Shaarda's Story - It's God's Story!: August 2022

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.