I. AM. HOME

 After 20 years of praying, wishing, hoping, desiring, and dreaming of going to Africa I am back for the 3^rd time in 2 years to the country that my heart has never left. I am back in a home full of joyful laughter, rambunctious children, kind words, humble worship, and the smell of African food being cooked of a pot full of fire and coal. I have returned to dusty roads, crazy traffic, boda rides, crammed taxis, and smiling children yelling “mzungu, mzungu, mzungu” as I stare out the window riding though Kampala on Entebbe Road thanking God for every hour, every minute, every second I get to spend in a country that is full of brokenness but at the same time full of joyfulness, kindness, hopefulness, and udder reliance on their creator God.....

I. AM. HOME.

Norah and her Smile

            February 17th I boarded a plane headed to Uganda with a girl from Tuscaloosa named Monica who was about to board a plane for the first time in her life, and her first plane ride would be 16 hours, not an easy ride for even someone who has made the trip more than once, but through all the layovers, airplane food, finding our gates and taking our seats she was a trooper and we both made it the next day on February 18th at 10:20 pm. Not even 8 minutes off the plane, while standing in line for our Visas I get a phone call from Alex, one of my best friends here in Uganda who is also our full-time driver. At that moment, I started to smile knowing that as soon as I got my Visa, and found my bags I would be in a van on my way to House 1, one of my three homes for the next 132 days. After grabbing my bags and getting hugs from Alex, Mato (House 1 Dad), and greetings from Laura, Kelly Anne, and Andee we were in that van headed to House 1. After getting settled in my bed, being the only one in the boys side of the quarters we stay in I climbed in bed settled in and slept like a baby until 4:30am, the moment I woke up, walked out the door, up the stairs to the main house, through the front door, and there, rubbing there eyes, trying to wake up, getting dressed and sitting down to eat there breakfast of warm milk, ginuts and bread were 24 kids that I had missed more than anything else in the world. After hugs from all of them I sat on the couch, buried my head in my hands and just began to thank my God for another chance to come to this place. To actually be on the couch, in that home, and listening to the Lugandan coming from there mouths warmed my heart beyond any gift or trip, and at that moment I realized that I was truly home. That I don’t have to leave for another 4 months and during that time I could see these kids every single day and my heart overflow with every hug, every smile and every calling of “Uncle Will”.

Sassy Vanessa

            Before I came on this trip I spent some time back in Brandon, MS to see my wonderful girlfriend Anja, all my friends at MC, spent the 40 days leading up to the trip at the Sozo Children main office helping in getting different things done and during all of the weeks before my trip, I got to see Cody Donald, Baker Carroll in Mississippi and as he was passing through Birmingham, on his way to Mississippi I got to see Jared Willis as well. All 3 are huge influences on my life and great friends of mine who I wouldn’t trade for anything in my life. All of them have spent great amounts of time in the mission field, out of the country. Jared and Cody have both spent 6 months each in Dubai sharing the gospel with workers in the city, and Baker has spent much time in Paris preaching the word to people on the street and college students within the city. All 3 have a huge heart for the Lord and a desire to see His name spread throughout the nations. As I am writing this Baker and Cody are leaving the country again for a few weeks to spread the gospel even more. All 3 of them told me things I will always remember. One of the nights I spent in Brandon I got the chance to have a slumber party (by that I mean I slept on his couch) with Cody and that night before going to bed I asked him what to expect when being gone for more than a month within the mission field and he answer was, “except to never be the same”. He continued to tell me that I will be changed in a dramatic way getting to see things that some people will never get the chance to see and experience things that some will never get to experience. Along with that while Jared was staying at my home in Birmingham he told me something I think about everyday and it was simple…. “Baxter, go hard for the Gospel everyday, and don’t hold anything back.” Lastly, right before I got on my flight to Amsterdam, I got a phone call from Baker and one of the last things He told me was to “live out your faith in everyway possible and to never get discouraged, no matter what happens,” and before we hung up he took the time to pray for me, like he has more than once, as one last prayer of sending me off.

            Psalms 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastured. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, then comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

           

            While I am hear my desire is to never fear what might happen, or what is happening and to fully rely on the power and faithfulness of God through out it all and to fully, like Jared said, “to not hold anything back”. Psalms 91 has been a chapter I have more than once while I have been here and in that chapter God promises to protect me from whatever the evil one sends at me as long as during the time I am hear I continue to make the Lord my “dwelling place”. Verse 7 “A thousand my fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” It also says that He will cover me with His pinions and shield me with His buckler. His final promise in chapter 91 is in verse 15 which says “When he calls one me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” That is the Word of God, and something I hold on to everyday that I am hear. While I am here God will test me and Satan and his demons will try to discourage me and get in my way, but with the faithfulness of God and the belief in His promises, I know, without a shadow of a doubt He will protect me and will be there for me and with me every step of the way whether that step is an easy one or not, He will never leave my side, and if I fall during these 4 months or within the course of my life He will always be right there to pick me up and dust me off, because THAT is the faithfulness and promise of my God. 

            To end, a week ago Hillsong United came out with a new album and on that album is one of the songs that will be a reminder to me while I am here. The song is titled "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)." The song is describing God calling me out of my comfort and into an Ocean of the unknown and within the unknown we find God there right next to us to guide us through it all where “my feet may fail” and “where I am His, and He is mine.” The end of this song is how I desire my heart to be through this whole trip. For my faith to be fully within the hands of God and for Him to test me throughout the next 4 months (like he already has within these 3 weeks) so that in the end of it all, my faith will truly be made stronger within the arms of the Lord.

“Spirit lead me when my trust without borders,

let me walk upon the waters,

wherever you may call me.

Take me deeper that my feet could ever wonder,

and my faith will be made stronger,

in the presence of my Savior."

Kabalagala

Week Three. He Has A Plan.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-just as you called to the one hope that belongs to your call-one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Ephesians 4:1-7

In the book I just finished, Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton (OF for the Texas Rangers), Josh talks about his struggle with drugs and alcohol that tore apart his life for 4 years and his battle to overcome the power of sin to fight back with Jesus at his side to gain control of the life he was given. He speaks on the constant battle to follow Gods plan for his life and the time when he failed over and over falling back into sin, feeling unworthy of the life God had for Him. Later in the book he finds strength one night in his Grandmothers house after 4 years of drug abuse, holding a bible open to James 4:7 “Summit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

            In the verse above in Ephesians, Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus urging them to live out the life that God himself laid the foundation for. He goes on to say that we are to do this in the same likeness as Christ lived out His plan and to remember that we are unworthy of His plan, but by the Mercy of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we have been given the gift of Grace to be deemed worthy of a life with Christ and to following the path God has for each of us. Many times I feel inadequate to fulfill God’s plan for my life, or sometimes I sit, wondering, questioning God’s plan for my life, sometimes not understanding what is next or wondering why things happen at the particular time, maybe wanting them sooner or later. As I live my life though I am constantly reminded later that God's timing is perfect. Sometimes I don’t see it then, but later in life, like as if He flicks me in the head, I realize again and again His timing is perfect. Like His plan for Africa and wanting to come over here so badly for the longest time having to wait 5 years to do so. 5 years ago I would have not known the kids I do now, have the relationships with people I have and at the time my heart was full of selfishness and not servant hood. Like always though, His plan is perfect and my timing to come here was perfect and I constantly thank Him for this opportunity every time I come over here and serve in His name. As I sit here though, I always question and know that I am not worthy to come. I am a sinner, destined for an eternity of Hell, but with the forgiveness of God and the sacrifice on the cross by Jesus Christ I am able to live an eternity with Christ walking with Him as I live life and forevermore!

           

            This summer when I was working at Pine Cove (Go Base Camps!) I was asked what my favorite song was and why. For someone who loves music more than anyone I know it took me a long time to answer, but after a minute or 2 I said, “Embracing Accusation” by Shane and Shane.  As to why, I began to explain how much truth the song has within it. Its starts off with:

The father of lies

Coming to steal

Kill and destroy

All my hopes of being good enough

I hear him saying cursed are the ones

Who can't abide

He's right

Alleluia he's right!

The devil is preaching

The song of the redeemed

That I am cursed and gone astray

I cannot gain salvation

Embracing accusation

The father of lie, Satan has come to destroy the hopes that I have of being good. “Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour” 1 Peter 5:8 He is out there to destroy our hopes and dreams and to speak hatred and unworthiness into us. But:

Could the father of lies

Be telling the truth

Of God to me tonight?

If the penalty of sin is death

Then death is mine

I hear him saying cursed are the ones

Who can't abide

He's right

Alleluia he's right!

Could the father of lies, be telling us the truth. Has the one, cast out of the heavens be constantly telling us exactly the truth, that we are unworthy and should be given the penalty of sin, that is death. He is right, I am a sinner and deemed unworthy. I am selfish and boastful, and living a world dedicated to things other than God. I do forget to read the word, I do sin and yes I should spend an eternity with him in Hell, but Satan refrains from one thing, which is probably the verse that makes this my favorite song.

Oh the devil's singing over me

An age-old song

That I am cursed and gone astray

Singing the first verse so conveniently

He's forgotten the refrain

Jesus saves!!

He redeemed us from the curse of the law.

In the torments and evil things spoken to me (us) by Satan. Out of everything he says that could be true, he has forgotten one thing. Jesus has saved me; Jesus has saved us as a body of Christ from the death that should be given to us! God has given us a plan to live by and a path to follow and it is up to us to follow it. If you doubt that then turn to my girlfriend Anja's favorite bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plan I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare, and not for evil, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE.”

The Lords plan for our lives is to not live in torment, fear or confusion. He has given us a life worth living, worth telling others about and a life that with God, will be the perfect plan for you. If we live in Him and abide in His plan and teaching, He will sustain us, give us a HOPE, give us a FUTURE and our plan will be lived out, although not always easy, by not my timing, not by your timing but his timing. My heart burns with passion for the hope and life God has given to me. He has given me a life to live, but it is not my life. He is the creator and redeemer and through Him I live. He is the reason I live, the reason I sing, the reason I live to want so desperately for others to know Him. My heart is to see a world break out of selfish desires and see people radically transformed to follow the plan God has for you.

Josh Hamilton was given a plan for his life. For 4 years he went on and off drugs, trying every worldly kind of treatment he could and it wasn’t until he put his faith in Christ and found hope in Him that he was able to follow the plan that God had for him. It is not until we put our faith in Christ as well that we can see the plan that He has for us and live it out like the way we were meant too.

My prayer for everyone reading this and even for the ones that won’t. If you every feel inadequate, unworthy or confused in your life, look to Christ. He is the reason we live and through Him we live. God has a plan for you and I, and I promise, that with Christ, nothing can stand in our way of accomplishing the plan God has for us.

We are one body in Christ, one world created by God, with many different plans. I pray that we as a body for Christ follow that plan and live out a life that has Him right by our side and allows no one, including our self, to stand in our way. 

Week Two. God is Enough

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

          The second week I got to do 2 pretty incredible things. The first being, going back to work at the school Rays of Hope, on Tuesday, which is a primary school (K-6^th) in the slums of Kabalagala which is right outside of Kampala about 30 minutes away from SOZO House 1 and SOZO House 2. When I arrived I could see that God has done incredible work in the renewing of the school including using people to fix floors, paint walls, put a water faucet in the school so no more walks to get water and build a kitchen area designated for cooking and serving food for the kid’s breakfast and lunch. The kids had not forgotten me and I was, with the help of a few of kids, able to remember most of the kid’s names I had gotten know the year before. God has supplied new and more teachers (which meant I didn’t have to teach which is good because I would rather them get and education….I do not have the gift of teaching school). Joel, the Headmaster of the school said that most of all of them had been able to pay their school fees and the others had made arrangements to do so soon. To see this school thriving like ever before gave me so much affirmation and joy that the Lord has his mighty hand over this school and His spirit has and will continue to let it thrive as he transforms lives using education and the teachers and kids of this school to radically effect there nation and neighborhood they live in.

          The second was on Wednesday of that same week I was able to go to a family group that the interns had been going to all year. I went with Carrie, Quinn and Paige because the guy, Jake in their group was in Kenya. The families, like the school, were in Kabalagala just a few blocks away from the school. As we arrived, we were greeted by the grandfather of the house and then by his granddaughter and his grandson Ronald. When we entered the home I was told that the Grandfather, alone, takes care of his 10 grand children and 8 of them live in the small home that we had bible study in. Before we even sat down, they showed the kindness of the Lord by the way they spoke, smiled and acted while we were there. The Grandfather was still thanking the 3 girls for the glasses they had given him a few weeks before and the son showed thankfulness too as well. As they served us tea and bread, the 2 more grandchildren arrived and say down in the small room just to see us and hear the word of God again from us. This time though Ronald read from Word and gave the teaching in English and Lugandan so that his grandfather was able to clearly understand as well. This family, even though not having a lot, still had so much joy in their lives, and praised God for every gift that they had. As we left, in the pouring rain with no rain jacket, I was truly more blessed by that home visit than I ever thought I was going to be.

          In Colossians 1:16-20 (the verse above) Jesus is praised by Paul for all of His glory, mercy, power and honor. As the second week came to a close, I was constantly reminded of how awesome my God is. He is the ruler and power over all creation and loves each one of us even though we deserve to live without him. We live in a world of wrong and right, yes’s and no’s and in this world, my God is in control of it all. He is the one that created all things, sees all things and knows all things and though Him alone I have life. Our world, especially America is a country thriving on the next best thing, how much you have, what don’t you have, I want to be better than you and yet in all that, the times I see God the most are times like the first 2 stories. In places that don’t have much, but yet have everything because they have Christ and have little to replace Him and He alone is enough to fulfill every desire we could possibly have.

          My heart burdens to see the world, myself included, except Christ as all they need. Last weekend we took the kids of SOZO to play soccer and as I was walking back with House 2, I was walking with Remmy and pointed to the house of the hill that belongs to riches man in Uganda. I asked Remmy if he would ever want to have that much money, and Remmy, who a few months ago barely had food and no bed replied with these simple words… “You know a rich man dies too….I may have no money, but I have Jesus, and that is all I need.” Jesus is all we need and I desire to have the same heart as Remmy and to look around me and see a world that has that same heart as well. We have become a possessive world, but I pray that we as a people and nation become a prayerful and thankful world. “For it is written, if anyone shall boast let him boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:21. May God’s love and mercy affect this nation so much that we no longer boast in what we have or don’t have, but only boast in the love, righteousness, glory, mercy, forgiveness, power, and redeeming sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7

Week One. Ridicule vs Praise

Week 1 was absolutely full of blessings and full of the Lord’s teaching. It all started with my plane ride from Amsterdam to Entebbe, Uganda. When I sat down in my seat I realized that the 2 people on my left both had bibles on their tray tables and quickly introduced themselves to me. One was a missionary from Colorado named Scott and the other was a Ugandan native, pastor and professor named Marvin Ssempa. Marvin was on his way back to Uganda after a visit to the USA to see family. After the first 30 minutes of discussion realizing our similar passions for ministry we began to talk about scripture, God, the world and our similar desires to share the gospel. It was awesome to see it because the plan ride from Atlanta to Amsterdam and the whole lay over in Amsterdam I felt so alone without anyone by my side. The Lord quickly reminded me that I am by no means alone with Him and He put two amazing people in my life for 8 hours who encouraged me, prayed over me and followed by each one of us teaching the other 2 scripture for 2 hours.

            After departing from the airplane and getting our visas we prayed together once more and left on our separate journeys. After waiting nervously for my bags because of the lost bag that I had to wait 4 days for last year I finally got them both, met my ride and left the airport. Last year I stayed 2 months in our first home with SOZO and got so close to the kids there and was so excited to see them. As we drove I was suddenly informed that a few hours before they had switched me to House 2. For a few moments I was pretty let down and confused of why I was going to House 2 and questioning the plan of my Lord but soon was filled with comfort and excitement to meet the new 2 kids at House 2. As we arrived at the house at midnight I was greeted by the Uncle of the house and discovered that the kids and aunts had already gone to bed and I was going to have to wait and meet them in the morning. I volunteered to get up at 4:00am to give them breakfast, and that was a huge step for me because I was coming off just a few hours of sleep in the past 36 hours.

            When I woke up I was surprisingly refreshed and ready to arise at 4:00. As Stephanie and I were making breakfast each kid slowly came down one by one and I was told a name to remember and after more came it was harder and harder to remember the kids names but I promised myself I would try my best to remember. About 8 kids into the line up one of the best surprises yet happened.

            

            To back track, last year while I was in Uganda Jon Brennan and I visited Mercy Home where the original 17 came from. There unfortunately still many kids there so we brought food for all of the kids and stayed while they cooked it to make sure they oldest 3 boys and the pastor would actually give them the food. Everything that came into that home was taken by the 4 and the kids rarely received any of it making going to the Home and hanging out and playing with the around 22 kids such a huge blessing. When I was there I has a strong connection with a boy. He told me his name was Raymond, who was about 11 years old, and for the 4 hours I was there he held my hand and talked to me every moment except for the 30 or so minutes I played soccer with all the kids. When I left for the second time I looked him in the face and promised him I would come back and see him. As I was leaving he ran up to me and gave me, what is some kind of fake jewel he kept in his pocket and told me to keep it, and it has been in my backpack ever since. When I left I said a prayer, praying I would see him again not knowing what would happen to him within the year I was gone………

     

Remmy

             And down come the stairs was Raymond, with me COMPLETY forgetting Jon told me a month earlier we had taken him for Mercy Home and I must have had the biggest smile on my face when he said, “I remember you Will.” Raymond, who is now called Remmy has developed into an amazing, smart child of God and we have connected even more. The kids of House of 2 are incredible…Solomon, John, Ambros, Rosco, Benjamin, Enock, Benard, Marvin, Remmy, Rolland, Eddie (who now laughs all the time, when last year at Airfield he never smiled or said a word. The Lord has transformed him so much) Pheiona, Sharon, Nila, Joan, Faith, Josephine, Janet, Florence and Winnie (who 4 and so precious). They have been such a blessing these past 2 weeks and have given me so many reasons to smile, laugh and play until I can’t move at night!

            As week 1 came to a close I started to think about all the reasons I am here. Not only does my heart long for every child to be loved, but also I desire to see Africa change for Christ as a country. To be here and love on these kids in the slums or in Sozo, I am honored by the privilege to watch them grow up to be men and women of God. That transforms in to Godly leaders of there own country. These kids have 1/5 of what most kids in America have, but yet they smile and laugh as if they have everything they need…and they do. The don’t fill there time with games and toys but fill there lives with the love and mercy of Jesus Christ! The may pick on each other but when it come to showing affection to there Lord, no fingers are pointed and no remarks are made. Only hands raised and voices crying out to their Father with praise, thankfulness and love. That is what I long for to happen in America. For America to change to a country that doesn’t ridicule others for worshiping, reading there bible on the quad or being a Jesus Freak, but a desire to rise up along side one another and worship a God that has created all things, knows all things and sees all things. To have a love for one another that is without ridicule, but with a voice of affirmation and commitment to serve along side of them for the Kingdom of God.

            People say that these kids can learn a lot from what America does, but my response would be the opposite. To sit and watch them love Jesus with every inch of there body, I would say we have a lot to learn from them!

 “Every day, I make a choice

To be led, only by your voice

To be bold and unafraid

Knowing I am covered, I am safe

For even now, in my need

You are proving yet again to me,

                                               You are there, You are there, Always there”

                                                                   -Jeremy Riddle-

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6

SOZO House 2

Love Came Down

"So they took Jesus, and he went out bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with Him two others, one of either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." John 19:16b-19.

As we approach Easter pray about what God wanted me to get out of most this weekend and the week leading up to Easter, by taking the time to sit and meditate on the Easter holiday. Over the years I have just seen Easter as the time my God sent His one and only son to come to earth, live among us and then to die for our sins because without that sacrifice we were incapable of spending eternity with God because of the sinners we are. God put a burden on my heart to meditate more about the Easter season more this year and over the past couple of days I have done exactly that and this is was i believe God was trying to tell me and show me.

My life in Christ was never meant to be the easiest thing in the world. Christ didn't say, follow me and you will never again struggle or have hardships but in John 15 "If they persecute me, they will also persecute you." We live in a world that is full of hardships whether it deals with family, friends, school, jobs, or just day to day life. Christ himself faced hardships while on this earth, so why should we ever think our life should be perfect. Why should we ever think we deserve to have a life without hardships? The only man to ever walk this earth that was perfect faced abuse, denial, hatred each day of his life after His ministry started. So what does that tell us? It tells us that is we are doing what we are called to do, minister to the world, then we will face hardships because we are the hands and feet of Christ. The road we walk in life is steep at times, and storms will cover us some of the days of our lives but unless we give up we have Hope. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior of our souls took on my burden, took on your burdens and sins and died for you and I. He DIED for you and I.....WHY? Because He loves us. He loves us regardless of our sins, regardless of what you have done or will do, He loves us. Easter is that time of remembrance. Remembrance of the day Jesus Christ gave Himself up to the Roman guards, stood in front of Pilate as the same people who embraced Him a few days ago with Palm Tree Leaves, shout "Crucify Him, Crucify Him," as he is strips of his garments, leaned over and was beatin and whipped with a cat of 9 tails, had a crown of thorns put on Him and was led up a hill to then be nailed to a cross, risen up and mocked until the time he took His last breath and GAVE UP his spirit. At anytime Christ could have called the whole thing off and been rescued by angels but instead he took the punishment and was crucified for US! And is no means do I deserve that. I am not a man good enough for someone as perfect as Christ to die for me, much less good enough for anyone to die for me. But through the Crucifixion we were given Salvation, Grace and Hope and that is why Christ died for us. He loved us so much, and wanted to spend eternity with us that He gave up His own life. Before Christ we had nothing. No Hope, No Future, and No Salvation.

Kari Jobe writes a song called "Love Came Down," and the Chorus says:


Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
I am Yours
Lord I'm forever Yours
Mountains high or valley low
I sing out and remind my soul
I am Yours
I am forever Yours


We are FOREVER in God's hands and God is in control, He was in control of the Crucifixion and is in control of this earth and all that goes on in it. We have the choice whether to rely on Him or not but if we give ourselves over God, He has the power to control our lives. My main point of this blog is for the person reading this to understand that God is in control of all things and no matter what is happening in your life, never feel that God has abandoned you or that He has some how lost control of His plan for you. God has a plan for you and like Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For i know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and HOPE." God is our hope and as long as we rely on Him in all things, it will always work out in the end. "And we know that for those who love God all things work for the good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. God works in the good, but He also works in the bad, just like He did in the Crucifixion of His son. James says in chapter 1, "Consider it pure joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James is saying that in times of struggle rejoice in the fact that good will come from it. God works in times of struggle and will always bring good things from it, and will allow Himself to be glorified through it.

But if we give up and lose focus on who is in control, Satan wins. If we begin to rely fully on ourselves and what WE want to do or what WE want others to do, Satan wins. Satan sits and waits on any opportunity to strike in any aspect of our life. God is with us wherever we go, as long as we believe in Him and remember that He cares for us daily. "Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer Him from a Holy Heaven with the saving might of His right hand." Psalm 20:6. 


During this Easter time remember that God plan is perfect and through the good and the bad God will always prosper and have Glory in the end. My prayer for those reading this, is that you sit and meditate on the Easter time as well. Allow your spirit and self to be open to what God wants to say to you. I pray that you always trust in God and know that He is in power of all things. Though sometimes you and I can't see it at first, we must Hope in the fact that God is in control, and in the end, struggles will cease to exist, and we will all be with the Father and Son and we will dwell in His Glorious Reign Forever and Ever!


Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4


JESUS REIGNS, OVER ALL, HE REIGNS! FOREVER AND EVER....AMEN


May God Bless you and your family over this Easter Holiday. 

Are You Thankful?

I was recently on my computer and a pop up came up that said, "What are you Thankful for?" I started think about my childhood and being asked that question all the time around Thanksgiving. At a young age you say things like: your mommy and daddy, friends, toys, candy and as you grow up you start saying things like: your parents, God, your friends and family, blessings, etc. I started to think at that moment what am I truly thankful for. If I had to sit and name 2 things right now that my God has blessed me with, then what would they be, and then it hit me.....is my thankfulness for the things in my life selfish or am I truly thankful for what I have in my life. Do I take those things for granted? My mind wanted to say no I don't act selfish in my thankfulness but my heart was telling me otherwise. Am I selfish to be thankful for a great house and a vehicle and money or do I really consider myself blessed without selfishness. 


God has called us to be thankful but what should we be thankful for...and thats what I have thought about for the past couple of days and I think I have found an answer for myself.


My 3 things I am most thankful for in my life that God has blessed me with are my Family, and my call to the Ministry.


1) My Family is my everything and they are the ones who have raised me to be the man I am today. My Dad through our ups and downs has always been my strong hold in growing up. He has been the man I have look up too for guidance, truthfulness and the example of a man who has the most caring a selfless heart of anyone I know. He gives whatever he has to others and expects nothing in return. He cares for his wife and his sons like a righteous man of God should and no one could ever take that away from him. Whether we are joking around, arguing or just being a typical father and son combo I always know at the end of the day he is a blessing in my life and has been a leader in my life and I wish I would shave realized that earlier in my life. My Dad is a true man of God and my God has blessed me with a man of patience and great virtues. He is truly the man it says to be in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 — “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." Through trials and tribulations my earthly Dad stands firm in his faith even when its heart. He is the rock of our family.
My Mom is the greatest women in this world, (and if you want to argue, bring in on!). She is a women of God and truly the women it says she should be in Proverbs 31:9-31. She is the women that gave me my sarcasm but also who gave me my heart for youth and children. My mom is someone that gives without want and is filled with a helping heart for others. She is the women I want my wife to be and someone who has always been there for me when I need to vent and yell or when I just wanted someone to sit and listen to me. Washington Irving said, "There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity" and that is what my mom is. She is my spark in the times of my darkness, she is my encouragement even when I am at the lowest points of my life. She is my support system. 


2) My call to Ministry is the 2nd greatest thing I am truly blessed to have. For awhile after I was called into youth ministry I ran from it in the hopes that if would go away and God would choose someone else, but during the summer of 2008 I accepted it and it has been the greatest thing ever. I have the honor to spend my life Ministering to Youth as my JOB! not as something after I do when I get off work, not something I do on the weekends or the summer, but 24/7 365 days for however long the Lord will have me in the ministry and the greatest thing is my God will be my boss. God has instructed us all to minster to others and make his name known to everyone, but I have the blessing to do that as my occupation and I am very excited. After I graduate I will spend the next decades ministering to youth, doing missions and doing whatever other Ministry opportunities God puts in my life and I am so pumped. God has instructed me to do this job and I couldn't think of a better job. 


My life is full of blessing an I only have one person to thank for them all and that is my Lord and Creator God, Jesus Christ. He has filled me with His spirit and His blessing and no matter how much I thank Him for it all it will never be enough. He is my God and my Everything. 


So during the holidays, think about what you are thankful for and are you truly thankful. 


"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17

The Jump

Before I begin writing about the jump....I won't be blogging about Kenya just because it is WAY TO MUCH to blog about and I don't have the time here to sit for a few hours and blog. If you want to know what happened in Kenya I will be more than glad to tell you, so don't hesitate to ask!

While we are in Africa, Thursday is our day off to relax, recharge and just fellowship all day with the team and the kids. 2 weeks ago on our day off we decided to go to Ginja while the kids were in school and see the Nile River, eat and Bungee Jump. The ride to Ginja was not too back, besides the fact that I sat on a bucket seat in the taxi that was basically a piece of wood. When we arrived to the Bungee Jump site that’s when my nerves started to get to me as a looked and saw how high 145 feet over the Nile River actually is. I suck it up though, got weighed, paid and started my hike up the tower with the rest of my team that was jumping (Mitch, Emilie, Todd, Laurel, Coleman, and my brother Cary).

Mitch went first, Emilie was going to be second and I was lined up to be third. As I watched Mitch go and then Emilie, all of a sudden it was my turn to jump. I sat down in the chair that was carved into different boodas and other creepy things my heart started to race. I watched as they tied my feet together with just a wet towel and a tie down that you would use for cargo in a truck bed. They gave me the normal instructions of “don’t look down,” “make sure you dive and don’t just jump” and of course from my Zimbabwe instructor “Have a good a** time mate!”

I got up, jumped over to the platform, moved my feet to the edge, looked straight in front of me as the guy talked to me and gave me last minutes pointers to make sure that I was able to touch the water (which is something you get to do…dunked, or not dunked is your choice….I chose dunk). Before I knew it I had my hands by my waste, and then heard the shout……”3…2…1….BUNGEE!” and I jumped!

Those 3 seconds to the water were the most amazing 3 seconds of my life. Bull riders say they have the best 8 seconds, but I say that I had the best 3 seconds. 3 seconds then I was plunged into the water and the recoiled back up and down for about 25 more seconds and all that was coming out of my body was yelling and “War Eagle” because I couldn’t believe I had just jumped 145 feet tied to a large rubber band!

I highly recommend doing it! I’ll do it again with you!

The Hardest Blog Yet....

This blog was suppose to be posted 2 days ago but for some reason it sat in the "draft" section and never was submitted.


Before I begin to write this, know that this is going to take me a long time to write because it breaks my heart, even when I just think about it.

Today started like any other Tuesday (work around the Sozo House). We got the burn pile out of the yard to make a chicken coop, cut some hedges and pulled some weeds and did a little sweeping and moping in our guest house. After we were finished we decided to go to the mall and eat lunch and then go to the Kampala Market to buy a few souvenirs for our friends and family. I was pretty excited because I had been wanting to go since we got here and last time we tried to go it rained and they don't open when it rains. We ate at a pizza place and I ended up getting my first burger in Africa and it was delicious, and I ate every bite and even included a milkshake and fries. After we were all finished we went and got a little money out of the ATM and began our walk over to the market.

Now before I tell my story you must first know a background history of the kids of Kampala. As you drive downtown in Kampala, when you stop, kids will come up to your vehicle and the youngest I had seen was maybe 12 years old. They are out there begging for there guardians and they bring the money back to there guardians and the guardians will buy alcohol, drugs and food for themselves, so the key rule is, is to not give money so that the guardians won't have the money to buy those things and you can't touch the kids either (even just a hug) because the guardians will come (because they are watching) and beat you and take your money. It gets hard sometimes to say no, but the kids still seem pretty healthy and somewhat happy even though they spend all day begging.......but as we were walking to the village and I had turned away a few kids, thats when my heart broke into a million pieces and I began to tear up in the middle of the street.

Sitting in front a small store was a 2 year old boy with his arms stretch out, begging as small tears rolled down his face......let me say that again.....no more than 2 years old, BEGGING because his lazy and hurtful guardian doesn't have the decency to take care of himself......and I couldn't do a thing but watch. I couldn't hold him, hug him, give him money, give him food, nothing but just look and that tore my heart in half and my day was destroyed and even now, the image of that little boy is still in my head. Where is he right now? Is he alive? Is he hurt? Is he being fed or given water? I don't know and will never know and that kills me. Kids are my heart and everyone of them deserves a better life than I have and when I see something like that, knowing that the little boy has no chance bring tears to my eyes. All I wanted to do was just to hold him and to tell him that I love him and that the God of the universe, the maker of all, and my Eternal Father loves him more than I or any other person could!

But why does God allow that to happen? Why has he chosen me over that little boy to live an amazing life and to have the chances that I have. I would give anything for that little boy to have a happier life than me! ANYTHING! because I am so undeserving of the life I have, friends I have and family that I have. I don't deserve anything. So why me?? Why am I chosen over the next kid. I am a dirty sinner and a mind of sinful thoughts and yet I get the better life. All I can hope is that that little boy grows up to know the name of Jesus.

And that is the only reason I can think of, of why I have been blessed the way I am, so that I can use my passion for kids to go and spread the name of Jesus. So that the number of street kids beggers will decrease and decrease, as His name grows and grows! I have to always remember Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." No matter some of the terrible things I may see as I am a missionary, I have to always remember that He is in control. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and mythoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9. His ways are higher than my thoughts, so some of the things I don't understand or don't know why, maybe I'm no suppose too. Thats what faith is for, right?? "For we walk be faith, and not by sight" 2 Cor. 5:7. He loves all of us the same, no one more than the other and we must all remember that. So if we are blessed, we must use our blessing to bless others so that those other people can bless others as well. My goal is for His name to be glorified, not questioned. So I must have faith. As much as that little kid has broken my heart, and still does I know the Lord has a plan for that little boy, whether I know the plan or not, I do know that it will bring honor and glory to His name. 








**Headed to Kenya tomorrow morning for a week (July 1-July 9). No internet or phone, so a big blog will be posted next Sunday and one also about my Bungee Jump over the Nile River**

Be the Best!

Sorry I haven't haven't blogged in a long time....we have been super super busy. This is going to be a short blog but tomorrow I will write one to catch everyone up on everything we have done in Africa this week.


So while we are in Africa we go to the local church, Watoto South, which is actually apart of the country wide Watoto Church started by Gary Skinner and his wife, both of whom are from America and came here to start an orphanage (sounds like....Sozo!) and now is one of the largest churches and orphanages in Africa.


Sunday God spoke through the pastor a sermon that really caught my attention. He started off talking about the the Saturday before's community project the church did and how he was so impressed and humbled by how many people came and gave there money and abilities just to help someone else out for an hour. How the spirit had just taken over the hands of the workers and used them to fulfill God's work! He kept going on and on about how much he loved just watching people serve, and then he came to His point. He said that no matter what we do in life, if we do it in God's name we have a duty to do it to the best of our ability and that we have no right to hold anything back! 


That made me realized that I don't have to be perfect at everything I try to do, I just have to do the best I can at the things I know how to do. When I'm in school, I don't to have a 4.0, I just have to try my best and if my best is a 2.5 then so be it! What my best is, would be serving and caring for other people, and that's what my passion is. I would much rather drop everything I am doing and help someone else, that fulfill what I wanna do. Its probably where some of my procrastination comes from....but I don't care. I love it and I would serve someone else before my self at anytime, and that what God has called me to do and that what my best should be. When I'm in the middle of Africa and am re-concreting a floor, fixing a door frame or teaching an English class I should do it all to the best of my ability. That door frame may not be 100% level or the floor may not be 100% correct (but today it was pretty darn perfect...haha) I much do it all at 110% and nothing less, because I am who my Savior is and my Savior did nothing under what He was capable of doing! 


We must persevere to be the best that we can be. James 1:4 says: "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."


Work Hard and Stay Strong....He is always will you and will always give you the power and wisdom to do His work!

Where to Begin....

WOW…Where to begin???

We have been without power for 4 days, which is why I haven’t blogged since I have been here so I will try not to write forever, but I can’t make any promises!

On Tuesday at 5pm I boarded a plane that would take me to Amsterdam. The plane ride was 8 HOURS LONG and I watched 3 movies, 1 episode of Two and a Half Men and one episode of Friends while staying awake the whole time until we landed in Amsterdam. It took us an hour to get to our next flight and through security again when we loaded for a flight to Nairobi, Kenya that took another 7 hours long and by that time it was 9am in Amsterdam but 1am in Alabama so I was beginning to get very very tired! But I was able to make it without falling asleep again because I didn’t want to be to bad off my sleeping schedule when we got to Uganda. We got one last flight from Nairobi to Entebbe that was only 1 hour long and FINALLY we made it to Kampala, Uganda and after a 30 minute taxi ride we arrived at the Sozo house, but the kids were already asleep because it was 12am, so all I could so was go to there rooms and just look at them and at that moment I realized that after 5 years of trying I was finally in Africa!

The next day (Thursday) all we did was sleep and rest so that we could get back on our sleeping track as fast as possible. At 1 pm the first group of kids cam home from school (the youngest ones). Then I was able to meet: Mercy, Fatuma, Kirabo, Julius, Jaylia, Freedah, Dennis, Michael, Vicki, and Vivian. As they entered the fence all I could do was just watch them pile on top of me and after about an hour I was known as “Uncle Will” For the next 2 hours we ran around and played soccer because they didn’t have homework (how cool is it that God worked in the littlest way by them not having homework so that we could play as soon as they got home). At 3pm the second group got home (the middle kids) that were: Deborah, Weiswa, and Ronald and later at 5pm the oldest kids got home that were: Ivan, Vanitah, Sharron and the oldest, Esia.

About 30 minutes after the oldest got home and we were all outside running around before they had to start there chores…I pulled myself to the side of the yard sat down and began to tear up because I realized that after many years God was still faithful to His calling he had put in my heart. For 5 years Africa has been a huge burden on my heart and I was finally here, and the most incredible thing was that I didn’t feel like a stranger, I didn’t feel lost or confused, I didn’t feel like I didn’t belong or feel like a Mazungoo (white man)……I felt like…..I was HOME……

On Friday we went to Rays of Hope, which is the school that is in Kapalagala that is the slum right outside of Kampala. When we arrived I got a hug from about 125 smiling/screaming children and it was an incredible feeling! These kids have absolutely nothing and all around were there homes that were basically nothing, but yet, through all that they were still laughing and smiling because they were alive and at school. They find there joy in thing that in America we hate…uniforms, school, homework, etc. and I became jealous of that joy and above all else whenever I said Mayama ye bisibway (probably didn’t spell that right) which means “Praise the Lord” all around I would hear “Amen”. And knowing that a lot of these kids also found joy in Jesus Christ overwhelmed me! It became clear that I was not going to do all the teaching, but at the same time these kids were going to teach me just as much, or even more over the next 40 days.

Then…Saturday came…”Women’s Day” at Rays of Hope, which is a day that Lauren Bond had been planning from the beginning. That day we had 55 women from the city of Kapalgala, but what they came with was not smiling faces or screams of excitement… but they came with heavy hearts, and sad smiles and a will of not looking forward to another day.  They did not share the same feelings of Joy that there children or grandchildren had, but feelings of loneliness and sadness. It took the 6^th women to come in before I saw my first smile and even after that the smiles were not very common, but God laid a prayer on my heart, that before these women left they would all smile at least once. We started the day off by sharing the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet and afterwards being able to wash the women’s feet and showing them that we are here by the Grace of God to serve them and to love on them for the next few hours. After I was able to speak to them for a little bit and I told them all we wanted to do wash serve them and show them that they are loved and appreciated for what they do each day for there children. After we served them lunch Lauren spoke a powerful message to them about being the Holy women God intended for them to do. That meant to stop going to the witch doctor, stop selling themselves for money or to stop worshipping false Gods. After Lauren spoke and we began to line them up for a group picture God answered my prayer and in between thank you’s and goodbye’s I got to see each women there smile for just a little while…and knowing that God had spoken to each of them for just a little while made me light up and get so anxious to see how the city of Kapalgala will change due to the changes of each of the women. I know that without a down, the next time I come to Uganda and visit Rays of Hope, that I will see a change in Kapalagala for the better.

Sunday and today were pretty regular. We got a schedule together on Sunday and today we began work on the Sozo house doing some sweeping, mopping and landscaping and already I can see the changes that we have made and the place looks amazing!! God has already shown up so much over the past week and through tears and laughter and joy I have gotten to see His good work being done by myself, my brother and the rest of the team here and it pumps me up to think about the rest of the work we are going to get done the next 30 days, but only by His hand we can do the work He wants us to do.

Psalms 91:15 is my verse for the trip…” He will call upon me and I will answer Him. I will be with Him in trouble, I will deliver Him and honor Him.” And that truly is my prayer. That without a doubt He has called me and I have answered but not only that, my prayer is that during trouble I will be with Him and during that I will still proclaim His name no matter how hard anything get. Last thing before I get to a few fun things ( and yes, there is more.) While I was reading James yesterday I was reminded of a verse that I have always known and a verse that begins the book of James. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of any kind. Because you know that testing of your face develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it’s work, so that you may be mature and complete, and not lacking in anything….Over the nest 30 days I must be reminded of that. That within any hardship I face I must keep my chin up and know that when I make it through the trouble, I am stronger and wiser because of it and only through that, may God be glorified in the Highest!

Now for a few fun things…..First….I HATE ROOSTERS!!!! Dear Lord, if that thing wakes me up one more time I will personally ring its neck so that it will never crow again, and recently it has found a friend in the form of a dog that, of course, has to yelp at the same time so the duo combined is enough to wake me up, which some of your know is a very very hard thing to do!

2^nd…we are going bat hunting soon so I will keep you updated on that!....to be continued…..

and Lastly I will be posting picture tomorrow or Wednesday of Rays of Hope and all the kids and Sozo, but before all of you see the pictures and start claiming one of them as your own, know that Deborah is already mine, so back off!! Haha. This girl is so full of life and joy and makes me laugh with everything she does….she is a little sassy too so again, for those who know me, that works well with my sassiness to! Her and Vanitah taught me how to cook Irish Potatoes last night over an African fire and it was the funnest 3 hours I have had at the house so far. So as much as I love, love, love every one of the kids…Deborah is untouchable to everyone….end of story…haha.

Thank You for all who have read this (including my mom) because I know it was really long. I promise the other ones will not be near this long, unless we lose power for along time again.

May God Bless you and all that encounter you!

More Stories to Come Soon….James 1:27