Good-bye!!!!

As we left New Hope last Friday, there were many good-byes to be said. Some were said standing still and others as we saw good friends on the main road!!!

Uncle Bernard Semakula gives a quick wave

Uncle Okoth came over to David Family to say good-bye

We were excited to see Uncle Jonnes on the main road as we thought we'd missed him!

Uncle Simon and Solomon, plus many others came to the house and prayed for us moments before we drove away.

Auntie Kiersten (who always so faithfully watched Bubbly, our dog, and our house while we were gone) and Auntie Leah, one of our missionary home-school teachers. We passed them on the road when we dropped Bubbly off at Auntie Nancy's.

Saying good-bye to Bubbly.

Good buddies, Anya and Acacia

Acacia and two friends from the primary school.

Auntie Grace, my good friend for more than 16 years. She and I served at New Hope together in 1994 and she's been there ever since. One of my most favorite things about being at New Hope is the privilege of renewing our friendship!

We drove away last Friday morning starting a VERY LONG journey to California via Entebbe and Amsterdam. We have had no problems adjusting to the time change and we've done a fine job of resting! Geoff and I joined an LA Fitness club and have enjoyed exercising! We've been to the library where the kids each got their own card and enthusiastically checked out books. We've been swimming at my Uncle and Aunt's home swimming pool (and jacuzzi, which is where I landed!!!) We ate some AMAZING hispanic food at the Long Beach church as we took time to say an official good-bye from the church and pray for my sister and brother-in-law as they are soon to depart for Honduras where they live and serve as missionaries. Tonight we meet with a young person who is headed with Pepperdine University to Uganda on a short-term mission trip to Jinja. Life is exciting, joyful and restful at the moment and we are thankful.

Acacia at Grammie's house.


In the Amsterdam airport at 5 a.m!!!!!

Dancing with cousin Santiago!

Rough housing with Dad!

Our final week

As we have entered our last week we are trying to fit in as much as possible before we come home for a few months. it is hard to say good-bye, but we are looking forward to being in our own culture for awhile. Mary has not had to cook since last Friday as people want to have us over for a meal before we leave this Friday. Five more days until we fly--below are some pictures from the events of this past week.

We celebrated the end of term by highlighting our kids' accomplishments in their extracurricular music classes and creative school work. As a group of homeschoolers, we came together Thursday to say thank you to our two missionary teachers, Leah and Cristen, and to say good-bye to some of us who are leaving soon. Of course the kids (and their teachers) can't resist the typical "goofy" picture.

But, they also prove here they can be sweet and serious.

Aunt Lucy working on Acacia's hair. This is no small task as it has taken nearly 12 hours to braid her hair completely. They tell us that some hair do's take nearly four days. Acacia has been so patient.

The happy little girl enjoyed tea while her hair was being braided.

Our very own artist, expressing himself as only a young child can do--enjoying a big rain storm, maybe the last time for the next five months.

Toby and the motorbike

Not sure if I was reliving my childhood or it was a legitimate opportunity for my son. I have said for a number of years that there are things that my children should get to do because I got to do them, well riding the motorbike was one of those. Since I grew up having my own dirt bike I wanted Toby to have the chance to ride, even if it was only my 70cc moped type of motor bike. So today we gave him the chance to ride it him self. I have been letting him drive with me on the back for some time now and today was his first solo flight. Praise God no accidents!!!

Kevin makes sure Bubbly knows that she's loved.

Yesterday there was a young boy hanging around our house. Geoff assumed he was waiting to greet one of our visitors or waiting to play with some of our boys, but we soon realized that he was there for none of those reasons. Uncle Joseph, head of childcare and our soon to be neighbor, showed up just at that moment and an impromptu meeting ensued. The boy told us he had no one, that all his relatives were dead and that he needed to have a place to stay. Uncle Joseph, Geoff and Kiweewa (our oldest boy in David Family) headed off to the village with the young boy to check on the situation. We found that he does have relatives, but is poorly taken care of and mostly neglected--his actions were a desperate attempt to ensure survival. He spent the night with one of our village caretakers and we will investigate further.

Kiweewa, shown in the light yellow shirt and dark trousers above, is growing into a fine young Christian man. He translated Geoff's sermon ysterday and did a fantastic job!!! It will be exciting to see how he has further grown when we return from furlough in a few months!!!


Also yesterday some of the New Hope staff kids and members of EYO (Emmanuel Youth Outreach) held a concert with singing, dancing, skits and comic routines. Toby was invited to be a part of it and was sooooo excited to be performing with his friends!

Our gardens have been abundantly producing!!! We've been having our own sweet potatoes for lunch each day! We've also been eating of our spring onions, cilantro, green beans, tomatoes and zuccini!!! Our other bounty is matooke. It is a banana that is steamed in banana leaves, smashed and then covered in peanut sauce. It's one of our favorites, but we have so much we could never eat it all! Toby tied some on his bike last week and went around delivering to our friends!!!! What a blessing it is to give!!!

See's OLD Time Candies

We had a great surprise today when we received a package!!!!!!! We knew my mom had sent one in February and have been anticipating it's arrival. We got a call this a.m. that one had come and was waiting for us at another missionary's house. We had to wait until after lunch to get it, so the anticipation was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!

The kids arrived back at the house and excitement mounted as Toby cut open the box. I first saw Christmas wrapping paper with distinctive design - - - SEE'S CANDIES!!!!! But, Christmas???? Then I saw a box in more Christmas wrap from my sister's family, a Christmas letter, magazines from the holidays . . . Geoff meanwhile was trying to find the date the box was sent and when he found it he exclaimed, "December 16th!!!!!!!!!!!!! This thing was mailed December 16th!!!!"

Of course all the attention immediately went to the CHOCOLATES!!!! I opened the box and found melted, re-hardened pieces AND a bug. Just as Toby and Acacia, salivating, were reaching for a piece I said, "Wait! There is a bug!" Toby replied, "Oh well, it's only just one!" Acacia cut in, "Yeah, and besides, we've eaten dirt before!" And there you have it, the desperation for good chocolate trumps bugs, staleness, melted and re-hardened state and down the hatch it went! YUM YUM!!!!!

And, yes, I ate some. Not quite the SEES I remember, but CHOCOLATE!


Our experience gives new meaning to "SEE'S Famous OLD Time Candies"

Meanwhile, the cat was catching a treat of his own . . . notice the half-dead lizard in the lower right of the picture. Now that's a YUM YUM of a different sort . . .

Addendum-----another box just arrived on the back of a friend's bicycle. They picked it up in Luwero for us. It had magazines, pictures and books. It arrived "early" as it wasn't even mailed until, February 10th! Can you imagine the speed with which it flew??????? Unbelievable!

Camping at Musana!

Last Monday we loaded up the Lorry with mattresses, bedding, food--COFFEE!!-- and the David Family and headed off for Musana Camps! The camp land is located on the shores of Lake Victoria and now belongs to New Hope. Syd and Andrea Sparks have now lived on site for more than a year and have developed quite a few new structures since we were last there in September 2008. There are permanent tents, a small guest house (where they currently live), a small cookhouse, composting toilets, 2 showers and plans for much more. Syd took us on a hike and tour the first full day of our stay and we returned to where we "wilderness camped" in '08. We were the first group to camp on the land and it was exciting to see what has transpired in the past 1 1/2 years! Take a quick look for yourself . . .

Of course before you even get to the camp you HAVE to stop by the "In your face chicken place," a name coined by our beloved New Hope founder, Jay Dangers. Here is where Geoff ventures into a group of about 20 vendors all shoving chicken on a stick in his face and begging him to buy from them. For about $60, we fed 40 people a piece of chicken and a chapati each(sort of like an oily, thick tortilla).

Can you find Geoff in the picture?

Uncle Mulu and Timothy planting one of the fruit trees that the David Family kids decided to buy and plant for future generations!

Kintu, Uncle Mulu and Mulu's son Judah enjoy a game of "connect 4"

Toby, Michael and Jonathan enjoy porridge and a view!

Wow!

Toby loved the hammock!

Kevin loved the rocks--both to climb and sit on while enjoying God's beautiful creation!