Adjusting back to the Mission Field

Thank you everyone for praying for us as we traveled back to Uganda and for our adjustment back to life and ministry in Obule. I am so grateful everything went well and was even peace filled. My prayer coming back was that we'd feel at home again, everything was working at our house and that the heat wasn't too bad. Well...two out of three is pretty good. When we arrived in Uganda we stayed with our friends, and it was a huge comfort to our family. It felt so good to be back with our friends, wanted here, and their hospitality made it easy to rest. Our truck, new to us, worked great and the AC was wonderful! Such a blessing not to worry about breaking down or AC going off with each speed bump. On our way to our home in Obule, we stayed in Jinja to make the trip easy, continue to adjust to the time change, and get a few things. It was so nice to just relax before restarting life here.

Six days after starting our journey, we made it home to Obule. We were warmly welcomed by a small group of friends, neighbors and co-workers. The house looked great and the kids were excited to be home and see their things. But boy was it hot! Over the years we reminder ourselves, "Everyday will get better." So far it seems each day is hard work.

I am thankful everything was working in our home and no bug invasions or worse. However, restarting life here is a lot. We had to figure out internet, which ended up working very well this time without satellite. Our rainwater tanks were of course low with dry season and in need of a good clean. So a day of paying people to clean and fill the tank and that was ready to go. We restocked the house with food, unpacked the bags, sorted, cooked, greeted people, prepared to restart homeschooling...all in about 100-degree temperatures. I was tired, hot and grumpy.

The kids do better than I. Luka got right back into things with his friends (who, thank you Jesus, haven't left for boarding school yet). He weightlifts with them every afternoon and they play soccer down at the school with everyone. I am so thankful to hear Luka say he was happy to be back. Emalai and Makai enjoyed making their room together, playing with their old toys, and seeing their friends again. They don't complain about the heat which amazes me. Makai does however do life in just his shorts most day. They seem to just adjust. I hear them say, "My memories are here. I love it here" one moment and the next, "I miss Michigan. When can we go back?" It's a mix forsure. A transition.

We did come home to some discouragements. Our big, beautiful shade tree in the front yard also caught the tree disease and died. (I'm crying!!!) The goverment decided to make the "road" in front of our house a wider, marum road so everyone will loose their trees along the road. My trees! Our privacy and shade...I need them. And there was some sins and lying that made a mess of course and brought disappointment and discouragement to us and others. The enemy can quickly whisper, "Are you really making a difference? Is it worth it? They will never change."

Thanks be to God He is my truth!

In my devotions I read 2 Corinthians 2:1-11. Paul understood missionary life and the love for his people and the distress, anguish of heart and many tears that came with. It always comes back to forgiving and grace. Correction needs to be followed up with reaffirming your love.

And then, the snake. As we were preparing to return to Uganda Makai kept saying is there poisonous snakes there? I don't want to go it there are snakes there! He had several nightmares with snakes leading up to coming back too. We prayed with him and asked for God's protection and no snakes in our property. Well a few days after we arrived at dusk, I was in our porch and heard Emalai and Makai scream and take off running. Next thing I know the boys were killing a snake on our sidewalk by the porch door. I was SO thankful for the boys, Luka's friends! Once it was safe I ran out to find my traumatized kids. Emalai was crying and shaking. She did not want to sleep that night. We kept focusing on God protected us. I didn't think she'd go outside anymore, but thankfully she has been fine. Playing outside and trusting God. Makai did pretty well. I am not sure if he's putting on a front or if he really is cool with it all. He thinks it's awesome he saw a spitting cobra. Not me!!! This is when I have to choose not to fear. I have choose faith over fear. To trust God. To see that He kept us and will again. My friend said, "wow nothing like a literal picture of satan at your doorstep trying to get in." So true. He is really trying to discourage and make us think why are you here.

We began homeschool again. It's hard when it's 100degrees in the classroom. I do not feel like I have the gift of being a teacher. I feel so divided. I need to help Emalai, Makai needs to be taught, Makai wants us to play when he is done, I need to make meals from scratch, I want to communicate with friends, I want to update people, I should be a part of the community and ministry...and I really just want to sit and relax but it's too hot. Homeschool is a full time job and so is living on the mission field. I am thankful the kids are doing well with it all in all. And I am thankful for their grace and learning to continually give myself grace too.

We got to celebrate Makai's 5th birthday on Feb. 16! It was simple and nice. He wanted a grinch pancakes, a grinch cake and Indian for supper. He just loves it and beams as we sing to him. He takes it all in as we read our cards to him and tell him why we love him and are thankful for him. At the end of the day he said, "thanks everyone for making my birthday special!"

On the 19th we celebrated adoption day, the day we went to the hospital to get Makai. Makai seemed to enjoy another day celebrating him. We went to the pool in town to have fun together. At lunch we were telling Makai how special he is, how God chose us to be his family, how much we love him... He seem to get tears in his eyes and we asked do you understand adoption and why we are celebrating today. He said yes. We asked does it make you happy or sad. He said both. Oh how true. He is so smart and a deep feeler already at this age. At night he told me he wanted to be born again so I could give birth to him. I tried to assure him I am your forever mommy and you grew in my heart. I am so thankful for our Makai!!!

Church was hard Sunday. I woke up with sinus headache above my right eye. We were warned our church finally got the dreaded sound system and we began to hear it around 8:45am from our house. I already had a bad attitude. It was so loud in church. Seriously, you will damage your ears if you are in that each week. I wanted to worship. I loved everyone's singing, dancing and enthusiasm, but I was mad. How could we do this every Sunday. I was grieving what was. I prayed a lot. God help me, what do we do, how do we do this... Makai had his sound proof headphones on, Luka sat outside, and Emalai was as far from the speaker as possible but it didn't matter. After worship during testimonies my vision started to go which means I was getting a migraine. I told Josh I had to go home and take medicine. Makai and I went home, layed down and made his birthday cake. After church we went back because they had cooked lunch to welcome us back. We did have a nice, quiet lunch with our friends and I was headache free. But what about next Sunday? I have been praying about if all week.

Since returning to the village Makai has had teany tiny itchy bumps on his body, a dry cough and itchy eyes. I put him on allergy medicine hoping it would help. On Tuesday he couldn't stop coughing all day and by night he was exhausted and wheezing a bit. We asked people to pray for him seeing he was going down hill. By Wednesday morning we saw improvement and by noon his symptoms were gone. God heals and answers prayer! I was so encouraged see God at work and with us.

Josh is trying to balance restarting life here, family needs and his job. That's hard right now. Everything is demanding. I said to him I think living here takes so much that you can't get your real job done. He agreed. We know it will get better but some of it is living on the mission field and that takes a lot more work. He is busy trying to be apart of all his meetings, continue to write the marriage course, reconnect with co-workers with FIC here, and help care for and love his wife and family. Definitely praying for him!

I'm going to leave it at that. Yup transitions are hard, living here is hard, but God is with us, had called us, and is our help. We are doing well because of Him. Thank you everyone for your prayers for us!