SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER - Stability

Once again, two months have flown by here in sunny Buziga, Uganda. Overall, things are going well for us despite challenges. Isaiah 26:3 says, “The steadfast in mind You will give perfect peace, because they trust in You.” We have been feeling that perfect peace in the ups and downs of each week and are thankful for our trust in the Stable One, that is God. There have been so many changes and transitions this year so far (planned and surprised)…and more to come…but through it all we are thankful for the stability we have felt in God, in our marriage, and in our location.

Dedicating Abigail Mirembe Lammers at our church with our pastors during Matt’s parents’ visit in September.

Though we have plans to move off of Doors property in the coming months to a new home and compound, we have been able to participate in a weekly get together with the two other family units we share the compound with (including the 4 Doors boys formerly in the Doors Home and their new house mom). We gather to make chapattis and fried eggs together in what in Uganda is called a Rolex (rolled eggs…get it?). This has been an enjoyable time of cooking alongside of one other and spending intentional time together. It is this type of tradition that we hope to take with us wherever we go from this home.  

 

Frying chapattis on one of our Friday nights, and Joshua playing in the background with his favorite “big truck”.

A bit of exciting news…we have been approved and encouraged by EMI to take a 5 month home assignment next year which we will split between Canada and the US. We don’t have exact dates or plans yet, but are enjoying looking forward to this trip and time away after spending over 5 years here without an extended break. We are currently looking at leaving Uganda near the end of June and starting off in Canada for the first half of our time, up to mid-late September. During our time in Canada, we plan to make a visit to the EMI Canada office in Calgary, and visit some friends and family in BC. From mid-late September to end of November, we plan to be in California mostly, with a roadtrip to Colorado and back planned to visit the EMI Global Office and friends of ours there who formerly lived here in Uganda with us. We are then planning to return to Uganda in early December in order to be able to spend the Christmas holiday with our oldest who will be finishing his first year of secondary school at that point. 

We love Abigail’s passport photo.

FAMILY

Abigail is growing well, and seems to be in a hurry to catch up to her big brother. She has started rolling and is even trying to sit up. She has captivated each of us with her quiet, peaceful demeanor. Her most recent favorite thing to do is blow bubbles, which Daddy taught her to do.

Joshua loves Abigail and will hold her any chance he gets. He can often be found whispering or singing her name.

At almost 4 months old, Abby loves her play-gym, a gift from the Director of Doors, and blowing bubbles. She is very peaceful and doesn’t mind our mornings out at Joshua’s various programs throughout the week.

Joshua continues to be enamored with Abigail and loves smiling at her, singing for her, and watching her. Anytime he can help with the baby, he jumps at the chance to do so from bringing her the towel, or helping to replace the pacifier in her mouth. Joshua has also started talking more and more and has become quite the chatterbox going almost constantly. He continues to enjoy our weekly outings to two playgroups, and a toddler one-day preschool program. 

Joshua with our oldest and his goat income-generating project. Joshua loves the goat and can often be found chasing after it yelling “Baby Goat” in the evenings.

Our oldest is in his final moments before sitting for the end of year national exam which will be the first week of November. This two-day exam will determine what quality of secondary school he can attend. He says he is feeling peaceful, though a little nervous. We are proud of how hard he continues to work to prepare for this exam…and also, how well he has maintained taking a Sabbath on Sunday each week despite the pressures of the exam. He doesn’t study nor do any school work on Sunday, but instead plays soccer with friends, practices on his guitar, or goes to an evening program at church. Over his coming school break (beginning of November to end of February), he hopes to find a job so he can earn enough money to buy a smart phone before starting secondary school (high school). He has already invested in a goat as an income generating project to help earn money.

Our oldest and his graduating Primary 7 class as they prepare for their end of year national exam, the Primary Leaving Exam (PLE).

EMI

EMI continues to be busy with design and construction projects. Matt has had some relief in his responsibilities as a new staff structural engineer arrived in September and is getting oriented. A second structural engineer in scheduled to arrive in January. The relief in structural engineering has allowed Matt to focus on some of his other responsibilities. With some upcoming staff transitions, planned change in structural design codes, shift in drafting approach, and discussion around future project, Matt finds himself thinking about next year as much as he is about this year. 

The projects Matt is involved in this term are a primary school in Uganda, a secondary school in Uganda, a hospital in Burundi, a university in DRC, and EMI Uganda's workshop expansion. There is no shortage of work and we are thankful for the partners we have in expanding God's kingdom. 

DOORS MINISTRIES

Doors continues to move forward in regards to ministry and programs. With the large transition that took place earlier this year, we praise God for this continued progress! While we thought that Doors’ finances would be provided primarily through one-on-one child sponsorships, this has not been the case. We have struggled to find sponsors, specifically for the 100+ Doors Primary School students. However, finances have been provided in miraculous ways for the school through the most unlikely of one-time gifts. We are thankful for this. Ashley has continued to take steps back from Administrative tasks at Doors in order to more fully focus her time and energies on our young baby girl and busy active toddler. While we continue to interact with and love our Doors community, this vocational step back for Ashley has been good for her and good for Doors. Currently, she solely runs the public relations side of Doors with international partners and contacts.  

One of the Doors Primary School students holding a letter he wrote to his personal sponsor.

PRAISES:

• For healthy baby Abby, and Joshua’s continued health. Both continue to hit developmental milestones well.
• For peace over our upcoming move and current circumstances.
• For the addition of a house mom for the Doors boys that have been living on the same compound as us. We have now been relieved of responsibility of those 4 boys.
• For continued confidence that this is where we need to be for the time being.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Continued prayer for our oldest who is due to take his national exam the first week of November. He says he is feeling peaceful…but a little worried.
• For our former foster son, who was resettled, as we seek the best way to support and empower him from afar, and for him to come to a personal relationship with God through these circumstances.  
• For strength and endurance to finish out this year and next before our upcoming home assignment, and for the details and plans of that home assignment to come together.
• For favor as we navigate getting Abigail’s paperwork and documents in order before we travel next year. She needs her birth certificate,  US and Canada citizenships approved and passports.

We are grateful for the continued support that allows us to work with EMI and Doors. As you think about year end giving, prayerfully consider giving to our ministry, EMI or Doors.