The Love Story Continues in Kisoro....

The love story of Simon and Aggie Paech, missionaries in Kampala, Uganda continues here at River of Life . Today's story focuses on the work God is doing in Kisoro, a town southwest of Kampala.

Simon and Aggie met Pastor George, from Kisoro, while attending seminary classes. After hearing the work God was doing through Pastor George there, the Paech's knew it would be a wonderful opportunity to join God where He was already at work.

Kisoro Kids is the newest ministry birthed to Uganda Journey, who is partnering with Pastor George and the Kisoro Baptist Association to provide an educational experience for kids in Kisoro. Currently Uganda Journey is supporting 40 kids that otherwise would  not be able to attend school.

How do I get to be  a part of this love story?

Well, in February my sweet oldest daughter Lawren, my friend Chris, and my dear friend Amanda flew to Uganda on a type of scouting trip. Their purpose was to logistically map out, based on time spent with existing ministries, how our upcoming team could be most effective. See, we really want to be an ongoing part of the people's lives associated  with Simon and Aggie. If Simon and Aggie are being the hands and feet of Jesus, then we from home, their sending church Life's Journey, want to be the arms, legs, and rest of the body.

Anyway, during the scouting trip, the three, along with Simon and Aggie drove to Kisoro to meet  Pastor George and his family.

It was on that trip that Pastor George said he needed someone to come in and talk to the people in the Kisoro churches about being a Godly wife and mother. Both Amanda and Lawren immediately knew discipleship was my heart throb. The existing Momheart ministry I am privileged  to lead here will carry right over into the lives of the Ugandan women.

From The Taste of New Wine by Keith Miller, on discipleship, "Only Jesus Christ who bids us follow Him, knows the journeys end. But we do know that it will be a road of boundless mercy. Discipleship means joy."

I wanted to include a video here of the work going on in Kisoro but it's not cooperating. So enjoy below a few pictures Chris took while there in February. All of these were taken in Kisoro.

To be a poverty stricken nation, they sure have some joyful smiles. I think they know my Jesus. I can't wait to spend time with them and encourage them in their journey. Please help me by clicking on the pay pal button to the right of my blog. We are still raising support to go.

You too can be a part of this love story.

Love, Pam

A True Love Story

The following is a love story...a true one. Although, by the time I am finished it will seem hard to fathom. It's not your high school sweetheart's love story, or becoming reunited with a past flame love story but rather a love story of epic proportion that could possibly shape your view about God, life, ministry, and faith. So hang on. This is the condensed version.

Simon, my church friend, went on a mission trip to Kampala, Uganda approximately 6 years ago. He went with specific motives as well as the desire to serve. What he was not expecting was to fall in love with the Ugandan woman Agnes, who interpreted for them during the trip.

Their courtship transpired over the next year via skype, phone calls,  and letters. At the end of the first year Simon made another trip to Uganda to BE CERTAIN he was hearing correctly.

A resounding "YES" was the result of their reuniting. Simon returned to the United States to began preparing for his marriage and move to another continent. He had a few details to iron out:)

Have I mentioned his fiance Aggie had five children. At our last shared meal together at Guthries on Bailey Cove, I applauded Simon for giving me great hope for my life as a single mom of five children that any man would ever love me.

Within the next year or so, Simon left his job at UAH, said goodbye to family and friends and headed to Uganda to begin this new venture as a missionary to serve alongside his new wife Aggie. Thank goodness for internet as we all vicariously celebrated their marriage here in the states as well.

This past September Simon, Aggie, and their newest family member Ivy came to Huntsville to spend time in the states. It was Aggie's first trip to the US. We had their family in our home for a meet and greet. It was an opportunity for the missionaries to share some of what their ministry needs are and give people an opportunity to support them. I decorated a wall of my living room to honor their arrival.

Notice the Noah's Ark right below their pictures and Hannah's artwork. The plaque to the top right of the ark reads, "Without faith it is impossible to please God" from Hebrews.

That day around 30 people, a great percentage of the crowd college and school age kids, heard me make the following comment and question:

"Simon, you are part of a crazy love story. You go on a mission trip, fall in love, return to the states, court overseas, leave your job, marry a black women with five kids, and move across the ocean. I equate your faith to that of Noah. That's the kind of faith I want these kids here today to have. Now that you have followed God, what have you heard from him since you've been in Uganda."

Simon answered with another beautiful part of the story that filled in the blanks. You must read this with Simon's Australian accent or it won't be the same. He said, "You know, I sponsored a kid through Compassion international for ten years. When I heard about that first trip 6 years ago, I wondered if it might be an opportunity to meet my child. It turned out to be the same location so I signed up. Meeting and growing to love Aggie was easy but getting past the sheer magnitude of five kids was something I had to work through with the Lord. I felt as though God said, "Simon, you have been faithful with this one child for ten years and now I am giving you five! So I kind of feel like they're my trophies."

Now I get to be a part of the love story....

When the Lord called me to go on this mission trip, there was alot to work through myself. How much sense does it make to the average person for a single mom of five kids to lose two weeks of pay from her part time job, pack up, find childcare for 15 days for those remaining home, and raise support to go share the love of Christ with the people of Uganda. As I continued to question the Lord, argue with the Lord, and try to literally stuff the thoughts and desire to go, the Lord reminded me of my comment made the day the Paechs were in my home. When I said, I want my kids to have that kind of faith, the faith like Noah and you. The Father said, "Pam, I want YOU to have that kind of faith."

So friends, I leave August 15 for Kampala, Uganda to serve alongside a wonderful team of folks through Life's Journey Church. My sweet friend Amy has added a paypal button to the side of my blog for any who might financially partner with me to help fund this trip. I still have a ways to go to complete my fundraising for this trip. Will you too be a part of a faith like Noah's to help carry the good news and go and make disciples of all nations.

If it's not a good time to give financially, can I count on you to pray? Specifically pray for healing from a sinus infection and restored strength as I prepare to go. Also, tomorrow we get our shots to travel. Pray for no adverse effects.

Below is a video highlighting the ministries that Uganda Journey is involved with. Please take a moment to get to know the Paechs and enter into their world for just a few. You will be blessed. I
promise.

With love and appreciation, Pam

So much more to celebrate!

It's my turn to share today at www.momheart.org. I am sharing the limelight with my friend Cherie so you will have to look for my post about Mary's recent graduation and the excitement surrounding it. Please hop over and leave your comments! I would love to hear how God is answering prayer in your life as well.

Love, Pam

Sometimes they tell you.....

I often was told during my earlier parenting years to write things down when your kids did something great, funny, cute, etc. Usually the advice came along with the truth that children grow up fast and the reality that you might forget the incident. I am adding this truth: It is important to record your memories with your children because there can be periods of time when the fruit in their life is few and far between.

On the days when there is bickering, squabbling, name calling, and days your kids must certainly be aliens, you will want to remember the good times. During the hard times, it helps to look back on our recordings to remember there are fun, happy, joy filled moments of child rearing.

I don't have beautiful scrapbooks or know how to make beautiful pictures on the computer. Yet, I am alot better at writing down via the blog or facebook or journaling what praiseworthy things are going on in my life.

God told the Israelites, as they brought the ark into Jerusalem, ""tell of all His wonderful acts" (1 Chronicles 16:9). The Israelites were exhorted to remember all God had done to deliver them. Remembering His faithfulness to His people gave them strength to press through future difficulties that surely came.

Likewise, when we remember the good fruit of our children's lives, it gives us strength to press through the difficult times when we can wonder if anything we say or do will ever make a difference.

As children of the Most High God, when we feel like we have gotten it all wrong and messed everything up as a parent (which are lies from the enemy), what a reward it is to be told by your children, that they get it.

Last January, Lawren, my oldest daughter, was completing an outreach in Chang Mai, Thailand with YWAM. She wrote the following words in a letter to me,

"I love you mom, and want you to know how amazing you are. God is good and continuing to use everything for His glory. This village is His, our family is His, and our futures are His. I am so excited to see how His authority rules over our family's lives in particular. I love you! Thank you for continuing to obey God in difficult times. It is imparting nations."

That was a moment I wanted to remember FOREVER....so, I still today am treasuring her letter.

Likewise, my Mary, who just graduated is not much of a  talker but when she does something, it's obvious to many....not because she's showy...it's just how she communicates.

She communicates strength by hitting balls over the fence for home runs.

But when she tells me how she feels about me, this is what I get:

God is not required to give us sight of the benefits of our child training. Yet, in His mercy towards us there are moments when we can say, "Wow, they got it." I want to remember those moments.

RIVER OF LIFE LESSON:  WHEN YOUR KIDS BLESS YOUR SOCKS OFF WRITE IT DOWN TO REMEMBER!

Would you take the time to share your "ahaa" moments with your children that the Father has mercifully blessed you with?

Have a beautiful day,

Pam

A Legacy of Service

A few months ago I was asked to be a part of momheart.org, an online community of authors who share a like minds for their families and a heart for God. Each month has been a blessing as I get the opportunity to share my life with other moms I will one day worship with in heaven.

Today is "my day" to share....so please join me as we ponder the legacy we leave for our families at momheart.org

Love, Pam

Today will be hard for many...

Dear Moms,

The Father laid a story on my heart late last night. That's usually how my blog works. I can't seem to produce daily posts of inspiration, biblical instruction or encouragement. Most days I am in survival mode regardless of the truth that I am surviving with peace and joy.

Then the Lord gives me an experience that reaches way down into my soul and stirs the pot of emotion. The story wells up inside me and is poured out here in hopes of bringing healing, redemption, and truth into the lives of my reader.

Today the story is for moms....ones I am close to...ones I am in the process of befriending...ones the Father is yet to cross my paths with...every mom.

Today...Mother's Day....will be hard for many of you.

You might find today hard because your mother is no longer living and you miss her presence...the daily phone calls, the visits.

Or another might find today hard because she has not heard from her mother in years although she lives less than forty minutes away. The mother can't seem to overcome her past and break the strongholds present in her life. So, as my mom friends lives life here with her husband and two children without the presence of a grandmother, the loss is big and wide and deep.

One mom who married at fifteen and began her journey as a mom, now raising her grandchildren, most likely won't hear from her daughters today. Addictions, anger, and bitterness will prevent them from honoring their mother in spite of their own tangled up childhood.

What about the mom in Wal-Mart on Friday who was noticed by one of my dearest friends as well as security. My friend shared the story of how she noticed the woman as she came in and saw security following her. The two met again in the garden center and my friend confronted her telling her that she was being watched. The woman fell apart and shared openly how DHR had taken her three kids from her.

And finally, more commonly, are my friends who will struggle today as we celebrate to honor moms because their moms are still falling short of their expectations as a mom. My friends who have deep rooted emotional needs that went unmet as a child who now continue to experience pain because their moms are just not in a place yet to be a need meeter for them.

These moms will make some effort, out of obligation and tradition, to buy a plant or card and maybe even share lunch with their mom today. But their hearts will remain hurt because their expectations remain high and their pain has not healed from past hurts.

Some both daughters, who are moms, and their moms remain in complete denial that anything is wrong at all and live life with knee-jerk responses to situations because they have yet to come to terms with their own messes.

Every mom has a story AND THEIR MOM HAS HER OWN STORY. It is my heart's desire in my life and community to know the hearts of moms the Father surrounds me with. Here's why:

The entire cannon of scripture is a love story of redemption. You ever wonder why women are drawn to love stories....we desire to be desired. The Bible from Genesis to Revelation is a complete love story of the Creator of the Universe calling His people to Himself....they continuously pull away even often rebelling against Him only to find misery....and, prayerfully, returning to their first love finding a life of abundance. It is our story today...He desires us

"I have loved you with an everlasting love" Jeremiah 31:3...He made you and He loves you!

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10  No matter what happens in our lives, God's love for us cannot be shaken.

"Woe to them because they have strayed from me...rebelled against me! I long to redeem them" Hosea 7:13. He wanted to buy us back (redeem us) all through the Old Testament and HE DID....we just celebrated that on Easter Sunday...remember? Jesus, died to buy us back to Himself SO WE COULD BE FREE.

Yet,  often we reject these truths. In our stubbornness, pride, bitterness and resentment, we can stay away for generations...blaming, criticizing, even slandering one another. Today will be hard for these moms.

I want every woman I ever meet, especially moms, to know they are beautiful and powerful because they are created in the image of God...thereby having a deposit in their life bank of His goodness, love, and mercy, that each mom GETS to extend to others.

Kay Warren says it like this in her book, Dangerous Surrender:

"God is the only one who can enter into the caves of your inmost being and not be terrified or repulsed by what He sees. He was the only one who knew all along how wounded and broken I was on the inside. He was the only one who could meet me there with forgiveness, mercy, and healing. God saw all the garbage--the shameful thoughts and behavior, the secret guilt and shame-that was ripping me up. But God in his massive, almost unfathomable mercy looked deep within me and said, "I love you...I know it all...and I still love you." He says the same to you.

"I KNOW IT ALL, AND I STILL LOVE YOU."

May you walk in this truth this Mother's Day. I would love for you to share your story with me here on in person anytime.

Love, Pam

Simple pleasures revisited

I think I once shared with you my answer to the then challenging question of....name three simple pleasures.... things that don't cost anything but when afforded you, bring great delight. I now know these pleasures as to produce a heart of thanksgiving in me as well.

My first simple pleasure is crossing the bridge daily to come home from wherever I've been..... be it work, Mom Heart, or the YMCA. When I cross that bridge over the muddy waters of the Tennessee River the tension starts ebbing down from my shoulders into my lower back and releases from my physical  body.

I KNOW I AM ALMOST HOME

It doesn't matter that reckless kids are waiting on me or ball practices or supper to cook....everything is better at home. The picture above was taken yesterday. It was an afterthought. And this writing did not warrant me turning around to get the full view of coming into home. No, I was not willing to go back...I was too close to home...didn't want that stress creeping back up.

I am learning that simple pleasures provide opportunity to say thanks to God for His many gifts. Our Friday Mom Heart group is finishing up One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I am learning "Eucharisteo"...the giving of thanks. Packed into that one word is the Greek word for JOY, GRACE, AND THANKSGIVING. I am further learning that eucharisteo, or the giving of thanks, always precedes the miracle.

So, in essence, I cross the bridge...my simple pleasure...I give thanks to God...I am graceful and joyful.

Here are some other beautiful pictures of eucharisteo....

E

Easter Morning Breakfast

My joyful Hannah Rosie leaving a game the only way she knows how!

 

But today I am most thankful for the Father's love for me...how He knows the desires of my heart. Because I  delight in Him, He gives me those desires. Yesterday was Thomas' tenth birthday. My baby is double digits! I had no money for dinner, three children going in three different directions for ball games, and faced the possibility of working later than usual. I just kept giving it all over to the Lord...He knew how much I wanted to make the evening special for Thomas. I just kept thanking Him even for the difficult place I was in.

The baby...always bringing laughter

So, unexpectedly, my brother shared the rent money from property down the street, my oldest daughter Lawren came by work, got the money, the grocery list and the menu, AND ALL BALL GAMES WERE CANCELLED. Finally, I only had to work about 30 minutes over!!! Last but not least...Thomas called on the way home and ask for a bbq chicken pizza to go with the spaghetti sissy was making....."You know Mom...it's special for my birthday."

With thanksgiving again, I delivered a gift basket on the way home from work. The extra $10 delivery fee paid for his pizza. When we prayed over Thomas at dinner, I thanked God for rearranging our schedules, and bringing rain so we could all be together.

What are you thankful for and what miracles are you experiencing as a result of your thanksgiving? I would love to hear from you!