New York City: A Wintertime Dream

By far one of the most amazing 3-day trips i've ever been on. There was snow, there was rain, there were warm beverages, there was laughter, and there were moments of just being in awe at how blessed I am. It was the most surreal experience. New York in the wintertime with people you love is the perfect balance between "wow" in the "I must be dreaming sense" and "wow" in the "we are just really this blessed" sense.

Anti-spill Beans.

It seems as though unpredictability is typically the unwelcome guest. It seems to squelch our plans, and we wish that things were more "stable." In other words, we wish we could control things.

Take a few steps back, and look at the big picture. Not just a few steps--but enough to where you're getting to see the grand scope of things.

Predictability ruins the surprise. It takes away the moments that make your heart skip a beat and drastically reduces the amount of times when it just seems like God's orchestration takes your breath away. The words "wow," "whoa," and phrases like "I would have never guessed!!" or "You've got to be kidding me (in the positive sense, of course)" would cease to exist, and our lives would be blanketed by monotony, drab and dull.

Monotony negates the necessity for courage, for trust and for faith. The truth is, those things are the very things that make our existence rich. Monotony takes away from what God wants to give us. Sure, its easier to "hold on to," but the reality is that when monotony (or at least the desire to know every step of the way) gets a hold of us, we we lose ourselves. On the radically opposite end of the continuum, we have the option to let Him lay hold of us--therein lies the adventure of stepping into the fullness He has invited us into.

So in some off-beat. pragmatic sense, the prayers is that we would be "out" of control--and completely in His control. It's safe to assume that most of us desire the surprises and the adventure (right?). To go even beyond that, He wants to give us those things.

My prayer is for a greater measure of this--that it would continue to go from our heads to our hearts. I pray for courage.

Passport Packed--Almost Ready To Go.

That's a lie. My passport isn't packed. In fact, that's what i'm going to do right when i'm done with this entry. I can't believe what a whirlwind it's been. This past week with no school, Christmas, visiting family, and preparing for my trip to Uganda--has seemed to fly right on by.

Nonetheless, the day has come. I leave for Uganda tomorrow. I'm excited/nervous. If it weren't so cold, i'd have sweaty palms. At this rate, i'm wondering if i'll get any sleep before our 11:30 AM meeting time.

I go into this trip with no doubt in my mind that there will be joy. God has spoken that to me time and time again. The anticipation of experiencing a greater depth of His Body is just overwhelming. I feel like something's on the brink for me. It may not happen during the trip, but the trip may be a catalyst for whatever is around the bend.

This passage was given to me this evening, and it is perfect. It calls me to be a posture of waiting for, trusting in, and claiming God's promises:

       "For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
       it speaks of the end
       and will not prove false.
       Though it linger, wait for it;
       it will certainly come and will not delay." -Habakkuk 2:3


I go into this trip with an openness--and from now until I get onto the grounds of Gulu, I pray for a further opening of my heart. 


Pray for these things for the team, for me, and for the people of Gulu:
-Boldness/Authority in His Spirit
-Patience
-Healing
-Humility
-Team Unity
-Increased love for God's children over in Gulu
-Whatever else He leads you to pray for :)


The team and I will keep you posted on the trip's happenings through Rock Harbor's Uganda blog:


http://www.rockharbor.org/blog/uganda/


I'll also occasionally post here, so feel free to check both!




I really should be packing, so i'll leave you with a rough itinerary of our time, so you can be praying :)


Sunday 12/27--Depart from LAX ~ 4 PM

Layover in Dubai

Tuesday 12/29--Arrive at Entebbe ~ 2:45 PM

Wednesday 12/30--Depart for Gulu/Arrive at Acholi Inn/Worship @ Gulu Bible Community Church/New Year's Planning Meeting/Jesus Film Crusade

Thursday 12/31--Alero Cuku Medical Mission

Friday 1/1--Alero Cuku Medical 

Saturday 1/2--Women's Conference/GBCC Model Farming

Sunday 1/3--Break Out Groups (Marriage/Youth)/Worship @ Pastor Ron's

Monday 1/4--Langol Medical/Jesus Film/Testimonies

Tuesday 1/5--Guru-Guru Medical/Jesus Film/Testimonies

Wednesday 1/6--Hospital Ministry/House of Hope/Heals/31-Bits/Krochet Kids/Appreciation Dinner

Thursday 1/7--Depart for Murchison Falls National Park

Friday 1/8--Safari/Depart for Kampala

Saturday 1/9--Bethany Village (Orphanage)/Dinner @ Pastor Fred's

Sunday 1/10--Church @ Ggaba Community Church/Depart for Entebbe

Monday 1/11--Arrive @ LAX

Stay tuned!

Almost Full Circle

With only one more week of school left, I found myself overwhelmed--by how crisp it's getting outside when it was in the 80s just the other day; by how much I still have to get done, by how badly I had to use the ladies' room (again within a matter of minutes--silly coffee); by how quickly time has flown by; and by how on August 26th, I had experienced a great sense of awe and wonder at the thought of the mightiness and greatness and the intricacies of God that i'm experiencing again in the same class today.

It's been about 16 weeks since my first semester of grad school started. I remember sitting in my first class and experiencing a feeling of great warmth as tears welled up in my eyes as the teacher opened up the class time with prayer. This may sound strange, but I had spent 4 1/2 years acquiring and applying knowledge at a secular campus prior to this experience where my encounters with God at school were not so blatant and forthright (I don't mean to say that I didn't see Him there--He was there, alright :)). Here, I wasn't inviting God into my class, into my studies and into the of these materials seemingly alone. This was my first encounter, since my last experience as a senior in high school (at a time when I didn't appreciate it nearly enough), that a teacher was caring for me as a student in aspects of spiritual as well as professional development.

It really does feel like I just started a few days ago, but so much has happened since the end of August. Countless ups and downs, sprinkled with smatterings of both expected and unexpected changes--all through which I kept on being reminded that I was truly loved and fully pursued by God. Mind you, this wasn't always at the forefront of my mind or my heart. In fact, sometimes it took mildly deep lows to bring me back to this truth. This semester has been marked by great breakthroughs, times of numbness, as well as times of wrestling with what I know as true and what my flesh is inclined to without the power of the Holy Spirit. It has been stamped with times of astounding joy and speechlessness as I was overwhelmed by God's beyond skillful orchestration of my life.  I have been blown away by His provision, but in the midst of acknowledging Him, I've also been deeply disappointed with the posture of my heart. Too quickly inclined to choose myself before I choose Him. Immediately reminded by His grace as opposed to a spirit of condemnation. These thoughts with many others swirled around my brain--the ones worthy holding on to, traveling sometimes rapidly and other times a bit more slowly to my heart where they now reside and will hopefully continue to be cultivated.

More than anything else, I have been shown and reminded of my immense and undeniable need for our God. The most striking reminder is that I need Him for every breath that comes into my nose and out of my breath. He sustains my everything. Deep breaths become more and more powerful with that thought in mind. Not only does He sustain my everything, He is everything. It's all about Him. this story is His story, and we are vehicles--honored and chosen vehicles to demonstrate His grace and His character. We are made in the image of Almighty God. We were created to receive His revelation, to integrate that into our lives and to be changed more and more into the very likeness of Him.

"I'm taking this class because God's been revealing Himself to me through the Old Testament, and I really just want to see more." That's what I told my professor when he asked us why we were taking the OT Survey class. Needless to say, that happened. He is in every word, on every page, and repeatedly reveals himself despite the shortcomings of the people we encounter in the respective books of the Old Testament (Good for us, right? Despite our shortcomings, HE will be made known). All scripture is revelatory because our God is a revelatory God. He showed up the first day of class when I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, every day in between and today as I was over-caffeinated and a lot more than just a little bit tired.

Psalm 34:8 says "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Whenever I read this verse, I think "Yes! I have tasted and He is good!" Though, what has come to me over and over in the past few months. God gives His children access to an ever-increasing, sensitive taste palate. The first taste is WOW/Whoa!!, and the next taste can be even WOW-er/WHOAAA!!!, etc... Using those terms probably isn't doing this justice, but there aren't the right words, you know? There will always be more of God's goodness to be tasted--to be beheld and internalized and transformed by. We don't deserve it! My mind spins when I think about this.

I don't know how to end my thoughts. They've seemed all of the place since the beginning of this entry. The only thing that seems appropriate is embodied by a sound that is often packed with a meaning of great satisfaction:

Mmmm.

Unchanging, almighty, holy, indescribable, constant, gentle, piercing, loving, caring, patient God. Thank You. We may need to be reminded at times, but You are all we need and You are far more than enough. You could have made our lives black and white, but you chose to paint them with rich colors, great perspective and much depth. Your subtleties give dimension to our lives. Seriously, Thank You. 

Uganda Bound!

Hi everyone! I'm headed off to Uganda in a few months. Up until that point, the team and I will continue to meet, train and prepare for all which lies ahead.

Here's my support letter if you'd like to take a look-see. If you have any questions even after reading it, please let me know. I'd love to talk with you about the trip!:

Dear friends and family,

I hope this finds you well. This has been a year of many transitions, and through them all I’m continually being impressed with the importance of experiencing the breadth of life and culture around me, acknowledging the needs of a very diverse world around me, and intentionally finding ways to serve in these various environments.

When I first started going to ROCKHARBOR Church five years ago, I found myself deeply affected by a video clip that had been made after a team went to Uganda. I realized how there is need for help and restorative action in such a war-scarred country. In a place whose national past time is war, many families can’t remember what life was like before war. The conflict began in 1987 when a rebel army, known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), began fighting the Ugandan government. As the LRA lost soldiers to battle, they soon resorted to abducting children and training them as soldiers. Fearing abduction, many children fled their homes nightly. The children who ran from their homes walked miles to find shelter in hospitals, bus parks, virtually anywhere away from rebel camps. Recently, some families are fortunate enough to find refuge in government sponsored displacement camps.

Partnering with Africa Renewal Ministires for the fifth year (www.africarenewal.org ), ROCKHARBOR is sending another team this December to Gulu, Uganda. After much prayer, a long application and interview process, God has opened the doors for me to serve in this capacity. We will be leaving December 27th and staying there for two weeks. While in Uganda we will be doing hut-to-hut outreach, medical work in villages, praying with people in prisons, hospitals, and the community. Also, we will be given opportunities to work with Gulu Bible Community Church. My heart is that we would continue to learn to love more fully through this trip.

I have written this letter because I want you to be informed. Most importantly, I have also written that you might support me as well as the team through prayer. Please pray for the following:

• Strength for the team as we prepare & while we are there
• Team unity
• Flexibility and patience as we serve
• Outreach events
• Teaching the Word of God with boldness
• That we would have humble hearts and pray boldly to see the healing power of God
• For the hearts of those we will come into contact with
• Participation with Gulu Bible Community Church

I have committed to raise $4,000. If you would like to make a donation to my trip, please make a donation payable to ROCKHARBOR Church. Please do not write my name or the country anywhere on the check. You may use the included return envelope, which is already addressed and indicates that the donation is for my trip. If using your own envelope, please mail to ROCKHARBOR Church, attn: Uganda/Elizabeth Pham. 3080 Airway Ave. Suite 100, Costa Mesa, CA 92628. Please note that donations are tax deductible and are non refundable. All donations will go towards the overall cost of the trip; any excess funds will first help cover the team’s costs and secondly will be gifted to the ministry we are going to serve.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter and for partnering with me in this opportunity. I look forward to seeing how God moves during this trip and am excited to share with you when I get back!

Vancouver. The Arrival. The Preface.

8.10.2007

For those of you that know, I headed out to a Nieu Communities RoadTrip from August 10-18. I went into this only knowing that this ministry is meant to come alongside communities, cultures, and individuals to establish relationship, to share love, and to serve where there is a need.

Friends kept on asking me what it was exactly that I would be doing on this trip. To be completely honest, I didn't know what to expect. All I knew was that a few of us from RockHarbor: Marion, Deb, Jake, Jon and myself were going to meet up with anyone esle that had signed up for this trip to Vancouver.



After a 2 1/2 hour flight, we arrived. It doesn't look incredibly different. In fact, it looks a lot like different areas that California has. This should be great!!! Familiarity, but a sense of adventure. This is really what I thought. This is really what I thought was coming my way in the following week.

To set the scene for you, the first day consisted of this:
We arrived, got off the plane, explored the city, and met everyone. The team, great. Staff, great. Dinner and introduction preparing us (well, giving us glimpse, really) of what was to come.











Something I pondered before I went to bed (which, in turn, is really what turned to be out a huge truth that manisfested itself in this trip):


" God places His saints where they will bringt the most glory to HIm, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be." -Oswald Chambers



Stay tuned. It gets insane.