We are going to Uganda!

A couple of months ago we talked at dinner one night about how 2014 was going to be the year that Eric, Joshua, Sophie and I went on a mission trip.  At the time, our thoughts were that we would try to pick one of the Starfish Orphan summer mission trips to El Salvador (Starfish Orphan Ministry is a ministry here in Paducah that does mission work both locally and overseas).  We knew it would be hard to swing all four of us going on the same trip (childcare for our other kiddos), so we thought about dividing up two and two.  

Not long after we had this discussion, our youth pastor announced he was putting together a mission trip to Uganda over 2014 Spring Break.  This mission trip will be going to do mission work with the organization SOS (Sufficiency of Scripture) Ministries (www.sosministries.com).

My heart soared when I heard Africa, specifically Uganda (or Ethiopia or Kenya, for that matter).  Having the opportunity to go and work in one of these three countries gets me stirred up.  When we homeschooled, we spent a large amount of time reading, learning and praying for these particular countries.  Our first child we sponsored through Worldvision lives in Uganda.  We have many friends who have adopted from Ethiopia.  Katie (of 'Kisses from Katie') is in Uganda.  We have watched and read much on 'The Lost Boys' who came from the UN camp in Kenya.  Bottomline:  this area of the world has captured our hearts over the years.

So we began praying about going to Uganda.

The biggest obstacle to hurdle was fear.  Not fear of going.  But the fear of the cost.  I was feeling a little guilty about not getting a small part-time job (like working 6-10 hours a week) to help pay for the constant expenses that pop up DAILY in regards to our children.  The cost of athletics they're involved with, the cost of shoes, the cost of outgrowing their clothes, the cost of when they ask if they can go get ice cream with their sport's teams, even.  Not to mention, braces???!!! (oh, that word just about sends me over the edge in panic, kind of like the word 'college' (ok, we're not even there yet, so breathe in, breathe out!)  Pondering over all of these things can make me sick to my stomach.

So, I felt guilty about getting a part-time job to save for a mission trip rather than helping with all of these other costs.  Yet, at the same time:

• There are ALWAYS going to be these kinds of expenses, ALWAYS.  Should they really keep us from going?
• If we were meant to go, God would provide a way to go.  Period.
• Sacrifice is part of the cost.  If we are about kingdom work, then we have to be willing to sacrifice in other areas.

In the three week period that we prayed about this trip, three very significant things happen.  First of all, Eric got a small raise...for about the amount of money that would subsidize our income if I got a part-time job.  It seemed as if God was saying 'I got you covered in this area.'  Second, Eric was approached about taking over a small ministry.  With it would come a small amount of compensation for doing so.  Third, a local artist (named Kijsa) who goes to our church and is in our Sunday school class had mentioned she was looking for help.  During these weeks of praying, Kijsa's name kept coming to my mind.  I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to call her and see if she still needed help.

Finally, I called her.  Kijsa's immediate response was 'Yes, yes, yes!'  I went to meet with her in her studio.  Everything about our time together was incredible.  First of all, every bit of what she does is God honoring.  Many of the items she creates have Scripture painted on them or are Scripture ready (i.e. chalkboards with 'Verse of the Week' painted across the top).  Secondly, she told me that often when people call in to make an order, they tell her their story.  Sometimes it's a 'rejoicing' story; sometimes it's a heavy-hearted story.  Either way, much of her ministry is about praying for these people as she paints, custom-making the item to that particular person's situation.  She concluded our meeting by saying that God had taken her art and turned it into a ministry--that I could work for her ministry and then she could pay me so I could go and do ministry.  A win/win!  God's creative law of multiplication.  

A little fun side-note Kijsa is that she is one of my mother-in-law's favorite artists.  In fact, she told me all about Kijsa and drove me by her studio when we first moved to Paducah.  Little did I know that one day I would not only meet her, but go to her same church, be in her Sunday school class and then eventually work for her! 

Kijsa is incredibly talented and I encourage you to check out her website: http://kijsa.com .  Or just go directly to Etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/kijsa  .

Our decision?  Sophie, Joshua and I are going to Uganda!  Since Eric has more of an inkling to go to South America, he hopes to  go on one of the Starfish mission trips this summer.  Maybe take one of our children with him?  We shall see...  No, we shall pray!

We had our first planning meeting on Wednesday night, discussing lots of ideas for fundraising--a 5K run, lunches after church on Sundays for our congregation, some parent's night outs, to name a few.  Our goal is that each person's cost after all of our fundraising will be $1,000.  This is the cost I will be working to offset through my job (times three).  

Please be praying that God will continue to show up and multiply our efforts over the next several months, providing in ways we could have never imagined!