Handfuls of Blessings

GOOD-BYE, USA

2012-03-06T14:00:00.037-06:00

God's mercies NEVER FAIL! He has been so gracious to us during this year-long furlough that we can only sit back in wonderment that He loves us so much. Does that mean we have not been without problems and difficult times? No, but He has never left us nor forsaken us.

After leaving the beautiful state of Idaho, we had some meetings in Montanna where we enjoyed great fellowship with a couple who has visited Uganda several times. We left at the beginning of a snow storm in preparation for a long day of travel in our journey toward Oklahoma. For those of you who have never been north, there is little else but dirt and trees between Billings and Cheyenne. After eating lunch on the outskirts of Cheyenne, our van refused to start. A mechanic came and confirmed Keith's diagnoses: the fuel pump was out. The temperature was 30 some degrees with wind gusts up to 50 mph. It was cold! We continued to hang out in McDonald's, while the mechanic would work for 10 minutes, jump in his truck to warm up, and then repeat the cycle. Then the grim news that a brace had broken and would not arrive until the following day. We tried calling Baptist churches in the area but received no answer. We tried a Baptist help hotline, and they weren't able to find any assistance in the area either. Looking around, we spotted a motel within walking distance, so Keith walked over to see if they had a room available. As he was discussing our situation with the lady at the front desk, a man in the lobby offered to drive over and get our luggage. How thankful we were for this kind gesture and also that we were able to have a warm place to sleep. Because of the delay, we had to cancel our Wednesday meeting for that week but knew that God had protected and provided for us all along the way.

We finished up January with a missions conference at my sister's church in Oklahoma, so our children had a great time with their cousins. As we were driving through Ft. Worth, our back tire fell off and passed us on I-35. Keith was able to maneuver safely to the side, and then went to find where our tire landed. Within 2 minutes, a policeman had pulled up behind us. He had been called to an accident that was a couple of miles up the road, but radioed in to say that he would be staying with us since we had a van load of kids. A supporting pastor that was just a couple of miles away, came and picked up the children and I, while Keith waited for a truck to come get our van. Several parts had to be replaced, but we were back on the road in less than 4 hours.

We are now two days away from leaving. (I had begun this post several weeks ago!) Our lives have been very busy with packing, catching up with friends, and general moving responsibilities. Our health is taking a beating, so we appreciate your prayers. We have had a great time with each of you in the States and have been blessed beyond measure. We love being missionaries and are grateful that God would choose to use us in such a manner. Be sure to stay in touch with us and remember that you have an invitation to visit us.

Welcome 2012

2012-01-14T21:12:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe that 2012 has arrived! I apologize for not posting for a month, but we have been that long without consistent internet (quick McDonald's breaks don't give much time for writing). We are about 54 days away from take off and are anxious to get home. Home -- with dresser drawers for our clothes, a school room for homeschooling, a closet with more than 8 changes of clothes, my extra long bed...I'm homesick!

Here is a review of our last month:

Jelly Bellies are one of my favorite candies, so a trip to the Jelly Belly Factory is a necessity when we are in the area.

Jelly Belly Factory

We spent Christmas in Washington with part of my family. My brother took us to Fidalgo Island and Deception Pass. What a view!

The extra one in the middle is my nephew.

I finally had the opportunity to meet Keith's Uncle & Aunt that live in Idaho. We had the time of our lives...

...On four wheelers...

...In the snow...

...And hiking in Nez Perce battlefield

Our children were given their first real dose of snow and had the opportunity to go sledding.

Stanley


Shiloh

Skyler

Shane

Keith and the girls

We have had a great time and are looking forward to finishing up our travels soon. Thank you for praying for us.

SHILOH'S UPDATE

2011-12-15T23:11:00.000-06:00

As we come to the beginning of a new year, we will be marking two years since Shiloh was diagnosed with diabetes. How encouraging it is as we visit our churches to hear people say, "I've been praying for Shiloh. How is he doing?"

One of my biggest prayer requests before we left Uganda was to find a doctor that would be good to us. I desired someone who would not be critical of our schedule or demeaning of our care for our son. This prayer was answered far above my dreams. The endocrinologist and dietician that God led us to have been very supportive of us and have gone out of their way to help us. They stock us up with samples anytime we are able to make an appointment, and they are always ready to answer any questions I have through phone calls or emails. Thank the Lord!

A new kink has been thrown in Shiloh's life this past month. Testing results have revealed that he is gluten sensitive. Removing all gluten from his diet put Shiloh in tears for a week. However, the doctor has left us with the hope that by removing gluten and giving him supplements for repairing the damage done from eating gluten, his body may be able to repair itself and may even be able to recover from diabetes. We have never stopped praying for healing, and perhaps this will be the way it is brought about. If this is not part of God's plan, then we accept that, too. But we do ask that you not stop praying for him, as you do for our whole family.

Merry Christmas, Shiloh.

We love you and pray that God blesses you with a long, healthy life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-10T15:55:00.000-06:00

One of the many blessings we get to enjoy while on furlough is seeing so many different Christmas decorations. I need to remember to take pictures of some Ugandan decorations when we return to the field. Decent Christmas trees weren't even sold in the stores until about 5 years ago. Before that, the few that could be found would rival Charlie Brown's. As for decorations, anything goes - balloons, cassette tape "string", toilet paper - you get the idea.

Thus said, our children have had a full immersion into American Christmas trees. We visited the Ronald Reagan Museum where they had a different Christmas tree to represent each 10 year segment of American history. On Thursday we were in a town where businesses, churches, individuals, etc. put up decorated trees in the town park, making a beautiful site at night. Everywhere we look, houses, streets, and businesses are decorated with lights, blowups, trees, and greetings. We have had the privilege of going to a church's Christmas concert and a Christmas party. And despite all of the talk about America not being able to freely express their holiday wishes, it warms our hearts to still hear people in the stores, restaurants, and banks say,

"And have a merry Christmas!"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2011-11-24T11:56:00.000-06:00

As I was reading in Colossians this morning, all of the verses about giving thanks and thanksgiving jumped out at me. We truly have so much to be thankful for, but we should remember to make every day Thanksgiving Day.

Thank you for being our friends. Thank you for the part you have had in our lives.

May God richly bless you this year!

WONDERFUL PLASTIC CARDS

2011-11-20T00:08:00.000-06:00

Having been to 28 states in 7 months time, our family is so ready to return home. Despite the many miles, though, we have also been extremely blessed in our travels. We were in 5 missions conferences right in a row, and, wow, how well we were treated! Far better than we deserve. One particular blessing I would like to mention is that of gift cards. Within the last several weeks, we have been given 4 gift cards. Stanley has had a growth spurt and had outgrown his suit by two sizes (even ripping out the sleeve beyond repair). By using a gift card for a department store, we were able to buy him a new suit and pay just $40 out of our own pocket. So, to those of you who have slipped us one of those plastic cards - THANK YOU!

Now, to review some of our recent adventures:

We made the trip from Austin, Texas to California in two days time. Crossing the desert, there is little to look at. However, passing these three race car semis several times added to the scenery.

We visited a farm where the children fed the goats, sheep and emus. We took a walk to a pumpkin patch, had a delicious lunch from the farm deli, and browsed their country store.

We love walking on the beach barefoot. We had the opportunity to visit the beach twice while in southern California. The water was so cold (quite a shock to the children who are more used to the warmer Ugandan water), but that didn't deter the wading.

See her running from the wave in the top corner?

Savannah was swept off her feet when this wave came in.

Everyone got a little more wet than expected.

Some of the beach "friends" we saw.

The mall where we bought Stanley's suit had a Walmart -- and it was two levels. The escalator even carried the grocery carts up and down.

Took this photo mainly for my mother-in-law's enjoyment.

As we were eating supper one night at someone's house, the boy brought out his pets. Neither Keith nor I are snake-lovers, but we both managed to hold the two snakes. And, no, my kids will NOT be getting one of these for a pet. I will stick with chameleons.

While in San Diego, we were visiting with the family we were staying with and discovered that there was a Creation Museum just 15 minutes from their house.

Every time my boys saw the Medievel Castle from the outside, they begged to go. I wish I could have photographed Shiloh's face when we walked into the parking lot, and he realized we really were going. It was priceless. They enjoyed the show immensely.

We cheered for the green knight.

It was fun to watch the kids as much as the show.

Getting to experience so many things helps compensate for the long hours of travel, the suitcase "dressers", and the sporadic daily schedule. I'm just so glad I get to share it all with my best friend.

I love you, Keith!

GOD'S PROVISION

2011-10-20T16:57:00.000-05:00

God can and will use anything to meet our needs. If He can use ravens to feed one of His prophets in Bible times, then He can even use a Muslim to meet the needs of His children.


Paul's "tricycle"

Anyone who has visited us in Uganda will remember Bro. Paul. He became crippled when he contracted polio at a young age, but this has not stopped him from being faithful. He got saved and started coming to our church when we didn't even have our own church building and were renting a store front in Masaka town. About 1 1/2 years ago God gave us a burden for the people on the Kalangala Islands in Lake Victoria, and our church began praying for a man to minister there. Bro. Paul stepped forward and volunteered. To get there, he has to take a taxi van to the ferry, take a ferry across the waters, and get on another taxi or piki-piki (public motorcycle transport) that will take him to the preaching point. This involves crawling from transport to transport, but he is a willing servant of God. Between the support from the Masaka church and our family, he is able to make this trip twice a month.

Last week while Bro. Paul was in Kalangala, he was praying for the opportunity to return the following week as many of the people he has been ministering to were returning to the mainland the end of October for one reason or another. On the way to Masaka, he sat beside a Muslim man and tried witnessing to him. The Muslim man said, "I know you want me to get saved, but I don't want to get saved, so you are going to have to change the topic of conversation." Paul did, but still managed to insert the Gospel a little bit here and there. Upon arriving back in Masaka, as he was leaving the taxi van, the Muslim man asked Paul to wait. The Muslim handed him 50,000/= ($17) and told him to go back to Kalangala like he wanted to and preach the Gospel. One of our village pastors has pledged 30,000/= ($10) to help with the purchase of a life jacket for him to wear when on the ferry, as the waters sometimes get rough.

A church in Rhode Island helped outfit this "motor-tricycle" for Paul.

When a ministry is opened up before you, step up to the task and let God provide your needs.

"But my God SHALL supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19

BIRTHDAYS PAST

2011-10-13T15:31:00.000-05:00

A true ice cream cake made by Savannah's cousins

It is already the middle of October, and I haven't even written about our last two birthdays. Such is the life of traveling, unpredictable schedules, and unconsistent internet connection.

A whole family of readers

Stanley has turned 14 and has not lost any of his love for books. He has surprised us by his accuracy in shooting, especially when it isn't one of his main interests. He broke his glasses the weekend before his birthday, so on his birthday, the day we were leaving for another meeting, Stanley was getting fitted with new goggles (as the Ugandans call them).

And Savannah is finally growing into a closer age of what everyone guesses her to be. Although if you ask her her age, she is likely to tell you 6 or 9. Four days before her birthday we were at her cousins' house, and they stuck candles in the ice cream and sang to her. Then Stanley and Dixie, a college student in our home church, made Savannah two cakes on her birthday. She was given the royal treatment.


Heart Cake

Flower Cake

We have been blessed in our travels, long though they be. The Lord has preserved us from accidents; the price of gas is going down; our children have been blessed with a guitar and violin, Keith with an elliptical and myself (well, the whole family) with a VitaMix. One of the most phenomenal has been the provision of all of the needed money for replacing our radio station equipment. Hallelujah!

Shiloh and Skyler at the Aquarium in Corpus Christi

We are in our stretch of four missions' conferences right in a row. Please pray for our health. In September we had two conferences back-to-back, and half of us fell ill. We are doing our best to avoid a repeat, but allergies have already had me under the weather. However, the messages this week have been just what we needed, and we have enjoyed meeting new missionaries and seeing their presentations.

Sisters are the best of friends.

Thank you for your prayers for us. Have a great weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SKYLER!

2011-08-13T23:21:00.000-05:00

Skyler chose Lucky Charms as his birthday cereal.

Last week someone asked how we came up with the name "Skyler," and I had to admit that we thumbed through the baby name book after he was born to re-name him. We had named him Seton at birth, but the Ugandans pronounce the "e" as a long "a." Well, that was a little embarrassing for them to be announcing on our radio station, "We would like to congratulate Pastor Keith and Mamma Shane on the birth of their son Satan." So, after a day of hearing them call our little man "Satan," we decided a name change was in order.

Yes, he really did shoot this gun. It nearly knocked him off his feet.

Very unusual to see him still.

Skyler is the Energizer bunny of the family that never runs down. He has so much energy that we have to be sure to provide an outlet for it each day. He loves to play ball and wrestle with his dad. He is hesitant about trying something new but will embrace adventure when he is assured that it is safe. We are so blessed with him being a part of our family. We love you, Skyler.

Two heads are better than one?

Using a salt shaker to break open peanuts.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEITH!

2011-08-11T22:42:00.000-05:00

The Lord has blessed me to be married to such a great, godly man - one that turned 40 years old today! One thing that he has said often is that his tastes have changed a lot as he has aged. He used to have trouble eating mild salsa; now he keeps asking for hotter and spicier food. So what did we do for his birthday? We toured the Tabasco factory. My biggest disappointment was that they no longer make Tabasco Jelly Bellies. Those were SO good. (I like cinnamon, hot things, too.) The tour was very interesting, though. Let me share a couple of recent photos Keith while in the States.

He has driven over 15,000 miles since March - not in a go cart, though.


He loves trying new things.

He's a great preacher.

He's my best friend.

GOD'S HAND AT WORK AT CICI'S PIZZA

2011-07-29T22:30:00.001-05:00

Today closed out our week of Enrichment Week at Baptist International Missions, Inc. The last meal served was lunch, so another family agreed to meet us at CiCi's Pizza for supper. (Keith and I were going just to feed the kids and for the fellowship; we have been fed SO well this week that we could stand to skip a couple of meals.) As we were waiting for the other family, we helped our kids fix their plates. A lady stopped Shane and asked if we were driving the van that said Baptist Missionary Transportation Ministry. He confirmed that we were. She then asked what mission board we were with, and he told her BIMI. After she had taken her food to her table, she came over to ours, handed Keith some money and said, "Our church supports several BIMI missionaries, and I really like them. Here is some gas money for you." WOW! Thank you, Lord! Our green gas monster hungrily drank that $50, and our children were given yet another reminder of our Lord providing for our needs. All week long, the Lord has given us blessing upon blessing. In our minds, the week was "over." But God delights in surprising His children, leaving us humbled that He cares so much for us.

FURLOUGH FUN - MAY and JUNE

2011-07-09T18:29:00.000-05:00

So much has happened that it is difficult to keep up with it all, let alone find the time to write about it. Thus, I will share some pictures with you to try to get you caught up on our lives without boring you with a long dialogue.

May 29: Skyler's first bowling experience.

May 29: Savannah declared the bowling
shoes to be so cute!


May 30: Memorial Day fun

May 30: Skyler caught 3 fish
and fell in love with the sport

June: Southern-themed t-shirts for all

June 2: Standing in front of Sight and Sound Theaters.
We loved seeing the production of Noah.

June 3: Silver Dollar City - Skyler and Savannah

June 3: Silver Dollar City - Boys cool off with water ride

June 4: Stanley experiences a quick dress change at
Sight and Sound Theaters

June 7: Shae-Lynn riding the horse Honey

June 7: Shane, Stanley and Honey

June 16: Combat with the pastor's kid

June 16: Bald Knob Cross, Illinois

June 20: Savannah looks right comfortable

June 20: Shiloh and his favorite reptile - the komodo dragon

June 20: Yes, we are petting the stingrays - very soft.

June 20: St. Louis Zoo train - tickets given to us by a stranger

June 20: Shivering in the penguin house

June 21: The kids usually get to ride the merry-go-round
in compensation for following mom around the mall.

GOT MILK?

2011-05-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

If you want to gain a blank stare from my children, just ask them, "What type of milk does your family drink?" Not only have my children not seen milk in jugs, but to be asked, "Do you want skim, 2% or whole?" really confuses them.

In Uganda, our milk is available in several different ways. In the capital and also in Mbarara where Keith's parents live, milk can be purchased pasteurized in a bag. We purchase about 40 litres a month and freeze it. It will come in either 1/2 litre or 1 litre bags, and we usually don't have a choice - just whatever size they have on hand. UHT (shelf) milk is available but is about twice the price as the bags. Milk powder comes from as far away as England, South Africa, and Dubai. Then we have local milk. We take our own container to the milk shop, and they pour the fresh milk in which was delivered from the farmer that day. As I prepare to pasteurize it, I double strain it as I have found cow hair, dirt and even a roach in it before. Do we notice a difference in taste between Ugandan and American? Definitely! We love the American milk.

Now I wish I could have shared with you a video of us explaining to the kids how to open and drink milk from a carton! That was priceless.

THERE IS SUNSHINE!

2011-04-28T10:08:00.000-05:00

We have been asked repeatedly, "How are you and your family adjusting to the States?" The hardest part has been the cold. However, this morning there are so few clouds in the sky that the sun is actually able to shine, which finds me sitting right in the beam that is coming through the glass doors.

Today I will share several photos of where we have been on our travels. Notice the coats in all but one photo - even inside buildings.

Our first meeting was at my dad's church in Gravette, Arkansas. My dad took us around the countryside showing us the site of his childhood home and the schoolhouse he attended, which is still standing.

My dad, Willis Ward, with 6 of his 14 grandchildren.

We then headed north for two meetings in Canada and two meetings in New York. We were surprised by the amount of ice still remaining at the base of Niagara Falls.

A shivering pose in front of Niagara Falls

In New York City we visited the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Ground Zero.

Savannah & Shae-Lynn on the ferry

Everywhere we go, our children have made such great friends and are sorrowful to have to leave them. Our visit to Narragansett Bay Baptist Church in Rhode Island was no exception. However, this church gave our children friends they could take with them - BOOKS. Our children love reading and have asked repeatedly for something to read besides their school books. They have now immersed themselves into the adventures of Paul White, Ed Dunlop, and Chuck Black.

Shiloh, Skyler & Savannah investigating their new books

While staying in Rhode Island, we visited the First Baptist Church of America then traveled the short distance to Masachusettes and toured the USS Constitution, saw the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock replicas, and drove by Paul Revere's house and North Church.

Keith & I in front of The First Baptist Church of America

Shae-Lynn, Stanley, Skyler & Shiloh on board the USS Constitution

Traveling in Illinois we stayed several days with Gene & Bonita Sharp and met up with Eric & Tisa Damron for supper and, of course, ICE CREAM. Gene & Eric just returned from Uganda, where they were helping several of us with Christian radio stations.

Eric, Gene, & Keith. This was my first time to a ColdStone.

We will be in the Missouri area for the next month, basing out of Marshall and hopefully staying clear of the tornadoes. Thank you for praying for us!

WE'RE HERE!

2011-04-10T23:43:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't yet heard, yes, we have arrived in the States. Wow -- you Americans need to slow down! April 11th will mark our one-month anniversary. We have been going nonstop since arrival, hence, I have touched the computer only to pack it. The kids are full of endless questions and fascinations. "Who switches on the lights in the road?" - the reflectors in the road. "How does this faucet work?" - do you realize how many different types of faucets there? "Is it safe to drink that water?" - hesitation in drinking from water fountains. "We can get our own soda?" - from the fountain drink dispensers. They have experienced the world of automation in the form of toilets, sinks, soaps, paper towels, hand dryers, and doors. Savannah seems to be stuck on the many types of toilets. The automatic ones scared her to death until I made a game of it - "Wow - it flushed all by itself!" However, now she has observed that some toilets don't sit on the floor but come out of the wall, and she is very hesitant to use them.

Thanks to all who prayed for Shiloh. We were able to see an endocrinologist before leaving Austin who was extremely nice and helpful. She had never heard of our Ugandan insulin and after some quick research discovered that America stopped using it 15 years ago. Switching to the American system, we are seeing fewer fluctuations, but the American food is very tough to monitor. It has been good for him to meet other children who regularly receive injections and realize he isn't alone in the world.

Since we left Austin, we have been to Oklahoma and Arkansas; through Missouri, Illiniois and Indiana; stayed in Ohio; through Pennsylvania; and stayed in New York and Canada. We are really enjoying the smooth roads, although the 18 lanes of traffic is still a bit intimidating. We have visited the Wal-mart Visitor Center in Bentonville, Arkansas and seen the Niagara Falls. We have presented our ministry in 4 churches and been so blessed in each one. Although we have had some cancellation in meetings, the empty spots have filled right up - one within a couple hour's time.

Keith is doing awesome! He is keeping himself within his desired weight allowance and still exercising every day. It has been shocking to us to see how much Americans eat. And seeing so many choices -- my children want to try everything. On the flight over here, the kid's meals each contained an apple. They were so delighted that they each got their very own to eat, since they have to share apples in Uganda due to the price. Then our home church spoiled them with several more bags of apples, grapes, and mandarin oranges. (Those Cuties oranges are SO good!)

This week we have been blessed by the opportunity to help out another family in the ministry. The wife and I grew up together, but she has been having some tough health issues that resulted in surgery. Being able to stay in their home and help out with their children has been a joy for us. Truly, "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

I have tried to finish this post several times, so before I get interrupted again, I am going to send it out. Thanks for your patience with me. I will really try to write more than once a month!

PRESIDENT, GRADUATE, BRIDE and GROOM

2011-02-01T14:34:00.000-06:00

Last week kept us very busy. Yesterday I got a chance to lay down after lunch and ended up falling asleep talking to Keith. I'm glad my husband is very forgiving and doesn't take things personal. The quick nap sure felt good, though.

Monday - Masaka town was covered with military and police due to the President's arrival. Keith and I had a meeting with an English couple that attends our church. We were able to answer many questions they had.

Tuesday - We all went to Petersen's house to celebrate Abigail's birthday. Of course, the night ended with a game of The Settlers of Catan. (It's just not right when couples help each other win the game, right?)

Wednesday - Liberation Day. President Museveni spoke at a rally here in Masaka. We three missionary families walked to the field just behind our house. As the president drove through the lines of soldiers and police in an open jeep, the crowds pressed tightly and Keith's phone was stolen. Amazingly, an undercover police returned it 20 minutes later. Truly of the Lord! After church, I stayed up and baked 9 cakes.

Thursday - I frosted the cakes with a crumb coating in the morning and a thick coat in the evening. This was my last time to lead the ladies soulwinning. I have turned it over to one of the nationals.

Friday - I decorated the 7 cakes (the 4 round ones got stacked to become 2) - before midnight. I'm sure that was a first for me. I am usually up past midnight whenever I have cakes to decorate. I would love to take some cake decorating classes when we are on furlough. I think it would be less stressful if I knew better what I was doing. Keith attended a ground breaking ceremony at the hospital for a new addition. President Museveni was part of the ceremony.

Keith with the Newlyweds: Juliet and Robert

Saturday - The first wedding of Word of Life Baptist Church in Lukaya - started out of our church. Both the bride and groom were led to the Lord by soulwinners out of our church. Keith and I thought the wedding went smoothly. Fellow missionary Tony that just returned from the States thought just the opposite. I guess Keith and I have just gotten used to Ugandan weddings. I had brought my two Sunday lessons to study, a book to read, and snacks and water. Starting 1-1/2 hours late wasn't too bad.

Sunday - This was my last day for teaching the Children's Church. Actually, I haven't taught the class for quite some time, but one of my teachers moved to Kampala, so I had to take her place on the schedule for three weeks. I will probably teach my Ladies Sunday School for just two more weeks. This was the last day to lead ladies prayer meeting as I have turned it over to a national.

Missionaries Marlin, Keith and Tony with Graduate Ojera Peter

Monday - This was my last day as official cook for our two families. Of course, I will still be lending a hand, but Kristy will be in charge of the meals for the month of February.

A lot of "lasts" this past week. But I hope that now I can fully focus on getting the house packed up and the family ready for furlough. I pulled a muscle in my back yesterday, so today I was moving very carefully and not very fast. I am praying that it is better in the morning.

Blessings:
#58: Fresh air. The houses are built with vent bricks above every door and window. Our house never feels stuffy as the air is always circulating.
#57: The imagination of my children. Skyler likes to fold a paper in such a way that it resembles a flip-open phone. Then he has me help him draw the numbers and screen.
#56: Song specials from people who can't sing on tune. They sing because they desire to please God. "Make a joyful NOISE" truly applies to some people. But the joy it must bring to God's heart brings a big smile to my face.
#55: Crocs. The kids and I live in them. Shiloh was been going through Croc withdrawals. Without us knowing about it, one of his fell out of the car when we stopped to buy eggs.
#54: Annita. Keith actually helped deliver her 12 years ago, and I helped name her (after my friend Annetta). She always helps clean the classroom after children's church and carries my bag to the van. Her home is in a difficult situation right now, so she thrives on any love we show her. We allow her to borrow books from us and give her Sunday School papers that someone in the States send Shae-Lynn.
#53: Lack of vanity in children. Most children have shaved heads - both boys and girls. While we encourage the parents to allow the girls' hair to grow to some length, having no hair is not uncommon for a teenage girl. A little friend of Savannah's cut her hair - very short in some areas. To blend in the rest of the hair, I had to cut off her curls and she ended up with hair just below her ears. However, she shrugged her shoulders and said matter-of-factly as she put a baseball cap on, "I look like Shane. I look like a boy."
#52: Joy of seeing other missionaries. Debbie Guimon stopped for a visit with her son Matthew. We showed Matthew the toy rifle he gave Shane 7-8 years ago. It is battered up and held together with electrical tape, yet it is probably THE favorite toy among the little boys.
#51: Seeing our church people mature. Because they haven't grown up in a Baptist church, it is very exciting when they grasp and put into practice Biblical instruction.
#50: Unexpected American items. Keith found a kid's football in Kampala with the Dallas Cowboys' insignia on it. The kids can't understand why they can't play with mom's present and why she is using it for decoration in her Texas-themed bedroom. Last month Matt found a large camping chair with the U.T. Texas Longhorn on it; the only camping chair in the store. (He bought it for Keith for his 2011's Christmas present.)
#49:Freedom of education. Education is not mandatory, hence we are not questioned why are children aren't in school when we go to town in the middle of the day.
#48: Elgin Restaurant. This is where we eat our Sunday lunch. Within 5 minutes of sitting down, we are served beans, rice, stewed meat, sweet potatoes, irish potatoes, pumpkin, chapatis, and cabbage. That is our fast food menu.
#47: Laughter at what is carried on bicycles. Today we saw a cow's head being transported on the back of a bicycle.
#46: Fellowship with people who truly understand our lifestyle of living in Uganda. State-side people have a hard time understanding our joys, frustrations, and concerns. Our children are growing up totally different than how I did.
#45: Homemade ice cream. A standard fare for every birthday.
#44: The smallness of the country which allows us to meet (or come close to) dignitaries.
#43: Sunday nights watching Adrian Rodgers. Not only does this give our children an idea of American churches, but we ourselves are preached to.
#42: Cheap tailor. My tailor has been able to take Keith's trousers in even more and keep them looking nice - for just $1.50 a pair. That is well worth it to me!
#41: Spontaneity of wedding ceremonies. There are no rehearsals, so it is fun to see Keith direct the ceremony as well as perform it. No stress for perfection. The church was decorated in blue. The reception area in green and orange.

#40: Spontaneity of graduations. Once again, no rehearsals. And just like weddings, the people clap to the beat of the music during the entrance and exit marches.
#39: The people's love for simple things. I am not a professional cake baker or decorator, yet they love the cakes I bake.

The Bride kneels before the Groom when they feed each other.

#38: Loose schedules. While we strive for organization in life, we are not bound by the rigid activities like most Americans are.

JANUARY 2011 BEGINS

2011-01-12T12:28:00.000-06:00

How can it be less than two weeks since I last posted? My body and emotional state is saying it has been much longer - so much has happened!

Last Wednesday, Keith's family spent the night and then we all drove to Kampala to pick up Andrew's family and the Applegate family that were arriving back from furloughs on the same flight. Just as we were leaving the hotel to drive to Entebbe airport, we received a call from Tony Applegate - from London. They were unable to make the London flight and would be arriving on Friday. So Thursday was a big Stensaas family reunion at the airport as Andrew & Jacky safely arrived with all of their luggage (always a big matter of prayer). We made it into bed at 2:30 am, but were woke up at 4:00 to a terrible wailing-screaming type noise. At first it sounded like a baby crying, then cats fighting, then an eerie, demonic noise. Keith's parents were awakened by it, too. Sleep finally came, but only to be disrupted by a rooster crowing at 5:00 right outside of our window. At 7:00 Shiloh and I dragged ourselves out of bed for his breakfast. (It's important for diabetics to maintain a scheduled meal time.) Friday night Keith and I headed back out to the airport to meet the Applegates and two others who were traveling with them. Thankfully, they all arrived safely but with only half of their luggage. Back at the hotel, we once again fell into bed at 2:30 am, awake at 5:00 with the rooster, and at breakfast at 7:30. We had a safe trip back to Masaka on Saturday and got everyone settled in. Sunday morning 4:30 found me up looking for medicine for the Applegate children who are suffering from coughs and fevers. Between Shane and Shae-Lynn, there is never a lack of people for holding the two babies. Elysse has become my great friend and knows how to use her "puppy dog" eyes to melt one's heart. I have very little recollection of what I taught in Sunday School, but I hope that the ladies gained something despite my exhaustion.

Monday morning began at 5:00 as Tony and Keith prepared to leave for Kampala to retrieve the late luggage. Thankfully, everything had arrived, and they were able to locate a van for the Applegate family. Our trusted friend had already checked this van out for another family, but they had changed their mind. Praise the Lord for paving the way to get this so quickly.

Tuesday morning I was rushing Shane and Stanley around as they were to meet Brother Marlin on the road at 7:00. The Petersens have a teen camp every year, and Shane and Stanley had helped them on Monday and were going out early Tuesday to complete the setting up of everything. As I was driving to the church at 10:00 to pick up our teens to drive them out, I received a phone call saying that Stanley had fallen and his wrists were swelling. I took a look and knew that one of them was fractured.

Kitovu Hospital

As you know from previous posts, you know that a hospital visit is anything but quick and easy. I go to the OPD (out patient department) desk. "Go to that window and pay consultation fee." "Now go to that window for the blue slip." "You may now go back to the OPD desk for the pink card." "Please take a seat and wait for the doctor." "Can you move your right hand? Can you move your left hand? Ok, go to the emergency room for a splint and pain killer." I forgot to warn Stanley that most nurses in this hospital flunked their compassion and gentleness exam. Maybe he is just used to momma's careful touch. The emergency room had someone on all four beds - no curtains - so we stood next to a boy hooked up to an i.v., a man who was having his back examined, a lady doubling over in much pain, and another lady on the other bed. After Stanley's arm was roughly wrapped, the nurse had the decency to take us to a private room to give him an injection for the pain (which didn't start working for 3 hours, although the doctor had said it was fast-acting). Next stop - wait outside a different building for an x-ray. After 30 minutes, a lady told us that the x-ray technician was sick, but they hoped that a replacement would be coming at 2:00 (in one hour). She advised us to go into town to get an x-ray done at a clinic. Nearly two hours later, we had the x-rays in hand and headed back to the hospital. Because the bone had splintered, Stanley was going to have to be put out for the doctors to set it. The surgeon was in the middle of a surgery and hoped to be done by 5:00 (one hour). When Stanley put the hospital gown on, I knew we had a problem. The three little velcro dots had long ago lost their strength. The splint was wrapped with gauze and fastened with tape, so I took two pieces of the tape, ripped them in half and used them to hold the gown shut. Each part of the hospital is in a different building, so at 6:00 Stanley paraded down the sidewalk in his green gown, and then was met with a nurse and wheelchair who gave him a ride for the rest of the way to the theatre.

Kitovu Surgical Theatre

During my wait, I was reading a book by a famous Irish doctor here in Uganda, and he mentioned the surgeon that was working on Stanley . What a coincidence! (I had her sign my book when Stanley was done.) When the nurses brought him back to the room, we faced the difficulty of moving Stanley from the cart to the bed. "Mum, you climb up on the bed and help us move him." As I climbed onto the bed and maneuvered my hands under his body, I looked at the nurse grabbing his shoulder and head and asked, "Are you sure you have his neck?" As she practically dropped him on the bed and his neck fell sharply to the side, I cringed at her assurances. Good thing Stanley was not coherent! Very shortly afterward, Stanley started coming out of the antisthetic and insisted within 15 minutes that he was ready to leave. Since he was still nauseous, I waited another 30 minutes before informing the nurse that we were ready to go. He had a rough night trying to sleep, and this morning I noticed his fingers were turning purple. I took him back to hospital for them to cut away some of the plaster. There were no rooms available in the surgical ward, so we sat outside on a wooden bench and cut away. Stanley says that his right wrist feels quite sore, but since he can move it in all directions, I don't think there are any breaks. My prayer is that the fractured wrist heals properly and that he won't have any difficulties with it in the future.

Keith preached at the camp this morning and will again tomorrow. Please pray with us that our teens of Uganda will take a stand for Christ and make a difference in their schools and homes.

God's grace is sufficient for everything He allows in our lives. His mercies are new every morning - no matter how early the mornings begin, His mercies are ready. Do not think of us as super-missionaries. We rely upon God for strength just as you do, wherever you are serving God. Each of us has a different cross to carry, but we don't have to carry it alone. Christ has promised to walk THROUGH the valleys with us. Trust in Him!

Blessings:
#69: Lorna. She is a 1-1/2 year old that likes to sit on my lap when I am playing the keyboard. It is the only time she comes to me, and she has even fallen asleep a couple of times.
#68: Our dogs. My family will fall over when they see that one, as I am known as one that just tolerates them. However, I do enjoy the pleasure they give to my husband and kids. Our dachshund is the favorite.

Sierra and Rio

#67: Invitational songs sung all the time. Our people love to sing what we call invitational songs. We don't have designated invitational songs, so they see them the same as any other song. "Just As I Am" is one of the most requested songs during song-request night.
#66: Late night chats with family. When we get together, we are always swapping information, ideas, and stories.
#65: Personal mechanic. Ssemko has worked on nearly every missionary's vehicle and has earned our trust. Although he lives in Kampala, he travels to wherever we need him and has rescued many of us when we have broken down. Pray for his salvation.
#64: Friendliness. I was waiting in our van for others to finish shopping. A man was unlocking his car next to us and glanced over at me. Seeing I was white, he struck up a conversation in which I was able to witness to him and hand him a John booklet and tract.
#63: Natural sugar. Our sugar is naturally brown when we buy it; something I am told that Americans pay a high price for. Pure white sugar has an awful smell to us.
#62: This one is hard to explain. In restaurants, anyone can sit anywhere there is a seat available. Your family may be sitting at a table, but it is totally acceptable for anyone to come and sit in the empty seats. This always gives us an opportunity to hand the person a tract and witness to them.
#61: The flexibility of other missionaries. We have not had a "normal" day since the Applegates arrived, yet not one word of complaint have I heard.

Uganda's official bird: the Crested Crane

#60: The song of birds every morning. Although the ibis can be quite loud, they are still fascinating to watch.
#59: The low cost of medical care. For all of Stanley's procedure, we paid $18. Granted, service in the States would have been quicker and more efficient, but we have survived thus far.

GOOD BYE 2010

2010-12-31T12:51:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful month we have had -- busy, yet full of riches. We returned last night from a fun-filled week at Keith's parents. So many people at their church apologized to him for not properly greeting him before the service because they didn't recognize him. He doesn't fully understand the transformation that others see and keeps asking, "Do I really look so different?"

December 2009

December 2010

On the 20th, I had a Ladies Christmas Party and enjoyed having the ladies in our home for fun and food. The next night we got together with another missionary family for a small Christmas celebration. Then after church on Wednesday we went to an English couple's house for caroling and more food. For Thursday soulwinning I took the ladies to the hospital for caroling. Saturday we had an 8:00 Christmas service with a full church, and then we traveled to Mbarara. We had challenged our people throughout the month with the thought that "Everyone can give something no matter how poor you are." It was exciting to see several grasp this idea and really give of themselves. One lady made wildflower bouquets and gave them for Christmas. She also volunteered to work for another missionary for a day with no pay - her Christmas gift to them. She gave what she had - talent and time.

Stensaas clan except for Andrew's family

Well, in not writing for so long, I have a lot of blessings to catch up on:
#88: Green grass and gorgeous flowers in December.
#87: Freedom from seasonal style "rules" - Dark and light colors are worn all year. And there are no rules of what matches - pink stripes with orange plaid? Only the white people look twice.
#86: Mangoes, pineapples, and sweet bananas - all year long at so cheap of prices.
#85: Slow pace - While the people's excessive slowness frustrates us at times, the general slow pace of life here allows time to sit outside and watch the storks soar, spend extra time with a daughter baking, or shoot some baskets with the boys.
#84: Familiarity of our small town - The thought of America's large cities scares me.
#83: Village ministries - Four saved today.
#82: Prison ministries - The prisoners are so hungry for someone to take an interest in them.

#81: Children's Church - They like to play games that test their Bible knowledge. I love this class.
#80: Enclosed yard - The wall's purpose is to keep thieves out, but it also gives freedom to our children in allowing them to play outside anytime they want.
#79: Our radio station - Christian music, preaching and programs all day long.
#78: Freedom to witness in hospitals with no restrictions
#77: Unexpected packages - Received two from a church today full of things we like.
#76: Christmas service - It is very important to the culture to go to church on Christmas - no matter the day of the week it is. Which is how it should be!
#75: In-Laws - For a family of eight to invade their home, they are so gracious and patient.
#74: Seeing cousins play together - Our children are blessed in getting to see cousins every couple of months.
#73: Laughter of siblings - Keith and his brothers always keep us in stitches.
#72: Church expansion - We hear of American churches shutting down, and it breaks our hearts, but to see dad's orphanage getting built - HALLELUJAH!

#71: Wildlife - The zebras with the cows today were beautiful.
#70: Beautiful clear skies where you can clearly see the stars unhindered by city lights.

It has been a great year serving our Lord, watching Him lead, guide, protect, and love us every day. We look forward to what we can do for Him in 2011. May God bless each one of you.

MISSIONS CONFERENCE

2010-12-12T13:24:00.000-06:00

Pastor Josue Satunero - missionary to Uganda from the Philippines

What a great week we have had! We have been stirred by the powerful preaching of Missionary Josue Satunero and encouraged by the fruit of our missions giving. Each night, we brought in members from one of our village churches and baptized any new converts. The members sang songs, and the leader for each church gave a report. By the end of the week we had seen 32 baptized and 1 saved. Our mission commitment for 2011 is about $2,200. Our God is great! Today after our morning service we ate lunch at the church and then met back in our auditorium to pray for each missionary that we support. What a great ending to a superb conference.

Mbira church singing during the conference.

In daily life, the grasshopper season is drawing to an end and yet the weather is still very cool - ok, temperatures in the 70s are cool to us. When we hear about the snow the States is getting, we shiver and think, "We are going to freeze to death on furlough!" As Keith told our people this morning, "I have learned two things in losing weight. One is that these benches are really hard. Two is that I am cold!" On both of these accounts Keith used to make light of our misery. He says he is truly sympathetic now. He has worn his jacket more in the last two months than I think he has the whole time we have been in Uganda.

It doesn't seem possible that Christmas is just two weeks away. Since we had electricity all day, I started some Christmas baking of cookies and pumpkin bread. All of the presents that are ready have been wrapped, and our kids are counting down the days until we go to Grandma's house and see her big tree (oh, and her and Grandpa, too!). We are so blessed to have relatives on the field with us!

Blessing Countdown:
#97: Cellphone Plan - No company here charges for incoming calls. All of the Stensaas families and several other missionaries all use the same company, so there are no charges for calling each other. Needless to say, our phone bill is very small.
#96: My Ladies Sunday School - So much is still new to them that they soak in as much as is taught.
#95: Fellow Missionaries - The Lord has given us great people to work with.
#94: Simpleness of Shopping - Don't get me wrong, I look forward to having many choices, but having one or two brands to choose from makes shopping trips go quicker.
#93: Our Bed - Custom designed to be 6 inches longer than a normal bed, our feet do not hang off the edge.
#92: Washer & Dryer - Traveling on furlough, wash times are unpredictable. I have been blessed to have a washer and dryer our whole time in Uganda.
#91: Book Supply - Mostly acquired from other missionaries, we have several shelves of books to enjoy.
#89: Our Church Get-togethers - It is so good to see the church family work together in making our church functions run well.

(Missionary Ladies: my sister-in-law and I have a blog geared toward missionary ladies. You can check it out here.

98 DAYS AND COUNTING

2010-12-03T09:19:00.000-06:00

Our official count down for departure began on Wednesday at the 100 day mark. Never before have we looked forward to furlough like we have this term. Usually we are dragging our feet and refusing to look at a calendar, but both Keith and I have felt the need for a break. But as we prepare to leave, I look around and am reminded of all of the blessings I am going to miss. So, I have decided to make note of one thing each day and will try to include them in my posts.


Mom & Dad, Alisha, Keila and Matt

The Lord blessed us with a great family Thanksgiving get-together. Thanksgiving day was beautiful with a bright sun and warm weather. Keith's family met us at the private swimming pool of our friends, where we enjoyed a spaghetti lunch between the splashes of water. Our actual Thanksgiving meal was on Friday. We didn't fix turkey, but the two chickens I found were big enough to be considered turkeys. And the ham was so delicious! The afternoon was spent outdoors playing a bean bag toss game, football, and wrestling. And no Stensaas-get-together is complete without ice cream, so with the supper leftovers we enjoyed homemade ice cream.

Shiloh, Skyler (face hidden), Shae-Lynn, Shane helping Kirsten, and Kendra

When the families left Saturday morning, the kids worked quickly to get the house cleaned and the Christmas tree up before Keith returned from soul winning. I think I have an invisible elf who keeps redecorating the tree. Almost daily, I find the ornaments rearranged - usually several grouped together on the same branch.


Alisha and Mom. Shiloh and Stanley in the background


Savannah and Kirsten

Wednesday we had a young man arrive who will be staying with us through Monday. He is actually in Uganda visiting another missionary, but since we stayed with his family during our last furlough, he had a desire to make a short visit to see us. The kids have really enjoyed Ben playing with them and lending a hand with their chores, too.

Shane, Keith's body w/o his head, Marcus, Skyler and Stanley

Last night for ladies soul winning, we saw seven saved! Hallelujah! Afterwards, the Petersen family joined us for basketball and supper. We had a great time together.

Grace Christian School

Today was the last day of Grace Christian School and the day for our orphans to return to their relatives for a month of holiday. The end-of-the-year program went very well, and we are thrilled at the growth we have seen in them. This past week I have been receiving many notes from the girls. I will certainly miss them while they are gone.

The older orphans learned the basics of violin this term

After our Sunday morning service we will be going to our Kyotera orphanage to see their program and also to be a part of the church ordaining a deacon. Monday will find us in Kampala, and then we will return on Wednesday when we will start our Missions Conference. Please be in prayer for these many activities.

I couldn't resist including this photo of Keith. Everyone is telling me that I have found a new husband. He is saying he needs another 2 inches taken in on his trousers. I'm so proud of his perseverance.

Blessings (I will be counting backwards to stay in sync with our departure days):

#100: The weather - Masaka has beautiful weather, rarely going out of the 80's.

#99: The soul winning - Most of the time our door knocking is done at the back doors where people are sitting outside fixing their evening meal or working in the gardens. They are always quick to bring out a grass mat or bench for us to sit down and talk with them, and they frequently gather neighbors or other family members to listen.

#98: Our orphans - Anything we do for them, they are sure to thank us at the first opportunity. This term I took special interest in one girl who seemed to always be in trouble, and she has now become my shadow. Others are known for their smiles or for their servant's hearts. Each one is so special.

CANDLELIGHT MEALS - NOT FOR ME

2010-11-22T08:41:00.000-06:00

Whoever came up with the idea that candlelight meals are romantic did NOT spend any time in Africa. I can remember during our last furlough when someone offered to watch our children so that Keith could take me out for a nice candlelight meal. I replied with an adamant, "NO, not candlelight!" They were shocked. My idea of a nice meal? A bright chandelier hanging over the table illuminating my food (so I can see what I'm eating) and my family (so I can see who I am talking to). Thursday morning Keith was reading our family devotions after breakfast and suddenly stopped in exasperation. The candle wax had dripped onto the book. And, yes, we buy dripless candles - - at least that is what the box says! However, our children get a thrill out of the unusual wax art that is made from the melting wax.

My children have developed a panic look on their faces when they see me with a box in hand. "Mom, what are we going to read after you pack all of the books?" "Mom, what are we going to play with for 2 months?" And then when they see me armed with a trash can when I enter their rooms, they transform their look into a sad puppy face. "Can't I keep that?" "I really do like that." Despite their overreacting, progress continues to be made, and the stack of boxes is growing. And the kids are growing, too. Stanley has finally reached size 16 in shirts (he is my ultra-slow grower); Skyler is in size 8 shirts; and Savannah is somewhere between 6 and 7. I searched the market for 2 1/2 hours on Friday and found not a single dress for Savannah. So, I bought shirts to convert into dresses. I immediately sewed up three, and she insisted on wearing one of them to bed.

I dropped Keith off at the bus stop at 6:00 Saturday morning for him to catch a bus to Mbale. He will be preaching at his brother's church from Sunday - Wednesday. Pray for him and the church services. Also, pray for us as the house seems to fall to pieces, and the children seem to take leave of their senses during his absence.

Our Thankful Poster

Happy Thanksgiving from the Stensaas!

PHOTOS

2010-11-09T12:28:00.000-06:00

Shirts were a gift from another missionary

Taking family photos at our house is always a major event, hence, it happens only about once a year. Here are some recent attempts:


While most people never see the equator in their lifetime, we have passed over it hundreds of times.


Savannah steals the show


Doesn't Keith look so slim!


At least Savannah looks comfortable!

Sunday during our morning service we had a big thunderstorm. Our auditorium has a tin roof, so the noise of the rain was deafening. The song leader had to walk up to me and shout the page number so I would know what to play on the keyboard. He would shout the number to the congregation, the first row would shout it behind them to the next row and on back. Since they couldn't hear the keyboard all that well, they were just singing their heart out - using their own tune and timing. It is a good thing the Bible says to "Make a joyful NOISE unto the Lord!" Despite the rain, we still had three visitors. Praise the Lord!

Our days have been very unpredictable. For three weeks our electricity went off every day between 6-7 in the morning and was off for 12-14 hours. Yesterday and today we have had electricity in the morning, but not in the evenings. I'm confused as to what the power company is doing. However, progress is still being made in packing and cleaning, which is good. Our small garden is growing which keeps the children busy. The small section of our yard that we are using is not very fertile, but I thought it would still be good experience and work for the children. The birds (or lizards) are stealing the mulberries, but the strawberries look to be coming in good, as well as the pumpkin, chayote, and cucumbers. The lettuce and carrots are doing poorly, but we will enjoy what comes in. As you can tell from the picture above, everything is very green and beautiful. God blessed us with such a beautiful place to serve Him.

FALL or PRE-FURLOUGH CLEANING

2010-10-21T12:32:00.000-05:00

Do you ever wonder what happens to a missionary's house while he is in the States? Our previous furloughs we took things off of the walls, draped sheets over the furniture, and locked the doors. Some missionaries move out of their houses, and others store everything in containers. This time things will be different for us. A fellow missionary will be returning from their furlough in January and will be staying in our house during our absence. This will keep our house occupied, as well as give them time to find a house of their own. So the cleaning, sorting and packing has begun. My book-loving kids are begging, "Please don't pack these books, yet. What will we have to read?"


Washing the living room walls

For several weeks in a row, our ladies soulwinning team has seen someone saved each week. Tonight my partner and I were making visits and were able to lead a Jaja (elderly lady) to the Lord. Please pray for the men's soulwinning on Saturday. At the invitation of the widow, they will be going to the village of the man who died in the accident. We desire for God's name to continue to be glorified. Wouldn't it be great if we saw revival in this village? Last week the men went to our church in Lukaya and helped them put a roof on their building and partial walls. Our two churches enjoyed sweet fellowship, delicious food, and a goal accomplished.

Building and cooking team in Lukaya

I know I have mentioned this before, but I am so proud of my husband's weight loss accomplishment. He now weighs less than he did when he entered college 20 years ago! After altering his trousers in three ways, I don't think I can do anything else with them. The first step was to move the button over about 1 1/2 inches. After he lost some more, I then took in the side seams. My final alteration was to sew up the back seam, cutting 2-3 inches out. We are hoping they last until we reach the States. I have taken up the sides of several of his shirts, but they still have a tent-look. I think next Tuesday will need to be market day. People in town ask him if he has been sick to lose so much.

Keith modeling his old trousers

Shiloh is doing well, and we appreciate the many notes of concern and prayer. Thank you for praying for us. Have a great weekend!

SHILOH'S ANGEL

2010-10-19T15:19:00.000-05:00

We have given Skyler an additional name - Shiloh's Angel. At 1:30 this morning, Skyler woke Keith and I up again with the words, "Shiloh's sick." (Even writing about it sends my heart racing.) The symptoms were the same as our last scare with the addition of headache and blindness. In garbled speech, Shiloh kept asking if we could take the mask off so he could see.

Shiloh & Rufus - His Diabetes Bear

Let me give you a peek into our hospital experience. We arrived at the hospital to find the emergency room door locked, and no one around. I went in a different entrance and began knocking on doors. A nurse woke up, and I told her that I wanted an I.V. of Ringer Lactate for Shiloh.. I asked her to call either one of two physicians whose names I had given her. After 40 minutes of waiting, a totally different doctor came. This doctor and nurse stood by watching as Shiloh vomited and offered no assistance. I asked them if they had anything I could use to wipe the examining table so Shiloh could lay back down, and the nurse handed me two pieces of gauze. After an hour, we were given a room (that hadn't been cleaned from the previous occupants), and the I.V. was started. When you are admitted to a hospital here, you bring all of your own linens and toiletries. Although a little of Shiloh's vomit had gotten on the sheets while in the emergency room, I had no choice but to use it for the bed in the room, too. Keith went back to the house as one of our supporting churches had requested a Skype call at 4:45 a.m. our time for their Missions Conference. (And there was no room for him to stretch out anyway.) At 5:00 people began preparing breakfast for themselves and their sick relatives right outside our window on the sidewalk. At 5:30 the nurse checked Shiloh's vital signs. At 6:00 she asked if we wanted holy communion (this is a Catholic hospital). At 6:15 she brought pain medicine (which I declined for Shiloh since I knew he would never be able to swallow such a huge tablet and would vomit it anyway). At 6:30 the noise of talking outside my window became so loud that I opened the curtains and said (in as nice of voice as I could muster after just 3 hours of sleep), "EXCUSE ME, SIRS! Could you, please, go someplace else to talk? You are talking very loudly, and we need some sleep." As their voices reduced in volume, I caught about 30 minutes of sleep, which helped a lot. After 400 ml of I.V. Shiloh returned to his normal self - including sight. We are thankful for this "backwards" hospital that at least has the drip Shiloh needs.

Skyler said that he had been having a scary dream about a bug that grew really big, which caused him to wake up. I believe God allowed Skyler's dream so that he could be his brother's life-saver once again.

Please pray with us that we will be able to find an endocrinologist who is willing to work with us during our two-week stay in Austin, Texas before we start traveling on furlough. Our prayer is that Shiloh will be able to be fitted with an insulin pump that will help to control the blood sugar better and that we will gain further wisdom in helping Shiloh.

Thank you for praying for us, and please - don't ever stop!

HOT DRINKS - COOL WEATHER

2010-10-15T15:14:00.000-05:00

Where would we be without computers? Well...I found out as I was nearly a week without mine. My greatest fear when it first gave me the totally black screen was that everything was lost. Praise the Lord - my documents were retrievable but all emails were wiped out. Which means...all of my email addresses, too. But that is such a small amount of loss compared to the possibility of everything being gone. So...if you have corresponded with us in the past year, you might want to send us an email letting us know your email address.

This week we have been getting plenty of rain which gives us nice, cool weather perfect for African Chai or Hot Cocoa. We have a spice here called Tea Masala that makes the chai soooooo good. I am already stocking up on it to take back with us on furlough, since I am so addicted to it. Drinking chai is my stress reliever (yes, I drink a lot of it), my comforting drink (especially when having a culture day), and my method of warming up (must be the pepper in it).

AFRICAN CHAI

⅔-¾ cup sugar
5 tea bags
½ stick natural vanilla or 1 teaspoon real vanilla
2-3 teaspoons tea masala, optional
1 quart water (1 liter)
1 quart milk (1 liter)
In a 2-quart sauce pan, combine the sugar, tea bags, vanilla, tea masala, and water. Bring to a boil. Add milk and heat through.

Most of my children prefer hot cocoa. Of course, who can resist a cup when a couple of marshmallows are floating on top.

COCOA MIX

4 cups powdered milk
¾ cup cocoa
⅛ teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
Mix well. Store in airtight container.
TO USE: Pour about ¼ cup of mix into cup. Add hot water and stir.

Have a great weekend and enjoy a hot drink in your cool weather!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAVANNAH!

2010-10-08T09:35:00.000-05:00

Savannah has finally reached the age everyone thinks she is - three years old! She is tall, talks a mile a minute, and has a storehouse of "wisdom" from five older siblings, so for several months people have thought she was older than two.

She was blessed to have her Grandma & Grandpa and Aunt Alisha be here for her special day.

Savannah loves her sister and tries to imitate anything she says or does. She likes to use Stanley as her horse and take rides around the house. She looks to Shane as her protector to save her from the dogs (and to carry her around). Skyler thinks up new ways to get her to scream, and Shiloh is her quiet buddy who she depends on to help her.

Siblings look on as she opens her presents

How thankful we are for our six blessings and the joy they bring to our home. We pray that each one of them lives fully for Christ as His servant.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STANLEY & OTHER CONGRATULATIONS

2010-10-01T15:17:00.000-05:00

Grandpa Stensaas (61) and Stanley (13)

I'm two days late posting Stanley's birthday pictures, but some unexpected events came up. Stanley was blessed with two cakes again this year. He shares a birthday with his Grandpa, so when Mom & Dad stayed with us last week, I fixed a chocolate cake for the birthday boys to enjoy together.

Shane getting dunked by Keith

On Wednesday, we took the kids swimming. Some Danish friends allow us to use their private pool, which we especially enjoy doing for birthdays.

Stanley wanted to float his penguin in the pool. I wasn't willing to risk it.

I'm not sure what inspired his request, but Stanley asked for a penguin cake.

Savannah drying off and getting warmed up

Also on Wednesday, my husband reached his goal of losing 70 pounds! Congratulations! For seven months, he has worked diligently. He has a great amount of self-discipline, and I admire his perseverance.

Skyler throwing toys into the pool

Yesterday Skyler lost his first tooth - and we're not sure where! He had shown me that it was loose, and then this morning he discovered it was gone. This is the first time one of our children has TOTALLY lost the tooth!

During ladies' soulwinning, I received a call from one of the groups I had dropped off saying that a piki-piki (public motorcycle transportation) had ran into one of our ladies. Upon arriving at their location, I found Christine witnessing to the man who had just collided with her. He prayed to accept Christ and received eternal life. Christine had a minor cut, bruising, a broken shoe, and fruit to her account. We had a total of three saved last night. Praise the Lord for a great week!

HOSPITALITY

2010-09-27T01:06:00.001-05:00

"Mom, when can we pick up more people?" I was a little baffled. It was Sunday morning, and we had just picked up four of our neighbors for church, making our 8 passenger van tight with 14 people now in it. Everyone was quietly laughing at Skyler's seemingly outrageous question.

Skyler exhibiting hospitality to a tailess lizard

"What do you mean? Didn't we just pick up some people?" I asked him in a puzzled tone.

"Not here, from the airport! When can daddy get more people?" Our kids love company! This is the 270th day of the year, and we have had visitors in our home 114 of those days. (This excludes the lady living in our guest quarters who teaches at our orphan school.) God has richly blessed us with many visitors during this term, and our children think it strange when we don't have guests. May they always keep the mind of Christ in being "lovers of hospitality."

HAPPY HOMESCHOOLERS

2010-09-22T08:22:00.000-05:00

"Ok, Shiloh, you have a spelling test today. Let me get your book." As soon as the words were out of my mouth, Shiloh was headed out the door with a piece of sidewalk chalk. Running away from his lesson? Not at all. Shiloh loves to take his tests on the driveway. And because it is so fun, the others are scrambling out of their seats wanting to take his test, too. After eleven years of homeschooling, I have learned a lot myself. One thing is to let the students have fun while learning. Why writing spelling words with chalk is more fun than a pencil, I'm not sure, but I sure have a better day when my children are eager in their work.

Shiloh enjoying his outside spelling test

Another lesson I have learned is to use the curriculum that the kids love. This year we used The Story of the World for history for Stanley and Shiloh. The book is so interesting that the other kids were finding excuses to be in the living room to listen as I read, and Stanley could be found reading the book on his own.

A simulation of the 1883 Krakatoa Volcano in Indonesia

We finished Volume 1 early in the year, so I decided to fill in the rest of the year with some geography. That lasted for only a couple of weeks before I gave in to their "Can't we please do another Story of the World book?"

Savannah modeling the Pikelhaube (spiked helmet) of 1842

Today as they were coloring a map of Africa as it was divided up by the Europeans and fixing a puzzle of Africa, one of them asked, "Mom, aren't I African?" "Well, you are kind of African-Americans except for Shane. You were born in Africa, but you are an American citizen." Hmm...won't that throw people for a loop when they mark that on an application!

Shae-Lynn & Shiloh coloring Africa

SNAKES and ROBBERS

2010-09-22T07:36:00.000-05:00

One of the blessings of missionaries is seeing new churches started. What is really exciting is to see the nationals answer the call of God to step out in faith and begin churches on their own. Brother JJ Kalanzi and his family has done this 30 minutes from our Masaka church in the village of Mbira. This is an area where many of our orphans have come from, and the church was begun as a result of several of the orphan guardians getting saved. The Kalanzi family is doing a great work for God, and the devil is not happy.

Two weeks ago, Brother JJ brought 15 new Christians to our Wednesday evening service to be baptized. Praise the Lord! On his return back to Masaka from taking them home, four men threw a log in front of his vehicle, forcing him to stop. They pulled him from his Prado and began searching it for cash and cell phones. Brother JJ fought the one man guarding him and then ran into the bush. He waited in the dark for about three hours before the men left, and he was able to return home.

This morning during their church service, one of the men noticed something in the beams. After realizing what he was seeing, him and some other men started clearing the church out. The church members thought, "We must be having a visitor!" Whenever a special guest comes to church, it is customary for everyone to line the driveway, then sing and clap as the visitor arrives. Then they realized that the visitor was already in the church. The men knocked down and killed a six-foot snake. I'm not sure of the exact type it was, but they call it a monkey-eating snake. Praise God for His protection on this church this morning. Remember to pray for JJ & Harriet Kalanzi and Mbira Baptist Church.

PRINCESS OF UNMATCHED SHOES

2010-09-14T13:10:00.000-05:00

Mismatched - But Both Sandals

When Shane was little (and much shorter), I can remember him arriving at church and immediately taking off his shoes and socks every week. He could tolerate wearing them the short distance from home to church, but then off they came.

Mismatched - But Both Closed-Toed

Savannah is the opposite; she loves wearing shoes - but unmatched ones! When we get home from church, off goes one shoe and on goes another - of a different style.

Unmatched - But Both Crocs

Because she is always wearing unmatched shoes, it becomes quite the challenge to find a match when we do leave the house, even for other family members since she likes to wear our shoes, too.

Unmatched - Totally!

How beautiful are the feet of my darling daughter. May she always find a way to brighten our day.

SIZE 52?

2010-09-10T14:29:00.000-05:00

One of the things that missionaries find themselves doing a couple of times a year is filling out questionnaires from supporting churches. These range in length from one page to four or more pages with varying questions. Last week I was filling one out that asked for the clothes sizes of our family. That one always throws me for a loop. By the time two or more boys have worn the shoes, the size has completely worn off. Or if I have purchased the shoes here, I never remember what the conversion is (my son wears a size 39?). I was checking the label of a pair of trousers, and it said 52. Hmmm...what size is that? I couldn't find a single American size in one of the boys' stack of trousers. (Trousers are worn on the outside. The term "pants" is used for the undergarment.) So how do I get clothes with such strange sizes?

My shopping for clothes involves several hours of searching and digging. In our area, we have two clothes' market days a week. Sellers buy bales of used clothes that have been shipped from Australia, England or America. Each bale is sorted by type: dresses, children trousers, men's shirts, etc. These clothes are then dumped out on tarps in the market area for anyone to dig through. And they love to help you look for things since they want you to buy from them. However, if you aren't accustomed to their ways, garments flung into your face at regular intervals may seem offensive. Being a frequent shopper, I am known by several of the vendors - especially those that sell trousers. A tape measure is a must for me as to bring white kids into a field of Ugandan vendors is quite the spectacle, and I get little looking done. So, my tape measure and a list of measurements are essential items to take along. As is the case with most purchasing here, the prices are negotiable. Being of a different color, we expect the prices to begin higher, but most usually will come to a reasonable price -- most of the time. A couple of weeks ago I came home very discouraged from shopping since my goal was to get shirts for Stanley, and I came home with just two. I had found three others, but the lady wanted three times the amount I had paid at another vendor (my white skin). Upon arriving home my first words to Keith were, "Please take me to an American thrift store where I know the price won't be according to my skin color."

HUMILIATION or HONOR

2010-09-05T11:28:00.000-05:00

An incident occurred yesterday that I am not free to mention here but would like to ask you to pray about. In the wee hours of the morning when sleep failed me, the Lord gave me the following lesson that I taught in my Ladies' Sunday School class this morning. This is an abbreviated version.

Luke 1:49 “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.” How could Mary say this? She had just received word that she was expecting a child although she was unwed. Because of this condition, she could have been stoned (Leviticus 20:10). No doubt, many of her friends shunned her. Perhaps mothers even prohibited their children from speaking to her.

Why would God bring such “humiliation” on someone who was in His favor? God had a gift of honor hidden beneath the wrapping paper of scorn and embarrassment. Honor that would last for centuries.

Mary looked upon this as a “great thing.” Great things come in different forms:
* To the street child, a meal & bed
* To the young girl, a new dress
* To the young married couple, a baby
* To a baby, a toy
* To a family, a new home
* To parents, seeing their children walk in truth
* To a Christian, the salvation of another

And each gift comes in a different wrapping:
* A new dress or toy may come wrapped in beautiful paper with ribbons and bows
* A baby comes after 9 months of discomfort and hours of pain
* The building of a new home may come after years of hard work & saving
* Children following after God comes from parents willing to choose what is best and right for them and what is not always popular
* But the salvation of others comes at a great price and in many layers. It’s package is wrapped in persecution & death (Jesus & others); the giving up of personal wants (missionaries & soulwinners); the humbling of the giver; the enlisting in God’s army (battle against the devil)

Yesterday ten souls were rescued from the clutches of hell on Kalangala Island and 1,200 John/Romans were distributed with the potential of many more getting saved. But then the devil attacked. This beautiful day of soul winning was wrapped under painful, battle-scarred wrapping paper. Do we serve a cruel God or are we focusing more on the wrapping paper than on the gift? Did Mary mention the humiliation she would suffer or the honor of mothering the Savior? She focused on the gift and not the wrapping. What is our response to what God desires to give us? The pretty wrapping paper covers those things that are just temporal. Don't cast away the gift because it's wrapping isn't as glamorous as the gifts of the world. Embrace what God offers, and focus on the honor He desires to bless you with.

HOME SWEET HOME

2010-09-02T15:16:00.000-05:00

It is very rare that we are away from our home for more than a couple of days at a time, so when we returned to Masaka yesterday from an 8-day absence - - oh...Home Sweet Home! It had been about seven years since we last visited the ministries in Soroti, so there were many changes that we saw during our visit. We were blessed by the hospitality of the Pittmans and enjoyed the fellowship of all of the missionaries there.

Cool Princesses - Savannah & Micayla Pittman

It is amazing how different one town can be from another, although they are in the same country. Because Soroti is flat, bicycles (or boda-bodas) are the main public transportation. Here in Masaka, motorcycles (or piki-pikis) are used because of our hilly terrain. We saw just as many women as men riding bicycles up there, while down here it is socially unacceptable for women to pedal a bicycle, although they do ride "side-saddle" when being transported. Most of the people in the Soroti area are tall, while our population is of average height. Everyone we spoke with during our short visit could speak English, even in the village; but the elderly people and those living in the deep villages of our area do not know English. Trying to sing in the Ateso language for church was difficult as the dialect is totally different from our Luganda. The majority of homes in the villages around Soroti are mud huts with grass roofs. While we do have many mud huts, most of ours have tin roofs.

Thank you for your prayer for us. Shiloh had one episode while we were in Soroti where his glucose levels kept dropping despite our giving him additional sugar. It seemed to take an extra large amount to get his blood sugar normalized, but God was with us and guided us in wisdom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

2010-08-24T14:47:00.000-05:00

Yellow because I'm Keith's Yellow Rose of Texas. Red because he loves me so much.

How special I feel. This year my birthday celebration lasted for over a week. Nearly every day, I was presented with a gift. When Keith returned from Kampala on the 13th, he brought me two large bouquets of roses for my birthday. (We can't get fresh flowers here in Masaka, so he was sure to plan ahead.) On the 15th, Brother Ron Reece, who is visiting us on a survey trip, blessed our family with many gifts, including a birthday gift from him and his wife. Shae-Lynn and Shane gave me their presents on Wednesday, the 18th.

Gathering at Mom & Dad's house in Mbarara.

Keith's family always has prank gifts for him.

Keith gave me one of his presents on the 19th, and then while we were in Mbarara, we celebrated all of the August birthdays on the 20th at Mom & Dad's.

Savannah enjoyed helping me unwrap.

Shae-Lynn was determined that I have our traditional rice crispy cake, so on Monday the 23rd she made me an elephant. I think she did an excellent job for her first rice crispy creation. It won't be long before I can retire and let her design all of the birthday cakes.

What a cute birthday cake designed by Shae-Lynn.

Thank You, Lord, for another year to serve You - the Giver of life, the Lover of my soul.

HALLELUJAH! I SEE THE LIGHT!

2010-08-18T13:39:00.000-05:00

And it's not from the generator, either! Tonight our transformer was installed, the lines hooked up, and electricity is in our house once again! We were able to use the microwave for supper! Hot water instantly flowed out of the kitchen tap! Fans are running. And the most classic of all the kids' comments, "Mom, we can see what we are cooking!" Thank you for all of your prayers for us! I am off to enjoy our blessing.

21 DAYS

2010-08-16T14:15:00.001-05:00

After 21 days of no electricity, my spirit and energy levels are beginning to sag. The supply of glo sticks has vanished, candles are now stubs, and the cost of fuel for 3 weeks of generator usage has surpassed our monthly rent. Trying to remember all that needs to be accomplished (and striving to accomplish it) in the short amount of time we run the generator each day is exhausting. Being a missionary does not mean that we wear our prayer-card-smiles every day. We get frustrated, tired, depressed, and discouraged, just as the Apostle Paul did. We would love for a day to run smoothly. But do you know what smooth sailing does? It lulls you to sleep. Rough seas cause you to be more alert and aware of the One Who is in control. The waves remind you to be thankful for the smallest blessing in the journey.

And so my prayer of late has been, "Lord, I just ask for one little blessing each day to focus on." Today I was blessed by the close relationship Skyler and Savannah shared throughout the morning. Usually, Skyler finds every possible way to get a squeal out of his youngest sister, so I was standing back in awe as he insisted on brushing her hair for her (not an easy thing for her to endure with her natural curls). After admiring his fine work of art (ok...I added a little bit of help lest she be mistaken for a sheep dog), he put his arm protectively around her shoulders as they walked off to find some adventure to partake of (a picture moment, for sure). They fixed puzzles together, reviewed school charts companionably, and explored the yard in agreeable wonder. God isn't content with putting just a drop of a blessing in our cups; He has promised to make them run over. Watching these two blessings bond together in brother-sister love...Thank You, God! Your eye is on the sparrow, and I know You care for me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SKYLER

2010-08-12T12:32:00.000-05:00

For the last two days, Keith has left the house immediately after breakfast and has been gone all day. Thus, we celebrated his birthday at breakfast yesterday and Skyler's birthday this morning at breakfast. My kids think it is great eating birthday cake so early in the morning (and no one had better tell my pastor's wife). It was hard for Skyler to decide on the shape of his cake, so I decided for him and chose a monkey since that is what we affectionately call him: Monkey Man. However, it was the most hurried cake I have had to do, as Keith informed me this morning that he wanted me to accompany him in showing some visiting pastors around today.

Some of Skyler's presents

Something fun that I have started doing is to include an incentive when we give our children books as gifts. In the back, I attach a post-it note with a message stating that they will receive so much money when they complete the book. This ensures that the learning doesn't get pushed aside so quickly in favor of the toys.

Grace Christian School End of 2nd Term Performance

As I mentioned, we had four pastors visiting from Tennessee and also two men who help sponsor our orphans. This morning our school put on a short performance for them, and then we took the visitors out to the village of Mbira to show them where we will be building a new orphanage. It was an encouragement to us to see their zeal and to share with them the vision we have. After lunch, Keith dropped me off and continued his journey to Entebbe to take the pastors to the airport. He will pick up Brother Ron Reece later tonight, and they will return tomorrow. We are praying that we will have our electricity back before then. Last we heard was that workers had to take the transformer back down off the pole as it was not working right.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEETHEART

2010-08-11T00:07:00.000-05:00

Dear Keith,
The Lord overflowed my life with blessings when He chose you to be my mate. I am thankful to have been a part of your life and to claim you as my best friend. I pray that God will continue to use you in His work for many more years.

Hat's off to you, Honey! You're the greatest!

BLESSINGS OF LITTLE THINGS

2010-08-09T23:16:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered just how much of a difference little things make?

When the ORH medical team visited in May, one of the ladies brought a couple of packages of glo sticks for the kids. As she saw the kids get all excited about them, she said, "Oh, those are so cheap. I paid just $1 for a packet of 12." Yet those simple "night lights" have been a big help during our two weeks of no electricity. Being able to hang one of them on the bathroom door or let the younger children sleep with one has brought a comfort light to the dark nights.

Thank you for your prayers for us concerning our electricity, but please don't stop. No work was done yesterday because the man in charge was sick. Then to add to the problem, there is no petro in all of Masaka or its surrounding villages. The fuel that is in our generator now is all that we have left. But we do not feel forsaken. Our God is still in control. Instead of focusing on what we can't do without electricity, we have found that we are able to stay just as busy as before. Electricity greatly helps our lives, but it doesn't control us.

Keith setting up meetings for furlough

If you would like to do a little thing and be a big blessing, could you send a birthday greeting to Keith on Wednesday, the 11th? (kstensaas@gmail.com) If anyone can figure out how to send a real double whopper with cheese or a glass of ice via e-mail, that would make his day!

IT'S A TIE

2010-08-07T12:52:00.000-05:00

Tonight puts us at 11 days without electricity, which is our record from previous times. The power company brought the transformer back from Kampala, but they have decided to move the location so that it will be inside the compound of a hotel that is across the street from us. They are hoping that this deters further transformer sabotage. The holes have been dug for the new poles, so possibly this week we will get our electricity restored. As we were waiting for Keith & Shane to bring back petro for running the generator tonight, the rest of us were eating by candlelight. My camera makes it look a lot brighter than it actually was, for I could barely see Skyler and Savannah when I was taking their picture.

Stanley showed Savannah how to make shadow-pictures on the walls, so she had a lot of fun in watching Stanley's "dinosaur" gobble her up. Shae-Lynn made some comment about how nice it was to have a candlelight dinner. Our first term on the mission field ruined any thoughts I had about how romantic candlelight dinners were. We ate by candlelight so much that I told Keith during our first furlough to take me to the brightest lit restaurant around! Jesus is referred to as the "Light of the World." To be a light that covers the whole world...well, I think Jesus likes bright lights, too!

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12

CREEPIES & CRAWLIES

2010-08-04T00:59:00.000-05:00

When the Lord was working on my heart as a teen to be fully surrendered, one area I battled with was being willing to go anywhere in service to the Lord. I did not want to go Africa - the deep, dark continent with wild animals, snakes and other dangerous creatures. However, God didn't let me forget Romans 12:1 until I fully turned my life over to Him. Thus, when I considered Keith as a potential mate, I had no reserves in his surrender to Africa. In our 15 years of residence here, we have not been bitten by anything deadly - except the mosquito. We do see creepy, crawly things occasionally.

Rats can be a nuisance and are often difficult to catch. This one in the picture evaded rat glue and also ate poison without any effect. So...Keith declared war on the critter, cornered him in the school room, and ended his terror on my house.

This week Shae-Lynn accidently stepped on this large spider, temporarily stunning him. I'm not sure what kind he is or if he is dangerous.

Our last camping trip, the kids found this snake skin next to our camp site. We have never seen snakes near our tents, but now we know that they are around that area.

At our present house, we have not had any snakes. There is a family of mongoose that roam the neighborhood and sometimes sneak into our compound. I believe they keep the snakes away, for which we are very grateful. Australia and South America have much more dangerous creatures than Africa does, but the same God who protects us here is the same God over the whole earth. If God is working on your heart to be fully surrendered to His will, do not hesitate. It is a joy to serve Him - even amidst the creepy crawlies.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Romans 12:1

IT'S A BOY AND A GIRL!

2010-08-03T01:18:00.000-05:00

Our family has increased in number with the addition of two puppies. Within two weeks, we have had two of our dogs die of old age, so we were needing to get our dog population built back up. I am not an animal lover, but dogs are a necessary part of our life here for security purposes. I had two phone numbers for people who were selling dogs, but the first number I tried did not go through. I called the second number and learned that they had two litters of German Shepherds ranging in price from $200 - $400. I knew that we could not afford that much for a dog, but as I was thanking the gentleman for his help, he added, "We do have two runts that we would be willing to just give to a good home." Hmmm....let me think on that price! Isn't God good! He allowed the first number that I tried not to go through, and He provided two dogs within our price range. (And guess who it was giving them baths last night and fixing their breakfast this morning!)

IT'S A BOY!

2010-08-02T12:16:00.000-05:00

But not ours! On Sunday, August 1, Levi Alexander Stensaas joined the Stensaas clan - the fifth child of Andrew & Jacky. They are in the States on furlough, so we have to wait five months before getting to hold the little fellow. He was a birthday present for his sister Addison. However, she was hoping that her mom would be home for her birthday.


Jacky & Levi: Doesn't Jacky look great for just delivering!

What a joy children are and how blessed we are to have an abundance of them in the Stensaas family.

EGG EXPORT

2010-08-01T06:39:00.000-05:00

This past week we have had trouble finding stores that have eggs for sale. We were baffled as to why the chickens would be going on strike. Then we discovered that the chickens are still producing, but our eggs are being taken out of country. Several large trucks came from Rwanda, went directly to the farmers, and bought all the eggs they had on hand. So...maybe it is the Rwandan chickens who are on strike! There are also several buyers that come from Sudan, buy up the eggs, and then sell them for double the price as they are purchased here. I'm not sure why the Ugandan chickens lay eggs better than other countries, but we thank God for farm-fresh eggs!

COMPLEXION CREAM

2010-07-30T00:08:00.000-05:00

We have now passed the 2-day mark of no electricity. Now what does that have to do with complexion cream? Our electricity is turned off frequently. During the outages, thieves take advantage of these times to steal from the the electric company - whether it be poles, wiring, or oil. Tuesday, when our electricity was turned off, someone drained the oil from the transformer that services our neighborhood. Hence, when electricity was restored, the transformer burned up. This oil is sold in the market to use in their homemade welding machines or as skin-lightening cream. Now doesn't that sound like a commercial in the making! No one has been able to tell us if this oil truly does work to lighten the skin color, but people seem to buy it as this is the third time we have had this happen. So...for those of you who want to be whiter, stop by your local market today for your freshly drained oil!

Must hurry and finish using appliances before we turn off the generator. Thank you, God, for our generator!

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY!

2010-07-27T02:27:00.001-05:00

Bryan & Cheri Stensaas

One of the many blessings in my life has been the gift of such wonderful in-laws. This blessing has been doubled by being able to serve in the same country as them. Sunday we drove to Mbarara after church and joined Alisha (Keith's sister ) and Matt's family (Keith's brother) for a surprise anniversary party honoring their parent's 40 years of marriage.

Grandpa & Shane in a water fight.

We had a great time together watching old family videos, playing with fat chameleons, and eating homemade ice cream.

Aunt Alisha with Nieces

Families are so much fun!

Cute Cousins: Shae-Lynn, Kendra, Kirsten, Savannah, Kimberly

FUN, FOOD & FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY

2010-07-27T00:32:00.001-05:00

Two of the competitors: Henry & Frank

About twice a year our church gathers together for an evening of fun. This past Friday we had our own miniature World Cup. All of the benches were pushed against the walls for the spectators, and the goals were set up in the middle of the auditorium. It was a little more difficult for the players to maneuver the balls as we alternated between a balloon ball and a blow-up beach ball, but the fans were able to participate, also, in getting to kick or throw the ball anytime it came close to them.

Second Place: Stephen & First Place: Robert

The medals were made by gluing two lid tops together with ribbon in between, and the trophy was two bottles of soda. Each player was also given a large sucker.

Ladies & Children Enjoying the Meal

Everyone had a great time, and a great meal. We love our church family!

Unexpected Hospital Day

2010-07-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

"Mom, Shiloh's sick." Upon hearing these words in the wee hours of the morning, Keith and I made a world's record for getting out of bed. We rushed to Shiloh's and Skyler's room to find Shiloh making strange noises, saliva flowing out of his mouth, and his jaw locked tight. With Shiloh's diabetes, we have been told not to take the time to test his blood glucose if he is showing unusual symptoms, but to immediately give him raw sugar. Trying to pry his teeth apart got my fingers bit, but I finally managed to get about 1/2 teaspoon into his mouth and then grabbed the glucometer. We were in disbelief to see that his glucose was only at 70, which is fine as we were told to keep it between 80 - 120. He has never shown unusual symptoms at a 70 reading, and here he was confused, unable to pronounce his words, and unaware of what was going on. We moved him to the couch (the top bunk isn't the easiest place to treat someone) and tried to give him sips of water while going through possible diagnoses. He had no fever or chills and complained only of his head and stomach hurting. I tried giving him some ibuprofen for his headache, but he could swallow only half a dose. Keith then suggested we test his ketones which were so high that they didn't even register on the deciphering code. We began giving him sips of rehydration drink, and although he vomitted after every other drink, he started to show signs of improvement. After an hour, he hadn't improved as much as I thought he should, so we decided to take him to the hospital and ask for him to be put on a drip. Upon arrival, I spoke with the pediatrician who had treated him in January and expressed my concern for his potassium level. He agreed with me and sent us to town for the potassium test. However, the clinic was out of the reactor used in testing and wouldn't be getting any for about 2 days. (This is the only place in Masaka that tests potassium.) So...back at the hospital I requested the doctor to put him on the drip, and if Shiloh didn't show any signs of improvement then we would take him to Kampala (2-1/2 hour drive). The children's ward doesn't have private rooms, but there was one little room through three doors that looked like it was used for storage or maybe a place for the nurses to sneak off to and rest. We covered the one-inch mattress with the sheets I had brought, and Shiloh bravely faced the I.V. again. His blood count was normal, and he tested negative for malaria. Before 500 ml of ringer's lactate had entered his system, he was asking to eat and was pestering Keith. After one litre, Shiloh was released leaving a baffled doctor as to why the ketones could be high and not the blood sugar and a puzzlement of what could bring this on so suddenly with seemingly no cause. We are rejoicing over the rapid improvement, but ask your prayers in helping us determine what brought these symptoms on. The rest of the children did very well in our all-day-absence and had plenty of notes and colored pictures awaiting Shiloh's arrival. We lavished much praise upon Skyler for alerting us to his brother's condition. "When I got up to go the bathroom, I heard him make crying noises, so I got you."

Thank you for your prayers for us today!

World Cup Plus One Week

2010-07-18T07:03:00.000-05:00

This was the scene at our house a week ago:

The men were in the back yard grilling the goat meat.

The women were in the kitchen fixing rice and g-nut sauce.

And this was the final meal...with soda, too.

G-nut sauce is good on rice, posho (corn meal mush, extra thick), matoke (cooking bananas fixed like dry mashed potatoes) and Irish potatoes. This rice that you see is very good by itself cooked with burnt onions and mixed spices, but so many of us love g-nut sauce that we voted to fix it! By the way, g-nut stands for ground nut which is a type of peanut.

Many people have asked how the 7/11 bombings have affected us. We are about 2 1/2 hours away from Kampala, so we are still able to conduct our ministries and business as usual where we are. However, the bombings did damage the internet hub in Kampala, so our internet is very unstable. Please remember to pray for those who lost loved ones in the bombings that they will seriously think about their own short life on this earth and their eternity after death.

Rubber Bands & White Skin, Too

2010-07-15T15:04:00.000-05:00

Today was our ladies soul winning time, so I drove the ten of us to the village of Kijjabwemi. The kids seemed to be enamored with me today. One group of children that was following me around was fascinated with the skin on my feet. They would bend down to touch it, pinch it, and then push at the veins. I would quickly pull my foot back which would start them giggling, and the process would begin again. After this group left us, a group of three took their place. One little boy wanted to hold my hand, which is highly unusual, as many times, small children run off screaming when they see a white person up close. As we were walking around holding hands, he noticed the rubber band on my arm that I had taken off of the stack of tracts. I took it off and showed him how to shoot it. His head swung around trying to find where it had gone. I went through the steps again with his sister giving her another rubber band I had. They were elated to receive such a fascinating gift, and it was fun watching them try to shoot it. Hopefully, they will enjoy just shooting it in the yard and not discover the fine art of rubber band fights! We praise the Lord for the two people saved!

You Are Most Welcome!

2010-07-15T14:47:00.000-05:00

Living in Uganda, this is the saying we use when inviting people into our homes. So, as I welcome you into our home and life through this blog, I say, "You are most welcome!" I am a newbie at blogging, so I have a lot to learn. I ask your patience with me as I tweak this as to what I have worked out in my head. My goal is to make a little part of my life easier by being able to post updates quickly and as things happen. I hope you enjoy it!