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It’s funny how, when we pray for God’s Will for our lives we already have the answer envisioned in our minds, and that is usually not at all how the prayer is answered. I have prayed over the years that I could be a writer, and speaker. You know, the next Beth Moore or Lisa Bevere, helping women to grow in God and travel the world speaking and writing. I have prayed that many times, started many books only to be stalled and sent in other directions.

I have prayed many times, God just use me in any way, wherever you want me I will go and do. And most of the time that God used me and sent me, it was not at all what I had envisioned! I never in a million years would have believed if you told me I would adopt a 2 year old – girl no less – at the age of 48. And then two years later move to Uganda Africa. At 50, I had been fretting that my life was on the downhill slide, but God had other plans for me!

I have prayed day after day since I found out we were moving here, and everyday since we got here for God to show me my place here. Christian has his physical work, and the spiritual I know I am a part of. But what exactly is my place? Keeping the home like I have all these years? Raising and teaching Raelee? I want to be used, in any way God, just show me where my place is.

Well, this is the part about answered prayers not always being what we envision. A few days ago I was brought 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl who is about 12 and she is having to be the mama to the 3 boys who I would say are 6-7 and 4 and a baby around a year. None of them know their ages. These are just 4 of 7 children, 3 had to be given out to other family because  mother died recently after a long illness that the witch doctors could not heal, and dad not in good health. I asked what could I do? Get them some clothes, some soap and cleaning supplies. Then, I was shown the baby’s hands and feet. Jiggers. Let me introduce you to Jiggers:

I am only going to post one picture, it is really hard to look at some of the ones I have seen.

Now, I had read about this before we ever came, and the two illustrations above come from the website I had researched http://www.solehope.org. They are located not so far from us and their whole ministry is taking these out, educating families on how to prevent them. We even have to spray and use a powder called (of all things) Du-Du powder. The best thing is to wear closed shoes, but that is not always reality here. This ministry I mentioned does try to provide shoes for children. Most everyone here knows how to remove them but because of the stigma of it, I’m finding that people don’t want to help because it is those peoples fault for being dirty. Sometimes they get so infested because they bring their animals inside to sleep – their goats and chickens – so they aren’t stolen. So now I am asking God, really? This is it? But if it is, I will gladly learn all I can from the ministries that have been doing this. I am praying that Sole Hope will help me in learning how to remove and then to educate the families. I’m told by Bakali that people he has helped and followed up on have been successful in keeping them away, and no more jiggers in their bodies.

So I ask you to pray with me, that if this is what God has for me to do, He gives me the ability, opportunity to share His Gospel as I do it, and that all the Glory goes to Him. In my own strength, I fear I can’t do it, but the bible says:

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Rained yesterday and the wind was howling, took my umbrella away while I was trying to get this picture. I know the people here think I am about the craziest mazungu they have ever seen.

No, wait, second craziest, to Raelee! 🙂

Next, we will get the pipes used to water the crops with drip irrigation. We are in the process of figuring out what we want to grow next.

We are down to one kitten. One was taken away by someone without our consent, but I have dealt with that anger and am good now!

Anyway, Smoky, who we call our black panther because though he is a scrawny little thing he has a growl that will scare off most other animals. Don’t even touch him when he is eating.

The vet has been here three times giving him shots and medicine, he is not a healthy kitten, but we haven’t given up on him. (And when I say “we” that would be Raelee and I! Daddy would have put him down after the first vet visit!) Yesterday, I was the one who had to hold him down for his shots and he bit into me but good. Then the vet says he will be back tomorrow to give Smoky his rabies shot. Nice. Guess maybe he should give me one too! That is the one shot I did not get before leaving the states!

Bakali’s daughter

The crowd just mobbed them when they came down from their porch!

Bakali and his wife being presented from inside their home.

We have a worker, Bakali, who is our Farm Manager and pretty much since we got here has been Christian’s right hand man. From what we have been told, he was a pretty wild (as in native) boy when Mandate first came here. He was an illegitimate son and was pretty much shunned by many. After he accepted Christ he was shunned even more. But he is a great example of a Christ follower that, even though friends and family may leave you because of your faith, Jesus never will, and He will bless you for it. Not just financial, I believe Bakali is growing into a great and Godly man. His grandfather gave him some land and with the money he has made working for Mandate, he has saved and was able to build a house for himself, wife, and three of their own children, plus kids they take care of. It is a very big deal here, to be able to build a real house, and what we would call a housewarming party is a very official celebration! He still has plans to add on, right now he has a living room, master bedroom and two other bedrooms with plans to finish the bathroom and eventually may put a kitchen inside. (It is more common to cook outside, because if you do not have a stove, and many don’t, then you cook over fires so…)

It started with the very special invitation. Three of us got the very special one – Wes, The Chairman, and Us! Then, there were the meetings. I didn’t attend, but Christian did and said they were quite the deal! The Chairman came, and there were lists- supply lists, everyone had a place to participate in, a job to do at the party. There were prices by everything on the lists, from the food, the tents, make-up (? that was weird), clothing, photographer…it went on and on. A couple million shillings or more, somewhere between 600-800 USD. So everyone present, who we found out were mostly family and friends, was supposed to chip in and pay for something, and if it didn’t all get settled the first meeting, then there was a second, then a third and finally there was enough money!

The very special invitation said the party would start at 12 AM. Yes, that’s midnight – I haven’t partied that late in, uh, lets say many many years! But Christian was told his job was to say opening prayer. Okay. He went, pitch dark, music playing, a few people dancing in front of the only truck with parking lights on. He sat about an hour, asked about Bakali, finally left! Get a call in the morning to be there to say opening prayer at “exactly about 10” (that’s exactly about how it goes with everything!) So we went at 9ish. By 12ish Raelee and I left to go find food. Went back. About 2 I am given notice that I now have a job – photographer, and from what I could gather there were 3 very important pictures I was to take but I had no idea whatsoever what those 3 were to be of. I had been taking pictures and videos all day, there were xylophone competitions and dancers. So at exactly about 3, Bakali and his wife came out of the house. I have never seen this guy so serious. Really, he is always laughing and carrying on, but he did not crack a smile. Everyone mobbed them and then they all danced and sang and went around all the tents with all the people sitting, watching. I took alot of pictures, but I was done about exactly 4 so I went home, yes, abandoning my poor husband. He came home about an hour later and said he had made a little speech and asked if his job was done and when told yes, he scooted. I am pretty sure I missed one of the 3 very important pictures…the cutting of the cake, but I can say I did take a pic of the cake, just didn’t realize I was supposed to take one of them cutting it.

We are very happy that we and also that The Mandate had a part financially, and spiritually in this great event in their life and wish them many happy years in their new home!

Note:

Today, Bakali came by the house and I showed him all the pictures. He loved them so much. I told him “You were so serious Bakali, I am not used to seeing you so serious. You and Fatima looked like adults on that day” He laughed so hard at that, but I think the fact that they are so young – he is 26 – and already able to get a house made it an even bigger deal. He says is was fun, but too much work and he does not think he will ever have another party like that. I told him, you just wait until the daughter grows up! He put his hand over his face and said “Nah!”

We had a few minor setbacks and some distractions to the work, but the project is 98% finished! And it rained two nights ago and the water flooded through the gutters and into the barrels! Success! There is one part, you can see the wide span where Wes is welding, he will finish that on the other side of that building hopefully tomorrow and the project will be completed! We are so thankful that it was done before the rainy season came (which we hear is very delayed – God held the rain so we could finish!)

This week will be the start of another well and water pump put in for the village!