Back in Kampala

We got an email from Jaime yesterday. Here's a little of what she said:

They wanted us to have a few days downtime in Kampala so we can digest everything we saw before coming home. Because we need it. I really am overwhelmed by the suffering over here. I held AIDS orphans, saw nine year olds who were so hungry they couldn't hold their head up. We visited the hospital that has 109 beds in the childrens wing and they currently have over 500 patients. All of the other patients wait outside in the sun until the doctor makes the rounds each day. And that's not even mentioning the Night Commuter kids. They were my favorite part thought- just beautiful little kids. So joyful and grateful that we came just to see them. We went to the shelter every night and sang worship with them and did bible studies. And on the third night, a little girl about six years old was sitting a few feet away from me and said, "I thank God for Jaime." And they don't speak English so she had to have someone ask her to teach her that. They are amazing little children. Amazing. I can't wait to show you all the pictures. I didn't take a lot because every minute I had, I wanted to spend with them instead of taking their pictures.

In Love

I fell in love on Friday.
He's not the type of guy I would normally have feelings for. He's not really nice or caring, he's somewhere in his 50's, local, a little crude.... but never the less, I have an appreciation for him that runs deep within my soul. I feel like every limb of my body loves him. I'm not sure what his name is, so let's just call him- Local in the Red Canoe.
Here's how we met:
It was a nice Friday afternoon so I decided to go surfing. The friend I have been going with couldn't go, so I went by myself. Which was ok because there were 5 or so people surfing and 2 men in 2 different canoes ("one of them being Local in the Red Canoe"). At one point I noticed a man on shore frantically waving his hands in the air. And then everyone went to shore. Everyone, that is, except for me and another lady. I didn't think much about it until 15 minutes later. A big wave was breaking to the right of me (out of my reach). As it was breaking, Local in the Red Canoe canoed up to me and yelled, "Get in already!" I thought it was a surfing term that meant, "Paddle in and try to catch the wave." So I paddled as fast as I could and tried unsuccessfully to catch this wave.

I then noticed that my love had paddled out to the other lady and they were talking. About 2 minutes later he came back and said, "Me and my friend saw a shark! Get in already!"

It was right there when I realized that for the rest of my life, my body would appreciate this great man who canoed back out into the dangerous waters to save my limbs.

Where ever you are, Local in the Red Canoe, I thank you!!!!!

Kitgum

For those of you who are interested, I found the article that Jaime read that made her want to go to Africa online. The article explains what is happening over there and how God is moving through Far Reaching Ministries (the group that Jaime went over with).

The website is: http://www.calvarymagazine.org/online_magazine.htm#issue_25
The article is called Fellowship of Suffering. And it can be found in magazine #25.

The people I have talked to have been shocked to hear about what is happening in Africa. It's not something that you hear about on the news.

Again, thanks for your prayers for Jaime. She should be in Kitcum today and tomorrow working in the Night Commuter Shelter. Please continue to pray for her safety. Kitcum is a very dangerous place.

Loving Africa

We got another email from Jaime. They are leaving for Kitgum tomorrow which is Wednesday the 18th.
There is a lot of unrest there. Please keep her and her team in your prayers. They are going to be doing a conference where Jaime will be teaching a lesson on faith and hopefully they will get to spend time in the orphanage. They were supposed to be there to work with the kids last week but couldn't get into the town. She was really looking forward to spending time with the kids and was bummed they couldn't get in.

So far, she has been loving it!! I guess she has lots of stories to bring back to us of how God is working and moving.
Thank you for all your prayers!!!

Wicked Witch of Hawaii

Today was picture day so I tried to look nice. TRIED is the key word. I put on makeup and lipstick and a flower behind my ear....
First thing in the morning one of my sweet little girls said, "Miss Elson, you look....." (while she was thinking of the perfect word to describe me, I thought, "kids are so sweet!")
".... like a witch!" And 2 or 3 other kids said, "Yeah, you look like a witch!" I just started laughing. Leave it to me to put on makeup, and think I'm looking better than normal, only to have the most innocent, sweetest of kids tell me that I look like a witch. An hour or so later I heard one of my boys whisper to another student, "She really does look like a witch."
And the rest of the days I had kids giving me makeup tips, "Your makeup is too dark." "I like your lipstick." "Too much makeup, you look like my auntie."
It was pretty funny in a not so funny way.

Jaime Update

Jaime has been able to email us. I guess the connection is bad and she keeps getting bumped off, so the emails have been short.
She is doing great! She found her group and they made it into Africa. She also said her back has held up (thank you Lord). She also thanked everyone for their prayers. She said that she can feel people praying for her.
They were supposed to go Kitgum but the trip has been pushed back until next Wednesday. Pray that there wouldn't be any upheaval in Kitgum when they head over there. She is really looking forward to going to Kitgum because that is where the kids are. Right now they are in Kampala at a Bible College. They are cleaning it so that the students can focus on studying. She was in charge of cleaning the toilets. Which is funny because when she first felt God calling her to go to Africa, she contacted the group and said, "I want to come. I don't care if I just end up cleaning toilets, I just want to come help." God has a sense of humor.
Because it's a Visionary Trip, they are making her group do a lot of things on their own. I don't know if that means that they have to ride the bus by themselves or get around by themselves. But she said that the African busses make Mexico buses look like limousines. And they have been walking a lot. The other day they walked 5 miles to get somewhere.

Thank you for your prayers! It's awesome to know that she can feel God lifting her up and encouraging her through your prayers.

Philippians 4:6-7

Keep Jaime in your prayers. It seems that she had a hard time meeting up with her group in Europe. Well, she couldn't find them. She called my parents and told them that they were all supposed to meet in the London airport behind a security area. But she wasn't allowed back there because of something that had to do with her luggage. My mom told her to page the group. She then called back (maybe 8 hours later???) and said that she still couldn't find anyone. We're assuming, since we haven't heard back from her that they all found each other. It makes us a little nervous. Or maybe I should just speak for myself, it makes me nervous. And I don't like the idea of not hearing from her for the next 3 weeks. But then God reminds me:
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Sunday morning our pastor brought up the verse that says, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding..." And he talked about how we have to trust God with ALL of our heart. It's easy to trust Him with little parts of our lives, but we need to trust Him with ALL of our hearts with ALL of our lives. His timing couldn't have been better.

And one last thing that has brought comfort to me. On Sunday we talked about Palm Sunday and how Jesus told one of His disciples to go and get the mule. He knew EXACTLY where it was before even looking. And it made me think that Jesus knew where everyone was in the airport. He knew where Jaime was and where everyone else was.

All that aside. Please continue to pray for Jaime. Pray that God would strengthen her back, that He would protect her and the other people, that they would trust Him in everything, that there would be unity in their group, that they would be used mightily for His Kingdom, and that they would see and experience God's power. And pray for the kids that they will be hanging out with/ ministering to. I know that God wants to heal them from their physical and emotional hurts. How awesome would it be if He used Jaime and her group in doing so? And anything else that God puts on your heart.
Thanks for your prayers. I know that Jaime appreciates them more than you'll know.

Catch Ya on the Flipside

Well, I am leaving for Africa in the morning. My flight actually leaves at one in the afternoon, but I depart from San Francisco so we'll have to leave Lodi in the morning. These last few days have been hectic... then amazing... then hectic... then amazing. The hectic is obvious, but the amazing part is that overall, God has given me a peace about going. I waiver at times, but I know for a fact that God is with me. And I am excited to go. I am sorry if I was supposed to call some of you and didn't- time has been short. But I love you all and would love your prayers for the next three weeks. I'll be back in California April 30. Here's the Psalm God has been calming me with...

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
O my soul, you have said to the LORD,
“You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
As for the saints who are on the earth,
“They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;
Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
Nor take up their names on my lips.

O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16

Dinner at the Elson's

If you have ever been at my parent's house for dinner, you know to expect the unexpected as far as conversation goes. Here was a classic example from tonight's dinner with my mom, dad, Josh, Amy and I.

Me: MySpace is addicting.

Mom: All those tv programs are.

Josh: It's not a show, it's a website.

Mom: Oh yeah, I was thinking of a show on HGTV, "My Space."

Dad: No, you're thinking of that show, "Pimp my wife."


No typos, ladies and gentleman... I write it like I hear it.

What a Fabulous Weekend!

I got a new camera lens and I CAN'T STOP TAKING PICTURES!!!

7 days til Africa...

but who's counting?