Desert Song

Feeling really homesick this week! Praying for strength mentally and spiritually to get through this rough patch. Thankful that Jesus is walking this path with me, and I'm not alone.

This song from Hillsong (link below) has really helped:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH54lMB6WPk

Marick's Birthday Gift

This year for Marick's birthday, I sent him a gift through Compassion to specifically get him a bicycle. Here's the picture I received (via gmail message from my mom.)

 

A God so amazing, so divine. Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Murchison Falls Trip

A group of us decided to drive down to Murchison Falls and camp Saturday night. It's a two hour drive from Gulu to the Falls. We were able to take a boat on the Nile, hike to the top of the Falls, and do a safari drive Sunday morning. It was a lot of fun to make new friends and see a beautiful part of Uganda.

Sleepy Pinka

This morning I found our neighbor's dog Pinka sunbathing in front of our compound. He made sure to keep me company as I waited for my boda to take me into town.

Such a sweet boy!

Health Update

I went to Gulu Independent yesterday morning for testing. NO WORMS. PRAISE JESUS! I do however have an intestinal infection/bacteria. The medicine is working wonders, and I am not having any more intense stomach pains. God is so good.

I've been reflecting on Philippians 4:3 “I ask you my loyal companion, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel”

The word struggle is what stands out. A lot of people have been thanking me for my struggles here, but even after the lack of water or poor health, I am not struggling. I'm not living in the bush, but rather a town with a food market and medical care. I can afford medical care. So many of the Acholi people that I work with or interact with in town are literally struggling to survive. When we don't have enough work for our ladies, they don't get the income for the month that is necessary for the livelihoods of their families. I'm thankful for the distinction and clarification from God. I am seeing what to struggle looks like. My tiniest fraction of hardship here has giving me so much more understanding for what Philippians 4:3 means. Shared understanding of struggle in the Acholi culture is key. As a people they are relationship based - "helping" them looks completely different than our American egos tend to depict - we are to stand with them during the hard times...enduring the same hardships...forgoing luxuries or what's comfortable. This last month and half has been much harder on me than I anticipated, but the blessings that the Lord is providing are incredible. He is so faithful.

 

Certainly Africa doesn't need me...but I wouldn't be who I am without Africa. 

Showers are Heaven

Thank you to all of you who prayed that the city would start pumping water again. We got some water yesterday, and I was able to finally shower. It really is amazing what we take for granted.
I am mentally feeling better, but physically am struggling with very intense stomach ulcers and sun poisoning. I am staying hydrated and trying to keep food down. I was supposed to go by bus down to Kampala tomorrow, but if this pain persists then I'll be making a visit at Gulu Independent Hospital instead. I was talking with a group of missionary friends this morning and the only other cause of stomach pain is worms...which I could of gotten from anywhere. I will try to keep the updates coming. Thank you for your prayers!

Much love,
Lauren

No Water

Hi Friends,

Please be in prayer. We have not had water at our compound since Friday. The government regulates when the power and water are turned on and off. It's really been a hard adjustment for me. I can live without power, but no water is taking a toil. That means no running water for showers, cooking, and no flushing of the toilets (if we have to go to the bathroom, we have to go behind the house.) We are able to access a well that is 200yds down the road. We've been filling up jerrycans and bringing them back in order to cook with or use for bucket showers (please note that we don't have cars here..we walk.) I wanted to share this with you because this situation is normal here. If you read BBC news, you'll see that there's a major drought going on in East Africa. Uganda is not been affected as we are in our rainy season until October.  But come dry season, there is always the reality of a drought. Please pray for the farmers here to have a surplus of crops and rain water that keeps our wells full. I am thankful that the Lord is allowing me to experience this discomfort. Our ladies at One Mango Tree live hard lives; I'm grateful to experience a struggle that they deal with daily.

Much love,
Lauren

Here are some pics from my boda drive this weekend. It will also provide some perspective for the landscape here.