and so it begins!!
June 15, 2009
So we are sitting in the JFK airport, and we just ate crappy chinese food, and this is the 3rd time I’ve wrriten this post. Basically.. this is going to be short and sweet.
We got dropped off by our families this morning… let’s just say it was waterworks for the Mage Clan. The flight was awesome for a couple of reasons… the Sun was being its normal beautiful self and I was really reminded of the promises of God and how FAITHFUL HE IS TO US. There’s a verse in Joshua that I was really reminded of, and its this :
“I promise you what I have promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you… No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” – Joshua 1:3-9
Also…there was this 4-year old champ that sat behind us and literally sang HER LUNGS OUT for a good hour. Here’s what it sounded like.
Honestly… it was by the grace of God that this happened for a couple reasons. 1). Anyone else who would have sat in front of her would most likely have turned around multiple times to give her the stink eye on account of how LOUD she was being. and 2). It made Nat and I all the more stoked that we are going to hanging out with kids that like to sing at the top of their lungs on a regular basis in just a few short hours.
I want to stop right now and say how amazing it is to see the overwhelming amount of support that you all have shown us. Through facebook messages, emails, handmade scrapbooks, handwritten letters, texts… all of it. You guys seriously have no idea how much that means to the both of us. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for allowing us to live our dreams. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us!
And for all of this… we THANK YOU GOD.
-Melissa
June 16, 2009 at 5:00 am
Hey! I’m keeping up with you through this.
Yay! Love you! 
June 16, 2009 at 5:00 am
Oh yeah, this is Margaret.
June 16, 2009 at 6:40 am
Dear Friends,
I just read all your posts and watched the videos. I am so thankful you’re blogging. I’m going to try and keep this short but my mind is racing with things to say. First off, I just prayed that God would help me to be keenly aware of the Spirit within that I would be able to pray at times when you guys are overwhelmed, scared, worried…that I would know deeply the times you need interceding.
Melissa, in our last team meeting for India we talked briefly and identified our different personality types. Through communicating mine I realized I care mostly about the journey of life and little about the destination. This can be excellent for being present in the process of things and horrible because my drive to actually get some where, actually complete something is little to none. You are the opposite of me and I want to encourage you to utilize that for your time in Uganda. Appreciate the journey but identify goals for the summer and get there. Dream for the kids and have every hope that you’ll see those dreams and prayers come into existence. That you will be satisfied as you reach some destinations in your lives and in Uganda. I love you dear friend.
Natalia, there’s really only one other person that comes to mind that I feel this way towards and I am overwhelmed with this unique feeling again right now. I know I’ve said it before but I can’t express Nat how much I believe in you. I believe in who you are. I am amazed at how talented and creative you are. I am praying so much that this summer would awaken creative energy inside of you and that you would well up with ideas of how to bring the Kingdom to earth. Thank you for seeing the beauty in life. Soak up the creative heart of God as you experience and see Him in African soil, culture, and people. God is so beautiful in You. Love you girl.
June 17, 2009 at 1:35 am
WOW! Hello cousin. Just got off the phone with brother Tom, who had just gotten off the phone with Aunt Lillian, who had just brought us up to date on the “Family Crises”. Lots of not-so-good news to ponder and pray about. And then we hear about your adventure. Aunt Lillian passed along your blog addr. so of course we jumped right on and are SO impressed with what you gals are doing. We look forward to reading every day. Although we probably won’t leave comments every day, we’ll be blurking.
God bless you both as you find creative, exciting ways to serve the young folks at this Ugandan orphanage.
Jim and Polly
June 17, 2009 at 2:40 am
I love your joy!
Miss you girl!
June 19, 2009 at 6:26 pm
YESSSS!!! Will be praying for you ladies… as well as continue to be so proud and excited for the bravery and fearlessless you’re showing through Christ. Beautiful! Love you!