In case any of you didn't get the e-mail:My name is Dotun Modupe, a co-International Teams missionary of the Shaardas. I serve and live in Nairobi, Kenya with my wife, Ami.I'm sending this to you on behalf of Josh and Mandy. Some of you may have already received news that Luka, their youngest child, was airlifted to Kenya last night for emergency medical treatment. After a long and rough day, they finally arrived in Nairobi at midnight.Upon arrival, they were immediately taken to Gertrude’s Children's Hospital in Muthaiga, Nairobi (http://www.gerties.org/ ) where Luka was admitted. He has already had blood transfusion and is currently at the ICU where he is undergoing dialysis. He is far from where he should be. His condition is still critical but he is somewhat stable (not doing worse, just not much improvement).The doctors and staff are doing their best to ensure that he is well taken care of. I visited them today and even though they have had some tough experiences, they are doing okay. They are handling the situation with much grace. They have unwavering trust that the Lord will complete Luka's healing.
Here's a link to some pictures taken by Mandy of Luka to share with you at http://www2.iteams.org/~modupea/LukaPics/. You can click on the link and it should take you to the pictures.The Shaardas continue to covet your prayers. They are seeing the Lord's hand and feeling the prayers you are offering up for Luka. They will continue to update you whenever possible.
Thank you all so much.Dotunfor the Shaarda family
Shaarda's Story - It's God's Story! Life & Ministry in the village of Obule, Uganda. 1 Thess. 2:8
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Pray for Luka
On Monday, March 8, Josh & Mandy rushed their 1-year-old son, Luka, 6-hours to the hospital in Kampala because he hadn't eaten anything since Friday and became lethargic. They found out that he was dehydrated and had shigellosis, one of the most severe forms of the bacterial-induced diarrheas, related to e. coli and salmonella.
They were able to get him hydrated, but he didn't improve. Now his kidneys are failing and he has become anemic. It appears he has Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in which the bacteria has entered his bloodstream and is killing his red-blood cells. He is currently being medically evacuated to Nairobi for kidney dialysis and a blood transfusion .
Please pray for Luka, for Josh & Mandy, and for their two girls, Lydia & Grace, who are back in Soroti with Bobby & Rachel Kolb, our teammates.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Feb. 2010 (24 photos), by Mandy Shaarda
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
Pray for Luka
March 6
Luka is sick today and needs your prayers. All week he had some diarrhea but acted just fine. Yesterday he began to get worse. Today he is also vomiting. So between diarrhea and vomiting (ever water) he is ruff shape. We are trying to give him little bits of water so he doesn’t get dehydrated. But we can’t get any of the medicine to stay down today. We did do lab work and so far he does not have malaria but has maybe dysentery. Poor little guy. This is the sickest he has ever been. He has slept most of the day thankfully. When he is awake he is miserable and just lays there fussing. Thanks for praying for him.
Last Saturday Josh was really sick. It is so lonely without him around. Thankfully, everyday he got better and had more strength. Amazing how much it takes out of you.
We have been enjoying some wonderful, unusual weather here. We had five days with clouds and on and off rain. It was 70degrees! Josh ever wore a long sleeve shirt all day long for the first time here. We slept under our blanket all nigh – what a treat. I love it. It is so nice when you can go for a walk or do anything and not have to be hot. I think growing up in Michigan the cooler weather and clouds are a comfort to me.
Lydia was outside the other day playing church with Grace. She began preaching and totally impressed me. She knows her Bible! She went through the story of Adam and Eve and how they sinned and were punished and how that is like when we sin and our parents have to punish us so we learn. Our guard John was impressed too. Josh is pretty sure Lydia knows more about the Bible than the Bible school students. I am really proud of her. I am excited to hear her faith. She really is a missionary sharing God’s story with all who will listen.
The kids have been learning the 10 commandments and it has been a great learning tool. When the girls lie or don’t obey we go back to what God told us in our memory verse. It is good for me too! Grace and I went to the store this week and a man was sitting in the back of the store tied up. Our Indian friends told us the man was caught stealing. Grace of course was very curious about this all so we had a talk about how God said in His commandments not to steal. She talked about it all afternoon and assured me she was never going to steal!
Luka is sick today and needs your prayers. All week he had some diarrhea but acted just fine. Yesterday he began to get worse. Today he is also vomiting. So between diarrhea and vomiting (ever water) he is ruff shape. We are trying to give him little bits of water so he doesn’t get dehydrated. But we can’t get any of the medicine to stay down today. We did do lab work and so far he does not have malaria but has maybe dysentery. Poor little guy. This is the sickest he has ever been. He has slept most of the day thankfully. When he is awake he is miserable and just lays there fussing. Thanks for praying for him.
Last Saturday Josh was really sick. It is so lonely without him around. Thankfully, everyday he got better and had more strength. Amazing how much it takes out of you.
We have been enjoying some wonderful, unusual weather here. We had five days with clouds and on and off rain. It was 70degrees! Josh ever wore a long sleeve shirt all day long for the first time here. We slept under our blanket all nigh – what a treat. I love it. It is so nice when you can go for a walk or do anything and not have to be hot. I think growing up in Michigan the cooler weather and clouds are a comfort to me.
This week we got a call from our friend here and her 1 year old daughter fell off the bike and wouldn't stop crying. The siblings put her on the bike even when mom told them she was too young. She fell off and was hanging there as her foot was caught in the wheel. I took her to the clinic that night and the next day for x-rays. Sure enough the ankle was broken. They put a cast on up to her hip. Boy that will be fun for a month with a one year old. I think they just needed me for money but it does feel good to be able to help.
Lydia was outside the other day playing church with Grace. She began preaching and totally impressed me. She knows her Bible! She went through the story of Adam and Eve and how they sinned and were punished and how that is like when we sin and our parents have to punish us so we learn. Our guard John was impressed too. Josh is pretty sure Lydia knows more about the Bible than the Bible school students. I am really proud of her. I am excited to hear her faith. She really is a missionary sharing God’s story with all who will listen.
The kids have been learning the 10 commandments and it has been a great learning tool. When the girls lie or don’t obey we go back to what God told us in our memory verse. It is good for me too! Grace and I went to the store this week and a man was sitting in the back of the store tied up. Our Indian friends told us the man was caught stealing. Grace of course was very curious about this all so we had a talk about how God said in His commandments not to steal. She talked about it all afternoon and assured me she was never going to steal!
We had a picnic table made this week! I am so excited because it has been on the "want" list for a long time and I love getting projects done. We already had a grill out last night - so fun. The girls are thrilled too. We actually have been getting a lot of projects done lately; landscaping, cushions on the dinner room chairs, and other odds and ends. Unfortunately, there is always more to do. We are good we got somethings done before we are busy around here with teaching and guests.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Mudslides!
Some of you may have heard about the mudslides that have taken place in Mt. Elgon (about 2 hours from our home near Mbale). What a tragedy! We have been getting a lot of rain here. Monday the rain continued and by evening the mudslide happened. Three villages have been totally wiped out - gone. Most reports say that 80 bodies have been recovered and over 340 people still missing and presumed to be burried in the mudslide. The mudslide was about a quarter of a mile and went down about a half a mile. Articals I have read say that school kids where taking shelter in a store because the river was flooded when the mudslide happened and the whole shop is now gone with all the kids in it. A school with 35 kids in was also burried. The relief is having a hard time getting there because the roads are inpassable. The rains are continueing and people say the mountian is roaring again. The goverment is trying now to evacuate people. They say it is starting to smell there because of the burried bodies, body parts, and animals under the mud. They are worried about all of this now getting into the water and going down the mountain to other villages.
Can you imagine? If you are an American, no you can't imagine. We have been so blessed! When have we ever gone through such a tragedy that all of your friends and family, your home, and work where destoryed and taken from you in one night? Talk about sad. My heart just aches for these people. Not to mention Haiti and Chile. We have a lot to pray about! Pray with us for the people mourning and homeless from the mudslide. Pray also for safty and help.
Can you imagine? If you are an American, no you can't imagine. We have been so blessed! When have we ever gone through such a tragedy that all of your friends and family, your home, and work where destoryed and taken from you in one night? Talk about sad. My heart just aches for these people. Not to mention Haiti and Chile. We have a lot to pray about! Pray with us for the people mourning and homeless from the mudslide. Pray also for safty and help.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Update of this and that
February 11, 2010
Last week we went to Kampala to pick up our new one year teammates, Bobbi and Rachel Kolb. It has been really hot here (dry season) so our family planned to stay in Jinja and swim in the pool on the way into Kampala. The night before Josh prayed for a nice sunny day and I laughed at him for thinking it wouldn’t be sunny since we were in the mist of the hottest time of year. Of course God needed to humble me. We got to Jinja and it rained. We ate lunch there hoping it would pass over but it didn’t. Our girls were bummed – we all were. We decided to go on to Kampala and hope for a sunny day to swim there tomorrow. No such luck. It was cloudy and rainy our whole time away. I couldn’t believe it. We had been so hot for weeks and now when we could have a break and swim it rained. Oh well, the rain and clouds were an unexpected treat too I guess.
Kolbs arrived Friday night and we have been busy orientating them since. They seem to be great people and a good fit for the ministry here. We have enjoyed having them already. Rachel is a teacher and has already been wonderful with the kids. Luka seems to like Bobbi too. It is nice to have new friends.
Luka is walking everywhere now. So cute to see him waddle around. He loves shoes now. He came up to us and “asks” us to put them on or just carries them around. He also loves books! He will sit on the rocking chair and look at them or “read” them. Every night he is excited to read together.
Feb. 19
Too busy to write lately I guess -- just keeping up with life around here. Seems there is always something to distract us. We feel like attacks and discouragements continue to come. Amazing how many ways the devil can come up with to frustrate you. We have had a lot of broken things around here (van, fans, internet, generator, and relational issues with the stolen money, and now our landlord wants to raise our rent even though he signed a contract…!) But we keep praying knowing we will get through this. We are so thankful God is with us and we are all healthy and safe.
Lydia and Grace went to a friend’s birthday party last Saturday. They were the only white kids among a dozen Ugandan kids. I was so proud of them. They thought nothing of it and joined right in. They had a great time too. It was a really nice group of kids. They played of fun games and had lots of treats. At night we celebrated Valentines Day with some other friends. The girls made decorations and of course we had good food and games. Always fun to find a reason to get together and celebrate.
I have been teaching Lydia and Grace for about an hour a day just to keep Lydia refreshed until she gets a teacher and starts second grade. Grace is doing really well too. She now knows how to write number and letters. She even started to add and subtract this week.
Feb. 19
Last night Josh and I watched Flywheel the first movie made by Sherwood Baptist Church (also made Fireproof and Facing the Giants). I just love these movies! First I need to say to all of you movie buffs that think these movies are too unprofessional and low budget and don’t like them because of it, you are missing the message. Too many movie buffs would rather see a “professional” movie and compromise your morals instead of watching a movie that will help you and others grow closer to the Lord. So tell me which is better?
Okay so the movie was really good (yes you have to just get beyond the low budget and see what God wants to teach you). I highly recommend this one and the others. There are the movies that people should see in our homes. The stories and message are so real and fitting for our culture and church. In the movie I was struck by the difference in their marriage (and in fireproof) before he lived for God and after. It is so true. When Jesus is first place in your life you are not. You put others, your spouse, before you. Communication with his wife before Jesus didn’t happen and when it did it was anger, but after knowing Christ there was openness and love. It is beautiful. When someone truly comes to Christ their whole life is changed. Anyways, I won’t give it all away but just wanted to recommend it. May God use it to work in many lives, marriages, families, and in His church.
Feb. 22
I found out about another sad story from Amecet. A three year old boy came to them in December because his father was using him in satanic rituals maybe even attempted sacrifice. He came with a swollen body, cuts and wounds, and completely frightened. I hate hearing about this – knowing this. What do we do with all the evil and injustice? God how can any one be so wicked. An innocent, precious little child God! I can’t help but think that that would be like one of my children. It is the unthinkable. The saddest thing is the father was only in jail three days and now they are saying he can have the child back. God no!!! I saw this precious child last night at Amecet. He is so cute – playing and smiling with all the other kids. I held his hand and just wanted him to know God loves him. We have to pray for him! I simply can’t handle the thought of this child having to go back to his father. Please pray!
As I was thinking and mourning over all this last night, God brought a few chapters in the Bible to help me deal with it. Psalm 58, 35 and 2 Peter 2 all spoke to me about deep desire for justice and punishment for the wicked. God loves justice and hates evil. Even though it seems evil is winning we know God is coming to judge. We must continue to hope in the victory we have in Him. Without Him we would be hopeless. Even living in a corrupt, evil, unjust world we have peace knowing our Father is the Judge.
Last week we went to Kampala to pick up our new one year teammates, Bobbi and Rachel Kolb. It has been really hot here (dry season) so our family planned to stay in Jinja and swim in the pool on the way into Kampala. The night before Josh prayed for a nice sunny day and I laughed at him for thinking it wouldn’t be sunny since we were in the mist of the hottest time of year. Of course God needed to humble me. We got to Jinja and it rained. We ate lunch there hoping it would pass over but it didn’t. Our girls were bummed – we all were. We decided to go on to Kampala and hope for a sunny day to swim there tomorrow. No such luck. It was cloudy and rainy our whole time away. I couldn’t believe it. We had been so hot for weeks and now when we could have a break and swim it rained. Oh well, the rain and clouds were an unexpected treat too I guess.
Kolbs arrived Friday night and we have been busy orientating them since. They seem to be great people and a good fit for the ministry here. We have enjoyed having them already. Rachel is a teacher and has already been wonderful with the kids. Luka seems to like Bobbi too. It is nice to have new friends.
Luka is walking everywhere now. So cute to see him waddle around. He loves shoes now. He came up to us and “asks” us to put them on or just carries them around. He also loves books! He will sit on the rocking chair and look at them or “read” them. Every night he is excited to read together.
Feb. 19
Too busy to write lately I guess -- just keeping up with life around here. Seems there is always something to distract us. We feel like attacks and discouragements continue to come. Amazing how many ways the devil can come up with to frustrate you. We have had a lot of broken things around here (van, fans, internet, generator, and relational issues with the stolen money, and now our landlord wants to raise our rent even though he signed a contract…!) But we keep praying knowing we will get through this. We are so thankful God is with us and we are all healthy and safe.
Lydia and Grace went to a friend’s birthday party last Saturday. They were the only white kids among a dozen Ugandan kids. I was so proud of them. They thought nothing of it and joined right in. They had a great time too. It was a really nice group of kids. They played of fun games and had lots of treats. At night we celebrated Valentines Day with some other friends. The girls made decorations and of course we had good food and games. Always fun to find a reason to get together and celebrate.
I have been teaching Lydia and Grace for about an hour a day just to keep Lydia refreshed until she gets a teacher and starts second grade. Grace is doing really well too. She now knows how to write number and letters. She even started to add and subtract this week.
Feb. 19
Last night Josh and I watched Flywheel the first movie made by Sherwood Baptist Church (also made Fireproof and Facing the Giants). I just love these movies! First I need to say to all of you movie buffs that think these movies are too unprofessional and low budget and don’t like them because of it, you are missing the message. Too many movie buffs would rather see a “professional” movie and compromise your morals instead of watching a movie that will help you and others grow closer to the Lord. So tell me which is better?
Okay so the movie was really good (yes you have to just get beyond the low budget and see what God wants to teach you). I highly recommend this one and the others. There are the movies that people should see in our homes. The stories and message are so real and fitting for our culture and church. In the movie I was struck by the difference in their marriage (and in fireproof) before he lived for God and after. It is so true. When Jesus is first place in your life you are not. You put others, your spouse, before you. Communication with his wife before Jesus didn’t happen and when it did it was anger, but after knowing Christ there was openness and love. It is beautiful. When someone truly comes to Christ their whole life is changed. Anyways, I won’t give it all away but just wanted to recommend it. May God use it to work in many lives, marriages, families, and in His church.
Feb. 22
I found out about another sad story from Amecet. A three year old boy came to them in December because his father was using him in satanic rituals maybe even attempted sacrifice. He came with a swollen body, cuts and wounds, and completely frightened. I hate hearing about this – knowing this. What do we do with all the evil and injustice? God how can any one be so wicked. An innocent, precious little child God! I can’t help but think that that would be like one of my children. It is the unthinkable. The saddest thing is the father was only in jail three days and now they are saying he can have the child back. God no!!! I saw this precious child last night at Amecet. He is so cute – playing and smiling with all the other kids. I held his hand and just wanted him to know God loves him. We have to pray for him! I simply can’t handle the thought of this child having to go back to his father. Please pray!
As I was thinking and mourning over all this last night, God brought a few chapters in the Bible to help me deal with it. Psalm 58, 35 and 2 Peter 2 all spoke to me about deep desire for justice and punishment for the wicked. God loves justice and hates evil. Even though it seems evil is winning we know God is coming to judge. We must continue to hope in the victory we have in Him. Without Him we would be hopeless. Even living in a corrupt, evil, unjust world we have peace knowing our Father is the Judge.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Jan. 2010 (112 photos), by Mandy Shaarda
I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos
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