Hi everyone, sorry I missed last week we were out of town with my in laws enjoying time together before we leave.
I would like for this blog to be a little more interactive. I wish I could sit around in a circle with all of my readers and see how their lives are going too. I would also love to pray for different needs that any of you have and give encouragement. Please never hesitate to email me at michaela.fulk@gmail to let me know how things are going or send me your prayer needs.
The last thing I wanted to post was a link that a fellow brother in Christ gave me. It is a great reminder on how to pray for the different missionaries we support. For some of you that are new to praying for missionaries it will give you a little more direction. Know however that some things do not apply to our situation. For instance we will not be sending our kids to school, but they will be homeschooled as they are here. Here is the website (looks like you will have to copy and paste it into your browser I couldn't get it to post as a link....sorry):
http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/FreeTools/HowToPrayForMissionaries/pr
ayForMissionaries.htm
Hoping to Hear From You,
Michaela
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Concern for our Kids
Over the past few months we have heard several people voice concern about us taking our children to Uganda Africa. It is an important question and we feel we should address it.
It is our strong conviction that God has called our whole family to minister among the Karamojong in Uganda. He did not call one but he has called all. In speaking to any of our three oldest children you would see that God has a specific call for each of our children. Joshua talks about how he wants to go to the villages with Daddy to tell the people about Jesus; Janaya asks if she can read to the kids in the orphanage; Samuel talks about how he would like to help the people there however he says he will miss hotdogs. Carter and Malachi are too young to understand but Carter has declared he would like to help people in Uganda.
Another strong conviction we have is that America is not our children’s salvation. John Piper puts it well when he says that Jesus saves us from the American dream. We have lived our lives and will continue to live our lives in such a way that our children can see that Jesus Christ is God. And our lives are lived serving Him. Over the past 4 years we have served here in the states but put no limits on how far we will follow God. The call to go to Karamoja was birthed from scripture and prayer on both of our parts.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of our head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “what shall we eat?” or “what shall we drink?” or “what shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:26-33.
These are just 2 instances of the many, where God shows us that He is in control and that He cares for us. We have come to understand that God cares for our children far more than we ever could. He can be trusted.
In Him,
Michaela and Cody
It is our strong conviction that God has called our whole family to minister among the Karamojong in Uganda. He did not call one but he has called all. In speaking to any of our three oldest children you would see that God has a specific call for each of our children. Joshua talks about how he wants to go to the villages with Daddy to tell the people about Jesus; Janaya asks if she can read to the kids in the orphanage; Samuel talks about how he would like to help the people there however he says he will miss hotdogs. Carter and Malachi are too young to understand but Carter has declared he would like to help people in Uganda.
Another strong conviction we have is that America is not our children’s salvation. John Piper puts it well when he says that Jesus saves us from the American dream. We have lived our lives and will continue to live our lives in such a way that our children can see that Jesus Christ is God. And our lives are lived serving Him. Over the past 4 years we have served here in the states but put no limits on how far we will follow God. The call to go to Karamoja was birthed from scripture and prayer on both of our parts.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of our head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “what shall we eat?” or “what shall we drink?” or “what shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:26-33.
These are just 2 instances of the many, where God shows us that He is in control and that He cares for us. We have come to understand that God cares for our children far more than we ever could. He can be trusted.
In Him,
Michaela and Cody
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Hooray!
Wow, wow, and super wow. I am in that state of total amazement right now. Within the last week we have had some amazing things happen. First of all it looks like our house situation is going to get figured out which is a big hurdle to climb!! Second, Cody just got back from an amazing trip of speaking to different churches in Oklahoma and from that trip $6000 was raised. Our team members just bought their tickets at about half of what we thought they would be; meaning we are very close to buying our plane tickets if we can get them for the same price. (If any of you were planning on sending a one time gift or wanted to support us monthly, please let us know. NO PRESSURE! We just know that some of you might have been waiting or have forgotten so we just want to give you a friendly reminder to send your info our way because our time of leaving is rapidly approaching. The easiest way would be to do it via internet at our website. Go to the link "you can help.") We are at $320 in monthly support and are ready to go once we reach $1000 a month. I know that is quite different than what our budget shows but the budget on our website has all the bells and whistles such as giving $600 a month to the orphanage, health insurance, saving money each month to fly to the States every 3 years, etc. We realize these things are luxuries, and are willing to step out in faith, knowing that God has always provided for us and always will (after all he takes care of the birds Matthew 6:25-34).
We also have a couple more things to purchase but are again encouraged that we have either been given a discount on different things, bought things used, or have been given what we need by different people.
Not only has God been encouraging us through our physical situation but also spiritually. He continues to fill us up with different scriptures and it is has been astounding to see how God is preparing our hearts for this chapter (more like a new book) of our lives.
Wow, I think this was the shortest blog entry :)
Grateful,
Michaela Fulk
We also have a couple more things to purchase but are again encouraged that we have either been given a discount on different things, bought things used, or have been given what we need by different people.
Not only has God been encouraging us through our physical situation but also spiritually. He continues to fill us up with different scriptures and it is has been astounding to see how God is preparing our hearts for this chapter (more like a new book) of our lives.
Wow, I think this was the shortest blog entry :)
Grateful,
Michaela Fulk
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Meet the Fam and Psalm 106
From left to right: Us, the Fulk (hopefully moving mid July); Kerri and Andrew Meador (leaving June 16 staying for a year); Chloe Nelson (leaving June 16 staying until August); Kelly Preston (leaving June 16 staying for one year); Misty Kearns (leaving mid August); The Williams' (leaving June 16).
We had a meeting with all the team members last Friday and it was a huge blessing. We were able to meet the newest team member Kelly Preston. As we sat in the meeting I felt very blessed that we will be doing life with these people very closely and will be family for one another. The joy of the weekend ended knowing that we will not see the Williams until we get to Karamoja. They are leaving the 16th of June and I am delighted and somewhat sad all at the same time. We have become very close to them in the last 6 months, and so it seems strange not having them in our physical lives. It also seems bittersweet because as they leave it is just a reminder that we are not going with them. Fear starts to creep in and says, "maybe you are not suppose to go?" "Your house won't sell in this market." "Can we really get all the money raised?" "People are watching and wondering." I then go to God and act like a child who is not getting her way, and he reminds me through prayer and scripture that He did call us to this and He will provide, in His time. Again I find God deepening my faith and dependence on him. I know it seems like the whole thing is getting repetitive and I should be getting it by now, but I guess I am a slow learner.
This is the scripture God has brought me to:
Psalm 106:6-17 Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. (7) Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. (8) Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power. (9) He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert. (10) So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. (11) And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. (12) Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. (13) But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. (14) But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; (15) he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them. (16) When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD, (17) the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
I have been meditating on this scripture and God has been teaching me A LOT. As you can already see it has a lot to do with what I posted last week in forgetting the miracles God has done. But deeper than that is pulls a lot of things together for me including the continued study of the Israelites. To fully understand this you have to understand the story of Exodus, and Numbers (and Genesis too to know God's promises). This blog would get quite lengthy if I were to go into all the details He has been teaching me through all these books but I will say this: I need to be in the here and now, trusting in God for the unseen future. A lot of it doesn't make sense to me, but if I look back at how He has acted in our lives before, it never made sense and then His will unfolded and He made things happen in the most unexpected way giving Him all the glory and not ourselves. The Israelites were the same way. They needed to live in the here and now. God gave them just enough food for the day telling them to get no more and no less (Exodus 16).
In my head I have this idea of how things should work and how they can unfold in a very practical way, much like the Israelites, who took things into their own hands when it wasn't in THEIR timing (ex: building of the golden calf Exodus 32:4). Then God reminds me that I am not God, and His ways are higher than our ways (Ish. 55:9). His unexpected interventions just remind me that I am not in control and the way I think things should go does not always give God the most glory, and if things turned out how I wanted them then I wouldn't really grow, but rather would just get things my way and as I tell my children, "the world doesn't revolve around us, but God."
I apologize if is this repetative and getting old. Let me tell you it is getting rather old for me too. I would like to get this lesson and move on to the next thing God wants to teach me. Thanks for listening and if any of you have any words of encouragement I would love to hear them. Thanks!
His Grace is Sufficient,
Michaela Fulk
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Amnesia?
It has been quiet a whirlwind of a week with moving (back to our house in Battlement Mesa) and having Cody gone for part of it. I have been consumed with sorting through our things to get our lives into 7 suitcases and 5 backpacks (with a few extra things we need while here such as sleeping bags, plates, etc). With the stress it seems I have been stricken with amnesia. No I didn't fall while cleaning and hit my head, although it might as well have happened with the way I forgot the things God has taught me. How did I get to this point? I think it multiplies up to a lot of things to make a perfect calculation with a product that equaled "freaking out." I started focusing only on my circumstances and not on what God has taught me or what He has been teaching me. The added stress was more reason to cling to God but instead I focused on my circumstances which then led to fear. And most of us know what happens when a scared animal is cornered. :) Luckily this state was short lived and I continue to learn a lot about myself and how quickly I can forget God. It is similar to when Jesus was walking on water to the disciples in the boat and Peter came out to walk on water and when he looked at his circumstances (the fierce wind) started doubting and then he started sinking (Matthew 14:22-33).
It can be such a difficult thing for me, because I really want to be faithful to God and steadfast, but sometimes feel controlled by my emotions. It is so contrary to my flesh. (Gal. 5:17) Denying myself daily and staying close to God in His word and in prayer takes diligence and discipline.
On a positive note, although it has been somewhat stressful, I have loved simplifying our lives and being down to only the basics we need. It has honestly made it easier to move. No furniture, no excess, just what we need. When we do sell our house it will by far be the easiest move and I look forward to that!
I also want to thank those who have been praying for me during the last week. Your prayers, words of encouragement and support have been huge for me!
We are asking that you would pray that our house in Battlement would sell. We have heard that someone is interested in buying it and are talking to their lender. We are not sure what this will bring, but know that God is in control.
Hugs to you,
Michaela
It can be such a difficult thing for me, because I really want to be faithful to God and steadfast, but sometimes feel controlled by my emotions. It is so contrary to my flesh. (Gal. 5:17) Denying myself daily and staying close to God in His word and in prayer takes diligence and discipline.
On a positive note, although it has been somewhat stressful, I have loved simplifying our lives and being down to only the basics we need. It has honestly made it easier to move. No furniture, no excess, just what we need. When we do sell our house it will by far be the easiest move and I look forward to that!
I also want to thank those who have been praying for me during the last week. Your prayers, words of encouragement and support have been huge for me!
We are asking that you would pray that our house in Battlement would sell. We have heard that someone is interested in buying it and are talking to their lender. We are not sure what this will bring, but know that God is in control.
Hugs to you,
Michaela
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Following the Cloud
As we begin to go through things and get rid of stuff and pack up our lives to move I am for the first time not having huge anxiety about moving. I have to say this non anxiety state is only by the grace of God. God has brought me here by many events in my life as well as His word.
After God delivered His people from Egypt and they are in the wilderness, and very unsettled I might add, God leads them by a cloud by day and fire by night. Exodus 13:21, "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. " (and you thought us moving to Uganda was ridiculous....how about following a cloud.....) I wonder what I would have been like following this cloud. I can imagine myself complaining and thinking, "Why are we following this cloud ?" Moses probably would have reminded me that God just delivered me from slavery in a miraculous way, and that I should trust and obey. I probably would have even said something like, "easy for you to say Moses, God spoke to you through a burning bush" (hopefully you see the humor in that......it's a joke).
Over the past week God has placed different scripture in my life and different people who have been reading the same scripture to bring an even deeper idea of following the cloud. In Numbers 9:15 the Israelites are still in the wilderness and following the cloud by day, fire by night that sets over the tabernacle that was built in Exodus. "And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped" Numbers 9:17. Can you imagine what it was like to follow the cloud? To have total dependence and not know where God was going to take you but relying on the promises He had made? To be ready to pick up everything and move in such a short notice. To wonder if today was the day the cloud was going to move and you were going to have to move AGAIN to follow it? To always be ready and watching for the cloud to move. Wondering how long it would stay this time. I think that I find myself in a similar position. I often wonder why we just can't just settle down somewhere. But God continues to teach me that He wants me to have total reliance on him. Not on things I hold onto in this world. That is what He wanted from the Israelites. TOTAL DEPENDENCE.
For most of my life I have lived rather unsettled although all of it was not under God authority. I think God has used this in my life to teach me about letting go of control. You see if I can control a situation then I don't have to fear as much, especially from the unknowns. And when I am fearful I am not trusting in God. I am learning that I don't need to be in control in order to be happy. I just need to trust in God standing on His promises and knowing He knows what is best for my life, and for my kids lives. I just need to stay close to Him through word and prayer and be okay with the unknowns.
Letting Go and Following the Cloud,
Michaela
After God delivered His people from Egypt and they are in the wilderness, and very unsettled I might add, God leads them by a cloud by day and fire by night. Exodus 13:21, "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. " (and you thought us moving to Uganda was ridiculous....how about following a cloud.....) I wonder what I would have been like following this cloud. I can imagine myself complaining and thinking, "Why are we following this cloud ?" Moses probably would have reminded me that God just delivered me from slavery in a miraculous way, and that I should trust and obey. I probably would have even said something like, "easy for you to say Moses, God spoke to you through a burning bush" (hopefully you see the humor in that......it's a joke).
Over the past week God has placed different scripture in my life and different people who have been reading the same scripture to bring an even deeper idea of following the cloud. In Numbers 9:15 the Israelites are still in the wilderness and following the cloud by day, fire by night that sets over the tabernacle that was built in Exodus. "And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped" Numbers 9:17. Can you imagine what it was like to follow the cloud? To have total dependence and not know where God was going to take you but relying on the promises He had made? To be ready to pick up everything and move in such a short notice. To wonder if today was the day the cloud was going to move and you were going to have to move AGAIN to follow it? To always be ready and watching for the cloud to move. Wondering how long it would stay this time. I think that I find myself in a similar position. I often wonder why we just can't just settle down somewhere. But God continues to teach me that He wants me to have total reliance on him. Not on things I hold onto in this world. That is what He wanted from the Israelites. TOTAL DEPENDENCE.
For most of my life I have lived rather unsettled although all of it was not under God authority. I think God has used this in my life to teach me about letting go of control. You see if I can control a situation then I don't have to fear as much, especially from the unknowns. And when I am fearful I am not trusting in God. I am learning that I don't need to be in control in order to be happy. I just need to trust in God standing on His promises and knowing He knows what is best for my life, and for my kids lives. I just need to stay close to Him through word and prayer and be okay with the unknowns.
Letting Go and Following the Cloud,
Michaela
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
An Update
We are encouraged by some things that have happened in the last week regarding our move. The latest and exciting news is that we have a new member to add to our team. She really feels led to Karamoja, as we all do, and it is very clear to her she is to go with us. This is a HUGE answer to prayer!
Another exciting thing that happened a couple days ago is that I got an email from an American who is in Kotido. She just wanted to touch base with us and introduce herself to us and to let us know she is praying for us. It was exciting to know we have another person in Kotido that is a follower of Christ and who we can relate to.
On a different note we have had a lot of attack from the enemy which according to scripture is expected. It reminds us though that we must be in the word daily, even hourly and staying very close to Christ.
I would also just like to ask as a courtesy that if you really felt led to be a part of our prayer or financial support team that you would fill out the forms that were sent with the letter (or go to our website and fill out the "how you can help form). We are trying to get things organized and had a lot of response from people to receive a letter and are waiting for responses back. If you would like you can just send it all to us and then we can forward checks to Advance Him if that is easier for you. Also feel free to contact me with questions or concerns, michaela.fulk@gmail.com Thank you.
Michaela
Another exciting thing that happened a couple days ago is that I got an email from an American who is in Kotido. She just wanted to touch base with us and introduce herself to us and to let us know she is praying for us. It was exciting to know we have another person in Kotido that is a follower of Christ and who we can relate to.
On a different note we have had a lot of attack from the enemy which according to scripture is expected. It reminds us though that we must be in the word daily, even hourly and staying very close to Christ.
I would also just like to ask as a courtesy that if you really felt led to be a part of our prayer or financial support team that you would fill out the forms that were sent with the letter (or go to our website and fill out the "how you can help form). We are trying to get things organized and had a lot of response from people to receive a letter and are waiting for responses back. If you would like you can just send it all to us and then we can forward checks to Advance Him if that is easier for you. Also feel free to contact me with questions or concerns, michaela.fulk@gmail.com Thank you.
Michaela
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