tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1741867186282917162024-02-18T20:40:09.473-08:00East Africa Missions 2006-2013Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-31929129653805621542013-05-30T12:46:00.001-07:002013-05-30T13:11:33.498-07:00My Africa Packing ListThis is my own personal packing list, so obviously some things are unique to me and my situation (female, staying in Uganda for over a month, furnished house in the city, etc.) Even though it wouldn't be perfect for everyone, I thought I'd share it here since I get emails every year asking questions about packing for Africa! You can save and print this list, so please enjoy and share and let me know how I can be praying for you on your trip :) PS--sorry it looks funky. Couldn't figure out a better way to have the list easily save-and-print-able.<br />
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<iframe height="480" src="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2a5MV5UwnqvRUJPUU00N1hxMGc/preview" width="640"></iframe>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-68074812160097266562013-03-10T13:00:00.001-07:002013-03-10T13:00:28.997-07:00Update from Tubur Church<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dad, Natalie, Glen, and I helped with a church plant in 2011 in Tubur, Uganda. A friend from church (James Bobo) visited the church today and sent home an update. What wonderful, happy news! I imagine my feelings in heaven will be very similar to the ones I felt when reading this update. GLORY, GLORY, GLORY to HIM! Thank you to all that prayed and gave to make this church plant possible. May you be blessed by this news as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In 2011, the Soroti Presbyterian Church and Midland Bible Church partnered in the establishment of a village church in Tubur. They met under a tree for the first eight months and in the summer of 2011, a number of you assisted in the week-long crusade and the church dedication that followed. I preached there this morning and I thought you might like an update.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first question I asked was how many of them had been part of the “church under the tree” two years ago. It was encouraging to see how many stood up. The church building was full today and it had one of the best balances between men, women, children and youth that I’ve seen in a village church. Usually, the vast majority of the attendees are women and children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The man who sold the land to the Eastern Presbytery to build the church on got up after the service, along with his wife, and presented me a chicken to express their thanks for the gift of the church to the village. They had been married in a civil ceremony some 50 years ago and last May, they had a church wedding in the Tubur church. They never thought they would have a chance for a church wedding and were very excited to have had one in their own village.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the elders then got up and provided an update on several of the ministries of the church. There are many widows and orphans and they have done two ministries, in particular, to assist. They now have a pre-school at the church with 70 children and six teachers. This is a service to church members and to the community as a whole. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They have also created a “helping hands” ministry which focuses upon the needs of widows. They have built two grass-huts thus far for widows that had no place to stay and they have set aside land and work it to provide crops to support ten widows currently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They have an AWANA ministry mid-week that currently has 120 children from the church and community coming. In addition, they take up a small offering every Sunday that is used to focus upon medical needs of the poor and needy within their church.</span></div>
Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-34790030385419895562012-03-10T19:50:00.002-08:002013-03-10T13:16:38.287-07:00East Africa 2012!Well, it's time to announce my next trip to East Africa! This time I will only be going to Kenya (no Uganda!), and my Dad will be traveling with me on his FIRST trip to Kenya! He is excited to see zebras in the wild ;)<br />
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My trip will be July 22nd through August 1st and we will be traveling with our friends from Cypress Creek Church in Wimberley. We will be planting a church in the village of Usenge, which is Morris Ogenga's hometown.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Our journey will begin with our flight to Nairobi, followed by an all-day drive to the far western area of Kenya near Uganda and Lake Victoria.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">We will be staying in the town of Kisumu, and traveling one hour each day to Usenge, which is the location of the new church. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Usenge is a very poor fishing village where most people grow or catch their own food.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Bondo district where Usenge is located has one of the highest rates of HIV in Kenya.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The need for a Savior is very real here.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span> I was able to visit the site of this church last summer before the church building was built, so I am very anxious to get back there and see the work God has already done!</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">As always, we welcome your partnership this year. </span>If you are interested in supporting our trip in prayer or financially, please contact me for more specifics! We love you!</div>
Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-24141998530910297622011-08-01T21:34:00.000-07:002011-08-02T22:47:16.098-07:00Uganda Video 2011<p></p><br /><br /><p>This is the video that my sister Natalie made of our trip to Uganda this summer.</p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwA0f6WYAWUMwqazL2Aw1m6o2AGTUdt3kpnoWYOzc7JOwiwadJAuZETHjlAI5411Lf54nqSl1DMOe82szN3Jg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-42156555391731789242011-07-21T22:07:00.000-07:002013-03-10T13:23:38.152-07:00Hello HoloToday will be our second and final day in Holo, Kenya. Cypress Creek Church planted Holo Community Bible Church 4 or 5 years ago and this has been an encouraging trip for the church and the surrounding area.<br />
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Yesterday, I went to schools with Tammy and Mike. We went to one primary school and two secondary schools, so we each took turns sharing our testimonies and the good news/bad news. I enjoyed hearing everyone's take on the gospel and I'm looking forward to stealing some of their ideas on the trail today! I shared the gospel at a secondary school which made me a little nervous because of the group size (several hundred!) as well as the age (14-20). But as usual, God was so good, and I thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Mike's testimony was so powerful and effective. I think the young men related to him very well. I began my presentation with saying that since I was so close to their age, I wanted to just talk as friends. I felt like that time was very conversational and I got to interact with many of the students. It was one of my favorite experiences!<br />
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This team has been doing schools only in the afternoons, so I got a full trail day yesterday along with being on the school team. Most of the people I talked to were already believers, but I got to pray with them and encourage them. I was encouraged by a very old woman I met named Elena. She accepted Christ in 1974, and shortly after that her husband and two sons died, leaving her alone. She said that God was her comforter and defender. She went on to explain the details of an accident (her cow knocked her down and broke her wrist) and a disease she has been suffering from for 6 years. She insists that God is still her sustainer and healer. She prayed that I would always remember how faithful He is, no matter what. She was so appreciative of my visit since she can't walk to church and she can't read the Bible. She said, "your words have refreshed my soul"...Elena, you did more than that for me!<br />
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Please pray for:<br />
1) my testimony this afternoon at the crusade.<br />
2) The Holo area is incredibly rocky and hilly, and I'm hiking in my Chacos which don't protect me very well...today is very rainy, so please pray I don't slip in the mud!<br />
3) There have been some severe bee attacks in this area. Pray for the natives that have been stung and for our team to remain safe.<br />
4) for Landon and Thomas to feel better--both are feeling a little queasy.<br />
5) for Brenda to find the little boy named Victor that she has been looking for in Holo! She met him several years ago on the original church plant and has been praying to see him.Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-55875980018070396642011-07-20T11:14:00.000-07:002013-03-10T13:24:08.739-07:00Akala<div align="center">
<em>"There is no treasure so wonderful as that</em></div>
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<em>continuous experience of Thy grace toward me."</em></div>
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<em>-The Valley of Vision</em></div>
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Our team (Cypress Creek Church in Wimberley + me) just finished our two days in Akala, which was the church that we planted last year. We were able to do a revival crusade and share the gospel in the area with great success. This has been one of my favorite evangelism trips for several reasons. I think one of those reasons is my fantastic translator! I have never had the same translator for more than a day or two, but my friend Douglas is sticking by me and we get along so well. I've never had so much fun with a translator! Also, this team is intentional about eating with the translators, so I feel like I've gotten to know them so much better from those mealtime conversations. I am also feeling so much encouragement just from the act of sharing the gospel--it never gets old to me, even when people reject it. Today, I shared with mostly men, which made me a little uncomfortable, but many believed in Jesus! I was thankful God allowed their hearts to tune into His words even though they were coming from a young girl like me.<br />
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So far, Tessa, Thomas, Lisa, Emily, Erin, and Julie Jacobsen have been to schools. I will go with a few others tomorrow.<br />
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Mike, Leslie, Tommy, and Tammy have been to prisons. Tonight, Tammy shared about a woman at the prison who had a siezure in the middle of the presentation (unclear whether this was demonic or purely physical). Miraculously, it did not disrupt the reception of the gospel, and at the end of the presentation, who appeared to be the same woman came forward to receive Christ.<br />
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Yesterday, Lisa was able to meet an old friend from Akala that she had been praying to see. Their reunion was sweet and encouraging to both of them!<br />
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Today, Tessa shared with a very old woman who had lost all 12 of her children. She was already a believer, and she told Tessa she still believed God was good in spite of her circumstances.<br />
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Erin has been sharing some worship songs with us in our evening devotionals. Tonight, she read out of "The Valley of Vision", a book of Puritan prayers. It was awesome.<br />
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Please continue to pray for the health, protection, and effectiveness of our team! We are off to Holo tomorrow!Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-11319960817505224602011-07-16T10:02:00.000-07:002013-03-10T13:24:57.031-07:00I am a Winner!<div align="center">
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This was the song of the sweet Lulwanda Children's Home kids as they celebrated their big WIN of the music, dance, and drama competition yesterday! I got to be there all day to watch the kids compete in 10 different catagories including sight singing, traditional dance, the national anthem, etc. They all performed so well! And, by the grace of God, their hard work paid off and they won by more than 200 points. My friends Natalie R. and Sarah H. were proud mamas :) After the competition, everyone marched back to Lulwanda for the biggest dance party I've ever seen. So much fun. I am so proud of them even though I barely know most of them!<br />
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I enjoyed my last day at Covenant so much. I left 63 books (mostly thanks to Aunt Janna and my mom's power shopping) with the headmaster who distributed them to each class according to reading level. It brought tears to my eyes to hear the teachers announce the gifts and listen to the students scream and cheer! They jumped on those books faster than junior high boys jump on T&T donuts in Sunday school. It makes me sad and happy at the same time. Sad that books are such a rarity, happy that they at least have a few now!<br />
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I love walking through my neighborhood and hearing kids yell, "Teach-ah! Teach-ah!"...can't think of anything more special!<br />
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On our day off today, we washed some clothes and shopped in town a little. Melanie and Winnie and I took motorcycle taxis (pikis) to get pedicures (I promise I am still a missionary, I know this sounds insane) and it was so so fun. I love those friends and it was seriously the best of the 3 pedicures I've gotten in my life. Best part? It was 6,000 shillings. That's about $2.50.<br />
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Choir practice was tonight. I'm excited about church tomorrow morning!<br />
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Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-68834966148167239022011-07-13T08:31:00.000-07:002011-07-13T08:54:52.844-07:00At Home in Mbale<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness<br />and the world's deep hunger meet."</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> -Frederick Buechner</span><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;">I have been at Morris & Aidah's house in Mbale since Sunday afternoon. It was sad to leave my team behind as they headed for home, but I'm loving my time here! There are 2 other missionary girls living with the Ogengas right now, and I've really appreciated their company. My attitude is completely different with American friends than it is when I'm alone! Also contributing to my good mood is the fact that I have not seen a single African cockroach since I've been here. Glory hallelujah. This is actually the biggest answer to prayer next to not dying of malaria or something like that.<br /><br />Monday was a day off for my missionary friends, so we went to town (literally and figuratively). We shopped a little in the market, bought fabric and had skirts made, went to a coffee shop, and had a very relaxing time at the Mount Elgon Hotel & Spa. If you haven't been to Mount Elgon Hotel in the last few years, you are missing out on the most American experience in Africa. It was so weird. So beautiful, but so weird. Made me forget I was in Uganda.<br /><br />I was getting worried in Soroti about my diet because nothing at the hotel or the church site was appealing to me...I hardly ate anything that whole time. But now I remember why I gained weight in Africa last summer: James and his wonderful cooking! We have had spaghetti, pizza, chapati and beans, pancakes, and french toast. We also had a nice chicken and rice lunch...yes, I killed the chickens myself again :) I'm sure there are more wonderful things to come. I want to pack James in my suitcase to take to college with me so he can cook for me and my roommates.<br /><br />I have been at Covenant Primary School the last few days which is where I taught last summer. Since I'm only here a short time, I'm just working as a teacher's aide. I've been grading and running errands mostly, but I am so busy all day! The best part is that since I'm not a teacher, I get to just play with the kids and not have to boss them. Oh, I've missed them so much. They love the books and school supplies you all sent. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa for collecting so many!<br /><br />I finished reading The Help (best book ever, by the way) on my Nook and now I'm reading Thirsting for God, which was recommended to me by Mike Loftis. I'm loving it so far, and I'm sure I'll have more to say about it later. I'm thankful for all the time I've had to read on this trip. It has been so spiritually refreshing!<br /><br />I miss home a little, but my time here is going so well. Love to my family and my college girls. And thanks to Nan for the quote above and your emails even though I can't answer them all. Can't wait to see my Kenya team soon!</span>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-59854853873169423522011-07-06T06:38:00.000-07:002011-07-06T07:22:11.829-07:00Day 4 in Uganda<div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"Dreams are tawdry when compared with the leading of God,<br />and not worthy of the aura of wonder we usually surround them with.<br />God only doeth wonders. He does nothing else.<br />His hand can work nothing less." </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">-Jim Elliot</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am loving life here in Uganda once again! The team has been having a great time sharing the gospel</span> in the Tubur area, which is 40-ish minutes away from our hotel in Soroti. This city is full of "religion"...the names of God and Jesus are not strange to them. However, most people believe that salvation comes as a result of good behavior. They believe the Bible is true, so Ephesians 2:8-9 has been very freeing to many people! I guess they had just never read for themselves that eternal life is a free gift. Most people I have spoken with fall into this category, but Glen and I have both run into a weird cult that claims that Jesus was never crucified--please pray for those people to come to the crusade, I didn't have enough time to discuss their beliefs in detail with them and they were very stubborn!<br /><br />Our family as well as Marcie & Oliver went to schools on the first day with an organization called Scripture Union. Our visits at these schools not only help spread the gospel, but also give credibility to the Scripture Union clubs that are already in place. I was nervous after one bad experience at schools, but this one was great! We went to a local primary school with an enrollment of around 600 children. They sang for us and I immediately had tears in my eyes! It was so loud and joyful. I am certain that is what heaven will sound like.<br /><br />Vince & Laynce have been teaching about spiritual disciplines in the mornings at the church site in Tubur. They are some of my favorite teachers, so I've loved it! This morning we talked about the discipline of silence, which was very convicting.<br /><br />For the first several nights we had no electricity which meant no hot water, NO LIGHTS AT ALL, and a lot of stumbling around. Lexi reminded us that that is how Africans live all the time in the villages, but it was still very hard to function normally, even with my new headlamp! The blackouts keep happening (I don't know why, this has never happened to me before in Africa this frequently) but it is almost funny at this point. With the return of everyone's luggage after 4 days of no clean clothes, I think we are all just punchy.<br /><br />The Jarrett twins, Kennedy, and I were feeling a little under the weather today, so we came back to the hotel early but are resting up nicely. Natalie has a huge scrape on her shin from a fall down a muddy hill, so please pray for no infection. She stayed at the hotel today too with a bad migraine and stomach problems. Brent stayed home today too, and there may be a few others who are sick. I know Angie is doing a great job with prayer emails, so please keep up with those!<br /><br />Thank you for all your prayers. More updates soon! </span>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-26852955466511796562011-06-30T08:37:00.001-07:002011-06-30T08:37:13.933-07:00Off to Africa!After a "minor" issue with the airline overbooking my seat, I have a spot on the next flight to Houston. I'll have to pick up my bags there and recheck them to Entebbe, but I got a $300 voucher and a free lunch, so I'll take it! Thanks for your prayers--more updates soon :)<br /><br /><i>Zoomba is ready to go to Uganda with us! Bob Henson is our puppet master.</i><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/30/2030.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/30/s_2030.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><i>98 pounds of luggage. Limit was 100.</i><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/30/2031.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/30/s_2031.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-88017092360215104212011-05-28T22:43:00.000-07:002011-05-28T23:03:34.782-07:00Tubur Church Construction<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; "><div class="post-item" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 35px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; text-shadow: rgb(249, 249, 249) 0px 1px 1px; clear: both; background-image: url(http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/themes/envision/images/divider_line.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 50% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; ">How exciting--Here are some pictures of the progress on the church building and Pastor’s home at Tubur. This is the location of the MBC church plant. Apparently, some of the women have already gathered under a tree in this area to learn the word of God together. He is preparing this church for great things!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; "><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-01.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-02.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-03.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-04.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-05.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-06.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-07.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-11.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-12.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-13.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-14.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><br /><img src="http://midlandbible.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Uganda-2011-16.jpg" alt="" class="frame_center" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-right-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; float: none; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></p><div class="clear" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; display: block; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: none; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></div></div></span>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-11305268464367385682011-03-30T15:08:00.000-07:002011-04-01T13:08:25.313-07:00East Africa 2011<span style="font-family:georgia;">As many of you know, I have been blessed to serve and learn from the people of Uganda on 4 short-term mission trips over the last 5 years. In exactly 13 weeks from today, I will get the awesome opportunity to travel to East Africa <em>again</em> to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a few villages in Uganda and Kenya! On June 30th, I will travel with Midland Bible Church to Tuber, Uganda and help plant a church there. My dad and my sister will be with me on that trip which I am so excited about! When the Midland Bible team leaves, I will get to stay behind and continue working at the school I got to teach at last summer. At the end of my trip, I will hop the border and finish up with one last church planting team from Cypress Creek Church in Wimberley, Texas. I met this team in Kenya last year and can't wait to work alongside them again. All in all, I'll be in Africa for about a month. Fortunately, some trip will be financially provided for. However, I still need about $2,500 to cover my living expenses in-country and also to help fund the church building for the new group of believers we are anticipating in Kenya. If you are interested in supporting me, please write your check to Midland Bible Church with "Julie Brown Uganda" on the memo line and send it to my home address: 4904 Polo Parkway, Midland, Texas, 79705. Your gift is tax deductible. Most importantly, I would love your prayers for the month of July! I would appreciate prayers for: </span><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">smooth travels to and from Africa and safety in crossing the Kenyan border.</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">my health as I deal with food allergies in a foreign environment.</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">creativity, flexibility, and an easy-to-understand American accent.</span></li><br /><li>my sweet mom and grandparents as they hold down the fort at home.</li><br /><li>receptive hearts for everyone who hears the gospel on this trip.</li></ul><br /><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">If there is anything I can be praying about for you or your family while I am gone or even between now and then, please let me know via email or Facebook. I will try to keep this blog updated when I'm in Africa, but if you're interested in receiving daily email updates about the trip, let me know. Words can not express how thankful I am for your love and support!</span></p>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-75195756912733347952011-02-19T12:52:00.000-08:002011-05-30T13:41:40.171-07:00Official 2011 Trip Dates!The dates for my trip this year have been officially set! I will be doing 2 evangelism trips (one in Tubur, Uganda and one in Kenya) with one week in between to work at Covenant Primary School and generally help out my dear friends, Pastor Morris Ogenga and his wife, Aida. <div><strong><br /></strong></div><div><strong></strong><strong>Details:</strong> </div><div>Midland Bible Church trip (Uganda): June 30th-July 11th </div><div>Cypress Creek Church trip (Kenya): July 17th-27th </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so excited! The fundraising is beginning next week. If anyone has any great ideas or would like to contribute to either church plant, please let me know! Also, please be in prayer for Uganda as they just had national elections which tend to make the country more unstable and violent temporarily.</div>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-85491431516379704292010-07-27T22:55:00.000-07:002011-05-30T13:43:00.868-07:00Coming Home<div align="center"><em>On a flight home this morning</em></div><div align="center"><em>and I can't help but stare at You.</em><br /><em>My face pressed against this little window,</em></div><div align="center"><em>the sky explodes in praise to You.</em></div><div align="center">-Bethany Dillon<em>, Waking Up</em></div><br />Here I am in Amsterdam once again! I will be home at 6:20 tonight (Wednesday) and I am so excited. It has been a fantastic trip, especially joining up with the Wimberly team for the Kenya church plant. What a blessing! Even though I have only known these people a few days, they feel like family and I will be so sad to leave them. The first sunday at the new church in Akala was incredible. As expected, the mzungus were pushed out the door because so many villagers came to participate in the worship, sunday school, sermon, and the comissioning of the new pastor. These people will be in my prayers forever! It is amazing what a bond you can form with a third world village in a few days.<br /><br /><div align="left"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574055980582386578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt872roQEbwgBzm40hNvBd9T-SPxxxzOSIFpaCGkIdBsxDqAFNrsNREaTq51c2FaEzQye_BZgvGgXRiLfPgrfnlsjy6xn29ZxR8tfVXBDPntC7tkbVEXIg2n3b6ySJoGVu2NWwRFkl2Gaq/s320/crusade.jpg" /><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The safari was SO FUN! The whole time we drove around the park, I couldn't believe that it was actually happening to me. We saw zebras, flamingos, monkeys (lots), rhinos, a giraffe, antelope, water buffalo, and lots of other things. Even some kind of rodent I had never seen before! It was a big treat, even though my camera died at the beginning of the trip. We were all so, so amazed at the animals and the scenery. I was thinking how excited God must have been for us to enjoy his art so much!</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574056255454256978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah5Ov55szVKZ97hXHcMnHt_BCr4-q1nNfVxup836WDX4B1J1cqbyxwIak_vV-NbkMTLsj4wThGr6Q-gi1WgSDsbr8jwdmITbzihnhvgVXMvoXeYJOs6NDE-zyzmMF9pBieDd1KTJ06jTx/s320/monkey.jpg" /><br /><div align="left">I have a full heart and a lot to think about as far as how Africa fits into my future plans. I am excited to see my family and friends. Only a few more hours on a plane and I will be HOME!</div>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-59852341156081777852010-07-23T21:49:00.000-07:002010-07-23T22:02:56.716-07:00Kenya!<div align="center"><em>Turn your eyes upon Jesus</em></div><div align="center"><em>Look full in His wonderful face</em></div><div align="center"><em>And the things of earth will grow strangely dim</em></div><div align="center"><em>In the light of His glory and grace.</em></div><br /> Well, I made it safe and sound to Kisumu, Kenya. I have joined a team from Wimberly to plant a church in the village of Akala. Yesterday was my first day on the trail and I loved it! Church plants are what I am used to in Africa, so this felt so normal. The team is an incredible answer to prayer...it has been hard to pour out so much spiritually for the past month without getting a lot of encouragement from other people. It's an amazing blessing to be with likeminded, sweet, white people who understand me! I love African people dearly, but it is a huge treat to be with this team. They already feel like my family. I spent time praying with a few of them this morning and I feel so, so blessed. Thank you Lord!<br /><br /> Kenya isn't much different from Uganda, as I expected. People here in Kenya treat visitors a little differently...they always invite them into the house (there are actually houses here along with the huts!) and have a long conversation. Instead of the 20-something houses I would be able to share with in a morning in Uganda, we have visited about half that here. At first that disappointed me, but I actually really value that conversation time!<br /><br /> There are a lot of rumors floating around about the church. Aida says other churches in the area are spreading them because they don't want their members to leave and go to the new church. Every single person I talked to yesterday asked me if that church was for devil worship...AFTER I finished the gospel presentation. It seriously surprised me every time because I was thinking, "Why would I be talking about God and Jesus if this church was to worship the devil?". Very confusing. One man I talked to had a flashlight in his lap and I asked him how it worked. He said that he shines it in a dark place, like under furniture, and then he can see everything underneath. I told him that the light of Christ was the same way. The church isn't hiding in shadows, we are proclaiming our intentions and the good news of Jesus openly. I told him to come and check it out for himself, to "shed some light" on what he thought was surely a deep, dark secret. I hope he comes to the crusade today. Please pray for those rumors to be uncovered and destroyed.<br /><br /> I have one more trail day and then the first sunday at the brand new church. I will be back in America in 5 days!Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-66181947182912651702010-07-21T05:40:00.000-07:002011-02-15T15:01:08.767-08:00Last Day in Uganda<div align="center"><em>'Tis mercy all immense and free</em></div><div align="center"><em>for oh, my God, it found out me.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Amazing love, how can it be</em></div><div align="center"><em>that Thou my God should die for me?</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div>This afternoon I said goodbye to all the kids, teachers, and staff at Covenant School. This morning was a wreck--I planned a super fun treasure hunt for the kids so I could creatively give them some school supplies, but it did not go off quite like I had planned. I was seriously ready to throw in the towel and quit early! But this afternoon when I was chatting with one of the teachers outside before I left, Faith came running out of the classroom and said in her little African accent, "Teach-ah Julie, I will <em>miss</em> you!". She was followed by lots of other kids. There were a few tears from a little girl named Gift, and lots of kids saying "God bless you Teacher Juliet!". I cried too! I am so sad to leave these kids! Saying goodbye to them was so hard. What a precious thing it was to be able to spend 3 weeks building relationships with children halfway around the world. I will miss them dearly.<br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Faith & Gift</em></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574054743858444338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KnWdIRs37ilS41dEviT7QMCq63MA0CduhCogdEk-MZL_SqkowHCCHK-uO45lznwremAFif_nJtJBnpqbi5ynbKWlUee43KzmGaB9NE4rdXm1EgiyCBbGE1oth9bf3z8OcliPjVcbwfhL/s320/faith.bmp" /><br />I also have a vision, though. Covenant school is an awesome place, but it could be even better! I spoke with the headmaster about what the school's greatest needs were. One of the things he mentioned was a library. I completely agree! The P1 class has a total of about 10 books for all of the 39 five, six, and seven-year-old new readers. Most of the kids have the pages memorized, so it's not very good reading practice. I kept wishing I had some Bob books to let them read...remember those?? Anyway, I think God is going to provide great things for Covenant in the future as a result of their faithfulness to train up children in the way they should go.<br /><br />Yesterday afternoon I got the treat of visiting a Catholic babies' home. The sisters there are raising almost 40 children under the age of 5 who have been abandoned by their parents or left orphans because of the AIDS epidemic. They always need help, so it was easy to jump in and feed kids bottles, play (we had to get creative since they had about 2 toys for 10 kids), fold cloth diapers, etc. for a few hours. I loved it!<br /><br />Tomorrow morning around 11, I will leave for Kenya (wish I could remember the specific town). Please pray for safe travel and for my one or two days of house-to-house evangelism. Pray that the Lord opens doors for the team to share with people, and pray that the hearts of MANY are open to receive Jesus as their savior! Evangelism is one of my favorite things to do-- I am so amazed by the love God continues to show me every day, and I can't wait to tell people that it is free and they can have it too!Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-57702575662468331782010-07-19T06:54:00.000-07:002011-05-30T13:47:16.929-07:00Walking Home<div align="center"><em>"If I sing quite loudly," she told herself, "I shall not be able to hear what the Fears say."</em></div><div align="center">-Hinds Feet on High Places</div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Walking home with a crowd of Covenant kids is truly my favorite part of the school day. Today, one of my favorite little girls named Faith (her sisters are Hope and Charity) decided to walk with me even though she usually takes a motorcycle taxi home. About 7 of us started walking home and we had such a great time talking about what they learned at school. We stopped on the way and everyone got a special treat from my favorite street vendor...chapati! It is not rare that we walk through a herd of cattle on the way home. Today when we saw the sea of cattle on the road, little Faith grabbed my skirt and said, "Teacher, I fear cows." Poor thing! I told her that there was no other way to go home but that what I usually do when I'm scared is sing. I asked her what she wanted to sing, and she sang,</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><em>I'm gonna conquer Satan</em></div><div align="left"><em>I'm gonna travel over him</em></div><div align="left"><em>I'm gonna chase him away</em></div><div align="left"><em></em><em>And I'm gonna tell him pack, pack, and go.</em></div><br /><div align="left"><em></em></div><div align="left">So, so sweet. Faith was really brave today!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">We are still learning about Hudson Taylor in the 3rd grade class and they get so upset when the story leaves them hanging. One kid today even came up to me and whispered, "Can you tell me what the special surprise for Hudson is going to be? I promise not to tell anyone." They are so into it! Today on the way home, we saw a chicken retaliate against another chicken who chased it and they got into a huge chicken fight. Lots of squawking. A girl in P3 who was with us shouted (very seriously), "Be nice to that chicken who chased you, like Hudson Taylor was to the people who chased him!" I am still laughing about that...one of the funniest moments of my trip so far.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">I am feeling so much better now. Those antibiotics are awesome! I only have 2 more days at school and I leave for Kenya on Thursday morning to meet up with a team from Wimberley, TX to do a church plant! </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx7_Mvc0Reo1kLYbgHuOTi7JIH063INOasERhvkKoJUImLQkvKsTofkxDXHwXW0udP5KiIQb-qAn2KWqNL8VQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-15192827806316302002010-07-17T22:19:00.000-07:002010-07-17T22:44:56.187-07:00Oh, for grace to trust Him more!<div align="center"><em>"Just from Jesus simply taking life and rest and joy and peace."</em></div><div align="center">-'Tis So Sweet</div><br /> The past 2 days I have been sick...an upper respiratory infection like I had last year when I was in Uganda. It's better than a stomach bug, but still really hard to deal with. I tried to tough it out for a day, but I finally ended up taking my first dose of the high-power antibiotic last night. I already feel better this morning, and hopefully I will keep improving! Being sick in Africa has been very hard culturally. The people here don't seem to understand concepts like taking naps in the middle of the day if you're sick. Also, they love physical touch so they don't understand that people who have fever get unbearably hot when you are up against their body. It is a personal offense to refuse food that someone has offered you, so saying no to the spicy, tough goat meat last night was a difficult experience.<br /><br /> I went to the market yesterday and bought some things I've been wanting, like an African newspaper. It was very entertaining to read! I also bought some tea and sugar to take back to the states. Since I have been several times now, the market "experience" feels fairly normal to me! It felt like going to WalMart back in America...I saw lots of people I knew, especially kids in green striped school uniforms saying, "Teacher! Teacher!". It was so fun! To get to market, I ride on a boda-boda...a motorcycle taxi. I am not brave enough to sit to the side like ladies are supposed to do. I don't know how they stay on! I still can't believe I do that on a regular basis. It is so scary that usually all I do is close my eyes, hold on, and pray, "dear Jesus, dear Jesus, dear Jesus" because that is all I can think. Haha!<br /><br /> My dear friend Rebecca let me borrow 2 of her <a href="http://www.cefonline.com/">CEF</a> books to help teach the kids here. I have really used the one that has big illustrations of Bible stories. It is perfect for Sunday School and Bible lessons at school. Last week at school I started one of the missionary story books with the P3 class. It is about Hudson Taylor and the kids are really into it. I love it, too! Yesterday I read through the whole story a couple of times. I love the ways that God used Hudson Taylor for such an incredible advancement of the gospel just because he was willing to trust Him for every little thing! The book includes a Hudson Taylor quote: "God does not do His great works by large comittees. He trains somebody to be quiet enough, and little enough, and then He uses him." Wow. It really is a sweet thing to trust Jesus, because He knows exactly what He is doing!Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-77075114931496884542010-07-16T09:02:00.000-07:002011-02-15T15:10:41.505-08:00Rain, Rain, Go Away<div align="center"><em>"He's done so much for me that I can not tell it all."</em></div><div align="center">-Namatala worship song</div><br />Yesterday at school was so, so much better than it has been lately. As a teacher, I have been given full reign to discipline the kids but I really didn't know how. They don't really understand/respond to the concept of time out. I tried taking away recess time but they are so sneaky, and in a class of 50 second graders, it's easy to sneak out without me catching them. I have the option of "caning" them with a big cane pole but that just seems a little harsh to me, plus I don't really know these kids. Yesterday one of my favorite students named Rebecca was acting up during P.E...I asked her to be quiet several times and when she didn't I ended up swatting her little bottom! Ahh! I hated it, but that got everyone's attention. I don't think it even hurt her but from then on everyone understood that I was a REAL teacher. Both the students AND I had a great day and I'm hoping for more of the same on Monday! I only have 3 more days left at Covenant before I go to Kenya.<br /><br />It has been raining almost every day here. Yesterday I was walking home with some of the I Choose You kids from Namatala and it started POURING. We started running and singing...it was so fun! I invited them to our house and they came inside the courtyard with me for some shelter. We feasted on fruit snacks and they dried my hair with a towel and tried to get the mud off of me (so sweet). When one of the little boys was rubbing mud off of my leg, he turned to his friend and said,<br /><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>"look, Teacher has fat on her legs like a pig!"</em></div><br /><div align="left">Seriously! Uganda doesn't do a lot for my self-esteem :)</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 292px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574053994980194418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7sjyANYUVxfeeps8JLdFO9gDHfQOj-x1ckjDkdHWoELP7Jz7iqAiXrrgcDuyeSOJ3nzf7mIesIlyssSi1o-fXYkglDhh1Y8ZISjbzewv9Ww8ENollA3kViMAmNHNL_9Y2ZYOAxkzK-oR/s320/rain.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"></div><br />Today I watched the local music competition which Lulwanda Children's Home was a part of. All of the kids did wonderfully, and I have videos if anyone sponsors a child there and wants to see him or her! Also today, I led a Bible study for the women at Namatala. I shared my testimony and it was a really special time. These women truly have NOTHING. I want a faith like theirs! The way they trust and serve God is incredible.<br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Thank you to those of you who prayed for our little runaway Betty. She has returned to school and her family. We appreciate your prayers that nothing like this happens again!</div>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-81061663374298559922010-07-14T20:29:00.001-07:002010-07-14T20:56:40.230-07:00Runaway<div align="center"><em>"Maybe success is measured best by nothing less than our obedience."</em></div><div align="center">-Jimmy Needham</div><br /> Yesterday morning I woke up to find 3 people sitting in the living room, which is not unusual. Almost every day someone is here at 6 or 7 waiting for Morris or Aida to wake up so they can talk to them. Such a busy life this family leads! <br /><br /> Anyway, these people were here to report to Aida about a missing girl. One of my students in P1 (1st grade) class at Covenant School. Her name is Betty and she is 6 years old. She is part of the <a href="http://www.ichooseyou.net/">I Choose You</a> program, which is a ministry that takes children out of the slum (Namatala--very close to my African house, I walk there often.) and provides education and basic needs for them. They have not seen Betty since Tuesday morning. Apparently this is not an unusual occurance. Several I Choose You kids have struggled with the transition between the slum of Namatala to the good life they've been given. These kids have dug in the rubbish heaps for food their entire life, so when someone offers them good food, clothes, and a private education, they don't really know what to do. What a perfect analogy of my spiritual life! I have been given so much but I'd rather dig for rubbish and fall back on a life of sin than take the FREE GIFTS I have been given. Aida says she tells the runaway kids that if they just took a few more steps past the rubbish heap, they would be at the school. So close, yet so far away. Please pray for Betty and her family. Her sister was the one encouraging her to go into town and look for trash at the hotels. Pray that Betty is safe and that she will come home to the good life soon.<br /><br /> On a lighter note, I washed my own clothes yesterday with Eva!! It took SO long and I don't think that is an African experience I want to bring back to America. About halfway through, my hands started cramping up and I was really wanting a washing machine. I thought I was doing pretty well, but it turns out as I was putting clothes in the rinse bucket, Eva was rewashing them because I didn't do a good job. Aida said that if a man saw me washing like that he wouldn't even pay 1 cow for me as a bride price. She said I am only worth a pig! We discussed my qualifications as an African bride and laughed about that for a long time.<br /><br /> I have had some hard school days lately, but coming home to the precious 4-year-old son of the lady that rents from Aida cheers me up SO much. His name is Marvin and he always comes yelling "Julie" (not mzungu) and he is ready for hugs and kisses. Even when I'm tired, one of my favorite parts of this trip is playing with Marvin and his brothers!<br /><br /> The rough school days have made me challenge the idea that I am being a "successful" teacher. Sometimes it seems like the kids aren't learning anything at all, but I can't think of a better way to teach them that fits with their system of education. I'm trying to remember that loving people and being available is what I am here to do, and if I can do my best at that, that's all I can do.Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-74464596808973102442010-07-12T07:57:00.000-07:002011-04-01T13:18:50.750-07:00Not the queen anymore!<div align="center"><em>"Go everywhere and tell everyone the happy news! </em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>Tell them I love them so much that I died for them. </em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>It's the Truth that overcomes the terrible lie. </em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>God loves His children. Yes, He really does!"</em></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">-The Great Comission, </span><a href="http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jesus Storybook Bible</span></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Thank you for praying. A barrier broke yesterday with my African family...I was finally allowed to eat with them as part of the family. Even though Ugandans find it impolite to speak while eating, it was still SO NICE to have company! I love NOT being the queen of this household. I was even allowed to cook with James and kill a chicken! Wow. </div><br /><p></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590711148174467410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgyzkHULJbRSIFlrSxIIa4gYaq9ueFBmhyphenhyphenrmMGRZKLOoH8QgWQKZY91k3wvQScmPLkOaMxWrh1n00nYKKbCmYOCm5n-mwOi_55lelqSUg8cig2LyAOnv3Y8DzqcNH0E2TT2dAiQeVeaA0/s320/chicken+picture.jpg" /> Speaking of cooking, I am eating so well here. So well, in fact, that my headmaster at the school said this to me today... <br /><div align="left"><em>"You are getting so fat! You will go home and your mama will be so happy that Ugandans feed you well."</em> </div><br /><div align="left">Only in Africa.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Another great quote story: For those of you who don't know, I love cows and I love to talk to them when I drive past them on the highway! I saw a really cute cow when I was going somewhere with my friends Jared and Eva, so I waved and said, "hello, Cow!". Then Jared looked at me and said, </div><br /><div align="left"><em>"Oh my, do American cows know how to wave when you greet them?"...</em>haha!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">The best part of being in Uganda is getting the undistracted opportunity to love people. I get to spend all day serving kids and teachers, and it gives me energy instead of making me tired! I am so convinced that what Jesus did for us really is happy news, and my goal every day (more than teaching kids how to read or write) is to show His love to these kids around me. I'm praying they will know Jesus intimately and know that His love really is the truth that overcomes any lie. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">I sang in the church choir yesterday. Big adventure, but this girl can keep up with the moves AND sing in Luganda at the same time! WHOOP! What a victory, all thanks to the grace of God (really, I mean it).</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">PS--for those worried about my proximity to the multiple explosions in Kampala, I am safe and sound. We are praying for the families of the many people who died.</div>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-85991217082056515512010-07-10T11:50:00.000-07:002011-05-30T13:44:26.089-07:00MZUNGU<div align="center"><em>"Thy free grace alone</em></div><div align="center"><em>From the first to the last</em></div><div align="center"><em>Hath won my affection</em></div><div align="center"><em>And bound my soul fast."</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><div align="left">I finally got to talk to my family tonight and it was just in time! I have been struggling the last few days with lonliness...the people here are so friendly, but there is such a culture barrier that I have a hard time breaking through. I love my African family, but there is nothing like understanding and being understood in the good ol' USA!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">School is going so well. I walk there and back every day (only about 15 minute walk) and I have been enjoying my time teaching, grading, and making charts for the walls! The kids are great...they understand that I am their teacher and they need to respect me, but they also love to have fun with me! Our lunch break is 2 hours long so I usually eat with my fellow teachers or the headmaster, play with the kids, and watch a group of older students play tag rugby (coached by a white guy!). </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Today I went into town on a motorcycle with my friend Eva and the cook (more like CHEF...he makes the most delicious food, and so much of it! I think he is fattening me up to eat me at the end of my trip). It was interesting to experience all the smells, colors, and sounds of a busy market! I felt very African, but I still can't avoid all the stares and people calling me a "MZUNGU"--white girl! I got a little tired of that label, so I asked Eva what the word for "native Ugandan" was...now when people yell "mzungu! mzungu!", I say, "muganda!". They get a kick out of it.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Tonight I practiced with a real Ugandan church choir! My friend Paul (he lives next door and calls me Black Girl) is the choir master and he was even excited to learn some of my American choir songs. Somehow I got talked into singing with them at church tomorrow...I'm sure everyone will LOVE watching the white girl try to dance and sing at the same time.</div>Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-81462475832677730332010-07-07T11:51:00.001-07:002011-02-15T15:12:27.645-08:00Week 1 ReviewI now have internet and will be able to update more often...probably more often than I need to! I am here in Uganda and LOVING it. I'm healthy and getting lots of good food and rest. There is way too much to tell! Here are a few adventures I've had so far:<br /><br />1) Met 4 American girls and spent their last few days in Uganda with them. That made my transition to Africa life much easier!<br />2) Killed a chicken (more like...watched).<br />3) Experienced a "Say Yes to the Dress" episode in my living room...Mama Aida rents wedding dresses to brides and we had so much fun getting Beatrice ready!<br />4) Went to an African wedding. In my Chacos. In the rain (more like hurricane).<br />5) Started teaching full-time at Covenant Primary School. I teach kindergarten-3rd grade (Reading, Bible, Art, P.E., etc.) and I love it.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574057949845028978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlC8WcVDDJ1pQWsD-MofZxCn6DCwbXLCyXjQcWzKv6e0rEV7DEluii6H9PCCbD4xxiHFXMS-oYXi_vGEbLjni-wKWSXic9amKEJB2g7sSuLp85c84ONsJC6n3-u6OzI5wiO290SRs13Vuc/s320/jsb.jpg" /><br />Currently the best part of my day is reading to 4 of the Ugandan kids that live with us. We read under my mosquito net every night out of the Jesus Storybook Bible. Oh, I can not think of anything sweeter than kids climbing into bed and asking to be fed God's Word! I am so blessed.<br /><br />I will update again soon!Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-86381823234711493382010-06-30T23:36:00.001-07:002010-06-30T23:43:11.958-07:00Morning in AmsterdamHere I am in Amsterdam after somewhere between 9-12 hours of flying (I lost track)! I sat next to a nice man from Moscow who spoke very little English but had some good things to say about America. I was looking at one of those airplane magazines with him andhe pointed to a picture of a state fair and said, "shark to tourists"...it was a tourist trap! He even made shark teeth motions with his hands. So fun.<br /><br />The Loftises, the Bobos, Matt, Collin, and I are all here safe and healthy. The next leg of our flight will land us in Entebbe, Uganda where we will meet up with my host family and 8 South Africans. Prayers for another safe flight, good sleep, and reasonable plane food (a luxury, I know) are appreciated :)<br /><br />PS--Blogger is in Dutch here. It's a good thing I've posted before or I wouldn't be able to figure it out!Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174186718628291716.post-64375511897776240662010-06-23T12:59:00.000-07:002011-04-01T13:09:02.327-07:00The Packing RoomA week from today, I will be on a plane flying to Uganda for the 4th time! I am excited but a little anxious. This trip is so different than any other I've been on, but I'm looking forward to all the new adventures God will bring my way. Currently, the guest room is the "packing room" and it is covered in clothes, gifts, medicine, and teaching curriculum. Since I only have about 2 weeks between Africa and move-in day at Texas A&M (Whoop!), the guest room is also home to dorm decorations, sheets, and 70 pink clothes hangers. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486063807205667586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMAVl7N0rM5abk4ofb__PavXSdHfcmKKqcI8HL1KVtxCQx5aosWpwEY3T2ZrcnDfAnD-KtllLIpQKdQXcEq1rfGQo8vMDsa-QKdPRlUh2-PkujLh5-UsFijVHfa7CvOeRR9kcH6CA3j1z/s320/summer+2010+006.jpg" />Julie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844302789324297412noreply@blogger.com0