Uganda and Moving

No, sadly we are not moving to Uganda....got your attention though? :)

We are planning a trip to Uganda this summer AND moving to a different house in Fort Worth though.

Lots of exciting things coming up in the Pearson household! Justin will be graduating in May with a Master focused in International Mission from Southwestern Seminary. Since we live in seminary housing, this means it was time to start looking elsewhere before they kicked us out! So we were very lucky to find a new place right in the area we want to be in. Currently our small group from church, called a city group, meets in Fairmount. We realized that sooner rather than later we would need to step up and help lead out a new city group. God has seriously directed this plan! Ourselves along with another family from city group have both decided to move into a neighborhood slightly east of Fairmount where two other families already live. We are all so excited to have the opportunity to pour into this neighborhood and its people! Moving will be in about one month, let us know if you want to help ;) We will definitely be sharing progress about meeting neighbors and pouring into their lives! 

Uganda is just around the corner! For those of you who don't know, Justin and I will be leading a trip from out church to Uganda this summer. (Justin is also leading a trip to South Africa just 2 weeks before the trip to Uganda) It is not to Good Shepherd's Fold where I spent time before, but we will be in the surrounding area. We will be going with a good friend of Justin's, Saturo, who he met during his first trip to Uganda years ago. Although Justin and I feel very comfortable going to Uganda, LEADING others will be a new adventure! We know God will ultimately lead and equip us, God will bring us the people to go, God will be our strength during our huge moments of weakness. 

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 

And trust me, there have been many moments of weakness. We are continually reminded that we alone cannot make everything happen, we cannot lead lovingly all the time, we can not be strong enough to power through the busy times. Luckily, Jesus keeps brining us back to him! 

While in Uganda we will be doing many things: Women's ministry, preaching, ministering to children's homes, giving testimonies, building relationships in the local church, and much more! The dates of the trip are July 11-24th. We would love for you to partner with us and our church The Paradox in praying for us and the whole team! Please pray for our planning process and that our hearts would be prepared to serve. 

Saturo and Justin from 2010

We also ask that you pray about patterning with us financially. As many of you know, getting to Africa is not a cheap endeavor. The total cost for the trip is $3500. Our team is planning different fundraiser to help, including selling shirts, mugs, and having a brewery and music night. Be looking out for more information! 

If you would like to send money to support our trips, please send a check to:

The Paradox Church

PO Box 12597

Fort Worth, TX 76110

**Make the check out to The Paradox and just attach a note that says Justin/Julie Pearson and Uganda**

Any amount of money will help, seriously! 

One last thing: Justin will be going to Haiti for 11 days starting next week! He is going to work with children and sports ministry. Be looking for his "guest" blog about the trip when we returns! 

Where did 2013 go?!

This time last year I called Uganda home… I was almost use to the red dirt, the multitudes of children, the open air market, the bodas that took me wherever I needed to go, and so much more.
That was January 2013.

January 2014- I'm sitting in my house, where my HUSBAND and I both live. I worked yesterday at Cook Children's ER and tomorrow I will go to work at JPS where I am a labor and delivery nurse. Our church, the Paradox is in full support of international missions, and even more exciting is that Justin and I will hopefully lead a group to Uganda and South Africa this summer. Wow what a year can bring.

Our wedding day :)

I know I have been absent on this blog since my return from Uganda. I got lost in culture shock, wedding planning, being a wife, and getting a new job. I got lost in finding God again in Texas, where sometimes it seems He wasn't so easy to find here as in Uganda. I got lost in thoughts about all the children I miss so dearly at Good Shepherd's Fold. I got lost is tears as I think about my Sunday school class in Uganda singing "Bless My Soul", every time the band plays it here on sunday mornings. I got lost in trying to serve and have compassion here equal to the compassion that somehow filled my heart in Uganda. I got lost in battling my desires to live out the american dream verses living how I know God has called his children to live.
It's easy to get lost sometimes…

God has never left my side however. God is settling my heart to live here while still keeping my heart full of thoughts about the other ends of the earth. God is growing Justin and I together, strengthening our understanding of what it means to be married, living sacrificially for each other every day. God is pointing out our sins so we are able to see where He provides so much grace and mercy.

So where are we now and whats next you ask:
Now
-Justin and I got married in August 2013 (we were dating before I left for Uganda and he proposed to me when he came to visit)
-I currently work full-time at JPS and occasionally in Cook's ER. Both jobs will hopefully prepare me to physically serve those in need overseas better.
-Justin will hopefully graduate from seminary this May (woo hoo!!)
-Justin is about to be named a deacon of international missions at our church (The Paradox: http://theparadoxchurch.com)

Next
-We strongly feel called to longterm missions overseas. We are currently praying about and looking into a few missions organizations to partner with/go through. Once we start the application it will be about  1 1/2 to 2 years before we are on the field.
-Children… we are very passionate about adoption, because God first adopted us as His children. However, we have not been married long enough to be qualified to adopt. So maybe adoption first after 1 year of marriage or maybe try having a kiddo first… still not sure where God is leading us.

Thank you so much for reading and for all your love and support! Much more will be coming about what its like to lead short-term trips, school, work, and everything else that comes our way!