The Pearl, & His Raw & Flawless Choreography

Snow capped mountains... emerald hills... misty forests, and deep crystal clear lakes - these, some of the reasons Uganda is known as, "The Pearl of Africa".  

I'm also captivated by this 'red dirt' anyone who's seen it, seems enamored with & forever changed by.

God truly put Africa on my heart years ago.  

When I was in high school, and the internet was new (YIKES!), I remember searching for "Africa", and "missions".  

And then in college, I'd think about how, with a nursing degree, perhaps I'd have additional reason to travel there - something to offer.  

When I worked nights at my first job as an RN, and all my patients were sleeping, I was back to Googling for mission trips to Africa. 

While visiting a bestie in Indiana over the winter, I learned from her, about Katie Davis, and Trades of Hope.  This absolutely rekindled any fizzling ember.

Katie, so very wise beyond her years, truly understands that God chooses regular people to carry out His will. It isn't because some people are more qualified... it's because they are willing to listen, regardless of circumstances and their own desires, acting on God's call for their own life. 

Katie traveled to Jinja, Uganda (against her family's desires, understandably), when just 18 years old.  She was to be a Kindergarten teacher there for one year... but she stayed.  She eventually adopted 14 Ugandan girls as her own; her story is beyond effective summarization, here. It's THE most incredibly inspiring story and testament to the endless possibilities that flourish, in obedience to God's plan for one's life. She so eloquently describes how when in UG, she could see how through a person's pain and suffering, and never having known real love of a parent or anyone else, these people could not fathom Jesus' vast and unconditional love for them.  It was through caring for their physical and emotional needs, that the gospel was able to flood in.  For the first time, these precious people could begin to understand Christ's enormous love for them, and grow in this truth. 

Please.  Read it: "Kisses from Katie" 

Eventually, 14 orphan girls became Katie's daughters!  They all remain together, in UG.

 I've been searching for quite some time, then, for a way to provide healthcare, and share the gospel, all at once - just a whole lotta' love coming straight at those who need it most, answering His call on my life. 

I just can't imagine what else could possibly be more gratifying or edifying than to nourish both body and soul, giving all glory to Him!

Last fall, it looked as though there were a possibility being presented.  The WELS Central Africa Medical Mission was looking to hire a nurse for its mobile clinic in Malawi.  Several conversations ensued with the "right person" leading this effort.  In the end, it wasn't the right time or opportunity for me or our family, and truthfully, I started to wonder when it would be.

I began praying harder than ever, nearly every day.  "Please show me how I can do this.  I think this is what You want.  If it is, please show me an opportunity.  Open a door, and I promise to pay attention." 

It's pretty indescribable, then, to explain how it feels recently, as God's perfect timing  finally seems to have begun revealing itself.

Facebook, though a time-suck, really can be such a friend, too.  My dear friend, Nicole, who I met while we were both nurses at Wausau Aspirus Hospital circa 2002ish, posted about a potential trip to... Uganda. This trip is scheduled for June 2015.  Nicole's good friend, Christy has been there 3 times and is planning a trip next summer! (She also adopted a little boy from Arise & Shine Babies' Home in Jinja, last year.) Did I mention that Nicole and her beautiful family live just two hours west of where we will live in Arkansas? :)

This appears to be... IT - the most unbelievable chance to follow God's lead. Christy's experience in the country and with its beautiful, joyful people, translates into a maximized itinerary packed full of opportunity to serve Him. So blessed by them, am I! 

Tony's not one to argue with God's faultless script.(Plus, he's fully aware of my passion about this.) However, I think my husband may still feel I've lost my mind at this point. His wife is becoming even more obsessed with the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Ugandan orphans, as we prepare our family to move out of state in the upcoming weeks. Um... What can I say?!? I am hanging on for this ride. I'm so grateful that even if he thinks I've lost it, he isn't saying so. :)  He even watched these videos with me tonight. 

The first video, on the left, features Arise & Shine's director, Sharon, giving a description of the work done at Arise & Shine, and the help that is so badly needed.

http://www.thearchibaldproject.com/videos-2/ 

Along with serving at Arise & Shine, other potential organizations on the itinerary are Project Hope Worldwide, and Amazima Ministeries (Katie Davis' org). Planned also, is time at Sharon Nyanjura's village. (Sharon is Arise & Shine's director.)

In this village, women in Uganda have learned beading (like the ones above, made of many layers of recycled magazines)and tailoring as a means for a sustainable income.  Their projects are so beautiful.  Christy has been able to bring back much of it back to the states, selling it, and sending back 100% of the profits to Arise & Shine! 

Please check out her facebook page, Ugandan Bags and Beads, for unbelievable, one-of-a-kind, jewelry! https://www.facebook.com/UgandaBagsAndBeadsForSale

One more organization we hope to serve while there, is Sole Hope.  The jigger problem in Uganda is awful, claiming lives and so very much needless suffering. (Google 'jigger', if you need to.)  Then, please watch this video:

http://www.solehope.org/pages/video-gallery

I hope to have a shoe-making party soon, having ordered my kit tonight. :)  Blue jeans are cut into shapes which are eventually used to make shoes. More info here: http://solehopeparty.org/ 

The jigger problem can be avoided simply by wearing shoes...

The MOST amazing thing about helping these orphans with jigger infestation, is this:  They feel that the jiggers are a witchcraft curse.  By reducing and/or eliminating the jigger problem, they realize that it is NOT witchcraft. And thus, a door to the gospel has  swung wide open. 

There should be a bigger word than amazing... or incredible... God is more than it all.  The more I visualize how a stumbling sinner like me could carry out God's will in this way, the more I see just how very big our Mighty God is.

Love Your Story

We were surprised when we arrived home from church and Father's Day lunch today, to find the For Sale sign in our yard, finally up!  The listing went live this week, but we'd been awaiting this symbol of finality.  The kids were all excited to see this, and we are so thankful that they remain optimistic about our move!

In about 2 weeks, Tony and I will travel down to Arkansas for a concentrated effort in house-hunting.  He's been there several times; I can't WAIT to see it! We hope to find a home to put in an offer on, while we are there.  Kimberly-Clark has us set up with a relocation consultant/realty agent to help us with this.

Lately lots of little "I'm gonna miss that..." tidbits have been popping into my head.  Here's a list to include things that I'll likely pine for, once we leave Wisconsin.  

Random Things I Will Miss 

(in no particular order):

our rose bush

It blooms every June, in the 1st or 2nd week of the month, oftentimes coinciding with the beginning of Summer School that the kids have enjoyed during several summers.  It seems to be a sign of the natural flow into warmer weather, every year.   

Pullmans' Pizzalad 

Enough said.

the multitude of parks in Appleton

Ava's Orthodontist  

Will this screw up the financing?? But people move all the time... right...??

breakfast with besties at The Golden Basket

teaching pre-k Sunday School

The things we will miss, in no way - big or small, compare to the heartache we'll have, over the people we will miss, of course! I'm not sure I have even an inkling of where I'd begin with that.  Family.  Our church family! Best friends... family friends... the kids' friends... for Heaven's sake, the slightly-more-than-a-little-goofy Appleton Public Children's Librarian even makes the list!  We've been here since March 2006 and so many have impacted and influenced our lives, helping shape Our Story.  

It's sort of unfathomable at this early stage in the relocation to imagine daily life without any of... you.  

On the family note, I could mention that it's so appreciated to be getting so much support in this transition from those closest to us, especially when I know they're lying through their teeth, er, our group texts/move updates. Ahem. Carrie.  Mom.  Tip: a thousand exclamation points and several smileys actually negate the very enthusiasm you are aiming to portray.  As I said, though, appreciated - and adorable. Muah.

Things I'm Looking Forward To 

(also in no particular ordrer):

meeting new people and learning about a new and different-than-I'm-familiar-with corner of His beautiful creation

first floor laundry and a working dryer!

Our dryer broke in March, but we are waiting to buy a washer/dryer set until the move.

exploring the Ozarks 

and everything else possible

meeting a new church family and looking for ways to serve in a new place

being close (less than 2hrs) to Nicole and her family, and also Wendy and her family (less than 3 hours)!

balmy trick-or-treating and warm winters

encouraging and developing in the kids, a lasting sense of adventure and the development of interpersonal skills - skills that will be necessary to flourish in a new environment

In my pensiveness, I'm so sharply and repeatedly reminded that it's sooo not about the house... or the things... or even the people.  It's not really even about the leaving!  

What it is about, is the changing... a plot twist in the story - Our Story. 

Our Story is changing, and no matter how good or bad, or in-between that seems, as creatures of habit, it can really drive some internal chaos.

So, I'm working on simplicity, always; continually trying to keep my focus on maximizing daily, family living in the heart of all of the unsettling. Father's Day was wrapped up in a kids vs mom and dad soccer game at Patriot Park, ending JUST before the brief thunderstorm rolled in.

Through both the musings & waterworks of uncertainty, and the thoughts & tears of excitement, it's so comforting and grounding to hold fast to our Author in these days!  Here, or there, we will love Our Story, because it's already been written, for our good.  

Our hearts are eager to see what's in store in the next several hundred pages.

Live Once. Value Everything.

  

This week, brought to you by... Prednisone.  It's the sad truth.  I still have an unimaginable time wrapping my head around the idea that I can "overdo it" with the pathetic amount of "activity" I do manage to get.

Recently, we were hiking 3 days in a row, and on day 2, we hiked a ways off-trail, where it was quite steep, and I also had Garmin pulling me every which way.  The next day I was experiencing nearly unbearable sciatica down through my big toe, and a burning knife sensation to my lateral thigh. I also noticed a swollen and painful buldge of muscle spasms on the outside of the right side of my spine. (The scratch and lines are from a was-just-there ice pack.)

 All symptoms pointed toward an angry, inflamed, bulging L5/S1.  

After ice and Motrin failed me, I succumbed to the Ortho appt for some Prednisone, which always improves things about 80%!  Of course, this is only a very temporary fix, BUT enough to get me through this week of getting the house ready to list for sale.  Sold.

I'm intent on continuing with Our Life, while we prepare to move.  We have so much to do to get this old house ready, but it's so important to me that we keep busy doing life at the same time. After all, Summer 2014 will only go around once.

The ol' cards in the spokes trick to replicate the
sounds of a motorcycle...

art

keepin' it real
It was extra challenging this week, with Tony away on his annual KC mill tour. His schedule of travel and work sounds exhausting... a new location each day - Utah, Texas, Georgia.

So, I'm about to get real with the way I handled meals this week.  Well, there weren't any. No dinners, anyway... breakfast and lunch carried on as usual. (I mean, I'm not a total animal.)  I typically run my dishwasher twice a day, and currently, it hasn't been turned on since Tuesday.  I opted for the over-fed, and under-nourished option allll week, of eating on the fly for dinner.  This mama was not cooking. Something had to give.  The pros? I painted, packed, organized and sorted through the dinner hour every night. (Is that a 'pro?') Last night, the kids couldn't even agree on a place to eat dinner.  Not one. Well, it was ok - after all, my master plan with this, all along was to rid them of absolutely any desire, whatsover, for fast food.  Right. Mission: Accomplished, I guess.  

Our realtor came today, to take measurements of all of the rooms and take pictures.  It is hardly a stretch to say that I have been working night and day on all that needs to be done, in order to be ready. Patching and painting, cleaning and scrubbing, and much more that I'm sure I've already repressed.  Shower and bed at 1am, and do it all again :) And it's been an eerie week...  I have picked up a few extra hours at work, as another nurse is on vacay.  Also, Ava started a babysitting job for a neighbor.  I had to call a cease-fire on schedules only once, and postpone S's guitar lesson.  Other than that, we were rolling with it; lots of snuggles (S awaits in my bed tonight!), friends and sleepovers.  And lots and lots of grace in the madness.

Time was well-spent with sweet friends we will miss so!  It's been great for Ava to have a friend who is also making a move out of state this summer!

As it stands right now, all of what remains, in material of this life we've had for the past 8 years here, is painted over, and packed up in bins.  It was freeing and tear-jerking all at once to close this chapter; taking down pictures of the tiny, adventurous kids who grew up in this old house.  Chubby Soren, Chatty Ava, and Sweet, SO Sweet and Smiley Gressa.  First steps and words...tandem diaper changes... these walls hold it all.  It's the only place G's ever called home, which was painfully obvious as she climbed into bed one night.

"Mama...?  Will someone live in our house while we are away in Arkansas?"

"Well, yes.  Someone will buy our house," I said, gently.

But... then how will we stay here when we come back to visit, and when we move back in two years?" 

Aw.  Eyes.  Stinging.  She just can't imagine home being anywhere else but here.

After she became teary, I replied, "Gressa, you know what's special about this house?"

"What, mama?" 

"What's special about this house, is the people we share it with, not the house itself.  It's the memories and the good times.  And those will not stop; they will go with us wherever we live."

Relief on the girl's face. 

Thank you, Jesus for your speedy guidance on that one. 

Tonight, I rest... and unwind and reflect with a little J. Vineyard Pinot Gris.  What sweet joy.  This week literally flash-flooded with blessings.  They rushed in, from every direction.  Every time I answered a call, or a text, or even opened the door, a friend was there helping with kind words or favors (including the extremely well-timed gift of J wine.) All of these divine gifts, made this week incredibly easier. 

I'm so intensely grateful for it all. 

My current rendezvous with Prednisone is about to expire... I am going to give Zyflamend a try.  The ingredients of anti-inflammatory Chinese herbs (mainly ginger and tumeric) sound hopeful. We'll see.

Rough day at the Tailwagger's pond
for this guy. 

Live Once.  Value Everything.