Been A While

So, it's been a while since I've blogged. It's actually only the second time I've posted so far. That'll hopefully change once I get to Uganda. I'll aim for once a week.

Since the last update, I got a job! That's a pretty big blessing considering how things are right now. I'm a construction inspector with the engineering firm I worked with after my first year of school. It's a little different than what I'm used to, with being on construction sites all day checking measurements and making sure things are being built right, but I'm definitely thankful for it, even if I don't always seem that way. I'm learning a lot about the construction side of things, too which helps. And I'm learning about decentralized wastewater treatment systems (fancy, I know). They're kind of cool, I guess. Anyways, having a job really helps right now! God provided for me in that way, so I'm really thankful.

Aside from work, things in Mobile are good. The first few weeks of life back home were tough, especially because I really wasn't sure how I got back here. I guess I just didn't see myself back in Mobile living at home working construction stuff again. Part of me wanted to be back at camp, even though God pretty much told me that wasn't where he wanted me this summer (which was hard to hear). I stuggled with that, especially when I looked around at life and wondered, "God why am I hear watching guys dig holes in the ground, when I could be sharing Christ with kids at camp again?" Hard question, but I eventually realized that God wants me at this job this summer to be a witness for Him to the guys I work with just as much as He would want me being a witness to kids at camp. Seems like a obvious answer now, but it was hard to see in the midst of things. Applying it is hard, though, because of the kind of people I work with on site. They're not exactly the kind of people I'm used to being around. They're a little rough around the edges. But I'm praying for boldness to being a witness for the gospel to these guys, and I'm praying that the Spirit would work through me to draw these guys to Christ. It's all in His timing, anyway.

But basically, I'm cool with being in Mobile now. I actually kind of like it a little bit (don't tell my parents ha). I'm getting lots of opportunities to serve at church and other ministries, and I get to hand out with some old (and new) friends. Yeah, I still miss camp, but I know God has me here for a reason, even if it's now always so obvious.

As far as Uganda goes, it's getting close! Last night, I got to meet up with two guys that will be there working in the construction management side of things. That office is in Jinja (spelling?), which is about an hour away from Kampala, I think. They both went to Auburn (mmm rivalry), and are cool guys. I'm excited to hang out and serve with them more, even if we're not working in the same city.

I also got the majority of my shots yesterday (2 in each arm...ouch). Just missing yellow fever, they were out! But I'll get it soon (the shot, not the disease). I'm also preparing by learning more about Uganda and doing some reading that EMI gave me. I watched the latest Invisible Children movie, too, to kind of get an idea of what's happening in the northern part of the country (crazy stuff).

Lastly, I do have a concern. The support raising process is going really slow. I've only got about a quarter of what I need for the trip, and I only have 5 weeks until I leave. I'm trusting God to provide it, but the closer it gets, the more faith it takes to say that. I really want to do this (obviously), and I feel like God has led me to this and confirmed it with scripture, but to see the money not there is hard. I'm trying to get in contact with a few more people now, so we'll see how that goes.

Well, that's that for now. Life is good. God is good. I hope everyone else is having a great summer. I'll try to blog a little more as August 16th gets closer (that's when I'm leaving).

PRAYER REQUESTS THIS TIME:

-That God will provide the money for the trip

-That God would allow people to experience His blessing and faithfulness through giving for His kingdom

-That I would have the boldness to be a witness for Christ at work

-That the Spirit would work in the lives of the guys around me at work, to draw them to Himself

-That God would give me direction for after Uganda

Step One

So, it looks like thing are finally getting started here.  I've got the blog up and going!

So...if you're wondering about the colors, they're the colors of Uganda's flag (or as close as I could get them, anyway). I was trying to stay with the whole Uganda theme.

But the past few week since I found out that I got the internship have been busy. Since then I've finished finals, graduated from college, and moved back home. It's been kind of surreal, since it feels like I just started college yesterday. However, as I was packing up today in Tuscaloosa, I realized how truly blessed I've been for the past four years. I don't mean that just in the standard way of having good friends (which I have had some great friends while in college), but I also mean in the extent that God has grown me over the past few years. He's given me so many great opportunities to serve and learn. It was kind of funny because as I was packing I was kind of bummed out, because I'm leaving all my friends and everything that I've known for the past few years to go back home, but as I looked through all of the memories I had accumulated, I couldn't help but see how amazing God has been to me. It made it hard to pout when I realized how much I had been given.

Over the past few weeks I've gone through lots of different feeling about Uganda. There was the initial excitement stage, which was followed by the logistical "getting it to work" stage, which was then followed by the "oh wow can this really happen" stage, which was then followed by the "maybe this isn't what I'm supposed to do" stage, which finally led to the "God has led me to this so I will follow Him" stage. A lot of stages, I know. But I figured this would happen, since this whole path of going to Uganda is a little different than that of a normal new college, and is not really what I even expected to be  doing about this time. But I'm trusting God will guide me and supply all I need in this.

So now I'm beginning the support raising stage, which is new for me. I've never had to ask for money thing before, so it kind of feels strange at first. Like I'm soliciting or something. But a packet EMI sent to me highlights all the different times Paul asked for financial help in his ministry. It was quite a bit. From those scriptures I can see that supporting missionaries and people in ministry is just as important as going yourself. God says he will reward those who live sacrificially for the gospel, in both giving and going. Cool stuff. So that makes me feel less like I'm soliciting, and more than I'm offering people an opportunity to join with me on this crazy adventure. It also makes me want to be supporting missionaries myself as well, when I get back form Uganda. I haven't really been obedient in that area, and I'm honestly excited to be part of that when I'm not on the support raising side of things.

Well, that's about all for now. I'm in Mobile for the summer, and I start the whole summer job search process tomorrow (maybe...the temptation of a game of golf has reared its ugly head). Hopefully I can find a job with decent hours so I can enjoy my time here. But, the economy is kind of crazy right now, so I'm pretty flexible. I know God has all of this worked out, so I'm not worried. Anyways, I'll keep you all updated as thing progress!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- summer job in mobile

-God will provide my needs financially for Uganda

-God will prepare me for my time there