Pictures (finally)

Okay, so there's only a few, but at least I pulled out my camera (for a short time). We didn't go to the zoo this past Monday. Instead the kids played on a slip-n-slide at Joel's parents. It was lots of fun - Gigi even added soap to the slide "because that's how Tiffany did it".

I thought Chuchu was going to hurt his back pulling the kids, but he made it okay.

Joel's face looks so much better doesn't it?

Just in case you've forgotten how bad it was...I'm still so very grateful that God took care of him so wonderfully.

We've had a nice busy week. On Tuesday we went to a Rangers game. Unfortunately we left at the beginning of the 8th inning and missed the home run. Dade waited all night to see some fireworks and would be so disappointed to know we left before them.

On Wednesday we went to Six Flags and then to Hurricane Harbor on Thursday with my parents. It was so much fun to ride, slide, eat, wait in line, people watch, and enjoy time with family.

And then, today I was privileged to be the fourth of a foursome and played 18 holes of golf with Joel, Jason, and Weldon. I would not want to play golf with people too serious about the game (or without Joel). Everyone who plays needs that special person holding the flag to stop their ball before it goes waaaayyyy past the hole. It was fun, but my shoulders hurt. Honestly, it reminds me of slashing grass in Uganda. If only I had listened to David (our guard) when he told me to work on how to swing the slasher. Thanks everyone for a great week!

A needle in a haystack

Sorry for the lack of updating - there doesn't seem to be a lot to say. We've been busy lately (no excuse) but some of that business has been busy resting. Yesterday morning Joel and I walked a friend's dog and then I went back to bed (the kids were in Austin with Joel's parents). It was wonderful. I felt a bit lazy but was so grateful for the rest.

There's a sense of tranquility I feel just blending in. There's something about living in another culture...it can make you weary because you have to be "on" most, if not all, of the time. Down time comes at the end of the day when it's just us.

There's just something nice about not being watched. Because, honestly, we're not all that interesting. One day a man on a boda (motorcycle) stared at me while I was getting gas. Did he think I was going to turn green? Or maybe morph into something else? I so badly wanted to stick out my tongue or pick my nose or something...instead I just smiled once and looked away, then I stared back and looked away, then finally I was able to drive away. Yeah, it's nice to blend in.

Life Is A Dream

Don't know how else to explain the paradise we call Wal-Mart and Target. And did I mention the food? I really did forget how much I love Taco Bell. Jill and I (minus the kiddos) finally had some good mexican fare last night. Chips and salsa and a bowl of queso are almost heavenly! We went to Shreveport a couple of days ago to visit some friends and I had a crawfish Po-Boy (sorry Dale and Mike) and some etoufee. Nothing like Louisiana and cajun food to make you feel at home. Can't wait for boiled crawfish to come back in season (hopefully before I leave). I'm sure my brother and I will put down 6 pounds of mudbugs in the first helping.

I'm finally sleeping again. Kind of unusual not to wake up in the middle of the night because I heard another bump in the night. Weird to not reach out for the stun gun or pepper spray! I think my body is finally telling me how tired it really is.

Our time has been wonderful but fairly confusing. You often wonder how this is such disparity between here and Uganda. Jill often refers to it as a dream because it is so different. I've wondered aloud with many here how whole pockets of the world are left behind while we are so far advanced. Although at the core of it are the same issues - a lack of desire to allow God to guide our lives. In fact, we've often said that it is easier to be a Christian in Uganda than in America. At least in Uganda when you say you believe in Christ, people don't look at you like you are an uneducated fool. Ugandans respect God even if they haven't placed their trust in Christ.

In this dream state, we love being home - can't say it enough! We love being near family and friends. We love having our church in the backyard and being able to reconnect and share all that God is doing. We love sharing about the last year of our lives - good and bad. We love the hugs and love we feel from all those we've seen and talked to. But, each day, in some way, we are reminded of the home we've left behind. We're reminded of those who are waiting eagerly for our return. We're reminded of the work God still has to do in Mbarara.

It feels like a dream much of the time! Two homes - two worlds apart.

God bless Texas!

There's an old country song with a line that says, "God blessed Texas with His own hand" So for a moment I feel compelled to sing some of the praises with which God blessed Texas.

family...sidewalks...smooth roads (with lanes!)...full size washing machines...Mc Donalds...soft and pliable tortillas...hugs from parents...tortilla chips...ice cream...soft pews in church...dish washers...power that is on all the time...water that is on all the time...Papa John's pizza...ice cream...libraries...girls in shorts...soft bread...sitting in church surrounded by people who love you...air conditioning...Target...ice cream...

I could go on and on but I think this is sufficient. I do realize there are other places who have many of these blessings, but since our family and church is here (and I'm just a good Texan) - we'll just say leave it like I wrote it. :)

It's still a bit embarrassing for us all to go to the store together. We get excited about bread and cereals and appalled at the price of pineapples and avocados (the "large" avocado was $1.49 for 1 - it wasn't even big). From time to time Dade still asks if the water is okay.

Joel has been to the storage shed and pulled out all their old toys - it has been like Christmas in July. I will try to get better about taking pictures. I haven't even pulled out the camera since we've arrived. If I did have pictures, I'd show you how nicely Joel's face is healing; how his mom looks hugging the kids; sitting at the table with my parents; watching Dara and her friend, Addy, fall to the ground from the force of their first hug; and so many more.

I do need to capture these memories for the days in the future when I need to be reminded of my other life. That's how it feels - like we have two lives. One here and one there - so strange and yet so normal.

SURPRISE!!!

Many of you know we have had this great plan to surprise Charlotte, Joel's mom, with our return. She knew we were coming back, we just told her we were arriving next week. We had a plan to just walk into the house very nonchalantly and see her reaction.

Our plan was a bit disrupted by a long delay in Atlanta. We ended up arriving almost 2 hours late. Joel's brother, Jason, kept Weldon, their dad, up to date with the timing. Charlotte had already gone to bed and we debated on 2 new plans. 1) Have Dara and Dade crawl into bed with her and ask her to scoot over. The worry with this one is that she might twist her back which has been giving her a rough time. 2) Sneak quietly into the house, go to sleep, and let her wake up in the morning with all of us here. This was my favorite, but not very realistic. (What a surprise that would have been.)

In the end, Weldon woke her up and told her that Jason and his girlfriend, Tammy, were stopping by (at 11 pm) on their way back from Ft. Worth. So when we arrived, we all just walked in the back door like our original plan. She was wonderfully surprised and only hit Weldon a few times. I am so proud of him for being able to keep the surprise alive. It would help you to understand how these two people love surprises but struggle with keeping them. At best, they will tell you, "I have a surprise for you but I'm not gonna tell you!!!" It's not uncommon to get early Christmas presents because they are just too good to keep hidden. So for Weldon to have pulled this off is stupendous!

Thank you everyone for your prayers as we traveled. We could not have asked for the kids to be any better. It was great. I will write again before too long. Right now we are just soaking it all in.

The Fattened Pig

When we arrived in Mbarara there was a pig roast and now that we are leaving soon, there was another pig roast. It was delicious! We do have a gift for timing it just right. Our whole team was there, plus a few extra...

Here is Dara with our serious policeman, Andrew.

Dara wanted to be in this picture with Ruth as well, but apparently only her hands.

This is Crystal and Asher Kehn. She is due any day now and we can't wait to meet their new daughter, Adeline.This is Joel holding Crystal and Matt's other son, Stephen. He has become a ham when it comes to a camera, but who can resist that smile?!

This is Zillah, my British sister. She is the one who helped us through the hospital. We love you so much, Zillah! We have a very healthy (?) rivalry going on between our two countries; from the different/proper use of words to sports. It's a lot of fun. I am really quite glad that both England and the US were out of the World Cup on the same day. I don't think she could have survived the joy she would feel forever if England made it farther than the US. Actually, I don't think we could have survived her joy. :) Her parents have just come for a month-long visit. What a blessing to show your family your life.

This last picture is of Dativa. She lives on the Hollenbeck's compound and I think she is one of the most beautiful Uganda girls I have ever met. It is so hard to believe we have lived here for one year. Zillah and I were laughing about my response to the first party. She found me in the kitchen, hiding out doing dishes. I was shell-shocked and overwhelmed. Now it feels like home. Looking back, the year has passed quickly. But it felt sooooo sloooow in real time. God is so very faithful to take care of all of us along the way. We would not have made it without Him!!!

Thanks, everyone, for such a great party. If I start bringing over my compost, maybe the next pig will be of age/size by the time we are back in October!

Ruth's Birthday

Ruth's birthday was July 2nd and we had the privilege of celebrating with her. We had a huge pizza and chocolate cake. We had wanted to have a dinner together before we left and her birthday served as the perfect opportunity.

The cake was our last Betty Crocker cake mix from Kampala and we saved it for this special occasion. We saved our sparkly candle too.

Ruth tried to blow it out and since it took so long, we sang "Happy Birthday" twice.

I think it was Andrew's first taste of chocolate and he really liked it.

Here's Joel's face then. It does look better now (he now has feeling in his lips and they hurt).