Baby Steps

The last few months have been busy with new steps in ministry and family. We recently returned from a trip to Kampala to meet a lawyer and continue working on the legal adoption process for Stephen. He has set up some more paperwork for us to complete and more knowledge on the complete process. We have set January as our deadline goal for an official High Court date in Kampala to acquire legal guardianship. Once that is finished we will be able to travel internationally with our beautiful ebony angel. It is comforting to know we have an experienced professional alongside us through this process. Crystal has also started a new step in Asher's life. Each week they are going through a 'school' session where he learns a shape/color, number, letter and vocab word. Asher loves to expand his mind.

In ministry, things came together to build an ABIDE Home at Juna Amagara Ministries just next to the children’s home. It has been an exciting new step and we started a few weeks ago with a little bit of money. I added more funds from a gift that came through my mom as an inheritance from her mother. All the previous students have been able to come and help in the construction. Each day we hold Bible devotions with all the workers in the morning. As a superviser, the construction has kept me very busy. But we have stopped building because a lack of funds, but I am glad to not be burdened by construction for a while. However I will be contacting churches and friends in a fundraising effort called 10x10 to finish the home. You can pray for that.

Now that we have paused on building the home we are still working hard to prepare for the next ABIDE session in 2009. I have been visiting numerous churches, conferences and schools; meeting students and inviting selected high school graduates for the coming program. We have been receiving positive responses from students, churches as well as parents. One students name is Jonas. He has been a part of the Juna Amagara child sponsorship for a number of years. Jonas come from a rural area with a difficult childhood. As an only child, both of his parents were murdered before him. This has left visible emotional and academic scars. Juna Amagara has assited him to finish high school and now we are looking forward to having concentrated personal time to develop his future and process the past all through the love of Jesus Christ. We are expecting a fantastic group of students to form in Christian faith, character and leadership.

The OFF season

The ABIDE program ended in August as a complete success. We graduated the first five Ugandan students with a Certificate in Christian Leadership and Ministry. The gradual transformation in their lives was amazing. They became a family, founded on the Word of God, grace of Jesus Christ and empowering of the Holy Spirit. It was a priviledge to disciple the students and watch them grow in the LORD. We had a wonderful graduation ceremony and a Sunday service led fully by the ABIDE students. The ceremony was blessed by the presence of neighbors, family, friends, US visitors and Pastors. It was a bittersweet completion of the first program and sending the students into the world on fire for Christ.

We are now currently on the ABIDE off season. Much of the work will be to evaluate the pilot year, visit students at secondary schools and invite them for the the next year's program. We desire to construct our own ABIDE home at Juna Amagara Ministries before February 2009. It is also wonderful to have a more flexible schedule - spend time with family, preach in churches, schools and conferences, and prepare for next year.

At our home each Saturday you will find a collection of neighborhood children gathering with excitement. Slowly the numbers grow and they sit down in the front yard anxious for the show. We have started a fun new thing each week - movie at the Kehns! On the first night, around 40 kids came from the communtiy to watch Prince of Egypt. We heard them talking about the Bible story throughout the next week. We are showing a new film each Saturday to build relationships and share the message of love through Jesus Christ.

Reality Check

The life of a missionary is exciting and has unique challenges and blessings, but the reality is that my life doesn't differ greatly from any other mom in any part of the world. I'm not venturing into unchartered territory, so some days (even months) there is not much news to report. I change diapers; I entertain and teach with puzzles, books and flashcards, and then play with trucks and rattles; I make sure the boys are fed, and I clean the disasterous house when they are sleeping. Its the same virtually every day. But I'm doing what I love and am called to do... its just not the most thrilling thing for you to read about! However, we are thrilled by every little new skill, growth, and squeal of delight that exits either of our boys mouths. And it makes every moment of what I do worth it. We love our children, they are a blessing from the Lord.

Last week was a little out of the ordinary though, now that I think back on it. Sunday, we were returning from a weekend in Kishanje village with ABIDE. Monday, we hosted a team for dinner, mmm burgers. Tuesday night we went out for dinner with I think 12 people for a friend's birthday. Wednesday and Thursday were normal, except that I had to cancel hosting playgroup because Asher has a cold. Friday we hosted the ABIDE students for dinner. Saturday we held a goat roast at our house for all the Juna Amagara staff and their families. This Sunday, we went for a service at the ABIDE house watching them teach, preach and present for the last time, and then had a graduation ceremony for them. Um, can you say "Phew!?" I have hopes for tomorrow that the dust will begin settling! Ok, I guess my life is slightly different than your average mom around the world...