Leaving for Africa!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 3:08am

Well hello all!It's currently 2am (Wednesday morning) and at 10am this morning I am flying to Uganda! For those of you asking for my itinerary I thought I would post it here.. 3 weeks ago, I arrived home from my year of studying the Bible in America, but tomorrow I am leaving for Africa! I will be away for 10 weeks, arriving home in December. This is my itinerary (as vague as it is at present...)Wed 17th-24th Sept - Staying with a Ugandan family in Kampala with my sweet friend Kristen!!Wed 24th -Sun 28th - Watoto Conference in Kampala, Uganda - This is the whole reason for coming! There will be approximately 500 pastors/church leaders from around Uganda and around the world in attendance for the purpose of seeing the Watoto model in action and understanding how to possibly replicate the model to meet the needs of the millions of other less fortunate orphans in Africa. The conference will also look at the new project in Gulu which will rehabilitate the thousands of resuced child soldiers and child mothers. What an exciting opportunity to partner with God in His work in Uganda.. I'm simply praying that my heart would be open and obedient to whatever He places in my hands. May I be willing, obedient and quick to respond to His call. Along with Kristen and I, my Dad & Lester Kelly will also be meeting us there for the conference. Brian & Bobbie Houston (Pastors of Hillsong Australia) along with Darlene Zschech (Worship leader from Hillsong) wlll be amongst the guest speakers, alongside Gary & Marilyn Skinner (Founders of Watoto & KPC). See www.watoto.com if you're not familiar with Watoto!Mon 29th-Thurs 2nd Oct - Hoping to travel the 10hours north to the town of Gulu, northern Uganda to see Project Gulu as it begins to take shape.

In June of last year, 8 of us from Grace Lutheran College were the first team taken by Watoto up to Gulu to visit the possible sites for building the village and meeting for church. Things have changed a little but the plans are underway and it is exciting to see how God will use Watoto to rescue these precious children and rehabilitiate them, with the transformation that only Christ can enable. Again, what a joy it is to see God at work, raising up leaders and instilling hope for those who were once in captivity and without hope! Again, check out www.watoto.com for more info!Fri 3rd Oct - 15th November (Approx 6 weeks) At this stage I have no idea what I'll be doing for those 6 weeks! I know that I am meant to be in Africa, but where I am not sure. I would love to get to Sudan/Congo or Rwanda, but again, I am not sure. I am trusting that at the right time God will open the right doors and show me the way, even if it just step by step.. I have come to the point of loving the unknown for I really believe that it is then that we trust Him with the future and allow Him to direct the steps rather than us trying to 'work it out'! And if it comes down to God directing my life or me, then I would much rather He be in control! He is our amazing infinite creator and Saviour who not only created the universe and is in complete control of the planet in which we live, He is also so intimate in knowing us better than we know ourselves and having a plan for our lives that is far beyond anything we could ever plan or choose! In my life right now, I am in a 'sweet spot' where I am just njoying what it means to walk this life with Him and what it means to trust Him! It doesn't get any better than doing life with His Spirit dwelling within! What a privilege we have!

.. So pray with me as you think of it, that I would hear His voice and follow His leading and be exactly where He wants me to be.15th November (approx) - Beginning of December: Visiting Jono & Amy Vink (& their sweet kids!) in Musoma, Tanzania. I can't wait to see them and spend these few weeks with them! This will be the 3rd visit in 3 years and I feel incredibly blessed! They are precious friends and it is both an encouragement and a challenge to watch their life and walk of obedience as they 'spend their lives' training up local pastors and ministering to the local people with the truth of Christ. They consider it a privilege to give their lives for the sake of the gospel! Truly a reflection of the Apostle Paul.. There was no greater mandate, no greater mission than telling others about Jesus Christ!

May we too respond and be able to say 'To live is Christ, to die is gain..(Phil1:21) "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christand be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3)I will arrive home in December and am looking forward to staying home for a while! As much as I enjoy travelling, I also LOVE being with friends and family at home

... As for next year, I am unsure! I am hoping to be in Redcliffe for 2009 and at this stage I am looking to teach supply while I anticipate where God is leading me in the future. Thanks to all those who pray! What a joy to know that God listens and He responds as He sees fit!I wont be as regular on facebook in the coming 10 weeks..
Will be back on deck in December!
Blessings! Bec

'To Live is Christ...'