Make new friends but keep the old...

Make new friends, but keep the old...

It is definitely a season of changes. Dry season starting to become rainy season. New sisters added to LCH. School holiday schedule. S1 coming home for holiday. Preparing for summer visitors. And housemates'/friends' time of ministry in Uganda coming to an end.

Below are my lovely housemates. Sadly, two of them have already returned to America and the other departs early June. And not just for a break, but for good. When I arrived in March, at my first dinner back with my friends, I asked who was leaving and when. Sadly, the days continue to come and many of my close missionary friends are moving on to the next season of their life.

But, although many are going, there are new people coming and new opportunities to create friendships with others whom I have not known so well.

(Me, soloing on the drums, while playing rockband with some of my new friends.)

I am also trying to make every moment count with those who are going. This is Emily and I preparing to run the "Eastern Corporate Mini Marathon" (really equaling a 10k). Though being typical of African time and starting and hour and a half late, we successfully finished the race (in the blazing equatorial sun).

Almost at the finish line!
My running partners during the race. I actually was 3rd place out of the women runners!

Did I mention that Emily had just come back from hiking Mt. Kenya (the second tallest mountain in Africa) two days before the race?! She is awesome!

And you never know what to expect here. After most people had finished the race, they gathered us into a circle and had us do a mini aerobics class. Please be serious! We just ran 6.2 miles. Now is NOT the time for aerobics! Ha! (That is me in the background)

So, I know that although it is sad to say bye to some beloved friends I have made, God is faithful to know my needs. Just as He brought good friends at the right time, He will bring more again.

...One is silver and the other, gold.

Look what the Lord has done!

Four years ago today I arrived in a foreign land,

following a childhood dream that had grown into a confirmed call of obedience to the Lord.

Little did I know that I would now call Uganda home.

When I arrived on May 2, 2007 for a three month internship, there were 45 children who shared one dormitory (boys on one side, girls on the other), 16 staff, 2 house mothers, school was happening in the main hall, and children were rushed into town for any medical problem.

Now there are 110 children sleeping in three beautiful housing quarters, over 20 staff, 4 house mothers, a fully registared school that educated 170 children last term, and a clinic on site to serve the medical needs of the LCH children and staff.

Praise the Lord for what He has done! Praise Him for the ways that He has used me at LCH! Praise Him for the ways He has changed me through the people of Uganda! My God is able! He is my Provider! He is my Keeper! He fights for me! The light always overcomes the darkness! He is the restorer of hope! He is Hope itself! He is my Father and my friend!

He loves me with an everlasting love!

And His heart is for orphans and widows. He sees each child. He hears their cries. He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. He is mighty to save! My God is able! He is Hope itself!