Humbled

One thing I've learned the past three years with mission trips to Uganda is to trust God. Each year, especially the first, I was very worried about how I was going to pay for the trip. The cost for the 17 days is approximately $3000. I knew that this stay-at-home mom did not have the money to pay for the trip, but I knew that I was called to go.  I organized fundraisers and sent out support letters and the money started trickling in. But still I doubted. It was almost time to pay for the plane ticket, which was about $2000. That's when God showed me that he had a plan and was going to provide in a way totally outside anything I would ever imagine. My brother-in-law is a Navy Chaplain. He was serving in Iraq at the time. During his Sunday morning service he was explaining the difference between tithes and offerings and briefly mentioned that he was going to give toward my trip as an offering. After the service, a woman came up to him and gave him a check for $1000 and told him to send it to me.  God is good.

The next two years, God again blew me away with his provision. I'm so grateful for my wonderful church, my family, and dear friends for being part of that provision. And I can testify that those trips were not in vain. Thousands of children now have books to read in their libraries, the gospel was shared countless times, people came to know Jesus, brothers and sisters in Christ were encouraged, and my life was changed.

Again I find myself at a time of learning to trust in God's provision.  And I'm humbled. This adoption will be my mission trip of the year and probably Cody's too. We, of course, will be picking up Mercy, but also we are planning on working at Pastor Wilber's church in Mbale and visiting our missionary friends, Doug and Kathryn, who just moved to Northern Uganda. I also want to visit a few of the schools where we've placed libraries to show them off to Cody. We might as well stay busy while we wait around.  I know for some of you, I've asked for your help several times and I don't want to become a nuisance or a burden.  But Cody and I are asking that if you are able and would like to give toward our adoption costs, we would very much appreciate it.  The total for the adoption is an estimated $15,000.  Right now, there are two ways you can help.  First, our church is graciously accepting donations on our behalf to help with travel costs.   You can send a check to the church.  Please include a note stating that it is for us.  You can also include if you would like your name or the donation amount to remain anonymous.  The church will then send you a donation receipt for your taxes.

First Baptist Church
Attn.: Financial Secretary
PO Box 69
Mulvane, KS 67110

The second way you can help is buy purchasing a t-shirt. Our wonderful friend, Asa, designed some t-shirts for us.  Thanks Asa!!   I love the design and the meaning behind it.  The arrows represent our need to focus inward on our own spiritual walk, which will then, in turn, help us focus outward on our mission.  The words come from Micah 6:8, "And what does the Lord require of you? Act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  Cody preached a sermon called, "The Good Judge" on this verse a few weeks ago.  You can listen to it here (it should be posted here for at least a few more days).  It was a challenging reminder of how we are called to act and love. When I was sitting in the pew and he kept saying "love mercy" I couldn't help but smile to myself.  I am so grateful for God's mercy, which is a wonderful example to me of how I should love others unconditionally, which makes it very easy for me to love a sweet baby girl thousands of miles away named Mercy.

I  really have no idea how many of you may be interested in buying a t-shirt.  So, I'm trying to take pre-orders so I don't get stuck paying for a ton of unwanted shirts.  They are a 50/50 blend shirt.  We are asking for a $15 donation for the shirt.  If I need to mail the shirt to you a couple of extra dollars for postage would be helpful.  They are available in sizes from a Youth Medium to an Adult XXXL (XXL and XXXL are $1 more).  If you think you would like one, please send me an e-mail at melissabusby@hotmail.com so I can get a general idea of how many shirts to order and which sizes.  Then you can either pay me when you see me, mail me a check, or I can tell tell you how to pay me through PayPal.

Thanks again for your love and support!