She Finished Well....

It's with such a heavy heart that I update this blog as one of Alicia's last requests.  She had such an amazing gift of writing beautiful words that completely captivated the reader.  I don't have that same beautiful gift, but she still wanted me to be the one to share her final moments with all of her blog followers.  I think this is because she knows I loved her and she knows that Love Never Fails.

She knew when she was obedient to God's calling to Uganda that it was not an ideal environment for her Cystic Fibrosis....I know she knew because I'm one that reminded her of it again and again. As her sister I loved her so much and feared for her health and life.  I wanted to keep her here and I wanted her to stay healthy.  I asked her before her first trip to Africa if she was certain it was of God since it could likely take her life.  She responded that she would rather die in obedience to God than live outside of His will.  She loved Him so much she was willing to die serving Him with a joyful heart.  Love Never Fails.

There was a part of Alicia's life that most people didn't know about.  It was the part of pain and suffering. People didn't know this because she didn't share it.  She wanted to love others rather than make it all about her, so even when it hurt to breathe she still said nothing.  She instead focused on who she was spending that moment with and what awesome things God was doing in their lives.  She loved on them and it dulled the reality of her pain and suffering for that time.  Love Never Fails.

Alicia got sick this last trip to Uganda and the plan she had put in place with her doctors to treat an exacerbation of her CF wasn't resolving the complications.  I wanted her to return home a few months early to see her doctors and get her health back.  She wasn't finished serving the Lord yet and didn't feel that He was leading her back to the US yet.  She knew there were things God was asking of her that she hadn't had the opportunity to do and she didn't want to return until she had been obedient.  She let her love for our God and His leading in her life direct her, even to a battle for her life.  Love Never Fails.

I believe she knew God was calling her home, but she wasn't afraid.  She loves Jesus and her heart was to serve Him with everything she had, even her last breath.  What was the worst that could possibly happen by loving people the way He commanded?  The worst case scenario was that it might take her life and then she'd be dancing with Jesus!  She didn't fear that but looked forward to it with anticipation, embracing those that He needed her to touch with this gift of loving people the way He loved people. Love Never Fails.

When she got off the plane from Africa she had little breath left but she didn't want to give up those precious moments with her family to focus on herself.  She wanted to celebrate with us with pizza and frozen yogurt and show how much she loved being with us.  It was always about whoever she was with, never about herself.  She loved people the way Christ loves people...selfless and sacrificial.  Love Never Fails.

Alicia fought a hard fight at the end.  She loved people and she loved Jesus and she wanted those people she loved to know the love of Jesus.  That's what her life was all about.  She fought through the pain and suffering to bring more people to Jesus by loving them the way He loves us.  She had a great love for a special friend that I believe was the main reason she held out at the end.  I believe she waited until she knew that this special friend, one she loved so much, personally knew the love of Jesus.  She was so concerned about the eternal salvation of this friend that she held on until she had the assurance of this friend's eternal life with Jesus. This friend gave her life to Jesus with Alicia's pastor at the side of Alicia's hospital bed just hours before we placed her hand in Jesus' hand and Alicia knew that she will see this friend again. Love Never Fails.

God is good and He loved this special little servant's soul so much.  His grace covered the end and He gave her an amazing passing into His presence.  She had a supernatural, God given, miraculous out of body experience that day before she passed.  She had no pain and was seeing the place God had prepared for her and she had supernatural, God-breathed breath to describe it to us in great detail.  At one point a family member suggested that she might have been experiencing some things from too much pain medicine until her nurse confirmed that she hadn't asked for or received any since the night before.  This was not from medication, but instead an amazing blessing from God.  She said it was the best day of her life and she had never felt so great!  God loved this precious servant so much that He took her so peacefully into His presence.  Love Never Fails.

Some may ask why a loving God would allow for Alicia's pain and suffering. Pain and suffering, even death, were never part of His original design, but rather a result of sin. God's standard is His Ten Commandments, and Alicia was humble enough to know that she had broken these commandments and sinned against Him. She also knew that because God is good and just and holy, the penalty of sin is eternal separation from Him. But God IS a loving God, and because He loves us so much, He provided the payment for our sin through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus selflessly and sacrificially gave His life to pay this penalty. Alicia accepted this gift with her whole heart. She knew that if we turn from our life of sin, and come to Him just as we are, He forgives our sins and rewards us with eternal life by His side. This is where Alicia is... eternity with Him! His love for her radiated from her to all she touched. This is the same love He has for all. This is what we all saw in Alicia, and what she desired everyone to personally experience through their own loving relationship with Jesus. Love Never Fails.

~Sara Green~

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my momma you'll be!

Today this incredible lady is celebrating her 57th birthday. 

Some days are much harder to be away from home than others and today is one of those days. I would love nothing more than to be with my momma having a picnic in the park near our house like we typically do on her birthday every year. 

This year is especially difficult to be away from her because we have grown so close. The events that have transpired and brought me to Uganda have also strengthened mine and my mom's relationship so much. She has always been one of the most Godly women I've ever known and I have admired her trust in Jesus and love for him. 

Since I was a newborn baby she has prayed for me and encouraged me to pursue Jesus and love him with all my heart. There is no greater gift than the gift of salvation and I am so thankful and blessed to have a mom that loved me so much that her number one priority for my life was to see me come to an intimate relationship with Jesus.

By the time I was ten years old my three older sisters had married and moved out of the house. That left me at home in a situation similar to that of an only child. So my mom and I have always been close. I was her side kick. We would make forts with blankets in my bedroom and I would force her to sit inside with me and read books (bless her heart for putting up with me!) We would plan tea parties for days that included just the two of us. On rainy days you could find us making sand art, beaded necklaces, sewing pillows or purses, making cookies, sculpting play-dough, playing Chinese checkers, or orchestrating weddings for my barbie dolls. When the weather was nice you bet you could find us hiking around Letchworth State Park and enjoying a delicious picnic of Al's chicken fingers and fried veggies. My mom is the all around super mom. There was never anything that was too hard for her. If it seemed impossible, she could do it. 

Before I left the states to come to Uganda I made a list of things that I wanted to do. Some were silly little things like making my favorite foods and watching specific movies. But other things were more complex. One of those things was going to Potter County, Pennsylvania where we always go camping as a family every year. As the weeks drew near to leaving we were running out of time to go camping for a weekend. Nevertheless, my momma said, "We will do it, even if is just for a day trip!" So early on  a Saturday morning in May she, my dad, and I packed up the car and drove two hours to PA just to go hike our favorite trail. It sounds silly, but that is something we have done together since I was a little girl and I wanted one last hike through Spooky Hollow with my parents before I moved half way across the world. I am so glad we did it. I think about it often and have these pictures on my wall in my room here in Uganda to remind me of the great day we had together.

My mom has always fought for me. From the day I was born and didn't poop she has fought for me. Since they told her I had cystic fibrosis she has been my number one advocate. Never did she let it keep us from making the most of life as a family. She never let my diagnosis be an excuse to not make the most of life. She never let it discourage her. She always encourages me to pursue my dreams and do the things I love. I will forever be grateful to her for that. She always emphasizes that CF is part of me, but does not define me. Therefore I shouldn't live as though it defines me. That is something that I absolutely have to remind myself from time to time, especially when my health is bad. 

Last month my mom and sister went the extra mile and pedaled 30 miles and 70 miles to raise funds and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis. My mom came in 4th place in the 30 mile bike race. The only people that finished before her were 3 young and fit men. I was so so so proud of her. Imagine your mom pedaling 30 miles in your honor. She pushed through the miles of difficulty in order to find a cure for me. So special and so sweet. It makes me cry just to think about her doing it. I wish I could have been there to cheer her on or better yet ride along side of her. But nevertheless I am so proud of her and thankful that she would do that for me. That doesn't even begin to compare to the hours she has laid in a hospital bed with me, rubbing my back and dealing with doctors, the hours upon hours she has spent on the phone with insurance companies and medical companies, the hours I have kept her awake coughing all night and all the other unpleasant things she has put up with.

She is my hero and I am so grateful to have her as my momma! I can honestly say I don't know if I would be here today if it weren't for her being so responsible and prayerful with my life.  

I had the privilege to serve along side of her twice now in Uganda. The first time in January and then again in June when she helped me to move here. They were possibly the two most incredible experiences with her ever. We had the opportunity to do some really neat ministry together and meet some amazing people, including the sweet little anointed one who we will hopefully be able to share more about at a later time!

My mom will forever be my best friend and the woman I look up to most. She has so much love to give and is always considering other people before herself. I am so thankful she is my mom! I may be slightly biased but I dare say she is the best mom in the world (:

I miss her more and more everyday. I look forward to getting home and spending hours in the kitchen making dinner together, walking on the beach together, having picnics in the park together, watching chick flicks and eating ice cream late at night together, and so many other things together. Only three more months until we are reunited! 

When I was a little girl she would always read a book to me that we still quote to each other today. 

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always.

As long as I'm living,

My momma you'll be!

Happy Birthday to the best mom in the world! I love you forever and always!

Love is...

Love is saying goodbye to those you love most to follow Jesus.

Goodbyes to my dear friends from church.

These beautiful ladies I miss so much.

These two men absolutely kill me when they cry.
Don't like to see them with tears in their eyes!

Last slice of pizza with my best friend before I left.

Roller skating one final time with my big sister, Marcy!

Goodbyes and tears with my Dad at the airport! 

Leaving my big brother and niece Makayla!
(She's 10 and almost as tall as me…I have no hope)

Last coffee in Kampala with my momma.

Final picture in Uganda together before she boarded the plane!
What a rough night it was indeed.

Love is digging jiggers out of people's feet even when you have a foot phobia.

Love is attempting to climb trees just to make a 12 year old boy get a good laugh.

Love is reaching out to the precious little lambs.

Love is the heart of a mother who loves Jesus and wants to raise her children to love him.

Pray for Jennifer! She is precious and loves Jesus so much.

Love is getting kisses from the beautiful, little, anointed one!

Love is interceding in prayer for a sweet baby girl who stole your heart.

Miss Claire

Love is touching noses just to hear that ever so sweet giggle.

Love is laying down your life for others.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinner, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

He thought of you and he thought of me!

Christ loves us this much!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." 
John 3:16-17

There is no greater love than that which Christ displayed on the cross for us. He loved us enough to separate himself from his loving father. He took on the sins of the world. He carried our burdens and our mistakes to calvary. He bore the nails in his hands thinking of you and thinking of me. He chose to die so that we might have life. His love is unconditional. His love is amazing, steady, and unchanging. His love sets us free. What hope we can have in that. 

"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

LOVE NEVER FAILS"

~1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

Love is not just a word. Love is not a fad. Love is a life style. Love is a condition of the heart. Love is an action. Love is surrendering to the one who created you and loves you and died for you. Love is seeking Christ with all your heart and discovering his goodness and plan for your life. Love is serving Jesus in your every day life and bringing him the glory and honor that he deserves.  

Love to me is moving to Africa to serve the one who deserves my life. Love is praying with people who are lost, brokenhearted, sick, weary, heavy burdened, hungry, and in need of Jesus. Love is meeting with Jesus every morning and hearing him speak to me. Love is holding out your hands to those in need and encouraging them in their faith and pursuit of living a life with Jesus. Life is ultimately all about love. It starts with the love of Jesus which transforms our hearts and our lives, then it trickles down into every aspect of our lives until love is all that people see flowing from us. 

How can we not want to give our lives back to God? He laid down his life for us, why should we not lay down our lives for him? After all we have the hope of eternity in heaven with him. There is no greater reward than being able to spend forever with Jesus face to face. 

All my friends are getting married and having babies and I live in Africa!!!

It just so happens that I am at the stage of life when all my friends are graduating from college, getting engaged, married, and having babies. There was a time when that was all I could think about. All I desired was to be married and have a family of my own. It's funny how over time that desire has changed. In my heart I still hope to one day experience those things, but for now I am as content as ever to watch all of my friends experience such joy while I live in Uganda. 

Each day I am here is a learning experience. Each day God reveals more of his truth and love to me. Each day is an opportunity to discover more of his goodness. Each day I find myself falling more and more in love with him. Each day I trust him for protection and guidance. Each day I love life more and wouldn't change where I am or what God is doing. 

There is nothing I love more than being the hands and feet of Jesus! 

My desires have become his desires. I used to spend hours praying selfish prayers for God to give me the desires of my heart. Now when I look back I see how my heart was not in line with God's plans. My heart was seeking personal gain and I thought that my plans far exceeded God's plans. If I had been told three years ago that I would be living in Uganda I would not have believed it. More than likely I would have been opposed to that idea and run from it. But the Lord knew what it was going to take to get me here. He knew what I was going to have to experience to bring me to a place of surrendering to his plan. I am so thankful that he has brought me here. I am so grateful to be sitting here under my bug net typing this post. I can not imagine my life any other way at this point. 

Instead of getting married and having babies of my own, I get to spend my time with sweet babies who have no one else to love them. I have the privilege to spend my time with those that Jesus looks down on with tremendous favor. I get to witness the love of Jesus through the hearts and lives of precious children here in Uganda. My life is not at all what I ever imagined. My life is not the norm. It is far from the typical 22 year old, American's life. 

However, I can not imagine my life any other way! 

I want to experience the fullness of God. I want to know his heart in a real way. I want to be his and be set apart for him. I want all who know me and see me to know that I belong to him and serve him. He is so worthy of our lives. He is the one who created us and knew us before he formed us in our mother's wombs. He hand picked us. We are the clay and he is the potter. Why not let him create a master piece? So often we try to take control and in turn allow for chaos and disaster. Why is it so hard to give God our everything? Why is it so easy to make the calls? Why do we not trust God to write the perfect story with our lives? Why do we fear that his plans will not be as good as our plans? 

God is never one to disappoint. His plans are good. His promises are true and his word is a tool for us to use to guide us through this life. Everyone's life story is different. No two pasts are the same. Each ones future life here on earth will be unique. But those who believe and trust in Jesus as their savor have the common hope of eternity in heaven. What greater thing to look forward to than that. I know for me it makes living through difficult circumstances much easier. 

So while my friends are all getting engaged, married and having babies I will rejoice with them and celebrate from afar. But as for me, I will remain in Uganda loving on sweet babies and experiencing the love of Christ in a tangible and intimate way. He is my everything and his children are precious. I feel privileged that he has called me to care for them and spend my time getting to truly experience love, first hand. 

Some day I may get married and have babies of my own, but until then I will be more than content to love on the ones that the Lord has put in front of me now! (:

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Matthew 25:40