I am turning 31 in a couple days. I am spending this birthday in Uganda, East Africa! That just amazes me. My husband is even surprising me with a present, a dinner without the kids, and a babysitter for these kids… the reason I know this is because our friend Jimmy can’t keep quiet when I am around. He is so funny, and surprises are rare here in Africa, I believe, so he just can’t contain himself. He is a good man, that Jimmy. I just can’t talk to him again until after Tuesday.
Our diaper covers are pretty much not waterproof anymore. Too much bleach from our aya and ourselves. The diapers and their covers have given us such a hard time with the smells that are left behind after they are washed. It seems not to be such a big deal to Salima, who washes them, because smell is a way of life in Africa. There is not much for deodorant here and it can be pretty interesting working in small spaces for us westerners. Did I mention that it has been pretty hot here lately!
Eden is crawling pretty good now. And she is getting on her knees and bouncing up and down and reaching her hand out, palm to the sky, when she wants something. Today, she sat with a new friend, four rows in front of us at church, and slept and looked around for most of church service before she started crying and wanting mom and dad. That is pretty darn good, since in the first weeks we were here, she didn’t so much as want to be touched by anyone other than Arley, Salima, or I!
Today, easter, we went to a church service with all of the “Old Boys and Old Girls” (all school reunion from the Cornerstone Leadership Academy) here on the ranch. It was so good. I miss having a church service every Sunday. If we wanted to go to church we would have to either go to a Lugandan service about an hours walk away or drive about 30 miles into Luwero to an English service in the back of a truck and it would really eat alot out of our already small budget.
I have been having dreams about if we lived here for a while, and what could become of this place. God has told us several times that we are to build churches. With Arley’s construction back ground we have thought that meant physically building the churches. But God has been refining us and our thoughts and his words and have come to the conclusion that we are to go into places and just be there, as it grows, living life and interacting with people. Just when it gets comfortable, it seems that God starts calling us somewhere else. We experienced that in North Branch and we feel we are possibly starting to experience that here. God has also told us that we are not to put down too deep of roots, so it seems that once things are looking up and starting to thrive, God will call us out of where we are to another spot. As I wrote in our newest prayer letter, Our heart is now for living day to day with people, helping make their lives easier, showing them God’s eternal love, and setting them on a path. That narrow path of God leading to everlasting life with our father and creator in heaven. If God calls us here for a time, no matter what time it is for, I would feel honored to be doing his work in this area.
But we are to come home for now. And we are excited at the idea that it is getting closer every day. Of course it is, but it is really getting close. I have already been able to get on line and reserve seats on the planes for our return trip! Trying to blank out an extra seat so that we have a bit more space for the kiddos. We are beginning to think about souvenirs for family and friends and contributors. But, right now, we need to use up some bananas so I am off to make banana splits, Lund’s in Africa style. (banana halved, with crunchy peanut butter – a gift from Wayne from the states- sprinkled with drinking chocolate powder).
I am turning 31 in a couple days.
I am spending this birthday in Uganda, East Africa! That just amazes me. My husband is even surprising me with a present, a dinner without the kids, and a babysitter for these kids… the reason I know this is because our friend Jimmy can’t keep quiet when I am around. He is so funny, and surprises are rare here in Africa, I believe, so he just can’t contain himself. He is a good man, that Jimmy. I just can’t talk to him again until after Tuesday.
Our diaper covers are pretty much not waterproof anymore. Too much bleach from our aya and ourselves. The diapers and their covers have given us such a hard time with the smells that are left behind after they are washed. It seems not to be such a big deal to Salima, who washes them, because smell is a way of life in Africa. There is not much for deodorant here and it can be pretty interesting working in small spaces for us westerners.
Did I mention that it has been pretty hot here lately!
Eden is crawling pretty well now, and she is getting on her knees and bouncing up and down and reaching her hand out, palm to the sky, when she wants something. Today, she sat with a new friend, four rows in front of us at church, and slept and looked around for most of church service before she started crying and wanting mom and dad. That is pretty darn good, since in the first weeks we were here, she didn’t so much as want to be touched by anyone other than Arley, Salima, or I!
Today, easter, we went to a church service with all of the “Old Boys and Old Girls” (all school reunion from the Cornerstone Leadership Academy) here on the ranch. It was so good. I miss having a church service every Sunday. If we wanted to go to church we would have to either go to a Lugandan service about an hours walk away or drive about 30 miles into Luwero to an English service in the back of a truck and it would really eat alot out of our already small budget.
I have been having dreams about if we lived here for a while, and what could become of this place. God has told us several times that we are to build churches. With Arley’s construction back ground we have thought that meant physically building the churches. But God has been refining us and our thoughts and his words and have come to the conclusion that we are to go into places and just be there, as it grows, living life and interacting with people. Just when it gets comfortable, it seems that God starts calling us somewhere else. We experienced that in North Branch and we feel we are possibly starting to experience that here. God has also told us that we are not to put down too deep of roots, so it seems that once things are looking up and starting to thrive, God will call us out of where we are to another spot. As I wrote in our newest prayer letter, Our heart is now for living day to day with people, helping make their lives easier, showing them God’s eternal love, and setting them on a path. That narrow path of God leading to everlasting life with our father and creator in heaven. If God calls us here for a time, no matter what time it is for, I would feel honored to be doing his work in this area.
But we are to come home for now. And we are excited at the idea that it is getting closer every day. Of course it is, but it is really getting close. I have already been able to get on line and reserve seats on the planes for our return trip! Trying to blank out an extra seat so that we have a bit more space for the kiddos. We are beginning to think about souvenirs for family and friends and contributors. But, right now, we need to use up some bananas so I am off to make banana splits, Lund’s in Africa style – banana halved, with crunchy peanut butter – a gift from Wayne from the states- sprinkled with drinking chocolate powder.
Happy Birthday Miranda!
Let’s get together after you get home and are settled back into a routine. Let me know if I can help with anything.