She is enough.

In 40 days my first born babe and I get to go to a land I fell in love with years ago.  We are a little on the excited side…. OK - we are A LOT excited!!!

A year ago Ashton started baking her way there.  She earned every dollar [with the exception of a few mysterious givers (that had divine timing I might add) and a friend or two that just wanted to bless her with funds - thank you].  I am so proud of her.  She was diligent to keep the goal in sight.  The goal?

A plane ticket to serve, love and to embrace all that is Ug@nda, East Africa!

As we talked and dreamed together I kept asking the Lord how this should shape up.  A mother daughter team?  A women's team?  A youth team?  What is it Lord?

I prayed, fasted and still did not have clarity.  I asked a friend or two if they wanted to go with their daughters but God had other plans in the works.  Hu.  OK, Lord what do you have for this trip?

About a month ago Justin and I had a late-into-the-night-talk about it and we came to complete unity with clarity.  

She is enough.

Taking a team would fill my measure of enough.  God's plans are much greater. 

God has placed only a few precious souls [and by a few, I mean 6 (+), Lord willing ;) ] into our care.  He has given us these children to pour our everything into, to disciple, to nurture.  What a great privilege we take very seriously.

A big part of discipling our children is teaching them about what is precious and close to God's heart.  James 1:27 says "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Not just that verse, although that pretty much sums up a pure motivation, there is so much more.

I wish I could type all that is in my heart about Ug@nda …. about what I learn, about how it changes me.

It's like my view gets fogged by the comforts of this home.  I can still see, but it's blurry.  Spending time in that place strips away the build up.  That place breaks me.  What matters most comes clear.  

I really don't feel like words really can do justice so I will quit trying. 

Many have asked what the plan is.  Here is the grand plan:  We are off to serve where we can, love where God shows and enjoy our time there and eachother.  

There is our "plan."  

Somewhere along the way we hope to soak in the richness of three generations being together in that place.  Ashton's G-ma lives there with some of our favorite little peeps in all the land.  Most of our time will be with them.  Pretty sure a couple days I will focus on some paperwork torture fun that needs done.  Much of our daily lives here are intertwined with daily life there… how great to be in the same place for a bit.

40 days to pray.  40 days until we go!