We have now been Obule for one month. We are still adjusting and settling in, but a month does make a big difference. Not sure what to say, there is so much to say. Adjusting has been a mix of about every emotion. We continue to be overwhelmed by all that needs to be done and the time and energy it takes to get things done (what's needed isn't here, people to say they can fix it or will come but don't, money to do it). I'm amazed again at the work it takes to live here. On top of it all we continued to deal with sickness. Everyone in the family is processing the change differently. Ahh... We are weary.
One moment or day I am low and discouraged and the next I am so thankful to be living here that my heart is rejoicing. Confusing.
Our kids are happy to be here yet also grieving the losses. They left friends, school to go to, sports to be a part of, freedom to drive, their youth group, job, entertaining places to go...they are bored. I have realized quickly that bringing teenagers back to the village is different than young children. They don't hate it here and they don't want to go to Michigan without us, they are just grieving the change. One child is having the hardest time and I can't take the pain away. It's real. Lydia and Emalai seem to love it here the most. It is great to see. I am so proud of my kids getting involved and being with their friends here. They go to choir on Saturday, sing in church, and visit people with their friends.
Makai is also adjusting. The first couple weeks were rough but he is doing better now. It is sad when we hear him say, "I sad. I want to go home." Then we say this is our new home. And he says, "Not this home, Makai's house. Please go Makai's house!" He also asked to go on an airplane and tells us it make him happy to go on an airplane. He can't understand. It is a lot of change. He finds great comfort in his blanket and pacie right now. Makai loves our neighbor Johnathan who always picks him up. Makai always wants to pray for Johnathan (Dolphin) and his son Steven (Steepin). Makai also calls most people "friends" and he learned to greet them in Ateso (Yoga!). So cute! Makai did not like church the first couple weeks. He said it was too loud and told people to stop and be quiet. And Makai has no sit in him so a three hour service is not his thing. Thankfully the last two weeks he has done better - just covers his ears. :)
One morning Luka woke up and went to the bathroom and fainted! He was the whitest I have ever seen anyone. We got him juice and eventually he could sit up. Thankfully he was fine the rest of the day and even up until now. Scared us though. I have been sick twice, Makai had a horrible two week cold, and the girls each had a one day stomach bug. The hard ones are the on-going, no-answers ones. Luka's throat keeps swelling up, is terribly red, and painful. Between these flare ups and his snoring I really think he needs his tonsils out. Oh man, we were just in MI for two years and now we realize! And then there is Grace. The poor girl gets sick every time she eats. She has had this stomach issue for a while. We worked with her pediatrician and then a gastrologist trying different meds. Nothing worked and actually it seemed to just get worse. After a year of getting nowhere with answers, I began to think it maybe her gallbladder. At 20 years old I had mine out because it was diseased and the only symptom was that I felt sick whenever I ate. The week before we left for Uganda they did an ultra sound but it showed nothing. Now we have to watch our daughter stop eating every meal because she feels sick. The only thing that gives her some relief is sucking on peppermints. I don't want her to live in nausea. We need to push for tests and answers, but how, when, where? I don't want to even think about leaving after just arriving. I am now praying for a miracle of healing from God! Sometimes I hate having no trustworthy medical care and I can really become fearful, but other times I know it has taught me so much. The only one trustworthy, the only healer, the one who made us is God! And He is with us! Join me in praying for healing.
Josh has juggling the needs of the house and our family with ministry here - that is a hard job! So much falls on him and he has done a great job. He is our rock. It has been stressful but he is taking good care of us. He really enjoyed his teaching times already. It is appreciated too. This week he will teach a three day course on how to teach God's Word.
One of the things Josh has been working on is internet. What we used to use was so sporadic and unreliable. We are counting on internet for homeschooling and work. Josh met a man who puts up boosters (get a better signal), but after a lot of time and money it seemed to not help. So then he got us a satellite internet - more time and a lot more money. The good news is it works! We are so thankful.
The other big things were our water tanks (wrote about it below with the pictures) and our solar fridge didn't work when we got back. We had to send the solar fridge to Kampala (7 hours away) to be looked at. After weeks they finally said the whole system needs to be replaced or buy a new one. Ug... I am thankful it is finally being fixed now and that we have a second solar freezor that we changed the temp to make it a fridge for now. I know I am spoiled but I sure miss having a freezor. We make lots of runs into town and long for ice cubes in our ice coffee. :)
We somewhat began school. Grace is a Senior, Luka 8th grade, and Emalai 4th grade. Lydia with also do a few courses from Moody Bible Institute, but for now she is helping teach Emalai. It has been nothing but messy so far, mostly because of Makai. What do you do with a busy 2 year old when you have school? I have also been distracted so we are just getting something done each day. The kids are pros at this!
I want to be honest, I am surprised how few people have been in touch with us. I left so loved and made good friends in Michigan, so I feel a little forgotten. I admit we kinda fell off the planet! But Whats App is really easy and internet now works again. In all honesty, I also don't like communicating back. It is too hard to keep up with two worlds and two groups of friends. And it can hurt hearing about life there. I am such a mix bag in so many ways!!! Sorry. I know people are praying for us and care, but my feeling don't always line up with that. Anyways, my number is +256 702412587 that is my Whats App too.
Although I am struggling, I really do love my home and life in the village (could do without the town, city and travel, but I also need the supplies they have). Right now I sit in our cute classroom, as the day cools, listening to my kids play soccer outside with all their friends. It is a simple life, with simple joys. They people here are my blessing. I can compare my life to America and think about all I lack and miss, or I can compare to those around me here and I have abundantly more than everyone. These are hard realities. A wrestling. Hard. Thankful, humbled, yet selfish and complain. Lord continue to teach me. Let these people teach me. May love cover over a multitude of sin - my sin. May they see and feel our love and yours.
Enough for now. Till next update...
Every evening the kids enjoy playing together.
Playing ball outside feels normal - except for the watchers :)
After a good first rain, the white ants come out and they are collected to fry and eat. Our kids had fun helping our watchman collect them.
Luka and Makai got a bunkbed. Makai does so well sleeping in it!
Visiting. Part of village life.
Josh got the bikes up and working again. Makai loves his bike seat!
Back to daily life here. Helping and visiting friends at the borehole.
It is so good to be with friends again and play games together.
Makai loves our neighbor's dog and the dog loves him. (The closest thing to having a pet and even better cause it just comes to visit!)
This is Denis. He lives with our neighbor Charles because his parents are in prison. Charles teaches each week in the prison. Denis has a bother who is with another FIC teacher. I am so thankful for our FIC teachers who truly love the the people they teach.
We learned our water tanks where quite dirty from the rain gutters having years of leave decomposing in them. So we went to work emptying the tank, washing the inside (thank you, Sam!), and hiring people to fill the tank from the borehole. I am always humbled by it all and VERY THANKFUL!
A lot of work but they love the money.
Luka is learning how to drive Josh's motorcycle. He loves it!
Josh has already begun ministry. He has taught, gone to the prison, met with the FIC teachers and attended one of their teachings. Good to be back into the work he loves.
Day of prayer with our FIC teachers. (23 now I believe.) I sat listening to everyone's reports amazed at how God has multiplied this ministry. I really believe God has gone deeper and is now going wider with FIC Uganda.
Our teens helping bring over some of the food our neighbor cooked for the FIC teaching.
Michael, Josh and Charles are the core leaders of FIC in Uganda. They are passionate about FIC because their lives were transformed by it. Michael and Charles have faithfully taught on the radio, prison and other villages for years (most once a week). They have been leaders and kept the ministry going while we were away.
Some of the FIC teachers/leaders. So thankful for them!
Mary helps me in the house - love her! She keeps me afloat, she is gentle and sweet, and makes great tortillas and english muffins!
Josh buying rolexes (egg rolled up in a chapati).
Driving to town.
I missed a couple church services because of Makai or because I was sick. When I finally got to it was SO good to be back! I love the active worship, joy filled singing, giving testimonies, and introducing the visitors. I really missed being a part of an active church family.
We celebrated Lydia's 19th birthday! We love you, Lydia, and are super thankful for you!
We have now been back in our home in Obule, Uganda for one week - and I finally have a minute (and internet) to update you and process. Hard to know where to begin. I will let pictures describe some of it (if internet works well enough). Leaving Michigan went well all in all. It was hard to see my kids say their goodbyes. It hurts to see others hurt. I couldn't take away their pain, actually, I felt I was causing it. Luka's school gave him a goodbye party including making shirts with Luka on them. They gave powerful testimony to how much Luka meant to everyone and the leadership, realness and kindness he shared. It was very touching and he will be missed. Grace and Luka's youth group also threw a goodbye party but that wasn't enough so many of them continued to meet up until we left. Emalai was heartbroken to say goodbye to her best friend, so she called her every day till we left. Grace spent every last minute with her friends and it became very hard to let go. There is no easy way to do this.
I felt quite numb. I hope it was an answer to prayer for peace. I prayed a lot that the goodbyes would be sweet and we would receive it all. The goodbyes to our families felt serial. It wasn't a big deal really, just goodbye. Not sure why. Packing went quite well considering we had to pack up, sort or give away a house full of 7 people from the last 2 1/2 years. I was grateful the three oldest can do a lot of their own now. I don't know how to avoid it but the last two days are always stressful. So many last things. Where do we put this? Will it all fit? Did you do this? I hate stuff! Of course on top of it all several of us became sick. Really, can we handle this? Luka was down in bed shaking with fever, Makai had a cold and I felt yucky with laryngitis or something. We sent out "pray for us" text and emails in our time of need. The day we were to fly we all went to get our covid tests not knowing what the results would be. We were so thankful we were all negative for covid, and Luka no longer felt sick. Answers to prayer!
We scrambled to do the last things, said a hard goodbye to our neighbor Mary and my Mom and Achia, then loaded the vehicles to leave. The moment had finally come. We were leaving. I had said for a month, I'm just glad I don't have to leave today, but now it was finally reality. My dad was with us in one sad vehicle and Grace and Luka were in the other vehicle with her friend and her mom. It was a long, busy post forth of July trip to Chicago. Makai decided he hated it halfway there. Oh how fun is this. We weren't able to stop for supper before the airport so that was a disappointment. Grace said goodbye to her friend after we unloaded all 17 pieces of luggage, plus carry-ons, and a stroller. Her friends was so sad. Grace held it together but I know it hurt worse than ever inside. I hate this... So our emotions are all over, the airport is always stressful and we have an upset 2 year old. So not fun! The airport was packed! I mean they ran out of food - does that happen in America?!? But we made it through check in and had to say one last goodbye to my dad. Oh how many times have we done this to our dear parents? All the tears, letting go, trusting, supporting... I am so thankful my family goes with me but for our parents they have to continually let go. I get to watch Makai grow and be a part of his changing, but they have to sacrifice because of our calling. I hope they know we realize their sacrifice and some day soon will probably experience what they go through ourselves.
One last hug and wave goodbye then we walked to security to leave.
Our travels went really well all in all. Makai did great, the kids were excited to fly again, and we all slept quite well on our 13 1/2 hour flight. We arrived in Dubai at night and it was 100 degrees. I don't know how anyone can live in the middle of the desert. But it was nice to have a hotel, shower, sleep and enjoy a supper and breakfast buffet. Makai was up for two hours in the night (Michigan daytime) but we survived. Our 5 hour flight to Uganda seemed short but it took 2 1/2 before we were out of the airport. Welcome to Uganda. Makai was a basket case, we were tired, and it felt like chaos around us. Josh and I try to not get stress through everything but we have our moments and honestly the kids usually do better than I do. I am so proud of them. They certainly feel our stress and want to help in any way to keep us from being stressed. We made it to our guesthouse, which was nice praise the Lord, and our missionary friends were there to welcome us. What a blessing to not feel so lonely when you arrive! We had supper together, ran into a store and by then our family needed their beds.
The next morning was our last leg of the journey. None of us felt like traveling or flying again, but we did want to get home and settle somewhere. I was overwhelmed by city life in Uganda. So much dirt, so many people, poverty, such chaos... At that moment I hated it. It all seemed so wrong. I wanted to question why we were here but I knew God said it is time and I knew every day would feel better. We took a 12 seater MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) plane a short hour flight up to Soroti. All went well until we decended and Luka's and my ears plugged from pressure and hurt so bad. I was beside myself but glad it wasn't Makai. Our ears didn't unplug for days.
This was the moment we had been waiting for. The welcome home from all our friends in Obule. We didn't know how to prepare for it and there were butterflies in our stomachs. In the past we had a big welcome, but this time it was way beyond our expectations! As we approached our road we could see literally hundreds of people, banners, and hear cheering. We opened our van windows to hear singing and shouting and receive hand shakes. But that wasn't enough; they wanted us out of the van to join their parade. I am telling you there were hundreds of people - our church, neighbors, the school and Freedom in Christ teachers. It was a celebration like none other. I exited the van to be enveloped with hugs from all my friends. Then they picked me up and the parade walked down our road toward our house. Our kids were also mobbed with hugs as they got out and then picked up as the honored guests in the parade. Makai remained in the safety of the van with Josh. I can't imagine what he was thinking. We tried to capture some of this on video and with pictures but can you really capture something so amazing?! As the parade approached our house I could see a tent and loud speakers in our yard, a real African party. I was blown away! Never has this happened before. Our yard was full of people who loved us and were so happy we came back. I gave tons of hugs and tried to greet my friends my laryngitis would allow and tired to hear them with my plugged ear. It was overwhelming, incredible and humbling all at the same time. We were exhausted but we had to receive this moment, these friends that waited over two years for us to come back. We felt incredibly loved.
They had our family sit in the head chairs as the MC announced the program. Thankfully, they said many times that they knew we were tired and would keep things short - and they did. We were welcomed with songs from the school, from church, and greetings from FIC. There were leaders/co-workers from as far as an hour away there to welcome us back home. After they shared, Josh and I also said something and then food was served. After eating we were able to greet people again. It was so good to see everyone again. They were so happy we were back. God had answered their prayers. Slowly people began to leave, we unpacked our van, looked at our house (it still looked like home), and sat with leaders and friends who organized our welcome. It's good to be together again.
By the time the sun was setting we were alone as a family in our home. Wow. What a day. What a week. We were so tired. Overwhelmed by the thought of all that needed to be done to settling in. We made the beds, found fans, water, and went to sleep in our home in Obule. We made it.
It has been quite a first week here. So many emotions. We have had so much sickness that we can't really function well yet. Luka's got a really bad cold, then Makai got it, then me (again), and now Emalai too. We have all had fevers, sore throats, can't breath because of congestion... Makai has been the worst. He cannot breath at night because he is so stuffed up or has coughing fits. He is so miserable and out of sorts. On top of sick he had jet lag the first few nights. A couple hours each night he was awake. I am having all those familiar, not nice feelings of having no medical care you can trust to know what is wrong or what to do or if it got worse. I don't like it. Life is hard when so many of us are sick - and then trying to adjust. We are totally a mess.
Other than sick and jet lag, Makai is so cute here. He just acts like it is all normal. He loves people and goes up to anyone and says hi or sits by them. The whole trip he would ask, "What's that? What's this?" over and over again. The morning he woke up at our house he said, "My house. My friends." And he continues to say my friends when he sees anyone. He loves the chickens that wonder around and our neighbor's dogs. They people here say he is busy. :) The longer we are here and the few times he has seen family from Michigan, Makai seems to get more upset and out of sorts. So much for a two year old to adjust to!
The other kids are, well, doing ok. We have to remind ourselves it has only been a week. Lydia is positive and very helpful. She tends to want to keep it all together when things feel like they are falling apart. She seems to love being with the people again. Grace is struggling. She has changed and so living here is different. She is sad and missing her friends. She is bored in the village. She's a teenager now who has lived in America for two years. She's grieving. But she does like going into town, visiting neighbors and went to choir this week at church. It will take time, but yes it is different too. Luka is Luka. Flexible and good attitude, but also bored. His friends are all off at boarding school so he's lonely. Emalai seems to love it here. She has her old toys, friends, and can't wait to homeschool again. Josh and I, well we are just trying to keep ourselves and family afloat. Tired but ok.
The list of what needs to be done, restarted or fixed to live here again is long and overwhelming. It is not America. We needed new SIM cards for our phones (hours going to town getting everyone's, getting them to work), getting internet to work, our solar fridge works but not the freezer, needing to get all our groceries, clean out gutters so we can collect rain water (it hasn't rained much in what is suppose to be rainy season so pray for rain), do we still have a PO Box, the screens in our screen in porch have rusted out and terminates have got some of the wood... Soroti is the town nearest to us where we get everything and it is busier than ever. There are people everywhere, trucks and motorcycles, trash and dirt, and it all overwhelms me. I am always so glad to be home again. The good thing is the new restaurants in Soroti that have helped make my transition easier (granted you have to be ready to wait for your order). We have to relearn how we did things here like cooking (making everything you need from scratch), washing clothes (having to catch the water and reuse it), using wash water to flush toilets, putting water up to the tank everyday, heating water to have hot water... I find life is a lot of work here. I feel like I have been spoiled the last two years and became quite American. I miss ice! I just want convinces and pleasures. (I cannot find a box of Keelox in town - ok one we found the mice had found it first - we've been managing with hankies and toilet paper, but I found a Keelox from America in my purse today and almost cried when I felt how soft it was.) So every night at supper Josh had us each say one thing we are thankful for in the mist of all the transition. I loved hearing what everyone had to say. So simple, so thankful for each little, big thing.
What brings us encouragement right now is being with our friends here: going out to greet our neighbors and sitting with them or being at church with them. Our kids playing games with their kids again. Co-workers visiting us and updating us on the ministry with FIC. This is why we are here, the people. I also love quietness, the evening sunset and cooling, my windows open, hearing crickets and frogs as we go to sleep.
Ok on top of it being our first week in Uganda, our church had a leaders conference for three days at which Josh spoke at one day and my sister, brother-in-law, and family (Sliedrechts) came for the same three days. So we put settling in on pause so we could enjoy this time. Sliedrechts are in Uganda closing up their house and time here for now. This was a last time together kind of thing. :( It was so good and then so sad. Nothing is easy right now.
Wow, now I have given you the long awaited update you asked for. Not sure it does justice but that is all the time, emotional energy, physical wellness and internet capability I have right now. Thank for praying for us and we would appreciate your continued prayers. Hopefully next time I write we will be settled in - and loving it here.
Last time with G&G Shaarda
Luka's teachers put on a goodbye party for Luka
Tearful goodbyes to friends
Grateful for our neighbor Mary
Leaving
G&G Beute
Weigh lifting at the airport
Someone has to make us laugh - or crazy
Three airplane rides and almost 20 hours in the air
Overnight in Dubai
Our welcome back to Obule!
Carried as one of the honored guests of the parade
