MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas!

Wow, it hardly seems possible that it will be Christmas in only 5 days....I KNOW this because the red and green countdown paper chain is getting shorter each day. We have put the names of family and friends on each link and prayed each days for those families. We are blessed as a family to include you in our prayers.

Family is different this year for us. Part of us are in Texas, celebrating our Savior's birth without us this year. Some of the traditions are continuing...stockings, gifts, fudge, cookie decorating. For us, Christmas will be "smaller" this year in many ways, yet "bigger" in other ways. Smaller because our whole family isn't together, but bigger because we are serving where God has placed us. Smaller because the tree is, well, smaller, but bigger because we know the tree doesn't make the day. Bigger because each day we are reminded that what we have is much more than some people have. Bigger because we are celebrating with 40+ adults and 50+ children that love the Lord and we are thankful for this Amani family. We have family "REAL" family here in Jinja as well, so happy to spend the holidays with my sister, her husband, my niece, her husband and their 4 children. Having cousins for Christmas is a "bigger" thing to have.

We had the privilege of having a family as guests in our home last month. Family from "home town." Family from "home church". Family from our "neighborhood." Now, that is family. We have missed all of you, our family, during this season especially. Our house would like to say Merry Christmas to your house. We pray your days of celebrating are full of His goodness, love and joy.

David would like you to know that both he and Courtney have lost a tooth. Tooth fairy is in Uganda! Really, they know. When I didn't have small change to put under Courtney's pillow, David got money from his T.O.S.S. savings and put it under his sister's pillow. Can you say BIG HEART!, They are growing and there is definitely nothing "smaller" about that! They both say "MERRY CHRISTMAS"!

celebrating 59 years of God's goodness

Last month, I celebrated 59 years of life! Wow, I seem to be getting older! When I think about why God would see fit to create my life, I stand in awe at how He has blessed me.  I was five years old when and I sang and prayed "into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus." Funny how I can remember doing that but forgot where I put my phone 20 minutes ago! Anyone else ever feel that way?  I remember missionaries coming to our church and showing their "slides". Oh how I wanted to go to Africa and see the people and tell them about Jesus!

God certainly has put me in an "awe" position here in Uganda, East Africa. I stand in awe of Him and how He is using our family and blessing us as well. Dustin works longs hours at the new babies home. We will be moving at the end of November and I feel like saying "ready or not, here we come!" There is much work left to be done, but we are moving. The home will be safe for the children and a very happy place, but just not compete. It will take you, me and anyone else that wants to join in giving financially, praying, visiting, painting, cleaning, packing etc. We are so happy to see it coming together.
 http://amanibabycottage.org/help-us-give-51-babies-a-new-home

I am working on "coming together" as well. There are two families that will be traveling here to Uganda to go to court for their forever family children! This is the most exciting, terrifying, hard-working, joyous, fulfilled time my work here. When a parent holds their child for the first time, all of us pretty much "lose it". The mommas are rejoicing, we are crying and laughing, and the children are wondering! It is amazing!

Have you learned about GOD"S timing in your life? Well, here I am 54 years later after giving my heart to Jesus, living in Africa, living a dream God put in my heart as just a little one loving Him. Don't under estimate what your children tell you. Teach them, train them, love them and listen to them. Who knows? Maybe there is a missionary in your family just waiting on God's timing!

Celebrating 50 years of Independence!

50 YEARS....JUBILEE

Celebrating Independence in the USA usually meant hot dogs, parades, beach picnics, family gatherings, potato salad, baked beans dressing in red/white/blue and ended with FIREWORKS!!! This year in Uganda, we celebrated 50 years, JUBILEE, of independence for this nation.

To celebrate, we made chocolate cakes for Amani Baby Cottage mommas to have for dessert. To many, this was a holiday from work. For our precious mommas, there is no holiday that all can be absent. We were not even going to stay for lunch that day which included a rare ingredient....meat. Our family wanted to bless the mommas with the cakes, then return to our home. But no, they would not have it that way! "You stay and share our lunch. It is our Independence Day. You stay and celebrate with us." So, we stayed and shared their celebratory lunch. Having lunch at Amani is common for us, but on this day we felt we shouldn't take away from their abundance for that day. We are humbled, loved, and grateful to be her with these precious women.

Today, in the Sunday paper, there is an article of history that was made this JUBLIEE..... quote "At the National Jubilee Prayers...President Yoweri Museveni made history when he openly repented his sins and the sins of Uganda..."  "Father God in heaven, today we stand here as Ugandans, to thank you for Uganda.....We confess these sins.....Forgive us of sins of .......Lord forgive us and give us a new beginning. Give us a heart to love You, to fear You and to seek You. Take away from us all the above sins.......We want to dedicate this nation to You so that You will be our God and Guide. We want Uganda to be known as a nation that fears God and as a nation whose foundations are firmly rooted in righteousness and justice to fulfill what the bible says in Psalm 33"12 Blessed is the nation, whose god is the Lord. A people you have chosen as Your own.....I renounce.....I renounce..... and I hereby covenant Uganda to YOU, to walk in Your ways and experience all you blessings forever......in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen"

 Wow. May it be so, may it be so. Celebrating Independence has never been so meaningful. This country is where our oldest daughter began the journey 13 years ago. This country is where our two youngest children were born. This country is where our oldest son took the longest journey of his life. This country is where we call "home" and abide in His Grace. May we celebrate this year of Jubilee repenting, confessing, prayin for forgiveness and seeing God move in ways we never imagined. We. Are. So. Grateful.

David's Blogging

Scroll of Truth

“Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of Life.”

 Proverbs 4:23 That verse is from my Bible Study called “The Squire and the Scroll”. I am learning how to be a knight for Jesus.

Last Sunday Courtney, Danyne, Diana  and I,  all of us four, sold Amani Butter Cakes. We sold a lot of them.  We had some fun. A team from Australia choir sang some songs.  Amani got  gifts.  We raised  over 300,000 shillings for Amani Baby Cottage!  

 Another Sunday, Courtney, Danyne, Diana, Aunt Charlie and I went horseback riding. Everyone one loved it except when we went near the water.  

September update

"Uncle Dusty taking bags full of grass to feed the cows that provide our milk in exchange for their manure to feed our garden. That's a true story." Danyne posted this on facebook.

I used to read blogs. Sometimes I would wonder why there was a long gap between updates. Now that I am a blogger, I understand! Life continues to flow day by day and we live by our duties, schedules, children, family, events, etc. As you can see in the pic, Dustin drives the van. Mary has yet to drive very far at all. Driving on the "other side of the road" may not be a problem, but the roads are not smooth and the drivers fast! Maybe one day I will venture out on a busy road, but for now I am content to walk and "catch a ride".

We are settled into our new home. Waiting for you to come visit! David and Courtney are doing well, except growing out of their clothes!! They play outside so much of the time and they are eating well. Courtney even eats greens thanks to the Amani cook(Mama Sarah) and our blessing, Miss Mary. They attend a home school group on Fridays and are learning Swahili!

The weather is cool at night and hot in the day, but not too umcomfortable. The birds sing, the roosters crow and the monkeys play! Today the monkeys came onto the porch to see in the door. David thinks they probably wanted to watch the movie he was watching! This is Africa!

Another child went home to her forever family a couple of weeks ago. Such a reward to see the children with their parents. Even though the process is hard at times, it is wonderful to be a part of it. We are thankful for the opportunity to see this happen. The building process is moving along. We had some men volunteers these past two weeks helping Dustin. He is very thankful for their involvement in labor, gathering supplies, laying tile and even shoveling the "gift" from the cows!

 

Thank you for your continuing support and prayers. We would love to hear from you. It is so good for our hearts to read emails and comments. Thankful for magic jack, email, skype, facebook, but so much more for the words you send.  Thank you!A precious preemie, Naome, that we had the privilege of caring for in our home. Courtney does so well with the little ones and the older girls as well. Naome is now at the babies' home and thriving very well!!!

A new house

We have moved into another house here in Jinja, Uganda! The house is BIG! Well, we consider it big, compared to our Texas home of 25 years. The bedrooms are large, the kitchen is very large, the dining and living rooms are large, there is an in-door laundry room(something I have always wanted) and the bonus room upstairs with large storage closet is an extra. Right now, we have two house guests, so every bedroom including the bonus room is filled. My heart's desire was to have a home and have guests. We are so at home already! You have a place to stay, so come visit!

Outside the house, the yard is filled with beautiful flowers, trees, bushes and plants. Our porch is big enough to sit and enjoy the scenery. The weather has been cool enought to accomodate a cup of coffee on the porch! Here is a picture of a rock on the path outside our kitchen

Yeah, well, I think it looks like Africa with a red dot where Uganda is. Maybe you can see it.

We are grateful to the Lord for the house. It is a few minutes walk from our gate to the new Amani Baby Cottage. Now, Dustin only needs walk a short distance instead of 30 mintues. Now, Mary has a longer walk to the present Amani, one she hasn't tried yet! Thank you for your continues prayers for our family. Pray for the children going through the process of guardianship. Pray for peace, strength and rest. God has plans for us, we trust in His Holy Name. Thank you!

David

David is blogging tonight:
"Thank you for supporting us. I went to the zoo. I am helping my dad build the new Amani Baby Cottage. Today at school I learned about the food pyramid. How is church doing? One of my friends is turning 5 tomorrow and then going to Ameria on Thursday!!! Sunday is my and Courtney's adoption day, number 8. The money here is different, it is called shillings."