Amazing Time

So...if it is 100 degrees on my porch by 3pm what is the temperature in the sun?!  I try to stay positive this time of year but my whole body is dried out.  My walls that have sun on them outside are hot to the touch inside the house on these hot day.  The village can seem like a ghost town the middle of the day when the sun is even too intense for them.  Dad wanted to get out of the cold and looked forward to the warm weather - I don't think he meant this heat!

And amazingly, this is where I want to be!!!

We had a week filled with seeing God at work.  It was a pleasure to share our home,lives and ministry with Dad and Mom Beute.  Two highlights were the Freedom in Christ graduation in Pingere where we celebrated God's work in lives that are now going out and sharing with others.  And Josh's Freedom in Christ Bible study in Soroti prison where God is setting free those behind bars!  I was personally challenged and encouraged by their worship, joy, peace and hope.  I saw more of it in them than most "free" Christians.  My parents also got to experience youth worship (from 10-11pm! under the stars).  Dad and Mom loved meeting Achia and having time with her.  Our kids enjoyed having Grandpa and Grandma around.  Three of the four kids had sleepovers in G&G's guestroom almost every night.  We were invited to friends and neighbors almost every day so we got our fill of local food too.  I felt blessed to share our friends and loved by them too. Many times over the week we thought about what people miss out on by not coming.  I want you to know if God is calling you to come you are also welcome - experience God and His work here.  

Dad and Mom's first weekend was spent with all of us (Shaarda's and Sliedrechts - my sister's family) on the Nile River camping.  It was beautiful!

Together again

Fun camping with cousins

Luka and Josh on the Nile

Meeting Achia

Regina Achia's Mom

Opio, Achia's dad

Market in Atira

With Lusi and here family

Just sights from our home

The kids caught termites one day - a fun African adventure!

And eating the little treasures...

Graduation in Pingere was a real celebration of all God did and is doing.

Testimonies of truth taught, lives changed, and freedom through forgiveness.

Praying over the graduates.

It was wonderful to see wives pray over their husbands.

Josh had many of us crying after speaking about his love and trust in those trained here.  These are God's servants.

Joy!

Our partners in the Gospel.  Several of these FIC graduates are now going out to teach in other churches and villages!

Dad even got a rooster as a gift.  So generous!

Special to share this with G&G

Oh my!

We also got invited to a "family reunion" at our pastor's house.  Big pot of atop to feed everyone.

The family came together to make sure all the cousins know who are cousins and don't inter marry.  We even had a meeting with a message on not bringing curses on your family by inter marrying.

Our church and school

And it rained!
I was glad D&M don't think we live in a desert but after a few days of cooler tempts the heat came back with vengeance!

Lunch at Tata Rhoda's 

Lots of football (American and Ugandan)

One last picture...Luka has become quite a clown and loves to entertain a crowd.  He scares kids, chases, does magic tricks...and this day he swam in a mud puddle.  It went from playing by the water, to wading, to junking his head under the water.  Yuck!

This was his crowd that laughed, thought he was a crazy white boy and needed  a beating!

It gave G&G a good laugh and all of us memories.