Red moon, as seen from Uganda on the 4th of July, 2012.

I was sitting outside on a plastic yellow slide this evening and happened to look up at the moon, a little hazy against the still-quite-blue sky. I squinted a little at the splotchy unevenness, intricate dips and craters as seen from so very far away. And then I thought about some person actually walking on that crazy far-away sphere—something that kinda blows my mind.

The thing is, I’m really tiny. (You actually don’t have to compare me to something as large as the moon to notice that I’m tiny. But wait, did I just make a short joke?)

Personally, I find my own smallness very comforting, in a strange sort of way. I’ve been a bit bogged down in the “big” things lately—plans being made and falling through for the summer; questions of college and higher education; thoughts about calling and life direction. It’s all a bit too much for this girl to wrap her mind around.

But then, always, I come back to the smallness. The deep breath and the realization that these things, these big decisions of mine, aren’t really very big at all. The thought that I’ve already been given my direction: to carry the name of Christ with me wherever I go. To bear fruit. To “fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

And knowing this, to choose between a mission field on the other side of the globe or a foster care license, a semester mentoring students in communication or volunteering for a non-profit—I can make a decision in the quiet confidence that there is no “wrong decision” when your actions are aligned with our purpose in Christ.

Thank God for the smallness that allows us to turn our focus to the things that really matter.

ps. Departure for Uganda is in exactly two weeks. Prayers appreciated as I head into a flurry of finalizing plans and packing for the summer.

Exactly 31 days from now, I’ll be stepping onto the tarmac at the Entebbe airport. Exactly 29 days from now, I’ll be on my way to Dallas to catch a plane to London and begin the first leg of my trip. That’s pretty mindblowing to me–I’d somehow expected these months to go so much slower, what with the transition to home life again after a year and a half at school. But here we are, already at the one-month countdown.

So, two quick things for you guys: a prayer and a picture. As I’ve told some of you, this year’s adventure in Uganda will be a bit different for me. Last year, I was so blessed to be hosted by the Britton family, who were kind enough to let me be an extra member of their family for a few months while they showed me the ropes of rural African living. Geoff, Mary, and the family have been in the states on furlough since the fall, and were planning to return to Uganda this month. Their plans have had to change unexpectedly, since Geoff was diagnosed with cancer. Please lift up this precious family in prayer as they adjust to living indefinitely in the States during the treatment and chemo process. On the flip side, prayers that I’m able to adjust my plans for the summer and find a new host family would be really appreciated. (Thankfully, all reports from the doctors are really favorable for Geoff, and the cancer should be fully treatable.)

Ready for a picture? A friend of mine has just returned from her own trip to New Hope Uganda, where she worked with the special needs program for three weeks. Seeing her pictures makes me so, so excited to be back with these kids next month. One in particular caught my eye. Remember Allen? I wrote a bit about her back here. The picture on the left is Allen last summer. The picture on the right was taken by my friend last month.

Basically, June 3rd can’t get here fast enough.

Project Uganda 2013 is fully funded. (With an excess of $110–which is perfect, considering I was going to need to raise the goal amount slightly anyway.)

I feel like I do a whole lot of rambling on here about how thankful I am for each of your donations, prayers, and encouraging words. But still, it bears repeating because it’s just so true. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Those of you who have spoken with me in person might understand what an impact this place and these people have made on my life, and I am beyond blessed to have the opportunity and the funds to return.

In the meantime, any further donations that come through (or unused funds currently in the Uganda account) will make it around to ministry at NHU in one form or another. Everything is quite separate from my personal accounts, so rest assured you won’t be funding any trips to Starbucks.

I love you all so much, whether you’ve contributed financially or said a prayer or just followed along with my progress on the blog. Thank you.

Two of my S2 speech students — August 1st, 2012

Reservation confirmed (and paid): that’s what I’m talkin’ about. Thank you!

Today, January 24th, is Gotcha Day. In adoption lingo, that means that we’re celebrating the day that these kiddos became legal members of our family.

Wow. Pretty amazing that Kyle and Nikki have had one year of official Maisano status, and a couple more under our roof (and a variety of names). It doesn’t seem all that long ago that they first arrived, via a meeting with the social worker in a Chick-fil-a parking lot. I blogged a bit about the little things that made them such a blast to have around. When we’d had them for a year, it was hard to imagine letting go, and yet the goal of reunification was still first and foremost. But then, about a year later, we found ourselves at the courthouse, with ten Maisanos.

It’s difficult to describe how Kiah and Nikki have affected my little world. It goes so much beyond having two new siblings, or the knowledge that I’ll have so many more years with them as they grow up. I think, more than anything, it defines a passion: some day, I would like to be for a child (or many children) in the system what my parents have been for these two. And that’s exciting.

Happy Gotcha Day, Kyle and Nikki! I love you.

I didn’t plan on updating again till we’d gone at least another week, but I’ve been completely floored by the progress made just in the past 48 hours. The number to the right reflects the current total: $1,478.50. Wow.

The most recent contribution is thanks to Little Sister and her friend, who approached me this morning and demanded that I close my eyes. When I opened them, they were holding up a little container with “Ugonda” written across the side. It contained $38.50, which is a lot for two little girls who’d just spent the morning approaching all the neighbors on our street. But the best part was undoubtedly the huge smiles on their faces as they presented their gift.

I am very, very blessed.

I’ve got to admit, I’ve been very apprehensive starting off the New Year. If fundraising for a two-month trip to Uganda in 2012 was difficult, fundraising for a second trip in 2013 is much more so. Looking ahead to the May 1st ticketing deadline, when the airfare must be paid in full, makes me just a little nervous.

So you might be able to imagine how thrilled I am to announce that we have reached $760 raised for the trip so far. That’s not quite half of what I need for the plane tickets, but it’s a huge step in the right direction!

Thank you so much for your contributions. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to repay all the generous gifts I’ve received so far, but maybe I can at least say thanks. I appreciate you all more than you know.

EDIT: You all are phenomenal. We’ve reached $1,000!

As I work on updating the website in preparation for raising funds for next summer, I can hardly wrap my brain around the fact that seven months from now, I’ll be back. Back with my sisters and brothers in David Family. Back in the primary and secondary schools as Auntie Beth. Back with all the art supplies I can carry and some eager learners. Back.

If this past summer was a blessing, I am truly blessed beyond measure with the opportunity to return.

I’ve made several changes live over the past few days—you’ll notice some new pages in the navigation and some numbers in the sidebar to keep track of my progress. Of particular importance is the challenge page which has some more info on donating through the PayPal links (which are active). Feel free to take the One Dollar Challenge, or to give as you feel led.

Support letters will likely be going out early and mid December, and it’s certainly not too late to make sure your name is on the list to receive one (even if only for more info on what I’ll be up to next year, and a recap of this past summer). Drop me a comment or an email if you want to make sure you’re on that list.

And lastly, you might notice the art page as well. I’m currently working with a printer to get some good-quality reproductions of some of the art I’ve created over the past year, and I’m so excited to be able to offer some of these to all of you. These will all likely be 8x10s, unless you want to work with me on something more specific. Keep an eye out for when those are listed—I’ll certainly keep you posted.

Most importantly, pray for me. (No, really.) I covet your spiritual support as much as the financial support, and am so, so grateful for all of you who have poured so much into allowing me to have these experiences. I really can’t thank you enough.

“You turned my mourning into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” ~ Psalm 30:11-12

Maize harvest at Kasana — my last day in Uganda.

This summer, I spent two and half months living with this amazing, beautiful, hysterical, fabulous family.

Thanks to them, I’ll never be quite the same and I’ll always feel a little off when it comes to “normal” life. I wouldn’t trade those two and a half months for anything.

In fact, even before I’d boarded the plane that would bring me back to the states, I already had my eye on the summer of 2013. The Brittons have generously agreed to host me once again, and Lord willing, I’ll be back at Kasana Children’s Centre in June. (Why is June so far away?)

Of course, these sorts of things don’t happen without a good deal of preparation, and so you’ll likely be hearing more from me as plans progress over the next few months. I’m working with a travel agent to book tickets, and once that information is in, I’ll crunch some numbers and turn to raising funds.

So what’s next?

Please, please pray for me as I try to live in the present and get through a semester and a half at school while simultaneously keeping an eye on the summer. Those of you who followed this blog last year will probably see some familiar changes, as I post my fundraising goal and set up some artwork for sale. I’ll also be sending out a support letter with more details by the end of the year—please  let me know if you’d like to be on the list to receive it.

Traveling to Uganda this year was such an incredible blessing, and I can’t even say how thrilled I am to be planning to return. I can’t wait to see my family again.

“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.” – Psalm 27:8

Image taken for my Black & White Photography class assignment.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m wasting my time here by wanting so badly to be somewhere else. I do truly enjoy my classes—typography and photography are fascinating; figure drawing is new and exciting; Old Testament is really interesting. But at the same time, I’d rather be walking through the dirt roads of Kiwoko taking pictures of the kids who shout for my attention than strolling through downtown Abilene with a borrowed film camera. I’d rather draw portraits of the David Family kids than spend three hours sketching arms and hands. I’d rather be sitting on an uncomfortable wooden bench for a three-hour bilingual church service than listen to a lecture on the Old Testament. There are so many things I’d rather be doing.

So here is the question: does a profound desire to be living and working somewhere else indicate a failure to seize today’s opportunities, or does it indicate a God-given call to be doing something different?

Let me know if you figure out the answer. I sure haven’t.