Hope in the Unknowns

Today I broke my toe, taught kindergarten and a Bible study, had lunch with my dear friend on her birthday, and made an apple pie by candlelight with the pouring rain pattering against my tin roof.

I'm thankful for these days. I'm thankful for days that don't go according to plan, and yet have so many beautiful blessings sprinkled throughout the chaos. Lately I've been noticing the flowers and butterflies and genuine kind smiles of familiar faces whom I see each day and it has awakened a new appreciation for the truth in "this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

I am trying to learn Karamojong, slowly slowly -- as they say here. Today my friend Esther refused to speak to me in English! Then as I said goodbye to Esther and Lillian, they said "topedajok" (have a good night) and then strung a bunch of words that I knew together afterwords. Words such as butterfly, sit down, keep quiet, and frog! I'm thankful for friends who want me to learn their language and are patient with me, all the while making fun of my complete lack of knowledge!




I have been silent over the last few months because I honestly don't have words. There have been multiple times I've sat down and tried to type up a newsletter or blog post, failed, and decided to bake something instead. The kitchen is always my outlet. I've tried sitting in my front yard as it looks out over the Nile River, at my table on the veranda as the monsoon makes it impossible to hear anything but the pounding rain, and at sunrise with a cup of coffee, but no matter the setting, these words have been hard to bring to life.

The reason I fail to share is because there are so many unknowns right now. My kindergarteners graduate on Tuesday and I don't know what life looks like without a tent-making job. Masese is a mess and I don't know when the bulldozers will come and knock down the houses where my friends live. The family I'm closest to here has been in America for the last two months and another family who I work closely with in ministry as well as personally is leaving in two weeks, and I don't know what I'm going to do without them. I will be going to America for one of my best friend's weddings next month, and I don't know what I'll be coming back to in September. I don't know where I'll be or what I'll be doing next week, let alone a long term decision regarding ministry.


Bible study today was the story of God parting the Red Sea. As we discussed the story, we realized that we're the Israelites. We're faced with the water in front and Egyptian army behind. There is no way that we can save ourselves. There's no easy way out. In that moment, the only way there could be a possible ending other than destruction was if God intervened.

God asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
God asked Jeremiah, "Is anything too hard for Me?"
Jesus told His listeners,"What is impossible with man is possible with God."
The angel of the Lord told Mary, "For nothing will be impossible with God."

I know that God always works all things together for good, and He will receive glory for Himself in whatever comes. We know all of the right answers but honestly, we're discouraged. I'm discouraged.

However, we're also hopeful. We're hopeful because we do serve a God who is building His kingdom in Masese III. We're hopeful because this is His work, and He's allowing us to come alongside of what He's doing in the world. We're hopeful, which means filled with hope. We have an assurance in our hope. And like Paul, we're here to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. That's why we're all here. Above all else, we're here to point to His finished work.

Would you pray?

• Even in the unknowns, God would use us for His glory in the daily moments
• That God would give wisdom as to the future for those who live in Masese III
• That God would lead and guide me as I look to an unknown future in ministry
• For the Karamojong -- we've felt that Satan has a strong hold on this tribe as a whole. Pray that souls would be saved and lives transformed by the gospel.

Thank you. Thank you so much for praying for people whom you've never met, and yet are part of the Church and Body of Christ. Thank you for praying for His Kingdom to advance. Thank you for praying for me as I struggle in this season.