Two months till Christmas!!! Just in case anyone is counting☺
We have been blessed to have a group of 9 strangers now friends at the guest house. We have had many good times of fellowship together. It’s almost like we are one big family since we live under one roof and eat all or meals together! There have also been plenty of Dutch Blitz games played – love it!
Two weeks ago I celebrated my 25th birthday. One quarter of a century done! It was a memorable one. Matt and I went out on our first ‘date’ since we have been in Uganda. We went to a wonderful Italian restaurant called Mamba Point. The ambiance and the food were both fantastic!!! We both had entrees and then shared a chocolate fondue for dessert, mmmmmm!!! My actual birthday was a workday. Matt left at 6 in the morning and when I woke up my present awaited me. When I got to work at about noon, a beautiful bouquet of calalilly’s was delivered. The calalilly’s here are huge and beautiful!!! For supper Matt bought all of the ingredients and had our cook make sweet and sour pork, one of my favorite meals of all time! For dessert the girls at the guesthouse had a cake! I finished the evening off with phone calls from home from both sets of parents – a great day indeed!
Lots of moving around has happened at the babies home. A group of toddlers graduated out to the village this past week and thus everybody moved up to the next room. So…three of my babies graduated up to the monkey’s room (3-6 month room) and we gained 4 new babies in the prem room. Twins and a singleton from Gulu (northern Uganda) and then another prem named John who is just over a kg. Meg continues to do so well – praise the Lord. Her current weight is 940 grams! She is doing so well! I have enjoyed having another NICU nurse here for the past couple of weeks! It has been so nice to have someone to talk preemies with☺
Over the past two weeks myself along with 4 other nurses have completed a babies home clinic. We ran all the babies through full physicals. We noted current and potential problems. I will closely follow up on some of the babies.
Yesterday Watoto church held a baby dedication for babies from Bulrushes. I had the privilege of dedicating Zara to God. There were about 15 babies in total. Zara looked beautiful in her little dress. She was a good girl, no crying or vomiting during the whole dedication. It was fun to have her in church. I think that during the worship time she experienced a stimulation overload with many new sights and sounds. She was staring with wide eyes. She was exhausted by the time we got home. She is a special girl!
Matt had a busy week at work, working long hard days. This past week he finished the timber kiln finally and is excited to see if it works as well in reality as it does in theory. It was a hot week and working outside next to this solar powered kiln made for very HOT days for him! Another project that Matt worked on this week was an oval dining room table. This is the first oval table that the production unit has ever made.
Until next week…
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
October 18, 2009 - Jesus called His Faithful Servant home.
Early Sunday morning we got a phone call from home telling us of news that a wonderful man from home had been hit by a drunk driver and killed. We were consumed with sadness…he was a GREAT man. A fantastic dad, husband, leader, servant, lover of life and Jesus wanted him home. We are humans and cannot comprehend or see much big picture though our tears, but we do know that God is sovereign and so we rest in that knowing that we are indeed living for eternity and know Dale has received this. We are praying for the McCaw family and all that know them. May we rest in God’s peace through this situation and have HOPE that this is not the end!
With Hope – Steven Curtis Chapman
This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...
We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again
With Hope – Steven Curtis Chapman
This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...
We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again
Saturday, October 10, 2009
October 10, 2009 - Happy Thanksgiving Canada
We began this past week with an evening of Uganda culture. We tagged along with a Watoto team from Australia to the Ndere Center. It is an outdoor amphitheatre with picnic tables and chairs. We were fed BBQ meat with rice and salad. The entertainment was dancing. The dances showcased the different regions of Uganda – very interesting the dances are very different styles depending on where you are from. There was also a little audience participation/dancing going on throughout the evening!
Another outing that we had, with a number of the other volunteers, was brunch on Sunday before church at Kampala’s Serena Hotel. It was such a treat to have a breakfast buffet. Matt had four HEAPING plates full of food. The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous and the food and drinks amazing to our taste buds that are getting bored of rice six times a week☺
This past week Matt and I didn’t see very much of each other. I was on night shift, which is from 5pm-12am. It was is a quiet shift and gave me good opportunities to give Meg some kangaroo care (for all you non NICU nurses that means a good cuddle skin to the skin). Meg is finally putting on weight!!! She continues to amaze me and really truly is evidence of the power and grace of God. Keep praying for her! I have been doing many nursing duties this past week, which is nice – feels good to be using those skills! I’m really enjoying getting to know the nannies better and better and building relationships with them.
Matt was busy out at the production unit. He and his guys made 200 dining room chairs and are almost done making their solar powered timber kiln. Matt got a break from the matatu (taxi) this week and was able to travel in and out of town with a Watoto team that was here to build a house at the village.
The guesthouse that we are staying at has been greatly increasing in numbers of Watoto volunteers. Matt is now here with 7 females! This past week we had small group at our guesthouse as there is so many of us here. Matt lead it – I wasn’t able to be there as I was working, but I heard he did a GREAT job!
This past Friday was Uganda’s independence day. Amazingly, it is not that big of a deal here. It is considered a national holiday and some people get it off work. Some shops were closed, but not all. It seemed as though it was just another ordinary day in Kampala. At the babies home we had a little party. Decorated with the colors of the Uganda flag. We had games for the nannies to play and everyone had a small piece of cake and a whole bottle of soda!
This week has had its moments of frustration. We are loving the people that we are getting to know, but there is a lot of corruption here. Being white has it’s frustrations as we are seen as money to people – things that the locals pay $2 for we are charged $10…etc. We have other frustrations as well – surprises to us. We knew certain things would take time to adjust to, but never imagined the things that actually give us the most frustration. So be in prayer for our hearts. That we would be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to become angry. We have come to love and sometimes that is hard task!
This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving. We are missing home. The fellowship of the holiday and also the food from the holiday! Home is in our heart and mind especially this weekend! We are thankful for so many things, and are finding new appreciation for so many things living over here! May you all find time to sit and be thankful this weekend!
Love to you all and Happy Thanksgiving!
Another outing that we had, with a number of the other volunteers, was brunch on Sunday before church at Kampala’s Serena Hotel. It was such a treat to have a breakfast buffet. Matt had four HEAPING plates full of food. The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous and the food and drinks amazing to our taste buds that are getting bored of rice six times a week☺
This past week Matt and I didn’t see very much of each other. I was on night shift, which is from 5pm-12am. It was is a quiet shift and gave me good opportunities to give Meg some kangaroo care (for all you non NICU nurses that means a good cuddle skin to the skin). Meg is finally putting on weight!!! She continues to amaze me and really truly is evidence of the power and grace of God. Keep praying for her! I have been doing many nursing duties this past week, which is nice – feels good to be using those skills! I’m really enjoying getting to know the nannies better and better and building relationships with them.
Matt was busy out at the production unit. He and his guys made 200 dining room chairs and are almost done making their solar powered timber kiln. Matt got a break from the matatu (taxi) this week and was able to travel in and out of town with a Watoto team that was here to build a house at the village.
The guesthouse that we are staying at has been greatly increasing in numbers of Watoto volunteers. Matt is now here with 7 females! This past week we had small group at our guesthouse as there is so many of us here. Matt lead it – I wasn’t able to be there as I was working, but I heard he did a GREAT job!
This past Friday was Uganda’s independence day. Amazingly, it is not that big of a deal here. It is considered a national holiday and some people get it off work. Some shops were closed, but not all. It seemed as though it was just another ordinary day in Kampala. At the babies home we had a little party. Decorated with the colors of the Uganda flag. We had games for the nannies to play and everyone had a small piece of cake and a whole bottle of soda!
This week has had its moments of frustration. We are loving the people that we are getting to know, but there is a lot of corruption here. Being white has it’s frustrations as we are seen as money to people – things that the locals pay $2 for we are charged $10…etc. We have other frustrations as well – surprises to us. We knew certain things would take time to adjust to, but never imagined the things that actually give us the most frustration. So be in prayer for our hearts. That we would be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to become angry. We have come to love and sometimes that is hard task!
This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving. We are missing home. The fellowship of the holiday and also the food from the holiday! Home is in our heart and mind especially this weekend! We are thankful for so many things, and are finding new appreciation for so many things living over here! May you all find time to sit and be thankful this weekend!
Love to you all and Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Oct. 4 - one month done
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight if God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” – James 1:27 (NLT).
James was a smart man and I have found much of what he had to say applicable to our first month in Uganda. In chapter 1 verses 19-27 James talks about how Christians must be slow to anger because anger does not produce righteousness, and how Christians must also stop talking about how religious they are and start acting like it. Both of these things are hard to do especially in a foreign context. It is sometimes very easy to get angry and frustrated at the way things are, and very easy to step aside because it would be too difficult to try and fix all that is “wrong”. But I think verse 27 puts things into perspective and simplifies what religion/service/missions is to look like. It is about loving people and building relationships. After a month I believe that is what SJ and I are here to do and I am excited to see what relationships God brings our way.
It is hard to believe that a month has passed since we first stepped foot in Uganda. We have learned an overwhelming amount of information. It has been a good month full of new relationships, new food, new experiences, cuddling and caring for babies, building furniture, pouring concrete, taxi rides and tons of sunshine. But, it has also been a frustrating month full of new relationships, new food, taxi rides, riots and getting ripped off (I am not good at bartering as of yet). Missions is rewarding and difficult at the same time and I think both SJ and I have a new found appreciation for full-time missionaries. We have also noticed just how drastic the gap is between the wealthy here in Uganda and the rest of the population. There is a very small middle class. It is unsettling to see the slums and the poor on a daily basis and then have the opportunity to walk into a shopping center that sells big screen TV’s, Spalding golf clubs, leather couches and laptop computers.
This past week was quite busy both at the babies home and at the shop. Sarah made two visits to the local Mulago hospital with Meg, Bulrushes smallest baby. Both times Sarah felt like she was on display as the locals take notice (they stare) when a lone mzungu walks in with Uganda’s smallest living black baby in her arms. We still have not really gotten used to being stared at, I’m not sure anyone does. I think I have experienced a little of what a zoo animal must feel like. The preemie room also graduated all of its male residents to the next room up leaving Sarah and the nannies with an all female occupancy. On a sad note - the second baby, since our arrival, past away yesterday. She was a 10-month-old girl and her small mal-nourished body was overcome by her illnesses after much fighting. This next week will be Sarah’s first working all nights (5pm-12am), which will clash with my days (6:30am-7pm). Please pray for her strength and energy, and safe travels home.
At the shop this past week I spent much of my time sorting and organizing drawers and drawers of tools, parts and junk. I have also been helping with the creation of our very own timber kiln. For those of you who have no idea what that is…it is basically an old shipping container that will heat up, via homemade solar power, and dry wet timber making it more workable. The last few days we have inserted drains in the floor for the condensation to escape and poured a concrete floor; all by hand, no mixer. Tuesday I found myself in Kampala doing a little work at Watoto church and wandering around downtown markets shopping for materials with one of the shop’s foremen. What a wonderful yet chaotic experience. You can get absolutely anything that you could think of. You just have to find it. Relationally I am making progress with many of the guys and can somewhat communicate in Luganda with them. Please pray that God would provide opportunity to deepen these relationships.
Despite the ups and downs of life here in Uganda God is most certainly constant and working wonders. We were reminded today at church that God is on a mission to build His church, weather we are on board or not. What a magnificent promise! Our mission, if we choose to accept it, is to simply love our God and others and to SERVE. May God grant us the strength and the patience to serve the people of Uganda well and you the same in your context.
Blessings,
- Matt & SJ
James was a smart man and I have found much of what he had to say applicable to our first month in Uganda. In chapter 1 verses 19-27 James talks about how Christians must be slow to anger because anger does not produce righteousness, and how Christians must also stop talking about how religious they are and start acting like it. Both of these things are hard to do especially in a foreign context. It is sometimes very easy to get angry and frustrated at the way things are, and very easy to step aside because it would be too difficult to try and fix all that is “wrong”. But I think verse 27 puts things into perspective and simplifies what religion/service/missions is to look like. It is about loving people and building relationships. After a month I believe that is what SJ and I are here to do and I am excited to see what relationships God brings our way.
It is hard to believe that a month has passed since we first stepped foot in Uganda. We have learned an overwhelming amount of information. It has been a good month full of new relationships, new food, new experiences, cuddling and caring for babies, building furniture, pouring concrete, taxi rides and tons of sunshine. But, it has also been a frustrating month full of new relationships, new food, taxi rides, riots and getting ripped off (I am not good at bartering as of yet). Missions is rewarding and difficult at the same time and I think both SJ and I have a new found appreciation for full-time missionaries. We have also noticed just how drastic the gap is between the wealthy here in Uganda and the rest of the population. There is a very small middle class. It is unsettling to see the slums and the poor on a daily basis and then have the opportunity to walk into a shopping center that sells big screen TV’s, Spalding golf clubs, leather couches and laptop computers.
This past week was quite busy both at the babies home and at the shop. Sarah made two visits to the local Mulago hospital with Meg, Bulrushes smallest baby. Both times Sarah felt like she was on display as the locals take notice (they stare) when a lone mzungu walks in with Uganda’s smallest living black baby in her arms. We still have not really gotten used to being stared at, I’m not sure anyone does. I think I have experienced a little of what a zoo animal must feel like. The preemie room also graduated all of its male residents to the next room up leaving Sarah and the nannies with an all female occupancy. On a sad note - the second baby, since our arrival, past away yesterday. She was a 10-month-old girl and her small mal-nourished body was overcome by her illnesses after much fighting. This next week will be Sarah’s first working all nights (5pm-12am), which will clash with my days (6:30am-7pm). Please pray for her strength and energy, and safe travels home.
At the shop this past week I spent much of my time sorting and organizing drawers and drawers of tools, parts and junk. I have also been helping with the creation of our very own timber kiln. For those of you who have no idea what that is…it is basically an old shipping container that will heat up, via homemade solar power, and dry wet timber making it more workable. The last few days we have inserted drains in the floor for the condensation to escape and poured a concrete floor; all by hand, no mixer. Tuesday I found myself in Kampala doing a little work at Watoto church and wandering around downtown markets shopping for materials with one of the shop’s foremen. What a wonderful yet chaotic experience. You can get absolutely anything that you could think of. You just have to find it. Relationally I am making progress with many of the guys and can somewhat communicate in Luganda with them. Please pray that God would provide opportunity to deepen these relationships.
Despite the ups and downs of life here in Uganda God is most certainly constant and working wonders. We were reminded today at church that God is on a mission to build His church, weather we are on board or not. What a magnificent promise! Our mission, if we choose to accept it, is to simply love our God and others and to SERVE. May God grant us the strength and the patience to serve the people of Uganda well and you the same in your context.
Blessings,
- Matt & SJ
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