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You have no idea how grateful I am right now. I feel like another piece of the puzzle is in the right place. Maybe I am going to live there someday? I don't know yet, but God is working out something and connecting the dots - I just know it! And I can feel it, too!
My parents have gone to great measures for me going to Uganda as a team member. I don't know what some of you had to give up to help me (a vacation, lunch money, new clothes you planned to buy for yourself or you own kids, etc), but I know what it means to sacrifice something for someone else. I gave my mom all my money a few weeks ago because whatever I was saving it for wasn't as important as this trip. Whether I know your name or only know you as anonymous, I want you to know that I thanked God for you and your sacrifice. I will also make sure to write your name in the Ugandan dirt and take a picture of it for you. I want you to always know that a piece of you went with me to "visit orphans".
I can't wait to give the little kids toys, play games with them, talk about Jesus, feed them and remind them they are never alone. I want to tell them that God will help them get up on their feet again and make them smile. When orphan children smiled at me when I was in Ethiopia it felt different than when a child here smiles at me. When I am in Africa, it's like Jesus is smiling down on me through the eyes of a child.
You might think that it's weird a 12 year old kid want to do something totally different from what most normal kids here do. I've heard some cool stories of other kids like me, though, and they make me want to stand up and do something too. I think it's totally awesome that God created me with "weirdness" to stick way out from the crowd. Isn't that what discipleship is? To do something different and stick out from the crowd? To tell others that your "weirdness" comes from Jesus who lives inside your heart?
I like being weird! But being weird is actually not weird at all in my book. It's cool and amazing and the way God made me from the moment I asked him into my heart. If you want to be weird someday too, just let me (or my parents) know! We will start praying for you to find your "weirdness".
Oh, and I am making one more "string art" project. If you want one, just donate to my missions page and e-mail my mom your address (if she doesn't know it already). Just click the picture of me and Cinderella at the top of this blog. If you notice that my fundraising goal is met later this week, it's because final money is due tomorrow and my parents are sending that in. HOWEVER, your donation will still go with me to Uganda, because anything over my goal will go to the missionaries who live there and I will be able to go shopping for things the children an missionaries need.
Thank You, again, for helping me have the best 12 year old birthday gift ever! I feel like my birthday hasn't ended yet!!!
