Monday, December 23, 2013

Hope Family

Catriona and I have been helping at Hope Family more. We have been going every Wednesday and Tuesday and are doing more in the holidays. Today we did chalk and went to the playground. Enjoy the pictures.
Mary and Shakira
Smiles on the Slide

Silly Jafali

Jabez on the swing

Me with Isaac and Joseph

Jafali in the tunnel

Kalungi looking at the camera

Auntie Irene with ? kids

Trying a group picture

Trying to crawl up the ramp

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Treasures Class

Today Catriona and I went to the Special Needs Class (which is being re-named Treasures Class) end of year party. I have really enjoyed helping out in the class this year on Thursdays. These kids are so much fun. The changes in these lives are incredible and miraculous. The staff and parents shared things about the kids that have improved over the past year and we had a time of singing which Stella did not enjoy and added her own noise (not a particularly joyful one) to the sound of voices, recorders, drums, and bells. Enjoy the pictures! We missed Kakulu and Julia at the party.
Carol
Brian
Junior
Ivan

Godfrey

Carol with her Taata (Dad)
Hassan
Kakande
Sharon and Dorcas (Dorcas isn't part of the class but she is often around)

Allen


Monday, November 25, 2013

My Snake

I just had the unique opportunity to kill my first snake. It was really small so not much. Thankfully my first hit was accurate and I succeeded in chopping its head off with one clean cut. After that I hit it a few more times for good measure. We were kind of creeped out by its reflexes. We could see it opening its mouth and its body wriggling around for a few minutes after. I decided I needed to take some pictures after it was done.

My handy tool, now sitting beside our door.
 
The snake
 
The snake's headless body

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

John's Blog

Since he didn't write for such a long time, you may not be checking John's blog anymore. He has recently written two posts so click on the link to read them.
www.johnsadventuresinuganda.blogspot.com

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Ugandan Wildlife

So when you think of African wildlife what do you think of?

Maybe this:


 
Or this:
 

Or perhaps this:

Or maybe these are what you think of:

You might even think of these:
Now, do not covet your neighbour's wildlife. I will try not to tempt you. Here is our more common wildlife.
This dragon fly was 7 cm long and had an 11 cm wingspan. The photo doesn't really do it justice. I found it today. To some this may still seem like a beautiful creature. (Don't get me wrong. I like dragon flies too, but not huge ones that are half dead fluttering around and attracting dozens of ants.)
So if you're still being tempted, how would you like this bed time visitor?
Yes, this one was right above my bed last August. My dad comforted me by saying, "Don't worry. He's definitely eaten anything else." Thanks Dad! Yes, we caught him and he is dead. (Not my dad, the spider.)

PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS KEEP YOU FROM COMING TO VISIT US!!!!! WE DO NOT HAVE THESE SPIDERS VERY OFTEN!!!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Cookies for Three

We've been doing some baking for the S.4s (Grade 10/11. Our secondary school is only for O levels, up to S.4, and they take big exams at the end of S.4) as they've been writing their exams. We've done it a couple times over the past few weeks. Yesterday afternoon as I was getting ready to deliver success cards to the P.7s in David Family, I suddenly remembered that we were scheduled to bake for the S.4s today. I wrote a note on my hand which I hardly ever do and went over to David Family. I stopped to see if my friend could come over and then we biked back to our house. aka the Dangers house where we are currently living. Catriona and Acacia set up Settlers and I placed my settlements. (That's about all I did except for a few questions from Catriona about what I wanted to do. Not that I really knew since I had no idea what cards I had or where my or anyone else's settlements, cities, and roads were. Needless to say, I didn't win.)

Meanwhile, I baked oatmeal cookies. We decided to bake 2 batches since there were 19 S4s and we wanted to give them 2 each and wanted some for ourselves as well. I had kind of forgotten how much each batch made. I thought it was about 2 dozen. By the evening, I found out that 2 batches made more than 4 dozen. More like 6 dozen. Oh well, I thought. It means more for us.

So this morning, I walked over NHA with my mum. At 8:00 because although we were told to go at 7:30 the last time there were only 2 people there at 7:30 so we decided to go at 8:00. We were walking up to the school. It wasn't raining today so of course everyone would be on time.

But then I looked at the library. There were only 2 students there! What!?!?!? We went at 7:30, there were 2. We went at 8:00, there were 2. Anyway, we walked to the library and gave them their cookies. "You can have 2," I said. So the guys each took two and then one of them said, "There is only one more guy coming." What?!?! Here we were with our 40 cookies and there were only 3 students to take the exam. "And I don't know when he will come because our exam is in the afternoon." Go figure. "Well, you can have another one then," I said. Mum prayed and then we left then with about 10 more. Anyway, when they returned the container later, they were pretty happy. Who wouldn't be after 6 cookies?

Please be praying for the S4s and P7s as they finish up their big exams.

I'm sorry for my lack of posts. I'll try to get some pictures up.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Webale Mukama!

Webale Mukama! Thank you Lord!
I have had much to be thankful for this year. On Monday, we celebrated Thanksgiving with our American friend Uncle Tal. His family is on furlough and he came back to do some work. He's been staying with us. We had chicken, stuffing, green beans, corn, and mashed potatoes with banana chocolate-chip cake for dessert. So that is my first thing on my Thanksgiving list. Food! When you live in Africa, you see and interact with children who are starving on a day-to-day basis. You come to appreciate food more. Of course, that doesn't mean we're perfect and sometimes I still forget that there are children right on our doorstep who don't have enough to eat. 
Our Canadian flag (and apple juice) on the table for Thanksgiving.


I am also so thankful for my family. Once again, living here has taught me to appreciate what I have. Since New Hope's mission is "bringing the fatherhood of God to the fatherless", we obviously know a lot of people who have no parents. Not only do I have loving parents, but Christian ones. I am truly blessed by the parents God has given me. My siblings too. Yes, we do have our arguments, but we do truly love one another and are very thankful for each other.


And my friends, friends across the world. I have Ugandan, Congolese, Rwandan, British, Canadian, and American friends. I have never lacked friends. Wherever I have lived, I have made friends and kept them. Over the summer, we were able to meet up with many friends who I hadn't seen in over a year and for some it was much longer. And then we came back to our friends here. So I'm thankful for friends!

Kara, Catriona, me, and Kasana
I'm also thankful for the way God has provided a house for us to stay in. We are sort of "homeless" since we don't have our own house. But everything has worked out amazingly well. At the end of September, there was a time when we had been planning to move to one family's house for a week since the people's house we were staying in were coming back. Then we would move to another house for two days and then to another house. But the people returning ended up being delayed so we cut out two extra moves. So there is my list of a few of the things I am thankful for. There is so much more and I could go into much more detail but for now that's it. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

How to Germinate a Bean Seed

Last night I discovered that you could germinate a bean seed by leaving it in your kitchen sink. I don't know how long it took but the bean germinated and has a nice little root system going. What I'm wondering is why it doesn't work so well when I'm trying to do a science experiment.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Reunion, Weddings, Babies, Birthday Party, Wedding

The last few weeks have been really crazy. Homecoming (New Hope's 25th anniversary) took place the week after we got back. We met lots of old-timers and spent time with people we knew. This last week has also been crazy. On Friday, my parents attended a wedding, or weddings since there were three couples getting married at the same time! And that was after they attended the crusade that was happening at the same church! That day, two New Hope babies were born. And then on Saturday, my dad was busy transporting people to another wedding. Uncle Mulu's brother got married and there were many guests staying at David Family. Catriona, John, and I got to go to Hassan's 11th birthday! Hassan was the first Special Needs kid at New Hope and we say he "started" the Special Needs Program. Many believed he wouldn't live long. And now he's 11! After the party, we headed over to David Family. A big meal had been prepared for the guests. We started eating at 8:30 because they got back from the wedding just a little before that. Needless to say, we're grateful for this day of rest.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Back in Uganda

We arrived safely in Uganda (with all our tubs!) a week and a half ago. It seems like it was much longer. It also feels like we never left. We have started school, seen our friends, and made some new friends. There is a new missionary family from the States and we've enjoyed getting to know them. Homecoming (New Hope's 25th anniversary) has been going on. It started Thursday night with a campfire. We have been able to meet people who were in David Family many years ago. We had a big David Family meal with them. We also saw some of the David Family people who have been at school and we haven't seen them for awhile. I'm glad we were back for it. The weather has been kind of strange. It's been very hot in the middle of the day and then cold in the mornings and evenings. Today is the last day of Homecoming. After church, we have a big picture and a big meal. My dad has been a "designated photographer" so I'll post some pictures later. Tomorrow is the Day of Rest for New Hope. It also happens to be my mum's birthday.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Travels

In one hour we're heading for the airport to get our flight. Lord willing we'll be arriving in Uganda Wednesday morning. Please be praying for us as we travel--that all our tubs will make it and our connection will be smooth! I'll try to update soon after we arrive.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

2 MORE DAYS!!!!!

In 2 days we will get on a plane headed for London and then to Entebbe. We'll arrive in Uganda Monday morning. We've got a lot of things packed up and a few more things to get ready. We're really excited to get back and see all our friends. Thank you for your prayers and for welcoming us!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Four Young Girls who Need Life-Saving Heart Surgery

Please read this blog post written by a nurse at our clinic.
http://newhopeuganda.org/2013/08/06/four-young-girls-who-need-life-saving-heart-surgery/

Thank you!

Further Travels

Since I last wrote we have travelled across the continent to Ontario and back to Calgary. We stopped in Sparta, where my grandpa's church was. Then we went to Indiana and visited the Mitchells, friends from New Hope. We got to Ontario the next day to visit friends we knew from Toronto. I had hives for a few days that week. We also visited another couple that used to live in Toronto. In Toronto, we stayed about 5 days at the Vandenbergs (Mum's sister's family). We visited many friends and relatives before heading up to the cottage where all of Mum's family was. We stayed there for a week. Then we went to Almonte, Grandpa's home town. We stayed with Dad's cousin John and spent a couple days at Uncle Jack and Aunt Cindy's making lots of apple treats. (Applesauce, apple pie, apple crisps, apple muffins) We also had lunch with dad's uncles and aunts, Grandpa and Susan, Fiona, and John. Next we camped at Rideau River with Granny's family. There was a family reunion on Saturday. We then camped (we cheated and stayed in a motel one night because of intense fog and rain) across Ontario and Manitoba. We stayed with the NHUMC treasurer in Regina and now we are in Calgary staying with friends from church. Today we're moving to the Frasers. I have to go for breakfast now.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

From Calgary to Colorado Springs

We enjoyed the rest of our time in Calgary, visiting friends, speaking, and getting some boring things done. (dentist, doctor, blood work, etc.) From Calgary, we drove to Lethbridge with Fiona, my aunt and Dad's younger sister. There, we spoke at a PCA church there and spent the night at the pastor's house.

We spent two nights in Glacier National Park and GOT TO SEE SNOW!!!!!!! AND PLAY IN IT!!!!!!!! That was fun since we won't see it for a while.

We then went to the Woods' house. Uncle Gary is the president of NHUM. His wife, Auntie Louise and my mum's sister-in-law are sisters. Confused? Well if you know my Auntie Helen, she is Auntie Louise's sister. We had a great time there. (The best thing about being here is that you're never too sad to leave a place because you're going to another fun one.)

Now we are in Colorado Springs with the Morton clan. In Uncle Drew and Aunt Cindy's house there is a total of 17 people. Fiona has an apartment about half an hour away. It's been so much fun to get to know our younger cousins and reconnect with our older ones.

Monday, June 24, 2013

In Calgary

We arrived safely in Calgary on Wednesday evening. We were a little delayed because of the wind and rain. There have been some very crazy floods here. The rivers are very high and fast and thousands of people have been evacuated. Downtown Calgary was completely shut down yesterday. We are fine and the house isn't in danger of being flooded now that we've gotten the septic tank cleared out! We spoke at Bearspaw Christian School (where we used to go) on Thursday and spent time with some friends yesterday. Today we don't have much planned. We are enjoying our time here.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Holidays

The schools here have been on holidays for 3 weeks. In that time, we've had lots of the David Family kids coming to get help with studying and two girls coming for piano lessons. The P7s had holiday homework to do. The 3 P7 boys in David Family have come for help with SST and Math and Margret was getting help with biology and English. So I have learned a lot of random facts about African geography, climate, rivers, etc. I have also heard lots of imaginary piano. When the power is off, our piano doesn't work so Stella and Esther learned a lot of piano by hearing the notes being sung. Yesterday, they went back to school.

Our family is also finishing up school. I only have Health to finish and 2 final exams. We'll be finished by the end of the month!

Home schooling at the beginning of the school year

Monday, April 22, 2013

I Live in Africa

Saturday, we went into Kampala. I hadn't been in Kampala since December and hadn't been farther than 10 km away from home since February. Here are some signs that I live in rural Uganda.
  • I don't think of putting a seatbelt on when I get into a car.
  • Bumpy roads are normal; paved roads feel unnatural (but very nice)
  • Skyscrapers scare me (actually buildings taller than two-stories are quite nerve-wracking)
  • In restaurants, I'm prepared to be told that something on the menu isn't available. Sometimes only about half of what's on the menu is an option.
  • I have trouble remembering what a shopping cart is called. (I was thinking shopping stroller at one point.)
I guess I'm going to be in trouble travelling downtown in cities in North America.

An Ironic Week

We had a few ironic incidents over the past week/week and a half.

A week ago last Friday, Aziza, in David Family, had asked about Zipporah. And we said we hadn't seen her for a while. Little did we know that she was at Jonathan Family. The next day, she showed up at our house. A little ironic, but wait until you hear the next one.

Two weeks ago, Dad was at a training conference in Kampala. The leaders of the conference came to Kasana with him to set up some new wireless things. They were here for three days setting things up. On Wednesday afternoon they left. As they were leaving it started to rain.
Fast forward an hour or two. I'm sitting inside our house with John, three of his friends and one of my friends. All of a sudden, the room lights up and there is a huge BANG! It sounded like a gunshot and my ears hurt after it. The roof was rattling and it had sounded like something had hit the roof. The boys, crazy as always, dived under chairs. I said to my friend, "I think that hit the roof." Needless to say, our hearts are pounding pretty fast.
Anyway, when we checked the solar inverter, it was, well, not working. The next day Uncle Gabe, the construction guy and Dad opened up our box. All the fuses were burnt. Our neighbour's power supply box exploded and our other neighbours' were burnt as well. And the internet wasn't working. So my dad is now trying to fix the internet and will need some more parts. The internet guys hadn't even made it to Kampala and our internet went down.

We have definitely had a pretty crazy week.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Special Needs Class

At the beginning of the school year, Auntie Kate, who heads up Special Needs asked me if I could help them with their baking class and their art class. I go Thursday mornings from 9-12 (usually). At 9, they do their welcome song and counting. If it's a baking day we go to Auntie Kate's house. So far we've made pancakes, cake, and pumpkin muffins. If it's an art day, we stay at the class. I've only been there for two art days. I've really enjoyed doing this. All of the staff are really great. It's amazing how the Special Needs Program went from just Hassan to a class of 10 kids and an outreach program in three years. Please pray for two kids who are in the hospital. One has broken his legs and the other had an operation.

Women's Day

Yesterday, was International Women's Day. All the kids got the day off school. Our neighbours, who are also associated with David Family had all the David Family girls over. We went at 12 and played a game called Luck of the Draw. It was quite a fun day. It was a New Hope version with things to draw like "people fetching water at the tower" or "so-and-so preaching". After that we ate lunch--hamburgers, chips, cookies, and soda. And after lunch we watched the first two episodes of Wind at My Back. Unfortunately, one of the girls has malaria so she wasn't able to come, but everyone else was there.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Psalm 113:3

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!"


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Strollers for Hope Family

Last year, my class raised money for strollers for Hope Family. Uncle Stu has bought three strollers -- two double ones and one single. Thank you so much to my class for raising the money. All of Hope Family is very thankful.
 




Christmas at Kasana


Happy New Year! We had a great holiday. Christmas was lots of fun. We had our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. We had stuffing, mashed potatoes, chicken, carrots and green beans. In the morning we opened stockings and then got to eat a special breakfast of bacon, pancakes, and pure 100% Canadian maple syrup. It was delicious. We opened a present before we left to go to church. After church, all the New Hope staff and kids who were there had a meal together. Some people entertained us by mimicking various people who work here. It was hilarious! For the rest of the afternoon we packed (we were leaving for the camp the next day), and opened the rest of our presents. For dinner we got fruit cake, oatcakes, jam and cheese. (Thanks Fiona!) We went to bed pretty early since we were planning to leave early the next morning. It was a great Christmas even with the lack of snow.