In my training manual as the team leader it was suggested that we have a team verse and memorize it together and focus on it throughout the trip. I have been thinking about what that verse should be...I mean seriously, there are so many promises in God's Word...so many ways He has shown His faithulness. Something kept drawing me back to Ephesians 3:18-21...these verses have resonated with me for a long long long time.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish inifinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
I pray that each of us on the team will truly begin to grasp just how overwhelming our Father's love for us is....and that He longs to fill us with his fullness so that we are not lacking power for anything he calls us to do. I have big hopes for this trip and I get a little teary to think that my hopes and dreams for this trip don't even compare to what God has in store for me...for us.I pray he opens our eyes and our hearts so we don't miss it! Praise be to the CREATOR of the universe for making himself known to us and working in and through us. I can't wrap my mind around that...honestly!
I meet my team tomorrow and I am quite excited!
Update on the river kayaking trip: I had a blast going kayaking on Saturday. I've never kayaked before and I love it. I did have one minor mishap where I flipped my kayak going down a rapid backwards. I have a battle wound to show for my adventure but nothing that won't heal in time. If I didn't live in Louisiana where all waters are gator infested...and if I hadn't watched so many episodes of RIVER MONSTERS I might would consider buying a kayak.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
first leg of the adventure...
Well the time has finally arrived for my trip to Uganda! I arrived in Atlanta last night where I will spend the next few days preparing for my team. While I am here I am going to get to reconnect with some long lost friends that live in the area. Sara Beth and I were catching up last night and realizing that it had been 4 years since we had seen one another...how does that happen? I will get to see Billy and Elizabeth tomorrow and get some love from Bailey, Jesse and finally get to meet sweet Jack! Today we are going river kayaking and I will get to catch up with two old friends from my college days. My soul is full and rejoicing in just how much God has blessed me with some amazing people at every season of my life.
My team will arrive on Tuesday for training camp and I am anxious to meet them. We will spend two days preparing for ministry together. We got a rough idea this week of what our schedule will look like. I wanted to include that for you so you would know how to pray for us. You'll notice that the majority of what we will be doing is playing soccer...I'VE NEVER PLAYED SOCCER A DAY IN MY LIFE! I am so thankful that what began this adventure was getting in shape and losing weight...at least now I will be able to run and play and try to keep up!
July 1st we will depart from Atlanta for Uganda. We will fly from ATL to Detroit...on to Amsterdam for a short layover and then into Entebbe in Uganda.
July 2nd and 3rd we will arrive in Uganda and have two days of orientation and will travel to North Uganda where we will spend our time doing ministry.
July 4th we will be joining a local church for worship. Geoffrey has asked if one of our team members would like to preach and I am praying through that...you can certainly add that to your prayers. Uganda culture doesn't have a problem with women preachers so I could be the preacher for the day but I am waiting on a word from the Lord.
July 5th-9th we will be playing soccer and doing outreach in several schools
July 10th we will be doing orphan home visitations
July 11th we will be joining another congregation for worship and then doing soccer outreach in the afternoon/evening
July 12th we will be playing soccer in more schools
July 13th-14th we will get to go on a 3 day safari
July 15th we will leave Entebbe headed back home.
We have some very active days ahead so pray for strength and endurance. Please pray for that everyone stays healthy and adjust to the 8 hour time difference quickly. We really aren't sure what the living conditions will be. For most of our time we will probably have no electricity, take bucket bathes and use squatty potties...pray for a flexible spirit and that our team would laugh and embrace the challenges!
My biggest perosnal request would be this: I have longed to go to Africa and know that this is going to be a life changing trip. My fear is that I will be an emotional wreck when I return. I do not want to be that bitter person who hates America and wishes she were back in Africa to the point of making everyone around me miserable. I want to be thankful for the opportunity that the Lord has blessed me with and come back changed for the better. I know this will be just the first of many trip to Africa and I would be totally okay with God calling me there full time...but most importantly I want to be where He wants me and be wholeheartedly invested in that place and those people wherever it is...be it Africa or Pineville.
Here are the names of the my teammates so you can pray for them by name:
KB Thomas--team leader
Maggie Lingenfelter
Heather Odom
Matt Jahnke
Jimmy Thate
Thank you in advance for your prayers! I look forward to having great stories and thousands (not exaggerating) of pictures to share with you.
My team will arrive on Tuesday for training camp and I am anxious to meet them. We will spend two days preparing for ministry together. We got a rough idea this week of what our schedule will look like. I wanted to include that for you so you would know how to pray for us. You'll notice that the majority of what we will be doing is playing soccer...I'VE NEVER PLAYED SOCCER A DAY IN MY LIFE! I am so thankful that what began this adventure was getting in shape and losing weight...at least now I will be able to run and play and try to keep up!
July 1st we will depart from Atlanta for Uganda. We will fly from ATL to Detroit...on to Amsterdam for a short layover and then into Entebbe in Uganda.
July 2nd and 3rd we will arrive in Uganda and have two days of orientation and will travel to North Uganda where we will spend our time doing ministry.
July 4th we will be joining a local church for worship. Geoffrey has asked if one of our team members would like to preach and I am praying through that...you can certainly add that to your prayers. Uganda culture doesn't have a problem with women preachers so I could be the preacher for the day but I am waiting on a word from the Lord.
July 5th-9th we will be playing soccer and doing outreach in several schools
July 10th we will be doing orphan home visitations
July 11th we will be joining another congregation for worship and then doing soccer outreach in the afternoon/evening
July 12th we will be playing soccer in more schools
July 13th-14th we will get to go on a 3 day safari
July 15th we will leave Entebbe headed back home.
We have some very active days ahead so pray for strength and endurance. Please pray for that everyone stays healthy and adjust to the 8 hour time difference quickly. We really aren't sure what the living conditions will be. For most of our time we will probably have no electricity, take bucket bathes and use squatty potties...pray for a flexible spirit and that our team would laugh and embrace the challenges!
My biggest perosnal request would be this: I have longed to go to Africa and know that this is going to be a life changing trip. My fear is that I will be an emotional wreck when I return. I do not want to be that bitter person who hates America and wishes she were back in Africa to the point of making everyone around me miserable. I want to be thankful for the opportunity that the Lord has blessed me with and come back changed for the better. I know this will be just the first of many trip to Africa and I would be totally okay with God calling me there full time...but most importantly I want to be where He wants me and be wholeheartedly invested in that place and those people wherever it is...be it Africa or Pineville.
Here are the names of the my teammates so you can pray for them by name:
KB Thomas--team leader
Maggie Lingenfelter
Heather Odom
Matt Jahnke
Jimmy Thate
Thank you in advance for your prayers! I look forward to having great stories and thousands (not exaggerating) of pictures to share with you.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
photo shoot with Noah Lee Chandler
So you have probably noticed that my blogging has decreased significantly since Noah Lee Chandler entered our world. I can't make apologies for that...I am loving this little boy and spending as much time with him as I can. I will be leaving this week for Uganda and will be gone for almost three weeks and before I get back the Chandlers are leaving for their trip to NC and wont be back until two weeks after I am back home. If you do the math that's 5 weeks I won't get to see sweet Noah. He hasn't even been around for 5 weeks yet so I will miss half of his life. Okay, so that's a little dramatic but I am still trying to get some quality time with him and his parents before I head out. I got to be his first official babysitter this past Thursday and I was a wee bit excited. Cory and Amy went on a date to dinner and a movie and I got to spoil Noah for a few hours.
Since Father's Day was just a few days away I thought I would take advantage of my time with Noah and have a mini photo shoot in hopes of getting some good pics to give Cory for Father's Day. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...only they were so cute I couldn't keep them a secret. As soon as Cory and Amy got home I showed them the pics. Amy and I even went to Walmart on Friday night and used the pics to design his birth announcement. Here are just a few of the many many pics I took of lil man that night.
Since Father's Day was just a few days away I thought I would take advantage of my time with Noah and have a mini photo shoot in hopes of getting some good pics to give Cory for Father's Day. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...only they were so cute I couldn't keep them a secret. As soon as Cory and Amy got home I showed them the pics. Amy and I even went to Walmart on Friday night and used the pics to design his birth announcement. Here are just a few of the many many pics I took of lil man that night.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
CREATURE OF HABIT!
So, I am learning something about myself just a few weeks into the summer. Okay, so maybe it isn't an entirely new lesson, just one that is being reinforced with every passing day. I, KB Thomas, am a creature of habit. I thrive on a routine!! I haven't always been this way...or at least not this bad. I chalk it up to getting older and needing to have some order in my life. From the time I graduated high school until I started my job at LC 5 years ago I lived a very spontaneous...ever changing life. Every summer I was doing summer missions or working Centrifuge in a new location. After graduating college and starting seminary I moved from city to city and job to job. I loved my life and all the adventures the Lord let me experience. Now that I have settled into a job and been in one place for almost five years now...I thrive on the routine of life and when the routine is off I feel disheveled. Case in point, we host a different camp every week of the summer here at LC so we are constantly checking people in and out. Every camps' needs are different, their check in and out times vary, emergencies happen at the oddest hours, camp directors personalities are drastically different...and therefore, no week of the summer is the same. I really never know what to expect on any given day going into the office. Don't get me wrong...I love camps and miss almost every day of the summer being able to work camp...but when summer rolls around and all other offices on campus get a break I feel like I go into coffee and survival mode.
Sadly, because Hayden is working as an intern for summer camps and Sara is working as my assistant in Residence Life our workout routine has struggled the last two weeks as we have all gone into survival mode. Fortunately I am still losing weight and getting as many workouts in as possible in a given week. We are trying to figure out how to get back on schedule. So far it's required me to get runs in by myself which is never fun. Sara is married to a youth ministry and so there have been several nights where her schedule has been booked with church activities. This week her church has night VBS so we are going to have to get in morning workouts if they are going to get done. Have I mentioned that Sara isn't a morning person and requires a lot of sleep? No pain, no gain...right?
All that to say...I'm actually thankful that I am learning how to lose weight, eat right and incorporate exercise into my "real life"...it's challenging enough to learn new habits in you're normal routine...much less learn it on a TV show in a bubble and then have to come home and incorporate it into "real life." If I can roll with the punches of the summer and still manage to get a workout in every day regardless of my schedule or where I am in (Dry Creek, Uganda, etc) then I will be set when the school year starts back and I can get into a routine.
HAVE I MENTIONED I AM GOING TO AFRICA IN TWO WEEKS?!?!?!?!?! Cause I am!
Sadly, because Hayden is working as an intern for summer camps and Sara is working as my assistant in Residence Life our workout routine has struggled the last two weeks as we have all gone into survival mode. Fortunately I am still losing weight and getting as many workouts in as possible in a given week. We are trying to figure out how to get back on schedule. So far it's required me to get runs in by myself which is never fun. Sara is married to a youth ministry and so there have been several nights where her schedule has been booked with church activities. This week her church has night VBS so we are going to have to get in morning workouts if they are going to get done. Have I mentioned that Sara isn't a morning person and requires a lot of sleep? No pain, no gain...right?
All that to say...I'm actually thankful that I am learning how to lose weight, eat right and incorporate exercise into my "real life"...it's challenging enough to learn new habits in you're normal routine...much less learn it on a TV show in a bubble and then have to come home and incorporate it into "real life." If I can roll with the punches of the summer and still manage to get a workout in every day regardless of my schedule or where I am in (Dry Creek, Uganda, etc) then I will be set when the school year starts back and I can get into a routine.
HAVE I MENTIONED I AM GOING TO AFRICA IN TWO WEEKS?!?!?!?!?! Cause I am!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Now that is good stuff...
So I am going to venture away from weight loss news and Uganda updates for one blog entry to share with you some "coffee for my soul"....
I've been settling into the couch the last few nights with a great cup of Community pecan praline coffee with southern pecan creamer and quite an amazing book. I attended a Beth Moore simulcast almost two months ago and picked the book up there and have just now had time to dig my teeth into it. I'll be honest...I've never jumped on the Beth Moore bandwagon of daily bible studies she writes because I am honest with myself to know I will never finish them. You have to be incredibly dedicated and have three hours to spend daily working through the material. Okay, so three hours may be a stretch but not too much of one. Anywho...though I have only done one of her studies, I have quickly fallen in love with the utter transparency she has poured out in her latest book So Long Insecurity, You've Been A Bad Friend to Us!
If you haven't seen it on the shelves or heard about it I would encourage you to check it out. Given the title of the book I wouldn't blame you if you bought it online (Amazon.com has it on sale right now)...what woman with insecurity issues wants to carry that book title to the counter. If you do...I promise there is great freedom and healing coming your way.
Here is just an exert from the chapter I read tonight that was too good not to share!
"God Himself formed human emotions. He knows how easily the heart can be broken. The mind can be marred. He knows life hurts...because people hurt...and then hurt people. He also know the resilience with which He made us and the innate capacity within each one of us to be restored. Remade. He knows we are capable of loving even when we feel unloved because He loves us enough to cover those who don't. He knows we are not nearly as fragile as we think we are, but we will act like who we believe ourselves to be. He knows we have the capacity to be astoundingly extraordinary, and not just in spite of where we've been, but BECAUSE of it."
"God knows we're insecure. But we do not need to be. And He will not leave well enough alone. He has enough security for both of us, and for those of us who call Christ Savior, He slipped His own secure Spirit within our simple jars of clay. It is within you to be secure, dear one. Do you hear what I am saying to you? You have it in you!"
No cup of coffee taste as sweet as those words right there. God knows all of my fears, failures and insecurities and has made a way to release me from them. Praise the Lord!
All that to say....check out the book ladies...you won't be disappointed!
One prayer request as I close though...I had two of my shots today for Uganda and they hurt so bad and have left me feeling yucky and achy this afternoon and evening. Pray that this passes quickly.
I've been settling into the couch the last few nights with a great cup of Community pecan praline coffee with southern pecan creamer and quite an amazing book. I attended a Beth Moore simulcast almost two months ago and picked the book up there and have just now had time to dig my teeth into it. I'll be honest...I've never jumped on the Beth Moore bandwagon of daily bible studies she writes because I am honest with myself to know I will never finish them. You have to be incredibly dedicated and have three hours to spend daily working through the material. Okay, so three hours may be a stretch but not too much of one. Anywho...though I have only done one of her studies, I have quickly fallen in love with the utter transparency she has poured out in her latest book So Long Insecurity, You've Been A Bad Friend to Us!
If you haven't seen it on the shelves or heard about it I would encourage you to check it out. Given the title of the book I wouldn't blame you if you bought it online (Amazon.com has it on sale right now)...what woman with insecurity issues wants to carry that book title to the counter. If you do...I promise there is great freedom and healing coming your way.
Here is just an exert from the chapter I read tonight that was too good not to share!
"God Himself formed human emotions. He knows how easily the heart can be broken. The mind can be marred. He knows life hurts...because people hurt...and then hurt people. He also know the resilience with which He made us and the innate capacity within each one of us to be restored. Remade. He knows we are capable of loving even when we feel unloved because He loves us enough to cover those who don't. He knows we are not nearly as fragile as we think we are, but we will act like who we believe ourselves to be. He knows we have the capacity to be astoundingly extraordinary, and not just in spite of where we've been, but BECAUSE of it."
"God knows we're insecure. But we do not need to be. And He will not leave well enough alone. He has enough security for both of us, and for those of us who call Christ Savior, He slipped His own secure Spirit within our simple jars of clay. It is within you to be secure, dear one. Do you hear what I am saying to you? You have it in you!"
No cup of coffee taste as sweet as those words right there. God knows all of my fears, failures and insecurities and has made a way to release me from them. Praise the Lord!
All that to say....check out the book ladies...you won't be disappointed!
One prayer request as I close though...I had two of my shots today for Uganda and they hurt so bad and have left me feeling yucky and achy this afternoon and evening. Pray that this passes quickly.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
UGANDA update
Let me just say a big THANK YOU to all my blog readers and prayer warriors out there. Plans for the trip are progressing nicely. I am beside myself with excitement ready to go. There are only a few things left standing in my way as the clock is ticking down to our departure time. Here are some things you can pray with me about in the weeks to come...
1. PRAISE that my passport has arrived!
2. This week I will be getting all my shots for the trip. Who knew you had to have so many shots to go to Africa :) Please pray that my body responds well to the shots and that I raise enough support to help cover the cost of the shots. Our immunizations for the trip were not included in the amount we had to raise and unfortunately they will run each team member almost $500 (the Lord is faithful!)
3. I am still raising support for the trip. PRAISE that so many have sacrificed for me to serve the Lord in Africa...THANK YOU! Pray that all the people who have received my support letter will do one of two things...GIVE...and/or PRAY FOR MORE SUPPORTERS! I am getting really close to having all my support. What a confirmation from the Lord that HE has provided this opportunity!
4. This week two of my team members have backed out for various reasons. Please pray that the additional five members of this team would rest assured knowing God has lead them to this team and will provide for them financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Pray that Satan would in no way get a foothold on this team or be allowed to stir doubts or fears in our hearts. PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR.
5. Pray that I would be sensitive to the Lord's leading in my life as I prepare to lead this team. It's kind of scary leading a team somewhere you have never been. I don't know what to expect but I trust that the Lord has gone before us, will be with us and will come behind us in all the work we do there. Pray that I would be selfless and attentive to what my team needs from me as we serve together.
Thank you again for your constant support and encouragement...you will never know how much it means to me. Keep praying for my discipline in weightloss as I continue to press on toward my goal of losing 50lbs before the trip. Reality is that I will not be able to lose 50 since I am only at 20lbs and have three weeks until we leave...BUT, I am so proud of how far I have come, how strong I am getting every day and how good I feel...that is just as great as reaching that first goal...AND IT WILL COME!
1. PRAISE that my passport has arrived!
2. This week I will be getting all my shots for the trip. Who knew you had to have so many shots to go to Africa :) Please pray that my body responds well to the shots and that I raise enough support to help cover the cost of the shots. Our immunizations for the trip were not included in the amount we had to raise and unfortunately they will run each team member almost $500 (the Lord is faithful!)
3. I am still raising support for the trip. PRAISE that so many have sacrificed for me to serve the Lord in Africa...THANK YOU! Pray that all the people who have received my support letter will do one of two things...GIVE...and/or PRAY FOR MORE SUPPORTERS! I am getting really close to having all my support. What a confirmation from the Lord that HE has provided this opportunity!
4. This week two of my team members have backed out for various reasons. Please pray that the additional five members of this team would rest assured knowing God has lead them to this team and will provide for them financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Pray that Satan would in no way get a foothold on this team or be allowed to stir doubts or fears in our hearts. PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR.
5. Pray that I would be sensitive to the Lord's leading in my life as I prepare to lead this team. It's kind of scary leading a team somewhere you have never been. I don't know what to expect but I trust that the Lord has gone before us, will be with us and will come behind us in all the work we do there. Pray that I would be selfless and attentive to what my team needs from me as we serve together.
Thank you again for your constant support and encouragement...you will never know how much it means to me. Keep praying for my discipline in weightloss as I continue to press on toward my goal of losing 50lbs before the trip. Reality is that I will not be able to lose 50 since I am only at 20lbs and have three weeks until we leave...BUT, I am so proud of how far I have come, how strong I am getting every day and how good I feel...that is just as great as reaching that first goal...AND IT WILL COME!
Going to the Chapel....
Well it is officially wedding season around Louisiana College. I feel like I have gone to a wedding almost every weekend since summer started...all my babies are growing up! As you can imagine wedding cake is not on my diet and as much as I try to be good at the reception at least one small piece of cake makes its way to my plate..oh well!
Here are just a few pictures from Hannah and Cory's wedding from last night. All of my workout buddies were in this wedding so it was fun to see them looking hot in their brides maid dresses!
the Bride and Groom
Me and Alana (hairstylist and makeup artist extradonaire)
Sara and KB
Emily, KB and Laura
Sorry I have neglected my blogging lately....worry not, I am still alive and still working out. For the last two weeks I have been a little preoccupied with Noah being born and you know I have to get lots of snuggle time with him and last week I spoke at Girl's Opportunity Camp at Dry Creek...pictures and stories coming soon! Fear not, I am back and ready to blog...at least until I leave for Uganda!
Here are just a few pictures from Hannah and Cory's wedding from last night. All of my workout buddies were in this wedding so it was fun to see them looking hot in their brides maid dresses!
the Bride and Groom
Me and Alana (hairstylist and makeup artist extradonaire)
Sara and KB
Emily, KB and Laura
Sorry I have neglected my blogging lately....worry not, I am still alive and still working out. For the last two weeks I have been a little preoccupied with Noah being born and you know I have to get lots of snuggle time with him and last week I spoke at Girl's Opportunity Camp at Dry Creek...pictures and stories coming soon! Fear not, I am back and ready to blog...at least until I leave for Uganda!
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