‘Not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond the image.’ – Mona Lisa Smile

 

A link to a website for the Zion Project in Gulu, Uganda which rescues and supports war-affected women and girls exploited by the sex trade. http://www.zionproject.org/

You can read the blog of Sarita Hartz (the founder) here: http://www.saritahartz.com/

Their Vision states ‘The future for us is one where Ugandans become spiritually, emotionally, and physically whole. Our vision is for healed hearts and transformed communities where people are bringing the Kingdom.’

Their projects and blog are beautiful and inspiring

Here is a poem that my Mum shared with me today. thoughts about life, relationship and identity…

‘The Invitation’ by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon…
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.
I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.
I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

By Oriah © Mountain Dreaming,
from the book The Invitation
published by HarperONE, San Francisco,
1999 All rights reserved

As the snow silently spreads a shimmering blanket of white on the world outside my window another part of my world basks in the heat.

The 8,000 miles that lie between here and there make Kampala seem like a world away but I know that just a few hours on a plane will make both worlds collide in a vivid, vibrant and noisy splash of life – new colours, new sights, new sounds added to the palette that is painting the adventure of my life. We haven’t yet met, but I am so looking forward to being introduced to Uganda

In preparation for going, here are a few Lugandan phrases that we will be having a go at learning before we arrive:

Oli Otya – How are you?

Wasuze otya?  - Good Morning

Gwe Ani? - What is your name?

Nze Zoe - My name is Zoe

Bambi - Please/Sorry

Webale - Thank you

Nedda - No

Yye - Yes

In May 2012 I am going to Uganda!

Part of the Big Year is the mission trip. Woop! In May I will be travelling as part of a team of fellow Big Yearers to Bweyogerere, near Kampala. Staying with a charity called Wellspring who are involved in all sorts of community projects relating to education, health care, business, etc and also working alongside Revelation Life while we are out there.

In order to go I am raising £750 to cover the flight cost and other expenses involved in getting there. All other costs for the trip will be raised by group fundraising which I will also post about here. You can help me reach my target by clicking on the Donate button on the top right-hand side of this page or you can donate via cheque or bank transfer. You can also buy a Coconut spoon set from Sunshine Shop

Here’s a clip made by Bath City Church and Revelation Life who we will get to meet while we are there. The song lyrics (by Casting Crowns) pretty much sum up the reason I want to be part of this adventure 

His love is peace to the broken, Faith for the widow, hope for the orphan, strength for the weak…It’s all about LoVe

Untitled from Bath City Church on Vimeo.

Welcome to my jarfullofsunshine blog! This is where you will find updates on what I’m getting up to and news of progress towards any upcoming adventures

The current adventure is being part of The Big Year and exploring and adventuring into God and all that He has for me and the world around me. I’m having a wonder-filled time delving deeper into His Amazing Grace. He is Beautiful and He has beautiful things in store for all of us

Part of The Big Year is a trip to Uganda in May 2012. I will be raising money and posting updates on the lead-up to the trip through this site so watch this space!