Humbly Learning

About ten days ago, I got a phone call from a friend...her grandmother had just passed away in the village hospital.  She was coming for the burial and then would be passing through town.  I was excited to get to see her, but sad to hear of her grandmother's going to be with Jesus.

A couple of times I had gotten to bring her to town in our car for better medical care...

She was a precious lady...one of the oldest Ugandan's I have met...you could see she loved God in her face!

After praying for the family the day of the burial, we sensed we should go and pay our respects.

Tuesday, the day Miriam left, we jumped in with both feet and took our four girls to the village just outside of Maracha town. 

Along the way there was road construction...

A friend of ours has recently gotten a job driving a dump truck. He's never driven before and is actually really scared of it...but it's a job so he's trying to stick it out. We thought we might see him, but we didn't get to that day.

Most people we passed weren't driving big Chinese road machinery...walking is the common mode of transportation. We were humbled to be making a quick day trip when most people would never go both ways in one day!  Thank you all who have given us the gift of our car...and monthly contribute to diesel!!!



Our friend's mama was delighted to meet our twins!  She was amazed at Elsie Jayne and Lucy and how they had grown since she last saw them too!!!
What a treasure our girls are...in the midst of mourning her mother, we were blessed to see a smile on her face!

Aida and Sophia

My friend is so lovely...one of the most beautiful people I know! She sacrifices so much for her family and she loves Jesus so much!  She too was so excited to get to meet our newest family members!

Jennifer and Chloe

After we were served a meal in the family home, we went to the place where the body had been buried earlier in the week. We prayed for the family and for Jesus' nearness in that place and amongst that dear family. There were literally hundreds of people still sitting around mourning with the family--just being present during this time.  They told us there were at least 1,000 at the funeral. 

We got to greet everyone there and even sit and help a bit with the kitchen work.  The girls and I pulled little leaves off of their stems, a spice for some dish, none of which was identifiable to me!

After we decided we needed to get going to make it home by dark, Aida went to get something for us! She came back with a cock and a hen...our gift for the twins!

So so humbling...a precious lady with such a great loss, having to serve literally hundreds of friends and family day after day and then we drive up in our car from the "big city" and she thinks of us and honoring our dear babies!

What sacrifice! What love!

Pray with us for Aida and her family this week and as Jesus brings them to mind in the days to come.

As we drove back to our home with indoor plumbing and solar power we were humbled yet again at how much we have to learn. We did "better" culturally than we would have five years ago, but still...we have SO MUCH to learn!!  We should have greeted everyone FIRST and Lucy had a little "village toilet issue."  The list really could go on and on, but we are learning and in spite of ourselves Jesus is bringing joy to at least one family in Maracha.  We are humbly learning...thanks for praying with us as we go!