How I Came To Own An Orange Shirt

This post was difficult for me, because I am constantly battling the overwhelming sense of uncertainty about the whole college situation, but here is where I'm at:

...it's the end of my high school senior year, and plans for the fall include attending Oklahoma Baptist University to study nursing. Why might you ask? Well, I didn't quite know. I felt as though God wanted me to be there. However, because I am naturally the most anxious person in the entire universe, I was skeptical of the whole idea. 

                Upon my arrival at OBU, I experienced waves of friendliness and kindness. A greeting for a Freshman at OBU is not merely a "welcome" with a genuine smile. No, no. At OBU, a welcome includes being rampaged by upperclassman while in your car, being asked your room number, and having every item removed from your car (and your parent's), and moved to your room...

                  in case moving away from mom and dad wasn't paralyzing enough.

My first few months at OBU were rough- the shock of being away from home, the homework overload, the freedom... everything was different. I would like to say I looked to God, but instead, I looked to the world. During my time at OBU I made some amazing friends. A few on my hall and I just clicked, and we spent countless hours together. I'm not sure how it was even brought up, but we all decided OBU wasn't for us, and we wanted to transfer, and beginning making arrangements to apply to Oklahoma University.

By December, I was on my way to being a student at OU for Fall 2013. I had been accepted, made apartment arrangements with two of my friends, and all that jazz. However, over Christmas break, within 5 minutes, I received two calls that allowed me to open my perspective and realize this is not what God's plan was. 

Call #1: the apartment ran out of furnished 4 bedroom apartments, and only had one furnished left with two rooms available. After hyperventilating I rushed off the phone, and said to myself, "It'll all work out".

Call #2: OU admissions called and said only 11 of my 33 credit hours would be transferring, because my private school course ID's were not matching up.

Catch my breathe. Hang up. Pray. Pray. Pray.

Within seconds my heart just knew it wouldn't make sense. I just knew God had other plans in mind. 

I called the apartment complex back, and asked if my two roommates could have the last two furnished rooms available.

And it worked out perfect and sweet for them:)

Now back to the whole college thing... 

      I once again looked to myself, and with my own mind, I decided I would stay at OBU. At this point, Spring housing had been turned in for everyone, and nothing was available on campus, and if you are not 21, you are required to live in campus. Strike 1. Changed my major to a degree OBU doesn't have (Pre-Physician's Assistant). Strike 2. Prayed and prayed and prayed and God changed my heart. Strike 3. 

I was out, out of options, hope, and faith, but exposed to frustration, rejection, and anger.

I remember talking to my boyfriend about it, and he let me know Oklahoma State had the major I desired, and I should apply.

"Yeahhhhhhhh righhhhtttt" *The only two words I can remember thinking that I now laugh hysterically about.

I applied for the fun of it, was accepted, and received a phone call saying OSU would not only give me full credit for my classes, but I would receive EXTRA, yes I said extra, hours because my OBU classes were worth more hours at OSU. 

I prayed. I prayed. I prayed.

I wanted to be certain I wasn't going to OSU for reasons that I shouldn't, such as, oh I don't know, perhaps because the most spectacular man in the entire universe goes there...

But one night in the midst of a devotional, God reminded me that He is in control of my life. If OSU wasn't where I was supposed to be, He would let me know. God will protect me.

I went with the motions, and enrolled, set up apartment arrangements, and everything else. 

But I still wasn't convinced.

God likes to humble me. I received a letter shortly after enrollment about a scholarship for my academics, and the end of the letter read:

             "We are so happy you will be attending Oklahoma State University in the Fall of 2013. Remember,  you are here for a purpose, and we look forward to seeing that purpose unfold."

All to Jesus, I surrender.

So here I go, jumping with confidence into the unknown, and pursuing to faithfully trust God every step of the way. 

Please pray for me as I start the rest of my college journey at Oklahoma State!

Thank you for reading!

-Bethany

Confidence in Christ

wor·ry: to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.


Why do we do this to ourselves? Worry is not appealing in any way, shape, or form. To me, worry is like eating a rotten apple. You see and know that the rotten apple is bad for you, and you know after you eat it, you will have a stomach ache... but because we have been given free will, we often find ourselves doing things our way, just because we can. 

I am the queen of control. I constantly need it and desire it. It has been a big issue in my spiritual life... okay, and in my social life. My biggest worries come from not being in control.

Let me differentiate something quickly. There is a significant difference between worry and fear.  The two are not interchangeable. 

I worry constantly, but I am also constantly reminded that God despises worry. He has prepared us to be confident. Confidence that is solicited to Him. Confidence in Christ. It is attainable. I'm sure we all have a few people in our lives that we would say are Confident in Christ.

My boyfriend, Elliott, never seems to worry. I used to think he was simply care-free, and it really bothered me. Like I said earlier, I am a control freak. I am big on planning and making sure every little thing is in order. But he just waltzes through life being a free-spirit. How inspiring to see someone without worry. If you don't have a friend like that, someone who simply put: lacks worry, I would highly recommend finding one. It has allowed me to look at life and laugh.

When you are confident in Christ, you learn to do that. To laugh at life. Take joy in that. Dig deep and develop a pure confidence in the Lord. 

Question yourself today and ask, are you confident in Christ? Do you without a doubt consider Christ your one and only confidence? You see, I think Christ aims for us to be nothing without Him. I know your response to that may be, "well duh". However, I struggle with this. 

Take a step back, breathe, and think. 

Take Christ away from you for a moment. Picture a life without Him. Without believing in Him, and the power He, and He alone, has. 

When I did this, I stood face to face with a devastating truth: I was still confident.

Apart from Christ, I should be nothing. I should feel as low to the earth as I can get. I should feel like my life is hopeless. I should feel insecure. 

But the number one indicator of not being confident in Christ: worry.

It will separate you from God, because that was satan's intention.

Good news you guys. 

"What the devil intended for evil, harm, and separation, Father, you intended for good."

-Genesis 50:20

Rest in that today. Fight through the separation that satan tries to construct by faithfully being confident in Christ. Regardless of the circumstances, or trials, God has prepared GOOD things for you.

Thank you for listening to what God has put on my heart.

 -Bethany

Be Still My Soul

Uganda transformed my heart.

You see, I could say Uganda changed my heart, but I would be wrong. A small change didn't occur... but an entire transformation did. My eyes see different things, my heart feels different ways, and the Lord looks completely different to me.

This transformation is much deeper than "I saw poverty and want to help the orphans", this transformation roots deep within me, and requires me to love people. Two simple words of action, that require a great deal of faith and practice. 


Loving people was natural to me in Uganda. It was easy to love those people. Not for the reason that they were poor, or I felt sympathy towards them, but because they were truly beautiful in every way. 

They had good hearts. 

Coming back to America has been a struggle, because I see my life, and the lives of those around me. The word that keeps popping into my head is "stuff". "Stuff" could very well describe much of America. Things, items, objects- we live for it. But I question myself now and who I am apart from this "stuff". 

1 John 2:15-17 says "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

After my first two days in Uganda, I remember thinking, "This is great, but I can't wait to go home and drive my car. To go to Chic-Fil-a, see my friends, go spend money on clothes, eat a snow cone, and live a normal life."

The problem is, our "normal" is so far from what God has planned for us. 

I challenge you, as I have challenged myself, to look at your life and slowly start removing the "stuff". Things that may distract you from God, or even from life. Cell phones, laptops, iPads, iPods, movies, t.v., getting your nails done, doing your hair..."stuff". 

It is all just stuff

I have good news: Our God is not a God of "stuff", but a God passionately in love with you, and the eternal value you hold. 

Let us praise Him, for He is good. 

God is Love and He Loves everyone

Oli otya? 

How are you?

I am doing well. Uganda is my home. I love it here. The smells, the people, the jungles, the mountains. All of it. 

Today was our last day in Jinja. We started off the week visiting the same fishing village two days in a row. It smelled, there was evident disease, people couldn't write, some couldn't see, some were tall, others short, some with teeth, some toothless, they were covered in dirt, sweat, and sores. But you know what? They are loved by a King. 

You see, we are no different than the smelly villagers. We sin, we are smelly and covered in dirt. Our odor is unfathomable, but God loves us. 

Let me be crazy, and tell you He not only loves you, but He picks you up, and wipes the grime away. 

Pretty cool right? 

God loves- smelly, dirty, and sore-covered, he simply loves you.

He takes you at face value, and knows what he is doing. 

I think that is pretty cool, don't you?

Jinja, Uganda

We have arrived! We are in Jinja, Uganda where we will spend our first week! I can't believe it! I am in Africa! So far, we have seen many different things, ranging from alligators, to water buffalo, to goats and dogs and people and business and even some pigs feet! It's been an adventure already. I am loving and soaking up every minute of this. I love the people and the country. I love the muddy streets, and I love the over booked taxis. I love no texting, and taking cold showers. I love the mosquito nets. I love the blisters on my feet, and I love feeling like my body is smothered in grime, head to toe. And I most certainly love how God  is already using my team. A simple smile or wave on the way to Jinja was worth a million dollars to these people. But what they don't realize is that THEY are the ones blessing US. They are so humble and compassionate. They simply give, give, and give.

God is good. I can't wait to love on these people at the medical clinic! Speaking of, tomorrow I will be trained, and Tuesday we start! 

Please pray for hearts to be opened and receptive to Christ.

Thank you for keeping up with me! 

Day 2: Flying to Belgium

How exciting it has been already! My day was jam packed! I was asked to be a trip leader en route to Uganda, so responsibilities included repacking all of the medical, orphanage, and "donation" bags that BWO brought, in order to condense baggage, as well as confirm they were each under 50 pounds. God gave such patience and peace today! 

Around noon, we headed back to JFK (in NY) to meet a few other team members, and prepare to depart for Brussels, Belgium! (Do you think they serve Belgium waffles?;) 

Soon after we arrived at JFK, my new responsibilities included re-re packing the bags the new members had given us, weigh them, and then try to line up our team in alphabetical order. This was a task!! However, my team listened with attentiveness, and the tedious task was done quickly:)

After checking in, we went through security. The other team leader and I were in charge of collecting everyone's passports until our flight departed. Can you say "pressure"? Lucky for us, God has continued to be faithful, and pave a peaceful road for us:)

Then it was time to eat, everyone's favorite time of day! However, once through security, your options for dining were an expensive panini place... And an expensive panini place:) so after a friend and I split a $10 sandwich, we munched on a few of our snacks!

Soon after, it was 4 o' clock, and it was boarding time! We anxiously boarded the plane, heads and spirits high. After everyone was seated, Summer, the other trip leader, and I recollected the passports! 

I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to a long flight, however it has been so pleasant! I have never been on a plane that was so comfortable, with the nicest accommodations. God really lavished my team and I with a great day.

On the spiritual side of things: God is still so good. Even if today had gone awful, we lost all of our luggage, or spirits were down, God is still good. I cannot communicate that enough. I am so impressed by God. I wish I would always expect this feeling, but I don't. The ways of The Lord ALWAYS work out. Whether things are perfect, or a disaster, I know I am in the hands of God, and no matter where I am in life, I am right where he has long ago prepared for me to be.

So today, I am yet again reminded of the faithfulness of God, and how no matter what, he has a plan for me. Rain or shine, God can use me for good. My job is to remain faithful through the times I feel most distant from God. Because it is then that he seems most real.

In the presence of The Lord, my soul is completely satisfied. 

Please continue to pray for the people of Uganda to see Christ through
my actions and love. May it pour abundantly from me. 

I am so thankful.

Day One

Today was fantastic!!!! 

I woke up at 3:30 a.m. in order to catch my 6 o'clock flight! God was faithful, and carefully delivered me to New York in one piece. I waited at the airport for one of my teammates named Sara! While I waited, I ate Chinese, and learned many things about New York.

 One being that those people definitely could use some Jesus:) 

God is already changing my heart, as He briefly showed me what love is through His eyes. 

Love holds no bounds. 

Christ's love is so astounding. He loved each person I saw today. He loves everyone. God loves people. Tonight, a couple of girls from my team and myself are rooming at a La Quinta, and shared some famous New York pizza. It was delightful. How blessed am I to already know such wonderful people? 

I am so thankful. Truly, honestly, absolutely, whole-heartedly thankful. He chose us, the least of these, out of pure love. God loves people. Tomorrow, we leave for Uganda, and I aim to love and love and love...

Life is good, eternal life is better

To those of you reading this, thank you! I appreciate your want to stay in touch with my life and how God is going to use me the next 15 days...as well as the rest of my life. Thank you for the support and prayers you have given me. This trip would not be possible without you.

If you are confused about what I am talking about, tomorrow I leave for a mission trip to:

Uganda, Africa

I will be assisting on the medical team!

My excitement is too much to contain. I cannot wait to express the love of Christ with these people. 

How often we forget what a blessing it is to be used by a loving God.

My prayer is that through this trip, the kingdom of God would be furthered, chains would be broken, and hearts will be changed forever.

I am already amazed at the way God has so intricately planned every detail of this trip, and how he simply makes things work. 

By trusting in Him, I can move freely, without bondage to worry, regret, and fear. My challenges and circumstances are merely a reassurance that Christ is real, and at work, at all times. 

Thanks again for keeping in touch, and be looking out for my daily updates on how God is using my team and I in Africa!

“Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. ... He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.”

-  Dieter F. Uchtdorf

                                                                Guatemala 2011

ONE DAY until I leave for Africa!
I am way too excited!