Missionary life is always full of changes. Some of it is seeing youth being discipled enough to start discipleship groups of their own. Or it is shifting houses. Seeing some ministry doors open and others close - especially during Covid season. But sometimes the hardest change is seeing other harvesters leave the field.
Recently, in Soroti, a group of us gathered together to say goodbye to Rachel and Daniel Graham.
They finished well.
Together we prayed that God would use them in mighty ways as they resettle back in the US.
Now, I don't know how I uploaded these, but they are from the most recent to further back in time.
These mushrooms are growing outside our front door.
Over the past year, I have been attending women's Bible Study at World Embrace - a project started by Reynold and Kathy Mainse. They are now busy building up Gulu City Park. We are praying about how to partnership together - especially in regards to sports discipleship and leadership building. We look forward to seeing how God is going to develop this encouraging relationship.
Once a month, my neighbour Therese leads a Bible study in our compound. We are grateful for a large outdoor space to spread out and share God's Word together.
Last month we travelled to Soroti for a burial. I'm always amazed at my giving husband. Tears were in my eyes as he literally gave the shirt off his back to this old mzee who was wearing tattered clothes.
Moses lost his Auntie Lucy, his Dad's only sister. I was amazed at how big the funeral crowd was, even though there were Covid restrictions. People turned up in large numbers to show respect.
I am continuing to work my way through editing P1 (Grade One) curriculum, working with the Roots to Fruits materials. Roots to Fruits is a newly developed material, combining the American Bob Jones curriculum and the Ugandan school board requirements. P4, Fourth grade, is currently being written, and as each level increases a year, we hope to have another year printed. We are truly praying for transformation within the Ugandan school system. And please pray for the children of Uganda. Most of them have not been in school at all since March of 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic has set back our kids by two years. And sadly, HIV and teenage pregnancy are on the rise. And we don't see any signs of schools reopening soon.
This was the former Kragt house... And we shifted here around a month ago. It now has a new coat of paint and a newly built kitchen, which I hope to show you soon in another post.
Shadow is showing you how far we moved... from the sandcastle to the container house. You can't tell that the Kragt house is made of 2 shipping containers, with a brick kitchen addition.
In the middle of July, Moses was busy in the house, mopping floors. In the bedroom, a lamp began to fall when he bumped the table with the mop. He was standing in a puddle of water, when he grabbed the lamp. Not knowing that the lampshade had snapped the bulb holder, he gripped bare wires and went into electric shock. After a number of seconds, Moses blacked out. When he woke up, he didn't know that he had ripped the whole lamp from the cord, and now the exposed wires of the cord through him again.
I thank the Lord that I still have a husband. He went for x-rays the next day because his shoulder was hurting so much. We are not sure if that is from falling, or the electrical exit point, but it has taken about 5 weeks for the pain to go away. God has kept him for more work here on earth!
Here is one level of the Gulu city main market... lots of fresh fish, produce and dried goods like flours, gnuts, lentils, etc.
I've been enjoying a study on the book of Matthew by Jen Wilkins.
A strange plant for me, apparently from South Africa, but transplanted in Moses' village in Abaango. It's not edible, but so cool!
July 19th, we had a teary goodbye with our good friends and neighbours, Benj and Christina Kragt. We still sense them in our home, since Benj's hands built so much of our home. And Christina's snacks and meals flowed from the kitchen.
Moses is leading team prayers at Our Call Mission
I've always loved this tree in Abaango
Moses is helping the guys put up the trusses on the compound workshop.
Shadow - my little dude!
Moses - my handsome Dude!!
In June, we went back into strict lockdown.
My 45th birthday
Sharing the celebration with Benj, who turned 35!
Moses always knows how to make the house a festive place.
In the office building, on the Our Call Mission compound, a prayer "War Room" has been set up. On Monday's we have a team meeting, Wednesday's is a prayer meeting, and Friday's is a team Bible study.
Little Luna
A sweet friend surprised me every morning during my birthday week!! I felt loved.
Moses was invited to share God's Word at University Community Church just before lockdown began. We enjoy fellowshipping with this little congregation.
Well, that's a tiny, pictorial glimpse of our lives the past few months. Thanks for checking this out.
