Here and There

Auntie Rebecca and Family

Beauty

Wonder if anyone would notice if I took her home with me!

Edna and Rachel
1st Playdate

Ben preparing

Ben Sharing the Word of God

DCM Parents Meeting

Visiting Grace and her brothers and sister

      I sometimes wonder what is blog worthy in our day when most days it is just go here or there. Then those days add up and we have a lot to share. Several weeks ago, on a Saturday, there was a youth conference going on in our front yard and there was a knock at our door. We were surprised when we opened it and there was a muzungu standing there. We had the blessing of meeting a young women named Rebecca from Franklin, Tn who moved to Uganda a year and half ago, started a school and has  20 children in her care. We then had the opportunity to go to her home and visit their family. It was a great day full of playing and laughing. We walked over to the school she started and now serves 450 students. Of course, where ever you go a group of children are soon to follow and I found the most beautiful, chubby baby girl while we were there. She was almost as big as the child carrying her around. I had to restrain myself from not taking her home with me. We then ended our day with Rebecca sharing a huge craft market with us. Such a gift to be able to share the day with a remarkable women of God who is changing the lives of so many children.
    
      After being married to Ben for 15 years I learned something this last week that I will never do again. Uncle Tom of DCM ask me to speak at a parent meeting and I said sure. Then he asked me if Ben could do one of them too. I responded yes.  Huge mistake! I could answer yes to Ben building you a house or fixing something for you, but never again will I say Ben will speak for you. He says it is not his gifting. HA! If you are in Uganda it better become your gift because you are always expected to say a little something. He did a great job and went really well, but if you want him to speak please ask him yourself :)

     A week or so ago we moved into a new house. We have been struggling for some time with our generators. Yes, generators! We have been through at least 5. Ben worked very hard on a system to have electricity at the farm house, but it needed a generator to charge it. After several generators we broke down and bought a new generator and it worked for a hour. Took it back got another new one and it to died after some time. Got it fixed and then several days later it began to not produce power. So we prayed and looked at our options and decided it would be best to find a place in town that had government power. If it went out we knew that eventually it would come back on and Ben wouldn't be responsible for making that happen. It was hard to leave all our friends at the farm, but it has been nice not worrying power. We are also now only a minute from our friend the Sozi's!

    Last Friday we once again visited our friends at DG. The children here are on school holiday, so it was very quiet at the school.  Since our daughter Grace would not be at school we decided to go to her home and visit.  Her mother was not there for she was attending a burial, but we had the chance to meet her older brother Stephen and little sister Rachel. We also learned she has an older sister. The first time we visited we only meet her mother and younger brother Tom. It is so amazing to get to know her and her family. I could have stayed there all day loving on them all! Praying God will allow us to be his hands and feet and that her family will choose to follow Christ.

  So when the days turn into weeks and we have gone here and there and everywhere, I will thank God for all He has done and is doing during our adventure in Uganda.

    

It's GREAT to be 8!

Made in the USA in Uganda

Different but Good

Watching "The Waltons" 

Opening gifts first thing

Receiving a gift made by his Sisters

Riding Up Front

Happy to be at City Oil

Mirinda Fruity

Momma Phoebe preparing for the party

Friends

Watch out!

Entertainment

Traditional Dance

Today we celebrate Jacob making 8 as you say in Uganda! We began yesterday with Jacob and I making a cake. Jacob chose ground nut stew for his birthday dinner. We finished with cake and ice cream. Then this morning, the day of his birth, gifts in bed and cake for breakfast, lunch at City Oil and to top it all off a party with all our friends at the farm. We had the best time singing and dancing and just being silly with our friends! There of course was a great game of football (soccer) to end the party. It has been a wonderful day celebrating Jacob and the blessing God has given. I am so thankful that God gave us Jacob. He is a joy and his smile always brightens our day! We pray Jacob continues to grow in the Lord and that he always puts his trust in Him.

Children of God

Abigail and Sharon

Jacob and Arnold

Where's Ben? SLEEPING!
He did get up at 4 A.M. to drive 4 hours to DG

Rachel in charge

Abigail and a friend

Elizabeth and friends

Eve and Elizabeth

Dentist building has walls

My Candidate Class 

Worship Assembly

Children are a gift from God! Our family has so enjoyed getting to know the children at Divine Grace.  Our visit there this week was a bit more relaxed. Students were getting ready for a holiday as the second school term ends this week. Students were out of class more and that meant more play time.  It was so fun watching our children once again interact with the students. Abigail and Elizabeth always have a following of little ones, holding hands and tagging along. Abigail enjoys visiting with her sister Grace and new friend Katherine.  Elizabeth plays games and answers questions some of the girls have .....What do you eat in the US?Do you put vaseline on your skin? Do you plant in the US? And when Elizabeth can't answer they ask me. It is priceless to watch their reactions to the answers. Jacob can be found on the field playing football (soccer). He also enjoys chasing and tag with any one who will play. Rachel is a sight to see. She will have 30 children crowded around her at a time. One time I looked over and she was taking each child telling them just the right spot to stand for a game she was showing them. I think it was one she had made up. We were also able to meet some friends sponsored children and love on them. It is a joy and privilege to share the love of Christ with each child we meet. He created each one and loves them so. Thank you Lord for all your precious gifts!

Field Trip

Preparing for visitors
Tents for the boys to sleep in

Evening Glories

Following the bus to the museum

In front of the museum

Our Group

We had the opportunity to host 101 students from Divine Grace on Thursday and Friday. They were coming to Kampala to visit the airport, zoo, farm and museum. We welcomed them Thursday evening to the farm  and then worshipped with them under the stars. Friday morning we went with them to visit the Uganda Museum. The museum was not all that interesting and it was a bit difficult to hear our guide. The best part was once again having a chance to interact with these amazing children. I so wish you all could have the opportunity to meet them!