Wonderfully in Awe...

2-6-09
Where to even start, I am at a loss. I am almost at a loss for words at the moment, but I feel that if I do not write this down it would be a shame.
Ok, here goes nothing. Last weekend, January 30th-Febuary 1st, we went on a retreat to Jinja with Honors College to a wonderful resort. The weekend was built and provided to get to know the honors college students, but God asked so much that I go away alone, with Him. I felt like a loser because here I am at a social gathering and not socializing like I should. God pulled me away in the morning to watch the sunrise, which on Lake Victoria are beautiful, mid-day when everyone was playing in the pool, and after supper when others were watching a movie. I felt like such an outsider all weekend, all these people were building all these relationships and I wasn’t, but God, even before I got here, reminded me that this trip is not about friendships or relationships in general, but solely about Him and I’s relationship. I woke up on Sunday morning and watch the sunrise with my family (because I recorded it :D) and God just spoke to me so much about them and how much He LOVES them! Oh, I praise Him! After that I just got so much power of the spirit reminding that I am a daughter of the KING! I have never felt like more of the daughter of the King than in that moment. He is the King of the Universe and He calls me daughter! Ahhh….it still amazes me. We had a worship service that morning and Brian preached on how we have the power of the Spirit in us and that we need to share it! My roommate, Kristen, then stood up after he was finished and spoke prophecy about how there were leaders, reformers, and revelationaries in this group and we need to strike the match to start the fire for this world! Wow, it was so powerful! Well, that is just the start of it.
This week has not been the greatest to say the least, but also it has been the best yet. For starters, I was just getting frustrated with people, but that is my own problem and God is dealing with me on that. Tuesday was Markert Day here in Mukono and so Tori and I decided to go. Well, probably the worst day I have had here. First of all, before we even left this UCU student sat with us at lunch and we were all introducing ourselves. She asked me if I had a sunburn on my face and I proceeded to tell her no that it was my birthmark and she said, ‘wow, that is huge.’ I looked at Tori and said, ‘what do I say to that?’ So we just left and went on our way to town. It started to pouring when we walked to town so we were delayed for a bit, but that was fine. We finally got to the market and people were just so rude. A vender man asked me about my face as I was walking passed his little station and then these guys walked by me and very mockingly said ‘ What is on your face’ or something to that extent. I just wanted to stand right there in the middle of street and cry. I am so sick of everyone asking me. I really don’t mind if someone asks me that I know or am getting to know, but just random strangers I resent. People try to justify it by saying that it is there culture, but a Ugandan girl told me that it is rude here, which I figured anyways. It just hurt, but God is really showing me where my worth is and how beautiful I truly am. I am a daughter of the KING for goodness sakes!Another things was that I wanted to apply for a RA position for next year and emailed my RD before the deadline, but she just got back with me yesterday to tell me that it was too late, well duh! Anyways, I am still trying to work on that one, but I will accept whatever happens. So that was one thing that didn’t go as planned and then I got homesick plus just being sick of being here. I just wanted to go home and be in the comfort of my home and family. Obviously, that can’t happen for another three months, but that does not help the longing. There have been great things about this week too. Kristen and I’s relationship has become stronger as roommates and I am so thankful for that! Also, God has given me a deep friendship with a girl, Naomi, to which I feel very blessed to have also. God knows that these relationships are not before Him and I think that is why He has given them to me and let them become stronger in Him. I did ask Him for a deep friendship and I have three girls that I know I could go to for anything here and I am so thankful for that.
Ok, so here is the cool part :D. Yesterday, Friday, Febuary 6th, a group of us went to Kampala to a craft market which is so awesome and I got gifts for people!, but anyways. I got stuck in Kampala after dark and couldn’t go home by myself because it wasn’t safe, so I had to stay there with the group when I really did not want to do that. I was really mad actually because first we were disrespecting curfew and second we were at a place that was not good for my spirit and third, I wanted to go to this overnight thing they were having at the campus. Finally, we got a group to come with us and I was so thankful Eddie came with us. He is African and was not going to let us go by ourselves, praise Jesus. So, we finally got home two hours after curfew, but we were safe, so no worries family :D. Naomi and I bathed and went to the overnight thing. It is funny to think that I almost did not go because it was 11:00 p.m. and I didn’t know how I was going to get back because I didn’t want to walk by myself in the dark, but I went anyway. At first I was completely shocked for two reasons: one, there were a lot of people and two, these people were going crazy. It was not what I expected, but it was good. At first, I was like I am so leaving soon because I just wasn’t feeling it at all. Then the man told us to grab hands with others and Sarah grabbed my hand. It seemed like everyone was worshipping God but me. People were shaking, shouting, weeping, standing, walking, whatever, but I just stood there. God started dwelling in me and I began to shout. It seemed with every shout God was filling me more and more. He then proceeded to tell me that the more I worshipped Him the more He would fill me with HIM!!!! AHHHHHHH>>>>>>>……it still gives me excitement!!!! I was getting freedom in Christ! I didn’t care what others were doing, I was worshipping Jesus in the way that the Spirit was guiding me. Debby came over and wanted me to sit with them and so I did. A preacher then began to preach and I was so tired. God used him so much though. He was talking about we need to seek our destiny in Christ. I almost left while he was preaching because I could not stay awake, but I know that if I was worshipping my Creator then I would be awake and alive. Finally we started worshipping again and we all grabbed hands and started singing. I did not know the songs, but that did not stop me from singing. I cannot really explain to you what happened next, but God over took my body. He manfested Himself in me. (I will not apologize if this offends anyone, but please know that what happens to me is of God and nothing else. I know it is hard to process, but until you experience it, it really means nothing to you. But please do not dismiss it that it is not of God or that I am completely crazy. I am crazy, but only crazy in Jesus!). GOD’S PRESENCE WAS IN ME!!! I cannot express in words, but it was intimate. I am still having affects from it and it was 5 ½ hours ago! God is developing the gifts He has given me and I praise Him for that! Also, He is giving me freedom in Christ, which is something I have been asking for since being here. Wow, what a night/morning. I prayed for my family like never before in the Spirit. I feel God’s love for my family and it is so so soooooo sooooooo strong. I just keep praying that they will all feel it now. God is doing so much and ahhhh…I can’t, I can’t even talk right now! Perhaps I will be able to contain myself soon, but at this moment I feel like dancing for the Lord. I got about four and half hours of sleep, but I feel so refreshed it is crazy and can only be from God!!!!

WOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO….PRAISE JESUS….PRAISE MY DADDY!!!

FREEDOM!!! AHHHH……………………………………………………………………………………………AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…..I AM GOING NUTS INSIDE MY BODY FOR HIM…..

I love you all and hope this blesses you somehow…
All for His glory,

Katie