Going Back

It's almost time.

The days are running out. Literally. 

We have been running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to get all of our last minute things done. Things like spending hours lounging in the sun at the beach, staying up late listening to friends play the guitar, night swimming and hot tubbing, learning to surf, you know, only the important stuff. 

I feel like I should have had plenty of time to finish all of these "important" things, but I know there are still a million and one things I would have loved to do during our 3 1/2 months stateside and people I haven't seen and places I haven't gone. It's been an amazing trip, full of good conversation, good connections, good refreshment, and good encouragement. I hope we have blessed others as much as we have been blessed, but part of me feels like that's impossible. 

We have just been so incredibly blessed.

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We go back to Karamoja feeling the weight of the prayers behind us. What a blessing it has been to be able to share stories of how God is moving in Uganda and to visibly see the way it moves people's hearts to pray for more. 

We go back with difficulty as well. Leaving the friends and family that we love is never easy, even if it seems like we move from place to place so effortlessly. There are always tears at night from little ones (and big ones) who love their friends dearly and hate to leave them again.

But He is faithful. 

We have so much to look forward to in the next year. Two new teammates will be coming to join us in Kaceri (hopefully three before the end of the year!) to help with the many projects and outreach activities we are involved in. We have team after team after team lined up, some, good friends coming to see where we live and work, others, almost-strangers that God has put in our paths who have a similar heart and vision to reach the Karimojong with the gospel. We are so excited to get back to our home and our people!

During our time here we lost a very special lady that we loved dearly in Karamoja. Her story is one that has shaped my understanding of God in ways I can't even express in words. You may have read her story here. Losing her reminded me again that our next year needs to be intentional. Not that we aren't, but it's so easy to let other good things push out time for the most important thing, sharing the good news and making disciples. I am so thankful that she heard the gospel, through words and actions, and believed in God's goodness and love for her. I pray that Jesus Himself welcomed her into paradise.

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For those of you who are praying, please remember us in the next few weeks as we pack, fly, and resettle back into our home in Karamoja. Our kids are VERY excited about going back, but transition can also be tough on the little guys. Us big guys also tend to stress just a wee bit as it gets down to the last minute, and we need prayer for even tempers and stable moods :)

God has blessed us beyond words with the friends and family that we have. If you have helped to host our family or feed us or clothe us or just took the time to listen to our stories, we are so grateful for you. During this whole trip we have felt God's hand on our lives in a remarkable way through our community here in the US. Thank you for going out of your way to love on our family. 

You have truly been to us the hands and feet of Christ.

I'll write again soon from Karamoja!

(If you are not on our newsletter list but would like to be, please fill out the contact form on this website. We are hoping to send out monthly newsletter updates from Uganda as well as updating this blog as often as possible, but internet is a bit slower in Karamoja land!)