Four Years

I can't believe it's been four years since I used to actively blog. It seems Facebook, my bimonthly prayer letters, and life has caused this to fade in to the distance. Maybe I have something profound to share again? Though really I always have had something profound to share.

I recently took time to read through old posts. It's been a joy to see my own maturity and spiritual growth. Though it seems the more I mature, the more I realize I have a long ways to go.

So here is to reviving the blog.

Still alive!!

Hi everyone. So I have done what I said I wouldn't do, I have had a huge gap in blogging. Sorry. Life has just been crazy busy. Also I have sent out monthly updates via my official CVM prayer letter and keep the shorter daily posts on my FB page. So please check out both of those resources if you haven't yet. Otherwise I'm doing well. We just completed our summer Ethno-vet Research Trip. It was good to have visitors with us from the UK and US. It was also nice because the research was done in western Uganda, so it was a change of scenery for me also. Plus an overabundance of milk tea!!!

I hope to start posting here more often. Especially since shortly CVM will change the frequency of my prayer letters from monthly to every other month.

Blessings,
Em

Redemption // Finding Hope in Jesus Christ

Redemption // Finding Hope in Jesus Christ

Here is something I wrote for CVM's monthly "Send a Vet"

We are all alike....

So I need a break from serious posts. So this is it. It's almost too short for a blog post but it's too long for a Facebook status.

I've discovered that all humans are the same. Ugandans, Rednecks, and Guatemalans.

Guatemalans have the Chicken Bus.

Rednecks have the Bass Boat

And Ugandan women have the Gomas dress (Google it)

So basically, the shinier and bigger it is... the better! Also, every culture has some form of flat fried bread. Guatemalans= Tortillas. Ugandans= Chapatas. Indians= Roti. American Indians= Frybread.

But then there are the historical stories of "God." How many cultures have a story of a great flood or creation of some sort? Some are more Biblically sound, some have strayed severely. But it tells me that all have had a chance to know God at some point. So Romans 1:18-23 doesn't lie when it says...

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles."

But just because they knew at one point, if they have gone astray and even lost the Biblical stories, shouldn't we be willing to spend our lives going to the ends of the earth to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ?! See I think that whole "Tower of Babel" thing had a profound effect on this. So not everyone has heard about Jesus yet.

God created all of the peoples different and unique, but really we are really alike in many ways. But even if they had it (the Truth) and lost it... we shouldn't throw in the towel and say "to bad, so sad, I'm a believer and you are not."

So that's what I think about colorful school buses, shiny/poofy dresses, and boats that glisten like the sun..... and Jesus.

Response to Bitter Belly's: Commandments of Men

Before reading my response please head over to my friend's blog and read her great post....

Bitter Belly - Commandments of Men

Reading through this post just brought me to tears. First off, I could have written this though maybe not with as much accurate articulation. But everything resonated with me and brought me back through many things in my life. Secondly, the conclusion left me in awe once again of my precious Savior. Praise God for His faithfulness. Praise God for His love. Praise God for His sweet voice that leads me on. Praise God for knowing He is there in the hard times. Praise God for His correction. Praise God for those faithful servants of Christ that aren't in it to stuff the money in their pocket. They aren't in it for the fame or glory or to make a name for themselves. I witnessed more than once a Message pastor putting the money from the "Tithes", "Offerings", and "Missions" boxes in the same pocket when he thought no one was watching. I have witnessed Message ministers complaining they are broke but know just from several tithing members, they are doing better than I am financially. I serve in Christian Ministry full time and I can tell you I'm not in it for the money. 

I also am privileged to be friends with people making huge impacts in this world for the glory of God. BUT I can also tell you the fame isn't something they seek and would probably prefer to go back to the place anonymity. But yet in it, they know it brings more people in to awareness of how they can get involved in what God is doing. All we seek is to be more in love with our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I do this because I have the hope found in Jesus Christ and God has called me to share this Good News with the lost and dying world. I did it for many years in my local denominational church but now God has called me out to reach others beyond the boundaries of my home community. But within it He is stretching and growing me. Those are all hard things to have happen when you are secluded within your small little Message church circle.

Growing up I thought missions was sending money to Voice of God Recordings so they could translate William Branham's sermons in to different languages (both tapes and books) so that they could be sent out in to the world. Why do missions? Because obviously more people needed to come out of their heathen denominations and learn about Brother Branham. To turn away from the Trinity and sprinkling babies. I thought missionaries were Africans, Indians, or Filipinos that came to visit our churches in the States asking for money. Knowing what I know now, there are so many things within the Message Mission Model that are unsustainable and cause more harm than good. In some ways I'm thankful for that because it won't overtake the world. But in other ways I'm profoundly grieved by it. What do the indigenous people think of all of this? Many things in the Message Mission Model creates dependency. All of that time, money, and effort spent in vain. Don't get me wrong, most of the people within the Message are awesome, dear and well meaning people. But they are stuck... and many times unknowingly. Stuck and unable to move forward because of fear and pride. Fear because doubting the absolute of the Message and William Branham is to give the Devil a foothold in your life to lead you down a path of destruction. And pride, because you have been trying to obtain holiness through how you live and how you act and how good you are for God. But if you move away from that, what will people think? What will the God you know think?

The thought of denominations. That freaked me out for a LONG time. I had heard how evil they were all of my life. Many times it was from people within the Message who had been in denominations and had a case of sour grapes from some bad experience. But in the past decade I have discovered that there are disgruntled people all over the place. So that is not a good indicator for the reality of "denominations". My experience is God is right there and moving in mighty ways. The people I have had a privilege of knowing love God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27). I attend a certain denomination in the US. But I have churches from at least 5 different denominations supporting me... as I serve along side yet another denomination here...with people from yet other denominations. But Jesus is our pillar and our foundation and we are united for the common goal of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are Godly men and women seeking the Truth of the Bible. God's Living Word, open for all. If you look at the definitions of the word denomination, the Message is also a denomination. The very thing they fear and despise.

The author's concluding thought is worth repeating here....

One body, one Spirit.  Many members.  All through the blood of Jesus.  All by grace.

Christ is the head of the church.  His church is not contained within the walls of a building. Its not a select group of people with a secret revelation for their day.  The body of Christ is whosoever will.  If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you are apart of His body.  You are His hands and His feet.  Go, and minister unto the needs of His body. Build up and encourage.  Speak life. 

Who am I?

This morning's "Our Daily Bread" devotional was really good.

Years ago, world-famous evangelist Billy Graham was scheduled to speak at Cambridge University in England, but he did not feel qualified to address the sophisticated thinkers. He had no advanced degrees and he had never attended seminary. Billy confided in a close friend: “I do not know that I have ever felt more inadequate and totally unprepared for a mission.” He prayed for God’s help, and God used him to share the simple truth of the gospel and the cross of Christ.

Moses also felt inadequate when God recruited him for the task of telling Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Moses asked, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Ex. 3:11). Although Moses may have questioned his effectiveness because he was “slow of speech” (4:10), God said, “I will certainly be with you” (3:12). Knowing he would have to share God’s rescue plan and tell the Israelites who sent him, Moses asked God, “What shall I say to them?” God replied, “I AM has sent me to you” (vv.13-14). His name, “I AM,” revealed His eternal, self-existent, and all-sufficient character.

Even when we question our ability to do what God has asked us to do, He can be trusted. Our shortcomings are less important than God’s sufficiency. When we ask, “Who am I?” we can remember that God said, “I AM.”

Dear Lord, help me to remember that You are

with me, even when I’m unsure of my own

abilities. Give me the faith to believe that You

can help me to do anything You ask me to do.

You need not be afraid of where you’re going when you know God’s going with you.

You also can read it here: http://odb.org/2013/09/28/who-am-i-2/

But it made me think of my journey. Who am I? There are been times when I have heard the voice in my head telling you "you're just a veterinary technician lost in the world of veterinarians, what can you do?"

But I do know God has prepared me for this and called me to serve in long term missions. He also called me specifically to the region of the world, the tribe, and the team that I'm about to head off to join. 

I know who I am in Christ alone. So God is sufficient. What an important reminder. May we never forget that. And I'm telling that to myself as well as I continue with 65 more days of transition before I move. I would be lying if I said it was easy to leave everything I have ever known behind. But Jesus warned us numerous times that following His is not easy. But yet on the flip side I'm beyond excited to hop on that plane. I never knew you could have two drastically contrasting emotions at the same time.

Some people have been asking me lately what a typical day is going to look like for me. I can only reply with a chuckle because that is a great question. I have no clue. But God's got it all figured out so that's what matters, right?!

So are you called to something but letting the discouraging voice within yourself telling you that you inadequate? Please remember this devotional and lean in to the Truth of God's sufficiency!

Hey, I'm moving to Africa. It's definitely NOT because of me thinking I'm anything spectacular. It's because of He who has called me. And only because of Him. What has He called you to?

Hut-hold set up

So my airfare is bought to move to Uganda December 1st. Now to figure out what I need to live over there.

My tax-deductible set up donations for my move to Uganda only apply to things I purchase specifically for ministry or things that will stay in Uganda if I move back be it 3 years or 30 years from now. Such as my pick-up truck, my solar panels, my table, chairs, bed, and propane refrigerator.

I contemplated a gift registry but I'm looking for very specific items. I need things that are reliable and durable since I can't go to Walmart to replace anything. Plus, to reduce my preparation stress I hope to get these items all together shortly so I can weigh them and figure out how and when they are going to come to Uganda with me.

I have had several people express interest in helping out with this. So I have set this up to make it easier as everyone is spread out all over the place. I guess I have never had a bridal shower or baby shower. So I guess this is sort of a hut warming party :-)

I need tools, kitchen items, light sources, spices, personal care items, and other life necessities. One non-life necessity i will be taking is a Green Bay Packer flag to hang inside my hut to remind me of Wisconsin. Besides, the outside of my hut is green and gold!! I estimate the cost to be around $2,000-$2,500. Also, fortunately some of the items I will be able to purchase in Uganda saving the expense of transporting things over there!

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