Family. Here.

through pouring rain we drive.  early on a Saturday morning.  the city streets gushing, red clay mud flowing.

the rain gives way to light.  we emerge from the city and we're out in rolling green hills, dotted with banana trees. clusters of huts emerge from the bush.  life goes on slowly as we fly by. 

 we're on a mission.  drive 8 hours North to attend a training, and see our family.  our family. here. in Uganda.  such a gift. 

how incredible that God has called my family and my brothers family to the same country.  we do different work.  we live in different settings.  but they are here.  and we are grateful.

gifts from His hand, as we serve Him here:

4911.  banana trees all along the way
4912.  fruit stands with fruit piled high
4913.  long, bumpy, hilly roads stretching up into the clouds
4914.  chapati while we wait for our tire to be repaired
4915.  baboons- sober sentries along the road
4916.  the Nile- wild, crashing, powerful in Karuma
4917.  safe journey to Arua

4918.  seeing family here.  where they spend their days.
4919.  beautiful boy. in a beautiful mess.
4920.  blocks illumined by the afternoon sun.
4921.  delicious pasta.

4922.  Sabbath rest.
4923.  lots of books
4924.  women ululating- in praise of their God
4925.  rhythmic drums. smiling faces. worship.
4926.  greeting everyone in church
4927.  Your body. Your blood.  grace for all Your people.
4928.  the family of God- across oceans- still one.
4929.  Caleb learning what Sabbath is
4930.  a cup of tea on the veranda

4931.  brothers-in-law.
4932.  creating a new game.
4933.  healthy competition.
4934.  testosterone
4935.  watching the Eagles play football- on the internet in Arua!

4936.  cousins. doing school together.
4937.  the letter L. the number 6.
4938.  Caleb learning so much at school.
4939.  witnessing his new skills

4940.  A walk to the duka (little roadside shop)
4941.  cousins on an adventure in Africa.
4942.  this. is. our. life.
4943.  the privilege of serving You. here.
4944.  not getting bitten by too many ants
4945.  a candy treat at the duka.
4946.  fresh, ripe, avocado.









4947.  all the cousins.
4948.  Benjamin can join in on the fun!
4949.  being here to celebrate his first birthday
4950.  rowdy, happy, wild boys! all glory.

4951.  You who have called us.
4952.  You who sustain us with good gifts scattered liberally.
4953.  You who are the Gift we're here to proclaim.

This. today.

Been listening to Shaun Groves' new album: Third World Symphony lately.  And this song is on my heart and ringing in my head.  Will you sing and stand with us?  So grateful you're on our team!  Enjoy!



Sing from Shaun Groves on Vimeo.

Grateful for Sabbath

after the week we just had, there is nothing more precious than God's command to rest.  Spiritual Emphasis Week at Heritage was good- but trying to communicate God's grace to hard hearts is exhausting.  The Youth Event we hosted here was a great success- but I baked 4 loaves of Italian bread, and fed 40 people Friday night.  On my way to speak at Heritage on Thursday, I was in a car accident- but everyone is ok!

by Saturday we were ready to rest.  and God graciously refreshed us over the course of two days.


excerpts of Sabbath gifts #4849-4877

--him letting me sleep until 9am.
--listening to the rain fall gently outside, while cozy in my own bed.
--no one needing me

--Sabbath. pure gift.  Your command "to cease from that which is necessary and embrace that which gives life."
--You, knowing we are dust, and creating a healthy rhythm for us of work and rest
--a day of "yes"

--laughter. irrepressible joy. contagious.
--togetherness.

 --solitude.

--playing in the warm sun

--pausing to capture beauty

--rest.

--taking time to create with Seth
--dancing wild- in praise of You

--You, moving among us
--Your Spirit teaching us to pray
--the stirrings of Your Holy Spirit
--the privilege of participating with You

oh the lengths he'll go to...

the road to school.  another day, another drive.  except this day was different.  a car rammed us from behind as we stopped to let the car in front of us turn.  we're all fine.  even our car is fine, just a few scratches.  but his car.  badly damaged in front.  and his heart, belligerent. angry.  even though it was definitely not my fault.

i knew, with Spiritual Emphasis Week, that we'd be a special target for our enemy.  and he waited awhile- it's Thursday!  but the spiritual warfare is so evident-  this day- the only day i was speaking to the secondary students- the day i was speaking on grace- grace they so desperately need. 

but your prayers are working!  today could have had a different ending- we could have gotten injured- our boys could have freaked out- the man could have gotten violent- a mob could have formed to obtain "justice"- our car could have been wrecked.  But God is gracious. God is faithful.  And He is still on His throne.

There are still legal processes to go through- thanks, Vanessa, for watching ALL our BOYS while we went to give our statement to the police- how good to have a friend around to be there with us this day.  And Jon Mayo has been amazing, coming to my rescue on the side of the road, and continuing the negotiations with that angry man on my behalf.  So please pray that it is resolved quickly and peacefully.    

Thank you for carrying us.  We feel it and we need it!  And pray for other missionaries around the world- we need your prayers more than we'll ever know!

beauty everywhere

drinking deep the beauty that is all around me.  we're swamped with ministry; our cup runneth over.  we're loving this crazy season!  but i must pause and capture the beauty of now, or else i'm just running blind.

"To not simply be lulled by beauty but to read God in the Beauty, the eyes need to wear His Word and to see a thousand gifts, a thousand features of His face, I first need to slow my life, wear a lens of words and turn the inner eye." -Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

excerpts of gifts #4775-4814

"Come aside by yourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." -Mark 6:31

--the beauty of this quiet place. how it beckons.
--little boys pausing
--Caleb's new love for You- what a beautiful thing to witness

"and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." -Col. 3:17

--beautiful Rose teaching us how to make chapati
--little hands covered in flour. patting. rolling.  tasting.
--her graciously accepting their "help"

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" -I John 3:1

--beauty of tradition
--Sunday night breakfast for dinner
--beauty of adoption, sweet Zuri crying for her new mama
--our adoption into the family of God

"The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." -Psalm 33:5

--such a beautiful place to call our school
--learning and worshiping and growing as a community
--Your handiwork everywhere, in minute details and in grand vistas

"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

--beautiful, this posture of prayer
--little heads bowed, and hands folded
--the whole school carving out a week to seek You

Spiritual Emphasis Week

Heritage International School Campus

We long for God to move at Heritage International School, and next week we are creating space for Him to come and visit the staff and students.  During Spiritual Emphasis Week we intentionally come together as a body, and set aside time for God to meet us.  There are daily chapel services, morning prayers, and a youth event on Friday. This year's theme is: Wholly HIS!

Photo courtesy of Lisa Fish 2009

 "Revival is when we come to the realization that Jesus Himself is the only One who is able to meet the deepest needs of our lives, and we stop looking elsewhere." -Jeannine Brabon

Will you pray for revival at Heritage?  Will you fast and pray that each one would be WHOLLY HIS?

photo courtesy of Lisa Fish 2009

"God delivered the people of Israel from the "iron-smelting" Egypt (Deut 4:20).  God delivers you and me from this present evil age (Gal. 1:4) for these five reasons that never change:

• to be His very own special possession
• to live in an eternal covenant relationship with the lavish love of the Triune God
• to be the sanctuary of His dwelling
• to claim and live in the land of promise
• to reveal His holiness- the nature of the God of love to the nations" -excerpt from Lydia Prayer Journal

Will you pray that these five statements would be reality for each student and teacher at Heritage?   If you are praying for a specific student this year- pray for them by name- that God would meet them and they would choose to be WHOLLY HIS this year! 

"When God wants to change human history, He begins with an intercessor."-Beth Coppedge

Will you be that one?  

I am Blessed.

it's a fact.  God has given life and breath and salvation.  I am blessed.  And at 4:30am, when the music from the clubs is blasting in my windows, and babies are crying, and I am starting my day against my will.  This is the song ringing in my ears from the DJs booth- "I am Blessed by Mr Vegas" (*warning, not a Christian video, but no cursing).

How like God to turn a frustrating moment, into a teachable moment.  The particular version blaring this morning had a bridge that said "I love my life. I love my life. I love my life"  And it's true.  I love my life.  We're living the dream.  We're finally here.  And so here is the gift list this week:

excerpts of gifts #4718-4758

--this solitary half hour. cup of tea and Your Word.
--the mountains cloaked in fog
--this morning symphony, picturing You, the Great Conductor and Composer- cue birds, now dogs, sun, clouds, hues and rays
--peace and joy, knowing You orchestrate my days
--a new friend- see the story here or here

--a walk for gathering beauty
--just me and my little man
--rosy blossoms, lifting faces to sun
--trumpeting the day- declaring Your glory

--a gorgeous view of Lake Victoria
--the beauty of moms gathering
--a cup of tea and shared stories
--little ones playing happily underfoot.
--bits of chocolate at the corners of his mouth
--a splashy pool in the garden
--what a glorious childhood they're having
--how blessed we are to be raising our family in Africa

What are the blessings in your life today?? 

A tale of two girls

two girls.
three countries.
5 months.
two hills.
four little boys.
two amazing men. 
one incredible story of God's goodness.

It all started with a blog comment... how we're both moving to Kampala... how we both have two little boys... a few e-mails later... she's from Canada, we're from the States, we're all heading to Uganda... we fly to Kampala...

 then we find out they're moving to a neighborhood all the way across town....  I can see her hill from my hill... they fly to Kampala... and we find out the drive only takes 30 minutes. 

and here we are. in the same city. in the same season of life. with A LOT in common.  I won't go into detail. You would laugh. And perhaps you wouldn't believe me.  But from 10am-3pm we chatted, and played with our kids, and generally refreshed each others spirits.  So grateful. 

  "Two may talk together under the same roof for many years, yet never really meet; and two others at first speech are old friends." - Mary Catherwood 

So thankful for a new "old friend".  God is too good to us.