Time for an update....
Nothing new really, still fundraising. Christmas was a great time with family. I enjoyed all of our traditions more while thinking it may be the last time I do some of them for a few years. (Like going as a group of 10 to hike in the woods and snow to cut the perfect tree) It looks like Beckie and I may be sliding our leaving date back a few more weeks- possibly the second week in March. Still not going to purchase the tickets to fly out until the fundraising is done. I'm working out at UC more than I thought I would be. It's good, I discovered how much I miss nursing and am glad to be spending a few more hours there.

I want to share a song that has really gripped me lately- It is Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall. The lyrics are so true- we are no longer trapped in our darkness and shame! We are new people, ransomed and liberated!

I once was fatherless, a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me,
Awakened me, from my sleep.
Into marvelous light I'm running
out of darkness, out of shame
by the cross you are the truth,
you are the life, you are the way!
Your love it beckons deeply,
a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come.
And take this life, take your life.
Sin has lost it's power,
death has lost it's sting.
From the grave you've risen victoriously!!!
My dead heart now is beating,
my deepest stain now are clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs, now I'm free.
Now I'm free!


If you have never heard it before this is a good version of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoA2ka7tnh8
sorry about the formatting- blogger is being retarded.

Set Free Ministries

Just a quick request-
This weekend I'm headed to a training for discipleship counseling. This is that I may be better equipped while working with kids and others in Uganda. The training is about helping hurting people with emotional and spiritual brokenness and oppression. We know we need the the love and truth of God and prayer because our sin causes separation from God. I'm not really sure what to expect but I want to be open to God's leading and I really hope this is a growing experience. I would appreciate your prayers and promise to update you how God answers! Thanks guys!

Therefore, let us run the race set before us. A race means... concentration of purpose and will, strenuous and determined effort. It means that a man while he is on the course gives himself wholly to one thing- running with all his might. It means that for the time being he forgets everything for the all absorbing desire- to gain the prize. The Christian course means this all through life: a whole-hearted surrender of oneself, to put aside everything for the sake of God and His favor. The men who enter the course are separated from the crowd of idle spectators: they each of them can say, One thing I do- they run.
Looking unto Jesus- there we have the inner life of the spirit, a heart always fixed on Jesus in faith and worship, drawing inspiration and strength from His example and His love.

-The Holiest of All Andrew Murry.

Because I said so, that why.

So, just a quick update....
I'm still fundraising full time. (Have not given up yet!) Beckie is out on the west coast right now so I don't have to work quite so hard. (Just kidding!). Each week I talk to a kid's sunday school class about Africa. It is always interesting the questions and comments they make. This week one of the kindergartners asked why I'm going to Africa. Obviously I paused too long formulating my answer and one of the other kids chimed in with "Because God said so!" Yeah, I just left it at that.

(76 days)