Too Small?

I see Hannah and Jay Jore sitting on the top of their car with a chicken.

I live in Africa.

Homemade fresh pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving!

I hear goats. Lots and lots of goats. (Yes, I think of Taylor Swift's song "I Knew You Were Trouble" everyday!) And turkeys that wake me up in the morning.

I live in Africa.

I taste chapatti, cassava, rolex, beans, rice, posho, sweet potatoes, eggplant, pumpkin.

I live in Africa.

I feel dirty everywhere. No matter how many times a day I wash my feet, I'm always red with dirt.

Susan, she loves to laugh! 

I live in Africa.

I smell the sweet flowers in town and the brewing alcohol in Masese.

I live in Africa.

I see two men holding hands while walking down the road as a sign of friendship.

I live in Africa.

Do you ever feel like you're not making a difference? And even when you hold to a certain belief about ministry, when someone comes and questions it, do you lie awake at night wondering if they were right? I would answer yes to both of those questions. My ministry here is small -- it's based on building relationships and prayer. However, when people ask me what I do here and then sneer at my heart for discipleship, I'm discouraged.

Mama Kate makes necklaces that I sell!

Lots of necklaces!

This was a strange week for me -- I didn't have my translator Irene at Bible study on Wednesday, so I stumbled through "Buli munto awulira ebigambo byange ebyo, n'amala abikola, kyaliva afaananyizibwa n'omosajja ow'amagezi enkuba n'etnnya, mukoka n'akukuta, kibuyaga n'akunta, ne bikuba enju eyo; so n'etegwa; kubanga yazimbibwa ku lwazi..." (Matthew 7:24-29) I can read Luganda fairly well, which the locals usually cannot, but I'm pretty useless after that. I read these verses and we struggled through the little English they know and the even smaller amount of Luganda that I can speak until finally we just prayed.

However, it's in the moments when we're struggling through the language barrier and living life next to each other that means the most to me. It's days when I spend the whole morning in Masese, not leading a Bible study, but drinking tea, braiding hair, and having meaningful conversations with my friends that I love the most.

Apparently devils glow, because I "wanted to look like a devil" today!

Is what I do here too small?

We're silly a lot of the time!

I ask that question a lot. But I know the answer to that question. The more important question is whether or not I'm okay with people thinking the answer is yes, and still continuing with discipleship.

After all, that's what Jesus did.

I never want to belittle the ministry that is based on relationships and patience and love.

Please pray that God would continue to use me, even when I'm prideful and want a big name with a big ministry.

I serve a Big God. Let that be enough.

This was a funny sight to many in Masese

Recapping and Redirecting

"The Lord saw her"

Nalight -- her left ear is rotting away 

Such simple words. Jesus saw a widow who lost her only son; a statement of fact. But those words have touched me this week. He saw Peter, James, and John. He saw Levi, the tax collector. Amongst the hustle and bustle of the crowds, fishermen, and a million other needs, Jesus saw them.

Today marks six months for me! I'm celebrating by eating M&M cookies -- you have no idea how excited we get about American food! I thought I'd share a few things that I've learned so far:


God: He knows. Sometimes I struggle with the poverty and illnesses that run rampant through this country. But God knows, He cares, and He loves these people more than I do.

Pasweeda has jaundice like I've never seen before 

Missions: It's not about coming to save the world, because Jesus already did. It's not about solving all the problems, but teaching the locals sustainability. Throwing kids in orphanages is not always the best answer. There are situations where they are needed, but many times they end up hurting the community instead and giving parents or relatives "freedom" from responsibilities. The idea of the mzungu as the savior has penetrated into many of the minds here.

Lillian enjoying some tea under the tree

Myself: I heard a woman say this week, "I'm so excited to come to Africa where I can make a different and such a huge impact in just a few minutes." She was excited and just off the plane, and I'm sure my thoughts were similar in May. However, I've found that I don't talk as much, listen more, and grow more myself as I am the one who is impacted by these people. I never want to act like the one with all the answers, because I don't have them.





Thankfully, there is still so much for me to learn. These lists are not finished. I'm constantly learning more about God, ministry, and myself. I never want to pretend like I've got it figured out.

Probably my favorite picture ever. Rebekah being herself!

Ambassador Institute got a boda!

The past few weeks I've been praying for Jesus vision -- I want to see like Jesus does. I see men, women, and children that are just starving for love. I've learned to go slower, just sit with women and take tea, even if they're speaking in Karamajong and one of the only words I remember is "abebe" (pronounced ahh-bay-bay!)...which means cockroach. Really, I don't normally talk about cockroaches on a regular basis! I've learned not to be annoyed when the children attack me as I'm on a mission to go somewhere, but to yell "duuka!!" (run!) and collapse on the ground with 20 children in laughter when we reach the jackfruit tree.

Silas is so big now!!

Life isn't always glamorous. I've had mango worms twice and just got my first jigger this week -- if you want a nice Google search, try those! I get peed on regularly, especially in Masese, sometimes multiple times a day. I have guys harass me daily, something I'm not too fond of. But at the end of the day, it's just life. These small annoyances do not shadow over the joy and peace that the Lord has given me here. Each day, each moment, is filled with the love of God.

There are days when I deal with a little girl who's ear is rotting with gaping wounds and a 16 year old that was drunk and killed her 2 month old baby. There are days when everyone is sick and poor and starving and I'm drained. There are days when my friends in Bible study answer all the questions correctly, but still say they are not "born-again" because that life is too hard for them. There are days when I cry out to God to the point of tears. But even on those days, God is not far. God still loves. And for that reason, I will continue to love Him and love those around me.

Lucy and I love to make faces at each other

             My life is saturated in His love.

Another bag full still to go...gotta love gifts here!

Ramsey wasn't so sure about the swings

Spilled Milk

It's days when I boil the milk over for the second time this week when I want to sit down and cry.

When a long day was preceded with a long week with long hours of waiting. Sometimes I feel like that's all I do here. I wait at the clinic for the OB doctor to come in for three hours, only for him not to show and a dozen women are told to return the next day in hopes of catching him then. I wait for hours to see if my friend's baby has malaria, which should only take 20 minutes. I wait for the power to come back on so we can make tea for the women. I wait for the rain to stop so I can see where I'm walking.

I wait for my friends to see Jesus.

You know that page in Dr. Seuss' book Oh The Places You'll Go! ? The waiting place.

Waiting for a train to go

or a bus to come, or a plane to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or a No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite

or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting

As I mull over these thoughts I realize that God is waiting. He wants my friends to know Him more than I do. He cares for these people: the beautiful women, the dear children, the fathers who have never had a father, and is waiting for them to return to Him.

“God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Tim 2:4

Brenda wants to go back to school but her class fees would be 300,000/ – $125. Sandra is 8 months pregnant and was tested and has malaria but the doctors only gave her Panadol – equivalent to Advil. Esther has a placental abruption but refuses to go on bed rest and is in danger of losing her baby -- but she doesn't even want the baby. 

“Seek the LORD and live” - Amos 5:6

I'm thankful for fresh pineapples and canning pickles with the Jores and drinking sweet warm milk before bed. I'm thankful for chilly days when the wind blows so strong that the leaves whistle through the yard and Jay exclaims, “MOM! IT'S FALL!” even though it's probably still between 65-70°. I'm thankful that I have life, and so many of my friends here are finding true life in Him as well. 

I'm thankful God is opening my eyes to more of His love for me and the rest of the world “slowly by slowly” (another common phrase here).

In the midst of the waiting, life does not stand still. We live, laugh, love, and seek God. And He's here.

I've found that I am so very thankful that we serve a God who waits as well.

Ramblings of a Ragamuffin

I got a package from my parents that included Velveeta, Queso dip, and even Kraft single slice cheese! We don't have good cheese here, so you can assume my high levels of excitement. If ever you want to shower love on me for no reason, I'd prefer it to be in cheese. :)

Betu loves flowers too!

We've “shifted” – the Ugandan term for moving – to our new place and have settled in quite comfortably. If you know me at all, you could probably recall how much I hate change. I was talking with Sarah on the day I moved and started tearing up, and she thought I was crazy that I didn't cry when I moved to AFRICA but I will cry when I move two streets down. I know, I am ridiculous. But God is good, the house is amazing (I have bay windows and a balcony over the lake...yeah...) and the couple that own the house – Peter and Val from Australia – are just great! I truly hate change, but God is still faithful. He even gave me a rainbow this week as a reminder. Our God is good!

Meet baby Kate! Born November 2nd

My friend Sarah just gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Saturday night – Courtney's birthday! She was named after me; what an honor. I truly love the Karamajong women. And I love having three small babes in Masese now to visit and hold and love all day. I love that even though Masese is known amongst my friends there as "a place of problems", God is working. People are starving, sick, hurting, dying every day there, but God knows. And He's not silent or choosing to ignore the problems of His people. I told Sarah last week that I felt like I needed to be superwoman to go to Masese, and she smiled and said, "No Kate, God already saved them. Just tell them about Him." I don't need to save the world, God already did.

That's right. I did that. 

My friend Maureen from Masese loves to look at the picture that I have of me and my grandma on my phone. She said, "I like to see your jaja (grandma)", so I told her that I hope she gets to meet her someday. Her answer was, "Ah no. I'm not like you. I don't know I'm going to heaven. I know I'm a sinner." Please pray that she would find the assurance of salvation and faith in Him, and rest and joy in Christ. Pray that she would know that she has a Savior. Pray that God gives me His words for her. Maureen is one of my closest friends in Masese. 

I wake up at 5:30 every morning with the sunrise streaming in through my windows. Brilliant pinks and golds shimmer across the water and wake me with such gentleness that far surpasses that of an alarm clock. It's completely worth it to wake at such an hour to see His beauty displayed over the shining water. 

I love prayer. I know this may sound strange, but in the quietness that this month has already provided, I've come to appreciate intercessory prayer more than ever. Mom, dad, Grandma Buschette, Grandpa Swartz, Jason and Esther, NoahGraceJamesMilo, Kari and Nick, Krista and Zach, Erik, Pastor Franz, Pastor Steve, Courtney, Lydia, Zach, Angie, Austin, Logan, Kyle, Steph, Jo, Bekah...only to name a few! I find it such an honor that even me, in Africa, can lift up my friends and family so many thousands of miles away to the Lord of Heaven and Earth. Wow. Please know that I have not forgotten America or my loved ones there.

My friends think it's funny that I like chicks

I love that while I'm such a failure and often would prefer just to sip tea and read a book instead of getting dirt on my feet and struggling through the language barrier, God still chooses to love me. I love that I don't have to muster up enough love for these people, but can run to my Jesus to be filled and allow Him to pour out over me into the lives of my friends here. I love that while I was still sinning, Christ died for me. I love that I have assurance of salvation and hope and love and joy. I love that I'm still learning what it means to be a disciple myself. I love that God's not done with me. 

Alice, a sweet woman in Masese