Okay - this will be brief. It is late and I am tired. Not much different today. Had an incredibly hectic morning. Milked, distributed milk, got the guys started on some projects. Wolfed down a quick breakfast and then was off again, taking one of our workers to a children's ministry close by so he could do some repairs for them. I was only supposed to be there for 5 minutes to drop off and ended up in an hour long conversation about business and budgets. While I was in the meeting, Tony cut his finger fixing the swings, had to go the hospital for stitches. I glanced at my watch and realized that I was supposed to be home so Jill could go and pick up some bookmarks she was having made for a friend for her birthday. I rushed over and met the guy who was making them and then rushed back to the hospital to check on Tony. In the meantime, Susan, our teammate up the hill had a dead battery and needed a jump because she was in a hurry. I tried to rush back there only to find that she had already gotten the car started. During all of this, we had someone coming to pick up a cow and I was supposed to be there to help load the right one. Somehow I missed that altogether. And all of this was prior to 10:30!!!!!!
From that point on, I was worn out!!!! So, I decided to enjoy the day and slow it down some. I played battleship with Dade while Jill and Dara ran some errands. Once Jill got home, I went to start on the Bible study I was working on for Wednesday and ended up falling asleep and FINALLY getting a nap. Then woke up and went to celebrate a friend's 37th birthday. It was nice just to sit and visit a little. Now, I'm off to bed!
Welcome to life in Africa! Never a dull moment and never what you think it will be when you wake up. But, so nice to know that God is in control and that it is His timing and not ours that is important.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Daily Update - 91115
Posting early, but it's been a busy day already and our Sunday evenings are usually pretty busy, so I figured I'd post early.
11 years ago today, Jill and I were already driving to Seaside, FL for our honeymoon. So, how was the day after our 11th Anniversary? We woke up early, milked cows, distributed milk to neighbors, rushed to get dressed, preached at a local church and now we are back home. Jill has already gone down for a nap (which she rarely gets anymore), the kids are both down and I'm busy trying to get a Bible study pulled together for this week and planning a talk for a local high school.
By the way.....for all that have asked.....yes, we had a wonderful anniversary. We left the kids with Ruth, walked around town and enjoyed a nice Chinese dinner at a new restaurant. There was no General Tso's chicken, but the sizziling beef wasn't bad. I think the nicest part was just having the time to reflect on 11 years of marriage and talk about what's ahead.
Oh....and some teammates of ours brought back some cat food from Kampala for us. I think we have settled on Mikey for a name. He is settling in okay and is really a joy for the kids and for us.
Sorry for the randomness and short post with no pics. Just wanted to make sure something got posted today.
11 years ago today, Jill and I were already driving to Seaside, FL for our honeymoon. So, how was the day after our 11th Anniversary? We woke up early, milked cows, distributed milk to neighbors, rushed to get dressed, preached at a local church and now we are back home. Jill has already gone down for a nap (which she rarely gets anymore), the kids are both down and I'm busy trying to get a Bible study pulled together for this week and planning a talk for a local high school.
By the way.....for all that have asked.....yes, we had a wonderful anniversary. We left the kids with Ruth, walked around town and enjoyed a nice Chinese dinner at a new restaurant. There was no General Tso's chicken, but the sizziling beef wasn't bad. I think the nicest part was just having the time to reflect on 11 years of marriage and talk about what's ahead.
Oh....and some teammates of ours brought back some cat food from Kampala for us. I think we have settled on Mikey for a name. He is settling in okay and is really a joy for the kids and for us.
Sorry for the randomness and short post with no pics. Just wanted to make sure something got posted today.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Correction
We discovered today that we have made a mistake in reader the gender of our kitten. Rhea is actually a boy...we're exploring new names...suggestions welcome. He comes to his name when we call him, so we'd like to stick with something that rhymes with "Rhea".
Choices are...
1. Daya (rhymes and combines Dara and Dade)
2. Pepper (in memory of Diet Dr. Pepper)
3. Buddy (Joel thinks that's what we'll call him anyway)
4. Nemo (Dade just likes it)
5. Dallas (in memory of Texas)
6. Wangyi (it means "yes, I'm here" in the local language - Joel says it a lot.)
Behind me Joel and Dara are trying to call him "peno" - short for jalepeno. (Joel thinks Aaron will love it). I'm quoting Joel, "Jill, it's stuck. You can blog all you want, but the name is 'peno'." Please pray for me as I am the only one with any sense around here!
On a sweet note, today is our first date while in Uganda. Ruth is going to watch the kids while we go to some stores we haven't taken the time to see and go out to the new chinese restaurant we've heard good things about. We are celebrating our 11th anniversary!!! I am so blessed to be married to the greatest man in the world - even when he drives me crazy with silly names.
p.s. Now Dara and Joel are saying "kota" (like North Da'kota') should be his name. Dade's saying 'mouse'. Who knows what his name will be tomorrow morning?!
Choices are...
1. Daya (rhymes and combines Dara and Dade)
2. Pepper (in memory of Diet Dr. Pepper)
3. Buddy (Joel thinks that's what we'll call him anyway)
4. Nemo (Dade just likes it)
5. Dallas (in memory of Texas)
6. Wangyi (it means "yes, I'm here" in the local language - Joel says it a lot.)
Behind me Joel and Dara are trying to call him "peno" - short for jalepeno. (Joel thinks Aaron will love it). I'm quoting Joel, "Jill, it's stuck. You can blog all you want, but the name is 'peno'." Please pray for me as I am the only one with any sense around here!
On a sweet note, today is our first date while in Uganda. Ruth is going to watch the kids while we go to some stores we haven't taken the time to see and go out to the new chinese restaurant we've heard good things about. We are celebrating our 11th anniversary!!! I am so blessed to be married to the greatest man in the world - even when he drives me crazy with silly names.
p.s. Now Dara and Joel are saying "kota" (like North Da'kota') should be his name. Dade's saying 'mouse'. Who knows what his name will be tomorrow morning?!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Daily Update - 91113
Okay.....I've had it pointed out that I was obviously tired a couple of nights ago. First, I put the wrong date (91117 - which I have now corrected) and then Jill said that I was continously falling asleep while typing and she had to go back and correct quite a bit after I posted. So, today I'm trying it just a bit earlier.
Thursday....went and picked up my laptop from the repair shop in town. Although it still seems to be having problems. Oh how I miss having access to PC parts to do the fixing myself. At least it's not a Mac (yes, that's a dig at all you Mac loyalists)! Spent a little time running into town with Jill and the kids for our weekly shopping trips, then spent some time trying to find my sermon notes on my computer before it would power off yet again. Wrapped up the day by heading out to check on some of our cows in a nearby village. All three were pregnant and are looking better than ever to send out to our new village in a couple of weeks.
Friday....started the same way I ended Thursday....went to look at another cow in the hopes of adding our fifth and final for Murissa - the village we will deliver to in a couple of weeks. Ran into town to return my laptop to the shop for yet another repair, chased down a short in our electric fence, got a tire fixed on the car, went with Jill and the kids to get some stuff for the SS department at our church, met with one of the students from our Bible study, and then had time to come home and get a short, but much needed nap.
Now, I find myself preparing for another sermon this Sunday and a talk to one of the local high schools in a week. I will be preaching on "Who Is A Missionary?" (you LBC folks have heard that sermon before - now I have to modify it for Africa) and the talk will be on hope. Think I will probably go back to the beginning of Jeremiah - it's a passage I have been wanting to use for some time, but I have not had the right opportunity yet. Pray that I will have wisdom and that I will be diligent in preparation.
Thursday....went and picked up my laptop from the repair shop in town. Although it still seems to be having problems. Oh how I miss having access to PC parts to do the fixing myself. At least it's not a Mac (yes, that's a dig at all you Mac loyalists)! Spent a little time running into town with Jill and the kids for our weekly shopping trips, then spent some time trying to find my sermon notes on my computer before it would power off yet again. Wrapped up the day by heading out to check on some of our cows in a nearby village. All three were pregnant and are looking better than ever to send out to our new village in a couple of weeks.
Friday....started the same way I ended Thursday....went to look at another cow in the hopes of adding our fifth and final for Murissa - the village we will deliver to in a couple of weeks. Ran into town to return my laptop to the shop for yet another repair, chased down a short in our electric fence, got a tire fixed on the car, went with Jill and the kids to get some stuff for the SS department at our church, met with one of the students from our Bible study, and then had time to come home and get a short, but much needed nap.
Now, I find myself preparing for another sermon this Sunday and a talk to one of the local high schools in a week. I will be preaching on "Who Is A Missionary?" (you LBC folks have heard that sermon before - now I have to modify it for Africa) and the talk will be on hope. Think I will probably go back to the beginning of Jeremiah - it's a passage I have been wanting to use for some time, but I have not had the right opportunity yet. Pray that I will have wisdom and that I will be diligent in preparation.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Swingin'
Does anyone remember that song, "Swinging" from back in the 80's? Anyway, I date myself...We have this really neat tree on the edge of our compound. Its branches are limber but strong. Dara and Dade have been swinging on them and I finally took some pictures (not all of them turned out because they were too blurry). 
Here is Ruth swinging too. I'm not sure who had more fun - the kids or her!
Dade's swinging pictures didn't turn out well, so here's some of him climbing. He has the toughest feet! In order to get down, he scoots back on his bum until about half way and then he jumps. He was doing it so much, I had to ask him to find a different tree. His shorts were wearing thin on the back side!
Ruth dubbed him an "African enkyende" (pronounced enchenday). So now, he's not only an African boy, he's and African monkey. He loves it!
Since these pictures were taken, we have stopped the swinging because the branches weren't really made for that and there is a wall that could easily bust open a head if they landed just right. Joel has assured them he will find a rope and make a more sturdy swing. Maybe I'll try it then.
Other tidbits going on...our garden is producing more than we can enjoy. This is a pumpkin/squash. It tastes like a yellow squash but, as you can see, it looks like a pumpkin. We have lots!
I told Dara a little over a month ago that the only way we would get a cat is if God brought it up to our compound. She kind of gave up praying for one, then last Saturday evening James comes and gets Joel. He was gone for awhile and then he came into the house carrying this little bundle in a towel. She was scared and nervous. We found out that her owner was our neighbor and he was happy to let us keep her. We know the Hollenbecks are not found of cats, and we will have to find her a home when we leave. But for the time being she has brought a sense of home for us (we have had at least one cat our entire married life). The kids have loved her and she is a good distraction from the thoughts of rats/mice. Hopefully she will grow up and be able to keep them out of the house.
Dara and I did take a moment to thank God for answering her prayer - even if not as quickly as she had hoped. He did bring a cat onto our compound...what a great God we serve! He is so thoughtful and loving!!!
(p.s. this blog will work for Joel's daily post - just in case you wondered) :)
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