CONTAINER UNLOADING PICS

It was August the 3rd when we last saw our container and all of it's contents roll away from our home in Mt Sterling, IL.  Honestly, my hopes weren't to high of it even making the journey successfully, let a lone arriving with almost everything completely intact!  You should have seen our faces when that ugly red container showed up...  Unfortunately, Wendy, Annie and Lucy couldn't be there for the unloading.  With lots of help from Micah's family and friends from the church, the unloading was a real success. As promised, here are several pics revealing the much anticipated arrival of the container.  Oh, and thank you Micah for allowing us to disturb THREE rooms in your home!  I'm still in shock...

SMALL TALK MAKES ME NERVOUS...

Why is it so hard for real people to talk about real things?  I’ve never been very good at small talk, at least I don’t think so.  Small talk makes me nervous.  What I mean is, I always feel pressure to contribute to a conversation that virtually is meaningless.  But in order to get to the “real stuff” I’ve found that small talk is very necessary for breaking the proverbial ice.  So I’m working on my small talk skills!  It seems though, people, especially many churched people, rarely get past the small talk.  Oh, they’ll converse about other peoples quote on quote problems or concerns, but getting them to turn the corner on themselves becomes more of a challenge. 

Was Jesus good at small talk?  I’m not sure if He was or wasn’t, not everything he said or did is completely recorded.  When I read the gospels, it seems like Jesus is always trying to make a point, constantly in a state of teaching even amongst His small talk, especially with his disciples.   And what about all the encounters with not yet believers, John 4 (woman at the well), Luke 19 (story of Zacchaeus), John 3 (Nicodemus, ok so Jesus was probably a bit tired for small talk in this one), and the list goes on and on…  Point being, Jesus went straight for the jugular, He wasted no time talking about the weather or the latest Soccer or NFL standings.  In every encounter He ever had with a not yet believer, Jesus’ one desire was to set them free from their burdens and chains. 

Now, we all are wired differently, some more bold or timid than others, and for that I am grateful.  But God never intended for His creation to just be a bunch of small talkers, never getting into the lives of those around us.  Small groups or community groups are fine and well, but why have we stopped there?  Whether it’s here in Uganda or back in the States, one thing seems to be scary for us to do, and that is to find that special individual and develop a one on one relationship, sharing in what God is doing in our lives and also the challenges that we are up against.   Proverbs 27 says it best when it says “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”  Jesus chose twelve, and from the twelve he intentionally spent one on one time with three.  The twelve were His small group. The three were His inner circle.  You and I are here today because Jesus decided come down from Heaven to live life with twelve guys, and pour intimately into three of them, and one of the three Jesus built His church upon.  Jesus kept it simple. 

Spiritual adoption seems to be the latest buzz-word for making disciples.  I’m not against the phrase, but I do think it leaves a lot of life out of the equation of making disciples.   Years ago, I ministered at a church that taught me the phrase, “Doing life together”.  Wendy and I long for that once again, to do life together with a group of believers, to share life, the good and bad and everything in between.  But even more, we desire intimacy with a few, to be able to share the deepest parts of our being with a friend that will listen and will love us for who we are, not for who we should be.  Yes, I believe deep down, every single person desires to be loved as they are.  Have you found that someone to do life together, and I mean really do life?  If so, you know how exhilarating it is.  If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?       

PICS!!!

OK, so we have gotten several requests for pictures.  Here are a few that we have taken through out the past several weeks...Enjoy & more to come!

Bon Voyage!

Girls, posing on the balcony of our very first apartment in Africa

Yes, home schooling is going well!

Our family van...w/ Emma and Lucy acting tough!

Baptism Sunday...23 total!

Our neighborhood...

IT'S ALL IN WHO YOU KNOW

Searching for a house in Kampala has been a bit more challenging than anticipated.  We are now beginning week 3.  Seems we have been looking at houses for 2 months, but it has only been 2 weeks.  Exhaustion has begun to set it, but somehow we manage to push onward.  Location is now at the top of our priority list.  Please be in prayer that God continues to give us wisdom.

We made our first major purchase, we bought a van!  Now buying a vehicle in Kampala isn't exactly the same as buying one in the States.  In fact, it is very different.  First, you need to know someone, actually it seems you need to know someone for just about anything you do here.  Second, buying a "new car" from Kampala, isn't really buying a new car.  Most cars that are in Kampala come from Japan or Europe, and all of them are used, at least the ones the average joe can afford.  Third, you go to "the bond" to find the car you desire, then negotiate on the price...this is a bit tricky, but again, if you know someone, the transaction is much smoother.  My "someone", his name is Godwins...and he lives up to his name.  After you've negotiated, you literally pull out your cash, and ONE piece of paper is signed, and you are driving.  Now there are a few other minor steps, but as long as you have cash and a passport, you can drive...that's it.  License and insurance are included in the deal.  And so we decided on a 99 Toyota van...I am the first time driver on it here in Uganda, which makes the van a lot more valuable. The next paragraph tells you why...  

The roads here are brutal, and most damaging to your vehicle.  Potholes are the size of  VW Beetles, and the homemade speed bumps created on the dirt roads seem to grow daily.  And the traffic!  My goodness for those in the states that think they have experienced crazy traffic, I would challenge you to drive in Kampala!  If you want a small taste of it, go to YouTube and type in Kampala traffic.  I've heard some say it's like driving in a real life video game.  I'm no gamer, but maybe that's true.

An update on our Visa status.  For a fee (of course), the internal affairs office extended our visas for 2 months, which gives us time to work on our permanent work visas.  We've met with an attorney regarding this issue and he seems to think he can take care of this for us.  But, nothing is done yet, and for that I would ask you all to continue praying that God would make at least this visa process smooth and seamless.

I met with the gentleman in charge of getting our container out of customs, and into our hands once again.  His name is Jimmy, a friend of Godwins.  Jimmy asked me all of the customary questions like, what was in the container and how long we were planning on staying in the country, pretty easy stuff.  We are meeting again tomorrow to discuss more details and so I can give him my passport and of course a fee.  Jimmy's hoping because we work underneath a missions organization that our tariffs will be waived. PLEASE, pray that God softens the hearts of those in charge of this decision.