6 Days

A few more pics - the rains have hit hard I'm hearing, so that is slowing things down a bit, but they're still working hard.  :)  The wood is for the roof / ceiling and the plumbing is being installed as well.

8 Days

Just over a week now until I hop on a plane and fly to another world.  It's starting to feel weird.  It always does.  I love being there so much, but it still feels so strange and scary to make the journey.  I don't know why.  It's just so unreal.  The "goodbye for nows" are starting.  I've stopped buying groceries, so I'm scrounging for meals or eating on the go.  Trying to think of everything that needs to go in a suitcase, hoping to stay under weight on my luggage...  This has all happened so fast, yet at the same time it's taking forever to get there.  Time is funny that way.

I don't have any more house pics to show you, not sure what's happening with that at the moment.  I have requested the last chunk from my retirement fund, hopefully it arrives in time.  I have all the items I need, just waiting for one thing to come in the mail still.

I don't know what the next 3 months hold for me.  I'm going with no schedule, no agenda to speak of.  I am just going on an adventure with Holy Spirit as my guide.  I know I will be stretched in new ways, far beyond my comfort zone.  I'm on my own, no team to hide behind.  Just me, one solo mzungu.  It's a huge responsibility, the way they treat us, like we're celebrities almost.  It's a strange feeling to drive down the street and have kids come running just because you're white.

One thing I'm looking forward to so much is the church.   I spent a few Sundays at this place and it was so wonderful!   These Ugandans know how to worship!  The joy in that place is incredible!!  So much fun!  Amazing singers, fun dancing, and just a beautiful atmosphere to be in.  I remember one of the most awesome moments from my 2010 trip was when they took the offering.  They had 3 baskets up front, Tithe, Offering, and Charity.  The hundreds of people streamed up to drop their offerings in the baskets.  Some gave money, others gave a bag of some sort of food, and a couple guys brought up a whole branch of bananas.  It was beautiful to see people who have so little being so generous.  That's what it should be like.  If we all give a little, we can help those who have nothing.  This church in Masulita is beautiful.  (The church is people, not a building)  I look forward to being a part of this church body.

I will miss the people here, I've felt so accepted into the church here in Yuba City these last 6 months.  This is a good place too.  This is a people who know how to love well.  I hope that I can take all that I've learned from my life's journey from church to church and give what I have to these people and in turn, receive from them what they have and bring it back here.  I think that is what the church is supposed to be about.  We are diverse, yet united.  We each have a flavor, or a piece of the puzzle.  When we come together and share our unique pieces, it makes something beautiful.

As always, I would love to have your prayers.  Any time you think of me, just send up a quick prayer to Papa God.  :)  Pray for safety and health, and pray for divine encounters and that I would embrace the path Holy Spirit is taking me down.   Thank you all for your support.

April 30 update

Just over 2 weeks to go now!  I'm both excited and nervous.  This is a pretty big ordeal.  Lots of money, lots of unknowns, lots of new things...

Alex tells me the walls are up and ready for the roof now, so this is a view from atop a ladder.  Yay!  

I am about to take the last chunk of $$ out of my retirement account on Monday so I can finish the house, get solar panels, and whatever other costs I run into during my 3 month stay.  

What can you do to partner with me in this you ask??

I need your prayers first and foremost.  My back is still not 100% and I need it to be.  I will be doing some physical labor and lots of walking and that will not be very pleasant with a tweaked out back.  Pray for safety and health.  Pray that God will connect me with people who will be a part of the team on the ground.  I am looking for "spiritual parents" to have contact points to send new believers to to help them grow in the Lord.  Pray for good connection between myself and Alex and Violet as we brainstorm and pray for what God has for us moving forward.  And of course, God will be doing some major renovations in my heart I'm sure.  He always does.

And yes, I could use some financial help as well.  I can't know for sure how much I will need to spend while I'm in Uganda, so I am looking at the possibility of returning with no money.  I have accounted for August rent already, but any other bills and expenses when I first get back will be up in the air.  I have a couple people who have sent me donations regularly, so they will at least get me thru the first week or so.  If I end up with leftover money it will just be put into the Uganda account for next time.  

• Checks to Jessie Osborne can be mailed to 652 Almond St.  Yuba City, CA 95991
• Paypal - Jessie Osborne or UgandanMzungu@yahoo.com
• Facebook pay - https://www.facebook.com/BaseballGrrl

Even after I'm gone, these will get into my bank account and I can access with debit card while I'm over there if I need it. 

I'll update this blog regularly while I'm away.  Keep me bookmarked and I'll let you know what I'm up to, what needs I've run into, and more specifics on how you can pray.  

Thanks friends.  Here is one more picture, Alex tells me this is the view out my bedroom window at sunset .  Uganda does have beautiful sunrises / sunsets.  :) 

25 Days to Go

Less than a month now.  I think I've got most of the details taken care of now.  I'm waiting on God still to take care of a few things.  I would very much appreciate people willing to pray for me while I'm away.  This is an intimidating task, to head off to Uganda, just me, hanging out with the local people, only mzungu in sight.  lol  -- It's a different world and I don't yet know all the rules.  I know i'm going to get a rude awakening as to how much work life takes there.  Life is so easy here, we're so spoiled with all our appliances and comforts.  I look forward to learning, but I know it will be difficult for this old fat body of mine.  ;)  I will be smaller when I get back I'm sure.  :)

Pray for safety, provision, and that I would see what I need to see to strategize for the future.  Pray that I meet awesome people that will join me in my mission as we move forward.

Thank y'all.  If you have any other questions, please feel free to message me.  Make sure to bookmark this blog so you don't miss any posts as I'm away.  I will update as much as I'm able.  Not sure if pictures will be doable, but I'll try.  :)

More House

Just a little over a month to go....  The house will have the basic structure up very soon, the walls are quick!!  I have just found that we will need solar power, an added expense I was not figuring into my budget.  Alex tells me that the regular electricity will be very expensive as the house is a bit outside the bulk of town, they would charge us for the power poles to get out to our house.  He tells me solar panels are $580 each and we need at least 2 of them.  If anyone feels led to help us out with this part of the project it would be a huge deal!

It's happening!!  This is for real!!  I can't even get my mind around this.  If you've ever been to another country, you might know that it is a different world, so much so that it seems unreal from here.  I am in a weird emotional state about this trip.  I can't quite think it's actually real.  I am looking forward to so many things about this visit.  I will get to see old friend I haven't seen in 6 yrs, meet my newest nephew, see again the other one...  Hanging out in the country I love for almost 3 months!!  I know God has great things planned for me, so I'm just leaving myself open to whatever He has in mind.  All is well.  Uganda, here I come!!

So it Begins

Construction has begun on the house!!  I have wired Alex the majority of the money for the house so they could get started.  The rainy season is coming and can make building difficult, so we're trying to get the house up before then.  Well, that and I don't want to have to live without a bathroom for too long.  ;)

Very different process, so I'm fascinated to see how this goes.  Hopefully Alex will be able to upload more pictures as we go so I can see.  I will share as I am able.  

Pretty good sized footprint it looks like.  Gonna be awesome!!  I will bring another $2K with me when I go to finish out the process.  Alex and I will be painting the house ourselves to save on labor costs.  It's gonna be fun!

Please pray for me as I come to mind.  This is a pretty big thing I'm doing (in my mind) Pray for my safety and provision and that God will make my path clear as I seek out connections in the village.  I will be stepping outside my comfort zone in a major way, so pray for courage.  :)  Thanks friends!

And another new picture of another day....

Update March 30

I just passed the '50 days to go' mark.  :)  If you've ever been out of country you might now the unreal feeling I have at this point.  Such a different place to be, it's difficult to even fathom.

I have sent an initial chunk of money to Alex already and building has begun on the house.  Yay!!  I wanted to get it started now to avoid too much "white tax" and so I didn't have to live too long without a bathroom.  lol - Also Alex told me it was best to get it done before the rainy season.  So far his internet has not been good enough to send me pictures, but as I receive them I will post.

I am excited about the possibilities of this trip.  I've realized with short term mission trips we often get more out of it than the people we went to see in terms of inner growth.  On my 3 previous trips I was with a group and was able to stay quiet and let the others do most of the talking to people.  I won't have that chance this time, so even though it will be a challenge, I am glad to be pushed out of my comfort zone so far.  I have been pursuing training all these years, time to get off the bench!!  Put me in coach!  I'm ready to play.  :)

I don't have a big plan of scheduled events.  I know that I will be able to go with Violet to the adult English classes she teaches and learn some Luganda, so I'm looking forward to that.  I hope I can spend some time with the kids at the school too, kids are always the best part right?  ;)  Other than that I want to meet people in the area and get a clearer picture of the needs in this village.  When I return full time I want to have a strategy for how I can best serve the people around me.  This time I won't have the resources to do much, but next time I hope I will.

This time will allow me to build a stronger bond with Alex and Violet and their two boys and brainstorm together with Jesus to discover what our future holds.  I have a huge vision in my head, but getting it down into a workable form will be helpful.  Some things require building time, so we will figure out how best to build what God has been showing me over the years.  I will probably give a more precise vision update when I get back.

I do not want to go build a ministry that depends on me.  That is pointless.  I want to do what I can to use the gifts God has given me to equip and train those around me, wherever I may be.  My goal here is to share whatever I have to share to help the people.  I hope to find good solid people that will join me in this mission.  I think about that old saying about "give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day, teach him to fish, he'll eat for life."  That is pretty much what I am thinking.  I want to use my gifts to set something in motion that will continue on far past my time.  I will be in search of people that will be disciplers and prayers and worshipers and adoptive parents, and business people...  I want to help them help each other.  It's not about pouring money in so much as helping them see what they already have and utilize it.  As my current church says... "Find a need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it."  Everyone is capable of doing that.  :)

Overall I am excited to be back in the country I love.  I do not look forward to the long day of travel, but at least I'll have 3 months in between instead of the 2 week normal.  I have a 27 hr day on the way there and 33 hrs on the way back.  eek!

I would like to ask for prayers to cover this trip.  I wrestle to stay out of the fear zone as I head out alone.  I do feel very safe in the village and Alex and Violet are amazing guides, but there is risk always in a foreign land.  3 months is a long time.  I know that it will be so hard to come back too.  I would love to have people willing to pray for me any time I come to your mind.

Also when I return I will need to find a job ASAP as I am spending everything I have for this trip.  I am trusting God for finances all around.  For this trip and after.  I haven't worked since Christmas so add a new job to returning culture shock and jet lag....  ug.

If you have any questions, I'd love to share any answers I have.  PM me on Facebook is probably the easiest way to reach me.

Thank you to all who have shown support and interest in my mission.  I am so grateful for those who have believed in me and sown financially into this trip as well.