I have just arrived back in Uganda this week and am so happy to be home. I was only supposed to be in America for seven weeks when suddenly I found myself with a dislocated with multiple fractures ankle that required extensive surgery. This delayed my trip back to Africa. All through my time of being alone day after day, immobile, I praised the Lord that I finally had some rest. This was my first real time of rest in nine years and I savored every minute of it.

Here in Uganda and in America, while being laid up, we have been so very busy still getting all of our documents in order in our new country. It’s exhausting and tedious administrative work which needs doing in order for us to be legal in every respect. At every turn we find there are more fees and taxes to pay, not at all unlike America. These are all good things that protect worker’s rights and children’s rights. It is just a time consuming and expensive project, which we need a lot of grace for.

We finally did get our land in our name and now need a fence to keep people from continuing to plant crops and make bricks. Making bricks leaves big holes on our property, and eats up land on which we want to build. Basically in Africa, if there isn’t a fence around it or crops on it, people just use the land for their own personal use. So we are praying for a fence and discouraging angels to keep encroachers away.

We have received so much grace from the state health officials in that we are not up to code on many small things. They know we are waiting for funding to build our new compound and have given us grace until then. The government has been very kind to us in all these things, knowing what our struggle has been. Uganda is a beacon of hope for so many because they really receive refugees so kindly and help however they can. I am so grateful that we landed here in the pearl of Africa!

Our children are on holiday for a month and the air is filled with their laughter and yells of excitement and we are just a beehive of noise. I came home bearing candy and toys and coloring books and spiritual books and everyone was filled with joy that I was home. I was filled with joy! I met with the teenagers last night and shared with them how I received my calling to children at a garbage dump in Mozambique holding a dead baby I found in the trash. This was such a private encounter with God in such a public setting that I hold this testimony dearest of all. It truly is the reason I said yes after a year of saying no. I then shared with them how God uses our suffering and our struggle to show compassion to others. Because of our struggle we have seen a deep place of the Father’s heart that we could never have seen otherwise. Our children know that they are much closer to the Lord because of our struggle, not in spite of it. They knew there was nowhere else to go.

I have watched them over the course of this last year and I have never seen them happier and more kind than now. They are also much closer to Jesus and have a stronger walk of faith than ever before. My biggest worry in coming here to a new culture was that they would change and that they would see all the “things” that are available here and be turned to material things. They never complain even though we haven’t had money to get them new clothes since December 2016. Their pants are too short, their shirts are too small, their shoes are broken, yet they haven’t complained. They are happy, just happy that they get to go to good schools and that they are safe and have enough food. They are grateful. I couldn’t say that two years ago. They were like any other kids, complaining and arguing and not being grateful. I am just amazed at how far they have come and it was because of our struggle that they saw the truth about our God and about how precious life is and not just about having things. My heart is full to bursting with love for them.

I want so much for them, like any parent. But I am rewarded already with the best thing, their walk with God is solid. They know that He is our provider and He will see to our needs and they have learned to be patient and so helpful. What? Patient and helpful kids? I am so blessed. Last night we watched the movie Wonder about a boy born with severe facial disfigurement. For some strange reason, in this culture many children laugh at these things. Two years ago even our own children did and it would really bother me. Since our struggle and suffering, last night our children were watching with tears of compassion rolling down their faces. They were so upset that the other children were bullying this little boy. We have a teenaged girl who is very challenging and has the emotional capacity of a three year old. She whines a lot and gets angry when she gets frustrated and wants to throw a rock at kids. I watch our children treat her with so much patience and kindness that it is overwhelming. They used to respond in anger but now they always seek to calm her and help her and she is twice their size! Oh how the hearts of these amazing children have changed. Again, I am full to bursting.

We are so grateful for all who sow into our children. When you sow into our children you are sowing into a nation and especially in to the kingdom of God. Our children walk in the fear of the Lord. There is a wonderful scripture that talks about the harvest of righteousness.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:10:

NOW HE (GOD) WHO SUPPLIES SEED TO THE SOWER (IRIS MINISTRIES) AND BREAD FOR FOOD WILL ALSO SUPPLY AND INCREASE YOUR STORE OF SEED AND WILL INCREASE THE HARVEST OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (OUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD).

YOU WILL BE MADE RICH IN EVERY WAY SO THAT YOU CAN BE GENEROUS ON EVERY OCCASION, AND THROUGH THIS YOUR GENEROSITY WILL RESULT IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD!

This is what I pray over us every day and over our sponsors, that we would receive abundant seed, seed for planting and for our stores, in order to be generous on every occasion so that the Lord would be praised and given thanks. We praise God for those who have been faithful over the years and continue to sponsor our children. May God bless you richly.

We bless all of you this week as you sow and reap, and may you know the kind heart of God in every way. We love you and pray for you.