What a Week!

 I think I shall begin with last Sunday evening. Moses and I were invited to our friend's graduation party. We thought it was going to be a simple event, but I was warned that I would be the guest of honor. :) When we arrived at the party, I had to pick which flowers Okello was going to wear around his neck, and I was given a special seat with his grandmother. Moses and Pastor Jimmy sat across from us, they were going to share God's Word at the party. A sound system, speeches, dancing, and a great meal. We are so proud of Okello, who got his diploma in civil engineering.

Monday morning, I started waking up at 4:30 am so that I wouldn't miss the 5:30 am alarm. Hihi, isn't that how it goes. Two precious were being dropped off at our house, so that we could "babysit" them for a planned 4 days while their parents had a work trip to western Uganda. They arrived at 6:20 am, just in time to hop in the car and drive to the post office with Pastor Mo (aka - Moses, my hubby). They guys went to see off another friend, Vincent, who is a missions mobilizer. He was doing a bike-a-thon to Kampala, traveling from Gulu to Lira, to Soroti, to Mbale, to Jinja, and then to Kampala. Almost 620 km. He is trying to raise 15 million UGX ($5800 CAD). Vincent goes to our church, and we want to support him in his ministry!

To see his departure from Gulu... check out this video.

Pedals for the Nations

The boys came home for a quick breakfast before I had to drive them to school.  In the evening we planned out our menu for the next few days, and I taught them to play Sweep, a family favorite card game. One of the nights we made our own hot dog buns - long enough to hold two dogs. :)

Driving to school took caution, because the vehicle needs some fixing.

Now, for a little background information about northern Uganda. At the moment, the Karuma bridge, crossing the Nile River is under repair. It now is a much longer journey to get to Kampala and things are becoming more expensive here. People have either been taking ferries, driving through a safari game park, or driving up the eastern part of the country and adding an extra four hours at least to the journey. It has made things a little more difficult here, and then with vehicle issues, we haven't been able to get to Kampala yet to run errands, check on the girls, just have a break.

Moses is on the edge of burnout and we need to really find a way to take time alone. Please be praying we can find the time, place, and resources to be healthy to lead.

Wednesday afternoon I went to the school to bake and brought the boys back home with me. They were great at giving our sweet dogs, Tiny and Tutu, a walk around the block. While the boys are at school, our time was filled with ministry - creating props for the Sunday school drama, putting together Bible study materials, sermon writing, visiting church members, etc.

Throughout the day on Wednesday, we had been hearing reports of flooding. The road through the national park was now flooded. The travel times were even longer, and that meant the boys' parents couldn't come home on Thursday. They had to travel twice the distance to get home by Friday. There was also a lot of flooding in Mbale town. Thankfully Vincent arrived in Mbale about 12 hours before the floods and so he was able to proceed south without his fundraising campaign/bike-a-thon being affected. But my heart breaks for the communities who lost loved ones and homes. 

Thursday night, after Moses returned from being the preacher at a nursery school graduation, and running a radio presentation in Kitgum, 100 km north, our dear Vincent called to say that his sister had to run home to the village and could no longer stay with his son in Gulu. Sweet M is only 3. So at 6:20 am on Friday morning, Moses went to go get the young man. He dropped the auntie off at the bus park, then he came back home. Again, we all had breakfast together before I had to bring the boys to school. By Friday afternoon, little M was coughing, vomiting, and had a fever, so Moses took him to the clinic. Two hours later, in the evening, he greeted me in the house with a canula in his sweet little hand. He would have to go back for injections for the next three days. The next three nights were not the norm, as I was woken up often by a sweet little boy who was either coughing, or wanted help to go susu (aka go for a short call, aka pee).

Saturday afternoon we received word that our best friends here (who are missionaries from Agentina) just lost their dad in a tragic car accident. We thank God that they had actually flown home to Argentina just two weeks earlier, so they could be there for the burial. But our hearts break for them and I really want to hug my sweet friends. I tell you... the emotions of the week are all over the place. Because just moments after the phone call of devastating news found us at church, practicing for the Christmas drama the next day. Kids were prepared and yet nervous to lead. Vincent made it to Kampala. He never imagined he could bike that far in 5 days. He praises God, and he raised at least 1/3 of the money he needs to run ministry next year.

Saturday evening, Moses and I took M out to eat and while sitting in the restaurant, a beautiful young woman came up to us and greeting us with sheer pleasure. We hadn't seen this lady in a few year. She used to come to our house a few times, during covid days, to plait the hair of our girls (and even Moses!). When I was hopping back into the car, she quickly handed me a note and then walked away in a flowing white dress with white heels on. She had eaten alone.

Sunday was awesome. Church started an hour later than normal because it was the Christmas service. 10 am is a great time to start church! :) But, we still arrived early to set up the sanctuary, bring the guitar and projector, and get the kids ready to act their parts. Oh, I forgot to mention that the week before, our church offices were broken into and many things were stolen. 

From what we have observed, the stolen items include:

1. A giant tea flask

2. ⁠Gas cooker and cylinder

3. ⁠Sunday School 48" TV

4. ⁠An acoustic guitar

5. ⁠Guitar case

6. ⁠Projector

7. ⁠Office chair

8. ⁠Bluetooth speaker

9. ⁠Power stabilizer

10. ⁠Keyboard

11. ⁠Grass cutter (mowing machine)

Over 7 million Ugandan Shillings worth. Around $3000 Canadian

We praise God no one was hurt. We praise God that they didn't take the microphones, bigger speakers, and the camera we use for online recording. We need to fix the church office door and find a better way to get security since we are next door to the campus and this is Christmas season. Lots of thieving could happen in the next two months.

The strangest item to got missing was a new table cloth that I bought for tea time, just the month before. It was 2 metres of a material that motorcyclist like to use to cover their seats.

And that brings us to one week later, the following Sunday. The drama was great. The service was special, and we shared a big lunch together afterwards as a beautiful church family.

Little M left Monday morning to go to another friends house. Just in time for me to change the bedding and host another friend who has just travelled from Soroti. 

Oh, the revolving doors of the Odels.

Pastor's Dancing

 

November in a Nutshell

It's not just another month that has come to a close, but the school year is wrapping up. Last Friday, the university students made their way to Pastor Jimmy and Phionah's home, where Moses roasted pork for 5 hours. :)

It was a great evening of fellowship, games, recognitions, celebrations, and of course, eating.

Each student was gifted a book and a small gift while much joy was experienced.

Moses was able to take one of our good friends, Adrian Agazzani, with him to do radio ministry in Kitgum. 

A few weeks ago, Moses traveled to Jinja for an urban missions workshop. He went into the slums and did ministry amongst extremely poor people living at the source of the Nile River. 

One Sunday night I made 12 batches of popcorn while hosting 27 people for a movie night.

The Passion of the Christ, an oldy but a goody. Many youth were brought to tears that night. 

He paid an incredible price for us!

I was sick once again, earlier in the month. I couldn't keep food down for a few days and ended up going for intravenous injection/treatment. It took a while, but I have my strength back now.

A good friend of ours, Okello James Peter, graduated with a diploma in civil engineering. Life's milestones are worthy of much celebration.

And Saturdays and Sundays meant practice for our Christmas drama at church.

The children were delighted to be leading most of the service on December 1. We always celebrate early because we have Christmas with the university students before they travel back to their villages around the country.

The kids did a long drama and 2 dance numbers.

This term, the IGNITE worship night on campus had the theme, God of the Nations, and the praise team dressed up in tribal blankets. The worship was not only joyful, but real! Singing at the feet of Jesus, on campus! Hallelujah.

Every Wednesday I teach a baking club at a local primary school. There are 23 energetic kids learning new recipes. It's completely chaotic, but every kid raves about how much they love the class. This week will be our last session. It will be 2-3 hours and a pizza making day. Each student will receive a cook book of the recipes we made together this term.

October Highlights 2024

 Often I have this feeling that it was a slow month, but then I take a look back at the calendar and pull together our monthly reports for MissionGO and realize that God has had us working on many fun projects this month! He is ever faithful, and we couldn't serve without His strength and the support of His amazing people. 

When our vehicle is working, we love sharing rides with people that we train or the youth from church. Here we squeezed in after a Sunday school training. I also helped one of our church members shift homes this week. The car was fully loaded. 

But lately we have felt stranded a lot. Here is Moses struggling to raise the car after a puncture on our way home from Kitgum. We had no idea that our jack was spoiled. We waited 45 minutes for a good Samaritan to pull over and help us change a tire within a matter of minutes.

Triangles are a must around here!

What I love about Moses is that he is often very patient in roadside troubles.

Training teachers in Kitgum - in 17 Stories curriculum.

We were gifted fresh honey when we arrived in Kitgum.

Dramatizing Bible stories. Here is the sacrificial ram.

An Angel of the Lord has come to deliver good news.

It's important to actually play all games and activities with the teachers so that they understand how to link the theme of the game to the theme of the Bible story.

Preparing Sunday school lessons.

Moses and I often tag-team teach. 

Our Sunday school classroom now days is jam packed again. There are close to 40 kids in class sometimes, but now days there seem to be many young ones. It's almost like running a day care center. We definitely need to split the class. One for learning, the other for playing. We also hope to do a whole service on December 1 - leading the church in a Christmas drama.

Small group discussions at the Shepherd the Flock conference. 

The youth were ready to serve almost 90 pastors at lunch time.

A highlight for church fellowship is tea and a bun after the service. It continues the worship and relationship building long after we have shared the benediction and blessing.

Dramatizing how to get to the root of a real need, to break away from a spirit of dependency or being taken advantage of in giving.

Back at the conference! We are up to our outside shenanigans while the Pastors are gathering inside the venue.

These kinds of events build bonds outside of normal church service gatherings. The youth are a blessing to our hearts and lives.

Training moments

OneHope provides the most amazing curriculum to be used in even the remotest of places.

I've been plugging away at our Christmas card pile.

These two ladies gave their lives to the Lord when we stopped a training to talk about grace and how heaven is a free gift. It can not be earned or deserved. The angels are rejoicing!

Handing out materials.

Entertaining children on the side is always a distracting pleasure.

On the first Saturday of the month, a few of us gathered together to celebrate a baby shower for our friend Faith. She is a deacon at our church. It was a surprise!!

The ladies had a blast spoiling her. For me, the greatest blessing came when just three weeks later she had the baby. Moses and I were called in early to the hospital and it was my first experience walking alongside a mother who was having contractions. After hours of hard labour, Faith ended up having a c-section and I was one of the first to hold sweet Baby Bethel. The Lord is good!

More from the 4th annual Shepherd the Flock conference

Moses gets really intense in the leading of small groups.

Busy working the registration table.

Helping Without Hurting in Africa workshop.

Moses co-lead the training for two days.

A very communicative and active crowd to train.

In our small sessions we worked through Bible passages and scenarios on when to help the needy in our community.

The ladies that work in the kitchen amaze me. Scrubbing over open saucepans - to do all the dishes.

Moses is a good training, but sometimes goes into preacher mode. Hihi.

Moses was invited to go to Sipi Falls with the short-term team of pastors from Eternal City Church in Pittsburgh, PA.

And the mountain top!

Boys will be boys.

Handsome traveller.

Pastor Jimmy and Pastor Mo - a close working relationship!

Taking the men out to "Da Woman" pork joint in Soroti.

Coming home from Kampala now involves a ferry crossing since the one bridge crossing we have in the north, over the Nile River, is closed for repairs for a few months. It has made trips up and down country very long and tiresome.

At home with Tutu and Tiny. Faithful little companions.