What’s been going on here?

What a full few months we have had in Uganda.  It has been overflowing with blessings, joy and fun!  In early August we had the pleasure of welcoming the Johnson family to Uganda.  We had a wonderful time together that went by tooo fast!  The second day they were here Tom went to work putting a half court in our drive way.  It has been a dream of Derek’s and so to watch it being done was amazing.  Tom worked tirelessly from 7am-10pm on this court… a TRUE act of love.  The gift has been treasured and played on every night since that time.  We have been able to teach some of our friends how to play basketball and have had a few ‘friendly’ one on ones J  The time as a family was treasured.  WE loved having time together to talk, play games and just be.  I think we both forgot how rejuvenating it is to be with family. 

            A week after the Johnson crew left we picked up the Friesen’s.  In typical Friesen style the
three weeks they were here were packed with speaking engagements, counseling appointments and even a diplomatic meeting J  It was such a blessing to see marriages that are hungering for truth get fed.  We were humbled realizing how blessed we are to be in a country where you CAN get good marriage counsel.  We heard time and time again “ we have never heard anything like this…”  or “ I have never seen a healthy marriage…”  We were so humbled and grateful to be a part of the ministry done.  The three weeks FLEW by but God refilled our tanks and with a lot of tears we said goodbye.  After 5 weeks with family, Derek and I just felt SO blessed.  We know we live far away, so to have family come and stay with us, use their vacation time to come, use their finances… it was a true gift from the Lord… He always knows what we need.

            










Our motto as a couple for the rest of this year is to be a couple of grace and humility.  As we look around us each day we are struck with how blessed we truly are.  Even through difficult situations we can see God’s hand and kindness toward us.  Each week we see a group of 6 children with spina bifida from a local school.  They come for Physio each week always excited for what is in store.  They come with their catheter bags, their braces and crutches.  They have their own school because kids with Spina Bifida often get turned away from school due to their incontinence. 

            Every week, while we are stretching, we sing songs.  Last week they sang “ Treat your children well, for you never know, they may grow up to be doctors.”   At the end, one of the little girls told me she wanted to be a doctor.  Humbled…

            Derek and I often say, when you think you are having a bad day, go walk through the ward… it puts your life in perspective.  And that is what these kids have that we are striving to have.  When I look at them and see their ‘impairments’ they look in the mirror and see their capabilities.  

            

May we have the courage to see the kindness of God in times of pain.