Water Fight!!!!!!

The kids wanted a water fight last week and with all the rain we've had (when will the dry season start??????) I thought it was a great idea!!! It started small with just Acacia, Kevin and their newest friend Kaitlyn, whose parents will be ministering at the Musana Camp site starting in May (at present they are attending our Institute of Childcare and Family).

Once the fun began others heard the laughter and shrieks and joined in.


Medie--our wonderful compound worker--loading them up with more water from the cistern.

Spidey

Our resident Spider Man.

Kevin (and all our kids actually) are very good at climbing the poles on our porch. Once he was up,
he hung there for 9 1/2 minutes!!!!!

Load 'em up with sugar and send 'em home

After loading all the kids up with a boatload of SUGAR (!!!!) at Acacia's birthday party last month, we took some group pictures. Yeah . . . I have great memories of saying "YES!!!!" and being the heroine to a group of kids for 2 hours . . . "Auntie Mary, can I have more marshmallows?" "YES!! And have a soda to go with!" "Auntie Mary, may I have another cupcake?" "YES!!! And would you also like some more candy?" "Auntie Mary, may I have a BIG piece of cake?" "YES!! of course!" "Auntie Mary, how about a piece of banana bread? "YES!!"

I'm making fun, but it pretty much happened that way. They ate and ate til they could hold no more. We made picture frames and jewelry and played games. The kids had a fun-filled blast of a time. One of the littlest ones said, "Wow, this is the best birthday party I've ever been to and I'm gonna remember it and when I'm at another party I'm sure I'm gonna think this one is still the best." As parents and adults, of course it should not be our focus to be the most fun or be the biggest kid amongst other kids, but I have to admit that for 2 short hours it was glorious. . . and then I sent them home to their parents to have a sugar crash . . . :)

Bubbly gets a bath!












Geoff and Timmy (the son of Amon, one of our sons that grew up at New Hope and now teaches the weaving program at the vocational institute.)



















Papa, Grandma, Nabukeera, Acacia and Sarah saying goodbye last Sunday.

The children treated Papa, Grandma, Sarah and the church to "Away in a Manger" with a bell choir on Christmas morning. Auntie Grace Nasaka wonderfully taught and guided them.

We started school!! Looking at the calendar year we realized we would have precious little time before we leave in May for the states. January and early February are typically very busy around here and seem to push school out from the agenda. This year we are taking a proactive approach and getting an early start. In addition to teaching our three, I am tutoring one of the David family kids in handwriting. So, the kids have been enjoying having someone else around. Most of you reading this already have your kids back in school, but the school year here is February to early December with a 2 1/2 month break over the holidays. As we will be taking 4 months off this summer to travel, speak and visit people "over there" we can't afford to sit around now!!!

Geoff is currently interviewing potential new staff for both the maize mill and vocational institute. Filling the positions of maize mill manager and headmaster for the vocational school will aid him in more efficiently managing the overall operations of both entities and, of course, will greatly reduce the amount of stress he might feel at being away from both organizations from May - September when we're in the states.

After the Holidays . . .

Sarah and ?????? enjoying some time in Jinja. This little girl crawled into Sarah's lap and stayed there for more than an hour. We asked her name many times, but never quite understood what she answered. Her mom/sister ??? was nearby, but never came to greet us . . .

This is "Vanessa", Acacia's birthday present and my current source of stress!!!!! Seems some potty training is in order . . .

Sarah and Grandma taught Kevin and Acacia to make clothes from old socks for their bears. They both enjoyed the project and time with their cousin and Grandma.

A family photo for the season . . .

Being that the holidays are here, we gave time off for those who help us keep things going around the house. This meant that there was no one coming to fetch water for us. Toby and Abraham stepped into help and they were a GREAT help!!!

So, Papa and Grandma and Sarah stepped onto a plane late Sunday night as we again bid goodbye to family members. This period is always tough on the kids, but also difficult for us as we try to comfort them while dealing with our own emotions. We have had amazing visits with both my mom and nephew and Geoff's parents and niece. It is such a blessing to us that they all were able to come visit and see us here in the life we now lead. Having them with us boosts us and encourages us. We are so grateful to God that He enabled them to travel over the big blue to be here for a time.

We now turn our attention to the upcoming year and the fine-tuning of our vision and focus. We are in prayer to God for His plan and for our own well-being in the process. We are where He has planted us and are sure of His hand on us, but the specifics for these next few months, the new school term, the preparing for furlough next summer are all things we present to Him and ask for focused clarity. We have you in our thoughts as we pray that you, too, present yourself to Him and allow Him to guide you.

Happy New Year and many blessings for the year ahead!!!!

This and That

A walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park. Notice the zebras in the back ground. It was amazing to walk so near the animals!

Acacia and Toby relaxing with Grandma at the Mihingo Lodge after hunting animals.

Geoff and I at the Mihingo Lodge. It is built on the top of a high rocky hill and is gorgeous.

Kevin, Acacia and Sarah goofing around at the Mihingo Lodge.

Reading stories with Papa at home

Papa and Grandma enjoying being with the grandkids.

Decorating the Christmas tree and giving out special ornaments to Sarah and the grandparents!

The grandparents and niece arrived late Saturday the 5th and we got to the hotel in Entebbe about midnight. Early the next morning we set off for New Hope as Geoff was significantly involved in the morning church assembly that day. We had a special family service in which we "launched" many of our former children and those who are just now preparing to adventure into the areas for which they been trained. We gave them certificates, commissioned them, prayed for them and emphasized that they were still a part of the family, but "out there" as lights in the world--representatives of New Hope and of all they've been taught of the Gospel. After focusing on the young people we turned our attention to a wedding ceremony of the father of one of Geoff's recent graduates of the vocational tailoring program. He has a unique story and has found someone in a similar situation with whom he desires to share his life in marriage. It was a beautiful service and the congregation rejoiced with them as they start their new life together.

Many of the New Hope kids left Saturday the 12th for their Christmas holidays. We returned yesterday evening to a very quiet New Hope as we had spent the past 4 1/2 days touring southwestern Uganda with Papa, Grandma and Sarah. It was a fantastic safari and adventure, but we are happy to be home!!!

Hassan has been sick and needed to go to Kiwoko hospital last night as he has malaria. Last week he received a new Gastric tube to aid him in eating. He had a rough time the first few nights and now the malaria has him down. He will recover fine as he is receiving good care and appropriate treatment at the hospital, so my request for prayer is not just for him, but also for Kate who cares for him. She is quite tired and weary due to all that has gone on with him these past two weeks. Fortunately, we have older and responsible girls in David Family who can also stay at the hospital with him so that Kate can get some sleep! And after we returned home last night (and before he went to the hospital) I was able to assess him for her and give some suggestions which she welcomed. Unfortunately, I couldn't do more as shortly after that both Geoff and Acacia threw up and I became pretty busy with all that. I think it was something we ate that seemed to affect them more than the rest of us because it was just one time for both and then they both felt better.

We will be home for a few days here and then off to Jinja for the weekend to show the family another part of Uganda. We will take Nabukeera, the girl we have sponsored for the past few years, with us and she and Sarah will be roommates. Should be a fun time for all of us. Pray for all of us to be healthy!!!!!

And lastly, but most exciting to report, this is a picture of a hyena!!! We were out hunting for animals in the middle of the day (from our van--not on foot!!!) and saw a number of hyenas preying on cows. This was very unusual as hyenas are nocturnal and don't usually hunt, but scavenge off of the kill done by other animals.

Recovering and Looking Forward

It’s been a week!!!!! Due to the kids’ sickness, not only did we miss Thanksgiving with the other Americans, we missed (or at least me-Mary) most of the end-of-year activities. The kids were still too sick to attend the secondary school closing ceremony on Friday, have Acacia’s birthday party on Sunday (she turned 7!), or go to the graduation for the vocational school students on Monday, or the seminar for the staff we had Tues and Wed on the authority of scripture. Toby and Acacia are finally back to 100% and Kevin is at about 80%. At this point he just needs to bulk up and take it easy.

I’m thankful for God’s faithfulness to keep us during this very trying week! It’s soooo difficult to watch your kids struggle with pain and illness and to lose so much weight!!!! God strengthened us and we are glad to be on the other side of the last 7 days!!!!!

Kevin ate his first real meal on Wednesday (exactly one week from the start of the illness). It was at the luncheon to appreciate the primary and secondary teachers, Uncle Josh and Auntie Leah who have so aptly and lovingly taught our kids since July and August respectively. Josh taught Kevin and Acacia all their subjects with the exception of art (thank you Auntie Kathryn) and music (I did that one and OH did we have fun!!!) He taught, PE, drama, art and science to Toby. Before Auntie Leah came and took over the program for the secondary students, Uncle Josh—trained as a first grade teacher—tried his hand at teaching secondary level math and science in the afternoons. He was VERY HAPPY to see Auntie Leah arrive (!!!!!!), though he did a fine job filling in where needed!

Uncle Josh surrounded by his group of primary and secondary level missionary students. After school hours he also taught many of our staff kids and New Hope kids guitar. They have highlighted their own compositions in two different praise/worship nights.

And now we turn our attention to the arrival of Geoff’s parents and niece, Sarah! We will travel to Entebbe tomorrow in anticipation of their arrival on Saturday!!!!! They will be here until the Sunday following Christmas and we are ALL very excited!