Monday, July 31, 2023

Sights from Village Life...

 There are days I just want to capture life here and share it with you.  So here is a blog with some of our daily life in the village.   Simple life, simple beauty.  I hope I never forget.  I am super proud of our kids living and, most of the time, loving it here.  I admire their courage and flexibility.  Enjoy a glimpse of our lives!

I love how kids mimic what they see!
For most kids going to the borehole is work, but for mine it is fun.

Harvesting cassava


Emalai loves being at the neighbors and doing as they do.
Pounding g-nuts (aka making peanut butter).

Every evening it's time to play with friends.  Luka and his friends trying to play Jinga style soccer.

This is sweet John who comes to our church.  He has CP and struggles to walk.
God blessed him with a new bike to get around!
And Makai loves John's bike too.

And Makai loves Dad's bike!

Or when his best friend Nathan pushed him on his bike.

We were visiting another church and this is the sign someone drew for the bathroom.
(A long call is going #2.)  Sometimes you have to laugh!

The kids at the church were playing their version of king of the mountain on a bench.

Sheep anyone?

Sharing at a women's conference.

A group came and did VBS at the Christian School by us.  I was super proud of my kids being a part of it!  Luka and Emalai joined their friends at school each day and Lydia helped the team with translation and leading.


Every little boy wants Makai's attention when he comes.

Luka loved being DJ for everyone!

Lydia and a couple of her friends chatting with Josh.

What can you say?!

Tea and games with friends stuck in the rain.

Best Buds!



I had the privilege of throwing a birthday party for a missionary here.  I love being creative, decorating, making things beautiful and hosting.  It is life giving to me.


We started homeschool again.
Emalai is in 5th grade this year!

Luka is a freshman in high school!

Emalai loves all the babies in the village!
This is baby Candy (short for Candise).  So happy!
And Gift

The newest baby in the village!
Born at home in an early and fast.  Mom was all alone.  Thankful all went well.
Her name is Apeso Lydia Faith after the three ladies who came to help her after the birth.
(Yes, our Lydia is one of them.)


Lydia and Luka also joined the youth to host a group of young people from another church in Soroti.  I was proud of them for going and doing their part as one youth.  They go to youth group every Saturday but to see them interacting with new people and loving the day together was a blessing.  They are so brave to always be the only white kids.  It isn't always easy.  Lydia even taught and Luka led games.  They made new friends and appreciated the worship the other church led.  I even heard Luka compare it to 7th grade camp at HCS in Michigan (a very meaningful experience in his life).  That is huge for him to say he enjoyed the worship that much!  Praise the Lord!  So thankful our kids can have all they need and more here, with their friends, and our church.

July ended with Lydia's 20th birthday!
We love you Lydia!!!



We even surprised her at youth group with a cake.
Luka did a great job surprising her with a "choir" and came out singing Happy Birthday with the cake. 


And Lydia had some of her friends over for games and cake.
A great birthday, great friends, and a great young lady to celebrate!

Saturday, July 22, 2023

New Life

 

This is the New Life group. 
New Life is a group of former prisoners (and FIC teachers and officers) who were all discipled by Freedom in Christ in prison.  Last weekend they had their first ever gathering/conference.  We are so excited to see them form this group and gather together to encourage one another and continue to grow in Christ.

New Life gathered for three days.  During the day they had teaching and in the evening they went to the trading center to lead a crusade.  I found it very powerful to see this group of former prisoners now leading others to Christ!  I felt I was seeing the fruit of what God has done.  It was all glory to God!!!
They love to worship the Lord in song and dance!
I enjoyed see our church partner with the New Life group in the crusade.

The other great thing about this new group is that they joined together with several prison officers who love the Lord and who discipled them in prison.  One of the officers has been through FIC.

Juventine gave his testimony the first night.  I love how none of them are ashamed to tell their story.  They let everyone know they were in prison and God met them there and rescued them!


Makai came the first night but crusades are loud and he didn't appreciate that.
He did like the "candy store" as he calls it.

So much dust, but no one seems to mind.  They continue to give up a sacrifice of praise!
Josh teaching during the day on Moses and what is God calling you to.

Day two of the crusade.

David gave his powerful testimony.  He was a witch doctor and came from a family of witch doctors.  His dad is a powerful man.  But God brought him to prison.  David felt like he would escape and nothing could touch or harm him.  But the prison church members told him to come to church and shared Jesus with him.  David knew Jesus was calling him and he was saved!  He went through the FIC discipleship and came out of prison a new man.

Of course while David was sharing his testimony the whole sound system went off.  The enemy did not want him to share what God has done.  I was so impressed with the new life group.  They began to pray.  They bowed down and worshiped God.  A holy moment.  The enemy is defeated.  We have overcome in Christ! 
Everyone was enjoying and stayed to sing and dance.

Sunday the group led our church service.
It was so good to join together in love and unity.
One lady just got out of prison and was rejected by her husband and her family, so the church took up an offering to help her build a house.

I am so proud of this group!  The whole weekend was an encouragement and a testimony of God's grace.  I love it!  They are SO thankful for FIC!!!  They are a testimony of being discipled by FIC.  I am more than ever thankful for our FIC teachers who go to the prisons every week.  It makes an eternal difference.  So grateful I could be a part of this special weekend.  God you are great!