us about two hours to get to the border, two and a half hours to cross to the other side into Kenya, and another two hours to Kitale, where we were dropping Linda and her son off. The drive to the border went really well. When we arrived they wanted us to do a lot of things with the car. We needed insurance, and other things that I don't even know what it was for or why it was necessary. But this is Africa! :) So after walking from here to there and back again we finally had all we needed to be in Kenya for one day! I got a three month visa for the five hours I was in Kenya, which cost fifty dollars! But I couldn't get a visa for just one day... so we payed the money and off we went to Kitale.
When we reached Linda's friends we ate lunch and I got to talk to them a little about why I'm here and what i hope to be doing. I enjoyed being there and being able to talk to them. I stayed there for a couple hours then started my journey back to the border and beyond. I was a little nervous about crossing back over the border by myself but it ended up being fine. I got another visa for Uganda but only for two months this time. I was really disappointed, because I was hoping for a three month visa. As we were starting our drive back to Jinja I wanted to cry because I had just spent 135 dollars on visa's and transport. Instead of crying however, I started to read Psalms and all the chapters I read started with "Praise the Lord!" It was such a wonderful reminder that even though things didn't go how I thought, or even wished they would, I still needed to Praise the Lord!
Last Thursday I found out that the little boy I told you all about was placed into an aids orphanage here in Jinja! I was so excited to here that because i know the director's and they are amazing God fearing people whose focus in on children with AIDS. I know that this was the answer to a lot of prayers prayed. Thank you so much!!!
I went to Amani on Wednesday with Malia to meet Judy and I was able to visit with the babies. Also while i was there a new little one arrived and I got to hold her. She is so precious and tiny, I would guess her to be no older than one month. Well, anyone who knows me knows that I can be a baby hog and yes, I held her from the time she arrived until the time I left three hours later. :) I love to love on babies. I heard there was another little one who arrived yesterday, she is only two weeks old and I am hoping to go see her today. :) Oh how I love little babies!!!
So all in all I've been able to keep really busy these last couple weeks!
God Bless!
Rochelle
Monday, February 22, 2010
May all I do be for God's glory!!!
Sorry it has taken me so long to write an update. February has been very quiet for me. I am still helping to care for Malia. I have been trying to find an organization to volunteer for here in Jinja and it has become a slow process.
I have met some amazing people in the short time I have been here. God has blessed me with amazing Godly woman to talk to. God is teaching me patients and living from day to day. Taking everyday as it comes and not worrying about the future. He is reminding me that the future is in his hands and he'll take care of it if i let him. So I am learning to let go and trust God because I know he only wants what's best for me and I want to be in his will. Jeremiah 29:11.
On Saturday I was awakened by a thunderstorm at 6am. It was glorious, I realized at that time how much I miss rain! When you grow up in a place that is rainy 80% of the time you get pretty used to it. Then you come to a place that See's rain maybe a fourth of that, it's a little overwhelming, Oh and HOT!!! :) But I think I have been blessed over the last couple of days because I woke up this morning and once again it was raining! :) I was happy! Then I got the crazy idea that I'd be awesome to go running in the rain... So that is precisely what i did. :) I got soaked and it was fabulous!
I have been able to go to Amani more and that is wonderful. I get to see "my Babies"and play with the kids. I love being able to see them and just love on them whenever.
I would ask you to pray for a little boy I met named Joe (not his real name) he is sick with TB, HIV, and now pneumonia. This little boy has touched my heart. He is always happy and has a smile and hug waiting for me every time I see him. I have never heard him complain about being sick or being in pain. He has encouraged me so much and I would love it if you all could help me with prayers. I know God has a plan for this little boy and I know that he will always be in his hands. Please pray that he will get better and God would take his pain away, whatever that may look like. I have shed many tears over this little one and God has been reminding me constantly that he Love's him more than i and that Joe is in his hands, where he needs to stay.
I will need to make a trip to Kenya soon to renew my visa. It will cost $50.00 for three months. I will also need money for transport. I'm not sure how much that will be but I'll keep you posted as time gets closer.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!
In Christ,
Rochelle
A look at finances for the end of January to 22nd February: needed: $500.00 a month
received: $135
I have met some amazing people in the short time I have been here. God has blessed me with amazing Godly woman to talk to. God is teaching me patients and living from day to day. Taking everyday as it comes and not worrying about the future. He is reminding me that the future is in his hands and he'll take care of it if i let him. So I am learning to let go and trust God because I know he only wants what's best for me and I want to be in his will. Jeremiah 29:11.
On Saturday I was awakened by a thunderstorm at 6am. It was glorious, I realized at that time how much I miss rain! When you grow up in a place that is rainy 80% of the time you get pretty used to it. Then you come to a place that See's rain maybe a fourth of that, it's a little overwhelming, Oh and HOT!!! :) But I think I have been blessed over the last couple of days because I woke up this morning and once again it was raining! :) I was happy! Then I got the crazy idea that I'd be awesome to go running in the rain... So that is precisely what i did. :) I got soaked and it was fabulous!
I have been able to go to Amani more and that is wonderful. I get to see "my Babies"and play with the kids. I love being able to see them and just love on them whenever.
I would ask you to pray for a little boy I met named Joe (not his real name) he is sick with TB, HIV, and now pneumonia. This little boy has touched my heart. He is always happy and has a smile and hug waiting for me every time I see him. I have never heard him complain about being sick or being in pain. He has encouraged me so much and I would love it if you all could help me with prayers. I know God has a plan for this little boy and I know that he will always be in his hands. Please pray that he will get better and God would take his pain away, whatever that may look like. I have shed many tears over this little one and God has been reminding me constantly that he Love's him more than i and that Joe is in his hands, where he needs to stay.
I will need to make a trip to Kenya soon to renew my visa. It will cost $50.00 for three months. I will also need money for transport. I'm not sure how much that will be but I'll keep you posted as time gets closer.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!
In Christ,
Rochelle
A look at finances for the end of January to 22nd February: needed: $500.00 a month
received: $135
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Faith is easier said than lived!
I can't believe it's almost February and the weather here is still the same. Very HOT!!! I am not used to such weather back home. Normally by this time I can't wait for the sun to shine and the warm weather to come. So I am thankful that the Lord has blessed me this year with sun and heat. :) I guess there is always something to complain about. I am trying to check my attitude and make sure that i realize how very blessed I am.
In other news I have been praying about how to approach the subject of finances. I know money is always hard to talk about. At least it has been for me. Then I think why is it so hard because this is where God wants me and I know that he is using different people all around the world to bring his plan into reality.
So as I mentioned in my last blog I am Nannying for a lady here in Jinja but it is still a volunteer position and she is able to help by paying part of my rent, she is a missionary and fully relys on the support of friends and family too. I figured that I need to raise $500.00 a month to cover food, rent, visa renewal's, and transport. That means if 20 people gave 25 dollars a month that's all I need. If you can give more or less please do. Pray about what God would have you give. I need all the prayer support I can get as well. I thank you all for the prayers that I have been able to feel. I know God speaks through people so please keep talking to him and pass on words of wisdom and advice.
As of now I have know one who has pledged to support me monthly. As time goes on I will keep you all updated on how the monthly support is coming.
Thank you all so much! Also if you have any prayer requests please let me know, I'd love to be able to pray for you as well! :)
In Christ,
RochelleWednesday, January 20, 2010
God will Provide all you need in his timing!!! :)
Hey All!
So I know that it has been quite a while since my last blog. Sorry about that. I wanted to make sure that I had something to write about. I now have a lot to say.
Over the last couple of weeks I have been talking to my parents and we have been praying about what God wants my next steps to be. Since my start in Uganda I have had a huge peace about staying. However I didn't know what God wanted me to do. We prayed about what date I should change my ticket to and May came to all of us. So I called the airlines and talked to two different people about changing my ticket and they both told me the same story. I had an unchangeable ticket! I had never heard of such a thing before. I don't understand why they wouldn't want to charge people more money for changing there tickets. It seems like a money maker to me. So anyways I was very crushed about the whole thing because I had my heart set on staying in Uganda. I continued to pray and ask God what he wanted to do. I knew that I can't stay if it wasn't God's will. As I prayed I asked God to give me a peace about going home because I had made up my mind that that's where he wanted me. As time went on I still wasn't feeling a peace about going home, but it was only days before my ticket was scheduled to take me home. As I prayed I asked God to open up an opportunity for me to stay.
Last Friday I believe he answered my prayers. One of the long term staff members at Amani came and asked if I would be her Nanny and help her in the mornings with her daughter. She would give me a place to stay in return. Then in the afternoon I would be free to check out other ministry opportunities in and around Jinja. It's Amazing to see how God opens doors and gives you a peace about where he wants you. I am so excited to see what the future has for me here in Uganda! What God has planned!
Even though I have no return flight now I know, that I know, that I know, that this is where God wants me and I'm not worried about not being able to go back to Oregon. I know he will provide in his timing all that I need.
Thank you all for your prayers and loving support!!! I need all I can get.
In Christ,
Rochelle
So I know that it has been quite a while since my last blog. Sorry about that. I wanted to make sure that I had something to write about. I now have a lot to say.
Over the last couple of weeks I have been talking to my parents and we have been praying about what God wants my next steps to be. Since my start in Uganda I have had a huge peace about staying. However I didn't know what God wanted me to do. We prayed about what date I should change my ticket to and May came to all of us. So I called the airlines and talked to two different people about changing my ticket and they both told me the same story. I had an unchangeable ticket! I had never heard of such a thing before. I don't understand why they wouldn't want to charge people more money for changing there tickets. It seems like a money maker to me. So anyways I was very crushed about the whole thing because I had my heart set on staying in Uganda. I continued to pray and ask God what he wanted to do. I knew that I can't stay if it wasn't God's will. As I prayed I asked God to give me a peace about going home because I had made up my mind that that's where he wanted me. As time went on I still wasn't feeling a peace about going home, but it was only days before my ticket was scheduled to take me home. As I prayed I asked God to open up an opportunity for me to stay.
Last Friday I believe he answered my prayers. One of the long term staff members at Amani came and asked if I would be her Nanny and help her in the mornings with her daughter. She would give me a place to stay in return. Then in the afternoon I would be free to check out other ministry opportunities in and around Jinja. It's Amazing to see how God opens doors and gives you a peace about where he wants you. I am so excited to see what the future has for me here in Uganda! What God has planned!
Even though I have no return flight now I know, that I know, that I know, that this is where God wants me and I'm not worried about not being able to go back to Oregon. I know he will provide in his timing all that I need.
Thank you all for your prayers and loving support!!! I need all I can get.
In Christ,
Rochelle
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
God has granted me the grace and peace I needed!
I can't believe it's been 12 days since my last entry! The time has flown by! I also can't believe that Christmas is in 2 days!!! So Merry Christmas everyone!!! I hope you are all able to take time and focus on the true meaning of Christmas and why we even celebrate it.
One thing that has been driving me crazy lately is everywhere I go I see signs for X- mas parties. It makes me a little angry because Christ is the whole reason for why we should celebrate this holiday. So it should be Christmas parties.
On Friday Amber and I left to go to Mbarara, which is about four hours east of Kampala. One of my friends from the last time I was here got married and so we went to her wedding. We drove with people from YWAM and ended up staying on a Catholic compound just outside Mbarara. On Saturday we went to the wedding which was supposed to start at 12 and ended up starting at 1pm. It seemed very unorganized and well ...African I guess. The ceremony took place at a cathedral that was still under construction. But it's Africa what can I say. The reception was a lot nicer and was held at a hotel in their courtyard. The place was a bit small but somehow everyone fit. We ate dinner which consisted of chicken, rice, ma toke, brown posho, potatoes, beef, cabbage, beans and pop. It was filling and very delicious. After food we went back to the courtyard and watched them cut the cake and serve everyone a crumbling piece.
The Bride Esther, who is my friend, changed about two times throughout the reception and while she was gone they had guys, whom i suppose were the entertainment, dance and sing. They didn't have any formal dances and none of the guests danced. It was all a little different than when I would work for weddings back home. It was strange to not be a part of helping somehow but she had a lot of people who helped out. It turned out beautiful and she seemed very happy. That's all that matters in the long run anyway.
We ended up staying at the catholic place until early Sunday morning because the wedding went late into the night. It was so nice to be able to go to a wedding in a different country and experience how they do things.
Last night Amani took a bus full of mamas and volunteers to a church in Kampala called Watoto. They are a part of the African children's Choir and they were putting on a Christmas production. It was so well done. They had dancing, singing and the Christmas story was acted out. Anyways it was a lot of fun and it was good to have something Christmasy since the weather has been in the 80's lately and it hasn't really felt like Christmas.
Well that's all for now I'll write more later and hopefully not as much so that it doesn't overwhelm you. :)
God Bless you all!
One thing that has been driving me crazy lately is everywhere I go I see signs for X- mas parties. It makes me a little angry because Christ is the whole reason for why we should celebrate this holiday. So it should be Christmas parties.
On Friday Amber and I left to go to Mbarara, which is about four hours east of Kampala. One of my friends from the last time I was here got married and so we went to her wedding. We drove with people from YWAM and ended up staying on a Catholic compound just outside Mbarara. On Saturday we went to the wedding which was supposed to start at 12 and ended up starting at 1pm. It seemed very unorganized and well ...African I guess. The ceremony took place at a cathedral that was still under construction. But it's Africa what can I say. The reception was a lot nicer and was held at a hotel in their courtyard. The place was a bit small but somehow everyone fit. We ate dinner which consisted of chicken, rice, ma toke, brown posho, potatoes, beef, cabbage, beans and pop. It was filling and very delicious. After food we went back to the courtyard and watched them cut the cake and serve everyone a crumbling piece.
The Bride Esther, who is my friend, changed about two times throughout the reception and while she was gone they had guys, whom i suppose were the entertainment, dance and sing. They didn't have any formal dances and none of the guests danced. It was all a little different than when I would work for weddings back home. It was strange to not be a part of helping somehow but she had a lot of people who helped out. It turned out beautiful and she seemed very happy. That's all that matters in the long run anyway.
We ended up staying at the catholic place until early Sunday morning because the wedding went late into the night. It was so nice to be able to go to a wedding in a different country and experience how they do things.
Last night Amani took a bus full of mamas and volunteers to a church in Kampala called Watoto. They are a part of the African children's Choir and they were putting on a Christmas production. It was so well done. They had dancing, singing and the Christmas story was acted out. Anyways it was a lot of fun and it was good to have something Christmasy since the weather has been in the 80's lately and it hasn't really felt like Christmas.
Well that's all for now I'll write more later and hopefully not as much so that it doesn't overwhelm you. :)
God Bless you all!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Hello to all!
This week has been full of chicken pox and moving! What a combination!!!
So the week started with us finding out that all the toddlers have chicken pox. One of the kids had a temperature of 105, but he got better and left for Tennessee to be with his new family. :)
Please pray for the kids who have chicken pox and pray for the kids that don't have it to either get it so that it's over with or not to get it and be spared the pain.
Today we moved into the apartment above amani, and we also moved the babies from baby A (the smallest babies) upstairs as well. I hope the transition goes well and so far it has gone well but it's a little strange. I am still working with baby A and it'll be nice not to have to walk very far, but on the down side we may hear the babies in the mornings before we have to be awake. I hope I can get used to it. I know, I know I'll have to get used to it some day when I have kids.
In other news the weather was over cast and misty today. It reminded me of being on the Oregon coast. :) I was in a tank top and capris. Other than that the weather has been in the low to mid 80's which is weird for me being an Oregon girl. I am getting used to it though and it'll be so weird if I come home in the winter. I think I may freeze! :)
All that said and done I love being in Uganda. I've made some awesome friends who have the same passion for kids and God as I do. The Mama's have been so helpful in showing me how to do things and they seem to appreciate the fact that i'm here away from my family and loved ones over Christmas.
I am really excited to be here over Christmas and the new year! It will be an exciting new adventure! I'm not sure if it'll feel like Christmas with the 80 degree wether but we have a tree up and i'm hearing more and more Christmas music.
God Bless you all!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
This week has been full of chicken pox and moving! What a combination!!!
So the week started with us finding out that all the toddlers have chicken pox. One of the kids had a temperature of 105, but he got better and left for Tennessee to be with his new family. :)
Please pray for the kids who have chicken pox and pray for the kids that don't have it to either get it so that it's over with or not to get it and be spared the pain.
Today we moved into the apartment above amani, and we also moved the babies from baby A (the smallest babies) upstairs as well. I hope the transition goes well and so far it has gone well but it's a little strange. I am still working with baby A and it'll be nice not to have to walk very far, but on the down side we may hear the babies in the mornings before we have to be awake. I hope I can get used to it. I know, I know I'll have to get used to it some day when I have kids.
In other news the weather was over cast and misty today. It reminded me of being on the Oregon coast. :) I was in a tank top and capris. Other than that the weather has been in the low to mid 80's which is weird for me being an Oregon girl. I am getting used to it though and it'll be so weird if I come home in the winter. I think I may freeze! :)
All that said and done I love being in Uganda. I've made some awesome friends who have the same passion for kids and God as I do. The Mama's have been so helpful in showing me how to do things and they seem to appreciate the fact that i'm here away from my family and loved ones over Christmas.
I am really excited to be here over Christmas and the new year! It will be an exciting new adventure! I'm not sure if it'll feel like Christmas with the 80 degree wether but we have a tree up and i'm hearing more and more Christmas music.
God Bless you all!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
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