He determines our times and seasons

I have wanted to write something in this space since Monday, but have struggled for what to say . . . I have been filled with sadness and the few memories I have of a lovely person whom we knew for a very short time. Each time I have thought about what to say my mind has instead kept words back in favor of more time to process.


Easter Sunday was wonderful! We worshiped with the church and I have to say that the worship was the best I've experienced in a long time. Uncle Jonnes passionately spoke of what Jesus' sacrificial death accomplished--an open way for each of us to the Father; relationship with Him based on love and forgiveness. The day was enjoyable.

Monday, Easter Monday here, started off quiet and peaceful. At mid-morning, however, we received news that one of our new primary teachers, Julius Robert Kwapi, had died sometime in the night. He had been with us on Easter morning, eaten supper with his housemates Sunday evening and talked with friends on the phone during the evening. In the morning the housemates got up and started on their day, but realized about 9 that Julius hadn't been seen yet. They found him already dead in his room. Shocking and jolting. He was a quiet, kind young man, with so much promise. For his family back home he was the one providing for his younger siblings and ill mother. For us here at New Hope he was a good teacher and brother in the Lord who loved teaching here with us. I had planned to have him over to our house during this school holiday. Toby thought so much of him and we wanted to get to know him better. We have been filled with sadness and the reminder that the length of our lives is not under our control, but the Father's.

It was also a particularly tense time for us as Uncle Julius was new to us, having come from another part of the country. We did not know how we would be received by his family when we took his body home for burial. Those who traveled and those of us who stayed behind prayed fervently for the favor and wisdom of God to be with those meeting and grieving with the family. After much discussion into the early hours of Tuesday morning we indeed can say we were received well. A van with a few of our staff left Monday afternoon with Uncle Julius' body, picked up some of his relatives along the way and arrived after midnight in the Kumi area. A second van, driven by Geoff, left at 4 a.m. and arrived in Kumi around 11:30 Tuesday morning. Toby and two of his classmates were also able to go along with more staff members from here. New Hope was able to take up the costs of transportation, burial items, food and miscellaneous needs. These sudden, unexpected expenses are a burden to a grieving family and our ability to provide financially and materially immensely blessed the family of Uncle Julius. Some of the family members are believers in God and their statement was that it was evident that it was God's timing and there is nothing else to say. Their understanding that God is in control and we were not to blame significantly influenced the tenor of the environment. Our people were able to stay with them until about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon at which time they started the long journey back to Kasana. Geoff, Toby and his classmate from David Family arrived home just before 1 a.m. Yesterday was quite a blur as we were all so tired from the previous days.

I have found my strength in this time from my favorite passage of scripture:

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' " Acts 17

Yesterday was Wednesday and we spend each Wednesday evening with David Family. We eat with them and lead a time of devotion to God's word. Last night we shared from Acts 17 and talked of our God who is in control and who loves us. There are many rumors, lies and superstitions that surface during the time surrounding death. We encouraged them to take their thoughts and fears and still them with the truth.

Please pray for the children and for us as we seek to listen and help them process Uncle Julius' death. Many of them are even still dealing with the death of young Rachel, our secondary school daughter who recently died. The village rumors and lies are abundant and usually attribute these events to witchcraft. We need God's wisdom, guidance, peace and truth to fill us as we lead the children in this time.

Pray for our own strength as it has been a very tiring week for all of us.

Culture of forgiveness

The importance of understanding what God offers us in Christ, do we take it for granted? Or do we deeply live in a state of forgiveness and repentance? Recently I have again been reminded of God’s goodness and how He reconciles all things to himself. We often judge our value or worth by results or numbers. But in the face of what some might deem as failure can we still find God’s pleasure in us? This Easter season should magnify the purpose of Christ’s sacrifice. That in the midst of our failures and our strivings to perform…His love is based upon Jesus not our performance. To do the will and good purpose of God means to live in a state of repentance. That living in forgiveness means living in God’s presence working hard not to obey rules, but draw near to Him.

Living in a foreign culture and a community like ours here at New Hope we definitely experience the need for grace. In much of Africa there is baggage that comes from colonial times where the whites ruled/oppressed the local population. Additionally educational background and experience can easily give whites an appearance of being superior. Combine that with an African culture that puts the “Chief” or leader in a place of being un-touchable or un-human can create a separation between us and the locals. We have seen that in-order to be effective in our ministry it requires a deep humility and constant evaluation of behaviors and attitudes. To be ever aware of how your words and actions can be mis-interpreted and actually hinder what God is doing.

Thus the reminder that it truly is about God’s grace and the need to allow His love and character to flow though us. May God’s goodness be experienced by all in this resurrection season.

Every tribe,tongue and nation . . .

We are thankful and blessed to live here in Uganda!! Not because of WHERE we live as much as WHO we live among!!!! I have been reflecting on last Sunday and looking forward to this coming Resurrection Sunday!!! I'm rememberinng the dedications we had last week in which we dedicated to the Lord babies from the baby house, children who have just joined the New Hope family this year in the primary, secondary and vocational schools, and our own two children, Kevin and Acacia whom we had never publically dedicated to the Lord. It was a morning of heightened awareness of the blessings of God in the form of the children He has given us. One of the warmest times of that morning was when I had my hands on my children, eyes closed, tucked tightly in the crowd who had come to lay hands on the children and I felt an arm go around my back and firmly pull me closer. When I opened my eyes I saw Aunt Adhe and I smiled BIG! My friend had come to support me and give her love during a time of importance for my family. I was grateful and overwhelmed with thankfulness for the true friends I have here!



In the center is Aunt Adhe with Acacia and I near her.


When I walked into the church building last week my eyes were met with the special outfits of our young kids who sing with Aunt Grace in our "Echoes of Hope" choir. They looked so sharp in their outfits and yet, I know that what Aunt Grace is instilling in them as she works with them is immeasurably more valuable than a sweet outfit!! I am thankful to Aunt Grace for her years of love and service to the children and staff of New Hope Uganda. She is a constant and gentle presence in the lives of so many--including mine!!!!! We started together at Kasana Children's Centre in 1994 and though I took a 12 year hiatus, she has never left!!!! Today our friendship is strong and growing.

"Echoes of Hope" shared their songs with us last Sunday.

As we look forward to Sunday we are thankful to be here all together: different nationalities, colors, tribes and denominational backgrounds. Nowhere can this combination work successfully together than under the love and guidance of our Mighty God!!!!!!!!!!! Though we have our differences and sometimes we make mistakes in our relationships due to cultural misunderstandings, we KNOW that we are equal in value because of our God who loves us!

May you enthusiastically celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, because true, vibrant living comes from Him--the risen and living King. "For You, the Lamb of God, were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood, out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation" Revelation 5.

gAs MAsKs REqUiReD

When Toby and Kevin changed the kitty litter box today, Kevin said it was so stinky he needed to take extra measures . . .

Garden Lovelies

Our BOOT garden!!! After working in the garden, mud boots are washed out and hung on sticks for thorough drying---something that is not so easy to come by in the rainy season!

MMMMMmmmmmm. . . yummy bananas from our garden!!!! We are currently growing more than 70 plants of three different varieties. We have so much we have been able to sell some for a little extra income! I LOVE FRESH FRUIT!!!!!

Another scrumptious plant in our garden is Ebo. It is a green spinach-like leaf that is native to the Soroti area. Our friends from Soroti brought us some seeds and when the leaves came ready, they came over to show us how to prepare it properly. Geoff and Sam work together at the vocational institute. Sam, the headmaster of the institute, has been God's gift to Geoff in the day to day smooth running of the vocational program.

Sam's wife, Irene, is a sweet, vibrant young woman who serves as our cashier for the maize and timber mills in Kiwoko. In this picture, she and I are sorting the Ebo leaves for wilting in the sunshine.

There is never a dull moment in the "garden of children" at our house. This shows Jesse, our neighbor and Kevin's best friend, and Sammy swinging exuberantly on our porch poles.

Often on the weekend we forego a huge supper meal and have smoothies and popcorn for supper! Geoff was the chef this past weekend. Fresh pineapple, passion fruit and bananas filled our cups and the kids thoroughly enjoyed. Kevin enjoyed so much he and his full stomach fell fast asleep on the couch early in the evening!