#discipleshiptraining

[monk1019]

If anyone wishes to be first, they shall be the last of all and the servant of all. Mark 9:35 #wordstoliveby #discipleshiptraining #adksunrise (at Blue Mountain Lake, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT_6qQKrvhM/?utm_medium=tumblr

[monk1019]

Where ever you find excellence, you find continual learning. They go hand-in-hand. Matthew Kelly #wordstoliveby #discipleshiptraining #internforlife #liveandlearn #einhornwalk #westtoeastview (at Syracuse University) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLwL26xBs3_/?igshid=k6g09mh06mqy

[monk1019]

If we wish to make any progress in the service of God, we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. St Charles Borromeo #wordstoliveby #wordsofwisdom #discipleshiptraining (at Northside, Syracuse) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHKruINBsuf/?igshid=1vrv11k867057

[misslivinglife]

A productive Saturday morning with @encampusbangkok @simplydivine27 @spar_tarn @miel_nicolas_poblete @nicolenicsnikki @joenasandiego @paopaoooo_ @rein_centeno @tonky1788 #discipleship #discipleshiptraining #leadership #everynation #encss #encb #everynationchurchsamutsakhon (at Every Nation Church Bangkok)

[discipleshipbiz-blog]

We are a Living Sacrifice

[jasmineswatotoadventure-blog]

At Wamikisa last week with Bosco :) 

[jasmineswatotoadventure-blog]

Saturday we had an Easter lunch with Pastor Calvin & Shirley (:

[jasmineswatotoadventure-blog]

Week 3 & 4 of 360!

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book it were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:16.

I know I had said Monday’s would be my day for writing my blogs, but last week I really needed to spend time to myself reflecting a little more and having some much needed family skyping time. The past two weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster in terms of emotions, so any time I’ve had spare I’ve taken to catch up on much needed ‘me’ time.

Although I’ve been here for 5 weeks now, I feel as though last week at certain points was a bit of a struggle for me and I had a bit of culture shock. The whole “I’m really living in Uganda” became real and there was a lot of missing friends, family, simple cultural things. There were times I wondered why I was here, but once I got past that small obstacle, I really found myself finally feeling more at home. The longer I’m here, the more I feel comfortable with the Ugandans and the harder it is to imagine that I’ve only been here just over a month and that time seems to be passing by so quickly. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to leave Uganda and all the amazing people I’m getting to know each and every week.

Since I last posted a blog, a few new and exciting things have been happening. We’ve started ministry now and moved into our permanent home in Suubi, which is a little over an hour from Kampala (the Capital city of Uganda). We’re living in one of Watoto’s children’s village, but we have our own house closer to the entrance of the village. The house is absolutely beautiful, sitting at the top of a hill overlooking greenhouses amongst other things. There are 6 of us internationals including me and I’m sharing a room with the only other Australian, she’s from Adelaide. We also have a ‘house mum’, or ‘host’ which is a beautiful lady is named Prossy, she has been so amazing and I feel so blessed to have her living with us.

The internship in the babies home I mentioned in my last blog unfortunately didn’t go to plan, but I’ve tried to keep an open mind and am now working in the ‘Human Resources’ department at Downtown Watoto instead. While it isn’t babies, I’m sure it’s something that will really challenge and stretch me while I’m here and I’m trusting God has a reason for placing me there.

Our first outreach day was Saturday the 30th of January and we went to visit the women that are a part of Watoto’s ‘Living Hope’ program. We have 2 teams that we do our outreach with, they’re called ‘Cell groups’ which are like small groups and we have ‘District groups’, which are the groups we work with on Sunday’s at Watoto’s different celebration points. For the living hope program we are in our district groups and each group is assigned one client for the 6 months. My team’s client wasn’t home, but we were still able to go visit another woman with a different district group. This was the first time I’d ever seen a slum for myself and it’s definitely nothing like anything you’d get to experience in Australia. While it’s true that people here can be happy with so much less than what we have back home, there is still so much pain in these places. People try to have a positive outlook, kids are happy playing with tires and playing tag, but they’re still missing out on the basic things we take for granted, like a roof that doesn’t leak, food, clean water, clothes without holes and an education system where teachers actually turn up to class. The hardest part about seeing the slum, was knowing that there really wasn’t a lot I could do to improve life for these people. I left ministry that day with mixed emotions, my heart was breaking seeing people having no choice to live with nothing, guilty because I have more than what I need and I often don’t appreciate it but also thankful to God for the life I really am SO blessed to have.

On Thursday just passed, I also went on another outreach with my Cell Group to an organization called ‘Retrak’, which is an organization that take care of street kids in Uganda. My team was allocated a campus that was just for boys between the ages of 8-18, but most were no older than 8-10. This outreach was a bit of a challenge for me because only 1 or 2 of the kids could speak English, but it was still so amazing to see the work organizations like this are doing. Retrak aim to eventually take these children back to their families when the time is right.

On Sunday’s I’ve continued in the Children’s ministry, although instead of being with the children all of the time I spent more time on the computer check-in table where people sign their children in and out. Sunday just passed I had the opportunity to teach in the middle age group, kids around 10 years old… while it was fun, it definitely wasn’t my forte.

Despite these past couple of weeks being all over the place in terms of my emotions and there being times I really wish I could be with my family when important things are happening back home, God has really given me a peace and a comfort in knowing that I’m here for a reason. I’m exactly where he wants me at this stage in my life and I find peace in knowing that. Today I’ve also spent time reflecting on my past and looking back 3 years ago, I am so glad that I pushed through the struggles and am still here today. God is faithful. God is gracious and it is by his Grace alone that I am still here today and am the person that I am. I really don’t know how I’m going to leave Uganda, but I know this country and these people will always have a special place in my heart that I’ll thank God for the rest of my life.

I hope you’re all doing well, I’m really missing everyone from Sydenham Baptist, but I’m feeling so excited to come home and share all of the things I’m learning while I’m here. Again, I’m sorry I haven’t posted sooner, I know some of you have been waiting! I’m still going to try for once a week, but if it doesn’t happen I’ll try my best for fortnightly.

I shall write again soon!

Jasmine xx