A couple prayer requests...

We appreciate so much when people pray for us!  It is such a blessing!

::Our Land Rover is broken again.  The second blown head gasket in 2 weeks.  This morning it got picked up and taken all the way to Kampala where there is a Land Rover repair place.  My parents are coming in two weeks, we would appreciate prayer that the Land Rover would be fixed and in good condition for their visit here so that we can use it to pile everyone into.

::Our second prayer request is for healing for Talitha.  We thought for a while that she had Rubella, but because the sickenss is lasting so long, we think it is something else...but we have no idea what!  She has had a fever for 11 days now and this horrible rash for 9.  She has a hard time walking because of it and is acting like most 2 year olds act during such long sicknesses...like a bear!  ugh...it's just no fun!  Spiritually, this has actually been quite difficult for her.  A few nights ago, she asked me if she could pray.  She prayed the most beautiful prayer I have heard from her!  "God, please help me to feel better.  Thank you for dying on the cross to wash my sins away.  Please help me to love you!  Thank you for keeping me safe."  The next morning when she woke up still sick, we were cuddling on the couch and she asked me in a very serious moment, "mama, why God not make me feel better?"  It is quite something to hear a two year old wrestling with God's somewhat difficult will for her little life.  I have been studying and thinking about suffering recently, and I was impressed with the idea that even when our children are suffering God is using it for good.  He is working in her endurance, faith, hope, and fruits of righteousness!  It is hard to stand aside and let God do this good work.  But we do trust him, that in time he will relieve her, answer her prayers (our prayers), and leave an early mark of sanctification upon her life.  May God be glorified to do this.

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!

After 13 years...

...our family is diaper free!

I perhaps picked the very worst week to potty train, but I happen to have an amazing daughter who, despite

daddy being in South Africa for a conference

and

coming down with, what we are pretty sure is Rubella (German measles)

she was mostly accident free from the second day in!

Poor thing, she's all speckled and spotted and has been feeling pretty crummy all week.  But she's a big girl now and nothing seems to steal that joy from her.

And she was very happy to have daddy back home.  I think daddy was equally glad to be home and thawing out as he forgot that it was winter in South Africa when he was packing to go.  

Another Baptism

This past Sunday, our church was blessed to witness the profession of faith of a dear friend and the baptism of her daughter.  What a precious thing it has been to see this sister grow in her faith.  She wasn't serving the Lord, but towards the end of her pregnancy, she began to attend ladies Bible study and then church.  Now she is eager to do what the Lord wills, but always asks for prayer that her heart won't wander again.  

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, 

prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, 

seal it for thy courts above!"

May God keep our sister near to his heart and help her as she raises her daughter for him as well!

School Break Fun...

"mom, can we turn on the water?"

"sure"

"mom, can we have a tarp?"

"sure"

"mom, can we have some laundry detergent?"

"um...why?"

"so we can go faster..."

"why not..."

now, if only the power would come back on so I can also use the laundry detergent to do some more laundry because that tarp just wasn't quite long enough... 

Chickens!

Our home school project this summer is raising a flock of egg-laying chickens.  We had a coop and pen built and are looking to have about 20-25 birds, but right now we have 16 of varying sizes, colors and ages.  The kids are having a great time figuring out what the chickens will eat, naming them of course (everything from Snowman to Jasmine), and checking for eggs (although most aren't laying yet).   

We also recently got a new dog.  Another mzungu in town had him and couldn't keep him where she was living.  He has several names including Afayo, Beebo and Scout.

So the Tuininga Farm now has 3 dogs, 4 cats, 10 pigeons, and 16 chickens...hopefully no mice and definitely no more snakes.  And, just like I said a few animals ago, I think that's enough for now.  ;-)

Trade Fair

Last week there was a trade fair being held in Mbale.  Many of our Ugandan friends told us that they had many animals there including snakes, zebras and lions.  So, since it was only $0.40 per person to go in, we thought it'd make a great outing...

there were no animals...

...except perhaps some ants on the ground...

but they did have some sketch swings to ride and a bounce slide...

...for another $0.40 of course...

...but at that point you have to do something to make the time worth it, right?

Dinner and the World Cup

Last night, we enjoyed a "truly Ugandan" experience.  We went down town around 6:30 PM, right when the streets begin to come alive, to eat dinner.  Our goal was to find some grilled chicken and chips (french fries) and a place to sit and eat.  We exceeded our goal when we found a place that not only was selling chicken and chips, but also had sectioned off a part of the walkway, rigged up a TV and had the world cup playing...something our kids had been wanting to watch.  So, for $2 a person (including sodas), we had a relaxing dinner as the sun set and watched Mexico Vs Cameroon.

Selecting chicken (actually, we bought all they had...haha...) at the "check-out counter."

Watching the game...

The little ones, not quite so interested in the game, were stuffing chips in their mouths and goofing off...