It is hard to believe we are writing you in our last 2.5 weeks here in Mbale. We are overcome with so many emotions as we prepare to leave. God has been beyond generous to us and has given us enormous peace about leaving. We look back over the last 6 years together here and 10 years for Derek on the continent with incredible fondness and thankfulness. We are leaving a country that we love and people we love even more. Our days have been filled with remarks of “ we will miss this..” or “ we wont miss this…” In all of the emotions, we are really excited to be starting a new chapter of life together.
We leave Uganda on June 30th and arrive in Boston on July 1st. Ironically, this is exactly to the day, 10 years from Derek initially stepping foot on the continent in Egypt. Pretty cool. We will be in Boston for a few short days before heading to Catalina on the 4th of July for some needed time with family and unplugged from the world. We are praying for this time that it will be filled with times of reflection, prayer and anticipation for what is next. We want to reflect on all God has taught us and shown us throughout our time in Uganda but to do so in a healthy manner. After a week (Derek) and two weeks… or so ( Julie and Nathan) we will fly back east to begin our shift to PA. There are still a lot of unknowns ( housing ect) but we are confident it will all sort itself out.
We want to express how much we have appreciated you walking through these years with us. We are thankful we were in Africa during a time where internet was often available :) Thank you for praying with us, encouraging us and supporting us. We do not say it tongue-in-cheek, we truly could not have done this without each of you. We are humbled to have so many incredible people in our lives who have showered us with love. Thank you so much.
We pray this next chapter allows us time to see you more often. Please feel free to find us in PA (the Harrisburg area). We would love to host you ( once we have a house) or have you for meals/coffee. We want to thank you in person for the influence you have been on this journey and our lives.
We would love for you to continue to stand with us in prayer as we end this final time. We know it is easy to get antsy to be in the next place, but there is so much still going on here that we want to be all here. We want to be fully invested and appreciate our last few days in Uganda. Please pray that as we shift back to the states we will really bloom where we are planted. That we will invest in those around us and that we will not allow our minds to wander to regrets or longing to be places we are not. We are so confident God is calling us to PA for this time, we want to glorify Him in our attitudes and how we adjust. We KNOW there will be lonely, hard days where Uganda seemed so much easier, but we also know that is true with change no matter what. Instead of getting stuck in those places, we pray to grieve different losses and celebrate the new life.
Speaking of new life, as of November 9 (ish) we will be welcoming baby number 2 into our family. We are excited and felt like why not bring all the changes at once… Please pray for this little one as it grows and we begin preparing a not so good sharer, Nathan, for his new sibling.
More prayer points;
- Nathan’s adjustment to the states: His best friend here is a Ugandan kid who lives on our compound. Uganda is really what he knows and loves. He is probably more comfortable with Ugandans than Americans at this point and speaks with a bit of a Ugandan accent. There will be so many adjustments for this little guy, pray for grace on him and wisdom and grace for Derek and I as we navigate new waters with him.
- Our marriage: Pray that in the stressors that come with change we will unify together as a team.
- Housing: Derek will go east to find a rental while Nathan and I play on the island… Pray for a good set up. We are hoping to just rent as we get a feel of the area and find a house to buy.
- Tim: Derek’s replacement as he gets settled. His family has never been to Africa.. lots of changes in store.
- Our staff: Probably the hardest part of leaving Uganda is the staff that has become our family here. Change is hard and so we pray they are blessed through the changes of Derek to Tim. We will miss these friendships but are humbled to have them. Uganda isnt too far away is it?
- Flights/travel home: Not my favorite part of living here… and so I ask for lots of prayer for peace and grace while flying. That Nathan sleeps a lot and there are not any complications.
Thank you again and again. May God reveal to you how thankful we are for you, I am sure words do not convey the depth.
We love you and see you very soon,
Derek, Julie and Nathan
