We're married...

and ridiculously happy! It was wonderful to see everyone. Each of you added joy to our wedding and homecoming. As you can imagine, we are overflowing right now. God is so good!

A quick update for now: we are both living in Nairobi - together at last. (I said a bittersweet goodbye to my friends in Uganda before the wedding.) Phil is already back in the office, and working hard for his team and the people of South Sudan. I am learning Nairobi and seeking God for my place here.

In two things I am confident right now, I am blessed to be here with my two great loves (God and Phil) and I am enjoying them both very much!

We are working on a new "joint" blog so that we can share our photos and stories from one site. It is very much in the construction stage right now, but by next week we should have some fun stuff on there (wedding, honeymoon photos, etc...). Here is the new link: www.philandmel.wordpress.com.

Again - our sincere thanks to all of you for celebrating with us - God blessed us so much through you!

Happy Birthday, Love!!

Thanks for being my wonderful fiance. My best friend. THE man of God in my life.
I am head over heals crazy about you - so grateful to God!
I love you so much!!!

To the Sullivans and Co.

Hey Corbin!

We had some fun with your project. I'm sorry that I am not a better photographer, but here are some pictures of your monkey in Africa with me and my "family" in Buremba, (Southwest) Uganda. We felt so blessed that you thought of us.

Moses also LOVED the clothes and all of the toys that you and your friends sent us. Every time he wore a piece of your clothing, he would tell me that he looked "very smart" - with a big smile on his face! He means that he looks very handsome. You made him feel very special and so happy!

Know that I love you, Corbin. I hope to see you again someday soon. You are welcome to visit us in Kenya anytime - we'll take you out to see some wild safari animals.

I am passing your project on...

Take care and have some fun today!

(Mel and Moses in our village, Buremba)

(Our family: Mark, Moses, Mel, Akankwasa, Jane, Jackie, Sande)

(Moses LOVED your monkey - sorry it's going to be a bit dirty from him playing with it)

(My precious Moses again)

Your Gift

On behalf of my team, THANK YOU so much for the bibles that you so graciously provided. We trust that our Lord will use His Word mightily in each home and heart.

(Mark and Mom)

(Amos and Akankwasa: this was Amos' first bible)

As I prepare to leave, it is a blessing to know that every member of my team can now read and share God's word in their own language daily.

God is good! Your gift is evidence of that.

Mara and more...

We got up early each morning to go on game drives, take photos, and enjoy the fresh air. We had a really fun van whose top would open up so we could peak outside and feel closer to the animals.



Phil and I both agreed that this trip was extra fun with our parents. We loved sharing all of the excitement and awe together. It seemed like every 5 seconds someone was smiling and saying "woah - look at that!"

After a couple days at the Mara, we headed back to Nairobi to prep and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner. We were so grateful to be together that it hardly mattered what we ate, but we still managed to pull off something traditional. Turkey, potatoes, pumpkin pie...mmm...we loved that we were able to share it together.

The next day, my parents and I left for a little adventure in Uganda. I took them to my village, Buremba, to meet my team and Moses and to sleep in the "bush" for a few days. They did great!! And fortunately God spared my mom from seeing or hearing the mouse in the their room. Haha - Dad and I were a bit worried after we spotted it. ;)

My mom and dad poured out so much love to my team and to our community. Everyone loved them, and felt cared for by them. They even raised money to buy bibles in the local language to give to each member of my team. Many of them told me later that it was their first bible. God was good to use my parents and their church in such a power way. After giving away bibles to the team, we danced and sang and ate our goat. It was wonderful to see everyone so joyful!

After Buremba, my parents were able to spend a day with me in Kampala and then they returned to the States. It was a hard goodbye, but it was worth it to have them here with me for a little while. I do not think they will ever question again how much I miss them. And despite missing them, I think they have an even greater understanding of why I am here. It is simply for God - for His sake. I am here with God for now, as long as He desires. For His good purposes. And enjoying it!

Thanks for your patience as I posted these older stories. More recent posts to follow. ;)

Know that I'm missing you.

R&R at the Mara

This guy expressed how we felt once we hit the Mara. Ahhh...so nice...


Our place was spectacular! Phil did an awesome job booking it. We went with a christian company that we highly recommend called ACTS (African Christian Tours and Safari.)


So we kicked back out feet, relaxed, and enjoyed the view for a few days.

More photos on their way...

Warming them up...

Everyone was excited about going on a safari in Kenya, but we thought they could use a buffer between the States and the Wild so we took them on a little nature walk in Nairobi.


Apparently, they were more prepared for the wild than we thought because before we knew it, they were petting the cheetahs and loving it. Crazy ladies!!



We really did have so much fun! More to follow...

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

My Dad and I share a birthday. We also share a bit in personality. Just for the record...he did it first. This is us at the Giraffe Park in Kenya when they were in Africa with us. Fun times!!

I love you, Dad!

Engaged!!

Paris. Eiffel Tower. The man of my dreams.

Does it really get any better than that?

Not in my storybook.

It was perfect!

Thank you, my love!!!

In the meantime...

While you're waiting for more photos of the family visit, I want to show you this great video/sermon. It was filmed here with our SP Uganda team just two weeks ago. It shows the work God is doing in Uganda through Samaritan's Purse. Enjoy!

http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons

our Loved Ones came

Where to begin?

Thank you, Lord - for bringing our families together - in Africa.

This long pause is finally broken. I have so much to tell you. I'll need to do this in segments, so please bare with me.

Earlier this month, Phil and I were blessed with a visit from our parents. Three sets. None of whom had been to Africa. Mine never having been across the Atlantic. Exciting to say the least. We are still amazed and grateful that everyone was willing and able to come - at the same time. This could only be God.

So here we are...outside of Phil's office in Nairobi on a warm, sunny day. An answer to so many prayers.

(Phil and I, Buzz and Linda, LaNea and Steve, Lynne and Tim)

Everyone arrived safely. Bags intact - all 20 of them - seriously. Though we were happiest just having them "with us", they came bearing gifts. They blessed us and almost the entirety of Kenya and Uganda - such generous hearts. Thanks again!!

Here's a picture of us SO happy to see LaNea and Steve at the airport. I love the smile on Phil's face, hugging his dad. There are a few of the many bags in the background. :)

Here's a picture of my mom and I at the airport - again - SO happy to see each other.

Fortunately there was space enough for everyone to stay together at Phil's apartment in Nairobi. So, our first morning together, we were able to stay "home" and make breakfast together. It was fun and gave everyone some time to ease their way into it all.

So this was our happy beginning. I know it doesn't really look like everyone's in Africa yet, but soon. We did ease them in, you know. Though they didn't really need it. I'll be posting more details and pictures in the days to come. And just maybe, Phil will be posting pictures as well. ;)

God desires to be with you.

"Come now, my love. My lovely one, come.

For you, the winter has passed, the snows are over and gone, the flowers appear in the land, the season of joyful songs has come. The cooing of the turtledove is heard in our land.

Come now, my love. My beloved, come.

Let me see your face. And let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful.

Come now, my love, my lovely one, come."

Song 2:10-14 NJB

Fallen

Today I saw a pair of 1 dollar sandals stolen from a dying man's feet.

I saw people vandalizing a wrecked lorry without regard to the dying man laying in the grass within their view.

I saw people taking pictures of his wounded head with their cell phones instead of calling for help.

I saw a lathargic group of health workers try to avoid treating him.

Today I caressed the hand and arm of a suffering man - praying that he was saved - praying that he would die - so that his suffering could cease.

I am reminded that we live in a fallen world.

I hope with all my heart that this man is in Heaven with our Saviour tonight.

Cooking with Jane: Premier

When I first arrived in Uganda I wondered, "Why do they pick their bananas when they're still so green? And how come I can't find huge 'yellow' bananas on the market like that? Where do they all go?"

Yeah, they were plantains.

So Jane is teaching me how to make matoke (aka banana mush) these days. Actually it's made from plantains. You can't peel them with your fingers like our sweet yellow bananas. You must peel them like a potato with a knife. (They actually taste more like a potato too.) It's fun peeling with Jane. She's a great teacher!

So after you peal, you simply boil till soft and then mush. Just like mashed potatoes, but a bit more rubbery and no additives needed.

I do enjoy matoke - even prefer it to rice. But only at our teamhouse. No one else makes it as good as Jane.

The beginning of Moses' story

Moses is a very special child in Buremba. He has no blood-relatives here, but he is more famous than any other child. He was brought to Buremba with his mother when he was still a nursing baby.

Community members from Buremba found Moses' mom laying helplessly along the dirt road that led to their village. They say that she was obviously very ill - both physically and mentally. She had Moses in her arms, so they picked both of them up and took them to the local health clinic.

Moses' mom wasn't in the clinic for 24 hours when she died. Moses was still attached to her breast feeding when they found that she had stopped breathing. She obviously loved her precious son until her last breath - making sure she cared for him until the last moment of their lives together.

No one can say exactly why Moses' mom died, nor what caused her health issues because no one knew her. They can't even tell me her name. She was not from Buremba. They just found her and Moses and tried to help them before she died. It was a blessed act of kindness - particularly for Moses.

The clinic advertised in the community when Moses was orphaned. They asked that someone come and care for him, despite his lack of relatives. Unfortunately, he was already malnourished and sickly. It was unlikely that anyone would take him in such a condition (the community explained this to me.) However, Mary saw Moses and desired to care for him. With Mary's care and the help of the community, Moses became a healthy little boy within a couple years. And today he is absolutely vibrant!

So that's the beginning of his story. God miraculously saved Moses' life.

Please continue to pray for him and his caretaker, Mary. That God would re-light that mother's love into her heart - that she would properly care for this precious boy - that even now, Moses would be growing into a strong man of God.

I will be posting more on Moses in the coming weeks...

Richard - my Rich man

I attended a local government meeting regarding water and sanitation, today. I met a lot of new people. Here's one of my more entertaining conversations.

"Have I met you? Who are you?"

"No. I'm Melanie. I work for Samaritan's Purse."

"I'm Richard. You're very lucky to have met me. I am from Kahunge. Do you know Kahuge?"

"Somehow. I have been to that place, but I do not know your people there."

"You really are a very lucky woman to have met me. I am the richest man in Kahunge. You have just met a very rich man!! Aren't you happy?"

"Yes, of course." (I hold back an eye roll. I think.)

"Yes. I am so rich. I will tell you my forture. I own 4 goats! They all belong to me. I take care of them all myself."

Then I laughed along with others who were listening to our conversation. I realized I found a comedian. We live in the land of cattle. Many of these people are "rich" by village standards - because of their many cattle. But goats (though valuable) do not make people rich here. It just makes for a good laugh. Thanks, Richard.

Prayer

(Children praying after our Hygiene Fair this week - precious)

I love praying with my team. We pray every morning together, before and after our devotions. We pray for our project, our community, other projects and offices all over the world. We even pray for you. And we especially enjoy praying for one another. It binds us together. God binds us together.

"In Him we are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:22

I feel God's presence dwelling with us here in Buremba. I know that His hand is all over this project. And I know it is a response to our prayers - all of ours - yours included. Thank you so much for praying with us. Thank you for being so near in heart.

"In Christ Jesus you who were far away have been brough near, through the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:13

It's really amazing that any of us can have a relationship with God. It is only Christ who has brought us near to God. And it is only Christ that brings you near to me.

I wish I could be praying under the same roof as you today, but I am comforted knowing that someday, we will all be together again. Someday, there will be no more goodbyes. For those of us who know Jesus as our Saviour.

Please, spend time with Jesus today. Talk to Him. Pray. He's anxious to be with you. He loves you so much.

Amos and Justine

(Amos teaching children about good health and hygiene, two days ago)

Please pray for my friends Amos and Justine. For the past six months, we've been rejoicing about Justine's pregnancy. When I visited her last week, I commented on how healthy she seemed. So active and glowing. Justine went into the hospital yesterday to deliver their baby boy. Sadly, their little boy died the same day. The reason is still unknown. This is the third child that they've lost in their three years of marriage. Amos and Justine are heartbroken. Please pray.

More on bugs...

It is indeed the rainy season as I've said before. This means that I have extra rats and bugs at my house/office in the village. Above are some pictures of my new friends. They are the most annoying friends I think I've ever had. That's why we decided to roast some of them for a little snack. You can see Jane preparing our termites for a crunchy delicacy above. Unfortunately, we weren't able to eat them all. The guy on the middle right is poisonous would scream every time I tried to remove him from my mosquito net. Seriously - he screamed. It was weird. (And I should correct myself, it was William who was removing him from my mosquito net.) That moth in the upper right was so big that I thought he was a small bat flying around in my office.

I must say, it is nice having other ladies around. Jane and Juliet (both pictured above) don't like these bugs either. We've had some fun jumping, screaming, and cooking them together. Maybe God is using these bugs to develop some closer friendships ... I'd like to think there's some good reason for them...

'Bans don't cut abortion rates'

This is an interesting article. It doesn't come from a Christian source, nor does it use the bible for its foundation. Therefore, please do not take this and run too far with it. However, I like the author's view of women's freedom. It's not about giving women freedom to chose to have an abortion. It's about a woman's freedom to chose to become pregnant or not - before conception. Particularly in developing or less-developed countries I think this is crucial.

I admit, I am not giving this blog post enough time. But regardless, it's food for thought.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8305217.stm

But to be clear - I do support bans against abortion.