tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23615878300939289452024-03-05T14:24:44.398-08:00Go With The FloUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger608125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-52529535057888796212014-07-08T11:09:00.002-07:002014-07-08T11:46:06.317-07:00And Just Like That....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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....the year is over. <br />
<br />
As I mull over my feelings, which at any given moment shift from excitement, to sadness, to anxiousness, to fulfillment, and back to sadness, I realize there's no one feeling. I'm excited to be home, but sad to leave. I'm anxious to get back to teaching, but sad to not be around my girls all day. I'm fulfilled by this year, but pondering what lies ahead.<br />
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Looking back, I'm first and foremost am so proud of my husband. I don't know what I expected exactly. But whatever it was, I underestimated him. He has been amazing. He was a round peg for a round hole. He fit perfectly into the leadership role that Sixty Feet needed on ground. He's had many jobs - land sales, a real estate agent, youth minister, a teacher/coach. <i>Sometimes</i> I wondered about his direction. But as usual, God showed me He had a plan all along. He took each one of those careers and fused them together. Everything Boog experienced in the past - different managerial styles, sales techniques and relationship building, working with youth, preaching, teaching, knowledge of land, titles, and property....literally <i>every skill</i> was needed in Uganda. But mainly, the God given wisdom, integrity, and character that's been infused in him since he was little, by men and women in his life, has offered more to the people here than anything. To say "I'm proud" doesn't suffice.<br />
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Regarding Sixty Feet - I've watched it grow over the years from a handful of in-country staffers to now over 50, mostly Ugandan workers - counselors, nurses, teachers, accountants, office assistants (we have an office!). I'm continually amazed by the investment people are making back home with their finances, time, and prayers to keep this ship running. There are TOO MANY stories from this year. Ones of redemption, victories, families reunited, kids diverted from remand homes....the list is big and grows daily. <br />
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Personally, I can't figure out which wins - the sadness of leaving or excitement of going home. I made two lists in my journal the other day. One was "Things I'll Miss About Uganda". The other was "Things I Won't Miss About Uganda." I figured if wrote it down to remember, then I won't be tempted to romanticize Uganda when I return back to the states and LIFE hits.<br />
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I'll share a few, in no particular order.<br />
<b>Things I'll Miss:</b><br />
1. The peaceful, quiet countenance on the faces of Ugandans<br />
2. The babies at Loving Hearts<br />
3. Slow time with my family<br />
4. Meeting new and interesting people<br />
5. Lack of materialism/caring about what you wear or have<br />
6. Being a part of something bigger than myself<br />
7. Living outside of the box<br />
8. Seeing the interns work with incredible diligence & making a difference in a child's life<br />
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<b>Things I Won't Miss:</b><br />
1. sit down showers<br />
2. foam mattresses<br />
3. the guilt of having "wealth" in a poverty-stricken country<br />
4. ants, ants,and more ants in the kitchen...and various other crawley creatures<br />
5. boredom on long days<br />
6. traffic cops wanting bribes<br />
7. living in a compound with guards<br />
8. feeling that every fever is malaria (or worse)<br />
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But way beyond that.....I'm thankful for Sixty Feet for giving my family this opportunity. It's one time where we can truly say to Dan and Shelly Owens (the President & his wife) that <i>the pleasure has been ours</i>. <br />
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My hope is for Sixty Feet to continue to grow in favor, in gain of relationship with Uganda, its people and government, in establishing a Godly presence inside the remand homes, in friendship and love among the staff, and in solid ground as an organization. <br />
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My hope for my family is to not forget this year. Our growth. Our happiness. Our time.<br />
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My hope is that the children in the remand homes <i>know</i> that they are the object of many prayers. That countless hours each day are spent working on their behalf. That they are not forgotten. As Mama Catherine said at church, "Though we may have been beaten, raped, our mothers and fathers may have left us....we are a child of the Lord and God loves us."<br />
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Uganda and Sixty Feet - we love you and have been forever blessed by you. You are in our prayers.<br />
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-52506890570733542482014-06-30T23:48:00.001-07:002014-07-02T22:31:38.138-07:00My Friend, Jenny. A tribute.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The first time I saw her was in Uganda. She pulled into the fields of Amazima's feeding program and bounced out of the van. Double braids, bright pink headband, large flashy earrings, with a neon pink skirt, matching shoes and toenails to boot. I honestly didn't know what to think. She blew in and began chatting up a storm. That was about all I needed to know at the time....she was probably not going to be someone I'd have a lot in common with.<br />
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Little did I know that through my friend, Colleen, she would become our housemate during our last week in Uganda. Jenny was there adopting her 15th child. That's right, 15. She was adopting a special needs 6-year old girl named Esther and needed a place to stay while they transitioned out of the orphanage before their flight home. We said 'yes' because we had the room, but were hesitant about what it would be like to be the transition home for a child who had never been out of the orphanage. I prepared my girls.....there could be lots of crying, screaming, wailing, tantrums....I had no idea, but we were going to bear through it.<br />
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How could a person know that saying yes to a small request could change your life? Not only was Esther a jewel to behold, but that week with Jenny changed my life. Our life. My family witnessed so many events that week that to this day, I can NEVER say I haven't seen a miracle. We stayed up late, late into the wee hours of the morning talking life, theology (really my husband and Jenny talked theology....I listened), parenting, marriage. I quizzed her on her awesome 15 year old son, who was there and showed her the utmost love and respect all the time. I asked questions about her marriage. On what it was like raising all those kids. On cooking for all those kids. But it wasn't just the intrigue of a life so unlike mine.....it was her answers. Every single answer shocked me. I had never heard such FREEDOM in parenting. Such FREEDOM in loving a husband. Such FAITH in God and His plans. Some of it shocked me in ways that made me practically spit out whatever I was drinking at the time, but that was who she was.....shockingly honest and refreshing.<br />
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She introduced me to major players in my life whom I still listen to on podcasts regularly - Bill Johnson, Danny Silk, Graham Cooke. She infused me with life-giving words and spoke right to places inside of me that I had yet to even acknowledge needed attention. She challenged my husband and I with the type of marriage-building-honesty that is hard to find. She made me aware that it's okay as an adoptive momma if those "bonds" don't happen immediately and "fake it until you make it" is totally appropriate love language until God brings unity to the relationship. I learned that coping with many, many kids may mean hiding in your bathroom with a ciggy....even when you don't smoke....just to gain a bit of release...and it's an honest reaction that's real and lame and hilarious all at the same time. I learned that modeling a "hot marriage" (Jenny translation: a marriage full of passion and love and fun) is the best way to show your kids, especially your 15-year old son, what happens when you wait for the one God has for you. I learned that <i>everyday</i> is a day to speak goodness and life and identity in Christ into people, <i>even more so</i> on the the days they are at their worst.<br />
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I learned that God will use any and all resources to cover the path of the one who is obedient to the call to care for His special children. The miracles we witnessed while watching Jenny navigate the challenging government hurdles to get visas, passports, and paperwork for Esther to leave the country (in one week, mind you!) in a time that usually took months were simply amazing. <br />
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Even as we returned home after our "one week with Jenny", she never quit infusing us with wisdom and counsel. She was always an email or phone call away to give advice, encouragement, or just some spiritual cheerleading.<br />
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I pray for her husband and children who now have the honor of carrying on her legacy.<br />
I will never forget my mentor and friend. <br />
She was beautiful.<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"I am a testimony to God being able to do FAR greater than we could think to ask for. I spent a lot of time depressed and discouraged as a young mother so it is hilarious and redemptive that God would use me now to s</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">hout out: motherhood is a really, really JOYFUL thing. Not a picnic, but leading to a banquet. You CAN be a joyful mother of children. Traumatized children, sick children, goof-ball children, less-than-perfect-but-each-del<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>ightful children. Children need mothers, strong and joyful mothers who know who their God is. I am not much of a 'how to' girl but more of a 'Who to.' Follow the Lamb wherever He goes versus 'How to fix everything in your life in 100 easy lessons.'"</span></i><br />
<i><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">- Jenny Groothius</span></i><br />
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-68140376276749091582014-06-10T06:04:00.002-07:002014-06-10T12:29:35.860-07:00Sixty Feet and Me. The Story.Many people have asked how I got involved with Sixty Feet. <br />
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For those of you who have followed along on these journeys of ours...or perhaps just this one...you'll be interested to know that I had no plans to live abroad, and I did <i>not</i> want to come on my first trip to Uganda.<br />
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But how this year in Uganda with Sixty Feet came to be is a beautiful, <i>unplanned</i> story. For you see, I was happy right where I was. Three years ago, my pastor's family was in the process of adopting from Africa. Jenna, my friend and pastor's wife, asked if anyone wanted to join her on a Visiting Orphans trip to Uganda. I did not. But weeks went by and slowly, there was a nudge in my heart that I could not say "no" to. I had little girls (Sophie was just a toddler), I had a household to run, things to get done, and I hated - let me say that again - hated the thought of flying that far and something happening to their momma. I've traveled a lot in my life thanks to my family...Thailand, Jamaica, Italy...but for some reason, flying alone to Uganda scared me. But again - my heart. So I said "yes" in an email that said something like, "<i>Jenna, I'm (gulp) in</i>."<br />
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<b>The Nine Of Us Who Went on that First VO Trip</b></div>
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Needless to say, I came back from Uganda with my heart and mind devastated. In two weeks, we visited about 5 different organizations that were meeting so many needs. True needs. Starving children. Street kids. Feeding programs. Sixty Feet was one of those. To even <i>think</i> of a prison that held children was impossible back then. But when I saw it for myself and talked to them and heard their stories, it grabbed hold of me. Sixty Feet was just getting its feet on the ground then, serving in the remand homes with medical support and counseling. But the incredible need I saw Shattered. My. Heart. I came back home and fell into a deep, dark place for nearly six weeks or so. I just couldn't shake it.<br />
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<b>Seeing First Hand Kids Who Have So Much Joy!!</b></div>
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So I started regular life again. I taught that next year and still had no idea what to do with what I saw. All I knew was I needed to contribute financially. My husband saw my heart and was all in, too. So I began to refinish furniture and give some of the profits to Sixty Feet. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Around January of that year, I had a prompting from none other than God, and during my conference period at school, I decided to email the wife of the Sixty Feet President. I had her email address because she had emailed me personally to say "thanks" for donating. All I asked was if Sixty Feet had any needs for a family (two teachers) to come over during summer to volunteer. LITERALLY 5 MINUTES LATER, I received an email from her. She, at the exact same time, was searching for my email address to invite me to a premiere of the new Sixty Feet movie. It was, as she said, "a God thing" and about one month later, we were planning to go as a family to Uganda for two months.<br />
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<b>Summer of 2012 - Uganda with my Family</b></div>
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<b>Making Sweet Friends at the Remand Homes</b></div>
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That summer was amazing. Sixty Feet was being blessed and growing. Their area of work was spider-webbing out in different directions and their small team on the ground was amazing! We met the heart of the organization in the form of a pastor and his wife with their street child ministry that was "their life". We lived with a family we did not know who became some of our sweetest friends (still!). It was truly a wonderful time. We learned so much, loved on so many kids, saw miracles happening through the hands of servants on the ground, my kids experienced life in another culture, and my husband saw that his God-given skills lined up with so many of the organizational needs here, whether it was changing tires, cultivating relationships, or being a rock during stressful times. We loved our time that summer, but were equally excited to be home.<br />
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SO once we were back we had no plans. We went back to work. We taught at school. We planned on taking a vacation to Wyoming that summer - <b>But God</b>. (Doesn't every good story begin with "But God"? ) I will tell you this - my husband and I were sensing something. God was working on our hearts to be prepared for change. We could not figure it out...though we tried and fussed (with each other mainly). We wrestled within ourselves - was it a career change? was it opening a running store? was it ___? Nothing seemed to fit. So we started getting up early together and listening to devotionals, praying together, and otherwise trying to get closer to God TOGETHER. And then one morning, while we were up early together, we got the email asking for us to consider moving to Uganda to work with Sixty Feet. Boog's leadership skills were needed and would we consider. Needless to say, we knew at that moment - against my "wants" (believe me, I was not convinced) - that we were going. <br />
So we did.<br />
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The remand homes now look quite a bit different than they did when I first met them three years ago. Years of regular medical care and counseling by our incredible Ugandan staff has proven to be a life source. Kids look healthier. Major sicknesses and hospital visits have decreased. The remand homes are beginning to be places of <i>opportunity</i> for children, not a dead end. Resettlement and diversion (helping street children avoid being sent to remand homes to begin with) are a huge part of Sixty Feet's ministry. There's a large staff of Ugandan counselors, nurses, teachers, office administrators, and other important parts of the chain that help this machine run...and run well. Us? We have been ENTIRELY blessed to be part of and a witness to this ministry. We advocate for these children <i>because of Him.</i> Helping children who otherwise would not have resources to help themselves. </div>
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This experience has been a literal threshing floor in my life. In our life. We laid out the little we had to give - our time, our heart - and over time saw how God used people and experiences to strip away the parts of ourselves that we tended to overlook and keep the fruitful seed. God used Uganda to bring fullness to my life....to give me a chance to see His work and be humbled and awed. I love looking back to see that this story, this perfectly woven story for our family, would not be this story if it weren't for obedience to a call...even when we were scared to say "yes". </div>
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I will say this. If you've been affected at all by these blogs or pictures or if you've gone to the Sixty Feet webpage to see what in the world they do (www.sixtyfeet.org), please consider contributing to this organization. 100% of your donation goes directly to the services I mentioned above. </div>
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It is not hard to start small....and just like us....you have no idea where that small donation will take you.</div>
<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-77221900400231733312014-06-06T00:52:00.003-07:002014-06-06T03:55:14.666-07:005 Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since we are nearing a close to our year in Africa, I asked the girls a few questions. <br />
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To Sophie, I asked: <b>"What are 5 things you like most about Africa?"</b><br />
She replied:<br />
1) Our dogs Crusket and Cocoa<br />
2) We got to have teams come over and make new friends with them<br />
3) Sissy & I get to play a lot<br />
4) I got to ride a horse<br />
5) I learned how to spell and write my name<br />
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In the eyes of a 5 year old, I can imagine these things WERE a pretty big deal. Sophie has adjusted the easiest to living here out of all of us. Youth is on her side because, really, wherever we are is home. So "home" was here in Uganda. She can't even remember what her bedroom at our real home looks like!<br />
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To Grace, I asked two things.<br />
First, <b>"What are 5 things you did this year that you never thought you'd do?"</b><br />
She replied:<br />
1) Get to stand on the Equator<br />
2) Go serve at Loving Hearts Babies' Home<br />
3) Take care of turtles (we have two)<br />
4) Swing on awesome tree swings<br />
5) Have my own personal library<br />
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Then I asked, <b>"What are 5 things you'll miss about Africa?"</b><br />
She replied:<br />
1) Mama Catherine's food (obviously!)<br />
2) All the babies I take care of at Loving Hearts<br />
3) Our cool house<br />
4) All the animals at our house (dogs, turtles, chameleons, birds, etc.)<br />
5) The new friends I've made<br />
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So Grace, as you can tell, loved Wednesdays so much. Me, too, actually. That was the day we went and worked at a babies' home here in Kampala. Precious, precious, precious...we both will miss those dear hearts more than we know. She learned how to feed a newborn, change diapers, handle crying/fussing babies, and keep little ones from hurting themselves. When we were there, oftentimes, the "mamas" would use that time and take a few moments to rest and take tea....a much needed break during their long days. We didn't mind at all & were happy to help. <br />
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I know there's NO WAY Boog and I can make our "5" list. It's crazy to know that I will actually <i>miss </i>getting our vehicle haphhazardly checked for bombs everytime we go grocery shopping, or people calling both my daughters "babies" wherever we go, or the insane traffic that I love to drive in, or that I will actually <i>miss</i> having to prepare every meal from scratch. But we will miss so much....a lot of it will simply be the sweet times we've had with the 60 Feet staff and the community we have with them. It's pretty amazing how God designed this year - full of sweet times, tough times, times of nourishment and times to nourish others. Feeling a little sad to leave it.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-60917392886405172512014-06-01T05:11:00.003-07:002014-06-01T05:11:59.546-07:00My Grace, at 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My Grace turned 10 in May. Ten.<br />
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My firstborn. I remember strapping her into the johnny jumper while I tried unsuccessfully to cook dinner before she started crying. I remember how I used to lay her on the changing table and step back to look at how long (and pretty!) she was. I remember when she would get sick and how desperate I felt to make her feel better. I remember the mommy & Grace dates we used to take...movies, sno cones, the park. I remember May birthday parties with family and several "little girl" friends.<br />
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This time, it's still the same....but it's different. Gone are the little girl parties and pin the tail on the donkey. We're in Uganda, so the birthday option list wasn't long, but she asked to take a few girls to get pedicures and have a sleepover. And carrot cake (so grown up)! All of the girls clamored into the car and sang Frozen's "Let It Go" at the top of our lungs while Grace made quick sideways glances at me to make sure I wasn't singing too loud....mommy can't embarrass her, right? An American Girl movie was watched, future home plans were sketched out on paper at our table, dogs were chased....glimpses of "little girl" were still there.<br />
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But My Grace. She's growing up. She loves taking care of the babies at the babies home we served at this year, she loves animals (especially horses and dogs), she loves to laugh, and cries when she thinks she's disappointed you. I plan on taking a deep breath and plunging into this uncharted "big girl" territory with her (although I explored it many years ago). I'm going to hold fast to the hope, encouragement, and wisdom we give her and pray that people come alongside to nurture and mature those seeds. When she falls, I'm going to sit there with her and tell her to get up and try again. And when she succeeds, I'll be her biggest fan. I'm going to do all these things because I love this girl with all my heart. She is our first gift.<br />
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We love you, Grace Ryan. Always have, always will.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-83612325186257571122014-05-16T00:43:00.001-07:002014-05-16T04:53:52.286-07:00TensionIt's that time again here in Uganda. School fee time. Lack of free education means struggling to send children to school for most of the population. Thefts increase....selling a stolen TV can pay tuition in full for at least one quarter. Our Ugandan friends will hesitantly (and some not so hesitantly) ask for financial help for their children. And, sadly, many will have to tell their kids that school won't be an option this term.<br />
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Honestly? It's a place of tension for me. (Anyone read the book, "When Helping Hurts"? You should.) This is a hard topic to write about because there's no quick, easy answer. No situation is alike. Discernment is important. It's a culture that's still riddled with a poverty mentality. Where planning ahead is a foreign concept, where even if you have a steady job, the wages of 400,000 UGX a month (less than $200) don't cover much more than food and shelter, and where relationships with your friends, family, community, and neighbors mean they might pitch in financially when needed. Also, it means being an ex-pat in a developing country can sometimes come with a price tag. We have advantages. The advantage of being born into a nation that has opportunities like free education, jobs, healthcare, clean water, housing, government assistance, must I go on? We gripe about these things and the enabling situations they sometimes can create, but we have them. Abuse them, yes. Take advantage of them, yes. Become indifferent or take them for granted, yes. But we have them. If a financial disaster were to happen to my family and I could no longer make ends meet, I have an option to receive government assistance and my children still can get an education. That's advantage.<br />
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So when our friends here ask, we give. We give to a friend wanting to get married because it's the community that financially helps him put on a wedding, give a dowry, start a life. We give to the gate guards and house help because we know that by having them employed, it means being a part of their lives and struggles. As I watched my friend give to the random lady who walked up to her, the "mzungu" in a parking lot, with hopes of some money for school fees, I thought about how in that instance, saying "no" because you don't want to enable or create dependency or confirm the "white savior" mentality - is HARD. It's hard to look someone in the eye and say, "I'm sorry, but no" especially when you know you have money to give. It's hard to keep looking forward when the beggar on the street is at your window, knocking and holding her hand out....and the hand of the baby on her hip, too. It's hard to see the endless need. It's absolutely gut wrenching to <i>not</i> give.<br />
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But it's gut wrenching to give, too. ( Do you feel the tension??) I know that teaching someone with a poverty mentality to learn to save and prepare financially for upcoming expenses, I KNOW that it's in the teaching, not the giving, that sustainability comes. I know that the difficult tasks of 60 Feet - healthcare education, resettlement with family, counseling (just to name a few) - are where the fruit begins to grow in a person's life. I know the old adage of "teaching a man to fish" is the better way. In fact, our Ugandan friend, a recipient of support with his school fees throughout most of his education, said just the other night, " When foreigners give, it's helpful, but when they teach us, it's better."<br />
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But - again - the tension. The tension between giving and knowing that the gift might not be the most helpful thing. It's excruciating to roll around in my mind. But when I do hear stories of someone who pulled up their own bootstraps and figured out a way to be resourceful and make their own ends meet - that's invigorating! But yet, even rolling around all of these thoughts and typing them on the computer right now just adds fuel to my internal fire of why have I been blessed to be the "blessed" one? Why do I not struggle for food, shelter, and education the way the majority world does? What are the responsibilities of this blessing?<br />
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What a burden and responsibility we carry, friends.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-34793993954279413462014-04-15T03:15:00.002-07:002014-04-15T06:17:40.567-07:00Looking Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning, in my long sweatpants and sweatshirt (it WAS 60 degrees mind you....rainy season brings in the cold!), I was re-reading portions of my journal that I've kept since last summer. It charted some of my feelings as we prepared to leave for Uganda, when we arrived, and the day-to-day living. Boy, what a journey it has been! As we now have less than 3 months to go before our flight that takes us out of Uganda, to our layover city of London (and a one day stay to see the city!) , and finally - home, my journal reminded me of my human-ness during this whole year. </div>
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The first entries were fraught with worry and concern....would we fundraise enough? would UG feel like home? what about healthcare? what about safety? When we arrived, my entries began to simmer....concerned mostly with satisfaction of arriving safely, feeling at home, ready to begin. Then, slowly, you can see where God started to work on me. Though it was the kind you usually don't like to experience. All my fears and insecurities were blown wide open with situations that tested my patience, my hidden self-love-importance-worship, my marriage, my relationship with my children, my confidence. All of it - shredded. Then slowly, sewn back up. </div>
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Around 5 months in, you start to see the growth. The field had been sowed with good seed and was beginning to grow. My journals began to be less about me and my struggles, and more about praising God for allowing me to see the blessings. The growth in an almost 12 year old marriage. The ability to spend so much time with my girls and work on their character, learn more about the bible, see them learn how to play together in a new way, see them serve with child-like passion and fun. The love of the people we are serving.</div>
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And finally, now, in the last few entries you begin to see harvest. It's a beautiful bounty as I take in the gorgeousness of these people and their country. And there's preparation for what lies ahead, taking home our experiences - with NO worry. Less stress. Because I really have learned this year that God IS in control. No matter what the struggles, He is there....guiding us while using circumstances and situations and people to mold us. His way is perfect. </div>
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I have learned to be involved in the process, but to try not to control it. Be <i>involved</i> in the raising of my children, but allow for God to do His incredible work in them without fear and control on my part. Be <i>involved</i> in my marriage, but rely on God to be the one who unites. I can't ever be enough for Boog. Nor can he be for me. But if we listen and follow His plans for US together, in <i>that </i>is the security. Also, be <i>involved</i> in situations that arise in life and pray for things to happen, but praise Him when they happen and praise Him when they don't. To be a part of the living, the inspiring, the action, the work....but know that ultimately, it is HIS. His glory. His story. </div>
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<b>Sophie & Grace and their co-op class, singing for Hope Int'l School</b></div>
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<b>Grace, playing...</b></div>
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<b>Sophie, playing...</b></div>
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<b>My girls learning to be sisters who love each other.</b></div>
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<b>4th time at the Nile (not many people can say that!)</b></div>
<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-86600247141994028452014-03-09T07:01:00.000-07:002014-03-09T07:38:02.382-07:00Waiting on the Lord...<br />
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The other day, at Hope International School, we were <i>filthy</i> with red dirt. It's just par for the course here, as so many kids, ripe with red dirt themselves, love to play, hug, sit on, and hold hands with their "mzungu" friends. So like normal, I told Sophie to walk over to the water tank to wash her hands. She turned the faucet on, the water poured, and she began to rinse. (You can see the tank in the wee background of the picture) </div>
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Even in the chaotic midst of 200 children at recess, it wasn't two seconds before a very sharp-eyed teacher cautiously said, "Sophie - turn off the water. Turn it off." I turned and made sure Sophie wasn't doing something wrong. At the sight of her quickly shutting off the faucet, it occurred to me that we've been in the dry season. Two months now without rain. The tanks were near empty, and washing hands was <i>not</i> a necessity. I stood, momentarily embarrassed, by my lack of sensitivity to an issue so personal to their lives.</div>
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I know what it means to be in a drought. I live in a lake community at home. A community that very often sees recreational fishermen unable to launch boats for months on end due to low lake levels. My neighborhood, like many others, gives "Water Level Warnings" and limits the days when we can water lawns. Prayers for rain can be heard from farmers, churches, and in general conversation all around town. Droughts are a big deal in Texas.</div>
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But here, lack of water takes on a different meaning. No rain in the Bwerenga village means not just extra caution, but extra everything. Extra work to maintain livelihood in a village that doesn't have a public water system. More children walking with jerry cans to collect water. Crops that are sold can fail and no income is received....income that is needed for <i>daily</i> survival. A reliance on tanks turns to reliance on God to <i>fill</i> those tanks - with rain.</div>
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Mama Catherine's home is one of the few houses in Bwerenga that has an actual toilet. 20+ people living in her home, and something as simple as a toilet is huge. But once again, no water system means each flush has to be poured in, and in the middle of the dry season, pouring in water for the toilet becomes a luxury. </div>
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So all this to say, there's been an awful lot of <i>patient waiting on the Lord</i> in Bwerenga. I've yet to hear a complaint, just conversations of prayers for rain. And in a sense, I feel their prayers are heard out of sheer necessity. </div>
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This Friday, there was a downpour while we were there. The children were crammed in their little school rooms, unable to play at recess. My flip flops were caked with mud, and the sweet teacher assistant gave us an umbrella that helped little. And in the middle of the storm, the teacher sang with the kids "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day - the little children want to play!" </div>
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The irony of it was their smiles were big and everyone was joyful.</div>
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The Lord had answered their prayers.</div>
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<i>SIDE NOTE: Not to bring this around back around to us, but I'm gonna bring this back to us.</i></div>
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<i>My family has made the decision to head back to the good 'ol USA at the end of our year in July. It was a hard decision to make. We truly love the 60 Feet family we have here with our new friends. But we truly miss family at home, too. To sacrifice to come here was an easy choice. Really, it was. I heard God loud and clear, and obedience was the only choice. But to make the decision to go home, back to our comforts, when we could stay here another year or more.....that was way more difficult. It almost felt like we were giving in. I didn't hear God as clearly on this one, to be honest. I felt as if He was saying, "I'm with you if you go, I'm with you if you stay." So we will be coming home. I would like to invite you to pray with us as we patiently wait on the Lord. We are hoping to transition back into our home, back into the girl's same school, back into our jobs. That's not a guarantee. So please pray with us, as we wait for the Lord to provide what we need. He always has, and when He does, there will definitely be big smiles and joy on our end here!</i></div>
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-40986494223308920942014-02-22T04:57:00.002-08:002014-02-22T05:38:50.742-08:00Sophie Turns 5 - IN AFRICA!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm a little late in posting this, but my baby....my BABY...turned 5 last month. In <i>Uganda</i>. No words at the coolness of that factor. I can see it now, Sophie in kindergarden, "So my birthday party last year had chameleons and turtles and a bouncy house....in January!" All the kids, "Yeah, sure...". </div>
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But it really did. In Texas, Sophie never really has had much of a birthday party sad to say. They've been mostly cakes (always cakes!) with family at our house because the weather is so stinkin' cold! Grace's birthday is in May, so she's had the full experience of outdoor parties, swimming parties, and what. (Threw in a little African lingo there...<i>and what</i>?) So for Sophie, we decided to do it up right. </div>
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Unfortunately, that's somewhat of an effort here in Uganda. Thankfully, THANKFULLY, our friend, Odong, "had a guy".....he always "has a guy" : )....that could rent us a bouncy house for not that much. And a few months back, I saved a flyer that I saw of a Ugandan lady who makes cakes - legit cakes. Hard to find here. So a few phonecalls, emails, and one interesting cake pick-up by my hubs (let's just say the cake maker's home wasn't in an easy to find location)....and voila! A unicorn theme party for Sophie!</div>
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But here's the rub. We've only been here 6 months...7 now, excuse me. We have lots of acquaintances, but really, there's just one family whose children my girls play with on a regular basis! It was a little sad for me, I don't know why, to just have one family come party with us....not at all like back home where the family and friends are around every corner. Thankfully, Sophie didn't care and had a great day - her day! She latched on the phrase, "The birthday girl gets to do it first!!" </div>
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This girl. She's spirited, imaginative, always cheerful....looks super sad/awful if you ever get onto her, so therefore makes it super hard to <i>get</i> on to her....most of her day she spends in a dream world where she is a cat, horse, unicorn, <i>what have you </i>with a red/white mane, red nose, and all kinds of details that only she can see. </div>
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We love this girl. Who's 5. In Africa.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-58711975297554281272014-01-24T03:14:00.003-08:002014-01-24T10:27:35.186-08:00Thief of Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Trails to Run in Uganda</b></div>
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I remember back in 2008 (gosh, 6 years ago now!) when Boog ran <a href="http://www.floferrell.blogspot.com/2008/10/our-sweet-californiantexas-friends.html"><span style="color: red;">his first marathon</span></a> with our friend from California. Then later, he crossed over to trail running and began small - a 10k here, a 25k there. Soon came the 50 miler. Then the 100k....He always remembers when he first started running trails, struggling with a 25k, he would look over at the guy next to him and say, "What are you running today?". Sometimes the response would be, "<i>Just</i> a 50 miler..."<br />
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Comparison can <i>totally</i> be the thief of joy, right??<br />
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And really, comparison might not be the right word. It's more <i>perspective</i>. And here is where this blog begins.<br />
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Last year, when we came over during our summer and volunteered with 60 Feet, two months seemed like an incredibly long time. From the perspective of folks like us, who had been on several "mission trips" of the week/two week kind, two months was quite a stretch.<br />
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Then, we commit to a year. A year seemed like forever when we set off...until we arrived and started meeting other Americans (or Australians or Brits or Dutch) who looked a bit incredulous when we said we're here for "just a year". "Why, you are barely getting to know the place after a year!" was a common response we heard (their perspective!). In talking, we've found so many ex-pats who haven't just committed to 3-5 years, but are here<i> indefinitely</i>. Sold their homes, sold their stuff, sold their lives back home to create a life abroad. Their children go to international schools or are at boarding schools in Kenya. They've taken the time to hang pictures on their walls (a big sign that you are settling in) and accepted the fact that once-a -year furloughs back to wherever they call home are all they get.<br />
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So what seemed like a big commitment to us now, honestly, seems to pale in comparison to what technically could be called "real" commitment. <br />
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Oh....I <i>could</i> get bogged down in the details of that crack-crazy, slippery-slope concept. Are we really sacrificing enough? Are we staying long enough? Have we done ENOUGH?? Good grief. Thief of Joy. My husband sometimes has to give me a good shake when I start to wallowing about nonsense like this....<br />
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What I know is I am absolutely certain the hills of Kampala are a gorgeous sight to see, </div>
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but from the perspective of the kids inside these prison walls below.....</div>
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<i>they represent something much more than aesthetics.</i></div>
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Comparison at home in America (bigger house, nicer car, better job...) can definitely hog the happiness. And even here, where a friend once wisely said it's a lot of "us dying to us", sometimes prestige is placed on who is staying longer, who is working in the more 'dangerous' places....and the guilt of whether or not to go or stay. I find it's absolutely crazy what we humans can do to ourselves mentally!<br />
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My daughters and I had a morning bible lesson about the rich landowner who gave his three employees money to use wisely. One buried it with no gain, one invested small and profited, one invested large and smartly and received back enormous gain. That parable can translate pretty easy .... don't squander your gifts given from God. One gift is your abilities. The "investment" isn't about length or danger or in-country or out-of-country, it's the investment of your heart to the work. The reward will be great if you give your heart - all of it -to what you've been called to do, in whatever country, town, or home, in whatever form, and with whatever amount of time and sacrifice you can give.<br />
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The mission of Sixty Feet is still the same.<br />
Bring hope to the imprisoned children of Uganda.<br />
And that comes in <i>many</i> forms...justice, medical, counseling, education, etc.<br />
And the workers give of their time & hearts.<br />
And the profit is Large.<br />
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-50615584236997908162014-01-08T09:40:00.000-08:002014-01-08T09:47:23.519-08:002013, wow....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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How can I begin to describe the whirlwind of a year 2013 has been for our family? </div>
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Nuts. Just nuts.</div>
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It's the year we went from being two school teachers in a town that's not even a dot on a map, to deciding in just <i>one week</i> that we would move across the world to work with 60 Feet. What can I say about that decision? Just one thing. <i>God would not let me say no. </i>I absolutely did not want to go, but I knew I had to say yes and my husband, wisely, allowed me to come to my own decision on that.</div>
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It's the year I began to homeschool my girls and found a <i>great</i> co-op to join in Kampala.</div>
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It's the year I went back to my beloved Hope International School. Seeing familiar faces, watching my girls (especially Grace) really pitch in and help, loving on the kiddos.....all goodness.</div>
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It's the year we joined in on our first international field trip. </div>
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My girls got the bonus of a camel ride that day...</div>
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It's the year of an 85 degree Christmas season and decorating cookies with new friends.</div>
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And where homemade Christmas ornaments decorated our 4 foot tree.</div>
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It's the year where my intentions were to have a <i>small (ie. </i>few presents) Christmas, but because of sweet friends and family back home sending all kinds of goodies, my girls enjoyed the fun of opening many gifts!</div>
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It's the year where right after opening our own gifts, we headed to Bwerenga Village to give out gifts collected by my home church thousands of miles away....the smiles and thank you's that day were amazing.</div>
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It's the year we killed <i>and ate</i> our first Christmas turkey present given by our friend, Odong.</div>
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It's the year where our family and friend flew in for the holidays. </div>
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Just in time, too, because we were missing home quite a bit during Christmas.</div>
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It's been an incredible year. Full of faith steps, growth, growth, and more growth.</div>
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It's the year where I learned a lot about myself, to be honest. I peeled back a few ugly layers and put in some work. It's the year where I learned that my marriage to my handsome husband isn't a cakewalk, but it certainly helps if you <i>know</i> you are walking it together - in love and, very often, with laughter. It's the year where I've been SO proud of my husband, too, and the work he's put in with 60 Feet Uganda. The blessings on him with wisdom and leadership have been abundant. It's the year I'm realizing my oldest girl is growing and maturing into a young woman. I'm currently praying about how to earn her heart and trust now....before she really starts to fly. And at the same time, it's the year where my baby, my youngest, is turning her imagination up to full speed. I love watching her flit around.....</div>
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and then I wonder if she's really the last?</div>
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While I am always excited about what lies ahead, I have to say 2013 will be hard to beat.</div>
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In 2014, we have some decisions to pray about ....coming home, jobs, moving forward....</div>
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so many things. But trusting God with our obedience, 2014 will be equally as amazing.</div>
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No matter where our location. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-54589367321552980222013-12-13T11:21:00.002-08:002013-12-13T11:51:15.724-08:00Just the Girls....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Grace (9 1/2) and Sophie (one month away from 5!)</b></div>
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This post is all about my girls. </div>
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There's no deep, thoughtful Africa-fied post. It's just about them. </div>
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One of the things I love best after having blogged for so many years is getting to look back at a post and remember "Oh yea, they DID that!" or seeing pictures reminding me of a time I've long since forgotten. Baby stories like this <a href="http://www.floferrell.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-daughter-is-obsessed.html"><span style="color: red;">http://www.floferrell.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-daughter-is-obsessed.html</span></a> or memories made like this<span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://www.floferrell.blogspot.com/2008/12/all-aboardthe-polar-express.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">http://www.floferrell.blogspot.com/2008/12/all-aboardthe-polar-express.html</span></a><span style="color: red;"> </span> are just too fun to reminisce! </div>
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So let me remember to write about them now. Just as they are......</div>
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Grace is truly remarkable in that she seems to transcend time. Certain times, she is fully nine. Silly, crazy, imaginative....playful with her sister and buying stuffed animals with her money. Other times, I feel like she's so mature in ways I never was at that age. She knows when kids are being too crazy. She loves adult meals like ceasar salads and stir fried veggies. She likes independence and chooses to walk <i>a bit</i> in front of her mom on these red dirt roads. She chooses to read, read, read.....she even finished her Harry Potter book (750 pages!) in 3 days. (I had to remind her to eat and drink.) She appreciates Africa for what it gives us as a family - lots of time together, less stress/busyness.....but she also knows that home is where the heart is and family is huge part of that heart. She is tenderhearted and can cry at the drop of a hat if she thinks she's displeased you. She is also a good friend and loyal. She doesn't understand girl drama <i>at all</i>.</div>
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Sophie, at 4 (but really 5 in one month) has truly come out of her shell. Or busted out of it....it's so interesting to see how Ugandans act towards her. They <i>like </i>her. I mean, <i>really</i> like her. She keeps everyone laughing...right now she is fully quoting Planet Earth videos and runs around making tiger or lion noises with her nose all squished up (sounding like a dying horse really). She has learned nearly 25 sight words at homeschool this year and, hopefully, will start reading a few starter books next semester. She is tough. If she falls, she'd rather say "I'm okay" than cry....even if it hurt. She is still a picky eater (chicken, PB&J's, chips...that's about it.) Sophie can befriend a tree and it's quite often I find myself pointing to a little girl here and saying, "Sophie - go be her friend." She will go bouncing up to that said girl and be playing together in two seconds flat.</div>
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It's funny how God works out deep desires. I've <i>always </i>wanted to stay at home with my girls. But I've always enjoyed working, too. Growing up, my mom was a bit of the 'asian-tiger-mom'. I've had a job since I was 9, I think. I like the order and structure of working....but I've always wanted to be able to take just a year and spend it with my girls. Well, God answered that prayer by sending us to Africa. </div>
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I'm with my girls nearly 24/7. It's wonderful, but at the same time, I also have to remind myself to make the most of it. That's hard because sometimes I'd love to just have a moment of breather time alone! We've reached that glorious age where my girls can play without too much supervision....momma can do other tasks...and I have to remind myself not to get caught up in that! Momma CAN do other tasks, but taking this year - this time - with them is so much more than about doing tasks.<br />
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I'm going to blink and they'll be in college.</div>
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I'm going to blink and they'll be moms of their own.</div>
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I'm going to blink and I'll be saying, "It all goes by so fast."</div>
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Grace & Sophie, you two are your parents' joy! We love you!</div>
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-74622355586159240632013-11-19T00:26:00.005-08:002013-11-19T01:33:26.976-08:00When You Peel Back Layers....Joy. <br />
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We all know who it comes from and that it's not circumstantial. I can choose joy in the midst of any one of the hundreds of trials life throws at me. I can find joy in the small things...like a hummingbird at my window this morning. I can choose joy when my kids are grumpy, when my husband did not meet my expectations, or the house is (once again) in need of cleaning.<br />
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But choosing joy is a lot harder than it seems. <br />
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I used to think it was easy. I think because back in America, if I ever began to have feelings of sadness, loneliness, what have you....I could easily "stuff it" or fill that hole by any number of things we Americans do: start a new hobby, go shopping and buy something to give a temporary satisfying "fill", visit a friend, take the kids out to eat so I don't have to face the pile of dishes at the end of cooking, sign up for another activity to keep me busy. I never really ran out of options to temporarily give me joy. So choose joy? Sure. Easy. Let me plan something to do. Get a plan going for the day.<br />
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Here in Uganda, it's a whole different ballgame. I have been challenged with choosing joy. There is no "shopping trip". When the boredom of a day sets in and I have no car to go anywhere, I have to deal. When my marriage starts to show signs of wear (not having the regular "Boog & Flo date nights" we are used to), we have to deal. When sadness of not having family and friends close by to run and chat with, I have to deal. I have to deal with the unmet expectations, the loneliness, boredom, and all the other emotions that I don't like to deal with. There is no quick fix. There is no filler. You deal.<br />
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Being a "missionary family" this year has really highlighted our coping abilities. Mine, I decided, need some work. But it's given me an incredible present. I have come face to face with my ugly. I have peeled back layers in myself and the relationship with my husband and my children and it's exposed some areas where I really thought I had it DOWN!<br />
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How about that? I'm 36 years old and learning some of my weaknesses actually are things I thought were my strengths in America. That's a hard thing to look at....the ugly, the scars....and see beneath the layers upon layers of "filler" through the years.<br />
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Psalm 16:11 has been on mine and Boog's heart now for over a year. <br />
<i>"You make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand are pleasures forever."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>It's no small note that it's absolutely one of the most challenging things for me here, personally. Finding joy in Him, regardless of circumstance, regardless of what I think I lack, regardless of my emotions.<br />
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Seeing our dear friend Pastor Earnest choose joy despite his circumstances is humbling. And it's in peeling back my own layers that I'm hopeful of growth and restoration and the promises of life more abundant.....the ability to see, feel, and know The Joy from a place so deep that knows the difference between yucky, preservative, fake filler and the real, life-giving Joy.<br />
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My marriage is a beautiful journey. My children are my pleasure. I have no doubt that this revelation and growth WILL be a blessing....for all of us.<br />
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-77116163375446250382013-11-08T23:30:00.001-08:002013-11-08T23:30:28.281-08:00Service<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thunder is in the distance. It's the rainy season, and storms can brew at any given moment. It's night and my mosquito net is tucked in the bed around me. The girls are asleep in their bunk beds, and Boog is off to the airport for a midnight arrival of a couple who will also become part of the 60 Feet team.<br />
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This is our life in Africa.<br />
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Every week, 60 Feet hums and churns like a well-oiled machine....with the occassional need for stops and repairs along the way. The mobile medical team departs each morning for visits to the remand centers, staff flies off in ten different directions as they meet with different organizations or government officials to build the much needed relationships that make working in an international setting more fluid and manageable. And each week, <i>something</i> comes up that requires everyone to sit back and remember that amidst all this "U.S. style nose to the grindstone" work, the children we serve are not commodities. They are not "projects". They are real people. Vulnerable. And desperate for someone to hear their story. <br />
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You could not dream up what those "somethings" are......lists handed down of 80+ children waiting to be resettled with their families, but languishing in prison until <i>someone </i>can provide the research, money, transportation, and people to make it happen. Horribly run orphanages, shut down by the government, and the children sent to the government's "drop off center", meaning 40+ new kids and mouths to feed (at an already maxed out center). Shortages of clothing in the prisons. A need for toothpaste/toothbrushes for 400 kids who have never owned a toothbrush of their own.....<br />
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The situations that arise seem to be endless. But as our team is learning, it's not just about responding to each crisis. It's about finding the wisdom to look beyond the problem in front of you and finding the root. To not just look at the kids on the list and find the quickest way to get them back to their families (although quick is good.) But to go <i>to</i> the family and return, and return again, to see why the child left or was sent away to begin with and start the counsel <i>there</i>.<br />
<br />Partnership is huge. Finding other organizations to work with so that each area of need, along the long chain of need, is served well. Just last week, my hubs and other staff members attended a town hall discussion at the U.S. Embassy to get a glimpse of what the vision is and where it's headed. And each week, there's a new meeting set up with an organization who <i>may </i>provide a link in the chain.<br />
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For the girls and I, we sit on the perimeter....with much of our time being spent volunteering at a babies' home, homeschooling, and working at Hope International School (where many of 60 Feet's sponsored children attend.) But we listen to the staff's daily struggles and small victories. We watch as our daddy puts on a tie and drives off to meet someone in the Ministry of Gender. We pray for each situation that arises. And we remember that God is the source of this love-offering of service....<br />
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<i>"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34</i><br />
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-40241925072213521522013-10-19T12:34:00.004-07:002013-10-19T12:41:50.630-07:00The Power of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Excuse the cheesy Celine Dion title, but there were no better fitting words. There IS power in Love. Not the love that is thrown away when things get difficult. Not the love that is actually lust, just give it a few weeks or months to come to light. Not the love that is the bitter, self-serving, "I'm going to be here, but not really BE here" kind. It is the powerful love that is talked about in 1 Corinthians 13:7-8 "Love <i>bears</i> all things, <i>believes</i> all things, <i>hopes</i> all things, <i>endures</i> all things. Love never ends."</div>
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These precious faces above are just a few of the recipients of <i>that</i> kind of love at Mama Catherine and Pastor Earnest's house. This amazing couple has devoted their lives to loving and raising hundreds of children that come across their path by the Amazing Grace that set the plan for them to receive <i>that</i> kind of love. </div>
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I wrote a guest blog post last year <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.thecupcakekids.org/2013/04/22/infectious/"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a> </span>about a girl I met at M1, one of the government remand homes where Sixty Feet works so diligently. Bitter, angry, hurt....hell bent to show it. Several days I witnessed behavior of someone who was so deeply wounded in spirit, so far from hope. I have to admit, I felt her future was going to be repeating the cycle of the obvious brokeness which she had already been exposed.</div>
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But (there it is again!), even though I had already counted her out, God certainly had not.</div>
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Fast forward one year and here I was, in front of a very familiar face. But not familiar at all. Taking students' pictures for sponsorships, I asked the teacher who this young lady was....and she confirmed my thoughts. It was <i>her</i>. The girl. Except it wasn't her. This girl was <i>beautiful</i>. Smiling. Joyful. A countenance shining like gold!</div>
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Come to find out, she had been living with Mama Catherine for almost a year now. It wasn't an easy transition, but the Love that bears, believes, hopes, endures, and never ends was (and still is) there through all the mess and beauty. The final product being redemption and hope for a precious soul whom I had already written her ending. <br />
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So, once again, I proved that I'm a terrible, limited in creativity, lacking in faith kind of author, and He trumps them all. I'm more than okay with that! As my family enters into month 3 of this incredible experience, I'm feeling all the more okay with a lot of things. Living here is finally like home. The roles of each person here is starting to round out, mine included. Grace even said, "I miss home, but I'm not ready to go home yet." That's big.</div>
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There's still so much to do, but.....as I'm slowly learning....we are just a small part of the great, big, gigantic love story that God is rolling out before our eyes. It's Pulitzer material, ya'll. On the grandest scale.</div>
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<b>My Loves. </b></div>
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<b>Sophie, the forever princess.</b></div>
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<b>Grace, growing up right before my eyes.</b></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-55055574879308414862013-09-25T06:36:00.000-07:002013-09-25T07:50:16.701-07:00Heart Check<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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She is the outcast of an outcasted group. Unable to speak the local language, she is mostly silent. She waits patiently for food and care, not demanding a thing. Her tomorrow is unknown, only focusing on today. But. (Oh...the but!) Her bright eyes glow after receiving a smile or, in my case, wind from a fan I made out of the cover of a coloring book. Her smile is large. Her patience is a virtue. She is not broken.</div>
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I love 60 Feet for the fact that this organization <i>will pursue</i> her interest. She will receive care, medical help, weekly love, and eventually...hopefully....a future as bright as her eyes. </div>
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This is why, after nearly 2 months of being here, I had a heart check. I made a mental thank you to God for His answered prayers. I needed community, He provided. I wanted my girls to feel at home, He provided. I asked to feel comfortable here, He provided. But now that we are settled, it's time to refocus my heart.<br />
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This girl above, these pictures below......it's just a glimpse into the beauty of being here. I'm growing to love the faces of not just the children, but the stoic faces (or sometimes huge, broad smiles) of the Ugandans on the streets, on their bodas, or in the market. I love to hear their stories....the way this Mama has 9 children with a full-time job caring for 25 orphans...or that friend who couldn't officially marry his wife in the end because he couldn't provide the dowry....how this single father of two daughters works diligently everyday and uses his $150/month salary to send his girls to the best private school he can afford, only allowing himself to say, "It is hard."</div>
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They are everywhere, these stories. Inspiring me to check my "self" at the door, complain a little less, and focus on the work that is to do here. My job is a little less stressful .... my weeks usually consist of homeschooling my girls, helping at a baby's home,and the Bwerenga village school. But my husband and the 60 Feet staff work tirelessly each day to get one step closer towards a positive future for the girl above and so many others.<br />
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<i> </i><b>Where's Waldo? Sophie learning about the bible from a friend.</b></div>
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<b>Sweet Worship of a Child</b></div>
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<b>Homeschoolin' with my Homey</b></div>
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<b>Sophie at Homeschool Co-op with soccer Coach Davis (Head bumper!)</b></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-65871371635801896932013-09-02T12:06:00.001-07:002013-09-02T12:13:59.331-07:00I'll Take Friends, With a Side of FriendsWhen you are in a foreign country, sometimes you get desperate. Desperate for home, desperate for creature comforts, desperate for solitude or peace....in my case, after 3 weeks of being here, I became desperate - for friendship. <br />
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It's not actual "living" that has been tough on me. I can handle the daily life here and my girls are champs at adjusting. But it's been the lack of friends....people who understand. People who "get it". I was in need of companionship from other women who can look at me and say, "I've been there." or "Come hang at my place!" You know.....girlfriends. Always being the "foreigner" everywhere you go takes its toll, and for me, I needed people who <i>understood</i> that. I couldn't shake the feeling that finding this community was vital to us living here and being whole.<br />
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Enter the internet. I couldn't just stay in this lonely frame of mind. I had to <i>do something </i>about it. So, a few google searches for "ex-pat" families in Uganda, a couple emails to & from super friendly folks, and voila! It's amazing what a little desperosity and clever internet searching can get you! <br />
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An amazing lady from a solid organization offered to meet with me to discuss surviving here. That meeting led to coffee with a sweet family living here from California. That meeting turned into an invite into a home school co-op. That co-op turned into an invite to a bible study. Then a recipe exchange.... Can you hear the rejoicing!! Community!!<br />
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<b>Sophie in the "Cheetah" class in our first co-op meeting</b></div>
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This all sounds so - highschoolish....this friend thing. But I guess you don't realize the need for social connection until you don't have it. And my girls.....the ability for them to connect with kids from ALL over the world! It's such an amazing opportunity. In our co-op, we have kids from Northern Ireland, South Africa, California....I love hearing all the different accents, yet we all have the ability to identify with the hardships ( and blessings) of living abroad with our families.<br />
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So....I'm feeling a bit better about things. Everyday I am learning something new here. Whether it's perfecting the art of homemade bread (I've got this recipe memorized already!).<br />
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Or improving my driving skills.....I'm already pretty comfortable driving and am slowly learning more about the good roads/shortcuts/etc. I DO get thrown off a bit when seeing matatus (bus taxis) with signs such as this on the back - "EXEPECT NO MERCY". Hmmm.....<br />
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And I'm still waiting until September 16th, when the Bwerenga School starts back up and I can go love on and bless my little friends and teachers. I do love that place!</div>
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Boog, as always, is 100% in love with this life and the mission of Sixty Feet. You can read more about his experiences on his blog www.thechosenfast.blogspot.com. </div>
<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-23213413656581971602013-08-23T11:00:00.001-07:002013-08-23T11:07:37.054-07:00Love Us Some Rolex!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This second week here, as my hub tackled the world of international ministry, I tackled the art of homeschooling. Talk about a <i>breeze</i>. Going from teaching 20 to teaching 2? Candy from a baby, people. Grace loves going at her own pace, and Sophie loves learning off the iPad (having it READ books to her...GENIOUS!!) We even scheduled in time for my girls and I to help out at a local babies' home.<br />
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In fact, the hardest part of our school day is....you got it - lunch. <i>Where</i> are my cafeteria ladies? This is not America where you can pop something in the microwave. Peanut butter here is for the birds. Leafy produce is sketchy because I don't trust myself to clean it properly. Deli meat? Don't even think about it. Not available or way too expensive if it is.<br />
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So eliminating every quick fix food item I know and short of having to prepare and cook a full on meal everyday - what's a mom to do? Enter <i>ROLEX</i>.<br />
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Oh my. Our sweet friend, Ruth (above), offered to make us some homemade Rolexes after she heard we had been buying them off the street. At 2000 shilling (less than $1), these babies are greatness no matter how you get them! But hers......oh my. It's chipate (a thick tortilla that's common here), fried eggs, tomatoes and seasoning all rolled up into a huge burrito-like concoction.<br />
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<b>Greatness!</b></div>
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<b> Number 1 Fan!</b></div>
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And I would be remiss to mention my near 2 year addiction now to the greatness that is Africana tea. It's sanity in a cup. It's my best liquid friend. It's a lifesaver in a day where I wake up to ants on my toothbrush, my bath's water pressure is more like someone spitting on my head, and I'm on mosquito bite #10 for the day with no malaria meds in my system. <br />
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<i>Oh Africa</i>. Why is it so hard for me to settle in this time?<br />
I ask myself this daily.<br />
Then I answer.<br />
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Because I just need to give of myself while here and know there's things to be learned from this experience. And <i>sometimes</i>, we just have to say "yes" and trust that the reason may not be known for years....or ever.<br />
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Up next for me? More homeschool. Helping out in the Bwerenga schools when they are back in session in two weeks. Figuring out the best way I can help the overworked teachers at one of our facilities. And most importantly, loving my hubs who is working so hard each day.</div>
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<b>My homeschool gals....</b></div>
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-82197267274185946002013-08-17T08:36:00.002-07:002013-08-17T08:36:18.046-07:00First Week Expectations Vs. Reality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Grace at the Babies' Home</b></div>
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I try to be completely transparent on my blog ( I think ). There's times of sweet highs that I share and times of lows that, although I could be tempted to leave out, find a place here. Looking back at those times, I usually see how God carried me through them or even showed me victory on the other side. <br /><br />This week, I'll admit, was a struggle. Mostly by expectations in my head that, in reality, were not met. My husband went straight to work this week, having daily meetings, people to meet, and field work to do to get up to speed with the organization of 60 Feet as it stands this year. Me, on the other hand, not yet starting homeschool, found myself full-time momma to my girls without the usual "activities" and friends that kept us busy in the US. It was definitely not the "straight to work" that I'm used to. It was a lonely feeling! I asked a friend back home, "Why did you not <i>tell me</i> that stay-at-home mommyhood can be lonely?" <br /><br />Oh....I know. Big problems. Especially when I took my girls to a babies home in Kampala and we found ourselves smack in the middle of caring for 45+ orphans, each one begging for attention, right at dinner and bathtime. Grace loves spending time at the babies' home.....<br />
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<b>Sweet One Ready for Bed</b></div>
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Slowly, though, I came to realize that life will be <i>much</i> different than our two months here last summer. More of a slow journey, not a quick "<i>get it all in</i>" trip. Full of busy times. Not so busy times. Work to do. Times of rest. School. Vacation. Breakfasts/Dinners/Lunch. Markets. Administration work. Field Work. Laughing. Crying. Boredom. Excitement.....</div>
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And that's it. It's just life. In Kampala, Uganda. </div>
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<b>The Bottom of Our Hill (our Walmart, Basically!)</b></div>
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<b> We Buy Fresh Pineapple Weekly</b></div>
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So what's up for us in the next few weeks? We will hopefully be moving into our home soon. Right now we are living in the 60 Feet Guesthouse which hosts teams that fly over from the US on a regular basis. It has exceptional Wifi so my girls are taking advantage of it by facetiming cousins (and me, blogging, of course.) I will start homeschooling this week. Boog will be busy meeting with the "Powers That Be" of 60 Feet as they fly in to help line things up for the year. And of course, facing the near daily challenges that arise with the work that is to be done here.....more about that later.<br />
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All in all. Week one has been simply getting used to life here. Please pray for Boog, as he has to play many roles here: husband, father, worker, leader, counselor (to me, mostly!), etc. Pray for my girls to find friendships here. Pray for me to clearly see my purpose.....<br />
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-53422753630592134922013-08-11T13:30:00.001-07:002013-08-11T14:06:04.790-07:00Back in UG (again!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay. So it's literally been a few seasons of life since I last posted. My last post was on my thoughts upon returning from a two month stay in Uganda, Africa. This post, ironically, is about what is now our first weekend of an entire YEAR stay in Uganda. So, to catch up, what we thought was going to be a leisurely family summer of a Wyoming vacay and relaxation, turned into a whirlwind of praying, fundraising, planning, and packing after accepting the offer from Sixty Feet to return to Uganda to help the staff in country....for a year or more. Did I already mention a year?? Let me say it again. A year.</div>
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Now, to well-traveled people, missionaries, or adventurous folks - a year in Africa sounds uh-mazing. But to me - homebody, lover of all things Chipotle & Chick-fil-a, not to mention my great job......a year was too big of a commitment. But God had other plans and after talking it over, <i>and praying</i> (yeah, don't forget that!), we decided against most all our families' wishes to go. So......we go.</div>
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And here's a pic of we going. My girls' memory proved strong as they traversed familiar territory in Dubai, our layover city...things weren't quite as "scary" as they were the last time. But one thing was different - both my girls got airsick this time. At the same time! The poor souls around us just watched in horror as both my girls gagged away in plastic bags, turning shades of white & green. It was wonderful.<br />
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<b>This pic is obviously BEFORE the incident</b></div>
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For me, the trip was very familiar. Third time here. The first was totally new and unnerving. The second was a little easier. This time - it was total calm. Even as we arrived in the Entebbe Airpo rt in Uganda, I whisked the girls off the plane to the familiar smells & sounds of Africa. It was almost like this was just like any other trip. Except it wasn't.</div>
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We spent the first day getting acclimated. The team had already set up our rooms with a few groceries and toiletries.....and then - we slept. And slept. Jet lag seriously caught up to us. Day two was good fun. We spent the morning worshipping with the heart & soul of Sixty Feet - Bwerenga Village. Church lasted, <i>ahem</i>, over 3 hours....but hugging the necks of Momma Catherine, Pastor Earnest, Boaz and all our friends was truly, truly precious. We surprised them. I think they are used to Americans visiting. I don't think they are as used to Americans <i>coming back</i>. It was a morning full of hugs and well wishes.</div>
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The school below is a part of the Bwerenga Village. I taught here last year and plan to again some this year. It's been painted purple & orange, but the kids were the same. They took a few seconds to look me over and then immediately, "<i>Teacha Flo, Teacha Flo</i>!!" I can't begin to tell you how amazing it was to see some of the same young, sweet faces....just a year older.</div>
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<b>The School</b></div>
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Grace caught part of the sweet action when one of the many babies in the church (who are incredibly patient throughout the 3 hour service!) crawled into her lap and planted himself there. It was love.</div>
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And below is a picture from last year and one from today of myself and my cutie patootie friend. I was SO glad he hadn't forgotten me. In fact, he never let go of my hand until we got in our car to leave.</div>
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So. What to say about this first weekend? It's had it's highs and lows. I can't lie and say it's been easy. High points have been the miraculous way God has just calmed my nervousness. I have felt more at ease in this city than I ever have before. I think I'm ready to attempt driving here in a few days (which if you saw traffic here, you'd realize what a feat that would be!). Other highs include the Sixty Feet team being so welcoming and gracious and accepting of the help we are here to provide. And Sophie....little Sophie earned the trophy in our house for acclimating the easiest. She's had no trouble whatsoever here. None. She's slept like a baby, ate well for her picky self, and has generally been just smooth sailing.<br />
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Lows, to be honest, include a late night talk with Grace as she was shedding tears from missing her family back at home.....God provided the words for me because I'm not always the best communicator. (I do better writing!) I know this will be hard for her because this year, she's 9. And 9 is close to the age where you can start seeing outside your parents....you start needing your friends and stability. So I know that I will have to be extra cautious about her needs here. Lows also include a tinge of the "insecurity" attack. There is SO much to do and things to be done with 60 Feet's ministry. Administration needs, prison needs, team needs, and hundreds more. What will we be able to help with here? Are our strengths and gifts lining up to what Sixty Feet's ministry really needs at this stage in their growth? Can we do all of this AND keep our marriage and family in good standing AND be able to handle being away AND.....the list goes on.<br />
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Thankfully, we have prayer warriors at home. That term is so overused, but I <i>know</i> that those people who keep those call lines to God busy morning, noon, and night are keeping us covered. So our strength and purpose here will remain in tact. And to shorten a thought from C.S. Lewis, " My confidence lies not in who I <i>think</i> God is, but who He <i>knows</i> himself to be." <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-73942467636592794432013-02-17T17:21:00.001-08:002013-02-17T18:28:58.846-08:00Didn't Expect to Hear From Me, Eh?<br />
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So. Here I am. Blogging once more.<br />
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I missed it (a bit). It's been a nice break to be away. Smashing back into life after Africa has been a transition that I thought would be hard, but (unfortunately) was a bit too easy. It really took just a few weeks to settle back into our big stores, smooth roads, air conditioning, and Cloroxed-lives. The pit latrines are a distant memory, but the people.....they are not. Every picture brings me back, and makes me question if we should be there or here. Permanently. But the thinking and pondering hasn't gone away....oohh no. My hubs and I are constantly pondering questions like, "<i>What was done in Africa?" "What do we do with what we learned and experienced now that we're back?" "What direction do we go with our lives at this juncture?" "How can we continue to </i><i>help those we know are in need?"</i><br />
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Y'know. The light stuff.<br />
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So what have I been up to in the last 6 months? Well, if you are a follower of my blog because of my furniture refurbishing-craze, you'll need to unsubscribe. I haven't waxed a peep. Painted more than a toenail. And certainly haven't been to a garage sale! I think that, whilst 'twas fun, it wasn't my "forever" deal. It served a purpose, and that chapter is closed for now. Who knows, though, right? <br />
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What HAS happened is life. And quickly. My oldest, Grace, entered the 3rd grade, and 3-going-on-4 year old Sophie started a new daycare. Grace has already won Student of the Month and is so far making all A's....she's a star kiddo. Sophie, oh my. She talks, and talks, and talks, and talks. She <i>hilarious</i> personified. I began my 8th year of teaching 4th grade. My hubs started his 4th year of coaching & teaching. We suffere...I mean, strolled through a football/basketball & now starting track season. Not much has changed on the job fronts.<br />
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A few things HAVE changed though. For the better. And much of it has to do with our life this summer in Africa. For one, our diets have changed. After eating little processed foods and not always having sugary foods readily available (no sweet tea!) for two months, we came back to America with our digestive systems changed. All of a sudden, eating at our favorite Mexican food place threw both mine and my hub's stomach into World War III. It did NOT like it! We realized we needed to make a change. So, I began searching.<br />
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I literally did a 180 on our normal food routine. We used to have cookies & all kinds of fun snacks readily available. But after some research (thanks Pinterest!), I started making rounds of healthy snacks like below. No/low sugar, flaxseed, whole wheat, no ingredients that sound like they should be in a science lab (maltodextrinchloride, anyone?....heh, I just made that up.) <br />
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It's worked like a charm. My body took to it like wheat on rye! ; ) I lost pounds, my hubs shed weight that he's never been able to shed (even after running all his hundreds of miles) and we both felt SO much better. It's been an interesting journey in food these past few months, but a welcome change it has been!<br />
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Africa, obviously, has changed our lives in so many more ways other than just food. It's a HUGE part of our decision making process now.....it's invaded the little things and the big. I also met some people there that to THIS DAY still make me feel empowered as an heir in Christ. Life changers, I call them. Everyone should meet these people! I'll share stories of their life-gift to us on another blog, but believe me, it's Changed.Our.Life.<br />
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All in all, to try to talk about it all in one post is lud-i-crous. Can't do it. Won't try.<br />
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But I guess I'm back. It feels good. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-36054830288617074572012-08-04T19:37:00.002-07:002012-08-04T19:47:30.265-07:00Back to Life, Back to Reality<div style="text-align: center;">
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It is nice to be back.<br />
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The welcoming crew was wonderful....a sweet scene of cousins who hadn't seen each other all summer, running and jumping on one another. The smell of clean air and sanitary bathrooms were something we ALL rejoiced over. And yes, after the last mango larvae was picked out of my dear little Sophie's head....and my hub's back (as shown below).....we all settled down for a long winter's nap. I mean, summer.<br />
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We lived a missionary's life for two months. We caught of brief, <i>brief</i> glimpse of what it means to live life overseas (with children). The people we met were inspiring (young interns managing an NGO while navigating their way through a foreign country, faithful servants who really do <i>wait</i> on the Lord, families gracefully tackling the challenges of adoption, marriages that inspire you to make changes in your own marriage <i>right now, </i>plus a few hundred more examples.<i>) </i><br />
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<i>So how was it? What did I learn? What was I shown? What did I see?</i><br />
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We are tackled with these questions with the expectation of a quick answer. The quickest answer I can give is not with words. It simply must be with my life. Our life. My hubs and I, our daughters, our marriage.....the joy in us that is produced only by Him, through seeking Him in His Word (or via really awesome, amazing challenging podcasts we've been listening to!), reading challenging C.S. Lewis books (yes....my author hero), and keeping in touch with those who we've met that gave us the heavy doses of inspiration.<br />
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It's easy to get back into this reality. The America full of endless consumption. The "I gotta get's...." "I gotta do's..." the "schedules".......it's also easy to get cynical and think none of it really matters. Y'know...in the grand God-scheme of it all. What does matter is that the cup put before you is one that you take not just with obedience, but with a <i>submitted, connected</i> heart. Whatever that cup is.......until the next one is given. <br />
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I gotta say this selfishly. I love what was brought forth, brought back into our life. It was a spirit of <i>grace</i>. Grace in my marriage, grace in parenting, grace with myself.....Knowing we fail. Knowing we are not perfect. But knowing we are perfect in Christ, and we are living this very temporary life according to His plan and by His grace. Knowing we need to cling to the Vine, the source of joy and peace and contentment. Knowing that we will do it together. Not fearfully living. Not trying to be in control. But by living this life the way He intended, not trying to be <i>radical, </i><b>just living it IN Him</b>.<br />
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Thanks to so many people. You know who you are. You know it because I'm sending you a vibe right now. Right. Now. Can you feel it?.....Good.<br />
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<i>"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4</i></div>
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<b>Our First Few Minutes Back at Home!</b></div>
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-84938396419674724262012-07-20T21:58:00.001-07:002012-07-20T22:15:17.295-07:00The Last Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here it is. The last day in Uganda. A two month trip....done.</div>
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After all the planning and praying that we did to prepare for this trip, here I am on the last day thinking....what in the world was done? Uganda is just the same as the day we arrived. Beautiful & terrible. Corrupt & honest. Wealth & poverty (with more of the latter than the first). Christians & Muslim. The little ones we visited still have no undies and little food......I've had these thoughts several times along the way (usually as I'm doing some mundane chore like ironing). A good friend put it into perspective for me: "Don't measure yourself by man's standards. 'Getting things done' 'accomplishments', etc. are man's terms. Measure yourself by God's standards".</div>
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It was in those words I could breathe free. I could look through the lens of God and see the relationships developed, the sweetness of just being a friend, the hugs given, the menial tasks done that needed to be done.....and maybe, I dusted off my own self as well. As CS Lewis said in "Mere Christianity", perfect sunlight can be reflected better off a clean mirror, than a dirty one. My mirror definitely needed a bit of shining!</div>
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One thing I DO understand now is that the Ugandan people are living life just as we live ours. In the hardships, they glorify God. Some don't, but that's life in America, as well. The main difference between the two places, to me, is that in America we have 'opportunity'. We have a friend, family member,government or an organization that can help when we really <i>need</i>. Here.....so many are on their own.</div>
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What do I think about coming back to the states? I'm excited to see my home. My family & friends. Most of all, I'm excited to go home and find ways in which I use what I've been blessed with to help the 'least of these' more. My sister moved into her gorgeous, new home while I was gone and said to me by phone, "I don't want you to come see it....after what you've seen!". No. That's the wrong way to think. Think about how God's blessed us, just as he did King David & Abraham, and use those gifts as a blessing to others. To keep it all to ourselves would glorify none.</div>
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So I leave you with some pictures of our time here. </div>
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Thanks for being part of the journey.</div>
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<b>That Beautiful Face</b></div>
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<b>Making Friends & Mudballs</b></div>
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<b> Sophie, an Exceptional Friend Maker</b></div>
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<b>My Favorite Teacher</b></div>
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<b>They Loved "The Bearded, Tall Man"</b></div>
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<b>Ice Cream - a Rare Delicacy</b></div>
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<b> Dirty Feet & Bottoms - Always</b></div>
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<b>Friends Building Their Home, Brick by Brick (at 200 shillings each!)</b></div>
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<b>Boat Ride to ARM on Lake Victoria</b></div>
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<b>The Beautiful Kids</b></div>
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<b>The Nile....The Family.....</b></div>
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-40443009314402831092012-07-18T10:05:00.004-07:002012-07-18T10:06:04.114-07:00Relationships<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Can you spot the monkey?? (Hint: It's not Grace!)</b></div>
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There's a bit of irony in this trip of ours. We came thinking we'd be pouring out blessings all over Uganda, but actually, Uganda's been pouring out the blessings on us. I feel like I've had a crash course in <i>real relationships. </i>Not to say I don't have good relationships with people at home, but if I can write honestly, I would say that for many reasons that I don't understand, these people <i>have</i> to rely on each other in a way we don't. There's no pretenses about it. They need each other to survive. </div>
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That whole "it takes a village" really rings true here. </div>
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Pastor Boaz & his wife, Faith, are perfect examples. It took me a few times of realizing that when Faith says, "I am so glad you are here.".....she actually means it. It's not just some saying that is thrown around loosely to be "kind". And Boaz. Every time he sees you, he starts each day with, "Hello. How are you? How is your family?" And he's looking for <i>real</i> answers. The simple way they want to earnestly talk to you, listen to your answers, and laugh with you......it's heartwarming.</div>
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One thing my hubs and I have also been blessed to soak in is the spiritual wisdom from our friend, Jenny. We stay up at nights and discuss marriage and parenting like nobody's business. She's full of marital wisdom that has already changed the way we think about our marriage. And her parenting advice (she has 15 children, including a 16 year old son that is AWESOME) hit home. Practical, Christian advice in "the gritty truth" kinda way. I love it & am thankful for her.</div>
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<b>Jenny, Faith, and me</b></div>
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This afternoon, we made time to attend fellowship and a bible study with Boaz & Faith at Kids of Africa, a Swiss children's home. The grounds were beautiful and so were the children. Grace & Sophie enjoyed playing with the kiddos on one of the best playgrounds I've seen in Uganda thus far. </div>
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<b>Sophie playing "Fire on the Mountain"</b></div>
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<i> </i><b>Grace on the BIMBO....hehe</b></div>
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<i><img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" /></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361587830093928945.post-13843112590376985562012-07-14T13:47:00.000-07:002012-07-14T14:00:32.207-07:00Perfection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've never met a little girl like Esther. Someone who has so much favor with God that as soon as you meet her, you can't help but be filled with joy. Esther is the newly adopted daughter of our friend, <a href="http://www.jennysupdates.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Jenny</b></span></a>, here in Uganda. Esther has special needs, and thanks to the intricately woven plan of our super creative God, Jenny never batted an eyelash to any of those needs. She simply knew that she was the momma to this little girl and will be taking her home in a few days. During those few days, they are our house mates. </div>
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What a blessing they've been and it's only day one.</div>
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God's plan here was evident. He equipped many people to specifically breathe truth and love into her life at times when she was the weakest. I met a young man, Daniel, who for years, spent every weekend with her at the orphanage.....nurturing, caring, and singing praise songs to her when many people would have given up. Also, the many volunteers who fell in love with her during their stay in Uganda. And the plan was perfected when Jenny came into her life.</div>
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Watching Esther and listening to Jenny's stories of all the "firsts": first time to sleep in a bed, discovering the joy of bath time, eating foods other than porridge.....Love. Simply love.</div>
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My own smitten girls wish that Esther could come home with us. ; ) I reminded Grace that she already <i>has</i> a family....and that made me smile. That prayer has been answered.</div>
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<img src="http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz288/jmgersh/Signature-13.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3