The feeling of leaving America, flying to Africa, or even to Uganda, is nothing I'm not accustomed to.  I've fallen in love with the people of Africa over the last ten years of traveling there, most recently Uganda.  

This particular trip is different for me.  It's longer, and I'm going with much more responsibility than ever before.  I'll have more time to learn the culture, the language, and build stronger relationships with the people.  These alone are enough to make me giddy.

As I wait patiently in the Washington DC airport, I make my final, stateside plea for your prayers and support.  I'll be in Uganda through the Fall, doing anything and everything I can to serve my King through helping the ministry of Serving His Children.  As a Director, I'll be managing and taking care of all of our volunteers during their time there.  Please keep their hearts in your prayers - that God would instill in them a similar passion He gave me years ago - to see the uttermost parts of the world reached with the news of His grace.

If you'd like to stay in touch, please email me at josh@servinghischildren.org.  I'll update from Uganda as soon as I can!

I make one more walk through mom and dad's house to make sure I have not forgotten anything - a frequent occurrence.  As I look around my room, everything my eye lands on brings up memories - each item on a shelf has a story that runs through my mind in fast-forward.  I smile at the pictures of myself with some of my greatest friends like Carli Clements, Coleman Housefield, Joe Emmert.  Almost every picture is from Africa - a continent which has been the breeding ground for some of my deepest friendships.

I make it downstairs and take a moment to sit on the couch.  Ah yes, the famous green couch - ask anyone who has sat on it and they'll tell you it's one of the world's best.  I've watched many movies with my family on this couch, had many sleepovers in this den.  This is the house I grew up in; it's soaked in memories.  Every inch of every room wreaks of my childhood, and it makes me smile.

I close the garage door and watch my worldly possessions cluttering the garage (sorry dad!) slowly disappear.  Making the drive back north to central Virginia has become all too familiar over the past five years.  I have my normal stops and routes, and I can almost predict every bump in the road.  However, I won't be making the drive much anymore.  College has come and gone and I've landed my dream job, which has me packing my things and going to Africa for the rest of 2011.

It's not a full-time move, but for my heart, it might as well be.  I fell in love with Africa over ten years ago, and I feel like I'm going home each time I return.  This time I carry with me more responsibility (and luggage) than ever before.  Days ago, I picked up my international driver's license and I'll obtain my Ugandan license when I hit the ground there.  Another sign for my heart that my long-term missions career has begun.

I haven't written much lately, but I assure you that there will be plenty of material once I reach Uganda.  Come back soon, stay updated on what God is doing there.  Pray for me, for those I work with.  Labor for souls with us.

I fly to London on Sunday evening to meet some friends there.  After we spend the day touring London, there will be one last plan ride between me and home.  Praise the Lord, I'm going home.

I have bittersweet feelings about not having posted in almost a month.  Bitter because there has been so much going on that I haven't prioritized time to do so.  Sweet because, well, there has been so much going on!

Before I get into ministry, I have to give a shout out to my mother, Diana.  She single-handedly managed to completely deteriorate my left knee by convincing me to hike Mt. Leconte with her in a day last weekend.  Mt. Leconte is the tallest mountain (base to peak) east of the Mississippi River - a rigorous hike that yields breathtaking views at the peak.  I am, of course, kidding about my knee.  It was quite possibly one of the best days I've had in a long time, and it was certainly well-needed time with my mom.  She was a trooper and made that mountain look like an ant hill.  She knows my love for the outdoors, so we planned a day together that would strum the strings of our hearts while bringing us closer together.  Success.  Take a look at a few "iPhone" pictures from the day before you read on..

From the top...

Our route was the Alum Cave Trail

Moving on from the hike...

For me, the "international scene" is the most exciting, exhilarating industry I could ever ask to be in.  I'm constantly communicating with people around the world doing things that I could only dream of doing.  In my last post, I was in Marion, NC on the campus of Equip International being trained in the methods of Community Health Evangelism, or "CHE".  It's an incredibly effective system of raising both the physical and spiritual health levels of rural communities around the world.  What a fantastic training and networking opportunity that was.  Again - possible only because I'm financially supported by my sending church, Fellowship Chapel, and the wonderful families and individuals who donate monthly.

The past seven days have been an absolute whirlwind of meetings and travel.  Last Thursday I spent five hours in the conference room of Kissito Healthcare with their CEO, Tom Clarke, and his wife Ana.  Tom has a contagious heart both for God and for the world.  They are partnering with us in amazing ways that, frankly, we haven't made public yet!  So unfortunately, I won't be able to include details on that just yet.  However, it was my induction into the wonderful world of "international business".  Sitting around a table discussing the logistics of starting a project the size of this one was nothing short of humbling - that God would allow me the responsibility of representing an organization like SHC, and give me "co-laborers" like Tom and Ana.

The morning immediately following my meetings with Kissito Healthcare found me on a shuttle to the Roanoke, VA airport to catch a 6am flight to Chicago.  My final destination - Fargo, North Dakota.  I was on my way to meet a couple interested in serving with us for a year in Uganda.  My weekend was spent traversing the state of North Dakota meeting with not only them, but more young people interested in coming to Uganda with Serving His Children.  After driving through a snow storm to reach the airport Sunday morning, I made it safely home to (warm) Virginia.

I am constantly amazed at the opportunities God is placing in my path.  As most of you know, I leave for Africa this month, and will be staying for quite an extended period of time.  My return date is set for October, but I'm hoping that will get extended, perhaps into 2012.  Only God knows, and that's enough for me!

As an organization, Serving His Children is growing by leaps and bounds - the Lord is truly blessing us. I know I say it often, but I'm only able to play a part in God's love story for the world through SHC because of the financial contributions of those who support me.  To those of you who would like to join the team, please visit the "Support" tab above.  We would welcome the company!