Hello Family & Friends,
I hope everyone is doing well. I am going to be honest and say that I am not doing okay. My energy tank is getting really low. It is at its lowest point right now and I still have two more weeks before I leave. I wake up every morning and go to bed and night praying to our Abba Father for strength, endurance, and perseverance. I am learning what is behind the word "trust" and "rely." I have to say that I just realized tonight that I am emotionally drained. All of the emotions inside me are draining out. I cannot explain it to everyone because I do not even understand my emotions and feelings right now. I wrote this to ask that all my brothers and sisters in Christ continue to pray for me. Continue to pray that our Abba Father will grant me the strength to get through this time. And that He will also give me the endurance and perseverance. Also pray for the other Short Term Missionary here with me. She is also going through the exact same thing. Her name is Ineke Kajser. Just pray that our Abba Father would give her strength, endurance, and perseverance as well. She will leave a week after I leave. When she leaves the total time that she stayed would be 3 months. So I ask that you also please remember her in your prayers. And also please continue to pray for the other visitor; Beverly Burk. She will leave next Monday. So just pray for her safety in travel. And Carolyn left tonight to Ireland for two weeks to visit family. She really needs this small vacation. Just keep her in your prayers please. Pray for her safety in travel and also remember Bob in your prayers as well. He is going to be here in GSF by himself running everything. Just pray for him that God will give him the strength, endurance, perseverance, and wisdom. I know this is short, but it was meant to be short. I love you all! I even miss you all. I try not to think about that word because I do not want to get my focus blurry. I want my eyes and thoughts to stay focused on my Abba Father! Take care mi familia y mis amigos. Ciao!
~In Christ,
Chandler
Monday, July 16, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Interesting Day!
Hello Family and Friends,
Welcome to a very interesting day at GSF! On Monday in America is known as one of the worst days of the week because you have 5 more days to go after that horrible one. But here in Uganda there is a saying called, "TIA." ("This is Africa). When something happens to our American culture idea in our mind that is what we say. Well on Monday I got bit by one of my pre-schoolers and to make the news even more exciting one of our children set one of our classroom (storage) huts on fire. I was told by Bob that he was chasing a village child (outsider), but he was chasing the outsider with a stick that he got from the fire from the kitchen stove. I do not know why he chose a certain stick that looked like it was burning. I was over at the soccer field and I saw the some guys run with ladders and I kinda just stood there. But do not ask me why I stood there. I guess I was in shock. Once my shock was over I ran down to help the men and trying to keep the children from the fire, which was hard. And also on Monday we got a new visitor. Her name is Beverly and she is a Speical Needs Teacher and will be here for two weeks. Before I go I want to leave you all with some exicting news. Tomorrow I am leaving for a safari for three days. We are going to Queen Elizabeth National Park. I am so stoked and exicted that I get to see all of God's creation (beautiful animals) up close and personal! I know my updating business has been horrible, but I am trying my best to update as much as I can and as often as I can. I have some prayer request that I ask you all to pray for. God has laid on my heart to come back to GSF. Bob told me that one of the many positions that him and Carolyn are still looking for and still needing is a youth/children pastor. This past Sunday our pastor here came up to me and said that he would for me to come back and that he has liked my work. He then said that I need to come back and stay forever. Carolyn told me that our pastor is a man of few words, so when I heard that I was like whoa. And that night we all went to a missionary get together at the Global Outreach guest house and it was there I met a guy named Frank Gardner and he told me the same thing the pastor did. He was like you need to come back and stay at GSF. Once again I was like whoa. People this has been on my heart with a little bit of confusion and such. Just pray that God will speak to me and move. Just pray that if God wants me to come back and be a missionary here then He will work it out. Thank you all for all of the prayers. I really have needed them because my tank is going low right now. But Praise God that we find strength in Him. I am still praying also so I ask that you go in parntership with me. I asked Bob and Carolyn to go into a partnership, so I ask you the same. I will talk to everyone later on. Have a great time in America. Ciao!
~In Christ,
Chandler
Welcome to a very interesting day at GSF! On Monday in America is known as one of the worst days of the week because you have 5 more days to go after that horrible one. But here in Uganda there is a saying called, "TIA." ("This is Africa). When something happens to our American culture idea in our mind that is what we say. Well on Monday I got bit by one of my pre-schoolers and to make the news even more exciting one of our children set one of our classroom (storage) huts on fire. I was told by Bob that he was chasing a village child (outsider), but he was chasing the outsider with a stick that he got from the fire from the kitchen stove. I do not know why he chose a certain stick that looked like it was burning. I was over at the soccer field and I saw the some guys run with ladders and I kinda just stood there. But do not ask me why I stood there. I guess I was in shock. Once my shock was over I ran down to help the men and trying to keep the children from the fire, which was hard. And also on Monday we got a new visitor. Her name is Beverly and she is a Speical Needs Teacher and will be here for two weeks. Before I go I want to leave you all with some exicting news. Tomorrow I am leaving for a safari for three days. We are going to Queen Elizabeth National Park. I am so stoked and exicted that I get to see all of God's creation (beautiful animals) up close and personal! I know my updating business has been horrible, but I am trying my best to update as much as I can and as often as I can. I have some prayer request that I ask you all to pray for. God has laid on my heart to come back to GSF. Bob told me that one of the many positions that him and Carolyn are still looking for and still needing is a youth/children pastor. This past Sunday our pastor here came up to me and said that he would for me to come back and that he has liked my work. He then said that I need to come back and stay forever. Carolyn told me that our pastor is a man of few words, so when I heard that I was like whoa. And that night we all went to a missionary get together at the Global Outreach guest house and it was there I met a guy named Frank Gardner and he told me the same thing the pastor did. He was like you need to come back and stay at GSF. Once again I was like whoa. People this has been on my heart with a little bit of confusion and such. Just pray that God will speak to me and move. Just pray that if God wants me to come back and be a missionary here then He will work it out. Thank you all for all of the prayers. I really have needed them because my tank is going low right now. But Praise God that we find strength in Him. I am still praying also so I ask that you go in parntership with me. I asked Bob and Carolyn to go into a partnership, so I ask you the same. I will talk to everyone later on. Have a great time in America. Ciao!
~In Christ,
Chandler
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Not to us, O Lord, not to us!
Hello Family and Friends,
How is everyone doing? Today is my day off and I am in Jinja by myself in the Source Cafe. I really needed to be away today. I just needed a moment to breathe for a little while. The reason why I am by myself is because I need alone time even from Chad. I have no idea what Chad is doing and to be honest I do not care. Chad is leaving tomorrow to go back home and if you were to ask me if I like that I would tell you no. To be honest his attitude is like crap. For a couple of days he was lazy and doing nothing. Part of me wanted to shake him up and tell him that he is not on this trip for himself or even the orphans. He is on this journey for God and only God. He says that he knows that but his actions do not show it. He reminds me of myself when I first went to Argentina. I mean I was just out of high school and only 18 and turned 19 when I was there, but the thing is that I was young. I was still a teenager. I thought I had it altogether and knew everything but it was in Argentina when I realized that I had some growing up to do. I still have some growing up to do. I have been trying to help Chad because I have been in his shoes before. I have been homesick for about a month and a half and even went through many doubts. I thought many times that God wanted me to go back to the States and not finish but I know I made a commitment to God and to Jim and Peggy. So the only way I got through it was from the help and strength of Our Abba Father! I was not going to give up. I was going to stay there. Chad and I got into an argument about him leaving. He thinks that I am getting into his business. The only thing that I was only doing was helping my brother in Christ because I have walked in his shoes before and I wanted to help him out. I wanted to share with him the things that I have learned from my lessons. But you see the problem was that he had already made up his mind. I am not the one that can change minds and hearts, that is the work of the Holy Spirit. Just continue to pray for Chad. He is young (I mean so am I, I still have a lot of growing up to do). Just pray that Chad seeks the will of Our Abba Father and not his own! One thing that God reminded me yesterday is that "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." (Psalm 115:1) He reminded me that it is not to me. It is not to Chandler Sharpe. I am even not here at Jinja, Uganda for myself. I am not even here @ GSF for Bob & Carolyn. I am not even here for the orphans. I know it is even hard to say that, but that is the reality. I am here for My Abba Father. It is to Him and all about Him. It is not me for me. Chad was not even here for himself. The both of us were not even here to be good "Christ Followers." O to God's name be the glory forever!! Praise His name forever! And I am so thankful for his Love and Faithfulness! Praise His name forever! Yesterday when I read that verse I was very humbled because the preaching and the work that I have been doing has not been for myself. It has not been for the children. It has been to God to glorify His name and make his name known! Because It is NOT about me!! Life does not revolve around Joseph Chandler Sharpe. As I am writing this I wonder if Chad is going to read this when I gets home. And I think to myself I wonder if he gets mad at me. I mean he already is mad at me. And to be honest I really do not care if he gets mad at me because he and I need to learn that it is NOT to us! It is NOT about us! It is NOT to satisfy our desires! It is NOT to make a good name for us and to let people know that we have been to Africa! It is NOT about us! It is ALL about God and For God! Okay I think I am done for today. I could keep on going on and on. But I am stopping because my time is running up. But just remember that this post was not about Chad. This post was not talking rumors about Chad at all. This was not saying bad things about who is. I was just trying to get across this verse, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1. I miss you all and love you all. Pray for Erin as she flies home today by herself and pray for Chad and he flies by himself tomorrow. Pray for their safety.
In Christ,
Chandler
How is everyone doing? Today is my day off and I am in Jinja by myself in the Source Cafe. I really needed to be away today. I just needed a moment to breathe for a little while. The reason why I am by myself is because I need alone time even from Chad. I have no idea what Chad is doing and to be honest I do not care. Chad is leaving tomorrow to go back home and if you were to ask me if I like that I would tell you no. To be honest his attitude is like crap. For a couple of days he was lazy and doing nothing. Part of me wanted to shake him up and tell him that he is not on this trip for himself or even the orphans. He is on this journey for God and only God. He says that he knows that but his actions do not show it. He reminds me of myself when I first went to Argentina. I mean I was just out of high school and only 18 and turned 19 when I was there, but the thing is that I was young. I was still a teenager. I thought I had it altogether and knew everything but it was in Argentina when I realized that I had some growing up to do. I still have some growing up to do. I have been trying to help Chad because I have been in his shoes before. I have been homesick for about a month and a half and even went through many doubts. I thought many times that God wanted me to go back to the States and not finish but I know I made a commitment to God and to Jim and Peggy. So the only way I got through it was from the help and strength of Our Abba Father! I was not going to give up. I was going to stay there. Chad and I got into an argument about him leaving. He thinks that I am getting into his business. The only thing that I was only doing was helping my brother in Christ because I have walked in his shoes before and I wanted to help him out. I wanted to share with him the things that I have learned from my lessons. But you see the problem was that he had already made up his mind. I am not the one that can change minds and hearts, that is the work of the Holy Spirit. Just continue to pray for Chad. He is young (I mean so am I, I still have a lot of growing up to do). Just pray that Chad seeks the will of Our Abba Father and not his own! One thing that God reminded me yesterday is that "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." (Psalm 115:1) He reminded me that it is not to me. It is not to Chandler Sharpe. I am even not here at Jinja, Uganda for myself. I am not even here @ GSF for Bob & Carolyn. I am not even here for the orphans. I know it is even hard to say that, but that is the reality. I am here for My Abba Father. It is to Him and all about Him. It is not me for me. Chad was not even here for himself. The both of us were not even here to be good "Christ Followers." O to God's name be the glory forever!! Praise His name forever! And I am so thankful for his Love and Faithfulness! Praise His name forever! Yesterday when I read that verse I was very humbled because the preaching and the work that I have been doing has not been for myself. It has not been for the children. It has been to God to glorify His name and make his name known! Because It is NOT about me!! Life does not revolve around Joseph Chandler Sharpe. As I am writing this I wonder if Chad is going to read this when I gets home. And I think to myself I wonder if he gets mad at me. I mean he already is mad at me. And to be honest I really do not care if he gets mad at me because he and I need to learn that it is NOT to us! It is NOT about us! It is NOT to satisfy our desires! It is NOT to make a good name for us and to let people know that we have been to Africa! It is NOT about us! It is ALL about God and For God! Okay I think I am done for today. I could keep on going on and on. But I am stopping because my time is running up. But just remember that this post was not about Chad. This post was not talking rumors about Chad at all. This was not saying bad things about who is. I was just trying to get across this verse, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1. I miss you all and love you all. Pray for Erin as she flies home today by herself and pray for Chad and he flies by himself tomorrow. Pray for their safety.
In Christ,
Chandler
Monday, July 2, 2007
I am okay!
Hello Family and Friends,
Just wanted to let everyone know that I am okay and safe! GSF is safe and sound. Right now we have police with guns on guard duty, plus we have our GSF guards with their bow and arrows. Something that I learned from this tragedy is that God is our refuge! God is our protection! God is our safe haven! God is our safe place! We can run to God when harm comes our way! And get this, God is even present during the most terrible troubles we have! He will not leave us! Nor will He ever forsake us! Nor we He ever turn His precious back on us! I wanted to let everyone know that I am okay and that GSF is safe and okay because my parents wrote me an e-mail asking if I was okay. Sorry I should of done this earlier, but I have been busy. Forgive me. No worries, God is on our side!! Praise God! I love you all and thank you for all of the encouragement and prayer. Please continue to pray for me because I have been tired and running out of energy.
~In Christ,
Chandler
Just wanted to let everyone know that I am okay and safe! GSF is safe and sound. Right now we have police with guns on guard duty, plus we have our GSF guards with their bow and arrows. Something that I learned from this tragedy is that God is our refuge! God is our protection! God is our safe haven! God is our safe place! We can run to God when harm comes our way! And get this, God is even present during the most terrible troubles we have! He will not leave us! Nor will He ever forsake us! Nor we He ever turn His precious back on us! I wanted to let everyone know that I am okay and that GSF is safe and okay because my parents wrote me an e-mail asking if I was okay. Sorry I should of done this earlier, but I have been busy. Forgive me. No worries, God is on our side!! Praise God! I love you all and thank you for all of the encouragement and prayer. Please continue to pray for me because I have been tired and running out of energy.
~In Christ,
Chandler
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