You're Invited!

We want to invite you into the story God is writing in Gulu -- please join us!

Gulu Friends: Esther.

Esther was one of the women who worked at our hotel in Gulu - the Pearl Afrique. She has the most beautiful servant's heart, and a smile that lights up the room. All of the girls on our trip found a special place in our hearts for her.

Gulu Friends: Alfred.

Alfred is an active member of the church in Laliya (one of the villages in Gulu), and dreams of being a doctor. Here's a picture of Alfred (in the blue) with Regan, Rusty, & Warren. Alfred's grandfather is sitting to his left and the guys are quizzing him on Alfred:

Gulu Friends: Jackson & Sylvester.

Meet Jackson & Sylvester - our amazing drivers for our 2 weeks in Uganda. (they work for Adonai Guesthouses & Tours - I highly recommend them!) Not only did they keep us safe on the roads, tie down our crazy amount of luggage on top of the vans, and give us advice and information on everything Uganda... but they became our friends and our brothers. By mid-week they were joining in on soccer games with the kids, and teaching us how to play drums in church!

Sylvester had mad luggage skills.

Jackson always had a smile on his face!

Gulu Friends: Janet

We'll be introducing you to various friends we met in Gulu to give you a broad picture of the community we fell in love with.

Meet Janet. She's a 22-year-old beautiful nurse with a huge heart. She's so smart, and is using her medical training with the Village Health Team in Laliya. {She also taught us the hip way to wear our Acholi bead necklaces.}

Here's Janet with our 2 nurses, Katie W and Sarah:

Gulu Friends: Simon Peter

We'll be introducing you to various friends we met in Gulu to give you a broad picture of the community we fell in love with.

Meet Simon Peter. His dad, Daniel, pastors one of the churches in Gulu. Simon Peter is the head of the worship and the youth programs. He's 24 years old, and a role model to many.

Here's Regan with Simon Peter in his home (a typical Acholi hut)...

Gulu Friends: Sarah

We'll be introducing you to various friends we met in Gulu to give you a broad picture of the community we fell in love with.

Meet Sarah. She is 20 years old, and is studying to be a teacher. The Midtown team that traveled to Gulu in 2008 met Sarah and knew there would be a lasting friendship. We have managed to keep up with her for the last 2 years, and it was so wonderful to reconnect on this trip! She joined our team this year and ministered right alongside us the whole time.

Here are the girls with Sarah after eating lunch in her home, and then giving Sarah G a drumming lesson...

Gulu Friends: Blazer

We'll be introducing you to various friends we met in Gulu to give you a broad picture of the community we fell in love with.

First up: "Blazer".

We gave him his nickname and immediately attached to him as soon as we saw his fancy blazer + no pants outfit. He lives in Agwee, right next to the church Geoffrey pastors.

How can you not love him?

Just the 17 of us...

Here's the whole group at the top of Murchison Falls!

ALSO - Randy update: He met with the doctor this morning, and the conclusion is that they will not have to operate, and the bones should heal on their own over the next 4 months. Praise God! Thank you for your prayers!!!

we saw what we saw.

This video helps to capture some of what we are processing.

Just replace Rwanda with Uganda :)

"Initial Thoughts or Premature Feelings" - by Rusty

We are all wrestling through a crazy combination of thoughts and feelings as we try to process the last 2 weeks of our lives. Here's some initial thoughts from team member Rusty...

I am not one who blogs, but I felt as though it might help me process what is going on in my head and heart. So, let me first start off by apologizing for the verbal vomit that is about to occur.

I signed up for this trip for a couple of reasons. The first and foremost was wanting to go on an adventure with my wife as we celebrated our two years on the trip. I wanted to be there to support her as she stepped into this trip with some fears and doubts. I wanted to be her cheerleader and encourager. The second was that I was eager to get back to Uganda. I had been there before for about two months and learned a lot while living there. Finally, I wanted to travel again. I love to travel and see new places, meet new people, and see what the Lord is doing in others lives.

Having traveled quite a bit, I didn't expect the Lord to shake me up much through this trip. I kind of went in with the attitude of "been there, done that," or as our team coined the term "been there, pee'd that." But, I felt like I know what it was like to see poverty, I know what it feels like to be uncomfortable, I know what it is like to learn how to reconcile with people that you are traveling with 24/7! So why is my heart hurting so bad right now. I am not sure that I saw something that really stuck out that moved me. I am not sure if I am just romanticizing the re-entry process. I do know that I have come back with a ton of questions. What were you trying to show me? Did I miss something? Have I listened to you to get me to where I am today in my profession or have I tried to control it? What do I do now? Why am I always thinking that you have something bigger for me?

I talked with a guy who said to me "Welcome home and welcome back to reality." "Reality?" I couldn't even tell if I was offended or not. Does that insinuate that I was living in a make up world for the last two weeks? I could understand living at an "all inclusive " resort for two weeks and then coming back to "reality," but what about living in community with fellow believers, praying, singing, serving together is not "Reality." So I guess that brings up another question. Why isn't that reality? Am I ok with that? I began to read a book by NT Wright on my way home called, After You Believe, which raised the question of, now that I am a believer, what next? Do I just wait to die and go to heaven? I feel like I can identify with this thought. Now that I am home and have seen these things, do I just go back to "reality" and send money when I can?

Maybe that is drastic, but it is what came across my mind.

There is no obvious conclusion just yet, so till then.....

We've been home less than 48 hours and are already missing each other so much. First reunion = Bobby's Dairy Dip after church Sunday night.

a few photos.

we're currently compiling all of our pics together, but here a few photos to give you a glimpse into our last 2 weeks!

hanging at one of the schools

the guys doing what they do best - play soccer!

some of the girls w/ our new friend Esther

our favorite find in Gulu - Cafe Larem!

the guys at the top of Murchison Falls

on our (rainy) safari - with the hippos behind us!

home sweet home.

After about 48 hours of traveling, we all made it back to Nashville - and with all of our luggage, too!! It was hilarious as we entered the DC airport this morning and all started darting to Starbucks and Chipotle and Subway and Five Guys - craving some old favorites after too much Ethiopian Airline food (two words: fish beef. - yuck.)

We will spend the next few days processing our trip both individually and collectively, as well as uploading pictures, and will update you on some more specific stories soon.

Thank you again for following us on this journey - for praying for us and loving us from afar. Our whole team is in agreement that this is just the beginning, and we hope you will continue to join us as we await what unfolds for Midtown in Gulu, Uganda.

But first...let us recover from jet-lag. :)

lions, hippos, & RANDY....oh my!

Well, today has been long with a little unexpected turn of events, but thankfully we're all doing ok.

Let me back up...
So we spent our last full day in Gulu on Monday and loved every minute, including spending the morning visiting some homes (picture a bunch of white "munos" crammed into huts!) and a banquet-style final dinner with all of our Acholi friends. Then, after some tearful goodbyes, Tuesday morning we hit the (bumpy) road for Murchison Falls. Upon arrival, we immediately jumped on a boat safari down the Nile towards the waterfall. We were greeted with an abundance of hippos, crocodiles, and some monkeys. Once at the falls, we got out of the boat and hiked up to the top of the falls - it was an amazing, breathtaking view and we were all so excited to be getting some exercise! Then, we made our way to Sambiya River Lodge where we would be staying the night. Our little verandas looked like traditional huts from the outside, thatch roof and all, and our keys all had flashlights attached to them. And we all enjoyed a wonderful meal and long hot showers :)

Then today (Weds) we had our 5am wake-up call so we could head back into the park for our gamedrive (the animals are out mostly in the early morning). Each van had a park ranger jump in with us (AK-47 and all - just in case...) and we entered into the open grasslands. We encountered giraffes, antelope, elephants, buffalo, and, after some patience...LIONS! We watched a lioness protect her cubs from our van by growling at Regan.

We took turns riding on the top of the van, for a better view, and had a great time. But, despite his awesome balancing skills, Randy hit a bump really hard and took a fall from the top. (I mean... he actually got in a battle with a lion - that will make a better story, right?)
Thankfully, we have 2 nurses on our trip, and after their quick examination, we thought it best to be safe and take him to the hospital in Kampala. So one van of Randy, Maggie, the nurses (Katie & Sarah), Rusty, and Lou Alice went ahead towards Kampala, and the rest of us headed back to the lodge to pack up all of our stuff and then follow after them a couple hours later.

Long story short - an xray confirmed that Randy broke his collar bone. He's got his right arm in a sling, and our nurses are monitoring his pain meds :) He actually has a Midtowner doctor friend here that was a huge help... and who knew that xrays are so cheap in Uganda? Only $33!! Randy is keeping his spirits high, and is already trying to see how he can work this story into a sermon. Do pray for our next 2 days of travel, though, and the pain he'll be in on the already uncomfortable long flights!

Sometimes we just can't predict things like this, but this team has rallied together like no other. We're grateful it was on our last day, and that it's something that can be easily healed.

So we're staying in a cute guest house in Kampala tonight (run by the same company we rent our vans from), and will head to Entebbe to the airport tomorrow.
Next up: 2 days of traveling. We arrive back in Nashville Friday evening...

See you all soon!!!
midtown gulu team

A little taste of home...

Here's the team eating at our new favorite place in Gulu for dinner last night - Cafe Larem... aka - AMERICAN FOOD!! After many meals of rice, beans, and unidentified meat, we were more than excited to stuff our faces with pizza, guacamole, and ice cream... it was awesome. We will definitely be grabbing one more meal there before we leave!

In other news -- we split up into 4 different teams this morning and went to different churches... and we were in charge of most of the worship time (sermons, songs, stories). We also spent our afternoon loving on (and being loved on) with the kids from Home of Love orphanage. Sarah, Katie W, and Laura D also got to go visit the local hospital and scope out the medical scene.

We can't believe it's only one more full day here... we'll be soakin it up!!
LOVE FROM GULU :)

(pictures compliments of marisa's iphone..sorry they're blurry!!)

marisa, eric, laura v, katie g, sarah

randy & regan

emily, molly, katie w, lou alice, laura d

rebekah, warren, allison, maggie, rusty

Amari, Uganda!

Friday was a great day for all of us. After a relaxing morning playing with kids, the women spent some good time with our Ugandan friend Sarah - she took us through the market and then we ate lunch in her home. We then had to say goodbye to her, as she had to travel back to where she works & goes to university. The guys spent some good time together too, including planning for our Saturday conference with the church leaders and exploring some of the town. In the afternoon, we went and taught at a primary school run by Action International ministries, who African Leadership has worked with before. Our teachers (Molly, Lou Alice, Eric, & Katie G) led our groups through lessons, and then we all joined together in the school yard for a soccer game of the "munos" (white people) versus the students. Then the evening was some good quality time spent in the homes of our new friends from this week. We were served extravegant homecooked meals (including pizza they made us -so exciting!) and just enjoyed sharing life - laughing with (and at!) one another, learning about their culture and history, and listening to stories.
We also prepared some more for our conference today...

Today (Saturday) we helped lead a 3-part conference with church leaders from all of the communities we have been spending time with. After a delayed start ("Africa Time"!!) Randy taught on Grace, Repentence, and living with Mission. We split into small groups for discussion and also shared our worship with each other. We are becoming so attached to these dear friends...it will be hard to leave. We all continue to be amazed at the picture of unity and One Church we share with our Acholi friends here, and how we all fight to learn and live by the same truths, and share the same hopes and dreams.

Tonight should be interesting, as we have learned that "Africa's Top Diva" is taking place at a pavillion next to our hotel. Your guess at what that will look like is as good as ours :)
We're hoping the city noise ordinance goes into effect and we're not kept up all night by the "talent" we will hear! Though we are all taking bets as to what time it will end...

Thank you for all of your comments - we are passing along the messages. We have 2 more full days here in Gulu, then head to Murchison Falls Tuesday morning. So we will try to update once more!

I continue to rejoice in how our team is conquering fears and growing so much together. God is truly at work in this place, and in each one of our hearts.
As Regan would shout... AMARI UGANDA!! ("i love you, uganda")...
marisa & the team :)

Dance, Dance, Dance!

Greetings! Another day in the books, and only a few remain. It's hard to believe that our time in Gulu is coming to a close. We've already had so many blessings and look forward to what the Lord has in store in our last days.

Thursday (yesterday) consisted of a mini-tourist trip to Baker's Fort. Though the van ride there and back was a bit much (a very bumpy, slow 25 km each way), it was a time where we could soak in the surroundings, enjoy the beauty, and learn more about the history of this culture. One of the only remaining markings on the rocks other than the ones made by axes (where slaves had their heads cut off because they were regarded worthless) was a cross deeply embedded and highly visible right near the place where the slaves were killed. It was a great time to be out in nature but also a saddening realization of the depravity of man.

After Baker's Fort and a few Power Bars for lunch, we split into 2 groups at a local jail: one with only men and the other with juvenilles. Both times were very meaningful for different reasons. In the session with the adult male prisoners (about 75 men), our team member Allison overcame a fear that had been expressed earlier in the morning during devotion by speaking her testimony to the inmates. This just gives you a taste of what God is doing in and through our team here in Gulu. Regan was able to pray with three men who accepted Christ for the first time. Meanwhile, in the juvenille prison, the group was much smaller (9 boys, ranging from ages 12 - 17). After a brief time of sharing testimony and a story from the Bible, we were challenged to a game of futbol by the boys. Though we were defeated 4-2, we sensed the time was very meaningful in a couple of ways. First, the young boys didn't have much there... only a bed. No school materials, no chairs, etc. Just by being a physical presence and enjoying life with them, their faces lit up and maybe just for a moment their lives seemed better than their surroundings. Secondly, our team continued to grow in light of our team consisting of 7 ladies and 2 men, none of which would claim to be soccer players. There were a few Sports Center worthy highlights, including some incredible saves by Katie G, an assist by Emily to Eric who headed in a goal, and lots of shrieking as the ball came near to us. In other news, Rusty avoided disentary by putting our new found O.R.S. (a homemade fluid replinisher) knowledge into practice. He's back to normal today.

We ended our day fittingly in worship with Gabrielle's church. We danced (literally) before the Lord, surrounded by children doing the same. The sounds of worship could be heard althroughout the village and the time flew by. If you can imagine the craziest wedding reception you've ever been apart of, this exceeded it. Randy brought a great message and we shared some of our songs with them, since they'd been sharing their songs with us. Can't wait to share the pictures!

We'd continue to cherish your prayers for us as we battle fatigue and prepare for our conference tomorrow (Saturday) with the local church leaders.

Blessings,
Regan, Eric, & the midtown gulu team

kopango?

kopango = "how are you?" (you would say "kope" - "i'm fine!")

We are all well and loving life here in Gulu. We have had 2 very full days and no time to get to the internet (which honestly is kinda nice) but didn't want to keep you all waiting any longer :)

After 3 very long days of traveling (including a quick site of Ethiopia - more to come on that on a blog from Lou Alice!) -- we finally arrived into Gulu Monday night around 10:30 -- thanks to our 2 drivers, Jackson & Sylvester, who will be with us all week. Pastor Geoffrey and his fellow leaders and pastors were patiently waiting for our arrival to have us over for dinner. We ate a wonderful (quick) home-cooked meal by Geoffrey's wife, Jennifer, and then proceeded to our hotel - the Pearl Afrique. I was surprised how nice it is! We have had (mostly) hot running water, power, and delicious meals. (though the power did go out in town today - the internet cafe is running on a generator!)

Yesterday (Tuesday) we spent with the community of Layibi - led by Pastor Gabriel. We helped teach the nursery kids, saw their bakery business they are training the women in (and ate a ton of wonderful baked goods!!) and spent time with their fellowship groups. It was amazing to just do life with them for a whole day. We also went to Gulu Central Prison and joined the prison ministry. We were all blown away with how powerful that time was and the FREEDOM these prisoners had in the Lord. It was very moving for our whole team.
Last night was our first night of sharing our highs and lows, and we are really starting to come together as a team. It's so fun to see the different skills and strengths we all bring. Please keep praying for our unity and that we would all be confident in the gifts God has given us.

Today (Wednesday) was spent with Pastor Jefferson in the village of Laliya. We learned of their Village Heath Team (VHC) which was wonderful for our nurses (Katie W & Sarah) and Laura D (who is going to Physicians Asst school) and we also attended an adult literacy program. It's amazing how simple things like learning to read & write can change the course of their lives. We were served a traditional lunch of rice, beans, casava, vegetables, & beef -- all eaten with our hands!! I think it was the first no-utensil-meal for most of our team :) Our afternoon also included the guys playing "football" (soccer) with the village boys (and the new balls we donated) and the girls teaching the little girls songs (and them teaching us!). Another wonderful day spent with a life-giving community.

We are all talking about how incredible it is to worship and fellowship with Believers on the other side of the world who love the same God we do and rejoice and hope for the same things we do. It is such a beautiful picture of community and family, and how we really need each other to show us different parts of God. Everyone on the team has done a fabulous job of getting up and sharing testimonies and stories with our new friends.

We will have a more relaxed night tonight, and eat dinner with our Ugandan friends Sara and Peter who a few of us met here in 2008! (they say hello to the 08 team!!)

So far, besides a few rumbly tummies from grease & too many baked goods yesterday, we are all healthy - pray for our bodies to rest well and be strengthened to be fully present.

More to come soon... THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS - WE FEEL THEM!!

Love to you all...
marisa & the team :)

They have arrived! Text from Marisa with the great news that the team is alive and well in Gulu. They hope to get to the internet soon, so please stay tuned . . .

goodbye...for now!

"We may not be able to give much but we can always give the joy that springs from a heart that is in love with God." - Mother Teresa

Please be praying for the next 48 hours of traveling for us... our next update will be from AFRICA!

group shot at the airport early Saturday morning...

schedule...

though we will be entering into "African time" for 2 weeks, here is our "schedule" :)

Saturday, July 17

leave Nashville at 8:46am

arrive in DC at 11:29am

leave DC at 8:30pm

Sunday, July 18

arrive in Addis (Ethiopia) at 7:00pm

{overnight stay}

Monday, July 19

leave Addis at 11:30am

arrive in Entebbe (Uganda) at 1:30pm

{drive up to Gulu}

// Gulu //

Tuesday, July 27

{drive to Murchison Falls}

Thursday, July 29

{drive back to Entebbe}

leave Entebbe at 5:15pm

arrive in Addis at 7:15pm

leave Addis at 10:15pm

Friday, July 30

arrive in DC at 7:55am

leave DC at 4:55pm

arrive in Nashville at 5:44pm

apwoyo

apwoyo (pronounced aph-o-yo) means thank you in the traditional language of the Acholi people in Gulu. and it's all that feels appropriate tonight. i just returned from our "send off", and my heart is full of gratitude for the friends and family that filled up that room. there's no way we could have gotten to today without you all, and there's no way we will continue on without you.

so thank you.

thank you for giving.

thank you for praying.

thank you for journeying with us.

i'm so humbled and honored to be a part of this team and this community.

apwoyo, marisa

HERE WE GO!

our first (of many to come) group shot of all 17 of us.

we will be flying over the atlantic ocean in less than 48 hours....!

"Life is a journey toward a land we have not yet seen along a path we sometimes cannot find. It is a journey of the soul toward its destiny and its home." - Larry Crabb

How Can I Keep from Singing // Midtown Gulu Team's Playlist

In our team's hometown of Music City, USA, you don't have to look far to find some good tunes. In the hometown of the Acholi people, Gulu, music isn't just about entertainment; music is the rhythm by which these people live, the expression of their delight in the Lord, and a way to cross the language divide and communicate to our hearts.

In the past week, as our team has been preparing for our journey, we have compiled a Midtown Gulu Team Playlist. It's comprised of one song from each individual, if he or she desired. The music, as diverse as our team itself, was chosen because it meant something to each individual, from songs of levity to ones that reverberate with the excitement and hopeful anticipation with which we await our brothers and sisters halfway around the world. Enjoy getting to know our team a little bit more through song, the universal language!

With gratitude & love, Katie G

Midtown Gulu Team Playlist {July 2010}

Maggie – “Change” – Carrie Underwood
Allison – “Haven't met you yet” – Michael Buble
Molly – “I want to break free” – Queen
Katie G. – “Walk on” – U2 & “Won’t You Be My Love” – MercyMe
Marisa – “Awakening” – Chris Tomlin
Laura D. – “Won’t Turn Back” – Needtobreathe
Katie W. – “Leavin” – Jesse McCartney
Regan – “Changes” – 2pac
Rebekah – “A Message” – Coldplay
Lou Alice – “Put on Your Boots” – U2 & “Love that will not let me go” – Indelible Grace
Rusty – “Give me Your Eyes” – Brandon Heath
Warren – “Soul Meets Body” – Death Cab for Cutie
Eric – “In My Bones” – Andy Gullahorn
Laura V. – “Stole My Heart” – Little & Ashley
Randy – “Witness” – Ben Harper
Emily - "Typical" – Mutemath

the essentials.

we're all busy packing our personal belongings and all of our supplies (think: bibles/books, arts and crafts, stickers, a guitar, and 50 soccer balls!) ....because we leave in 3 days!!

besides the obvious things like your malaria pills and your passport, here's 3 essentials you do not want to forget when traveling to rural Africa...

toilet paper. when nature calls, you wanna be ready.

energy bars. because rice & beans for 8 meals straight can get a little...well...boring.

fresh wipes. so even if the water stops working (aka no showering) your teammates will still let you sit next to them in the van.

Uganda Update.

We know many of you have heard that there was a suicide bombing that occurred in Kampala, Uganda on Sunday during the World Cup Championship. This was a specific attack on the Ugandan people from the Al Qaeda. There were numerous killed and injured. Naturally, this has shaken some of the folks in our community. Our leaders have been meeting together, and communicating with our partners on the ground, to make an informed, wise decision regarding our trip. This was believed to be an isolated incident (and not aimed specifically at Americans) and we have agreed that the Spirit is not leading us away from continuing on with our trip as planned.

Though we will be quickly passing through Kampala from the airport (in Entebbe) on our way north to Gulu, we will not be spending any time there. And the good news is after things like this, security is always tightened (think about flying right after 9/11).

We of course will continue to stay alert and on top of information, and will take all necessary precautions to see what we can do to decrease the probability of anything going wrong (we have also registered with the State Department and the specific locations that we will be in.)

Rusty said it best, when he sent this email out this morning:
In any type of situation like this we can clearly see the enemy trying to instill fear among us. I am sure there are many other people, such as other missions trips, that have been shaken by this as well. The definition of "timidity" is: fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions - fearfulness in venturing into new and unknown places or activities. Timidity is not a Spirit of the Lord. We agree that we are trusting the Lord as he guides us through this. I am completely at peace with us going and hope that you all are as well. I would ask that you continue to pray for us but specifically for the spirit of Timidity to not navigate our decisions.

Please be praying for wisdom, peace, and protection for our team. The enemy will do all he can to deter us from going on a trip like this, and we need your prayers more than ever.

A reminder to all of you in Nashville, that we have our worship & prayer send-off this Thursday night -- please join us if you are in town and can make it.

exchange rate.

I gave Emily 3,630 Ugandan shillings this week to start her out with her own stash of cash for our trip. Naturally, she was shocked at my generosity. If you're lucky, we'll bring you back a few thousand shillings, too.

{don't get too excited -- the current exchange rate is 2,275 shillings for 1 US dollar!! i hope we have some math wizards on the trip...}

countdown: one month!

It's hard to believe we leave for Gulu one month from today!

Please save the date for July 15th (2 days before we leave) to come worship & pray with us. We want all of our friends, family, & supporters to be there!

"Unbelievable" - by Eric Vinson

Here is another story of God's Provision on this journey, told by trip-member Eric Vinson. There is still time to donate! You can do so online here. (Type the name of the team member in the 1st box, or just "midtown gulu general" if you want it to go towards the most needed member.) All contributions are tax-deductible.

We live in an unbelievable world. Seriously. We witness things, probably even on a daily basis, that leave us shaking our head in disbelief. Maybe it is a last second shot… a video on YouTube… a twist in the plot of your favorite TV series… the first listen to your favorite band’s new single…the latest natural disaster…What is mildly ironic, is that we use ‘unbelievable’ to describe either side of the coin. For example, a fan of the winning team will scream his disbelief in the purest of joys while the fan of the losing team will say the same thing, only while sinking his chin into his chest with a frown. This world and the people in it, whether for the good or the bad, are simply unbelievable.

When my wife Laura and I first heard about this trip to Uganda, we truly felt drawn to it. Our initial reaction was eager, not because we merely were excited about the experience but more that we truly sensed some sort of belonging to it. The doubt began to creep in immediately as our conversations about the trip turned toward the monetary. We financially were in the worst shape of our lives. There simply wasn’t enough money coming in to match what needed to be paid out. We had scaled back everything that we could and still found ourselves living on a couple of part-time jobs and a whole lot of love. If we came up even $200 short in our fundraising, we would not have the resources to make up the difference. But in the end, we completely trusted that He who calls is faithful.

Fast forward 2 months. We had forked out the initial $400 for our deposit only because we sold a couch that we loved but didn’t really need. Other than that, we had raised very minimal support. It wasn’t even to the point where the trip was seeming realistic. We constantly brainstormed and thought of ways we could raise money. Being worship leaders, we considered finding opportunities to lead somewhere that we had been before, only this time sharing about our trip and coming solely on the premise that the congregation would take a love offering. We had a lot of interest, but in the end, all but two events fell through due to scheduling and finances. These two events were spaced about a month apart. The first event was a great experience where we raised $900 towards our trip. Looking back, it was after this event that the support started coming in… small amounts here, bigger amounts there. Our goal was becoming more tangible but our time to raise money was thinning.

The week leading into our final worship event was hellacious. We had a car break down, recent flooding in our home, endless hours of work… Life got so overwhelming that we came to Kentucky exhausted, beat up, and doubting. We hadn’t had the time to prepare as much as we’d like for the upcoming service and weren’t sure we could even pull it off. Our time with the congregation was met with the Lord’s presence and coupled with a spirit of peace for our own hearts. It wasn’t until mid-sermon that the pastor even noted how fitting it was for them to have us in on that particular Sunday, which was Pentecost. We were striving to be a living example of the passage in Acts…Go to the ‘ends of the Earth,’ proclaim the Good News, and share life with those who believe and those filled with unbelief. As we waited after service for our love offering, we really felt it would be in the $400 range. Such an amount would be extremely helpful, but would also send us back to the drawing board.

Sometimes I believe we don’t give God the chance to ‘wow’ us. We take blessing for granted, we expect He who created the world to always do great things, and we live our lives as if God owes us something. We believe that we can always do it better within our own power, calculate the right scenarios by our own thoughts, and maybe even play God better than God Himself…I realized during that moment of waiting for the total of the love offering that I hadn’t really given God a chance to be God in this situation. I wasn’t allowing the God who has and will always do things unbelievably well to work in an unbelievable way within my own life. I had tried so hard to figure everything out that I had limited my perception of God’s provision and blessing. It was at this point we were told that $1500 had been raised in support of our trip to Uganda. Unbelievable. I couldn’t say a word. I was literally immobilized by not only the generosity of the people of God but also the realization that we, all of us, are so dearly and unconditionally loved by our Father in Heaven.

There is some work left to be done. We need to raise around $1200 more to fully fund our trip. But with a new perspective that has solely come from the Lord, our expectation has turned hopeful. Even more than before, we believe that our journey to Uganda can't begin fast enough!

"Thinking in the Box" - by Lou Alice

I asked Lou Alice to share about her support process. It is a story of God's Great Provision. Our team is about 1/2-way there on fundraising, and we leave in just a little over 2 months. If you'd like to donate, you can do so online here. (Type the name of the team member in the 1st box, or just "midtown gulu general" if you want it to go towards the most needed member.) All contributions are tax-deductible!

Thinking Inside the Box.
I think inside a box all the time. In my box, where I live, there is a living room of faithlessness, a kitchen of scarcity, a bedroom of restlessness, and a closet of worry. I am quite comfortable and rarely leave. But the Lord has come a-knockin. And He is willing to crawl in and be with me.

He says, "For I know the plans I have for you . . . plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

And a lot of times I just say, "No thank you, I'll just stay here in my box."

He says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:20 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

I tell Him that I cannot imagine it and therefore don't believe He will. I do not believe that He loves me that much.

He tells me, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

It takes His audible voice and His tangible hands to get me to come out of my box.

For twenty years, I have longed and read and hoped to see Africa. But in order to go, a few things would be required of me. The most daunting of these, is not the hours of travel, the battery of shots, the heat, the culture clash, it's the greenbacks. Raising funds is up there on my list with surviving a natural disaster or suffering an amputation. I simply cannot fathom raising the thousands of dollars to go. Money and I do not mix. We are enemies. And the price seemed more than I could bare.

With much encouragement but tremendous fear, I sent out 100 letters to raise support (at least I would know that I wasn't supposed to go if I did not raise the funds. Eeyore!). The first week, I received a note of encouragement from old friends and my first check for $50. Within two weeks, old friends and new acquaintances had sent in $1,095. I was overwhelmed by this outpouring of love and support but still needed $2,105 for the basic expenses of the trip. Ohh fear.
But then this happened: there is a man who is in Bible study with my husband who was challenged by his church to take some starter money and use it to minister to others. Unbeknownst to my husband or me, this dear man took his allotment, added to it and then challenged the other 8 men in the bible study to contribute. On Maundy Thursday, I received a letter from African Leadership that informed me that these brothers in Christ had pledged $2,105 which when added to the other donations totalled up to $3,200-- the exact amount needed for the trip.
Imagine that. On Easter weekend, I watched a parable unfold: Jesus paid the price for my sins. My sisters and brothers in Christ have paid a price for me. They have been willing to do something for me that I could not do for myself. The debt was big. God is bigger.
"And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet that bring good news!" Romans 10:15

And His plans are for good. And He will send me. I, who live in a box and resist His lavish love and do not have the faith of a mustard seed. All that and Africa too. Hallelujah, I am His and He is mine.

**A note since. Dear friends have since sent in donations that will make it possible for me to not only go on the trip and do the work at hand but also to be able to purchase supplies for the community once we get to Gulu. God is good.

Meet the Team: Rusty

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Rusty Goodsell

Age: 31

Occupation: Sales

Favorite place you've traveled to? Ethiopia

Hidden Talent? Making people laugh in stressful situations

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Guilty pleasure? Chocolate chip cookies

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? Excited to see and experience what the Lord has to show each of us but mainly the adventure with my wife.

Meet the Team: Sarah

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Sarah Goodsell

Age: 27

Occupation: Nurse

Favorite place you've traveled to? Mexico on our honeymooon

Hidden Talent? Probably being able to imitate other's laughs, I like to try out new ones every once in awhile.

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Jesus...I have lots of questions!

Guilty pleasure? Chocolate, chocolate, and chocolate!!

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? After being confirmed about the toilet situation (thanks Marisa), I'm really excited to experience God in this way. A way of utter dependence and overwhelming joy!

Meet the Team: Lou Alice

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Lou Alice Rogers

Age: newly 40

Occupation: Librarian (and mom of 6!)

Favorite place you've traveled to? southern France and Italy

Hidden Talent? baking & putting colors together

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Julia Child

Guilty pleasure? Trying on beautiful shoes and enjoying a chocolate treat in the laundry room with the door locked--definitely a guilty pleasure!

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? My greatest pleasure in traveling stateside or overseas is when I get to spend time with families in their homes and see how they live day to day. I am really excited about getting to visit with the members of our sister church in Gulu. In their homes, we will share meals together and speak encouragement to one another as well as determine the needs of the community and how Midtown Fellowship may help. I am intrigued by how other people/cultures do life. As an American, I think our lives are so separated from the mundane but exhausting tasks of daily survival--what to eat and where to sleep. We so easily forget who ultimately provides those things and we spend our time perseverating over minor inconveniences and superfluous wants. It will be a stretch to put down my cultural baggage and let the Lord teach me a bigger perspective than my little WonderBread life.
But truly my longing is to visit the Home of Love. I am most excited to love on the these children orphaned by AIDS and war and poverty but not abandoned by the Lord. That will not be a stretch. It is something that I have longed and hoped to do for many years. I cannot wait.

Meet the Team: Warren

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Warren Whitten

Age: 27

Occupation: Recording Engineer

Favorite place you've traveled to? Australia

Hidden Talent? wicked collating skills

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? James Taylor

Guilty pleasure? watching LOST!

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? I'm excited about seeing the world from a different perspective and seeing God from a different perspective. I want to have a bigger view of the world than just what I've been taught in America.

Meet the Team: Katie W

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Katie Wertz

Age: 25

Occupation: Pediatric Nurse

Favorite place you've traveled to? Kenya

Hidden Talent? I'm kinda known in some circles as being a "solo duetist"...meaning I can sing duets by myself! I was presented with this challenge for a friend's wedding one year, and somehow brought the crowd to tears...and thus...my hidden talent was birthed!

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? I think it would be my grandpa, Papa Doc...he passed away 8 years ago...but he ALWAYS had the best stories to tell!! I would love to hear a few more stories from him!

Guilty pleasure? Coffee in one hand...a bowl of ice cream in the other...a Karen Kingsbury novel...and laying outside on a blanket on a SUNNY DAY!

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? I'm excited to meet the people in Gulu and begin building relationships with the church there! I want to hear about how they see God and learn about their ideas of worship! I am looking forward to serving alongside my Midtown team members in whatever areas we are needed and allowing God to teach me more about who he is!

Meet the Team: Randy

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Randy Draughon

Age: 48

Occupation: Pastor at Midtown Fellowship

Favorite place you've traveled to? Lake Louise, Canada

Hidden Talent? I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Mick Jagger (just think of the stories)

Guilty pleasure? Fat Moe's Shakes

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? Seeing old friends & making new ones

Meet the Team: Emily

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Emily Hickey

Age: 22

Occupation: Communications & Store Manager for Mocha Club

Favorite place you've traveled to? Easy! Cape Town, South Africa!

Hidden Talent? to sound cool: I have a super eclectic knowledge of random things // not cool: nintendo.

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Thomas Jefferson. Hands down.

Guilty pleasure? Anything on Bravo. Oh my gosh, I hate admitting that.

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? New Midtown friends & new African friends. And I love how big God feels in Africa. There is nothing better than that!

Meet the Team: Katie G

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Katie Gallerani

Age 26

Occupation: grad student @ Vandy

Favorite place you've traveled to? Scotland, Florence, & Africa!

Hidden Talent? I can fall asleep anywhere!

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Bono

Guilty pleasure? caramel frappachinos & dancing around my living room

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? Experiencing the radiant joy and expression of affection that the children & women just pour out despite all the pain and hardship they have experienced. When I'm there, I want to be swept up in living in the present - not the past, not the future.

Meet the Team: Marisa

"Meet the Team" allows you to get to know each trip member a little bit - every member will have their own post, so check back to learn more about the whole 2010 team!

Name: Marisa Van Houten

Age: 28

Occupation: Events Coordinator for Mocha Club

Favorite place you've traveled to? US: Seattle, Washington // outside US: Cape Town, South Africa

Hidden Talent? color-coordinating my closet & alphabetizing my DVDs

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? rachael ray

Guilty pleasure? watching american idol & so you think you can dance, shopping at urban outfitters, & eating way too many oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

What are you most anticipating/excited about traveling to Gulu? Watching how our team comes together and how everyone is pushed outside of their comfort zone :) And seeing my friends in Gulu again that I met in 2008!!