How have we changed this past year?

Isaiah 55:8   “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.  “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” (NLT)

As our minds and our hearts start to switch gears for our trip back to America, we have been thinking how different we are now than when we left, and how we have changed.  We have laughed a lot and cried a lot, (mostly Bruce) and learned a little more about putting aside our selfishness and giving ALL our joys and struggles to God.

Things were not ALL as we imagined.  Some things that we thought would be easy were far more difficult; other things that we feared, or that we saw as a huge challenge, we have faced and conquered.   Being able to step on, and kill, a two-inch roach with your bare feet is not a scary thing anymore.  Watching your rice walk on your plate all by itself only stops you from eating for that day.  Having a house that is always clean, bug free, with power and running water are not normal anymore.  Now when we have consistent power for a whole week we are singing praises!  

Learning to spend 24/7 with your spouse has changed us too. We both held good jobs, went to work, came home and shared a meal, talked about our day. We each had separate roles like: Bruce mowed the lawn, Janine did laundry etc.  Now our lives and roles are intertwined and hard to separate.  The problems that arise (which can be daily) we figure out how to tackle them together.  We have had to do whatever was needed to help each other out.

We have learned to take one day at a time and to be more flexible.  ‘Our plans are not always His plans’.  Going to pay the electric bill could be an all day event.  We can plan to accomplish 5 things in a day, but only one or two get done.  We can plan, have everything prepared, go to the village and find there is another death, a child needs to be run up to the clinic for malaria testing, or the rains and difficult roads force us to turn around.  We have learned to relax a little and enjoy the moment; you may not get another chance.

Being able to do our ‘one stop shopping’ at Meijers with its unlimited choices: Oreos, steak, clothes etc. will be a major luxury.  Food choices here are very limited and shopping in general can be difficult and frustrating.   The diet here is mainly chapattis (like a tortilla) rice, beans and matokee (banana).   We have watched families in the village dig and hunt for their food, never having enough to feed their own families, yet in their appreciation of how they feel blessed by us, they have given us food from what little they have, and what they have worked so hard to get.  And we must graciously accept.

Most importantly we have learned how important relationships with family and friends are to us; and that their prayers and support have a greater power than we imagined.  We have a deeper understanding of how big God’s love is for ALL his children.  We have learned to love a little deeper, hug a little longer, and live more in the moment.  Life is a precious gift that we should never take for granted!

We have learned that our struggles have made us grow.  We have learned to do things we never would have tried before, to step beyond our comfort zones. And when we feel inadequate, or not trained, we still need to take a step forward and try and let God do the rest!  His Love and Faithfulness is never ending!

We are looking forward to seeing you all and catching up on your lives!  See you soon!

Job 42:2 I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. (NIV)

April showers bring May flowers is an expression typically used in Michigan to describe the coming of spring.  Well, in Uganda April showers bring flooding, treacherous roads, and absenteeism in the school and in the Bible studies.  Oh, the joys of being a missionary in Uganda!  We have learned to adjust and accept these conditions as being part of the culture we live in. Even though these are not our plans, we can trust that they are the plans of the God who sent us to minister here. Job experienced much turmoil, but he yielded to the sovereignty of God.  Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” (NIV)  We can be at peace knowing God is in control.

Absenteeism is not totally due to the flooding, but due to the fact that the rain is here and it is time to plant the crops.  The women, children and some men spend early mornings and late afternoons planting in the gardens.  Some gardens are near the homes of the people that tend them and other gardens are some distance from the homes of the people.  We stress how important school and Bible study is, but in the end food measures pretty high in order of importance as well.

The close of the month of April also brings to a close the work that the young lady Kendall was doing in the school.  She is returning home for good on May 20^th and we will be making a trip to Kampala to bring her to the airport for her flight home. To be honest with you we have spent a lot of time worrying about her and checking to make sure she is Ok.  We never had a daughter of our own, so this is God’s way of letting us know what we missed out on. “Worry” She was a joy to have around and we as a team shared many of laughs, mostly at my expense.

Term I at the school came to an end on April 24^th along with the completion of classroom number four.  The students finished their exams and then the school became a ghost town.  There is only a three-week break until term II starts so we will enjoy the break from paying teachers salaries, buying lunches, and from tracking all the orphans to make sure they are in attendance at school. 

The P-7 students will meet with Simon and I over the next couple of weeks to assemble at least seven of the ten desks for them to use in their new classroom when class resumes on May 18^th.  The school is closed, so the cooks are no longer there.  Janine and I provide the lunch for the P-7 students while they worke on the desks.  Michelle Obama would not be happy with us because we provide a mendazi “doughnut” and a soda to each student for their lunch.  Not very high in nutritional value! But, the joyful looks on their faces say how pleased they are with the choice we made. 

Thanks to 4 of the 15 P-7 students that showed up on their school break, we present to you the 1^st two completed desks of 10 from the Vocational Training at St. Paul’s Learning Centre, Naigobya!  4 Proud students and 1 proud Omusomesa (teacher)!

Janine wrapped up another beginner class of sewing and beading this month.  I will warn you the women are becoming very skilled at making various products like: pocket books, table runners, aprons, etc. which we will sell in the States and in Uganda.  I believe there is enough to go around while we are home visiting several churches.  All the proceeds will be used to replenish materials used and to buy one or two more sewing machines and begin some micro businesses.

Speaking of Janine, I want to share a story with you about her.  A few weeks ago Janine and I were in Jinja town doing some shopping and then planned on meeting at a coffee shop when finished.  While I was sitting outside the coffee shop drinking a Mocha waiting for Janine another missionary walked up to me and he was clearly amazed at what he had just seen.  He said, “Bruce, I just saw your wife down the street and I had to go back and take another look to make sure it was her.  She was praying on the street with a local Ugandan.”  I replied, “Really”!  He said he could never do that, pray with another person at random, and on the street.  He also shared that he could share about Jesus, but not pray with someone.  Of course, I explained the importance of praying with someone whenever called to, or if someone wanted to accept Christ he would need to pray with the individual on the spot.  As difficult as it might be, sometimes we need to go beyond our comfort zone.

 Janine and I want to warn you and also ask for forgiveness in advance for newsletters we will be sending in the next couple months.  We will be consumed with entertaining and traveling, so our time will be short and the content of the letters might be a little boring.  Please forgive us!

Beginning in May we are going to be swamped with extra work not closely related to our work in the village.  We have a sea container coming mid May that is filled with school supplies and items for ECM and Afayo.  We will gladly travel to get the belongings from Kampala to Jinja and then Naigobya because we have a school full of excited kids and teachers.  We anxiously will pick up the Actis family who will be joining us and helping with The Afayo Project.  We will spend time helping them find their way, find and finalize a home and find furniture for their home. We will be making numerous trips back and forth to the airport picking up and transporting guests.  Mark Luckey is coming to spend some time in Uganda and in the village.  Mark has arranged for a team of teachers to come and spend some time teaching at St. Paul’s Learning Centre June 12^th  through the 24^th.  We will be bringing them to stay with us in Jinja and take them each day to the village so they can teach.

Janine and I will be brought to Entebbe on the 26^th so we can fly home for furlough.  Wow!  Good thing is, we will be so busy that time will pass quickly.  We are so excited to come home for a visit and can’t wait to see everyone and share our experiences.  God is Good!  

Our Prayer Needs

*God’s intervention and execution on all the upcoming plans

*Our work permits get validated

* Please pray that Hearts would be open to hear & understand God’s message

*Pray we would be effective to communicate God’s love and truth with them better on all levels.

*Safety as we travel on the roads here.  

Because He Lives!

Bruce & Janine