I'm Graduating!!!! Well...sort of...

Proverbs 16:9

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps”

This month, most of the students that I graduated high school with will be finishing up college.  Four years ago I felt like I was making a “sacrifice” and “giving up my life” to follow God to missions instead of going to college.  What I have found since making that decision is the life that I would have never been able to imagine.  God has been nothing but faithful and mind-blowing each and every day.  I never would have thought that in the time span of four years, God would have used me to create a ministry in Uganda, and be able to lead multiple missions’ teams to Africa.  We just sent out our fourth team of missionaries to spend the summer in Uganda working with Soldiers of Christ!  It never ceases to amaze me. 

well... it looks like this is my home for the next three years :)

In these past four years, the last thing that was on my mind was college.  So when I felt like I was supposed to apply for graduate school in January, it was a shock to me, especially since I don’t have an undergraduate degree. But God doesn’t work in the way the world does, and somehow… I was accepted to graduate school!


I don't think this is gonna be too bad...

I will be moving to Seattle in August to attend The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology.  In three years I will receive a Master of Counseling Psychology.  The school has accepted me as a “life experience equivalent” to a bachelor’s degree.  I didn’t even really know that someone could do that, but then again, God is full of surprises! 

Since I was fourteen, Uganda has been on my heart.  And I still believe that God plans for me there, but I believe that at the moment He is taking me through a season of preparation and diligence before I am ready to settle in Gulu.

 I will still be the co-overseer of Soldiers of Christ with Jimmy in these next three years.  Things are just going to look a bit different than I thought they would.  Our intention as a ministry has always been to do counseling and rehabilitation with our kids in Uganda, so I am excited for this step of learning how to better give the students what they need.  Thank you for continuing to stand with me in this journey!

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" -Mark 9:24b

What does it mean to trust in God?  What does it mean to have no “plan b”?  What does it mean to truly live a life that doesn’t make sense without Him?  These are all things that I have been wrestling with lately.  Last year God called me to apply to School of Dance in Montana.  And from the very first day I was here I have seen the reason why He called me here.  This week a second Discipleship Training School started here in Montana, and they will be sending their team to work with Soldiers of Christ in June and July!  I have built relationships with girls that have challenged me and grown me the loving way that God knew I needed for this season.  I have revived the passion for worshiping God through my dancing, and I have already seen Him move through it in incredible ways.  I get to go spread His Word at the Olympics, which I had prayed about in Uganda before I even came to Montana.  It is clear that God has brought me to Montana for this season.  So why do I still doubt Him?  Why do I still struggle deep down with believing that He is going to come through for me?  This week we have just over $3,000 due for our school fees and outreach costs.  I have $500 in my bank account.  And what does God say every time I go to Him in prayer and in frustration? “Trust in me.”  I thought I had come to a place where I was able to say, “Okay, Lord. I trust in you and I know you are going to provide all I need for school.”  But the assurance I thought I had was shaken yesterday when I found out that I owe $1,800 on taxes.  Not knowing where the money for my school fees was going to come from was one thing, and now believing God for close to an extra two grand…I really see what little faith I have.  The thing that really bothers me is not that I may “not be able to finish school.”  The thing that bothers me is my lack of trust in God.  Let’s face it.  I live in America.  I know a number of people that if I REALLY asked them for the money would be able to donate to my cause.  Yet God has not called me to trust in people, He has asked me to trust in Him.  He has asked me to invite people in to the calling He has placed on my life, but when it all comes down to it- He is the one in control of my finances.  I want to have faith in Him so much that I know, if I don’t get all of the money for my school fees, it means He has other plans for me.  He called me to Montana. I came.  If He has already achieved the purpose He has for me here… then I am okay to move on to what He has for me next.  Because I would rather have faith in Him, even if it looks like I “failed” in the eyes of the world...or the eyes of myself, than to complete the school by getting money through means God did not ask of me.  What I need is not money.  What I need is strength to trust in God.  I need boldness to be obedient to Him, whatever that looks like.  I think THAT is what it means to trust in God. But I'm still learning...