4 Days :)

I'm leaving in 4 short days! I'm so excited for everything God has in store for the kids at BDI and myself. I am so very greatful for the many people God has put in my life that have helped me draw closer to Him and who have been helping me prepare for this journey.

I've grown so much this past year. It excites me knowing how much more the Lord will allow me to grow during this 7 month's in Uganda and my life. I pray that through me He will be able to do His work. To love through me, heal through me, and shine His light through me. I pray I make a worthy disciple, capable of carrying out His Will and loving as deeply as possible. All praise and thanks be to Him for all things.

I will have nothing to fear from trials and tribulations so long as Your grace is with me.

Dear Lord, how absolutely necessary is Your grace for me, not only to begin that which is good, but to preserve with it and to accomplish it. Without You, I can do nothing, but when Your grace strengthens me, I can do all things. -Imitation of Christ

God Is Good and So Are His People

Brandt, one of the Dads at the daycare I work at, went to Uganda 12 years ago and has been helping me prepare for my journey there. He is awesome.
I babysat for him one night and when he got home we ended up talking about Uganda and everything for a long time. He got out all of his stuff from Africa and told me lots of stories. We talked about everything, his mission, helping people, and how he's never felt closet to God then when he was in Uganda. He even let me pick out something from Uganda to keep and I chose the carving of Africa.

God is great at putting people in my life at the right time. Brandt is a blessing and has really helped me stay strong in my faith and know God is in control always.
He has some lovely friends in Rwanda and they have invited me to visit them there and I am so excited for that! He tells me they are such a great example of a Christian family and missionaries as well. I can't wait to meet them.
I have been blessed and very honored to have had the opportunity to speak in front of two different women's groups from my church. Although I was very nervous both times it all went great!
I got to share my story, my faith journey, my calling to Africa, Boanerges Deaf Initiative, and how amazing God is. These lovely women gave me lots of donations, love, and best of all prayers. They made me a nice money tree and made a wall hanging of Africa that I absolutely love! I'm so thankful for that opportunity and getting to meet all of those sweet ladies.

Yesterday I such a great time with some amazing people from Kenya, Ghana, and Texas! They are friends of my Aunt and when she told them of my plans they decided to cook dinner for my family and I.
They made some delicious African food and filled me with information. They are the kindest people and I just love them. One of the gifts I received is called a Kente, its from Ghana and is absolutely beautiful! Its kind of similar to a scarf...I don't like scarfs...but this I like. :)

They also offered me the opportunity to visit Kenya and stay with their family, I accepted this of course!
God is so good. In His people there is so much good as well. Everyday He teaches me how important the little things are. How important relationships are and simply talking with someone. I've always been more shy and reserved but God is helping me break through that and realize the importance of friendships. People to people, that's how He works through us and brings us closer together and closer to Him.
51 more days until I leave for Uganda and a little over $7,700 has been donated to me! Thanks be to God.
Peace Love & Africa

Update

Dalton is not coming with me. I'm not sure if this qualifies as bad news or good news. I was upset, of course, when we found that he couldn't come. Long story short; he has four and a half more years of reserve and with his contract he is not allowed to leave the country. The Lords Will be done and although I would like him to come, God just has something else in mind and I'm perfectly okay with that! This mission is all for Him and because of Him so I won't question the way He does things.

I am only 101 days away from my departure and have less then $2,000 left to raise. I am so thankful to all of these wonderful people who have been graciously donating and praying for me.

This experience has already been changing me and teaching me so many things. I feel so humbled by everything and I have really been able to see Christ in others. The spirit of giving is truly wonderful.

At first I was thinking that some of these lovely people were crazy for giving me so much. How selfish of me? This giving isn't to me, its through me, its to these children and through them straight to Jesus. "Whatever you did for the least of my brothers, you did for me". Its so wonderful to see Christ at work, its amazing. We all give because Jesus gave and that's what He asks of us.

Peace Love & Africa

Another Soldier for Christ

Another one of those days where you really feel how in control God is.

I've been trying to find someone to go to Uganda with me, at least until I arrive, get the hang of things, and get to know the people I'm staying with. On Saturday, I was texting with a close family friend, Dalton, who as of December finished serving with the U.S. Army. I asked him if he would come with me, at least for the first few weeks. He said that he wished that he could but, no. So, that was that and we move on in our conversation.

Sunday came and Dalton texted me when he got out of church. After I asked him how church went he told me this:

"It was really, really good!
So, God told me to go and build. What do I have to do to come to Uganda with you for 7 months. I'm being 100% serious."

Ah! I was in shock and didn't really know what to say! God is so amazing, truly. Dalton came over a few hours later and we discussed everything, he emailed BDI, set up a fundraising page, and I got him a flight reserved with mine! Our Lord is so amazing and perfect the way He takes care of everything.

Pray that Dalton and I continue to say yes to whatever Our Lord asks of us and that we may conduct ourselves in a manner pleasing to Him.

Peace, Love, and Africa

God is in Control

I was driving home early this morning and was starting to worry about how I was going to raise enough money to get to Uganda. The shots are expensive, the plane ticket is even more expensive, and then there's the living for seven months to pay for. I'm four months away, how am I going to do this? These thoughts are the worst, I began fighting these doubt's away with my faith in God and knowing that He will take care of it all.
When I walk into my house I see a small package for me, thinking its my passport I rip it open. To my surprise and confusion it wasn't my passport. It was a very generous donation with an anonymous note on a piece of paper wrapped around it. I burst into tears and immediately feel very unworthy and humbled by this. What did I ever do to deserve this wonderful gift? What was so important to someone that I did? I'm sobbing and thanking God, that's all I can do.
Through this letter God took away every doubt left in me and I know that I will get to Uganda because God wants me to, He needs me there. I am so very thankful to this person not only for helping me financially, but spiritually as well by saying 'yes' to God and allowing Him to use him/her. He worked through him/her to cast out all of my doubt and strengthen my faith immensely.
It's not about how 'I' will get there or how 'I' will pay for it. Its not a matter of how deserving or undeserving I am of this task. Its all a God thing. This is completely about God, how He will get me there and how He will use me, everything is in His hands.
"He must increase; I must decrease." John 3:30
Peace Love & Africa

Do not be afraid.

I got my passport ordered, yellow fever shot scheduled, and a fundraising page set up at www.gofundme.com/rannahtouganda

As I get closer and closer to leaving the nights with no sleep get longer and longer. Seven months is a long time to leave all I know and my family, I already miss them. Fear is trying to take hold but I trust in the Lord with everything I have that He will guide and protect me. All I do is for Him and He will not lead me astray. "Do not be afraid; just have faith." Mark 5:36 Over and over in the Bible we are told not to be afraid, our faith can move mountains. Through us God can do anything, the more God allows me to surrender myself and trust in Him, the more I truly understand and see how in control He is of my life. No matter what trouble or sickness I run into in Uganda I know that Jesus walks before me, for He concord this world, He concord death. Nothing can truly harm me, nothing can break the love God has for me and I for Him.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12