I am counting my reasons...

...to be thankful!

 For the past four or five years, I have had a Thanksgiving tradition - to write 100 blessings for which I am thankful, sometime on Thanksgiving Day. I love the song "Count Your Blessings" and I find it very good to literally count my blessings, all of which are from God. So, here is my list of 100 Blessings for this Thanksgiving. (Note: Beyond the first 11 or so, the blessings are not necessarily listed according to priority.)

I am thankful for...

1. God - my Saviour, Heavenly Father, Redeemer, Creator, Healer, Provider, and so much more!
2. Salvation - a gift I can never repay, but one that causes me to live and love in gratitude.
3. God's Word - that encourages, convicts, teaches and exhorts me.
4. My loving, supportive and encouraging parents, who above all, pointed me to Jesus
5. My beautiful, talented and ever-so-sweet sister (who will be celebrating her birthday the day after Thanksgiving).
6. The opportunity to live and serve here in Uganda. It has been such a blessed experience.
7. My fellow missionaries - for their example, dedication, friendship and support.
8. The entire SHIM family - as diverse as we are, we share a united vision for transformation of the islands.
9. My wonderful friends and family back home who support me with their gifts, as well as prayers, counsel and encouragement.
10. My special church family at Westport Community Church.
11. Wonderful friends who have blessed me with their steadfast love and friendship.
12. Sunsets - Like the gorgeous one outside my window.
13. Wonderful advances in technology that allow me to keep in touch with folks around the world, like Internet, e-mail and Facebook. :)
14. Music - that lifts my spirit, encourages my soul and points me to Jesus.
15. Seasons - though they are not so evident here in Uganda. :)
16. Rain - such a precious gift here.
17. A place to sleep, eat and live that is comfortable. No, it doesn't have running water, but is that a necessity? ; )
18. God's faithfulness throughout my life.
19. The lively worship of Ugandans - I love it!
20. Coffee - every good morning begins with coffee. :)
21. The beauty of Uganda - it's so green!
22. My five senses.
23. The way God has shaped me - for His service!
24. The students of Lingira Living Hope Secondary School - they completed their third term today.
25. The dedication of the Lingira Living Hope teachers - to their students and their God.
26. The shepherds (pastors, elders and others) that God has placed over His flock.
27. My big sister and mentor, Karina (Thomas) Smith, whom I have known since age seven and who has been a big influence in my life.
28. The rest of the Smith family, too - Andy, David and baby on the way!
29. New life - spiritually and physically.
30. Chocolate - God did a good thing when He created chocolate. :)
31. Past experiences, which God has and is using today.
32. The church - the body of Christ where I find fellowship, encouragement and a place to worship God.
33. Solar power - which enables me to use my computer, have lights and keep my chocolate cold. :)
34. Rainwater - a huge blessing, especially when it is caught in one of our tanks.
35. Smiles - what a beautiful enhancement of a face. :)
36. God's creation - from the most fragile flower, to the most majestic and interesting creatures, to the bounty and diversity of trees, clouds, and so much more!
37. Past heroes of faith who inspire and challenge me by their examples.
38. God's forgiveness, which enables me to walk in freedom from guilt and fear of judgment.
39. Drinking water - pure, fresh water to quench the thirst!
40. Laughter - that brightens our faces, lightens our burdens and is good for our health. :)
41. God's sovereignty that works all things together for good to those who love Him.
42. Macaroni and cheese - that traditional American food that is a delicacy here. :)
43. Those who are enduring and have read this far.
44. God's promises - which He always keeps!
45. God's provision - I have not lacked for He knows my needs!
46. Order and structure - that keep this earth turning and enable other spheres of our lives to continue running.
47. Our Founding Fathers and others who established America as a Christian nation.
48. Young people - I love their energy and enthusiasm, especially when they are using them for God!
49. Prayer - to share my heart with God and to hear from His.
50. Health - a true gift from God.
51. Encouragement - which comes in various forms and from many sources. :)
52. Great authors like A.W. Tozer, Elisabeth Elliot, C.S. Lewis, and so many more!
53. That I am halfway through this list! : )
54. The blessings God has poured out on Shepherd's Heart International Ministry (SHIM) this year to enable the ministry to continue and accomplish some big projects.
55. Faithful sponsors who enable our students to go to school.
56. God's goodness, which He pours out on me, whether or not I deserve it.
57. Miss Amanda who has been a great roommate and friend!
58. Light - because it would be terrible to always be in the dark.

An outdoor Thanksgiving feast? Yes, please!

59. A very happy and blessed Thanksgiving celebration - with good food, good fellowship and a great focus on God and all of His blessings.
60. That I am not somewhere where it is cold and snowy. : )
61. Mashed potatoes - let me just say I hope they are included in the wedding feast in heaven. : )
62. Popcorn - another heavenly food.
63. Photographs - capturing special moments and people!
64. The color blue - it is just beautiful, what more can I say?
65. Colors overall - our God is so super creative to come up with so many different colors.
66. Chance encounters - which are actually ordained by God.
67. Older Christians who are still enthusiastically and passionately serving Jesus. I met one today and I was truly blessed.
68. Eyes - Windows to the soul. They can tell you a lot about someone and are beautiful, too.
69. Frogs - cute creatures and some of my favorites.
70. Hymns - We sang a few today as part of our celebration and I was so blessed to sing my heart out and reflect on the words, after quite a few months of not singing them.
71. Hot showers - a rare treat here. : )
72. Different nations, races, cultures and tribes - God created and loves all of them!
73. The opportunity to learn new things and especially to learn from others.
74. Blogs - I am blessed, encouraged and inspired by the blogs I read which are authored by my Christian friends.
75. Boundless Webzine - I have often been encouraged by this ministry. (Visit http://www.boundless.org/)
76. Old friends, and new ones, too.
77. Memories - special treasures of the past.
78. Ice cream - my favorite dessert!
79. An education - not an opportunity every person has.
80. Rice - my favorite food! I think God designed my tastebuds for Uganda. : )
81. God's protection - something I too often take for granted.
82. Puppies and kittens - pretty much any baby animal is cute. : )
83. Hope - In God's promises and in a glorious eternity.
84. Computers - they make my job much easier.
85. Rest - for recharging.
86. My grandparents - though they are all gone, I cherish the memories of time spent with them, and the heritage they left.
87. Holidays - a time to celebrate, remember and be with family and friends.
88. Mistakes - and thankful I can learn from them. :)
89. Quiet - what it is right now while everyone else is in bed. : )
90. Soap - what a dirty world this would be otherwise.
91. Freckles - I have 'em and I like 'em. : )
92. Gifts - to be able to give and to receive.
93. The privilege of growing up in the small town of Clatskanie. : )
94. The blessing of being homeschooled.
95. That God created me to love words.
96. Wafers - one of my favorite Ugandan desserts (hazelnut flavored is the best). : )
97. The assurance that God knows my past, my present and my future.
98. Thirty years of life.
99. Undeserved kindnesses - from God and others.
100. That I have 100 reasons (and more) to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

A 2010 Thanksgiving sunset

Obsessed with Light

 About every 4-6 weeks, we get an unwelcome visit here on the island. The lake flies, which resemble large gnats, descend upon us.

 For several nights last week I had two choices in the evening, sometime around 7 p.m., - stay in light and be "attacked," or take cover in my stifling mosquito net. After suffering for a bit, I eventually took the second option.

 According to Wikipedia, these bugs are called "chironomidae" and have a global presence. Elsewhere they are known as "sand flies," "muckleheads," "muffleheads," "blind mosquitos," or "chizzywinks." The names make them sound much cuter and more interesting than they really are. : (

 Wikipedia also says, "This is a large group of insects" that has "over 5000 described species and 700 species in North America alone." Wow, talk about humungous family reunions!

 I have heard that these obnoxious bugs have a lifespan of only 24 hours, so after a long night of obsessive swarming around lights, they give up the ghost and leave their bodies scattered all over our floors, windowsills, etc. "When large numbers of adults die they can build up into malodorous piles," says Wikipedia. "Malodorous" basically means "large and stinky."

A "malodorous" pile of dead lake flies, swept out of the dining room and on to the veranda.
 Yes, they have a peculiar quirk - they are obsessed with light - any light: light bulb, computer screen, cell phone, power switch - well, you get the idea.

 As Amanda wisely pointed out, there are other bugs that much prefer shadows and darkness, like mosquitos or cockroaches - yuck!

 I guess if I had a choice of which I would rather be compared to - lake fly or mosquito, I would choose the lake fly. Even though they are pesky and I am so relieved they have finally left the island for awhile, I believe they can teach a valuable lesson.

 "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." - John 3:19-21

  "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." - I John 1:5-7

  I can't say that I am "obsessed" with light like the lake fly - not like I should be. I often fear letting God shine His intense and penetrating light into my heart because there are some shadows and darkness there. But God's light is meant to expose and "kick out" the darkness. The I John passage above says that when we walk in the light we can have sweet fellowship with fellow Christians and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from the sin that has shadowed our hearts. God wants to eradicate the darkness and replace it with His loving and truth-upholding light. Then why should I fear the light? I shouldn't.

 In God's light I find the Saviour's cleansing forgiveness, the Father's forgiving embrace, the sweetness of fellowship with other light-lovin' believers, the truth that sets me free, and so much more!

 I think those lake flies are wise - be obsessed with light - God's light!

Believing So We May Truly "See"

"The world says that 'seeing is believing,' but God wants us to believe in order to see. The psalmist said, ' I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living' (Psalm 27:13 NASB). Do you believe God only when your circumstances are favorable, or do you believe no matter what your circumstances may be?" - C.H.P.

"May God grant us faith to completely trust His Word, even when every other sign

points the other way." - C.H.P.

"Great faith is exhibited not so much in doing as in suffering." - Charles Parkhurst

"Indeed, there is nothing God will not do for those who will dare to step out in faith onto what appears to be only a mist. As they take their first step, they will find a rock beneath their feet."

- F.B. Meyer

"Trusting even when it appears you have been forsaken; praying when it seems your words are simply entering a vast expanse where no one hears and no voice answers; believing that God's love is complete and that He is aware of your circumstances, even when your world seems to grind on as if setting its own direction and not caring for life or moving one inch in response to your petitions; desiring only what God's hands have planned for you; waiting patienty while seemingly starving to death, with your only fear being that your faith might fail - 'this is the victory that has overcome the world'; this is genuine faith." - George MacDonald

"We must be willing to live by faith, not hoping or desiring to live any other way. We must be willing to have every light around us extinguished, to have every star in the heavens blotted out, and to live with nothing encircling us but darkness and danger.Yes, we must be willing to do all this, if God will only leave within our soul an inner radiance from the pure, bright light that faith has kindled."

- Thomas C. Upham

"...And Abraham thought of himself as a father, because God had said so. That is genuine faith - believing and declaring what God has said, stepping out on what appears to be thin air and finding solid rock beneath your feet. Therefore, boldly declare what God says you have, and He will accomplish what you believe. You must, however, exhibit genuine faith and trust Him with your entire being." - from "Crumbs"

 "The Lord only builds a bridge of faith directly under the feet of a faithful traveler. He never builds the bridge a few steps ahead, for then it would not be one of faith. 'We live by faith, not by sight.' (2 Cor. 5:7)" - Henry Clay Trumbell

Softened by the Rain

  Pitter, patter. Pitter, patter. As I write, I hear the faint sound of raindrops on our tin roof. I am hoping they increase and give us a nice, loooong, really wet rainshower.

 Last week we were becoming a bit concerned. Though we are supposedly in a wet season, it wasn't so evident. Our red dirt was dry and hard. Our thirsty plants appeared to be shriveling up, and our water tanks were also devoid of the wet stuff. Yes, we had some rain - but little showers were not enough to quench this thirsty land.

 Being a girl who hails from the Northwest, a place which hardly ever seems to lack rain, I never really thought I would be so desirous of those liquid drops.

 We prayed, and we asked our friends across the ocean to pray for rain. And, God heard. The other night - it rained, no, it poured. For about 45 minutes straight, God opened the storehouses of heaven and softened our soil, watered our plants and filled basins, jericans and our water tanks! Hooray! We were so happy!

 It is funny how dry, hot weather can make you so appreciative of rain!

 I personally feel as if I have been going through a "desert time." My spiritual life has become hard like our soil was, my faith has been shrinking up, and my tank of energy and vision is becoming empty. But, I am learning that God works in the desert times, as much, if not more, as in the times of rain and fruitfulness.

 And, just like He provided us with rain here on the island, He also knows how to bring refreshment in the spiritual desert.

 Last week by invitation, the Shepherd's Heart staff joined the area staff of YWAM (Youth With A Mission) at a beautiful YWAM base near Jinja. It was both YWAM and SHIM's weekly prayer day, and we joined forces to seek God over several topics. One issue that lay heavy on the hearts of both organizations and their members was a broken down YWAM base that at one time offered medical services to the people of the upper islands, but had been abandoned for a couple of years.

 We divided and conquered - listening to hear God's voice regarding the future of this base and SHIM's involvement in its restoration. It was a blessing to hear from those gathered that there was still hope for this once-forsaken place and it could be revived to once again provide vital services to people who desperately need them.

 After this time of waiting upon God, the entire SHIM team that was present was invited up front to be prayed for in regard to this opportunity and our overall ministry in the islands. My heart was softened by my tears as these precious people laid hands on and prayed for me and my SHIM family. I felt renewed, refreshed and restored - able to go on and serve as God had called me.

 God knows how to bring rain, especially in the desert.

 "We never know where God has hidden His streams. We see a large stone and have no idea that it covers the source of a spring. We see a rocky area and never imagine that it is hiding a fountain. God leads me into hard and difficult places, and it is there I realize I am where eternal streams abide."

- Streams in the Desert, pg. 262

6

Something Better - The Best

  Detective, actress, radio station DJ, writer, inventor, teacher… As a little girl I dreamed of becoming one or a combination of these. Some were mere dreams, while others were seeds for things I actually would become.

  During the last two weeks I was meeting with a group of our sponsored students. They are the top class at our island’s secondary (high) school and they are preparing for their final exams, and then life beyond the island. I asked them about their desires for the future. Without fail, all said they wanted to continue their studies at the next secondary level, called A-level, like junior college. Because of poor grades and/or lack of money, this just may not be possible.

  It may mean taking a less-popular path and instead going to a vocational school or institution. All have big aspirations - to be a doctor, an engineer, or a teacher. Not going on to A-level pushes those dreams further into the future or out of their path completely.

 I tried to explain that if they fail to continue to A-level , it does not mean it will never be in their future, just perhaps not now. I tried to explain that God may give us dreams and desires, but we must be willing to trust and wait on Him for their fulfillment.

  I recently read an excellent article, entitled “The Things I Won’t Be,” written by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin, and posted at: http://www.boundlessline.org/articlesbysuzanne_hadley.html. In the article she tells of the dreams she once held: to marry young, to be the first of her siblings to marry, to be a young mother, a youthful grandmother, etc. When those dreams appeared delayed, or even out of the realm of possibility, she had a choice: 1. Be bitter, or 2. Wait for the better – the dreams God had for her.

  She told the story of Ruth (personally one of my favorite Bible stories ). Ruth left her dreams of remarriage, children, and happiness in her home country, to follow and support her bitter mother-in-law Naomi as she returned to her homeland of Israel. This not only meant Ruth was abandoning her dreams, but this choice also meant she would be living in a country where she was seen as an outcast and a foreigner, further limiting her prospects.

  I don’t think the Bible really tells us what motivated Ruth to so loyally follow Naomi. I wonder - what kind of inner struggle did she endure as she turned her back on her homeland, to loyally follow her heart-broken mother-in-law?

  I also have been thinking of Abraham, David, Joseph and others in the Bible. All had dreams. Some were in the form of promises right from God’s mouth. Most, if not all, were not fulfilled according to man’s timing or in line with man’s ideas. But, the fulfillment was far better than the dreamer could have imagined – it was the best. It was the best way and in the best timing.

  You will notice that my little girl aspirations did not include the title “missionary.” I never dreamed of becoming a missionary, nor was Africa among my top five destinations. Even as recently as five years ago, I had no such aspirations. If you would have looked into your crystal ball and told me I would be here in Uganda today, I would have said you were crazy. While I was having imaginations in the realm of the possible, God was on the higher plane.

  Sometimes what God has in mind for us could be called “crazy.” But, only He is big enough to have those big dreams for us. And, honestly, I am quite happy here in a place I never dreamed of being, doing things I had never planned on.

  Yes, I do have other desires that have been postponed, or I am realizing, may never be fulfilled. But, I have a choice – hang on so tightly to them and become bitter when they are delayed or unfilled? Or, let go and embrace God’s best!

P.S. Also, check out Suzanne's article entitled: "Ruth and Me." : )

Faces of Uganda, Part 1

I have discovered that I love capturing the beautiful and expressive faces of the East African people. Most of these were taken on a trip last month to a couple of the upper islands - about four hours into Lake Victoria. 

I hope you enjoy these photos and remember, each face has a story behind it.

More to come later...

"The Amazing Adventures of Missionary Life!"

  In case any of my blog followers are wondering, yes, I am still alive. : )  Busyness and problems with my Internet have kept me from writing here. But, I am back.

 Perhaps, you read the title of this blog and thought, "Oh, goody, what amazing adventures has Ruthie been having lately?" And, I give you a knowing smile. You see, I put the title in quotes because honestly I haven't been having any "amazing adventures" of late. Life has been pretty normal around here.

 This morning, I spent some time in Proverbs 14, enjoyed a breakfast of granola with cold milk (truly a novelty on the island!), and my absolutely-necessary staple of coffee! Then, I headed off to wash dishes - from last night's dinner and some from this morning. I sent a couple of e-mails and checked out a couple of websites, did some re-arranging in our library, burned rubbish, and swept a bit. I am now in the midst of writing a blog post and searching the Internet for information related to the topic of research for one of our secondary teachers. The afternoon agenda includes coming up with a list of computer topics to be taught during this term in our weekly computer classes here at SHIM, getting my hair cut (yay!) by my own personal hairdresser - Amanda ; ), and meeting with a couple of sponsored secondary students.

  Aw, you, say, that sounds rather boring and...kind of like life here in the U.S. Not to burst anyone's bubble, but alot of people imagine missionary life as exciting and thrilling. And, it can be at times, but that is not the norm. It can be routine and tedious. But, that does not mean that the work is not worthwhile and meaningful. And, it does not indicate that God is not at work behind the scenes.
 While the following may not fall under the definition of "amazing," they are some things I have witnessed or been a part of lately. And, I believe they are evidence that God is definitely at work on the islands.
 The Library: With the final release of the items on the shipping container (that arrived here in March after being sent from Seattle at the end of 2009), we were thrilled to begin unpacking the many, many boxes of donated books. Our small library on the island now boasts more than 2050 volumes and includes a wide selection for young, young readers to adults and all ages in between. We have a nice assortment of educational books - from animal science to encyclopedias to a book on every state in the U.S. There are fiction books and a great section for Christian leaders and pastors, books on marriage and family, as well as missions, biographies, and a few shelves dedicated to our audio and visual offerings. Hmm...are you tempted to come check out our library?

 I am very excited for the people of the island, specifically our secondary students, to enjoy and benefit from the many books lining these shelves. And, thank you to any of you who donated to the library. May you find your reward in the knowledge that many will benefit by your generosity!

The Bible Study: After a school break between the second and third terms of the island's secondary school, Amanda and I resumed our weekly girls' Bible study earlier this month. Our first week back we had three girls attend - our smallest number ever. But, that afternoon will for sure remain in my memory as I listened to two of the girls recite John 15:1-17. I was so very excited and proud of them!! The memorization work was part of a "holiday challenge" we had given them before the break. One girl, Fauza, completed the challenge entirely, which meant memorizing the aforementioned scriptures, as well as reading through the Gospel of John and answering questions about each chapter. The other young lady, Betty, did the memorizing and part of the scripture study. Scripture memorization is not done much here, but we have been encouraging our girls to "put God's Word in their hearts." I was sure floating on air after that study!

 Because of the girls' interest in learning how to study the Bible, we are now focusing on some methods of digging into God's Word. I am excited to see their growth and continuing desire to learn of God and His ways.

Church Visitation: Since I came in January, I have joined other SHIM family members on three trips to visit area island churches for a Sunday service. On the most recent visitation, about a week and a half ago, I went with Pastor Robert to Lokale Number 1, to Trinity Church. Since neither of us had ever been there before, we were led by a young girl to the church - constructed of rough wood planks for walls, iron sheets for the roof, and packed dirt for the floor. While we thought a letter had been sent ahead, informing the church of our visit, they apparently never received it. But, the leaders graciously welcomed us, invited us to introduce ourselves and gave us a few minutes to share our purpose (introduce SHIM and learn of the church's needs), and share a brief message. I tried to defer to Pastor Robert to share from the Word, but he handed the baton back to me and I spoke on faith and obedience.

  We weren't sure what to expect after the service. Since the church had no forewarning, we wondered would they be hospitable toward us? However, we were pleasantly surprised by the soda, biscuits and bananas that were shared with us, and even more surprised by the posho, beans and cabbage we were served a short time later.

  Amanda and Papa and Mama O visited another church on the other side of the same camp. The pastor and his wife are former Moslems arnd were eager to learn of SHIM's ministries, especially family ministry, led by the Os. And, the SHIM members enjoyed pork, since the pastor now has a piggery - definite proof that his life has changed! Eating pork and keeping pigs are absolutely forbidden in Islam.

  I always enjoy these church visits - meeting new people and seeing God and His people busy spreading His light in these remote areas.

Prayer Day: Every Thursday, SHIM sets the day aside for prayer. (The only exception is when we have our business meeting on the fourth Thursday of the month.) So, no matter if we are on the island or on the mainland, we try and gather together for praise and worship, sharing of our personal needs, those of the ministry and others we may be aware of, and most importantly, spending time in the presence of our Father. I was so encouraged last Thursday as I gathered with four others of the SHIM family. I came away challenged and encouraged by the words and scripture that were shared, refreshed by the fellowship, and relieved by the burdens we had left at God's throne. It is no wonder that God tells us not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together. We need each other and we need to be refreshed by spending time in God's presence.

 So, while these  examples may not make it into a book like "Amazing Missions Stories," they are still proof that God is continuing His work here - perhaps not always in dramatic ways, but by the patient, persistent work of the Holy Spirit.

 So, I encourage you - you may think your tasks and place are tedious and boring at times. But, if they are what God has called you to, they are significant and He asks you to be faithful. He will bring the fruit in His time.

P.S. I am sorry I didn't include any photos in this post, but my Internet server won't let me upload pictures. So, use your imagination! : )