A New Chapter

Brothers.
Julius (the new Pastor), Tyler, and Bismark.

Last week my bare feet were standing in the red dirt, starry night sky overhead, arms wrapped tight around Catherine's neck as we sobbed our goodbyes. We had a wonderful dinner and time of worship with a whole big lovely group of people that have changed our lives forever. The next morning, many of them were there at our car to see us off. Saying goodbye to this African family of ours might have been the most difficult thing Tyler or I has ever had to do. After the ladies shouted to The Lord, "iye iye iye iye" loud enough for people to hear a mile away, and we drove down our grass-taller-than-the- car driveway for the last time in this chapter of our lives, I felt as though a piece of my heart was ripped right out of my chest and left there in that village. There are no words to express the love I have for that beautiful community. I miss them like crazy. I hope The Lord allows my heart to be forever changed by the way He has shown us what love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control can look like. I will thank God for the gift of Uganda for the rest of my life.

Our driveway a few months ago.
The grass is now up above the window.

Our initial plan was to load all of our 15 pieces of luggage and the eight of us onto the bus for the 10 hour trip south to the capitol, Kampala, which is near the airport. Since the bus isn't the safest or most reliable mode of transportation, some close missionary friends of ours offered to drive us down in their Rav4. (A five-passenger vehicle with a decent sized trunk to squeeze three kids into.) So we got our luggage onto the bus, and the ten of us endured the dusty, awful roads. Only once did we hit the hidden speed bumps, causing a few kids to go flying. Once we finally arrived at the guest house in Kampala, we rested there for three days before venturing out on the three flight, 26 hour trek over the ocean. And can you imagine what it looked like going through security (twice) with six children, thirteen bins, a tent and a giant backpack... Explaining to Ugandans that our meat grinder is not a bomb? Or how about our parade of a family running in shorts and a broken flip flop outside in freezing Philadelphia? Haha or when Tyler franticall yelled in a crowd of people, "Where is Elisabeth?" while she was sitting on his shoulders. Truly, the entire journey was flawless. The kids all did AMAZING on those long flights. They all - even our one year old, Sam - sat in their seats, played quietly, watched some movies, and ate middle eastern airplane food with happy hearts like children who have been fervently prayed over by hundreds of people. (And we PRAISE God for answered prayer, and each one of you who have been so faithful to pray for us!)

First snow!
These girls actually had snow with
orange juice on top for breakfast.

So now here we are! When we first drove away from the airport, it was shocking how smooth the roads were and how fast we seemed to be driving. I was surprised at how comfy couches and beds are here, how clean and bright everything is, and how good it is to hug your family. Elisabeth commented on how pretty the fluffy crops were in that garden... The weeds growing in the grass beside the highway. Lilah has not stopped asking me every time she is introduced to new water... The bathtub, the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, etc. if it's borehole water. I didn't realize how concious she was about not letting unfiltered water in her eyes or mouth. I guess we were pretty strict on that one. Each of the kids spent about an hour in the WARM bath for the first time. The younger three didn't know about cake until my brother's birthday the other day. Tyler and I enjoyed our first date in over two years last night. Napkins, freezers, stairs, dishwashers, tissues, hand towels, ice cubes, kitchen tables, washing machines, garages, kitchen cupboards, forks, fragile nick-nacks, car seats, flushing toilets, and this freezing cold weather are all foreign to most of our children. Each of the four younger children fell down within thirty seconds of wearing socks on hardwood floors. The public restrooms were hilarious in the airports. Lilah asked if the toilet was the pit latrine. The water, soap, paper towels, and hand dryers all turn on by themselves. We spent some time in there during layovers. :) The boys enjoyed the first Syracuse snowfall while playing in Grandma's backyard in shorts and hoodies. After a hot shower, mascara, and blow drier, I felt like I went to a spa for the day.  And food... Well... We'll just say we're really enjoying the food.

There are many aspects of life here in America where The Lord is challenging us to be different. Different from the world because the Bible encourages that, but also different from the way we used to live here. We have been SCHOOLED in unconditional love and hospitality in a way that changes lives. We have seen the fruit of a life of ministry. Welcoming a knock at the door at 10pm for biblical counsel requires a bit of sacrifice, but it speaks real loud. Would Jesus have that man make an appointment? We have seen what opening our meager kitchen and humble hut has done in a culture that is used to it. We are excited to see what The Lord will do in a place where it's not so normal.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

That being said, we have been spending time in serious prayer about where The Lord wants to plant us. We have this fresh clean slate and willingness to serve wherever He wants us. So... More big news... After Christmas we are uprooting again, and settling into Southern California. Talk about out of place in a new culture! Tyler has had a few job offers, and had late night interviews using solar lanterns over Skype. (Who gets a FEW job offers while living in a hut in Uganda? God is amazing.)

So those of you that have been praying, thank you. THANK YOU. We know your prayers have directly affected the blessing on our lives. And for those of you wanting to give, a HUGE thank you again. We are now loaded with kids' clothes, snow pants, boots, etc. We are not able to take much more than we have right now out to California with us, so any funds will help us get beds, mattresses, kitchen table, and all that. We ask you to continue praying for our friends there in Uganda, and for us as we continue on in this pilgrimage through this planet full of people needing Jesus. 

Our last day in Uganda.