Dec. 30th: DEPART the States for Africa!
Dec. 31st: Arrive in Addis Ababa, head to the Ethiopia Guest Home to sleep.
Jan. 1st: Head to Addis Ababa airport and depart to Entebbe, arriving at 12:45 PM. Proceed by bus to Jinja (3 hours with Entebbe traffic). Check into King Fisher Lodge and head to Katie Davis’ house to help assemble the food and shoes for the feeding program the next day.
Jan. 2 – Amazima all day!
Jan. 3 - Church with Katie from Amazima, afternoon with Canaan’s Children Home.
Jan. 4 – Feed Karamajong people with Amazima and then head to Canaan’s Children Home. (Thompson Station group will depart for New Hope Uganda orphanage in Kisana/Kiwoko).
Jan. 5 – Spend morning packing and visit source of the Nile. Head into Entebbe or Kampala (depending on route) for quick shopping, arriving at the airport by 3:30 for our 6:30 PM flight out. Arrive in Addis and head to Ethiopia Guest Home.
Jan. 6 - Mother Theresa’s HIV orphanage. Shopping
Jan. 7 – Ephraim’s Post Office Street Kids (soccer and meal) and children living in the dumps.
Jan. 8 - Kingdom Vision International orphanage. Afternoon with America World Transitional Home. Group 1 departs for the States at 10:00 PM.
Jan. 9 –Leave very early in the morning to travel to Kidmia Foundation Center in Gunchire, returning after dinner.
Jan. 10 – The Bible Army Church & Kids Care orphanage – donkey races? Group 2 departs for the States at 10 PM.
PRAY FOR ME! That I will be in the best health and state of mind for God to use me best! To do powerful things for Him! And for Him to speak to my heart, preparing me for the work He has already gone ahead and planned for, and called me to do!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Hmmm… some more challenging verses, that I have heard but didn’t want to take to heart, and realize how real they are and that they are meant for me! When we think of speaking in tongues or prophesy we think crazy… honestly most people think – I wont ever do that…- and when we think healing we either think that doesn’t happen anymore, or I just cant do it – be used for it. But the truth is God calls us to risk looking stupid… to not care what the world thinks of us, because we are His! His possession.
“the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.” – Eph. 1:14
He says –
“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs WILL accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” – Jesus speaking! – Mark 16:15
When I read this I hear “Go!” and “Do!”. He doesn’t call us to live by the standards of this world –
“I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – 2Cor. 10:2-6
– or to comfort and complacency… as I sit here worrying about gaining weight during the holidays there are those starving because they haven’t eaten in weeks… dieing in other countries and we are oblivious! He calls us to be truly, fully His and not care what people think. It is scary but He desires to heal! And He needs us to have the courage in Him, the confidence in our Father that we will lay hands on and pray in His mighty name that He will heal the sick, the hurting, because we know that he can, that he wants to, that he is faithful and good, believing that He will do it! To be willing to be so close to Him that you “utter mysteries” directly to Him that others will not understand, but He is the most important to you so why would it matter?
“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” – Mark 16:19
“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort…. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy.” – 1Cor. 14:2 - 5
This shows that God does want us to all seek His spiritual gifts for us! Here it sounds like we can all prophesy and speak in tongues, but just before this passage in chapter 12 verses 7 through 11 Paul talks about how the Spirit gives us all different gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophesy, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. It then says –
“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
Before in verse 4 he said – “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”
This makes me think that He does want all of them in all of us… plus the verse in Mark 16 saying that these signs WILL accompany those who believe…
The Spirit it talks about is so well described in 1Cor. 2:11 – “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the spirit of God.” Just like we have a spirit deep inside us, the Holy Spirit is God’s spirit, and He lives inside of us sharing the thoughts of God with us if we listen.
So…. God who is higher than us, wiser, stronger, and more real and valuable than the world, wants us to not worry about the ways of the world, and be willing to do these signs of Him! Even if it is scary, and looked at as crazy…
Our father says –
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 1Cor. 1:25
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:9
“What is highly valued among men is detestable in Gods sight.” – Luke 16:15
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matt 6:21
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matt. 6:33
“the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.” – Eph. 1:14
He says –
“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs WILL accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” – Jesus speaking! – Mark 16:15
When I read this I hear “Go!” and “Do!”. He doesn’t call us to live by the standards of this world –
“I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – 2Cor. 10:2-6
– or to comfort and complacency… as I sit here worrying about gaining weight during the holidays there are those starving because they haven’t eaten in weeks… dieing in other countries and we are oblivious! He calls us to be truly, fully His and not care what people think. It is scary but He desires to heal! And He needs us to have the courage in Him, the confidence in our Father that we will lay hands on and pray in His mighty name that He will heal the sick, the hurting, because we know that he can, that he wants to, that he is faithful and good, believing that He will do it! To be willing to be so close to Him that you “utter mysteries” directly to Him that others will not understand, but He is the most important to you so why would it matter?
“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” – Mark 16:19
“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort…. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy.” – 1Cor. 14:2 - 5
This shows that God does want us to all seek His spiritual gifts for us! Here it sounds like we can all prophesy and speak in tongues, but just before this passage in chapter 12 verses 7 through 11 Paul talks about how the Spirit gives us all different gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophesy, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. It then says –
“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
Before in verse 4 he said – “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”
This makes me think that He does want all of them in all of us… plus the verse in Mark 16 saying that these signs WILL accompany those who believe…
The Spirit it talks about is so well described in 1Cor. 2:11 – “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the spirit of God.” Just like we have a spirit deep inside us, the Holy Spirit is God’s spirit, and He lives inside of us sharing the thoughts of God with us if we listen.
So…. God who is higher than us, wiser, stronger, and more real and valuable than the world, wants us to not worry about the ways of the world, and be willing to do these signs of Him! Even if it is scary, and looked at as crazy…
Our father says –
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 1Cor. 1:25
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:9
“What is highly valued among men is detestable in Gods sight.” – Luke 16:15
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matt 6:21
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matt. 6:33
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
I cancelled my membership to sun tan city today. Sounds ridiculously not important, I know. Ha ha, but I see it as a small example of how God is changing me. He has been at work for a long time, but recently He has allowed me to be so aware of it! “The things that used to matter don’t matter now.” – Bill Johnson – paraphrased by Hannah. My ummm… preoccupation with tanning began when I was about 15 and I have never really thought much of it. I have felt the conviction to stop before but was very good at ignoring it. Today my Father God brought it to my attention with a simple “why are you doing that?” and I realized it was not to glorify Him. I then thought of why I ever cared about being tan… and realized that it was something the enemy rooted way back. When I was 15 I recall a certain boy…. That I liked… telling some of my friends that he might like me except that I was too pale so he didn’t. Naturally my girlfriends told me and ever since then I have believed that I am not attractive unless I a tan. This is something I have recently learned would be called an ungodly belief of mine… a lie I believed from the devil. So however funny this all is… ha ha it is an example of the way God moves! He has also been moving my heart to be more tender, soft, and almost weak towards children in need… and other injustices. I have been exposed to stories and the reality of the lives and need of the children in Africa… and cried more than I ever would have expected over this! Also touching me deeper, a burdening in my heart to intercede and pray for the needs of my friends and against the attacks of the enemy in their lives! That I have authority to fight him because of what Jesus did for me! At the same time as this softening, I feel a strengthening from my Father in my heart against the things of this world, that the enemy uses to attack me. A strange strength where I am able to trust him greater. “Trust is faith in action” – Chester Carney. When I am in a very uncertain time in my life… full of change and things I would worry about… I hear Him say ”Everything is going to be okay, Hannah.” And I know that it is. He is taking care of me! I get to let Him provide for me and love on me in such ways I don’t understand. Where little things that I wouldn’t think would matter to him, prayers I didn’t even utter because of their unimportance. He answers… because he cares about what I care about. I received an e-mail about ordering an t-shirt that says 147 million orphans on the front, and I wanted one so bad. I was still struggling to find ways to raise funds for my trip and saving my money so I decided that I shouldn’t spend money on one. A few nights ago at my trip meeting one of the girls had an extra one she didn’t need! I asked how much it cost so I could buy it from her and she said it came free because of how many she ordered so she would just give it to me… wow. He wants to give us the desires of our hearts, but only when we have to character to contain it – not if it is going to lead us away from him! I understand that I am not ready for all the blessings He has to give me, but that He is preparing me, and His timing is perfect!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody (to no one).
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
This is kinda a lot of verses but don't stop reading em due to overwhelmedness... haha.
"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matt. 9:37
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matt. 9:12
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth..... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt. 6:19
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." Matt. 19:29
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give you. John 6:27
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matt. 10:37
"To lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke... to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked to clothe him... If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed..." Isaiah 58:6 - 10
These are just some of those verses that I have always kinda either made up excuses for or representational meanings... maybe God just wants me to be "willing" to go wherever he leads me and take risks in His name... not actually do it! Surely He will leave me in my comfort... Well lately the Lord has been showing me that He does mean these things and I am called to act... to go and do... to obey Him even though it be expensive... thats the point. We all have such heaven geared purposes and callings if we will just be actually willing to do what His word says... To risk our lives, to lose them for Him in order to find them, to be harvesters, to leave whatever He calls us to trusting in His faithfulness and goodness, to be unafraid, to work for what doesn't spoil, store our treasures in heaven instead of earth where it ultimately counts for nothing and will all pass away... No more excuses! :) True joy, satisfaction, security, identity, peace...etc. comes only from doing the will of the Lord and not our own... though it will be hard! We will have trouble, persecution, and sorrows... and be attacked... but we will not be alone or empty! It will not be safe, and comfortable... but who wants to live that way and have everything we think that we "want" and live an empty, restless, "safe" life? I now love these verses! They are exciting! That there is soo much more than all the crap we see everyday in this life... ironically Matthew was my favorite book of the Bible when I was younger which is where many of the above verses came from! God works... even when we don't see it or think He is. My heart has been opened up and changed in the past few months... to the real me that God desires for me to grow into... learning to be a leader for Him, which is something I would have never felt comfortable doing! Teaching, leading, speaking in front of people are not things that I enjoyed! I find God calling me into these types of positions and teaching me to stretch and grow in that uncomfortable situation. I also would have never seen myself living in another country and doing more extensive permanent missions work... but now I definitely can! Running or working in an orphanage sounds about like heaven to me now. I love doing things that I never thought I would/could! Because it is sooo God moving and not myself. Through recent situations God has placed in my life I have grown into a girl who wants to risk it all for my God... what purpose is there in not? What purpose does being too afraid have? I am now more afraid of being too afraid to do what God is calling me to and not doing it, because I don't trust Him enough, than I am of any risks and difficult situations! I am thankful to my Lord for showing me so much through people in my life, by showing me how I am seen in their eyes... thats better than what I saw in me. The things God values about me - the things that really matter... that there is a beautiful heart in there somewhere that someone could value.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
This is kinda a lot of verses but don't stop reading em due to overwhelmedness... haha.
"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matt. 9:37
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matt. 9:12
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt. 6:33
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth..... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt. 6:19
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." Matt. 19:29
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give you. John 6:27
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matt. 10:37
"To lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke... to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked to clothe him... If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed..." Isaiah 58:6 - 10
These are just some of those verses that I have always kinda either made up excuses for or representational meanings... maybe God just wants me to be "willing" to go wherever he leads me and take risks in His name... not actually do it! Surely He will leave me in my comfort... Well lately the Lord has been showing me that He does mean these things and I am called to act... to go and do... to obey Him even though it be expensive... thats the point. We all have such heaven geared purposes and callings if we will just be actually willing to do what His word says... To risk our lives, to lose them for Him in order to find them, to be harvesters, to leave whatever He calls us to trusting in His faithfulness and goodness, to be unafraid, to work for what doesn't spoil, store our treasures in heaven instead of earth where it ultimately counts for nothing and will all pass away... No more excuses! :) True joy, satisfaction, security, identity, peace...etc. comes only from doing the will of the Lord and not our own... though it will be hard! We will have trouble, persecution, and sorrows... and be attacked... but we will not be alone or empty! It will not be safe, and comfortable... but who wants to live that way and have everything we think that we "want" and live an empty, restless, "safe" life? I now love these verses! They are exciting! That there is soo much more than all the crap we see everyday in this life... ironically Matthew was my favorite book of the Bible when I was younger which is where many of the above verses came from! God works... even when we don't see it or think He is. My heart has been opened up and changed in the past few months... to the real me that God desires for me to grow into... learning to be a leader for Him, which is something I would have never felt comfortable doing! Teaching, leading, speaking in front of people are not things that I enjoyed! I find God calling me into these types of positions and teaching me to stretch and grow in that uncomfortable situation. I also would have never seen myself living in another country and doing more extensive permanent missions work... but now I definitely can! Running or working in an orphanage sounds about like heaven to me now. I love doing things that I never thought I would/could! Because it is sooo God moving and not myself. Through recent situations God has placed in my life I have grown into a girl who wants to risk it all for my God... what purpose is there in not? What purpose does being too afraid have? I am now more afraid of being too afraid to do what God is calling me to and not doing it, because I don't trust Him enough, than I am of any risks and difficult situations! I am thankful to my Lord for showing me so much through people in my life, by showing me how I am seen in their eyes... thats better than what I saw in me. The things God values about me - the things that really matter... that there is a beautiful heart in there somewhere that someone could value.
"You said, ask and you will receive whatever you need.
You said, pray and I'll hear from heaven and I'll heal your land
You said, Your glory will fill the earth, like water the seas
You said, lift up your eyes. The harvest is here, the Kingdom is near
You said, ask and I'll give the nations to You
O Lord, that's the CRY of my heart
Distant Shores and the islands will see
Your Light as it rises on us"
You said, pray and I'll hear from heaven and I'll heal your land
You said, Your glory will fill the earth, like water the seas
You said, lift up your eyes. The harvest is here, the Kingdom is near
You said, ask and I'll give the nations to You
O Lord, that's the CRY of my heart
Distant Shores and the islands will see
Your Light as it rises on us"
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
To Donate to My Mission Trip
You can donate to my mission trip by clicking on the above. Please remember to specify that your donation is for Hannah Bates under “add special instructions to the merchant". Oh and also I still need $1,700.00 due to money I have saved and my family has donated. Unless... well my truck is having serious problems too! haha jk dog jk... (something my brother/sister and I say... haha)
Going to Africa!
I'm excited to announce that I'm going to Africa this holiday season to visit orphans in their distress....
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