"THE ANNIE PROJECT" RE: SOROTI

Just today the Lord laid on me to put a portion of this mentioned in the beginning of the Uganda book I'm writing, re-writing, re-adjusting.  I was amazed that He anticipated that I place a piece of Prologue at the beginning which I never would have anticipated.  SO, even though it isn't truly like this, it will be referred to mostly of Pastor Max and FAITH ministry.  When I wrote this portion, with is in 

Chapter 2 of the Life Gets

Complicated portion of the book, it gives an idea of when and where and how Cary will be going.  So, I'll pop that portion of the chapter in and you'll see how Cary is prodded to head that way.  More other things happen to her before it is in place, but this is the beginning of grabbing her heart to go.  Can't not share it, because the Lord laid this portion of the Uganda book on me today from a portion of "Annie" book.  Another new sense of intention from my Lord.  And it's a little too long, but sharing as I can.

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.....     Cary had decided to give herself a break.  For this day and probably the next, she was doing the least amount of work possible.  It was a vacation without leaving home.  Annie could either go out to eat with Luke or fix soup and sandwiches at home.  Cary wasn’t going to cook, period.  Cary was even pretending she couldn’t get on her email account.  She was reading, journaling, thinking, processing, dozing, and watching British comedies that made her laugh and think of the Brit friends she had been blessed with in England and Uganda.
     Around noon, Cary put a bag of popcorn in the microwave and poured a glass of cranberry flavored iced tea.  After enjoying this “lunch,” she planned to soak in the bathtub for an hour or so while she continued to unwind.
     The phone rang.  Cary was tempted to let the call go to voice mail, but, since she was standing right next to it waiting for the popcorn to finish popping, she gave in to the urge to pick up the receiver, and after saying“Hello”, she heard:
     “Cary, Pastor Max here.  How’re you doing today?”
     “I’m doing pretty well.  Relaxing, especially now that Christmas is over and Annie is back in school.  Spending some time getting caught up with my spirit life and giving my emotions some down time.  What’s up with you?”
     “Well, I just got a phone call.  We have a contact in Uganda who just let us know about a need.  It’s in the town of Soroti.  Do you know anything about this place?”
     “First off,” said Cary, “I know it’s a place I’ve never wanted to go.  About ten years ago, when James and I lived in Uganda and were preparing to come back stateside, a pastor asked us to go to Soroti to begin a school, teaching and administering it.  We didn’t even have to think twice about it.  We said ‘no’.”
     “Why?” Pastor Max asked.
     “We had been told there was only one phone in the town and no international connection.  I knew I’d have to travel at least sixty miles to call the kids and I just couldn’t handle that.  I was very homesick at the time and being buried so far away was something I couldn’t face.”
     “What about since then?  Do you know what’s been going on?”
     “I know that Joseph Kony and the LRA1 invaded the area a few months ago and the people have been suffering as a result.  I was just discussing this with my friend, Kim, a couple of weeks ago when she called.  She and her husband have Ugandan friends in that area.  However, we agreed we did not want to go there.  It’s a difficult place to live any time, but with this invasion it would be terrible in terms of housing, food and other basics. We agreed to pray for them and watch the situation carefully.  We know how to get money into the area, so helping that way is what we plan to do.” Cary paused.  “However, if you’re calling with a question like that, I expect you have something on your mind.”
     “Actually, I do,” said Pastor Max.  “An American relief worker connected with a Baptist outreach in Soroti has to come home because of a family emergency.  She doesn’t know how long she’ll need to stay, maybe a month, maybe as long as three months.  In the meantime, someone is needed to step into her place.  She’s helping distribute funds through an umbrella organization called FAITH that provides resources for Ugandan pastors who are coordinating food, medical, and other crisis help for the refugees.  The pastors and some of their staff can probably take over, but they are so overwhelmed with the needs this would be just one more job for them.  When I was called about this, I immediately thought of you.”
     Cary sighed, seeing all her plans for the immediate future crumble before her.  “Pastor, I don’t know.  As I said, I’ve never wanted to go there.  I feel like my hands are pretty full with Annie.  There’s a lot to think about.  I understand the need.  I really do.  But I’m sure there’s someone out there who’s a lot better equipped to help than I.  When do you need to know?”
     Pastor Max said, “As soon as possible.  FAITH will pay for the plane ticket and provide enough money up front to get there.  They will give you access to their Uganda account.  Any money you spend out of your own pocket will be reimbursed.  They are really very well run, so, unlike the horror stories you’ve probably heard over and over about people who reach someplace and then are basically stuck, this should go smoothly.”
     “I can’t see myself going, not right now, but I’ll pray about it.  I’ll let you know within a couple of days.”
     “If you do decide to go, how soon do you think you could leave?”
     Cary thought.  “Well, I suppose I could be ready to go within a couple of weeks.  If it’s something God wants me to do, then I’m pretty sure he’ll bring the rest of it into place.”
     Pastor Max said, “I’ll wait to hear from you.  I trust you to hear from God.  Talk to you later.”

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LICK THE DUST FOR OUR LORD

READING, WALKING, REJOICING DAY

The Lord laid it on me this morning to read 8 chapters of Joshua, finishing it.  He also indicated I was to read a spiritual warfare book.  That book, as I read a portion is not fun, not funny, but filled with reality.  The Lord truly laid it on me, so I can't NOT follow through.

Other than reading, He indicated I was to walk around and about in our neighborhood area.  I was to worship, praise, and glorify the Lord, and pray.  Didn't know where He was going to have me wander, but He laid a several-block area I've never walked or driven through.  All around and about the other ones for years and years, but no logical reason to do this one.  Well, it was amazing in some ways.  Took about 40 minutes to walk through that area and back to my house.  And I couldn't NOT take photos.  So here are the flowers, the HUGE tree filled with beans hanging down...never seen it in our area ever, but in the Tacoma, WA, I have...

...AND just a few minutes later, I saw a house that I had colored on a piece of kids papers at my parent's apartment area in Vancouver, WA, when I was 4 years old, and Mom didn't always approve of my coloring.  The roof isn't the same in this photo, and the front yard pieces, of course, but the house of bricks and green painted pieces grabbed my heart and kept my eyes flowing forward.  I sure miss being a colorful person, a drawing/artistic person -- as Mom and a number of our family members have been -- but when I saw this, I was filled with rejoicement.  What a treat.

And I did worship, pray, rejoice, and praise the Lord.  I saw and met a couple people--and dogs-- and they smiled at me.  Truly did, as I was smiling and walking through.  I walk with my cane and often I do reasonably OK, but, as usual, a couple times I started stumbling and needed to grab a fence or a street post of some kind.  

But walking for the Lord-- serving the Lord -- is what counts. 

 Period.

TESTING, EXAMINING, RETURNING

IF IT CAN, WE CAN!

DREAMINESS

I've read Joel so many times over the years, even when a young 'un... only in my 20s, I guess.  I could usually fit right into the verse that is so famous.  Here it is:

Joel 2:28

 And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Well, when I was younger this made sense.  Whether I'd ever understood or not, I was a bit prophetic from the beginning and it has increased and continued for many, many years.  I've seen much in my spiritual eyes and heart with what is going around and about our world, both good and evil.

I've had very few visions, but have definitely had words, such as "Go NOW!!!"  For instance, connected to when, 4-1/3 years ago, the Lord sent me up our street and dropped the Bhutanese into my life that day, and I would never have known that was going to occur.  Just thought I was supposed to go up  through our portion of the town and do prayer

Dad and Mom are the first I met.

walking.  I did THAT, but at the beginning and the end of that day, a Bhutanese couple was dropped in, and now I have about 200 of them instead of 2.  That truly was a God-word, and I obeyed.

My present-day wonder is re: old men is the "dream dreams" issue.  I ain't an old man.  I'm becoming an old lady.  And, every night, the whole hours I'm in bed, I have dreams. If I wake up to hit the bathroom or my brain is  intense, I go back to sleep quickly and other dreams begin.   I'm going around and about the world, helping people,

sharing important Words, having godly fun, seeing some locals and some spiritually long-time connections.  When I wake up, within a couple minutes I forget well enough to explain or share with my husband or anyone else.  I CAN keep pictures in my head, but can't come up with the words. 

So, when I read this Joel piece recently it significantly grabbed me again.

I don't expect any of you to tell me about the "age" thing or the "man" thing, but all I know to do is serve the Lord.  I have to regular God-jobs now.  The Bhutanese and First Responders when we go to murder sites a day or so after that event.  [In fact, that's where I'm going today.  A

16-year old boy was murdered yesterday, and we will be there to pray for the families, the neighbors, and friends.  We'll also pray for the murderer's family b/c, often, their hearts are broken, too.  Will be there in about an hour; don't have a photo of it now, obviously.] 

Can only worship and praise so the hearts will be entered by our Lord.

I'm tired during the day -- VERY tired -- and live in a different world all night.  All I can hope for will be heaven.  And I ain't a man.  Oh, well... God is BIGGER!!!

SPIRITUAL MAPPING/HISTORYING

This was a ministry that was dropped into my life about 15 years ago, and accepted by some and thoroughly disliked by some others.  All I can truly say is that the Lord laid it on me.  Spiritual mapping is studying the history of areas where other gods were worshiped, were sacrificed to, and even recently people continued to carry it on.  I have hundreds of files in my file cabinets.  Both locally, nationally, and internationally.  I have to trust Him for the consequences.  The wonderful consequences are becoming a teacher and sharer AND meeting some pastors and spiritual friends who have remained in my life.

When I drove up to northern Minnesota on September 8th to visit my dear friend/"sister", Susan Jones, I rested at her house for about 3 days, because I was exhausted after helping to the delivery of one of my Bhutanese babies.  Had not had enough sleep for 4 days, and then hit the road.  

On  Saturday the13th, I drove north to Baudette, MN, right on the

Canada border to see some very dear friends/pastors, Dave and Mary ("Ducky") Gens.  Dave is a wonderful guitarist and singer and music writer and sharing it around and about.  For a stretch of time a few years ago, he rode his bike, keeping his guitar and his clothes, and his sleeping bag.  He rode hundreds of miles around and about, in Minnesota, and sharing the Lord through his words and his music, sometimes just being in a park by the roads.  I met him nearly 10 years ago, and he was still doing that and he'll be 65 in December.

And, while he was gone, his wife was the speaker and teacher and

minister.  They've both done helping with and for each other and the people in their town.  I've been very impressed when there and was able to explain some of the spiritual issues and MY Dave came up and they so enjoyed him that a few years ago they asked us to move up there and they'd get us involved both in churches and helping through apartments in that area.  We wanted to be there and a number of other places in northern MN, but the Lord kept us here in Omaha, and we can do much in either place, while serving the Lord.  That's what counts.

After with them for a few hours, I drove back down to Susan's, and that was about 130 miles.  The next day, I drove to another town, Crookston, about 60 miles north from Susan's area, and one of my dear friends, Stacey,  was for me to be with her.  What a treat she was.  She drove us around and about, looking at the significant spiritual challenges, both locally and historically, many we'd talked about before and looked at a few years ago.  She also reminded me that Dave and I had given quite a number of computers to people from other nations in the '06 stretch of time.  And, when I asked about a Sudanese fellow who I met when he was on a bike and cold much of the time during that stretch of Fall, I remembered visiting with him in a fast food place with her back then.  Well, she said the blessing I was then was that I bought him bus tickets for a stretch of time and he could adjust and arrange from his new job.  Wow!  I didn't remember that.

I had connected with her in '05, and went up to teach her about spiritual mapping through the ministry/company I was involved with.  Well, when teaching, other pastors in the local area were where I pulled in.  It was a pizza place and the 10-ish of us ate and I shared.  One of the pastors, Craig and Sonja, who had been living in a town about 40 miles south, became my friends, too.  They had been in YWAM for several years, heard of this ministry there-- a special time in Jamaica, for instance-- and were very positive about this.  They encouraged Stacey to be with me then.  When I see her, we rejoice together.  She's only a little older than my daughter, so I consider her a daughter, not just a friend. 

When leaving her place, I drove south to see Craig and Sonja, and

reached there just about dinner time and shared with them too long about what I was going through.  So enjoyed that time.  They put up with my yammering and prayed over me as I was heading out.  It was about 9:15 and dark and I needed to drive back north a bit to stay on main roads instead of being on the side roads through the farms and smaller towns from their place to Susan's, because deer and skunks and lots of other danger could be on the roads  So I drove miles further, to stay on the main highways; it was so much safer.

When I reached Susan's it was about 10:30.  I was a tired cookie.  And it took a couple days to restore. It was a huge blessing of being with these people who always thought of me as a good teaching, a good preaching, a good sharing person.  Can't not rejoice.

The main wonderfulness of this trip to northern Minnesota, gone for 11 days, was to see MANY dear friends, again.  Not just these, but a significant number of others.  Love so many!!  And am loved by many.  What a blessing.

 

OUR ANNIVERSARY... #29

I'm rejoicing today.  It has been a huge blessing to be married to Dave.  He's been a wonderful, caring, giving, encouraging husband.  Have we ever fussed?  Maybe, but I can't really keep track of that, because the love breaks through over and over again.  So, gotta put a photo from the wedding and share a bit.  




AND something that will be a surprise to him, is that I am wearing the same purple leather skirt.  First time in about

15 years, because it didn't fit on me for quite a while.  Now I've lost enough pounds that I'm able to do it again.  He won't see it for a couple hours after this hits the blog, but he'll be grinning when I am in the Baptist church where he will be playing the piano/organ.  I'll pop in when he's practicing and I expect to see a grin and rolling eyes...a hug as he comes to the pew area to sit with me.

Anyhow, our day is going to be filled with much.  I'll be at our church, then his pianoing church time across town, then back to our church for a lunch time event there, then he'll be working at the church and I'll be going to the Bhutanese church this afternoon.  When it's all over, we're going down and around and about in Omaha, wherever he wants to go.  And we'll have a nice dinner time, a nice movie time [home or otherwise], a nice popping into kids and grandkids time if possible.

Next week, the 29th, from Monday to Friday we will be up in the Twin Cities area so we can spend time with his brothers and sister, see friends, go around and about -- maybe slipping to Duluth for one day so we can see friends and the Superior and go around and about to see what we loved there.  It will be a lot of fun to be with Dave, no matter where he wants to be.

OH, and as we went on our wedding trip in 1985, we stayed at my long-time friend Susan's in the NW

portion of Minnesota not far from Itasca State Park ... being at Susan's from Sunday evening until Saturday morning.  Then he took me to the Lake Superior area in northeastern area of Minnesota as a surprise so I would see "ocean, mountains, falls".  He knew I loved those in the northwest of Washington and Oregon and, living in the Omaha area for several years, couldn't see any of what I loved so much.  He wanted me to see those wonderful pieces.  It was a huge blessing. [And for an hour or so, we were in Canada. That was a treat, too.]

LAKE SUPERIOR

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO

Anyhow, just sharing again about our marriage.  As I said, he's a wonderful treat.  A good guy.  And he WILL be smiling today when he sees that purple skirt that he bought for me right before our wedding from a special shop downtown.  It truly was a blessing to me then, and I hope it will be a blessing to him today.


[And next year it would be 30th anniversary and I'd be 70 years old.  So I hope I'm still alive, still brainy, to have that special rejoicing time and, hopefully, North Shoring again.  We've been there many times to laugh, walk on the paths, climb the variety of falls areas, walk on the beach many times, and be filled with joyfulness--and bring hundreds of rocks home.]

"ANNIE" GRABBED AGAIN.... FOR FUN!

These photos were a suggestion by Susan Jones, because she thought it would be good to have the "older" Annie stand there holding the book, and that  "old" Annie could look similar to "young" Annie.  Well, she didn't think at all that it would be nice to see "Annie" looking mad, but I did it first.  A Tough Cookie.  THEN I gave a less fussy look and it came out better, over all.  So, I've showed you a couple of them.   

AND most of you know the book, "The Annie Project", is the one I wrote and has been published about 3 months ago.  So it truly is a "me" fixing time.  Thanks for putting up with me.  Couldn't not share this, hoping people would be laughing.

HE IS GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS!

LOOKING UP, SEEKING UP,

IS WHAT COUNTS, FOREVER AND EVER. 

GLORY OF THE LORD!!!

I HOPE FOR AND COUNT ON IT

FOREVER AND EVER.

9/11 ON MY HEART AGAIN!

  Yes, we all remember 9/11.  It was a grabber.  Has continued to be.  I never forget how it hit my heart.  And, the reason I need to share is because I happen to be in northern Minnesota, visiting my long-time friend/"sister", Susan Jones.  Even though I usually am driving up here about 3 times a year, I don't remember being here as the drop-in visitor at 9/11 days except when it officially occurred.

In 2001, I had arrived a day or so earlier.  Planned to leave for home on Friday, 9/14.  On 9/11 about 8 AM, my husband called and told Susan to turn on her TV.  He told her to call for me to get in her room.  He hung up quickly.  He was working at the Offutt AFB in the Omaha area, and, shortly after he called, almost all of the workers and officers/base members were being sent out.  Not too long later, President Bush was brought into that Base and put in a very safe underground location.

I learned all of that, heard all of that, as Dave called again, later that day.

Watching the TV, from this horrific event, my heart was broken and I was filled with depression.

During the next days, being in an extremely rural area, other than TV, we didn't see or hear much.

On Friday at noon I went to the small town nearby.  I had been told that the Lutheran church was having a prayer and focusing-on-the-Lord time.  It was a real heart-toucher.

When I returned to Susan's, I began to pack my clothes and load my car.  I left in the late afternoon.  The drive usually takes about 9 hours, so I'd be home by Saturday, 2 AM.

Driving home was one of the most heart-breaking, heart-aching times.  At first, just driving was no big deal. It is nearly 100 miles on the side roads to the Interstate.  And then, arriving on the Interstate -- I-29 -- about 40 miles north of Fargo, ND, my present-day world changed.

What I saw over and over again, were signs by the highway.  The ones that grabbed me the most were connected to highway repairing companies.  One their trucks, parked on the side, had large national flags and large words of "God Bless America" with lots of lights aimed to focus on them.

Seeing those over and over for 450 miles, getting home was a huge heart-acher.  The fact that Dave was at the Base on a regular time and saw and heard much, and he shared the information, it was also poured into me, shortly after I reached home.  

So, today, I am in the same house, with the same person, seeing the same trees, same birds, and, considering what others would be saying, seeing, or doing in our nation, I rarely even see or hear.

Yes, it is different now that all these years have reacted.  But I'm thinking of it today strongly, because I'm here.

I won't be going home until the 19th, though.  If it was the 14th again, I think my heart would be grabbed again... just 

by memory.

A MOON HEART-GRABBER!

AS I INDICATED, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER, AROUND AND ABOUT OUR NATION AND OTHER COUNTRIES, IN MY WHOLE LIFE, 

AND AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, I AIN'T A YOUNG 'UN. 

SO IN ALL THESE 69 YEARS, 

 THIS TRULY WAS A HEART GRABBER LAST NIGHT.

  

YES! MY GOD-JOB IS MY ONLY HOPE.

I AIN'T GORGEOUS LOOKING THAT DAY,

 FRIDAY, SEPT. 5TH,

... OR EVEN TODAY ...

BECAUSE I WAS NEARLY AWAKE FOR 39 HOURS

AND ON ALERT FOR 27 OF THEM, 

EVEN THOUGH I DOZED A BIT 

BEFORE THE BABY ARRIVED.

BUT I FEEL VERY BLESSED, 

ALTHOUGH STILL A BIT TIRED,

B/C KNOWING THE LORD USED ME TO HELP THE FAMILY

FILLS ME WITH REJOICING.

YES, I AM THE LORD'S SERVANT,

AND FILLED WITH JOYFULNESS TO SERVE HIM.

THAT'S ALL THAT COUNTS.

HE IS ALL THAT COUNTS.

NOW, HITTING THE ROAD TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA,

AND WILL BE GONE FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS TO

BE WITH MY DEAR FRIEND/"SISTER", SUSAN,

AND WILL WORSHIP AND PRAISE AND PRAY

DURING THE 9-ISH HOUR DRIVE TODAY.

I WILL HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT REST

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THEN, WHEN I GET BACK, I CAN GO TO HOLD

MY NEW BHUTANESE BABY AGAIN.

THAT WILL BE A TREAT.

SUSAN AND I AND OUR FRIEND, LINDA.

BLESSED SCHOOL-YEAR

THE BEST YEAR OF SCHOOL FOR ME

BECAUSE OF THESE TEACHERS.

MRS. SWARM WAS WONDERFUL.

 A TEACHER I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN ABOUT.

SHE SAID I SHOULD BE A SPECIAL WORKER

SHE WROTE ON THE CLASS PHOTO I RECEIVED:

I SHALL BE WAITING TO HEAR OF THE FAMOUS

 "SCIENTIST LEE" SOME DAY.

AS TIME WENT ON WAS I GOING TO BE A SCIENTIST?

  NO. LIFE CHANGED.

WITH HER ENCOURAGEMENT, BURIED IN MY HEART, I TRULY HOPE TO SEE HER IN HEAVEN.

THE ASSISTANT TEACHER WAS GREAT, TOO.

[OH, AND, BTW, MY FIRST CHILD NAME WAS "LEE".]