A surprise visit...

A group from St. Peter's Cathedral enjoying the children dancing.  These guys are my heroes.

The visiting delegation, 3 saints, a bishop, the bishop's wife and an archbishop.

I got a kick out of the Archbishop and our Bishop George enjoying the dance.

One of the privileges of living here is meeting interesting groups that come through. We were notified by mutual friends that a team from the U.S. was traveling to our town with a team from Tanzania.  They have vision and a burden to help orphans and were visiting at least an orphanage run by the Church of Uganda on our hill.  I am not sure about the rest of their itinerary, but we had a nice visit and really enjoyed getting to know this ministry.

I don't know about the rest of East Africa, but in Uganda, the church is the biggest voice for the poor and oppressed.  They do countless hours at great sacrifice and cost to themselves of unreported service of the poor. It is not perfect because it's made up of fallen people, but wow, what God can do with availability!  This orphanage is called My Father's House.

So, I wanted to share this visit.  It was such an unexpected delight for me personally and I was so encouraged to share in part of this day and to meet some extraordinary people, not only in our area, but from the U.S. and the Archbishop from Tanzania!  There is so much bad reported in the news and especially about the church, but that has not been my experience.  I cannot express how much these people are my heroes and they are putting their money where their mouth is--impressive!

We heard about the ministry and then we also got to hear the children sing and dance.  What you don't see is all the kids outside doing the dance by the side of the road.  One of Aaron's and my favorite things when there is a formal dance performance is to look around and see who else is doing it, because they cannot help themselves.  So far, EVERY time, someone on the edge is dancing and sometimes people just jump in and there is no one complaining.  The pure joy and freedom is such a delight to share.  Love it.

Diary of a Child with a Broken Arm

Dr. Gilbert in brown shirt is leaning on the pole that Micah fell from and broke his arm.

First cast.

Second x-ray showing that the reduction had failed.

After surgery bonus Thanksgiving with Wendy's brother and parents and family.

A clamshell cast that would not need removal in Uganda.

Healed!

So, in pictures, there is the story.  Now for the nitty gritty.

Oct. 28-29th 2011, we go for an overnight stay at a cabin on the lake.  Reminds us of camping in the U.S. and is a fun place to go, but very slippery.  Ironically, Micah falls from the restaurant beam as we were paying our bill and I was looking at brochures to come back and stay in a tent.  hmmm....

He was wearing a long sleeve shirt and wasn't crying like he was in extreme pain, but now we know better.  We pull up his sleeve and it looks like an inchworm!  Awful feelings and panic set in--we grab banana branches and a staff member offers prayer and a scrap of fabric so we can make a temp. stent.  We quickly go down to boat to go to the mainland.  We pass a Canadian family getting off the boat and they give us children's ibuprofen.  That comforted us greatly because God showed us mercy--I mean, what timing and a family in remote Uganda with children's meds???  Thank you Lord and step by step.

After a 20 min. boat ride and another 20 minutes bumpy ride back to town, we go straight to the other hospital in town for an xray.  As we wait, the president, Museveni comes to town and lands his helicopter in the field across from our hospital.  You never see Ugandans running and there they were, running to see the president.  That was weird.

The x-ray shows the bad break-both bones and not an easy fix.  We have to go try a reduction.  Back to Rugarama where Aaron works.  That was so humbling and hard--people working on Micah are clinical officers, including the anesthesiologist.  Dr. Gilbert and a surgeon in training are assisting the ortho clinical officer. We consult with the clinical officer anesthesiologist and she catches that Micah has reactive airway disease--asthma triggered by allergies or colds and meds. and would require a certain care.   So, we prayed and went forward.  Surreal and no obvious word from God--we are too numb to even sense His presence.  Wow, do we need community and people praying for us and now looking back, it is so clear the hand of God was leading us and providing, although we still have no idea what was the purpose?  God could act and heal in a million ways, why did we have to go back to U.S.?  Only God knows. What I was struggling with was making decisions as a westerner with options, when our friends don't have options.  When we look around, there are a lot of walking wounded, pressing on in very difficult circumstances.  It was very humbling to make the decision to go back to the U.S. for care.  Aaron was a steadfast advocate--working tirelessly and with strength and clarity.  Of course, I am biased, BUT he did great!

The next day, I was in church with the kids and Aaron was on the phone with doctors here, in the U.S. and one U.S. doctor who is working in northern Uganda.  It really impacted us how many medical folks we know in Uganda from prior relationships.  Well, that came in handy for advice and prayer and counsel.  God's provision through people is AMAZING.  I get a text from Aaron during church "Come home now, we are packing and going to Kampala"  The drive to Kampala, we were on the phone deciding next steps.  We were able to get an appointment with the head of the orthopedic dept. of the main hospital and on Monday, we were winding our way through a massive hospital full of people and patients.  That was crazy.  It was a great meeting, the doctor looked at the xray and said wait and see if it heals on it's own.  At the time, we only had one U.S. ortho who was advocating surgery.

The next week, we got an xray and the shock of the failed reduction (manually setting the arm).  So, Aaron was back at work emailing photos of the xray and getting advice from U.S. doctors.  This time communication was slow and there was not a consensus.  So, we realized we didn't want to take another risk with Micah and doing surgery in Uganda.  On Wed., we still didn't know and my mom (Wendy) asked what would it take to make a decision.  We didn't know.

The next day, we received a text from her that my parent's church found money that would cover plane tickets back and did we want to use it?  That was convincing, so we contacted a travel agent and decided to back to U.S. because it would take us 2 days to travel anywhere like Kenya, South Africa or Europe, so might as well take 2 days and come back home.  Meanwhile, my mom was filling out paperwork and trying to get us an appt. at Shriner's Hospital, which would offer free care.  So, early Friday morning, we left for Kampala and Mallory began to get sick.  Turns out she got malaria the week before as they had shoved us all under one mosquito net, which did not work and the kids had many bites.  On the way there, I was sending out incoherent prayer texts and our one American friend Kent, called and said, "who is this?"  I was so embarrassed, BUT he directed us to a guest house and pizza restaurant by the airport and Aaron ran out and got pizza and malaria medicine.  So, God works in mysterious ways!

We got to U.S. on Sunday, found out we had an appointment for Monday morning.  My parents hosted us and cared for the girls and we made our way to the massive Houston medical center.  I was worried about culture shock and re-entry and driving, but I have to say how gentle and detailed God is--Shriner's was super easy to get to from my parents and it's on the edge of the medical center--that is a small detail, but shows me the love of God.

We also received some emails that did, in the end confirm the decision to come home.

Micah had surgery on Tuesday and it was successful.  By the way, we were on Houston news while we were waiting for Micah's consult.  There was an apple juice/arsenic scandal and they thought our kids were cute and would we do an interview?  So, they got a kick out of us living in Uganda and what do Ugandan mom's worry about?  I bumbled my way through--talk about culture shock.  We spent the rest of the month in shock and surprise as we had Thanksgiving with my brother's family, got to see Aaron's mom and such.  Surreal.

We went back home to Uganda for Christmas and then got the all clear a few weeks later from the U.S. surgeon.  When we go back home to the U.S., Micah will have surgery again to remove titanium rods that were used to set his arm.  We have 2 homes now :).

I don't know what all we learned or what the purpose was or if there has to be a purpose, but I will say, that if you ask the kids, "Is God trustworthy?"  There would be a resounding yes!  We saw God present, providing and directing as only He can direct.  Dr. Gilbert and the staff at Rugarama were with us and fully supportive. I will never forget being in the surgery and Micah was under anesthesia and the comfort and support that the doctors and staff gave.  We were right in there with him.  Their complete trust of God and gentle manners are a comfort. Our Ugandan community humbled us with their love and care and prayers.  These are busy people with many challenges and the principal of the university stopped his car on the way to Kampala and prayed for us and continued to call the staff and faculty to prayer.  Our teammates, the Hines became even more family as they served and gave us care through the whole ordeal.  It was humbling and scary for us all because we really depend on each other here.  Our larger American community in Ugandan poured it out for us with advice, prayer and advocacy with finding doctors, etc. Our U.S. community gave and gave and gave, especially our parents.  We never worried about finances or resources the whole time.  Way to go church--even people we don't know that well gave to us at the church--only God's people will do that!

When we returned, one of the university professors and leaders commented, "You know, we really suffered more than you.  You are the parents, but we suffered more.  You are OUR visitors and this happened while you were here."

I don't know if this will make sense, but I saw clearly that God has a plan and He directs our steps.  I worry a lot about people and it was hard to imagine if we were joe Ugandan in the village, Micah would be a cripple.  We did have a lot of questions--it seemed extravagant to go back to the U.S. for care and even hypocritical.  However, the Lord is the Lord and only He knows what He is doing.  We never questioned God that He would come through or provide, it was just the road that was difficult.  I can't explain why there is poverty and who gets what, but I will never question God and His decisions--He is clearly in control and able with compassion and mercy to sort it all out.  He's good at that.

You can't eat calendars

This has nothing to do with the post, but is a fun article on going to school in another country and the video is priceless.  We watched it 4 or 5 times and the kids were so encouraged!!!

Article on school in Russia 

Article on church impact on poverty 


So, on to the topic.  Last year, we went to Kenya with our teammates for a Global Teams Missionary Care Retreat.  FYI, we serve with the organization Global Teams.

Our African director, Bryson, who is Kenyan,  gathered the North Americans serving in Uganda volunteers for a meeting.  We were chatting about different things and he was encouraging us.  At one point, he commented about what a bad idea it is for a westerner to bring an African a calendar as a gift when you visit a home.  He and his wife, Elizabeth laughed and laughed at how ridiculous that thought is and then he said "you can't eat calendars, bring some food."

Well, I squirmed in my seat and remained silent.  I LOVE giving and receiving calendars!! Our family loves calendars... I was dying!!!!

That turned out to be a missing puzzle piece in living in Uganda.  How do we do friendships?  There is no mall, no movie theatre, no bringing meals when people are sick (you could, but I can barely get a meal on the table for my own family...)  In Uganda, we visit.  We share work.  We talk about gardens and weather.  We are agricultural.  Well, I grew up in suburbia, so these are not skills I have, but we are getting them.

Leslie and I both have commented about how we are always  learning new layers to live and share here.  We have friends and neighbors bring us things from their garden all the time.  When we have been sick or in crisis, people bring us bags of food from their garden or from the market.  So, slowly, we have gotten into that rhythm.  We welcomed our DRC friends coming in for the beginning of term with some brownies--I brought them 3 on a plate...  A couple of days later, Leslie commented that the wife wasn't looking so well.  They are students on scholarship and their sponsors were out of the country and it turns out they had to use up their money at the border.  We were like, "oh, shoot, they need bags of food, not 3 brownies..."  Don't laugh about only 3 brownies--they had peppermint from the U.S. in them and I was not sure if they were going to be too sweet, so I didn't want to bring a whole pan of foreign food..... Anyway, we went to the supermarket and picked up essentials--you have to understand too, that they don't have a garden yet, b/c they had just come into the country and it was the dry season, so that is a challenge, too, until the rains come and the things grow.  We felt so proud and like we are FINALLY catching on. Now, when I visit a friend for a chat or a sick neighbor, I always pick up vegetables.  We grow some things in our gardens, but not like a field of cabbages or irish potatoes or matoke (green bananas), so one week I just prayed and picked up some things at the market and waited to see who they would be for and God showed me--it was a sweet week.

Also, visiting with people is a great honor here.  One friend told us that a home is not a home without visitors.  So, here are some pictures of us with our visitors and the bottom is Julia and I going to tea with our friend Sharon.  It was fun.

Wendy's Parents Visit

Introduction to Lake Bunyonyi

Grandma nail salon

Adopt a Grandma for Lucy

On Safari at Queen Elizabeth

Grandpa and mongeese!

Wendy and Judy on the boat tour

Grandpa and Mallory

Local teens walking with the hippos!!!

Our boat captain stopped these local fishermen and bought some tilapia

meals at our cabin

Mom and Dad with Madame Anne, the principal at Aine Embabazi Primary School

We are from American and happy to be here with you!

Hospital tour

Aaron and Grandma with the nurses

Our friend and nurse, Mary with Aaron and Dave and Judy

Dr. Gilbert Mateeka and Judy, sharing a Lion's Club greeting from Tomball, TX to Kabale

Johnson, Judy, Dave and Medard, saying good-byes

Epilogue on Fear and Faith

** I wrote this in October of last year (2011) right before Micah broke his arm and we had to make an unexpected trip back to the U.S. for surgery.  I do find that ironic... God continues to do a deep work in me!  I was referring to an earlier blog post on fear and faith**

**The only thing I would add to this is how much my trust in God has grown.  see below about the power of choice, BUT I have to say, in an emergency, you have no control moment (like an arm break in a remote part of the world...) that now I know God is completely TRUSTWORTHY.  We can trust Him in ALL circumstances. That is beyond me and my choices and circumstances and it's a TRUTH.**

Reference:  the rest of my life

Well, I think that this will be a life long struggle as those who go before me understand, isn’t there always new context?  However, I do remain encouraged to remember the bad places and also to be thankful for growth.

It often starts with confession and as a Christian, I am so covered in the prayers of others, both near and far.  Bringing to light what is in darkness is a promise of God and I see that He works in our dependence on Him and our friends and family.  So, I confessed my struggle and I know people were praying!

In May, we went to Kenya via protest and riot ridden Kampala.  5 adults and 7 kids traveling in East Africa should bring out fears in anyone.  We attended a retreat put on by Global Teams, our supporting organization.  It was for North Americans serving in Africa, as well as Africans serving in Africa.  It was so encouraging and inspiring to hear our colleagues’ tales of serving cross culturally.  We closed in communion and I went up for prayer from the Bishop for fear.  He prayed for courage among other things.  I started asking for prayer for courage and praying for others for courage.  I noticed a lot of promises in scripture from God helping with courage and fear—I especially love Psalm 46—there is the reality of God in our circumstances and our strength comes from the reality of God, no matter what.

I received prayer in our team times for things that God brought up gently that I didn’t even know had to do with some of the root causes of my fear.  I love how God uses people to pray for us and speak truth into our lives!  Just plain old, small, quiet, simple living room prayer.

The final thought with this struggle, which has been a revelation for many areas of struggle is the power of choice.

I can choose to be afraid or not… The more I practice, the more it becomes a reality.  There is not this blanket of dread or fear when it rains or we have to travel on hard roads.  I don’t like it or prefer it, but I am not in dread.

That is freedom!

  I am exploring this with the fruit of the Holy Spirit—I subconsciously imagined that we just get all this stuff teleported from heaven or something.  I kept praying for patience, gentleness, self control and so on and kind of puzzled why do I struggle with these areas, along with fear?

So, I am taking small steps in practicing choice! I choose to be patient, gentle and self controlled in my weakest moments (any crossroads involving children and a time oriented event…school, meals, bedtime)

Do you know, things are changing and I am so excited—like the Holy Spirit IS my helper.  This is WHY I believe in the resurrected Christ—hope, courage and CHANGE.

an angel

I was walking the kids in the morning to where they get picked up for school by our teammates.

As I came back to our house, there was a man on the path whom I did not recognize.  The path he came from only leads to a few other houses and to the back of campus, so we rarely see strangers on this path.

He was older, distinguished looking, wearing a cap and naval coat and using an interesting walking stick.

We had a great exchange of greetings in Rukiga--the best ever for me and at the end he said "ehhhhh"

That is a common closing---you would just have to hear it and I especially hear it amongst the older men--greeting is a very big deal here and it's almost like a satisfying closing approval without words.  I always wonder how and when that happens for me in my conversations--like when will I learn Rukiga and get in on this?  Frankly, it makes me jealous b/c it is so intimate and endearing and affectionate.

I just had a really warm feeling and that was noteworthy b/c usually I just feel confused or lonely or awkward being more of an outsider.

Then all of a sudden I just had this huge sense that he was a patrolling angel and that God is protecting us more than we can see or know.

I had this overwhelming sense of awe and praise of God--His Presence, His love.


wow--I was so encouraged and thankful and reminded of how much we can't see, but how active God is--24-7, never failing and never sleeping!!!

thank you, Lord.

Fasting in a Developing Country

Uganda celebrates independence in October.  In August, several national church leaders united to call for a national fast for the country.  Each day in one of the national newspapers there has even been prayer topics and different tribes listed to pray for specifically.

So, I was chatting with Johnson who works for us and is an elder in his church.

Johnson, how do you fast in a country where people are trying not to starve?

lots of giggling and laughing from Johnson (he is very gracious with me)

I wonder is he holding back from sucker punching me?? (this is why I constantly feel like a jerk, which I am ok with--I do not know what it is like to go hungry)

Then we chatted about Isaiah 58.  Johnson said if the church is fasting and a person already doesn't have things to eat, in his/her heart, they set aside time to pray.  They take the lunch hour or breakfast hour that they are already going hungry during and they pray.

Especially noteworthy is praying for v. 6 and 7

I am learning a lot here.  Isn't that humbling?

Isaiah 58

True Fasting

 ¹ “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. 
   Raise your voice like a trumpet. 
Declare to my people their rebellion 
   and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. 
² For day after day they seek me out; 
   they seem eager to know my ways, 
as if they were a nation that does what is right 
   and has not forsaken the commands of its God. 
They ask me for just decisions 
   and seem eager for God to come near them. 
³ ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, 
   ‘and you have not seen it? 
Why have we humbled ourselves, 
   and you have not noticed?’

   “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
   and exploit all your workers.
⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
   and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
   and expect your voice to be heard on high.
⁵ Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
   only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
   and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
   a day acceptable to the LORD?

 ⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
   and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
   and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
   and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
   and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
   and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
   and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
   you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

   “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
   with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
   and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
   and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The LORD will guide you always;
   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
   and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
   like a spring whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
   and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
   Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

 ¹³ “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
   and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
   and the LORD’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
   and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
¹⁴ then you will find your joy in the LORD,
   and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
   and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
            For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.