The Calling Behind The First Graduation

Merry Christmas to YOU! What a joy filled end of the year this has been for us here in Uganda. Meet our FIRST graduating class from Leadership and Discipleship classes.

It has taken me a few days to sit down and write this blog post. Not because I don’t have the words to say but because I have an abundance of words to say, and I have been trying to pick which ones are best to say without it taking you two days to read the entire post. But before I even share my heart behind the graduation, I want to share from my heart how much YOU truly mean to me. I hope you are celebrating along with us because you have played a BIG role in making not only the graduation happen but also the classes over these past few months. So thank you for praying for these kids and myself, that God will work through us and direct our path. Thank you for financially supporting, not only for the materials for this class to exist but also the salary to allow me to live in this country to serve and teach this community. Thank you for sharing my mission and what God has called me to with others, it truly does take an entire community to be here and serve on the field. YOU equipped myself and these kids to be here to teach, to grow, and to graduate, thank you abundantly.

I have seen my students graduate from leadership classes before when I served at other ministries. But this graduation in particular holds a very very special place in my heart. For those of you who have been following for a while now might remember the numerous requests for prayer and discernment at the beginning of this year. I knew God was calling me to something else but I didn’t know what it was and honestly it was scary to leave what I already had. That season of waiting was one of the most difficult seasons to go through but it was also the best in many ways. I learned so much about myself and my relationship with God. I mean it is just the coolest thing to be working with God and leaning on him for every little decision. He put this local slum community on my heart over and over again and after fighting it a little (yes, I know) I finally said yes and surrendered my whole self to Gods plans. What seemed intimidating in the beginning now looks so small and simple. God knew, He always knows.

I entered this community for the first time in December 2020 and since then it has been a pull on my heart to pray over. Then in 2021 I spent some time serving for a few days. I would bring some of my friends to serve and meet the kids, just for fun. It was always so exciting to visit and encourage them, even just for a day. I had no idea all this time God was preparing me to dig deeper into the community but I’m so thankful He did.

Starting these classes from the ground up was beyond intimidating. I had never created lesson plans for an entire class before from scratch. I had never organized a graduation ceremony before. I had never organized so many people to come together to serve, let alone in a slum (if you have done this, you know how much awareness this requires in planning). I have never raised so much funds for ministry before. I felt unexperienced and unqualified to carry out such a big calling. But what I did have was Gods guidance and I truly believe I lived out Hebrews 13:21.

“May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus

Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All

glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”

Hebrews 13:21 NLT

God sure does equip the called. I may not have done any of these things alone before but I have helped or observed others do these things. As I fully surrendered to Gods plan and started taking one step at a time I began to realize I actually do have the skills and knowledge to carry out this calling. Sometimes we feel we know best, even unintentionally. Like me, I thought I couldn’t do it as if I was questioning Gods capability to call me to something. It feels so silly to type this out but it is true, we all do it at times. Thank God for always begin there to lead us back to His intended path.

Now to keep my promise of not taking two days of your time to read this I will end it here. But stay tuned and please subscribe to the email notifications if you’re not already because I will be sharing another newsletter very soon more focused on the sweet graduates.

May God bless you and keep you. Never forget how important you are and what a joy you are to this world. Thank you for being you.

Please pray for safety over this holiday season. Pray for finances. Pray for joy. Pray for families to have food this season. Pray for my car. Pray for good health. Pray for rest. Pray for my home. Pray for family. Pray for addictions. Pray for healing. Pray over our soon marriage. Pray for provision. Pray in celebration of the birth of Jesus. Pray for us all to know God deeper.

With much love and many blessings,

Lexi Dingman