The desire for VARIETY!!!!!

I went to pick out something to wear the other morning from my "closet" (AKA a shelf...I've got one shelf of my own in a cabinet to store all of my stuff). Obviously I was very limited on the amount of clothes I could take with me for this 5 month trip! I'm now craving some VARIETY in my wardrobe. Then, I began to wonder why. Why did I want variety??? The Western world REALLY gives us variety...too much variety, if I might say, we abuse variety!! Seriously, how many different brands of peanut butter do we need...or scents of perfumes/lotions...or types of cars...or different brands of tomato sauce??? However, I believe God built us to embrace variety, he wired us to want/desire variety. Look how many types of animals and BUGS He made...types of spiritual gifts...types of people and nationalities He created, etc. Back to my wardrobe variety craving issue :) Soooo has the Western world corrupted me or am I just wanting to embrace how the Lord made me? One thing's for sure, I'm certainly NOT going out to buy clothes to satisfy this variety craving...I've been blessed with more than I need :)

However, we get a VARIETY of ministry activities here in Uganda...it's awesome!!! We do everything from visiting HIV affected families and hospital ministry (which I've blogged about before), doing random street ministry, school ministry, serving in churches every Sunday, playing sports in kids orphanages every Saturday, getting classroom teachings by pastors every week, attending small group in a Ugandan home every week, working at baby orphanages, prison ministry (which my group hasn't done yet), building projects, devotions, random ministry in the slums, some nights the international team has a time of worship when we get home (one of the guys plays guitar and rocks!!), and sooooo much more!!! Lots and lots and lots of variety here, I LOVE IT!!

Also, meeting a VARIETY of people and truly making amazing connections!! I uploaded just a couple pics to show you just a few of them (it takes forever to upload pics here) :) They are on the right hand side and below I've tried to briefly explain who the people are :)

1. This is Martha, who I wrote about several blogs ago. She's one of ushers at the church that I'm assigned to serve at every Sunday. I LOVE all the ushers there...but Martha and I had a unique, instant bond!! If you ever want to catch a glipse of me freely singing and dancing for my Jesus, you can find both Martha and I every Sunday at all 3 services :)

2. There are about 12-15 people that I'm "super-close" with that are a part of the 360 program with me, and here's 4 of them:

Kiara- just graduated law school!! She has such a witty sense of humor, very wise, and very mature. We have extremely similar spiritual giftings and I just love hanging out with her!!
"Tall Brian"- (who is not pictured yet but def worth mentioning)is soooo sweet!! I love talking to him and getting to know him more. If I ever have free time, I'm always hunting him down to learn more about him and his life. Humble, pure love for the Lord, rough life, but unbelievably well-mannered and grateful, and giving. He is also giving me Luganda lessons everyday! :)
"The other Brian"- who IS pictured here, looking all GQ (I yelled at him for not smiling showing his teeth because he has a beautiful smile), but he's soooo personable...has a real gift to talk to anyone and everyone. Spiritually mature and just an all around cool guy- so fun to be around!
Mercy-is drawn to me and I'm drawn to her! She's a very special woman of God, and has a true hunger for the Lord!! She's passionate, loves the Lord with everything she's got, very mature, sweet as can be, and any break we get during class...she's finds me, pulls up a chair and asks me to start sharing with her. When I ask her what she wants me to share...she's says, it doesn't mater...a verse, a word of knowledge, discuss something with her, she needs some help understanding a scripture, or sometimes she wants me to share about my missions experiences (Mercy has a desire to reach the nations!). It's unbelievable how the Lord connected us and the depth we have gotten to in this short time period!!! AMAZING relationship!!

3. Sue- meet one of the internationals (one of my 3 roomies)!! She's 30, an engineer, and from Switzerland. Sue and I have connected A LOT, likely due to the closeness in age. We have spent many evenings alone together on our little cabana thingie outside discussing things! Sue's a new believer-just came to the Lord about 8 months ago! Love her enthusiasm and passion...it's contagious :) We've spent evenings talking about the Lord, diving into scripture, talking about dreams, talking about our past and how far the Lord has brought us...but most nights are spent in deep discussions about the Lord!! She recently told me that often she watches me....she sees when I get up a little early to read the Word...when I slip away to be by myself to pray...when I journal...when I slip away to pray some more...I just do them, having no idea anyone is actually watching me...but she told me that it reminds her to go read the Word or to pray more often. So, this is a wake-up-call, be aware...you never know when people (especially new believers) might be observing/watching you!! I love Sue and there's a bond that has formed that will never be broken :) She's an amazing person and it's just incredible watching her blossom over here :)


Sorry this blog was a bit longer! Thanks for reading and keeping in touch!!

Love you all!!


Living to Glorify Him,
Michelle