Sunday, April 27, 2014

Our Calling to Uganda

Dear friends and family,

God has called us to go on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa. This is something we have been in constant prayer about for a while now. It's something very dear to our hearts, and we hope it is to yours too. We are planning to go spring or fall of 2015. The trip is looking to cost about $3,000 per person ($6,000 total for both of us to go). We are opening a savings account solely for this trip. Until then, if you would like to support us you can mail either of us a donation. Both of or addresses will be at the bottom. Anything helps us go. If you decide to sponsor us, please put in the memo or in a note, "Uganda Missions". We ask that you would be in constant prayer with and for us as we plan to go share the love of Christ with the people of Uganda and help with the Helping Hands Foreign Mission. The Helping Hands Foreign Mission is a ministry to help the orphans and the widows. As some of you may know we are planning to adopt in the far future; but as for now, this is our calling to help with the orphans of Uganda.

     Thank you in advance for all of the prayers and support.

   With love,
       The future Matthew and Kelli Steele.

http://helpinghandsmissions.org/

Matthew Steele
135 Dowrick Dr
Martinsburg PA, 16662

Kelli Shadrix(Steele)
157 Laurel Creek Court
Carrollton, GA 30117


Monday, April 7, 2014

Patience, Learning, and God

I normally say "Patience is a virtue, a virtue I don't have." That statement is true in a sense, but at the same time I know that I have some. I was not born with this patience, oh, NO, NO, NO...I prayed for patience... I advise you to never do that unless you are ready for the challenges and mountains that God has in store for you. When you do pray for the patience, just remember that it is a Fruit of The Spirit!  When I first prayed for God to "give" it to me, He probably was like "Oh my beautiful daughter, you don't know what you have asked for."  (side note: I truly believe God talks like that, and I also believe He calls all of His Children beautiful.) Well, He first gave me the challenge of leaving all of my "friends" at Bremen, which was a lot harder than I ever expected, I found that I really only had about 3 true friends there. That challenge made me realize that I could do anything, but I HAD to have God in the center of my life to overcome the heartaches of life.  Then, He gave me the highest mountain I've had to face yet... My Fiance lives about 800 miles away from me! That's where MOST of my patience has come from. It has taught me that life moves fast! For me, at this time, that is GOOD news! It means I am one day closer to marrying my best friend! This is a very hard journey for me, it very often test my patience, and test my endurance but God is on my side and it makes everything a LOT better. As time moves on I find myself thinking about this wonderful challenge, and the gift of time God has granted Me. I always end up rambling... Back to patience. This incredible Journey in my life is the main source of my patience, and I would not trade it for the world. The learning part of this blog is that I can't let the little things in life bother me like I normally do. It's not worth it. I can't let someone take my joy just because they copy me, say something that I don't agree with, or do something I have no control over. I have learned to "let things roll"... which to me means not let people know when something bothers me, now I just have to learn to not let it bother me... I know that I can do that, but it's one of my weakest points, but I know that I can do it! I have an awesome best friend who always encourages me, and I have a God that has the highest POWER, and knows the weak points He has to get you through, because He is ALWAYS carrying me. 
  
     With that, I just need to take a moment to brag on my King. He is the King of Kings. He loves like no one could ever comprehend. He lives IN ME!  He Knows the UNKNOWN! I believe that, is the amazing thing... HE knows what I am going to do before I EVER do it! It amazes me the GRACE He gave us!  His grace is deeper than ANY ocean! His love is higher than the sky, and His power can not be tamed! He CREATED the STARS for us to see, and SUNSETS for us to watch!  His beauty is far out of this universe!  THAT IS MY GOD! please check out this link!
  
      Until later, 
           KSS