Perspective

Jane and Lucy and Myself from Elsie Jayne's perspective.

Perspective is such a gift.

Loving, leading, guiding, and training wee people is so all-consuming. And many days it feels EXHAUSTING more than anything else. We had a volunteer come to Arua for a few months who often said, "The days are long, but the years are short." I know this a wise saying that has been around for ages, but it was so helpful to me to hear as my nerves grew shorter or my doubts in potty training increased.

It's also like when many of you don't see our kids for months or years at a  time and then when we get together you are in awe of how they have grown or who they have become.

Now, in our journey back to Uganda, Jesus gave me another perspective shift that has been so helpful.

The last few months of even years we were in Arua, I was growing frustrated and confused at the LORD's economy and how He was not helping His children around me the way I thought He should. Interestingly enough, He never let me go completely without or be in REAL want, but I saw others and heard their suffering and grew more and more annoyed that my "loving Father" was not responding how I imagined a loving Father should.

I wondered why so many were begging that should be provided for. Why so many were struggling that were trusting Him just as I was.

Returning to Arua was such a gift. God opened my eyes to see how He sees in some very microscopic way. In 18 months it was as if the "short years" had arrived and the troubles were past. Yes, there were still struggles, but children were in school (that we feared would have no school fees). Families were fed that we were certain would be going hungry. Marriages were restored that we had started to give up all hope on even in our prayers. Work had been provided in creative, unique, special ways. It was as if Jesus provided for each and every need as those who were seeking Him kept trusting.

In the short term I couldn't see how He was doing that, but in the longer term it was clear He had.

We aren't always given the gift of perspective in life...

THANK YOU for carrying us in such incredible ways so that we could travel back to Arua and love those He called us to love for so many years. And thank you for praying with me because I still believe in God's economy it was somehow through prayer and trusting Him that He moved these mountains!!!!

Perfect Peace

The prophet Isaiah makes a promise I have clung to often over the past ten years. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." 26:3 Yet again just days before we were set to return to East Africa, this Scripture came up in my study and I knew...1. There would be causes to need to trust and 2. He would be faithful yet again.

We all six got to trust in some new and intense ways in our few days in Uganda and South Sudan, but we praise Jesus...once again, He proved Himself faithful to our family...when there was no reason for human understanding...He kept us in His peace! Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

We shared our two dogs with friends who run a local radio station when we left Arua.
We knew there they would get food without any other person loosing out on food and
we hoped they might be a blessing to our friends as security dogs at night!
We were told a few weeks back that one of the two had died of cancer.
A vet had cared for her, but sadly she had died. That was Marori.
One of our least peaceful moments was visiting Wilmore.
We missed her mama, Marori,
and it made Arua not seem as much like home,
since she was no longer ours.
Trusting Jesus, we prayed even as we left Wilmore that day
that Jesus would provide a dog for us in Scotland in His time...
and that MIRACLE will be another post!

One of the coolest things as we visited our home-home was Elsie Jayne's mango tree.
She planted it with me when she was two...for her birthday.
And now it was nearly as tall as the roof!
So cool, but so much life this plant has lived, our yard has seen since we have been away.
It was another reminder that this home isn't our home home now,
but we were thankful for the memories that fill this place and that home it has been.

One more group photo at the sand pit mango tree!
Jesus has been so kind to us in this yard!
We rejoiced again at His many good gifts!

Saying farewell to daddy as he flew into South Sudan.
I was nervous I would be so unsettled at this point...
and Jesus was my perfect peace!

and then Sophia got bitten by a snake!
And He was still faithful!

It was either a non-poisonous one or He sweetly and speedily
healed her! We rushed her to the clinic and she enjoyed
her chocolate lollie while we watched the swelling go down.
Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

The stories of Billy's time in South Sudan are incredible and horrible.
I'm not sure what I can tell and what must be held quietly in our hearts due to the political situation there, but I can say here...Jesus was our peace.
There was no peace outwardly at all.
Our friend who traveled with us said of his first journey to South Sudan,
"They welcomed us with bullets."
And yet, by God's grace, they came back to tell the story.
I know Billy will here one day, but for now, THANK YOU for praying.
Jesus Himself was our deep peace.
Please keep praying for His peace in South Sudan.