Why We Fight

If you haven’t seen the mini-series “Band of Brothers” add it to your must see list. I watched it a few years ago but had forgotten just how good this story is. Several of my friends recently came together to watch a couple of episodes a week. It follows the story of the “Easy Company” paratroopers from boot camp through the entirety of World War II. Before each episode they interview surviving members of Easy Company giving a tangible, first-hand feel to the film. We were coming to the end of the series in Episode 9 “Why We Fight.” The war is coming to an end and the soldiers are battling depression and frustration and anger. So many of their colleagues have given the ultimate sacrifice. They miss their families and friends and the comforts of home. They are truly angry at the circumstances that have compelled them to come to a far away land and risk their lives for a greater cause. They had lost focus of the vision of that “greater cause” and the reason “Why We Fight.”

While on patrol near the German town of Kaufering, Easy Company comes upon a concentration camp recently abandoned by the German military. It is a horrific sight and really catches you off guard. Suddenly and assuredly the reason “Why We Fight” comes back to focus. There were very good reasons for them to leave their homes and sacrifice their own comforts for a greater cause. When their vision is restored the complaints and frustrations and sacrifices lose much of their weight.

I cannot help but see a parallel in our own lives. We have been in Uganda now for three years. We first came with clear vision, but that vision often loses its clarity. We are tired. We are frustrated with living in a third world system. We miss our families and friends so very much. We are depressed and find ourselves struggling to remember why we came here in the first place.

We recently came to the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan. Marking the end of Ramadan is Eid al-Fitr. The month is a month of fasting and the end is one of great celebration. This year Eid fell on a Sunday. On that day we were invited to visit one of our churches on the opposite side of Kampala. As we drove around the city that morning Muslims were out in great numbers flocking to their local mosques. As we approached our destination we came across this mosque where hundreds were praying. We watched and prayed ourselves. Our vision returned.

These are thousands and thousands of people who do not know the love of Jesus. They are hoping that they can somehow work their way slowly by slowly to Allah. They do not understand that their trust in their own works is hopeless. They do not understand that God loves them. They do not know that I love them. They have not embraced the One who came to redeem them from hopelessness. We were reminded that there are very good reasons why we left our comforts and loved ones behind. We are here to bring the good news to those who are lost. We are here to point the way to the Lamb of God. We are here to be a light on the hills of Kampala.

These are the reasons “Why We Fight.”

Sunday Nov 8th

The 2 hour long worship (singing) time is sometimes a challenge for us to stay focused. It's helped by the fact that we come an hour late. At least half of the people today were about 2 hours late in coming!
This is Kibuli...I've been here when the room was packed full of probably 200 people. A lot of factors has made it dwindle to what you see here: only a handful. Kibuli is what is known as the 'mother church' among the newer church plants in Kampala, and many groups have left this location to start their own Sunday Celebration services, several young leaders were trained here and have gone to be leaders and pastors in other places.
At the end of his sermon about the faithfulness of Abraham and Sarah and Isaac, and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, Anthony challenged these few people to remain faithful. Their new plot of land is waiting for them to occupy. And as the Israelites faced a daunting task of entering a land God blessed them with, and faced many who thought they couldn't do it, these believers at Kibuli need encouragement and prayers to hold fast--to be willing to sacrifice their time and the work of their hands and their tithe. The land waits empty because the pit latrines are not finished. It is important for this group to share in sacrificing of themselves to occupy the land given to them. Pray for them to remain steadfast, to not be discouraged by few numbers, and to be willing to work hard to make their new plot of land ready to meet on. Their rent for this room is paid through December, and that is the last month's rent they should make!

Stephen & Kaye

Kaye & Stephen finished their 2 year term in Kampala. Here they are for their celebration lunch at an excellent Indian restaurant. Little Silas was ready to get home. We love you guys, eat some good food for us!

Our life...dogs included

Sometimes I wonder if I should really blog about things like our dogs, or dressing up. But, it is part of our life here in Uganda. So, here's an update on our puppies. If you scroll down you can see when Angelina and Jolie were about the same size. Not now! This is their little swimming pool they LOVE after a neighborhood walk.
Angelina does this with her water bowl too, and we quickly learned to move it outside--and see for ourselves how much this lab loves water.
Jolie's favorite thing to do around her 'big sister' is to bite her ear. What I don't have a picture of yet, is Angelina (the lab) dragging Jolie (the Papillion) by her tail. It's hilarious!
A rare thing for them to be both sleeping! And on my cushiony kitchen mat no less!

Let's Pretend for a day!

Today we get to wear our prettiest fairy dress OUTside of the house, even with tights and sparkly shoes. We get to have our hair done pretty, and glitter sprinkled all around. Today we get to pretend that we really ARE a fairy princess, and get our faces painted with whatever design we want!
We even get to go through an Indiana Jones game as a fairy princess explorer. Fairies are good explorers you know. It's dangerous work walking over the lava pool to save the doll high in the tower.
And we even had to paddle our boat across the crocodile lake. See me in the little black boat? I had to paddle so hard with my arms and I got so tired. But fairies don't give up on an adventure, you know.
And it's important work for the Ice Queen to learn archery. It's a valuable skill.


Stopping the busy evening to smile beautiful is also something one just HAS to do when they are so cute. My mommy tells me so.
Next year, it's HSBC Trunk or Treat. Mommy made us home made funnel cakes for the very first time and told us all about Trunk or Treat. I wonder what we'll pretend to be then?

A day in the life in Africa!

She's not my 'baby' anymore. This one during chapel at school when Sophia's kindergarten led the chapel.

Sophia opened the chapel in prayer, and her teacher is there with her.
Meet Red. Our night guard brought Red to us one night when Anthony was not here. What do you do with a live chicken and 2 dogs who have never been around chickens? The dogs thought Red was their play toy, and Red cried like a big baby. I never knew chickens could cry. I dunno how to slaughter a chicken, so we had to wait till Saturday when Pen was here (they guy in the picture--his name is Pen and he cuts our grass and is our weekend day guard.)
Notice Sophia is holding my hand...the only way she would get close. This is the after shot of Red. Karis actually stayed out to watch Pen cut Red open. It was a great anatomy class for Karis as she got to see how God made our insides...well, how He made Red's insides. However, they decided they would let Pen and Grace and Robina eat Red!

My budding artist

As you know, Karis loves all art projects. She's in Multimedia Art after school this term and this is one of her recent projects. She made the box frame out of a piece of cardboard, covered the sides and back in fabric, made a strip pattern for the background with banana tree fibers (from the trunk of a banana tree), made the paper mache flower, then painted it. Nice, eh? Nice enough to hang on the wall!

What 'cha up to these days?

This is just what it states it is. Our good friend from England worked on this, and a friend of his did the original artwork with the local batik flair.
It's a great little book to use as a more complete story set for "Storying". I've done some training for children's leaders using this book as their complete curriculum.
We've done some field testing, and an idea was made that adults would more likely use this as a story set if it didn't say "Children's Bible" And, we are out of the ones we ordered from the first printing. We have some Bible funds, and have just sent to the printer a new version with a new title "Stories of the Bible" including a table of contents of the stories included to use for planning lessons. We pick up a very large order of this English version this week!
But for now, Anthony and 3 pastors are VERY busy going through the last committee stage translation editing for the Luganda version. They have worked several very long days editing the Luganda that was translated by Pastor Dickens, typed into the computer by Anthony, and now spending a great deal of time trying to ensure just the right Luganda words and phrases are used--even going back to the original Greek and Hebrew texts. We pray this stage is complete in the next 3 weeks, so that we can get many Luganda versions printed in December.
The Word of God will not return void, it is powerful, like a 2-edged sword, it is useful for all teaching, rebuking and correcting, it gives direction to light our path, we meditate on its words!

Karis in her 1st swim meet

Karis was sure excited that she placed 2nd in her race! Her first swim race and ribbon! Yeah! Way to go! I didn't get pictures of her actual swim, because I was in the water for the hour! Four of us stayed in the water with life jackets on (deep end) to encourage the young swimmers, and offer to swim alongside them at any point. It was a great organized event for young swimmers--and forced them to confront their fear of swimming in the deep end. For the young ones, there were no technical fouls, and no strike outs if one of us adults swam down to meet them in their lane and encourage them as we swam beside. It was lots of fun! (Karis ended up in my assigned lane! I did not have to meet her half way down, she swam all the way and looked up to me with such excitement. I was a priceless moment for this mom!)

Ramandan & Go light your Candle

A few weeks ago it was the annual end of the Ramadan festival, Id il Fitir. Normally Muslim people worship on Friday, but the Id fell on a Sunday this year. So as we drove to a new church on the northern far side of town, we saw thousands in school yards or empty fields like this. Women are not allowed inside the Muslim place of worship. So, the women and children are allowed to worship like this outside in fields on this day marking the end of their month of fasting for purification.We drove on to this place. The walls are made from the outside bark cut off of the trees when making planks of wood. Tarps make the roof which is good for keeping the sun off...not so good for when it rains though! After several songs and dramas about last week's sermon, the choir came in with candles. What's the chance they knew that familiar song "Go light your candle--light your world"?
Well, yes sir-ee. They did. And they gave a candle to my girls and helped them to hold the candles sideways so the wax would drip to the dirt floor on not to tender skin.

Go light your World!

Pastor Dickens & Margaret's first baby!

If you've been following, you've seen several pictures of pastor Dickens. He's a young pastor about 25 years old. He was a youth leader for several years, and then was commissioned from his church to start a new work and become a pastor. He started seminary this year in Jinja. He and Margaret have been married about a year and a half.



Last Friday Dickens was at our house helping with a translation of a book called "Stories of The Bible" when he called to check on his wife who was in labor. Here in Uganda, it is most common for the man to be chased away when the wife is in labor. A few men are present, but it is not common at all. He had told Anthony the baby would be named after him if it was a boy.

We sat all excited to hear any report, and then to hear it was a girl (as you know I love little girls)! I looked down when Anthony asked if they had girl names picked out and apparently Dickens motioned that she would be named after me. When I looked up, I could tell I missed something. To be honest, I wasn't sure if he was serious. That is quite an honor!




But indeed, Misti Grace is here.

Early November, 3 years in Uganda

Wow. Once again I'm behind on the blog, and WAY behind on the real newsletter. Ya know, the further behind, the harder it is to begin because it's a bigger task!

We've now been living in Uganda for 3 years and a few weeks now. This time has gone by so fast, many times I wonder how it can go by so fast?

Last week I had the opportunity to go on a women's retreat that was amazing. A dozen women including our cluster strategy leader and her husband and 12 yr old daughter drove quite a long way from Nairobi to Mombassa (on the coast of Kenya, a beautiful place that draws many vacationers to it's beaches). The focus on leadership develpment among some amazing women was such a boost. But add to that some good quiet time with the sound of waves on white sand--and it was what I needed with blessings added on!

I came home expectant to hear news of Pastor Dickens and his wife Margaret, as their due date for their first baby was upon us. If the baby would be a boy, Dickens had told Anthony that the baby would be named after him. They had a baby girl, and I am sincerely honored to find that they have named her Misti Grace. Wow. It's such an amazing thing that it's hard to explain.

Well, I'll stop for now. I need to get pictures uploaded. We went a week with no power, and then several days with the city water shut off (though our tanks did not go dry!), and serious internet and mobile phone network issues. But, we seem to have all of those at the moment working ok. Blessings in a new light.

A Generation that Seeks

A week ago I was asked to help lead the 2yr olds through Kinder's in their Spiritual Emphasis week. It was a lot of planning, but I had a lot of fun too! Being out of the classroom for 3 years has not dwindled my passion for teaching!
On the last chapel day, Kinder - 5th grade met together as the principal and my dear friend led the morning doing a very interactive Creation to Christ overview with the students that was fantastic.

One of the songs the students sang struck me intensely. I sat--listening--looking around--seeing these kids (watching MY Karis standing in front of me) sing every word, singing their hearts out:


We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes
From evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another

Oh God let this be
a generation that seeks
that seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
that seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob

Wow. I sat pondering how awesome an opportunity my girls have to go to a school where they can sing this at the top of their voices, where they are being taught the profound words to this song.

And then, the principal asked all the teachers and any parents to pray over these children. So we spent the next several minutes walking through the kids, praying for them and over them. Many parents were there praying, teachers were praying for these children.
This is Karis's teacher who's from New Jersey, holding hands with her and her Italian friend who's now back in Italy as her mother begins cancer treatment.

As the time closed, parents/faculty lined up and prayed in French, Phillipino, Luo, Dutch, Korean & Luganda for the students and the school.

One of the mornings with the little ones, we talked about how Jesus prayed and we can too. I talked very basically about parts of the Lord's Prayer and how the children can learn to praise God by saying "God You're Great!" (Hallowed be Your name). I led them to think of other words to shout out and these little ones filled the room with "God You're Awesome, Good, Terrific, Super, Cool!"

Yes, God is cool to remind me of one of the many blessings of living here.

May these children truly be a generation that seeks His face

Friends...

Today, we heard some sad news. Karis's best friend is from Italy. Her mom went back to Italy about a week ago for some tests, and after a surgery, the biopsy came back not good at all.

Today, the dad let everyone at school know that he and the kids will fly out this Saturday--perhaps for good.

It's always hard to loose a friend, people move no matter where you live.
What makes it hard here, is that the pool of similar people is so much smaller.
Karis only has four girls in her whole class (unusual) of 22, so to loose the only other Westerner who happens to have been her best friend for for the past 3 years will be quite a loss.

Of course, the biggest issue at hand is the sick mom, and the family trying to pack up and leave their home of several years so suddenly and amidst such circumstance.

Today was our last regular Monday after school play-dates.

As a mom, it makes my heart hurt for Karis in a deep way.

I remember when she was about 2 years old, and we were at a dinner with lots of families with kids. There was one too few chairs for the kiddos, and I watched her deliberate and slow moves as a shy one of the group--in my mind yelling "hurry up and get a chair!" from across the room. I was out of reach to help. But, she's always been slow and deliberate and watching all around her. That was the first time my heart broke for her, as she realized too late that the last chair had been taken, and she was left out with the other kids oblivious. Her little face about broke my heart to see.

Being a parent is a truly amazing thing. She has a piece of my heart!

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
...
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
...
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Please pray for the family of Karis's friend, especially for her mom.

Angelina Jolie?

So, you may have seen an earlier post about me getting Jolie: my little Papillion Continental Toy Spaniel. She will stay under 10 pounds, and when her hair grows out by the time she's a year old, she'll be fluffy cuteness. You'll have to go down to read why I chose the name Jolie in the earlier post.

You may remember our German Shepherd... we had been thinking ahead of our move to a new city, and then our furlough starting next spring... Together with the fact that little Jolie looked like some little thing that would be good eat. We had some interesting 'rescues'.
A new couple were looking for a good dog, and we decided this might be a good time to find a good new home for Sanyu. Anthony commented that he would like to find a black lab after we come back from our furlough time in the States. That sounded fine to me. I always thought it would be nice to have a lab.

Two days later, Anthony saw a sign posted for black lab puppies, so he went to LOOK at them.

He came home with this:

And what name should we pick for her? We've had foreign names for all our dogs here in Uganda.
Mirembe= Peace in Luganda
Sanyu= Joy in Luganda
Jolie= pretty in French

But none of our first attempts such as night/black/midnight etc are good names in Luganda.

So, this little black lab thought it was funny to name herself Angelina.
Most Ugandans never get the humor in having 2 dogs named Angelina & Jolie, but we chuckle often. Everybody needs more chuckles, right?


Jolie is smaller and much lighter, but she thinks she is the boss. And as soon as Angelina gets any prized toy or piece of trash, Jolie is after her to get it back any way possible. I have often seen why the Papillion breed excels in agility.
I can just hear her thinking, "I'mmm gonna get it...SNEAK ATTACK!"






Or, maybe I'm gonna get it by biting your ear.













OK girls. There are toys for everyone.


umm, I think I've said that line a time or two before...









"No, I want the toy YOU have and I'm gonna take it!"
"Hey! That's my EAR!"



Why is that little squirt picking on me?


This little black lab is really a very gentle, loving puppy. She's easy-going and relaxed, and has almost doubled in size since we got her!
Little Jolie darts in and out and is very fast, and Angelina is now running with the awkwardness of a big dog puppy stage.

I only thought I would not have to find a home for our dog while on furlough...so much for that plan!

July catch up 1: 5 Year Service pins

During our Annual General Meeting (AGM) we received our 5 year service pins--as our 2 years each of Journeyman 'count' plus our 3 years now. We chose two couples to read meaningful verses, pray over us, and pin us. On each outside are Vernon and Sandi Sivage. Vernon was Anthony's supervisor as a Journeyman, and is the current Academic Dean and professor at the Uganda Baptist Seminary where we are moving to in a few months.



Just inside each end are Danny and Claudia Hood, an amazing couple who we served with and under our first two years back in Kampala as a family.

















Vernon couldn't let an opportunity slip by to reminisce of knowing Anthony for 14 years, and some fun adventures of the Early Years in Uganda!
It was a truly meaningful time for us, and we thank God for bringing us through the 5 years of service as ambassadors: ones sent with a message. And we certainly look forward to more years walking with Him here.

July Horse Riding Camp

Karis was signed up for Horse Summer Camp. Sophia wanted to go and watch, and though I thought she was too young, the instructor told her, "Go get a hat and get your horse!" They had a fantastic time!

































































About 2 seconds after I clicked this picture, Sophia looked at me about 2 seconds too long and lost her balance! She almost fell right off, but her helper grabbed her leg to keep her from slipping off! It was so funny!!!
Oh, was I not supposed to laugh then? She couldn't see me when I was laughing.















It was hot, and the sand was dusty as they rode around, trying to learn to balance with their arms straight out.

Another summer catch up, July pt 2

This is one afternoon while at Lake Mburo National Park with a Int'l World Changers volunteer team.

Art Design Class

This semester, Karis picked Art Design and Gymnastics to participate in after school in the Enrichment Program at school. A professional is coming in to teach this particular class, and I stayed to help this first week. The teacher commented that Karis has a very artistic eye for her age, and even called the entire class over to watch one particular thing Karis was doing on her second project (that I didn't get a picture of...).
This is her first project with recycled local materials (banana fibers from the stalk of a banana tree, dried plants etc.) that she mounted on backing paper. Our little budding artist!

Busy with Gran & Grandad

You can barely make it out, but on the motorcycle 'taxi' called a boda, Anthony is taking Sophia home from school. Sophia 'helps drive' in the front, and Dad is on the back with the backpack. Today I was staying with Karis for an afterschool program. Sophia LOOOVES the boda ride on few occasion from school.



My dad built and gave me a desk when I was 5 (now 30 years ago). I gave it to Karis last Christmas when she was 5. (with joy, and sadness both I gave it to her!)
So, this month Sophia turned 5 also.


And she got her desk from Grandad too. We all helped sand!
Sophia said, "This is hard work!"





















Grandad repaired the bikes that had been used by other bigger kids and were in poor repair.

And this is our driveway up to our gate...the only flat paved place we have for the girls to ride. Boy, they loved afternoon rides with Grand & Grandad!

First week, 1st grade & Kinder

Sophia turns 5!