We're Back in Uganda

Hello from Uganda! This post is quite late, but adjusting back takes time! Transitioning from Michigan to our village in Uganda is a big change. Not to mention packing up and storing away one house, to unpack and restart our home here. And then there are all the emotions involved in the goodbyes and hellos. It can be heavy to do all of that for a whole family.  

Honestly, life in the village in Uganda is a lot more work than living in Michigan. Life takes a lot of time here. There are daily water needs, solar upkeep, insect battles, market runs (it isn't Meijers!), chaos and traumas of going to town, making food from scratch, homeschooling, sweeping out the daily dust, greeting people, ministry, heat... I'm not trying to complain, just trying to explain the realities of life here. It is an adjustment.

I am so thankful my kids did really well with it. We all love our home. The kids love their friends here and the sports, games, and youth group they have with them. They also get involved in village life which makes me proud. They even like the new homeschool curriculum we are doing. Yay!

I'm the one who seems to struggle more with life here. I do love our home, but I have no one to share it with. (Yes, I have a village of people around me, but there are so many cultural differences and language barriers.) I love hospitality and blessing people with a sanctuary. Home is my place of discipleship. I am SO thankful I still have a family to almost fill it! I think I am saying, it can be very lonely in the village. 

Life is routine, which is a great thing, but it's extreme. We go from too much in Michigan and a very full calendar to an empty calendar and weeks of nowhere I need to go. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty to do most days, but our social and event schedule is lacking. I'm adjusting to the rhythm of village life, but it is a change that takes time.

I also found myself very annoyed with the culture and people, which isn't a great sign, but true. I again saw all the yuck, chaos, evil, wrong, mean and ugly things. It can feel like nothing changes. The same poverty we left is here, the same sin and evil seems to dominate, the same ancient ways they are trapped in, the same injustices and corruption...how does a country run like this?! Everyone seems selfish. Does anyone here value life? Watching people drive especially on motorcycles is the prime evidence of both! Then driving back home from the city we saw a crowd up ahead - that is never good. We had the kids close their eyes, but Josh and I saw a school kid had been hit by a car and was laying on the side of the road. I didn't look to see if he was dead or still alive. Whoever hit him was long gone because truth is they could be killed by mob justice. But what I did see was hundreds of people, young and old, running towards the scene. Not to help but to see. With smiles and laughing as they went to see. What is that?!?! What causes a culture to want see pain, hurt, gore? There is no value of life and no innocence. It just seemed to me plain evil.

And then all the little daily things. Like being stared at, laughed at, touched... Are kids taught anything? Our definition of rude is so different. The trash they throw everywhere, breaking and cut down trees, hurting animals... Stewardship of God's world is lacking! And the extreme volume on the speakers at church that ruin worship - and our ears. It makes Makai (ok all most of us) not want to go to worship and mad when we do. It is just noise! And then there are all the men who say things and look at Emalai and even me! That is absolutely wrong!

So, what do I do with all that?  

I want to hide away in my house, go to sleep and keep dreaming about being somewhere else, but thankfully I chose to go to God. He's here, He knows, He is in control, He is at work. I choose to forgive so my heart can be free. And to trust God. He hates the sin and pain too and He longs for all His children to return to Him, to know Him and obey His ways. I thank Him for all the transformation He has done. And remember God is at work!

I have also chosen to go through Experience God by Blackaby. It is as amazing as it was 25 years ago when I did it! God has reminded me He is always at work and He invites us to join in as His instrument He wants to use. I pray I choose to join God where He is at work here, instead of being angry and running away :). 

Other than that, I was very thankful we found our home, truck, FIC team, neighbors and church all doing well. God has been faithful keeping our place, and His people and the ministry here. These people remind me of all God has done, the transformation that has taken place, how much God loves them, the beauty of their faith and that there is hope.

Here are some pictures that will speak more than my words can. Thank you for all your prayers!

One more thing. This post is from Thrive, a ministry for missionary women, on transitions. I think it put it into words quite well. OK To Be a Hot Mess https://mailchi.mp/thriveministry/ok-to-be-a-hot-mess2?e=316b9af497

After driving in a snow storm to the airport, we were as ready as we could be to go. However, you never know how check in will go. It can be a bit stressful, but God is with us and provides.

Overnight in Qatar

Arrived in Uganda!
 And thankful it we feel good, it feels good to be back and familiar instead of foreign.

Packing ten luggage pieces for travel.

Oh man, now that's the Uganda we know.

Yup that's 100degrees!

Sights traveling in Uganda

Welcome Home!

Our friends welcomed us back with a Ugandan meal.

Our first day back was the monthly day of prayer for the FIC team.
Good to see everyone, but we lost one teacher, Tom, to a sudden death. Very sad.

Makai put up his new trampoline right away.

                                        

Back to life. Evening time is play time outside when it is cooler.

Makai trying Luka's weights.

Emalai is so happy to be back to her village life!

Back to homeschooling. Thankful it is going well, but is a full time job.

Makai turned 6!

He got a new bike!

He wanted Indian food for his birthday meal.

We thank God for Makai!
He thinks deeply. He has been thinking a lot about adoption lately and growing in his faith. When we read him his birthday cards and told him how much we love him, he suddenly wept and clung to Josh. It was a precious moment and Makai was deeply touched by our love.
A couple days later on his adoption day, we celebrated and shared why we were thankful for Makai. That night when we put Makai to bed he said, "Thanks for adopting me!" That was one of the sweetest moments of my life. Thank you God for Makai and choosing us to be his forever family!

We have been blessed with early rains this year (thank you God!!!), and Makai has been enjoying the mud puddles, plowing and planting. 

Makai's Kindergarten at HCS raised money at Christmas for seeds for the FIC team. We were able to get g-nuts (peanuts) for everyone to plant. This is a huge blessing to their families! Pray for continued rains and a bountiful harvest.

Emalai loves helping her friends in the garden.

Luka and his friends have enjoyed playing volleyball each week at church, but they have to play off all the trees there, so the boys built a new court outside of our front yard.

Makai helping a friend.

Emalai greeting our neighbor.