Prayer for Work and Rest

This is a prayer by Timothy Keller in NYC. I found it in tandem with my life right now. Enjoy. 

Give us Father this great [daily] rest that has been promised to us. Help us to see it. Help us to know it. Father, there is a lot of great work to do. We look forward to the day we can do our art, our teaching, our counseling, our business, and let it be about the work. Not about us. Be about You, and not about us; to be about other people around us and not about us. We look forward to a day where work is not crushing us into the ground. And we ask Father, therefore, that you would give us this deep, deep eternal rest so that the work, and the frustrating [aspects] of the work in this world, would not any longer just crush us. We ask that you would help us to be like your Son who worked and rested in you. Amen.

HE is the Light in the Darkness

"This in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in Him." --1 John 1:5 (The Message)

My devotion came from Timothy Keller's sermon "Treasure vs Money."

Key quotes: "It doesn't matter how much light is in a room, if your eyes can't see, you won't be able to see the light."

"The best way to see that money has no power over you: first, love rich people. Secondly, respect poor people, that you look at them and you respect them, you expect to learn from them, and you don't look down your nose at them."

"Everything that says 'Die for me' is a greedy treasure. Jesus is the only treasure that died for us."

Lord God, help me, like Thomas, not to be shy in asking the questions on my mind and heart, not to be afraid of expressing honest doubt, not to be lax in searching for answers, and not to withhold my commitment to your son as Lord and God. (Disciplines Daily Devotional)

Coming Home

Hi all,

I had a wonderful visit with my mom. We made it up to Gulu so she could meet the ladies I work with up there. It was a blessed time. Ethiopia was the break I desperately needed. Things have been rough since I moved to Kampala. After spending time with my mom, we decided that it was best that I come home sooner than planned.

If you all could be in prayer for affordable flights, I would be so grateful! I have received so much support from my Church family...I can't begin to express how humbled I am to know each of you are praying. I feel like God has blessed my time in Uganda, and he has made it clear that there are steps that I need to finish here then my time is done. I am so looking forward to coming home!

Much love,

Lauren

Are We Washing Their Feet with Bitterness?

I've been reflecting on this idea for about three weeks now. Is life "too busy" to take time for others around us? Am I starting to only take time to listen because I think I should?

My prayer life has been filled with questions. Where will I go from here? What's next? I've been praying for wisdom for whatever God has planned, but also for peace and contentment for right now. I'm so ready to come home. I know it's because I've hit the three month slump, and everything will be fine once my mom visits at the end of the month. I'm really seeking direction from God on where to go after Uganda. My heart is all over the place, except here.

Please be praying...I really need it.

So I've been confronted with the thought, am I becoming bitter? Or just home sick? Home being: family, friends, comfort, and planting roots. God is revealing a lot about what I do want in the next phase of my life. Now it just seems to be a waiting game. Waiting on his perfect timing.

I'm trying to be still in a hectic world.

Two Blogs. Oh My!

Please check out my new cooking blog: http://kampalakitchen.blogspot.com/

I will continue to post on Chasing After My Father's Heart. I have been getting a lot of requests for recipes..My Kampala Kitchen is where you can check those out as well.

Love,
Lauren

Oh Kampala

Here are some snap shots of my everyday living in Kampala (kitchen, bathroom..produce.) Enjoy!

Kitchen: toaster oven (used only when power is available), gas burners, and lots of drinking water.

Eggs, cooking oil, long life milk, oats, rice and sugar.

Lots of fresh produce bought locally near the compound.

Bathroom: shower, bucket (for flushing the toilet/bathing when water is not available.) I have a toilet!!!

Lots of love to my church family! Be blessed today.

Without Love, This Life is Nothing

A visit to Prisca's home in October.

Hello family and friends,

Praise God, my sample shipment for the San Fransisco Gift Show has left Uganda! For those at Asbury Church, this is the trade show that USAID sponsored One Mango Tree so we could have a booth. Everything came out so good...all the hands that went into each sample is so amazing. Please pray that the show is a success, and that God continues to bless this company. For each order we get, that means more work for our tailors. More income to truly change people's lives. And so it ripples throughout the community. God has big plans and it starts with a seed.
(OMT's Spring line should be launching soon. Keep checking the website for new items.)

The Lord has really been blessing me with a new community of believers. I feel his love wrapped around me in my new home. At Church on Sunday, we started a new series "110% Love." We are being challenged to love our communities. The unlovable even. In this place, sometimes it is hard to love. But God continues to show me his grace when the situations get so tough.

Two fun interactions I've had this week:

One of the guys at the shoe factory was chatting me up while I waited for the straps to be sewn on some of our new products. He asked, noticing my sunburn, if my skin would get any darker. I said probably not as dark as his. His solution: dip me in black dye. Well, I explained that the red mixing with the black would probably look more purple. His response, "Eh, then people will think you are from the moon!"

My boda Wednesday afternoon ran out of gas, going down hill luckily. So he's walking the bike and I'm sitting on the back, I said, "Oh it like we're in a Mzungu parade! Should I start waving?" He laughed the whole way. Too much fun.

God has a great way to get our attention. But love is more than something we're supposed to show, it's a command of how we are supposed to BE. Love one another as yourself. This is the greatest commandment of them all. Happy Valentines Day, Month, Year as we strive to love as HE loves us.

http://www.onemangotree.com/pages/meet-artisans
For those folks interested, when you purchase and receive One Mango Tree products, write a comment on here with the name of the lady who made your bag. I will be more than happy to get the message directly to each one in Gulu.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

I have so many mixed emotions about being back. I am asking God to provide clarity and wisdom for the choices I make in Kampala. I need his strength.

I got to speak with Prisca (OMT manager in Gulu.) She greeted me with, "I am so very happy you have come back." I love her and all my ladies dearly. God has definitely blessed me with them.

Finding comfort in his word and knowing that it's okay not to have everything figured out.

Wonderful Break, Time to Go Back

Hello All,

I have had an amazing time in TN with friends and family. My home church is a blessing. The support that I have received (emotional and financial) has made this time at home so incredible. I leave on Saturday to return to Uganda. I will be based for the next six months in Kampala. Please be praying for safety, good health and a sense of community for this second term of work with One Mango Tree.

I have loved seeing each of you. Be blessed and so much love!
L