Little Man Update

 Since we returned from Uganda (almost 2 years ago! Crazy!) we have been working with numerous doctors at Children's and UAB's epliepsy & neurology departments in Birmingham to figure out the best way to help Wyatt and stop his seizures. 

We knew within days of returning that epilepsy surgery, the only currently known cure for epilepsy, might be our only option. Since then we have gone through a myriad of tests, procedures , and medications (and yes we know about the marijuana trials for epilepsy but Wyatt's seizure type is not one that responds to this treatment. We do, however completely support this, and any other research, that gives families in this situation relief from this condition.) to determine the best plan for our little man. Who really isn't that little anymore, he will be 12 next month!!!

Right now Wyatt is on a combination of medications to try and keep his seizures to a minimum. There is no growing out of them, and there is currently no medication on the market that will completely stop them. So what now?

Today Wyatt had a series of scans done to give the epileptologists and neurosurgeons a "map" of his brain and structures. We spent almost an hour talking, asking questions, and gathering information from our neurosurgeon at Children's, Dr Blount. Dr Blount explained to us that because Wyatt's seizures are medically resistant, if we aren't able to do surgery we can expect his quality of life to continue to decrease. Surgery is his best chance for a seizure-free life. There is a new technology in epilepsy surgery called SEEG. SEEG is mapping of the brain using depth electrodes that are placed by a type of GPS-like guided technology called ROSA. Dr Blount, and our epileptologist, Dr Goyal, both feel SEEG would be a good option for finding Wyatt's seizure focus...the area where his seizures originate. Once the focus is found, we can then determine wether surgery to remove this area is possible or not. 

In the next few weeks Wyatt will undergo WADA testing to help determine his memory and speech areas of the brain. If this sounds familiar, it is because we tried this test before...and it didn't go well. Many changes have been made as to how the test will be administered this time so we are hopeful it will be more successful. 

While we love and are confident in our doctors at Children's, we have prayed alot and have decided to contact the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center this coming week to inquire about them reviewing Wyatt's case as well.  

In the midst of all of this, Wes and I have been preparing to lead a team for two weeks to Uganda in June. We knew going into this planning that Wyatt's medical situation might prevent us from going, but because no one really knows when and if Wyatt's surgeries might happen, we do not want to tell God "no" when we hear him saying "go". Now, as always, it's up to Him to work it out! :) 

We are so thankful to our amazing families and awesome friends that have supported us, prayed for us, and carried us through this journey. We need you now more than ever! 

Some specific ways you can pray:

- First pray that we would keep our eyes focused on Jesus and that we would bring Him glory every step of this journey. Most days we fail miserably but we still want that to be our focus. 

- Pray for the upcoming WADA test, that Wyatt would do wonderfully and that the doctors would get a clear result of exactly what they needed. 

- This is kind of weird, but please pray that Wyatt's speech and memory are predominantly on the right side of his brain. If they are solely on the left side that drastically reduces Wyatt's chances for a successful surgery that doesn't affect his speech or memory long term. If they are on both sides, his chances for a favorable outcome are a little better. If they are only on the right they shouldn't be affected at all. It would be a miracle if they were solely on the right side, but that is what we are asking for!! :)

- Wyatt is very informed about all that is taking place. Please pray for his precious heart and that God would remove any stress or anxiety. 

- Pray that sweet friends that would encourage and support him would come into his life. Because he has so many seizures at school, other students tend to either avoid or tease him. There are exceptions of course but this momma's heart would love it these exceptions were the norm! :) 

This weekend Wyatt and I will be gong with Hunter Street's 5th & 6th Grade Choir on their weekend long mission trip. One of our key verses for this trip is from Isaiah 54:17. The kids will sing this as "no weapon formed against me will prosper". Right now the biggest weapon I feel we are under attack from is fear. We will be praying this verse for our family and so many others this week. 

Much love. 

Can You Hear Them?

(A poem written by our daughter, Katie Mae)

Listen to their thoughts, can you hear them?

Watch into their dreams, can you understand them?

See into their pain, can you feel them?

Wanting to make a difference takes its toll, but you keep pressing on

keep on going forward, and you keep on looking straight. 

Leaving the ones you love, being left behind, and watching as the rest of the world moves on.

Jumping on the plane, riding, riding, and riding, but you keep on riding and you never stop.

So you take a chance and jump off, and you soar.

Soaring with the moon and the stars, just to land and be with the world.

The world that never stopped moving and never gave you a second thought.

You land with the ones you had to leave behind, hoping it'll be the same, but you've changed.

You've heard their thoughts, watched their dreams, and felt their pain.

What does that mean, "missions work"?

That is the question that was posed to me Monday by our pediatrician's nurse.  We were at the doctor's office getting the kids the last of their needed shots for our trip when she started asking what we would be doing in Uganda.  When I told her it was for a missions trip she asked "So what will you be doing there?  Mostly missions work?" I answered "yes" and then she made me pause, "what does that mean, "missions work"? I hear people say it all of the time but I don't really understand what that is." I must have stammered out something that satisfied her and I have no idea what I said, but her question has stayed with me ever since.  What do I or you or anyone else mean when they say, "missions"?

I think lots of different people have lots of different definitions to what "missions" entails.  

For some it means telling people the plan of salvation.  For some it means living missional.  For some it means being a missionary.  And for others it means reaching out to people of a different faith.  

There's another idea that has plagued me for the two years that we have been working towards Uganda…"you can't just jump on a plane to go do missions overseas and become someone who is missions minded, doing missions begins at home".  For two years I've struggled with wondering if I'm being missional enough at home to warrant going to Uganda to do missions.  I've tried to get involved in various missions organizations and have looked for opportunities to support other missionaries…not so much because I felt led to do so, but because I felt like my going to Uganda wouldn't be justified unless I had some kind of home missions opportunities to put on my imaginary missionary resume.  I was desperately trying to create some good works to validate my call.  

The bad thing is…my body rebels agains good works.  Not that I don't like doing good things, I just don't like the legalistic, earn your way to heaven, kind of thinking that has been the thorn in my side for way too long. The one that God has slowly been chiseling out of me and replacing with grace, grace and more grace.  Anyone who knows me could guess which brother I've always identified with in the prodigal son story.  

I shop at Aldi's Grocery Store about once a week.  It's a super cheap grocery store in our city where you pay a quarter to get a buggy and bag your own groceries with bags you bring from home.  I always say that it's a type of missions field because there are always people from every walk of life, every language and I'm sure, every religion shopping there.  I love it!  I always end up making a connection with someone when I'm there.  One day it was the sweet elderly man who dropped his cane, my son picked it up and the man bought us candied apples we enjoyed all the way home.  Another day it was the woman trying to get her 4 small kids in the car while her buggy rolled away in the parking lot.  We ended up laughing over how hard life is with several kids as I retrieved it for her and helped her get her groceries into her trunk.  It's not handing out tracks or making a gospel presentation, I don't have to force it or plan for it, but it sure feels missional.  

Today it was a young girl at wal-mart that was buying hundred of dollars of stuff, realized she lost her debit card while checking out, found her debit card after several minutes of frantic searching, had her card declined several times, borrowed the cashier's cell phone, and called the bank to get money transferred to cover her purchases.  She never really apologized but you could tell she was embarrassed as she whispered "it's been the worst day".  I told her it was fine, that I was in no hurry and then told her I hoped her day would get better from here as I left.  She gave me a smile and a sincere "thank you" as she collected her things.  It wasn't until I got to the car, 28 days before we leave to go be missionaries, that it hit me…I AM a missionary at home. 

I believe that whenever you follow Jesus' example, whenever you strive to be like Him, you're "doing missions".  Whenever you love on someone the way Christ would have loved on someone, you're "doing mission work".  Whenever you live an open life, willing to share the gospel whenever the opportunity arises (even if it doesn't), you're living a "missional" life.  

My husband and I often tease about how much we don't fit into society's view of what a "missionary" is.  I'm a terrible house keeper.  I love 80s rap music.   I lose my temper with my kids.  I lose my temper with my husband.  I lose my temper with myself.   I love to dance. I don't homeschool (though I haven't ruled it out).  I joined my first bible study a couple months ago.  I'm definitely not crafty (though I REALLY try).  I'm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Vine.  I love to buy cute short dresses but also love a cute maxi skirt.  I do wear my hair in a bun, but because I'm a dancer, not because of my conservative style.  I've made a billion mistakes and I'll make a billion more before the end of the week. I'm a mess. I've definitely not attained the level of holiness needed in order to be called to do mission work. 

The more and more I review my imaginary missionary resume, the more and more I see how unqualified I am, how unqualified my family is, for what He is calling us to do.  And He keeps reminding me that it's not OUR qualifications that justify our call, it is Christ in us that justifies our call. And it is our willingness to display Christ in us to those around us that makes us all missionaries, whether we're at Wal-Mart or halfway around the world.  


"And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another… "       1 John 3:23 

Burnout

Before the holidays I felt like once we got past them I would be able to start really investing some time in getting ready for this trip.  In my mind I had decided that we would have one more big fundraising push to get the last of the $1,500 or so that we needed to meet our goal & the rest of my time would be spent purchasing supplies, finding suitcases, getting the kids shots, etc.  Just really doing the last minute things we need to do before we leave.

Now two months later, I can be honest with you & say that I haven't done any of those things.  And I haven't really felt like it.  One of my friends called it "Africa Burnout" and I guess that is what it was.  Not that I was burned out on wanting to go or the mission that God has called us to, but that I was burned out on trying to make everything happen the way I wanted it to.  I was tired of trying to think up new ways to fundraise that wouldn't continue to look for support from our core group of supporters (who I'm sure were feeling some "Africa burnout" in their wallets!) but would cast a wider net.  I was tired of trying to think of every little thing we might need while we were there & what I might be forgetting.  I was tired of trying to live in two worlds, one here full of electricity & ample water & grocery stores on every corner and trying to decide what I need for the one there with spotty solar power, precious water that needs to be conserved at every opportunity & a grocery store 1 1/2 hours away.  I know seasoned missionaries are laughing at me right now, this is so what they deal with on a daily basis!  But that is where the Father of Deception found me & started whispering…

 "If you can't deal with it now, how can you ever think you could deal with it when you are there?"

"you'll never make it"

"your fundraising has stalled because no one believes in what you are doing"

"once you get over there you are completely on your own"

"are you sure God wants YOU to do this?"

"You will probably mess it all up"

To say I was discouraged is putting it mildly. But slowly, God kept pulling me back to his promises…

"When you can't walk anymore, you will be carried"

"You are sealed, to live is Christ & to die is gain"

"You are loved"

"I am still good"

"You have been called"

"You are forgiven & set free"

And he has used so many people to minister to us, love on us & lift us up at just the right times!  

So finally, with a little bit of trepidation, last night we looked at our fundraising, added everything up & came to a total.  We were $390 short.  Amazing!!!  With no fundraising done in months & 69 days to go until we leave we only had $390 to go!  Wes & I were both blown away by what God had done through people we love.  

Wes quickly put up a Facebook post to share our excitement with our friends.  Within minutes we had two friends offering to donate towards the balance!  Within seconds we received our newest funds update from African Children's Mission…we now only had $60 to go!!  With what we have received to date plus the promised funds from our friends we have not only met our fundraising goal, we've exceeded it!!!  There were other items that we wanted to add to our budget but didn't because we felt like we were already setting such a high goal. Now we will be able to add those items in as well!  I cannot begin to tell you how excited, humbled, in awe of our creator, in awe of the goodness of our friends & family and thankful we are for this gift.  

The awesomeness of seeing God work in the most amazing ways, the incredible feeling of knowing there are people that believe in what you are doing so much that they would share their hard earned money to make it happen, these things make the burnout soooo worth it.  

We really cannot wait to come home in July & share everything that God did because of the gifts & prayers of faithful people that supported us!  That will be such an amazing day!!

Maybe someday I'll learn to lean on God first & not try to control everything myself.  I do it all the time.  And every time he is faithful to come through, even at the last minute.  I would like to say that I have such great faith that I never doubt, never believe he needs my help, never think "maybe it won't happen" but that would be a lie.  Maybe someday I'll remember to glorify him with every bump in the road so he won't have to go to such lengths to get my attention!  I'm so hard headed! Until then I'll be thankful for his grace & mercy in rescuing me just when I think all is lost, and putting people in my life that are truly his hands and feet…I'm sure I'll need to be reminded again, but right now I'm off to go get the kids their shots! 

"Praise the Lord, all nations!  Praise him, all peoples! His love for us is strong & his faithfulness endures forever.  Praise the Lord!" Psalms 117

God's Into Details

I love to be reminded about how much God is involved and concerned about the details of our lives.

 {The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives}  I love this New Living Translation of Psalm 37:23!  It not only speaks to God's sovereignty, but also to His intimate concern for our lives. 

Last week was a tough one for our family.  Nothing major.  It just began our month long pace of an over-scheduled, over-extended life.  (If you need me any Monday, Thursday or Friday this month, I'll be at a football game. I hope my family doesn't expect to be fed!) In addition to our schedule craziness, we were helping a mission team from Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham prepare to leave for Uganda, and all the logistics that entails, while watching with heavy hearts as they boarded a plane to somewhere we long to be. On top of all of  THAT we got a lot of disappointing news for our family and people that we love.  

But in the midst of all of this God kept wispering over and over again that He loves us, that He is moving mountains on our behalf and that like the disciples who were told to wait in the upper room for the Holy Spirit, we were being taught lessons in our waiting and would be overwhelmed by the power that would come upon us. 

Over and over again throughout the week, God sent people or experiences into our lives to remind us of His care.

One day it was a friend I went to kindergarten (KINDERGARTEN!!!) with and haven't seen since but have kept up with on Facebook, that emailed me out of the blue that he would be spending the next two hours praying for us at his church and wanted to know what specific things he could be praying for. {humbled}

Another day a high school friend we haven't seen or talked to in 16 years contacted us out of the blue wanting to donate to our trip. {overwhelmed}

Then two families from our Sunday School class contacted us just days apart to make final plans for two different fundraisers they were each planning on our behalf. {grateful}

On Saturday, while unloading luggage for the HSBC team at the curb of the airport, a stranger came up to us and asked where in Uganda we were going (my father-in-law was wearing his Muzungu shirt!).  Turns out he runs another organization that works in Uganda, reminding us that everywhere we go God is pointing us to Uganda. We had no reason to be sad that we weren't going on THIS trip because we ARE going! {such a God thing!}

To cap it all off, I was unexpectedly reminded of God's HUGE answer to a prayer.  Friday we celebrated our son, Wyatt, who has epilepsy, making it to ONE YEAR SEIZURE FREE!  I think our whole family had tried to purposefully forget what the date of a year seizure free would be, but God didn't want us to miss it!  Wyatt may have a seizure today, he may have one next week, but God still answered our specific request for one year without seizures. {awed by our Creator!}

I could go on for pages and pages telling you every way He reminded us of His promises just in those seven days. Thank you to each of you who allowed and continue to allow God use you to minister to us! There were several other bible verses, daily devotionals, sermons, emails, texts, facebook messages and conversations where God used His word and His children to encourage us, lift us up and renew our strength.

{But those that hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31}

Lord, help us to remember to place our hope in you.  None of this depends on us.  Thank you for loving us enough to not only be involved in our everyday lives, but also to give us a way back to you through the death of your son. We are so unworthy.   

P.S. Stay tuned for more details regarding upcoming fundraisers!  They will each involve something great for you while also  helping us reach our goal of Uganda! 

Stories from our trip - Episode 2: The One With The Chick & The Duck

There are tons of different animals you might see while at Ekitangala Ranch in Uganda….

chickens are everywhere…

as are cows, this is a working dairy ranch after

all...

there are many various types of reptiles…

and there are lots of goats….

The first day Wes and I were in Uganda in January, he took me on a tour of the ranch property on the "new" side. We spent a lot of time walking around and learning about the buildings, projects & people and just taking it all in. Wes wanted to show me the ponds and we saw lots of animals using them as a watering hole. There were wild dogs, goats and lots of birds. But as I'm sure you can guess and can probably tell by the pictures above, it was some nasty water! This was the height of the dry season & everyone was praying for rain!

A few days later, when I was walking through this area again with some ACM staff members, I saw people form the surrounding villages using their jerry cans (the big yellow cans people in Uganda use to carry water) to collect water from these same ponds. I was shocked to learn that some people are still using these ponds for their drinking water.

It is one thing to hear that (according to the Ugandan Bureau of Statistics) somewhere between 11 & 14 million Ugandans do not have access to clean water…but it is devastating to watch a mother and father collect water from the same source as wild animals. Water that likely carries millions of microscopic parasites and numerous water-borne illnesses that can kill.

The work that African Children's Mission is doing in this area is more than helping local villagers provide clean drinking water for their families, they are using actual water to teach Ugandans about the love of a father that provides LIVING WATER!

John 4:13-14 "Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life'."

Anyone who knows me or my sisters, knows that we LOVED the TV show Friends. I'm sure God was laughing at my over-reaction to this family's pets in Nituti Village…a chick & a duck!

(Photo credits: Heidi Angel & Alicia Wilbanks)

One Step Closer!

Just a quick post…

The kids' passports are in!!

One step closer! Only 37 weeks to go!

Wes has been teaching our new class through Acts and we've spent a lot of time discussing the miracle of God's sovereignty. How comforting is it to know that He has already seen all of our paths…that the Lord of the universe has worked everything out for our good & His glory?!

Job 31:4 "Does He not see my ways and count all of my steps?"

Well You Gotta Have Friends!

The desire to have good friends has always been with me. I have always been what you might call "social" (or what my parents might have called embarrassing) as I constantly chatted up strangers as a child.

I remember, very clearly, filling out one of those, "I wish…, I hope…, I fear….," questionnaires in 3rd grade at Shades Mtn. Elementary school and writing: "I want…to have friends like in the Sprite commercials." What does that mean? You might ask…well, here ya go! :)

Did you see them? No, not the lady hiding a pig in her fur coat (what?!?), the girls sitting on the bench…thisclose to each other, laughing, being silly, not caring what anyone thought of them because they were in it together.

That's what I longed for, what I prayed for, for years and years and years...

My sister often sweetly tried to cheer me up by telling me that I had three sisters to be my friends. :) And that was very true, my sisters and I are very close and I love them so much. But I wanted friends that CHOSE me to be their friend, not because mom would ground them if they wouldn't let me play with them, but because they just wanted to be my friend.

I think God was teaching me so much through that time, how to rely on Him when I was lonely, to see that I wasn't always a good friend myself, and more…I think it also helped me to learn what a good friend is and what a good friend does.

Over and over again during this journey we've gotten to see what good friends (sisters, mothers, cousins, grandmothers, brothers, fathers, uncles, etc. included) look like.

Well…they look a lot like this:

These women (and the husbands, grandparents, etc. that stayed home and took care of the kids!) supported us in such a mighty way! They came out in DROVES to support our family through Jennifer & Brad Bradley's Fundraiser this past Sunday by creating beautiful hand painted frames that they got to take home.

Jennifer & Andrea Castleberry are some of the most creative women I know and create amazing art! Who wouldn't want to come learn from them and support a good cause in the process?!?

Not only did these women show their support by raising $800 ($800!!!!!) for us during this fundraiser, they have demonstrated their love and support to us over and over again through their friendship.

In addition to the Bradley's support through this fundraiser (and a repeat in October because there was such a great response!) and the Davis' support through our t-shirt fundraiser, the Schroeter's children set up a lemonade stand & raised money for us…the Diggs family is planning a Boston Butt sale…the Watson's will be hosting an Ugandan jewelry party…Mia Storia provided us with an outlet to share our story…many people have offered to donate items for a silent auction...not to mention the many who have sent money just because, or have sent an encouraging word or, most importantly, have been praying for our family.

Humbled, overwhelmed, grateful, blessed, in awe of what God is doing.

We have experienced all of these feelings and so much more!

Here's a little snippet from my journal during our January trip to Uganda….

{January 14th, 2012: …but seeing how loved we are, through the financial support, calls, emails, letters and gifts was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I will need to pull this journal out if I ever again feel lonely or without friends. God is so very very good. }

From day 1 Wes and I have been amazed over and over again by how God has used YOU to bless us. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough.

Ephesians 4:15-16 "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body so that is builds itself up in love."

Much much love.

Red Dirt

Photo Credit Heidi Angel

It's amazing what little things can impact you when you've been to another country or another culture in what seems like {another life}.

{FEET} can be pretty gross. As much as I love

getting pedicures, I don't think I could handle that job…touching strangers' dirty, icky feet hour after hour, all day long. My sisters all have crazy foot aversion syndrome (I just made that particular syndrome up but it adequately describes how they feel about feet!) and can't stand to look at, touch or talk about feet. As a matter of fact, if any of them are reading this they are probably already cringing and hoping I change the subject real soon!

Sorry Ks, but hang with me…

The Bible talks a lot about feet…there are verses "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Roman 10:15B, stories of Mary washing Jesus' feet in the book of John chapter 12, Jesus washing his disciples' feet and tons of other references, Jesus telling the disciples to "shake off the dust from your feet" when they aren't received in a village (Luke 9:5, Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:11), Ruth laying at Boaz's feet wishing for him to redeem her (Ruth 3:14), I could list tons…{feet}, and their parts, are mentioned more than 300 times in the bible.

What is it with feet?

In the verses above it isn't difficult to see how the feet symbolize people, our souls and our true selves as God sees us.

{But feet are dirty, dusty, sometimes ugly looking things…

yet God calls them beautiful, clean, swift, well lit, secure, He sets them upon a rock.}

But feet are also one of our most unprotected & at risk body parts. The U.S. military places a great deal of importance on taking care of your feet. The Marine's Officer Candidate School even has foot care spelled out in their daily schedules.

In Ephesians, Paul tells Christians to put on the "armor of God" and that our feet should be clothed in the gospel Ephesians 16:5. Prepared in this way, we are charged to use our feet to take the gospel "to all creation". Mark 16:15

{Without shoes we open our bodies to all kinds of infection, disease, foreign bodies & injuries that could lead to illness and even death.}

Photo Credit (and Mzungu foot!) Heidi Angel

Before we left for Uganda in January I spent a lot of time researching & finding the perfect shoes for this trip. I knew I didn't want to be clomping around in heavy tennis shoes & socks in the African heat, but I also knew it was important to wear closed toe shoes to protect my feet from injury so flip flops were out. I finally found the perfect shoes, a pair of Mary Jane style slingback Keen's that were even 50% off (being that it was Christmas time & all) & I quickly bought them, excited about my

perfect Uganda shoes!

There's a quote in a well known movie about the color of the dirt coming from all of the blood that has been spilled in Africa.

I believe it.

In Uganda the dirt is {red}, like RED red.

As I walked and biked and rode and walked and walked miles and miles and miles in my new shoes over the next two weeks, they quickly changed from a goldenrod yellow color to a pinkish red. At the end of every day I actually thought I had tan lines from my shoes until I would shower and realize that my tan lines washed away.

My feet were just colored by the red dirt!

When I got home I developed a love/hate relationship with those shoes.

They still had that red Ugandan dirt clinging to them and every time I'd wear them I would sadly watch a little more of the dirt fall away…but every time I wore them a little of the dirt would be on me and would remind me that I still carried Uganda with me.

I guess it's like those people that take little glass bottles to the beach to scoop up some sand…or buy the bottles in the little knick knacky shops found in every touristy beach locale…or give the perfect gift of a little glass vase of Alabama dirt to a sweet sister moving to Florida.

Even my friend at Ekubo Ministries in Uganda wrote about the red dirt coming off of her shoes when she first came back from Uganda & how heartbreaking it was for her.

{We love the idea of taking a little piece of a special place back with us.}

When you are in a place with such heartbreak, poverty & lostness as we see in Uganda, it is difficult to come home and reconcile

what you have seen & what you have experienced & who you are there

to what you see, experience and are home in the states.

As I watched my shoes get cleaner and cleaner, I felt myself slipping further and further back into my old life…my life B.U. {Before Uganda}.

The problem is that I don't want that old life. I don't want to forget the amazing friends I made there, or the amount of need that I know exists. I don't want to lose the memory of the hopelessness that is evident on the faces of those that are lost, or the joy in the eyes of those that are not.

I want to live over and over again, every single day, the lessons that God taught me in those two weeks, even if it makes my heart hurt to do so.

Unlike the Jewish tradition of shaking the tainted Gentile dust out of their cloaks, or even the beautiful picture of Jesus washing the road dust off of the disciples' feet, I want to gather all of the red Ugandan dust I can and hold onto its real, tangible, physical presence.

But it's so easy to slip back into comfort-land…so easy to forget that there are mothers ignoring their expanding bellies because the infant mortality rate is so high, and they don't want to get too attached in case they should lose their little babies…to forget there are women, men and children fighting for their lives due to a disease whose cure costs a measly $7….to forget there are seven little bits of my heart waiting to cry out "hallo Malicia!" as I come to hug them & play with them & learn Luganda from them…to forget

there are people in this world who have never heard

of the saving love of Jesus Christ,

that they have been set free from sin through

His death and resurrection and that

THE God of the universe is working

now and in the future for their good and His glory.

A little red dirt helps me to remember the gospel.

{Without the gospel our souls are left vulnerable to infection, sin and death.}

Photo Credit Heidi Angel

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved" Ephesians 2:4-5

Fundraising Update!

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to track the success of your fundraising ideas

It is amazing! We have a little more than 10 months until our trip and our amazing friends and family have already helped us raise more than 10% of our goal! Our family has been overwhelmed to see how God has orchestrated people and events in our life to support our goal in glorifying His name! Thank you for being part of our team!

About a month ago, an amazing family came to us wanting to be involved with our mission and offered to help with the idea of fundraising through t-shirts specific to our family and our goals. Within days they found an awesome graphic designer willing to donate his services & knew of a t-shirt wholesaler willing to make a deal on selling us the shirts. Not only did this family step in to make this all happen, they covered the cost of the shirts as their donation to us!! How amazing!! Because of them, 100% of all sales of our family's shirts will go straight to support our mission to Uganda! God is so good!!

Not only was this a team effort in getting the shirts printed, our whole family was involved in the design and planning of these shirts, down to every last detail. Ash came up with the idea of the words inside the continent of Africa, Kat stayed up all night one night looking for the perfect verse (Mark 16:15), Wy chose the heather blue color of the shirts, Alicia worked on the details & Wes added his favorite quote to the back: "If you have come to help me you are wasting your time, but you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us struggle together". We love them and are excited to see people wearing them at church and around our community!

If you are interested in supporting us through the purchase of one of our shirts, you can click on the paypal link on the right or email me at akwilbanks@charter.net! Please make sure you specify quantity & size. They are $20 each and come in Adult S, L, XL & XXL as well as youth XS, S & M (Youth large is the same as adult small. Adult M are sold out).

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

(Mark 16:15 ESV)

Getting Ready to Fly!

Hey guys,

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. I wanted to send out a quick update before Alicia and I leave (this Sat!!!).

Things around the Wilbanks house have been a little hectic, to say the least, these last few days. I thought getting a team ready for a trip to the ranch was stressful, but after planing out the schedules of our three kids to follow while we are gone, I now realize that planning a trip over seas for 14 adults is nothing! The funny thing is I'm not the one doing the planning, Alicia is...and this crazy schedule, that she has documented in "spread sheet form" for my parents & my in-laws who will have the kids while we are gone, is the same schedule that she manages every day flawlessly. I just want to say thanks to my awesome wife, Alicia you are a scheduling house managing mother/wife wizard and I'm in awe of you right now!!

I really don't have a whole lot to update you on. Alicia and I will be departing for Uganda this Saturday at 12:50 P.M. We are both super excited and I can't wait for Alicia to finally see the place that she has only heard about and seen through the pics that other teams have taken.

I read a mini book the other day written by K.P. Yohannan the book was titled "The Beauty Of Christ Through Brokenness". I'm attaching a copy of this book with this email, if you get a chance read it. I promise it is well worth the time.

We appreciate all the prayers you guys have made on our behalf. They have been felt....

Please pray for God to open our eyes to his will for our family.

Please pray that God would continue to humble us so that when we serve we do so with broken hearts hopelessly dependent upon God.

Please pray for the health and safety of our family while we are gone.

Please pray for safe travel for Alicia and I and all that will be joining us on this trip.

Please pray for the missionaries in the field That we will be aiding. Pray that our presence there will not be a burden to them but something God can use to uplift and renew their spirits.

I hope to have much more to write you all when we return on the 29th!

Thank you so much for your love and support!!

God Bless

Wes

The Beauty of Christ Through Brokenness

Patience

This might come as a surprise to some of you…but I am not a very patient person!

I know, shocking right? :)

One day when Wes and I were dating, we were watching The Newlywed Game Show. One of the questions was "what is your spouse most lacking…brain cells, patience cells, or love cells".

Wes without hesitation shouted "patience cells!!".

I've come a long way since those days, twin girls will do that to a mother!

But I still have such a long way to go. I so often want things accomplished on my time, when I want them and how I want them.

I really have to focus on making myself stop and think about how this affects other people.

So with this {journey} I've felt God so often tell me

"stop. just wait. be patient."

And that is so hard…so very very hard. Because when I have something in my sites I go for it.

I'm all about research and planning and list making and weighing options…but once I've done that and have decided I'm gunning to accomplish it.

For whatever reason though, with Uganda, God is telling me to wait.

I want more than anything to spend my days pouring love into the children of Uganda…

the people of Uganda.

I want more than anything to spend my days pouring love and knowledge into my children.

I want more than anything to spend my days depending solely on my heavenly father.

I really want more than anything to rewind time by five, ten years and move to Uganda then.

Why did it take us so long to hear what our Father was telling us?

Why didn't we see what He wanted so long ago?

I don't know the answers to these questions but I know that we are never to old or too set in our ways to be used by God.

His timing is perfect

I know He has a plan for us

I can't wait to see what that is.

But for now I have to have {patience}...