We're home!

We just landed in Chicago! Getting ready to drive home. Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, encouragement and support. We pray that our extended family in Uganda has been encouraged, filled up and burdens eased.  

Please pray for this street boy.

On another note...while the graduation celebration was happening, I found this little street boy outside the church gates. He was begging for something, so I invited him in, gave him water and a meal. Some of the church members invited him to come back and enjoy the swing set in the back. His name is Adam and he ran away from his mother and traveled about eight hours away to Kampala. Will you join me in prayer that he will be reunited with his mother and find believers that will teach him about Jesus?

Graduation celebration!

The graduation celebration started as the Wakiso celebration ended. Many friends and family came with hearts filled with joy and gifts for the graduate. We were especially blessed to have his mother, grandmother, four brothers, one sister and many other family members present. There was strengthened and rekindled relationships and a memory that will never be lost. His very gracious and grateful mother blessed me with a gift. She and I and Michael met on our knees in Ugandan respect for the exchange. A very precious moment. 

The three of us cut the vanilla chocolate and cinnamon cake, and served the guests. Nine other graduates from the church were also honored. 

Michael addressed the attendees on his knees in gratitude for their support and especially the Lord who has always been there for him. 

I never could have imagined that this day could be so wonderful.  How can I ever thank God enough?

How can I explain God's love?

Today is bitter sweet. I woke up at the crack of dawn hearing the roosters crow and the hotel workers sweeping, sweeping, sweeping the the parking lot. The brooms are thin and about 3 feet long...made of grass. The lawn mowing people swipe their slashers back and forth. The smell of wood and coal smoke in the air as our Spanish omelettes are prepare... Mmmm, there is nothing like the thirst quenching taste of fresh passion fruit juice and the ensuing heartburn. 

As we sit down to pray, we think of all the wonderful days we have had, yet mourn the fact that our dear friend Isaac is sick in the hospital with malaria. We also hear of the continued spread of Ebola around the world. Bill's next journey to Zimbabwe is in question by his teammates, yet seeing the power of God, he fearlessly presses on with his plans. Would I stay longer in Uganda despite all of the health and terrorism? You bet!!! Once I am here, the threats somehow disappear. The blessings of doing the Lord's work is what fills our minds.  

Even the Ugandans ...  As Bill and I respond to loved ones that we are fine, one pokes me while riding in the Chariot on the way to Wakiso to make sure I have had a fresh pineapple on this trip ... despite all of the worries in the world, they keep on moving, praising the Lord and doing his work. How would I not want to be part of what they are doing for the Lord. 

I remember Bill's daily prayer, Lord help  me to want what you want, not what I want....and their is deep meaning behind it.

When we first arrived, we were exhausted ... 2 more days to go and our cups overflow.

Wow ... what just happened?  As we drive down the dirt road, two tiny children see Bill and holler, "hey mazungu, give me some bread!" For as many times as I have been down this path, they have never asked for bread, but today, they do. Guess what we have in the chariot and have never brought before? Bread! How can I explain the love of the Lord?!!!