Hanging out with Trolls

This weekend I snuck away to Hamilton to be with precious family and friends.  Coffee with a college friend.  Running errands with my Grandma and having dinner with Grandpa too.  Hanging out with a cousin doing his science fair project while chatting with my aunt.  Attending church with another aunt and uncle and sharing lunch with their seven children.  I thank God for all of them.

 Spending two nights with my nephews was the best though!  Jacob challenged me in Wii golf and bowling.  Caleb cuddled and smiled and told me about the birds at the park.

My brother, Brian, and I watched "God Grew Tired of Us" and were very intrigued by the story of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan.

"Who's That Crossing my Bridge?" shouted two adorable trolls from under the bridge. 

"It's me. It's me.  The oldest Tante Bear Troll!"

(Tante - Dutch for "Aunt" and Bear (from my nickname Karebear) is what my nephews call me... Tante Bear - I love it.)

"Winter in Wartime"

4:42 pm "Come on guys, get in the car. Rush hour traffic in downtown Toronto might not allow us to get to the movie on time." One, two, three, four of us grab our supper sack from the counter and hop into the Grand Am. Traveling down the 400 we eat our home-made sub sandwiches, munch on fresh grapes, and sip sodas.
Nearing the city, Mom becomes more nervous about all the traffic. In her eyes, all lights become one big mess and the stress exudes from her. Richard tries rubbing her head to make her relax. Dad relates how he loves city driving - the old architecture, the ethnic communities... (and then he pulls onto the tram tracks in the middle of the road to find our lane instead of turning even further to the left to find our spot - Mom freaks, cars honk, and safely Dad finds our way back to the car lane).
Pulling on to Cumberland Street we soon find parking in an underground garage and walk up a few flights of stairs before stepping out into a European feeling shopping district. Cobblestone streets, quaint stores, fancy purses and expensive luggage. I feel like stirring up a cup of hot chocolate at an outdoor cafe, but instead we cross the one-way street and make our way in to the "Cumberland 4" theatre. Picking up our tickets, finding Rick's girlfriend, grabbing some popcorn and a drink (which unexpectedly came with the tickets we bought on-line), we make our way down to Auditorium 1 to watch "Winter in Wartime".
Stepping over spilled popcorn, I find my seat and tuck in for an insightful movie - taking place during the era my grandparents were in Holland.  WW2.  Mostly in Dutch and German, I was very impressed with this film that showed incredible character development for a young boy who has to make some major life decisions.  I can only imagine what it means... not to trust anyone.... to always keep my mouth shut.... to do things way out of my comfort zone... to watch family members suffer or die... and I pray I will never have to live through a war like this one.

Kalacha Kindness

Without recognizing the number on the phone, I answered anyways and was totally blessed!!  Last night, my dear desert sister - Barbara, called to say hello.  I haven't seen Barbara in two years, since I lived with her in Kalacha, northern Kenya for a month. 

Conversation flowed easily, goose bumps traveled up my arms as we shared God stories.  Tears flowed down my face as we prayed together.  And a smile took over my cheeks during the whole phone call.

I thank God for Barbara, and the many other friends who are keeping in touch.  I feel so encouraged during this journey called LIFE.

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This conversation came about after I sent out this email:
Sliding the cover off the old board game, with each corner duct taped for strength and repair, I’m preparing to strike gold on the “Klondike”. Winning the first game wasn’t enough for me, so dealing out the cards added a fun round of “Phase 10” to the evening. Recently I cherished spending a night around the table with my parents, and over the next few months I hope to do that with many more people.


As most of you know, I am preparing to head back to Uganda, but this time it is for the long-term, a career move. I am not able to make it back to my much loved East Africa this month (as previously hoped) but will be moving around the beginning of September.

Planning the next five months will be brought to you by the letter “F”:

1. Fellowshipping with God and His people

2. Fundraising (I’m at 15% of my monthly goal)

3. Fun

4. Friends

5. Family

6. Focusing on saying “No” more to work so that I can prepare for the...

7. Foreign Field

I’m hoping to spend quality time with many people, so please, let me know when is a good time to catch up with you... either by Skype, phone, or a real time for table talk.

I am often available, but I also have some intentional times to meet up with people.

1. This weekend, April 8-10 I will be in Hamilton, ON.

2. From May 3-14 I will be in Grand Rapids, MI.

3. June 3-10 I will be in the Massachusetts area.

Training for Uganda has been coming along peacefully. I value the three weeks spent in Illinois with other friends heading out on the mission field. Two weeks ago I went to “Bodybuilders Bootcamp” in Indianapolis and am now much more confident in Biblical fundraising. I have two more book reports to complete for International Teams, along with a weekly meeting of encouragement and accountability with a very dear mentor. I feel much more prepared now to go back to Uganda.

I look forward to hearing what kind of activity you can create for us to do around your table. May the Lord bless your evening.

Karen Lubbers

Waving Flag

I want to share with you all a video made by my team leader in Uganda. Some of the photos are of guys that I used to meet with in the villages. Watching the re-enactments are always heart-wrenching for me, but to see these former child soldiers now trusting in Jesus and believing in the forgivness they receive is amazing. I was there the day the "blood" was poured out over the rocks under the cross. Please watch this video and remember to pray for these Ugandans who are still overcoming such traumatic hardships.

Cub Car Rally

"There will be three heaps of races tonight.  Each car will be judged by it's speed and it's design."

"In lane two, Karen Lubbers..." 

 On Tuesday night I joined the cadets from my church to participate in the cub car rally.  My dear friend and mentor Sylvia surprisingly made me a car with which to compete.  She painted the car with the colours of the Ugandan flag.  Karebear painted on one side, a cross, miniature Bible and bear on top, and a Jesus symbol on the other side.  How fun!  A "Missionary Mobil".

 This fun car did not place that night, but it was fun to join the kids in a racing competition.

Most of the evening was the rally, but tears came to my eyes when the whole crowd joined together to sing "Living for Jesus".  I am glad the cadets still sing the old hymn with such passion.

Bacon with Buds

• Crockpot lasagna and pumpkin pie with corn syrup on top (a Lubbers family tradition), coupling with laughter and stories from both old and new friends.  
• Crispy Bacon, hot peppers and a special sauce dripping down my chin, scrumptiously absorbing a hot sub at Bell's Pizza. 
• Sipping hot tea and taking miniature bites of a specialty light chocolate filled with maple sugar and blueberries.
• Sitting at the head of the table, sharing eggs and ham on toast while catching up on friends of my parents who have been around since the day I was born.

Reflecting back on my weekend, there seems to be a lot of fellowship happening around delicious food, but I am even more grateful for the love of friends.  Saturday afternoon found me driving to Listowel, ON to catch up with the Slotegraaf family.  Sarah (Slotegraaf) and Josiah Bokma were home for the weekend, after returning from Uganda on Monday.  It was super encouraging to hear what God is doing in Soroti, Uganda.  We hung out for the evening and close to midnight I found my way to the basement to tuck in to my bed on the floor there, surrounded by "aromatic" hockey equipment drying out after two guys played that night.

Waking up early, I mentally prepared for speaking at Maitland River Community Church.  Attending church in Wingham was so good.  My morning was filled with catching up with old and new friends, sharing my stories from Uganda, sitting with my dear friend Michelle and her family, talking to the Sunday school class where my niece and nephew attend, and being prayed over by a church who is willing to partner with me!!

My heart is overflowing with the love I experienced this weekend.  I thank God for such good friends in my life!

Miracles Happen Every Day

Walking in to a Jazzercise room at a small community center in Carmel, Indiana, I was delighted to see a platform transformed with huge speakers and instruments.  A perfect way to start a Sunday morning - with heartfelt worship lead by my friend Bill Chaulk, and other members of a small outreach church.  Bill had asked me the day before to speak at church and I felt ill-prepared but I knew my story well.

Worshipping whole-heartedly, I prayed that the Spirit would give me the right words to say and when I shared my testimony and stories of Uganda, I felt such peace, joy, and clarity.  There were maybe 15 or so people in church that day and so it was the perfect size group to share with.  Finishing up the service, the whole church gathered round me and prayed for me with laying on of hands.  I was anointed with oil and being sent back to Canada.  I felt like Paul, who went to Rome to be looked after on his way to Spain.  Spoiled with love and great fellowship with the saints.

As we were packing up some of the equipment after the service, a man loading music stands and a lap top into my car said, "Karen, when are you going back to Canada?"  I was leaving in about two hours and he said he was not going to let me go to Toronto with two bald front tires.  What?  I didn't even know the tires were that bad.  I get my car checked regularly and try to stay on top of these things, but after looking at the tires with my own eyes I saw they were horrible.

By faith, I gave this man my car keys and he disappeared for a while.  I waited at the Chaulk's house until 3 pm when this man returned.  He blessed me with 2 brand new tires, a full tank of gas, a car wash, and he even called his mechanic son and asked him to meet him at another garage so they could check out my red engine light.  That problem is now repaired too! 

In shock, and truly grateful, I left for the border at 3:15pm on Sunday.  Again, who am I that I should be so blessed?