Is fire or water more powerful? That was the question we were discussing around the fire at our camp ground on the Nile river last night. We were camping at Bugadali falls (spelling?) and it was absolutely amazing. It's amazing what some scenery, fire and good company can do for conversation. I love getting into people's lives and telling them about mine, I highly recommend it. Brad and I had one of the greatest conversations of my life and was extremely helpful for growth about anything and everything. Oh, side note, Sarah Depmore now has a blog as well it is jinjagirl87.blogspot.com so enjoy her thoughts too! She is an amazing gal and if I had to tell you a single thing she is amazing at it would be exsisting with children. They flock to her. It's so cool.

We watched the fire slowly go out, as we exchanged questions and answers about missionary work, life, relationships, history, future plans and so many things it was amazing. Oh my! My time is out.

How in the world do I begin? It may be impossible to explain. One quick thing first though, the power is crazy here and very on and off so I don't know how regular updating will be, but I will try to defeat time and electricity! To start I wanted to type my journal entry the day I arrived in Jinja, Uganda. Yes, if your wondering that IS IN AFRICA. SMILE. Here's the entry from 6/26/06.

I'm journaling next to candle light on my bed in Jinja, Uganda! I'm talking to Justin Schneider and loving the fresh cool breeze and the smell of burnt African wood! It has been a surreal day filled with sensation, jaw dropping and complete and utter exhaustion! We arrived slightly delayed because of an emegency landing in Paris due to an extremely sick man. Upon arriving, we descended on the classical staircase (something I've always wanted to do!). We also had the priveledge of meeting our intern team as well as our gracious hosts, the Jinja team. A few quick observations included a massive number of roaming people standing, riding, walking, playing, talking and everything in between. Motorcycles and bicycles plague the streets weaving between vehicles. The coutryside is lush green with tea and banana fields scattered everywhere. We saw a man with a severe case of elephantitis, women carring baskets on head, naked children and extreme poverty. The first non-expected excitement was children everywhere in the Manry's house tonight. I cannot describe the setting of community filled with life and love amidst the amazing tropical backdrop not to mention the most amazing stars these eyes have ever laid eyeson. The Ugandan people are wonderful and the workers at the houses already feel like family. I'm quickly falling in love with this place and these people.

These past few days have felt like weeks. Packed with fun and words from God. At this point I'm trying to be quiet and listen to what he has to say to me through the people, the missionaries and the intern team. Yesterday we participated in the Amazing Race in which we hopelessly tried to get around Jinja on our own as the Jinja team laughed I'm sure, but the city is becoming familiar. We then took an offical tour of the city led by our very own Spencer Bogle and reflected on God in Uganda amoung so many things. This place and people are truely undescribable so apologize for only giving you words . . . at this point. Hopefully pictures and video to come will help, however long that will be I don't know. Y'all all know that the Bogle's are amazing, but the Bogle's are amazing! I'm am drentched with wisdom and learning being around them, it's truely wonderful. Ben and Adam Langford will be back in Jinja tomorrow and I've only heard the most amazing things, so we are all excited to have them coming. What's also truely amazing is the team God has put together here in Jinja. The Manry's, Langford's (2X) and the Bogle's are all beyond amazing filled with words of wisdom and actions backing up their stories. Continue to pray for the missionaries, the interns and the people of Uganda!

We're about to head off to Windsor castle by train. We're also going to be watching the English world cup game with the english in the airport, that should be more than interesting and exciting! Then we'll find ourselves with the team and IN UGANDA!!!!!!!! AH, so wonderful!

So we're currently in an internet cafe in downtown London. This keyboard is different slightly and I'm having difficulties adjusting. The melting pot of life here is absolutely amazing, I love the diversity and craziness of all the cultures coming to the same place. We have officially made it known that we are tourists and are in desprate need of help just about always. I suppose we have figured the trasportation system out to a decent degree.

The hostel is really awesome and really convientent next to Heathrow airport, yeah Heath is my name too, I know cool. Took my first malaria pill today and did not eat as fast as I thought I would, so I started the day off a little queasy, but then got into super mode as we went to St. Paul's Cathedral, the Monument, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

The people here have been wonderful without a doubt. I am amazed at their patience and how helpful they always are. Naturally, we have been running into all types of characters from all over the world and it has been great. London is so huge and there is no possible way to do have of what the city has to offer in these few days much less get a solid feeling of the culture, but everything is so drenched with history and amazing "stuff". Ha, I'm most definitely at the point of jumbled thoughts since so much has happened. Hopefully in a few days my mind will not be racing and I can put thoughts in an organized manor. Until then!

I'm almost completely packed. Aye way, packing is an exausting activity. My family and I are going to Houston a day early to check out the thing called Body Worlds, I don't know if you have heard of it, but it's where you look at bodies and people who have donated themselves to science for study. Everyone who has ever been has apparently loved it. So this is my last night at home. One note from our get together from the other night. Praying with those closest to you is obviously a cool experience, but praying with parents is especially powerful, I encourage it.

If you ever have a prayer concern, email me at hxn04a@acu.edu or post something on the comment thing on here. Thank you for all that you have done.

Went to a family reunion today. My dad is the only non-white fellow in the entire bunch. However, he is the vice-president . . . ANYWAYS, family history is SO interesting to me at this point in my life! It's amazing to see where you came from and roots of who you are. Then naturally I had to start thinking of Jesus quote about his family when he said, "Who are my brothers and my mother?" Obviously family is extremely important, but Jesus places an extreme amount of importance of the family we have in him and in God. So amazing. My mind then drifted to Africa and the community there. They are so amazing at keeping the family and tribe in community together. Helping one another and being in relationship with each other.

Tomorrow, well i suppose today we are prayed over in front of the church. What a powerful time of family coming together to send off some of there own to other family. The body of Christ is such a cool living wonderful thing!

Let me share with you a little piece of greatness. So a friend and I are driving home at 1 AM from a movie in South Austin. Engulfed in glorious conversation we end up driving 10-15 MPH slower than the speed limit on vacant Austin roads. I began to think about some what ifs. What if instead of riding bumpers we were intensely interested and listening to someone? What if our entire priority of the day did not rest on speed, time or any other variables we place ourselves into except for people? What if no one went the speed limit because that would mean leaving an intimate space of talking about life, liberty and chicken juice?

Today I saw three movies in theaters. I am a spoiled brat. I started with the wonderfully absurd Nacho Libre where the dazzling Jack Black proved he is a crazy kind of silly. Next up was a double feature Brad and I went to (Matt Z catching up with us for the second) The Prairie Home Companion and The Proposition. What a wonderful day! Brad and I were also able to catch up with Jason Anderson and dive into each others life and get excited about life. I am also in desperate need of a normal sleeping pattern.

Busy week! Champs Camp level 10! It's been amazing and absolutely tiring at this point. Working with kids is in the 6th greatest thing ever, however, and I know that this week being the goofy song leader will be one of the most cherished memories of all-time.

Oh, and it's funny seeing some of y'all in your kids. Ha, neat.

Movie marathon. Tomorrow. Intense.

All shots have been taken and I have my prescription for Malaria stuff. Nsangaire, Mbalamwisa mu Yesu Christo. I’m pretty excited that I will be semi-bilingual after emerging myself in the Lusoga language.

Champs Camp is next week and I get to be the goofy song leader/chapel leader and I am extremely pumped up about that. Although millions of kids are draining, they are some of the coolest people to interact with and greatly rewarding to be around. It’s amazing how much more they teach us than I teach them. God always speaks volumes through their love and purity.

Relationships are all that matter.

Silence. I never take the time to enjoy and/or use it. In the dorm there is never silence, at home it can be accomplished, but only when approximately 12 million people go to New Orleans for a mission trip. You'd think I would get a clue that using time in the same way Jesus did (silence, meditation, prayer ect) is the best way to live. Even as I sit here, I turned music on. What's the deal?

I don't know if I sat down with a point, that must mean I'm getting addicted to this thing called blogging and it's therapudic (I'm no good at spelling, I formally apologize for the rest of the use of this blog). That was the plan though, to get addicted or at least consistant so when I got over there it would be a normal thing to post. Since that has happened, I think we can officially go. Ok, now I'm just rambling, but I feel as if I need to say thank you for some reason. So, thank you!

Switchfoot just came out with a new and free single. This is great news. I'm pretty sure going on tour with a band would be the 7th funnest thing ever.

I'm lying in bed listening to rap on my alarm clock. This naturally put me in a trance and I naturally fell into thought about the Holy Spirit. Something I have heard about the Church of Christ in general is that we sometimes lack the understanding of the Spirit. I don't know if that's true or not, but I know that I am extremely fuzzy on most things about the Spirit.

In pondering about Africa, a place bursting with spirituality, I was thinking and hoping that our bretheren will have a solid grasp on the Spirit.

Wouldn't it be exciting if the churches around the world would use their different and special gifts to gratify the entire body, working together for the glory of God. And wouldn't it be neat if the churches in the U.S. got together and communicated the needs and gifts of all the churches working together for the glory of God. And wouldn't it be neat if the churches in Round Rock, Texas met together and started actively helping and using one another for the glory of God. Yeah, I thought so too.

Another broad idealistic thought (smile) - I must get up and live my day now. My entire past has led up to this very moment in life and now I must make choices on what my priorities are and what my heart is all about. I wouldn't go as far as saying "now" is all I have, because of the promise given to me for the future. However, now might be all I have to impact people's souls, that's intense. Ha, I'm starting to tangent like crazy. Can't wait for Africa.

I had a conversation about signatures today. Wondering when we acquired them for ourselves. Also commenting that at least half the world probably would have no idea what we were talking about if we were trying to describe what a signiture is or why it is needed. However, to find out if that is really true, I have planned a trip to Africa to go ask. Convienent, I know.