the little things

Well...where do I start? How do I even begin to describe this place and all the things that we have done and seen and heard and smelled and touched? It's literally impossible. However, I can attempt to rehash some of the most precious moments from today...(to be honest though, they are all AMAZING!)

This morning started out a little before 7am...I woke up and ran downstairs to see the sunrise. But, of course, I missed it again! Elicia and I were up before almost everyone and even got to go pound on the door to wake up the "freaks" (chuck and Justin). Breakfast started later today and Emma (a boy - our driver) was on time (that never happens) despite the rain and thunder.

We headed out to Ssenge first thing today, for the last time. Chuck and Maswaa went to working on the roof right away and powered through all day...whether the trusses fit or not didn't seem to matter to Maswaa. He just wants it "tip it straight" and for Chuck to look at him. But they got them up. (Chuck was praisin' the Lord!)

While the roof was being worked on everyone else reformed a human chain and we tossed the rest of the brick pile on down the line...brick-by-brick. The boys were a great help. They are such hard workers. We also had a few extra hands, some of the guys from the Kampala house came and helped. And we finished the pile before snack time.

After snack/break time there wasn't a whole lot to do...other than finish putting up the trusses on the roof, but only a few guys at a time can do that. So some of the boys went for a drive with Lutiya (the guy who started African Hearts). They love driving around!! Elicia wasn't feeling too hot so she spent the afternoon trying to get some rest and watching the action from the front "patio" and talking to boys as they bustled about.

I had the awesome opportunity of learning how to cook chapate (similar to tortillas, but better!) with Moreen (an absolute saint and the most amazing woman ever). She is a great teacher and is incredibly patient. I am not a good cook, but it was fun to spend time with her and learn something new and Ugandan :)

At one point, once I was done cooking, I went outside and played soccer with some of the boys - they made goals with the safety net from the trampoline (they are so creative and don't waste anything). Of course they are all much better than me and go easy, but I still suck. During our game though, two of the little neighbor girls from the end of the driveway came over and stood by the net. I went and said "hi" to them and they instantly clung to me and wanted me to hold them. I happily lifted one into each arm and walked towards their mother who was at the "house" (it is more like a small storage room made with brick and has a tin roof and plywood door).

She was all smiles and giggles when we arrived. The girls were also grinning from ear-to-ear. Neither the girls or the mom spoke hardly any english, so it was extremely difficult to communicate with them. Fortunately, I did learn the kids names (but I cant pronounce them or even really remember them) and was able to just hang out with them while the mom cooked lunch (jack fruit) in her "kitchen"/3-sided shed. I decided to run back to the house and grab some candy and jewelry for the family. Before I left though the mom graciously gave me one of her jack fruits, I tried to decline but she insisted.

When I returned I gave each kid (there were four - a set of twins 4 yrs old, a 3 yr old and 9 yr old girl) and the mom a necklace or bracelet along with some starburst and other candy "sweets". They LOVED it!! One of the necklaces was a cross that said "Jesus Loves Me" and I told them that. Later I heard the mom tell another girl that the necklace said Jesus. It blessed my heart as she said it with a huge grin (missing a front tooth) and excitement beaming out of her.

This part of the day was by far my favorite. The boys even came and played for awhile, along with several other children from the village. It was blast. I didn't understand them and they didn't understand me but we enjoyed each others company.

Before I left I was playing with the girls and spinning them around, they were cracking up!! It was hilarious. I even set one down and she started spinning herself around. She was laughing, falling and having a bawl. Her mom couldn't stop laughing! It was brillant!

I departed with many hugs and smiles and "thank yous". I walked away with 3 avocados and a filled heart! Moments like these are what I am here for. Trying to show who Jesus is by simply loving those around me. I don't even have to speak the same language because, through Christ, I can speak with my heart and my actions. God can, will and does use anything we give Him. Even candy and pictures (they love having their picture taken!!).

There were several other moments that were gifts from God today but I won't blab on about them too. However, they did include: taking pictures with and of the cooks (making funny faces), jumping on the trampoline with the boys, eating sugar cane and talking about life, running out of gas on the way home and saying some very bittersweet goodbye's. These people hold such a special place in my heart and I am going to miss them terribly. Especially sweet sweet Moreen.

I wish I could better capture the Glory of God shining down on this trip and even through this place. Yes, there are some dark and sad scenes EVERYWHERE and yet I find a great sense of joy here and through the people. The simplest gestures can light up their whole world. It's unimaginable and unexplainable. But I love every moment.

I am thankful, blessed, undeserving and blown-away that I get to serve God in this way. He is doing a big work in me, on my heart and through my team.

Thank you all so much for your powerful prayer, excellent encouragement and staggering support. We love you all!

3 days!

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

Grand-love!

the picture says it all. a grandpa cant help but love his grandbabies. and a grandbaby cant help but be utterly adorable! Just thought I would share the love. :) this broke my heart in the best way possible.

My trip with dad

Packed and ready to go I was so excited to go to Pocatello, Idaho with my dad. It was 4:30a.m when we left but I can assure you I was not tired! To excited, I get to spend five days just me and dad at a place we both love a rodeo! So after a ten hour drive we made it! We checked in at the hotel, ate dinner, got dressed, and was at the rodeo with in an hour and a half of arrival. At the rodeo I took stats. ( times and scores.)When we got back to the Hotel I was to tired to swim so I crawled into bed, read my book, and fell fast asleep. Great first day.

The next morning, we woke early, ate breakfast, and headed out to the golf course for the cowboy scrambler. We had a team of 4 dad, a friend Edie, Martian, Jerry, and me the golf cart driver. We had fun there golfing, driving the golf carts, and throwing snow balls at a rivaling team. Even though I almost crashed the cart three times not know it was in reverse, or I put the gas on to hard. But we lived and got third place in the tournament. Once we got back to the Hotel I finally got to dive in that pool I have been eyeing since we arrived. But only for a limited time cause it was time to head for the rodeo. Where I ate the best apple and peach cobbler for dinner, and other food to like meat. :)

Another day with its full schedule of meetings, but not for me, the only meeting I have is with the pool. It was as long as four hours. :0 Then a rodeo that night! Got to love it.

The last day and two rodeos today. One in the afternoon and another that night. The night will tell us who is the champion of the events and the winning circuit. We got 5th so not to bad. We had the winner bareback rider so that was good.

Then it was time to head out. This time not tell about 5-5:30ish a.m to get to my mom, sister, brothers, and animals. Even though I had one of the best weeks in my life I was happy to be home. Thankyou for having such a great time with me dad.

Love,

Charsie.

Loving Baby!

Yesterday Reece and I had to go to the doctors office for a check up and a few shots(that's what we thought anyways.) When we get there they were just doing the normal check up stuff the weighing the height and all that good stuff. I was up first so I went on the little bed and she checked my breathing and all when I was done it was Reece's turn. He gets on that table does everything PERFECT! I have never seen him so calm!

Then the nurse left for what we thought was only going to be two shots for Reece and one for me. Well Reece needed four and I needed three. We wanted Reece to go first so he didnt know what was coming. He went up there not even thinking and he got his shots in the legs, two on each side. It was so sad hearing his cry of hurt "mommy ouchy ouchy!" with the loudest screams! So sad. Well it came my turn. I got up and Reece suddenly stopped crying turned around and said "sissy ouch sissy I sorry! "Ooooooo sissy!" It was so sweet of him to put his own pain aside as a little two year old caring for his big sissy even though it didnt hurt me nearly as bad as it did he!

Afterwards I gave him a big hug and a kiss to assure him I was ok. Then he remembered his own pain. But it was so loving to know he doesnt only care for himself in these kind of situations but others as well.

Love you Reece,

Love Chars.

New Blog

Hey anyone and everyone!

My team (for Uganda 2010) has started a blog that we will all be posting on before and

throughout our trip. If you would like to read it and keep up with not just me, but the rest of my

amazing team, check it out www.goseeserve.blogspot.com . . . it is pretty cool to be able to follow

what's going on in the hearts and minds of those I get to go serve with! So please take a minute

and read what's up. Thanks!

Love, lashae

10 things about me

I have been told I need to do this too so here we go.

1. I am the third child of five and I LOVE having so many siblings!!! Lashae is my only sister and I am so glad I have here shes the best! She wouldn't trade me and I couldn't possibly trade her for the world!

2. My favorite color has been and always will be purple. Love it like Lashae loves pink

3. I have never met anyone with the same name as me which I think is fun.

4. I ADORE all kids! I could play with them forever!

5. I LOVE the Lord with all my heart I didn't go to the alter every Sunday but I would ask him into my heart every Wednesday at awanas.

7. Animals are my favorite! Can't get enough of any of them dogs and horses being my favorite but I love them all.

8. I do many sports Cross country, I love to run! Basketball, don't why I love it so much but I do! Rodeo, who wouldn't love it? 4-H, pigs are the best and they have the funniest personalities.

9. I love to bake and cook! Brownies are my all time favorite! But my cousin Ashton makes anything fun to make.

10. Last but not least, writing is my all time favorite subject.

That was fun! Like Lashae said you should do it to even if you don't have a blog you could just write em down or maybe post it on face book.