Ha Ha Ha! Water has come, but where is the electricity????

The RAINS have arrived!!!!!

Hallelujah!

Our cistern has a good amount of water in it after only two rains!  However, we still have no water in our in-house taps or showers and we can't hit the flush button to flush the toilets.  WHY?  Because now there is no power to pump the water up to the tower which gravity-feeds it to the house!!!  With the rains have come the abundant clouds, so much so that our solar power is not enough to run the pump today. So, here we are with water, but no way to utilize it. sigh.

It's a small thing, really. No really, it is. But, I have to convince myself of that.  I seem to feel that I am entitled to running water. No one in the villages around me has running water and few of them have electricity. But, I often forget that reality.

Here I am in my little house (not so little to the people who live with 10 or more in a 12 x 12 ft mud hut), but here I am forgetting the poverty that is around me. Those in the West who keep a keen interest in what we do here are often quick to point out the sacrifices we make and the minimal amount of funds/things with which we live. And you're right, compared to western standards. But, compared to our village neighbors? We live as kings and queens and this past dry season and all its "inconveniences" has been a good reminder of what our neighbors call "real life" everyday.

So, when you think of our recent bout with the extended dry season, please pray for us. But, you needn't feel compelled to pray for our comfort or conveniences.  This dry and dusty environment Has awakened my heart afresh to the dryness in the hearts of some of the children and staff with whom we live and to whom we minister. And indeed to our own sometimes parched levels and inability to receive the goodness of God in the various ways He provides. Even today we met with a young person dear to us who cannot seem to see the goodness of the LORD in this life through the love that has been offered through people and God Himself. There is a constant bent in this one to blame others and to fail to see their own contribution to the pains experienced in this season.  And that one is not alone, we are all guilty--especially me.

Sunday's morning message spoke of our propensity to compare our situations to others and to view ourselves as not as advantaged. But, God Himself has brought us to whatever place we are in and has provided whatever we need to thrive. WE fail to see it when our focus is placed anywhere but on His goodness, love and ultimate holiness. He Himself is our provision and our ultimate savior. None can compare to Him, nor should we compare ourselves to others, but thank Him for it all.

This morning as I looked out onto the path that so many traverse in front of our mansion (well, it IS 12 times bigger than most village homes!!), I smiled as I saw our watchman bouncing along the path with a huge smile on his face.  This is the same watchman that exactly one week ago we rushed to the hospital. He had a gastric perforation (not a small bowel obstruction that was previously suspected) that was identified and surgically repaired last Tuesday.  Geoff and I brought him home (his 10 x 8 foot home) on Sunday afternoon. Today I had a sudden realization that by rushing him to the hospital Kimberly and I saved his life. Furthermore, the vivid memory of his writhing in pain, calling out to Jesus, and yelling out at every bump in the dirt road arrested me today in a different way than it had over this past week as I prayed for him. What I witnessed of his experience could have been Geoff's exact experience last May had we not been able to have his gastric ulcer repaired when we did. God is GOOD and we praise Him for His timing! It sure makes my complaints of not being able to write last Tuesday seem extremely silly and ridiculous.

Mary

On Geoff's birthday night last week, most of the David Family kids serenaded Geoff with a worship song speaking of  God's greatness. Before they arrived at the door we could hear them coming as they walked together and sang on the way.  It is a sweet blessing to live among these kids!!!

Speaking of sweet blessings, you're looking at two of mine!!! These boys were tuckered out after a day of hauling water and the intense heat of late. Kevin crawled in next to Geoff for a little snuggle and in moments they were both asleep!

News for February

BEING INTENTIONAL

What do we hope our children will grow up to be?  Do we believe that it will just happen?  

“Train a child in the way he should go...” - Proverbs 22:6

In the past 25 plus years of New Hope’s existence, we have seen that the primary cause of the orphan crisis is not war or disease, but a failure of children to grow into the men and women God desires.  When a child grows with a skewed world view, that is a wrong impression of who God is or who they are, they are destined to live according to their own passions and their own ability rather than by the grace God has provided and with the power of the Holy Spirit.  Basing one’s life on anything but the truths of the gospel actually creates more orphans.  Our understanding of God’s role in our lives and who He is plays out in the way we relate to Him and the way we live.  Thus, an incorrect world view causes a failure to engage the power of the gospel.  The final product of this wrong world view is yet more orphans who perpetuate the pain they experienced due to separation from God.

Here at New Hope we are entering a new season, one of intentionally training our many children in the things of God.  Of course we’ve always trained them, but have felt a strong compulsion in recent times to increase and coordinate our efforts. Ensuring our children are being trained in all aspects of the things of God for their future means not just providing for their physical or academic needs, but strengthening the foundation of Christ and His word in their lives.  

Our strengthened and more coordinated effort to raise up our children in the way that God desires them to go requires us to thoughtfully and strategically calculate which foundational truths are needed at different ages and to work together with all departments.  It is our hope that beginning in their first years of school through the final year of secondary studies with us, they will mature into adults who will not depart from God’s way. The Children’s Spiritual Development group/department (CSD) is working under the guidance of the Kasana Community Church eldership to prayerfully direct the different aspects of the biblical teachings the children will receive.  We are placing a strong emphasis on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood or BMW and will incorporate the foundation stones of the gospel at every level.  We are also placing a strong emphasis on being a worshiper of the One True God through music education and guiding our children to worship both corporately and individually.  Please pray with us as we work through the many aspects of this plan. We will keep you updated as we move forward.

A little taste from home - Thanks Linda

Kids with the "kid"

Bonfire with our family over the Christmas holiday

Kobwin

I recently had the pleasure of visiting our NHU Kobwin Children’s Center in the eastern part of Uganda.  Many of the Kobwin children we care for and minister to are returnees from captivity to one of Uganda’s rebel factions of the early 2000’s.  Other children that were left parentless due to that rebellion are also being cared for.  We held a seminar with the staff and MANY pastors from the community on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.  It was a tremendous success as more than 60 people attended and many local pastors testified to how they have been living under a lie and vowed to approach their God-given call as men and women of God with a new perspective.  It was exciting to see what God has been doing there as my last visit to Kobwin was in 2007 before we took in our first children.  If you are interested in the work at Kobwin our website is very informative.

Geoff preaching at Kobwin

Musana Camps

As I returned from Kobwin we met Mary, the kids and Uncle Jay’s family along the way and took a side journey to Musana Camps, our camp site on the shores of Lake Victoria.  The time was intended for planning for the BMW program that I am spearheading in Kasana.  Our meeting times were productive, and we were also able to steal some time with God’s creation as we soaked in the beauty of the location.  We hiked with the kids to the waterfall and they swam in the lake, thankfully with no sightings of the resident crocodile, PRAISE GOD!  I would ask you to keep the formation of the CSD department and the BMW program in prayer.  The vision I have is huge and I often struggle with feelings of inadequacy in my role. 

Kids on the beach at Musana

Oh my

It's another Tuesday, another opportunity to write.

Sigh

 The interruptions came one on top of each other today. At least I got up at 5 a.m., had a great time in the Word and was completely prepared for the day.

As I came out to get some water for toothbrushing, with a mouth full of toothpaste and my toothbrush busy, I found a young man at the front door looking for Geoff. It was 8 a.m. and everyone was gone for their various places. He began relating dual stories and at first I had trouble tracking which one was of utmost importance to him. His motorbike tire was flat--easy, I got him the tire pump. As he worked on the bike he talked of looking for Uncle Geoff and then said he'd already called him and found him at the office. But, as he continued the story it became alarming. Moments before, as he had tried to advance through the side gate he found the watchman vomiting and very weak. The man couldn't stand up on his own and so this young man had come to find Uncle Geoff for help. I excused myself to finish up brushing and when I returned to the front of the house, the clinic van was backing up at a high speed and stopped in front of our house. Kimberly, one of our nurses, asked me to please come with her to the hospital. Seems that a young student also going through the gate on her way to school found the situation to warrant her running to the clinic to find the nurse. At the same time she arrived to find Kimberly, so did Geoff and they both expressed the need for the van to go pick up the watchman. Not sure of the nature of the problem, and considering it could be a heart problem soon requiring CPR, Kimberly asked me to come along in case CPR would be needed. Thankfully it wasn't.

We arrived at the outpatient department (OPD) and his vital signs were all over the place. Once he was fairly stabilized he was able to answer a few questions and also give instructions on which family members to contact. The OPD wouldn't take him to the male ward without an attendant so we all went to get him settled. For those of you not familiar with medical facilities in the bush area of East Africa, you must be informed that an attendant of the patient supplies all items necessary for care. This includes bedsheets, basins, soap, towels, clothing, food, water, blankets, WHATEVER besides medicine is needed. AND an attendant must be present for transfer to different departments and of course, for decisions regarding care. Not knowing when the sister would arrive, I went home to get the basics needed for them to get started caring for him on the male ward. Once home, I found that my houseworker had AGAIN not come to work today. This will be the third day in a week that she's missed due to her own family crisis issues. As I finished gathering the items and was headed to the car, she arrived stating that she had an appointment in our main little village center at 10 a.m. So, on my way back to the hospital I dropped her off at her destination.

I waited about 45 minutes for the sister to arrive and when she did, she arriving with nothing. Turns out she had gone to his place to pick up the needed supplies, but had no way to get into his house. I showed her what I had brought and caught her up to speed with the happenings so far and then left to go see another staff member who was also admitted in the same hospital.

I would ask you to please pray for this watchman as we don't yet know what is going on with him. At present they are running various tests and blood work to attempt to identify the cause of his intense pain and vomiting.

When I finally left the hospital and was driving back home I passed one of our former daughters who has since married and moved to the western part of Uganda with her husband and children. I slammed on the brakes and backed up to ask what she was doing just casually walking down the road in our area!  It was great to see her, but WHY? It didn't make any sense. She related that she has not been feeling well lately and she had come to Kiwoko Hospital to get some answers.  Herein lies another insight to the medical environment in Uganda. She lives a good eight hours west of us and has traveled all this way to be seen at a hospital she can trust! I returned to the hospital in order to save her walking in the intense heat and dust we live in of late.

Finally home I put on the beans and rice for lunch because again today I seem to be not the author, but the chief cook and bottle washer. No worries, God will enable me to catch up on my writing all in His good time. I am happy to have been available to help in so many ways today!

Time to go and have a leisurely cup of tea with a dear friend. She told me yesterday that she has some good news to share and I can't wait to hear it!!!!


UPDATE ON THE WATCHMAN: his sister called me and said he was being taken into surgery. She was not sure what for, but perhaps to repair a small bowel obstruction. For the non-medical types that would NOT be a "small, unimportant obstruction" but a blockage in the small intestine. Please pray for his healing.

Blessings,
Mary

Two very special days

Yesterday was a special day around here! It only happens twice a year and there is an all-out effort to make the day worth its every moment.  I invited three important people to celebrate it with me. Aziza arrived at about 8:30, Nabukeera arrived a little closer to 9 a.m. and by the time Aunt Jessica arrived at 9:30 the festivities were well underway!!! The table was already a sea of dishes, pots and pans, cook books and kitchen utensils. The living room quickly thereafter filled with assorted items and the doors stood wide open for ease of moving in and out.   I'm sure you're anxious to know the momentous occasion?? Deroaching Day!!! My original plan was to clean out over the holidays when the pace of life around here was much slower and afforded the time for such an event. But, being as sick as I was in December and early January, there was no way for me to complete the task. Thus, by yesterday, the need to kill those pesky creatures was long overdue and took 6 cans of "Doom" to ensure success. What is "Doom"? you ask??? It is the African equivalent of RAID! I didn't bother to put on perfume yesterday, I wore Doom. The kids at the family group last night asked if I was sick because my throat was so scratchy from breathing in Doom all day. But, it was worth it. The only roaches I've seen since we finished at 4:30 p.m. yesterday are slow moving, "Doom-drunk", and dead. Hallelujah!!!

Nabukeera kept us laughing throughout the adventure. Here she peeks up over the cupboard to let Aziza capture her image for this blog post!

L to R Nabukeera, Aziza and Aunt Jessica

There is no place we leave untouched! Both high and low places must be scrubbed!

That was yesterday, Wednesday. So, here it is Thursday. A day I'm scheduled to hide in the banda and write. And here is another schedule rearranger slapping my set plan--my house help is not coming today--second day this week she is not able. It's a bit frustrating to be honest. I decided back in October that just six hours a week was not too much to ask of a week's worth of life's demands, but apparently I was greedy. The amount of days I've spent in the banda writing are definitely less than those I've spent doing what gets thrown at me due to life's circumstances.   So, off to school the kids will go and back into the kitchen I will go to wash dishes and start preparing lunch. Most assuredly required will be worship music and unceasing prayer at the kitchen sink!

In the past seven days, not only did we hold our bi-annual deroaching ceremony, but the cistern also needed deep cleaning! It's been a few days of extra work around here! I'm thankful that while doing these necessary extra jobs we were with kids we love and enjoy!

the sludge. This is what was living in the bottom of our cistern. Last Saturday morning was spent cleaning it out and preparing the cistern for the rains that should be soon in coming. The gutters are 85% finished--only lacking the down spouts.  The finishing touches should go up today or tomorrow.

The kids had fun climbing down into the cistern, scrubbing, hauling up buckets of muck and then bleaching the floor and walls.

And in other news . . .

morning hair is done best by Kevin

"Where's Toby?" He hid one day and the other boys couldn't find him.  Do you see him?

After the cistern clean-out, the kids made a car in the base of one of the banana groupings.  Yesterday they painted their license plate and made a sign for the "Britton's Taxi Service".  All the neighbor kids took turns driving and riding and the afternoon was filled with variations on accelerating and decelerating engine noises, "horns" honking and screeching brakes.

Monday is Geoff's birthday (45!!!) and he and I will spend two nights in Kampala while the kids enjoy the oversight of Auntie Hannah! It should be a fun weekend for all of us!!

Blessings to you and yours. Thanks for your prayers, financial support and love for us.

Mary