finding freedom

naked.

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that’s how I felt today en route to my first ever jigger removal clinic without my camera strapped on my body.  My passion for photography has always yielded itself to help me see through a certain lens, and today that lens was taken away from me.  [This both frightened and excited me]

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As we drove down the red dirt road to Wakisi and again as I sat on my foot washing bench next to 8 year old Quinn Collie, I prayed that God would give me HIS eyes instead.  that He would take away my own human understanding and perspective, and give me His.

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I came shaky with knots in my stomach.  insecure and out of my comfort zone.  exposed + naked.

but also somehow FREE. 

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that’s how freedom starts right?  We become aware of this “thing” that gets in the way between us and God.  Becoming aware of this “thing” is the first step to freedom, right?  we have to see what God wants us to be free from before we can be free from it.

sorta like jiggers.

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a tiny sand flee burrows itself into a child’s foot, and has babies and turns into a jigger.  after time, and after walking + running + playing barefoot, this child might start to become aware of this nasty jigger than has buried itself in his foot.  and ya know what?   Sometimes they didn’t even know it was there to begin with.

freedom comes from removing things that get in the way of walking out into the full life Jesus has for us.  In my own personal search for freedom, I’ve dug up some pretty nasty stuff that I didn’t know was there.

“sometimes you have to shave off the top layer to see what you are really dealing with”

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Never been wiser words by Dru Collie as I stood over his shoulder and watched him remove jigger after jigger that had been buried in this young boy’s foot.  shaving off that top layer, getting to the real stuff that this young boy needed freedom from.

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that top layer for me?  

pride.  control.  self image.  perfectionism.  desire to win others approval.  fear of judgement.

what’s underneath?  honestly, those are still questions I’m asking.  I’m still digging around in my inner layer, asking God to cleanse me and remove the dirt and the filth that gets in the way of walking out in true freedom.  I have to trust that the Holy Spirit will do the work, and that I would continue pray and fight for cleansing, healing and freedom.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts.  I’d love to walk this road of asking those hard questions to God.  What is it He needs to “shave off” to show us what exactly we are dealing with?  What does that freedom look like to you?

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Mo | Logan | Cara | Melissa | Erika | Carey

be sure to follow all the other amazing gals on our trip by clicking this link: #bloghope 

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Hey, I'm Wynne!

Hi, friend! First, I truly am so giddy that you are here. I want you to know I believe in you and all the ways you are growing towards living a more intentional life.  I genuinely hope you are encouraged from our time together here.

A little about me, I’m a type 7 on the enneagram, a total extrovert + people lover, entrepreneur, connector, storyteller, people gatherer, and passionate wife, mama + friend. I feel most alive when I’m exploring new places and surrounded by people I love. Give me a day in the outdoors disconnected from wifi, and I am a happy girl. I run on oat milk lattes, Jesus, gratitude journaling and kitchen dance parties with my four kids.
Welcome, come on in!

let'e be friends

  1. Candace Evans says:

    I just cried through this wynne. Praying for you and so thankful for your honest perspective.

  2. Amanda Robert says:

    So blessed to read about your experience…arriving at the clinic exposed, naked. Agree with Candace…I cried as I read it. Praying for your time there…that you would be blessed as those you serve are also blessed!

  3. […] Wynne: Sometimes you have to shave off the top layer to see what you are really dealing with. […]

  4. Laura Robinson says:

    Amazing post. Wish I were there! Praying for y’all!

  5. Susan Hinson Hood says:

    You have all of us sobbing! Have mercy! That top layer that has to go….just what we discussed last night during our last STUCK Bible study from Jennie Allen. Powerful words that you have written here. Thank you! Keeping y’all covered in prayer. Love to all!

  6. Brandi Compton Mendenhall says:

    so very good my friend!! Praying that He continues to shave and clean – so His reflection is magnified through you because I know that is your desire. LOVE YOU! XOXOXOXO

  7. The Fullest Joy says:

    Such truth in these words Wynne. The scraping off of that first layer can be painful… Something I’m currently learning myself. But on the other side of that pain is joy & new life, just like what you all have given to those precious little ones.

  8. Suzanne McGuire Wilson says:

    wow – literally washing and cleansing feet…God bless you all as you serve in Jinja.

  9. Melinda says:

    Wynne, this is truly powerful, something the Lord I have been going around on in the last few days! I read in my devotion not to long ago, about Israel entering the Promise Land, but first God required that all the males be circumcised, as this was the sign of His covenant with Abraham. In all the years in Egypt they let the practice go, but God told them that by doing this they were rolling back the reproach of Egypt. They were now to identify themselves once again as God’s chosen people, set apart, different from everyone else. In the New Testament, Paul refers to the “circumcision of the heart” that sets us apart as Christ’s followers. So much of what you wrote about it creeps into lives everyday because of the world we live in, sometimes without our really knowing it. Like how Israel had stopped doing circumcisions in Egypt. The thing of it is that circumcision, is painful bloody, and leaves a mark, and takes time to heal once done. The Israelite men and boys weren’t going anywhere until they were healed and rested. Same is true with all of us as Christians, when the things of this world creep into our lives infecting us with it’s poison trying to choke out the things that identify us as belonging to God, then that is when God comes and says I got to roll back the “reproach of Egypt” Time for a fresh circumcision of the heart! It’s bloody, painful, and sometimes it requires going through things like old scar tissue, and deep hurts to get all of the yuck out, but we will be brand new, refreshed, rested, healed and prepared to take going into the places of Promise that God has waiting for each of us! Blessings to you, and I pray for you all as journey in Uganda!

    • Wynne says:

      melinda! i love that! the “places of promise” yes and amen! it makes all the hard stuff worth it. peeling back the layers, digging up the hard stuff and letting it GO so we can walk fully alive and free in christ! thanks for sharing sister!

  10. paige says:

    oh friend. good words. he’s giving you your words my friend!!

  11. Kari Gibson says:

    Wynne, loved reading your blog post and praying for your team and the others who are joining you with Sole Hope to remove jiggers and also spread the love of Jesus. We can’t wait to see what God has planned for you today! Keep loving big!

    • Wynne says:

      mama kiki! love you so much! thought of and talked about you so much in uganda. thankful for your example in my life and constant support and encouragement we can give each other. love you so!

  12. love love love this friend. the rawness is beautiful and your words eloquent. and ps- i LOVE seeing your sweet face in these photos! i’m so happy you aren’t behind the lens this trip- even though it’s scary and that’s where your identity has been. praying for a new way to interact- it’s going to be beautiful! ready for lots more stories! xo.

  13. jamie ivey says:

    love following your journey!

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