Wow, Back in Uganda!

March 15, 2013

Hi everyone!  It has been a very busy few weeks.  I have been longing to write all we have gone through and all our emotions but there just isn't any opprotunity.  Right now I am taking a break from unpacking and taking advantage of Malai sleeping to finally get typing (or should I call it processing).  So here we go...

We are back in Uganda.  This bring a lot of different feelings.  But let me start further back than that.  I will never be able to explain to some of you what it is like to move so much.  There is so much organization and work involved in packing up and emptying out a house after living there five months with a family of six.  I was so done with making decisions, giving away, throwing out, weighing boxes...    Many people offered to help but so much we just have to do.  It is all the more intresting packing up with a new born who needs you and one who was recovering from RSV and an ear infection.  Thankfully through prayer God keep my mind and spirit peaceful. Somehow everything always gets done.

I think it was harder leaving again this time (it is always hard to say goodbye but some more than others).  We really enjoyed our five months in Michigan.  We were involved at our new church, Georgetown CRC, and were fed and blessed there.  We made new, unexpected friendships and felt loved.  Taking a baby back also makes it harder too.  She is so small and we are the ones to protect her and care for her.  And taking her from her grandparents breaks my heart.  She will grow and change so much before they will hold her again.  I am so thankful our kids were excited to go back home.  To hear them call Uganda home is amazing to me.  Above all we still know God wants us in Uganda.  And where He wants us, I want to be!  So everytime fear or a negative emotions would entered my mind I would give it to God and pray.  I can trust Him. 

Goodbyes are not fun.  Our last Sunday I sat in church crying thinking this is when faith becomes action.  Everything in my human nature wanted to stay in this wonderful, comfortable, easy, beautiful...place.  But was I willing to give it all up, trust Jesus, and go?  Was my faith what I say it is.  Would I trust He is good, He is our protector, provider, truth, all powerful, Healer...?  Yes I will Jesus!  I will go again because You are who You say You are!  I want to be a living testimony that Jesus is real and He can be trusted.  Later that day when we said goodbye to Josh's parents and Luka  was holding onto his grandpa's leg, Malai was in grandma's arms it just plain hurt again.  And again my faith needed to become action.  Do I believe Jesus' words that He will never leave me and will give us so much more when we leave everything we love for Him?  I beleive Jesus...and so we go.

The last few years we have learned it is nice to go down to Chicago the day before we fly so we have a fun day to look forward to.  This year we went with my partents to Shedd's aquarium.  We had so much fun looking at all the beautiful, weird, and amazing fish.  God is so big!  We stayed at a hotel and enjoyed the pool and some good American food before we left.   I appreciated the snow storm we left in before arriving into the African sunshine. 

Everything about our travel went great.  The whole way I would think of everyone praying for us and know God answers prayers.  We prayed with my parents at the airport before telling them goodbye.  They are coming to Uganda in 6 weeks so at least in our tears we had that to look forward to.  At this point Grace finally got really sad.  (Boy does that make it hard for the grandparents.)  But once we were on our way it was ok.  The kids did awesome!  Even Malai.  Honestly she did not cry on all 16 hours of flying.  Our kids think it is so fun to fly so why not enjoy it.  After a day of being messed up on when to sleep, eat or be awake it is good to arrive.  There was a moment of stress when our vehical wasn't there as planned and we had a hire two taxi's to take our family, carry-ons and 16 peices of luggage.  (It is amazing what they can put in a car!)  But finally at 1:30am we were able to stretch out on our beds at the guesthouse and sleep.  Thank you God!

Remember that snowstorm?  While our first day in Uganda was 102degrees!  We were so hot.  It is hard to stay possivtive your first days back in country.  We were jet lagged, hot, out of sorts, and not thrilled with the stresses of the culture.  Thankfully Sliedrechts were also in town and we were able to enjoy a couple days with them.  Our kids were so happy to be back together.  It did make the transition easier.  We took it easy and even enjoyed a pool day with our kids.  (Felt so bad when the kids got really burnt even with sunscreen!)

Then we went to our team retreat.  It was a bit overwhelming coming back to the team this way but it was a wonderful time that God used.  Our speaker spoke on soul care and it was just in time for the team.  God did His thing and I love that.  His presence makes me cry.  It is a beautiful thing.  The kids were blessed too with their program and we all enjoyed the fellowship and play time together.  I do love our team.  Everyone knows it comes with the good and the bad but it makes us closer and causes us to grow.  Josh and I look forward to reconnecting with everyone and to be used by God to be a blessing on this team.

After 12 day of living out of bags and traveling we were so ready to be home in Soroti.  It was a long 7 hour drive but we made it.  Malai was really out of sorts and cried like she has never cried before.  She has been fussy since then but seems to finally be back to herself.  The other kids literally cheered when they arrived in Soroti and love everything.  They are so glad to be here and are loving what feel like their new toys they left five months ago.  Me, I didn't cheer when we arrived but I didn't cry either.  It is just hard.  I am so thankful for our friends and team who make it so much easier with cleaming our house and meals.  But coming from America everything seems not so nice, dirty, I don't feel pretty, it is too hot, things need fixing, employees need to be delt  with, my baby is fearful of most people and sick of the bumpy roads and heat, there is unpacking and sorting everywhere, I have forgotten how to cook here...  But I know this feeling and I know to rememind myself everyday will get better.  And it has.  Yes, we are in a third world country and it is hard to live here sometimes but I also have a nice house, fans, helpful husband, great kids, a team and friends, food, people praying for us...  I am SO blessed!  It is overwhelming coming back this time, maybe because we have a new baby, but all in all we are doing well and are thankful it is becoming home again. 

Everyone is thrilled to meet Emalai -- and to have us back.  It is so good to be loved and appreciated.  We caught the end of church in Obulle Sunday so we could say hi to everyone.  (It is going to be rough having a baby in a two hour long, hot service but we will survive.)  Tomorrow they are welcoming us back in the service and having lunch for us.  Lydia can't wait for pork and posho!  It was good to see everyone and to know they missed us too.  Other than unpacking we have been visiting with all of our friends and team this week.  It brings a lot of comfort.  It will be a little while before we are back into routine and doing ministry.  We hope to focus on our team and settleing in for now.  Josh is eager to get back teaching and being in the village but he knows it will come. 

Thanks for all your prayers!!!  I wish I could share every little detail and emotion but that would simply bore you.  God has done so much and I praise Him!  Will you continue to pray for us as we adjust, for Malai to feel well through all of this, for our team to continue to seek Christ, for spiritual protection from satan's attachs to discourage all of us, strength in the heat (thank God for rains a few times already!), for peace, and for our washer to be fixed :).  Thanks everyone.  We miss you.

One more super, awsome thing.  Our first Sunday back Lydia woke up and told us she had a dream and God told her she was going to be a missionary in Mongolia.  She said even if it means she would die she was going.  We asked if she knew where Mongolia was she said she didn't know anything about Mongolia.  I decided that will be our first geography and social studies project.  We are so excited to see Lydia's faith grow!  God spoke and she is ready to obey.  What a testimony for all of us.  I do have admit I had my first worries for my daughter going on the mission feild.  I know some day we will be sending off our kids with heavy hearts.  It is hard but so worth it.  Lydia loves her Lord and wants to share Him!  Can't wait to see what God does with Lydia's dream.

Mandy 

Goodbyes

Kids at the Team Beyond retreat

Malai stayed with us in the meetings

Team prayer

Team Beyond kids!

Grace with Malai and Lydia with her cousin Eliana

The Obulle Community team

Team Beyond

Our family at the retreat on Lake Victoria



Malai's first Sunday in Obulle!

Prayers for healthy flying

Hi everyone,

We are so thankful we can write to you and know so many of you are praying.  Last night (Monday) Luka got a fever and hasn't been feeling well.  He has been so good and such a trooper all day.  He went to bed early with a 101 fever.  We have been praying over our son often.  We know God is able to heal his body before we fly tomorrow.  The girls too are very congested and so we are praying everyone is feeling well for the flight.  It is all too often that we have sick kids when we fly.  Discouragement and attacks from the enemy I am sure but this is where faith takes action.  We know our God is all powerful and in control. 

We were thankful for a good trip to Chicago.  The snow storm started when we arrived.  We enjoyed a fun day with Grandpa and Grandma Beute who brought us to Chicago.

Thanks again for praying for us all the way to Uganda!

Mandy and family  

Prayers for Malai

Feb. 16

Dear friends and family,

Emalai got her second cold a week ago and it continued to get worse all week. Yesterday she struggled to breathe so we took her in to the doctor where we found out she has brocialitis (spelling?). They tried a breathing treatment but it did not help. Her oxygen is a little low, she is breathing rapidly, and has a lot of congession and coughs. There is no treatment but if she gets worse will be in the hospital and put on oxogen. The next few days she will either get better or worse. We were suppose to go to Mc Bain this weekend but the doctor told us not to be that far from the hospital. So Malai and I stayed back and are staying at my parents house. Josh and the kids went up North but Lydia was quite nervous knowing her baby sister was so sick.

Malai had a rough night trying to breath but we are thankful for every smile she gives us. Pray for her. We know God is the healer of her body. He has the power to clear those breathing tubes and give her each breathe. Pray that we know if or when it is time to take her to the hospital. I also had a syst removed from my hand yesterday and have it all bandaged up for a week which makes comforting Malai a little tricky. We leave for Uganda in 10 days so we need extra prayers for all to get done and Malai to get well before we go.

Thank you everyone for praying with us for our precious Emalai. I will let you know if anything changes

Feb. 17
Thank you friends for praying with us for Emalai! (see below) I know God hears and is bringing healing to her little body. Last night was much better than Friday and seems Malai is able to breathe with less effort and sleep with more peace. You can still hear the sickness in her breathing and her coughing but she has not gotten worse. Keep praying for full healing. Thank you too for your prayers for the whole family with so much going on in our last days here. We are so thankful for the body of Christ!

Mandy

Emalai's Baptism

Emalai was baptized on Feb. 10 at Georgetown CRC

Grandpa & Grandma Shaarda

Shaarda Family



Grandpa & Grandma Beute







Dad's prayer for Malai

Pastor Jack's blessing over Malai



Aunt Amanda

Grandma and Aunt Jenna

Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Sonja, Eli, and Emma



Aunt Katie





Thank God for Malai!

Sex Slavery

January 31, 2013

Wow, being a new mother must take a lot of my time cause it has been a long time since I have been able to sit down and type! I would love to fill you in on what has been happening in our family of 6 now and all my emotions J , but that will have to wait till next time cause I have something else on my heart.

Last night at church a young lady shared about her work with YWAM saving children from the sex slavery industry. We all know to some level that child prostitution is happening but I don’t think many of us know the reality and depth of this evil. I wish you were all there to hear her stories and see the faces of the children she worked with. My mind and heart cannot wrap around all that is happening to children as young as 5 years old! I think a lot of us would rather not hear or know because it does cause us to grieve, to feel, to cry, to get angry, to be frustrated, to question… Like me, we look at our own kids and shake our heads thinking how can any human do such an evil thing? But we must know and feel so we are moved to pray and respond.

The first experience she shared was when she was walking down the street and saw window after window with little kids in them barely dressed. As she stood there looking at the motionless kids a man handed her a menu. She thought that was odd then read, “dark, light, brown, black…5, 6, 7 or 8...” Then she realized it wasn’t a food menu. She told of a 3 year old boy who was abused and they rescued in the village. His hands were in tight fists for months because of the hand cuffs and trauma he went through. But today he is 4 years old and is able to give high five once again. She explained how families are selling their daughters for money out of sheer poverty. She taught English to about 10 girls who were all rescued. All of the girls are 15 or younger and all mothers or pregnant. What seems unbelievable is the norm for girls in this country.

She also told of the hope in the mist of such sin. About a girl saying the best day of her life was when she learned Jesus still loved her. The smiles on the girls faces spoke of joy that only Jesus can bring after such trauma. For these girls to receive love and love is a testimony of God’s healing power. The time and love the many other worker poured into these girls build trust. Through them many girls learned there is a God who loves them.

Then I think of all the women and children I know and see in Uganda. The abuse, abandonment, and even slavery. Why haven’t I done more, felt more, or prayed more? There are people right around me who need me to love them, protect them, and pray for them. I need to have Jesus eyes, His mercy, and His hands. Show me Lord where, who, what and how you want to use me.

So what do I do with all this? This morning I poured it out before the Lord in prayer. Crying out before my Father on behalf of the children. Allowing my heart to break as His does for each child being sold, abused, beaten, impregnated…each child that is afraid, alone, hurt, crying, and those who have stopped crying. I hate evil! As the lady who spoke reminded us the pimps and people who come for the sexual serves are also in need of Jesus. They are broken people too in search of filling a hole with an addiction. As I prayed this morning I marveled at God’s mercy to wait to come back because He desires that all be saved - even men involved in sex slavery.

We need to cry out for forgiveness. Come Lord and bring repentance to each person enslaving these children, every person using and abusing these children, each family selling their kids, each nation allowing such evils to happen, every leader not putting a stop to illegal practices, each person viewing pornography, and to every one of us who remains complacent, selfish, or silent. We need to change our ways. When we care more about our material possessions than about people we sin. When we spend more on temporary pleasures than on things God cares about we sin. We need to change! We need to pray that our nation and countries around the world rid themselves from sin. Pray for leaders hearts are moved to protect children. Pray for an end to pornography, sex slavery, abuse, misuse and control of women, abandonment… Pray for healing, peace, salvation, protection, and even joy for those hurt by the sin of this world. Raise up Your church God to hear, know, pray, obey, and be Your love. Open our hearts and minds to stand for truth and be used by You. We cry out to You Lord God! You are our only hope in this sinful world. Your word promises that You are able, in control, loving, You save, heal, bring justice, and are full of mercy. I believe you so I will trust in You.  

So lets ask God what He wants us to do for children and women around the world who are hurting. Let’s Christ’s love and invest into His kingdom.

Welcome Malai!

Make your own free photo slideshow

Emalai Carolynn

Malai & Mommy

The new Shaarda Family photo

Luka likes his sister now!  

Malai is now 8lbs and doing very well

Aunt Jenna and Malai - Malai is so strong already

Welcome Home Malai!

Malai's middle name is Carolynn after grandma Shaarda and my and grandma Beute's middle name

First bath at home