Utilizing God's Gift of Sun

We cut 4 eucalyptus trees down today. Quite the adventure. They have been shading our solar panels and keeping us from being able to adequately run our refridgerator. We'll be able to supply the David Family with firewood and also plane some of the timber for bookshelves, as well as for roof support in our new school banda. After the trees were down the kids built a "house"and inhabited it with their friends.

Toby says he plans to sleep out there. Ill guess we'll let him have some fun, but will keep the front door unlocked as it is rainy season!!!!

After the trees were down and before all the timber was cut up, the road remained blocked. Hassan was out for his morning walk with Annet, but had to take a detour due to the closed route.

Tetanus shots

Today I am taking one of the boys in David Family to the local hospital to receive a tetanus shot. He cut his foot on an old piece of sheet metal and somehow missed the last round of tetanus shots we gave. This is a serious issue here as we lost one of our boys two years ago when he stepped on a nail and though his family was instructed to take him for the injection, they did not. Something so simple to take care of, but a struggle to accomplish for those who don't understand or fail to appreciate the knowledge given them as to why the potential for danger lurks. There is a basic deficit of understanding of disease transmission and hygiene here in the village. It is better than it used to be 20 years ago before New Hope and Kiwoko Hospital arrived, but we still find a surprising amount of strange beliefs associated with simple sickness. Pray for us as we continue to love, live and work with the kids here. We love what we're doing and am thankful to God for the opportunity to be a part of His desires coming to pass in this region.

more pics of time with grammie and seth

Jumping on Seth's back per his request!

We played Uno to pass the time before we took them to the airport. Grammie and Seth had a good long afternoon nap, a hot shower, a yummy meal served out on the lawn and lots of hugs before we said goodbye.

Our last night with Grammie and Seth. Hugs and loves all around.

Uh, Huh, I scored a hole-in-one Uh, Huh, Uh, Huh It was a good effort but the old lady (me, not Mom) won the round!!!!!
This crocodile hole was particularly difficult because the crocodile repeatedly ate the golf balls!!! Here you can see the kids at both ends trying to locate the ball so we could continue play!

Getting ready to play miniature golf in Jinja. It's like no course you've ever played!!!!

Our last day at New Hope. We walked over to say goodbye to David Family. This is Mom with Auntie Scovia.

Reading time with Grammie.

Toby, Kevin, Acacia and Sharon excited over the new baby Acacia received from Grammie for her birthday.

Grammie enjoying as Acacia opens the package containing her new baby doll.

Celebrating Acacia's birthday a month early so that we could celebrate with Grammie and Seth!

Kevin digging in the sand pile--making tunnels.

Seth's renewed love of reading. He read three books in two days!!!! It's glorious to be without tv!

Acacia opening her birthday presents from Grammie

Grammie and Toby playing piano together.

Missing Mom and Seth

Goofing around in Northwest Uganda near the border of Congo. We took a short break from hunting for lions. . . Here you can clearly see all the monkeys . . . It was a fantastic 2 1/2 weeks!!! Though our lives are very busy here with the various things we are involved in, it was a much needed respite for Mom and Seth. Mom said it was the first time in weeks she had actually rested! Seth was not quite sure about the lack of tv when he first arrived, but he ended up reading a lot and playing with the kids. We had a great time together!

We took them to the airport at 10 pm Sunday night and the kids cried and cried after our van door shut and Grammie and Seth walked behind the glass windows and on to the waiting area. It is tough to say good bye. Thankfully, the kids have Papa and Granma and Sarah's visit to look forward to in December and our furlough in May next year.

Toby continues to make friends everywhere. Here he is driving the boat on our water safari where we saw crocodiles, hippos and birds.

Geoff gave Mom and Seth a tour of the vocational school including the hand loom weaving done by students and staff.

Enjoying our private boat tour on the Nile, heading toward the base of Murchison Falls.

On the last day of our safari we walked through an IDP (Internally Displaced Peoples) Camp. These are people who built huts very close together for safety when Kony went through the North slaughtering and kidnapping. Three years later they are still living in very unsanitary conditions, longing to go home, but paralyzed by their current situation. Geoff said the filth and conditions here were worse than what he's seen in the Northeast area of Uganda in Amuria. The children followed close at our heels during our entire walk of about 30 minutes.

FOR - E - VER

FOR - E - VER as in that is how long it takes to upload pictures!!! I got up at midnight in the rain to bring in the galoshes the kids left standing upright under the gutter spout. I decided now might be the time to upload those pictures I'd been promising the fam - n - friends. Now at 1:15 a.m. this is all the internet could manage and I just need to get some sleep. Enjoy the few I was able to upload!!!!

Giraffes are some of my favorite animals--graceful and unique. The darker the spots the older the giraffe, did you know that?

At the top of Murchison Falls

Tracking rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

How amazing to have mom here for my 46th birthday!!!! Vicki & Jamie Dangers and our new school teacher, Leah made this birthday cookie for me. It's a good thing, cause I didn't bother to make a cake for the occasion!!!!

Seth--pitching in with the daily cooking by nuking a little something in the microwave . . . ha! ha!

Enjoying Grammie and Seth's visit!!!!!

Sorry for the lack of postings, but the internet has been unusually slow lately and our computer has also been very occupied as we have two in the house these days that "live on the net"!!! Mom and Seth arrived in good shape last Friday morning. We did a little shopping and made our way back safely to New Hope in the early afternoon. We stayed here until this past Thursday when we took a safari to Murchison Falls. It was amazing!!! We saw a leopard up in a tree from FAR away (well, our driver did--as he was driving about 30 km/hr!!!--we had to look around before we saw it! Our driver is an amazing safari guide!) We were able to approach cautiously until we were about 20 ft away. It gracefully descended the tree, every working muscle beautifully showing through it's almost luminous brown, yellow and white spotted coat. Watching us carefully, it walked by our van and disappeared off into the bush. A once in a lifetime spotting! We also were blessed to see many elephants, monkeys, colorful lizards, hippos, rhinos, giraffe, warthogs, buffalo, Uganda Kob, hartebeast, oribe, and crocodiles!!! We are now back at New Hope. Geoff taught this morning at the Childcare and Family Institute and then gave a tour to those students this afternoon. Tomorrow we will celebrate Acacia's birthday with Grammie and Seth (a month early) and also take a tour of the fish farms, enterprise farms and piggery. On Friday we will again head out to another area of Uganda, Jinja. Late sunday evening we will take them to the airport and sadly say GOODBYE. Waaaaaaaaaa. We are enjoying having them here!!!!! The internet won't load pics at the mo, so will post this info and try pics later . . .

"The Plan"

Toby has a plan. It's to capture the wild dog that frequently parades through our yard as if it is supposed to be there. He drew a diagram and wrote out the details a couple of nights ago and informed me he's going to need rope, a leash, dog biscuits (to lure the dog of course), lunch, then MORE snacks and bubbly--because our dog will certainly be key in catching the "other" dog.

Meanwhile, Geoff was preparing his own plan--of his day in Kampala. He again went in to secure more parts of the new maize machinery and then yesterday spent a good portion of the day assembling. While Geoff planned, Kevin intently watched his Dad. I hope my boys grow up to honor God and their families just as Geoff does.

And on another subject completely, we celebrated Ugandan independence day last Friday. It was an important time in which all our schools came together to learn the history and significance of the independence of this country. The most impacting quote of the day for me was "Ugandan gained her independence in 1962 and has not had a peaceful change of president since." I pray for that to not be what we see in this country's future. Our theme for the day was "Uganda tomorrow, what is your role today?" Our push is for our kids to see that a successful Uganda depends on individuals dedicating themselves to the betterment of their country beginning in small ways and expanding from there. Another highlight was the open microphone into which approx 40 kids/staff stated their hopes, dreams and visions for Uganda. It was moving to hear the passion for which the kids especially spoke of their country. (sorry, we forgot to take the camera)

And as I close this, my mother and nephew are getting ready to board a plane in Los Angeles to come visit. We pick them up in Entebbee on Friday morning. YAHOO!!