Amani's Mommas

One of my most favorite times here in Jinja Uganda, is to be with the mamas of our babies' home. They fill my heart with song, my mouth with laughter, and my spirit with love. One of the mamas is also our neighbor. We sat together one Sunday afternoon and made a necklace, a bracelet and a pair of earrings from orange beads. Well, I say "we" made them.....I had strung only part of the necklace and she had made a bracelet and earrings, then finished the necklace for me! She had remembered I wanted orange jewelry to wear with my gomez and I have lots of use for that color.

The mamas at Amani Baby Cottage always have an encouraging word when I am not smiling. Some have an admonishing word when I slightly complain that I am tired. Some have tears when the children are having heartache. But they all have such love for the children. You can't be around them long and hang on to any grief, pain, weariness, sadness, homesickness, illness......they just don't allow! I love them so much, I am grateful for the way they bathe, feed, clothe, sing, play and care for the children.

When we move into our new building, the mamas will be divided into the cottages of children they are assigned to oversee and care for. This will not lessen the bond they have, but will strengthed their bond with the children and give them great joy. The cottages are being painted beautiful colors and Scriptures are being painted in each one, as well as in the clinic. The mommas will be surrounded by beautiful walls, but their spirits is what carries the children through hard times and joy.

When you think of us this month, pray for the mommas. There are almost 35 workers: cooks, dishwashers, laundry(you can't IMAGINE the amount of handwashing these wonderful workers have), mommas, housekeepers, assistants, social workers, administrators, and more I probably can't think of right now. Pray for the finishing and the move into our new building. Pray for the health and well-being of the mommas. Thank you for taking time to read and pray.

 Like the t-shirt reads in the above pic of my neighbor-friend, the mommas truly believe GOD IS ABLE!

HOME IS?

Going to an African Introduction for the groom to meet the bride's family. No, that is not Jesus and Abraham, though they do look mighty handsome! We were glad to have been invited, making us feel at HOME here in our Jinja town. How do you know you're HOME?


We know we're HOME when the cow bellowing outside ourr window doesn't give us a second thought as being abnormal.

We know we're HOME when our youngest son eats ants from the market and I don't say no!

We know we're HOME when our oldest son has an IV for three days to treat severe malaria,the bag of fluid hanging from a picture hook on the wall. One night while the nurse was here hooking up a new bag, a bat was on my shirt. Did we scream? Of course, but we are still at HOME! Dustin and David have become pretty good batmen!

We know we're HOME when walking places is the norm and getting a ride is a blessing.

We know we're HOME when the power goes off just minutes before ten people are arriving for dinner. We lit the candles, held the flashlight to fill the serving bowls, and are with laughter anyway. The dishes can wait until morning!

We know we're HOME when our house is filled with children laughing, playing outside for hours, taking time to have tea, and just.....taking time. There is not much hurrying, no "fast food", no red lights to stop traffice(although that could be a good thing!!)

What makes you feel like you are HOME? I pray God brings peace and joy into your HOME, will you pray He continues to do the same for ours? We are grateful for you that read this blog, those that pray for us, and those that also support us. We are at HOME where the Shepherd provides, we do not lack, we do not fear, we do not need for any good thing....surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the HOUSE of the Lord forever.  You are most welcome to come visit our HOME

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.

DID YOUR HEAR?

Did you hear we have tickets????? We leave Houston on April 4, 2012 and arrive in Uganda on Friday morning, April 6!!!

Did you hear we are packing after unpacking so many times? We have determined so many things in our lives as "unnecessary", so our priorities change in what we plan to take with us.

Did you hear we had more garage sales? Dustin came home from working in AL, so we had a tool sale. It was hard to see him sell and give away what he has used over the past 25 years in this house, but the joy in knowing we are following God's call is so much more joyful than the sadness.

Did you hear we met people at the garage sales we may have never met otherwise? People that will support us, adopted adults, new friends, neighbors. One neighbor came over after the sale to "wish us luck". She told us she has enjoyed watching our little girl in her many outfits, dancing outside. We had no idea we were being watched, what a lesson  learned!

Did you hear our oldest son, Kirby, is going with us? We are so overjoyed that we will be together! Not so overjoyed that our oldest daughter and her family will still be here. What do you think, should we pray they come to Africa? No, we pray that God's will be done in her family and that they continue to serve Him how and where He desires. She is the first in our family to go to Africa 13 years ago.....a deposit of things God began and is continuing!!

Did you hear Mary was invited to speak to ladies at a church that has supported Amani Baby Cottage for years? The ladies have been praying for specific children, even have all the pics from the website printed and on the wall! It was such a blessing to be able to tell them in person how wonderful they are to pray for the children. The offering they gave me was amazing and precious. I was truly blessed to be with them.

Did you hear? Did you hear? We did, and now we go. Please continue to pray with us. We would love to HEAR from YOU!!!

LOVE

How many songs and sayings do you know about "LOVE"?
This morning I read the ultimate expression of LOVE. Psaml 107
"His love endures forever."
"Give thanks for His unfailing love"
"For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things"
"Give thanks for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men."
"They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved, healed, rescued them"
" Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy."
"Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great  LOVE of the Lord."

My heart was filled with gratitude for HIS LOVE.  Psalm 106, the Israelites were praising God for His unfailing LOVE and then rebelled and forgot what He had done. Many times He delivered them. "BUT He took note of their distress when He heard their cry; for their sake He remembered His covenant and out of His great LOVE He relented. Let all the people say, Amen. Praise the Lord!"

I pondered about how many times I have rebelled, forgotten the miracles and blessings God has given our family. How many times have I failed in my trust, hope and faith in His leading and timing? BUT God took note of our distress, heard our cry and answered out of His great  LOVE.

We have ticket reservations and will be purchasing them very very soon! The timing has been the Lord's, not mine. The process has brought so much peace and joy into my heart. We don't deserve the outpouring of offerings and donations that have helped us get this far. BUT God heard our cry and answered out of His great LOVE.

Our hearts are full, our spirits soaring, our bellies full of butterflies, BUT God is answering out of His great LOVE!