A Big Weekend

This weekend seemed like the Lord entrusted us with MUCH in a really short amount of time.

We are not sure why, but we sensed His presence through it all and we are SO GRATEFUL!

Thank you for your prayers even when we don't and you don't know ahead of time what is happening!

This is what Jesus kept us through and blessed us through this weekend...

One unique thing about where we live is that we have a gate...it's just "normal" in our neighborhood to have a fence around your yard and a gate at the entrance...so our place is just like our neighbors and those in the community where we live...we have a big gate. Friday our gate bounced off the back of our car and was smashed up enough that it would not close.

We had to take it off the hinges then and take it on the top of our car (where Billy is standing, ready to have it passed up to him) and get it fixed at the welders' shop.

The one thing we had planned was that on Friday afternoon the girls and I would go with my friend Jane to get her cassava. It seems her brother had helped her plant a field and it was time to go and reap the harvest.  She had actually asked friends to go on Thursday and pick it all and we just sacked it up and carried it on top of our car the hour back to her house...so thankful she asked for the help. Otherwise she and friends were planning to carry it the same distance!!!

Elsie Jayne really enjoyed helping with the process.

She and Jane are dear friends!

Elsie Jayne wanted to take pictures again, so this is Lucy with some friends once we had arrived back at Jane's place.  Azite David, Jane's son is there on her sister's lap.  He is one of Lucy's best buddies right now.

Once we got home from Jane's village, we had to go back to the shop and get our gate!

Then the men came back with us with a generator and welded it back on to the hinges.

Saturday morning when we awoke we had no idea that the rest of our weekend would only get more exciting!

A friend had called weeks ago and asked us to come for a special worship service in Kampala. We didn't think we could go so far for one meeting.  Then we got word we needed to help rearrange some mission vehicles and bring one up to Arua.  Finally on Saturday morning we heard of friends who needed to get their children back to Arua from Kampala...we sensed all of this was coming together and we needed to go. 

So, we traveled down for a quick weekend visit.

Thankfully in such a quick journey there was still time for yummy coffee...something we all enjoy

(don't worry Grammy, this is only milk!).

Happy times on the swings at a favorite restaurant in Kampala!

The worship service was so exciting!!!

Our friends Imam and Tina have been leading a children's ministry at their church. 

The Church is called Healing Broken Hearts Church and the kids group is Next Generation Healers. 

Classic Names!

Lucy made friends as soon as we arrived.

These two young men told the story of Joseph...Genesis 37-46. INCREDIBLE! 

One told it in English while his friend translated into Luganda.

The group also performed dances and songs.  It was all really beautiful and worshipful!

After Billy preached our friends Imam and Tina and their little daughter Angela were honored for their work with the children, teaching them Bible Stories and more!

 It's campaign time in Uganda...leaving the city there are so many signs and banners supporting different candidates...but they are ALL OVER up here in Arua as well.

Will you pray with us for the elections?! 

On the 18th of February we have a presidential election, followed by Members of Parliament and other offices throughout the following week.

We saw more than signs on our journey though...This guy was right out our window as we drove around the north side of Murchinson Falls Game Park on the road home...

Literally right out the window!

It's amazing to us as our kids grow that God has blessed them and us to allow us to live here.

This is her reality and she doesn't know any differently.

Please pray our girls live to LOVE Jesus with all their hearts, souls, and minds and that their mom and dad are a living example of such lives.

Thank you for your prayers when we guide you how to pray and on weekends like this...when we don't know, but Jesus still provides and keeps and blesses!