So much to talk about

Wow, so much has happened this past week. I have done so many things that I will literally never forget. I will be brief; however, because something more exciting has happened...

First, I killed a chicken. Yes, me by myself cut off a chicken's head. Gross! Then Sam grabbed her by the feet and poured steaming hot water over her body to make the feathers come out more easily. For the next five minutes we pulled her smelly, dirty feathers out. When they were gone she was so naked, I said she looked cold and had goose bumps, my whole family laughed at me! Sam then took out the heart, lungs, liver, gizzard and intestines. Then I had to pull the stomach out through the hole where her head used to be. She actually had an egg she was about to lay and 2 that were not quite formed yet. They say the next time I have to do all the work of gutting her but I think once was enough. Little Elliot (read the Josephina Quilt Story) made dinner for us that night but I had a little trouble stomaching the chicken I had just killed. I only ate a tiny bit and can never look at a chicken in the eyes again. I am so very thankful for our already killed, plucked and gutted chickens that we can find in abundance!

Then this weekend we all piled into a bus to "find" a circumcision ceremony. We traveled about 4 hours to Mbale, which is a beautiful area in the shadow of Mt. Elgon. We met with a Christian man from the Bugisu tribe who explained, in detail...for 2 hours. He had "pre-arranged" for us to watch a ceremony at 4 that afternoon. I cannot and will not go into detail at all about what happened. It was by far the most intense experience I have had since I have been here. I am more than willing to talk about all the emotions and the whole experience but I want to do it in person when I come home. Not all of Africa, or any of my experience has been like that so I still want time to think it over and convey it in an appropriate light. So, ask me more when I come home...I can say I am sort of glad I went but will never go again!

Ok, so the good news! Chris found out about Costa Rica on Friday. I was super nervous and didn't know what to expect or even what I wanted. So, God decided at 4 that morning it was time to have a chat. I prayed and prayed it over and just asked God to give me comfort either way. If he was accepted it was an amazing opportunity for him but sad that we would be apart. If he was rejected I would be so sad he wasn't able to go but happy to be together again. I really started to pray that in either situation God would help me to respect and honor Chris. That no matter what the outcome I would think of him first and set my emotions aside so I could support him. This wasn't as simple as I may have just put it; I lay in my bed crying for over an hour and a half. I was crying and asking why God has to ask for so much, why can't life just be easier? Sometimes I feel like God asks for so much and doesn't realize how hard it is. The more God asks for the harder it gets, I want it to be easy and comfortable again. With transferring to Biola and then coming here and now Chris maybe going to Costa Rica...why can't it just be easy? So in the midst of not understanding and hurting, I prayed for the peace that God can see my future and Chris' and that his way is higher than mine. As I was praying I kept asking why? why? and I could hear him say "My way is higher than yours, trust me with this, give me your heart I will not fail you." That morning Chris and I talked for about two hours and I told him I supported him either way and was praying for us. I told him I was proud of him and so lucky to get to walk this part of our lives together. I anxiously awaited the call and at 8:30 that evening I got the call. HE IS IN!! He is so excited and I am so proud. I am still sad to be away for another four months but when ever will we have opportunities like this? He has added a Spanish minor and so far loves it so this opportunity is wonderful and will probably help him to get into the nursing program! And, if I can figure it out financially, I will probably visit him for Spring Break!! So I am still sad but so excited for him!

Again, as I was praying through this situation I was listening to Bebo Norman and the song that stuck out the most was...

Yes I Will
In the passion of Your sacrifice
I saw the prophecy fulfilled
The Healer of the world, the wounded Christ
I heard You say, come follow me
So I will, yes I will

Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill
I will follow you
Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill
To the cross where the river runs
Crimson even still, yes I will
Follow You Lord. Follow you, I will Yes I will

On the sacred path, You bled for us
Scorned and broken, up that hill
How terrible the cross, how glorious
I heard You say, come follow me
So I will, So I will, yes I will, yes I will
Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill
I will follow you

Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill
To the cross where the river runs
Crimson even still, yes I will
Follow You Lord. Follow you, I will Yes I will

Will I stumble in the darkness?
In my weakness, when I feel afraid
Hear me Jesus, Hear me Jesus, when I call Your name
Oh help me Lord, won't You help me Lord
Please help me Lord
Would you help me Lord

Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill
I will follow you
Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill
To the cross where the river runs
Crimson even still, yes I will
Follow You Lord. Follow you, I will

Help me Jesus, when I feel afraid

Jesus is calling me to follow him all the way up that hill...to leave it all behind in search of him. That doesn't mean forgetting about it but just surrendering it into his hands. In this situation I need to leave it in Jesus hands and follow his call. If he can sacrifice his life, I can sacrifice comfort and 4 months of living close. So...Chris is off to Costa Rica and hopefully I can visit, I am trying to trust God in the midst of it being hard.

In other news, this Wednesday marks half way of this whole experience. Please pray that I will enjoy this last half and homesickness will stay at a good level. Please pray for Chris and I as we prepare for more separation. Please pray for me because I have some sort of flu thing and haven't eaten much in 2 days. I am starting to look forward greatly to being home and seeing familiar faces! I miss you all so so much!