We are Not in Arua anymore...

I mentioned in my last post that the grieving process of being out of Africa for this season is real and seems to be really just beginning for some of us...

The day we got the girls' beds set up was HARD. Throughout the day we couldn't figure out what the triggers all were but loads of tears were shed and finally in the evening after piecing together beds all day, some of the pieces of our girls adjustment came together in our own hearts. Elsie Jayne wept to not have her mango tree (that we planted together when she turned two) right outside her window at this house and she confessed feeling vulnerable without her mosquito net tucked in around her.

I've only lived here a month but I'm fairly confident no one has ever tried to plant a mango tree on this particular street (although evergreens are rampant). So I did what I could---I prayed! I asked Jesus how to respond and listened.

The end result is a really fun girly room with those princess-canopy-never-saved-anyone-from-a-real-life-malaria-carrying-mosquito net over the top of the beds. It's cute. It's not "me," I would have said a month ago, but I'm learning who I am in Christ Jesus here and now and I'm praying and trying to lead the girls in a life of blooming where you are planted.

We are trying to not just walk about pointing out differences and passing judgments on western life or Scotland specifically. We are finding things daily to be THANKFUL for and that is truly not hard at all! Our cups are overflowing!

Comparisons do happen just as our girls' eyes are opened and they see what they thought was simply "normal" is actually Ugandan or African.

Allow me to share some similarities we see between Arua and St. Andrews or Uganda and Scotland...

ROADS - both places have them!
A winding goat path beyond Arua could be our LandRover's road and here we've found the roads quite small as well! Coming from a few months in the states where big curbs and spacious side walks are the norm...we have been surprised to have just barely two cars wide asphalt and a rock wall on either side. Small space like Ugandan roads could be. The big difference - there are lots of other cars here and double decker buses and big farm machinery coming at you at 60 mph. We are not in the bush beyond Arua anymore. (At moments it feels like driving to Kampala with loads of traffic any time you get in the car...THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!!! for protection and peace!)

The MARKET
We arrived to find a three day festival happening in the town and the booths and open air shops brought comfort to the girls. "They have a nice market, mommy!"
Now that that is over...we have some who are fearful EVERY TIME we enter the grocery store because of the metal detectors that look like TSA check points in airports. The girls have had water bottles taken and thrown away (super tearful moment) and they keep asking if I have water in my purse or chapstick in my pocket that I should remove before we pass through!

Lots of ANIMALS
One of our greatest grieves leaving Arua was saying farewell to our pet pig and our puppy dogs. During our 7 plus years we had played host to chickens, turkeys, goats and had monkeys roaming in our yard on more than one occasion. The girls have been very hopeful for animals here too...it's just not normal yet to see families care for dogs so passionately and treat them better than some of our friends are even cared for!
The animal differences make me think of a family visit for a training in South Sudan when we were walking through the town center and a goat passed with a beaded necklace on! I knew in Kampala that kind of thing would be sold in tourist shops for PEOPLE and I was surprised to see it on an animal roaming freely so far up north.
I inquired of the pastor who was leading our trek. He said it identifies whose animal it is and besides "your people" always put necklaces on dogs and cats-it's the same thing!
The girls saw their first animal in a sweater this week! I must say it was shocking for us all...we're new here...
Out our bedroom window in the early morning and late evening we can see rabbits play in the yard. These furry friends are three times bigger than any chicken we saw roaming anywhere in East Africa! (including Rocky, Meg!!!)
Lucy made the observation, "These people must get three meals EVERY day because otherwise someone could catch those bunnies for breakfast!"
"Great observation Lucy...these people do get three meals every day. We have so much to be thankful for."

The list could go on and on, but for now let me say...He is caring for us so very sweetly. We feel overwhelmed by your prayers and generosity enabling us to be here and study and live and love those He brings into our lives. Thank you with ALL our hearts!