The Love Story Prayer Request Day 16

Psalm 30    Day 16 of the Love Story


Thank you Father that your favor is for a lifetime.

Though weeping may come, there is joy in the morning.

You turn my mourning into dancing.

How true this is even in my own life.

 May the reality that God can take our deepest pain and loss and give us His great joy settle into the deepest recesses of the African people's hearts.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 15

Psalm 29     Day 15 of the Love Story

The Lord will give strength to His people;

The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Father,

May the people of Africa know your peace and strength.

Amen

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 14

Psalm 28    Day 14 of the Love Story

Father,

I praise you because.....You are my strength and my shield;

My heart trusts in you, and I am helped;

With my song I shall thank you.

Praise Him with me.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 13

Psalm 27    Day 13 of the Love Story

For all the waiting we might do in Africa...help me to remember to wait on you Lord.

Be strong and let your heart take courage.

Every time you have asked me to wait...no matter how long, your answer has been more than I could ask for or imagine.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 12

Psalm 26       Day 12 of the Love Story

May I proclaim today with a voice of thanksgiving declaring all your wonders...

I do love the habitation of your house..and the place where your glory dwells.

Friend,

If you are stumped by the "wonder", ask the Father how He is orchestrating "wonder" in your life. Ask Him to make you aware of His work in you and your life.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 11

Psalm 25     Day 11 of the Love Story

May I today be able to share with other African women how I have turned to you for graciousness as I have experienced loneliness and affliction in my life.(verse 16)

May they as well lift up their soul and trust.(verse 25)

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 10

Psalm 24         Day 10 of the Love Story

The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains,

The world, and those who dwell in it.

For He has founded it upon the seas

And established it upon the rivers.(verses 1-2)

Lord, you established Africa and the people of Africa.  The same promises you make to me are for them as well.

Thank you for letting me be a part of their world and your world for this short season.

Counting on your prayers.

Love,Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 9

Psalm 23 Day 9 of the Love Story

Read aloud and don't skip over for full effect no matter how well you know it and no matter if anyone else be around;)

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,

I SHALL NOT WANT.

HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES;

HE LEADS ME BESIDE STILL WATERS.

HE RESTORES MY SOUL;

HE GUIDES ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

FOR HIS NAME SAKE.

EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,

I FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.

YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES;

YOU HAVE ANOINTED MY HEAD WITH OIL;

MY CUP OVERFLOWS.

SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVINGKINDNESS WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE,

AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.....

Hallelujah,

Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 8

Psalm 22  Day 8 of the Love Story

Lord,

Just as David foretold of the cross, may I share the truths of scripture with any you bring my way while on mission in Africa.

May the story of the Lord be told to the coming generation.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 7

Psalm 21 The Love Story Day 7

I praise you for the joy you have given me for this mission trip. I cannot remember a time of more excitement. I praise you Father for it is you who...

Makes me  blessed forever and joyful with gladness in your presence(verse 6)

May the joy of the Lord in  me spill over into the lives of the Ugandans. May it be so attractive that they desire to know that joy as well.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 6

Psalm 20 Day 6 of the Love Story

Lord,

My heart's desire is to do your will. I desire to listen and move as your Spirit directs. May I simply be a vessel of your love and mercy.

Thank you for giving us our heart's desire..you birthed this desire to go to Africa inside of me.

You now are fulfilling your purpose.

Pray these truths of God's unending love and purpose for His people take root in the lives of the Ugandans we meet.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 5

Psalm 19      Day 5 of the Love Story

As we share our testimonies in various settings in Africa, may our words be sweeter than honey and more desirable than gold, than much fine gold just as the judgments of the Lord are true...they are righteous altogether. May our testimonies be inviting that many want to taste the sweetness of God.

May all the words of our mouths and meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 4

Psalm 18  Day 4 of the Love Story

I praise you for you are my:

Strength
My Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer
My Rock in whom I take refuge
My Shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold
Worthy to be praised
He hears my voice
He took me...He drew me out of many waters..He delivered me from my strong enemy

HE RESCUED ME BECAUSE HE DELIGHTED IN ME....

Thank you that....
By you I can run upon a troop
leap over a wall
He sets my feet upon high places
Your gentleness makes me great
You enlarge my steps under me and my feet have not slipped

May the nature and character of God overwhelm you and empower you this today.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 3

Psalm 17  Day 3 of the Love Story

I praise you for your lovingkindness (verse 7) How I love that I am the apple of your eye Lord. It is what every woman wants...to be wanted. Hide me Lord in the shadow of your wings (verse 8)

My sweet friend Teresa, from life group, prayed over both Lawren and I as we left group this past Sunday....she reminded us we were "tucked under His wing".

May those whom the Father crosses my path in Kampala, Banda, or Kisoro  be told has well how precious and safe they are in His arms.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 2

Psalm 16..Day 2 of the Love Story

I praise you Father for you are my refuge (verse1) You are my portion and my cup; you support my lot (verse 5)

Along with me, please thank the Lord for His counseling...He instructs us even in the night (verse 7)

I thank the Lord for a beautiful heritage (verse 6)...not only my earthly heritage but my kingdom heritage as well.

Help me Lord to be an encouragement to the people of Africa as I share these truths.

Counting on your prayer.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Prayer Request Day 1

From Psalm 15, today please pray for the Uganda team and my family at home. Even better pray it for yourself..

May we walk with integrity and speak truth in our heart in order to abide with the Lord.

Counting on your prayers.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Continues here at home.

The time is finally here. It is 4 a.m. I will get little sleep today but will be on a plane to Uganda in less than 8 hours.

I suspect in spite of my excitement, the hardest part of leaving is not being at college with my Mary on Friday as she sets up her new dorm room, gets her books from the college bookstore, and settles into a new way of life.

But the worst part is I can't even call. I will most likely just recently landed and begun ministry as Mary takes off for Snead State.

I guess this the place where the rubber meets the road in regards to our faith. Do I really believe that God orchestrated this for me to be away.

Yes.

Do I understand it.

No.

Is it a big deal.

Yes.

Can He handle it.

Yes.

Father,

May you be all that you are to me to my sweet Mary as well. May your presence surround her as well as us as we go, individually and collectively to make disciples in both Boaz, AL and Kampala,
Uganda.

Thank you that you are an Omnipresent God...present everywhere all the time.

Thank you that time has no boundaries in your economy. A day is like a thousand years to you.

So it really doesn't matter that we will be 8 hours ahead. You have got  it all covered and we are all tucked under your wing.

And as the love story of Simon and Aggie will continue in Kampala, the Graves family love story continues as well. God is at work in each of His families restoring, blessing, and gracing each of our lives.

Thanks God for continuing to care for all the details of our lives.

I love you and applaud you and my family for their loving support of making this dream a reality for me.

I can't wait to share more when I return.

Thanks to each of you who have prayed, will continue to pray, and even given financially.

You are a blessing.

Love, Pam

The Love Story Continues...meet Sharon and Lawren

It's only five days until we take off for Uganda. Even counting the days on my fingers gets butterflies going in my stomach and quickens my heart rate. Even coming off a phenomenal family vacation to the beach I can't remember a time when I have been so excited about something. I wonder often if how I feel parallels Habakkuk..the old testament prophet who said, "I stand at the ramparts, waiting." It is with the same anticipation I wait for Wednesday to get onto that plane.

Many of you know I have a heart for moms and ministry to moms. It was three years ago I began a Mom Heart group here at the local YMCA, which has included outreach to both moms and children.  I am privileged to contribute my mom heart also at www.momheart.org

Part of the blessing of being a mom is the opportunity to teach and do missions together as a family. We typically participate in whatever we can to be the hands and feet of Christ whether it is sharing with a neighbor or going somewhere else to serve.

It was about three years ago that my oldest daughter Lawren dedicated her life to christian ministry. She spent six months after graduating from high school in Berlin with YWAM in a discipleship training school. Today her plans are to return there in May for a  two year commitment using her gift of dance to minister. She is about to launch a six month period of sharing her dream inviting others to come on board as supporters. She is currently serving at Life's Journey church as a mission's intern. Here is Lawren with Aggie Paech on her recent trip to Uganda in February.

Nothing sweeter to a momma than a child's heart sold out to the Lord.

But something also exciting has been happening in Uganda in the Paech family. Sharon, Aggie's oldest daughter, has been part of a song talent show similar to our American Idol. The competition is over now. Although Sharon was not the top winner, she performed outstanding and make it to the top six.

You will never guess who she dedicated her final original song to......HER MOM. You can read more of the explanation of the song at www.ugandajourney.org Simon explains in the video blog why so many women in Uganda can relate to Sharon's song about mothers. I know I can relate as a single mom as well.

However, whatever your situation is, what a privilege and responsibility it is to disciple your children. I simply cannot write all the hardships that Aggie has shared regarding her abusive marriage and raising her family without a husband. Here is the house Aggie raised her 5 kids in:

In spite of dire circumstances, Aggie Paech trusted the promises of God to be true. The Father has been restoring and redeeming what was lost for Aggie. Part of this process of restoration is the blessing of Godly children.

Enjoy Sharon's video and may you, as well, take seriously the call to make disciples of your children.
Be a part of this story of redemption by clicking on the paypal button along the right side of blog. We are still raising support.

Excited and anticipating,

Pam

The Love Story Continues with Aggie's Arts

It is only 10 days until we depart for Africa. On my heart for the past few days have been the ladies from Banda. Many of these ladies escaped the abusive rule of warlord Joseph Kony by fleeing south.

The Ugandan government created a place for them in Banda near a rock quarry where many worked.

Aggie Paech, the missionary in Kampala introduced these ladies to a new way of life not only in Christ but also through Aggie's Arts, a bead making industry allowing the ladies to provide for their basic needs and free them from the treacherous work in the quarry.

Please take a few moments to watch the video below describing the Aggie's Arts Ministry.

May I also introduce my sweet friend Amanda, who loves these ladies dearly. She loves them so much that she became the Aggie's Arts executive director. With the help of friends and ministry partners a website has been developed and you can visit them at www.aggiesarts.com  Recently, they were approved as a fair trade item, which should open even more doors to sell Aggie's Arts to help the women in Banda.

Amanda sporting her Aggie's Arts!

As you can tell by the video, these are women like you and me, who have families they are trying to support. They each have their own story to tell and I am looking forward to hearing them!

Many thanks to those of you who have taken the time to click on the paypal button to support us on our upcoming trip. For anyone still interested in helping, it's not too late! Several of us on the team still need   support to complete our fundraising. If you know someone who has a heart for missions feel free to share these stories here.

God has been at work long before this trip and even long before Simon and Aggie came on the scene. Yet, He invites us to join Him and the work He is doing there. Even if a trip to Africa is not on your radar, then maybe you can be on board by giving rather than going.

Either way, you are part of the love story and I am glad you've come along.

Love, Pam