Hello Family and Friends,
I hope and pray that everyone is doing well. I just wanted to say thank you for all of your prayers and support. I am in Jinja and today is so beautiful. I just wanted to give you all an update of what has been going on thus far.
*******
My first day at Good Shepherds Fold Orphanage was very interesting. When I arrived at the main gate to GSF with Mark and Titus, I heard the playing of drums and beautiful singing. I saw some of the girls doing a dance (I am assuming it is an Ugandan dance). I got out of the jeep and went around giving hugs. It was so great to see all of my children and even some new children at the orphanage. The welcoming party was great and I feel very blessed that they would do that for me because in reality I did not deserve that, but I am very thankful. It was great seeing of the children again and walking down the street, holding Lilly's hand. I think some of the children were suprised to see me there again. A couple of the guys noticed that I shaved my head bald and shaved my beard. Even one of the guys (Eric) noticed that I had changed. He said, "Chandler you have changed." I asked him is it for the good or bad? He then kindly answered "it is for the good." He noticed that I was talking differently and asked if I had stayed in Africa all of this time. (I was speaking English in an Ugandan accent...which is sweet).
*****
I had the opportunity to talk with Bob and Carolyn for a little while, which was really splendid! It was good to see them again. I sat on the dirty, floor as they sat in their new chairs. It felt like old times, but this time I have a stronger realtionship with them. I told them that they get 9 weeks to look at my beautiful face...haha. After the great converstaion with Bob & Carolyn, I went and had dinner with Mark, Amy, and their children (Carolina, Megan, and Titus). It was a good time of talking and eating food. After we had dinner, I left to my room where I had upacked my stuff and was going to relax. However, when I arrived to my room the feeling of lonliness crept in and stayed with me for the night. I was tired, excited, and sad. I was sad because I now had just realized that I left my beautiful fiancee (Jamie) in the states for 9 weeks. Once I started thinking about her the floodgates opened and I cried, cried, and cried. I even tried to call Jamie, but she was at work and told me to call her in 1 hour/15 min. That kinda made things a little worse for me because I started to cry even more and harder. I felt so alone. I am realizing that God has me here for a certain reason and it's only Him who can truly sustain me and give me all the strength that I need. Last night Jamie encouarged me to read Isaiah 40:29-31. The one verse that stuck out to me was, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength" (vs. 31). I was blown away and amazed as I read that verse. Praise be to Our Father for being the only one that can do that; to renew my strength! I think last night God reminded me that I need Him and only Him to get me throug these 9 weeks. I think it's going to be tough at times, but if the God that I serve is always on my side, then why should I be afarid or sad. I pray that I stay focused on things from above, which of course if God! Time has to come to an end for this update. Once again thank you all very much for everything! I love you guys and am very thankful for all of you! I will be lifting all of you up to Him! Amen!
******
Just to let you all know, I do not know if I will be able to update my blog weekly. The computer that the guests use is messed up. Well, the internet is. I think Mark and I are going to try to fix it. If I can't update it weekly, I will try my best to update you all as much as I can. However, for Matt, I will writing in my journal. I hope that is okay. Take care my family and friends! Jamie, if you get my book soon, I am going to see if you can send it to a couple who were missionaries at GSF. They happen to live in Lynchburg and are coming to GSF in Feb or so. I will give you their address sometime soon. Love you babe!!
-Chandler
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
3 more days to go!!!!!
Hello Family and Friends,
Merry Christmas to all! I hope everyone is having a wonderful and rockin' day! I hope and pray that you all do not forget "the reason for the season." Enjoy the day of our King's birthday!!!!
******
I will be leaving for Uganda on Monday December 28, 2009. I am almost packed all the way. I still need to buy some last minutes things. Most of my support came in for my internship and I would like to thank everyone for supporting me! I truly appreciate it very much! I would like to tell you all a God story. I was on the first floor of Amazement Square (the paint book!) and I was talking to some guests while their grandchildren were painting on the walls. Long story short....I told them about Uganda and they asked me about my support raising and I said that I was about 80-90% there. When they left the gentleman (husband, father-in-law, and grandfather) gave me some money. He said, "I hope it helps you." When they left, I took the money out of my pocket and realized that it was a $50 bill. However, I left the museum with $185. Praise be to God!!!! He knows exactly when to show up and reveal Himself to us!! I will be updating my blog weekly. Thank you all for your prayers and support. I hope and pray that everyone has a great rest of the day.
-chandler
Merry Christmas to all! I hope everyone is having a wonderful and rockin' day! I hope and pray that you all do not forget "the reason for the season." Enjoy the day of our King's birthday!!!!
******
I will be leaving for Uganda on Monday December 28, 2009. I am almost packed all the way. I still need to buy some last minutes things. Most of my support came in for my internship and I would like to thank everyone for supporting me! I truly appreciate it very much! I would like to tell you all a God story. I was on the first floor of Amazement Square (the paint book!) and I was talking to some guests while their grandchildren were painting on the walls. Long story short....I told them about Uganda and they asked me about my support raising and I said that I was about 80-90% there. When they left the gentleman (husband, father-in-law, and grandfather) gave me some money. He said, "I hope it helps you." When they left, I took the money out of my pocket and realized that it was a $50 bill. However, I left the museum with $185. Praise be to God!!!! He knows exactly when to show up and reveal Himself to us!! I will be updating my blog weekly. Thank you all for your prayers and support. I hope and pray that everyone has a great rest of the day.
-chandler
Thursday, September 3, 2009
A Quick Update!
Hello Family and Friends,
Today is such a beautiful morning! The air is crisp and the birds are more than likely chirping and singing praises to their Creator. I just wanted to update you all on some things. I am pretty sure everyone knows by now.......I AM ENGAGED!! I am engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world! We are pushing for a May wedding in upstate New York; May 22. I am so excited! Only a little bit over 8 months away. In all honesty, God gets all the glory and praise for this. Jamie had an interview with Liberty Online (DLP) yesterday. So, just remember her in your prayers and that God will let His will be done. One thing I have learned is that God wants His children to put their WHOLE trust in Him. I think sometimes we (I) forget that God is all POWERFUL and that He is the one in CONTROL! Amina!
I am sorry to say I did not go on my internship this past summer to Uganda due to some personal problems. However, I want to thank those of you that have already supported me financially. Most importantly, I thank you all for the prayers and thoughts. I pray that God will lavish ALL of you with His love, compassion, comfort, strength, mercy, and grace! May God's face shine upon you today! *** Hopefully if all works out I will be doing my internship back at Good Shepeherds Fold Orphanage. Just pray that God will work out things for me. I am half way with my support, so Praise God for that! If you all want to continue to support through prayer and finiancial means, just let me know. I know that I could use the prayer. Thank you all and have a great and rockin' day!! Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you, that I am in my LAST semester for undergrad. I will be done this December, and I will walk..I mean dance across the stage! Praise God for bringing me this far!!
-Chandler
Today is such a beautiful morning! The air is crisp and the birds are more than likely chirping and singing praises to their Creator. I just wanted to update you all on some things. I am pretty sure everyone knows by now.......I AM ENGAGED!! I am engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world! We are pushing for a May wedding in upstate New York; May 22. I am so excited! Only a little bit over 8 months away. In all honesty, God gets all the glory and praise for this. Jamie had an interview with Liberty Online (DLP) yesterday. So, just remember her in your prayers and that God will let His will be done. One thing I have learned is that God wants His children to put their WHOLE trust in Him. I think sometimes we (I) forget that God is all POWERFUL and that He is the one in CONTROL! Amina!
I am sorry to say I did not go on my internship this past summer to Uganda due to some personal problems. However, I want to thank those of you that have already supported me financially. Most importantly, I thank you all for the prayers and thoughts. I pray that God will lavish ALL of you with His love, compassion, comfort, strength, mercy, and grace! May God's face shine upon you today! *** Hopefully if all works out I will be doing my internship back at Good Shepeherds Fold Orphanage. Just pray that God will work out things for me. I am half way with my support, so Praise God for that! If you all want to continue to support through prayer and finiancial means, just let me know. I know that I could use the prayer. Thank you all and have a great and rockin' day!! Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you, that I am in my LAST semester for undergrad. I will be done this December, and I will walk..I mean dance across the stage! Praise God for bringing me this far!!
-Chandler
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Postponed. Delayed. Deferred.
Hello to Family and Friends,
I am sorry to say that my internship has been postponed. However, I hope to complete my internship next Spring. Thank you for those that have already supported me financially. I truly appreciate that. More importantly, thank you all of your prayers. They are still much needed. I will continue to update on what God is doing in my life during the summer. I also to continue to walk the journey with the relationships that I have already made. And I am looking forward to building new relationships and walking this journey together also. Take care and thank you for all of you support.
-In Christ Alone,
Chandler Sharpe
I am sorry to say that my internship has been postponed. However, I hope to complete my internship next Spring. Thank you for those that have already supported me financially. I truly appreciate that. More importantly, thank you all of your prayers. They are still much needed. I will continue to update on what God is doing in my life during the summer. I also to continue to walk the journey with the relationships that I have already made. And I am looking forward to building new relationships and walking this journey together also. Take care and thank you for all of you support.
-In Christ Alone,
Chandler Sharpe
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Attention to All!
Dear Family and Friends,
I hope this letter finds you and your family doing well. I am also doing well. I am in my senior year at Liberty University and will be graduating this December. One of the requirements before I graduate is to complete an eight week long internship. As many of you know God has given me a passion for the people of Africa. He has graciously given me the opportunity to return to Uganda this summer to fulfill my internship requirement. I will be departing on June 15 and will be returning August 12.
I will be living and working in a town called Arua which is located in Northern Uganda. Arua is home to the Lugbara people, who are an unreached people group. While there, I will be working alongside career missionaries helping with True Love Waits and English story groups with the secondary students, as Lugbara story groups within the community. The goal of each ministry is to build relationships with the people in order to share the message of hope and salvation.
I am writing to invite you to be part of the ministry that God is doing in Arua and the ministry that I will be part of. One way that you can actively take part in these ministries is through prayer. Please pray that God will prepare me physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally for the journey ahead. Also be praying for the missionaries who are already in Arua. Pray that the eyes of the Lugbara people would be opened and their hearts softened for the gospel. Another way that you can be involved in what God is doing, is through supporting me financially. I am in the need of $4,000. This money will be used for travel expenses, food, housing, immunizations, and visa fees. I know this might seem like a huge amount, but God is teaching me that He is big enough to provide for the needs of His children.
Thank you for your prayers and support. I look forward to updating you and keeping you informed about my life and ministry through my blog. Please let me know what you are doing and how I can be praying for you as we travel this road together.
In Christ Alone,
Chandler Sharpe
P.S. If you choose to write a check, make it out to Living Word Baptist Church. Thanks!
Here's the address of Living Word:
Living Word Baptist Church
4130 Waterlick Road
Forest, VA 24551
IF YOU SEND MONEY, I NEED IT VERY SOON SO I CAN GET MY PLANE TICKET.
THANK YOU.
I hope this letter finds you and your family doing well. I am also doing well. I am in my senior year at Liberty University and will be graduating this December. One of the requirements before I graduate is to complete an eight week long internship. As many of you know God has given me a passion for the people of Africa. He has graciously given me the opportunity to return to Uganda this summer to fulfill my internship requirement. I will be departing on June 15 and will be returning August 12.
I will be living and working in a town called Arua which is located in Northern Uganda. Arua is home to the Lugbara people, who are an unreached people group. While there, I will be working alongside career missionaries helping with True Love Waits and English story groups with the secondary students, as Lugbara story groups within the community. The goal of each ministry is to build relationships with the people in order to share the message of hope and salvation.
I am writing to invite you to be part of the ministry that God is doing in Arua and the ministry that I will be part of. One way that you can actively take part in these ministries is through prayer. Please pray that God will prepare me physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally for the journey ahead. Also be praying for the missionaries who are already in Arua. Pray that the eyes of the Lugbara people would be opened and their hearts softened for the gospel. Another way that you can be involved in what God is doing, is through supporting me financially. I am in the need of $4,000. This money will be used for travel expenses, food, housing, immunizations, and visa fees. I know this might seem like a huge amount, but God is teaching me that He is big enough to provide for the needs of His children.
Thank you for your prayers and support. I look forward to updating you and keeping you informed about my life and ministry through my blog. Please let me know what you are doing and how I can be praying for you as we travel this road together.
In Christ Alone,
Chandler Sharpe
P.S. If you choose to write a check, make it out to Living Word Baptist Church. Thanks!
Here's the address of Living Word:
Living Word Baptist Church
4130 Waterlick Road
Forest, VA 24551
IF YOU SEND MONEY, I NEED IT VERY SOON SO I CAN GET MY PLANE TICKET.
THANK YOU.
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