December Photo Project Day 13

Tonight the expat community ladies are having a cookie exchange.  This is my contribution.  I'm going with 4 dozen of these Christmas sprinkled pie crust cinnamon rolls, and will come home with a smattering of other Christmas gems.  While I still can't say that I'm totally used to it being sunny and warm while hearing Christmas music blaring downtown, it sure is easier than last year and I praise the Lord for that!  

December Photo Project Day 12

So today was one of those December Photo Project days, where you totally forget to take your camera out all day.  Then you are about to go out for the evening to your "station meeting" at a local Indian restaurant (aka...double date with great friends and great food) and you remember, so you grab your camera.  And as the chicken lollipops are placed on the table you ask if you can, in the name of the DPP, just quick take a picture.  And your husband answers, "are you sure you don't just want a picture of the chicken?"  So with high hopes for tomorrow, here's my somewhat lame, but always-a-good-time photo of our Mbale station, OPC mission meeting (and please note, the chicken is still in the picture)  :) 

December Photo Project Day 11

What is this peeking its little head up?

The newest member of the Tuininga farm...thanks to "our boys" in our neighboring village of Mooni...they are always on the lookout for us!  When we announced that we wanted a kitten, they came to our rescue!  His name is Milo.

December Photo Project Day 10

Today, our family got to watch one part of the body of Christ bless another part of the body of Christ.  A PCA church in Georgia wanted to send a Christmas gift to a village church here in Uganda.  We got to play "mailman" this morning!  So much fun!

Our day started bright and early at the Tuesday market, where we picked up the gifts.  One of our deacons worked very hard bartering (while we mzungus stayed hidden) and then after the price had been agreed upon and settled, we came and picked up the goats...one goat for each family in the church.

Then we led them through the market,

back to the waiting trucks...

We loaded them on and tied them up...putting the most stubborn one at the back in permanent "time out."

Aren't they cute?

Then, once again, the deacon bartered for another 30-40 minutes and scored all kinds of good deals on chickens...one for each person in the church.

Then we attempted to deck them out with name tags, but since the people gathered together on "Africa time" most of the name tags were ingested.  :)

I love these sweet ladies!

Here is Herbert and Beatrice and Baby Eric!  Herbert pastors the church at Mazimasa.

There are three sets of kids that come to church without their parents.  Here is one group of 5 brothers.

Everyone got a chicken, from the oldest saints...

to the youngest...

What a blessing to be apart of today!

December Photo Project Day 9

Today was the day for Christine and I to get our (almost) monthly pedicure.  After we enter the little shop, trying ever so hard not to get tangled in the beads hanging in the doorway, we take our seats in the back room.  The man removes any other polish (and comments what a sloppy job it is if it's a home made job), gives our feet a nice soak and scrub in a plastic basin and then we choose a new color to go on.  Today it was Christmas green.  What the salon lacks in first world atmosphere, it makes up for in price...only $4 for this once a month bliss!  

December Photo Project Day 8

Today we worshiped at Kachonga OPCU.  

Eric was privileged to be able to administer the sacraments as well as preach to the brothers and sisters there.

We also were so thrilled to hear the brothers and sisters begin to collect donations to send to their brother in America, Dan Dillard...pastor of the OPC church in Bend who was involved in a serious motorcycle accident.  Dan Dillard had come to Uganda before to minister here and the saints here have fond memories of his service towards them.  While adults were donating and making pledges, this little boy stood up with help from his brother and brought forward a crumpled 1000/= bill (about $0.40) and placed it in the elder's hand.  The translator, obviously a bit taken aback, told us that this little boy is giving because he understands personally what it is like to suffer trauma.  His father then stood up and publicly praised the Lord for protecting his son's life when one recent Sunday morning, he climbed up high in a Mango tree and fell.  All of the witnesses thought he was dead.  They rushed him to the hospital, where God provided a doctor for him through unique circumstances.  He is slowly mending and we continue to pray that God will heal him completely.  We also praise the Lord for these saints who care so much about their family in America!  But isn't that what the body of Christ is?  A body that cares for it's members when they are suffering.  A body who loves deeply, just as it is loved.  

December Photo Project Day 7

It's late at night now, but we just arrived home and I still need to post my DPP for the day!  Today was wedding day for the Magala's daughter who was introduced last year on our compound.  In Uganda, it is the groom's family that hosts the wedding and they usually take place at the groom's home church/town.  So today, we traveled down to Jinja for the day.  

While we waited for the bride to prepare herself (in true Africa fashion, the wedding began a few hours later than planned) we watched the kids play (being diligent to not allow them completely failing to keep them from playing in the rain), visited with other guests and thought about how the angels are waiting for the bride of Christ to be prepared for the great wedding.

Finally, the moment arrived and Pastor Charles walked his dear daughter down the aisle.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Diana...

And finally, a group shot of everyone from Mbale, that was able to join in the festivities today...