It all begins and ends with dancing....

Greetings from American soil!  Wasn't able to blog since my last post due to lack of internet, but as was tradition, the night before our team left was marked by dancing....and more dancing by the children (and some of us brave rhythm-less white folk who's "dancing" once again incurred shrieks of laughter from the children).  I would love to post a picture but my home computer is on the blink and I'm having to post from another computer.  But imagine over a hundred children of all ages, the beating of several drums and other percussion, the occasional Acholi singing and you might be able to conjur up an image of what that night looked like.
Once again I'm in awe of our God who brings smiles and laughter not only on the outside but in the hearts of those who have been afflicted beyond our comprehension.  Once again I'm reminded that there is NOTHING that our Lord can't redeem.  Once again I'm reminded that this redeemption is full and complete. Once again I'm humbled by the love the Father lavishes on His kids.  Once again I'm brought face to face with the ugliness of my flesh who wants to complain about slight inconveniences or mild discomfort and I'm reminded of the stark contrast between my "old" self and the one completely redeemed and made holy and pure by Jesus. And I'm reminded again of the freedom of coming to know just who I was created to be and the abundant life that I can now have because of Jesus' sacrifice for me. Oh that more would know this freedom and Truth, and perhaps the story of these children will help even just one to know that there really is hope...against the stark black darkness, His Light shines brightly!
Thanks so much for all who took this journey "with" us and held us up in prayer.  We couldn't have done it without you!

The power of the connection

Zach teaching the kids about their identity in Christ

Mom climbing trees and termite mounds with kids

Me teaching the glorious art of funny face making....at least Gloria got the idea...Elijah, not so much

Part of our crew in the dugout canoe

Ahh, Saturday at the Village.  Started with a nice 6 mile run with my momma (well, the first 2 were with her and then I decided to let her run at her “more leisurely” pace as I went on ahead).  Then breakfast, then a trip to the Nile and across on dugout canoes!  Thankfully we saw no crocodile eyes as we were just about even with the waters edge.   I did get a chance to help out the local canoe “driver” on the way back across as he apparently underestimated the trajectory with the current and we were significantly downstream from our landing. After several grunts of a reply, I decided that he was indeed saying that I could help with the extra oar, so I handed over the bailing of water out of the canoe (a necessary requirement on the trip if you don’t want to end up swimming) to my mother and got to rowing.  I rowed for a good solid minute and it made me very impressed with the “professional” canoe driver as I realized how hard it was!

How increasingly I’m loving it here! Day by day, it keeps getting better and better especially with the uncharacteristically rough start to my time here.  In reflecting and praying, I realized how key relationship formation is for both myself and the kids.  Without a relationship to connect us, our interactions were, although fun and playful, more superficial and distant.  I realized it left me feeling empty and almost purposeless.   As the days here progress, so does the depth of our relationships and the power of our connections, and the “purposelessness” fades dramatically.  After our class yesterday in which Zach taught about our identity in Christ, the power we have to shine His Glory through us, and then the time we had afterwords to pray for a few kids individually who were in pain and  who were healed when we prayed, the connections with those kids in particular increased exponentially.  And I realized anew how powerful the connection together with our Lord is!

The Lord then said to me, “Tanya, this is no different from your individual relationship with me”.   He is continually seeking and pursuing a deeper relationship with us, and when we simply respond to that in prayer and communication with Him, the power of our connection increases, He gives us revelation and insight, and any sense of purposelessness dramatically fades away. And when we seek the purpose and not the experience (a phrase coined by my amazingly wise husband), we are never disappointed and are far less likely to pulled off course by the whispers of the enemy.

Thanks Jesus for such a great reminder of how powerful Your Love is!  And thanks for reminding us of how we come alive when we are connected to You!  For apart from You, when can do nothing!

A thousand words

I've been having a dirth of words to write (I know, shocking, right?) So I thought this blog post would contain many thousand words...in the form of pictures. Enjoy!


Well, wouldn't you be this happy too if you got to eat this scrumptious food every day?!

Arriving at the small local market 1 mile from the Village

 (picture directly above: kids at the local market.we only take pictures of cute kids...wait, that would be all of them!
picture above to the right: Zach trying unsuccessfully to fit in with the locals.)

picture on the right: Donna doing her teaching, encouraging thing

One of the reasons it's always so hard to leave at the end of our trip

What do you expect?

Our team next to the well on the second land..what progress since last year!

 Some of the beautiful children a the IDP camp (Nic, check out the girl in the middle with the white tank top!  My how she has grown!)

Mom with her sponsor child Tracy (can Mom grin any bigger??)

Brittany teaching how to stamp out tooth decay!  Let's hear it for good oral hygiene!

In the last 2 days, prayers have been a requirement…and for things that I hadn’t expected.  I expected to intercede for the children (which I have), I expected to call upon God’s grace and mercy for protection of their hearts and for His Word to be a light unto their feet (which I also have done), I expected to claim their lives for the Lord and for His Kingdom and His army now (which I’ve done), but I didn’t expect to have to pray so desperately against the enemy’s attempts to steal my joy, contentment, peace, and also my energy.  What odd and unexpected emotions they were, but thank the Lord that He really is the victor.  And in simply thanking Him and choosing a different perspective, He is faithful.

Yesterday was a long day of traveling. First, to the “new” land on which they are building a second village where again my expectations were completely turned upside down.  I didn’t expect to see so much progress since last year!  In one year’s time, what was once just a well, is now a well, the start of a store, an almost finished school building, two huts and a finished working latrine (of which my team took full advantage….once my brave mother rid one of the stalls of the spider that seemed to take up residence there).

Then we were off to the market where we bought tons of bananas- enough to feed all 197 children and the staff, and boy did I not expect a bag of bananas to be so heavy!  Those early morning workouts with my mom definitely paid off!

Then we went to a place where disadvantage women are taught (and are quite skilled!) at making a variety of crafts, jewelry, etc….some of which some of you may be on the receiving end of…if indeed you are nice enough upon our return J

Finally we visited one of the IDP (refugee) camps where I expected to be overcome with sorrow as was typical in years past.  But this time was different somehow.  Instead of seeing what they didn’t have, all I could see was all the beauty and talent and giftings the Lord has given to those children.  I saw how they’ve grown and matured in the 2 years since we visited this particular camp and how God really is sustaining them despite their meager resources or adult supervision or direction.  What amazing children the Lord is raising up, dependent on Him and Him alone and therefore oh so strong!  What a vivid picture of “in our weakness, HE is strong!”

My mom experienced some things unexpected as well. She didn’t expect to feel such strong emotion as she met the little girl, Tracy, whom she sponsors.  Actually meeting the child, hugging her, and spending even a little bit of time with her, definitely makes her more than a just a picture and a story, but a real live, precious child whom the Lord gave His life for.  Thank Him that we are able to use the resources He has given us, to bless the children in very tangible ways!

Today was a quieter day so far, but we were able to make beads with the children (at a pace that shall remain confidential except  to say our team was “slightly” slower in making beads than even the littlest children), and teach a lesson on both hydration and dental care.

I would tell you what is on the agenda for tomorrow, but that really wouldn’t make a difference in what you should expect as we are about on Plan E by now with all the changes in what, where, and when we are doing things.  So how about you do what we are doing….expecting only that God will show up and love on His children in amazing and unexpected ways!

Ps.  A specific shout out to my fantastic husband – Happy one month (and one day) anniversary, honey!  You are simply amazing!  I love you madly!

Differences

 Mom and Brit teaching the Primary 3 class how to make tissue paper flowers after a brief lesson on how THEY are the beauty of God.

The result of the instruction!

Oh, just me falling in love....

“Um, Tanya, there is a dead chicken right outside my hut and a rooster who is trying to eat it.”

Welcome to Monday morning at the Village, where life always carries an interesting flare quite different from life in America.  Here’s a little of what we’ve been up to following the quote above from Brittany this morning:

My over-zealous mother who makes all of us look bad with her discipline in exercising, got up for her morning run before anyone else. (I opted to use the light rain as an excuse to sleep in and went for my run a little later). She reports that a small track team of young kids formed as she ran along the path as the kids were enthralled with this mazunga (white person) running just for fun. Apparently there were lots of pointing and giggles along with the running.

Some construction is being done right next to the central compound where we stay as a new huge cement hut is being erected.  But if you closed your eyes, you would never know that construction was happening.  Mostly everything is done by hand.  For instance, concrete is being mixed by hand, with water being added to the mix with a sprinkling can instead of a large concrete mixer truck doing the job.  A much quieter and greener way for sure.

Brittany was pleased to be taught some Acholi dancing by some of the girls and apparently has come to the same conclusion as the rest of us mazungas who have tried this dancing- our body parts simply do not move and shake the way theirs do.  (If I could post a video on the blog, you would see exactly what I mean….and you would laugh as well).

Zach was introduced to a blatant cultural difference head on today.  In Uganda, it is customary and very normal for two men (non-homosexual) to hold hands as they walk.  And Zach was privy to this experience first-hand today (no pun intended) with one of the boys. He’s also realized just how wimpy his feet are as he tried to join the group of boys playing football (American soccer) barefoot.  Let’s just say he is wearing his shoes now.

I (Tanya) was taught by one of the house moms how to carry a baby on my back.  I feel as though this is a much more ergonomically correct way to carry a young-in.  Plus it just looks fun. So I just may tuck this newly acquired skill in the back of my brain should I ever need said skill anytime in the future.

Tomorrow should be an interesting day as we head to the town of Gulu to visit the second Villlage under construction, check out the local market, and visit some children who are still in the old refugee camps.  Praying the Lord will use us mightily to encourage these children who still remain in the grip of poverty.  Hope of Glory shine brightly in the midst of darkness!

A Sunday glimpse at the Village

Sundays at the Village have traditionally been days filled with praise, worship, games, laughter and playing and today has been no exception.   The day started with church- well, actually it started for Mom and I with a half-hour strength training workout in which she held her own pretty well…even at her ripe old age J .  Then we had a quick breakfast of an egg sandwich, and then headed the 50 yards across a small field to the all-purpose/church open-air building in which some children had already gathered.  We had a traditionally lively and very African worship time which I have come to enjoy quite immensely.  There still just isn’t anything that quite compares to hearing precious hearts singing “Jesus my Jesus I love you. You came, You died, to set me free.  And now my life I give to You. Jesus my Jesus I love you.”  Dang, tears every time I tell ya!  And for those of you who will be privileged to hear the short video of them singing, be forewarned and prepared with tissues!

Our team led a short skit and message about Abraham/Sarah/Hagar and Ishmael and it was great to be able to encourage the children and remind them that God NEVER leaves them, they are precious to Him and He is faithful to His promises, even when life circumstances may seem to be shouting something opposite. Ahh, we serve SUCH a GOOD God!

The rest of the day has been spent hanging out and playing with the kids.  Mom introduced them to the game of four-square and even spray-painted the court on the ground.  It was so popular that we ended up having to make a second court to accommodate all the kids!  The child pictured with Mom in the picture above with the pink shirt is named Innocent, but let me tell you he is anything but that.  That sneaky little fellow kept trying to get to the front of the line and skip back and forth between courts and “innocently” just happen to be in the front of the line if you weren’t careful to keep your eye on the little bugger!

Anna introduced them to softball which the boy took to quite readily, Donna could be found with a crowd of girls encircling her at all times, and Brit and Zach took time to hang out and engage in a variety of activities with the kids.

I think I can safely say on behalf of the team that today has been wonderful and tiring at the same time and we’ll sleep pretty good tonight!

Thanks for those who have been lifting us up in prayer!  We can definitely feel your prayers and are eager to see how God moves tomorrow! 

Greetings from the Pearl of Africa!

Helloooo and greetings from the Pearl of Africa!

We are here safe and sound after a rather long day and a half journey  (see photo of our team plus our friend Erin in the bus as we finally head to the Village ) followed by a nice long sleep after we got to the Village!  (See photo of our team in front of the hut--- left to right: my lovely mamma, Anna, Donna, Brittany, and me (Tanya) and of course Zach, the lone person on our team with a Y chromosome). Once again this year, our team was greeting by ALL 197 children lined up along side of the road singing “Welcome welcome we love you!” .  And this time it took a wonderfully long time to go down the line and hug or shake the hands of all the kids.  My have some of them grown and how wonderful to see new faces since last year! 

There’ve been changes to the Village since last year too.  Good changes including two new houses, a piggery which is almost ready for pigs, a library and two new latrines, plus a whole slew of bush that has been farmed by the kids and is now growing a ton of maize (or corn as we call it).

Some  changes that I wouldn’t really classify into the “good” category are cobras…yup, the snake.   Our team hasn’t seen any yet but on the morning before our arrival, Mike one of the missionaries here killed a small cobra right outside his hut.  And apparently there was a rather large cobra that killed one of the chickens a few months ago.  Whoa!  So our headlamps and slow walking have become our best friends as we travel to the latrines in the middle of the night.

Speaking of which, Donna and I bonded two times last night as we both headed to the latrines together TWICE in the middle of the night. The first trip was rather non-eventful, but the second found ourselves running like little school girls when we opened the far last latrine door and was greeted by Scruffy the rat.  I’m not sure who was more scared at our shrieking, us or the rat who promptly turned right around and ran back in the latrine.  So being the brave and fearless women that we are, we combated this problem head on…..by using the second-to-last latrine instead J.  And in the combination of us trying to not laugh out loud plus exhaustion and giddiness, I believe the noise level was almost enough to wake up the entire compound.  Luckily, the roosters took over with their exponentially louder crowing so we could blame anyone’s early awakening entirely on them.

But despite the “not so good” changes, one thing remains and that is the amazing smiles and laughter of the children!  Since it’s the weekend, we’ve had some time to just hang out with them, and play (tried to teach them football which very quickly turned into something more like rugby- see photo of Donna and the boys)! Teenage boys are teenage boys, regardless of which continent they live on!).  We’ve also been able to show them pictures of our families back home and apparently they love wedding  and  family pictures as much as I loved showing them!  Just as I would show one group of kids some wedding pictures, more kids would join and we would start all over again….several times!  (And apparently my husband’s handsomeness is cross-cultural as the girls and house moms agreed that he is quite easy on the eyes J ).

All in all it’s been a great start to our time here.  Our team is being challenged and encouraged already. God is moving amongst our team and has healed a few headaches and a bug bite already!  So fun!  And we know there is more in store as He is soooooo good and loves to do that sort of thing!  So stay tuned and we’ll post some updates when we can!

Uganda, take four!!

Well, it's that time again!!! Time to countdown the days until my feet hit the red dirt of Africa and see the beautiful children at the Village of Hope!!  And we are at T-minus 3 days! 
Once again, the supplies that have been donated for the children is humbling...and here are a pictures of my mother and I amongst less than half of the supplies! 
And yes, I said my mother!  This year is extra special as my mamma will be a part of our team...and I will be traveling with a new status....that of WIFE!  My stellar husband of 3 weeks and 1 day will be taking care of the homefront while I'm away (while wiping away the tears of missing his wife :)  ).   Although I'm sure I'll miss his fabulous presence for the two weeks I'll be away,  I'm 100% confident that this trip is once again designed by the Lord for a specific purpose and I'm super excited to be His Love and Light as we spend time with the amazing children and staff at the Village of Hope!
So stay tuned as we watch this year's adventure unfold!