12 Short Hours

In just 12 short hours we'll be meeting as 11 individuals bound for a life-changing journey to Uganda. We're a diverse team, ranging in age from 17 to 60. (I'm guessing since it's probably rude to ask!) We are composed of 3 men and 8 women, but more importantly consist of 2 nurses, a preschool teacher, a talented musician, two high school students, an avid runner/exercise enthusiast, a mother of 4, a community college teacher, an agricultural guru, and last but not least, our fearless, pink-haired leader, Sarah. It's not hard to see that we all have various backgrounds, talents, interests, and testimonies, but we have the common bond of Christianity and a desire to follow God's will.

However multifaceted we may individually be, in the past few months of training, we've gradually come together as a cohesive group with one common and distinct purpose - to travel to Uganda to minister to and to be ministered by the people of Bweya Village.

As we spend the eve of our journey cherishing precious time with our families who will be left behind, packing last minute supplies, checking final things off our 'to-do' lists, and nervously anticipating what this trip has in store for us, I encountered a verse via Facebook today that I was unfamiliar with but that fits where we are about to be in just 12 short hours.

2 Chronicles 20:20-21 states - "Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 'Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.' After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 'Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever.'" (NIV)

In these verses, Jehoshaphat exhorted his troops to firm faith in God. Firm faith equals a firm life. Faith inspires people with true courage; nor will anything help more to the establishing of the heart in shaking times, than a firm belief in the power, mercy, and promise of God.

As we set out on our own "Desert of Tekoa" tomorrow morning, may we all remain faithful in the promises of the Lord and know that because of our faith, our trip will be successful. May we prepare our hearts and minds for what we will encounter and may we constantly give thanks to the Lord, even when we are feeling anxious, nervous, wired, and excited -- all at the same time!

We ask that you please keep our team in your prayers as we make this 7000+ mile trek that we all undoubtedly have been led by the Lord to take. Pray for our work in Uganda to bring glory to God and to be pleasing to Him. Pray that we constantly follow His lead and that we are surrounded with His protection from the enemy. Pray for our families at home as they go about life without us for the next 10 days. Pray for the people we will encounter and the locals who will be working along side us.

Stay tuned...the REAL fun begins in just 12 short hours!