Worshiping Beyond the Walls

At my home church, Auburn United Methodist Church, we have a contemporary worship service called Resonate. In Resonate we have a saying "worship beyond the walls". Well here in Gulu we have decided to take that literally.

Tonight we had a community worship service in the village close to the house. When we were all discussing our spiritual gifts in a devotional one night I said that God had given me the gift of music. Turns out he was about to use that gift no matter what. We decided that we wanted to have a community worship and music night and guess who was to lead worship? You guessed it, me. Now I have grown up in church choirs, praise bands, and doing solo performances but I had never lead worship all by myself. So obviously there were some scary thoughts that accompanied that task.

What will these people think of me?
What if I forget the words?
What if no one else knows the words?
What if my voice cracks?
Will they even understand me?

All of these questions were running through my head but what do they all have in common? ME ME ME. I hadn't put it into God's hands and let Him have control. It was His worship service, His village, His Gulu, and His world. Who am I to be freaking out about leading worship for Ugandan people who do not even speak my language? Well that was a slap in the face. The whole reason I am here is to expand God's kingdom, not to show off my musical skills (or lack there of). When I sent my mom an email venting about what I was scared of and what I was struggling with she sent back a very humbling response. Basically she was telling me that it was in Gods hands and it was all about Him, not me.

Well I did my best to prepare for this event by writing out a set list and writing out some of the lyrics so that if I did get stage fright and forget the words then I would be prepared. We as a group decided that I would do one or two songs before the message and one or two after, so I completely wrote out the lyrics to 4 songs so that I would for sure be ready. Well when we got there we obviously needed to do more songs because there were no adults even though we had invited them but the kids were there sitting quietly ready to get started. So what do we do? We sing as many songs that I can do from memory and repeat choruses as many times as possible to make everything last longer! Somehow even though the kids had no idea what I was singing they enjoyed clapping along and dancing to the music.

Originally the plan was for me to sing and play the drum but as I was practicing I realized that that was not going to happen so Willie (our security guard and friend at the compound) played the drum as I sang my heart out. We had a few awkward moments there where we did not know what to do next but overall it went very well. We figured out that of you sing "Jesus Loves Me" about 10 times in a row then the kids will learn the words and the sign language! God was definitely there as we were worshiping and even though only a few adults showed up (halfway through the message) the children loved every second of it. We sang Baby Jesus, All Because of Jesus, Jesus Loves Me, How Great Thou Art, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, Amazing Grace, Oh Happy Day, Lead Me to the Cross, and Father Abraham. With the mixture of the southern and African accents I bet we sounded pretty interesting but we were giving praises to the Lord.

I really hope that the kids learned more then how to play hop scotch this week at VBS and tonight at the community worship. But that is no longer in my hands. We presented the gospel in English and in Acholi when there was a translator present, we played and loved on these kids and we have made some awesome relationships.

Everyone else has been able to connect with people on a one on one basis but I have been fighting a cold and ear troubles so in the afternoons I would have to lie down instead of going to play. One of my friends in coming to visit us next week and is bringing me some much needed cold medicine, so after I am all better I am super excited to get out there and make some real relationships!

My home church found out about what I was doing and said a special prayer for us as we were having the community worship and I could really feel the prayers! As much as I was nervous I really enjoyed the experience and I can not wait to do it again. A big thank you to Brother Charles and Mama for getting everyone involved in the prayers and for believing in me.

Here are a few prayer requests:
- the Cornerstone Class of 2012 as they travel to Uganda and as they drive to come and see us, some of the members are Camp Hand, Kate Duke, Codarious Findley, Caleb Heaton and Will Lott, there are probably other members but these are the ones I know are coming.
- Jamie and the baby as they go through these last few weeks of pregnancy
- the OHS FCA team who will be traveling home this week: Kyle, Cokey, Stephanie, and Alana
- all the interns who are beginning to feel a little homesick at this point, here are all of us by name if you would like to pray for us:
Mattie, Elizabeth, Anna, Rebecca, Sara, Jerica, McCamy, Jerica, Emma, and Laurel
- everyone who is having tummy trouble (which is basically everyone)

Thank you so much for taking the imw to read!

Love,
Mattie

I'm learning

I am learning more from these Ugandan children then they will ever learn from me. It is hard and weird to think about but these kids do not need me. They are not the ones who are being blessed here! When God put this dream in my heart, in no way did I think it would be like this. I thought that I would come over, do some VBS share some love, give some hugs, maybe pass out some new clothes and some candy to kids who said they needed it. Boy was I wrong! We walk down the street to a village of hits who literally sleep in the dirt, kids take care of themselves (and their siblings) and still have time and energy to play and work hard. There is nothing that we can give these kids that will help them in life. God has given them everything that they will ever need. Being here and seeing the way that they live compared to the way that we as Americans live is soooo different. We think that to be happy and successful we need a big house with 2 cars and a well kept lawn. HA! Boy are we missing the target. We do not need any of that stuff to be happy. If we have each other then what else is there? God has given me a family that I love very much and he has given me a home. He has given me hands to work, feet to walk, a voice to sing, and a mouth to share His word, what more is there? I mean really, take a minute and think about everything that God has blessed you with. Look outside and look at the grass and the trees and your house and your car. All of that is great but do we really need it? The people here do not have all of that stuff, but are Perfectly fine. True poverty is when you have no hope. The people here have hope and they love life. The children play and work with the same smile on their faces, they are just happy to be alive. So what am I learning?
1) I am not all big and bad and special just because I gave up a month of my life to come over here and "help" these people, they are the ones helping me
2) God has a much bigger plan in store for us here in Gulu, it's just going to take time for us to figure it out.
3) Poverty is a state of mind, not a state of materialistic possessions.
4) I can't even think of all the times that I am learning, there are too many to count!
Please pray for the East Family and the interns, God has some big plans we just are not sure what that is yet, at least I am not!
Love, Mattie

One simple book

A friend of mine gave me a journal titled "Lord I Love To Praise Your Name Journal" for my 18th birthday this past December. I love the book because on every page it has a bible verse and a quote. Now when people wrote this book they had no idea of knowing what I would be doing when writing on a certain page. God has too much fun with things like this! While I have been on this trip I have had multiple times when what we were discussing and what the devotion was about was on the page! Example: we were discussing how to tell these children the Gospel with the language barrier and o coarse my book said: "But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these"" Luke 18:16. Wow, how did my book know that we would be struggling with this task and easily backed our problem up with scripture? Talk about a God Moment! Also we were discussing Poverty Alleviation and what the Bible tells us about what to to to help the poor, we were Debating an issue Anouilh wether or not to pass out candy to the children for fear of them coming for candy and not the Gospel . Then as I turned the page in my notebook the scripture said: "for you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19. Again, just smacked in the face by the Gospel! I'm not exactly sure what God has planned here but he for sure is not planning on leaving us alone here in Gulu! One simple book has given me such confidence that I have never had, the confidence to go
Out into the community and proclaim boldly who Jesus is and that no matter what you have or do not have He is always with you! John chapter 9 talks about how we may not be healed here on this earth but when we get to heaven, everything will be great! Revelations 21:4 backs this up also! Wow, it is just so wonderful to see God working here in such a powerful way. I would like to say thank you to the friend who gave me the journal and even more thanks to God who is using it in such a wonderful way!
Love,
Mattie

A weekend in Gulu

Well, we are finally here! After 20 hours of plane rides, 10 hours of layovers and 6 hours of driving we finally made it!!! I am in love with Gulu!!! It brings such joy to my heart to see these kids, who live in so much less then we do in America be so happy! They see a Muzungu (white person) and they have one of two reactions: 1) they run in fear because they think we are ghosts 2) they run up to us and play and play and play! Even though there is a huge language barrier, (they all speak Acholi and only the educated speak a little English) they still seem to be so happy and just want to play. We live in a house that is right outside of a village made of 40-50 mud and clay huts with straw roofs, so we decided that that was the best place to start making friends. As we walked over there the people were super excited to see us, though some only wanted tangible items and very few wanted actual manual labor, which is what we are offering. The ones who could speak English were more then happy to act as translators for us and show us around. There are so many kids. One lady said that a normal family has 4-10 kids (more hands to work). These kids have worked more in the past month then I have in my entire life, they are happy to do it too! I do not think that "no" is in their vocabulary no matter what you ask, they do it, if they understand what you are asking. Tomorrow (Monday) starts our "Children's Program" AKA VBS in the village, we told all the kids where and when to meet so we are hoping for a pretty big turnout! Now a little about how I am doing (because I know anyone reading this will be worried). I am doing fine, I have not been able to sleep well at night but a lot of that may be because it is a new place, with new sounds, and I am sharing a room with someone I do not know very well yet. I tried taking Tylenol PM but it has done absolutely nothing so tonight I am taking some sleeping medicine that Jamie had, so that I will get a good nights rest for the first time in 5 nights. Some things we have planned for this week are:
Monday: VBS with the kids in the morning and play time in the afternoon
Tuesday: VBS with the kids in the morning and a visit to Baby Watoto to work with orphan or neglected babies
Wednesday: VBS with the kids in the morning and play time in the afternoon
Thursday: VBS with the kids in the morning and a possible visit to another ministry in Gulu
Friday: a whole day at an outreach place that councils and cares for the emotional and physical needs of women who were abused by Kony's men then teaches them to make crafts
and art to sell to make a living. While we are there we will be having a workshop with the women and learning how to make lots of fun things

This week is going to be a fun one but tere are a few prayer requests that we have:
- pray that we can communicate the gospel to the children even with the huge language barrier.
- that everyone gets over their jet lag and gets enough rest
- that Jamie pulls through these last few weeks of her pregnancy and that the baby does not come extremely early before they go to Kampala
- that everyone stays happy and healthy, including the boys!

Love,
Mattie

Wifi is up!

We are now in Gulu staying at the East's house and now the wifi is up so I will be able to blog more now! We are about to go to church so tonight I will blog more about the last two days!
Love,
Mattie

We Made It!

Just letting everyone know we are now in Kampala, Uganda where we will stay the night, then ride a bus to Gulu tomorrow! Also there is no wifi in Brussels so I could not let anyone know that we were ok, sorry about that! All is well, we are just all exhausted and need a good nights sleep! thanks so much for all the traveling prayers. We are so blessed that all went well!
A quick story:
On the way to Brussels I sat next to a man who builds schools around the world and he gave me lots of advice about our future school at Abaana's Hope! What a blessing! Also there's another team who has been on all our flights who are working in Kampala, and it just so happened that they were studying the same book we were; "when helping hurts" so we were able to discuss it with them also!
Prayer Requests:
-A good nights sleep for all of us
-A safe car ride tomorrow
-Lots of opportunities to share the gospel and make friends!
- piece of mind for parents now that their babies are in Africa, and not in the middle of the ocean!

Love,
Mattie

Jer. 29:11

Today is the day!

Well at this moment I am on an airplane on the way to Washington DC. We all made it through security with no problem (except Lauren had to give up her peanut butter) the airplane to DC is a closterphobics nightmare and teddy has helped me through it! Here is a picture of us on the plane! Also here is a picture of our group. We all are getting to know each other and almost all my anxiety about this trip is gone! Saying goodbye to Mama was hard, I have never been without seeing her for more then a week so this is a big step for us. Hopefully Skype will help me not get so homesick. I got lots of text messages this morning wishing me luck on the trip so that also helped a lot. Please say a prayer that our not flight to Belgium goes well and the flight from there to Kampala as well! We will be staying in a hotel in Kampala tomorrow night and will drive the 6 hours to Gulu the next morning. The time difference from Auburn to Gulu is 8 hours so now it is 12pm in Auburn and 8pm in Gulu. So Skype people when we do it it will probably be around 7 Gulu time and 11 auburn time! We can email to determine actual Skype dates! Love y'all!
Mattie