My last update was sent out on 3 September, I think. It was full of blessings and miracles and God’s favor on our lives. Within days the attack came with a vengeance. On 8 September I took one of my sons for a full blood work up because he has not been himself for a long while, tiring easily, no energy, little appetite. We all thought it was possibly trauma he didn’t want to talk about because there was nothing physically disturbing him. On that day I made a decision that something was not right. I went to two doctors and the second one caught it on 13 September, Rheumatoid Heart Disease where his Mitral valve had “severe MS”. A healthy heart valve is 2.50 centimeters. His was .08 cm. This is a critical valve and if we had not found it, he would have had a heart attack at some point. But God….
In the middle of all this one of my daughters who eventually needs hip surgery had a swollen wound appear near her groin and the MRI showed that where her skin had blistered open it was because there was so much water build up in her hip joint that it burst her skin, which we initially thought was a large infection as her pain was so great she couldn’t walk. So, one week we get the heart diagnosis, the next week the hip surgery, and the next week heart surgery, where the cardiology surgeon inflated a balloon in his heart valve to open it up. I went into fasting and all of us went into prayer and chose to believe God would do what He always does, everything good no matter how it all looked. We had an open microphone night and young kids were praying on the mic with tears lodged in their throats, crying for their brother and sister. We worshiped God and we believed. Both surgeries were a success. The heart doctor told my boy last week, “Go run, play football, be a boy!” and my girl is walking again without crutches and her doctor said there was no infection in the hip. Praise Jesus always.
Two days after all were home from the hospital, I received a summons to appear before the Land Commissioner as a neighbor filed a claim to dispute all 15 property owners on the 135 acre plot we are all on with our small 7 acre portion as part of it. It was a full week, every day going to Kampala, a three hour drive one way to get to where we needed to go, to meet with our lawyer, get documents certified, and driving back each night. I went to the land board in my district and found that our title doesn’t match what is registered. We now have to resurvey our land and fix what needs fixing. And we now await the Commissioner’s decision on this dispute which has been going on for over 20 years.
I also received news from home that one of my dear friends had passed on to glory from Covid. That same day my computer crashed. So did one of my college kid’s. I had to buy him a new one as they are only doing online studies. Last week one of my boys had to have surgery for a hernia in the groin.
I tell you, I have not pressed this close to God since our war years in South Sudan. The enemy will either shut one down and make one give up or he will cause one to run to the Father. I ran to the Father. I pulled our kids together in my darkest hour and told them that I need their help to fight this battle. No one can fight it alone. I told them that the best way to beat the enemy is to praise the Lord with shouting and dancing. I don’t know if I have ever heard these young ones sing so loud and sing like they meant it, clapping their hands like drums, ululating with their voices, shouting the name of Jesus. We were literally sweating when we finished. The enemy ran fast and far away.
In the midst of all of this our NGO Permit to Operate has been renewed for another five years! There are two Iris missionaries who are not attached to our base but are in our town doing what the Lord has called them to and we cheer them on. There are also two more who arrived and are officially with us for three years! And their baby of 10 months. So, we are all trying to get our work permits renewed and our first step with the first office was blocked and will hold up the entire process for months. This is not good as it will cause even more trips to Kampala to extend current visas and cost more money. We are still praying and believing in our miracle working God.
Everything that happened this month took a huge hit on our finances. We all know that this is the enemy’s favorite way to get a person to just give up. Attacking finances, health and family. Well, all of ours has been attacked yet we are still standing, full of hope, believing, and full of faith. Our faces are shining and not full of worry. Our hearts are joyful and not anxious. The Word is our food. I find myself right back in the book of Exodus.
Exodus 14:14. The Lord will fight for you and you will hold your peace!
Exodus 23:20. Behold I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared!
Isaiah 43:13. I work, and who can reverse it?
We put our faith in the word of the Lord and not in the world systems. One of my daughters wrote me a letter of encouragement that brought me to tears. It was so prophetic and so full of faith and life. This is my reward, that their faith will be in God always. Be encouraged every day by God’s promises and hold ever tightly to them.
Two days ago I was driving to town and I saw an old man walking along the road and a single sheep was following him. The man stopped and the sheep immediately stopped, immediately. The man continued and the sheep immediately followed. The man never once turned to the sheep to say anything. I was amazed at how the sheep refused to leave the man’s side, literally. That is how we are to follow our shepherd and He will surely lead us in the way we should go. This is the Way, walk in it. Peter said, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of life.”
On a lighter note, we got two German shepherd puppies right before all of this happened. I searched everywhere and could not find them cheaper than just short of $1,000 USD for both. We didn’t have the funds so I just could not get them. Then one morning in my very rare moments of free time, I was scanning the FB page for Uganda Expats and there I found a man who wanted to GIVE his away. Immediately, the next day we drove to Jinja which is beyond Kampala and met the most Jesus loving man ever. He couldn’t even talk about the Lord without his eyes watering up. He gave us two little girls whom we call Sabi (Arabic for friend) and Simba because the kids like that name. Sabi is really the friendliest puppy to the kids and Simba is fierce and loyal (and friendly). We love our new puppies.
I pray that we have a respite from any new attacks and that the Lord continues to meet all our needs according to His riches in glory. Malaria has been attacking us once again with four kids and a mama down at one time. Our three missionary houses are still being built and are fully funded, except for the plumbing, wiring and solar power, which will make them habitable. And that will finish our building project for some time.
We are now three bases big because we have our older girls in their own big rental house (23 of them) and our older boys in their own big rental house (22 of them). We also help support our other base in Kampala, Iris Oasis Campus where 15 young men who are university students live. And we help another orphanage with their baby milk program. And we support the District Abused Women’s and Children’s Shelter with all their food and hygiene needs. Never have we stopped giving, no matter what our bank account balance shows. As soon as we give, the Lord gives back. We give because He gave and it’s who we are in Christ. My friend who is a missionary in Congo laughed with me because both of us are saying, “We are still here!”. Even through every storm, we are still here and we are not quitting. Amen my friend!
May the Lord continue bless you and yours with good health and may He meet all your needs.