Sisters and Friends
My family consists of my parents, two brothers and me. My upbringing was great and I
was able to experience sports as a spectator and also a participant. I was in some ways a Tom girl always wanting
to follow my brothers around and be involved in what they did when I was
young. I knew how to relate to guys, but
not to girls. I struggled for years to
have healthy relationships with girls.
One of the many blessings God has given me is showing me how to have a
healthy relationship with other Christian women. He started guiding me even the day I was
saved. I was at a girl friend’s home preparing
for her wedding and I told Raymond to come get me to take me to church. That is the day I accepted Christ. That is also the day that this unhealthy
relationship ended.
Through the years, God has given me some really beautiful
relationships with Godly Christian women.
He has given me friends and sisters.
Here are a few important women in my life that have helped me live,
laugh, love, and grow in Christ.
The first person is in America in the wonderful state of
Florida. It is Phoebe. We are both southern women who have education
majors, love scrapbooking, and handsome sons that keep us busy. She has made me laugh, think, and helped me
prepare for missionary work. Her family
has a heart of giving to others and serving people. I am thankful for her friendship and stepping back into her life while in America.
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| Phoebe & I at Thanksgiving |
The next person is my friend from the Netherlands, Debbie. She is a quirky friend that is full of energy
and has taught me to laugh and enjoy life.
She has reminded me to make sure I breathe through everything and put
everything in God’s hands. She has became
a part of our family in Uganda. We helped
each other through our ups and downs of living in a foreign country. Raymond says that she knows how to bring a
peace to me. She is my sister in Christ
and I am forever changed by our friendship.
Debbie - friend from the Netherlands and fellow teacher
The next group of ladies are special to me, because they are
my Ugandan sisters.
Esther and
Margaret.
Esther was my assistant in my
2
nd grade class and Margaret was the assistant in the other 2
nd
grade class.
Esther and I have the same
birth month and a love of worshipping God.
She is a worship leader for her church and has a heart to serve.
She helped me to learn to let go and let
others help in getting the job done.
I
use to have trouble with trying to make everything perfect in the classroom and
controlling everything.
I loved that we
were able to lean on one another, share our struggles, fears, accomplishments,
joy and life together.
Then Margaret
came to the school and we were a fun trio enjoying the fellowship of sisters in
Christ.
They taught me the real
Uganda.
A little of language, a lot of
culture, and introduced me to wonderful Ugandan food.
I am thankful that I was not just a white
person, but someone they welcomed at their lunch table and willing to
experience life with.
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| Esther my Ugandan sister |
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| Margaret - my Ugandan sister |
Last, but never least, is my missionary sisters, Meg &
Kelly. They are both fellow missionaries
with WGM in Uganda. They understand what it means to live in another country
and feel overwhelmed by life. How
bringing your children to a foreign country can be beautiful, but has its
challenges. Most of all they know how
following God’s call to ministry is precious.
Sharing Christ to the Ugandan people is amazing. They each have their
special ministry in Uganda and we all play a different role in bringing people
to Christ. These are some of the wonderful
mission family that I have prayed for and enjoyed ministry with the past year.
Many of my fellow
missionaries were so important to my journey in Uganda.
All of us ladies held each other up in
prayer, encouragement and friendship.
I
thank God also for Christine, Delight, Lisa, Joyce, Joanna & Lisa.
You inspire me to be a greater women and
spirit led missionary.
Many other ladies
were also involved in my life in Uganda and I appreciate all the important ways
that God used fellow women from around the world to encourage me.
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| Ray & I with Christine & Jeff |
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| Joyce & George with us on my birthday |
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| Thanksgiving Field picture - All my mission family |
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| September Group Picture |
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| Becca, Lisa, Jean & I looking at Lake Victoria |
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| Delight & I hanging out here in the states |
So ladies, thank you for helping me grow deeper in Christ,
experience life together, and serve the Lord together.
Your sister and friend,
Nicole
