happy new year.

I’ve been so terrible at this blogging business, which makes me sad because there is so much I want to share, I just haven’t taken the time to sit down and write about it. Since I’ve last written on here I’ve bought my plane ticket to Uganda (I leave February 16), gotten most of my shots (Hep A, tetanus, polio, and malaria pills), procured my visa for the first three months in Uganda, and in general just been rolling a ball that will continue getting bigger and bigger until I leave in February. I’m currently in Chile, visiting my family here over Christmas and having a really corking time. I’m grateful to be able to come down here, I love it here. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the people, and the general atmosphere here is something I always miss when I leave. It’s a different world, but in many ways it’s not much different from anywhere else.

If I tried to convey the emotions I’ve felt and experiences I’ve had as I draw closer to leaving for Uganda, it would take a long time, and I wouldn’t be able to do them justice. Suffice it to say, much has happened, both around me and in my head. God has been working sweet things in me, some difficult, some wonderful to experience. He’s given me a huge heart for the homeless and the oppressed especially in Phoenix, and it’s been a huge blessing to be able to team up with other believers who also feel strongly about those things and to serve God in that way, by loving His people. It’s something I should always be doing, so the fact that I don’t follow God and I’m not more obedient in those areas is sometimes discouraging. Fortunately we serve a God who doesn’t hold sin over our heads, but redeems us, shows us mercy and unconditional love like we’ll never experience from any other source. And that is cause for constant celebration.

There have been times when I wondered if going to Africa was in any way a rebellion on my part, or a desire to escape from something, or anything that was contrary to God. I knew I talked about helping people, and especially helping people who are SUPER poor or discouraged or helpless… but how much did I think about helping someone across the street, or in my own city? People had previously asked me why I hadn’t ever considered doing a ministry within the city, why I felt I needed or really wanted to do ministry out of the country. I don’t know that I ever had a straight answer for that. But in the past year God has hugely grown my heart, and I feel I’ve obeyed certain things He’s asked me to do or put on my heart, one of which being an impromptu homeless ministry downtown myself and a few dear friends were able to be a part of. After being able to become part of a new church this last year, and doing this homeless ministry, and really feeling God move in different areas at my work, I can say that I am not running away from anything, or saying that ministry in Phoenix or in the US isn’t valid or important. The only difference is, where has God placed you? Where has He called you? And I don’t think He comes with a big neon sign, and I don’t think He always makes things super obvious. He works differently in every situation and in every person. There’s something Shane Claiborne quotes that says, “Find out where God is already at work, and get involved.” Or something to that effect. Sometimes something will just tug at your heart or you will see a ministry or a person that really calls to you, and for goodness sakes, join it! I’m completely on board with that.

All this to say, I feel God has more work for me to do, and more growth for me which He is going to do in Uganda for the next year, and I am so excited to see what that’s going to be like. I know it’ll come with its sorrows and hardships and discouragement and frustrations, as well as with its joys and growth and sweet experiences. But like Paul says, he has learned to live in all circumstances, because we can do all things through Him who gives us strength. Knowing all I do about the Lord, seeing what He’s done in me and through me (though I’ll never know why He chooses to use me, or any of us), and having Him confirm His character to me over and over and over, it only seems logical, it only seems natural to give Him everything, to follow Him anywhere.

Please pray for me as I prepare to leave. I would be so grateful for your petitions on my behalf, and feel so incredibly blessed with all the solid believers God has placed around me. Those of you who live in Phoenix and who I see frequently, I am going to miss having you be such a frequent part of my life and will miss all of your beautiful selves and the dynamic of our relationships here. However, I am not going to the Internet-free jungle zone, I will definitely be within electronic reach, so please do not hesitate to keep in touch with me, if you know me I GREATLY appreciate and feel encouraged by any emails, notes, facebook messages, phone calls, and hey, even visits to my neck of the woods! Don’t be shy! I love you all, to anyone who is reading, I hope your 2010 is very blessed.