A BLESSED MOTHER

I pray that each one of you mothers had a very blessed day on Sunday in celebrating Mother's Day, but I, also, count it a privilege to celebrate being a mother every single day.  My six blessings have loved me unconditionally, forgiven me when I have failed them, and showered me with attention.  I have had the awesome privilege of leading five of them to the Lord, and my prayer is that they will keep their hearts in the hands of the Lord and be yielded to Him every day.

Savannah has "claimed" her sister's doll and begs to dress like her

Keith took another missions trip on Friday to the most primitive village he has ever been to in Uganda.  Because he drove on a bicycle path, our van received numerous marks from the bush.  There were no vehicles or sounds of a town, so when the men stood on the van to preach, their voices carried for long distances.  They preached to this village full of fishermen who were mending their nets and to a group of hunters that were headed out with their spears and saw four people trust Christ.  The church that has been started there is meeting in a grass-roofed, mud hut.  Please pray for this village of Kalangala that more people will be reached for Christ.

This is the coat that Keith's grandmother embellished for him.  All 6 of our children have worn it.

In our Sunday service, two people were saved, and one was baptized.  More of those who have recently been saved plan to be baptized this week.  Last night during soul winning, we came across an old lady who had just received word that her grandson had died.  This woman was especially grieved as she had only one son and only one grandson, and both of them were now dead.  This family line had stopped.  What about us as Christians?  Has our spiritual family line stopped, or are we still winning souls and teaching those souls to win souls?

My helper making g-nut sauce - Keith's favorite.  We have it about 3 times a week.

I ask that you pray for Keith this week.  He is working very hard to get all of the renovating completed at the radio station before the Sharps and Damrons arrive on Friday.  However, numerous problems keep popping up.  One of the solar panels got broken.  Power has been off during the day for four days in a row.  The new radio batteries delivered were not what we ordered (although I think they will work out).  In other words, the devil is fighting us getting the radio station back on the air, reaching the lost for Christ and encouraging Christians in their Christian walk.  

My helper peeling garlic.

Remember to pray for the safe arrival of the Sharps and Damrons and for all of the luggage to arrive safely, too.  Radio broadcasting is a powerful means of spreading the Gospel here in Uganda.  It is reaching into more homes than we can possibly visit in our lifetime.  It walks through doors that would be shut to our physical presence.  Pray for Word of Life Radio!

PICTURES, MAYBE?

I promised I would post some pictures when I got this new program figured out.  Well, I'm not sure I have it figured out, but I am going to give it a try.  I just randomly chose some pictures to see if I am doing this right, so I will try to be more organized next time if this works.  I believe I have reached the point in my life that it is easier to tell my kids what I want to get accomplished and have them figure out how to do it.  I remember my mom doing the same thing.  Anyway,  I hope you enjoy the sporadic photos throughout my post.

Since Shiloh's birthday was so close to Easter, he wanted an Easter egg cake.  He loves his new bike!

School is back under way, and we are on schedule.  The children enjoy being able to spread out and share in each other's studies.  Keith is working hard at getting the radio station remodeled before the arrival of Bro. Sharp and Bro. Damron, who are bringing new equipment to install.  We have made 16 solar panels for the radio station to run off of, so hopefully we will be able to stay on the air more consistently.  This will also cut back on our electricity bill.

Stanley loading the dehydrator with fresh pineapple.

We are seeing an excitement among our church people as the changes we have made are resulting in souls being saved and more visitors coming.  Between last Sunday and yesterday, we had 10 people saved!  When one of these men was asked if he wanted to be saved, his reply was, "I've been waiting my whole life to do this." Yesterday we also had 3 people join the church and 8 visitors.  We have changed our soul winning outreach to Sunday nights, and last night we had 22 soul winners come.  There is a unity and joy that is exciting to see.  Twice a month Keith has also been taking mission trips to the village churches.  Last month he took a group to the Kalangala Islands, where they preached to two churches that Bro. Paul has been assisting.  (Many of you have met or seen Bro. Paul in pictures.  He was crippled by polio as a youth and must crawl to get around.)  One of the men there said, "We didn't know there were other people who believed like we do."  These islanders seldom come to the mainland and make their living off of fishing.

And what is that sticking out of the trunk?  A body!

Between supplies and paperwork, Keith has had to take several trips to Kampala, the capitol.  During one of his last trips, he was riding between places on a public transport motorcycle.  The driver had discovered that Keith was from Masaka and began to ask him questions:
"So, do you have a wife?"
"Yes, I do"
"Is she white or black?"
"She's white."
"Why don't you get a black one?"
"I don't need another wife. When I have the best, there is no need to get more."
"But how do you know you won't like another if you don't try one?"
"Sir, I have one wife, and she has her problems.  What would I do with several wives and all of their problems?"
To this, the driver just started laughing.  By the way, Keith wasn't indicating that I am a problem wife, but he was just trying to help the man see the common sense of God's plan.  This isn't the first time that the Ugandans have tried to give him another wife.  Our neighbor near our church was having a reception for their newly-married daughter.  As is the custom, Keith and a couple of men from our church attended for a couple of minutes to congratulate them.  The father of the bride told Keith, "I have another daughter that you can have."
"No, that is ok.  I am already married."
"But that is no problem, here in Uganda you can have more than one wife."
"But I am happy with my wife, and I don't need another."

The number one food we missed while on furlough - sweet bananas.  These stalks were about 50 cents each.

We are currently in the rainy season which is keeping the bugs and rats out of my house.  Usually by noon the rain has stopped, and I am able to hang the washed laundry out on the line, and the children can get some outside exercise.  Everything is a beautiful green with flowers blooming brilliant colors.

Well, I started this on Monday, but I hit a button and it all vanished.  However, today (Tuesday) I found it again, so I will get this sent before it gets lost.  Thank you for your prayers for us.  Have a great week!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHILOH

This morning Keith looked at the calendar and said, "How can it already be the 20th?"  It is amazing that we have been back 1-1/2 months.  The Lord has given us health and strength to get a lot done, and we are pleased with the results.

Keith has now turned his focus to the renovating of the radio station.  His work has included building solar panels, tiling the floor, painting, and tearing down walls to rebuild in different locations.  Being in the rainy season makes for very muddy work.  Shane has been working with him in the mornings and then completing his school work in the afternoons.  They have been coming home quite the exhausted pair. 

Shiloh turned 10 last week and has been getting some good exercise on the bike we were able to purchase for him.  They are all doing well with their school and are glad to have room to spread out for their projects.  Of course, one of their greatest enjoyments has been to have their collection of chameleons again.  They like to see how many flies the chameleons can eat in one lunch hour.  The record is 20; Shae-Lynn was quite determined that her lizard not stop eating until he reached 20. 

Although we have been unpacked for a couple of weeks, now the job befalls me to get things organized so everyone knows where and how to keep things.  This has been a slow process but things are looking so much better.

This past week we started a new schedule of services at our church.  Although we had rain Sunday morning, we still had one visitor during the Luganda service.  We are very encouraged by the spirit of the church members and are looking forward to seeing what they will accomplish for God this year. 

I am sorry that I haven't included any pictures.  We changed computers right before we came back and now I can't figure out how to upload the pictures to my blog.  So...when I get it figured out, you will know!

MIXED UP WORDS

Even though English is the official language of Uganda, many of the words used are not what we would use in America.  Today Keith went to Kampala with some other missionaries, so I asked him to pick up just a couple of things at the store.  One of the items was corn starch, however, here the box is labeled "corn flour."  I wrote on the list "corn flour" but forgot to explain to my husband exactly what I wanted.  When I saw a bag of corn meal instead of a box of corn starch, I stared at it for several seconds before figuring out why I did not get what I asked for.  Then I realized the confusion and had to chuckle at our communication problem.  Let me share some other words or phrases that may cause confusion.

* A torch is a flashlight.
* To advance your car means to back up.
* A nursing home is a medical clinic.
* Pants are undergarments.  Trousers is the correct word for the outerwear.
* Dismiss means to fire someone.  We do not dismiss the congregation after church.
* To knock someone means that you ran into them.
* A sitting room is the living room.
* To shift means to move.
* A boot is the back section of your vehicle.
* A jerry can is a jug that comes in many different sizes.
* A kyo (choe) is an outhouse with no seat - just a hole.

So if (or when) you come to visit, don't be alarmed when I ask my son to bring me a torch, and don't be frightened when the gas attendant asks me to advance the van and I put it in reverse.

YOU'RE SO FAT!

One of the "blessings" of traveling for a year on furlough is all of the good food we get to enjoy.  However, we travel many, many miles and that does nothing to work off all of the extra food.  Needless to say, I lost count how many of our nationals have told me, "Mama Shane, you are so fat!"  If nothing else, that one statement really makes you want to turn right around and head back to the States where you are sure not to hear such a crude statement from your close friends.  Lest you get offended for my sake, let me clarify this - it is NOT offensive in Uganda to tell someone they are fat, but rather it is a compliment.  To be fat is to be wealthy and able to take good care of yourself.  When Keith lost 130 pounds before furlough, the Ugandans were very confused as to why he would do such a thing.  (By the way, he has already lost seven pounds of his "furlough fat."  I haven't been so successful.)  To them, being fat is a good thing.  However, being raised in a culture with the opposite mentality, being told "you are so fat" really helps to humble oneself. 

This week Keith decided to paint our guest quarters, so once again the paint brushes are at work. One of the challenges of including the children in the work is keeping up with each one.  "Mom, I can't find the scraper."  "What did you want me to do with this box?"  "How did you want me to do this?"  "Can you come look at this?"  I think I started nine projects today and totally completed only two.  But what a joy for children to learn the value of working and working as a team!

One of our goals has been to eradicate our house of the rats.  Thus far, we have killed seven.  Every night we have to be sure that the eggs, bread, and bananas are put in a cupboard, so that there will be nothing but the trap bait for them to feed upon.  Today we put poison in our attics, so we are hoping to get rid of more before the week is over.

On Wednesday we will be having a college graduation for one of our students (the last Ugandan who spoke on our dvd).  In going through the graduation garments today, I realized that most of you are probably preparing for graduations, too.  Hence, we have a request for you - if you have a way of obtaining tassels, caps, hoods or black gowns, we could certainly use them. (Perhaps a graduation company would even donate some!) The tassels we have had made here are pathetic. The caps are ok, but look like something from a kindergarten graduation. All of us missionaries here share the suitcase of graduation supplies, so this is an opportunity to be a blessing to many missionaries and Ugandans.

Thank you for praying for Victoria and Kristy.  Victoria is still in much pain but is on her way to recovery.  Because they detected the malaria early and began medication, Kristy, also, is doing better but will probably feel weak for several more days.  May we all remember to pray for each other more and more.

SETTLING IN

While we look around and see how much we still have to do to get unpacked, yet we rejoice at all that has been accomplished this week.  Pictures are back on the walls.  New curtains are hung.  We are all sleeping in our own beds, and at the end of each day, empty boxes are gathered up.  We gave ourselves three weeks to settle in, so we have one more week to put our house in order.  Then ready or not, school must start back up.

Everyone has found their way of fitting back in, except for Savannah.  She doesn't remember much and has asked several times when we are going to our other home or when are we going to Uganda.  This surprised me because she was the one who talked most about going home while we were in America, so I assumed that she remembered it.  Although she is excited about the "new" toys being unpacked, I find she is more clingy and wanting to be around me more than usual.  Many times a day she asks what she can do to help me, as she wants to be by my side.  I find myself saving little jobs for her that will make her feel needed.

Shane and Stanley have been a big help with the painting.  Although Keith's patience has been stretched at times, it has been a good learning experience for them.  They have also pruned the trees, stained book shelves, and carried the many boxes from the storage room into the house.  Perhaps when we pull out the school books, they won't mind it so much.

Something that I have had a hard time with is getting meals fixed.  It isn't the fact that I haven't done much cooking for a year, but I have forgotten how much is involved in cooking in Uganda.  When I get all of my sauces, mixes, and other pre-made foods done up, I believe things will go smoother.  But coming back to nothing at all is a little more difficult.

One of the joys of unpacking our trunks from the States is to remember who gave us what and to pray for them.  So many people had a part in us gathering supplies to bring back, and we are most grateful for them.  Yesterday our children pulled up a video clip on Keith's phone of our church choirs singing "Here Am I, I Will Go."  Keith and I walked away crying.  (Pass the tissues.  I'm crying just thinking about it.)  We appreciate our home church and pastor and are missing them so much.   Although we have longed to come back home to Uganda, it has been hard at the same time.  My intention is not for you to feel sorry for us, but perhaps to give you a glimpse of how much a missionary's heart is torn in two.   I left behind a couple who had just been saved and who someone else will get the privilege of discipling.  Our children made an abundance of friends while traveling, then they come back to just a handful of children in the church.  In the States I was playing grand pianos, and I come back here to playing a keyboard whose keys don't all work.  We ate at restaurants where we didn't have to chew our food carefully lest we break a tooth on a rock in the beans or rice.  We washed our clothes in every type of washing machine without thought of whether or not the electricity would stay on for the load to finish.  Never once did we have to hang our clothes outside to dry.  Our days didn't begin with the checking of rat traps or cleaning up eggs that the rats had gotten into.  We bought what we needed at one store without thought of whether or not they would still have a product next month.  Facing the foreign field after living in America IS difficult.  But while we live each day, we lean not unto our own understanding of "what am I doing here?" but "what more can I do for Christ?".  Everyday frustrations are so insignificant when compared to our neighbor's eternity after death.  Because He lives, I determine to live for Him and to please Him. 

I would like to ask you to pray for two ladies.  Victoria is the wife of the man on our dvd that spoke Luganda.  On Wednesday a cup of hot tea was accidentally spilled in her lap burning both thighs.  When I visited her on Thursday, she showed me the pills the doctor had given her for pain and for infection.  But when I asked her what the cream was on her burns, I was shocked when she showed me the container.  It was fungal cream for athletes foot, ringworm, etc., that had salicylic acid, benzoic acid, and menthol in it.  I advised her to wash it off immediately and use what I had brought her.  Today she is in much worse pain, and I believe it could be from the fungal cream. The second lady is our fellow missionary Kristy Applegate who has come down with malaria.  They had been living in our house while we were on furlough and moved to the village to be near the orphanage upon our return.  It has been tough for them as there is no running water or electricity, added to the fact that their house is not finished so they have been staying in one of the orphan cottages.  I know both of these ladies would appreciate your prayers.

Thank you for praying for us.  We truly value your love for us.  Have a great weekend!

WE'VE ARRIVED!

Thank you to all who have prayed for us.  We arrived safely in Uganda with ALL of our luggage.  Praise the Lord.  It is nice to be home.  Our church provided us a nice welcome-back meal on Sunday, and we enjoyed seeing everyone again.

It will take us about a month to get settled in.  We need to paint the entire interior of the house, as well as make repairs, unpack (we had totally packed up our house before our furlough), and restock our cupboards.  Pineapple and bananas were at the top of our list of what we missed about Uganda, and in just two days we have eaten three pineapples and four hands of sweet bananas.  You really should come see us, if only for these to two fruits.

Several of us have suffered with the cold/flu, so we covet your prayers concerning our health.  The children are lending help in painting, unpacking, sorting, and cleaning.  We are taking a couple of weeks off from school, but I think they would almost welcome some school work after two days of manual work.

One of the beautiful things of being on the mission field is having a continual awareness of being thankful for "little" things. Our electricity was scheduled to be off Monday night, and it did turn off around its scheduled time. Keith & I had taken a one-day trip to the capitol for a massive grocery shopping day (moving back into one's house after a year is like getting married - everything has to be purchased). I started praying and told the kids to pray that electricity would return so that the food would not spoil. IT DID! During the middle of the night, it went off again, but once again, it came on after some time.  The schedule this month is for it to be off from 6pm - 6 am on the even days, and then off all day every third day.  (This is something that we DIDN'T miss while in America.)  Although the electric company comes up with a schedule, this doesn't mean that those are the only times it will be off.  I think they make a schedule more for an explanation of when it is off, they can blame it on "load shedding" (turning one section of the country off to supply electricity to another part). Something that we discovered today when we had an electrician here to help us fix some electrical problems was that our neighbor had tapped into our security lights that are on our compound wall and was using our electricity.  No wonder our bill has been higher than other people and why our back-up batteries weren't lasting as long!

Many of you have promised to come see us in Uganda in the near future, so we are looking forward to your visit. Have a great week!