Wordless Wedneday-Frank, Chloe, Megan and Mark

Not for the faint -hearted!

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

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)

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!

Justine's Baby

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

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"