What's in Your Heart?

a castle picnic

Sophia and Chloe sit on either side of me negotiating who has the best thing in their hearts. They are both pretty excited these days that Jesus lives in their hearts, but trying to up the other one (no one said they were entirely sanctified yet) Chloe says, "but I have AFRICA in my heart!!!"

The reality of following Jesus is that He doesn't always let us do the easiest things or the understood things. He calls us to put things, places, people into our hearts, but then at times He will ask if we are willing to give up even those good gifts.

Africa is very much in our hearts and as we have attempted to settle into the land He has called us to for these days, Scotland, we have sensed the ache more and more. There has been another grieving time in this process of resettling.

the St. Andrews Cathedral initial exploration

Another AMAZING thing about God's economy though is that there is an ever widening ability to love more and more each day and there is already a growing Scotland part of our hearts. This land is enchanting, beautiful, every new discovery like a fairy tale! We have found parks in either direction from our home that the girls and I can walk to, although learning to play in the rain is a very non-Lugbara skill we are trying to acquire.

We will leave the comparisons for another blog, but let me say, He is meeting us and we THANK YOU for praying with us that all He desires to put in our hearts, we would welcome and all He wants to keep there would remain.

Praying for you today that Jesus might be fully alive in YOUR HEART!!!

How Does Jesus Remember Stuff, Mom?

We fly to our new home home in only 24 hours! There are a lot of tears, questions, and excitement around here. Lucy just asked me, "Mom, how does Jesus remember stuff?" We chatted about omniscience for a while but got around to the fact that we are forgetting some thing about home home and thinking of a new home home seems daunting. We want to remember. We want to go back. We want the security of the familiar.

Yet, we know Jesus knows and will carry us as we go forward into the tomorrows He has led us to. Will you pray with us as we drive to Cincinnati tomorrow afternoon and then fly to Philadelphia and then directly to Edinburgh. We arrive early Sunday morning. There have been lots of tears about the journey! The girls have grown to love the flights between here and Uganda. They love the little screens on the seat in front, sweet stewardesses with sodas, fun coloring books and crayons and are sad we only get to go half way tomorrow. (Billy and I don't share that particular sadness, although we are grieving in new ways too.)

It seems more real to all of us now that we have left East Africa for this season! Will you pray with us for Africa Gospel Church? Pray with us for WGM East Africa...our colleagues, friends, and family there. Please pray with us for our extended friends that have become family in Arua that we are missing so much these days. Please keep carrying South Sudan to Jesus!!!

As we go forward will you join us in thanking Jesus for the full cups of His goodness to us over the last four months moving around the states. He has been so kind! You all have been so gracious and welcoming and we are humbled that you have stood beside us, loved us, welcomed all 6 of us!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU with all our hearts!

Will you pray for the short connection in Philadelphia? For transportation in Scotland immediately and then also finding the right longer term plan for our family? We praise Jesus He has provided a home to rent. Will you pray it quickly becomes our home home? We don't know how soon we will get on line again, but know we could NOT travel without you all. We could not be His light along the way without you carrying us to Him! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU that we do not go alone! We are grateful for your priceless prayers! Praising Jesus He remembers...