Breezes and other good things

I love the church I attend. This 300+ church meets in the Heritage International School cafeteria. This is a large, roofed space with cement floors and cement block walls at either end. On the long sides, there are large openings about 6'x8' high, beginning around 4' from the floor. There are roof supports along the sides, with the wall stopping just below the roof line.

There are no doors, windows or ceiling to this room. If a wind-driven rain storm comes, we pull together more closely, away from the sprinkles that come in. Most of the time there are gentle breezes that come through and the place is pretty comfortable. Sometimes a butterfly will wander in one window and out another, or birds might walk on the tin sheet roof and make a bit of a scratchy sound.

Out any window one can see fields of green, with many types of trees past the edge of the school property line. In the field you might see crested cranes, ibis, ground eagles or kites (who like to eat baby chicks)....or maybe a family of monkeys will come and play while we are worshiping.

When we sing praise songs and the breeze comes across my skin, I feel as if God is touching me and reminding me of how much He cares about each of us. I love my church family...and the space where we worship together.

Special Day

Birthdays.....just another day or cause for celebration?

In the States, I experienced both ways. Some times, when family was away, my birthday would be just another day. Often, with family and or friends around, it was an excuse for a party or bigger celebration. Like the time Ananda and Shanthi through me a surprise party after work. All the guests came and “got” to clean up the house and the dishes in the kitchen! Was I embarrassed! But the party ws great fun.

Here in Uganda, hardly anyone pays attention to their birthday, or the birthday of a loved one. Many people over 40 don't know their birth date and the records for many old people are gone, if they ever existed.

One of the things I have done is have parties with those closest to me to celebrate their special day and give them appreciation for all they contribute to me and to others. Soon it will be Rachel's birthday, she turns 21!! We are hoping to surprise her with some gifts, time with friends and of course a cake.

Florence is really great at decorating, with flowers, signs and banners. She loves making the place look special and creating something for the person to remember.

What is surprising to me is that people continue to remember celebrating birthdays, even after they are no longer in my immediate connection. Life is precious and definitely worth making a big deal over.

Hope your next birthday is a special one, where others let you know how much you are cared about and appreciated.

Babies

Last year two of my staff, Ruth and Ali, each had a baby. This year is Samuel's turn. He and Scovia will have their second child sometime next month. I just finished a baby blanket to give him. Janet, from eMi and his church, will give him some baby clothes. Samuel's oldest child is about 2 ½ years now.

Samuel can hardly wait to go home and see them. He will be there for 2 weeks and likely will begin his small business, a bicycle shop in his village. His dad will run it for him when he is working here.

Pray for a safe delivery for mom and a healthy baby, safe travels for Samuel home and a good beginning for this new set of relationships.

What is flexibility?

What does it mean to be flexible?

Adjusting the time of a meal so that the whole family can be present?
Stopping your work to help another person with theirs or to fill a request from your boss?
Giving way at an intersection so another vehicle can move?

What about changing your plans for the family 4-5 times in a space of 5 months? Not just where you would vacation, but travel, work and living arrangements? There is a family here who have 3 children of their own, are adopting another and are guardians of a 5th. They thought, a while back, that they would return to their home country and each find work there. Then the legal process for the kids hit a snag, so they then decided to stay on, even up to a year, till it all got resolved. A few weeks later, the way cleared again for returning and the job here became very difficult.

One parent went home for a short break and to be with aging parents. The day of arrival, a job advert jumped at them, a call was made and interview held. Now a new job, with good benefits became available in August. Upon return to Uganda, the family decided that they could leave 1 June, wrapping up the loose ends with work here.

Shortly afterward, they learned the process of getting visas for the two Ugandan children was going to take more time than planned, so now the departure date is the end of July, God willing.

This family has lived through all the changes, uncertainties and drama that is common to missionary families. "One day a time" is wisdom. Leaning on the Lord for everything, in all circumstances is great wisdom.

No amount of worry, planning or support from others makes much difference in the actual course of events. I know I like to believe that all my planning, preparation, etc. will make things go smoothly. When it doesn't work out that way, I try to see what I could have done differently. But at the end of the day, trusting God to be in control, make things come out His way is the best stress reducer there is.

Flexibility is something I am learning here and seeing in the lives of others.

Celebration

Last month there was a huge ice cream celebration of the final receipt of passports for Moses and Miriam Gamble. A group of us, Nasser, Robert, Florence, Miriam Rachel and I went to the local Chow Chow to celebrate in spirit with the Gamble family and friends in CA.


Of course, we had to make it a Ugandan experience too, by adding wonderful samosas to the feast.

Red Bananas

Just a few feet from my front door is the most beautiful banana tree. Its trunk is red, a deep mahagony red, striated with some dark green, brown and black. It grew to about 12 feet and a one point a few weeks ago made a cone that came up from the center of the tree, just like the big leaves.


The cone totally emerged within a week. After it came into the sun and dropped over, the real miracle began. The outside layer of the cone lifted up and rolled upward. Before anything was visible, bees began flying around and under the cover. They found the small white flowers at the tip of each banana finger. When the layer rolled up more, the entire cluster appeared. Once the layer/covering dropped away, the cluster widened the space between the 2 rows of banana fingers.


This process is repeated for each cluster, until the last one, a small cluster with only a few fingers in the group.

The banana skins at this stage are a darker red than even the trunk of the tree. I can hardly wait to see what comes next.