"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7
Scenario Number One:
Since the first week of arriving in Uganda, I have been getting eaten away by bugs. My entire body is covered in bites. Everyday I seemed to be getting more and more. I applied bug spray multiple times a day, but that didn't seem to help. This past Thursday night, I woke up at 1:30am and discovered a small bug crawling up my arm. I began searching my bed for more bugs and found three more just like the one on my arm. I captured them in a small plastic bag and was told Friday morning that I had bed bugs. The interesting thing is that no one else in my family has bites nor have they ever had a problem with these bugs. Apparently bed bugs are a huge epidemic and my mother was told it wouldn't even be safe to bring my suitcase home. It is extremely difficult to get rid of such bugs in the states with the heightened technology let alone getting rid of the here in Africa. I was highly concerned and was at a loss of what to do to get rid of them.
Scenario Number Two:
I found the bed bugs Thursday night and so Friday night, my friend Andrina and her family so kindly allowed me to sleep at her house for the night. In the morning, I was going to start scrubbing all my belongings and spray everything clean. Not even half way through the night, I had to wake Andrina up to escort me to the latrine (bathroom) outside. I no sooner made it outside and started throwing up. From Friday night until Sunday morning I was extremely sick. I couldn't drink water without getting an upset stomach let alone look at food. Consuming any type if food this whole weekend was a huge no no. I felt very weak. I wanted nothing more than to lay down and sleep, but I couldn't because of my bug problem.
Meanwhile, my family woke up at 5:00am Saturday morning, carried out everything from my room and began scrubbing it all in boiling hot water. When I came home and they found I was sick they wanted nothing but to comfort me. My sister offered me her bed. They made me food, despite me being able to eat. Thankfully, my brothers and sisters were able to eat it for me. All day long they catered to me. I started to doze off on the couch and my mom even told my sisters to go outside so they don't desorb me. My parents had an event to go to during the afternoon and weren't expected to return home until later in the night. They arrived home a little after 7 just because they wanted to make sure I was doing well. Two of my friends from America bought me juice from the market and came over to sit with me as well. I was a mess all weekend. While I was a sick mess and in the midst of an extreme bug problem, I had amazing family and friends there to pray for me and comfort me.
I felt so bad because I couldn't help clean my things or help with chores around the house or even eat the food or drink the tea they prepared for me. If I wasn't sleeping or talking with my mom on the phone, I was reading my bible and spending time in prayer.
God's Provision:
I am 100% sure that God has called me here to Uganda at this time. I have never been so sure of anything in my whole life. He has so much in store for me here. The Bible says that every good and perfect gift is from above and it doesn't take an Einstein to recognize that bed bugs and sickness aren't a good or perfect gift. John 10:10 says that the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. To me, I think my weekend issues seem to fit more into that category. As I spent time in the word and praying, God reminded me that he cares and comforts me even more than the ways in which my family and friends were comforting me. God loves me so much and would not have sent me to Uganda to make me sick or cause any other problems. I am walking in my destiny and Satan is trying to snatch that away. I refuse to keep my eyes focused on these earthly problem. I fix my eyes to the heavens and I know that God has the power to transform anything. "Do not be anxious." "Rejoice always." "Present your requests to God." "..a peace that passes all understanding."
This morning I woke up a still a little sick. By the time church was over, I felt so joyful and healthy! I don't have any new bug bites! I was able to eat breakfast and drink tea! I am not bound by sickness and God power is greater than my mind can comprehend. When you stay fixed on Christ, Satan knows he doesn't even have an opportunity to mingle into your life. There's a joy and peace found in the Lord that can't be found anywhere else. Today, I feel so incredibly loved. I feel so secure in the place where God has sent me. Tomorrow can worry about itself. I know my God and I know of the works he is capable of doing. It only takes a little faith and little drawing near to the heart of our Father to shut the Devil down. Today, I will rejoice, and if I ever find myself troubled, I will again rejoice, thanking God for all of His goodness.
Per usual, I know many of you have been praying for me and I am so incredibly thankful. I am praying for you all daily! Stay loved and stay blessed! ....And don't forget to rejoice!
Also, for everyone's pleasure here's a glimpse of my 4 year old sister dancing. She's usually much more into it, but she got a little camera shy :)
SEVEN SECOND VERSION!
My weekend sucked. Sick. Bed bugs. But God is faithful, always faithful. When you rejoice in Him, nothing can get in the way of his peace and blessings.
Meanwhile, my family woke up at 5:00am Saturday morning, carried out everything from my room and began scrubbing it all in boiling hot water. When I came home and they found I was sick they wanted nothing but to comfort me. My sister offered me her bed. They made me food, despite me being able to eat. Thankfully, my brothers and sisters were able to eat it for me. All day long they catered to me. I started to doze off on the couch and my mom even told my sisters to go outside so they don't desorb me. My parents had an event to go to during the afternoon and weren't expected to return home until later in the night. They arrived home a little after 7 just because they wanted to make sure I was doing well. Two of my friends from America bought me juice from the market and came over to sit with me as well. I was a mess all weekend. While I was a sick mess and in the midst of an extreme bug problem, I had amazing family and friends there to pray for me and comfort me.
I felt so bad because I couldn't help clean my things or help with chores around the house or even eat the food or drink the tea they prepared for me. If I wasn't sleeping or talking with my mom on the phone, I was reading my bible and spending time in prayer.
God's Provision:
I am 100% sure that God has called me here to Uganda at this time. I have never been so sure of anything in my whole life. He has so much in store for me here. The Bible says that every good and perfect gift is from above and it doesn't take an Einstein to recognize that bed bugs and sickness aren't a good or perfect gift. John 10:10 says that the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. To me, I think my weekend issues seem to fit more into that category. As I spent time in the word and praying, God reminded me that he cares and comforts me even more than the ways in which my family and friends were comforting me. God loves me so much and would not have sent me to Uganda to make me sick or cause any other problems. I am walking in my destiny and Satan is trying to snatch that away. I refuse to keep my eyes focused on these earthly problem. I fix my eyes to the heavens and I know that God has the power to transform anything. "Do not be anxious." "Rejoice always." "Present your requests to God." "..a peace that passes all understanding."
This morning I woke up a still a little sick. By the time church was over, I felt so joyful and healthy! I don't have any new bug bites! I was able to eat breakfast and drink tea! I am not bound by sickness and God power is greater than my mind can comprehend. When you stay fixed on Christ, Satan knows he doesn't even have an opportunity to mingle into your life. There's a joy and peace found in the Lord that can't be found anywhere else. Today, I feel so incredibly loved. I feel so secure in the place where God has sent me. Tomorrow can worry about itself. I know my God and I know of the works he is capable of doing. It only takes a little faith and little drawing near to the heart of our Father to shut the Devil down. Today, I will rejoice, and if I ever find myself troubled, I will again rejoice, thanking God for all of His goodness.
Per usual, I know many of you have been praying for me and I am so incredibly thankful. I am praying for you all daily! Stay loved and stay blessed! ....And don't forget to rejoice!
Also, for everyone's pleasure here's a glimpse of my 4 year old sister dancing. She's usually much more into it, but she got a little camera shy :)
SEVEN SECOND VERSION!
My weekend sucked. Sick. Bed bugs. But God is faithful, always faithful. When you rejoice in Him, nothing can get in the way of his peace and blessings.
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your illness and insect issues, but I am glad to hear you are doing better!! Even in the darkest times, you seem to pull yourself out and look for the good. It seems like your African family treated you well and as their own. Continue to heal and talk to you soon....
Kim