"You say it's your birthday . . ."

Acacia turns 8 on Monday, so we celebrated with some of her favorite people Saturday afternoon.

The whole goofy group!! L to R back: Faith, Mary, Kara, Jonica, Annet, Monique. front: Stella, Ava, Acacia, Anya, Vicky

Annet and Acacia swing together on the porch poles

Eating lots of sweets and some yummy, rich chocolate cake!




fun games

and crafts

We love our little princess!!!!

Extreme Thanksgiving!

A day of intense sunshine, then a torrential rainstorm complete with hail and driving winds.

It all began at 7 a.m. with the turkey slaughter x 2. Toby begged us to wake him early so as not to miss the action. The Biedler's found and purchased the turkeys last week in a far away village. Thankfully, that meant that the slaughter took place at THEIR house, NOT MINE!! :)

While the turkeys met their demise, Geoff worked in our bananas with Kakande. Kakande is a developmentally delayed man who has relatives in nearby villages. Often people with Kakande's disability are discarded by society. Auntie Katie (who is passionate caregiver to many of the community's special needs kids) has involved herself in caring for Kakande. He is onsite everyday and currently sleeps in one of our clinic rooms. She keeps him active and busy and teaches him daily skills. A few days ago, she and two of our David Family children accompanied him to the clinic to teach him how to make his bed. Everyday he collects and carries water and helps around Hassan's house. Hassan is our child with cerebral palsy who lives in his own house, overseen by Katie, in our David Family compound. In these pictures, kakande is helping Geoff weed the bananas.

The hard hat belongs to Toby. Kakande thought it was more fun to weed with a special hat.

In keeping with the tradition of the First Thanksgiving, we celebrated our own harvest of bananas a few days ago. Here Geoff carries the banana stalk, which is cut down after harvest. Oh, such good bananas--talk about fresh and organic!!

Toby "harvested" turkey feathers from the slaughter. He and Acacia made "Indian" headdresses for the occasion.


At 6 we headed down to the McFarland house (where the Peterson's are currently living). What a time of laughing, joking, catching up with each other and realizing how very blessed we all are to be together to celebrate God's goodness!!!!! We are thankful to be from a free country and currently living in a free country!!!!


Acacia's little fan club kept her busy with wrestling and tickling!

Though we live in close proximity, we may go days without seeing some of the staff due to the individual nature of our involvement with the ministry. We thoroughly enjoyed being together!!!




Especially since the men were in the kitchen!!!! Some were helpful--here Gabe whips up some awesome turkey gravey.









While the rest are . . . just there.

Chris and "a little something for the platter . . . a little something for me . . ."

Are we excited about PIE??? Oh, yeah!









Kim Peterson and Naomi Vogt.

Kara Peterson, Acacia, and Jonica Biedler











The Zimmerman's and the Mitchell's.

The table where we sat with the William's, Peterson's, Vogt's, and Monique. I haven't laughed as much in a LONG time! I'm so thankful for good friends who have a great sense of humor!!!!!

Nancy and Hannah's friend, Kara, Andrew and Janessa

Trying to get into the spirit of the season, the kids "sledded" together on the mat.

And then they crashed, just like in real sledding!

We pray you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving! "In EVERYTHING give thanks!" I Thessalonians 5:18

TWINS!!!

Yesterday, I posted a prayer request for the ladies of New Hope who are expecting! Later on in the day I went to the hospital to be with Aunt Ketty as she was laboring with twins. Now that is quick answer to prayer!!!!!

In the past four years, the two previous times I've accompanied her to the hospital for delivery she has delivered QUICKLY--one time within moments of getting on the laboring table! She welcomed me with a big smile and said, "Auntie Mary, the times you've been with me I have delivered quickly! Praise God you're here, you have the anointing!"

This time was different, however. She was not progressing. I monitored the babies' heartbeats and they were doing well, but she was not having any effective contractions, though her water had broken very early that morning. At 3p.m. the doctor examined her and decided to take her for a C-Section. At 4 p.m. she went for the section and I left to return to New Hope and get the message to the one she requested to come be with her for the night. By 5 p.m. we celebrated the arrival of Miramu and Israel, girl and boy blessings for the Okoth Family!!!! All are doing well! Praise God!!

Keep praying for safe deliveries for the rest of our ladies. There are 6 due to deliver in the next 4 months, many within the next few weeks.

All your children . . .

"All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be your children's peace."
Isaiah 54:13

This is a verse that I remember daily. As I am the primary teacher for my own kids, I often bring this promise to mind. This one brings tremendous encouragement, especially when I feel I might not be covering all topics well. But, more than academics, it brings great comfort knowing that God is active in training and teaching my children in all areas of life. Being ever aware of my imperfections can sometimes bring temptation to fret concerning the overall outcome of the development of my children, but there is no need for worry. God is teaching my children and He knows what is best for them. Our memory verse last week was, "This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel, I AM the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you and who directs you in the way you should go." What an all-encompassing promise for now and the future!

And continuing on the topic of children . . . we have numerous ladies here at New Hope that are set to deliver babies in the next 60 days. The due dates of some are imminent and others are due toward the end of January. Please pray for their strength, reliance on the Lord, health and safe deliveries.

Thank you!!!

Is this the way?

OK imagine trying to find someone’s house where there are no addresses, no street signs and the environment and land marks are ever changing. That was our challenge today, one benefit is that I had been to the man’s house before. Well I guess that could be a benefit but today it didn’t seem to help. Toby and I (Geoff) set out to pay a home visit to a man in the village. We went by land marks I remembered and I think were in the general area, but the one person I stopped to possibly ask turned out to be a drunk and insisted that I help him with a sore tooth. Needless to say I didn’t ask anyone else. After looking for about thirty minutes we gave up. Along the way we also met a snake sunning itself across the path. I decided to run it over and as I did it rose up and tried to bite me. If you can imagine Toby and I going by, me with my feet up on the air, shouting look out SNAKE… To quote Toby “Daddy that was scary!!” Praise God it didn’t get us! We came home only slightly disappointed because half of the adventure is the effort.

Feeling at Home Again

We have now been here for a full two weeks and in that time we have had the privilege of visiting in the homes of friends everyday, many times over a meal. In reconnecting with friends we've been blessed and reminded of the uniqueness of the place in which we live. Having neighbors all around us, who understand God's passion for the orphan, encourages and strengthens us as we seek to bring God's Father love to the children with whom we live and love.

With all the activity of unpacking, organizing and visiting other staff, we had not yet been a part of David family's nightly devotion and evening meal. We've been over to their compound frequently to greet the children and have short one on one visits, but being with the whole family hadn't yet happened until this past Tuesday. I couldn't wait to get over there and be in the middle of them!!!! I love those kids so much and it is a true privilege to know them. We all journeyed to America together as we shared pictures of our time in the U.S. What a treat to explain the Golden Gate Bridge, enjoy the beauty of Catalina Island, be amazed at the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, be awed at Old Faithful, show them an American farm, and see faces of people we visited whom they know and love!

Being that it is final exam week and they wanted to study, we stayed for only a short while after eating with them. Geoff helped Joyce with math and our kids ran around with the younger kids whose exams don't start until next week. I encouraged a few in their studies, but mostly I just enjoyed being in their presence! Kevin said the beans we had that night were the best he'd ever had!!!! Way to go Emma--the cook for that night!

It is fantastic to be home again with David family!!!

Annet, Acacia's best friend in David family. They are so happy to be together again!

Sweet Margaret is a diligent student!!

This picture shows a larger view of the family dining banda. It is where we have devotions, meals, studies and special meetings together.

Dodovico enjoying his posho and beans with his "local fork".

Geoff helps Joyce with a math problem, while Jennifer tries to concentrate.

'tis the season . . .YUM, YUM

Auntie Kate ate one for the first time!!!! Ate WHAT???? Read further down to find out . . .

November, with the approach of Thanksgiving, is the onset of the holiday season. Here in Uganda, we are in the midst of another season entirely--GRASSHOPPERS!!!!! Yum, Yum. We believe it is no accident that ACACIA, lover of grasshoppers, was born in November. Every year it is an easy birthday present to give. Geoff went to Luweero this a.m. and returned with two small bags of live grasshoppers! Acacia, Geoff, Kevin, Josephine, Jessica and Medie all worked to tear off the legs and wings and ready them for frying. (I only handled one grasshopper and couldn't even get the wings off, so my efforts don't really count, even though I washed them off and fried them.) They truly are a scrumptious treat!!! Come on down to Uganda and we'll let you try some!!!!! :) But, watch out as they can have the same effect as eating, say, too many raisins or prunes!!!!! And here's another interesting tid bit about grasshoppers . . . you'll find them on the nutrition chart in all the clinics here in Uganda. Why not? They are a great source of protein!

"Lord Whimsley" aka "Lord Bob"

The first thing we do in school every morning is pray, then we work on our memory verse for the week. As we were beginning our work Geoff returned from the vocational school to trade vehicles for a short trip to Luweero. Toby wanted to read the memory verse to Geoff, but insisted on doing it in a strong British accent. For some reason, Geoff immediately dubbed him "Lord Whimsley" to which Toby retorted, "No, I'm Lord Bob." I don't know where all that came from, but Lord Whimsley fits as we watch Toby grow up enjoying the whims of youth in a place where he is privileged to run free. Here he is reading Isaiah 48:17 in his best British.

As I walked down to visit a friend yesterday, I was reminded of the progress we are making in the ministry in regards to water access. These containers are currently being completed to catch rain water from the gutters of the primary school. This significantly assists us as we minister to the children of New Hope Uganda. Thank you to those of you who are a part of this through your financial contributions!!!

This recent Sunday we were thankful to be a part of a baby dedication for a special family in our lives. Three years ago the newlyweds became our neighbors and we have been blessed to watch their family grow to four. Unfortunately, for us, they are moving to Kampala this Friday to work as full-time pastors. It was a privilege to send them off with prayer and blessing. We love you Sam and Sarah!!!

This is also a picture from Sunday. Acacia seems to have a sweet way with babies. Nico climbed up on her lap and stayed there for most of the service. He is a wonderful little boy who has been adopted by a staff family here at New Hope. Alair, his mom, told me yesterday that he was so excited to see our kids when we returned, but he kept mentioning Acacia's name above the boys.

That's all for now!!!!