Tears of the Sun

Beautiful Africa

Has anyone seen this movie?  Bruce Willis stars with others that you might recognize.  I had never seen it before and we borrowed it from another couple.  It is about evacuating Nigeria after a rebel militia army assassinated the President and his family and cleansing the country of certain people (genocide).  Bruce Willis plays a Navy S.E.A.L Lieutenant whose mission is to extract a doctor, a priest and two nuns from a Mission and take them to safety.  I will save you the rest of the plot, watch it for yourselves, but I will share my thoughts and experiences after I was done.  Watching the militia men kill, rape and destroy people’s lives without a blink of an eye or any moral consciousness sickened and angered the depths of my soul.  At the end of the movie I could feel the emotions start to rise.  It wasn’t however until I was cleaning a few things up that I started to experience these emotions.   Knowing this was just a story, but also knowing the reality of what occurred in it is very real in Africa, and in fact all over the world.  I asked God, “How could you let these things happen?” and He answered, “They were my children, I loved them too.”  “Why God?  How long will you wait?  I know you can intervene…why did you not?”  I know the answers in my mind to these questions, but my heart had to ask them.  The tears started to come, broken for those who had experienced such atrocities and died, those who had and lived, children being forced into an army and brainwashed to kill.  More tears for kids and young adults that I had met here who had experienced these things.  I thought of my own conceit of how I live, how privileged I am and not just in wealth but in physical and emotional health, safety and yet the smallest, insignificant thing may dishearten or upset me.  I know nothing of pain and torture, deepest grief and fear as those that have gone through the manifestation of a war torn country overcome by evil men.  I think of those Christians who have experienced something like this, and those that have survived have spoken of compassion, love, grace and mercy for their torturers.  I have no faith in comparison with that…how could I love my enemy when they have done unimaginable things to my friends, family and even me?  It could not come of me, nor of them, but that kind of love MUST come from God.  I know God will bring justice upon those who live wickedly, but it is still difficult for me to not be angered at them.  Matt and Crystal had gone to their room, heard me crying, came and knocked on my door and sat with arms around me as I wept.  After quite some time I shared my thoughts with tears still running quickly down my face.  Broken, reality hitting me in so many directions about so many things, I hope to never forget this day.  May it be that this be instilled deep in my soul and effect how I view situations, people and life and love the world with God’s love and not my own. 

 

 

ABIDE

Serenity

ABIDE (Amagara Bible Institute of Discipleship and Evangelism) is the ministry Matt has started that trains and equips young Ugandan men in a 6-month intensive program that develops them spiritually, emotionally, and vocationally.  They journey with people in the neighborhood and villages by praying for them, caring for their needs, and sharing how their lives have been changed.  There are currently 10 students who participate in ABIDE and are from all over Uganda.  Matt asked me if I wanted to teach and I told him I would be honored.  So Wed and Thurs I taught on the fruit of the spirit from Galatians 5.  It was fun to prepare, be challenged myself and then in turn challenge them.  There was much discussion both days, many of them have a deep desire to know more about the Bible and spiritual things yet have not had people develop them until now.  They are a great group of guys, so many different personalities, a variety of stories, gifts and I am glad to call them my brothers. 

Kishanje

Petrol to Kishanje: 120,000 UGS

Mechanic to repair wheel well: 50,000 UGS

Time spent on road and repair: 11 Hours

Experiencing true Uganda: Priceless

Ha, I laugh as I think back on what should have been a relatively easy trip out to the village and then remember the reality. Kishanje is 3.5 hours South West of Mbarara, very close to the Congo border and in the rural mountains of Uganda. It is another site of Juna Amagara Children’s Home and schools. Our trip’s purpose was to have a youth program for the kids. We (ABIDE guys, Matt, Crystal, myself and the boys) started out our trip with two vans and Matt and Crystal’s car. One van took a different route to pick up a team in another town and it had radiator problems the whole trip. The other van was just fine…until we blew a tire and not just a flat, it was shredded. So Matt changed it and took the time to show the guys how to change a tire. We started off and about 30 mins later I watched in awe as the same tire we had just changed went flying off the van, took multiple leaps and bounds and the van teetered on for a minute with one wheel missing. From there on our trip was full of more adventure…waiting, tires flying off again…waiting, other van over heating…waiting and finally to Kishanje at 10pm. Matt actually had to go back to pick up the people stranded in the van that overheated on the way up the hill. The other van that lost the tire didn’t make it up that night, nor did it in the morning, due to yet TWO MORE flat tires. Everyone was finally together around 5pm for the football match. This area is beautiful…steep hills colored with so many different shades of green, Lake Bunonye, one of the worlds deepest lake cradled in the valley of these hills, simple lifestyles, generous people, joyful children and an amazing view of the stars at night. It was like my own private viewing of the heavens each night. We stayed at a friend’s house and got to taste more of what true Ugandan life is like. No electricity, or water, pit latrines for toilets, eating lunch at 2pm, tea at 5pm, supper at 10pm, great traditional food and LONG Sunday church service, seriously like 5 hours! I really loved the simple lifestyle, I didn’t mind being dirty, hiking everywhere we needed to get and living how most would consider extremely roughing it. I was able to meet some teenage girls who attend the Juna Amagara school and were with Matt and Crystal in Mbarara when they first arrived. Lynnate was my girl…she’s spunky, outgoing, an amazing football player and trusts God with complete dependence. She taught me different things to say in her language, held my hand and clung to me at meetings and became a sweet friend. I look forward to seeing her again some day. Our return home was uneventful, but we went on our own, the others in the van weren’t so lucky. We made it home Sunday afternoon and all crashed. I loved the experience.

Stephen’s First Birthday

done

Stephen is now 1! He is full of life, laughs and cries, crawls a lot and getting ready to walk, talks some (his new favorite word is “Stop!” which sounds more like “Daup! Daup!”) I love the little bug and can’t wait to see how he grows, what he will be like and how his personality develops. We celebrated his birthday with a cake…pancake that is and sang to him. Then we packed into the car and headed off to Juna Amagara and eventually to Kishanje…see following story. What a way to celebrate your first birthday…at least he won’t remember it, I hope!

Swimming

Fun in the Sun!

 

 

Crystal goes to a play group every Thursday for missionary moms to hang out and chat while the kiddos play.  This Thursday we got to go swimming!  It was so fun to be with the boys and other kids and play in the water.  Here’s a couple of pictures…how cute are they? 

Crystal catching Asher

 

There were lots of spiders at the opposite end of the pool, and I found one floating toy with an assortment of spiders and a grasshopper perched on top of it.  I watched them quickly moving around, trying to avoid one another and being pitched into the water.  It reminded me a bit of James and the Giant peach…except it wasn’t a peach, and they didn’t talk, and I wasn’t down there with them, but still it was amusing!!

Floating bugs

Volleyball night…or afternoon

 Wednesday’s are designated to play volleyball with a group of missionaries from the area at our house.  It has been fun to meet Matt and Crystal’s dear friends, their children and get some exercise all together!  I haven’t played volleyball in years, but each Wednesday I am getting better! 

Sabbath

Fire and Storm

Today I took a day to be by myself and be with God.  I hiked to some wooded areas close to Matt and Crystal’s house, trekked through the bush to find a place to sit and rest, and decided to keep going.  I love discovering new things, adventuring around an unknown place, picking my way through areas to get where I want to go.  How it gives me joy and life!  I also LOVE nature, it is where I feel I can connect so deeply with God.  Along the way I saw some beautiful flowers, trees, hills, a Blue Herron and an oncoming storm.  I decided I better start my way back to home, knowing the general direction, but not quite sure where it was.  Getting back was quite easy and not too far off.  Got to meet some neighbors, and watch the storm get closer and closer.  I arrived about five minutes before the fury was unleashed…I was indifferent at first whether I would make it home before it hit, when I saw what occurred, I was glad!  The rest of the day was spent in my room, resting, reading, talking with God about many things.  I was blessed to have a whole day to myself like that, it is a rare thing and I cherished it greatly. 

Ancient

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Me...Queen Elizabeth!

This morning Matt, Crystal and I woke up at 4:30 am, got ready, had breakfast with Lydia (a friend who was watching the boys) and left just before 6am to head to the game reserve about 1.5 hrs from their house.  The drive was beautiful and the sunrise one of the best they have seen since living here.  We arrived just after the sun fully showed herself from the cover of the mountains and started our search for lions.  We saw some Kob (a type of antelope/deer), they are a beautiful caramel color, twisting horns and prance when running.  Everything was so peaceful, and awing, birds chirping as they started the day, hawks and vultures flying around, warthogs running with their tails straight up.  We drove and drove, never saw any lions, but many bones, a true sign that they were there and were feasting on the Cob.  We had a few almost dangerous encounters with some Cape Buffalo (the most aggressive animal in the park) standing in the middle of the road, not budging for anything.  But we survived…had to off road it a few times, and once hit the gas hard to make sure they didn’t come charging!  We also searched for some leopards, but they were hard to find as they stay mostly in the trees.  A herd of elephants were on our path as we headed to take lunch.  There were 12 or so, a few young ones, some little babies and a massive matriarch with beautiful tusks.  We got really close to them, and at one point backed up to be just yards from them.  At that point the matriarch mamma got defensive, started flapping her ears and moving towards us.  Crystal and I had our heads popped out the sunroof and Matt warned, “If she gets too close, tell me.  I have my foot on the gas in case she charges.”  Ah, how I love risk and adventure.  God’s creation is amazing to me! 

Mama and Baby

   We took lunch at a beautiful hotel up on a hill overlooking the park, and then went on a boat trip.  There were a bunch of cute older British people who were avid bird watchers…many laughs and chuckles came from us over them…ah, good times.  On the boat ride we saw a bunch of hippos, Fisher Eagles (looks a lot like a Bald Eagle), baby crocs and a HUGE Nile crocodile, many birds (Uganda is a premier bird watching nation), Cape Buffalo and Elephants playing in the water. 

 It was a wonderful day, as we headed home, Matt and I discussed what we have learned from our different cultures/cities we live in, how our perspective on God has grown and changed and what mission looks like in different contexts.  We crashed quite tired, yet satisfied at being together and seeing some amazing animals, landscape and even people on our adventure.

 

 

Elephant Troubles

Giving and Receiving

Juna Amagara Kids

JA Kiddos and their toys

Today, Sunday, I got to experience some great things. One was going to Pastor Bernard’s church (he teaches some classes at ABIDE and I was able to get to know him) and enjoying the love and joy of a small church held in a classroom of a primary school. The people who attended are so incredible, come from many walks of life and love God so deeply. I, unbeknownst to me, was the guest preacher for the day. He had alluded some days before that he would like me to share about what I am doing in New Orleans. I thought it would be just a simple introduction, but in the back of my head, knowing some about guests of honor in different cultures, an inkling arose of my being the preacher. Time came for the preacher to speak and I still not being fully sure was called to come forward. Crystal looked at me and said, “Did you KNOW you were the preacher?” I of course responded in the negative, but went forward with great joy. It was fun to share my thoughts and insights on the Widow that gave all her money while the Pharisees gave much, but not with joy or sacrificially.

 

Later that day I went to the Juna Amagara children’s home to give gifts given by people in my community. Logan, Jordan, Andrew and Nicholas went through their toys and sacrificed some special treasures to give to the kiddos who have very little. It was such a sweet display of caring and compassion by them, knowing they would miss those things, but wanting to bless others who had less. A child’s heart is a precious thing. Other people in our community gave various things as well and of course lots of beads from Mardi Gras. The 32 kids gathered in a circle, waiting patiently for what I had in a big black bag. I shared that these things came from friends with much love, and shared how they were now connected with each other even though they were miles apart. They all cheered and clapped at this with smiles beaming. The littlest kids got to come first and I gave them all beads and then a toy. This little gift time continued until everything was gone…and just the perfect number of toys for every kid. They were so happy, showing each other what they had received, wearing their beads proudly. But for me I received much from seeing them so excited, giving me hugs and kisses. I will pass these on to the boys and my community in New Orleans.

Family, Fun and a Graduation

 

 

Stephen Beth and Asher

Asher and Beth’s Tattoos

Dorren’s Graduation

 

I have had a wonderful time being with my family.  I so enjoy Asher and Stephen, learning their “language,” being their Auntie, playing with them, putting them to sleep; all of it, the glory and the not so glorious.  I took care of the boys Tues night so Matt and Crystal could have dinner with some friends.  We had a wonderful time, and in the middle of the night Asher woke up and called for ME, not Mommy, not Daddy… “Au Beff!!” came loud and clear.  It was such a sweet thing for me to experience.  Bunnies were the order of the day…no, not to eat, but to play with!  A friend of ours had five little bunnies that we were able to hold and cuddle, they were so very cute!  Later that day Asher wanted tattoos like Aunt Beth, so I drew a cross and Crystal drew a car on his shins…I think he will look great with ink one day!   Matt, Crystal and I have had wonderful times together, talking, sharing our hearts, thoughts and woes, watching movies, playing games, being in the same room but each one doing something different.  I LOVE my family!

    We had the privilege of going to a graduation party for a friend of Adrine (she is Matt and Crystal’s house helper) on Friday.  Parties here are big things, decorations, cakes, lots of really good food, special music (usually popular artists hired to sing), speeches, gifts, etc.  We arrived at 2 (it started at 12) and the guest of honor did not arrive for another hour.  So at 3pm we welcomed Doreen, had some musical performances, ate lunch a bit later, stayed for a while longer and then the boys had a melt down.  The party was just getting started when we left, who knows, could have continued on into the night, it most likely did.  It was an amazing thing to be able to experience a party like that, there were maybe 100 people there and that is considered small.  Ah, I love enjoying other cultures and how they celebrate…they do it WELL here!