New Blog Address

Even though I'm not in Africa any longer. I really do still update my Blog. I've just moved over to Wordpress.com. Still included a lot of thoughts on Africa, but also now incorporate ideas from my Masters in Business Management Program. Sorry to everyone who has been thinking I just stopped writing! I have been posting new articles at www.sarahlynnenashif.wordpress.com. Please come check it out!

Nothing but a Nub

Before, I came to the Mission Field, and actually long before I knew that I would soon find myself in Africa, I wrote a Blog on Myspace called Is Your Faith Big Enough to Remain Nameless? It talked about that the call to Christ is the call to sacrifice. That walking in God’s purposes more often than not will not bring glory, nor is there any glamour in it. It was a piece of writing that I still pull out to remind me of my calling, align my perspective, and motivate my vision. Nevertheless, personal experience on the mission field has redefined my definition of what real sacrifice looks like and feels like.

I really only have a few stories from the mission field that are truly life-threatening or crisis-occurring experiences. The fact is that I’ve discovered that the hardest trial is that one which takes a little something from you day by day by day. The string of circumstances that individually hardly bare significance, but combined can equal big sacrifice. The lesser trial is the one time big sacrifice. Because, the fact is that after one big loss, the rest of your energy can be then focused fully on recovery. Or after the one big sacrifice, maybe you can get the human praise and encouragement after, that serves as a reward.

What is truly hard about the mission field is that the daily wearing down of your will and emotions. The mission field is like sand paper on your life. Culture and Circumstances that slowly whittle away at your patience, whittle away at your grace, whittle away at your energy, and may even whittle away at your joy, if you let it. The fact is that after six months in Africa, I can not point to one thing that was too hard to overcome or one thing that would force me to walk away. It’s never ONE thing. Instead it’s the daily occurrences that rub on you day in and day out, until ultimately you are “rubbed” down to nothing more than a nub. So here I am, nothing but a Nub. But, I think God can use a Nub.

Always Practical

What is your favorite color? Everyone has a response to that question. I’m sure your response is rarely significant. However, I remember back in Junior High and even high school my response was always “Green” - which was a complete and total lie. The fact was I loved everything red! But, I wouldn’t say that because I always felt that red wasn’t a practical color. Furthermore, I sure wouldn’t think to buy something red – as much as a favored it. Black and White seemed much more practical for sheets, furniture, dishes, etc.

And even now, I see myself doing the same thing, but on a much larger scale of course. For example, I thought as much as I would really love to live downtown and have a truly urban lifestyle, I would never choose that because why pay twice as much money for half as much space, purely for appearance sake. And it didn’t matter how much I really wanted that experience in my life, I would ultimately never do it. But, as of this last month I finally thought, why not? Why automatically remove the impractical choice, without even a second thought?

I feel like I should psycho-analyze why I feel like I must always give a practical answer or make the practical choice. Fact is, I don’t know why and instead of spending time figuring out why, this year I am going to endeavor to choose what I want, even if it’s not the most practical choice. This doesn’t mean I won’t continue to make responsible decisions, but I think that a string of practical decisions may result in a successful life, but may not result in a happy one. Hopefully, I’ll have the boldness to test the theory.

Beggars in Christ?

Dreams quenched, hope quenched, joy quenched, building of each other ceases. Just imagine, spreading your tarp, on a street corner, living day by day. The only phrases uttered, “hungry”, “money”, “help:” While this is the image in Africa, this image is also you and I without the generous gift, our Father, through His son gave us. Imagine if we had to beg, like really beg, not only for our daily bread, but if we had to beg and plea for an ounce of mercy from our Lord King; begging daily for the crumbs of His table. Imagine if His mercy wasn’t new every morning. Imagine if upon begging enough, our only hope was to maybe return to the Father’s house to live just as a servant as in shown in the prodigal son’s story. What if we woke up groaning in our rags, begging for just a taste of His presence? What if the scripture said “beg, beg harder –give me your most pathetic look and the door might be opened; weep and wail for my attention, and then it might be given.”

But, amazingly, that’s not what the scripture says. Instead, God seeks to dress us in the most fabulous of evening wear, the wedding gown. That is how our Heavenly Father pictures us – as His bride, worthy of love and worthy of a great inheritance. He knows us well – well enough to know we’d be the wimpiest army, the least victorious, the most downcast troop to display His Glory and Triumph for the cross without His equipping of us with His steadfast love, His enduring faithfulness. He pleas with us to cast our cares upon Him and promises that nothing can separate us from our Father’s love. Without His open arms – we would not have seat at the banquet table. But, he does offer and we do sit as heirs to the throne. So no begging in the Kingdom!! He generously equips us to follow Him, delight in Him, learn of Him, rejoice with Him, cry with Him, rest in Him, mourn with Him, laugh with Him, and be victorious through Him!! Thankfully, in Christ there are no Beggars. We are all welcome to take a place at His table. Amen.

- Thanks Liz for such inspiring thoughts!

Life Lesson from Africa #2

I CHOOSE TO LAY MY LIFE DOWN

Choosing to change the world is neither glamorous nor easy. We decided to take on the Santa Claus occupation; we brought Christmas to the orphans. We came laden with boxes of toys – dolls, airplanes, cars, jump ropes, shirts, both kitchen and doctor play sets. We came prepared with the entire Christmas experience to the kids, including hot chocolate, popcorn and Christmas movies. We also came armed with my DVD Player and Projector, as well as a video screen and gasoline for the generator. Then hooked it into their ancient sound system and the kids all gathered with their hot chocolate to watch Polar Express and The Nativity. Many fell asleep in their chairs and on the cement floors, but, a faithful few (around 50) lasted all the way to the end of the night at 1am.

But, to be truly honest, this is a story of which the telling of is much more fun than the living of. Out on a beautiful lake on a gorgeous sunny day, reaching almost 95 degrees, SEEMS like a lavish holiday to those digging there cars out of piles of snow and ice all around the States. However, we had to sweep out and kill no less than 30 spiders from our little hut/room. Those were only the ones we could see with our flashlight, near the floor, we didn’t even want to disturb the one’s above our heads. Before climbing into bed, I brushed off a pile of poo dropping that were resting there. Then I brought my bags and shoes into my bed with me, tucked in my mosquito net tightly into my mattress, and slept fully clothed, praying that I wouldn’t be attacked by something in the middle of the night and that morning would come soon. When I woke up early the next morning, and cocked my head as I focused in on the “poo droppings” resting on top my mosquito net. Turns out that, that scratching I heard all night above me was the BAT that lives in that particular hut. I was happy to not go to bed with that knowledge; then my dreams all night which were full of creepy-crawling things, would have included creepy-flying things as well. And like I said, the telling of this adventure is more fun then the living of it, since my ideal Christmas doesn’t usually include peeing out behind a tree on Christmas morning. In my journeys here in Africa, I have discovered that I can stand almost any “third-world” setting…….but, please just give me a toilet! But, to see how much fun these 200 kids had, was worth it. This is the only toy that these kids will get this entire year and I made a mindful decision not to ask, if they had ever gotten a gift on Christmas before. I didn’t think I would be able to take the answer. It’s not really until looking back on my pictures that I can see the true joy, we got to be a part of on Christmas day

Life Lesson from Africa #1

EVERY CHALLENGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY

In Africa, I’ve learned that every Challenge is an Opportunity. Let me give an example. To the dismay of all Americans who are native to the North West United States, lattes do not exist in Uganda. At best, you can get a poor quality cappuccino. However, they do have the actual espresso machines; they just don’t know how to use them! One day, we had guests in from the US and they were so desperate for an Iced Latte that I asked the “bartender” if he would allow me to make a “special drink” using just ice, milk and his espresso machine. He was happy to comply and even thrilled to learn how. It was at that moment that I realized that no lattes means a potential business. Since that day I have considering offering my expertise as a barista to the few large hotels in the city. By helping them expand their drink menu they can cater to the western crowds, which pretty much are the only people that can afford to stay there. The bartender I taught continues to serve patrons at that hotel the Iced Latte I taught him to make. Zero access to lattes is not a challenge, rather a great opportunity.

For another, more personal example; since we were a ways out of the city and with the language barrier, cultural and financial barriers, building close relationships can be difficult. So I spend more time alone in Africa than I would ever in the United States. But, I’ve learned that isolation just means more quality time with God. What could feel like a real challenge is just another opportunity. I have never had that much time to read my bible, listen to sermons or pray more than this season in Uganda and that is an opportunity that I may never get again.

Liz's Thoughts on Ethiopia

My dear friend, Liz was suppose to come join me in Uganda, but because of the situation surrounding the building of our medical clinic (see earlier blog), she ended up going to Ethiopia for six months. She is an American registered nurse, who has walked away from her job her to give medical care to the impoverished in Ethiopia. Below are some of her thoughts that she is sending back home. Some are so close to my personal experience that I just had to include them in my blog, because it felt like me talking about Africa, but also some of her experiences are very unlike Uganda that I thought it might be interesting to reveal the culture diversity that is found in Africa.... so enjoy!

Learning to Say No
7 million…. I honestly do not know how anyone would do a census around here – with the amount of people who are jobless, homeless, or in makeshift shacks – it’s not like they have some sort of tax ID, or an address, or have their kids registered in school. Everywhere I go, people are begging – I see cripples, people with massive deformities, kids with continual eye and nose boogars (sorry, you all are going to get the real story here – from a nurse who’s fascinated with the gross stuff). The beggars here are different – far more aggressive than home. It makes me wish for the homeless man on the corner who politely holds a sign and quietly waits back home. It’s easier to “look the other way” and think, “Oh God, please help that man, as I get a green light and drive off”. Here the beggars here come up to your car window, put their hands on your window, stare at you with well rehearsed puppy eyes and speak with a minimal voice of someone who is in survival mode. And when you notion with your hands and head that you don’t have anything –which let’s face it, we all have something – after the empty hand gesture – they get even more puppy eyed and more aggressive. I began to get frustrated – within 8 days of being here, I had a meltdown. I came here to say “yes” – not to repeatedly tell people no. The problem of poverty is huge – I could be completely broke in a day giving all my money out to the poor- and the next day, it would be the same problem. Handing out money is not the means to and end, but it puts a bandaid on it for maybe an hour or two? In Uganda, the beggars are not near as aggressive as Liz describes. So, instead of kids begging for money, you have vendors trying to selling all sorts of crazy things to cars stuck in traffic. You can buy anything from toothpaste, a newspaper, and phone time, to posters, chairs and clothes! However, learning that you can't possibly meet every need that you see, is one of the very first realizations that comes to you in Africa. You could be out of money in a week and never accomplish the purpose that you were sent to do if you can't learn how to say "no", despite how hard it really is and the internal conflict it creates inside of you.

Got Power?
I do not have electricity at least 2 days a week. The government is rationing out the power. I guess the power runs off a hydroelectric system and Ethiopia did not get as much rain earlier on this year – as indicated by the famine in the south – it’s gotten significantly bad, people are starving down south. Some days I do not have running water until afternoon – and I do not quite understand that one. And the 2 days a week are variable… so you never know! It like the feeling of Christmas morning… it’s somewhat a magical cloud as you wake full of anticipation and run down to check out the presents under the tree – that is the same feeling that embraces my heart as I approach the light switch to assess if it’s a day full of power. Rather goosebumpy, my palms get sweaty just reaching for that little switch. So, you can imagine how my heart drops when nothing happens as I flicker the switch back and forth… ahhhh yes, the trials of the mission field. I know, you feel sorry for me. I understand the feeling of anticipation or dispointment based on your access to electricity. In Uganda, we never had power on Sunday morning (so no looking nice for church) and we never had power after a lightening storm other than that, it was just as unpredictable. Though we didn't have electricity for days on end sometimes and when we do so many people are illegally tapping into the lines that its so weak, the lights cast a sickly glow that isn't all great.

Plans; Organization; Yeah Right!
There are certain things one needs to know and attempt to understand about Africa. Nothing is quite what you think, nothing goes as quick as you’d like, and nobody cares that you are in a hurry and they’rre not!! I’m laughing right now. So the clinic has not been running – it’s been an idea that’s been running that somehow was communicated to me as an actual tangible activity. So, I’m working on getting it up and going. I’m in the process of purchasing supplies, organizing paperwork – yea, I’m going kill some trees, but there is no organization here! And, in order for us to get accredited through the government, there needs to be documentation for the people we see. There is some medical care going on. The Entoto team has been buying prescriptions for these patients with HIV, and some minimal supplies from a pharmacy – as needed, not kept at hand. I have a designated room in this community center – and now I’m going to fill it! LOL. I told you Liz! When you told me that they had this clinic fully functioning, I was impressed, but had my doubts. And, you're right, all you can do is laugh out loud!

World Impact Church

Thanks to everyone that came out for the Origin Worship Night! We had the great pleasure of hearing the heart of Royce Iverson and how God motivated him to get out of the church pew and onto the mission field. Royce, and his wife Elizabeth, with their two kids have been City Bible Church’s missionaries in Uganda, East Africa for one year now and is who I have been working directly with over the last year as well.

But, the vision is so much bigger than them or me. City Bible Church sent its first Missionaries to Uganda in the 1980’s. Since then Portland, Oregon and Kampala, Uganda have been divinely intertwined. The vision from the very beginning was for a Church, a Bible Institute, Primary School, Medical Clinic and Orphanage. The current Pastors, Wilfred & Deborah Kaweesa, (born and raised in Kampala) were even educated at our very own Portland Bible College in 1995-1997. Over the last 20 years through regular support and numerous missionaries sacrificially going out from City Bible, Uganda has a thriving church of over 500 people, a Primary school with 90 students a year and has graduated over 400 pastors. Now Royce & Elizabeth Iverson are the next generation that has stepped up to add to this big vision, that is now called Hope Village.

In case you are newer to City Bible Church , you might not realize that the church you call home is a world impacting church. The focus on missions and humanitarian causes around the world has been part of our heritage for over 50 years. And even though you don’t hear about it every weekend, City Bible has church plants and ministries in South Africa, Cambodia, Laos, Romania, Japan, China, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, just to name a few. In 2007, over a half a million dollars went out of City Bible Church’s doors into other countries for the building of churches, outreach programs and humanitarian causes.

But, the giving is all in vain, without the workers. The amazing fruit that is in Uganda, and around the world, are from many unsung heroes that got out of the pew. Not for accolades; in fact many names have been forgotten, but to do something great for God. We are lucky generation, to be building on the backs of such great men and women that have called City Bible Church their home before us.

For more information about Uganda, check out the website at www.hopevillageuganda.com and you can read more about other City Bible Missionaries all around the world at http://www.citybiblechurch.org/p/12862/Default.aspx

Goodbye Africa - Until Next Time

While I am excited to return home (the land of milk and honey does have its appeal), I am almost sad to see Africa go primarily because of the fodder it has provided for writing. Such great learning experiences have inspired such great thoughts, that for the first time in my life I felt that they were thoughts worth sharing. And I am hoping that others did to.

Nevertheless, up to this point in my life, I had never considered myself a writer. Having the time and wealth of stimuli has opened me up to what I hope to be a lifetime habit of writing. I can only hope that this new mental exercise will lend me to see the patterns in the States that will even still inspire thoughts worth sharing.

Medical Clinic Update

One of my main responsibilities while in Uganda was to get the Medical Clinic started. No, I do not have any specific medical training or background, however God knew that wasn’t what was needed at the beginning. Establishing such a clinic in Uganda, requires networking with ten different government departments, international agencies, local non-profits and non-governmental organizations. The process is both convoluted and bureaucratic. So my government training became the desired expertise at that moment. So we were speeding along in the process, and it “seemed” as if the medical clinic would be our first building to go up.

But, then Culture stepped in. We had put $5,000 on an extra 5 acres of property adjacent to the 20acres we currently own to put the Medical Clinic on and the new Primary School since both would be to serve the entire community at large and not just those living at Hope Village. Nevertheless, with money down and contracts signed, the owner, Mr. Ben, changed his mind. Why? Because his 20+ kids began fighting among themselves about whose inheritance he was selling off. They claimed that he was pulling property from the wrong wife. He has four wives and obviously he was not treating them all equally and his kids would not have it. As a result, he changed the property to some other land that was not adjacent to our current property, which was completely unacceptable from both a transportation and security standpoint. Mr. Ben could not give the money back because he had already spent it! He was selling the property because he needed the money for something unknown to us. Unfortunately, property rights are pretty much nil in Uganda and without the actual title to the property we had no claim (even with the contract). This is something that would NEVER happen in the United States; from the involvement of four different wives to the breaking of a signed contract. Nevertheless, this debate carried on for another three months while our team had to meet with each immediate family group that Mr. Ben had. However, I am happy to say that as of last week, Hope Village is now 100% owners of that extra 5 acres and are ready to see what God will do with it!