I just finished my second book on the iPad.  My first book was Stuff Christians Like, very very funny.  And this next book I bought was A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller.  I've always liked his style, it's conversational and real.  I feel like that's what's important.

The gist of the book is to understand that your life is a story and that the things that make a story awesome and exciting are also what make your life awesome and exciting.  It really made me want to create a better story for my life.  Really become what I want to be.

So I've been thinking and praying about what could make my story great.  And God really did drop something right in my lap.

A man named Pastor Frank showed up here in Pensacola.  He's a village leader and church leader in Kampala, Uganda.  He came to America to learn and become a better leader for his people.  There was a conference in Orlando FL that he attended and while he was there he decided to extend his stay and visa here in the US.  He saw a brochure for Pensacola Christian College (don't get me started) that said he could learn and work.  So he flew to Pensacola, got ripped off by a cab driver and made it to PCC.  When he got there the receptionist said that those work opportunities were only for their students and there was nothing they could do for him, but maybe a church could help him.

He eventually ends up at my father-in-law's church, and they try to help him.  He's been hanging out and learning from some people there.  And on Thursday, he came a spoke with us at work.

His story is incredible.

He was born on the side of the road, because his mother was trying to walk the six miles from their village to the hospital.  As he grew up, his family made him their spiritual leader, but to the family spirits.  A corrupt governmental regime was in charge and beheaded his father.  So Frank went to Kampala and lived on the streets.  Here he met some missionaries who helped teach him about Christ.  And he was captivated.  He became a strong believer and leader and returned to the villages to plant a church.  He faced opposition form the witch doctor of the village and God's power showed through and the witch doctor was actually converted.

He was living an exciting story!!  He doesn't sit and watch TV or paint his house, he lives a life fully devoted to Christ.  The faith in God alone to leave his village to come get training in the US, not knowing anyone, is enough to put me in my place.

He showed us pictures of his village, and the orphanage that he helps runs, and his church.  There are major needs in his community.  Because a man can have as many wives as he wants in their culture, when something happens to him, he leaves many widows and many orphans.  In the village of Bendegere, where Frank works, he said there are 280 orphans.  They live in houses of host families, about ten to a house.  10 kids sleep under 1 mosquito net.

They had begun construction of a school for the orphans, but ran out of money.  I asked Frank what it would cost to finish the building and he said $10,000.  And now I want to be a part of his story.

A quote from Bono has always stuck with me from God is on the move, where he says,

Stop asking God to bless what you are doing.  Get involved in what God is doing...because it’s already blessed.

And I see God working in Pastor Frank and Jesus Power Church in Uganda.  So this is my goal.  I want to raise the money Pastor Frank needs to build the orphanage in Bendegere.  And I want to help get a well in the village where people can have better access to clean drinking water.  Also, easier access to clean water will allow quality of life to increase, as they people don't have to spend hours of their day collecting water.  They need supplies for their vocational school, funds for micro-loans to teach others to take care of themselves.

My starting goal is $15,000.  It's a big number for me.  Actually, it's impossible for me.  But God can do it!  If you would like to help, and be a part of something big, go to www.crowdrise.com/pastorfrank and donate to the project.  All the money will go through Liberty Church here in Pensacola.

Frank wasn't looking for a hand out.  He never once asked for an kind of money.  But his ministry has many needs.  As a part of a culture that is privileged beyond our understanding, we need to give back.

I'll be posting some pictures soon as I get some, so check back on the blog often.  I'll keep it up to date with all of the work Frank is doing.