Be Filled

The 2018 Esangalo Children's Choir is traveling on Thursday to America.  These are 20 children from our community that have been practicing for the past 2 years for this trip.

The tour is called The Be Filled Tour.  Be filled with Christ, be filled with His Love.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The kids did great. They smiled the entire time. They sang great.

They sang for their parents and the community yesterday at church.  The kids were so excited to be performing.  They were also very nervous.

Evan and Leslie Richardson are the tour directors.  This is Evan thanking the community after the presentation.

The parents and community were also excited.  Many of them told us they were not going to their usual church that morning, that they were coming to hear the Choir and they were wearing their gomez dress. This is the typical fancy dress the women wear.  It is distinctive because it has shoulders that stick up and a wide belt that ties in the front.  This is the top level fashion and dressy dress here - formal wear!

The parents were so excited and happy!

We had many visitors from the community.

The lady in green with the pink head wrap is wearing a gomez.

If you want to see the choir perform in America, check the calendar at this link:  https://www.helpinghandsmissions.org/2018-choir-tour

Beautiful Feet

These feet are dusty. These feet are calloused from walking without shoes on long dirt roads.  These feet have cuts and scrapes. These feet are not pretty to look at.

But oh, how beautiful are these feet!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

These are the feet of our 2018 Esangalo Children's Choir.

These feet leave on Thursday to travel to America.  They will be there for 5 weeks sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in churches, schools, and groups all over the south east.

Pray for these feet.  They are young.  They are nervous. They are far from their homes in Uganda.  But these feet are so beautiful!

Cows in the ditch

I ran nine miles yesterday.

But that is not what this post is about.

Those nine miles took me through the countryside that surrounds the Village of Eden.  Heather and I ran at 7:00 in the morning on a Saturday.

As we ran, we passed several families out in their gardens tending to them.  In my last post I wrote about how dry everything is here, which made me wonder what they were doing.

We  passed a few huts that were plowing their field.  A man would be holding the plow that had either  2 or 4 cows tied to it.  Then, to the side was a young boy with a stick or whip.  His job was to keep the cows in line as the man guided the plow.  One boy was not doing so good at guiding the cows and the man was yelling at him, probably because the 4 cow team was getting into the ditch.

Running allows you to think about these things long after you normally would ponder.  So, I pondered.  "Why are they preparing now?  We are supposed to have another month of dry season. They can't plant until the rains begin."

But then I turned it inward, "What are you preparing for?  Are you doing something in anticipation of what the Lord is going to send in the future?  Are you preparing now for the blessings that God will send?"

I am still pondering.  Maybe I will find an answer on my next run.  But, I am thinking about how I prepare.  Do I prepare for the future blessings or do I only deal with the current problems like the cows in the ditch?

Week 1

One of my ideas for posting each week on this blog is to write about each day based on a photo I took that day.
This would be easy if I knew that you all wanted to hear about Anna every time. . . I have so many photos of her on my phone, no problem filling the pages.  But, I understand that is not what most want to hear about all the time.  So, this is a good challenge to me to take photos of me doing other things too because I actually do other things besides care for Anna, although she does consume much more of my time than I ever imagined.

So, I thought one or a few photos a day for a work week of Monday to Friday.  I may throw in Saturday and Sunday at times, but lets start with the work week (be realistic).

This year started well - January 1 was on Monday, so we are off to a nice, even start!

Monday, January 1 - We started the New Year with a church service.  The children love to dance and sing.  Whenever we have corporate worship time all the kids go to the back of the church  so they have plenty of space to dance.  I wish I could say that I join in, but I don't. My two left feet and uncoordinated hands get in the way. But, I enjoy watching them and Anna is definitely Ugandan.  She can dance with the best of them!

January 2 - We are in the really dry season. We have  4 seasons here - dry, rainy, really dry and really rainy. I saw these women filling the jerry cans and carrying them to our Prayer Garden to water the flowers.  Things have gone from green and lush to brown and crunchy overnight.  A heavy dust hangs in the air and at night when I shower, my washcloth is always a brown color from the dirt I have accumulated throughout the day.

January 3 - Anna keeps me moving all day, everyday.  Here she is in her pj's.  I fed and bathed her early today so that I could take her to our Staff Bible Study ready for bed.  One day maybe she will actually fall asleep at the Bible Study.  So far, no luck.  But, when we return home I can put her straight to bed so that is a plus.

January 4 - I had a last minute trip to Kampala today.  I had to go and pay to ship over 200 drums to the USA!  We had drums made for our choir tour and they were ready to ship.  Claudia (sleeping) went with me to renew her work visa.  We left at 5:30 in the morning, we stayed in Kampala about 3 hours and then drove back - we were riding over 10 hours!  It was exhausting but we accomplished a lot.

January 5- I am very busy this week because of many things.  First, I am flying to the USA on Wednesday - I have all sorts of things to get done before then.  Secondly, school begins in one month so I have to prepare for my residents returning, school opening, etc.  Third, my S1 students are making a big change and I have to prepare for that. Fourth, Anna.  Fifth, we are making plans for all of 2018.  Sixth. . . . I could keep going, but the point is that I am busy.  This shot is of this weeks to do list.  I have not finished yet and will continue working on it over the weekend and into next week.  

2018 Resolutions - Just putting them out there.

I really hate to say that I have a few resolutions for 2018 - so cliche!  So easy to drop and break them. But, I do have a few.  I think I am pretty predictable but I am sharing them here so that maybe I won't let these fall by the wayside in the race that is life in Uganda.

1.  Continue running and complete the half marathon on January 21.  Then, complete at least one more half this year.  I might (might) consider training for a full marathon. . .  (am I crazy?)

2.  Journal everyday.  Before my life went into overdrive I did this everyday.  EVERYDAY.  But somewhere along the way, I stopped. I need to do it - it is therapy and so encouraging when I look back on events of my life.  Ways God brought me through my struggles and to remember the victories.  

Yeah, my eyes are closed and my hair is big.

3.  Blog at least once a week.  (I am doing good on this so far!) Also, be more open - share my thoughts and random ideas as I type.  I may loose some of my 8 followers, but at least it will be real.

4.  Read through the Bible.  I was 90% finished last year, but I stopped. Those minor prophets, Leviticus and other OT books just got the best of me.  But, I am going to have another go. Does listening it on audio count? I could go through those books while I cook lunch or fold laundry - there is an idea.

5. Continue making healthy (generally) choices for my food and lifestyle.  Life is so much better when I am healthy.  I want to stay where I am or get better. Do not retreat!

Hovering Goal and my stubbornness

I have had the goal of running a half marathon for many years. I have started training several times. I even signed up and paid the fee the first time I was training.
But life has gotten in the way. Not excuses but REAL life events. Life events that usually only happen to missionaries or to people living in third world countries.
The first time I was training, I ended up with cerebral malaria and almost died. Malaria isn't like a cold or even the flu. The first time you have it, it knocks you down and then drains all your energy and reserves out of you. The cerebral variety also leaves you with residual headaches for about a month after the virus is gone. Training is over!
The second time I started training, I got Typhoid Fever and Malaria at the same time!  Trading is over!
The third time, I got a stress fracture in my foot and I got a baby!  Let me clarify- Anna came to live with me- it was sudden and I was overwhelmed with having a 13 month old that was the size of a newborn. She was weak, very sick and needed me more than I needed  the half marathon. Training was over for the third time!

Running in the Santa Hat Fun Run 10K in Kampala on December 17 - I was happy!

I have to admit that I felt defeated. I was wondering if I was setting unrealistic goals for myself- blah blah blah. . .
I am a stubborn person. No, let's say strong willed. Determined. Stupid(?). Whatever. I REALLY want to meet this goal. It is looming over me.
So, I have been training again - for the fourth time.   But this time is different. This time is better.
First, I have had malaria so many times now that it doesn't knock me down, it just weakens me for a few days. And I am not as susceptible to it. (Told you I was stubborn). Secondly, I am training with someone. Heather had graciously agreed to support my craziness and run with me.
I can't really think of a third reason but things are just better.
I am in week 9 of a 12 week plan - I have registered for a half-marathon on January 21!  I have three weeks left!
We can do this!
I can do this!

Deliberate and focused

I deleted the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter apps from my phone. I found that I was mindlessly scrolling and missing the real moments. I was missing time with Anna. Not letting my mind wander. Not listening to God. So, I took them off. I still have the accounts, but they have to be accessed on my computer. More deliberate and more focused social media time.
This way I can be more deliberate and more focused too.