Good bye to Africa

The last couple of days have been very crazy as we packed up the house and said good bye to so many people that we love not knowing that when we will see them again. Sunday was hard as eych of us bore our testimony and then sang God be with you tell we meet again in Lugandian. Cariel gave her testimony in Lugandian too and then they asked  Tim to be the main speaker as we arrived at church.It was very hard to say good bye. Alittle boy named Drake about 8 years old was crying uncontrolablly and that was very hard. Life is hard for the people here.But pray the Lords blessings upon them. Then Monday we tried to pack but we kept having people come over to visit so it was hard to get it done. We had lunch at the presidents home and then dinner at another home. We were 1 hour late for each one becasue people kept stopping by. We wrapped us everything and we so grateful that the electrcity was on that night to finish because the last month it has been off at 7pm. The Lord blessed us. We got up at 3 am and headed for the airport the children stated now I finally know when Ugandians sleep. It was quiet and we were able to reflect on all the miracles that we have seen. My heart as been changed forever and are grateful for that. For a woman who did not want to come to a woman who does not want to leave. I am grateful to a husband who listened to the spirit and pulled me to Africa.
We got to the airport and tried to repack alittle and send some more things back with our driver. We got on the plane an hour late and then they said that there was problems with the engine and would have to wait until a half hour to see if it would work. We began to pray knowing that there is no other plane that we can get on . They would have to send a new plane from London. After an eternity they started the engine. We were grateful. We landed in London and the children said we want to go back to Africa becasue things are not so worldly. IT is true and it breaks our heart to see what is deemed important in the western world. We washed our hands with warm water had toilet paper and marveled at the little things. We then headed to Frankfurt and had our first shower with water pressure in 6 months and drank water out of the tap. Little things that we had forgotten about. We are going to the temple today and are so excited about that. We are changed forever and may we never loose that.

African update

Time is going fast and we are sad to leave but happy to see all the people that we love at home. This week has been just nice and we have been visiting people saying good-bye. Cariel has been in Rwanda and enjoyed it very much. She had learned about it in school and now had the opportunity to visit it. We also went shopping in Jinja and then helped at an eye clinic with the help international students. Tim and the girls have been busy starting up a small NGO for the girls to work on when they get home for children that are disabled here. It should be a fun adventure for the girls when they get home and will still have a small connection with Uganda. We have had a nice week. Tim has been very wrapping up everything at UCU. Monkeys have been invading our yard and we sit and just watch for hours. They children have been playing with the children here and are really having a fun summer. We will miss all of the friends that we have made here. It seems like we have not been here for a week and now we say goodbye.

Lots to catch up

WE have had a great couple of weeks with lots of things going on. We are loving Africa more each day and hate to leave it. We had a fun 4th of July party with the friends here on campus with sparkling candles for the fireworks. It was great. Tim and I did a marriage seminar at the church. The idea of marriage is very different here and it is very different to see strong couples any where here in Uganda. Great blessings would be found if they could have strong marriages that in turn would help with strong families. The primary program was last week and the children did such a great job on their parts. They sang as I have loved you and signed it as they sang. The children have been working with an organization that helps disabled children here is Uganda. Usually the families just hide them away. They are the forgotten children here. We went and made some walking bars for a child it was great. The girls have been doinh mission splits with the missionaries often and have loved it. The missionaries commented on that they are like full time missionaries already.
Then we headed off for a safara to Queen Elizabeth national park and we had a blast. The country side is so beautiful and we saw some great animals. I love the village life of Uganda and the landscape is fabulous. We are safe and that is always a blessing. While we were in the park the ranger told us about lions eating 13 natives, an elephant stomping on a car and a crocadile eating a girl. I think I like zoos. It is amazing to watch animals in the open though. We went to a salt lake that they extract salt and then we saw a bunch of flamingos. It was a fabulous time.

Hospital Visit

We went to a catholic hospital and delivered the last of the humanitarian supplies we brought with us. The children got to have a tour. Hospitals here are very different and so it opened their eyes. The children ward was packed and there were only 4 IV stands so they had to go to a different room four at a time and take turns getting a drip. It is amazing what we take for a granite an IV drip in our own hospital room. They children were able to go onto the maternity ward and also into the operating room. That is one thing that I have loved about being here. There are not so many rules about children being able to go places and so we have been able to see alot of different things.

Dryers do not eat socks

I use to think that my dryer in the states ate my socks because I would always have non matched socks around but now that I have come to Uganda and have not had a dryer I still have an assortment of single socks. I just do not know where they go. Washing here is a chore and we have someone come in once a week and help. They wash everything by hand and children start as young as 5 washing their own clothes. You will see little children carrying their jery can ( bucket to carry water) to fill up water at the nearest well so they can do their wash. It is amazing to me that they can be so strong and do their own wash so early. I was talking to a member in the ward and she said that my children could not stay here with her because they do not know how to wash their clothes and mop the floor with a rag. It is true we are spoiled.