African Muzungu

I've been looking at pictures of Uganda. I know that probably doesn't surprise you, but what might is that I don't really look at them too often. While I was at school, I didn't reminisce too much since I was way too busy. Now, I'm so busy talking about Uganda, it is rare that I get a moment to really remember my time there. This time, I've been going through my pictures choosing ones to use in my presentations at churches and for my display board. Wow, those were some incredible trips!!! So many faces with so many stories stared at me as I clicked through those pictures again and again. Rose, my translator of several years and African Sister. Justine, my school team partner and singing buddy. Joseph, another favorite translator and fellow keyboardist. All of my muzungu team members through the years. Face after face of people who professed faith in Jesus for the first time with me. It's overwhelming. The Lord has poured His blessing out on me year after yea...

My budget's a go!!! This is a big piece that is finally in place so now I can start contacting pastors and mission boards to set up meetings. I've finished designing my prayer cards and trifolds, and I'm working on finishing up my introductory letter that I'll send out by email and snail-mail. Basically I can throw myself full-time into deputation now! I'm a little bit nervous, but a LOT bit excited! :) I can't wait to see what the Lord will do with me and through me! Right now, I'm at the missions conference at Frontier School of the Bible, and was blessed to lead a workshop on single woman missionaries. Least to say, I've been stretched a bit beyond my comfort zone, but it has also been a tremendous blessing. The girls here have been so encouraging, and the Spirit has been working! I've had some wonderful conversations about deep and at times difficult subjects. I have been reminded over and over again how hard this life can be, but at the same tim...

Ok, here's the personal post :) After my ministry trips, my family and I took our annual trip to Vail, CO for a family vacation. Our family has gone up to Vail every year for as long as I can remember, and I was finally able to join them for the first time in 4 years. Mom did end up getting sick near the beginning of the trip, and was sick for most of it. Partially because of that, we ended up mostly just staying around the condo and resting. It was wonderful. :) I got a whole week just hanging out with my family and recovering from the travel the previous weeks. On the trip back, I started feeling bad myself and ended up with a full blown sickness. I think I must have caught something else on top of my original cold, because I ended up in bed for 7 days. I haven't been that sick since last fall semester, but it didn't seem nearly as bad with my wonderful mother close by to take care of me. There is absolutely no comparison between being sick at school and being sick at hom...

My friends, I am so sorry I have been so negligent in keeping you updated! These past several weeks have been absolutely crazy! I'll try to recap a couple things, but I think I'll divide it into 2 posts: personal and ministry. So here's the ministry part: I was so blessed to take several trips throughout the month of October, including ones to Utah and Grand Junction, CO. Tentmakers had their annual field conference in Utah in which all their missionaries in the area come and share what the Lord has been doing in their ministry. We also had several missionary guests from other ministries come and share what they are involved with as well. What a blessing it was to fellowship with other missionaries of like mind and vision! It was also a privilege to get to meet some of the board members of TBM in person for the first time! I've spent so much time on the phone with some of them, it was a relief to finally have a face to put with the voice :) I was also blessed to share m...

I have news!! It's been a long month with lots of waiting... and more waiting... and more waiting... :) I think I must be a very impatient person, because it seems the Lord is working extra hard to teach it to me lately. I pray I'm learning! So now to the news... As you know, I've been waiting for Mama Aidah to come to Denver for her daughter's asthma treatments. She and Winnie were here for 2 weeks during which they were at the hospital every weekday. The doctors were able to figure some things out for Winnie, giving her some good tips for management as well as supplying her with Acid Reflux medicine to take home with her, which should help control her asthma as well. I was finally able to meet with Aidah on Saturday! We sat down and talked through all the particulars of my living situation and ministry plans then took her and Winnie shopping in the afternoon so they could pick up the items they needed before leaving the country on Monday. So here's what we've ...

Good news!! Our prayers have been answered! I was given a Buick Skylark on Saturday! I have to admit, I'm still getting used to the idea that I actually have my own car. :) After months of praying for the Lord to provide just the right one, He did! I love to watch the way He works! The car itself is even better than I expected or even hoped for. I am truly loved by God. Isn't that just a remarkable statement? I forget too often how much my Lord loves me, so I'm trying to say it differently each time just to make myself think about the truth. For some reason, "I am loved by God" means more to me than "God loves me." I also love, "I am the beloved of the Lord." So incredible! And on that beautiful thought, I will sleep. Thank you Lord, for loving me so abundantly. Thank you for the practical reminders that You care more about every detail of my life than even I could. Thank you for Your incredible provision and unfathomable agape for this one li...

As you know I've been trying to put together details of my ministry in Uganda. I recently talked to Mama Aidah (the pastor's wife I'll be living with) on the phone. She said she'll be coming to Denver at the end of this month to bring her youngest daughter, Winnie, to the Jewish hospital. Our conversation was brief as she was driving from Mbale to Kampala (the capitol of Uganda) so I'm not sure what's wrong with Winnie. Please pray for her overall health and that the Lord would heal this particular concern. Since Mama Aidah will be here Aug 29th, she asked that we wait to iron out all the details until we can talk in person. So I'll be sending her a list of all my questions to go over with Pastor Morris and we'll get things settled in Aug. I have to admit, it was a bit discouraging to hear I needed to wait another month before I could get everything together and start setting up meetings. But I also know that this is all in the Lord's timing, and I h...

Well the Lord seems to love stretching my faith...I figure I'd better learn to enjoy it. With my personality, I tend to LOVE fun in everything I do. Even if something in and of itself isn't the most enjoyable, I'm usually able to find some way to bring fun into that too. So if the Lord intends on making this a life-long habit (as I've heard He's prone to do...) I figure I'd just better find a way to bring fun into this too. It'll make it so much more enjoyable along the way... and plus, if I'm having fun, it's easier to have faith too! Ok, bunny trail aside, here's why the whole thing came up: I've been praying for a car for months now, and apparently the Lord just doesn't think I need it quite as badly as I think I do. I've been looking at several I found on craigslist and they just keep falling through. I thought for sure I had found one that looked GREAT! The guy selling it was saving it for me until I got back from my trip to Atl...

I just finished up my 2 week missionary training today. I have to say I am so sorry to leave these wonderful people. If anyone is looking for a mission board, check into Biblical Ministries Worldwide! (They will be very proud of me for joining their recruiting effort! :)) I have learned so much these past two weeks... things about me, and things about what to expect in my ministry. Funny moment from this week: One morning I got all ready to go. I showered, dressed, had breakfast, and had gathered all my gear. I stood at the door all ready to go, and very proud of myself for the hustle I had made in getting ready. Suddenly a strange feeling washed over me... I was forgetting something. I went through my checklist. Key. Check. Laptop. Check. Notebook. Check. Minty-fresh gum. Check. Suddenly I realized... My SHOES!!!! I couldn't well go traipsing around Atlanta without my shoes! Feeling foolish, I hurriedly grabbed my flip flops and ran out the door. All the missionaries got a hearty ...

Why did the monkey help the fish by taking it out of the water? Sounds like the first line of a joke, doesn't it?? It's actually a study question from a cultural adaptability story. I'll share the story here, but in the mean time, if anyone can think of a good punch line, share it under the comments section!!! The Monkey and the Fish: A typhoon had temporarily stranded a monkey on an island. In a secure, protected place, while waiting for the raging waters to recede, he spotted a fish swimming against the current. It seemed obvious to the monkey that the fish was struggling and in need of assistance. Being of kind heart,the monkey resolved to help the fish. A tree precariously dangled over the very spot where the fish seemed to be struggling. At considerable risk to himself. the monkey moved far out on a limb, reached down and snatched the fish from the threatening waters. Immediately scurrying back to the safety of his shelter, he carefully laid the fish on dry ground. For...

I just flew into Atlanta today for a missionary training school with Biblical Ministries Worldwide. Long story short, I was unable to attend Tentmakers' training because of my finals week at school, so instead I'm getting schooled by BMW. It's a two week program, and it definitely promises to be intense. The sessions range from prayer in ministry to fund-raising, to inter-cultural communication. I'm staying in a guest house of the mission with 2 couples and another gal my age. It's interesting how much more I evaluate what I say and do when I'm living with strangers. It's definitely humbling and convicting. How I long to reflect Christ in EVERYTHING I do and say, and not just be careful because I'm with people I don't know. Quick prayer request: I'm trying to buy a car to get around for deputation. I've been praying about this for months and I MIGHT have found one. It's a 1994 Camry that I could get for $1600. Please pray for wisdom on wh...

Wow! What a week! The past 9 days have definitely been the craziest I've had since leaving school! Recap: Drove for 2 days out to Kalamazoo, MI for the Independent Fundamental Churches of America convention. The purpose was not only to be refreshed by the preaching and teaching of God's Word, but also to make contacts and network with pastors who might allow me to come speak at their church about my upcoming mission in Uganda. Just before we arrived in MI, we received word that a dear, godly man in our church had died. We made plans to leave a day earlier than we had planned to get back to the Springs in time for the funeral. The conference was wonderful, albeit a bit draining. On Thursday my pastor, Jeff, his wife Nancy, and my two friends Catherine and Eric and I all drove through the night to arrive at 6:30 in the morning in the Springs. The family had been so good as to ask me to accompany for one of the granddaughters who was singing an arrangement of His Eye is on the Sp...

Tonight Robert Alderman spoke for the general session here at the conference. He was speaking on the need for greater personal involvement of the churches in their missionaries' lives. He challenged the current deputation system that we have where missionaries travel all over the country asking all different churches (most of whom don't have anyone they know at all) for money to support their ministry. In this system the personal knowledge of the churches and the missionaries is almost impossible. In addition to the ministry suffering, and a lack of accountability, the simple time and cost efficiency is positively impossible. Not only do the missionaries have to travel around initially, but then they must report back to all of those churches spread across America every 4-5 years to give a 40 min presentation that people may or may not remember and get involved in. The strain on the budget is not nearly as important as the strain on the missionaries and their families. Instead, ...

Just wanted to encourage you all to check out the Tentmakers Bible Mission website: tentmakersbiblemission.org... also, if you search for Uganda project under their missions projects you'll find my biography and mission.

What is vision? Many people have been spoken of as visionaries. Is it something to be aquired? Can it be learned? If you're not a person that simply spews forth vision, can you master the art anyway? Hmmm. The thoughts of Melanie's mind without sufficient sleep. I've been thinking about my vision for ministry. Being here at the conference I have ample opportunity to share my passion and heart for the people of Africa, but how do I pass on the vision of a ministry I don't even have yet? So, I have been crafting a short paragraph of the vision I have for my minstry in Africa. Do I know how it's going to be implemented yet? Nope. Do I even know how I DESIRE it to be implemented? Nope. But I do know that this is the burden the Lord has placed on me, and I pray that He will burden others with it as well. The Lord has given me a passion for evangelism and a longing to love and teach the children of Uganda. Too many times I have seen the children neglected because they mig...

I'm here at the IFCA (Independent Fundamental Churches of America) convention in Kalamazoo, MI. Over Saturday and Sunday I drove out here with 2 others from my church, Eric and my close friend Catherine. We had such a blast in the car! Long road trips are never quite as bad if you have fun people in the car. We shared our life stories, listened to the Bible on tape, read, slept, laughed, chuckled, and laughed some more. As most of you know, wherever Melanie goes, laughter will abound. :) Both Eric and Catherine have a love and desire for missions, (and both just happened to have gone to Uganda as well!!) and it was so refreshing to be in the company of ones who share my passion. Now here at the conference, I've gotten to talk to many people about that passion as well as hear the stories of like-minded men and women of God. I must say I'm a bit out of my comfort zone as I try to single out people to talk to among the teeming masses. I'd usually much rather a small group...

I have a new friend! We'll call him M, and he works at a coffee shop near my house. We have had a couple conversations, but the most notable was after my time at Garden of the Gods (see below). Our conversation was clearly God ordained, as he wasn't even supposed to be working at the time. We talked for a good hour and a half about a wide variety of spiritual things. M grew up in an at least nominally Christian household where his father was a preacher (even though he was abusive). M is very well learned in the Scriptures and has many memorized. He did the whole "Christian" thing most of his life; obeying his parents, trying to live a holy life and just do the right thing. In the process, he was utterly miserable. He has come to the conclusion that at the very least, God is not good, if He even exists at all. I can't keep the tears from my eyes even as I write this. I can't imagine living life without my good and gracious God who forgives without question and ...

Last night, through a comedy of errors I got to meet Jeff and Van Harding, a missionary couple with TBM that will be moving to Kisumu, Kenya in July. The Hardings, along with the Harrises will be my closest TBM neighbors. I won't bore you with all the details, but the night included silenced cell ringers, unknown cancelled rehearsals, and a lonely piano...all wrapped up with free rootbeer floats at Sonic! What fun. :) It really was wonderful to get to meet the Hardings and especially to talk with Van. She was so encouraging as we talked about our heart to reach these precious Africans. We also talked briefly about fundraising and the joys and challenges inherent in that looming task. I told her that I do approach this next season of life with trepidation, but also a bit of excitment as well. Ever since I went on my first trip to Uganda, I have not been able to talk about it enough. No one could ever have enough time and interest in the subject to suit me. However, for the next year...

I know that it has been quite a while since I last posted. This has been for several reasons, the main being that I was just not sure what to write. So much has been happening, and I have been waiting on so many more things to happen that I was unsure of how much to write/not write. But now, I find things settled enough to attempt communicating them to you! A couple of highlights from the past couple weeks: I performed my senior piano recital on May 1st, graduated from Moody Bible Institute on May 16th, and spent my last family vacation with all 6 of my family members in Chicago. The past couple of months have been some of the most interesting, and at times confusing, times of my life. For the past several months, I have been applying to missions agencies and planning a ministry in Uganda with Deywa. Choosing which missions board to go with is definitely one of the most important decisions of my life. This is a decision I have been thinking and praying about for many years, even before...

Melembe (hello) everyone! Welcome to the life of Melanie as expressed in these short blogs! I have decided it's past time to start publicly documenting my journey to a ministry in Africa. With this in mind, let me fill you in on what I've been thinking and pursuing lately.... Anna Beth (my friend from Moody) and I were talking tonight about how we think about ourselves. We both are American, but we have an intense love for the African people, and in many ways think of ourselves as African. Anna Beth said it this way: "I feel like I'm covered in vanilla frosting with chocolate vanilla marble cake underneath." Since she's an MK with both American and African influences, I think this is pretty accurate! I told her I think I'm more vanilla frosting with caramel cake that desperately wants to be chocolate. :) My whole memorable life I've wanted to not only move to Africa, but BE African too. I think essentially this means I desire to be accepted and loved b...