All in a Saturday morning...

As I got home from a morning in town I started reflecting on the  norms of this "lazy" Saturday morning. My thankful words uttered to the Father also made me realize that some of these things are beyond normal for some of you, so I thought I would share as a little insight into my life:

Thank you Lord for:

- Saturdays with no set agenda

- a town small enough to walk the whole of (especial as I am hand delivering checks to the various banks to pay staff salaries)

- the extreme convienience of boda bodas (motorbike taxis) and their cheap fairs (less than 50 cents) 

- making a house call to the physical therapist who made my neck feel better all in the comforts of her living room with her cutie little baby crawling around (and all for less than $8, which I had to insist that she take and at least bless someone else with)

- meeting up with a friend at the hottest new coffee shop in town to catch up on life

- the sandwiches they serve at the coffee shop. Wonderful, super yummy sandwiches on fancy bread and everything. A treat that has not been offered in Mbale in the whole time I have been here. 

- walking out of the coffee shop, which has mentally transported me to America with its wonderful familiarity, then being back on the Main Street and being reminded of how awesome God's grace is that He has chosen me to be here

- a town I call home where I can walk down the street, buy two poster maps and a small book; go to the movie store to get the latest release ( often times before they have been released in America), make my way through two allies to the market, where the tailor alters a top for me as I wait, then go to buy farm fresh eggs from the man on the street

- for an international house and the opportunity to love and be loved (I currently am staying with girls from London, America, Holland, Australia, and Uganda) 

- simplicities and complexities

- the sound of school children walking down the road and a football match going on in the distance, all while I sit in my sunroom and type this blog on my phone

- time to putter in the kitchen: making brownies (that are selling like hotcakes at the coffee shop) and brewing tea to start a new batch of kombucha

- clean water to drink (as I fill up a container to pour into the water filter) 

- for friends old and new that quickly become like family

My heart is thankful for days that my overflow response is to bless The Lord for all the "normals" in my life. 

And I can't forget to thank The Lord for the daily amusements I see on the streets. Today's sight was this man selling traditional music CDs as he rolled his sound system around and announced his product through the microphone. 

An easy guide to fishing in Uganda

 Step 1: Collect your supplies in the local market, including a rubber flip-flop to act as the bobber.

Step 2) After driving to the area where you would like to fish, find a swampy part.

Step 3) Dig up a big chunk of swampy mud and bring to the (non swampy) shore.

Step 4) Sort through the mud in search of earthworms. (Note: I am not featured in this photo because I was the only one with rain/mud boots on, therefore I was sent to do the dirty work of wading through the swamp to find the best muddy patches to dig up)

Step 5) When you have found enough earthworms, make a muddy bowl with a lid to act as a container so the slimy crawlers don't get away.

Step 6) Watch your friends as they might want to smear their muddy swamp hands all over you.

Step 7) Find a good location where you think the fish might be and wait for them to bite.

THE FIRST CATCH OF THE DAY!!

THE SECOND CATCH OF THE DAY!

Step 8) Even when people are catching fish around you and you feel like you are only being a humanitarian by providing a free lunch for the fish who somehow sneakily manage to nibble the worm off without biting the hook, KEEP TRYING. 

AND the 3rd fish was a bit bigger… but not by much. 

Step 9) Don't forget to bring your charcoal stove, because there is no size restrictions in the swamp-creeks of Uganda and though small, a mudfish like this is still worthy of roasting.

Here were the final fish scores at the end of the day:

Jerad = 3 

Dan = 1

Nat, James, Joseph = 0

Step 10) Bring some extra cash because if you fail to catch your dinner, there are freshly brought Nile Perch begin sold at the local market.

Jesus Loves Children Ministry Crusade

I am amazed at how the Lord puts different passions in the hearts of His people. I am proud of Jerad for his faithfulness and initiative to put on crusades. But not just any crusade, a crusade led by children. With the intent to teach and allow children to serve God at an early age, these Children's Crusades are an amazing opportunity to see how the Lord can use anyone, of any age, to bring glory to His name.

Many of the children from Lulwanda participated with other Sunday school children in preaching, leading worship, giving testimonies, being the MC, and translating during the 3 day crusade.

Sweet little ones learning about the love of Jesus.

During the week, JLCM and the children from LCH had met many new friends, but there was a special connection with the children who came to the crusade everyday from a nearby children's home. The day of departure, these new friends invited us to come visit their Home.

It was a blessing to be a able to see where they live and share a last moment of fellowship together.

Please pray for this ministry. The vision is big. The need is great. And the little harvesters are willing. May God's will be done.

To learn more about Jesus Loves Children Ministry, visit www.jesusloveschildrenministry.blogspot.com

My 31st Birthday

So, in honor of being 31 for a month now, here are some fun photos of the day. I was blessed to get to spend it in the tropical sun, relaxing at the pool, enjoying the company of my little friends.

Enjoying "rolex" (like a breakfast taco) and soda for lunch.

Faces...

HOW CAN YOU NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM?!

Don't Waste Fun

So today I walked out of the Main Hall and saw this...

Thanks to my time at TbarM Camp, all that went through my head 

when seeing this fountain of water pouring over the fence was: 

DON'T WASTE FUN. DON'T WASTE FUN. DON'T WASTE FUN. 

So we didn't. :)

We played.

 We captured our friends to force them in the water.

We sang and danced.

 We sloshed in the mud.

And sopping wet, in my work clothes, I was so thankful that this is my job.

What a great time we had. 

Thank you Lord for unexpected fun and the freedom to make the most of it. 

(Don't worry, the plumber came and fixed it)