Do you know what you are getting yourself in to?

-Relationships…

-Classes…

-Trips…

-Commitments…

-Purchases…

With each thing that comes about in life there are certain conditions upon the undertaking.  Along with the decisions to be made comes the opinions of others, some who care some who don’t.  How do you balance the gut feeling/ intuition that has left many wounded, scarred, or even dead against the warnings/ potential over reactions that leaves many down the path of bordum?  Oh what life I have lived since I have given up the notion that I wont hurt/ feel pain… or the notion that somehow I wont mess up.  Instead I wake up each morning facing the fact that I’m not perfect.  With those around me who are striving to be people of love and grace, life goes on as we accept each other in a world of failure and pain.  Pushing through the tough times I know that God accepts me in even in my failures, because I know that God designed me for a purpose and passion greater than what/who I am even now. 

So I keep on losing…

I keep on loving…

I keep on learning…

I KEEP ON LIVING!

Back to Africa

As my undergraduate career comes to a close, I have to say that I’m pumped about the opportunities just around the corner.  This blog/email has been written as an invitation for you to journey with me as I search out God’s plan for my life.  It is important to realize that the plans that I’m about to share are only hypothetical and will change to some degree based on the day to day of the next 4 months. 

 Right now the plan is to be done with classes with enough credits to graduate a semester early and to use the first two months of second semester (Jan and Feb) to explore what God might have in store for my life in connections to the battered, but hopeful continent of Africa.  Plans right now consist of returning to Kampala, Uganda where I will work alongside Tim and Colleen Stephenson. 

This place already holds a special place in my heart, which many of you can confirm.  Every day my heart is reminded of the people that I met, the stories I heard, and the life that I witnessed in this foreign country.  My last trip gave me a global perspective of God’s love and grace.  How God is not partial to one country over another and more specifically one people over another.  Jesus spent His time here on earth with the poor, sick, downcast, and lowly.  I see that these people have much to teach me as I continue to search out what the Gospel means and how I can live it out in my own community.   

I do not know exactly what my time there will consist of, but vaguely I can say that I will be working with the Tumaini Aids Prevention Program (TAPP) and traveling to churches throughout the country to learn from, grow from, and hopefully to encourage local pastors and congregations.   In the coming weeks (1st week in September) I will be meeting with our Tri-S program here at AU who will aid me in finding the best possible rates for flying to and from Uganda.  Other costs will include room and board, other travel expense, and project costs.  (The main expense being the actual flights)

Here’s the break down of estimated expense: 

Flight-  $1500

 Room and board- $15/ day X 55 days =  $825

Other expense-  $ 300

Total=  $2625 

Like I said this is my goal, but I’m not exactly sure how it’s all going to work out.  I ask for your prayers as the plans come together or disintegrate.  Either way I am committed to loving God and loving people with all that I am and do.

Growing

Another semester beginning, more adventures undertaken, new ways to grow…

For the past 4 weeks I’ve been growing in my understanding of Koine Greek.  Many have questioned my reasoning for taking this class as they realize that it is a dead language, in the sense that it is no longer the primary language of any people in the world.  It is however the language that was originally used to write the New Testament.  Most of the early manuscripts use this type of ancient Greek to tell their own God stories and it is from those texts that our translations come.  I’m on my last week now and can’t wait to finish up!

During the past four months there has been another endeavor that I have embarked upon that I’ve never done before… growing facial hair.  (See below)  Like I said I’ve never grown anything on my face before and am not too convinced that I’ll ever do it again.  It’s an interesting thing, but I’m just not into it with my whole heart.  I’ve got one more week of Greek and therefore one more week of facial hair. 

Well… what do you think?   I’ve heard it makes me look older. Many have said they like it, some have said they didn’t… most have said something. lol

Anyway there are many things happening that are life changing as I look forward to my last semester, Going Back To Africa!!!, a healthy relationship, great housemates, 2 internships, reffing high school soccer, and challenging classes.

There will be more to come before too long…

Love God love people,

Joshua Weiger