Homecoming

We made it to ARUA!!! HOORAY!

So many of you have been praying and we are so thankful for your interceding on our behalf. We have literally sensed your prayers and have known you have been holding the ropes for us. Thank you.
We left Kampala early last Saturday with three vehicles loaded to the roof racks. The caravan team included us and Billy’s sister, Katy Beth Searls plus our soon to be Aruan colleagues, the Rinehimers as well as our field director Jon and his wife, Lisa with their two boys, Jordan and Ethan. The journey was a safari of delight, whether munching on roasted Ugandan peanuts (which they call groundnuts); taking pictures of posing baboons on the side of the road; or straining to see through clouds of sand.

We arrived safely for which we praise Jesus and were immediately greeted enthusiastically by our guard Christopher. He is a joy and was a tremendous blessing in unloading and unpacking. And there was much to unpack but fortunately with plenty of tea breaks we were able to persevere!

Probably the highlight of the weekend was the “home church” service we had on Sunday morning. Katy Beth shared from various parts of Joshua 1-6 about claiming the land for God and then we had a terrific prayer time as a team. Finally, we closed out with special prayer and anointing over all the doorways and rooms of our house and yard. Particularly, we asked God dwell in our home; to keep watch over all who come and go as well as accomplish His purposes for Arua and Africa. It was a precious time.

That afternoon we spent emptying out a container that was full of furniture which another mission organization needed to get rid of. We gladly “helped them out” and where delighted at all we found buried in boxes and under other treasures. It made for a long and “unique Sabbath” but we praise Jesus for providing so abundantly and helping us furnish so much of our home as well as providing some things for others like Rinehimers and volunteers who will stay with us in the future.

On Monday morning Mayos and Rinehimers headed back to Kampala. Their departure was hard in some ways as it began to dawn on us that we are staying here. But we cannot thank Jesus for His Presence and their help in so many ways.
Finally waking up in our own home here in Arua has brought to mind one particularly favorite African quote… “Here (we) are, where (we) are suppose to be.” Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

(Thanks for being patient with the random layout of pictures - Still working the kinks out)