Day 119

I hope you are enjoying your week and the slow turn into spring we are having.(if at all)
I can't believe we are at day 119. It's been real. & wonderful. & full of really great lessons. Even though things are a little tricky around here at the moment, we are strong and longing for more. In His loving way, Jesus reminded me that this is counting for something. Donations are down, but still i put my LBD on everyday.
He has been teaching me that He doesn't need me, but loves me-- i am doing this because my Beloved likes to work with me, even though i am not needed for it to happen.
These last few days/weeks have been there to remind me of why i am doing this. That the most important part of this project and my entire life is Jesus.

Day 118

When we speak 

we are afraid our words will not be heard 

or welcomed. 

But when we are silent, 

we are still afraid. 

So it is better to speak.

—
Audre Lorde

Day 115 116 117

Took a weekend road trip to Eugene to go see my sister & brother-in-law, and of course baby 'n'.
I spent my mornings walking through the farmers market and catching up with best friends.
Hope you had the best weekend!

I'm working on getting some more information of where we are at regarding 'giving'. Thank you so much for the continued patients!

Day 114

"Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with your God."

(Spring bid us hello this morning. I hope for good.)

Day 113

 

From me and my little black dress.

Day 112

I apologize for not taking a picture in my dress yesterday. This is better though, so much better.

Day 111

I hope you all had a happy weekend!

I have been so blessed by everyone that has continued to follow along, pray, and send encouraging messages my way these past few weeks of waiting. Things are still at a halt, but i am so confident that God has the best reason in mind as of why.

Please continue to pray for Redeemer House and the project!
We appreciate it so so much.

Day 110

it came in the mail on friday. ^^

Day 109

This day has been all about joy.

Everything we do near or far, where you are at, take joy.
I was thinking these things as I stood over the sink washing dishes this morning. In a week, I will probably be doing the same thing. School, work, chores, etc. But in three months, i'll be in a completely different spot. Loving on children at summer camp. In five months, i'll be on a plane heading to Romania. And in roughly 8 months, I'll be in Jinja.
I find myself thinking often that "it will be better. i'll be happier. the grass is greener over there." But i'm being   robbed of my joy when i think those things. When I feel like joy is in the summer, but not in my kitchen sink at this moment. When i feel like five months away is gonna make everything better and i'll be happier, but i can't scrub the bathroom counter without complaining.

I want joy, here and now.

"And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Collosian 3:23

Day 108

That’s what unconditional means—that nothing you do or don't do changes my love for you. -Justin Holcomb

Day 107

They say "absence makes the heart grow fonder."
But that's really no excuse for why I haven't blogged in the past few days. Life has been taking over and I promise to manage my time better. On another note:

I have been praying praying for my lovely children.
I closed my eyes last night with them on my heart.
& awoke with them on my heart this morning too.
There's a world map hanging on the wall near the kitchen table.
Sometimes I map out what my trip is going to look like in the winter. I run my finger to each major city I will stop in, and when I finally get to Jinja, I smile.
I look, and dream, and can't wait to meet them all.

Day 106

Day 105

Throwback to monday.

Day 104

Sundays remind me to be more thankful for my Savior and all he has given me. I scribbled some of my heart on the side of my journal in church today. Here's a piece of it. It's all about 'thanks'. Go figure.

Thank you for the stretch and the struggle. Thank you for questions with answers, and questions without. Thank you for Africa & the children there. Thank you for happy hearts, & giving hearts, and most of all hearts in love with You. Thank you for opportunity to hold the hands of my dears this winter. Thank you for being the only one that gives us purpose in this world.

Day 103

We have joyfully made it into the triple digits this week. I don't really know what to say or do in honor of this accomplishment. Maybe save $3 for when donations is back up. Maybe pray 3 times a day for my children in Jinja. I don't know, but I am happy and celebrating in my heart.

It just feels like I'm where I'm supposed to be.

Day 102

1// i am not alone. this has become a small community in my heart drawn together from both near and far. & i want to thank you all for being a part of something that means so much to me. 2// this small project is becoming something far more meaningful to me by the day. & even if all it does is reach a few hearts, a few people, that's fine with me. it has reached and changed and challenged mine, and that's enough for me. 3// i don't know what comes next, but i am filled with hope for the coming days. 4// and lastly, thank you for your prayers. you are so appreciated. please continue to remember us here at the LBD Project for Uganda and Redeemer House Orphanage. we are still working some things out, but are so thankful for patience and the love that has been sent our way.

Day 101

// We aren’t really called to save the world, not even to save one person; Jesus does that. We are just called to love with abandon. We are called to enter into our neighbors’ sufferings and love them right there. // -katie davis

Day 100

The LBD Project has become such a big part of my heart. & i am so thankful for all of you that have supported, prayed, and donated throughout this time. It is crazy to be at day 100 and look back at how far we've come for these darling children. I am looking forward to the several weeks to come and the many more lovely people i get to meet!

Day 99

Beautiful readers,
over the months i have been talking to people about this sweet little project. & the things that have come out of my mouth or passed about through e-mail/facebook etc. are not what i expected. I remember what it felt like to be standing at Day 1. Scared, excited, ready, not ready at all. Something so little was just about to become something so big. & i had no idea. I didn't expect people to care the way they cared. I didn't expect comments to be so lovely. I didn't expect to be as happy today as i was 99 days ago. I didn't expect to fall even more in love with these children oceans away.

Praise God for all that is to come.
& praise the Lord he doesn't give us what we always expect.

Day 98

It feels as if spring has left this week. No hard feelings though, i'm in love with grey skies anyways.

Day 97

All i have for you today is a chapter from the book of Psalms.
I'm pretty in love with it too.

Psalms 44
1 We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.
2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.
3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.
8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.[d]
9 But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.
10 You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.
13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.
15 I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame
16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
17 All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?
25 We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Day 96

It feels unreal coming this far. Four days from one hundred and my heart is as happy as it was on day one. Partially because of you. Thank you for the help and for the love. Thank you for small things and big things.

Praying we can get donations back on track soon. Hopes are high!

Day 95

I am going to see my children at the end of the year.
Lord willing, I will meet them in December.
& I can't wait to hug them. Love them. To just be with them.

I am making plans and praying hard.
Things are coming together slowly with love and much excitement.
I will be leaving in the fall for Romania. I will be working in orphanages and interning with a team there for 3 months.
And in December, I will head to Redeemer House to see my the children!!

Things are still being put together, but I will keep you all up to date on my plans as they come together. It is so exciting to have the opportunity to go be with these children that are so dear to my heart. Please keep me in your prayers as I plan my trip and raise funds.

More word on this later.

Day 94

Beautiful friends,
There is so much that has yet to be said. Words and dreams that have been sitting on my heart but have yet to reach my lips(or the keyboard in this case). I'll tell you some wonderful news tomorrow. My heart is bursting and I am so happy. Stay tuned.

Love.

Day 93

This was my yesterday.^^

We are still in a time of waiting.
It's been tough having this little setback during this project, but I have been so encouraged lately.
This is a time that has been teaching me that there is more to give than just money.

Love can mean more than a few dollars friends!

Day 92

“What the Bible does not mention, but what must be true is that, years later, Lazarus still died. The people Jesus healed were inevitably sick again at some point in their lives. The people Jesus fed miraculously were hungry again a few days later. More important than the very obvious might & power shown by Jesus’ miracles is His love. He loved these people enough to do everything in His power to “make it better.” He entered into their suffering & loved them right there.”      - katie davis

Day 91

I am tempted to say that spring has officially arrived here, but you never really know what to expect while living in Central Oregon. So for now, let's just be hopeful and in love with the now. A very springish day.

We are still waiting on word regarding the donations. Please continue to pray for us and save up some love, so when we are back and ready to go we can flood RHO missions and these children with a little joy.

I appreciate everyone who has prayed and been following the project lately. I cannot tell you how much joy you all bring to my heart.