Sisiyi Falls

Today was Eric's day off and so we drove up to Sisiyi Falls.  It's a lovely place to hang out.

 

Visiting Baby Dianna

The Ugandans have a tradition of naming babies after missionaries.  I knew that.

 

But I certainly never expected it.

 

So I was delighted and honored when I heard that this sweet baby is named after me.  :)

 

Meet baby Dianna.

 

Isn't she sweet?



 

 

Her daddy works for the school and her family attends the Mazimasa OPCU congregation, where her daddy also serves as deacon. 



 

 

Her mommy's milk is taking too long to come in, so she is currently being spoon-fed cow's milk.  

 

This is her auntie.  She really wanted me to take her picture.  The soft light that enters Ugandan houses and the textures that abound mixed with her her beautiful face, made her a stunning subject.  May God shine his beautiful light unto salvation into her heart.

 

And this is big sissy, Eunice.  She's such a doll!  Last year, we were able to witness her baptism.  

Getting my baby fix! :)



While we were there, Grandma and Grandpa came to say hi.  He is an elder in the church.

After our visit, we also dropped in to see a few other church members.  One of them, who is also a student at KTC, lives right by these rock.  He has many crops planted in among the crevices of rocks.  The kids had fun climbing right up.

 

On the way home, we stopped by a roadside stand and fed the entire family lunch for 5,000 shillings...

 

That's $2.45.

 

Awesomeness...

Prayer Request

We are praying that God will bless us with some new dogs here and would appreciate you joining in with us in prayer. 

Right now we have 2 very old and very sick German Shepherds.  Sadly, they really need to be put-down soon. 

Due to safety concerns though, we need some new dogs to replace them before we put them down.

Please pray that God will provide us with at least two very child friendly, calm around the family, dogs.  But dogs that will be intimidating to strangers.  Also pray that they will be very cheap.  (We found a source for breed puppies, but they are $800 a dog...yikes!)

Thank you!

Knox Theological College begins

Eric began his teaching today.  Prayers appreciated!  It is a new time for him and new for us at home to have Daddy working away from home for the bulk of the day.  (He's always had his office at home.)  "He who calls you is faithful, He will surely do it." I Thessalonians 5:24

In other news, this morning I found Talitha, having butt-scootched her way to the back porch, examining quite a large toad.  She was holding it, looking at it and shaking it. She was thrilled with the friendship, but I don't think the toad had quite the same feelings.  After we saved the amphibian's life from impending doom helped her to say goodbye to the little guy, and walked into the house, I overheard Benaiah (age two) trying to educate his little sister: "You tan play with legos, you tan play with babytoys, but you tannot play with toads, k?"  Lesson learned, I hope...I'm sure the toad learned his lesson anyway...either that or died from stress overload...

Perspective

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²³ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. ²⁴ Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”  Luke 18:22-27

6 months ago
Salem, Oregon, USA
Family Devotions: Mark 10:17-31

Me: "Kids, are we rich or poor?"
Kids: "poor"

A few days ago
Mbale, Uganda
Family Devotions: Luke 18:18-29

Me: "Kids, are we rich or poor?"
Kids: "rich"

Perspective: changed

OPCU pastors and wives luncheon

Today we hosted all of the OPCU pastors and their wives for lunch.  It was such a wonderful time of fellowship.  We visited, ate lunch, then read scripture and sang.  It was an especially nice time for the wives who don't get out much and don't get to visit often with each other.  We also figured out that between the seven couples, we have 62 children (58 living) and three sets of twins. :)  What a blessing. :)



Talitha--11 months

My dear little baby is growing quickly!  She's now 11 months old! 

She has quite a little personality...

And is often seen with dirty feet these days...

Up until 2 nights ago, she slept right next to me in a side sleeper bed.  But she was out growing it and let me know by kicking her little feet onto our bed.  So she moved out of our room to her pack and play in the girls room.  I miss her but the girls sure are excited to have her!

The Safe

This is what happens when you use a battery operated safe

and when you shut the safe, the batteries pop out

and you have no idea where the backup key is...

It's kinda like a pinata...

or somethin' like that...

A gift...

Our family was given a very sweet gift yesterday when Eric went to the village...

Her name is Chic-fil-A.

We'll visit with her while she hangs around our compound and then we'll visit while we sit around our table with her in a pot.

She's kinda cute...in a chicken sort of way... 

Morning Nurishment

While there is still no power in our house (apart from our generator, which gets turned off at night),

there is power in the word of God...

power that is "proclaimed among the nations" and

"believed on in the world."



First Ride on a Boda...

 Remember our pre-field boda training?

Last week, Eric took Timothy and Matthew for their first ever boda ride.  They went down to the market to walk around and then back again.  Timothy and Matthew thought is was great!  Mr. Paul went with them so Timothy didn't have to ride alone.  :)

This is the road we live on.

Brian, one of the little ones living on the compound (and Jimmy's new best bud), was peeking out of our gate to watch the goings on.  

Where did our muddy feet take us today?

To Sipi Falls!

The drive up to Sipi was perfectly beautiful!



The trail to the main falls was too muddy today, because it rained a lot yesterday.  So we hired a guide to take us up to the top two falls. 

On our way up, some boys (about age 13) started to hawk over us, trying to earn a few shillings.  Trying to act as our guides, they started showing me all sorts of things along the path and then grabbing my hand to help me up the steep parts.  I was trying to make it perfectly clear that we weren't going to hire them and after a while I glanced behind and realized they were gone.  Whew! 

Just a minute later, they came running up with this chameleon on a stick!  Okay, they finally got my attention and I couldn't let this one go by without showing the kids.  After looking at it and snapping a picture, we commended them for their ingenuity and persistence by sharing some cookies with them and then said a sweet (and firm) goodbye. :)

This area is where Kiprotich, the Ugandan that won the Olympic gold medal for the men's marathon, is from. 

At the top of the middle waterfall...

Don't worry...this picture looks more scary than it is.  It was actually a gently sloping hill. :)

Hiking in Uganda isn't for the faint at heart though... this bridge was mildly terrifying. 

Inside a cave behind the middle falls.

 This is a picture from the top of the main falls.  So pretty!

Our guide was a great guy!  He was so good and patient with the kids and was never annoyed with them.  For a lot of the hike he even offered to carry Talitha.  My first thought was...should I hand her to a perfect stranger?  My second thought was...this guy can climb and hike this area better than us...we were slipping and sliding in all the mud and when we finished he hardly had a speck on him!  She is probably safer in his arms than any of ours!  By the end of the hike, she curled up and fell right asleep with him.  He loved it!  We told him he will make a great daddy some day...He replied, "I hope so! I want many children!"  So sweet! :)  If anyone is ever looking for a great guide through this area, let us know and we'll pass on his info! :)

On our way back, storm clouds were starting to roll in turning the sky into a canvas displaying God's glory.

If you want to see more pictures, scroll on down to the next post.