Wherever You Will Go

Some days it seems as if I was last on Ugandan soil ages ago. And other days, like today, it seems as if it were just yesterday that I was sitting next to a new friend on a plane headed to San Francisco. On my way to see my friends and family for the first time in four months.

And now, in just four days, I will be heading back out to Uganda. I will spend one night in London where I hope to visit with a sweet friend. And then exactly three months from the day I left Uganda, I will be able to embrace those sweet Ugandan loves of mine once again.

Leaving back to Uganda is bittersweet. I know what I don't like about Uganda and I know what I must leave behind in California. And that makes me erie about returning. Although, I know that I am so excited to see what God has in store for me thist time around. I can't wait to get back into a steady teaching routine where I will spend my days with crazy, wild, loving students. Days full of laughter, smiles, and a whole lot of Jesus.

I am ready to get back out there and I truly believe that God's timing in my return is perfect, because I am quite content at the moment, after days of doubting God's decision.

What I am going to miss most about being in California is nannying Cian and Rhielle, spending time with my family, sleeping in my own bed, burning candles, being able to drive myself wherever and whenever, American food, Pandora, Target, watching the Shaytards, and most definitely California sunsets. (Sorry Africa, California has the best).

I am funded for ~6 months in Uganda, which keeps me there through June. If you feel lead to support me financiaially, pleace contact me for imformation of where you can send a tax-deductable check. Or to donate online, see the website link on the right sidebar of this page.

So, next time you hear from me, I will be back in Uganda! Please keep me in your prayers for departing California, for my travels, and for adjusting back to living in Uganda.

Happiness & Joy

My brother and I thoroughly enjoy watching a family of daily vloggers on YouTube called the Shaytards. The father (Shay) has a younger brother (Logan) who is about to head out to Argentina for a two year mission. The family is Mormon, and although when I return to Uganda I will not be on a "Mormon mission" being that I am a Christian, I found his advice to his brother in his most recent video very applicable to where my mindset should be when I return to Uganda this coming January.

I think the common goal in missions is to share Jesus Christ with the world, whether we are Mormon or Christian.

So here is the little piece of advice he shared:

"I guess my piece advice to Logan would be to just really go to work. Lose yourself in the work. I remember when I was a missionary, when I just put everything I had into it and forgot about home, forgot about the things of the world. Just focus on serving the people of the country that you're living in; serve the Argentinean people and just love them. You'll have more joy and more happiness than you could ever experience...Forget about school and bills and like all those worldly things we're all caught up in. You know, trying to figure out what we're going to do when we grow up and how we're gonna pay our next mortgage payment and if we have the new shoes or the new clothes to look cool, to fit in at school. Or if you're driving the new car, you wanna get new rims or you have the sound system. All of those things that all of us as humans are always stressing out about and worrying about. Just forget about all that stuff. And that's the biggest tip I have and it was so nice for those two years just to focus on service and to help bring people to Christ. And that's really the missions that he's going to serve. It's not about baptizing people into the Mormon church. It's about showing people this person called Jesus Christ and about how He is our savior and about how we should all seek to be like He was. To have love, empathy, and patience and kindness and to love all of our Heavenly Father's children."

If you would like to view the video: http://youtu.be/ZAvCrSpo4Xc?t=9m50s

Good Intentions

During the past month that I have been back in California I have had the opportunity to talk to many people about my experience in Uganda and my plans to return. Many conversations seem to end with the phrase, "Just remember that there are people who need help here too."

This phrase always seems to anger me and I find myself having to just hold it in and end the conversation. It wasn't until one of my sweet friends understood exactly how I was feeling and shared something with me that put into words what I was unable to express myself.

"Sometimes in life we have good intentions to do good things for God. But it won't make a bit of difference if it's not where God has called you. A woman told me about how her entire family in the US doesn't know Christ. She WANTS to be there, ministering to them. She has good intentions. But the Lord called her to Kenya, and so that's where she is. And He's blessing her obedience."

I would love to help those in need here in Sacramento, but the fact is, God has called me to Uganda. I could stay here in Sacramento, but it will do absolutely no good, because God wants me in Uganda. I have good intentions to help those in need here. I would love to be helping here, but God has called me elsewhere and I must be obedient to Him. I desire to be obedient to Him.

In other news, I am $77 away from having my flight back to Uganda fully funded (including my return flight whenever that occurs). I am then on to fundraising $400 a month to live in Uganda. If you feel lead to support me financially, please feel free to contact me at kelseymagnolia9@gmail.com for the address of where you can send a tax-deductible check.

A list of everything I surprisingly miss about Uganda

• My guitar picks going missing more than usual due to a few boys in home who also play guitar.
• Eating with Joshua's baby fork for dinner because Margret finds it funny.
• Not showering and it being completely okay.
• Children knocking on my door almost all the time.
• Children popping up in my window just to have a little chat.
• The NCFH band playing "I Will Never Let You Go" 100,000 times repetitively. 
• No one understanding what a prank is or when one is being pulled.
• Getting caught in a rainstorm while on the boda.
• Never quite understanding what my class is talking about.
• Attempting to play Pumped Up Kicks on the guitar with Izzi.
• "Teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, etc."
  

I don't know what to title this

As of just the other day, my flight back to Uganda has been booked. I shall be departing sunny California December 31st, beginning 2014 back in my "best" place. So that leaves 66 days. And I figure you have a few questions brewing, so I will do my best to answer any I presume you may want to ask. So here we go...

When will you return to the States?

I am not sure at the moment. I am leaving it up to God. I feel lead to stay for at least the next year, but we all know that things can change. At this moment, I don't know when I will be returning. I will be sure to keep y'all updated though.

What are you doing until you leave?

I am working in child care for MOPS, nannying, doing some house-sitting, going to LA to visit Izzi and attend a LOBO dinner, and just hanging out with my friends and family. Oh yeah, and trying to raise support of course!

How much do you need to go to Uganda?
I currently need $800 to complete my flight payment, and then I will need about $400 a month to live in Uganda for room and board. If you would like to donate, please contact me and I will give you the needed information to do so.

How can we be praying for you?

I need funding! Also for my transition back into the American culture and then dealing with leaving home again for my home away from home. Also pray for the NCFH household as they prepare to make the big move to Graceland. 

Okay, there you go. If you do have any more questions, please feel free to ask me! 

Random photo of when Esther 

insisted we take a photo with the plant

 "That one's bap."

You Remind Me

Being back in California is not easy. Finding the motivation to simply get out of the bed each morning has been a difficult task to say the least. I knew that being home was going to be difficult, but I didn't think it would be as difficult as it has been.

It's been a daily struggle reminding myself that God has me back in Sacramento for a reason. I find myself constantly calculating what time it is in Uganda and thinking about what the children would be doing at that exact moment. Just arriving at school. I know that there is purpose in me being home for the next few months, but it's easier said than done when it comes to actually applying that to my life.

My life may have once been in California, in Sacramento, but it's not anymore. My life is in Kampala, Uganda. My life is teaching the children of Uganda and building relationships with each and every child I encounter. That's what I long for. To have those children back in my arms. I desire to be loving them and sharing the love of the Lord with them.

I am slowly accepting that this is where I am supposed to be for the time being. I have been realizing that God reminds me of everything I love. And that makes me happy. And that makes me content for at least a little while longer. Content in the fact that I know God is taking me back to Uganda soon and that he's using me while I'm here in Sacramento.

You remind me of everything I love
Yeah, you remind me of everything I love
A smile spreads to another
And another after that
And my eyes are closed
And your hand is there
A smile that's so much bigger
Than the smiles I have seen
And it makes me realize
That there is so much more than what I have seen

Blessed to Bless

Some people tell me that I'm too young to understand. And although I may only be twenty-three years old, after spending four short months living in a third world country, my eyes have been opened to the truth of the world. Returning to Uganda is not me caught up in some dream. It would not be possible for me to live in Uganda if I were doing it for myself.

There is a quote from the book Radical, by David Platt that states, "We learned that orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their face. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes."

I find complete truth in this. Before initially arriving in Uganda, I never though I would become as connected with the children as I did. Everything changed once I knew the names of the children. And my heart began to change even more once I was spending day in and day out with each of them.

I have come to realize that in America, I can teach in a class and at the end of the day my students will return to their homes where they will be provided a hot meal, clothes to wear, a warm bath, and fall into the arms of loving and supportive parents. As the school year ends, the students will move into a new class with a new teacher who will give them all they deserve. The simple truth is that the kids in America don't need me.

I know that without teachers in America, our children would not be provided an education. But there are plenty of decent teachers here in America and the children have the support of their families. They are going to make it. There may be some hard times, but American children will make it if they put their mind to it.

The students at my school in Uganda walk to and from school alone each day. When arriving home they change into their ripped and torn clothes. Many not even seeing their parents because of numerous circumstances. I personally do not thing that is what a child deserves.

One of my students has Dyslexia. She will never be provided the help she needs to excel in the Ugandan culture. It was Isabella and I who realized she even had Dyslexia and were able to work with her. Vanesa needs me. My class needs me to excel and become something in their lives. I believe that Vanesa deserves the helps she is receiving from me.

About a week before I left Uganda, Lawrence, one of the boys in the New Creation Family Home told me that he needed to tell me something. He proceeded to say that he was going to miss me when I left. And in a note from Margret Mae, I was informed that I was her favorite auntie she had ever had, and that it was our little secret. (Sorry sweet girl, I had to share). And although I told her that her secret was safe with me, the truth is, it was that note that opened my eyes. The note that truly made me understand.

These children don't have parents. They may have mamas and brothers and sisters. But they do not have someone in their life who is there to love them. To be there when they need someone to talk to. The way their eyes light up when you seek them out and take the time to notice and care for them is life changing.

These children deserve to know that someone is proud of them. They deserve to have someone who believes in them. To leave these children whom I have built strong relationships with, and and live back in America like nothing ever happened would be wrong. I would be abandoning the kids who God has called me to help.

I understand that God has called me to help the least of these.
I understand that orphans deserve love too.
I understand that the NCFH children need me.
I understand that the NCFH children look up to me.
I understand that schooling is important for children.
I understand that I can teach those children.
I understand that I don't need anything in the American culture.
I understand that people may call me crazy.
I understand that God doesn't find my crazy.
I understand that God is proud of me.
I understand that the only opinion that matters is God's.
I understand that the only place for me is Uganda.

As Mama Grace prayed for me before departing from Uganda, she said, "she is a blessing to Africa."

I have been blessed to bless the children of Africa.
Simple as that.
And that's what I'm going to do.
That's what I've been called to do.
And my only option is obedience.