WEDDING SMILES!!!!!!!!A

So often we have been at weddings where it's been difficult to find the bride smiling. TODAY WAS DIFFERENT!!!!!!! Enjoy these few photos.

A fun little dance with the bride, groom and wedding party ON THEIR KNEES!!!

Ahhhhh . . . don't we look smart :)

smiling as they take in the words of wisdom from Uncle Jonnes

So happy. It is WONDERFUL to see the smiles!  They both carried so much joy today!


That's all I have time to post!!! We have sent the happy couple off to the honeymoon and are thankful to have been a part of their special celebration!!!!

Kuhingira!!!!!

Jonnes and Gertrude, the parents of the bride

We spent most of our day (Friday) celebrating with Eva and Medie as their families met together to officially give their daughter Eva in marriage to a more than wonderful son of ours, Medie, in a traditional "giving away" ceremony called a Kuhingira.  It was a beautiful event with heartfelt blessings and congratulations spoken from the many fathers and mothers we have in our New Hope family. In the old days, the Kuhingira was the actual marriage ceremony and there was no church wedding. But, in modern Uganda, the government officially recognizes the church wedding. So, enjoy this photo collage of yesterday's pageantry while we are now celebrating today (Saturday) at the wedding ceremony at the church.  

Eva, completely enjoying her Kuhingira

Syd Sparks, best man, and Medie laughing after the ceremony and getting ready to eat.

Syd captures the memories as Haji, Medie's father, his brother and Geoff wait to load the cars

Medie's sisters and mother (in the blue) moving toward the vehicles so we can drive over to the Bakimis 

listening to instructions on how we'll enter and sit together once we've arrived at the Kuhingira. Medie's mom,  Mama Mulungi is in blue on the left, and his oldest sister is in orange

Medie's father, Haji waiting patiently as we gather together before we travel to the Bakimis

Medie: excited, at peace, happy and thankful!

Geoff and Kakande ready for the big event!

Aunt Adhe, in yellow, and I are dressed in the traditional central tribal gomesi  while Aunts Lydia and Grace are in the traditional dress of the western tribes. Medie is of the central tribes and Eva is from the western tribes.

All smiles, Medie, Eva, Geoff and Mary

Jonnes congratulates Medie (L) and Syd (R)

Eva and Medie receive gifts from the Bakimi family

The happy couple sitting together after the blessings were pronounced by the fathers

The father of Aunt Gertrude's family and Jonnes together speaking blessings toward Eva

Did Kakande enjoy himself?   Oh, yeah!

Medie's sisters talk together

Uncle Jay and Aunt Vicki Dangers

The Bakimi children bestow their blessings on their sister as Medie's parents in right foreground listen

Jennie Dangers shares from her heart

The beautiful Eva

The grooms side as we gathered together before walking into the Kuhingira

Mama Flo and me after the Kuhingira

The grooms side gathering the gifts together for presentation to the brides side. The chicken which Geoff is holding is a traditional gift given to the brothers of the bride

Eva and her maids receiving gifts from Medie's sisters

Hope you enjoyed this little photo tour!!!! Now I need to get ready for the wedding!!!! Byeeeeee

The Whizzer

The Whizzer

We’ve lived in Uganda and worked with New Hope Uganda Children’s Centre for more than six years now. Our experiences with culture are “interestingly” varied to say the least.  

Stories? We could tell them! 

But, one of my favorite memories has nothing to do with an embarrassing moment as a result of my American culture smacking the Ugandan culture, yet I would not be telling this story if it were not for our presence at New Hope. 

With the wide variety of westerners that come to be a part of the work here, we have many more opportunities for cultural shockers to be sure than if we were the only westerners among the nationals. 

One of our very favorite families in the whole world (and we’ve seen a fair piece of it) are the Brown’s who hail from Derby, ENGLAND. Steve is quite proud of being ENGLISH which I why I labor to make the point that they are from England, rather than saying they are from the UK. (For the Americans in the readership, sorry if you slept through geography class, but I am not going to further explain that--wikipedia is easily accessible.)

Steve and Kathryn have been involved with the early adulthood programs during the time they’ve been with New Hope and yearly organize for the investment year kids a ”business” dinner in which business decorum and presence is taught in preparation for any future interviews, etc., in which the kids may find themselves. 

About five years ago I was in my kitchen on the day the dinner was to be held when Steve came reeling through in a massive rush and hollered in my general direction about whether or not I could help him with a whizzer. I laughed in his face and gave him a quizzical look. He said, “You know, a whizzer? What do YOU call it?”  And I’m thinking to myself, “I don’t know, because I have NO idea what you’re talking about.” He continued, “You know, that thing that (and he made whirring noises with his mouth and spun his hands around in a tight circle) well, WHIZZES things--uh, mixing them together. . .”  I answered, still laughing, “well, when you say a WHIZZER all I can think of is a little boy peeing on the wall out behind the house (!) and I’m SURE that is not what you’re looking for!!” Then, he laughed at me and tried to explain again! And suddenly it dawned on me, “OH, A BLENDER!!!” I was so proud of myself for figuring it out! For crying out loud, forget the misunderstandings I run into with Luganda, the differences between American English and British English are enough to fill my days with confusion!

Cut to a recent conversation between Geoff and me.  He said, “I feel like I’ve been through the whizzer!” and I immediately understood this time. But, why would he say whizzer and not blender? Because we’ve adapted, that’s why. Everyday we adapt, we morph, we bend & get squeezed and for the most part, it’s a great adventure. 

But, when he said he felt like he’d been through the whizzer it wasn’t with a smile on his face. The schedule of late has been constant. Special events, extra meetings, preparations, outreaches, vehicle sales, personnel conflicts, village visits, deadlines, special orders, new contracts, a new household member, extra guests for dinner, business in Kampala, community conflict, start of a new school term, police arresting a worker, business arrangements for materials to come from Kenya for a certain project, older children coming and going because of new internship assignments, and gardens needing to be prepared, planted and then weeded!  I could go on.  I won’t, lest I cause you to feel that you’ve been through the whizzer.

Thank you for your prayers, because for the most part what we do is truly a great adventure, but a bit of extra stamina is needed at present!  Prayer is powerful. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. So, thank you!

And, since laughter is good medicine, let me leave you with another confusing little exchange between said Mr. Brown and myself. 

Another event headed by Steve is P7 week in which the students in the final year of primary school take a week off of their studies and engage in relationship building activities and FUN.  There are competitions, contests, games, movies, baking, special meals, outreach and even a chance for them to learn line dancing! 

Steve and Kathryn surrounded by friends (as usual!)

Coming upon P7 week a couple years back, Steve approached me and asked if I would consider doing the “bacon” with the kids again. I was totally thrown off and had NO IDEA what he was talking about. But, being that Steve is a TALKER I decided to just keep listening in hopes that at some point I’d be on board with what he was wanting. All the while I’m thinking to myself, “I don’t remember ever doing anything with meat, pork/bacon or otherwise during P7 week” but  . . .  I kept listening, “uh huh, hmmm, ok.” Finally, I get it, “OH, THE BAKING! Yeah, I’d be happy to teach a group of P7s some baking skills.” He looks at me, “yeah, the bacon, that’s what I’ve been talking about, what did you think I meant?” That accent, it still gets me sometimes!

Sam

 There was the tightness in my throat as I slowly, step by step, followed him on the path that leads out from his house. As I walked I was also remembering the emotion that gripped me as I fought back tears when he first cried in opposition. Tears of realization that in a moment life and the way it’s been lived would change drastically from all that’s been known. He was gone making mud for the mudding of someone else’s house when we proposed the idea to Jajja and the Aunties who happened to be paying a visit when we arrived. They were immediately supportive of the idea of bringing Sam from Jajja’s house to our own. 

 Sam is a classsmate of Toby’s, but more importantly, he is the younger brother of Nabukeera, our daughter whom we have sponsored since about 1999. This is not a quick decision on our part, but one we’ve committed to prayer and discussion with Nabukeera and the childcare department. Sam is 12 years old and has not had parental oversight other than Jajja for more than the past five years. She would be the first to tell you that she is not one to discipline the children or call them to account. She has admitted as much to us. In addition, Jajja’s eyesight is failing and she is unable to get around very easily. She requires the help of someone to fetch water, dig in the garden and cook. There are other children around and the occasional aunties who come to visit, but Sam himself had not shown dedication for these responsibilities for some months now. We saw him growing older, yet less mature. It is a tough decision to choose between the REAL needs of a young boy (beyond mere survival) and the elder Jajja who requires the help of someone to merely survive. But, the choice had to be made. Sam needs a father to lead, guide, teach and discipline him. Sam needs someone to hold him to account for his actions and inaction. He needs to be shown how to come up to what he is capable of and to reach for fulfillment of the destiny God has for him. Jajja wants those things for him and cannot give what she knows is needed. Nabukeera echoed as much when we talked with her quite a few weeks ago about bringing him in to live with us.

And so, as of last night, we have a new family member. All of his belongings fit into a moderately sized backpack and a small school bag. Toby and Geoff got him settled in the bedroom and showed him how to use the bathroom shower and toilet. At the dinner table, we ate beans and rice and he was mostly quiet as we explained the routine and few rules of the household. After dinner, the kids showed him how to play Skip Bo. At bedtime, he asked for a toothbrush and we showed him how to use the faucet in the bathroom, but warned him not to drink the water. The kids brushed their teeth together and laughed and joked as they made their way to their beds. 

This morning Sam reported that he had slept well. We ate a breakfast of fresh fruit and bread with tea. Probably not the breakfast he is used to, but one of many adjustments he will have to make. Geoff read from Isaiah 55, “Come, all you who are thirsty, 

come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! 

Sam, in the blue shirt, flanked with friends at David Family 

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.” . . . and I wonder what he thinks of our fare, and I pray that he comes to know the abundance that God gives in Spirit. 

EYO and KAPECHORWA

Kapechesombe village in Kapechorwa District Uganda located on the slopes of Mt. Elgon.  That is where I, Geoff spent 6 days on a mission with 37 young people and 4 other staff members last week.  It is hard to summarize the experience but I want to give you a glimpse of what we saw and experienced.

We departed Kasana Tuesday morning at 5am for the 400KM journey in 4 vehicles, immediately 1 of the taxis we had hired broke down as we reached Luweero (about 18 km from home) which required a quick change into a new vehicle.  Praise God that one came along in less than 5 minutes.  As we neared our destination we were blessed to stop and spend a few minutes at Sipi Falls, a popular tourist site at Mt. Elgon.  The youth many of whom have never gone very far from home were amazed at God’s beauty in the lush rain forest and the series of majestic falls of which the highest one falls over 300ft.  Mt. Elgon has many rivers and falls as you would expect a mountain in a rain forest to have.  

After a 15 minutes of exploring we were back on our way for the last hour of our trip.  As we passed through Kapecorwa town we left the paved road and made the last 5KM of our journey on a dirt road that was far from what you would call easily passable.  With a constant incline the road was filled with ruts, potholes and the look of trouble when it rains.  Finally at 3pm we reached our destination, the village of Kapechesombe.  We were greeted with stares and questions as to why we had come.  The village was very suspicious of outsiders and were not sure why we were there as they struggle with deep division, gripping fear and insecurity.  After having a simple lunch of milk tea and boiled potatoes we began to set up our camp site.  We slept at a primary school using the classes as bedrooms all sleeping on mats on the cement floor.  

Our program contained daily service ministry like digging in peoples gardens or clearing the town of trash.  This is always a blessing and a part of all our outreaches. People are thankful for our willingness to serve, creating an open door for a friendship that allows receptivity to our ministry.  We then would travel from house to house sharing with people the good news that Jesus brought, encouraging them, praying for them and inviting them to our evening open air crusades.  

We held these crusades daily from 4 to 8 p.m. with praise music, dancing, dramas, testimonies, preaching and even showed the Jesus film one night and the passion of Christ another.  Most of the preaching was done by our youth, but I took the last night of the crusade to call people from drinking from earthy cisterns to the Living Water that Jesus promises will satisfy our thirst like no other. 

Additionally, we held seminars on two days where we addressed issues that men, women and youth face.  We discussed issues revolving around our purpose as men and women and the fact that God has a plan for each one of us.  As we addressed the role of husbands and wives in the marriage we taught and encouraged them in the Biblical model.  We found that the Sebei culture (the tribe there) has really struggled in that area.  The wives are treated as servants or slaves while the men are absent from the home.  Even the idea of spending time talking to your children is foreign to them.  They have no relationship whatsoever and the effects of such practice have proved to be crippling to the hearts of the women and children.  The awesome thing was the people were hungry for truth.  Throughout our time there I was continually sought out for questions and further discussion on the topics we taught.  Challenging the men to lead their families, not just be the male figure head, but knowing, loving and spending time with them.

One of the things I love most about these outreaches is the time I get to spend with the youth from our ministry.  Six days of relational time moving together from morning to evening gives me the chance to deepen my relationships with the kids God has called us to.  Even the sleeping accommodations, which were primitive at best provided opportunity to draw closer.  

No outreach can be complete without being stuck in the mud at least once, and the first night our truck got stuck on the way from town and required 10 of us to walk 2 KM in the rain to push it out.  Cold and muddy we were successful and greeted with shouts of joy as we returned at 10pm.  The greatest challenge we faced was the weather as it constantly rained and the temps made us think we were in the Colorado mountains rather than Africa.  As I told you the road reaching the village was poor, any rain we received made the road impassable without a 4x4 until the sun dried it out.  On our last day we prayed intensely for sun as we needed it for the road to be passbible for the taxis we were using, due to the taxi schedule our plans were to leave at 1am and drive thru the night.  God gave us the sun we needed, he is faithful, but the amazing thing is that as we left on the road at 1:30am just as we reached the good road the rain began to fall.  God miraculously held back the rains until the perfect time and when we were safely down He opened the heavens and heavy rain began to fall.