Whoa, 3 blog posts in one week! I am on a roll! Anyway, here is Madison Ruth-Nantongo Balts. Shortly after we got home, we took her out for a photo shoot. There are a lot of pictures, but who can choose just one?? :) She is too stinkin cute!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Homecoming
Our homecoming was so emotional!!!! I was beyond excited to be going home!! As soon as the plane flew over chalotte and i could see the office buildings downtown I started to cry and when the plane touched down I was full out crying. I could not stop the floodgates from pouring. I was so overwhelmed with emotions. This long, hard road was over, finally over. I felt a weight release. We were home,our family would be together soon, the fight was over and I could breath. Those doors on the plane could not open fast enough!
 |
| Before we could head to the airport we had to have our goodbye party. Thankfully I had help. Lindsay had to do the party for me because I was still at the embassy getting the visa. I got the visa only two hours before we were to head to the airport. |
 |
| Loading the car |
 |
| she didn't know what was going on |
 |
| I think the excitment of it all wore her out |
 |
| Thankful for bassinets on airplanes! |
 |
| The first time Tim got to hold Madison. |
 |
| What we saw as we rounded the corner. I was carring Madison and she would not wake up. When she finally did and saw this she was so confused. Lindsay video taped it the best she could, but I still cry just watching it. I could not edit it just yet. |
 |
| Still waiting for the plane |
 |
| Its over and we are HOME! |
 |
| I can not tell you how excited I was that we made it home for Reece's 1st birthday!!!! Happy birthday girl! |
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Step out
Before you read this, (if you still want to after seeing the length of it), please start the video at the bottom and then close your eyes and listen to the words. Ever since hearing this song it has stayed in my mind. I can not stop thinking about it. "Does your worship have hands, does it have feet..." Wow...
These are some of my very scattered thoughts that go through my head when I listen to this song.....
Awhile back, Jade Metz, wrote a blog about stepping out of the boat. She encouraged people to get out of the boat, get out of your comfort zone, listen to God, take that step of faith, and see the awesome things God will and can do. Like Peter, stepping out of the boat, during the storm, with his focus on Jesus, he could walk on water. She used our story in Uganda as an example of stepping out and all the awesome things God can do when you step out.(which He did!!!! More on that later) I hope and pray that it encouraged people to listen and get out. Jump out with both feet and let God move. No matter how crazy it sounds, if God is leading, do it!! However, I do not feel like I did completely step out of the boat. I put my leg out to test the waters, maybe I stepped out, but as soon as I got home, I jumped back in where I feel safe.
Yes, we looked crazy by buying a plan ticket to Uganda when there were no judges to hear our case and our attorney told us not to. But God gave us peace and we knew this was the right decision. Looking back this was definitely from God. He did awesome things. I didn't like being gone from my family for so long (70 days), but Madison didn't even respond favorably to me until around week 6. I needed that time with her, one on one, without my children at home needing me also. God worked in the relationship and changed it completely! We got a court date after the courts were closed. We got a ruling of guardianship and then the judge changed her mind the day before my visa appointment and we got a full adoption! All things I would not have experienced, all ways that God showed His power, that I would not have seen had we not said yes and stepped out. I want to continue that in my life. I want to keep stepping out, or better yet, never get back in the boat. But I did...
I also think of my time in Uganda at the babies home. Maybe my faith had hands and feet, but my attitude was awful sometimes and that does not please God. While in Uganda, I was definitely not in my comfort zone, in the safety of the boat. There were some things that I only did because I knew if Jesus was walking around He would be doing that. One of those things was dinner time at the babies home. Every evening I argued to myself. Things like "this is gross, I am going to throw up, lets just leave...this is chaotic, stressful, I have been here all day, maybe I should go rest before dinner instead, after all I need my rest....Maybe I could go listen to some sermons or worship music, that would please you God, right?..." Then I looked around and saw the need. There is not enough help at meals times because it is awful, hard, stressful, chaotic, not fun....Then I would say "OK Lord, if this is what you want me to do, I will stay and do it. I don't want to, but I will..(bad attitude, I know) then I asked, but why...Madison hates me and won't eat dinner when I am around, wont sit on the potty, she rolls on the floor screaming because I am here...Why stay?" Well, I believe that if Jesus was walking around, He WOULD walk right into that babies home at meal time, say follow me, and start serving. I pictured that in my mind. Wow, I am a christian woman who says I want to be like Him. So, I suck it up and stay.(pray for some grace and strength, pray NOT to throw up because someone is covered in poop). Some nights were AWFUL and some nights I had such sweet moments with the children, precious, loving moments I will cherish. But that was also a limited time of service. I didn't even do it that well, or with the proper attitude some days. Some days I complained in my head the whole time, which then affected my outward attitude. It was not godly service, with a loving attitude. But then, what about at home, here in North Carolina? How does my worship have hands and feet? How do I step out of the boat? You don't have to go to a third world country to serve. But I have lots of excuses...I have three 2yr olds, my other daughter is busy with school, I can barely keep things going as it is, my house is a mess, aren't I doing enough by serving my family???? These are all questions and excuses I use. I do feel serving my family IS what God has called me to do, but I also know I am still suppose to serve others. How many times does God say to help the poor. There are poor here in NC, not just in third world countries. I need to serve them, to get the gospel out there...Be an example to my children, teach them to serve and love. But, I tell myself that I don't know how. I keep waiting for God to show me, but I know I just need to do and not wait. In the doing, He will show me. But then I come back to what to do? These are things that haunt me while I listen to this song. Things I am praying about. I don't have answers, just questions and convictions from God. God has given me passions and now I need to use them to do something.
There is a book I want to get and it talks about getting a dislocated heart. A God given compassion, love, care for others that propels you out of your comfort zone." Yes, please. I want that. I want a dislocated heart. (I hope the book is good) Anyway,
Another thing I think about when I hear this song are those people who say they are believers and yet don't live the life. They acknowledge Jesus with their lips, but deny Him by their lifestyle. I think of that because of some conversations I had with people. One woman in Uganda knew I was a Christian. She did not think to highly of Christians. She told me of a woman she knew who just sat in her apartment all day reading the Bible but she never did anything to help anyone. This woman, according to her, sounded capable of serving, but didn't. She was very put off by the fact that this woman, who professed faith, did nothing when people around her needed help. This got me thinking more. I know that we are not saved by works and all that. I understand. But I have heard similar stories from other people also. People here in the states. People profess Jesus, they may go to church, they spend lots of time reading the Bible (all awesome things and you should read your Bible, please don't take this the wrong way) but then don't go out and do anything for Jesus. They see people in need, have the ability to serve, and do nothing. They profess and then don't live it. Yes, we have to read our Bible and pray, we have to maintain that relationship first and foremost, but we must also serve.
James 2 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not
have works?...If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says
to them, 'go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body,
what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Wow!! I ask myself, do I have fruit? Does my faith have hands? Does it have feet?????
Isaiah 58:6&7, 10&11 " Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to
undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to
share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the
naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?...IF you pour yourself out for
the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your
gloom be as noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched
places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail."
And finally, these are two quote from a book I read in Uganda. I keep remembering them, especially when I hear this song. (they are from the book "in a pit with a lion on a snowy day")
"No guts, no glory. When we don't have the guts to step out in faith and chase lions, then God is robbed of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him" and "Lion chasers know God is bigger and more powerful than any problem they face in this world. They thrive in the toughest circumstances because they know that impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles. (SO TRUE) That is how God reveals His glory and how He blesses you in ways you never could imagine."
This is a very long post. If anyone is still reading this, then please read Matthew 25:31-46. I don't want to be among the ones he says "depart from me..." I want to be among the "as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." The least of these are the poor, helpless, orphaned, widowed....I want to serve.....I want to step out, jump out....I want my worship to have hands and feet........
These are some of my very scattered thoughts that go through my head when I listen to this song.....
Awhile back, Jade Metz, wrote a blog about stepping out of the boat. She encouraged people to get out of the boat, get out of your comfort zone, listen to God, take that step of faith, and see the awesome things God will and can do. Like Peter, stepping out of the boat, during the storm, with his focus on Jesus, he could walk on water. She used our story in Uganda as an example of stepping out and all the awesome things God can do when you step out.(which He did!!!! More on that later) I hope and pray that it encouraged people to listen and get out. Jump out with both feet and let God move. No matter how crazy it sounds, if God is leading, do it!! However, I do not feel like I did completely step out of the boat. I put my leg out to test the waters, maybe I stepped out, but as soon as I got home, I jumped back in where I feel safe.
Yes, we looked crazy by buying a plan ticket to Uganda when there were no judges to hear our case and our attorney told us not to. But God gave us peace and we knew this was the right decision. Looking back this was definitely from God. He did awesome things. I didn't like being gone from my family for so long (70 days), but Madison didn't even respond favorably to me until around week 6. I needed that time with her, one on one, without my children at home needing me also. God worked in the relationship and changed it completely! We got a court date after the courts were closed. We got a ruling of guardianship and then the judge changed her mind the day before my visa appointment and we got a full adoption! All things I would not have experienced, all ways that God showed His power, that I would not have seen had we not said yes and stepped out. I want to continue that in my life. I want to keep stepping out, or better yet, never get back in the boat. But I did...
I also think of my time in Uganda at the babies home. Maybe my faith had hands and feet, but my attitude was awful sometimes and that does not please God. While in Uganda, I was definitely not in my comfort zone, in the safety of the boat. There were some things that I only did because I knew if Jesus was walking around He would be doing that. One of those things was dinner time at the babies home. Every evening I argued to myself. Things like "this is gross, I am going to throw up, lets just leave...this is chaotic, stressful, I have been here all day, maybe I should go rest before dinner instead, after all I need my rest....Maybe I could go listen to some sermons or worship music, that would please you God, right?..." Then I looked around and saw the need. There is not enough help at meals times because it is awful, hard, stressful, chaotic, not fun....Then I would say "OK Lord, if this is what you want me to do, I will stay and do it. I don't want to, but I will..(bad attitude, I know) then I asked, but why...Madison hates me and won't eat dinner when I am around, wont sit on the potty, she rolls on the floor screaming because I am here...Why stay?" Well, I believe that if Jesus was walking around, He WOULD walk right into that babies home at meal time, say follow me, and start serving. I pictured that in my mind. Wow, I am a christian woman who says I want to be like Him. So, I suck it up and stay.(pray for some grace and strength, pray NOT to throw up because someone is covered in poop). Some nights were AWFUL and some nights I had such sweet moments with the children, precious, loving moments I will cherish. But that was also a limited time of service. I didn't even do it that well, or with the proper attitude some days. Some days I complained in my head the whole time, which then affected my outward attitude. It was not godly service, with a loving attitude. But then, what about at home, here in North Carolina? How does my worship have hands and feet? How do I step out of the boat? You don't have to go to a third world country to serve. But I have lots of excuses...I have three 2yr olds, my other daughter is busy with school, I can barely keep things going as it is, my house is a mess, aren't I doing enough by serving my family???? These are all questions and excuses I use. I do feel serving my family IS what God has called me to do, but I also know I am still suppose to serve others. How many times does God say to help the poor. There are poor here in NC, not just in third world countries. I need to serve them, to get the gospel out there...Be an example to my children, teach them to serve and love. But, I tell myself that I don't know how. I keep waiting for God to show me, but I know I just need to do and not wait. In the doing, He will show me. But then I come back to what to do? These are things that haunt me while I listen to this song. Things I am praying about. I don't have answers, just questions and convictions from God. God has given me passions and now I need to use them to do something.
There is a book I want to get and it talks about getting a dislocated heart. A God given compassion, love, care for others that propels you out of your comfort zone." Yes, please. I want that. I want a dislocated heart. (I hope the book is good) Anyway,
Another thing I think about when I hear this song are those people who say they are believers and yet don't live the life. They acknowledge Jesus with their lips, but deny Him by their lifestyle. I think of that because of some conversations I had with people. One woman in Uganda knew I was a Christian. She did not think to highly of Christians. She told me of a woman she knew who just sat in her apartment all day reading the Bible but she never did anything to help anyone. This woman, according to her, sounded capable of serving, but didn't. She was very put off by the fact that this woman, who professed faith, did nothing when people around her needed help. This got me thinking more. I know that we are not saved by works and all that. I understand. But I have heard similar stories from other people also. People here in the states. People profess Jesus, they may go to church, they spend lots of time reading the Bible (all awesome things and you should read your Bible, please don't take this the wrong way) but then don't go out and do anything for Jesus. They see people in need, have the ability to serve, and do nothing. They profess and then don't live it. Yes, we have to read our Bible and pray, we have to maintain that relationship first and foremost, but we must also serve.
James 2 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not
have works?...If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says
to them, 'go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body,
what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Wow!! I ask myself, do I have fruit? Does my faith have hands? Does it have feet?????
Isaiah 58:6&7, 10&11 " Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to
undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to
share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the
naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?...IF you pour yourself out for
the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your
gloom be as noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched
places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail."
And finally, these are two quote from a book I read in Uganda. I keep remembering them, especially when I hear this song. (they are from the book "in a pit with a lion on a snowy day")
"No guts, no glory. When we don't have the guts to step out in faith and chase lions, then God is robbed of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him" and "Lion chasers know God is bigger and more powerful than any problem they face in this world. They thrive in the toughest circumstances because they know that impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles. (SO TRUE) That is how God reveals His glory and how He blesses you in ways you never could imagine."
This is a very long post. If anyone is still reading this, then please read Matthew 25:31-46. I don't want to be among the ones he says "depart from me..." I want to be among the "as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." The least of these are the poor, helpless, orphaned, widowed....I want to serve.....I want to step out, jump out....I want my worship to have hands and feet........
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Uganda slide show
This is a slide show of my 70 days in Uganda. I really don't have the time to post about them all individually like I want to so I thought this would be easier. It is a little long though. Many of the pictures I have already posted on facebook, but there are some new ones, like from the Nile, that I don't think I posted. There are pictures of Sanyu, of our time at Amazima Ministries, African Hearts, Peace for Children Africa, the slums, and some of the great people I had the opportunity to meet and live with at Sanyu.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Oasis of Life Orphanage
One of the best moments (besides getting a a daughter of course) was being able to take all this food to Oasis of Life Orphanage, a place that I knew needed it badly. A volunteer at Sanyu visited this orphanage and told us how bad it was and how much they needed help. I knew I wanted to go and check it out and see if I could help in any way. I went with another volunteer and I just wanted to cry! Walking around and talking to one of the pastors about the conditions was heartbreaking! I had to bit my lip to keep from crying as he showed us around. Many of the beds did not have matresses, just springs, and yet someone slept on it. One room had 9 beds and yet 16 people slept in that room. He showed us the room where the food was kept. There was 1/2 a bag of food left and that was it. They didn't know where the food would come from after that was gone. The pastor kept saying that God would provide, they needed a miracle, but God could do it. He told me how, in the past, he had to pawn his Bible to pay for food. He told me that most times the kids only get dinner and that is it. The rest of the time they either go hungry or run around the village, rummaging through the garbage piles, looking for food. This also caused sickness and lots of unpaid medical bills.
I knew, after seeing this, that I had to help in some way. Even if I could only buy a few bags of food, I knew I wanted to go back. Well, after telling Lindsay this, she had a GREAT idea. How about telling other people and seeing if people wanted to donate money for us to do much much more than just a few bags of food. People were SO generous!!! It was an AWESOME feeling to go shopping for ONE MILLION SHILLINGS in food and supplies!!!! This was HUGE! And then to hire a truck and drive it up to the orphanage....I can't even begin to describe the feeling! The kids opened the door and the screaming started. They were screaming and cheering and jumping up and down. The pastor had the biggest smile I have ever seen and kept saying over and over "God does miralces, God does miracles, this is a miracle, this is a miracle" and then one of the mamams came and greated me with a huge hug! What an awesome experience. My heart was overflowed with joy that Lindsay and I could be the people to bring this to them all on everyone's behalf. We were also able to pay for the power bill and get the electricity turned back on and pay it forward for several months, and we were also able to pay their outstanding medical bill at the clinic. As you may see in the video at the end, or the pictures, many did not have shoes and we were able to buy 34 pairs of shoes also. We bought matresses, which meant that everyone was able to sleep on a matress. And we also bought mosquito nets.
The kids were so grateful! Some of the older girls, girls who had nothing and wore rags, gave us bracelets that they made out of thread. They knelt down and tied them to our wrists and thanked us and hugged us. I can't even describe how I felt. So many overwhelming emotions. Thank you all for your generous contributions and thank you Lord for letting Lindsay and I be your hands and feet in this way!!!!!
I wish I would have brought the video camera to capture the moment, but I forgot. (well, didn't really expect that kind of welcome). But I did bring it on my first visit. They sang and danced for us and I added two video clips at the end of this. Enjoy.
I knew, after seeing this, that I had to help in some way. Even if I could only buy a few bags of food, I knew I wanted to go back. Well, after telling Lindsay this, she had a GREAT idea. How about telling other people and seeing if people wanted to donate money for us to do much much more than just a few bags of food. People were SO generous!!! It was an AWESOME feeling to go shopping for ONE MILLION SHILLINGS in food and supplies!!!! This was HUGE! And then to hire a truck and drive it up to the orphanage....I can't even begin to describe the feeling! The kids opened the door and the screaming started. They were screaming and cheering and jumping up and down. The pastor had the biggest smile I have ever seen and kept saying over and over "God does miralces, God does miracles, this is a miracle, this is a miracle" and then one of the mamams came and greated me with a huge hug! What an awesome experience. My heart was overflowed with joy that Lindsay and I could be the people to bring this to them all on everyone's behalf. We were also able to pay for the power bill and get the electricity turned back on and pay it forward for several months, and we were also able to pay their outstanding medical bill at the clinic. As you may see in the video at the end, or the pictures, many did not have shoes and we were able to buy 34 pairs of shoes also. We bought matresses, which meant that everyone was able to sleep on a matress. And we also bought mosquito nets.
The kids were so grateful! Some of the older girls, girls who had nothing and wore rags, gave us bracelets that they made out of thread. They knelt down and tied them to our wrists and thanked us and hugged us. I can't even describe how I felt. So many overwhelming emotions. Thank you all for your generous contributions and thank you Lord for letting Lindsay and I be your hands and feet in this way!!!!!
I wish I would have brought the video camera to capture the moment, but I forgot. (well, didn't really expect that kind of welcome). But I did bring it on my first visit. They sang and danced for us and I added two video clips at the end of this. Enjoy.
 |
| Loading the truck with food and supplies |
 |
| Pulling up to the orphanage |
 |
| The children opened the door to see what was going on outside |
 |
| Mama Harriet |
 |
| dancing and cheering as the truck was being unloaded |
 |
| I loved this little guy in the viking jersey. He has a heart condition that makes one of his hands swell and part of his face. The doctor said it was life threatening, but the pastor says God has kept him with them and they are trusting God for his future. |
 |
| The kids getting juice boxes |
 |
| One of the beds...guess what...it now has a matress on it! |
 |
| Look at these precious faces!!!!!! |
 |
| Dancing...the little boy with his shirt unbuttoned...well, the shirt didn't have any buttons on it to button. |
 |
| They just found out that we were going to get their electricity turned back on. |
`
 |
| One of the rooms for the girls |
 |
| This is Edith. She also volunteers at Sanyu two days a week. The sweetest most giving woman ever! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
