Summer Plans

So I sorta eluded to this in an earlier post, this summer I'm traveling with a team from my church to Kampala, Uganda in Africa on a short term mission trip. The team is comprised of mostly medical professionals and we'll be volunteering during the Kampala Baptist Church's annual week-long medical clinic. The more I think about this opportunity, the more excited I'm getting. Since nursing school, I've always wanted to do a medical mission trip, to use my profession and do an outreach for the Kingdom of God. He gave me this desire to do nursing and I truly love what I do. And in a response of gratitude  I have an even greater desire to use my skills to be his hands and feet.

We've had our first team meeting the end of April and it was the first chance I got to see the faces of my team members and learn a little bit more about our objectives and what we'll be doing the 2 weeks in Uganda. Initially when we get there they hope to have the first day just to "orientate" us to the country, the culture, and the jet lag (Uganda is 7 hours ahead of us!). Then Sunday we'll attend the morning church service at KBC before spending the rest of the day setting up the facility to receive the locals that will be coming in for medical attention throughout the week. Last year, they said that this free medical clinic saw and treated just under 3,000 locals in 5 days. That's a lot!! So far, there are 3 nurses on the team, myself included. If any of ya'll are nurses and wanna come, let me know! :)

After we've completed the medical camp during the first week, we'll travel to the west side of the country to the city of Kasese for the second week. As our pastor put it, the people of Uganda have this sense that American Christians are like, on this side of heaven, not necessarily a "holier-than-thou" complex but that we are like, very close to being "perfect Christians" which is absolutely not the case. It's very encouraging to the Ugandans to hear us give our testimonies and talk about our walks and struggles and for them to realize that we are no greater or smarter or stronger with our faith than they are. We'll spend a couple of days visiting sister churches and then work a one day clinical camp at a local bible college.

The purpose of our mission trip is to serve, so we serve first. Then, our last 3 days we'll have a little fun. The plan is spend one day in Queen Elizabeth Game Park which is what I believe to be similar to like a Yellowstone National Park here. Except with elephants and hippos and zebras. The next day we'll travel back to Kampala (about a 7 hour very scenic drive), and then the last day (hopefully!) we'll get to go rafting on the Nile before getting cleaned up for our overnight flight back to the states.

My initial hesitation with applying for this trip was not the huge bugs my mom loves to warn me about or the heat or the location of where we're going. Not even the total cost of the trip. It was the fund-raising. I hate soliciting for money. Even as a kid, I hated the door-to-door business. I would have made a horrible girl scout. But during our meeting and after looking through some of the material, they encouraged us to be up front about this particular need. So, here it goes: the total cost of the trip is $2,800. In addition there is the cost of obtaining a passport ($190) and a trip to the travel clinic (approximately $200) to get all the necessary shots and prophylactic antibiotics. As advised, I've mailed out announcements of my trip including our objectives, prayer requests, and details of how, if felt led, to contribute towards the total cost of the trip. I've decided that the extra hours I work at A&W this summer, the tips I earn since I refuse to take a paycheck from dad, will go directly to my "Uganda Fund." My mom is also putting her window tips into my fund as well. Since the first meeting, I have made about $300. Our first payment, $700 (25%), is due May 31st.

More importantly than the money is the prayer necessary in these months preparing for the trip and the two weeks while we are there. As the trip draws closer, specific prayers will surface but for now, prayers are needed for the individuals in Uganda that we will be serving, team unity as we get to know each other, that all the necessary preparations will fall into place (passports, vaccines, professional endorsements, etc), and for me as I personally prepare for this experience.

So occasional posts this summer will be dedicated to updating progress towards the trip. If you would like to have updates/newsletters/prayer requests mailed to you, please let me know and I will be happy to forward you one of the forms below. I would love to keep you in the loop and feel a big support group cover this mission trip in prayer! I cannot wait for this summer and to watch God's hand work through this.

A Very Lemon-y Birthday

For the first time in at least 5 years, I had my birthday off from work. It was amazing. I never was the type of girl that HAD to have the day off simply because it was my birthday. Life goes on, the entire world does not cease to rotate and there are approximately 19 million other people with the same birthday as me. ...yes, I did just google that fact. I started my birthday pretty early in comparison to my usual day. But this morning I was a woman on a mission: lemon crepes! Yes, they were a pinspiration and they turned out fabulously! Mom was even impressed as she disclosed her doubtfulness when I initially showed her the recipe the night before. As she says, "crepes are hard, especially with my crappy cookware." I had so many perfectly cooked crepes that I even had to call in reinforcements to help us eat: Jenny was happy to oblige and equally impressed as she arrived in time to watch me sprinkle powdered sugar over her plate using a loose leaf tea infuser. Culinary artist I am!

Here is the yummy crepe recipe: http://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2013/03/easy-lemon-crepes-with-blueberry-sauce.html#more

Dropping mom off at work, I asked her if she wanted me to do anything around the house since my day was pretty much open until late afternoon. She said, "It's your birthday, lay out in the sun." Not being much of a sun worshiper, I actually considered that option. After a long walk with Tybee and a trip to the gym, did just that, laid out. It was fabulous. Might do it again...

Since mom was working, I offered to cook dinner. Being the "pin addict" that I am, naturally dinner was another pinspiration chicken creation. Hummus crusted chicken with yellow squash, zuchinni, and lemons with angel hair pasta tossed with garlic, olive oil, and breadcrumbs. It was so good! Even dad ate it.

And here is the hummus crusted chicken recipe: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/hummus-crusted-chicken/


Since I've been absent for the past two years, I think mom was more than eager to make me a birthday cake. This year it was lemon cake. If you haven't noticed yet, it was a very lemon-y day! Mom even had little yellow ducks to decorate the cake with. She's had them stashed for 3 years...
The cake was so good it had the non-cake-eaters getting a second helping.

Rick seems really excited to dig into that cake!

 Tybee is always looking for someone willing to share

Larr-dogg enjoying the non-traditional flavor!

Lots of Starbucks gift cards were received (just what I wanted!) and even Tybee was in on the gift-giving action as he presented his momma with a signed card and licked envelope. He gave me a big 'o bag of gummy bears (that he promptly started to share with me) and a little ice cube tray since he loves to eat ice cubes.

I'm reading Tybee's card

Showing off his handywork

 So my 20's are officially half over with and of course I have much to be thankful for. A big one being that I'm back home with my family, and as the influx of cards have stated, everyone is happy I'm back home too. Looking forward to all that's in store in my years to come!

Obligatory photo drop, as mom says, "you post all of the embarrassing ones you take of your father and me on facebook, you have to put that one up of you!" So, enjoy...