LivingStone International University

When we joined the Mbale Mission Team, we knew there was a vision of starting a university here in Mbale. It sounded so far off that the vision didn’t seem like a reality at all, just a dream someone had. Perhaps I even doubted that something that huge would ever take place.

Thankfully, God is not allowing my inability to grasp this vision to hinder His work. I have only been in Mbale for a little over five months, and I have already had the opportunity to sit in on a university planning committee, hear the reports of teammates broadcasting the vision to Uganda through a University Debut, enjoy the  fruits of teammates casting the vision at the North American Christian Convention, and today walk the future land for LivingStone International University.

Today a crowd gathered to walk the perimeter of the 64 acre plot of land that may very well  be the future site of LivingStone. As we walked the land, I began to understand more fully just how big this university project is and how real it is. This is not a passing whim. God is going to establish a Christian University in Mbale. He is preparing to radically reach out to the people of this country. Our God is indeed a mighty God.

I am honored to get to be a part of the work that God is doing here, even if it is just a small part. I picture myself standing in the middle of 64 acres and  feeling tiny and insignificant. Then I picture God in the middle of that   land, and the land changes drastically. It becomes a place of hope and a place that has the possibility of impacting a nation.

I stand amazed at the ability of our God to dream and accomplish big things. He knows just what to do to reach His people. Today He reminded me that it is ok to dream big dreams. LivingStone International University is great proof of that.

#44: innocence of a child

My heart is full of emotions today. We said the first of our goodbyes in preparation to leave for Uganda in a month, and it was harder than I anticipated by far. It was even harder because it was saying goodbye to my parents. But as I cried in the airport after saying goodbye – crying not because I am sad and depressed as much as because I know I am loved and have an amazing family who is totally supporting me – I was filled with other emotions as well.

I watched a little girl who was maybe 3 trailing along behind her mom. She was thrilled to be walking through the airport. Each diamond in the carpet fascinated her. Every person walking by was worth waving and smiling to. With the innocent smile of a child she wanted to let each person know they were special.

Seeing the little girl made me think of Jesus. As I sat there, I could almost see Him walking through the terminal letting each person know how much He loved each and everyone of them regardless of color, age, gender or anything. It gave me a brief glimpse of how my Jesus would have me act as well. He loves each person so much and glories in all that His Father has created. We are to be just like Jesus.

So as I sat and cried in the airport after saying goodbye in preparation to move to Uganda, I was flooded with the reason I am leaving behind my precious family to move to a different country. It is to love people as my Jesus loves people, to reach out to those who have not heard about His love and show them that they are all precious in His sight. The innocence of a child reminded me of my Savior’s love and the reason I am going to serve Him as a missionary overseas.

Everyone is precious no matter age, gender, or race. Everyone needs to know about the Savior who loves them with an overflowing love.

#39: Something I’ve been learning

Back in July, Vince and I atteneded a missions training here in Joplin. The four days was great and covered a ton of information. One part of the training focused on Core Values. We had different core values that were presented to us, and we had to evaluate our own lives to see if we truly lived them out or not. If we did not, we had to change the core value to what we really were living out. There was one that really stuck out to me. It stated: Everything I accomplish for God is through relationships. During that training, I thought that this wasn’t all true. In my mind, there were plenty  of things that I “did” for God I did by myself or on the computer or other things, and weren’t accomplished through relationships.

The last few months have proven otherwise for me. With each passing day, I am finding out more and more that it all really is for and through relationships. As we contact people for support, the money is no longer that important to me. I have complete confidence that God will provide all we need and more. The reason I have started contacting people, is that once again I realize how important the relationships are. I have been thrilled to make contact with each person. My life feels full, not because I have a certain number of friends, but because I am taking the time build relationships. It makes me excited to share with others about what we’re doing and to find out what everyone else is up to. I had no idea how much God is doing through those around me. It’s awesome!

So, I thank you all for allowing me the greatest gift ever, the chance to build relationship with you. We cannot go through this life alone. We were made by a God who is all about relationships, and we are made in His image. Let’s enjoy the relationship with Him and with those around us. It is such a huge blessing.

#37: Humble Pie

Lately there’s been a conversation playing in my head that goes something like this: “Joy Vigil, meet Humble Pie. You may have met before, but you will be seeing a lot of each other in the next few years, so I thought it would be good to reacquaint the two of you.”

There are seasons in life that are more humbling than others. We are quickly entering into one of the seasons of life. Support raising, silly mistakes, relying on God for every need….There are tons of ways humble pie seems to be splatted in my face. But through it all, I am being reminded that life is not about me and how I do, but about God. Sometimes I need to be humbled. Sometimes I need to know that I am not all powerful, only God is. I mean if I can’t even make a copy right, how in the world do I think I could have the master plan of life. God is good in giving us little reminders. He is also good in the fact that He shows us how powerful and well adept to handle the world He is.

As I continue into this rather humbling time, I pray that I will have eyes to see what God is doing and not just focus on what I am failing at.

#36: Prevalent Prayer

Today I got a reminder to just how precious prayer really is. It’s something that I am guilty of taking for granted a lot. I mean, I pray; I enjoy it. But it can be something so much deeper and more significant if I woud only let it. One of my friends, who I hold in deep respect, opened my eyes today to the preciousness of prayer. Her son, his wife, and their two children live as missionaries in a closed country – a country so opposed to Christianity that they even have to monitor what they say in emails and on phone calls. Yesterday she and her son got to do something special; they got to pray on the phone together. She said it was one of the most special things she’s gotten to do in a long time. She was able to audibly pray with her son and hear him pray too. As I heard her say this, my heart was struck. Their family values prayer so much. It’s a treasure to them. It’s amazing that the harder it is to live out your faith, the greater the relationship with the Lord.

But I don’t have to wait for hard times to deepen my relationship with God. I can choose to deepen it now, to value prayer as something treasured, and to pray all the time. I have the opportunity to make prayer a prevalent part of my life!

# 35: These are a few of my favorite things

Everyday I am reminded a little bit more about just how blessed I am.

• Long chats with close friends
• A good book, games and the comfy atmosphere of Starbucks
• Walks in the park
• Early morning times with God
• Prisma Colored pencils
• Bike rides
• Prayer with other believers
• Laughter and shared memories

Yesterday, I got to enjoy all of this and more, and I was reminded again to be thankful for the life God has given me. I am filled to overflowing by things I get to do and experience everyday. One of the biggest things that hit me as I prepare to head off to Uganda again in the near future is that almost all of these things (well maybe except Starbucks) can be enjoyed anywhere in the world at anytime. I will not be missing out on life because I go to another country. God has blessed us! He is everywhere no matter what!

Hope you can think of your own things that you can enjoy as gifts that God has given you.

Worshipping God Under the Moutains

Here I am worshipping with thousands of people with a wonderful view of the mountains. Jeremy Camp is leading worship and I am touched by something he said. I cannot recap the exact phrase but I was reminded that we are all called to worship him with out lives. As I look around at the people around me I am in awe that God is working in each life around me and that God is calling each of them to a ministry to impact the people in their lives.

God is working our lives. I see God changing Joy and I. We are trying to follow God’s desire for us in going to Uganda. The amazing part is the it is not just Joy and I, but in every life around me.

I guess as I am standing a field with hundreds I realize how small I am and how much God is doing in the world. If anything I find myself lost in his world.

I have just one question, one thought, how is God working in your life?