WELCOME TO OUR TOWN

WELCOME TO OUR TOWN, JINJA UGANDA AFRICA

OUR TOWN, where the kids play in the street! Both children AND little goats!

OUR TOWN, where the traffic includes cows! Just take a walk with us, but watch your step!

OUR TOWN, with one stop sign! Seems there aren’t many traffic rules, just drive on the left side, watch for people, boda bodas and bikes in the way!

OUR TOWN,  with the sweet smell of rain and the most amazing thunder you have ever heard! It has been raining a lot, makes for a lot of red mud that changes the color of our clothes. Makes lots of rainy-inside play with lots of kids making lots of happy noise!

OUR TOWN, where the windows are always open (if there is a screen), so you always hear sounds of birds, dogs, children, frogs, vehicles, etc, but there is a peace in hearing the sounds.

OUR TOWN, where one house may not be just one family, but rather as Courtney observed “each house is its own neighborhood!”

OUR TOWN, where we feel so at home.

OUR TOWN, wishing you could join us and experience the blessing of being here.

You are most welcome to OUR TOWN!!!!

OH THE JOY!

IF I WERE A RICH MAN, YA DA .......For some reason that song is playing in my mind as I write. I think because even if I was richer at this moment, I can't think of being any happier. Here are a few reasons why:

I was able to talk to our family in San Antonio yesterday. Hearing their little voices makes my heart smile and sing all at the same time! Oh the joy of grandchildren!

Today I saw a little boy go into the arms of his mom and dad for the very first time! There was no hesitation as he walked toward them and wanted to be picked up and hugged. He was all smiles while we were all tears! Oh the joy my Heavenly Father must have felt when He adopted me into HIS Family through His Son Jesus Christ!

It is a beautiful, breezy, cool Sunday afternoon. The family is together watching a movie, having coffee and coloring. Oh the joy of family being together.

At lunch today, Dustin asked the adopting parents if they have a Sunday night tradition at their house. They thought for a moment and said no, they didn't. Well in the past 20+ years, we have had a Sunday night tradition, starting with Melissa, Kirby and continuing with David and Courtney. We have a "pick off tray": popcorn, lunch meat, cheese, crackers, etc. We watch a movie together or America' Funniest Videos. We may not do that tonight, but we will be together with family and new friends.  Oh the joy of traditions. Oh boy, another song from my fav movie of all time!! TRADITION!!!

Yes, I am rich: family, grandchildren, adopting parents, being in Africa, traditions. BUT beyond those: I am a child of a King and THAT makes me rich in love, grace, compassion, and so much more. Oh the joy of having a loving Savior!

We hope to post some pics soon of the new building and our beautiful Uganda! OH THE JOY!!!

Greetings from Uganda

Greetings from Jinja, Uganda!

After an 8 hour flight to London, we rode the underground to see Big Ben. It. Was. So. Cold. We walked many blocks until we saw the clock. David was excited to see it. We then rode the underground back to the airport to wait for our flight to Entebbe. Our niece, Danyne, her two daughters, and Mary’s sister, Dorothy, met us at the airport in Uganda. What joy to see family waiting for us! 18 large bags, five carry-ons, and backpacks loaded into the van. We were so glad to be on Ugandan soil.

We arrived on Friday morning, spent a wonderful day with family, then a blessed afternoon at Amani Baby Cottage. The mamas had a ribbon-cutting for David and Courtney. The women sang and danced with great joy at our coming home to Jinja. Then, one of the mamas had a great word of encouragement for David and Courtney. She also had a challenging word for Kirby. God had certainly preceded us. We learned years ago that coming to Africa is not for the African’s benefit, it is for us to be increased in wisdom, love and faith. The mamas are so open to us and GREAT prayer warriors. When we visited Uganda two years ago, the mamas had a send-off prayer time for our family. They prayed that our “tent pegs be moved”! Welllllll, our pegs have definitely been pulled from the ground and we are “camping” elsewhere.

Our house is very much home to us for now. We have settled in and feel like we have been here more than just 6 days. Today, Dustin is at the new Amani site, getting a feel for what is to come. Kirby is feeling comfortable enough to walk to town. David and Courtney are having a grand time with their toys, their cousins, and life in general. Mary is glad to have internet to communicate to you how faithful God is.

We are spending this week acclimating to our surroundings and getting phones, internet, groceries and anything we need to begin our life here. Thank you for your support, it is needed and so appreciated. Next week we begin working. For now, Mary is enjoying holding babies. They are so peaceful, content and happy. You may have a picture in mind of an orphanage where the babies just lie in their crib all day. That is not the way here. The babies are on schedules, loved, held, sang to, play with toys and fed well. That is the way they are cared for, but there are many needs. I will cover that in another post. For now, we just want to say thank you. Continue to pray and support us. We are happy, yet we miss our family and friends. God is good all the time, all the time He is good.