Mathew 19:29

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." 



My brothers, David and Francis... I'm sure one of them said
SOMETHING that made my face like that... haha

 This verse never comes to mind more then when I am in Uganda.  Everywhere I go here I have a mother, brother, father, sisters, and home.  I get encouraged, rebuked, directed, and loved in more ways then I could have ever dreamed of when I am away from home.  It doesn't mean that I never miss my family and friends... but it just means that the Lord is so gracious to me and knows exactly what I need.  I am so blessed and privilaged to get to do life with these amazing people here.  And just to share some of them...let me tell you about Collines...

Collines and I met in Colorado Springs when she was touring there with Invisible Children.  I went up to her after she shared her story of growing up in Northern Uganda and told her that I work in Gulu.  We shared a great conversation and I tested my little knowledge of "Acholi language" on her, and I told her about what Soldiers of Christ does.  She asked me if it would be something that she could come and help out with, and I told her that would be wonderful! We also joked about me being able to go back to her village to meet her mother and the other people there.  I had no idea how much this simple conversation would change my life. 



Tom, Maggie and I with the students from Colline's primary school



A month after this talk, Collines was here in Gulu working full-time with Soldiers of Christ! She did wonders as the program director with the children's events and setting up things for our team to do.  But more than that...she became one of my dearest sisters.  I am so blessed by the season that I shared with her and the wisdom and advice I could glean from her over and over again.  We even ended up taking a weekend trip to go see her mom in her village!  We shared with her old primary school and the secondary school in her village, and I even got to preach at her church of 150 people on Sunday morning!!

Collines has just left us this week to go back to America with Invisible Children in order to share what is happening in Northern Uganda and Congo, and what God is doing in this area of the world!! I am so proud of her and can't wait to see how God uses her in these next few months... but I am even more excited for her to be able to re-join us in December at Soldiers of Christ!!



Innocent, another sister of mine :)