100 Christmas Dollies Delivered

All 100 dollies fit easily into the big black bag, except for the one who demanded to peek out as we traveled. Merry Christmas to Henry, my favorite boda-boda driver at home, who picked us up and delivered us safely to Entebbe Road. The various taxi drivers thought sticking the precious cargo in the boot was the best way for them to travel. I held my breath on their behalf – dust and fumes abound in that part of the vehicle.

After meeting up with Vickie at the Gayaza stage, we headed out toward Namavundu. Charlie’s wife, one of the Life in Africa group leaders, and a few neighbor friends carried the big black bag as curious children began tagging along behind. We parked ourselves at the market center and the older girls helped distribute the dollies. Vickie was in charge of photos and she did a good job given that she’d never taken photos before, though the children weren’t interested in hanging around for pictures. I’m so sorry we didn’t get pictures of each and every child so that you could find your dolly. So very sorry. Very sorry.

Take a look at these adorable faces. The children were tickled. We had just enough dollies for the children in the area. They seemed to understand that when they were gone, they were gone. I can’t wait to return to see the dollies life after Christmas.

A HUGE thank you to every person who sponsored a dolly to make this Christmas event a success and to ensure skill training could continue in the small village of Namavundu.

Read more »

A Dolly for Diana from Sue

Kansanga Miracle Center had a thanksgiving celebration on December 20^th. My second year at this Christmas program was just as rewarding as the first. Vickie manages to get me a super-VIP seat and the meal is always delicious. This woman of God is always faithfully serving her church and the various outreaches they hold. I’m so thankful for her.

Just inside the balcony door I found my white plastic chair. The choir at this church is amazing so I had a premium view. While waiting, little Diana and her shock of hair caught my eye. She wasn’t sure about greeting me but eventually gained the courage. She was rewarded with a dolly whose head peaked out the top of my big black bag. The smile spread wide across her face and her maama was so surprised.

Upside down the dolly went as Diana checked under the dress. She took of the name card and put it back on about three times…just testing the working parts. Bows, ribbons, buttons…each detail poured over with the care of a true mother.

Vickie found me in that balcony and escorted me to the fourth row in the front and the worship began. Bye-bye Diana and hello singing and dancing and praise. Thank you, Jesus, for a little bit of normal home’ish Christmas programs with a whole lotta power!

Read more »

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Oyam North

Pastor Fred, a Ugandan, was very interested in the history of Oyam North given that this was Joseph Kony’s territory. The Lord’s Resistance Army was very active in this area just five short years ago and we heard from two men who lived through his reign up close and personal.

Pastor Patrick and brothter Orville

Pastor Patrick went to primary school with Kony and described him as "a very humble boy." His boyhood home was just nearby. This is supposedly why he returned to Lira to inflict his regime…because he was familiar with the area. Pastor Patrick recalled Kony and his men marching in down the street in front of his house on a regular basis. He said scouts would spread the word that they were coming and families would take off for the bush before they arrived. Sometimes Kony would find out they were alerted and put spies in the bush to kill those who ran from their homes. Luckily, Pastor and his family were spared. So many families lived in IDP camps at some point or another, and Pastor’s family was no exception.

Pastor’s brother, Orville, told the story of his capture. Honestly, I have a hard time not likening this story to a traumatic memory of an Auschwitz survivor’s story told when I was in about the seventh grade. I just shut some of the details out. None the less, Orville’s story went on until he said they let him go by some freak mistake (we call that a God thing).

Today absolute peace reigns this area and as Pastor Fred and I walked these roads we prayed that God’s angels would continue to stand guard on their behalf.

Read more »

Rat Maama

A thin matt covered a raised table, a table whose legs were each balancing on some object so as to produce the illusion of levelness. What must have been a fishing net was draped over that table as a makeshift mosquito net. Its holes were big enough to allow a bat easy clearance. Luckily, mosquitoes were few in this long-ago sprayed village. When I stay with pastors in the village, they inevitably comment on their appreciation for my willingness to stay with them and like them when I come. I don’t expect special treatment and I don’t look for the nearest motel. Undoubtedly they do treat me special by giving me the very best they have to offer (a pillow, a mattress, a net), but I do my very best to accept their accommodation with grace.

As I lay my head down after the very, very long day of travel and quickly drifted off, I heard a rustling that brought all my senses to high alert. In the far corner, yet only about four feet away, stood a shelving structure and somewhere deep within that structure a rustling emerged. “It’s okay, it’s four feet away…as long as it stays there and doesn’t come here…I’ll be okay,” I reasoned. Plus, Pastor’s wife and daughter in law were sleeping on a mat on the floor in the adjoining room and my logic was that any hungry creature would surely eat them first due to ease of access. How nice of me to volunteer their sacrifice before my own. Grace went out the window.

I made it through that first night with about an hour of sleep but the creature also seemed to keep its distance. I said nothing. The second night, though, that creature…most surely a rat…was aggressive. Everyone says they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. Surely they’ve not seen that one movie where the rat eats the feet of the guy who is sleeping…he’s a Mormon missionary. You know the one? Right, so this rat is most definitely bothering me by climbing the edge of my bed frame every time I doze off. A loud “psst” keeps it away temporarily. No sleep for me. Doesn’t it know there’s a room full of ladies next door just laying on the floor and ready for it? Still, I said nothing.

The third night…about 30 seconds after the flashlight went out that rat was on the move. It was aiming for my head and I just couldn’t keep quiet any longer. I am after all a girl and an American girl at that. I felt horrible…HORRIBLE…for complaining about something that was part of their everyday lives and something they had absolutely no way to control. But I was not going to sleep…ever again.

Pastor Patrick came in with a big stick and made lots of noise, after which I was sure the rat would return. During the process of digging, he came across a box of now shredded theology books and five newborn baby rats. Ahhh – night one maama gave birth. Nights two and three – maama was protecting her babies for the crazy woman shouting “psst” all the time. Out the babies went under the close watch of puss-puss. Surely maama rat would follow…surely. But no, she spent most of the night running all around looking for her babies and very likely blaming me thus plotting to eat the bottoms of my feet at her first chance. I kept quiet.

The last night was more of the same but a far less aggressive rat maama. Luckily we had to be up early to catch the boda to the stage whose taxi never came. Honestly, I do try really hard and I feel like such a failure when I complain. Why should my living conditions be any different than theirs?

Read more »

The Jesus Film in Lango

Remember the Proclaimer that I delivered to Karamoja? The audio Bible in Karamajong? Pastor Patrick reported that this tool has been amazingly helpful to Pastor Martin who is the leader in the Nakapiritpirit church. Just like having the Bible in their own language, having the Jesus film in Lango for the people of Oyam North was just as valuable. When people can hear the story of Jesus in their own language their hearts are touched in a way that is different than any translation could provide.

This is only a tiny faction of all who showed up for film ministry.

Every night people lined up at the door asking when the film would begin, disappointed that we weren’t showing the film every night (the availability of petro was limited). The first night, a little old lady dropped her two coins on a table and said that she wanted to be sure she contributed to making sure the film ministry happened. Felt a bit like the widow and her two mites.

The crowd was massive. Not only did the entertainment factor bring people for the film, but the message of Jesus and his sacrifice during this Christmas season was compelling. I will admit, though, that the people were laughing at certain points in the show where we were a bit perplexed. For example, I understand when they laugh because a man is showing his bare legs. That’s anti-cultural. But why laugh at the so many other inopportune moments. It’d be interesting to understand better so the film can be made appropriate for these different cultural groups.

Read more »

Lira Pastor's Workshop

The three day workshop filled Pastor Godfrey’s church with more than 50 pastors coming from all around Oyam North. People are spread out very far in this distant village so gathering 50 pastors is a sure sign that they’ve all traveled from very far away. I’m told it’s not uncommon for a pastor to ride his bicycle more than two hours one way to come to such an event.

We learned about using the assets God has given them in cooperative business, and not to be afraid or jealous in working together to maximize the benefits those assets can bring together. We learned about creating a strategy to get started, and how God is an orderly God so we need to follow his example by being planners. And we learned about making decisions in business using an ethics model for decision-making that very intentionally takes into account biblical principles when deciding which solution to take.

Each of these three topics was delivered on a separate day with lots of hands on practice and examples. Teaching the principles, using real-to-them examples, and then having them practice and apply the principles was a very successful teaching method. Best of all, they learned that they can follow the model I’d set up for them without me….they can do all this learning, collaborating, and implementation without me having to be present. I challenged them to do just that…act on what they learned. Surely the divine-human cooperation is essential in all aspects of this life.

The pastors were not disappointed. Their various expressions of appreciation echoed comments I’d heard before. They said things like “we’ve never had anyone teach us practical ways to incorporate Scripture into our everyday lives” and “we really learned some things that will help us right away tomorrow.” Their expressions of appreciation culminated in giving me a letter of endorsement signed by all the local leaders. Thank you, Jesus, for helping me bring teaching that is valuable to these pastors.

Read more »

Pastor Patrick's Home

Mud huts fill in the space that is a small part of Pastor Patrick’s land. A few for sleeping, for cooking, for storage, and the like. A half circle made up the bathing area while cows, children, chickens, and the occasional adult meandered past…while I was bathing. The grass thatch holds up surprisingly well against the occasional pouring rain. Though, this church collapsed during the last big wind and rain storm (“big” being relative). Church members now meet under a tree.

The women work all day long preparing meals for the visitors, meals the size of mountains that no right-minded muzungu could even begin to finish on his or her own. They kindly ensure I have the only fork in the village for each meal. Standard Ugandan fare often includes several of the following: cassava, rice, pocho, beans, greens, peas, g-nut sauce, beef, chicken, and goat. While I do actually like traditional Ugandan food, the fact that it goes in looking the same as it comes out plays with my mental faculties just a bit.

I am truly honored that, although this is a cultural norm, these women would slave over all they do to ensure visitors are well cared for. I was never a very good American wife in the traditional sense – a fact made known before I got married – and I’m quite sure I would fail miserably as a Ugandan wife in the traditional sense as well. I can only stand with my mouth agape as these ladies work tirelessly and endlessly in service to us. Bless them in abundance, Jesus.

Read more »

A Dress for Prisca from Kathleen

Clear snot ran down Prisca’s beautiful tiny lip. She cried…a lot. It wasn’t a whiney cry but an “I don’t feel good” cry. When extending my hands making the American “do you want me to pick you up” gesture, she was quite relieved. Children in Uganda don’t get coddled or cuddled much after they learn to walk – surely a crime somewhere. She snuggled up with her tiny black head on my shoulder and settled in. This happened several times throughout the visit (sometimes my job is so rough). Whereas the other children wanted to touch my white skin and run away, Prisca wanted to be up close and personal.

The final workshop morning, I sat in my blue plastic chair watching the day come into fullness. Prisca found her way to me and climbed up. As usual, the Holy Spirit highlights these kinds of children just especially for me. We walked hand in hand into my room to change her into her new girly dress (a perfect fit) and then back to the blue chair. Immediately after sitting down, Prisca sneezed. I felt it on my arm and wiped it away, with only a slight wince, like any mother would. Then Pastor Fred pointed out that “a little got on my blouse,” trying hard to be tactful and kind without wiping at the new problem. Yes, Prisca sneezed and I’m pretty sure every ounce of snot in her entire head was now spread all over my left…um…side. There would be no wiping this up. This was a shirt changer. Good thing I choose mix and match clothing when I go to the village.

The evening of the new dress was also film ministry evening and once again, in the blackness of night, Prisca found her way to my lap while the film played. Ya, gotta love God for kids like this. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Click here if you’d like to sponsor a dress for a girly too. The money is used to provide startup supplies to tailoring training graduates in Kamuli.

Read more »

FedEx Delivers 100 Christmas Dollies

Sopping wet is the best way to describe the giant box the FedEx man delivered…at 11:30 pm. The 7:00 pm delivery time…well, this is Africa. So thankful I suggested that Liz put the dollies in bags before shipping…just in case they get wet! Though they had to hold their breath for a couple weeks, these girls and boys were dry as a bone and ready to play. They scootched their way out of their plastic home and danced with joy at reaching Uganda safely.

After a bit of wild energy, each dolly marched to his or her place on the sofa to be accounted for. 76 dollies sponsored….check. 76 girls and boys excitedly waiting for his or her new maama or taata…check. 76 girls and boys staring across the abyss wondering what will happen to their 24 unsponsored brothers and sisters…sniffle, check.

Sponsored Dollies

The 24 remaining dollies looked back at their family with smiles. They were so thankful these siblings would soon have a new home. They danced with joy and displayed their best and brightest faces with a last minute hope for a surprise adoption so that they can join the rest of their family on Christmas day. All it takes is $25 tax deductible donation and one dolly can move to the other side. If you’d like to help a dolly join her family in gift giving on Christmas day in Namavundu, Uganda, click here to make your donation. Give a meaningful gift to someone you love just in time for Christmas.

Our goal was 100 Christmas Dollies, will you help?



Choose the dolly who is calling your name and I'll put your name on her wrist.



Read more »

Traveling to and from Oyam North

“You’re early,” said the traffic policeman. Since when is anything in Uganda early? Pastor Fred and I arrived in the bus park before 7:00 am and the first bus was just leaving. In less than an hour our bus was full and off we went. Just outside Kampala the traffic police were somehow doing their job when they stopped us. Because the bus wasn’t scheduled to depart until 11:00, though it was full of waiting passengers, the traffic police would not allow us to pass.

Sitting in the Engen parking lot for the next three hours, we roasted and waited. Past 11:00? We thought a reminder for the driver might be in order…and it was. He’d lost himself in phone charging, snacking, and otherwise chatting with his conductor co-workers. Off we set once again with no real delays. We reached the Lira bus/taxi park without a problem. Pastor Patrick’s smiling face was waiting for us before we even stepped off the bus.

Then…the news that the one and only taxi leaving for Oyam North had left us behind because of the bus delay. Sigh. The only way to get to Pastor’s house was to hire a car, which cost about five times the cost of a taxi. What choice did we have? Our program began the next day and we could not stay overnight and hope for an early morning departure…the taxi had a schedule to keep.

That car for hire was a low riding Toyota and that driver was nothing short of a speedster. We flew over trenches and gullies knocking our heads on the ceiling no fewer than a dozen times. Once we arrived, the driver decided that he wanted more money than original agreed upon. The muzungu factor was a hot topic the whole week – they don’t get many muzungu way out there (and we’re not even called muzungu in Lango territory).

We skip over the three day conference and move to the 6:00 am departure from Pastor Patrick’s house. A boda man took both Pastor Fred and I to the side of the road where we were most likely to find the one and only taxi. A 30 minute wait and the man suggested we move a little closer to the trading center, where we learned that the taxi went to Gulu today rather than Oyam. Sigh, again. For the next three hours we three rode on one boda all the way to the main road in Lira.

The bus was just pulling out so we hopped on the next bus for the two and a half hour wait. Once we left, the roads were good. The roads in the west are paved and clear and many tractor-trailers take advantage of that by barreling down that road…okay, everyone takes advantage of speed on the good roads. No fewer than six serious accidents with big vehicles later – one of which required us to disembark and walk around the accident so the bus could drive on the soft sholder without tipping over – we came across this overturned bus. Only minor injuries but I learned that the driver took off running…he had to. Regardless of whose fault the accident was – most passengers pointed at the truck driver and not the bus driver – the bus driver was likely to be killed for the accident. Can you imagine?

Just 16 hours after departing that morning for what should have been a seven-hour journey and nine short hours after departing Lira town – given the driver’s desire to stop and say hello to every traffic police man, to stop at every roadside market for food vendors, to stop at every accident, to stop at every petrol station with a short call, and nighttime traffic in Kampala…we made it to town in the pitch black Christmas season of Kampala. Another two hours later I arrived safely at home.

Read more »

Life in Africa Launch Party

Lots of young people preparing to learn their new skill.

A bright orange tarp spanned the distance between Charlie’s house and the structure next door. The tarp provided much needed shade for those who gather each day to learn their new trade skill. Below the orange cover another white tarp spread over the steep sloping hill. Today, that tarp would be covered with children and chickens sliding down the slippery surface.

The leaders of the Life in Africa group gathered to prepare and serve a launch meal. We’d intended the meal as a Christmas celebration, but the group felt that such plans would interfere with their family travel plans for the holiday. Matoke, rice, irish potatoes, and beef covered every inch of every plate…piled high as is the Ugandan tradition. Preparing such a meal is an all day affair, and like an American Thanksgiving, gone in minutes.

Tailoring teacher, Carol, and her baby.

I delivered a message about the surprise of the Living Hope in 1 Peter 1:3-4. We talked about how Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth but that even before he was born his purpose was to conquer death. Using that example of single-minded purpose, I encouraged the men and women here to be dedicated to their learning throughout the program because of the potential their efforts have to change their communities. Various religions were represented here and all were attentive to the message of hope.

The program was officially launched and, though they’d been together for two weeks already, the number continues to grow. I’ll plan to return bi-weekly to deliver a biblical message along with a biblically-based business teaching to go along with their skills training. I look forward to getting to know them all more personally so that we can pray together and develop a rapport that reaches a bit more deeply than my service as a figure head.

Read more »

Light Academy End of Year Celebration

The children of Light Academy finished their school year well. The Academy is under the care of Shared Hope for Orphans and can boast some wonderful changes over this past year including an increase in enrollment due to parents demanding that their children attend this simple, wood-sided school. The school stands in financially for those families with only one living parent, which makes a large majority of students. Through this act, they show their compassion for the children.



25 Mosquito Nets Donated for the Chidren in Boarding School



As with any good celebration, the local chairman was on hand to officially open the event. No event can take place without his sanction and he was quite happy to do so on this special day. Other guests of honor included the mayor, various local leaders, the pastor, and somehow I made that list. Children danced and sang as onlookers gave small coins to acknowledge them. The teachers, when introduced, jested good-naturedly and the children had fun with them as well.

By the time the celebration was nearly complete, every chair was packed with parents and other well wishers. The whole community came dressed in their Sunday best to encourage the school and to share a meal. I’m so very proud of this organization and their care for these children as well as for the orphans to whom they provide a free education, housing, food, and other needs. What an excellent model of what it means to love your neighbor.

Read more »

Bugembe Prison Self-Sustainability

Fifty or so men packed themselves into the tiny chapel inside Bugembe Prison to hear what the visitors had to say. These men continue to weigh on my heart. Man after man testifies about the fellowship they find in this place, which is nothing short of amazing. It’s no surprise they find the love of Jesus here.

Today, purely by God’s divine purpose, Pastor Fred joined Carpenter John and me. And with him, Gideon, a former prisoner now pastor. Each of us took a short time to deliver a message and the way they coalesced was beautiful, though we’d not spoken about our messages in advance.

I taught about Jesus as the shepherd and how the sheep know the voice of their shepherd. We likened the parable to children knowing the voice of their parents and parents knowing the voice of their children. Pastor Fred taught about Jesus as being the Way and connected to my teaching by saying that if we hear the shepherd’s voice we ought to follow him because he is the Way. Pastor Gideon talked about how following his voice leads you away from the old life and into new life with him. He used his personal testimony to illustrate the redeeming sacrifice of the Shepherd for his sheep. Oh my, it was awesome!

A quick check in on the skills development projects revealed a few wonderful surprises. First, they’ve added agriculture to the projects. Now – inside this cement fortress – maize, cassava, and various other food life can be found growing in sacks of dirt. The men will no longer eat grits only but their diet will be supplemented with healthy foods as their skills are supplemented with subsistence farming techniques. Further, alongside the many other skills the men are learning, Geoffrey the tailor proudly displayed the products the students made. They’ve all done an excellent job. My goodness I’m so thankful for them.

Carpenter John proceeded to give me the list of things they need to continue the program. I briefly discussed the value of these programs with him in that they now make products for the market that can be sold and then the money used to purchase those very needed items. Self-sufficiency. Of course, it’ll take work on John’s part, but I believe he can easily be the conduit to this program so that our financial aid is no longer needed. Please pray with me that he is motivated, encouraged, and successful in finding a market for these and any other products the tailors make. Amen.

Read more »

Maga Tailoring School

Paper clothing of various shapes, sizes, and designs lined the walls of this small but adequate tailoring classroom. Ten sewing machines older than the hills steadily produced neat little stitches. Ten ladies at various stages of learning sat diligently working at their workstations; some cutting fabric, some sewing papers, some drawing.

Maga Tailoring School was opened about a dozen years ago and was said to flourish under its original owner. As is not uncommon, the school struggles a bit more now that the woman with a passion for this business has passed away. While others may indeed love their work in developing this business, there’s nothing like the dedication of the founder to thrive any organization.

Initially the students were a bit resistant to the idea that they were going to learn anything about business, after all…they’d paid to learn about tailoring. We began by talking about developing a business concept that does two things: meets a customer need (or two), and somehow distinguishes their product and service from all the other tailors. Keep in mind that all these ladies can see in front of them is learning a skill to earn money for their family. Thinking beyond this basic need is quite foreign. We talked about what might have happened if God would have simply plunked a few random things he created down somewhere in the universe, what if he hadn’t had a bigger plan in mind. The ladies started to see the purpose of planning a bit more clearly.

By the time the teaching was finished, the ladies and the director were full of questions, ideas, and suggestions. I challenged them to continue thinking about their business concept all the while they learn tailoring and promised to return if they wanted to know more. I simply love watching the doors open and the blinders come off. Thank you, Jesus.

Read more »