Give Thanks

November 15

What a lot to be thankful for! There are big and little things every day that are worth giving thanks. Too easily I can compare, complain, and become ungrateful. But when I am a thankful person and focus on all the blessings in my life there is so much joy. God is too good not to be thankful. Here is a look at my week of thankfulness…

After church Sunday we had lunch with some of the church leaders. The Fishers from Hudsonville, MI are here visiting our team so I thought it would be a good time to share how God has changed the lives of these leaders and their families through Josh’s teaching on God’s Word. I asked the leaders to testify about God’s work in their marriages and families. Many of them said that before the training they regretted marrying their spouse and they had no relationship. They didn’t communicate with each other. But after they learned what God says they now serve one another and make plans together. One woman said she did not know her husband loves her but now she does. A few men said how they now help their wives at home. They also said that they all neglected and abused their children but now see them as gifts from God. They now know it is their responsibility to teach their children not the churches. I was amazed. These are all Christian leaders and they had no value for their children. They said home is now different and the children are happy. The one couple changed so much that others are coming to them and asking how they can change too! Even a church had him and his wife come and share with them. Praise God! When others see a change in you and want what you have that is discipleship happening. I was thrilled to hear all God has done! Before we left we took a group picture and it was the sweetest thing to see these Ugandan leaders put their arm around their wives. You have to know that touching your wife in public is a big cultural no no. But they did it because they now know God’s way is better -- and others are seeing and believing. Amen!

We had a really bad day in school yesterday -- so bad we didn’t finish the day but waited till Dad got home to give a talk. (That is not what I am thankful for.) But it ended up being such a good teaching day. We got to talk a lot with the girls about obedience, forgiveness, and consequences. The week before we had talked about tough love from the book of Numbers. On our bad day Grace spilled my coffee off my desk. I didn’t get upset but was disappointed and asked her to help me clean it up. She said, “Guess this is what tough love is.” I asked her what she meant and she said you didn’t like that I spilled your coffee but you love me anyways. It is those moments I want to saver. They are learning and God is putting it in their hearts. I praise God for teachable moments.

Lydia also had a hard time doing her school work that day so I decided she needed a thinging cap. I took a big birthday hat and put a sign on it that said "I love to think!" She was so embarrased but it changed her mood and she even did her school work.

I am so thankful for a peaceful heart and joy in my life. I am so content where I am and in all we are doing. So thankful God has made His calling clear and is with us.

We are doing a marriage Bible study with our teammates and I praise God for the work He is doing through it. What a privilege to share God’s Word and see Him make marriage beautiful.

On that note I am so thankful for our team. Things seem to be getting better and better. God is working in all of us. We are all learning to rest in our Father. We also have Fishers here and they have brought us encouragement and wisdom. It has been fun to be together.

I climbed Soroti Rock for the first time with our team Monday morning. I had real mixed feelings waking up at 5:15 but I am glad I went. I love how God speaks when we are quiet before Him. One of our teammates read a Psalm and the words “God’s eyes are on the nations” spoke to me. As we sat on top of the rock watching Soroti wake up, I was encouraged that God watches everyone, everywhere, every day. How awesome is our God! He is in control. I have also been focusing a lot on God as my Rock with all my emotions and thoughts and being on that rock assured me of God’s help. He is God.

On a lighter note, I am thankful for Luka and his success in potty training so far. The other day he decided he could do it standing up and came out all excited cause he made bubbles!

We look forward to traveling to Kampala this week to take Fishers to the airport. May God will you with thanksgiving this week too!

Thankful

November 6, 2011

Happy November everyone! I just love this time of year. The holidays!

I had such a good week and I feel very thankful, yet there were other parts of the week that put so much on my plate and heart that I was overwhelmed and concern. Over the years I have learned to bring all my feelings to God. I am an extreme feeler so God gets a lot of them from me! He faithfully takes all my concerns and gives me peace. He is in control and I can rest in Him.

Our school week was such a blessing. I know God has answered so many prayers. This summer as it looked more and more like a teacher wasn’t coming and that I would be teaching the girls full time for the first time, I know if God was forcing me to be the teacher then He will give me all I need to do it. I did not worry but chose to trust in His promises. And now for me to say that I enjoy teaching, that is a true blessing! I love our little classroom and routine we have going. The girls are doing so well too – less complaining and more focused. I have learned that I need to be fully engaged and not trying to do other things in the classroom – just be teacher. This week we started talking about Thanksgiving. We read the story of the first Thanksgiving and I was amazed at what a mission story it is. Two cultures coming together to thank God. I am even learning in our school! We drew a beautiful picture all together of the first Thanksgiving day. We also had fun learning about the five senses. I will try to post some pictures of our experiment with taste. Love those fun moments!

It has been really rainy here and I love it! We have had more rainy, cloudy mornings than I can ever remember. I know all of you in Michigan think I am so strange to get excited over rain and clouds, but it makes our normal sunshine and 95 plus degrees into something like fall (well if you call 75degrees fall :)).

I sat outside the other day as Grace and Luka were playing in the sandbox making sandcakes. I could think of plenty of other things to do but decided to just sit there listening to their joyful talk and watch their muddy little hands. Some day soon my little ones wont be little anymore and there will no longer be sandcakes. I look at pictures and realize how quickly life goes by. I have been with our children almost every day of their lives and yet still they are growing up so quickly. As a parent I have learned to spend my time by what will be important 5 years from now. Will I care if I stayed in touch with people over the internet, if I made extra money by working, or if I was with my child? For me it puts it all into perspective. The world tells me that I can do so much more and have so much more, but God reminds me that the most valuable things I can do is raise my children and the best thing I can have is a godly family. I love my kids. I don’t want to miss a moment with them. So today I will listen to them make up beautiful songs as we take a walk or drive somewhere because some day all too soon the songs will be over.

Our team talked about community this week and I was thinking how unique our community is on the mission field, especially as a team. There is a unique tight knit, closeness. We see each other every week – sometimes every day depending on what is going on. We go through life together – the good, the bad, the sad, the hard times, fun times… We have a common passion and desire. We are the only ones who understand each other and what living on the mission field is like. We are each others fellowship, family, co-workers, church, accountability, Bible study, babysitters… To be honest there are times this is too close for me, but God has taught me so much through it. I need my team. They need me. I think it is how God wants it to be. I know for me, I have learned it means being selfless. We all have places of community or family as we like to call it on our team. For true community to happen it has to center on Christ. He is the one who binds us together in a common love, grace, and truth.

If you see my Dad tell him happy 60th birthday! Friday my family celebrated with him 60 years of life. What a blessing! To bad we couldn’t be there. Pray for my family as they celebrate in the joys of life and as they deal with the hardships. Seems there is always something happening in the big Beute family. I know we are all in God’s hands and will keep praying for one another.

Praying you had a week to be thankful for too!

October 30

We had a really good week. We started home school. Sometimes I feel like I am playing school when I teach the girls. I like being with the girls and it is exciting to see them learn. But there are times I really feel unqualified and do not like being a teacher. Already in one week there was a day I thought, “This is only day 3 of a whole year of school!” (Not said in a good tone.) Thankfully, there was only one day the girls fell apart complaining and ended the school day in tears. The girls all in all enjoyed their first week. I am very pleased how teaching the two of them went. They are both doing great work. I think we even figured out a schedule that works for our family. We start at 10am (this family does not do early morning) while Tabitha plays with Luka. We break at noon for lunch and return to school about 1:30 while Luka takes a nap. We are finished around 3:30pm. I still am concerned about not being able to do it all while having a full time job teaching, but this week I did it and I will trust in God for each new day.

We had ladies Bible study again this week. The Bible study is for the women on our team and other expatriates serving in Uganda that need fellowship with other Christian women. I was so glad to be digging into God’s Word again with the ladies. We are going through the Bible and are now in Numbers. I love all God’s Word teaches me! It is my joy. Every week as we go verse by verse in a chapter God has a message for us. This week we even got to have Bible study by candlelight (no power).

Luka is potty training. He does well some days when we remember to take him to the bathroom, but when we don’t he doesn’t come and tell us. Pray for success!

We went to Tabitha’s yesterday to visit her and the kids and to meet Irene’s new baby Amanda. I forgot to tell you but the end of August Irene (Tabitha’s 17 year old niece she has raised) had a baby girl. Amanda (named after me) is a beautiful baby. She is happy and loved by the family. Irene is still very much a child and not a mother. She nurses Amanda but I think Tabitha really acts as mother. It was wonderful to see the whole family full of smiles. Lydia loved holding Amanda. The other day she told me she was going to pray for another baby (for us). Then Luka bothered her and she changed her mind. However a day later she was praying again after watching a home movie when Grace was a baby. Lydia prayed at the age of 4/5 for a baby brother and got Luka so she thinks that if she prays again she will get another sibling. (I love her faith!) And now with holding baby Amanda she is on the baby band wagon.

Hey looks like Chad and Katie (Josh’s sister) will be coming in January to help out our team. We will be having a team retreat (strategic planning) and Chad and Katie will be watching some of the kids during meeting time. The week after the retreat they will come to Soroti and see our lives there. Pray for them as they prepare and raise funds. We are excited!

You can be praying for our team. There seems to be so many needs and things going on. We enjoy getting together each week for fellowship, worship, birthdays, meeting, meals or whatever. We started a marriage Bible study with one of our teammates which we are really looking forward to. We know God has called this team together and we are thankful He can use us in it.

I am still getting back into Uganda. There are so many emotions sometimes I just want to not feel. Then I think about our American home and I just can’t handle the difference. Actually, when I think about all the needs, suffering, and spiritual situation here and then all of the needs, suffering, and spiritual situation in America (let alone the whole world) I can become heartbroken. I am so glad I know where to go to cast all my burdens and when I need some hope – God is in control and His plan is good. I don’t feel like putting it all into words now. Just one thought, we were at church today and child after child came in with rags as clothes. I looked around and maybe ten percent of the kids had shoes on. Sometimes I can shrug it off and say that is how it is in Africa and other times God speaks to me. He has me here for a reason. No I can’t do everything but I am rich to be generous. God gave us much to give much. Not out of duty but love. These are not poor people in Africa but people in my church I love. I was so touch as our church sang, “I fall before the Lord and look up and see His majesty to fall before Him again.” As they sung Charles bowed humbly before the Lord on the ground. I thought that is love for God. These people we look at as poor are rich in Christ. I think of our time in Michigan and think who did I see humbly bow before the Lord? We (I include myself) worry about who will see, what we look like, that it isn’t what is done in our church… instead of worshipping our Lord. Maybe it is pride that gets in the way of our humility? Maybe we don’t know or love our Lord enough to get our knees dirty and to let our reputation go? Maybe we are too quiet and ashamed in our love for God? Has our wealth made us poor in spirit? Uganda is full of sin and suffering, but today Charles and others at our church humbled me with their faith in God. Love for their Savior they totally depend on. I am so thankful God shows Himself to me in His Ugandan Children.

No matter what we are going through today. No matter how poor (physically or spiritually) we maybe today. Fall before the Lord. Love Him. And may His love empower us to love others. Let’s worship God beautifully this week as we live for Him.

(Incase you wanted to know, our wash machine is working! What a beautiful sound. I have never been so excited to do laundry. The clothes dry so fast outside now that they are spun in the washer. Tabitha is happy too. It is great timing cause now she has time to just play with Luka while we school. )

Unpacked & Settling In

October 22, 2011

If you haven’t heard we are back in Uganda and doing well. We were blessed with peaceful goodbyes and good flights. The kids were sick the first morning in Uganda but God healed them quickly. So many answers to prayers we have seen. God is with us! We are very thankful to be back to our home in Soroti.

In some ways it feel like we just go on where we have left off and things seem normal (for here), but in other ways we have to adjust again and relearn what it is like to live here. All in all things are going very well. The kids seem happy to be home. Luka calls it “my other house”. The girls just screamed when we arrived and were even excited about seeing their front door. They are all thrilled to have their things again – feels like all new toys after being away for three months. Our team and Tabitha had our house ready for us. It is so nice to come back to a nice, clean home (we use to come home to all dust here and in Nigeria). I managed to unpack in a weeks time – even without stressing. There is still some organizing to do but we will get to it eventually. And yes, I got the Fall decorations out and up! I just had to, I love it.

I was getting the classroom ready to start teaching next week and it is making the girls excited. Grace is even counting down the days and asks to start everyday. I am so glad they look forward to beginning. They love playing but need some structured time too. Luka loves Tabitha so hopefully that will work well when school begins.

We enjoyed having our new and old teammates over to catch up on life and ministry and to help and get to know our new teammates better. We had friends over last night and had a fun game night together. Everyone has welcomed us back with meals and other goodies. It is a blessing to have this missionary community to come back to.

I guess that is it for now. Nothing too exciting. I am excited however that the repairman came from Kampala and fixed our washing machine! It had a rats nest in the wires and the wires were chewed on. Of course nothing is a simple fix, now the plumbing has issues that need fixing before we can use the washer. One more thing for the “to do list”. Josh has already fixed a toilet and has a moldy closet that need cement work. So many little things, or big things like getting his motorcycle running again and the van’s 4 wheel drive to work again. All in good time. Thankfully Josh hasn’t started teaching yet and is willing to help around here before he does. (Sorry about that I just realized I made a whole paragraph about nothingness.)

Thanks again for your loving prayers!

Alittle Help

Dear Family & Friends,
From January 7 to 10 we are planning to have our Team Strategy Retreat and we are in need of 3 to 4 people to provide childcare and a children’s program for the 14 children (ages 8 months to 12 years) on our team. And possibly someone to lead our team in worship. Our team would cover your transportation to & from the airport, accommodation and food costs for the retreat. You would be welcome to stay longer or come beforehand to spend time in Soroti with the team. Please contact us or Tim & Angie Sliedrecht (sliedrechts@hotmail.com), our team leaders, know if you are interested as soon as possible. Thanks!

Sick Delay

Hi again, well we are not in Soroti yet.

We all went to sleep last night at about 8pm and I (Mandy) was the first one up at 9am! Josh said he and Luka were awake in bed for about an hour during the night though. Lydia and Luka both woke up feeling and looking sick. We figured it was just sickness from the time change and travel but about an hour later Lydia throw up. We had the van all packed up so we decided that the kids could just sleep in the van as we drove to Soroti. We were no futher than a half a mile down the road when Luka threw up too. (All over the van, car seat, and stuff!) So we went back to the guesthouse to stay another night. As much as we want to back to our home no one wants to travel with sick kids. Thankfully we have a nice guesthouse to stay at and get better.

So thanks again for praying for us and add feeling better too. Lydia and Grace are doing better already this afternoon so hopefully tomorrow we will travel to Soroti.

Back in Uganda

Just a note to let all of you know we made it back to Uganda. We know many of you were praying for us and you need to know God was with us the whole trip once again. In big and little ways we saw God faithfulness through our journey.

We managed to leave our home in Michigan on Saturday with all our luggage packed and the house cleared out. Our goodbyes were peace-filled. Flying went very well and we even got extra seats. We had a 11 hour lay over in London and were able to enjoy a break swimming and sleeping at a hotel. Our kids are awesome! They are great travelers and even with all the change going on they are still smiling and filling our lives with joy.

We arrived in Uganda this morning - Grace's 6th birthday! In some ways it feels like we have been gone a long time and need to remember how things work here; in other ways we just jump right back into things here. Adjusting will take time. Right now we are just trying to stay awake until tonight when everything in us wants to curl up and go to sleep. We plan to drive to Soroti tomorrow and be to our home by afternoon. Looking forward to being home and seeing our team again.

We are so thankful for God's presence with us! Thanks for praying for us! What a comfort and what strength it gives us. We are blessed because of you. Continue to pray for us as we travel again tomorrow and adjust in the weeks to come. I will send this out but will send a bigger update to everyone later so spead the word that we arrived. Thanks again everyone!