God Answers Prayer

I was on the brink of a break down on Thursday. I heard bad news all around. I had such a bad day. Everywhere I looked the devil was around the corner trying to test my faith. I was tired. I hadn't been on the computer much because of other things going on in my life. I would get on to share Christie Cotney's link and check on her and what was going on in the village, but I hadn't been on much. I prayed for the things going on in my life and I prayed about the poor people of Bugabo Village, Uganda and how they didn't have any water, not even the dirty water, because it was drying up. Yes my problems were bad, but nothing compared to what they endure on a daily basis. I talked to God all through the day (like I always do) and I got on the computer at work close to closing time Thursday and saw the most awesome post on facebook ever, "

"just! picked! my! heart! up! off! the! floor! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" -Christie Cotney

"George had someone come and survey the land for the borehole yesterday. I already told you all that he said once we hit $2000, we start drilling. He has childlike faith. So Tuesday, they are coming to see how far into the ground they hav...e to dig for the water and where the rocks are (risks to their equipment). And Saturday they are starting to drill. We only have like $1500 plus the $500 on Lacy's blog meter. So I got sick yesterday. Running stomach and no water. And I got dehydrated. I spent the day in bed today. And I prayed. Lord, this isn't a child's education we're talking about. This isn't monthly support for me so that I can eat. This isn't a bed for someone to sleep comfortably in. And as horrible as this is, it's not helping Charles as He lies in that filthy ward in the government hospital. This is water. I remember when I was in like 3rd grade and we learned the 3 basic needs: food, clothing & shelter. Seriously, those are NEEDS. You can live without food. This is so much more. We NEED water."And I just lay there. Not wanting to go hang out in the pit latrine because I know what a "running stomach" results in - water that leaves the body. And I know what I felt guilty replacing it with - water that no one else has in this village. I fought it all day long. Trying to put myself in the shoes of the people I'm here to serve almost took me out today. Now tonight, I'm sitting in the dark. Just swallowed my pride and put another data plan on the computer because if I don't keep spreading the word, we can't get help. And I felt bad about the $45 I just spent that I don't have. But I was clinging to something He told me today. I KNEW something BIG was going to happen. And I told one of you, just can't remember who it was. It was SO BIG that I thought my "running stomach" wouldn't make it in time to wake up George to go be my security outside. SO BIG that when I woke him up enough to whisper in his ear "someone just emptied their savings and is funding the rest of the borehole" he said, "I don't think I'm awake. First hold on and let me try this again." Something SO BIG that I can't even breathe right now. Something SO BIG that it could only be from God." -Christie Cotney

 If I do say so myself I believe the devil was just snuffed out. My bad day was made one of the best days of my life. He answered mine and many other's prayers. For those of you who don't believe in prayer, He listens. He hears every little word you say, you just have to believe it will happen, but all in His good time. And here is a prime example.

Thanks to a wonderful someone, who emptied out her savings, Bugabo Village won't have to drink this water anymore. God tugged at her heart like He has so many others.  Go to Christie Cotney's Blog  and read  her beautiful walk with God.

One Question

One question. Would you drink this water? Would you bathe in this water? or even wash your hands in it? I am almost betting you wouldn't. So why would you let anyone else? Over 3 million people die every year because of lack of clean water. Lack of water and sanitation claim more lives than war. 1.5 million children die of diarrhea before the age of 5 because of unclean water. We have to do something. Christie Cotney and George Magera are working hard to change that in Bugabo Village, Uganda, but they can't do it alone. 

 Look at this poor baby's belly. No she hasn't just eaten. Her belly is swollen because it is filled with worms. Parasites invade their small water supply, but they have no choice but to drink the water. Our bodies are 60 to 70 percent water, and with out it our body's will not function properly. Please help. You may think you don't have the money, but can you look at these people and say you don't have more then they do? You have a bathroom to wash your hands. A washer to wash you clothes. A faucet to get clean water to drink. They don't. Please go to http://compassinmyheart.blogspot.com/ or

http://www.loveforthelot.blogspot.com/ 
and donate. Give in the name of the Lord, give cause it hurts, give cause you have a heart

Where is the Love

When I began my journey of following Christ, I noticed that no one else that I had known all my life were interested. It worn at me. I would wonder to myself if they even noticed the change. Months gone by I waited. Then I gave up and just started praying. The other night I was posting scripture and a old friend of mine popped up with a message that read "hey i wish yall would show me how to get what yall have received because i have tried and i feel like my life has hit rock bottom. Yall keep it up and good luck". I sobbed. I reached someone. God had allowed me to see what He was doing in my life. My reply was this "Look just keep your head up, don't worry. I have seen bad and we are gonna see worse. I now know what I have. You have to realize what you have. I had been fussing about everything. I would cuss somebody out if they gave me the chance. I would whoop someone's butt in a minute. But for some reason now I have a peace. I don't know what happened to me, but when I looked into one of those sweet little brown child's eyes, I knew what I had. You may not believe me, but I have found God. I did not take a church, it did not take a man, but a child.  I am so glad I had this conversation with you, and I hope tonight that you find a peace. Pray, believe, and know that you are blessed."

Now I urge you not to give up on anyone. Everyone has a burden. Everyone hurts, everyone needs love. I ask my self those months back "where was the love". I wanted my friends so badly to see what God was doing in my life. They see, they hear, they just have to reach out. The love is within them and within me. They are all coming around now, and you should see the smile on my face when they do, cause I can share my God.

I want to thank all of you who have been interested in the changes my life. I want to share with you every step closer I get to Him. Cause He is real. Remember what you have and when you ask yourself "where is the love" remember He is right there. God loves you!

God Says, "Thank You"

This morning I woke up to one of the most precious videos. A few days ago I was informed that a man from Uganda was hung by his arm and robbed of what little possessions he owed. Now homeless he has been forced to live in the church with his children. Later I found out that this man is the father to one of the children I am sponsoring. After I found out I was heart broken that a child had to go through so much. I sent a donation to help with his father's medical treatment. Today I was in Hardee's and was talking to a lovely elderly  lady I was telling her about the poor man that had been hung by his arm. Then a man hears our conversation and he has a few things to say. He informs me that we are just helping the one's we will be in war with. WHAT? Was he kidding? I couldn't believe that someone would have something bad to say about what I was doing.

I couldn't believe my ears. He said the homeless was the way they were because they chose to be that way. All I could say was God bless and have a great day and I left. On my drive to work it ate at me. I saw a show this weekend about a girl that was homeless and was taken in by a rich woman. When the woman ask how she became homeless she told her that her dad left her mom when she was 10. The mother worked two jobs to make ends meet. When the girl reached age 15 her mother became ill and died of cancer, leaving her daughter on the streets. Now that is a thought. Now can you look into the eyes of the homeless and say, "you are there because you want to be"? Do you think this man chose to be hung by his arm ,home burned and left  for dead and homeless? Do you think for one minute that this man wanted to move his children into a church?

With that said, we all could have been homeless, whether we wanted it or not. Now do you see how much you are blessed? Do you think that God wants you to bless in return? I made a small donation for the medical help of this man and look what I got in return, the most precious video ever...

You may not understand his broken english, but I do. He says thank you. I cried when I heard this man say these sweet words. And to think he is someone I will be going to war with.  I didn't believe a word that man from this morning said, I think he needs to be educated. Cause God does say thank you. Please give to the sick, please give to the poor, give til' you can't give anymore, cause you can't take it with you.

My Heart is Useless No More

I used to be consumed by material things. I wanted a paved way for my children. I wanted them to have money so that they would succeed in life. But recently all that has changed. I have come to realize my children are well taken care of, why do they need all that money, just to be thrown away? I was sadly mistaken. Just before Christmas I had a friend of mine comment on some jewelry one of her friends were selling. I noticed that the jewelry was hand-made from Uganda. Me being the creative person I am I was curious to see the jewelry. I know my grammar may be off, but you guys this is my heart. Anyway, I went to the album where the jewelry was sold and I befriended Christie Cotney to which the jewelry belonged. She accepted my friend request and I started looking through her albums of Bugabo Village, Uganda. Boy was my heart in for a surprise.

Christie Cotney had an album named "Maria and her Mom". My heart was broken at what I saw. A 15lb. two year old. My heart ached. I wanted to hold her and give her love. Maria smile filled my heart. I melted. Her mother suffers from Epilepsy that has gone untreated. She is in need of medical attention, but that is the least of her worries. They drink dirty water that is filled with parasites. They can become sick and die. She was rejected from the village because of her condition. Christie found them sitting on a dirty cloth in the dirt. There were pictures of the inside of their hut. Only a dirt floor and walls. Maria was wearing the same onesie she had on since she was born. It was covered in dirt. Now if that don't break your heart nothing will.

Now Christie lives in Bugabo Village, Uganda . She gave up her "American Dream" to help those in need. She gave up everything. She brought sunshine to a place of darkness, a place of no hope, a witchcraft village. She is teaching them about God and showing them love and compassion that they have never experienced. Could you imagine a life without a hug?

But not only did she bring sunshine to Uganda, she brought sunshine to my heart. God now shines over Uganda and his children. I am closer to God now than I have ever been, and I have been saved for almost 2 years. The material things that I held so dear, are not as important as they seemed. I took for granted the simple things I had in life like shoes, water, or a second set of clothing. Now let your heart be useful as God has made mine useful through her. I ask that you put yourself in their shoes. Would you want your children living this way. I ask that you donate anything. Give in love, and give cause they have nothing and I hope you see that you really have it all. I hope you all enjoy my first blog ever and there will be many more to come. I am so thankful to have found a friend like her and many more like her. God bless you.