December Photo Project: Day 11

Last night we had a great time putting on a compound party with the Magalas, Paige, and our family.  As usual, it was so much fun!

Jimmy and Brian

Love my littles (though they aren't so little anymore!)

After supper, we had another rousing evening of "Compound's Got Talent."  Our esteemed judges were Martin, Abu and Sammy:

 Abu doing a magic trick:

Timothy's talent of creating a flaming sword...haha!

Here are a few videos:
The first is Eric and the littles doing "Don't Take Your Guns to Town"



And this is a Swahili song that Mama Rachel, Martin, Abu and Sammy did. It's something about not being a wolf in sheep's clothing:

December Photo Project: Day 10

Today's photos are from our open compound time.  We always have a blast.  

Watching volleyball:

Miss Paige's team... their cheer was "Little but Strong"

We always end with "Circle Time" where we sing, review Sunday School and the sermon, recite the children's catechism and read the Bible.

December Photo Project: Day 9

Sermon night: post-dinner/ post-sermon discussion.  Are we living for the pleasures of this world or the world to come? 

December Photo Project: Day 8

Last night we came home from our retreat tired and ready to relax.  For our weekly movie night, we watched Charlotte's Web projected up on the wall.  Denise had read the book recently and was super excited to see the movie.  Sniffles from the littlest people were quietly heard when poor Charlotte died.  Bless their tender hearts.  

December Photo Project: Day 7

Thursday's project was taking our team picture this year.  Here is everyone currently on the field with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church along with Dave and Darlene Eby... our speaker this year and dear friends of our mission that live and work in Kampala.  (We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of two more families in February!)  I'm so thankful for this crew!

Here are all the children of the mission...all our "Third Culture Kids."  These kids are amazing in my opinion.  They put up with a LOT in their little lives...from moving all over to many bouts of malaria, often being the first ones that Satan tries to attack in order to distract their daddies from the work here.  They are the heroes who have learned to go with the flow and join their parents in serving God's kingdom.  They had an absolute blast together on the retreat.

Here are the Missionary Associates of the team.  I consider them the "lifeblood" of our team.  Without them, the work of training pastors and strengthening churches would surely come to a screeching halt.  They do everything from building a clinic to accounting to working with kids to health education in the villages to homeschooling to maintainance to helping us moms....the list is endless... They are a vibrant group of people!

Here are the four pastors of our team.  We praise God for their passion for the Lord that comes through in all they do!

And here are their wives.  I am so thankful for these ladies and the impact they have made on my life and encouragement that they are. 

Thank you all for your prayers and support of the OPUM...the Orthodox Presbyterian Uganda Mission.  We surely appreciate it!

December Photo Project Day 6

Internet at our team retreat was terrible, so we were mostly disconnected for the week (oh so sad for a retreat, right? haha!).  But pictures were still taken!  On December 6 we had the first ever OPUM's Got Talent.  haha!  What a great time was had by all!

 The Judges: 

The Veggie girls:

Fat Happy Daddy:

The Brotherhood...they did a dance and won first place.  So fun!

December Photo Project: Day 5

Today we are off to our team retreat.  To get all of us, plus some of our teammates there we took 2 cars.  Eric drove the van and I drove the Rav.  Part way there, the road is under serious construction and has been for a very.long.time.  The little kids said, "Hey mom...it looks kinda like a blizzard."  Yes...a blizzard of white chalky dust and the closest thing to a white Christmas my equatorial dwellers will see.  

Then the little Rav decided it was tired of driving nicely and after a few kilometers of feeling like we were on a horse, it finally decided that it needed a little break on the side of the road...about a kilometer from where we were staying.  That last hill was just too much to ask of it! I called Eric on the phone and said, "The Rav is broken down."  He said, "But we're here!"  I said, "But we aren't here!"  haha!  Thankfully, it just wanted to rest for a few minutes and then we were able to limp our way through the last kilometer.  Hopefully, we will be able to get it fixed while we "retreat" so that we'll have a nicer drive home. 

It was a hot drive, but we made it...smiling faces and all!