Strong Confidence

Christmas Crackers

2012-01-10T16:53:00.002+03:00

I decided to get Christmas Crackers this year for the first time for my American kids and the two single ladies next door. I knew our British neighbor could enlighten us on Christmas Crackers; what I didn't realize was how excited she would be to introduce this tradition.

Preparing to pull the crackers open. Unfortunately, some didn't even pop!

Katie in her plastic crown and putting on her sheriff badge that was in her cracker

Everyone else a little slower in figuring out this cracker thing and getting their things

Lina's 15th!

2012-01-04T12:38:00.000+03:00

Caralina's birthday always seems to end the holiday festivities in our household as it is on the 2nd of January. This year was no different. In the evening of New Year's Day, our family took her out for pizza at Surjios and met some friends there. The next evening we had the teen girls at GSF over for dinner. We tried taking some pictures; most were quite goofy but it still shows what beautiful teen girls we have! We ended the night as we do many times by looking at old pictures of all of them. Thankful for my teen girl and her friends!


Megan, Teddy, Joy and Ritah in the back row and Jenny, Caralina and Rebecca in front

So now the holiday partying is over and back to the "real world." And as always after a great holiday time, routine is grand change of pace.

Other side of the world but close to our hearts!

2012-01-03T14:49:00.000+03:00

There's a Bible Study group in Tallahassee, FL, USA. . . (Mark's mom's Bible Study)

Who pray for a Bible Study group in Buundo, Buikwe District, Uganda, (the house moms and helpers at GSF)

They wanted to show the group in Uganda in a tangible way that they love and pray for them.

They took these beautiful scarves and put their hand prints on them. They then rolled them and but a big ribbon around each one (notice the ribbon's on the ladies heads--quite resourceful!). They also made a note for each one with pictures of the process of putting the hand prints on the scarves. The mothers loved them!

Thank you, Tallahassee Ladies' Bible Study!

All in a Day's Work

2011-12-30T09:24:00.001+03:00

Christmas at GSF

2011-12-28T17:06:00.000+03:00

Christmas Morning, I walked around the houses to greet the mothers who were already up cooking and then the kids. The toddlers and I sang happy birthday to Jesus! We then had our family time of enjoying one another and opening gifts and of course, enjoying the yummy cinnamon rolls made the day before! We also had our visitors over around 10 and then we all went to church at 11.

The little angels with baby Jesus (which was one of our smallest special needs girls, Mercy)

There were lots of presentations in church. The kids acted out the Christmas story.

Caralina was the narrator and Megan was Mary.

After the service, some prepared the church for dinner and other festivities, while others went to get the food, gifts and get ready for more fun. Then the fun continued and the eating began.

Little ones enjoying a delicious Christmas lunch and soda

Then it was time for singing Happy Birthday to Jesus--Ugandan style. Here, Joseph and Sebastian enjoying Birthday Cake.

And then it was time for gifts! Thank you, Greers and their church, Friendly Hills for providing so many gifts. We also used many toys that some of you have mailed to us throughout the year.

Merry Christmas to All from Uganda!

Christmas Eve--Uganda Style

2011-12-27T22:30:00.000+03:00

We decided to make cinnamon rolls this year for everyone at GSF for Christmas! Our matron, Julianna, Megan, two of our visitors, Allison and Sharon and I all worked on making and baking them.

Betsy, our faithful and fabulous activities director, organized water games! For those of you who have prayed for Phillip, this is an incredible picture. Phillip has been close to death so many times including just a couple of months ago. Praise God for his life and for this picture.

Even our two guys in wheel chairs got involved in the balloon toss.

David jubilant after catching the balloon that Titus threw to him. They ended up coming in second place.

Titus ready to play water balloon fight (aka snowball fight).

That evening we had the traditional Christmas eve bonfire, complete with dancing in the pavilion, eating biscuits and juice and singing Christmas Carols. Here's Patricia, Alana and Megan.

Mark dancing with Rosie!

I even joined in the fun!

Staff Christmas party

2011-12-27T13:22:00.000+03:00

We had the privilege to celebrate with over 80 employees and bless them at Christmas. We had our party this year on the 23rd to begin the Christmas celebrations.

Mark and I are seen here with Ja Ja Mary, an icon of GSF. She requested a photo with us.

Each department did a presentation. The mothers did several songs and dances. I am here with some of them after the party.

The missionaries did an impromptu lip-sync to rocking around the Christmas tree. Here are the "single ladies" showing some "western dance moves." I wish I had a picture of Mark with his santa hat and sunglasses!


We then gave out bonuses, basins of gifts, 4 kg of meat, and also let them all pick out toys and books from our excess supply. Here is one of our absolutely beautiful assistants carrying one of the basins to an employee.

It was a great time and a blessing to celebrate Christmas with our fellow laborers for Christ! That evening, we had a Christmas party with all the missionaries and visitors at our new house (although it is not completely ready for us to move in yet. We also went to the houses Christmas Caroling.

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

2011-12-19T13:00:00.000+03:00

We have plenty of busy weeks or weekends and most are unexpected or unplanned. Rarely do we have a SCHEDULED busy weekend. Thanksgiving week/weekend was one of those rare times. I have been meaning to send all the happenings (both planned and unplanned) of that weekend as a newsletter but time as usual has gotten away. So I will post the events, both happy and sad here.

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving Thursday was great fun as we had over 40 missionaries (including kids) at the GSF guesthouse for a feast. Everyone else on the compound continued work as usual and were very respectful of us and our holiday. This was our nurse Katie’s first Thanksgiving as she is from England.

Introduction

Some of the "Groom's Family" all decked out in our traditional garb

The next day, Friday, was the wedding introduction for one of our staff members who grew up at GSF. The introduction is the time when the groom gives the dowry for the bride. It is a HUGE deal and each side hires a “speaker” to represent them—a drama of sorts. The neatest thing about the introduction in my opinion is that the groom had worked very hard at the dowry but still did not have as much as usual. The speaker spoke for him saying he was still young so he was not able to have as much for the dowry. They asked the bride if she would still accept him and she said “Yes!” Beautiful. At the end, the groom’s guests/family bring the dowry gifts in. Amy helped carry in the leg of a cow. Ha!

The Happy Couple

Wedding

Saturday was the wedding for Isaiah, GSF farm worker, and Norah, his bride. The wedding was beautiful and took place in our chapel. All the GSF kids also got to go which was fun. Amy helped them find clothes to wear to dress up. Our girls helped all the GSF girls get their nails painted on Friday. Over 350 people attended, which is more than double the number expected, yet there was still enough food for everyone.

‘He gives and takes away’

The morning of the wedding, as we were all getting ready, Big David, our tailor, called Mark and told him that his 2 year old needed to be rushed to the hospital. Mark could tell it was an emergency and one of our drivers was heading toward the hospital at that moment. We got word about 45 minutes later that 2-year-old Simeon didn’t make it. Simeon was developmentally delayed and medical exams had not yet turned up the reason. He may have had a heart defect. It was so sad, but David (who had been very instrumental in planning the wedding) said the celebration must go on and they would have the burial the next day. Big David said, ‘The Lord gives, and He takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’


Little Simeon in May; Big David is in the background

Sunday was a tough day. We had a shortened prayer service at the church. David and his family live on the GSF compound so all the kids knew Simeon. Some of the older girls were very close to him and cared for him often. We loaded our bus a two other vehicles with 45 people to attend the burial. We went about an hour away to David’s home village of Kakira for the burial. It was somber ending to an exciting and packed 4-day weekend.

laughter, a blade of grass, and a leaf

2011-11-23T15:25:00.000+03:00

So God is really teaching me a lot about looking for the blessings of the day. He is reminding that every situation is an opportunity to see Him work. Several days ago, I got a text from one of the house moms early in the morning asking for a Bible. I was thrilled that she wanted one although I thought she already had one. I have to admit that even in such a simple request, I began analyzing the whys and then the hows of getting it to her.
God gently said, "Just go take her one." I had to smile, my great, all-powerful God telling me to chill and stop making it complicated. I got dressed, and walked over to her house in the cool morning breeze. On my way, I got to greet and say good-bye to the secondary kids as they drove out for school.
When I arrived at house 4, I was greeted with a huge smile and a great, big thank you from the recipient of the Bible. And then she said. . . "I just texted the matron, but the water is going everywhere in the washroom; the tap is broken."
Oh, dear! So I walked back and God gently reminded me, "this is an opportunity for you to see ME." I did see Him in the laughter of the little girls as they showed me the water squirting everywhere. The water tap on the back wall had broken totally off and the water was a constant flow out of the back wall. Water was going everywhere and the girls were splashing around. I tried wadding through the water to see what I could do but it was absolutely impossible to put the tap back on. We all started to laugh that I would try to put it back on!

Now, let me say at this point, that I am a girly girl and don't understand the mechanics of anything but know how to pick up a phone and call someone who does. Problem being, it was 7:15 in the morning and the mechanics were not around yet and Mark was still getting ready for the day. I did know where I thought the shut off valve was so I walked around the back to see; all the while the girls are watching and laughing. The shut off valve did not have a knob, I would have to have a wrench, pliers something (remember I am a girly girl). I sent one of the girls to our house to get something and hoped she would come back with Mark and his tool bag. But I stood there for a moment realizing that the water was still coming and wouldn't stop till I did something. All the while, I realized I was enjoying the girls and the moment.
Okay, I will try to turn it, and then I heard, "Auntie Amy, it is stopping!"
"Oh, it is still going!"
So I tried harder. I looked around to find something to help me get a better grip. I looked around for a leaf but couldn't find one so called for one of the girls to go get one. I then picked up a blade of grass and wrapped it twice around where the knob should be (remember I am a girly girl and MacGyver I am not), somehow it worked and I heard again laughter and yelling.
"It is stopping!"
"There is little, Auntie Amy!" one of the little girls cried out laughing!
Finally a big leaf came and I was able to shut it off totally.
They began to chant, "It is over. . . It is over. . ."
I went to look and there was not even a drop coming from the wall. As I walked away, I thanked God for laughter, a blade of grass and a leaf and for the opportunity to see Him in the moments of everyday.

Progress of the House

2011-10-31T20:52:00.000+03:00

When we begin preparing to come to Uganda, one of our visions and goals was to build a missionary house on the GSF land. This would alleviate the need for missionary housing and would provide a house for us so that we could stay long term. God has been so faithful in taking us on a journey of building this house. He has provided many generous donors and given us a fabulous organization (eMi) to work with. This blog post may be more for our parents, close friends and donors to the house but wanted to show you the progress. We have been told that the move in date is approximately 4 weeks away,

View from the road

Our back veranda where we hope to see many monkeys

View into our living room/dining room from the front door and through some scaffolding

No More Lies

2011-10-30T21:19:00.000+03:00

She stood in front of me. I took her hands and told her to look in my eyes. I found out earlier in the week that she had been habitually called "the HIV girl" by a housemate. The accuser sat behind us as I looked deep into this broken little girl's eyes. "I want you and everyone here to know something. You do not have HIV and never have. It is a lie that you are an HIV girl."
Relief flooded over the little girl, a weight was lifted. Her accuser ashamed, cowered in the corner. "You don't have to believe the lies," I continued. If someone tells you something, you can come to your house mother or to me and ask. We will tell you the truth.

We all have an accuser, one who lies to us in our heads and through other people and things. I am so often guilty of having a terrible weight on me, because I have listened to the lies of my accuser just like that little girl did. God's word and His Spirit is our truth and as we read and recall His Word and listen to His Spirit, our accuser cowers in the corner not able to feed us lies anymore.

Isaiah 43:1 & 10 NIV

But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

Miss Middlest's garden

2011-10-26T20:17:00.000+03:00

Miss Middlest came triumphantly carrying a bunch of carrots she had grown in her garden. Miss Middlest doesn't like groups of people but would prefer one or two close friends which I have to tell you is problematic at an orphanage. But this sweet girl has found a little bit of land and with a little bit of love, lots of work and one or two friends to help (many times secretively), she has a bounty.

the reason we are here

2011-10-14T23:12:00.000+03:00

To introduce children to the God of Jeremiah 29:11

For He gives them a hope and a future!

Welcome little Betty! Your life is in His hands!

Gifts for the staff

2011-10-12T10:15:00.000+03:00

When our last team left, they gave money for us to do something for all of our 81 staff members. These are the buckets and supplies we got for each of them. They were thrilled! Thank you, Westover!

Happy Birthday, Uganda!

2011-10-09T18:18:00.003+03:00

May the young hearts of today be molded and shaped to be the Godly hearts of your tomorrow's leaders.

Wordless Wedneday-Frank, Chloe, Megan and Mark

2011-10-05T09:55:00.005+03:00

Not for the faint -hearted!

2011-10-03T19:04:00.007+03:00

I was the one who always opted and still do opt out of watching movies, riding rides or reading books with warnings like this. Because I AM the faint-hearted! So what am I doing in Africa? God has a sense of humor? Yes, I believe He does but I don't think that is why I am here. I think it goes back to that verse,

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised , hath God chosen , yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are : That no flesh should glory in his presence. . .
1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Because honestly, it is only the Lord that can make me strong when I walk to my front veranda and see this laying there (yep, just a few feet from my front door)! I have people call me a hero sometimes but I have to tell you it is God who is my Hero and the one I run to when all these creepy crawly things show up. He is the one who receives the glory.

A notice to all snakes in Buikwe District, Uganda who are even thinking about coming to visit Good Shepherd's Fold Children's and Babies Home--it is advisable that you not come because our children know how to use stones--Just Saying!

So on the same day (yesterday), I was washing dishes and saw something that just didn't seem right-A lovely dragonfly on my dish drainer! Isn't he long? But I don't care how lovely or long he is, he still freaked me out when I was washing dishes.

I have a very wise friend who told me one time, "Many say that God doesn't give you more than you can handle. I don't believe that, God gives you what He can intrust in you to allow Him to handle." I am grateful I can allow Him to handle all these critters!
~Amy

Prayer at the Bank

2011-10-01T21:14:00.000+03:00

I had a chance to publicly share Christ in a very unusual way today. While at the bank doing some business for GSF, I was sitting at the Assistant Manager's desk. It was the end of the business day so the workers were trying to put things into the vault. No one could find the key! The bank managers are Hindu and there are Muslims who work there also. But many of the workers are believers in Jesus. I was the only customer remaining, because I needed something that was in the vault and the bank had closed by this point.

They searched everywhere, focusing on the manager's desk where I was sitting, because it is directly in front of the vault. I felt God telling me to stand and pray out loud. I was afraid to do it. Once, I told the manager that God knows where his key is. He laughed nervously and kept looking. A few minutes later, while they were still frantically searching, I told him again that I would pray to God, because my God knows all things. Again, he nervously laughed. There were at least 6 or 7 people searching for that key for more than 30 minutes now.

Finally, there was enough courage in me to fully do what God was saying. I stood and announced in a loud voice that there is a God in heaven and he cares about the affairs of men. "God knows where the key is and I am going to pray that He will show you where your key is." Then I prayed out loud to the One True God and asked Him to shine His light on the key so that all the people would know that He alone is God. All the Christians said a big "Amen!" when I finished. I have never done anything like that in my life. After praying, I quietly started pleading with God, that His reputation was now on the line (probably more concerned about my own name, in reality).

Within ten minutes they found the key in a drawer that had already been searched many times by several different people. Many people started saying "God answers prayer!" One man shook my hand to thank me. I just sat quietly and pointed to Heaven. Even the Hindu bank manager shook my hand and said "Your prayer was answered." The Muslim worker got into a cordial, yet pointed conversation with one of the Christian clerks – I'm supposing (as they were speaking in Luganda) that they were talking about whose God had answered the prayer.

Friends, if you only knew how nervous and afraid I was to stand up and do this. I don't know what will come of that act of courage. Pray that God will work in the hearts of those people in the bank. May they continually be reminded that there is a God, and He is One God, and He is concerned about the affairs of men – even at the bank.

Kids give back. (Story behind the pictures on Wordless Wednesday)

2011-09-29T20:50:00.011+03:00

One year old twins have signs of malnutrition and their grandmother is clearly overwhelmed with caring for them and their 3 year old brother and 5 year old sister. So nineteen young people and six adults from GSF went to clean the compound and mud hut. Our desire is that the grandmother will be able to keep all 4 grandchildren and that we will be able to help her do that.

We cleared out the two huts and then cleaned the huts and compound.

Some of the kids dug while others gave all four children baths. Most of the things that were done that day were initiated because a kid saw a need and did it.

The biggest need besides actually cleaning the house was the mound of laundry that needed to be washed. And no washing machines here just the 5 finger variety. (okay, so the picture I posted doesn't show them actually working but I opted for the picture where they were not leaning over--I think you understand and I know they appreciate it).

Here's some fun pictures after the bathing.

In Uganda, all twins receive a name according to their birth order and gender. For example in this family the first born twin is the girl so her Luganda name is Babirye and and the second born twin is the boy so his name is Katto. The neat thing is that we have twins at GSF who are Babirye and Katto. In fact, here below are the two Babiryes having fun together.

The four children dressed in new clothes and bathed.

So when I got to this picture, I just had to laugh. I didn't even know it was taken. Not sure what I was thinking but I do know that going to the village always causes me to reflect a lot. In fact, it takes me awhile to process what I see. Maybe as I was waiting for someone to bring me a clean rag, I was starting to reflect on it all.

Grateful for what I have and what I can give!
~Amy

Wordless Wednesday--Twins in the village and a village comes to help!

2011-09-28T21:54:00.004+03:00

Justine's Baby

2011-09-24T23:16:00.010+03:00

Monday night, I got a text from my helper saying labor pains have begun. It is always a reason to pray but from all the stories I have heard, I am even more apt to pray here for a momma in labor! So all night, I woke periodically and whispered a prayer for Justine and this new baby coming into the world and then I would fall back asleep. The next morning close to 6 o'clock, Justine's husband called me and said, "We have a boy here!" I was so thrilled and began praising God. Justine and the baby were well! On Thursday, Mark, our matron, Julianna and I went to see Justine and her family and of course the new baby. Here are some pictures of our time there!

Introducing Emmanuel Jethro!

He let me hold him and I was thrilled!

My sweet friend and her sweet baby

Some of Justine's boys, James, her husband, and two of their boys, Jotham and Dixon

Not one of them is missing

2011-09-22T12:20:00.005+03:00

We have encountered several situations in the past few weeks in which we just don't know how to move forward in order to help families and children. My heart has ached to see people suffer. I have woken up in the night with their faces etched in my memory. My heart wants to run in and rescue but my mind knows that I can't or that it is not what is best in this situation. But as I read the following verse today, I realized I have no right or even obligation to worry because if He is in control of each star He is in control of each child I see.

Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars. The one who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power. Not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

My God has not been surprised by the situations I have been shocked by lately. As my mother-in-law says, "He didn't spill his coffee when he read the morning news." He is in control and His might is great and the His power strong!

As I say to the house mothers and aunties, "Praise God, alleluia!" and they say, "Amen" or "Amina"

Justine

2011-09-17T18:21:00.000+03:00

Meet the reason we have been able to live in Uganda as long as we have. . .
Our helper, Justine

Okay so I admitted it, I am not super woman and cannot make all my food from scratch, wash, hang out, iron and fold all our clothes, sweep and mop and keep our tropical house clean from all the dust and dirt and so many other things and also direct child care for 80 kids and be the mom and wife I need to be. So I have an incredible super woman who has been my helper for the three years we have lived in Uganda.

I am grateful for her and God has given her to our family as a blessing. She is now expecting her 5th baby and is over due. We are praying for a quick and soon delivery and for safety for she and the baby.

Prayer Update

2011-09-15T14:32:00.003+03:00

We first want to say that we are humbled, grateful, and encouraged by the response we received from our last blog post. We want to say thank you to so many who prayed for us and encouraged us. Here's our update on the 3 requests we gave:

The virus seems to be dying down but we still are getting new cases. The praise has been that as we asked, our vulnerable children have been protected from this virus. It actually has been amazing! God is so good. Many school children and workers and even our girls have gotten or now have the virus. Thank you for your continued prayers for this.
Yesterday, we had almost a 24 hour stretch with power which was a great refresher for all of us on this no power marathon and a help to the budget in regards to using fuel for the generator! The people at the power company seem to be helpful but it is just a struggle for all of Uganda.
The team is here and has had a wonderful 3 days of clinics. In answer to prayer, they were able to see everyone here who needed to be seen and many others. They are in some of the nearby villages this afternoon seeing some of the grandmas of the kids in the feeding program. Many people have been helped.

Thank you for praying. Your prayers and encouragement is what has sustained us this week. We so appreciate it!

Asking for prayer

2011-09-10T21:28:00.002+03:00

I am realizing all the more that our readers and followers are also ones who pray for us. Here are a few needs

There is a cold virus going around at GSF. Several ways to pray for this:

Fortunately most of our very vulnerable kids (HIV and special needs kids) have not gotten it. Please pray for protection for these kids in particular!
Our Nurse Katie who just arrived 4 weeks ago and started working solo on Tuesday (literally Nurse Sarah left on Tuesday about the time several kids first started complaining of the virus). Katie began to get sick today. Pray for quick healing for her.
Titus was one of the first to get the virus and was doing better yesterday but started a fever again tonight. I have also had it since Thursday and haven't been able to shake it yet. Pray for protection for the rest of the family.

Power outages. Power has been off a lot this week. We need power to run the water pump system at GSF. We have run our generator so much this week that we are almost out of fuel. Mark was talking with the power company's Area Director today and told her we were going to pray. . . she told him to please pray for the whole country because everyone is suffering. I don't understand it all, but Uganda doesn't have enough power. They are building another hydroelectric dam but it is not ready yet and there are economic issues at hand as well. Please pray for Uganda. We trust God to provide for us.
We have an eye medical team coming this week. They were en route today from the States and missed a flight because of mechanical difficulty. Pray for grace and rest for them in all of their travels. With one less clinic day, please pray that this team will accomplish all that God has in store for them.

Megan is 12!!!

2011-09-09T13:20:00.003+03:00

Twelve years ago today, we were given a pretty incredible and very beautiful gift. Our Megan Elizabeth was born on 9/9/99 which I have to say is a pretty cool birth day. A very Happy Birthday to our sweet Megan! So thankful for you and love the way you think outside of the box and challenge me to do the same.

He holds your future, Sweet girl!

2011-09-04T15:26:00.004+03:00

I picked up Mercy this morning when I walked into the church and held her as we sang. We began to sing, Because He lives.

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. . ."

I looked at Mercy and began to think about her tomorrows and that surely they will be much better than her yesterdays. When she arrived at the hospital and then at GSF, she was balled up and could barely move. But at church I was holding her with her back, arms and legs straight. She is just beginning to hold her neck up on her own.

"Because He lives, all fear is gone."
"Because I know He holds the future."

At this point I began to cry because, even though I don't know if Mercy will ever walk, I know who does and who can cause her to walk. Even though I don't know if Mercy will ever see, I know who does and who can give her sight. HE HOLDS HER FUTURE! I imagine her running around someday possibly with glasses to help correct her eyesight. But even if not. . .

And life is worth the living
Just because He lives!

God's sweet blessings

2011-08-27T18:13:00.001+03:00

2011-08-15T17:05:00.002+03:00

I serve a Redeemer. A Redeemer who saves me from my sin but also saves us from our past. When new kids arrive at GSF, I don't like to focus on the past but to focus on the fact that we have a Redeemer and a righteous judge who saves the oppressed and the orphan. Praise God with us for our new kids here at GSF!

My Redeemer Lives!

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits ;

Mercy, age 2

Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases

Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion

Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Jessica 4, Joan 5 and Joel 2

The LORD performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed.
PSALM 103:1-7

Abundant bounty

2011-07-26T12:32:00.004+03:00

A local pastor sent avocados to the orphanage for the children two different times in a week. The kids love them! We are grateful of unexpected blessings like these. It is a reminder to all of us that God loves us and gives us good things.

Favour

2011-07-24T17:42:00.004+03:00

We took in a little girl to GSF on Friday. We choose the name Favour because in looking at her circumstances, it is obvious God has kept her safe and healthy. He has shown her favor even at her young age (7 1/2 weeks old). He has also brought her to a safe place where she will learn of her heavenly Father who loves her.

Favour with her mother who is unable to care for her.

Favour dressed in her "going to the doctor and the orphanage" clothes.

We pray that she grows to be a godly young lady who has favor with God and mankind.

Disturbed

2011-07-11T18:05:00.003+03:00

The kids here sometimes come running up to our house complaining that one of their friends (or enemies for that matter) has "disturbed" them. It is another way of saying "they bothered me". These days I am bothered a lot. Frustrated by too many problems and needs and one of the easiest thing to do is to just ignore some of those needs or problems or put quick band-aids on them.

I was convicted today when I read a the following quote that a friend posted on her wall today (thank you, Kymberly West!).

"Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams come true because we dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord."
-Sir Francis Drake

Google dictionary defines disturbed as "having had its normal pattern or function disrupted." Around here there is not much of a normal pattern or function but any pattern that there is I don't like it to be disrupted. I so often do what I need just to get by. I pray that the Lord will continue to convict, bother and disturb me into not ignoring the needs around me. I pray that He will disturb me so much that I will not just put a quick band-aid on the problem or need but instead to look deep into the core. To see people, needs, and problems as He does!

To Tread upon the Cobra

2011-07-03T21:02:00.008+03:00

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

God reminded me of these verses on Saturday when I was walking to the guesthouse and saw the workmen all gathered around on the driveway. One of our guys yelled out and told me there was a snake. Here are pictures of the 6ft. cobra alive and dead.

"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble ; I will rescue him and honor him. "With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation."

Verses taken from Psalm 91:11-16

Titus turns 9

2011-06-28T10:16:00.004+03:00

One month ago today, Titus turned nine. A huge part of having a birthday here at GSF is being "watered" so in the afternoon after we all met our visiting team from Ireland the kids ran after Titus with water. Being the good sport that he is, he decided to give his friends big wet hugs.

While Mark and the girls and other missionaries were serving and eating with the visiting team, Titus and I had some of his friends (all boys at GSF ages 7-12)over for a movie (The Three Stooges--they loved it!) and zucchini cake. Yes, he is a picky kid and doesn't even like zucchini but loves chocolate zucchini cake! Back row left to right: Henry, David, Justus. Front: Samson, Titus, & Solomon Kabuzi

Funny Faces! Philip, Henry, Titus, David, Justus, Emmanuel, Samson, & Solomon Kabuzi.

Here's one of everybody so you can see how many boys were really at the party. Yes, I am crazy and yes, we had fun!

Titus modeling a few of his Birthday gifts; Soccer Ball, Lego, and Gumboots.

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE THEY SOMETIMES JUST TAKE TIME

2011-06-23T15:57:00.006+03:00

Matthew has CP. We have been told that he will walk someday. Here he is in 2008 when he was barely even crawling. Many people have worked with him, sent and/or paid for therapy items but more than anything we have all prayed for him and with him that someday he would walk. He is a miracle before all of our eyes and a reminder that God loves and cares for His children.

Here he is strutting his stuff in his new walker designed just for him. Thank you to Spring Garden Church in Greensboro for raising the funds for his walker. He is not there yet, but someday very soon he will walk to school with his walker. And he is thrilled and leaping for joy!

My Rock

2011-06-13T12:12:00.005+03:00

Life always seems to change. I remember when I lived overseas in high school and then taught at an international school after college, it seemed like things always changed. In fact one of my desires in teaching kids from all around the world was to teach them that God is our only stability. Now at an orphanage in rural Africa, I didn't think that would be as essential or important but, my it is. In fact, this year the kids here have said hello and good-bye to over 100 visitors, said good-bye to 10 kids who were adopted, 10 kids who were resettled and 3 who were called to their eternal home. That's a lot of good-byes and changes in one year! And of course, these are also kids who have had turmoil, transition or good-byes in their past and that is why they are even here at GSF.

I did a lesson with the 9-12 year olds in Sunday School last week on the theme that God is their Rock! Here are some of the verses I used. I hope they are an encouragement to you as they were to us.

He is the Rock, his works are perfect and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4

There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you, there is no Rock like our God. I Samuel 2:2

"The Lord is upright, he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him." Psalm 92:15

He said: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior--from violent men you save me. II Samuel 22:2-3

The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 3:18

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said , "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

We don't need to try to rely on other things. God is our Rock and our fortress! Praise God that when I never know what the next day will bring He does and He will never change nor will He ever leave me.

Blessings--Family and Safari

2011-06-01T18:25:00.013+03:00

There are days I realize that I am so blessed beyond measure. I am sitting right now on my veranda overlooking a beautiful rainforest, watching a group of toddlers walking by hand in hand. They all just yelled up, "Auntie Amy!" That is just one blessing I experience on a daily basis and actually not the one I was even planning on writing about.

We have been in Africa three short years, and we have had the blessing of having my parents come visit twice for a total of 4 1/2 months and Mark's mom come twice for a total of over a month. We also have had all three of Mark's brothers, a sister-in-law, 2 nieces, and a nephew all come visit. We have missionary friends here who have never had a family member visit. It is indeed a blessing we count a pure joy!

In April, Mark's mom, brothers, David and J.R. and J.R.'s son, Gage all came to visit us. It was great to show them around and for them to see our ministry in action. The guys helped plant seedlings and went a forest walk and both brothers had the opportunity to speak. Mark's mom went to the village several times and spoke with the house mothers. We also took them around Jinja and went on the boat to the source of the Nile.

The second week, we all had the opportunity to go on safari. That also is a blessing I am overwhelmed by! It is incredible to see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and so much more in the wild and up close. Here are some of our pictures:

I never tire of seeing elephants, but never want to get too close!

Ugandan Kob and a giraffe.

We loved seeing Patas monkeys. This one posed for us.

Female Lion enjoying her morning kill. She wasn't paying a bit of attention to us!

The greatest blessings of all . . . (although at times quite silly!)

Our kids love the safari van and it causes some great wind-blown looks.

I Love my family and so grateful for the blessing of them!

just CALL

2011-05-19T15:04:00.004+03:00

So the last few weeks have been tough. Without going into detail, it has become more obvious we need direction, vision and more help here at GSF. Mark is investigating a significant theft and trying to determine who was involved. We have had water pump and generator issues that affect all of us. We have several preteens that are having serious struggles and behavior problems right now and we just don’t know how to address the issue. And, of course, our dear friend, colleague, and teacher, Amanda, in a life threatening condition (see previous posts).

But this blog is not about any of these things but instead of what God has been teaching me through these things. The word is CALL.

“Call unto me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 (NASB)

Crying out to God. I think of my own kids and the kids here at GSF. They come and ask for things many times. But it is when they are really desperate and can’t get to me fast enough is when they call to me. Cry out for me. Plead for my help.

Sunday morning, after we had heard how desperate of a situation Amanda was in, I was lying in bed with an unexplained fever.We had just dealt with a behavior in one of our own kids that was very unexpected and all the other situations mentioned above had already happened. I looked at Mark and said, “I am at my lowest!” I felt like I couldn’t even reach God. There was darkness between us. However, I knew that I had to keep calling out to him. Crying to him for all these situations. I read later that day Lamentations 3:55-58

“I called on your name,

O, Lord, out of the lowest pit,

You have heard my voice,

‘Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief,

From my cry for help.’

You drew me near when I called on You;

You said, ‘Do not fear!’

O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause.

You have redeemed my life.”

I was at my lowest pit. I felt like everything in me had to cry. But like a child in his bed crying out for his mother in faith, knowing that the mother will hear, I called out to God. And He did hear me and reminded me that He knew each situation and had allowed each situation for my good.

“For I know that plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. “

But He reminded me . . .

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord. . .”

Jeremiah 29:11,12-14a

As this week has continued, He has gently shown me how He is using each situation. Refining me, molding me, teaching me to cry out to Him.

Thursday, when I was first told Amanda was in the hospital and I began to pray, I was reminded that she once said that I was a prayer warrior. To be honest, it was one of those statements that I never understood and I have not been able to let that statement loose. I don’t believe that I am a prayer warrior but, funny thing, it also prodded me to work towards being one. I keep pondering what does it really mean to be a prayer warrior and how can I be that way. I now am struck by the fact that Amanda is the one who said it and it is her sickness that is causing me to seek more and more to be that way. To call out to Him in desperation.

I have always been in awe by the desperation that Hannah prayed. Eli the priest thought she was drunk. Her defense to him was this “I have poured out my soul before the Lord” (1Sam 1:15)

So whatever it is, a need for wisdom and for truth to come out, a desire for a vision, freedom from the bondage of sin, change in my heart, desperate need for healing for a friend or just the strength for the next hour—God will hear and answer as we call out to Him. Some of the answer is just in calling out to Him and through that He changes us and guides us. This is my desire that I will learn to CALL to Him in all things and in that He will change me!

Update on Amanda

2011-05-19T11:33:00.002+03:00

Thank you everyone for your prayers for our dear friend! She is steadily improving but has a long way to go. If you would like to keep updated on her progress you can check out her caring bridge page.

Thank you so much for praying for her; it means a lot to us, her and her family and friends.

Crying out for a friend

2011-05-15T18:36:00.005+03:00

As many of you know, we have been blessed with a fabulous teacher for our kids here in Uganda. Amanda Kruppenbacher came to Uganda in June of last year to be the teacher for the missionary kids at GSF. She has been so much more. She is our neighbor, friend and co-laborer. She brings so much fun and laughter to GSF. The kids all know her as Auntie Amanda.

Several weeks ago, after finishing the school year, she decided to make a trip to the States to surprise her mom who was getting ready to have surgery. It was also going to be a time for her to relax, refresh and reflect. I got word on Thursday that she had been hospitalized for malaria that she had contracted here before she left. Saturday evening, we got the devastating word that it had progressed to a very dangerous form of malaria called Cerebral malaria. Her malaria parasite count was very high, the brain was swollen, and there were signs of meningitis. They were having to fly in the medicine to PA from Atlanta.

We called all the GSF kids together to pray for their Auntie Amanda. We all gathered together and sang some songs and then divided in groups and began to pray. It was so sweet to see big boys with little boys leading them in prayer for someone they love! These are kids who know pain and know the God who heals.

This morning we woke to find a text on my phone that said all the malaria parasites were gone! That is an incredible miracle. Something that medicine alone couldn't do in less than a day. We have been keeping track all day and have found out that the swelling is continuing to decrease.

God has done amazing things already for Amanda but she is still in ICU and still in need of a lot of prayer. He is not finished and we ask that you continue to pray for healing for Amanda. We are also asking God to use this in the lives of the kids here at GSF.

Our hope is in Him

2011-05-01T12:41:00.004+03:00

My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net. Psalm 25:15

We had a fabulous time with Mark's family. His mom, two brothers, David and J.R. and nephew, Gage came for 2 weeks. They stayed at GSF for a week and then we went on safari for the last part of the trip. Best safari we have been on.

Friday morning, we were leaving the lodge to get them to the airport for their flight that evening and got delayed paying the bill (as someone had billed a few things to one of our rooms). We then hurried to the ferry which runs only every hour. We got there just as the ferry was leaving and had to wait another hour! We were bummed and knew our time would be cut short and a little rushed. However, through the rest of the day, everything went smoothly. We even had lunch ready for us when we got to the restaurant and we didn't feel the pressure of rushing to get to the airport on time.

As we were traveling, we got reports of riots in Kampala. Because of the arrest of the top opposition leader the day before, the city and several other areas in the country were in upheaval. We even heard of some of our co-workers who were caught in the riots as they took two of our GSF kids to the doctor. We found out later that God orchestrated our matron and our two missionary nurses to all be in the car with Claudia, one of the other missionaries. If one of our kids would not have gotten hurt the day before, these ladies would have been on the Kampala streets, in the taxi park or in a taxi during these riots, which would have been a more dangerous place to be. God is good.

Meanwhile, we were talking with our driver and our country coordinator on how best to get to the airport (in Entebbe an hour on the other side of Kampala). The driver planned on taking the western by-pass which seemed we would only go through one place where there were riots. We got to that one place and saw that business was back to usual but there were still smoldering logs and tires on the side of the street. As I looked at the smoke I realized that the riots may have stopped only an hour before.

We continued our route and discovered the remains of ash, tear gas canisters and burnt tires all along the way. We quickly realized that if we had not missed the ferry, we may have been right in the midst of the end of the rioting all along the way. God is so good!

We got our family all the way to the airport and said our tearful good-byes but grateful the good things we had experienced together.

We drove back yesterday and all was clear. The unrest seems to be on the week days especially on Monday and Thursdays. We are safe here in the sugar cane fields but request prayer for peace for Uganda. Pray for wisdom for the leaders of Uganda and those in the opposition party.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:17-22

Gifts

2011-04-07T21:51:00.003+03:00

Walked down to the little cemetery at GSF today. . .

I've been there before but it had been a while.

And in a while . . .

Beautiful Norah with hope in her heart that she would someday see her Savior saw that someday in September.

Charming Emmanuel learned that Jesus could give him a body that would work so perfectly that he would dance before the King and he did just that in early January.

Incredible Gloria who taught me so many things learned in March that God would heal all her wounds and infirmities and make her new.

But I stand here in this little cemetery and cry and thank God for the gifts He gave me in these three precious lives! I also stand here and thank Him for the 80 other precious lives He has given me on the other side of the hill from the cemetery.

SEB

2011-03-29T15:33:00.002+03:00

Sebastian, 18 months old, has been in our feeding program. Because he was not getting bigger and because of issues not to be mentioned, the feeding program was not working for little Seb.. Yesterday, I went with our social worker, Keren, and several others to this little guy's home and village to pick him up and bring him into GSF. We discovered at that time that there may be health issues that had never been discovered during the feeding program days. We took him to a doctor today for a thorough check-up. It was discovered he has a bilateral cleft palate.

I looked up bilateral cleft palate on the internet and found this statement, "it is typically diagnosed immediately at birth." This little guy is 18 months old and is not very big because it has been hard for him to suck and food goes back through his nose. It has saddened me that a little guy who could have gotten help has suffered with this for 18 months.

Please pray for little Seb. We will consulting be with the doctor soon and may even have surgery next week.

Lessons learned from Gloria

2011-03-20T17:02:00.005+03:00

GSF is full of sweet and great stories of kids whom God obviously has His hand on. One of the sweetest is of Gloria. It has been said that Gloria's mom had measles when she was pregnant with Gloria. Gloria was born with severe cerebral palsy and mental retardation. I have been told that many kids from Gloria's tribe who have deformities "accidentally die" as babies. But Gloria did not die--God had more for her to do! She came to GSF 5 years ago in 2006; she was estimated to be 4 years old at the time. She received much therapy and love. Her story taught me that God values all life!

When I first saw Gloria, I didn't know how to approach her. She would want me to lift her but she was just too big. Finally one day, an ENT came to visit GSF and went to look in Gloria's ears. I sat down to hold her so he could check her. I cradled her in my arms and she immediately snuggled in! I was floored! She just wanted to be cradled. God taught me through Gloria that everyone desires love in one way or another and I should strive to give it. I loved going and holding her and she loved it as well. I grew to love Gloria dearly.

Early last year, Gloria got really sick with Typhoid. How she got typhoid, we will never really know but she became very weak and small. She was in the hospital for a long time but finally got to come home and we all rejoiced. About a month later, chicken pox spread around the orphanage and Gloria got it the worst. It was all over her body and inside as well. Eventually Gloria recovered from chicken pox and we were all relieved. She then began a cycle of being in and out of the hospital due to pneumonia at least 4 times. Several times we thought we were going to lose her. We have sent out blog updates asking for you to pray for her numerous times and you have prayed and God always answered our prayers. Many of you will remember the entry about Lilly going to the hospital and praying for Gloria. God taught me again that God had Gloria's life in His hands and He was a miracle working God.

Through this time of Gloria's illnesses, we had 2 other children die (Norah in September and Emmanuel in January). Both deaths were difficult and very eye opening into the differences of how this culture deals with death compared to the culture I grew up in. Both deaths were in the early morning and it was so difficult waking up to the news and sharing it with others. I began to dread the day that God would call our sweet Gloria home and even asked that He would take her during the day. At the same time, when I would see Gloria suffering, I would ask Him to take away her suffering. I knew she would be so much better off. One evening, Gloria was gasping for air after choking on something. We had to rush her to the hospital. I asked God if this was the end and told Him I was dreading it. Gloria defied death again and came home the very next morning smiling and alert. God gently reminded me that everything was in His timing.

Three weeks later, I was sitting on my veranda and got a "Gloria update" from Sarah, one of the nurses. She seemed okay but did have a fever and was having a difficult time breathing. None of us thought much about it as she had struggled so many times before. About an hour later, Mark walked out of the back room holding my phone and said that Sarah just called and she couldn't find a pulse on Gloria. I stopped . . . what was the scene going to be like when I went to her house. Mark raced on over but I hesitantly put on my shoes and had a chat with God as I walked over to the house. Believe it or not, when I arrived I came upon a very peaceful scene. They had Gloria laying out on a mattress on the back veranda working on her. We had said we wanted to do what we could to try to save her life. So the nurses and others were courageously but so peacefully working to see if she would begin to breath again. Gloria went into the presence of her Heavenly Father March 14, 2011 at approx 8:30 am. A glorious morning--praise Him that it was a beautiful sunny morning! The arrangements were taken care of effortlessly (unlike the other two). We had the memorial service for Gloria at 4:30 that same day. Her uncle and aunt took the body to her grandfather's land many hours away the next day for the burial. In all of this, God taught me that even when He takes one of His loved ones home, He still provides and lovingly cares for those left behind. I so often dread those things that God in His time gives me the grace and peace to deal with.

God is a God of peace! God teaches us even through those whom the world calls the "least of these." He loves and cares for them and wants us to learn to love and care for them. Praise God for Gloria's life!

Our newest "resident"

2011-02-27T15:29:00.004+03:00

This week we discovered a new resident on our 110 acres of land. "There's an armadillo in the tree," was the first indication that something new and exciting was going on outside. I went out side to see one of the gardeners at GSF climbing a tree and asking for a stick. The gardener saw it in the tree and knew it wasn't harmful to humans so decided to show it to Titus, Eli and Henry. It drew quite a crowd and as you can see it was a little nervous and probably regretted deciding to live at an orphanage. The picture below is when it got knocked on to the ground and realized it was surrounded by screaming children.

What is it you ask? It is not an armadillo but a pangolin. I am guessing by the looks of it that it is the tree climbing variety.

Thought I would also add pictures of 2 of the brave Gwartney crew who were willing to touch it. A special thank you to Debbie Rohrer and Caralina for the fabulous pictures!

Special Girls

2011-02-25T10:23:00.009+03:00

Before we moved to Uganda, I had not interacted much with special needs kids. I didn't think I really had a heart for them and definitely not an understanding. Once our family arrived here, I began to get to know these special kids and now have such a love for them and a passion for their livelihood. They are incredible kids who deal with difficult situations but so often have a smile on their face. I have learned such valuable lessons through them. Mark and I have become convinced that these kids teach a whole lot more to all of us here at GSF than any of us could ever give to them. Thought I would share some of my favorite photos of the 4 special needs girls here at GSF. These girls are some of my favorite people in the world.

GSF Babies

2011-02-19T17:13:00.009+03:00

Caralina is our master photographer in our home right now. She absolutely loves taking pictures and loves babies even more! Here are some recent photos she has taken of the babies at GSF. I love looking at the smiles and chubby faces. All of these kids have come to GSF because of difficult situations and it is beautiful to me to see their bright eyes full of hope. Praise God!

A note on the last little guy. . . He arrived at GSF a month ago severely malnourished but is doing very well and growing as you can see from his fabulous smile!

One of these kids doesn't look like the others. . .

2011-02-12T21:08:00.005+03:00

I have a picture of my T-man but you have to try to spot him. This is very common place for our little guy who in May this year will have spent 1/3 of his life in Uganda. And when you hear him playing and talking with his friends you would never it was a little boy born in the Mid-South of the US of A.

2011-02-11T09:27:00.003+03:00

I love spending one on one time with my kids! Unfortunately, with 90 other kids around this time doesn't happen as often as I would like. Mark and I have to carve this time out. This last weekend I had such an opportunity to take Megan, our middlest, out by myself. She and I had a great time at a resort 20 minutes from our house. This picture is of us next to Lake Victoria.

Clinics and Babies

2011-02-09T16:42:00.005+03:00

In January we had a medical team come to visit and hold a clinic at GSF. The team was small so many of us lent a hand. Mark, along with overseeing the event, was called upon to do malaria tests and Caralina worked in the pharmacy, vitals and also just walked around and held babies (her favorite thing to do!). I caught this shot and loved it thought you would too!

SWEET!

2011-02-04T13:56:00.001+03:00

Here's a picture of two GSF girls who have been "transplanted" to America. One was adopted a year and a half ago and one just arrived this week. God is so good to allow us to watch His plan in each of the GSF kids' lives.

Long Overdue Christmas Pictures

2011-02-02T10:00:00.014+03:00

We have stories and pictures to share but sometimes very little time in which to share it. Mark and I both realized today how quiet we have been in updating everyone over the last two months. So we will start by sharing some fun pictures from Christmas!

Strong Elephants

2010-12-15T17:46:00.000+03:00

Hippos, Jackals, Crocodiles, Oh my!

2010-12-11T21:17:00.001+03:00

We had the incredible opportunity to take my parents on safari. We had a fabulous time. Here are a few pictures taken on our trip.

Our favorites of this trip- Giraffes plus a great shot of Murchison Falls !

2010-12-11T21:13:00.002+03:00

One of the fun things about the Murchison Falls National Park is the giraffes. The other national park we have been to did not have giraffes. The beautiful waterfalls is also a sight to behold. Murchison was the backdrop for the movie, African Queen.

tough decisions

2010-12-01T22:29:00.000+03:00

So here’s a tough decision that none of us have to face everyday but our social worker grappled with this situation today. We found out yesterday about a woman in a village nearby who had triplets and was asking for help. Our social worker, one of our American nurses and one of our interns went to check out the situation. First of all, I must explain that village here means no running water, no electricity, charcoal or wood stoves, and dirt floors. So they discovered the babies, all little girls, were born 2 months ago. They were all small and probably came early (the mom didn’t even know she was pregnant with triplets until she delivered!). One of the little girls is very small and sickly and may die. The father fetches water for a living and earns probably $2-$3 a day. The mother, age 22, is of course totally worn out and doesn’t have anyone to help her during the day. She was given some formula when the babies were born but she feeds all 3 babies out of the same sippy cup. She also is breast feeding. A small tin of formula, that would probably last one day or two, cost $10 here. Our group did bring two tins of formula and some bottles. The social worker asked the mother about us taking the one sickly child so she could manage the other two. The mother said that in her culture they believe that you cannot separate triplets or they will all become sickly. She is asking us to take all the children.

We really have not come to a conclusion as yet. We know we do not have room right now for 3 babies, but even if we did, we really would not want to take all 3 children from an able bodied, sound minded mother and father. As I stood on my veranda speaking with our social worker, the thought flashed through my mind, “wow, not a decision we face everyday!” I am so often floored by the decisions we are faced with. Decisions that affect peoples’ lives! Would you pray for wisdom that comes only from God for us? We praise God for the one who gives it. Thank you for praying for us!

Jesus is the Winner Man

2010-11-20T18:08:00.008+03:00

There is a song that we sing in our GSF church that always makes me smile and even chuckle. Thought I would share it with you! I have an amateur video but it is 255mb and on our internet it just wouldn't work to get it downloaded so I have written it out. It goes like this:

"Jesus is a winner man (pronounced weiner man); a winner man; a winner man; Jesus is a winner man; a winner man all the time.

Chorus: (add the electric slide to the moves)
He's a winner man, a winner man, a winner man, a winner man, a winner man, a winner man, a winner man; a winner man all the time. (Repeat and reverse electric slide)

Satan is a loser man; a loser man; a loser man; Satan is a loser man; a loser man all the time.

Chorus: (continue the electric slide)
He's a loser man, a loser man, a loser man, a loser man, a loser man, a loser man, a loser man, a loser man all the time. (Repeat and reverse electric slide)

I am on the winning side, the winning side, the winning side; I am on the winning side; the winning side all the time.

Chorus: (yep, you got it!)
On the winning side, the winning side, the winning side, the winning side, the winning side, the winning side, the winning side, the winning side all the time.

Birthday Girl!

2010-11-20T18:08:00.007+03:00

So, I am a little late but wanted to share pictures of our 9-9-99 girl's birthday! Her favorite gift was a bottle of Top Up, which is the Ugandan version of Ketchup. Our kids have gotten accustomed to it and prefer it over Ketchup. No, I usually don't give food items as birthday gifts but she actually told us that is what she wanted for her birthday!

We had Cookie Cake that she helped make.She invited several GSF friends, a missionary friend from Jinja, and her teacher for a party.

Super Hero day!

2010-11-18T10:42:00.000+03:00

Our kids are having spirit week this week at GSF international—love it. Above is a picture of the entire school and teacher on super hero day. Super heroes are as follows: Snowball girl, Pink Powder puff girl, Wonder Woman/Gumboot girl, just an average girl in trouble, Classy Girl, Seminole Boy, the Green Hero, Tambourine Man, and Sugar boy.

Gloria and Lilly

2010-11-16T21:11:00.000+03:00

Gloria, one of our special needs girls, is in the hospital for pneumonia. She is not doing well and has been very weak for about a year. She has been in the hospital for about 2 weeks now and has been feverish and vomiting most of the time there. I was told today that the doctors are going to try one more antibiotic for 5 days and if she doesn’t get any better, they will recommend that we stop trying and just continue giving fluids via IV. They also recommend that we bring her home and focus on quality of life as opposed to quantity of life. Tough decisions but we are praying that God will bring healing and allow us to bring her home to recuperate.

This morning before I was given this news, I really felt impressed to take Lilly to see Gloria. Lilly is another of our special needs kids and one who can cause anyone to smile. Those of you who have come to visit most likely remember Lilly and her full-body hugs. Lilly makes every situation seem better. Some days I just sit out on the veranda with Lilly and somehow she makes life better. So this morning, I just wondered if Lilly could lift Gloria’s spirits as well. The other thought is that almost any other kid at GSF would be stunned by Gloria’s feeding tube and IVs. Somehow, I knew that that would not phase Lilly.

Later in the afternoon, our farm manager asked Mark if some of us could go and pray for Gloria. Mark and I got ready and filled our car with 2 house moms, one of our American nurses, our tailor, our farm manager, Mark and I and of course, Lilly! And by halfway through the trip, I think everyone was glad we brought Lilly. She made us all laugh with her tries at saying all of our names and with the common phrases she uses all the time.

“Lilly, are you happy?” I asked her.

“Hmm, appy!” was Lilly’s response.

When we arrived to see Gloria, Lilly was quiet but still animated. Gloria was very still and sleeping. We gathered around and prayed. Lilly leaning very strongly on me, was very quiet except when someone would say, “In Jesus Name. . .”

“Amen!” would be Lilly’s loud response.

When we all finished I asked Lilly if she wanted to pray for Gloria.

“Hmm, ray Goriah!”

She then repeated after me a prayer for Gloria. When we finished, I looked down at Gloria to see she had her eyes opened and fixed on Lilly! She realized Lilly was there! Anytime Lilly moved, Gloria’s eyes would follow. When Lilly began to speak again, Gloria began to move her mouth! Wow, what a blessing!

When we finished talking to Gloria, Lilly was ready to continue her new found hospital ministry. She turned to the many onlookers in the big hospital room filled with many patients and their caregivers. She started waving and saying, “Hi!” When we told her to go greet some others, she quickly walked over and gave high fives to unsuspecting people who were expecting handshakes. One of the caregivers in the room even gave her money.

We have now decided Lilly is going to be making more hospital visits because she cheers the ones taking her, the person she is visiting and those in the ward.

We think God for Gloria and Lilly. When you think of them, pray for these two special girls. Pray that they will be able to visit each other in their houses right next door to each other real soon!

Uganda Driving

2010-11-15T18:13:00.001+03:00

One thing that makes driving difficult in Uganda is the number of people (and animals) on the roadway. Driving back to GSF by myself yesterday, I decided to keep track. In a 10 km (6.2 miles) distance, there were over 200 pedestrians! Now consider this… These are mommas with babies, small children, kids hauling water on their heads, people pushing or riding bicycles loaded with supplies, etc. Furthermore, the people are ON the road with you, not walking beside the road on a sidewalk. Beyond that, we’re talking about roadways that normally aren’t paved and aren’t as wide as a two-lane street in the states. Rural roads are generally just wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. And if there is a guy on a bicycle there at the same time, then he either has to bail into the grass or one vehicle has to slow down and wait to ease around the bicycle until the other vehicle has passed.

I know this still isn’t a good picture. Next time you drive in the states, count how many people you pass walking on the road/sidewalk in a distance of one mile. According to the number above, which was a typical day, there were 33 people per mile – again, pedestrians on the road, not walking near/alongside the road. That doesn’t count how many goats, cows and sheep were there also. We learn to adjust and pray more sincerely for safety while driving!

Wisdom needed, Wisdom given!

2010-10-25T15:01:00.002+03:00

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM.” James 1:5

We were in need of wisdom last night. I called my mom and dad, I texted all our missionary team members and put it on facebook. We asked people to pray for wisdom. And the wisdom came. . . Let me give you the background story and then the wisdom that came from God.

Last Monday morning, one of our best housemoms called me very distraught and told me that her younger sister just died while giving childbirth. Later, she called to tell me that the baby had survived and wondered if we at GSF could take the baby. One of the difficulties with this is that her village is far from GSF so we couldn’t do any investigation of the situation. Also, we are not in the same jurisdiction which means we would have to go through the proper legal channels to make sure this little girl could stay at GSF. The other concern was that we really honestly do not have the space or the manpower to take another newborn at this time. The week continued with encouraging the house mom to go to the probation (the one in charge of placing orphaned children) in her district. We then found out there was an older sibling age 2 who was also in need of a home. She went to a local probation officer who referred her to the district probation officer.

Sunday, we found out that her family clan had had a meeting on Friday and had appointed our house mom as the one responsible for the 2 children. Also, because of the distance she had not been able to go to the district probation officer yet. We were then met with a problem. The house mom was now considered the mom of these two children which could cause problems in the house with the other GSF children. We also again just didn’t have room for these kids but we also did not want to lose such a great house mom. And if she were to lose her job at GSF, how would she be able to find another one with 2 little ones? Wow, I all of a sudden felt this tremendous stress of making a decision that would greatly affect this house mom and the two little ones. I spent a lot of time praying last night and the more I prayed, the more God’s peace came and His gentle voice telling me to rest in Him.

This morning, the social worker, the matron and I all met and prayed about the situation and then began to discuss. God brought the wisdom we needed and gave us a plan. The house mom is in the baby house which has two mothers in it and only one needs to stay at night. We decided that this mom could rent a home ($5) a month and hire someone to care for the kids during the day. She could then continue to work at in the baby house during the day and care for the sweet babies and one special needs kid who are already attached to her. We are hoping to give her some assistance in feeding the children. We look forward to how God will continue to reveal this plan for this sweet lady and the two children now in her care.

When you are not sure how to pray for us, pray for wisdom in the life-changing decisions we must seek God in. Thank you to each of you who prayed for us regarding this situation.

When I am afraid. . .

2010-10-09T20:36:00.000+03:00

I was curled up in the big chair by the door with my heart racing and quoting “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” over and over again. Fear is a huge struggle for me and is quite a challenge at an orphanage in a third world country. It is something I have to constantly give to God. This time it was 4:30 in the morning and I had just gotten a phone call that 9-year-old Chloe was having a severe asthma attack. Usually, when there is a medical issue in the houses in the night, Mark goes to check on the situation and to help. I stay home and pray. Tonight was no different so I sat there to pray— but I couldn’t pray—the fear was overwhelming. I was reminded that it had been exactly 2 weeks since we got another early morning phone call telling us that Norah was in distress and within an hour we knew she had died. The hurt was still so fresh it caused fear to come rushing in.

So I sat crying out “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” and as I continued my focus changed from my fear to the God of the universe who hears and answers. More than that, He loves me and Chloe and everyone else at GSF. He knew what He was doing when He called our family here even as inadequate as I feel to be here but I asked God to work through me, a weak vessel. He allowed Chloe to have asthma but He also placed her at GSF where she can get the medical care and the love she needs. I prayed for God to protect her and also for her to grow in Christ and His word. I knew He was guiding Mark’s hands and mind and the others helping Chloe. I was able to begin praying for wisdom and peace in that place. The more I focused on my Lord and His plans, the more I was able to cry out to Him. Mark returned and said Chloe would be okay but he needed run to the clinic to get some medicine; I was able to tell him that God and I were having a good talk.

Chloe had to eventually be taken to the hospital to receive steroid treatments. She is staying there through the weekend. I praise God for her, for His protection and even the opportunity to spend time talking to Him and hearing Him answer. Later that day, I told Mark that I had been so afraid that I couldn’t pray in the night and all I could do was quote “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” He said, “Amy, that was praying!”

Norah's Story

2010-09-30T19:21:00.001+03:00

Since we came to GSF, the day Amy & I feared most was the day when one of the children would die. Several children have passed away over the years. It is all too common in Uganda due to HIV/AIDS and other diseases and hardships. The children who live at GSF have each experienced death directly and it is a primary reason they live here. After serving more than two years, the dreaded day came last week.

Norah’s story began when she was born with HIV, inherited from her parents. Norah’s mother passed away late in 2002 when Norah was 9 years old. Norah’s aunt happened to be the Matron at GSF at the time, so she brought the young girl to live at GSF, and she was accepted despite being older than those who typically come into the home. Norah’s father had some personal habits and problems which prevented him from caring for her. He passed away earlier this year, in March. God had a plan for this girl in bringing her to Good Shepherd’s Fold.

Norah struggled with sickness as is typical for many children with HIV. In the last couple of years, her CD-4 counts, which basically measure one’s overall level of immunity, decreased drastically low in spite of being on advanced medications for AIDS. In November 2009 she contracted a bacterial infection called toxoplasmosis, which caused paralyzation on her right side. Norah was relegated to a wheel chair for a condition which is typically permanent. However, as people prayed and her determination kicked in, Norah gained strength. Earlier this year, she began to walk slowly with a cane, even managing without the cane on some occasions.

Norah loved to sing! She was part of the praise team at GSF, but her diseases weakened her and often prevented her from being able to stand and sing in church. Gaining strength, she joined the GSF choir to sing at a special event earlier this month. Then two weeks ago she stood again in church and gave testimony to God’s goodness: “I thank God that I thought I would never stand and sing in church again, but now you see me standing and singing on the stage again today.” Amen!

Her near-zero immunity was battling against Tuberculosis at that time and Norah fell very sick a few days after that testimony. In her weakened state she developed pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital on Monday, September 20. A severe stomach infection also emerged as her body was virtually unable to fight off the slightest germ. AIDS, TB, pneumonia, stomach infection – she had no defenses left.

Shortly after 2:00 a.m. on Friday, September 24, Two of the house moms came knocking on our door. The house mother who was staying with Norah in the hospital had called. Norah was partly delusional and partly coherent, asking for a Bible, asking for prayers, singing (as she loved to do!) He Is Lord. We prepared to rush to the hospital, but the doctors were coming and we were told to wait.

Little more than a year ago, we had held a crusade at a nearby village. Three men from our home church in Southaven, Mississippi had come to work with us at the orphanage for a couple weeks. Our pastor, Tim Lampley, was preaching at the crusade one night. Though Norah wasn’t feeling well she had wanted to go to the crusade. I sat on the soccer field with her and talked to her during the message, quietly asking if it was sinking in. It appeared that it was the conviction of the message, more than any sickness, that was causing her concern that night. Instead of waiting for her friends, she returned with us to GSF immediately after the message and she wanted to talk to Pastor Tim. I listened that night, as he shared again the gospel message with Norah and she prayed to give her life to Christ. A new creation. A changed heart. An orphaned HIV girl found New Life!

Norah stepped into eternity at 2:45 a.m. on Friday morning as the doctors were working on her. The great pain and many diseases of her earthly life were over as she walked through the gates of Heaven – forever healed.

I arrived with one of the house moms at the hospital at about 3:30 a.m. to comfort Norah’s house mother, to see the body, to confirm the last details of her life. I am reminded that, no matter how sadly we may view the circumstances of someone’s life, there is everlasting joy awaiting those whose hearts fully belong to Jesus Christ!

“Norah, we look forward to seeing you again.”

Christmas is Closer

2010-09-23T10:41:00.001+03:00

We know that Christmas isn’t all about gifts, just like salvation is not all about gifts either – but the gifts can be further evidence of God’s great love and provision for us. Look at the great lengths He is going just to supply some gifts to a group of kids in Uganda….

After Sam & Suzie Davis went to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital warehouse (see “Christmas is Coming” post below), then it was time to hand off the load to Amy’s parents, Larry & Bonnie Roots, who live in Lynchburg, VA. (The Roots’ are coordinating the transport of these items to Uganda, as they are coming to visit in December.) The Davis’ drove to Knoxville to visit their daughter, Suzanna, who attends college there. The Roots rented a van and drove from Lynchburg to meet them there. Point of reference: Knoxville is a big city and it’s about 350 miles each from Memphis to the west and Lynchburg to the east. Here is what the Roots’ reported about the journey:

To show you how GOOD GOD is: When we were 54 miles from Knoxville I called Suzie and they were 57 miles West of Knoxville. They said Suzanna's dorm is right downtown and not a good place for the hand-off. I had a map and suggested an exit 2 miles from there. When we got there we saw a nice size gas station on the corner close to the interstate so we pulled in and I called to tell them where to meet. They came right to the station within about 3 minutes. Suzanna pulled in a minute after they did. Only God could have done that in a city that size. We visited and passed off everything, took pictures and then we headed back home. It was really neat to see them and their excitement for what had happened.

Amazing! The Roots have organized everything into 8 trunks to be sent to Uganda. Not only is there a gift for every kid at GSF, but the hospital donated hoards of T-shirts, socks, batteries and other items along with the rest of it!

Next step: To get the gifts and supplies here without paying excess baggage fees. God’s transport service is already in place and we will let you know about it later. Stay tuned!

To sing again

2010-09-23T10:27:00.002+03:00

Two weeks ago, Norah stood up in church and said, “I thank God because I thought I would never stand again to sing in church and today I did!” Praise God!

Norah is 16 year old and has AIDS. She gave her heart to Jesus last year and now has hope! Several months later, she began to have numbness on her right side and was eventually diagnosed with Toxoplasmosis and was told she would never walk again. Many have prayed for and with her and God has allowed Norah to walk with a cane and sometimes even just with a limp. God has been faithful and has allowed her to do something she loves to do and that is to sing. She also loves to do crafts and we have been working with her hoping to help her begin a livelihood doing crafts and fashion design.

This week, Norah is not standing and singing but instead is laying in a hospital bed very ill listening to music. Norah was diagnosed with TB and Pneumonia and has a stomach problem that is making her very weak and close to death.

Please pray with us that she will be able to stand in church again and sing!

Sarah

2010-09-16T17:01:00.001+03:00

It was April 2009 that a team from North Carolina made their way to GSF to work, doing five intensive days of medical clinics with our surrounding villages. One of the nurses examined a lady in her late 20s to find out she had a very advanced case of breast cancer. She was in need of immediate medical help so she was referred to one of the hospitals in Kampala that could treat a case like this one. Her name is Sarah and up until that point she had not been able to seek medical help because of not having financial resources to do so. After visiting the hospital and confirming that GSF would take care of the finances of her treatment through our Mercy Ministry Fund she was scheduled to begin chemo & radiation treatments almost immediately. According to the doctors her cancer was a very aggressive type and chances of complete healing were small. Sarah and her husband and their 5 children, all under the age of 8, live in a small grass hut and sustain themselves with what they grow in their garden and are able to sell. To our surprise, the day of Sarah's appointment to be taken to the hospital came and she did not show.

Months later she did show up, but at this time she did not come alone but had a little bundle in her arms. Sarah had not known she came to the clinic that was pregnant despite her and her husband's efforts to avoid that. But God had other plans and her and her husband accepted the baby as a miracle from God. The baby girl only weighed around 4 pounds and she was going to need special care and nurture.

We took the baby in and gave her the name Amelia. Sarah was admitted in the hospital and went through her chemo and radiation treatments. With very little hope from the doctors she continued to fight this battle and always praised God for His goodness to her. She then had a mastectomy and the doctors admired her strength to persevere and determination to get well. The day of her surgery she was walking around the hospital. We were blessed to be able to help Sarah get the needed treatment and give hope to her and her family of being reunited again.

Early this year, Sarah came to GSF after the surgery and recovery to thank us for everything that we had done for her and her family. As we reminded her that the one she needed to be thankful to and give all the glory to was the Lord, she confessed that she did not know the Lord in the personal way we have been talking to her about and that she desired to know Him in that way. We were blessed with the honor to pray with Sarah to invite Jesus into her life and praised Him for not only bringing physical but also spiritual healing to her life. Sarah did well for several months and was able to be reunited with her family and even come many times to see Amelia.

This week, we got word that Sarah was not feeling well and had gone to the doctor for a check-up. Unfortunately, the doctor told her that her cancer had spread and there was nothing else he could do. He suggested that she go home and be as comfortable as possible. Her husband came Wednesday morning to find out if we could help him go to Kampala to get Sarah and bring her home. Claudia and others were trying to find a driver to take him when he got a phone call from Kampala. Sarah had already died at the hospital in Kampala. Claudia and Adam did the difficult task of taking him to Kampala to pick up his beloved. Today, is the burial for Sarah, a wife and mother of 6 and a child of the KING. Praise God with us for Sarah's salvation and for the year and a half God gave her after her initial diagnosis. Pray with us for Sam, her husband's salvation. There are also many questions left unanswered as to the future for this family. Pray for God's glorious plan to be done and His name to be glorified.

-Much of this blog post was taken from our GSF newsletter in Feb 2010 written by fellow missionary, Claudia Arango

A Birthday for Philip

2010-09-15T16:06:00.005+03:00

Today is Philip's birthday and like everyone's birthday it is a chance to celebrate. However, for those who love and know Philip, we are glad we have the day to celebrate. Philip has full-blown AIDS. Philip has been sick much of his life and the last few months have been worse for him. Unfortunately, these days, anytime Philip's name is mentioned in conversation someone says "He doesn't look good." So honestly everyday that we still have Philip is a day to celebrate. Would you pray with us that we have many, many more days with Philip? Would you also pray with us for Philip's salvation? Recently, in a conversation with Mark, Philip told Mark, "but I don't have Jesus in my heart." When Mark talked to him further, Philip did not want to become a Christian yet. Pray that that time will come.

Christmas is Coming

2010-09-12T17:14:00.001+03:00

Christmas is a wonderful time at Good Shepherd’s Fold. We have had some generous donations to provide gifts for the kids in the past. This year a really amazing story is coming together.

It starts at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. St. Jude’s is a hospital for kids with terminal illnesses. Due to their high profile (founded by entertainer Danny Thomas and it’s one of the best such hospitals in the world), there are many donations, including hundreds of gifts for the kids at the hospital.

Here is the twist… Due to the terminal illnesses of the kids, low/zero immunity, etc., the hospital cannot give such toys to the kids, because they have to maintain a completely sterile atmosphere. So St. Jude has a huge warehouse of donated toys, which it ironically cannot use. Not to waste these things, they have a program to allow orphanages and other similar groups to go “shopping” in their warehouse to get gifts for other children elsewhere in the country and world – absolutely free!

Our friends, Sam and Suzie Davis, in coordination with the Orphanos Foundation, made arrangements to get gifts for all 92 kids at GSF – donated from St. Jude Hospital’s toy warehouse. The Davis’s went to the warehouse on Wednesday to go Christmas shopping for GSF! Here is what they had to say:

Wow! It was an unbelievable morning at the St. Jude warehouse. Sam and I and Grace Fragosa from Orphanos arrived at 8:30am. We were welcomed by Velma Carnathan , Grace's friend, who is in charge of the donations warehouse. A few of the toys were shelved, but the over-whelming majority were in boxes. Armed with box-cutters and our lists, we dove in. Three hours later, we were packing up boxes in the Tahoe. We felt like we had something for everyone, but our heads were spinning. There was not one more inch of cargo space in the Tahoe, so we needed to be done. We threatened to tie Grace on the roof but it wasn't necessary.

This is an unfolding story. Stayed tuned for updates!

Family

2010-09-12T16:32:00.004+03:00

As we were sitting on our veranda yesterday, 9 year old Chloe told me, "your family is a new family at GSF. Your family is a clear family."

"What do you mean, Chloe? Our family has been here for two years." I asked a little confused.

"Well, your family is a new clear family. You know, with a mom and dad and kids--you have three kids, a boy and two girls."

I was still quite confused but other kids came up and the conversation was lost. That evening, still bewildered by what Chloe meant, I told Mark that she called us a "new clear family."

Caralina, who many times has to be my translator, gently said, "Mom, I think she meant a nuclear family!"

An overview of what GSF does

2010-08-26T10:02:00.002+03:00

Good Shepherd’s Fold

GSF is not only an orphanage, but we also operate a school, clinic, chapel and other support services and community outreach opportunities. We are located about 22 kms west of the city of Jinja in Buundo Village, Buikwe District.

The mission of Good Shepherd’s Fold is to provide a Christian home to the orphans and destitute children of Uganda, striving to meet their physical, spiritual, social, emotional, and educational needs that they may be fully equipped to impact Ugandan culture for Christ. It is our goal to be a model as we train and minister to local Ugandans living in community with our ministry.

Children - We currently have 92 children in residence, from infants to 17 years old. Among these are 7 children with HIV and 11 children with physical and mental handicaps. We work with our local probation officers, hospitals, courts and other government authorities to take in children who have been identified as abandoned, orphaned or from other destitute situations. More than 20 older students continue to be sponsored to complete their secondary schooling after moving out of GSF.

School - The GSF Christian School has over 300 students in K3 through Primary 7. Our students consistently score within Division I and Division II on the national PLE exam each year. Scholarships are provided for 80 students from destitute families – these are students who would not otherwise attend any school. The school draws students from 5 local villages near GSF.

GSF Christian School has sent 7 students to the national Primary School Athletic competitions this year. Most of these finished in the Top 10 of their respective individual or team sports. In the team competitions held in Arua in August, our students helped the new Buikwe district to finish fourth place nationally in its first year of participation.

Our clinic offers free medical care to the community when we have qualified medical professionals serving with us. We have plans to expand the clinic when God brings a qualified administrator to join our team.

The chapel is open to the community for church services and we coordinate evangelistic outreach and humanitarian assistance to people in need in this area. Outreach includes visitation for prayer and encouragement to patients in hospitals in Jinja, helping elderly neighbors with cleaning, maintaining or upgrading their homes and feeding programs for at-risk babies and other destitute individuals in our area.

GSF Farms provide much of the food required at the orphanage. We feed 90 children, 60 staff members and 300 school students daily when school is in session. Firewood is taken from the property and hundreds of seedlings are replanted each year to renew this resource. Cows, pigs, goats, rabbits and fish are raised in addition to the extensive agricultural work on the farm.

We host over 100 visitors annually from the USA, Ireland, New Zealand and other countries. These volunteers raise all of funds which are invested in the economy of Uganda while providing excellent services to the orphanage and our surrounding schools and communities.

40 on Friday the 13th

2010-08-14T14:29:00.006+03:00

Yep, I was born on the 13th and every once in a while, my birthday arrives on Friday the 13th and I usually just ignore it. However, at the end of last week, my mom pointed out to me that my 40th birthday would be on Friday the 13th. It ended up being a day of good-luck or maybe just of blessings. First my sweet family fixed breakfast and pineapple/banana smoothies and gave me sweet gifts. I even got a glass casserole dish to replace the one Titus broke with his head (if you don't know that story see Super Glue and Stitches). Then, I heard singing coming from outside. When I looked, all the missionaries from GSF and their kids were all dressed in black and were walking towards our house singing Happy Birthday in a mournful voice. They even brought Daisy, the donkey down to help with the atmosphere (notice the black bandanna on her head!).

Teacher Amanda brought muffins and others had gifts gifts. One was an apron - notice I reversed it and Claudia and I showed the mood of the day--or at least tried to.
Then some of the GSF kids started to come by to wish me a happy birthday!
It started out fun and great and continued that way for the rest of the day. Mark and I went into town for the day just to enjoy and get away. That evening we went to Black Lantern, a nice restaurant overlooking some of the rapids of the Nile River. It was a great day and ended up being a day of blessings on Friday the 13th.

Back to School!

2010-07-31T21:22:00.000+03:00

Excitement was in the air on the morning of July 19^th as all the GSF missionary kids prepared for school because this was not just any school day! Teacher Amanda had arrived and was ready to start the new school year. Amanda Kruppenbacher is our new homeschool teacher for the 8 missionary kids in grades 3^rd, 5^th and 8^th. The 3^rd and 5^th graders were especially excited.

That evening everyone was still thrilled with school and had many things to tell us. Titus told us that night that it was one of his best days ever. When asked why, he told us it was because he got to go to school!

Healing for Joyce

2010-07-20T21:36:00.007+03:00

When Mark and I came on our "vision" trip in 2007, we were sent to an amusement park the first day we were at GSF with a bus load of kids. The matron and 4 of the teens came along with us. Paul, Viola, Julie and Joyce were the 4 and for that day and the rest of our vision trip, we enjoyed getting to know the 4.

Fast Forward 2 and a half years. Several weeks ago, we got word that Joyce, who had been resettled 2 years ago, was very sick and in a coma. Joyce has dealt with HIV all of her life and had contracted TB meningitis. A van load of kids from GSF went to her bedside in the hospital to pray for her healing. The next morning we got word that she had gone home to be with the Lord and forever healed. No more medicines, no more illnesses, no more hospital visits and stays!

We ask that you pray that God would continue to use her life and testimony in the lives of those who knew and loved her and even in others who hear of her now. Pray for Morris, Julie and Sarah, her siblings as they learn to live without her.

And the Angels Sang

2010-07-20T17:04:00.000+03:00

On Sunday we had a memorial service at GSF Chapel for Joyce, and 18-year-old GSF girl who had moved out of the orphanage two years ago. Joyce died on July 9 following several complications from HIV which she had struggled with her entire life. Joyce came to know Christ at an early age at GSF. During the memorial we heard testimony of how Joyce loved the Lord and desired to walk with him, even more so after she had left GSF. Her bright smile indicated that she was a friend to all.

The memorial went much like our regular services, starting with lively praise music. Many former GSF kids had come back for the special service, so there was excitement like that of a grand reunion in the air, in spite of the loss of Joyce. Near the beginning, a strong cool wind started to blow through the chapel. It was like the refreshing wind of the Holy Spirit telling us that God was present at the service also. As the singing went on it began to rain – a powerful African rain that is somehow different from the rains we have in America. The sound of the rain on the iron sheets overhead was fabulous. With no ceiling or other barrier to soften the noise, the rains literally sounded like wild applause from heaven in the breaks between songs. Then the showers came so hard that it drowned out our voices. Some of those leading the music said it was hard because they couldn’t hear their own voices.

As the din grew all the more, the voices of about 300 people grew more bold as well. Everyone was singing at the top of their lungs, with no fear of being heard by their neighbor. The rain was deafening! Together it was a most beautiful praise as the heavenly angels joined our earthly chorus. And their mighty numbers, shouted through the rain, drowned out our sound as the angels sang.

The Art of Making a Milkshake

2010-06-11T14:24:00.004+03:00

Mark and I were at the airport last night to drop off two teams and to greet some friends who were arriving. We decided to wait at the corner cafe down at the arrivals area. As we walked in, I saw this beautiful light-up sign with a picture of 3 tall glasses and the word "MILKSHAKES" in giant writing.

Now, I have to tell you two things. First, my husband absolutely loves milkshakes and would prefer this over any other dessert. Second, Mark is on a (somewhat futile) quest to find a good milkshake in Uganda. Just recently, Jude an Aussie in Jinja has improved hers and Mark says it is the best in Uganda.

So all that said, when I saw the milkshake sign I decided I was going to get my man a milkshake; just maybe we may find one that meets his approval. So I waltzed up to the counter and asked for a chocolate milkshake. The man looked at me nervously and said, "We don't have milkshakes."

"You don't have milkshakes?" I asked incredulously.

At that, he leaned on to counter and looked directly at me. "Madam, it is easy to make a sign," pointing to the big, bright sign that had caught my eye. "It is much harder to make a milkshake."

Ha ha! So I guess that is why we don't easily get milkshakes here. At least, he was honest.

Super Glue and Stitches

2010-06-06T21:28:00.001+03:00

Two years ago, Titus followed up his birthday by breaking his arm two weeks later (See Blog post). This year the “event” came 8 days following his 8^th birthday…

The missionaries were hosting visiting team for dinner at House 1B, the other side of our duplex. Everyone was gathering, kids were playing and people were preparing for dinner. Caralina took a casserole in a glass baking dish from our house to the other side where we were eating. At the moment she stepped out the door, Titus turned and ran from his friend as they were playing on the veranda. (Oh! This is painful to write…) He ran smack into Caralina … and the glass casserole dish, which was at face level for him, shattered on impact.

Caralina escaped with a small cut on her toe when the glass crashed to the ground. Blood was dripping and Titus was holding his face and crying, “I’m bleeding, I’m bleeding!” By divine appointment, our visiting team has three nurses and a pediatrician among them and they all sprang into action. First order was to stop the bleeding, then to assess the severity of the cuts and determine which ones needed stitches. Dr. Anna, the pediatrician, noted that one jagged cut needed to be stitched that night and it needed to be done well as it is visible on his face. When our primary doctor in Jinja wasn’t available, we realized that we needed to go to the “western” emergency room in Kampala. Everyone was so helpful as dinner was getting cold. Some cleaned up the glass, some sifted through it to find the missing lens from Titus’ glasses, some cleaned up the blood on the veranda, some cleaned and bandaged Titus, some made PB&J sandwiches for us while Amy packed our things. We headed out of GSF at 7:50 p.m. arriving at “The Surgery” center in Kampala around 9:40 p.m.

We asked for a plastic surgeon since the wounds were on his face, but no one was available. They began with the simpler wounds by using Super Glue – not the medical variety used in America (Dermabond), but the kind you buy at the checkout counter of the convenience store! We have been told that it’s basically the same thing, but this was our first experience with it. We nearly panicked when they used it on a cut on his eyelid and it glued his eye shut. I was seriously fearful that he would lose his sight in that eye, but he only lost a few eyelashes instead. Another doctor was called in (his phone wasn’t working, so they called his wife who called him at a party and he showed up a little while later). He had much experience with stitches, so he was able to do the work well.

Titus has a high tolerance for pain, but low tolerance for needles, so the local anesthetic wasn’t going to work and he severely fought the IV line to give him the sleeping medicine. Once they got it in, he immediately zoned out. Four wounds we bonded with the super glue – eyelid, bridge of his nose, and two on the forehead, including one that went deep to the skull. His left ear has 6 stitches and his right cheek/chin has 7 stitches where the jagged cut occurred.

The procedures ended at 11:30 p.m. and then we had to wait an hour until the effects of the sleeping meds wore off. Titus was a bit nauseous, but not too bad. We made phone calls to find a reasonably priced hotel nearby – not an easy task in Kampala, but we found one. They were very friendly and helpful when we showed up at 1:15 a.m. with our poor little boy and his stitched up face. Got to sleep around 2 a.m. – all 3 of us in a king size bed together. We were just grateful that all was well and we could just crash.

So many people helped and prayed. We have a gracious God! The injuries could have been far worse – especially if Titus didn’t wear glasses. Those glasses probably saved his eyes, and God saved them again later from the super glue. Praise the Lord for His wonderful works!

Happy Birthday, T-man!

2010-05-28T09:21:00.003+03:00

Our little guy turns 8 today. He wanted to go on a "boy trip" for his birthday so Mark arranged for them to go to a wildlife refuge with the boys of another missionary family here, the Greers. They set off on Tuesday with excitement. However, as they traveled on the very rough road to the wildlife refuge they discovered it was impassable and had to turn around. There were potholes that would swallow up an entire car and there were at least 15 trucks stuck in those holes.
So much to Titus' dismay, they had to turn around. They decided to go to one of our favorite places, Sipi Falls and even try out a different lodge. Titus loved it and especially showing his friends a place they had never been before. We are celebrating today with cake with friends and going to dinner as a family to his favorite pizza place in Jinja. Other special treats for him today include presents from many family who either mailed packages or sent gifts with visiting teams. He also got a sweet video via facebook from one of his best friends in America! Thanks Thomas!

Happy Birthday, my little guy!

And the answers are . . .

2010-05-28T08:59:00.001+03:00

The time has come that you have been waiting for. We were impressed with some of your answers! So here are the correct answers.

One of the maintenance men came to me the other day and asked for spa glue. I believe this was probably the one that ended up being the hardest for everyone. One thing we have learned about Ugandans, they like to shorten words. So spa glue is a shortened version of Supa (or Super) Glue.
One of the boys came to the door and told me that my bowel was on the table. yes, Paula this one was easy. Bowel is the way they pronounce bowl. I cannot say bowl without thinking about how it is pronounced here and laugh.
Some of the big kids asked if they could borrow some fla. I was impressed you all got this one so easily. Fla is flour.
One of the big boys said he wanted a new jumper. John and Vicki got this one right. Jumper is a jacket. It was pretty funny to us the first time when one of our teenage boys asked for one. He also thought it was funny when we told him what we call a jumper.
The four suits in card games are di, supa, flower, and mutima. Which one is which? Paula was right on all of these. Mutima means heart in Luganda.

That was fun and my kids especially enjoyed it! We hope you enjoyed it too!

WHAT??

2010-05-24T18:31:00.002+03:00

So although, many people speak English here, the words and meanings are not always the same.

Here's a challenge for you, I will give you a word or a phrase and you comment on what you think the italicized words mean. Let's see how close you can get.

One of the maintenance men came to me the other day and asked for spa glue.
One of the boys came to the door and told me that my bowel was on the table.
Some of the big kids asked if they could borrow some fla.
One of the big boys said he wanted a new jumper.
The four suits in card games are di, supa, flower, and mutima. Which one is which?

Good Luck! We will post the answers in a few days! Enjoy!

Being still

2010-05-21T21:23:00.004+03:00

Last week, in the middle of making sure there were enough egg salad sandwiches for the medical team's lunch and counting necklaces which the house moms had made to sell, I was stopped by a fellow missionary, Adam, who came to tell me about a new baby girl. He had been at the local hospital and the staff told him of a baby girl possibly only a day old who had been treated there and then taken to the local police station. She had been found in an abandoned hut. The staff asked Adam if he thought we could take her, so he dropped by to tell me about her.

Wow, my mind began racing. When a problem comes to my attention, many times my mind goes into full throttle to figure out what I can do to fix the problem. My mind indeed did this very thing when I found out about this little girl. Where could we put her? The house we have our babies in is full to capacity. Mark and I just can't take on another responsibility and have her in our home. Claudia, our fellow missionary who has a major heart for babies, already has two in her home along with 5 other children. The thoughts went on. My problem is that as I try to figure out a situation I get stressed feeling more and more responsible for coming up with a solution for the dilemma at hand. Then I get even more stressed about little issues--like egg salad sandwiches (oh dear, we need to get those down to the office for lunch!) and necklaces (wait! I lost count!). I felt myself getting stressed.

Fortunately for once, I stopped! I walked into my room and laid flat on my back on my bed and I stopped. I waited and I talked to God. I was still. And as I laid there still, I was reminded of God's love, promises and names. He loves me, He loves that little girl and He shall supply all her needs! He is the God who created her; He is the God who sees her--He saw her abandoned in the hut before anyone else saw her. He is omniscient and sovereign and knows all things about her life and is in control of her life.

Then once I was still enough to know who He is and to listen, I was reminded of the system in Uganda and how it works. She is now at the police station and they will contact probation who will then contact one of the orphanages it works with. That orphanage may be us or it could be someone else.

"Oh, Lord!" I prayed, "You know that little girl and you know what is best for her. You know that if GSF is the best place for her then you will provide and show us where to put her. "

It was like God reminded me in that moment, "I will give grace and wisdom when it is needed." Not sooner or later.

I then got up and knew that in that moment it was time to focus on egg salad sandwiches and God was so totally in control of that little girl's life, I need not worry about it.

We have not heard anymore about that little girl but I have complete peace and know that God knows exactly where she is and the number of hairs on her head.

A little laughter

2010-05-20T08:37:00.001+03:00

Here’s a little story just to remind you that kids are kids everywhere - they just have different ways to express themselves:

Mark and I were out with some of the little girls on our back veranda today when one of them lost a bead from her new earring she had just received for her birthday. So we all began looking in the dirt next to the veranda. Imagine a bunch of little girls leaning over with little bottoms in the air, and then all of a sudden one jumps back quickly and says, “Aye, someone brought pressure!” Yep, soon some of the others were holding noses and it was obvious someone had “gassed” (the term they normally use). And just like anywhere else in the world, there were snickers, accusations and denials. And Mark and I are still laughing tonight about the term “brought pressure.”

Because I called you!

2010-05-17T19:40:00.002+03:00

We have had a medical team here this week and it has been incredible but pretty crazy. Okay, life here is always pretty crazy! So Friday, wasn't any different. Mark was going out the door at 8:30 to go up to the guesthouse to see the team and take some groceries and other supplies up there. "Wait, I'll go with you!" I called, eager to get a few minutes with my man. (Those of you who have been here you know well that the drive from our house to the guesthouse is about 30 seconds to a minute long. But I will take anytime I can get especially when a team is here).

We went up to the guesthouse where the team was praying. I heard one pray, "and Lord, be near to the missionaries and help them. They are here all the time and deal with these situations and problems all the time." I didn't think much about it at the time but tucked it away in my mind.

We unloaded everything and then went up to the chapel where the clinic is being held to drop off more things. As we walked into the chapel, I noticed the line of people already waiting to be seen. Our matron, Juliana, pointed out a few who had come back for a re-check and explained their situations. I was reminded of a little girl who had broken her leg several weeks ago and was just seen the day before for the first time for the injury. We sent her to the nearby hospital only to be told there was no one to do an x-ray; now the mother has refused to go anywhere else. There were others in the clinic that morning - ones who had babies with high fevers, elderly who had walked several miles with no shoes, young widows with many children and so many others. I finally left feeling a little helpless and overwhelmed.

On my walk home, I was met by two of our helpers in the toddlers’ house to tell me that our newest little boy was having problems again. Sweet little boy was found abandoned several weeks ago and had a medical problem which is going to eventually require surgery. After talking with these ladies, it seemed we were going to have to do something immediately. I sent them both on errands and then turned back around to go talk to Mark and the visiting doctor about what to do.

As I walked back to the clinic discouraged and overwhelmed, my mind came back to the prayer my visiting friend prayed for me and my fellow missionaries. I thought about how inadequate I am to be here. And I honestly, thought to myself God why, am I here? Why am I one of the ones who are to stay here? I really was expecting to be reminded of all the great things done here or of all the smiles and hugs I get all day and to be told it is all worth it. But God said in His still small voice Because I called you! There is no other reason needed! God told our family not in an audible voice but through many confirmations, open doors and burdened hearts to be here and that is why I am here. It is not because of anything I am; as I said before I am very inadequate. It is not because I am content or enjoy being here because there are days I don’t. It is because God called Mark and I and our family to come that is why we are here. It is not about us but about God and His Glory.

So as I walked through the day, I walked knowing my God had called me, loves me and is in control of my life. He loves this new little boy who was able to wait for a few more days and may be having surgery on Wednesday. He loves the many people in the clinic who were seen and helped. He is a great and awesome God and He calls!

Gloria and Esther

2010-04-26T22:04:00.001+03:00

Thank you for your prayers for Gloria. She is home and doing better.

During church, we have a time of testimony. The kids can get up and praise God for whatever is on their heart. Some of the kids will get up and say “I thank God for my life.” Others will thank God for doing well in school or other things. One testimony stuck out to me this week and that was of little Esther age 8. Esther is in Gloria’s house and has also seemed to enjoy taking care of her. Esther got up and with her beautiful smile lighting up the room she said, “I thank God, Gloria got home from the hospital.” As I glanced over at Gloria in her wheelchair, I thought how blessed we are! So on behalf of Gloria and Esther, I say thank you for praying!

We are currently looking for a new housemom for Gloria and Esther’s house and would ask for the right mom for that house. It is not an easy task to be a mom to eight girls and especially when one has so many needs as Gloria. But Gloria and Esther and the other 6 need a mother who will love them.

prayer for Gloria

2010-04-19T16:09:00.002+03:00

We are reminded how precious life is and how God has created each life for His glory. We are especially reminded of this with our special needs kids. He teaches us so much through their lives. One of those precious lives is Gloria. We do not know much about her past but in her present state she cannot walk but gets along pretty well crawling and scooting. She also doesn’t talk. The last few months have been rough on Gloria as she has had chicken pox and typhoid. She also has been in the hospital several times for other reasons. I got word yesterday that she was throwing up and very weak again. We put her in the hospital again and are waiting for results. Would you please pray for Gloria, for her future, and for wisdom in how to take care of her? Would you also thank God for her life and what He can teach all of us through her and others like her?

A Mighty Weak Effort

2010-04-03T23:18:00.000+03:00

The trouble began when our sound system burnt up some internal wiring a week ago. The sound board was sent to town on Monday so that it would be repaired by the time of our Good Friday outreach to the village of Buvunia. On Friday, we were given the bad news that the system would not be ready for a few more days, so we prayed about an alternate solution. With a 15-person youth team in country, we were planning to show the Passion of The Christ movie in Luganda to this village in the evening and it wouldn’t be possible without the sound board. I sent a text message to a few friends in Jinja at 2 p.m. to see if anyone had a system we could borrow. Some fellow Global Outreach missionaries responded and our visiting team picked it up from them after finishing some other outreach events in town.

Departure plans were delayed by various circumstances, so we left GSF at 7:15 p.m. when it was already getting dark. It has been raining hard in recent days and, knowing the road to Buvunia is already rough, I was fearful of driving our open-air truck loaded with 20 people and all the sound equipment in the back. Prayers and praises were offered up before departure and as we rocked and rolled along the dark path to the village. At one point everyone in the back got out and walked because we were near the village and they felt safer on the ground compared to being thrown around in the back due to the severely rutted road.

Once on site in Buvunia the setup began in earnest. A sheet is hung on the side of the truck to produce a screen. The generator is hauled out back so the roar doesn’t disrupt the movie too much. Rustic wires are plugged in all around. Prayers were offered up asking God to hold off the rains as it was already starting to sprinkle. Then we discovered that something was jammed into the 220-volt power outlet for our converter/regulator box. We couldn’t go on without it. Someone proceeded to open the voltage box, and rig up a way to plug in the cord inside the box (don’t ask me how this worked – and I’m sure the whole contraption violated several safety regulations in the USA to say the least). Then the microphone cords were shorting out, but we managed a quick announcement of the movie and proceeded to start it at 8:30 p.m.

Though there are many distractions in such a setting, the film went on well and maybe 200-300 people gathered, gripped by the intensity of the show, which is a novelty itself in the first place. The flogging and crucifixion scenes are extremely intense. The stars above are brilliant when there is no other electricity around to drown them out – it makes for an awesome movie house. At the end we invited people to Jesus, recognizing the price He paid for our sins, and routed them to local pastors/churches in their village area.

Afterward we loaded up the truck and van once again to head home at about 10:45 p.m. Putting on the headlights, I noticed they were very dim. Sure enough, the truck battery was dead and not giving the slightest hint of starting. Our GSF teens knew what to do, but I think the American youth were confused about push-starting a vehicle. The dirt path is fairly level, but there was nowhere to slope down to get good enough speed to start the truck. Forward once; everyone turn around and try it in reverse. People from the village joined in the fun, but it was nerve-wracking for me as the driver because there were so many people around; it was very dark and everyone is right on the vehicle trying to push. I cringed at the thought of running over someone in the scene. All forward once again and the push start finally worked! Everyone loaded up and we headed back up the muddy road toward home. About half way our van, following me, began filling with smoke from the engine. Not knowing the problem, all the girls loaded into the truck and a few guys remained with the van. We went on home to GSF, planning to return for the van and the rest of the group. Fortunately, the van started and they met us at home before we went back. The dashboard lights wouldn’t go off and we had to unhook the battery to get it to shut off completely. About 30 minutes later, nearing midnight, we were deluged by another wonderful African thunderstorm.

Weakness. Dilapidated vehicles. Failing sound equipment. Poor roads. Rainy weather. I told the team today, “Our best efforts were absolutely pathetic.” In our weakness…

Strength. We arrived safely. The video went on. The crowd gathered and watched intensely. The rains held off. God’s effort overrides ours. …He is strong!

The whole program and the results are entirely, utterly, absolutely dependent upon the Lord, The Almighty Everlasting God.

From the outside looking in

2010-03-24T21:54:00.004+03:00

Several years before we arrived at GSF, someone donated hundreds of meters of lion king material to the orphanage to do whatever they wanted to do with it and that they did. They made curtains hung by string, they used it for diaper material, towels, wrap around skirts and almost anything else you can imagine. After being here only a few weeks, I was tired of the material. By the time we had been here for over a year and much of the lion king material was hanging by threads on the windows or gone, I decided it was time for new curtains. While we were going to be gone on furlough, I enlisted the help of the guesthouse helper to sew curtains for the houses. When we returned we set work to hang proper curtain rods so we could hang the new curtains.

I noticed the other day that the last of the curtains had been hung in the houses but my American mind stopped in disbelief. Those mothers hung the curtains "backwards" (facing outward not toward the inside of the house)! "I can't believe they hung the . . ." I stopped my thought, wait a minute, who says the curtain has to be hung where you can see the beauty of it from the inside. Why not hang so everyone on the outside looking in can enjoy the beauty? I had to remind myself that these women live most of their lives outside. With Uganda being a tropical country, Ugandans do not need big houses. They cook and visit outside. The bathrooms are even outside. So from the outside looking in, the visitors will be able to enjoy the beauty of curtains even if they do not go inside.

Who says you have to have your curtains facing the inside?

Delivering the Goods

2010-03-17T16:33:00.009+03:00

After months of praying for a ton of vitamins to make it to Uganda and GSF, they finally arrived! With eagerness, Mark, Caralina and I woke early Sunday morning to travel the 2 hours to get home so we could show everyone else what God had done. Most of the children had not heard about the vitamins and we were eager to tell the story, so after Sunday School, all the children were called to the pavilion where Mark pulled out a bottle of vitamins and began to tell about how a group of kids in America wanted to collect bottles of vitamins for GSF. He told how a pharmaceutical company got involved and that someone shipped the vitamins to an NGO and a university who desired to help.

As he told the story, Caralina and others made sure each person got a vitamin that morning.

When the story was finished, Mark asked Solomon, one of the older boys, to open the trunk of the van to reveal the boxes.

That afternoon we all enjoyed unloading the boxes into one of the offices for storage.

We want to thank SBEC (especially the 7th Grade class), Northwest Health Products, NICS, World Help and Liberty University, along with many others who prayed and took part in sending a ton of vitamins to Good Shepherd's Fold in Uganda! God used many instruments to orchestrate a beautiful miracle.

We are now giving daily vitamins to over 300 students at the GSF school, more than 30 GSF teens, special needs kids and toddlers, as well as sharing with other ministries in this area. To God be the Glory!

The Vitamin Hand-Off!

2010-03-16T16:02:00.006+03:00

Mark, Caralina and I went to Kampala on Saturday to meet the World Help/Liberty team and 1300 lbs of the vitamins. We enjoyed visiting over a great meal with the team. Although they were exhausted after traveling over 36 hours, they were upbeat and we had an enjoyable time. The guys then helped load the van with all the boxes of vitamins.
As we all left the van, Mark stayed behind to make sure everything was secure. He then remembered that he had noticed earlier in the day that the lock on one of the windows was missing. He stood by the window trying to figure out what to do when he decided to pray. He said, "God, you got these vitamins all the way here, You don't need a lock to keep these vitamins safe. Please keep them safe."

When he stopped praying, he looked down to see a small wire laying between his feet. He promptly took the wire and fixed it in the window to lock it. We serve an incredible God!

We woke up early the next morning to get to Sunday school at GSF so we could share with the kids what God had done. Stay tuned for more pictures!

Vitamin Update

2010-03-07T22:53:00.001+03:00

A few weeks ago we posted a developing story about A Few Vitamins. Now we are “at liberty” to tell you more of the story. In February, the whole lot of vitamins was shipped from Southaven, MS to Forest, VA at the offices of World Help. The shipping was donated by a source unknown to us. God provides again!

World Help is leading a large group of young people from Liberty University (our alma mater!) on a Spring Break mission trip to Uganda this month. Though they aren’t coming to visit GSF, World Help committed to bring most, possibly all, of the vitamins to us since there are more than 40 young adults on this team. Hand carrying items into Uganda is by far the best way to get things here, so the Lord provided the small army of people it takes to carry a ton of vitamins (about 40 pounds per person).

Yesterday, the students packed all of the extra luggage for the trip and it will all be weighed tomorrow to make sure they are within the airline weight restrictions. The team flies to Uganda on Friday and we will meet them soon after they arrive on Saturday to pick up the vitamins. Since there are literally more than we can use here at GSF, we are giving 1,000 bottles of the vitamins to the team to give to the other orphanages and ministries they are visiting in Uganda. This was not only practical, but a way of saying “thank you” for delivering this cargo to us.

Stay tuned for the completion of the story!

Medical Woes

2010-02-26T10:38:00.001+03:00

We sent Tiny Rose to the hospital yesterday because she has started having focal seizures again. She is on medicine for the seizures but it obviously Is not working so we wanted her to see the doctor. The person who saw her (not sure if it was a doctor but know it was not her regular doctor) said that malaria can cause the seizures (which is true) so they tested her blood for malaria. The test, however, came back negative, but instead of looking for other possibilities they still gave her medicine for malaria and sent her home! This is typical of so many in the medical field here because malaria is so common that the medicine for it is sometimes seen as a cure all. We have been fortunate that most at this hospital do not make this assumption.

More Medical, More Kids

2010-02-20T22:04:00.000+03:00

God graciously moved us through the malaria. It lasts about 3 days. Some days are miserable, but the Lord is our help at all times.

Now we have chicken pox going around. There are 5 kids at the orphanage who have it and we’re trying to keep it from spreading to the other 90 kids! We wouldn’t mind the rest of them getting it, except we are always concerned for our HIV kids.

GSF received two new babies this week. One was only 5 days old when he arrived. His twin brother died at two days old and his mother died the following day. Pray for this boy’s grieving father. GSF will care for the baby for 2-3 years. The other boy we took this week has a teenage mom who was raped. A teacher in the village has been caring for him for a few months – she had previously counseled the mother not to have an abortion. This wonderful, life-saving woman simply cannot care for him now that school has begun, so she brought him to GSF. The boy’s name, Muzarsi, means “God is gracious.” How fitting.

Malaria

2010-02-05T14:30:00.000+03:00

Just a quick note to ask you to pray. Megan had malaria last weekend. She is over it now. Titus & I both tested positive for it last night. We had a rough night. Caralina tested positive for it today. Amy isn’t feeling well, but hasn’t run a fever yet. She is starting the treatment for malaria. We should know by tonight if that is really what she has.

On top of that, we got a phone call at 2:30 a.m. last night. David Malisi, our tailor, had an emergency with his son Matthew. Matthew was having seizures that wouldn’t stop – his whole body was stiff. The condition could possibly have been meningitis or tetanus, both of which are very dangerous. David didn’t know that I had malaria, so we called Claudia and she and Amy went together to check on Matthew. Amy eventually stayed at Claudia’s house with her girls while Claudia took Matthew and the mother to Buikwe Hospital. Matthew has been admitted, but we don’t yet know his condition.

A realization

2010-02-05T09:50:00.001+03:00

This week our family has been visited by malaria. Megan had malaria on Saturday and really just started feeling better yesterday. Mark and Titus both tested positive today. Tonight we sent Caralina to get some more medicine from Bob and Carolyn. They did not have any at their house so Carolyn drove down to the clinic with Caralina to get some more. Unfortunately, Carolyn could not get the clinic unlocked so she and Caralina went on a search for the nurse in order to get the key for the clinic. Caralina came home and told me about the trail they took just to be able to get the medicines for her daddy and brother. At the end, she told me that Auntie Carolyn at one point in despair jokingly said “your brother and dad could die before we get this medicine to them.” Caralina then looked at me with all sincerity and maturity and said, “Mom, I know she was just joking but then I thought about all the people around us who struggle to get the medicine and may die because they can’t get it.” Wow, a aha moment for a 13 year old.

Norah

2010-01-20T12:02:00.004+03:00

We have 7 kids here at GSF who are HIV+ . They all go to a clinic once a month to be checked and receive their medications. Some of them get good reports and are doing well. We have 3 who really struggle with the disease. One of these is 15-year-old Norah. Norah gets sick often and sometimes refuses to eat.

Right before we went on furlough, a team from our church came to visit. Our pastor, Tim Lampley, spoke at a village crusade and Norah listened to him speak although she was not feeling well. When she got home that night, she asked to speak to Pastor Tim and Mark. After talking briefly, she gave her life to Christ! A teen who, many would say, has little or no hope found her hope in Jesus. We praise God for this change in her life!

Unfortunately, she had another change in her life while we were on furlough. She contracted toxioplasmosis, which is a parasite that has paralyzed her right arm and leg. We were saddened by the news but grateful to hear that she seemed to be taking it well. She is now in a wheelchair, but can briefly stand and take a few steps.

Since we arrived back at GSF, Norah's hemoglobin count has been very low and she has had to receive two blood transfusions. It has also been determined that she must start the stage 2 HIV medications because the stage 1 medications are no longer working.

Due to her condition, Norah was not able to go with the rest of our teenagers on a retreat to a mountainous area. Because of this, we all decided that Norah would get a shopping trip to town.

Mark, Megan and I took her to town yesterday to shop for a specific pair of sandals she wanted and to have lunch. Mark did well to maneuver the wheelchair over the broken and uneven sidewalks. We went to many stores before we finally found the exact sandals - the ones covered with goat skin! Please pray for Norah to grow in both physical and spiritual strength.

Just Like a Ugandan

2010-01-18T23:06:00.001+03:00

Today started out with a miscalculation. As a result, I had to drive to town to get some cash out of our own bank account to send with our teens for their two-day retreat. Having no cash in my own pocket, I took both of our ATM cards so I could get money for the retreat and for ourselves. Neither of the ATM cards worked today. No money and no access to cash – that’s how most Ugandans spend their days.

Having had a small lunch today, I was ready for dinner early. But I had to take a child to the hospital in the evening and the place was full and the doctors weren’t around. So it was quite late before I got back home for dinner. Hunger (only a little bit on my part) – that’s what many Ugandans face every day.

The child I took to the hospital has had malaria, she has palsy, she is on anti-seizure medicine, and she was having an allergic reaction to something in that mix. The hospital was overcrowded and Tiny Rose had to share a bed with another child in the Pediatric Ward. The Ward has 23 beds in one large room and every child has to have a mother or someone staying with them. Other beds were shared; some children were on the floor – not to mention all the mothers crammed in the room with nowhere to sleep. I get to sleep in my own bed tonight – Most Ugandans share a bedroom, but have no bed in their 1- or 2-room houses.

While at the hospital, I was talking to one of our nurses on the phone. I ran out of airtime (which has to be prepaid here) in the middle of the conversation. No airtime – that is a standard way of life for most Ugandans, even though they may have a cell phone.

No money; little food; no bed for a child; no airtime – these are all basics of life for the masses of people all around us. For me they were only temporary inconveniences. Such is life in Uganda.

A Few Vitamins

2010-01-12T10:52:00.001+03:00

Here is a God-story that is still developing…

While on furlough, our kids’ previous school, SBEC, asked for a list of supplies they could gather to send back for the orphanage. We told the 2nd and 7^th grade classes that they could collect Gatorade powder (which is good for hydrating sick children, but is unavailable here) and children’s gummy multivitamins (to improve overall health of the children). The students collected enough Gatorade to make about 400 liters – that should last quite a while! They also collected over 30 bottles of vitamins – fabulous. But God had bigger plans from this great group of students…

At the end of November we got a call to inform us that one of the student’s parents had organized a donation of vitamins from a pharmaceutical company. They were shipping TWO PALLETS of children’s vitamins to the school for Good Shepherd’s Fold! We were blown away by a gift that is literally “more than we could have asked or thought possible.”

When the pallets arrived at SBEC, we took a picture with some of the 7^th graders and more than 250 boxes of vitamins in the school lobby. In total, there are 3,108 bottles of children’s multivitamins. Praise the Lord! They literally donated “a ton” of vitamins as the total weight is over 1,930 pounds.

Being unable to pack that much in our luggage, we began looking for shipping options with the help of a few friends. One person offered to donate the cost. Another friend in the shipping business looked up shipping rates for us. Someone else contacted their FedEx international shipping rep to inquire about a charitable discount. Meanwhile, we headed back to Uganda, waiting for more information. The offer from FedEx was the best rate and we were grateful for their generosity; yet the cost was still almost $4,000. FedEx was offering a HUGE discount, but it was still more than we felt we could responsibly pay. Customs fees can also be huge on incoming shipments. We turned to the Lord, grateful for the miracle of the vitamins and asked for another miracle to get them to GSF.

That is where the story is still unfolding. We asked the 7^th graders to be praying – the students at SBEC have a daily reminder to pray, because the pallets are still sitting in their lobby. I can’t give too much information regarding a plan that hasn’t come together, but… We have contacted a large team of people who are coming to Uganda in March. They are not coming to work with GSF, but we had already discussed ways we could connect while they are here. They have told us “not to worry” and a plan is being developed whereby they may be able to bring all 3,108 bottles of vitamins to us. Please pray with us and stay tuned. God is not finished with this miracle just yet!

Another Typical Day

2010-01-05T13:35:00.002+03:00

While on furlough, we were often asked, “What is a typical day like at GSF?” After we stopped laughing, we would respond, “There is no such thing!”

Saturday began as a fairly typical day. Amy was trying to move past a migraine while I was temporarily feeling better from a sinus infection. Our three visitors came for lunch and then we began to investigate the resources available for them to operate Kids Camp for the children here as they are off school until February. We went to the pavilion where many supplies are stored. It was a total mess – books, videos and games were strewn all over the floor and that was only part of it. I called for the teenagers to come clean it up.

Chandler (an intern from Liberty University) opened one of the storage tubs to find the game/play parachutes. However, he quickly closed the lid and had a wide-eyed look on his face. We took another peek and found that a colony of small ants had taken over that tub! There were multiple thousands of ants and their larvae in there. So we turned from the large task of cleaning the pavilion to the specific task of removing the ants.

Pulling the container out into the yard, we opened it up, carefully grabbed a corner of the parachutes and started spreading them out in the grass. They had not been dried before packing them away months earlier, so the damp conditions apparently made a wonderful home for the ants. The critters scurried everywhere, carrying thousands of larvae with them.

As we were spreading the parachutes in the grass, I stepped in a big mud puddle. Yuck! Looking down, I noticed that the water was moving. This wasn’t just a mud hole from the morning rain; something was leaking underground. As the teenagers showed up to take over the task of cleaning the pavilion, the rest of us now turned our attention to the water coming out of the ground. We began digging with a hoe to follow the water flow. So many problems, but we had not yet discovered them all.

As we took turns digging, we kept running into a different colony of ants – this time they were vicious Safari Ants. Safari ants have huge pincers and they actually drew blood on two people that were bitten. When one of us would end up in the ants, the stinging would begin and we would run screaming to the pavilion to strip off shoes, socks or sandals. Their stings are painful!

We continued digging from the other side of the hole in order to avoid the safari ants. Eventually we found a pipe valve that was the culprit and we sealed it as best we could until the plumber could come replace the valve on Monday. Meanwhile the teens did a great job of cleaning the pavilion, the parachutes were dried out, the ants all returned to their respective homes and we all headed to the houses to shower before dinner. We were a muddy, dusty mess!

One mess leads to another. Just another typical day.

Uganda favorites, by amy Gwartney

2009-11-08T01:48:00.001+03:00

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Reflections on Furlough

2009-11-06T19:44:00.002+03:00

As we are half way through our 3 month furlough, I thought I would share some answers to some questions I ask the family today. Enjoy!

What is something you are enjoying in the States?
-Caralina and Mark--the orange juice
-Titus-Disney World and glasses of Milk (its not so good in Uganda)
-Megan-seeing relatives I didn't even know we had!
-Me-having our own space at times

What do you miss about Uganda?
-Mark-fruit we can fresh at the market
-Megan-Buster our rabbit and the weather
-Caralina-the kids
-Titus-running and playing with the kids
-Me-living simply

What are you looking forward to when we get back to Uganda?
-Megan-seeing the new baby bunnies (Buster the rabbit is a new papa:))
-Titus-going swimming
-Caralina-playing with the kids
-Mark-getting back into the routine
-Me-No more packing and unpacking