IN THE BEGINNING...

So, I leave for Uganda in less than two weeks.  I still don’t technically have school approval, but I have long decided that am going anyway.  That’s not me being rebellious…if you haven't and want to hear the story behind it, we can have that discussion and I’m fairly sure you’d agree with me.  And if not, you would at least understand why I have chosen to risk my graduating for this.   Regardless, this Friday could potentially be the day this all hits the fan.  I know nothing except that I feel a calm about going that I firmly believe is from God because it is nowhere in my nature to be this hopeful.  So, I’m choosing to trust that if there are any repercussions, He will continue to guide me appropriately.  

Anyway, this is my first blog entry, so I thought I’d just briefly mention why I’m taking this trip.  The generic, yet incomplete answer is:  I’ve always been interested in International Medicine, and I found an organization that would let me do a medical elective overseas.  That’s really secondary though.

I am going with a missions organization and truly, the intention is to gain a deeper understanding and love for God and His people.  I kind of understand when people say they don't see God.  Romans teaches us we have no excuse, but the American life can still be very distracting; there’s always facebook or pinterest or hulu to constantly stimulate us and I know it often plays a big role in keeping me from praying/reading/seeking.  Media fasts are helpful, but I think it will be beneficial to get away and refocus a little.  The blog title “Milk” alludes to scripture about spiritual milk and is meant to illustrate my intention of going back to some of the basics.   I am joyful that already, even in the preparation of this trip, the challenges God has allowed me to go through have given me the motivation I needed to more actively seek Him and it’s been really nice.  I like feeling comfortable and feeling like I have control of my life, but to be honest, it’s nothing “compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things” (Phil 3:8).   And I feel that if I never actually go to Uganda, the benefits of this process have already more than surpassed the work that’s been put into going.

Other reasons for me going are numerous and range from learning about evangelism to learning about how others integrate faith and medicine to learning about the effect culture has on faith -a whole slough of other things, which mostly revolve around learning.  A little selfish, maybe, but I think a little humility will go a long way.  I’m not truly sure what I offer a country like Uganda, but I guess I'll see what the Lord is doing there and if there's any way I can be of service. 

Anyway, I’ll cut this entry off here because I know long posts are hard to digest.  Internet is supposedly shoddy in Uganda, but hopefully I’ll be able to post about some of my adventures while I’m over there.

A special shout-out to my fellow AIM-ers, who are also taking their own trips throughout Africa in the near future (and Conor who is there now!).  I am continuing to pray for you and I’m really excited to hear about your own adventures and about what the Lord teaches you.

That’s all for now.

Mel :)