Feb. 3 - Mandy's Journal

Feb. 3, 2008

I have been in need of a break. I have been dreaming about all I could do with my husband and kids if I was living in MI because there really isn’t anything fun, new, or special to do here. We could go to town to the same few shops with people staring at us the whole time in 90degree weather. Sorry, I don’t mean to complain. I know that I am SO blessed. So, we took the girls down a bumpy road for 30min. to Lake Kyoga to go fishing. We have never done it before and I wanted to do something special with the girls. It is beautiful out there. We didn’t catch any fish but we did have a nice time. The other fishermen there getting their boats ready caught tiny, little fish for our girls to put in a bucket. Grace liked that. Lydia wanted to fish so we made her her own “fishing pole” that she loved. No fish for supper but we tried and Lydia said she had a really fun day.

(After fishing we thought we’d go out to eat in town. The restaurant didn’t have any of our first four choices so we had to go with what they did have. After waiting fifty minutes in frustration, our food did come. Anyone having fun anymore?)

Lydia has totally impressed us. The other day at lunch Josh was asking her math problems. Like, I have four pieces of pizza and you have four if I give you two how many do I have and how many do you have. She got everyone right! Josh asked her about six different add and subtract questions and she would just say the answer. I was amazed she could do that.

Jan. - Stress from Sin

Jan. 21

Did I tell you Grace knows her colors. She is always impressing people with how she can talk and all she can say. Gracie also saw someone with a tattoo the other day and said, “She colored on her arm. That is naughty.” Kids say things so simply and true. I caught Lydia the other day in the living room singing and dancing to the song that we danced to at both wedding that says, “one hop now do the cha cha.” She doesn’t forget anything and loves to dance.

Jan. 29

I think I have been avoiding writing. I am tired, upset, and feel like I want to shut down, give up and go away. Sin seems to reign and it’s consequences are messy. Before I get into some of it I need to say that I know that God is victorious. I know God is in control. I know God has defeated satan. I know my hope and peace remain in Christ. I trust God. I know He will always get the glory.

That being said, I am so saddened by sin. I hate sin! Especially when it is in the church. A very long story short, our neighbor and friend Sam came to us last week wanting to run away. He was being accursed of raping a girl and the family was trying to kill him. I wasn’t there to hear the story (I was putting the girls to be) but in the end he was going north until this ordeal passed. A few days it came out that Sam did sleep with the girl (not rape) and she is pregnant. We were very sad and even angry. We love Sam. Now there are huge problems on top of the sin that was already done. Sam is very remorse and is trying to do what is right. That is where the culture comes in. It is so messed up! The family wants Sam to pay the fine for ruining the girl and then a bride price if they get married. The fine and bride price are so high no one can pay it. The girls family wont take her back so she is at Sam’s. The culture and church see no problem with Sam and the girl living together and calling them husband and wife. They aren’t married! There have been LONG talks because of the whole ordeal. There was one heated one that Josh and Tim when to. They were so upset because at least three of the relatives involved are pastors but not acting like it. They were very much putting culture before God. They can’t see that their relationship with God needs to affect every part of their lives. And these are pastors! So the story continues. Sam could go to jail for what he did if he doesn’t pay the fine. I just keep praying God will work through this situation. I hope to see Sam and Esther married, the baby loved, and everyone have a close relationship with the Lord – one that changes every bit of their lives.

Beyond that Kristine continues to have troubles with Jimmy (her “husband” they say even though they are not married just share a child). He wants her out or to he will keep her if Claudia is gone (his own daughter!). Kristine comes and tells us with tears. I really don’t know what to tell her. She needs him because he pays the rent and she has no where to go, but he is a drunk and has other women. See why I get so upset? Sin is SO ugly. Kristine did sin and now is in a mess. I know God has grace. I keep encouraging her to be close to God. And that we need to pray for Jimmy. Only God can work in his heart and change this situation. It is really hard when I don’t know what to do or how to help.

Then there is Tabitha and the four kids. I get so upset. The mother is right near by but instead of caring for HER kids she is drinking. If she wont love her children she had better at least provide for them. Again, sin ruins lives and innocent children are hurt. We struggle every week with Tabitha about how to help them. There are no quick fixes. It comes down to these kids need love and their basic needs met. Tabitha does her best but she is tired too.

Then there is a lady at church with a boy who has CP. He is over a year and can’t sit, hold his head, and probably never will. The mother is despair for help. She wants her son cured (fixed). She is now five months pregnant. Can you imagine having a baby and a disabled child living in a third world country? What do you do? I am sure she is scared and tired. There is no help. What will happen to this young disabled boy? Will they continue to care for him? You don’t see many older disabled people here. Do they just let them die? Sometimes I feel a bit of their hopelessness. I do want to help them but how? What can I do? I don’t know anything medical. All I can do is love them and pray.

I could go on... the soap opera mess with the blind at SACAB, Ben’s cancer in his hip now, our neighbors needs, trials at home… yup it sometimes just all piles on you. I can’t handle it all. I have my husband and children to love and care for. I am busy enough with my own life. I hate when I begin to take out the stress on my family. Not to mention the stress my husband under and probably my kids are feeling too. I have to continually stop and give it all to God. He can take it all. He knows what is best. I can trust Him. And I continue to offer myself to Him. To be filled and used. I need His wisdom, strength, and help. He keeps me relying on Him because I can’t do anything without Him. God is faithful. He is my peace in times of trouble. What would I do without my hope in Him?! I am so thankful. I know the God of the universe! He loves me and all my friends here. He will take care of us and be glorified while He does.

Jan. 18 - Mandy's journal

Jan. 18

I don’t know if this belongs in my journal but I am just going to write it here and see what happens. First I want to apologize. I regret and am so sorry for not taking each day and moment with people to talk about what really matters – eternity. When I was home in Michigan I enjoyed normal life and let time fly by. I don’t want to live that way! Normal life just isn’t worth it to me. Often I feel like people just want me to be normal, to fit in, have fun, and be quiet about God stuff. While I can’t. I don’t care if I am weird. There is only one thing that matters most to me and it is God’s love for me and for you. I say all this because. What I see when I go home (here too) is a lot of fake people. Most people are trying to have a comfortable, good life. They want to look and act happy. The truth is most people are hurting, angry, or lost. We aren’t telling or living the truth. You act happy and I will too and we would have to deal with all the garbage. Everyone is fine and I am too. Just keep living and don’t talk about the pain. We are addicted to materialism, lust, alcohol, sports, TV… or whatever to cover up and forget about the troubles. The sad thing is I am talking about Christians, the church, our friends, our families. We all do it. Why aren’t we being real with each other? Why are we doing small talk, getting together, entertaining…doing everything but helping each other? Okay maybe I am over the edge on some things. I am not saying that we can’t have fun and that we have to only talk about spiritual issues. My point is when I was home I know there were things that people were struggling with and I chose to ignore it and just enjoy life. I didn’t pray with them or anything. I saw that they were “acting” fine and decided to believe it and leave it at that. We are all doing this. As Christian, brothers and sisters, we have to be asking each other the hard questions. We need to be encouraging each other to keep going, do better, spend time with God, love your wife, be pure, serve, give… We need to pray with each other, for each other. Don’t take fine as an answer. Don’t believe the act. People are dying inside and no one outside knows. Give them love for their pain, help for their struggles, peace for their anger… Let’s not waste time and talk about what really matters, our spiritual well being. Our relationships with Christ are what matters most. Life here will end. Eternity is coming. Do you care more about acting like you have a good life here or do you care more about a great life there? I only have so much time on earth and I want to be real. I want to make a difference for eternity.

Jan. 14 -- Our Neighbors

January 14, 2008

Tonight we walked around greeting our neighbors and bring them a small gift (clothes and toothpaste). First we went to Joseph and Martha’s. Martha was home with the kids. She was really down. She said they didn’t have a good Christmas because they have no money and had no food. She just cried. Their landlord wants them to move back to their village so he can build where they are living. Joseph and Martha are IDP’s (internally displaced people) from the war in their village. Martha said they are orphans and have no where to go back to. She fears for her girls. She said before they lived in the one room hut (now has a tin roof) they are in now they use to just sleep outside wherever people would let them. She said she very gave birth there. She does not know what to do. There is no money for a new place let alone food. Now what do you say to a person after all that? They look at us, our home, van, food and think we have all the money in the world. We are rich – we really are. Josh and I held her hand and prayed with her prayed that God would make a way that He would be with them and care for them. I pray we shared some love and hope with her. I just can’t imagine being that in need and that alone.

Then we walked over to see widow Betty. We walked into her grass roof hut only to see the sun. There were holes everywhere in the roof. All she has in the hut was a small metal framed bed, blanket, and some dishes. And she has six kids! I was in awe again. We gave her our very small gift and she asked for help with the roof again. How do we handle this? There is so much need. Everyone needs help. We have a big house with a roof over our heads and our neighbors don’t.

After that I saw a new baby by another hut I haven’t been to so we walked over. It ends up we do know her husband but we had not met her. I was so thankful for Josh’s Ateso since she didn’t speak English. Lydia and Grace really liked the baby. An really old man came out of his room then and greeted us and tried to tell us something about his stomach problems. Several other people came out to greet us too. I was saddened that I was meeting so many people, my neighbors, for the first time. Is there ever enough time? Or do I just spend too much time on myself?

All night I struggled with what I saw and heard from my visits with our neighbors. What do we do to help? How can we be generous and faithful with all God has given us, yet not have the town at our door? Why do they have so little and I have so much? Why was I born into blessing and them into suffering? Do these questions ever get answered? I am thankful I wrestle with all of this, ever though it is really hard, because it means I care. I don’t want to use any cop out answers or worries (like fearing the town at my door). I want to do what God wants me to do. I am really seeking Him for help and wisdom. Just tell me what to do and I will Lord! Sometimes I wonder or feel like I am missing the point if we continue to just full their physical needs. I want to help them spiritually. I pray that by helping them we are sharing Christ. As I praying about all of this I asked God to love our neighbors. I felt Him assure me He was because we were there and He wanted to use us to be His love. Isn’t that beautiful? We are God’s love to those who need it around us.

On another note Lydia and Grace are doing great. I asked Lydia what she liked best about MI and she told me everything. I asked her what she liked best about Uganda and she said everything. She is a very happy little girl. Grace counted to 20 tonight with Josh (she made it to six by herself and then did every other number with Josh). It actually rained here and has been cloudy (and “cool”). How nice! We are getting Tabitha’s four kids that live with her (because the mom is a drunk and dad is gone) ready for school. We had a couple of the Amecet girls over for lunch Sunday. Joanne from Australia is here with us for two months doing a vision trip. I plan to have everyone over Thursday for tea to meet her. I will fill you in more later…

Jan. 6, 2008 -- Home from vacation

January 6, 2008

After a busy yet wonderful “vacation” home, we are back in Uganda. Before I tell you about our adjustment back let me recap our time in Michigan. We arrived home in a snow storm and left in one. Flying went really well considering we were traveling for a total of 34 hours! I heard Angie say more than once is it really worth all of this. No one can totally understand until they have traveled that far and that long with small children. It is a lot of work preparing to leave, getting the house secured, having people set to do things while you are gone, packing for a month, making plans, hotel reservations, taxi pick ups, money set, lists made… But it is all worth it once you arrive and are with family again. When we arrived Lydia cheered and when she saw Grandpa and Grandma she just cried. Grace was shy. It made me realize how much Lydia remembers and misses family, friends, and life in Michigan. She really did grieve what she left and it meant a lot to be back again. Grace on the other hand is too young to remember and didn’t know anyone and was scared of most things she didn’t know. She only knew her world and life as Uganda. But it didn’t take long for her to fall in love with family and enjoy Michigan.

Our first week home we had my sister Dorothy’s wedding. Lydia was a beautiful flower girl (princess as she likes to think of it) in the wedding. We had a great time and everyone looked beautiful. I really enjoyed getting so dressed up and having somewhere to go – something I don’t get to do on the mission field. Wedding are fun but stressful and I am glad that everyone could relax after the first week. The next week was full of doctor appointments, shopping, and visits. What a blur! We also went up to McBain about once a week. We spoke every Sunday at one or two of our supporting churches. Although it made us busy, we loved seeing our supporting and sharing with them. We were more than blessed and encouraged by their support, generosity, and prayers.

What else happened…I got to go with my mom, sisters, and aunt shopping over night just to be together. The Beute family went to Great Wolf Lodge for a night. What fun! Josh and I ever got a way for a night to a bed and breakfast and Grandma Shaarda got some quality time with her grandgirls. And of course Christmas parties. I loved seeing everyone but it always seems so short. I really do cherish my time with everyone because I don’t get a lot of time and I never know when I may see someone again. I was thankful to spend time with all of our grandparents. I was blessed at our Beute family party when we went Christmas caroling at my dad’s work, the Christian rest home, and to family friends who are struggling with cancer. What a joy it is to brighten some ones day with God’s love. I will never forget Lydia’s face while she sung to those people. That is what Christmas is about, giving to others.

Our last week was filled with another wedding Josh’s sister Rebeka married a classmate of my Ryan. Josh and I were honored to stand up in their wedding. What a fun time! After that I think I was a bit down. It was all over and now I had the dreaded job of packing 8 boxes 50lbs each. But I have very special memories to take with me too. I could cry just writing about it. Walking in the snow with the kids looking at Christmas lights, a walk in the woods, watching my kids build a snowman with their dad and aunt, really good food, playing games with the family, beautiful weddings, sitting home together in a warm and comfortable home while it snowed outside… I am very blessed! God answered so many prayers with this vacation. It is mixed emotions going back. I will always hate saying goodbye and leaving family but I can only eat so much, live out of a suitcase so long, and be in the same bedroom as my girls for so many nights. I didn’t dread going back to Uganda which is a nice feeling. We spent our last night near Chicago. I thoroughly enjoyed our hotel, the food, and the time with Dad and Mom. I think I know what a different world I would soon be back to.

And now we are back in Uganda. Everything went well flying except they didn’t have personal TVs and they showed really, really bad rated R movie. I was really upset. It is not fun keeping Lydia’s eyes off the movies. They finally stopped the movie only to show another bad one. How sad.

We arrived in Uganda to find out that there was a gas shortage because of the fighting in Kenya (borders were closed). People talked about it going up to 10,000sh a liter (that is about $22 a gallon!!!) Our van however did not start when we got back. Thankfully it ended up just being a dead battery. We did have a nice night at our friend’s apartment and had supper at our new favorite restaurant. We traveled back to Soroti with no problems and even got gas for almost the normal price. Again I felt God had taken care of us and had answered so many prayers.

We entered our home only to inhale a months worth of dust. Literally layers and layers of dust was everywhere. You couldn’t set anything down and we left footprints everywhere we went. So we got to work. I got such a headache from all the dust. Everything needed to be cleaned. If I could only explain to you what it was like. I was not a happy camper. It took us almost 4 hours to do the first round of cleaning. But by night we could sleep comfortably in our own beds.

It was harder coming back than I thought. It has been about 85-90degrees inside the house each day, it is super dry, and I am tired. To top it off we were told we got fat while we were gone (I think that means we were treated well while we were gone but I don’t like the sounds of it anyhow). I kept reminding myself about what Josh and I always use to say in Nigeria, “the first day is always the worst.” It would get better.

What two different worlds we live in! In Michigan I was always full and didn’t desire food because it was all around me. I got stressed over shopping because of all the decisions I had to make. I actually got sick of eating out and shopping. In Uganda I crave every food I can’t have or get. I go to the store and they are out of so much I don’t have any decisions to make. Having everything verses living with little. I truly enjoyed the comforts and beauty in America but I also wrestled with it. How do I reconcile my two worlds? It can’t help but bother me when we go out to eat in Michigan and spend a lot of money when I have friends in Uganda who go hungry and sleep on the floor. Sometimes I don’t know how to deal with it. How can we live so well when others live with so little? The hard part for me is the “others” aren’t just others to me they are real people my neighbors and friends.

Today I felt like God gentle broke through my heart. I have been complaining since we have been back and longing for the good life back in Michigan, but tonight as we walked home from Amecet I looked at the houses and all the people. They have no light, their clothes are ripped, they need food…and they want the good life too. I am right where God needs me. It isn’t easy living far away, giving up a comfortable life in Michigan, living with heat, dust, and other inconveniences. God loves the poor and needy! I want to love the orphaned and sick children at Amecet. I want to encourage the local church and fellow servants of God. I want to show Christ to Tabitha, Kristine, and other friends. I want to bless Sam, Dennis, and others in need. It isn’t easy and I don’t always do things right but I do love my Lord and He wants me to love His people. That is my calling in life. That is why I live. Eternity is waiting and I want to bring as many people with me as I can.

I preached -- Nov. 25

Nov. 25 – I preached!

I know I said I was done typing but I have a few exciting things to share with you. Last night our co-workers (Ugandans) cooked a meal for us before we left. We were so blessed by this kind gesture. We felt loved and appreciated. They made SO much food! I don’t know how they did it. I really enjoyed the fellowship and the relationships we are forming. I am so thankful for them. It was really nice.

After the meal I had Bible study with the girls. We studied Mark chapter 10 in it Jesus talks about marriage and divorce. The girls and I had a long talk about this issue and the sins of their culture. They think every man will disappoint you. I had a good example of how God makes two people one in marriage. By the end I asked what they have learned and what they will do. One girl said she now knows divorce is wrong and has effects. Another girl said she know she has to prepare and find a godly man. She also said she will take this message and share it with the people in her village. Praise God! That’s it. If we all change, follow and obey God then others will see and do the same. We can make a difference one person at a time for God’s glory.

After the meeting I was so excited and told Josh all about it, so he asked me if I wanted to preach it the next day. Josh was suppose to preach but hadn’t come up with anything yet. At first I said no and laughed him off. I have never preached and would be too nervous. By the idea wouldn’t leave my head. I love God’s Word so much and really want to share it. So, I decided to do it. Even if it didn’t go well or I was bad, I tried in God’s strength. I sat down and wrote my “sermon”.

I was amazed that I wasn’t even nervous. I just kept praying, “God this is about you and for you. Speak through me. Be my strength in my weakness. Speak to these people and work in them…” I am sure they were quite shocked when they found out I was preaching and not Josh. I was very happy with how it went even with a translator which can be hard. Most people seem to really be listening and they liked the example. The greatest part is I have done what God asked me to and now the rest is up to Him. It is between God and these people whether they receive the message. God’s truth is so good!

Then tonight I had the Bible study girls over one last time before we go home and they go on break. I really enjoy being with these girls more and more. We made supper for them tonight because all they get is beans and posho (corn flour cooked) ever day. They were SO thankful for rice, meat, fruit, and Coke. Tabitha cooked it for us. (Tabitha and Kristine come to the Bible study too.) After our meal I thanked them for coming to the Bible study and gave each of them a note and a Bible – they were SO excited! Then they told me they had something for me. They had prepared two songs to sing. They were really good! Motions/dancing, bush guitar and all. They sang so well. I really enjoyed it and was touched by it. After all that we watched The Nativity Story. They were very excited and liked it a lot, but it took a lot of explaining. I realized again that you have to be careful with movies and be able to explain things. I told them all to go home and read Luke and Matthew 1 and 2. During the movie they were a constant buzz and they cheered often. Before they left they thanked me again and again. They asked for prayers for school fees so that they can all come back next year and if I could get them pen pals from America. It is such a blessing to be appreciated. Then the hugs came (I am finally getting use to how to hug here – put your face to one shoulder then to the other.) The girls are really sweet and I am thankful for them. They think they are going to miss me so much when we go. They are funny. They are the ones going on a two month holiday from school. I think it is how they show you how much they care about you. Tabitha said the girls loved the night and think I am so nice. I just praise God for how He is working. I am thankful He gave me a ministry that I really love.

Josh goes with people from our church tomorrow to bring supplies to people affected by the floods. (By the way the rains have quit but people are without food and homes still.) Our church raised about $100 dollars, we matched what they gave, and a few others gave too.

Mandy's Journal -- Ugandan Thanksgiving

Nov. 23 – Ugandan Thanksgiving

I love holidays especially Thanksgiving. What a special time to be with family, making traditions, eating stuffing and pumpkin pie, football, snow…so much to be thankful for. Being in a foreign country for an American holiday can be difficult. I wanted to make it special and normal. Angie and I invited any expat that didn’t have a place to go. Everyone was welcomed to celebrate with us. We ended up with 11 adults and 6 kids and 1 baby. So we began preparing. The challenge with Thanksgiving in Uganda is that everything comes from scratch and substitutes need to be made. Wednesday I sent my house help to market for chickens – four of them. She was busy all afternoon slaughtering them, plucking feathers, and cutting them up. That is something we don’t do in MI. (Where is Meijers when you need it?) By evening we had two 9x13 full of chicken – testicles and all. I spent the day making three dozen rolls and two pumpkin pies from real pumpkin. (Never did that before.) We had quite a feast come Thursday – sweet potatoes, mash potatoes and gravy, sweet corn, chicken, stuffing, pies… I really enjoy hosting a special party like this. We had one big table topped with candles cut into gords. It looked so nice and festive. Everyone was so thankful to be there and to have a “real” Thanksgiving. I was thankful to look around and see friends from the Philippians, the UK, Uganda, Australia, Canada, and America. God is so good! The table is always big enough for God’s family. We had such a nice day. There wasn’t snow and we were far from America but we were blessed!

Well I guess that is all for now…because we are going to MI! I’d call it vacation but we are also speaking. We will be with family though and get to celebrate so much with them. We have four days til we go to Kampala then fly out the next day. We are in packing and putting away mode. I just hope we remember to do everything we need to before we go and take what we need to. Thanks for praying for all our traveling. You can be praying for the girls. They get motion sick, it is a long plane ride, and an 8 hour time change. We love you all and will see you soon!!!

Mandy's Journal -- Nov. 11 - 21

Nov. 11 – A break and Angelina’s Church

I am happy to report we now have water and internet again, thank you God! However, our hot water heater is not working now, possibly hit by lighting. We are thankful our lighting rods should go up this week.

Last week we went to Mbale. We just felt like our family needed to get out of Soroti and do something. Since we had to take the old, long way out we decided to stay the night. We had two really nice days at the pool. We all enjoyed swimming. The kiddy pool has a new slide and the girls loved that. We stayed at the hotel with mini golf so the girls liked that too. We also stayed over so we could watch Sunday night football (on Monday here). We were quite upset when the hotel people couldn’t get the station to come in but we were able to watch the last half of the game and we woke up on Tuesday to finish watching Monday night football. We ordered out at an Indian restaurant that we hadn’t eaten at before. It was really good and I look forward to next time. We had a nice time and I was thankful we were able to get out and have a special time.

We went to Angelina’s church today (blind Angelina). I had a bad attitude again. Sunday’s have been hard for me lately. Josh went early to and phoned to tell us when the service began. When the girls and I arrived the churches welcome committee came out and cheered (shouted and waved). Sorry to say I wasn’t in the mood. Thankfully God changed my attitude. I was quickly humbled and repentive. The church was in what we would call a condemned building. I guess it was the some ones house but it had huge holes in the ceiling and walls, it was dark, and dirty. It looked more like animals lived in there not people. Yet, in the mist of that God’s people were worshipping! I could see it on the faces of the people and hear it in the singing. These people loved the Lord. I enjoyed their singing. They were good and had a children’s and women’s choir. We had two sermons. A guy named Robert preached one on being transformed. I was very impressed with it. Sometimes we wonder where Ugandans get their sermons or they just go round and round, but this guy did a really nice job. Josh also preached. The girls enjoyed playing with the kids outside, kinda like nursery. After church they invited us for lunch at the pastor’s house. It was really nice. Everyone was entertained by our girls. We met some very nice people from the church. Grace, Tim and Angie’s house help, Dad goes to the church. Josh had a long talk with him. He is like a history book. He was almost killed three times. Once during Idi Amin, once during the Ateso rebellion, and once when the LRA was here like so close to death the gun happen not work when he was being shot at. God had a plan for this man. I just marvel when I hear these stories. I can’t fathom being through any of that and now here he is still praising God. That is faith! The pastor’s house is one room and he has five kids. Wow. I was humbled. What wealth we have. All they have to do is look at the van we drove up in and it shouts of my wealth. I am SO humbled. God I have so much and I have complained and worried. I am so sorry. It is so easy not to think about it when I don’t know people or only compare myself to others like me, but when I get to know and love people here and know how they live it is hard. I felt like I came home with a lot on my heart.

Nov. 16 -- Guests and our girls
We had a busy week with guests here two people from IT Canada and John and Grace Miles our regional director for the UK. Everything went really well we were just busy making meals, showing them around, and transporting them. We had a nice supper with everyone here who is associated with IT. It is good to be united and fellowship together. We really appreciated getting to know our John Miles. I think we can work better together now.

While our guests were here Sam came and shared his story. He was with the LRA for about three weeks. He helped a boy escape, he was beaten with the end of a gun, he watched others beaten, he saw some killed, he was infested with lice, his feet were open wounds, and he escaped during a shoot out. I just sit there thinking this happened to our friends and I think God must really have healed him for him to talk about it and give God glory.

Grace made us proud the other day. We were doing our Bible verse at night with the girls and Grace said the entire thing, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit come and you will be my witnesses.” Pretty good for just being two. She did the motions and all. Kids are so smart. We are so excited to see the Word hidden in their little hearts. Grace knows her name now. When people ask she says, “Gace” but no one understands her yet. She is full of cute words and facial expressions. I hope I never forget them especially when she says in her low, little voice “I lub a you.”

The guests really liked the girls and Lydia loved having guests. One of them commented on how Lydia talks beyond her years. Lydia also wears “earrings” a lot now. She takes necklaces (big ones) and puts them around her ears. She wants real earrings but when I told her it will hurt just for a minute when they put them in she decided maybe she should be five when she does that. We were talking about when she didn’t listen to us that day at the supper table when she said, “yeah, but sometimes I make mistakes.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Yes, Lydia we all make mistakes sometimes.

Nov. 20 – Lydia’s Malaria

As many of you know Lydia had Malaria the last few days. She started out with a cold then on Friday she played at a friend’s house all afternoon and when she came home she didn’t feel well and had a fever. We gave her medicine and she fell asleep at 6:30pm. That night her temp went up and by morning we knew she needed to be tested for Malaria. Poor baby was pricked to test her blood and sure enough it was positive. By the time she got home her fever was 103 and she was as white as a ghost. All she wanted to do was sleep. The next couple days she was up and down. She would play and be fine until the fever came back then she was down and very uncomfortable. Her fever would spike up quite quickly and she would say, “My sickness is coming back.” She was really good about it all. Sunday afternoon the fever got up to 104 and then we were a little worried. What would we do if it got higher? I called a missionary nurse who told me how much medicine I could give her. Lydia was beside herself. Hot then cold and miserable. Then she throw-up. We put her in a bath and finally the medicine kicked in. Now she thinks bathes make her feel all better. Sunday night was a long night with fevers but they did begin to come down. Yesterday she was quite a bit better but she still hung onto a 101 fever. Last night she finished her malaria medicine and all night her muscle convulsed or something and she was in a panic yet still asleep. This morning we read that the medicine can do that. Today she is much better except for her cold. She still has a head full. We are all tired for disturbed nights of sleep and probably from worrying. Thank you all for praying for Lydia!!! It brought us a lot of comfort knowing people were praying. We praise God that He healed Lydia!

Nov. 21 – Girls Bible Study and Tabitha’s situation

I am very excited about Bible study this week. I realized I only had two more weeks with the girls and that some of them may not be returning to school next year. I really wanted to share the salvation story with them. So we looked at when Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” We also read and talked about being a follower of Jesus – we must deny ourselves (Jesus is Lord), take up our cross (submit), and follow Him (be like Him). I am sad to say it has been a long time since I shared the gospel with someone and prayed with them. I was SO blessed and excited by it! There isn’t anything better in life. This is what we live for. I don’t know who accepted the Lord for the first time or what the Lord did in the girls hearts that night but I know the Lord has disciples in training. I am so thankful I could share God’s love with the girls.

Tabitha now has four kids she is caring for. The whole situation is SO sad. I am really troubled by it all. Her sister (by father) drinks a lot and is with another man now who doesn’t want the kids so they leave them at Tabitha’s door. Tabitha is beside herself. She doesn’t have the money or time to care for them. She knows these kids need love and are just being hurt. The youngest is 2 and basically is alone all day. Can you imagine?! The other day she left and he was napping and when she returned he was gone so she had to go find for him. (And they live on a main road too.) The other kids go to school. I am SO angry with this mother who doesn’t deserve the title. Her sins and every man she has been with are affecting and destroying these kids. The need love, need to be wanted, cared for, and protected. All they know is no one wants them. How sad. I really should do something to help but what? I really just want to shake the mother. I think we will visit the probation officer (social worker) and see if they can help. You can be praying for them.

Oct. Mandy's Journal

October 15

I haven’t written lately because I was busy catching up from last months journaling, and everything else I got behind on with my parents here and our internet being out. Don’t worry not much has been happening so I don’t have too much to catch you up on.

Lydia loves the mints Grandma left her. Each time she has one she tells herself what Grandma told her to remember, “The mints are sweet like Grandma’s kisses.” She has also shared them with friends and she tells them the same thing. It is really cute. Lydia is counting down the days until we go to Michigan. She has her own way of counting though. She will say, “We go to MI in two days, right Mom?” She also prays everyday for her “friends in MI.” I think she misses everyone.

The flooding has been the biggest issue around here. The other day I was thinking about the people effected and God seem to speak to me and challenge me. I truly cannot imagine being the flood victims. What would I do and how would I react living in a school or camp with hundreds of other people, NO home, NO food, none of my earthy possessions left… How would I care for or feed my children? Who would we go to? Who would help us? What would our future hold? The questions go on and on. Talk about feeling desperate. Maybe even hopeless. It is so good for me to put myself in their place and try to understand how they must feel and what they need. To be honest with ourselves, we can’t imagine ANY disaster. We can’t think beyond our nice homes and our many, many things. We complain and think it is a disaster if our yards are somehow ruined or our roofs leak into our homes. We talk about being “blessed” but we really have no idea how good we have it. We will be held accountable for all God has given us. What did we do with it to further His kingdom? We tend to just look around us and compare ourselves with the people next door. We think about ourselves with pity because we don’t have what they have or because we “don’t have money.” Most people around us are rich. They aren’t like most of the world. We are among the top 2% of the wealthiest people who ever lived! Did you hear that?! You are (and I am) wealthy! How easy it is not to think about how the rest of the world lives, how others are suffering. Or maybe we will hear about it but it is easy to forget about it and go on with life. It is too hard to think about it, to know about it, and to help. God, forgive us! You have given us good gifts so that we would bless others in Your name. We have sinned by not wanting to face the truth or do the hard work of helping. The world needs Jesus and we are called to be Your representative. Lord, use us! Give us Your heart of love to make a difference, to reach out, to comfort, to feed, to bring peace…for Your kingdom and glory alone.

Grace celebrated her 2nd birthday on the 11th. We already had a party when my parents were here so on her actually birthday we just partied as a family. We grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, gave her a couple presents, and put her number two candle in homemade ice cream with chocolate sauce.

I started a Bible study with the high school girls that live in the hostel next door to us. The owners of the hostel asked if we would consider a ministry with the girls. The thought never left my mind so I though I better commit the thought to the Lord. After a few weeks of prayer I felt the Lord wanted me to lead a Bible study with the girls. I love God’s Word and all He has been teaching me and now I had a way to share it with others. I was nervous and wanted to back out several times but Josh kept encouraging me. I had seven weeks before our vacation home so it would be a good trial run. I decided to go through the book of Mark. Ten girls plus Kristine and Tabitha (our house help) were invited to come. The first night we crowded on our screened in porch. I was afraid they would have trouble understanding me and they wouldn’t answer any questions but overall it went really well. The girls seem really sweet and excited to be there. They are very good with English and even answered questions (something that is hard to get Africans to do). I really enjoyed it! I was very excited how it went and that I could share my love for God and His Word with these girls. I am so blessed by doing ministry. It isn’t too much but enough that I can handle it and be a good wife and mother. I know God will do great things in their lives as they seek Him. Pray for us.

Oct. 20

Yesterday about 4pm Kristine came with Claudia. I was on the phone with my mom so she sat and waited until I was done. She had just stopped by yesterday and told me something was wrong with Claudia’s eyes but they looked okay to me so I told her to give it until Monday to see how they were then. I wasn’t sure why she was here again. When I got off the phone I greeted her and right away I saw that Claudia’s breathing was not right. I walked over to Angie and she came over and listened to her breathing. She was breathing SO fast! I told Kristine she is a good mother and did the right thing we needed to bring Claudia to the clinic.

I was really worried about little Claudia. She didn’t have much life in her and it sounded like it took so much effort to breathe. I felt bad for Kristine. I am sure she was terribly worried about her child. The doctor saw us right away and confirmed that it was a bad case of pneumonia. She would need a series of injections over the next 24 hours. He wondered about keeping her overnight but decided it would be okay to go home and come back for the shots. He also wanted her to be tested for malaria. After the blood work we went back to the doctor. Claudia was positive with a sever case of malaria too. The doctor decided to keep her in the ward overnight.

They needed to put Claudia on IV but they couldn’t find a vein. I felt terrible for Claudia they tired to get the needle in seven times! She just cried and there was nothing I could do. I was a wreck. The even shaved half of her head and tried to find a vein there. The doctor couldn’t get it either. They decided to just wait and try again later. Then they gave her two injections. Poor Claudia was exhausted.

Kristine wasn’t thrilled about staying there for the night but I assured her it was better if they could care for her all night. I talked to her about how hard it must be to have a very sick child after just loosing a child. Eugene died only three months ago. I also prayed with her through tears. I know God is using all of this to draw Kristine close to Him. After we prayed a neighbor was in our room she said she heard someone praying and came to see. She assured us God will heal Claudia.

Just being at the clinic was hard and a lot to deal with. The doctor is really nice and knows what he is doing and so do the nurses but there is just so much sickness and only so much they can do. There was a two month old baby there with malaria and they gave the baby Quinnine. I was very disturbed because that medicine is quite harsh and I think it can very harm you. Sometimes they give it because it is cheaper so I asked the doctor thinking I would pay for better medicine for the baby if that was the reason. The doctor said all the other medicine you can build a resistance to so they give that one. I asked if it could be harmful and he said yes but so is malaria. What do you do? Then I found out Claudia was also put on it. I really don’t understand medicine or the medical world but I do know I hate suffering and sickness.

I left to have supper with my family but I didn’t feel very hungry. I was very concerned about Claudia and I was tired. I felt like I ran a marathon and it isn’t even my child. Emotions take a lot out of you. I feel very close to Kristine and I love them. After supper we brought Kristine some snacks, magazines, and a Bible. There is nothing to do there and they are all alone other than the one nurse. Josh took Kristine home to get some clothes and buy some food while I sat with Claudia. The night nurse, a very sweet girl, got the IV in Claudia’s foot. She was sound asleep under her bug net. Her breathing was so quick and heavy. I just sat there praying for her. She is so beautiful. Before we left Kristine called Jimmy, the father, to tell him. He said he would come tomorrow. Good. I was pretty mad at him earlier in the day. If he loved his child he would be there. Real love is being there. I left Kristine and Claudia with a heavy heart. Should I stay with them all night or do I stay with my family? I went home and called people to tell them to pray for our friends. I woke up several times during the night thinking about them and praying for them.

This morning I went to see them and bring some food. I was thrilled to see Claudia sitting up, playing with an orange, and even smiling. Praise God! Her IV was still going and her breathing was still quick but she was Claudia again and there was life in her. God is so good. I visited a couple times throughout the day to see how they were doing and to bring them food. Claudia was discharged in the evening. The total cost for the medicine and stay, $20.

Oct. 22

We have now been without internet for over two weeks. It’s hard knowing all our work and emails are piling up. Lighting hit again and we were waiting for a new modem but now we have a new modem but it still doesn’t work. How frustrating! To top it off our water is off again and the power has been out all day. Patience.

I have been feeling much better since I stopped taking Mephlaquin (malaria meds). I feel happier, calm, able to handle things, I like who I am and feel like myself. I am so thankful! I am sad that for almost five years I suffered with not being myself and even left Mahula. But I can’t live with the guilt and regret. There were other reasons we left Mahula and I know God wants us in Soroti. I am just glad we figured it out now and not years down the road. I now firmly believe that anyone who is put on this medicine need to be warned of all the possible side effects and watched. I never knew all the effects it can have people only talked about the dream you can have. I think our mission agency needs to be more careful I just trusted what they told me to take.

Lydia is so funny. She has been talking about being Jewish when she plays lately. I am sure it comes from her Bible stories. We were reading about the Jewish leaders wanting to kill Jesus and she said, “I don’t like Jewish leaders.” Grace is attached to her glow worm that Uncle Chris got her for Christmas. She pushes it and pushes it when she goes to sleep. Grace is also speaking in full sentences now.

I forgot to tell you we finally met Jimmy the father of Claudia. Kristine was very upset and at her end with him so she asked us to come and talk with him. Josh and I sat and listened to them and tried to help, but he just acted like Mr. nice guy. I don’t know how to help them besides their need for Jesus. I don’t see anything changing until they know their Savior and are able to forgive. Yesterday Kristine came again totally distressed. Jimmy wants her out and wont help her and Claudia with money. She doesn’t know what to do anymore. She doesn’t have any family or anywhere to go. I really an at a loss how to help her. I am really praying about this and for them.

Tim and Anne Marsden are here from the UK. They have come to Soroti for the last ten years and work a lot with the same people we know. They are staying in our apartment next door. They are very nice and have been an encouragement to have around. They want to talk with each of us to help us in anyway, they met with our team, and have enjoyed suppers and games with us. Most of the time they are busy holding meeting around Soroti.

Josh and I continue to enjoy our date nights. Monday we went for supper and hoped to watch the replay of Sunday night football. We had a nice supper but the World Series was on instead. Nothing like watching sport while sipping African tea.

Oct. 24

Today Lydia showed Josh and I her Polly Pocket doll and said, “She is Jewish. She is a mommy. See she has breasts Daddy.” J

Bible study continues to go really well. Late night we did Mark 3. There are four or five girls who answer and read a lot. I am impressed with their knowledge. The other girls don’t say much but seem to be writing a lot and I asked them a question at the end and they answered wonderfully. One of the girls, Juliet, shared that she is the only believer in her family and she came to know Jesus when she came to Soroti at Light Secondary School. (We were talking about how Jesus family didn’t understand who He was or what He was doing.) I was also impressed with their prayer requests last night. They asked for prayer for themselves because many of them are leaders and need to know right from wrong, how they can reach out to the lost, and wisdom to do what is right. They are really starting to open up after just three weeks.

This morning Tim said he talked to Joseph and Sarah, the couple who run the hostel, and they said most of the girls are not Christians. They said they were unsure of the Bible study the first couple times and why we were talking so much about Jesus but they now really like it and other girls want to come. They were really excited about last night because they got name tags, sweets, and they said it was just like America. How funny. What a sticky note with their name on and a tootsie roll wont do. I was shocked to hear that most of the girls are not Christians. They don’t admit it and I was under the assumption they were so the Bible study was geared toward that. What a witness though! I have been excited all day because of it. I have been thinking about what we have been talking about and how it would affect a non Christian. Last night we talked about how Jesus family thought He was crazy and the Pharisees thought He was possessed but the most important thing is who do you say Jesus is? We have been talking a lot about how Jesus loves and reaches out to sinners and how we can do that too. I can’t imagine how God is working in these girls heart – and I can’t wait to see all He does!

Grace favorite song is “The wise man built his house upon the rock.” She wants to sing it after every meal. She even knows the motions now. She also sings “Away in a Manger” with motions. I love hearing her low little voice sing. She knows “Joy to the World”, “Jesus Loves Me”, or “I’ve got the Joy, joy, joy”. Grace was coloring (“coly” as she says) yesterday and said it was for Grandpa and Grandma. She draw a circle and told me it was the “Buble”. Then she asked, “Where Grandma? Come a my house?”

I was talking to Lydia about our Heavenly Father and she turns to me and says, “Who’s our mother?” What a smarty. Today we were in town and she saw a man in a wheel chair and she asked, “Does that man know Jesus?” Mom sent a picture of Anna and Abby from the paper when Lydia saw it she said, “Mom, did they grow?! Did they get bigger? Did they have a birthday?” She knew right away that her friends were older than when she left them. Grandma Beute they also got the mints in the mail and now call them “Grandma’s kisses”.

Sept/Oct catching up -- Mandy's

September
The day after my parents arrived we traveled out to Soroti. I think they were amazed by Africa again. I often forget how normal it has become to me living here. Although Uganda is a very nice country it is still Africa and that blows Americans away. The traffic (with no rules), people everywhere, crowded streets and markets, dirt, little shops of furniture, bananas, veggies, coffins, bikes, restaurants line the main roads. We took LOTS of pictures. I was happy to show them the beauty of the country. Green rolling hills of tea, sugar cane, tropical flowers, the Nile river and Lake Victoria, mountains. Our trip went well until we got to our bridge into Soroti. The road was covered in water. In less than one weeks time the water rose enough to reach the lights on our van. I couldn’t believe it. What would happen in two weeks?! We crossed safely but the paved road underneath us was no more than gravel now. We were thankful we made it home.

Our 10 days in Soroti with Mom and Dad were spent showing them around, meeting our friends, and spending time with their grandkids. After the initial shock of being here, I think they liked it and enjoyed it. They experienced really life here with no water and our electric out for a couple days. Oh the joys of bucket baths. What can you do? Everyone here was so happy to meet my parents. They were excited about their gifts too. When we took them to see Bethel Bible College for the first time Dad thought it was an abandoned building. Nope, just a building waiting to be finished. I think they fell in love with the kids at Amecet too. Dad put Hellena to sleep and Mom got to know little Simon. Dad and Mom even enjoyed the local food they had – beans and rice, greens (dodo), posho, and abo (peanut soup). They went to the orchard that Josh helped plant for the blind, visited Moses’ family in the village, went to market several times, met the people at SACAB (the blind), got to know Kristine, Sam, Dennis, our neighbors, Pastor Francis and Maggie, and Pastor Patrick and Florence. We went to Mbale on Saturday but I wont go into detail about that because it was a bomb. The bridge was out so it took over two hours to get there, the pool was closed, and it took almost three hours to get our food at the restaurant. Enough said about that long day in the car. They worshiped at our church with us on Sunday. What else did we do? We had a nice supper at the Manes, our missionary friends. Played horseshoes and other games, and spent a lot of precious time with the grandkids!

I am not sure the girls got over that Grandpa and Grandma were really here the whole time. They just ate up their time with them. Lydia loved here afternoon time with them when the little ones were napping. She played dolls with Grandpa, watched Veggie Tales, played games and did crafts with Grandma, and talked a lot. Grandma liked her naps with Gracie too. Grandpa and Grandma read many books with both girls. Grandma had to sit by Lydia when we ate, road in the car, and was on her lap otherwise. I don’t think Dad or Mom will ever forget Gracie’s, “Uhu” answer for almost everything. They also fell in love with her new grandson, Moses. He was Grandpa’s little buddy. I know I was thankful to have grandparents around for awhile. They were so much help with the girls. But most of all I treasure the precious memories of them with their grandkids.

We had an early birthday party for Grace while Dad and Mom were here. We had our friends Sam, Dennis, and Tabitha join us. I made her number 2 birthday cake, we put on our party hats, blow up balloons, had presents, and sang. Happy second birthday Grace! We love you!!!

Did I mention all they brought for us? Thank you everyone! What a overwhelming blessing to have so many treats and gifts. I think we are stocked on some things for a while. The best part is to know we are remembered and loved by all of you.

Dad and Mom were also given many gifts. At the orange orchard they gave Mom a homemade broom, eggs, and a live chicken. Wow! Lydia told Grandma, “My mom is not going to be happy. She is going to be so mad. She does not like chickens.” And she was seriously concerned about me not being happy. What silly little girl – how funny. They gave them corn and peanuts at Moses village. And Francis and Maggie gave them a card and a beautiful necklace. How nice of everyone to give them so much.

Dad and Mom did bring me to tears talking about their concern for me. They could see a change in me and that I wasn’t the normal happy Mandy again (like in Nigeria). I felt it too. I know I have been struggling. They thought I should try going off of my anti-malarial medicine. It is the one thing that I take and changes when I am on the mission field and it can have these side effects. I will try anything. I felt really bad for how I had been – crabby. I hope it is the medicine and I can feel better again. (If it is, I will feel bad I wasted so many years on something that made me into someone I didn’t want to be but I will also be glad I finally found out and changed.)

Our last night came too quickly. We had a nice meal at Soroti Hotel. By this time we were very worried about traveling. The bridge on the other road out now had water over it. Would we get out? Would we get back in? I am thankful there is an airport in Soroti.

September/October
We made it over the bridge and arrived in Jinja safely an answer to prayer. We stayed at the Kingfisher Resort. It felt like a resort too. The beautiful trees and flowers, Lake Victoria, the pool…I couldn’t ask for more. What fun! It was a beautiful sunny day and all enjoyed swimming all afternoon. The girls love swimming and the slide there. I even enjoyed swimming for the first time in a while. I love not being cold in the water. We also took a boat ride on Lake Victoria to the source of the Nile.

The next day the guys rafted the Nile! I will let Josh fill you in on all of that but they did have fun and would go again. They also agreed it was extreme and even Tim did not enjoy being under the boat breathing in water. On the way to rafting they saw crocodiles in the river – not a comforting feeling! The rafting company assured them there aren’t many and they leave humans alone – at least during the day. I prayed for them all day! We had another wonderful sunny day. The girls and I swam from 9:30am to 3:30 in the afternoon. (Ok, Grace took a nap in there and we had lunch.) I had a very fun and relaxing day with my girls. I felt like I was on a real vacation. We picked up the guys in the late afternoon and had a nice supper overlooking the Nile. We even saw monkeys.

The next day we were off to Kampala, our last leg of Dad and Mom’s trip. Kampala seemed busier than ever and we got stuck in way too many traffic jams. We did manage to get to the craft market and shop for a while. We had supper at Garden Cities (the mall) food court. Yummy! The next we went to church at the Heritage International School. I loved the worship once again and the sermon was great. Lydia woke up asking if we could go to the church with a nursery (children’s church). It is so nice to worship in a normal setting for us – without kids! After church we decided to check out Didi’s World – the Disney World of Uganda. We had SO much fun! They didn’t have a ton of rides but what they did have the kids loved. It just felt normal and it brought me back to my childhood. Grace loved riding the horse (merry-go-round) and the trucks. Lydia rode her first little roller coaster with Avalien. I wish you could have seen their faces. They loved it and had big smiles to show it. Lydia and I had fun on the bumper cars but Josh and Grace had to stay put because Grace did not like it. Josh got to go on the water slides. He was like a little boy. He loves water slides. Can you believe water slides in Uganda? Let’s just say there aren’t lifeguards on duty like in America. Dad, Mom, Angie, and I went on the swinging pirate ship. I never laughed so hard. They are so funny. What a FUN day with the family! I can’t wait to go back.

The girls then took a nap as we headed to Entebbe to the zoo and airport. The girls enjoyed showing Grandpa and Grandma the zoo. The even got to touch the rhino’s horn. We had a nice supper together by the pool at a hotel. Then the dreaded time came, time to say goodbye. I didn’t think it would be bad because we get to see them in eight weeks again, but as always the tears came. I guess it will always happen when you love people. The saddest part was the girls. I looked back at them to see pouty little lips and sad faces. Grace kept saying, “Go with Grandma. They come back?” We hugged, sent them through the gate, and waved goodbye. I am so thankful it is never as hard as it was that first time in Nigeria. I have my family with me now. Lydia and Grace held each others hands for comfort on the way back. Lydia held on to her mints Grandma gave here like a treasured prize. We are so thankful Dad and Mom came. What a blessed time together and what special memories we have.

The last thing we needed on the way back to Kampala was a traffic jam, but that is exactly what we got. A three hour one! Talk about frustrating. We were trapped and all we could do was sit and wait. (By the way you can get really mad when the two lane road becomes five lane mess!)

Tim and Angie had to do some immigration work so Josh and I decided to try out a new hotel outside of town and have a two day vacation with our girls. We stayed at the Colline Hotel. It was nice and we were able to swim and even watch Monday night football on ESPN. On Wednesday we traveled back to Soroti all together. We didn’t know if we would be able to cross the bridge but all we could do is try. We were able to cross but I was scared. There was about 8in. of water over the bridge and the road just before was even worse. I do not crossing over a bridge that you wouldn’t even know was there if the poles weren’t showing. The water was flowing too. Oh, thank you God for keeping us safe! (Who know what will happen come the end of November when we need to leave again.) In one weeks time there was so much more water again. Now not only were the trees and what should be dry land underwater but now we saw huts surrounded by water. I can’t imagine if that was my home. What would you do? How would you feel? Where would you go? I was more than ever thankful to arrive home. Home to my beautiful, safe house. Lord, you have blessed me so much.

September 18 -- Kampala

September 18, 2007

The night before we left for Kampala to pick up Dad and Mom Beute we got a call around 11:30pm. It was Pastor Patrick Florence was in labor and they needed a ride to the hospital. Josh rushed to get his clothes on and pick them up. Florence was fully in labor when he got there and they feared she would deliver in the van. (This is her third baby in three years so they come quickly.) I was back at home praying for all of them and thankful I wasn’t the one in the pain of labor. Josh made it home safely (we don’t usually travel that late at night so I was a bit worried). About a half an hour later our phone rang. Patrick and Florence had a baby girl. Thank you God.

The next morning we were on our way to Kampala. We left at 5am it was so quiet and beautiful out as we watched the sunrise. We had heard that water maybe over the road because of all the rain and flooding and it was. There was only about 5inches of water but we feared what we would find when we had to return to Soroti. We were pretty successful in Kampala. We got our work visas finally! Answer to prayer. We are now legal for a whole year. What a lot of work that was – not to mention a lot of money. Tim and Angie were able to get a two year, multi entry visa to the States for Moses. What a blessing! People said it would be hard to get a visa and they even got a two year one. Nothing is too hard for God! Our hotel was another story. Many of the hotels have gone up in price and so we have been on the hunt for a nice hotel in our price range. The one I ended up booking (after a ton of phone calls) ended up being something close to a dump. I told Josh I was not comfortable staying there. We ended up going next door to another hotel. It was nice and clean and only $22. We thought it was a good deal until the second night with no power – no lights, no fan, and no hot water. That got old quickly so we were on a hotel hunt again. Thankfully we found a very nice (nicest room we have stayed in) and they were willing to lower the price so we could afford staying there. There is a pool down the road that you can pay to swim at and an ice cream place up the road – perfect! What a blessing to have somewhere to stay that you can also enjoy.

We did the normal running around, shopping, and restaurants. The day Dad and Mom arrived we went to Entebbe (45min from Kampala where the airport is) early to go to the zoo. The zoo is really beautiful it is on Lake Victoria and has a very natural setting. The kids (and Tim) loved the animals. We had a lot of fun. Grace got so excited with each new animal and could say all their names. She always asks, “Is it nice?” Lydia used her Daddy’s binoculars to see the animals. She is a bit nervious with the lion. Monkey’s run free at the zoo and they were all over the trees by the rhino. You could get as close as you wanted – I don’t need to get that close to an unpredictable animal. Lydia was brave enough to ride the donkey this time. She said she was a cowgirl and it was just like riding Uncle Randy’s horse. (She rode that horse about a year ago but she doesn’t forget anything and talks about it a lot.) After the zoo we had supper at an outdoor Chinese restaurant then when to get Grandpa and Grandma Beute.
Grandma arrived with tears so happy to see her grandkids again. Lydia was thrilled to see them, Moses went right to them, but Grace and Avalien took a little to warm up to them. Lydia talked non stop to G&G and it wasn’t long before Grace joined in. Lydia kept telling Grandma she missed her and loved her. By the time we were all packed up (they came with 7 boxes) the girls wanted to sit by G&G and that was the start to my (Mommy’s) vacation – Grandma is here

September 8 and 10

September 8, 2007

Yesterday I finally was able to visit the hospice for widows here in Soroti. I have begun a friendship with our neighbor Stella. Stella’s husband is the doctor at the hospice. They are from Mbale and Stella has been very lonely here. I have brought here banana bread, books and magazines, and she has come and read with Lydia. She loves to read and wrote me a couple notes telling me how God has used the books to work in her life.

So Stella and I went to visit the hospice together. Dennis, her husband showed us his office and told us about the place. It opened in March and has had 86 widows treated there mostly older, terminally ill, HIV, or cancer patience. James gave us a tour of the place. It is a beautiful place, quiet, with plants and trees, and a very nice building. There is a lot of empty rooms right now and some construction going on. The organization that funds it is in America. They hope to have a chapel and chaplain some day. Right now there are 23 widows there. I think the main thing they do for them is give them a place to stay and try to keep them comfortable. I was thankful I could bring them some joy just by shaking their hands, touching them, and greeting them. That is when I wish I knew Ateso because I couldn’t communicate with them. They must be so bored just lying or sitting there all day, everyday. Most of them look very frail, but they could still smile. I was glad I went and was able to see another ministry here in Soroti.

Lydia and Grace are doing well and continue to be the joy of my life. I do have to remind myself (a lot) that I need to slow down and enjoy them. I wont care or remember the email or work I did two years from now but I will remember being with my girls and that is what matters. Lydia now wears underwear to bed! I am so proud of her. She is earning money to buy boots in market. She is now into rhyming and figuring out what letter words start with. (We are asked all day long!) Lydia is a very good big sister too. She helps and shares a lot. Grace is in a big girl bed (I think I told you that). Grace seems to be a better listener now and is so much fun. She goes around saying, “oh where Lydia?” or “oh, where, oh where baby?” For the first time the other night she said, “I lub you Daddy.” Talk about a happy parent moment. She also likes to ask for hug and kisses (“kiss a me, hug a me”). Grace talks up a storm and I love just listening to her. Josh built the girls a play kitchen set out of wood for them. It is really cute and they love playing restaurant with it.

We brought banana bread and visited with Pastor Patrick and Florence today. Florence is about ready to give birth to their third child (they will have three kids in three years of marriage – two years old and under). We had such a nice visit and I love the quietness and beauty of the village. (Ahh, Mahula.) I really like them. She is growing pumpkins and gave me one which I was quite excited about – fall time! It is so good for us to take time to visit and encourage our friends here. I want to do it more and be better at that. I too am blessed by doing it.

September 10

Tabitha had her thirtieth birthday so we had her over to celebrate. We had cake, presents, decorations, and Josh made her a balloon hat (which she wore all night and even to her home). I think she really appreciated it. It was her first birthday party she has had. We really like Tabitha and are thankful for her. This is one way we can thank her and show her we love her.

There has been a lot of rain and lighting lately. The past couple weeks we heard popping noises when there was lighting and a light would flash in the house. We thought something much be getting hit in our house. We unplugged everything but it continued to happen and it fried our internet so we think it came through the phone line. The other night we saw, heard, and felt the lighting hit right outside of our house somewhere. I was so scared! It was loud and bright. Our lights went out and the thunder roared. I do not like when it is so close!!! So our internet went out again and so we will be out for another week or so, again.

However, we are safe and some people aren’t. There has been so much rain there is flooding all around the area (I think in a lot of Africa right now). They say it is the worst it has been in 35 years. People are loosing there crops, some have to leave their homes and live in schools, a few have died, and they are afraid the major road to Soroti and beyond will be flooded soon. The saddest part is that the people most effected are the people who were also most effected by the war and they have just returned from the refugee camps. There is so much suffering. We will have to see what happens in the next couple weeks.

Our neighbors, Joseph and Martha and their two small kids, are thankful for their new zinc roof with all the rains. They had a grass roof and it leaked so bad that they couldn’t sleep when it rained. It would rain in black because of the mold and the ground would be flooded. I was looking at their one room home the other day and the Lord seem to say to me, “Mandy, your bedroom is bigger than their whole house.” (And they are a family of four.) I have so much. God continues to teach me about being generous with all He has given me.

Lydia continues to sing (and amazes me how she learns song) and the other day she added, “Okay, I have a testimony.” They give testimonies each week at church. I decided I love having girls! It is simply so cute and brings me so much joy to watch them sing, dance, play house, dress up… and I just can’t imagine boys doing that.

September 7 -- Giving

September 7

I was so excited the other day when I really felt God talk to me and teach me. I was doing my devotions and God clearly spoke to me about giving. I really struggle with giving especially here where we are surrounded by need, are always being asked, and once you give they only come back for more. I have been realizing what a selfish person I really am and that I don’t like who I am, how I respond when people ask me for something (money). Yet, all over in God’s Word it talks about giving and caring for the poor and needy. What do I do with all that? How do I apply it here in Soroti yet keep it under control? Some missionaries say you just have to have a hard heart – jokingly some what I think. But God had something to show me in His Word.

I was reading from Luke 6: 27-36 where it says,
- “give to everyone who asks you” (vs. 30)
- lend without expecting to be repaid (vs. 34)
- “THEN your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (vs. 35-36) Did you hear that he is kind to who the ungrateful and wicked. Not those who are grateful and kind.

After I read this I wanted to dig deeper to see what else God had to say about giving. I read the footnotes and other references. That led me to Deut. 15: 7-11 that says,
n vs. 7 do not be hard hearted or tight fisted. (I am)
n vs. 8 be openhanded and freely lend. (not me)
n vs. 9 careful not to harbor wicked thoughts (when giving). (I have)
n vs. 10 be generous, without a grudging heart, THEN God will bless you in all you do.
If that wasn’t enough I read Proverbs 21:13 and 26,
“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” And “the righteous give without sparing.”

Wow, I was so convicted after read all of this. I have sinned. I give grudgingly, I am not openhanded or give without sparing, I want to be repaid… I needed to repent. God, I am sorry. I don’t know how to put this all into practice here but I want you to teach me. Help me. It is so easy for me to give reasons why I don’t want to give to this person or to that but as God pointed out to me in the footnotes that many people think that being poor is somehow the fault of the person and that kind of reasoning makes it easy to ignore the poor. We are not to make reasons, excuses, or ignore we are called to give, to be merciful, to help, and to love.

I am not sure how you give to everyone openhandedly, but I do know I need to learn to give with a right heart. It isn’t mine money, it is God’s./ I need to learn to hold on a little looser. Nothing is mine it is all a gift from God that I am responsible to manage well FOR HIS KINGDOM (not for me). I want to obey God. I will listen closely to what He wants me to do. My attitude is really what needs to change. I want to give out of love and mercy not because I have to or should. I know now that every excuse is just that, an excuse. I need forgiveness. God is so merciful and good to me. Thank you God for teaching me your ways and allowing me to know Your heart of love.

September 4, 2007

September 4, 2007

Friday we had Dewires over for coffee. We had a nice time and the girls enjoyed playing. They were impressed with the home improvements. In the afternoon Angie and I went to Manes’ yard sale. How fun, how normal. I got a few things and really enjoyed fellowshipping with the ladies. We finally met the other Baptist missionary. We stayed all afternoon talking.

I forgot to tell you a few weeks ago there was a parade in Soroti to stop child sacrificing. I bunch of little kids (and teachers) marching with signs. I began to think, child sacrificing must be pretty bad (common) around here to have a parade against it. How sad.

Saturday we had a nice cloudy day, cool, quiet day here. We have been enjoying a lot of clouds and rain lately. It is nice. I even wear long sleeves on occasion.

I had a bad attitude on Sunday. We went to our neighbor’s church and as I walked there I got mad. I am not sure why really but I was upset that I see “everyone” going to church on Sunday and so few living it out all week. If being a Christian doesn’t change your life than you aren’t a Christian. I mean it has to make a difference. I am so tired of hearing about people here sleeping around and being unfaithful yet many of them go to church. It seems to be culturally accepted. I told Josh he needs to be preaching on this sin. When I got to church I started to soften. How do I know you these people are or what they do? Am I to judge? No, I am to give grace. Oh, what a sinner am I. I bowed before the Lord, asked for forgiveness, and worshipped Him.

Monday, Labor Day, we actually got to do something fun to celebrate. We were invited to Dewires for a grill out. I love having things out of the ordinary to look forward to. We had a really nice time. I think it is so nice for the Baptist to include us. The ladies were asking Angie and me all about how we do this and that. The guys even talked all afternoon. The kids had a great time playing and were so good. (What a lot of kids, I think about 14 and four of them are two year olds.) Not to mention how good the food tasted. A real American summer meal – burgers, baked beans, potato salad, dessert… What a fun day.

August 26

August 26, 2007 – Sunday

We had a thank you Amecet party here Friday. All of the worker and children (even the babies) came. We wanted to thank them for their ministry and for their care they gave to Moses. Angie and I made all kinds of goodies. We all had fun playing musical chairs and water balloons. I feel a big part of my ministry here is encouragement. I don’t do much of the direct ministry but I can support those who do.

Little, skin and bone, Tom from Amecet died. So sad...yet he is now healthy with his Heavenly Father. They also had to send home kids for the first time because of some abuse happening. They have gone through a hard time lately. Our party came at a good time and I hope it blessed them.

Our guard, Patrick, is now hired directly through us. His gun accidentally went off the other night and scared all of us. A lot! It was so loud. Patrick was in the guard house when it happened. It put a big hole in the wall and the shell wounded his foot. He was shaken up too. It was then that we decided we didn’t want a guard with a dangerous gun. We are so thankful no one was hurt. We know people are praying for us. So now we have a guard with a whistle, stick, and bow and arrow. The good thing out of the situation is that it showed me how much our friends here love us. Sam, our neighbor came running over to see if we were okay.

We haven’t had water for over two weeks! I am trying not to get frustrated but… I am thankful for our rain tank. Our construction is coming along and I feel much better about it all. Our paint is almost complete and looks so nice. We have a lot of room now.

Lydia came to me the other day and said, “I want to be a widow.” So we explained to her what a widow is. She hears about widows so much you know. Today she was playing and I asked what she was doing. She said she was being sad because Moses mother died. I told her that it is sad but God gave Moses a new mom and dad, Uncle Tim and Aunt Angie. She said yes now he has a mommy.

The girls LOVE to sing and are picking up all the songs at church. I will sing, “Who are you?” and Grace will sing back, “I am a winner (in the Lord).”

I don’t know if I wrote this or not but I did confirm that stubborn here means funny or someone who makes people laugh. So Grace is not stubborn like we know it to them but she is funny and that she is.

Did I tell you I am feeling so much better – praise God! I don’t feel the heaviness of stress or frustration. I feel under control. I don’t get so upset. I am not sure what the change. There is still stress and frustration but I feel like I know how to avoid getting so upset by it. I can stay clam. I have been talking to our team about it and they assured me that we all going through cultural stress and fatigue. I have started to take women vitamins. My hair had been coming out so much that I figured I was missing some kind of vitamin or hormone in my body so I decided to try vitamins. And of course I have been pouring out my heart to God and praying. He is my peace!

August 23 -- Widows Conference

August 23 – Thursday

This week there is a widow’s conference in Soroti. Josh and I went yesterday with the girls to see it and bring encouragement. I was amazed -- 3,000 widows in one place. I never felt like such a celebrity. Every where we walked they would cheer and want to shake our hands. I think everyone should feel that special! It is humbling. I felt so blessed and so glad I could encourage them that much just by being there.

The place was packed and people were outside too. They saw us in the back and brought us to the front. It was so hot in there and the speakers were so loud. When we got there they were singing but by the time we got to our seats a lady was speaking. Lydia and Grace did pretty good seeing the lady spoke for over 30 minutes. Grace thought it was church and was asking for a sucker the whole time. After the speaker, Beatrice, the leader of the widow’s initiative, introduced us. Josh impressed all the ladies with his Ateso. I am so proud of him! Lydia surprised me. She sang “Joy to the World” for the women and said her Bible verse. The women loved it and cheered – okay they cheer after everything we say! Lydia did so well in her first speaking engagement. I also got to talk. I told the women how blessed I was by their welcome and shared with them how God has shown me over and over in His Word that He loves widows and orphans. I also encouraged them as mother that we have a high calling from God to raise our children in His love.

I was so excited about the ministry at the widow’s conference that I decided to go again today. We haven’t had much contact with Beatrice and the widow’s ministry but I am thankful for them and impressed with them. I hope I can encourage them in some way. They have a new hospice in town that I really want to see. Anyways, I went to the conference with a thank you card for Beatrice and a donation for the widows. I told Beatrice that so many widows come to us and ask us for help and we feel it is best to help through the widow’s ministry so we don’t have everyone knocking on our door. She was so thankful and got up in front of everyone to tell them. I was quite embarrassed. She said the money would be used for medicine for the sick widows. I told them that we didn’t give the money so you could thank us but to thank God. God has blessed us so we could bless them. I enjoyed watching some dancing and meeting a few people then I went home. What a blessing it is to bless others! God is good!

August 20, 2007 -- Day away

August 20, 2007 -- Monday

I have been taking the month of August off from journaling partly because there isn’t much going on and partly because I needed a break. But it is nearing the end of the month and I am getting the desire to write again, I need to share with the grandparents what their grandchildren have been doing, and I have a new blog to put my journal on. So here we go again…

Saturday Josh and I took a day off with our girls. We went to Mbale to get away from the construction and stress at home. We had such a fun time. We went to the Mbale Resort first to swim. It was hot and sunny the first hour and a half so we had fun swimming. Grace just loves bobbing in the water. Josh is just as much of a kid when it comes to swimming. About the time our lunch was ready the rain started. After a quick trip to the grocery story we went miniature golfing at another hotel. Can you believe it, mini golf in Uganda? We heard about it from other missionaries and I was so glad we found it this time. The place was really pretty with a lot of beautiful plants and the golf was actually challenging and fun. There were water falls and lights for at night. Lydia and Grace loved it! I enjoyed watching them have so much fun trying something new. It just felt so normal to be miniature golfing with my family – it is so good to feel normal! When we finished we ate supper in a hut outside at the hotel. I really enjoyed my day away with my family. What a needed blessing!

Sunday Josh was asked by a couple of his students to peach in their village. So we loaded up and headed out about 8:30am but we did not realize what we got ourselves into. The students told Josh it was 20km away, it ended up being 60km deep into the bush. What a road! It took almost 2 hours of bumping and mud running. (Ever been mud running on your way to church?!) By the time we got there Lydia was car sick, Grace had eaten most of her church snacks, and I did not have the right spirit to worship. Why do I get so upset when things don’t go the way I planned they would? When will I learn? I had to ask God to forgive me once again, because once again once I saw the people and the encouragement we brought to these believers I was truly blessed. The village was quiet and beautiful. I really do like the churches in the villages. They seem to be filled with true worship and spirit. I was touched by the very old man in the back of church waving his hands as we sang, “waving now before the throne of glory.” They had a small band of finger pianos. I love that music! A boy led the singing and they were really good. Josh did a nice job with the sermon and our girls even held it together quite well.

After the service we went to the student’s compound for lunch. They were so happy to have us. I even got my first Ugandan hug from one of them. They sat us in a hut and served us tea and bread. Thankfully there was a sand pile for the girls to play in while we waited for the main course, chicken and rice. Once again they generously served us and gave us gifts of oranges and maze.

Then we headed to our last stop, the children’s ministry. A group of about 50 kids gathered with about three teachers. They sang and dances for us. Then Josh taught the kids the Bible memory they did at VBS. I was very impressed with the work they were doing with children there. By the end of their program my girls were done. They were tired. Who can blame them it was after 3pm. So we thanked them and headed home.

The girls napped most of the bumpy way home. I was thankful for my day, even though it wasn’t fun traveling there. The people were so grateful we came. I was blessed to see God’s kingdom alive and at work in that far away village. How did God get there? I mean how do the people know about Him? Who told them, who went? Thank God someone did! The good news is so good! I really do like the village life. But I know that it is too hard in this season of our lives to live there. I think our role right now is to go occasionally and encourage the believers in these areas. It is something we can do for them. It is good for me and it blesses them too. I will also remember them and pray for them. That area was also hit hard by the LRA and they have a lot of sad stories. I may have complained about our long ride there but the students biked there the day before. A total round trip = 10 hours! God you have blessed me so much.

Now for a short grandchildren update. Grace can now count to three and to ten when Lydia tells her what to say. Just last night she said her first Bible verse. Josh has been teaching Lydia “Let the little children come to me”, so Josh started the verse and Grace piped in, “Come to me.” Isn’t it amazing how smart kids are and how quickly they learn? She isn’t even two. Grace is also in a big girl bed now. We separated the bunk bed and now Lydia and Grace are each in a twin bed. Grace is a show off to often saying, “Look at me, look at me.” Lydia picked up a new Ateso word. The other day she told me Tabitha helped her go “susu” in the yard. Yes, she went peed in our yard. She thinks it is so fun to pee outside. Lydia also told Angie the other day, “when Grace naps Mommy and I read the Word.” Sometimes I hear her pray or give sermons while she is playing with Grace. The other day she was telling her babies something about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Oh, Lydia also knows her right and left. Pretty good, huh?

Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom Beute!!! Thank you for loving eachother!

August 4, 2007 – Rafting the Nile River

So I have to tell you about our trip before I send this off. We left for Jinja on Sunday and stayed at the King Fisher Resort. When we got there it was raining so we went to see the falls where you white water raft. Tim and Josh were supposed to raft the Nile with John and Barb on Monday and Angie and I would go with Dad when he comes in September. Now, however, we were beginning to think that maybe Angie and I should go with Buytens so we could stay back with Mom and our kids and the guys go with Dad. I was in turmoil! Did I really want to raft the Nile River? There are 12 rapids and 6 of them are number 5 rapids – that is as high as it gets in difficulty! Everyone was telling me I would regret it if I didn’t and it was a chance of a life time. The falls we went to see looked big but do able and Angie said the last time they were there they watched rafters and only one person fell out. There are Ugandans there that go down the falls on a jery can if you pay them – really they do, we saw one.

We had a nice afternoon swimming in a beautiful pool and enjoying the landscape on Lake Victoria. It was a bit chilly but fun to be away with our family. We found a nice restaurant for supper – all out doors with lights. Angie finally decided to go rafting and after much agonizing I decided to go too.

What was I thinking?! I am a mother and I don’t even like adventure or anything with the word extreme – like extreme rafting. We got to the rafting/backpackers place at 9am and we felt out of place right away. Everyone was young (actually just acting young – they were in their late 20 or older), single, travelers, most from Europe, with heavy metal blaring on the radio. To top it off they had a rafting video playing with everyone flipping out of the boat – seriously the worst of the worst. We consoled ourselves that they only showed the worst or that we wouldn’t be going down those falls. Boy, were we wrong! We would be right there very soon. It was then that I remembered that I once said I would never raft the Nile. Who would? There are animals in there and the rafting companies logo is of a raft flipping over. Why was I now going? I paid money to do this. Oh, well it was too late to turn back…so away we went.

We ended up in a raft with a young married couple from CT who went to Wheaton and where visiting a seminary in Kenya. Our guide was Mr. Funny Man. He is Ugandan and loved to tease us. I don’t think he said one serious thing. He did keep us laughing. The first while he gave us all of our instructions, I think it is a bad sign when you have to practice tipping out of the raft, being under the boat, getting down, holding on, and floating down a rapids. I really should have had a clue but I really just thought it was all precaution. So he tipped the raft over and we were all swimming in the Nile. Of course the hard part is getting back in! Next we had to jump out and float through a grade 1 rapids. Great, that looked like fun I thought. I started out floating well then got sucked under into a whirlpool and thought I was going to die. I got so much water up my nose. I panicked and couldn’t breath. That is when I knew I was in for more than I imagined.

Our first rapids was a grade 3 and we had fun bobbing up and down through it. Right after that was our first grade 5 rapids. This was the falls we looked at the day before. My heart was racing. My prayer all day long was Lord just keep me in the boat. We paddled forward until just before we dropped into the big rapids and our guide yells, “Get down!” and we all get in the boat and hold on. We made it through and it was even fun! I was so excited. Until we got to the next grade 5 rapids and I realized I needed to get through five more of these.

Our next rapids half of our boat fell out including Angie (I stayed in). Angie came up in a daze and needed a minute before she could see or talk (she had contacts in). Then we hit the rapids where only 5% of the people stay in the boat. I did not want to do this! Sure enough our boat flipped. I am not sure what happened but I was under the boat for a little while downing down the rapids. I thought for sure I was going to die! I couldn’t find my way out and couldn’t breath because I was either under water or being pounded by the rapids. At that point I hated rafting, I was scared. A kayaker came to my rescue. I could see everyone from our raft except for Angie. I panicked and asked the kayaker where my sister was. He assured me she was okay. Soon we were all back in our raft and heading to the next rapids. I really thought I couldn’t do anymore, but what can you do in the middle of the Nile but finish.

The rest of the day went quite well. At one point you can choose to get out or go over a real waterfalls. I got out at first with Angie but once I realized that no one falls out I got back in the boat. (Can you believe it?!) Oh my word, have you ever gone over a falls? We were straight horizontal. I fall over onto someone but we made it over. I watched the boats that went after us and it is crazy how the boat just folds up as it hits the bottom.

After that we had an hour and a half of calm water. We had lunch on our raft (pineapple and cookies). We were all so cold. It was cloudy and thundering in the distance. I longed for tea and a hot shower. Four rapids remained after lunch. I fell out one more time on a grade ¾ rapids. This time I handled it just fine. The kayaker was right there to get me. John and our guide fell out too. Looking back we wonder if there wasn’t a threat of crocodiles at this point. All of the guides where in a hurry to get people out of the water and other guides where hitting the water with their paddles. Our guide teased us about crocodiles the whole trip so we don’t know what the fuss was all about. I was impressed with all of the guides. There were nine kayakers and everyone knew what they where doing.

By the end I was so tired, relieved, and cold. They served pop, water, and beer when we were done but I was too cold for anything. (But a lot of other people enjoyed their “free” beer.) We had a 45min. ride back on a truck. Then we were served a bar-b-q supper at their camp by the first rapids. At the end of the day I was amazed I did it and make it. Am I glad I went…I will be some day. I am glad I can say I rafted on the Nile River.

We spent the next couple days in Kampala getting visas (again), shopping, and getting Lydia’s last immunization. I was really sore two days after rafting and have my share of bruises. I guess that catches you up on everything. Sorry this journal is so long. I shouldn’t have much to say in August – maybe. I love you all! Thanks for reading this and sharing in my life here in Uganda.

July 28, 2007

Lydia can spell her name! She is so smart. The other day she told me, I need to go see if Grandpa and Grandma Shaarda are they still white or if they are brown now. How her little mind works. She is always talking about what brown people eat and what white people eat or say.

We celebrated Lydia’s forth birthday a few days early (cause we are in Kampala for the real thing). Lydia helped me decorate the house with balloons, streamers, and signs. (Thank you to everyone who sent such thoughtful birthday decorations and gifts to make Lydia’s birthday so special. She knows she is loved.) We made a cake in the shape of a four and invited some of our friends. Tim, Angie, Avalien, Moses, John, Barb, Sam, Tabitha, and Kristine and Claudia came. We had so much fun! Lydia opened all her presents – princess dress, books, games, colors, and more. We sang happy birthday and ate yummy cake on Dora the explorer plates. What a birthday. We all enjoyed talking and laughing. We were blessed to see Kristine even smiling and laughing. I am so glad we can celebrate with our friends here.

We had a sudden visit from Brad and Amy Nyhof. The Nyhofs live in Seattle and know Rick and Annie. They started emailing us in January because they were interested in coming to Uganda. They ended up coming here with a different mission in Kampala but they were driving through Soroti and wanted to stop and meet us. They arrived Friday evening and left Saturday evening so it wasn’t much time but we were blessed to have them here. We talked till late on Friday then gave them a whirlwind tour on Saturday. They were very touched by Amecet. They love kids and have two small kids of their own. (By the way Lucy is still hanging on. She struggles to breath and seems to be suffering.) Amy is a hairdresser so she ended up giving us haircuts in the afternoon. They ended their visit by praying over us. We are thankful for their visit and encouragement.

Then we packed up our house so the construction can begin while we are gone. We even put plastic over the door and counters to keep as much dust out as we could. They are breaking down two walls and filling in another. I am just glad we wont be here for the real mess. We will see.