Shaken

I am looking forward to seeing some shaking going on as we serve in the presense of the Lord.

"And when they had prayed, the place they were assembled together was shaken;and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness" Acts 4:31

I believe God wants us to be in the place of service shoulder to shoulder praising Him. Some times it may be hard and you may be called to a place like Uganda. Justin says ,"Go See, Serve". It would be easy to send money and that is all good but for those who are called, they need to go! It may not be the most efficient method but it will have the greateast effectiveness on those who serve and are served.

In 2 Sammuel 6 David and the people of Israel wanted to bring the ark back to the City of David. They wanted to get it there quickly. They had the idea of putting it on a cart (golf cart) to hasten the journey in spite of God's instructions. One of the men helping was named Uzzah. I am sure he was proud of efficiency of the cart; just as we could send our money to Uganda and be done with it. However God had another plan and struck down Uzzah.

Soon after this they did it God's way. This time it was not very efficient but more effective in the lives of those carrying the ark.

"And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep" 2 Sammuel 6:13

A slow process but we know that later in the chapter they made it. More importantly those involved were Affected by their service to God. They had the ark on their shoulders and stopped and praised God. It changed them so much that it is recorded that David was dancing before the Lord and all the house of Israel were shouting with the sound of a trumpet.

I want to be in that place of service because I know that the Lord will be effective in me. Going to Uganda will have an affect on me and others. Everyday praying for the Holy Spirit to fill me to serve Him and to help others. As it was in the Book of Acts, may the place we assemble be shaken by the presense of God.

~Tom

Tomorrow?!?

It's kinda crazy to think that this time tomorrow we'll be about to be getting on the plane to Amsterdam. Ridiculous. I can barely wrap my brain around it.. I honestly don't feel ready at all, but I have faith God will use that. A lot. And I'll be broken. But he'll use my brokeness. So that's awesome. I've spent the past 2 weeks filled with papers, tests, and saying goodbye to friends. So my brain feels fried. For real. But... Like I said. God can use it. I would ask that you pray for my openness to just give up everything I think I need to God and give Him the control of my life and this trip. So I just ask that you pray for all of us. Travel safety would be a big one. And just open hearts. We really could use that. Thanks so much for all the support and prayers you all have given us so far!! We SO appreciate you all!!

I'll buy that!

The bible is so full of promises to His people. I am so thankful He speaks of our provision and protection throughout our life.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknolwedge Him, and He will direct your paths" Proverbs 3:5-6.

I sometimes observe God's promises as if I was window shopping. Looking at everything that He offers but never really buying that promise and making it my own. Going to Uganda has grown my faith in Him. When I have been reading my bible lately and praying I have been finding promises that are just for me. Was that written specifically for this trip God?

"For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:39

Did you write that for me God? Wow, God is good. "I'll buy that!"

~Tom

"Be still and know that I am God"

I got up at 5am this morning to get ready for my work day. I sipped my coffee as I scratched out a "to do" list for the day. As I wrote down the last minute things I needed to buy and to do, I felt a nervous excitement about the trip - not anxiety, just excitement. As I wrote the list, I felt God say "Be still and know that I am God". It was such a prominent thought at that very moment that I dropped down on the notepad and wrote it down immediately. I finished the list and turned around to the refrigerator to look at the verse for the day on the "40 days of prayer to Africa". The verse was Psalm 46:10 !!!

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

Thank you Lord for speaking to us in special ways! He cares for us and the "little stuff" in our lives.

Humbled,
Kevin

Feet For My Faith

My name is Tom Young and I am the husband of Cyndy, who is a faithful servant of God, and the father of Isaac and Olivia. I have been working as a forester for a private timber company for the last 20 years. More important than all of that is the fact that I have been a born again Christian since the summer of 1976. It was at that time that I began my walk with Jesus where He has always been faithful but I have had a few growing pains.

Most recently I have been studying the book of Genesis. I am amazed at the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These men were willing to move repeatedly as God directed in order to draw closer to Him. They had their growing pains just like me, yet they were men of faith, as recorded in Hebrews 11. Abraham did not always know where he was going (Heb. 11:8-10) yet his faith increased.

My friend Lenny says, "you can't steer a parked car", just like the men of Genesis we need to be willing to move. This faith that we have cannot sit on the shelf but rather it needs to have feet.

Beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaim peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaim salvation, who says to Zion,

"Your God reigns!"

~ Isaiah 52:7

I feel the Lord is calling us as Christians to tell this good news to the person across the street as well as around the world. We are also to pursue love (I Cor. 14:1). In Matthew 2 the story is told of Herod trying to kill the baby Jesus and the world is continuing to do that to this day. The baby Jesus was the greatest symbol of love (I John 4:8), humility, honor and truth. The same is true of the children of Uganda.

Pure and undefiled religion before God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

~James 1:27

We, as Christians being called to pursue love, should draw near to Jesus (James 4:8) and pursue that love in visiting these children.

I was traveling through the woods the other day with my dog Chewy, a yellow Labrador retriever, and she was enjoying the wind blowing her ears back, her tongue hanging out, when suddenly a squirrel crossed our path. Chewy's casual posture was suddenly focused on pursuing that squirrel. It is what she lives for. The same is true for the Christian. We are to pursue love.

When I was given the opportunity to go to Uganda it was a perfect fit. Not that I am the best qualified to care for children or build a building. Not that I am looking forward to many hours in an airplane. I don't know really where we are going or how I can do what is needed. What really matters is that we pursue an awesome and loving God who loves the children of Uganda. I know without a doubt at this moment I am to pursue this love; to talk to the people of Uganda and to love the children. My verse for the trip is:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.

~Matthew 5:16

3 days! My prayer...

3 days!
I can't believe it! I leave in 3 days. I will be on my way to the biggest adventure of my life thus far. I am SOOOO very stoked! And it's only the beginning. Daily God has moved mountains, parted seas and led the way. I know and pray that He will continue to guide through every SINGLE step we take on this journey (travels included). May each moment be a DIVINE appointment planned by the creator of the universe at the beginning of time. I pray that my team would be like putty in God's hands and we would be bold when we need to be bold. My hope is that we will be compassionate, loving, wise and serve wholeheartedly. May we hold nothing back. Even though we will already be out of our comfort zones I ask that we would each go even further, dive deeper and press harder. Huge growth is gonna happen! I am blessed to be on this team God has put together. My constant cry is that we will be unified in and through the Lord and act as His body. Each one of us using our strengths, weaknesses, passions and knowledge with and for each other to be different parts of the body working together. We must be SOLID in Jesus name. This trip is about bringing glory to His name and Joy to His heart. Might we be healthy, safe and find plenty of rest in Christ. May we draw peace from Him. The enemy DOES NOT want ANY of us to go on this trip. He wants us to worry, stress, feel unprepared and for us to give up and give in. NO!!! We will crush him with the power of the Lord. God is CALLING each one of our names and tugging on our hearts and He is the reason for every moment of everyday. He called and we answered. Now we are on our way to the adventure of a lifetime and the beginning of something HUGE (I don't even know what that means but I BELIEVE it). UGANDA 2010...Here I come! May the glory and honor all go to GOD!! Thank you Jesus for loving a sinner such as me. Amen!

Wow! Is this really happening Lord?

We have had suitcases all over the bedroom for about a month now and have been packing and unpacking since then. I have notes all over the house and keep adding, scratching off and adding again to those as though we might really need whatever it is we forget. We will be taking more in those suitcases than most Africans will have in a lifetime. We are so spoiled. My prayer is that the Lord will truly show all of us the truth about who HE is and what HE wants from each of us as we travel half way across the world to serve HIM and see HIM work through this tiny little group of crazy American Christians. I can hardly take in all the emotions I am feeling right now. We went to bed at 10:30 and I was awake at 2:30, wide awake! I am so excited to GOSEESERVE, is the plane there yet? But to be real honest I am also a little nervous. It's a different kind of nervous though, an awesome kind of nervous. Maybe I should call it anxious, but a good anxious. Well you get the point. Four more days, no way. But there is plenty to do. I need to finish the wedding cake for Friday, can't let that bride down, go to the dentist, more shopping, make a list for our care taker and by the way I'm beginning to figure out this computer thing. Now that was a stretch. I actually purchased our "on line" travel insurance and registered with the American Embassy in less than two hours. Now that's a miracle only possible by the mighty hand of God. Thanks to all who have shared that they are praying everyday for this team. We do know that it is a vital part of our ministry there. So, off to Africa. Can't wait to share our first blog from there about ALL that the Lord is doing in and through this team, made mighty by HIS hand.
With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, (Jeremiah 29:11), the wisdom of God to plan it, (Proverbs 3:56), and the power of God to achieve it, (II Corinthians 12:9), what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures. A.W. Tozer
Thanks for loving us, praying for us and being a part of this mission with us.
God bless, Renee'

T-Shirts!

Team Shirts are in!  Check them out!

Thanks Jeff for your awesome design - way to use the gifts and talents God has given you, we are blessed!

MARK NYMAN

Hi everyone!
This would be my first blog ever, hence the speedy posting. Just a few items about myself, and because I don't like to talk about myself this should be brief. I am 44, married with three awesome kids, Garrett (19), Abby (15), Alex (10), and my lovely and talented wife Carla. Lets never mind how old she is. I am very excited for this trip. As long as I can remember I have had a desire to GO-SEE-SERVE, that is why our mantra is perfect, I love it! When the Real Estate market plummeted, and I found myself with a plethora of time on my hands, I was bound to find the blessing in it. So here it is, God working behind the scenes again, creating opportunities and opening doors for me that I had resigned myself to doing later in life. How cool!! Not having any expectations, is a great comment I have heard lately, and works well for me. I can listen and learn more innocently without prior expectations getting in the way. I am looking forward to completing any tasks needed while we are there, and being easily distracted to play with the kids. A passage that keeps going through my mind when i think of this trip, is Philippians 2: 1&2 "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded." Another is 1 peter 3:8 "live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." I look forward to going and seeing and serving with all of you. see you soon.

Prayer Support!

This is the Central Oregon part of the Uganda 2010 team. We have a great group of kids and families that come every other Sunday for fellowship, prayer, and Jesus, and they laid hands on our mission team and prayed for them. God is good! What a blessed time.

16 days!

wow! I think time is literally flying by. We are already almost two weeks away from the journey of a lifetime! So much to do in so little time but its all SOO good. I am absolutely blessed beyond reason and cant even imagine what God has planned for this trip, our team and our return. This has already been an incredible journey and its still only the very beginning. Who knows where things will go from here?

**God, I am So completely in awe and wonder. This is unbelievable! Thank you that I GET to serve you each and everyday and that You alone have and will fulfill my hearts desires. More than anything I want to continue to grow in You and live a life that speaks VOLUMES of You! None of this is about me. Its all for you. My savior who laid down His life to save a sinner that is me. To God be the Glory forever and ever. AMEN**

Hi, I'm Chuck!

James 1:22-25 (New International Version)

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.



Hey this is Charlie - and I'm Jenay his wife writing this blog post for him - he's just not the blogger type.

Charlie is going on this mission with NO IDEA what the Lord has in store. We feel like our whole family is on this mission because the dad and oldest child are both going. We are so blessed that we get to be a part of a "mission" at all. It is truly humbling to think that we get to be a part of something that the Lord is doing and we may be used for His Glory and get to see more of His Glory through this journey. The Lord planted the seed in Lashae to go, and we sought for the Lord's direction and it became VERY clear that the Lord has an incredible plan He is unfolding and we are so grateful that Charlie gets to go and experience this right along side Lashae and Skippy...that would be Justin to you guys...you know "Team Leader", he's always been Skippy to Charlie. One of our prayers for this trip is that the Lord will reveal to Lashae a more specific plan for her future and with Charlie being there, our prayer is that Charlie will get to see it too, so that we can help her and encourage her and be a blessing in our role as her parents. Charlie takes his role as her father seriously, but never wants to get in the way or be a hindrance of the calling or service to our Heavenly Father.



Charlie is the "worker" type. He is the hardest worker I know. I even had a dream about him many months ago before we knew he was going to Africa for sure. In my dream he was in Africa; sweating hard - it was just pouring out of him- he just didn't want to stop, he wanted to help these people, he wanted to do whatever he could, he wanted to make a difference.



Charlie does not say much, unless, he's telling old re-ride stories, or some story about a job or a funny story about a kid or an animal that happened. Then he says a lot, because he can tell a great story. Charlie is a lover of Jesus, and a lover of people. Charlie will come home with many new friends, as he can not go anywhere without making a huge connection with people. He loves people, he loves different cultures, and he will literally give the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet. Charlie truly has a servant's heart.



Charlie is open to whatever the Lord has for him and is just seeking the Lord's direction in this mission and in his life.



As a family, we are amazed and in awe at what God is doing in our family. Just the preparation and the miracles leading up to this mission has been such a step of faith and a huge faith builder. God has shown us time and time again of His goodness, His provision, and His love, and it just makes us hunger for more of Him.

change my heart o GOD

Hi!! I am Ron Campbell the husband of Renee’ and I am also so excited to see what the Lord is going to do on this trip. YES, I know I am the last to blog, that might show my love for computers. I have had several people ask me why I am going to Uganda and say I thought your ministry was right here. Well that is right. I known the Lord has called me to minister in our area, BUT I truly feel that the Lord can change my heart and expand my ministry . My prayer is that I will be able to see people through HIS eyes and not mine. We have people right here in our community that we over look and are afraid to minister to. I believe we as the church in America have become so ingrown ministering to the saved, we forget about the unlovely , the unsaved , the down and out and the sick and dieing. Three weeks ago while setting in a men’s breakfast at the Purple Plum Restaurant I watched as an old class mate of mine walked by. This man, a very talented musician could have been a music teacher or what ever he wanted to be. He was very popular in school and was great at all the sports the school offered. What was his story? Who ministered to him? Why didn’t I invite him in and ask him his story??? I read his obituary a week or so later in the news paper. Did anyone tell him of the love of Christ? Had he accepted the gift of eternal life with Christ Jesus? I hope I hear the answer to that question one day. Can the Lord do a work in my heart in Africa for the down and out ? My prayer is that as we work, love and minister to the poorest of the poor in Uganda, Christ will transform my love for the needy around us. Matthew 28:19 Therefore GO -----I know I can't save anyone but I can tell them about my best friend who can. HE HAS RISEN!!! Please pray for us that Christ will work in and through this team as we open our lives up to Him to work through.

...willing and obedient...

Wow!  Not sure what else to say as I sit here thinking about the awesomeness of our God and Savior.  He is so incredibly amazing to be able to use a sinner like me.  Though I am weak He is strong.  That is what I cling to as I try to grasp what we are doing as a team and as His humble servant.

My name is Justin and I am the father of five amazing kids and the husband of an awesome servant of God who inspires me everyday.  This will be my third trip to Africa inside of a year and I still cannot wait!  I first went to Uganda last May and my heart was broken.  I saw for the first time what true poverty is.  I saw suffering like I had never imagined and I experienced the havoc that sin reaps in this world.  Up until that trip, I thought that I understood pain and suffering, but I didn't really have a clue.  Not until I locked eyes with hundreds of children who could have been my own, but they had no one.  Not until I walked into an orphanage of 50 kids all under three and begging, crying, just to have someone pick them up, touch them, just look at them.  Not until I held an 18 month old baby girl in my arms who's arm was smaller than my finger. Not until I found out she died of starvation 3 days later.  I did not understand hopelessness until a three year old girl named Shanita sat on my lap for just one hour during a church service asked if I would be her daddy.  When she asked her mommy if I could take her home, I politely smiled at her mother saying how cute I thought that was.  My heart was wrenched when her mother looked back at me told me that I could take her.  Hopeless, helpless, trying only to do the best she could for her child, this woman was willing to give up her only child if it meant she would have a chance at life.  My heart has never felt such pain.  But this was not my life, I was merely a spectator, a bystander.  In a few short days, I was back at work listening to people complain about how poor their 401k was doing.  Everywhere I looked I saw the things of this world so out of proportion.  I cried out to God asking what I could do, what difference could I make?  I am not a politician, I am not immeasurably wealthy, I am not educated, influential, or powerful.  But... I am a child of The King.  I am a servant of the Most High, an heir of Heaven, and an empty vessel to be used by the master potter.  I heard God say that I could not do anything on my own accord, but with Him all things are possible.  I heard Him say that I could go back, and take others.  Take others so their hearts could be broken as well.  Broken and crying out to Him asking "what next?" I am only one man, but if I can take others to see what I have seen, for God to break their hearts with the things that break His, I am being obedient.  And that is all that He asks me to be... willing and obedient.  So here we are, 26 days until take-off and I am still not sure how things will look on this trip.  What I do know is that the same God who spoke the world into existence has asked me to go, and to take others. To go, to see, to serve.  And so with trembling hearts and eyes fixed on Him, we obey.

Hi! I'm Renee' Campbell/Home-Yreka,CA/wife of Ron for the past 38 years (who is also going to Uganda) I'm the oldest female on the trip, not 17 or 20, and that's all I have to say about that!!!!
I am so very excited about going on this mission trip to Africa. About a year ago the Lord began to prompt my heart by the faithful obedience of His servant Kathy Vaughan. Kathy's story of truly trusting God in what seemed to be an impossible situation for a woman alone in Africa truly encouraged me to know that God can use anyone He chooses, and that He desires to use His children for His glory. I made the decision at that time to pray and ask what He had for me in my new season of life. I know He has been preparing me for something new for a very long time, but I wasn't sure what that was. Then along came the same faithful obedience of Justin and Shauna Vaughn to adopt a child from Africa, not having a clue how or when or where that kind of money would come from. They were simply willing to say, "Yes Lord", to His call, to God be the Glory. As I prayed, He began to give me a heart for the people of Africa,and a desire to come along side the Redeemer House ministry there. I began to pray for what else I could do. I felt a stirring in my heart to go and so I began to pray, "If it's Your will Lord", and He continued to wait for me to say, "I am willing Lord, send me". That decision came on February 26, as we met together to pray for the Lord's desire for a trip to Uganda. On the way home that night I realized that the Lord was waiting for my heart to make the decision to go, knowing nothing more than that He desired for me to be obedient to Him. Shame on me if I ever get to the place where I think God needs me. His plan and purpose and Glory will go on even If I sit at home today on my nice cozy nest and stay there until I die. However, He gives me the awesome opportunity, privilege and even the responsibility to be a part of that incredible plan. So, once again, shame on me if when He calls, and I know in my heart it is Him calling, that I say no. My only desire or expectation on this trip is to listen to and be willing to follow the Spirit of God for His plan. I trust Him to be faithful to that because He tells us in His Word that He is faithful, (Psalm 57:9-10) I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples. For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. I know I am worthless without Him and powerful in Him, He promises us that as well, (II Corinthians 12:9) But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness". Paul said, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me". Ron and I have always had a heart for the needy and less fortunate than us and have had many opportunities to minister to those people in the states. Now He is expanding our opportunities to Africa. PRAISE YOU JESUS! We covet your prayers as we prepare and as we go, that this opportunity will be all He desires it to be, in us and through us. I am absolutely convinced that I will be changed forever as the Lord shows me His love for His people all over the world and my need to truly be obedient to, "do for the least of these", in His name and for His Glory.