Leaving Adjumani...

I can't believe we only have four days left here in our beloved N. Ugandan town. I'm having a hard time grasping that in about thirteen days I'll be back in my hometown starting to have conversations about what life was like here. It just doesn't seem possible. I do have peace about leaving...it is definitely time to go. We had a wonderful goodbye celebration at Liberty Baptist church last Friday - the church we worship at most Sundays. And, it really helped me to feel the sense of closure that I have needed. Many of the people we have worked alongside and love were there to celebrate what God has done in these last several months. It really wasn't a time of sadness, but of praising and rejoicing in God's goodness to all of us. And, it was beautiful to hear the cheers of agreement that we are all one in Christ, and will remain together in spirit and in prayer.

Our pastor, Pastor Henry, shared a message about the will of God and how we answered the call to come to Adjumani even though there were many uncertainties and many reasons that people told us not to come. I really believe that one of the most meaningful things to the people we've been living life with is that we came and stayed even though things can never be certain up here in terms of peace and security. And, there are also the realities of sickness and the extreme hot weather in the dry season (December through March) that make it so many people choose not to stay or even to come at all. I'm not trying to puff those of us up who did come to stay for some time. I'm only trying to illustrate the way God speaks through solidarity and sacrifice of the things that help one to feel secure in this life. It's really incredible...It truly is about entering in and genuinely "being" with people in their daily lives - sharing in what makes life for them - good and bad. It sounds too simple, but I've found it is where so much of Christ's teachings come to light.

So, in these last days, we are trying to spend time with all of those we love dearly. I can't believe the relationships that God has invited us into here, and how it really feels like we will be together in heart and spirit even with the great physical distance between us. And, that will become even more meaningful because communication from the U.S. is going to be difficult as many of our friends don't have access to computers, post office boxes, or even money to use their phones (some have pay-as-you-go cell phones). We have found ways to get letters or other things to them, but it will take a lot of time and patience. We are all at peace with it as we have no other choice and it will make the communication we do have very sweet. And, most importantly, it will drive us to pray much more for our community here as we won't have their words to tell us how they are doing.

Sunday was our last morning to worship with our dear friends...there will be many "lasts" this week...but, many "firsts" are to come as I leave with a completely new perspective on life and my walk with Christ.

I'm not sure if I'll blog again while in Uganda...We'll see. I'll leave you with some photos of the people I've spent time with in the last few weeks...Blessings to all!

Esther, Palima, Jaclyn, Savior (Palima's son), and myself playing with the camera on Jaclyn's computer.

Our dear friends, Annet and her daughter Freeder (pronounced "Frida"). We spent time with Annet and Freeder in Bible study and sharing each week.

We got to visit the place where Esther was raised in Dufile of Moyo County. Pictured here are many of her family members who still live there (as well as Esther - the one with the big smile - and her two little girls).



Jaclyn and I with Pastor Henry's wife, Regina. This was the last day we spent with her as she left for sunday school teacher training in Yei, Sudan the following day. She is a dear friend to us.

This is Sunday's wife, Betty, with their son, Anzo. Betty is pregnant and due in March. We enjoyed a day of just sitting together, chatting about life, and playing with their children.


This is Morris Taban from Amazing Grace Orphanage holding baby Nancy. Jaclyn and I got to spend the night at Amazing Grace a couple of weekends ago...what a treat it was to hang out with the kids into the evening, singing/praising, and then watching 'Ratatouille' together.



This is our dear brother, Pastor Dominic and his wife Consy, and son, David. The woman on the left is their church's women's leader, Margaret. Dominic really is a good friend and light of Christ in Adjumani.

Our goodbye celebration on the 23rd: Here are many of our friends waiting in line for the delicious food that was prepared by several ladies that morning (chicken, posho, beans, beef).


Children of both Liberty Baptist church and Ciforo Baptist church performed some sweet goodbye songs for us at the goodbye celebration -To hear those children sing and to see them dance is such a gift.


We invited the traditional Madi Dance Troupe to come and perform at the celebration. It was wonderful! Jaclyn and I also got into the circle and tried our hand (feet) at it...pretty humorous:)!


There were several farewell speeches made by pastors in the Madi Baptist Association which were very heartfelt, meaningful, and encouraging for all. But, I had to get a photo of this pastor who decided to salute us in saying farewell...I've never been saluted before! ;)

Jaclyn and I receiving farewell gifts from some of our dearest women friends at Liberty Baptist and in Adjumani. They presented us with small water pots (the kind that were traditionally used for carrying water) that were made by a woman at her home in Adjumani. We were also given a traditional broom that is made from the grasses near their homes.


There are so many more wonderful photos and stories to share, but I'll have to come and have coffee with you to do that. ;) Love and blessings to all!

A most precious gift...

Before Christmas (okay, yes, this entry is a bit late... :), Jaclyn and I took a trip to Kajo Keji, Sudan so that we could spend a few days at one of the sister orphanages to Amazing Grace Orphanage in Adjumani. Jaclyn's friend, Matt Besser who works with Samaritan's Purse in Yei, Sudan, was kind enough to come to Adjumani and then take us to Kajo Keji. It was a nice ride up - we even crossed the Albert Nile on a ferry - in order to get to the district that borders Sudan.

Our time at St. Bartholomew's was so blessed. Jaclyn and I got to stay in a tukul right on the compound and it was wonderful to hear the sounds of the children early in the morning as each day began. There are about 84 children there ranging from just a few months old to the early twenties. They were orphaned for many reasons due to the war in S. Sudan, or parents who were unable to care for them due to poverty, sickness, or even mental illness. I was struck by the peace at that place. Yes, we were only there for a few days – but, there was something special about the 15 full-time staff who worked there. They seemed to genuinely love the children, and there seemed to be a spirit of contentment among them even with the many, many hours of work that they put in.

Oh, the children. They were beautiful. Just as it is with the children at Amazing Grace Orphanage, these children have a sense of beauty about them that is almost angelic. It’s not that they are perfect – there is still bickering, crying over small things, dirty faces, and all of that – but, when I think about the fact that these children have lost their parents, that they might sit and wonder why and have no answers, and still they manage to love, play, smile, and laugh…I wonder. I can only thank God for the way He has brought them to a place where they are genuinely loved and cared for as His beloved children. It was therapy to my soul to hold, hug, and play with many of the children each day. It’s amazing how hand games, tag, and singing songs are so fulfilling for these children. We could have done each of those things for hours. J It was wonderful… There was even a flash rainstorm which was license for running around the whole compound and dancing in celebration of such a rare occurrence at this time of year.

We spent a lot of time at the babies home which housed all children under 5 years old on the compound. All we had to do was sit down on the mat they had outside and soon we were both covered with at least 3 babies trying to find places on our laps or in our arms. Yes, it was heart wrenching to see these little ones need so much attention. But, it was such a gift to be there with them, and the strong desire to love and play with them drowned out the reality of their situation in life – at least for the moment. The mama’s taking care of these babies worked tirelessly. I’ve watched friends with one child and how tiring that can be… So, to see only 3 or 4 mamas for about 15 to 20 babies of all different ages under 5 – constantly feeding, bathing, changing dirty diapers, washing clothes, comforting – need I say more! One of the children, named Nejun, is five years old with something that looks like cerebral palsey. His basic needs seemed to be well taken care of, but it also seemed like it wouldn’t hurt to spend some time just holding him. Such simple moments…and, yet, Christ is so profoundly in them.

Our time in Kajo Keji, Sudan also held some other very special times. I was able to find the mother-in-law – Jerisa - to my Ugandan friend, Edith, who lives in Portland and helped me a lot with a Sudanese refugee mother of seven. After asking a few folks at the main hospital where Jerisa’s brother works as a night guard, we were escorted to where she stays (only in AfricaJ could you find someone in this way). She had no idea I was going to show up, and it was great because she recognized me right away (I had spent time with her in Portland a couple of years ago). She told us that she runs out of her tukul every time she hears a plane overhead hoping it’s someone from America coming to see her. Priceless. Fortunately, our friend Annet, who is the nurse at St. Bartholomew’s, was there to help translate as neither Jerisa nor her brother could really speak English. I was able to bring the little suitcase of things that Edith lovingly sent with me for Jerisa which was also a great delight to her. The day before we left, we got to have tea with Jerisa and her extended family, and also had a chance to hear more of her difficult life story. Before leaving them, we had a chance to pray together…another sweet time blessed by Christ.

Just a few hours before we met Jerisa and her family for the first time, we had the opportunity to go with Annet to visit her father in the hospital who had been bitten by a cobra in his tukul a couple of weeks before. We took a brother’s heart fruit (sort of similar in taste to a jackfruit) to share with he and his wife. It lit my heart up to see him smile at these young mzungu visitors who wanted to spend a bit of time with him. Annet told us that he hadn’t eaten much since being at the hospital so it was wonderful to see him eating the brother’s heart fruit with great enthusiasm. We had a chance to pray with him as well as a couple others Annet knew in the hospital.

On our way into the area at the hospital where Annet’s father was we met a little boy who looked to be about seven or eight. His side was bandaged along with part of his arm, and we learned that he was epileptic. Annet asked him what the bandages were from and he said that he had had a seizure (from epilepsy) and fell into a fire. While we were with Annet’s father, we saw the little boy, Ivan, come into the room. It’s hard to admit – especially after you read the rest of this story – that the first thing I thought of was that he’s probably coming in to ask us for money…But, instead, He looked up at both of us, held out his hand, and offered a 200 schilling (less than fifty cents) coin to each of us. Jaclyn and I looked at each other incredulously and then, with lumps in our throats, we tried to get him to take the coins back as it was obvious this boy and his grandmother had very little. Annet translated our wish to him, and he replied that this was his gift to us and he wanted us to have it. That’s it. I wish I had a picture of Ivan’s face as he said this to us…He was a vessel of Christ…trying to teach us more about the undeserving love and incredible grace we receive from Him constantly. I can hardly think of a more humbling moment…

An hour or so later, after we had visited a few others in the same hospital, we came across Ivan’s grandmother again. She took us to Ivan who was in his hospital bed, covered by a mosquito net, and trying to get to sleep. He stretched out his little hand to us and we held it as we prayed for him. I will never forget Ivan, and his great gift to us which is sitting on my shelf as a 200 schilling coin.

A little Christmas greeting...

Back home in Adjumani...

It’s been a while since I wrote about what daily life has held for us here…There has been so much – not only in terms of ministry, but also in the way that God has been teaching me more and more about His incredible ways through the people of Adjumani. He never ceases to amaze…

Here are some snippets and photos of some of what has happened over the last several weeks:

~ Jaclyn and I were able to visit some of the Sudanese settlement camps located about 10 minutes north of us. A friend of ours, Pastor Gama Joseph who was himself a refugee from Sudan, accompanied us and was able to tell us a lot about the three camps we drove through – Alere, Rubidere, and Oligi. Pastor Gama Joseph had lived in Oligi camp for several years. Alere and Rubidiere were largely abandoned (pictured here is a section of the abandoned Rubidiere camp) by the refugees as many had been repatriated back into S. Sudan by the UNHCR within the last year or so. We drove into Oligi and visited the market there. There were still some people selling produce and some other items. But, Pastor Gama said it was once much more populated. He still knew a few of the people there and greeted them. He also explained that the UNHCR does not force people to repatriate – they only go back if they choose to do so. I would not have known it was a camp had Pastor Gama not told me. It seemed very much like a nice village only without any permanent buildings. And, it seemed that a good number of people were deciding to make Oligi home. Many feel that the peace in S. Sudan will be short-lived. Of course, we pray that isn't true.

~ On the 17th – 19th of November, Liberty Baptist church (where we worship on Sundays) hosted a women’s conference. The days were filled with lots of teaching by pastors all with the aim of building the women up spiritually. Of course, there was a lot of singing, praising, awesome drumming, and dancing. It was, as always, such an honor to be with these incredible women as they worshipped Jesus. Their love for God is infectious. Jaclyn and I also had the opportunity to share with the women about older women who had been instrumental in our faith journeys. We then had a time for the young women to share how an older woman had been influential in her faith walk. And, then we asked the older women to share a time when a younger woman had influenced her faith in God. It was beautiful to hear their stories, and then we had a time of praying for each other in small groups.

~ I’ve been wondering, for a long time, how God might be guiding me in the area of social work/counseling in working with international people. And, because of this, I’ve had some very interesting conversations with Sunday (our gatekeeper), and Esther (our cook) that eventually lead me to meet with a woman by the name of Sr. Bunia Alice. Since Esther is trained as a volunteer counselor in Adjumani she knew that Sr. Alice is a nurse/counselor at the main hospital in Adjumani, and Sr. Alice had also trained Esther as a volunteer counselor. Esther made arrangements for me to meet with Sr. Alice and we met in her tukul just a couple of weeks ago. She is a sweet, gentle, wise, and patient woman who answered my many questions about the kinds of emotional/psychological issues she sees in Adjumani from those she counsels. It was a wonderful time of learning and I just enjoyed being with Sr. Alice because of her sweet and genuinely caring demeanor. We made a plan for me to meet her at the hospital just a few days later so that I could observe her in her work with patients. She assured me that it would be okay – that the patients would be okay with me being there…I decided to trust her on that. I ended up spending about an hour and half with her while she saw about seven patients. It was such a special opportunity, and from what I could tell, they seemed okay with me being there. Sr. Alice translated what they were saying and on a few occasions I felt compelled, through prayer, to ask some questions or give some encouragement. Afterwards, Sr. Alice took me to sign in with the asst. administrator and made the comment that I had been a great help to her that day. If that was indeed true, it just proves that God can use us as His vessels anytime, anywhere.

~ Just a few days ago, we saw our very dear elderly next door neighbor lying almost lifeless on the ground. Many neighbors began to gather around her and were trying to figure out what to do. She was breathing, but otherwise seemed extremely weak and barely conscious. Jaclyn and I transported her to the hospital (as there is no 9-1-1 here) where the nurse after evaluating her said that she was extremely dehydrated from not eating and consuming a very large amount of alcohol. When she went to wipe the site on her arm for an IV, layers of dirt and black soot came off of her skin as she had not bathed in probably a few days. We know that dede (pronounced “day-day”- the respectful name for an elderly woman) has a problem with alcoholism as we hear her talking loudly to herself many nights. She takes care of her two grandchildren and also maintains chopping wood, cooking over a fire, grinding different grains/seeds by hand, and digging in her garden for her family’s food. She is dear to us. It was an honor to be able to help in this way. And, I was able to tell Sr. Alice about her so that she could try and counsel her on alcoholism.
Alcoholism is a huge problem here. People make a “home brew” of sorts and sell it by the jerry can. I’m not sure what it’s made out of, but I’ve heard that it is very potent.

~ We also were able to attend two graduation ceremonies for the children of Esther and also our Pastor Vuyaya Henry. It was so sweet and beautiful to see the pride in the faces of the parent’s who’s children were “graduating” to the next level of their schooling. This was true especially at Pr. Henry’s 6 yr old daughter, Succella’s, graduation ceremony (pic of Succella and Regina). Each time a child received their certificate the mother of that child picked he or she up and gave a traditional whoop of excitement. The occasion was also filled with amazing Acholi traditional dancing (pic of dancing) and music from a marching band who was from a district across the Albert Nile.

~ As before, we’ve been with the children at Amazing Grace Orphanage teaching a Bible lesson and doing arts/crafts with them, and shared in Bible study with some women at Libery Baptist church almost each week.

~ Of course, there’s been plenty of: Cockroach squishing, mosquito catching, walks to town or to visit people who are sick or have just invited us to spend time with them, cooking at home, good conversations with Sunday and Esther about God/Adjumani/people, bike rides, shopping in the market, fighting with the internet (Jaclyn does most of that:), wishing I could be in Portland just while it’s snowing, laughing hysterically with Jaclyn about silly things, singing with Jaclyn in the kitchen, talking with Jaclyn about the painful parts of being here…yes, we spend a lot of time together – we joke that this must be preparing us for what it will be like to be married.

As I look back at all of the ways we have been involved here – I see that God has done an amazing thing and we have become woven into the community in a way that I would never have imagined. It is so beautiful with all of the pains and all of the joys that come with becoming a part of these people’s lives. It shows me the power of unity in Christ, and is also a glimpse of what heaven may feel like.

Solidarity...

Happy December!

I wrote this entry a few months back with the intent of posting it a lot sooner than this. But, it's one of those that is applicable to my experience here, in general. There is a lot more to say on what I've learned about solidarity, but I think I will just leave you with this entry for now...

“This is how the people suffer…,” said Michelle as we were stopped on the side of the road to Adjumani from Gulu. The road was horrible…full of giant, deep potholes full of thick, tire swallowing mud. We stopped about three times so that Jeff could use his truck to try and rescue some of the other lorries (trucks) and buses that had become trapped in the mud. We also got stuck at one point, but Jeff masterfully got us loose and we were on our way in no time. Fortunately, we finished the journey safe and well even though we were very tired, sweaty, a bit dizzy, and covered with reddish dust that almost resembled a fake tan gone wrong.

Those words that Michelle spoke stuck with me. At our home in Adjumani, we are hardly suffering the way the people here do. But, things like the road from Gulu to Adjumani that I refer to above, shortages in Adjumani of milk and butter, the possibility of more shortages as the main route from Kampala to Adjumani could become impassable for trucks bringing food and supplies, and a good chance that the running water system drying up at some point during the dry season (December, January, February, March) are all reminders of how we really do need to depend on our Father, and how life’s circumstances are so beyond our control. (Since I first wrote this entry we did experience a surprise one afternoon of having no running water until the next day…Thankfully, this home was built with a very large cistern in back from which we could get water for drinking, bathing, and washing dishes.) The photo to the right is a typical scene at a borehole of many jerry cans and other water holding containers waiting to be filled. A family of six people will often use up to twelve jerry cans a day which are all carried by hand to the home - we may join our neighbors in "fetching" water if our system does indeed dry up. (And, yet another example after a few more weeks since this last addition– Jaclyn and I took the bus from Kampala to Adjumani today and ended up getting stuck in the mud twice. The second time, after all of the passengers filed out of the bus to await our rescue, the rain started to fall and we all ran underneath a tree which didn’t prove to be much of an umbrella. As I started to go through the options in my mind of how we could get home Jaclyn made the comment that, “This is what the people here have to go through…so why shouldn’t we be with them?” I agreed. We were all in it together…and, I felt like we were right where we were supposed to be.)

In all of the situations I just mentioned, there is an opportunity for panic to set in. But, then as I remember Michelle’s words, there is somehow a peace in the solidarity that I feel as I think about suffering with those we live amongst. Again, we have other ways of getting the resources we need and our suffering would most likely never match that of our neighbors, but it brings me that much closer to understanding what solidarity truly means. And, it opens up the opportunity to live in faith and not in fear…never easy, always good.

Thanksgiving in Adjumani...

It was my first Thanksgiving away from home, and the first time that I've had any twinge of homesickness at all since arriving here. But, this was probably one of the sweetest Thanksgiving celebrations I've ever had. Don't get me wrong, being with my family on Thanksgiving is something I look forward to every year, and we always have a wonderful time together. But, cooking, dancing, being extremely silly, and even cleaning together was especially great this time around...Jaclyn and I spent several hours Wedsnesday evening preparing a few dishes...sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pies, and frosted sugar cookies. Then, Thursday morning Esther and Palima greeted us as usual, but this time Palima had two roosters with her whose fate was to be on our dinner table the same day. Jaclyn told me that I had to watch a chicken (a u - pronounced "ah-ooh" in the Madi language) get slaughtered at least once while I'm here. So, with a cup of coffee in hand I walked outside to where Esther was preparing to slaughter both roosters. I planted my feet and stared while she used a knife from the kitchen to slice each one's neck right off. It wasn't so bad until after the neck was off of the first one and somehow it still kept clucking. Esther promptly showed me the voicebox that was still working...sorry, I hope you aren't getting queezy! Esther kept her foot on both of them so they didn't do the, "chickens running around with their heads cut off" thing. So, I survived...without passing out. :)

The rest of the morning was filled with music, laughter, Esther and Palima watching us make some of the traditional Thanksgiving fare, and, oh yes, a lot of sweat! It's hot here...and, especially in a kitchen with three people using the oven.

We hosted seven guests from the Lahash team (www.lahash.net) who was serving with Amazing Grace Orphanage here in Adjumani. We had a wonderful time together especially with the rousing game of spoons we played after dinner (Jaclyn gave me a bloody finger;).

I'm so grateful to God for allowing me the opportunity to be here...it has been incredible in so many ways.

Some photos of the day...

And, we're back!

This is just a quick note to say that Jaclyn and I made the 10 hour drive home safe and sound just today. Really, it was probably the smoothest trip from Kampala I've had yet. Of course, the roads were still full of potholes at times, and crazy buses barreling down the road. But, we had no issues along the way at all. Thank the Lord!!!

So, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We also just heard from Michelle that they arrived home in Portland just fine except that Michelle came down with a head cold along the way (courtesy of me who has passed it on to both Jaclyn and Michelle - true community;).

So, Jaclyn and I are about to begin our four solid weeks of being here in Adjumani. We are so excited!

Blessings to all...More later!