Weeks Gone By... Happy Thanksgiving

I am in my sitting room, with six children running around - laughing, singing, and playing.  I'm struggling to find a good time to write a few stories and fill you in on my life.  Rains come more often now days, which really disturb power supply, and the other day my internet package expired, so I had to wait a few days. 
The past two weeks have been a crazy journey of government paperwork.  Two Monday's ago I took the bus to Kampala and spent the whole next day sitting in the Revenue office... because my file is so messed up and all of my information is incorrect... and the government thinks I own a car dealership in Kampala and they want me to pay income tax.  We started the process of cleaning my file, and the rest, they said, could be done on-line or in the Soroti office.  Then I went over to immigration office and picked up the form for renewing my work permit.  Wednesday, I took the bus back to Soroti - in time to have a great Bible study with Oil of Gladness. 
This past Monday, I again had to go back to Kampala because the online process is not user friendly and the Soroti office said they were unable to help.  Tuesday, by 10 am I was in the revenue office and it took a meeting with 6 different people before I got to a place where I feel like my paperwork is straightened up.  I really want to have a clean file with the government here.  I respect their authority and laws, and so I want to make sure that everything is legally correct.  The paperwork now states that I am a volunteer missionary and I think my old income tax files have been cleared.
From there I went back to Immigration, but first I had to bring my thick file to the NGO board.  It took another 3 hours, but I was finally handed a slip of paper to say that they would accept my file.  As soon as it is approved I can bring it to the immigration office to apply for a work permit renewal.  My permit expires on November 14th - please pray for a government approval/blessing!!
I have been having fun sharing God's Word at Grace Hill Nursery and Primary School.  Even parents stay for the morning assembly to hear a Bible story and I pray that the stories and their meanings sink deep in to their hearts.
Yesterday I sat with 18 leaders from the local Anglican church, and I was the secretary for the meeting, as we started planning the youth conference for December.  It will be a lot of work and officially I will be the treasurer for the conference. I'm super pumped to be a part of the ministry again this year.
Today my family in Canada will be gathering for Canadian Thanksgiving and I'm going to miss the celebration.  It has honestly been a hard year for me, so I'm not even throwing any kind of celebration, but I do want to thank the Lord for the many blessings and lessons of this past year.
I am thankful for:

• having great friends here in Soroti
• seeing kids ministry shape and grow here in Teso
• being able to know my Grandpa Lubbers for 38 years and I'm grateful that I could be home with the family during his funeral
• saying good-bye to International Teams after 5 years of awesome support and encouragement
• signing on with Global Outreach Mission and getting to know their diligent staff
• experiencing financial struggles - it's a gentle reminder that I still have more than many of the people I live and work with here in Uganda
• donors who continue to support me through finances, prayers, packages, and love
• enemies who help me hold on to the robes of Jesus
• God's Word - as it's a Light unto my Path
• being pruned
• the opportunity to fly
• internet, power, running water - even if there are times they are not working :)
• food - and the ability to teach others how to bake, make pizza, and enjoy smoothies
• my awesome neighbours
• for God's grace and mercy
• a voice to speak and sing
• a vehicle to carry people
• a computer - to communicate with loved ones everywhere
• children - who brighten my day
• and so much more

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!

Encouraging Angelina

Saturday afternoon, a young lady came over for fellowship, and to plan on starting up our weekly Bible studies once again.  My friend, Hallelujah, asked how Angelina was doing. Angelina, if you remember, is a sweet acquaintance of mine - who has a heart for sharing God's Word and being in prayer.  Angelina is physically blind, but for years that never slowed her down.  Then a few months ago, she had a stroke, or some sort of brain injury, that caused her left side to be completely paralyzed. 

(For a post about Angelina a few months ago, click here.)

In June I went to see Angelina and she was beginning to question what God was doing in her life.  She could no longer read braille because her fingers were numb.  She was trapped to a bed and couldn't even help herself for toileting.  But at the same time, her heart and attitude were strong.  Angelina still prayed for people and quoted Scripture from memory. 

Well, on Saturday, Hallelujah and I went to find Angelina.  When we arrived at her former home, we found out that she had been shifted to a home about 5 minutes out of town.  Thankfully there were a few young ladies there who knew where she had been moved to and they hopped in the car with us... I had no idea what we would see when we walked half a kilometer up a footpath, after driving as far as possible on a rough village path.

Entering a square bricked room, I saw Angelina lying on a mattress on the floor.  The room was clean and only a slight smell of urine, so I knew there were people around who cared.  I went to the mattress and I was shocked to see Angelina so frail.  She is just skin and bones.  When I tried to speak with her, she reached out for my hand.  Her voice was gone.  She reacted with hand squeezes and tears.  The five of us who arrived sang over her, and prayed with her.  Juice as brought in for her to drink, so I gently lifted her up.  I sat tucked behind her... her back was resting on my chest... and she drank a few sips.  We could see it was hard for her to swallow, and within seconds she started vomiting.  I held her for a few minutes while she spit into a bucket and I just prayed that God would give her peace and strength. 

When we left, my heart was sad.  God even took away her voice. 

Yesterday I went back again.  When I entered the room, I immediately jumped in to action, to help with lifting and transferring as we cleared away soiled sheets.  Soon she was resting again.  I took another friend with me and together we sang and prayed over Angelina.  Amazed, Angelina had the strength to talk!! She was communicating with me and even sharing a bit of her humor and trust in God.  She allowed me to take some pictures to share with you... so that you can pray for her as she lies in bed all day.

 When I first entered the house, I sat in shock, and praying that God would just speak over Angelina - to be her Rock, her comfort, her shield, her voice and to reveal His glory to her.

 After talking, singing, reading Scriptures, and praying, Angelina began to smile again.  When I held her yesterday, she was able to hold a cup and she drank most of the juice.  She also ate some plain white rice.  I really hope she gets soupier foods, but at least she was eating!! And keeping it down.

  United in Spirit.  I can't wait for that day when we will all be singing around the throne, with our eyes wide open to the goodness of God.  No more tears, pain, confusion... just peace and joy. 

Lord, Angelina is your daughter, please hold her close in the palm of your hand!!

Being a Family Member

Here in Teso land I have been given an Ateso name.  Imalingat!  It has come from my awesome neighbours and I truly treasure having a clan name.  Hardly anyone in Soroti knows me as Karen Lubbers... it's always Imalingat Karen.  Sometimes I do it for safety reasons... so that when I sign guest books or receipts, etc, random people won't think of calling my number.  What I'm trying to say is... sometimes when I put my information on a list, people wish to call me at all hours, both day and night... to either make friends with a white person, or to ask for money.  But by writing down "Imalingat" it reduces the fake calls.  If people really know me, they know how to reach me!  :)

But I'm not here to talk about phone call etiquette, I want to share a sweet story about what it means to be a part of the Imalingat clan.  My neighbours have a big family, but Toto (mother) has totally taken me as her own daughter, and last weekend my youngest sister Carol was having her traditional marriage assessment.  That's the day when two clans meet, to discuss the dowry and get to know one another.  It was a very small, select gathering, but Carol really wanted me to be a part of her day... as a sister.  I was honored and actually, I was truly blessed by the whole event because I knew I was spending the day with a family that I adore. 

Here are a few pics of our day together:

 Wearing the traditional Gomasi

 My sister's waiting at the gate to greet the groom's family

 Here they come... can you hear the trilling?

 The groom-to-be in white

 My family welcomes the visitors

 The visitors receive the greetings

 The beautiful bride-to-be!

 With the bride-to-be and other awesome siblings!

 Signing the guestbook with Toto

Dinner is served and the day comes to a close!! A great event!  I was asked to lead prayers twice throughout the day... and Carol was so grateful that I would humbly represent the family.  What a true joy!

Another Round of Kids Camp

Running a kids camp always takes a lot of work and energy, but once again, the team was able to pull off a fun camp.  I'm kind of sad that I felt under-prepared and that I wasn't able to help with the preplanning, but God works all things for good and a few of us leaders had a wonderful time with more than 70 children.

 Bible story time with the middle class

 Scripture lessons with the oldest class

 A rare craft session

 Making masks with the youngest class

 Model - Model - Yeah!

 Who's the tough man now?

 Waiting in great expectation!

 My namesake - little Karen

 Hoola Hoop Tires

 Preparing my team's spirit for games!

 Three legged races

 A follow-up meeting at my house

 Sharing pork and Chapati together

When I came back to Uganda, I was gifted with these chairs and they have been a neat blessing in my house.  My neighbor boys think they are relaxing at the beach!

 Chillin' with Auntie Karen

The other night another friend came over... we munched on pumpkin and it's seeds while waiting for a cake to bake... so glad that I can host people in my peaceful home!

10 Days with Pastor Ray

For the first time ever, I crossed the big oceans with a seat mate... and it was truly an honor to host Pastor Ray Vander Kooij from Bethel CRC in Acton.  We certainly experience a diverse 10 day experience since landing back in my beloved Uganda.

On the first Sunday we attended to worship services.  We were jam packed in to the PAG (Pentecostal Assemblies of God) church for a lively service of worship and Word.  Then we headed over to St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral, and I'm so glad we went because it ended up being the Thanksgiving service for baby Asaph - born to my good friends Sam and Grace.

You can't come to Uganda without a boat ride on the Nile - starting in Lake Victoria.

Grace and Sam with little Asaph - one month old

 Kampala traffic

 This vendor was so happy I was back in town... she has been missing me in the market

 Walking around town with Ray was so fun... he was able to experience what it means to run errands - getting a dress made, buying airtime and internet, exploring the market, etc.

 We spent one afternoon cleaning the piggery.

 A pit stop at Lale landing site for the sunset

 Bethel CRC (Acton) gifted Oil of Gladness with a guitar

 Doing laundry by hand once again

 We participated in a four day tent festival/conference in Iganga.  Ray preached a couple of sessions per day and we hung out with this awesome band from Brasil. Tabernaculus

 Oil of Gladness also came to minister for two days

 One of the highlights for me is when Tabernaculus prayed over OG in Portuguese.

 Pastor Ray had to get used to speaking with a translator and having the crowd shout "Amen" throughout his talks!!

 Introducing Pastor Ray to one of my favourite Ugandan pastors!

Pastor Ray should be landing any moment now back in Canada.... and I am going to try and make my way home from Kampala.  I got stuck in the city today with major car problems.  Ready to finally go home and settle in Soroti for a while.

Orientation - from another's perspective

Please check out this link to see what a Global Outreach Mission colleague wrote about our week in upstate New York.

Click HERE for the End Detour.

I will write my own update soon!!

Orienting

I am 10 days away from boarding on a plane to go back to Uganda... and I must admit that it has been another adventurous summer.  I don't even know where my mind is because I started my time in Ontario with a funeral... then went through an interview process and officially got hired by Global Outreach Mission!! It was difficult for me to say goodbye to International Teams.  Then came hours and hours of paperwork - following up with donors, trying to reach out to new potential donors, getting websites changed, creating prayer cards, etc.

Yesterday morning I did another fun church presentation in Acton, and as I was standing on the stage I said "At 5 o'clock today I am supposed to be reporting for orientation in Buffalo, NY... so as soon as lunch is over I will be crossing the border to join other GOM missionaries for training."  When I was saying those words I imagined the Von Trapp family standing on stage during the concert... and the father (in the Sound of Music) was supposed to be reporting for duty as soon as the concert was over.  :)  At least I didn't have to escape the country by foot.  Thanks to Mom and Dad, we have been juggling vehicles all summer and I am blessed to have wheels. 

 While in Grand Rapids last week, I was able to spend some time with team-mates at the DeVos children's hospital.  Oh my - the culture shock I experienced going through such an amazing medical facility.  It's just so sad that Soroti doesn't even come close to having that kind of care.

 Of course... spending time with my college roomies always inspires m to change... so I had my first tinfoil highlights done.  :)

 Yesterday after church I drove this horse around the parking lot. 

 I had to sit at the border for an hour and a half yesterday, so lots of time for selfies - to show you my curls and colour.  The curls are all natural.

 Last night's sunset was gorgeous... can you see Toronto in the distance?

If not I zoomed in on it for you.  I am staying at a tiny Bible camp, right on the Lake and I have a beautiful view of Toronto.

  Please listen to my new favourite song of the summer... it is speaking to my heart right now.

"Blessings"

By Laura Story

 

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise