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.