21 Days till YWAM. More updates on that soon!

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- look for version of "My Hope is Found". amazing

New Updates!

Hello All!
I have not written a blog update in a very long time so I thought it was about time I update you on what is going on in my life. There is SO much!! Well as you all might know, I am currently taking classes here in Colorado. That is all going well, but I am ready for something new. That is where the news comes in. In January I will be involved in a program called YWAM (otherwise known as Youth With a Mission). There, I will be doing a program called Compassion DTS. This program is all about training youth who have a heart for missions. And that is ME! I will be learning all about serving the poor and the needy and how God works into that. This is also about showing mercy and love to those who do not have it. To those who do not have a voice. This program ends with a two month mission in another country. Not sure where I am going to choose to go, but I am sure God will put me somewhere wonderful. This summer as well I am hoping to be involved in an organization called Love for the Sake of Love. There, I will hopefully serving in Africa for some of the summer. I know God will use me as he wishes.
Here is a song that I have been listening to and is really touching my heart.

In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all-in-all

Here in the love of Christ I stand

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Love to you all.

Colorado

Well I haven't posted anything in a while so I guess I would update it. I am officially in Colorado and have been for a couple of weeks now. School has started and life as begun. I am still living with my cousins, but will most likely be moving out on the eighth of september. I have a possibly of a job, but would appreciate prayers on that. I need something consistent. One thing that has been going through my mind is the question of school. I know what I want to do. I want to serve God and make an impact on our society. Things need to change for the better and I want to do that. I want to do that for my entire life. Now does that require an education?? I pray that God will guide my life how he wants. That requires faith. Faith that He will do what he wants. Today, I had the opportunity of seeing Margret Feinburg preach. She is the Author of the Organic God and many other books. She was an amazing speaker and an amazing author. Her lesson was about how we are God's flock. He guides us and we need to listen to what he wants to do in our lives. More soon.
Much love,
Anna

I think that I will share with you a little about what is on my mind. In two weeks I will be moving out of my house to COLORADO! Right now a lot of things are up in the air. I'm not sure where I am going to live, how I will get around, and where I will work. I am very nervous. I am letting God work as he wants. I want him to do his will in my life. Some other things that are going on in my mind is if I want to go to school. I know I want to work with kids at risk. Does this mean that I have to go to school or that I can just get involved in an organization? I would appreciate prayers as I try to work this out in my mind. I pray that God is in control over my life and things will work as he wants. This means that I may not always know what is going to happen and I may not always like what happens, but God knows all. I don't want to forget what I learned in Africa. I don't want to forget the things I witnessed. I want to do God's work. Also, I would appreciate the things that may happen this summer. I may be getting involved in this organization called Love for the sake of Love. This summer they are planning a trip to Uganda to build an orphanage. I really would love the chance to do this if that is what God desires of me. I would love to go back to Uganda and work with the people there.

Much love,
Anna

This song gets me every time I listen to it. The words are just so incredible. Today as I was pondering over my life and my dreams for the future I just couldn't figure it out. I was always so sure about what I wanted. But, after my experience in Africa my heart and my mind has decided on one thing. I want to serve God. Serve him all the days of my life. Life couldn't get much better with that as my goal. I want to be in Africa right now. Serving God. I want to work with the children. I want to share with them the love of God and the hope that he brings to everyone. Forget school, I feel that God is calling me towards this.

The One: Everyday Sunday
I am here, and I’m with You now
And I didn’t think I could feel this way
I am here and I’m with You now
Because You found me somehow

I can be the one tonight
When everything seems out of sight
I will follow You with all my life
I can be the one tonight

Jesus, You are the one that makes me smile
over and over again
I am here and I’m with You now
I want to hear You somehow

I can be the one tonight
When everything seems out of sight
I will follow You with all my life
I can be the one tonight

Church Tomorrow

Everyone that can should come to Bethel Grove Bible Church tomorrow. During the service our group will show a video, share what we witnessed, and share a worship song. It will be a great service. The service is at 9:30. Be there!

i miss africa. i want to be there now.

Well I am back. Back to the States. I miss Uganda more then I could ever imagine. I miss the children, i miss the people we met, i miss it all. You can see what God is doing there and through the joy of the children you can't help but smile all the time. It is a poor country and the poverty brought me to tears numerous times. How can we live lives like this and not notice what is going on around the world? I wonder why I do the things I do and live so selfishly when there are people all over the world with nothing. Children who have to walk miles for something as simple as water and yet they smile? Most of us would complain each day. I found myself when faced with a hardship thinking 'wow this really stinks'. Yet, it is nothing compared to what many face every single day. The school visits were such an amazing experience. We drove to a town called Masaka where we stayed. Each day we would drive at least an hour to remote villages where we went to schools. We would start the day by greeting the children. Each day we were greeted by "you are very welcome". They would welcome us with huge smiles and thanks?? I remember people coming to my high school and complaining about it. And these children are smiling at us?? I just couldn't get over that. Most schools we went to, the children would perform some songs for us. They were so amazing. Then we would put on skits and take questions from the students about sex and the importance of waiting to have sex until marriage. The response was amazing. Each child after the activities had an opportunity to sign an apstanence card. An unbelieveable amount of chilren signed these cards. It was so encouraging and amazing to watch. After, we got a chance to talk to the children and play games. I wanted to take all of them home. I am happy to be home, but I miss Africa so much. I want to continue doing God's work. More tomorrow.

Much love.
Please pray for those who lost their lives (and their families) in the Kampala bombings. We were very lucky to be safe.
Anna

Back home safely! updates tomorrow :)

2nd day

Sooooo today was the second day here. we started off the day going to a group called Hope Alive! We got to participate in worship services and small groups. The most exciting part was when we got to play with the little kids. We played all kinds of games and the kids were so excited to see us. The kids would run around grabbing our hands. After, we got to visit a few of the children's homes in the slums. We got to meet their family and see their living situations. It was very sad to see. The children ran around us screaming "mazungo" meaning white people.
i dont have much time and i would love to go into more detail, but others need the computer. (aka kathryn who is super annoying). joking of course
much love.
Anna
p.s. i will explain more later. peacee

I'm here!

Well.. after 28 hours of traveling we are here!! The plane rides were soooo long and i didn't get a chance to sleep at all. First, we flew to Detroit which took an hour. After we had a flight to Amsterdam which took seven and a flight to Entebbe which took eight. Let's just say it was a long day. I do not want to sit on a plane for a long time. I can't sleep on planes so that made it not too much fun. Today was our first day out in Kampala. (which is about an hour outside of Entebbe). We slept in late and then got to walk around the city (accompanied by five native Ugandans who led the way) for most of the day. The city was indescribable. We got to see the parliament building where I got to learn lots about the city's government (which i originally knew nothing about). After, we walked around the food and spice markets. There, there were people lying on the ground selling all kinds of things. I cannot describe the amount of poverty that I have seen. It's unlike any other city I have ever been to. People wanting to sell their food and just waiting for someone to do that. OH AND I ATE A GRASSHOPPER!! it is a big thing here. It tasted like a chip kind of. Very interesting. Lot's more happened, but I don't have much time. Tomorrow we will do some home visits and hang out with some children. I cannot wait for that. My heart is breaking for some of the people that I have seen today. The poverty is very sad and it just makes me want to serve the people here even more. I cannot wait for all the things that we will do. I feel like this is really my calling.
I"ll update you soon.
Much love.
Anna

Well let's see... I just finished packing all of my stuff! The backpack is full and i'm ready to go. My stomach is doing flip flops I am so stinking excited. I've counted months and months, gone through sooo much to get to this final point. I can't believe that it is already here.

Today, I found my invisible children video and decided to watch the section about an orphan Roseline who has the HIV virus. The video was shot in Northern Uganda and was mainly used to spread awareness about the war in this area. Watching the video about the orphans and how the HIV virus is so present in Africa made me realize what I am truly getting myself into. I don't think I have really wrapped my head around what I will be seeing and what we will be doing. I really want to have an impact on this small country in Africa. Here is the first part of the Invisible Children video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qds5MQCqWnk . Watch it! It's amazing.

Anyway, back to our mission. Tomorrow at 3:25 pm, twelve students and leaders will be getting on an airplane to travel to Entebbe Uganda. From there we will travel to Kampala Uganda and from there to Masaka. It will be a long, but very exciting journey. We will then spend two weeks traveling, teaching, talking, (wow lot's of t's) with lot's of different people in all different walks of life. I am so excited to connect with the children there.

There is a small chance that we will have internet access while in Kampala so I will try to keep my blog updated with what we are doing (for the few that actually read this).

Please pray for our safety and for good health (as I am kind of nervous about this).
Much love.
Anna

Well, I don't know if anyone actually reads this blog but I thought that I would post a few more times before we depart. Today we had our last meeting as a group. This gave us a chance to follow up on any questions that were going through our minds and also gave us a chance to pray with our parents about the trip and the results it will hopefully have on our lives. We prayed for God's grace and for the safety of everyone on this trip. I am not allowed to take the malaria medication unless I get really sick so I would very much appreciate some prayers for this as I am very nervous. We prayed for his guidance as we try to share the Gospel with the people we will meet in Masaka and Kampala Uganda. This is going to be especially important for me. I am a bit shy so it might take me a little bit of time to come out of my shell. I hope that God will help me get over this fear and allow me to really do his work. I would like to continue to do this kind of thing for a future career, so this is really a test for me and to do that I need to put all my trust onto him.

I will leave you with this last verse. It is from Philippians 1:6. "..being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus". I pray that our efforts will not be for selfish reasons, but to share the love of Christ and to truly do his work.

much love.
anna

We leave on WEDNESDAY!!! SO CLOSE :)

Spaghetti Dinner!

For all those in the ithaca area-

tomorrow is our spaghetti dinner! Come enjoy some wonderful pasta (and brownies that I cooked myself :) ) and help support our team!

Here is a little video that a few of us made. It will be shown at the dinner tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb1MrRQg0fw

much love.

Well.. it has been a while since I have posted anything on here. I haven't really had any inspiration. Today however, I was reading Philippians 1:12-30 and was very inspired. This passage is about having courage to preach the gospel to others. It really connected with what we will be doing while we are in Uganda and the future mission trips I hope to take. "Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." This is how I want to live my life. I want to live my whole life for Christ and to be courageous no matter what situation I am put into. I hope that I feel this way as I am put into many different situations in Africa.

Random

Oh and got my yellow fever shot the other day. WOO!

Thoughts

Today, as I sat in my room I was thinking about this upcoming trip to Africa and I started crying. My heart just aches for the people of Africa as I think of what we will witness while we are there. I can feel God calling me to this country. I pray that God will use me as he wishes and would guide me. Prayers would be appreciated as we continue to plan and get ready for the trip. The trip is getting closer and closer and I cannot wait for the day when I am finally on the plane to Africa. Much love.

A little note..

Listening to David Crowder today and the lyrics matched so well...

"The Glory of it All" by David Crowder:

"Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same"

I expect this trip to do just that. :)

Article on AIDS in Uganda

Here is a very interesting article on the HIV AIDS problem in Uganda. Read it! It will give you a little bit of knowledge about the AIDS fight and why we are going to this country!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/world/africa/10aids.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted=all

Uganda here we come!

On June 30th, a group of 13 of us from Bethel Grove Bible Church will be traveling from Ithaca NY to Kampala Uganda. We will be spending two weeks working in schools in Kampala as well as a smaller town of Masaka Uganda. Our church has a partnership with Kampala Baptist church so we have been given the opportunity to work alongside those in the church talking in many schools in both cities. HIV AIDS is a major problem in Uganda and leaves many orphans in this poor country. There are many myths floating around schools regarding how AIDS is transmitted and the amount of sexual partners a person should have. We are going to speak to children about the importance of abstinence and to share the gospel with them. This is going to be a life changing event and I hope that we can have an impact on some lives. I would appreciate many prayers for all of us as the event gets closer. Love, Anna :)