Attack of the Voice - Part 1

 Sadly, it's been over a year since I last wrote a post. And I blame my physical voice for that. Over the last four years my speaking voice has become weaker. But it's also moody. If I am just chatting with Moses, or friends, it seems to hold up, but if I am to read anything aloud, or pray, or lead a group, the voice gives way to choking. A muscle tightens and doesn't release. Singing is something I haven't done in 4 years. It makes my spirit cry. And because my physical voice is struggling, I feel like my virtual voice is losing it's creativity. I want to write a book, or dramatic monologues, but have no idea where to begin. But today, I woke up thinking I should at least do something!! So, just for warm-ups. I am attaching a few photos per month of the past year of our lives and sharing a little of what's been going on in our lives. 

August 2023

Sunday school teachers love it when the costume bag comes out during a training.

Another group of teachers is equipped with OneHope's "17 Stories" curriculum.

Babysitting children at home, we create a little car village that lasted the whole day!

Over the past year, we have been teaching the Gospel Project in Sunday school.

Tuesdays is men's fellowship in our home. (Monday evenings is women's fellowship, also in our home.)

In the middle of August, 2023, Moses and I flew to the US for missions training and a MissionGO conference. We had a few weeks around those two events, so we caught up with as many friends, family members, and supporters as we could along the way. We are so grateful that the Lord opened the door for us to go the United States, and we believe that it was the key that helped Moses finally be able to get a visitor visa to Canada as well.

First stop, since we landed in Buffalo, was to catch up with family and see Niagara Falls.

Hanging out with Mom and Dad is always a blast. And I'm glad I was around to celebrate his 70 years of life!!

Mom and I went to a sunflower farm while Dad and Moses went to a car show.

Everything is bigger in the US. Funny little story here. While we went to Baker Book House, a large Christian bookstore, Moses got emotional and started weeping because he desired to have these kinds of resources in his own country. The next day we went to the supermarket, and as I was strolling through the meats and cheese section, I started crying. Moses had to hug me while I wished that we had access to these resources in Uganda. Oh, I'm a terrible person! 

Moses could see Canada, but didn't know if he would ever be able to reach there. Only the Lord knew that a few months later, the gates would open!!

We finally made it to the head office of MissionGO!

We attended a week long orientation with MissionGO.

Other missionaries joined from around the globe.

A great week of learning and comradery. 

A stop in Pittsburgh to visit a group of people who walk alongside of UCC, University Community Church, in Gulu. Every fall, a contingent comes from PA to lead a Shepherd the Flock Conference.

September 2023

Throughout the journey we were also able to spend time with former colleagues. Steve and Tanya used to live in Soroti. We also met up with missionaries I used to serve with in the Philippines.

This will be our last visit to the Resonate Office in the CRC mecca. They are moving the office, but we were so glad to fellowship and share stories and pray with the staff we found in the office.

Our partner mission agency.

A beloved denomination.

I had the joy of showing Moses where I went for college!

Decorating the wall in a main atrium is a piece of artwork put together by Tim Sliedrecht. These hands and feet were of former LRA child soldiers. I remember being in the village, maybe 10 years ago, meeting up with these Lord's Resistance Army youth, painting their feet and then washing their feet with turpentine. Their stories broke my heart, but God has healed so many of them from their traumatic journey of war.

I was invited to speak at a Kuyper College podcast chapel.

Who can resist a ride with Papa Bill, who I met in my high school days.

Along the way of visiting people, we did a few tourist attractions.... because it's necessary!

My Texan Hubby!

At the MissionGO conference.

Sharing dinner with colleagues from around the world!

We even made it to Washington D.C. This is where we received an email that Moses had received a visa to Canada and he was supposed to bring his passport in to the embassy. The only problem is, the embassy he had to bring it to was Kampala. We made it back with one day to spare. God is good!

One of my favourite activities of all time!

Catching up with family! My cousin Judy.

Leading worship.

We spent 7 weeks in the US.

One of those weeks was in Buffalo for MissionGO training.

And one week was in the Ft. Lauderdale area.

The rest was 5 weeks of travelling, seeing many people and driving through 20 states. We were beyond blessed to accomplish all that we did on that amazing trip. I was able to share so many firsts with Moses! We praise God for the open door. 

October 2023

When we arrived back in Uganda, our vehicle had to go to the garage for a few days, so here is Moses, patiently waiting for the car, so we can travel home from Kampala to Gulu.

We made it home in time to be a part of the Shepherd the Flock Conference. Over 70 pastors gather for 2 days of learning, worship, discussion and prayer. And each pastor when home with 10 books to add to their libraries.

We are the serving crew for the conference, making sure the pastors have water, lunch, and name tags at registration.

This group blesses my heart - all from UCC - and they call me Mommy K.

Then it was off to Kitgum for 3 days to run another module of TLT (Timothy Leadership Training).

These church leaders are hoping to do all 6 modules.

Praying over the action plans which each participant has 3 months to implement.

November 2023

Question Night at church.

Teaching Sunday school under the hot sun. Thankfully, just a few weeks later, we were able to begin renting the house next door to the church, so now Sunday school has an indoor classroom!

Moses is sharing with a new believer.

Sarah and Becky

Moses loves on the ladies in the village.

Ignite worship service on the University campus.

Moses is preaching during worship night.

Every other month or so, I would participate in a crafting day with friends.

Hosting church members at home for a year end membership meeting.

Yeah for UCC!

Our church family!

December 2023

Edible termites - AKA - White Ants. Yum Yum!

I was asked to speak at a village kindergarten graduation ceremony.

Then I flew from Gulu to...

Mombasa.

To attend an Educational Care workshop with all of us trainers from around East Africa.

I always love being the teacher's pet and helping summarize class notes. :)

All of us East African Educational Care trainers.

Having fun in the heart of Mombasa.

I was in charge of group activities and ice-breakers.

I received a lovely scarf from Ethiopia during the gift exchange game.

Leading the gift exchange.

Participating in group work.

We celebrated Christmas in the village with brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.

Also with cousins, village neighbours, and friends!

And a time of prayer with our dear mother.

Family time! Having the nieces home with us for a few days!

Close friends come over for sweet fellowship!

Attending the Christmas Cantata at Watoto Church, Gulu.

Watching the show with gladness.

Well, that was the rest of 2023 in a wrap. Now I shall put together a few months of 2024. Thanks for catching up on our lives.

July Moments 2023

Moses and I need to make new prayer cards and ministry banners, so we thought we would have a fun little photo shoot.  These pics make me smile.

I've got this!

Besties

Tutu and Tiny - our lovely ladies

Moses was doing a steam bath with menthol to try and get over a deep cold.

Celebrating my friend Val, in the center, at a shower for her expected baby.

Spending time with Soroti neighbours in Kampala - Vanessa and Rose

We were making "Daddies" (hard cookies) for some kids at school.

This is local food - greens, chicken, and rice

Or a whole fish.  Yum Yum.

Timothy Leadership Training crew. We gathered for 3 days to discuss stories of change, teaching methods, reporting practices, and had a great time of fellowship.

Matthew is a 19 year old intern. He moved in next door and has become a great friend for 3 months. He joins us for Sunday lunch and other family meals.  His birthday is the same day as my oldest nephew in Canada, and they are the same age! It makes me miss my family in Canada, but it has been fun to have an extra family member around for a season.

Moses is in the middle of a series on the Book of John. He preached 4 Sundays in July.

A visitor came to church on Sunday and said "Tell those churches in Ontario that they need to invite Moses to preach on their pulpits, so that he can show them proof of how the Gospel can have depth in Africa!"

Oh Lord, make a way for the Canadian Government to allow Moses to visit Canada.

 

Slowing Down and Member Care

 There are always seasons in ministry when life slows down and we just have to sit back and see what the Lord brings next. To be honest, I sometimes struggles with these seasons, because I am such a doer. Although, since Covid I have learned to appreciate the quieter times. Throughout the month of June I found myself asking God what more can I do. Lord, I want to be used by You here! Who do you want me to share with, encourage, visit? And many days I am still waiting for those answers, but in the mean time, I am thanking God for each day that we are called to serve Him here in Gulu.

Our church family is very important to us, and so when Pastor Jimmy and Phionah asked us to look after their boys while they had to travel across the country for a burial in the village, we gladly obliged. Val, my friend, and an amazing Sunday school teacher decided to join us for home-made pizza one night. And I'm super glad that I just found a vendor who sells pepperoni. :)

Moses has been preaching a lot more frequently.  He and Pastor Jimmy are working through the Book of John.

I think this sermon was one that I particularly needed to hear this month, because life isn't about what I do, or how much I can accomplish. It's about staying rooted in Jesus, being connected to the Vine, and being a part of God's story.

I was absolutely delighted to be called back into the classroom for 2.5 weeks. I was teaching Bible class at a local educational co-op. We had great discussions about making the right choices and choosing to honor God through our actions, speech, and attitudes.

Lesson Prep time

For the protection of the children, I don't have their faces here... they have just run out to grab their lunch. I don't know if I could ever be a 9-5 teacher, but I sure do love being in classroom.

Our dining table often looks like this as Moses uses every Bible resource he can find to put together a one hour sermon. HIHI... I don't know what my African husband will ever do if he is called to preach in North America.

Last week I fell really sick. I ended up going to this tiny clinic to find a British doctor who could help get me back on my feet.  In reality, it's been 9 days and I am still trying to get back up. Thankfully it is just a good old fashioned cold now. Sadly, I think Moses just caught it this morning. He's in bed now.

One of the things I do for self-care is attend a ladies Bible study on Thursday afternoons. It's always a good time of fellowship, prayer, laughing, crying, and being in the Word. On top of that is the bonus of a hot cup of tea and a delicious treat. We always make sure to celebrate each other.

This month we also got to celebrate Pastor Jimmy!

I led the group through an entertaining round of charades.

This year was one of those few times that I didn't feel like celebrating my own birthday though. Usually I make a big deal and give people plenty of warning. But my physical body has tired me out lately. I can't shake this GERD and coughing, and adding the flu to this doesn't help... so I just told Moses all I wanted for my birthday were some cushions for the bench on our front porch.

But, in a very sneaky way, Moses pulled off a surprise Birthday party that I'm surprised I had the energy to attend. I had been in bed the whole day. I thought a friend was taking me out for a simple brownie in the evening, and it turned into a huge dinner party.

Happy Birthday to Me!

At a wonderful restaurant, friends gathered for games, stories, laughter, a meal shared, and then many stood up and gave a speech as to what they appreciate about me. It's quite a humbling experience.

I must mention these two ladies as well. Janessa (in the middle), a fellow Canadian, and Sarah, from Australia, are two ladies that I get together with maybe once every 6-8 weeks for a craft day.  Usually that's when I have time to make a load of birthday cards, or Thanksgiving, or Christmas cards. They are always much craftier - making wall hangings, painting, creating house designs, but I just make cards. :) It's another way for me to look after myself, but also pour myself out. I used to feel guilty about needing time with "home" culture, even though I love Uganda so much, but I now believe it's a normal necessity and I'm going to embrace it.

Thanks for checking in on us this month!