It may be summer in North America, but here we are experiencing rainy season. And it's a season like no other. I don't really know how to describe how cold our house is, except that's it's 24 degrees and I'm sleeping under two duvets. I wear slippers around the house and we are bundled in sweatshirts in the evening. The skies are constantly grey and it's difficult to charge our solar lamps and water pump. The rains fall all the time right now, and I don't remember a rainy season like this in the 16 years I have been in Uganda. But weather does not slow us down.
On Monday evenings, there is a Bible study group called "Gulu Work and Worship". Moses often leads this group as they go through curriculum that tie God and business together. Last month I also attended one interesting session where a local Christian businessman came and shared his testimonies and stories of kingdom work. It was inspirational and encouraging for many of our youth and even I was challenged to try new things and see God's hand at work in all aspects of our lives.
Moses was given some new sandals. Haha... made out of tire. Notice he is wearing socks, not because they are uncomfortable, but because he's cold. :) It's the fashion for the front inch or so to curve upwards. Does anybody want a pair? We can order them for you.
We miss Home Hardware or Rona. This is a typical example of a hardware store in Gulu.
Country wide - posho (cornmeal) and beans is an everyday meal. Especially for students. Ugandans life when they hear I ate peanut butter and jam sandwiches for 13 years in school.
Eating with our hands is also normal here.
We love it when the youth come home to visit. This is our dear friend Joy.
The kids are once again squeezed in Sunday school. I've had 37 kids in this room for storytelling and colouring. I'm so proud of how they handle the space. But we can't wait to move to our own church property. University Community Church is currently renting along the fence line of the university, but we now own a piece of land, also close to campus, and we are working with an engineer to find the best way forward. Construction is not easy and the budget is often overwhelming, but God is faithful.
I absolutely love watching the sun set from our bedroom window. Today that field is full of sunflowers, which is my absolute favourite.
In the morning, it is just as peaceful.
Local Acholi Food - all vegetarian dishes, and most of them are pasted with Gnut (peanut) sauce.
We are getting ready to host a team from North America. They are staying with us from Sept. 8-29, while we run two week-long eye clinics. We are expecting up to a hundred patients a day, for a 5-day clinic in Gulu, at our church, and another one in Kitgum, where Moses often preaches on the radio. Please pray for us, as we print banners, run radio adverts, and get the word out, as well as, prepare the volunteer team. We are excited that they will be staying in our home for the most part!
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Last week was Fresher's Week, meaning youth came from all over the country, to attend Gulu University. Our church goes out of it's way to welcome these young people - with a tent set up on campus, through the Primetime guild, where students were shown where to find their hostels, classes, and invited to attend evening sessions or UCC on Sunday. For six evenings, Primetime ran fun events in different hostels and God's word was shared throughout games, talent shows, cultural laughter, movie nights and Praise and Worship on the main campus.
Our hearts were blessed last weekend when village mates of mine travelled all the way from Wingham, ON, to visit us at the end of another trip they had within Uganda. Doug Kuyvenhoven was able to sit down with Moses and Pastor Jimmy and share a 40-minute podcast for the youth in the work and worship Bible study group.
Pure joy to hang out with friends from Canada. Doug and his sister Wilma shared stories, laughter, and tears in our home. God is good.
Monday morning they left us and flew back Entebbe, only to be caught in the Air Canada strike. They were delayed two days before flying back across the pond.
We sure do wish more friends and family would come and visit us here.
Cultural night was a blast. We celebrated the different tribes where the students came from around Uganda. I dressed up in a Canadian t-shirt, but wore Karamojong beads and skirt to make the evening colourful.
Isaac, a friend from church, shared a wonderful poem he'd written about the diversity of God's people in the Pearl of Africa.
Sadly, I was admitted again for 24 hours with another round of malaria. I have been here 16 years, and only had malaria 4 times, but April and July are too close together in my opinion. Some people think that it didn't get completely knocked out in the spring, and so it came back again. This time, I made sure to do bloodwork one week after my medications were finished and there is no trace of malaria now. It took the nurses 11 attempts to get an IV in and they finally used a vein in my foot. Not easy.
Well, that's a short update for today. Thanks for sticking around and reading our stories.
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