Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monkey Bird Bed Rest
Ok so I'm stuck in bed waiting for my blood to regenerate lol and everyone is at church. There is a bird that sounds like a monkey trying to break into my room. And all I can think about is finding cream of wheat so I can feel better. it looks like a hawlk and sounds like a gibbon weird monkey bird!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Snaptshots: Interesting Sights and Sounds from Around the World
1) The Good Samaritan - A few weeks ago (mid-October) I walked out from my room into the main lobby at FDLM to see about 40 children tearing open a christmas gift. Perplexed by this evening extravaganza I probed as to the origin of these boxes. Emblazoned on the gift wrap of each gift was the logo "Samaritan's Purse." I had never been on the receiving end of such a venture before and immediately got excited for each of the children. Each child received a shoebox specially wrapped. Each shoe box contained a random assortment of various things the donor thought the child would like. Each box was denoted by age range and gender.
What was most fascinating was the children's response to much of what was inside of the boxes. One girl got an entire shoebox full of candy plus a giant tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush. Another child got school supplies. Javonta got a gift too - a giant Batman battle tank. Among the squeals of delight rose questions such as, "do I eat this?" and "Rachelann, what is this?" As darkness blanketed the land the children began retreating to their dorms to store their stashes. I was amuzed a bit later when out of the darkness came a strange swirling light coming towards me. As the light approached I realized it was a lightup twirling ballerina doll being used by a girl as a flashlight. Another interesting encounter was when one of the teenagers bit into a plastic necklace thinking it was candy. It is sure interesting to think about the cultural differences and about what people in different cultures enjoy or think others will enjoy. All and all it was an interesting experience to behold and the children ended up all happy and grateful by the day's end.
2) You want what??... In our new home our gardener, Moses, was preparing a charcoal stove. Lighting these suckers is always a challenge since it takes a lot of heat to set the charcoal ablaze. Moses asked us if we had any parafin as this would help light the charcoal. We wondered how parafin wax would help light charcoal since it is not flammable. Rachelann produced the candles and handed them to a confused Moses. He mentioned that it wouldn't work. We all just kind of stood there perplexed until Moses realized he wasn't going to get anywhere with us and went back to lighting the charcoal.
About one week later Javonta and Moses were in town and we called Moses and told him to pick up some parafin. 30 minutes later he and Javonta came walking in with a liter of some strange liquid. Javonta remarked that the parafin Moses was requesting was actually pure gasoline to use as ligher fluid. So in this case: Parafin = Gasoline.
What was most fascinating was the children's response to much of what was inside of the boxes. One girl got an entire shoebox full of candy plus a giant tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush. Another child got school supplies. Javonta got a gift too - a giant Batman battle tank. Among the squeals of delight rose questions such as, "do I eat this?" and "Rachelann, what is this?" As darkness blanketed the land the children began retreating to their dorms to store their stashes. I was amuzed a bit later when out of the darkness came a strange swirling light coming towards me. As the light approached I realized it was a lightup twirling ballerina doll being used by a girl as a flashlight. Another interesting encounter was when one of the teenagers bit into a plastic necklace thinking it was candy. It is sure interesting to think about the cultural differences and about what people in different cultures enjoy or think others will enjoy. All and all it was an interesting experience to behold and the children ended up all happy and grateful by the day's end.
2) You want what??... In our new home our gardener, Moses, was preparing a charcoal stove. Lighting these suckers is always a challenge since it takes a lot of heat to set the charcoal ablaze. Moses asked us if we had any parafin as this would help light the charcoal. We wondered how parafin wax would help light charcoal since it is not flammable. Rachelann produced the candles and handed them to a confused Moses. He mentioned that it wouldn't work. We all just kind of stood there perplexed until Moses realized he wasn't going to get anywhere with us and went back to lighting the charcoal.
About one week later Javonta and Moses were in town and we called Moses and told him to pick up some parafin. 30 minutes later he and Javonta came walking in with a liter of some strange liquid. Javonta remarked that the parafin Moses was requesting was actually pure gasoline to use as ligher fluid. So in this case: Parafin = Gasoline.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Update
These past few weeks have been pretty busy. I have not had much opportunity to blog extensively our process.
There are some pretty significant events that have taken place that I will describe shortly here.
First, Rachelann and I are no longer working for FDLM. After several meetings with the administration the management decided that our vision to serve God in Uganda would be better served if we were not under the formal leadership of FDLM. Our desire from the beginning was to come to FDLM as a transition point as we discerned how the Lord was to use us here in Uganda.
We have learned a lot from FDLM and are extremely thankful for all that they have provided for us. It was a good opportunity to see how an orphanage was run and to learn from those who have spent much of their lives giving them away to others.
Along with our movement out from FDLM has been our moving into a new house. Rachelann and I have been inquiring of the Lord as to what exactly He wants us to do with ourselves. Our heart is to use this house for the glory of God and to see what He does. We have begun networking with several strains of local missionaries and are trying to see how we can fit in.
A third development has been the fostering of five children. Many of our friends in the States are aware of Fred and Brian. They are two brothers left behind when their mother died. These two were living with two different relatives who were unable to fully support them. Consequently Fred is a 7 year old boy with HIV. He was despondant and was not fed adequately by the relative he was staying with. Brian was being cared for by his father. However, this "care" was not sufficient. When Rachelann first went to see him, he was found covered in feces and naked. His body looked like that of a four month old even though he physically was ten months old. For the past few months we have worked to bring these two into our care. As of about two weeks now, both boys are fully in our care.
Fred and Brian have two sisters. They were being cared for by FDLM after the mother died. By the grace of God, the girls have been released to us as well and are now also in our care. They are finishing up their last school term (which ends in mid-November) and then will be coming to live with us fully.
It is interesting to see what God is doing here. These past few months have flown by. So many things have been happening and we are barely knowing how it all worked out the way it did. But God has been working along the whole time. We are believing in Him and trusting Him to lead us in the way we should go. We are being stretched in ways we have not been. Our faith is being tested. Our hearts are being enlarged. God is moving fast. We are so blessed.
So that's a quick overall update without including many of the intimate details. As of right now we are trying to settle into this new house as we ask God for help and direction. Please pray for us.
There are some pretty significant events that have taken place that I will describe shortly here.
First, Rachelann and I are no longer working for FDLM. After several meetings with the administration the management decided that our vision to serve God in Uganda would be better served if we were not under the formal leadership of FDLM. Our desire from the beginning was to come to FDLM as a transition point as we discerned how the Lord was to use us here in Uganda.
We have learned a lot from FDLM and are extremely thankful for all that they have provided for us. It was a good opportunity to see how an orphanage was run and to learn from those who have spent much of their lives giving them away to others.
Along with our movement out from FDLM has been our moving into a new house. Rachelann and I have been inquiring of the Lord as to what exactly He wants us to do with ourselves. Our heart is to use this house for the glory of God and to see what He does. We have begun networking with several strains of local missionaries and are trying to see how we can fit in.
A third development has been the fostering of five children. Many of our friends in the States are aware of Fred and Brian. They are two brothers left behind when their mother died. These two were living with two different relatives who were unable to fully support them. Consequently Fred is a 7 year old boy with HIV. He was despondant and was not fed adequately by the relative he was staying with. Brian was being cared for by his father. However, this "care" was not sufficient. When Rachelann first went to see him, he was found covered in feces and naked. His body looked like that of a four month old even though he physically was ten months old. For the past few months we have worked to bring these two into our care. As of about two weeks now, both boys are fully in our care.
Fred and Brian have two sisters. They were being cared for by FDLM after the mother died. By the grace of God, the girls have been released to us as well and are now also in our care. They are finishing up their last school term (which ends in mid-November) and then will be coming to live with us fully.
It is interesting to see what God is doing here. These past few months have flown by. So many things have been happening and we are barely knowing how it all worked out the way it did. But God has been working along the whole time. We are believing in Him and trusting Him to lead us in the way we should go. We are being stretched in ways we have not been. Our faith is being tested. Our hearts are being enlarged. God is moving fast. We are so blessed.
So that's a quick overall update without including many of the intimate details. As of right now we are trying to settle into this new house as we ask God for help and direction. Please pray for us.
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