God is in the details!

it's Tamra, again :)

Can you believe we leave for Uganda in 12 days??!! I'm very excited and ready to go! I would say there is a lot to do still, but really the only things left to do are going to be done in the last few days before we go. So, other than normal routines, we don't have a lot of rushing to do, yet. 

Let me tell you about a few things that God has worked out for us:

1) Tyler left for Camp His Way today. That might not seem like a big deal, but it's a total God thing. All 3 of the kids have been to Camp His Way since Raegan (the oldest) was old enough to go. They all went every single year until they were too old. This year was supposed to be Tyler's last time to attend. Unfortunately, our church group is going to CHW the same day that we leave for Uganda. Tyler was going miss his last year of CHW! It was disappointing for him but even worse because he'd be the only one to ever miss a single year; however, he had accepted the situation and was excited to go to Uganda. A little more than a month ago we found out that a home school group from a near-by town was going to CHW from May 28-June 1 and they had plenty of open spots! Through our many years of CHW, I had a small connection to one of their adults and I inquired about Tyler going with them. Not only would they be glad to have him, they would work him into their carpool! Since I'm still working this week, it would have been very difficult if I had to drive him. So, today he loaded up with a group of people that he has never met and headed to CHW. I wish I were with him because I love CHW!! (I've been as an adult chaperon the last 3 years.) Needless to say, we know that God provided this opportunity to meet a desire of Tyler's heart. Perhaps it seems insignificant in the grand scheme. Missing camp would certainly not be the worst thing to happen to Tyler and many kids never go to camp a single time, but God cares about our desires and He made it all work out!

2) Raegan has desired to be the voice of the puppet during VBS at our church for a few years. She really hoped that this year might be her chance. I have no idea if that would have happened, but she wouldn't even get to find out because we'll still be in Uganda during the week of VBS. Since we learned that we'll be staying at New Hope, we have been in communication with the leader of a short term team that will be at New Hope during our last 2 weeks in Uganda. During that time, one of their activities is a VBS for around 400 kids. The wonderful lady in charge of VBS sent me an email introducing herself and I replied letting her know that the kids are willing to do whatever she needs and that Raegan particularly enjoys acting. The very next day, she sends me an email saying that she will definitely have the kids help in different skits, games, crafts, and songs; however, she has one particular role that needed to be filled. ARE YOU READY FOR THIS??? She asked, "would Raegan be willing to be the VOICE OF THE PUPPET all week?" Would she be willing? Little did this stranger know that for some reason it was the desire of Raegan's heart to be the puppet at VBS this year! Now, not only is she being the voice of the puppet, but she's being the voice during 2 week-long sessions of VBS-one for younger kids and one for older kids. She'll have plenty of opportunity to be that puppet. God is definitely in the details of our daily lives and gives us the desires of our hearts, when we first seek to do His will. How well does He orchestrate details? GET THIS: the VBS in Uganda is the EXACT same week as the VBS at our home church in America. The very week that she so badly wanted to be a puppet, she will be!

3) When I replied to this wonderful lady and let her know that Raegan would LOVE to be the puppet, I told her a little bit about what I just told you above. She replied with such an amazing email. She had began to feel overwhelmed with all the preparations for their mission teams (they are going early, like us, but for different reasons). She was feeling concerned about getting all of the details in place and having so much on her hands. My email was a reminder for her that God is in the details. While God was meeting the desires of Raegan's heart, He was also encouraging and re-energizing another of His children; one that we haven't even met in person yet. 

4) The same short term team that is leading the VBS in Uganda, also has another interesting thing going on. They have an eye doctor from Wisconsin (if my memory is correct) who is coming to Uganda to do a vision clinic for the hundreds people at New Hope and the surrounding communities. He has never done this before and is not bringing his own team to help. Well, if you recall, Kim and I have played primary roles in the vision clinics with our church planting team for the last 2 years and we'll do it again this year. So, we were asked if we'd be willing to help in whatever capacity the doctor needs and to give feedback based on what we've experienced in previous years. Of course we said yes! We are looking forward to the opportunity to do similar work in a different setting, under different leadership. It's always fun to see how other people approach similar tasks. How cool is it that we have some experience and will be in the same place as this eye doctor when he needs help? Again, God is in the details! I love that He pulls all of this together and we don't even know it's coming.

I know this has really gotten long, so I'll cut it off. Please join me in praising God Almighty and thanking Him for loving us enough to meet our needs (and some wants)! Thank you, Abba Father!

One last note: God also continues to provide for our financial needs. The Stanley family only needs $2344 to be fully funded. I'll let Kim tell you where she's at. If you'd like to partner with us financially, please click on "Get Involved" at the top of this page. There you'll find a link to give online using debit/credit card or check. It's tax deductible and a very secure process through our church. 

Also, you can see our prayer needs by clicking on the prayer section at the top. 

Thanks for hanging in there on this one!
~Tamra

Ditto :)

I am so excited for how the Lord is working out all the details for us, and I just had to piggyback on Tamra's post (so yes, this is Kim). It is amazing to see all the pieces fall into place, and to know that God's plan was so much better than ours. It's kind of comical when you think about how many months we've been planning and preparing...to have it all fall apart and come together totally different in just a few short weeks. We have no doubt that this trip will be packed with "water-walking encounters with the Living God" (to quote our missions pastor).
I also wanted to share a praise with you as we continue to trust the Lord to provide our funding. I am now only $900 away from being fully funded!!! I hope that you'll consider joining us on this journey as we seek to serve the Lord this summer.

Mukama Yebaziwe (Praise the Lord!!)

Answered prayers! Mukama malungi!

Hey everyone, it's Tamra again.
I am excited to tell you that The Lord has been good to us yet again! We received confirmation today that we do have a place to stay while in Uganda. Apart from the time that we are with our church team for the church plant trip, we will be staying at New Hope Uganda. They are a ministry that has been operating in Uganda for 25 years. We have heard many great things about them and are excited to learn from them and serve with them. We contacted them less than 2 weeks ago and they have worked diligently to make room for us. They are a busy ministry, yet they have graciously accepted us and made room for our team of 6. They will be picking us up at the airport in Entebbe on June 12th.

As of today, we leave in only 19 days! I can't believe it! Time is flying. I admit that I'm counting down the days. I am ready to board the plane. Well, to clarify, my spirit is ready but we still have lots of preparations to make. 
Our funding is coming along but we still need help. The Stanleys need $3800 to be fully funded. While we don't really discuss it in detail, I feel comfortable to say that Kim still needs about $2000. 
If you do the math, that is $5800 that we need to receive in only 19 days. A huge number to us but a small task for the Almighty! Pease join us in prayer for support and for preparations to be smooth. 

If you'd like to join us with financial support, please click on "Get Involved" at the top of this page. You'll find a link for us and for Kim that will allow you to give using an electronic check or a debit/credit card.

Here are some current prayer needs:
1) our team members that will connect with us on July 5th. Many of them are going to Africa for their first time. They are in the midst of raising support and preparing for a life changing experience. 
2) our partners at Victory Living Word Church in Kawempe, Uganda. They are also preparing for the church plant trip.
3) the local people in every village that we will serve. Pray that their hearts are made ready to receive the message of Christ and that they will receive word of the clinics to come so that they can receive the care that they need; whether it is medical, dental, or vision. 

I'll leave you with that, for now. 
I say again, Mukama malungi! (God is good!)

so much uncertainty!

first let me say, this is Tamra :)

It's amazing how time flies. We leave for Uganda in only 26 days and we are already trying to get ready around the house. We don't want to leave the house with anything that could be a problem when we get home. We'd just like everything to be clean and organized when we leave. It is only partially a necessity. You see, I wonder what happens when you leave a house in Texas sitting with no air on and no people moving around for 2 months in the hot summer. Will we come home to a house full of rodents or roaches? I have no idea, but the best I can do is make sure that we don't invite them by leaving a mess behind. 

As of last Friday, we have no idea where we'll be staying when we get to Uganda. As I said, we leave in 26 days and we have $5400 of support still needed. I'm not sure how much Kim needs but I'm pretty sure it's at least $2,000. Last Friday, we found out that the home we were supposed to stay in needs over $2,000 in work to be "livable." Of course, it doesn't make sense for us to spend that much money to stay in a house for only 5 weeks. Unfortunately, that means we don't have a place to stay at all. We can stay at a hotel, but that would be our last preference. If we did, it would be a very basic, inexpensive hotel near the church; but we'd rather be in a village with people. We have been in contact with a few ministries hoping that one of them might have some space and maybe even some work we can do to serve while we're there. 

As it stands, we all feel confident that God has a plan that he just hasn't revealed to us yet. Not one of us has any thought that we should change our flights or cancel the extended stay. Speaking for myself, I think I should be stressing out or worrying, but instead I have a peaceful, calm feeling. I just feel that God is telling me to trust him. I know that he has already chosen people to give the remaining funds that we need; whether it's a whole bunch of his children that are going to give a little bit each or a few people that are going to give a big chunk of the need. I'm guessing it might be a combination of both, but the details really don't matter. :)

If you feel the slightest bit prompted to give, please do. You'll be glad you did and we will appreciate it more than you could imagine! To give financial support, just click on "Get Involved" at the top and you'll be able to choose a link to give online.

Also, we need prayer. Pray for us to know where we're going when we get on that plane. Pray that we are flexible and at peace no matter how things work out. We know that God always has a plan and we are enjoying the opportunity to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). 

Partners in Prayer

A note from Kim...

I was talking with some of my coworkers yesterday and we began discussing books we've recently read. Well, I quickly dominated the conversation by telling them about the book my life group just completed...Transforming Prayer, by Daniel Henderson (and yes...that is a not-so-subtle plug for the book)! My mom had been telling me that I needed to read this book for months, and I'm so thankful that I listened to her! :) It was very challenging to read, but one of the most encouraging and inspiring books I've read. Obviously it was challenging because it pointed out all the struggles I have with prayer. But after each chapter, I desperately wanted to spend more time with the Lord to get to know Him better. Since it's had such an impact on my life, I decided what better thing to share with our partners in this upcoming mission than some of those same challenges and encouragements! 

These are some of my favorite quotes from the book...
1.) I am convinced that true believers carry an unquenchable appetite for legitimate life change. We hunger for worship encounters with His holy presence that mark us and make us more like Jesus. Can I get an AMEN!!!

2.)  Everything in our life finds proper value once we have properly valued Him. We take time for what we value. And we behold what we love. It is not the duty of beholding that changes us, though, but rather the beauty of the one we behold. (Ken Gire) This makes me think of Moses asking God to show him His glory!!! May that be our prayer as well.

3.)  We do not need a smoking mountain, a set of laws, or Moses' veil. We have all we need in the truth of Christ's redemption, the presence of His Spirit, and the invitation to seek Him at any moment and in any place. 

4.) Graciously, the Lord has taught me that the only enduring motive for prayer is that God is worthy to be sought. Again, this is a worship-based motivation. I may or may not feel like praying. The prayer time may be energized; it may be dull. The answers to prayer may be apparent; they may not. Still, God is worhty to be sought.
 
5.) We spend more prayer energy trying to keep sick Christians out of heaven than trying to keep lost people out of hell. (James Walker) OUCH! This is the one that hit me the hardest; especially as we prepare for this upcoming mission. I was challenged to think about how often I really pray for the lost. Please join with us as we spend our "energy" praying that the name of Christ would be proclaimed to all the nations.

I could probably go on and on quoting from this book...but then there would be no reason for you to read it yourself! :) I really do encourage it...but even more, I encourage you to look at your own prayer life to see if you are just seeking God's HAND, or if you're seeking God's FACE! There's a big difference, and it's a lesson I'm learning daily! 

May He alone receive all the glory!