gifts

A little over a year ago, my beautiful family and I traveled to Florida to be apart of and witness the incredible wedding of Steph & Shannon. I'm starting off with this picture 1) because I miss each of them more than imaginable, and 2) because I'm thinking of the employee, Sean at the hotel we stayed at. Remember how we thought Sean reminded us of the character Ramone in the movie The Proposal? Sean filled every position in the hotel: receptionist, pool tender, towel runner, chauffeur, maintenance ... and many more. All with a smile, I might add.  Now this a stretch here, but lately I’m realizing how God is my ‘Sean’. He’s always been a God of many hats, but that is proving so true to me here. So far, the Lord has been my . . .

• Musician who sings me to sleep with His truths
• Guard when my eyes are closed once I do fall asleep
• Protector when I’m awake
•  Shield when I ride a boda; and guider of the boda when we fall
•  Weatherman when I’m in need of a cool breeze
•  Best friend to talk to 
• Disinfector of my toothbrush right after a cockroach had just crawled around it
• Doctor when I couldn’t get help right away for my burn; and for my eye when I forgot my drops in the US
• GPS in learning this town
• Stylist in the morning (yes… I do ask Him what I should wear for the day and for Him to do my hair sometimes. What... you don't?)   (;
• Cook when I’ve prayed to love every bite of food I take
•  Computer technician when I need a better connection to Skype with my friends and family
• Teacher in learning my position here
• Electrician when we need power

A God of many hats.
He is my  e v e r y t h i n g

You're welcome to put a little

Michael Buble sound to that  

gifts.gifts.gifts. 

Before I give someone a gift my excitement is nearly through the roof. I get all sorts of jittery like a ping pong ball was set off inside of me and hitting every pocket of "eeek!! (= " possible. To continue with the wedding theme, I'll give an example of my inability to contain my excitement during that time. 

I studied abroad in Italy last summer and picked out gifts for my family, including things for Steph & Shannon as they were about to enter their new married season! The items were supposed to be wedding gifts, but I was just too dang excited! Soo I caved the first time I saw her and gave them to Steph the night she landed in London. Woops...  

having a hot pad made for them in Perugia, Italy 

final product!

I wonder if the Lord gets any more excited than He already is right before we receive a gift from Him. Does He wait in anticipation, kneeling down, hands rubbing together and wide eyed as we see the gift, pull loose the ribbon and unwrap it? God has emotions too - shoot, who do we think we got them from? But do His fluctuate like ours do?

I know His LOVE does not budge one ounce. But He feels when we mourn, have joy, and suffer. He's not some monotone dude just sitting way up at a distance with one hand pressed up against His cheek in boredom and the other waving a magic wand directing a play down here. He is ALIVE! So I wonder, does His excitement heighten when we are about to receive His gifts? 

I have been the receiving many gifts since my time here in Uganda, but a couple in particular stand out to me in the past week.

1. Because students at the University near the rescue home were rioting on Friday, all 17 girls came to our place after school instead of risking tear gas and bullets. The night was filled with Elf, coloring, and a mass production of delicious mac 'n cheese by Sarah. We put out mattresses that were stored in the office on the ground in the living room. The two smallest girls, Gloria and Charlie, slept in the extra bed in my room. After making sure most of the older girls were 'asleep' I quietly crept into my room knowing the little ones had already passed out.

One thing I miss about home 

is sneaking into my little sisters' room when they were asleep. 

There is something about hearing a little one breathing while they've surrendered all to their exhaustion. 

As I stepped into my room I was met with just that. I stopped in my tracks and had to smile. I lit my candle and made as little noise as possible getting ready for bed. I forgot how precious little ones sleeping breaths are. I could tell which one was Gloria and which was Charlie. Needless to say, I didn't use my earplugs that night but fell asleep to two sweet creations.

2. My second golden gift from Him was on Sunday. I was able to see 7 beautiful faces on my computer! In the morning I skyped with Halie, Michelle, Jiwon & Laura before they went on their color run. They took me to Michelle's house, Bagel Shop, and DC once they got there! It was great to see bits of Ashburn/DC but WONDERFUL to see their bright faces, hear their voices, and all the craziness that comes with them.

In the evening I had a google hangout with the Berry Patch! Haley, Alex & Jenn were all on! We got to catch up on each others lives and share much needed laughs. I miss doing life with them! I have been missing home a lot recently, and He knew that was just the dose I needed.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights..." James 1:17

A N N E   G R A H A M 

This past Tuesday a few Zion Project staff and I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Anne Graham (Billy Graham’s daughter) speak. She was not in the city of Kampala, but right here in the town of Gulu! There were probably 200+ church leaders, organization members, and missionaries who went. I was one of maybe 15 mzungus (white people) there. 

When it came time for praise and worship, the talented leader sang a few songs in English, then a few in Swahili & Acholi. While I loved the English songs, I was captivated when we sang in another language. From doing morning devotion with the women I knew a handful of songs. During some of them I just had to close my eyes and smile. 

I thought, ‘this has to be a glimpse of heaven’. In heaven we will worship our King as ONE; not divided by tribe, class, color, or continent. My mind continues to wonder what that really will sound, look, and feel like. 

It's all unimaginable.