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You’re Beautiful

You’re Beautiful.

I believe that every girl/woman struggles hearing these words, because society has polluted our view of what true beauty looks like. I’ll personally admit I do. To you who doesn’t believe you’re beautiful, you are.

Any size, any shape. Height, eye color, style. You are beautiful. With makeup, without, you shine. Curly, straight, frizzy, or wavy hair, you are beautiful. There is nobody in this world like you. You are one of a kind. You have your own style, your own personality. Be proud of who you are, and represent yourself well, for no one else can. Don’t be afraid to know you’re beautiful, because you truly are, each and everyone of you, ladies.

You’re Beautiful. 

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Time

Well, it has been practically a year since I’ve written a blog. Much has happened. Dnow. Pep Prom. My prom. Adam’s prom. Disneyworld. Got my license. Texas…twice. Toured colleges. And in that time, I realized time flies. I mean it never stops. I began to think. Think of how quickly time goes by. I’m about to start my last year of high school. I remember thinking as a freshman, “I’ll never be a senior. That is just too far away.” But, here I am about to be a senior. I’ve already had senior pictures taken, and yes, that included my cap and gown pictures…wut. I’m about to spend the last week of my summer getting my wisdom teeth out. And then my senior year starts. I realized, in exactly a month, I will be applying to my first choice college. And well, that kinda freaks me out. I don’t know, time is kinda scary. This last year flew by, and I expect the next one too also. And who knows, maybe I’ll actually right a blog here or there.

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Juliet

While in Uganda, I met a beautiful woman named Juliet. Now, Juliet had a sweet and miraculous story. She shared with me that a World Race team (http://worldrace.org/) had come through Uganda. While they were in Uganda for the month, Juliet and Joe (one of the World Race team members) slowly started to fall in love. How could this be that a beautiful Ugandan woman and a man all the way from the USA fall in love? Well obviously God had plans in store for them. As Joe left sadly, he promised Juliet they would be together again. As they have kept in contact since that month, they will be getting married hopefully next summer.

Well, this morning I had the privilege to talk to Juliet over Facebook. It always warms my heart to communicate with my dear friends back in Uganda. Here’s a little tidbit of our conversation:

Me: Will you be coming to the states anytime?
J: Yes Joe is processing my visa when am given visa then I will come
Me: Yay!! When will you be coming?
J: I do not know how long it will take to get it but I trust God that it will not delay. I want us to meet when I come.
*later in the conversation*
J: will you come to our wedding?
-the question that melted my heart and made my whole day!

I continued my conversation with Juliet this morning, and it was wonderful! It was such a blessing to meet Juliet and hear her story! So, would you please join me and praying that she will be granted a visa and it will not take to long? It’s all in God’s timing, but it’s time for Juliet and Joe to be reunited again…and I must say I am ready to see my dear, sweet friend again!

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“Explore Uganda” – The Beautiful Country of Uganda

While in Uganda I saw many beautiful things! This included rain forest, Lake Victoria, the Nile River, and many more places!

One of my best friends and I in front of Lake Victoria.

One of my best friends and I in front of Lake Victoria.

At the be...aka Lake Victoria.

At the beach…aka Lake Victoria.

Lake Victoria while in the city of Jinja.

Lake Victoria while in the city of Jinja.

Boats at the Nile River.

Boats at the Nile River.

Standing in the Nile River.

Standing in the Nile River.

 

In a Rainforest!

In a Rainforest!

Sunset driving home from Jinja!

Sunset driving home from Jinja!

Uganda was such a beautiful country. Its beauty will always be etched in my mind!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Africa Is…

Well, I am back from Uganda. I spent one wonderful month there and wouldn’t have traded it for anything. Africa is so extraordinary, beautiful, and amazing. Africa is so many things!

Africa is eating potatoes at least once a day.

Africa is standing in the Nile River and getting yelled at by an African man.

Africa is failing majorly as you run the 150 meter sprint with a group of African women.

Africa is going four days without a shower.

Africa is eating noodles for breakfast.

Africa is not having a toilet, but a squatty.

Africa is cramming 20 people in a taxi that only has 12 seats.

Africa is drinking hot tea with every meal.

Africa is eating dinner by headlamp light.

Africa is wearing long skirts everyday.

Africa is having to squeegee the bathroom floor after every shower.

Africa is never having power or water.

Africa is breathing in dirt as you drive down the road.

Africa is sleeping on foam on the ground.

Africa is dancing in church.

Africa is hand washing clothes.

Africa is multitudes of ants.

Africa is driving on whichever side of the road you feel like.

Africa is waving to every kid you see.

Africa is loving chapati.

Africa is being called mzungu.

Africa is stained feet.

Africa is the Muslim call to prayer as your alarm clock.

Africa is crazy beautiful and I miss it so much. I had such a wonderful journey while I was there!

hhjhkjhk

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Remember Philippians 4:13

So I have to admit, while I’m ecstatic about going to Uganda in 2 days…that’s right I leave in 2 days…it hasn’t really seemed real. I’ve been nothing but excited and can barely contain myself! When I went to bed last night, I was counting down the days! “Two days, one day, whoa! There is no way I’m going to Uganda in 2 days.” Well there is, and I am. I started getting really nervous, scared, and was not ready to go. I was asking myself a bunch of questions. “What if I get sick? How am I gonna handle the heat? How will I deal with my 46 pound suitcase? Am I going to be homesick?” All these thoughts went through my head. I was talking to one of my friends about this. And he told me “remember Philippians 4:13.” That’s right, exactly what I told him a day previously. I’ve heard that verse so much and it usually doesn’t mean that much to me. But this next month of my life is a Philippians 4:13 month as I live in Uganda.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4:13

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Uganda…Here I Come!!

It says in Matthew 20:28, The son of man came not to be served but to serve. Well, that’s exactly what I want with my life. I want to use my days to love on others and share the amazing love of Christ with them.

For the next month I’ll be living life in Uganda, Africa. I’m so excited!!! It doesn’t even feel real to me. It doesn’t feel that next week I’m leaving! To me, I’m in the mindset, I’ll believe it when I’m there. While I’m so ready, I’m about to take a huge leap from the comforts America has to offer, to the poverty of Uganda. I’m about to leave my family, friends, boyfriend, home, church, town, state, and nation. Dude. That’s crazy. I am so ready to go. Who am I kidding, I have so much excitement, the minuscule nerves I have are extremely outweighed by all the excitement! Ahhh! I’m going to Africa!! I’ve been longing to go there for so long!! It’s finally here!

Soooo…July 5th-August 2nd, I’ll be living a journey in Uganda!!! Please pray for safety, health, contentment, travels, and ease during the trip for myself and my team of 13 other high schoolers and two leaders! I’m about to love on the people of Uganda as Christ loved the church! AHHHH!

So, Uganda…HERE I COME!!

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The Global Orphan Crisis

One Mississippi…two Mississippi. Another orphan in the world just died due to malnutrition. Did you know that there are approximately 153 million orphans in this world and every 2.2 seconds another child somewhere around the globe loses a parent? Well, it’s true. The global orphan crisis is not just sets of statistics, it’s real children with real pain, fear, and tears. So what does the orphan crisis actually look like?

The Orphan Crisis:
-The seven year old boy in Rwanda, alone and afraid, because both of his parents have passed away from aids.
-The hopeless ten year old girl in Thailand trapped in the world of sex slavery, manipulated and used, as countless and faceless men “take their turn” at her multiple times a day.
-The disabled little girl living in a special needs orphanage in Peru wondering if she’ll ever be wanted.
-The teenagers about to age out of the orphanage system with no money, job, family, or place to go.

These aren’t just stories to make you feel bad, but the sad and truthful lives of many children around the globe. Once children have become orphaned, the society around them will see them as hopeless wanderers on the street. Often, in Africa, orphaned boys will be taken and made child soldiers. Girls on the other and, will be taken into custody by soldiers and become their “pride” for the night…their sex slave. In Eastern Europe, 50% of orphans will die before their twentieth birthday. Of the other 50%, most will become involved in crimes, drugs, or prostitution sometime in their life.

It is sad to think that less than 1% of orphans will actually be adopted. By 2015, there is a predicted number of orphans raising from 153 million to almost 400 million. We can’t ignore this anymore. I’ve had the privilege to babysit many ex-orphans from all over the world. Some deaf, some physically disabled, and others perfectly healthy without a single thing wrong. They are all so full of joy! We need more loved kids and less fatherless children in this world!

As one of my favorite songs says, Something here is wrong, there are children without homes, but we just move along to take care of our own. To me, there is something wrong, and that is why I’ve decided to become a voice to the ones who can’t be heard.