See's OLD Time Candies

We had a great surprise today when we received a package!!!!!!! We knew my mom had sent one in February and have been anticipating it's arrival. We got a call this a.m. that one had come and was waiting for us at another missionary's house. We had to wait until after lunch to get it, so the anticipation was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!

The kids arrived back at the house and excitement mounted as Toby cut open the box. I first saw Christmas wrapping paper with distinctive design - - - SEE'S CANDIES!!!!! But, Christmas???? Then I saw a box in more Christmas wrap from my sister's family, a Christmas letter, magazines from the holidays . . . Geoff meanwhile was trying to find the date the box was sent and when he found it he exclaimed, "December 16th!!!!!!!!!!!!! This thing was mailed December 16th!!!!"

Of course all the attention immediately went to the CHOCOLATES!!!! I opened the box and found melted, re-hardened pieces AND a bug. Just as Toby and Acacia, salivating, were reaching for a piece I said, "Wait! There is a bug!" Toby replied, "Oh well, it's only just one!" Acacia cut in, "Yeah, and besides, we've eaten dirt before!" And there you have it, the desperation for good chocolate trumps bugs, staleness, melted and re-hardened state and down the hatch it went! YUM YUM!!!!!

And, yes, I ate some. Not quite the SEES I remember, but CHOCOLATE!


Our experience gives new meaning to "SEE'S Famous OLD Time Candies"

Meanwhile, the cat was catching a treat of his own . . . notice the half-dead lizard in the lower right of the picture. Now that's a YUM YUM of a different sort . . .

Addendum-----another box just arrived on the back of a friend's bicycle. They picked it up in Luwero for us. It had magazines, pictures and books. It arrived "early" as it wasn't even mailed until, February 10th! Can you imagine the speed with which it flew??????? Unbelievable!

Camping at Musana!

Last Monday we loaded up the Lorry with mattresses, bedding, food--COFFEE!!-- and the David Family and headed off for Musana Camps! The camp land is located on the shores of Lake Victoria and now belongs to New Hope. Syd and Andrea Sparks have now lived on site for more than a year and have developed quite a few new structures since we were last there in September 2008. There are permanent tents, a small guest house (where they currently live), a small cookhouse, composting toilets, 2 showers and plans for much more. Syd took us on a hike and tour the first full day of our stay and we returned to where we "wilderness camped" in '08. We were the first group to camp on the land and it was exciting to see what has transpired in the past 1 1/2 years! Take a quick look for yourself . . .

Of course before you even get to the camp you HAVE to stop by the "In your face chicken place," a name coined by our beloved New Hope founder, Jay Dangers. Here is where Geoff ventures into a group of about 20 vendors all shoving chicken on a stick in his face and begging him to buy from them. For about $60, we fed 40 people a piece of chicken and a chapati each(sort of like an oily, thick tortilla).

Can you find Geoff in the picture?

Uncle Mulu and Timothy planting one of the fruit trees that the David Family kids decided to buy and plant for future generations!

Kintu, Uncle Mulu and Mulu's son Judah enjoy a game of "connect 4"

Toby, Michael and Jonathan enjoy porridge and a view!

Wow!

Toby loved the hammock!

Kevin loved the rocks--both to climb and sit on while enjoying God's beautiful creation!

50 Cents

Just had an interesting experience today and wanted to share it with all of you. First some back ground…We have been feeling a bit tested in the area of finances lately as we have experienced some fairly large un planned for expenses (that is for missionaries on our budget) and at the moment don’t really have much money to speak of. On top of that yesterday I had some money stolen from my office, around $35 and it wasn’t even mine, but belonged to the David family children that they had saved for some Bibles. Well then today while eating breakfast a woman from our church came to the house. She is a widow that the church has helped from time to time with things including providing a place to garden food for her family. My first reaction was, I don’t have time for this today. But of course God is good at setting His agenda above ours. It turns out that her mother is very sick at home and needing to go to the hospital and she was coming seeking my help. Her request was for some transport assistance, now remember we are feeling financial pressure right now. As I began to explain to her through a translator that we also do not have anything to help her right now, I decided to ask for more details. It turns out that she is only a short distance in a neighboring village from the hospital and her request was for 1,000 Shillings which is equivelant to 50 cents. OK let me just say I can manage that. The reality is that this woman is so poor that she literally does not have 50 cents. As I finished with her I went back to breakfast and made a statement that is truly a prayer. May I never be so financially broke that I can’t help a desperately poor woman with even 50 cents. When we think we are facing financial challenges ask you self if you and your resources can manage 50 cents. Then decide how badly off you are. I am thankful to our God that He provides so well. Let us consider today how He has provided for all our needs according to His glorious riches.

"Daddy, What's a Happy Meal?"

We were listening to Toby Mac tonight as I prepared supper. One of the songs features his son who, at the end of the song, wonders out loud about payment for his work. Toby Mac replies, "You get a Happy Meal!" to which his son giggles--you can "see" the smile in his voice! Acacia was standing nearby and asked Geoff, "Daddy, what's a Happy Meal?" Both Geoff and I shouted, "Hallelujah!!!" Our 7 year old doesn't know what a Happy Meal is! Life is so simple here, thank GOD!

What otherwise could we expect? Having only been home to the U.S. for 8 weeks during the past 4 years certainly yields that kind of experience. Four weeks from tomorrow (yikes) we leave for furlough. Happy Meals here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Backyard Rocketships

toby said another "good-bye" yesterday to a young friend from the UK who had spent 2 weeks here. they hope to fly on Tuesday, but that all depends on the Iceland volcano activity! Their "rocketship" could be grounded for awhile!

Toby and Kevin are enjoying their "rocketships" in the backyard. Geoff placed a piece of wood up in one of our trees and the boys have been "launching" expeditions much to the dog's annoyance and confusion.

Here they are thinking about the next voyage.

Gearing up the engines

take off!

bujagali falls

The government of Uganda, in an effort to improve the electricity availability for the country and efficacy of the Jinja dam are upgrading the dam size and placement. This will require a rerouting of the water flow of the Nile and, as a result, the Bujagali Falls will cease to exist. Enjoy these few pictures of a beautiful part of the world while it is still visible.

Yes, very beautiful. . .

. . . but beware the treacherous, unpredictable, fast-moving waters . . .

so, what is THAT guy doin in the water?

oh, just waving hello

is he ok?

where did he go?
Don't worry, he's ok. There are young men at the Falls that body surf the Falls for tourist entertainment and, of course, payment.

I'm not sure the completion date for the new dam, but in a few weeks we will go to Jinja again for our annual New Hope foreign staff retreat. It may be the last time we are able to see the falls . . .

Easter Ham

We were in Kampala this week and one of our co-workers asked if we'd pick them up an Easter Ham for Sunday dinner. Sorry--no ham available, so we brought them back a chicken. (NOT PICTURED!!--I have not played any jokes on you by hiding the chicken somewhere in one of the pictures. I didn't think a chicken was very interesting--especially the kind we bought for our friends. It was just a regular ole chicken packaged in plastic wrap from the butcher dept of the grocery store. So, glenda and amy rest easy.)

In the above picture you get a glimpse of our David Family "Easter Ham". It is sitting quite contentedly with little thought for it's future--just as well--it's future will bring tasty contendedness for our kids tomorrow!!!

It's been quite wet lately. Makes everything green for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus!!! It's beautiful here. So much rain recently that we are able to provide plenty of jobs for the kids who want to work!!! Today, some are cutting grass, others raking, some weeding, others helping inside the house with dish washing or mopping (a necessity when the dog tracks in mud from the rain!!!)

Toby, Acacia and Kevin visited the goat while sitting on the dog house. The dog house is left over from "bambino" our David Family dog that moved to live at Musana Camps earlier this year.

Annet is the David Family cook today. She had just finished serving porridge to all her brothers and sisters and was preparing to get lunch ready.

She is one of Acacia's best friends. We will certainly miss her while we're in the States!! She is in her P7 year this year--the last class of primary which culminates in a two-day government exam determining whether or not the student can continue on to secondary level.

Only seven weeks remain of our time here before we head off on furlough. There is much to do and we are glad to have had a few days in Kampala this week to rest. We are now in the final push, readying Geoff's staff to take over his responsibilities and, on a MUCH smaller scale (!), Mary is in the process of handing over the bread baking business oversight to Aunt Lucy, our David Family mother and wife of Uncle Mulu (our David Family father.)