Goodbyes, hellos, celebrations and more...

Saying goodbye, saying hello, birthday celebrations, engineering conferences and ministry transitions is what we have been busy with recently. Read below to see what the Lammers have been up to.

These past few months have found us saying goodbyes to two families of our close community that have moved from Uganda with no return date. We are thankful for the time we’ve had with each. However, saying goodbye is always hard. A recent goodbye has hit one of our older boys harder than others as it involved one of his best friends moving across the ocean. 

Saying goodbye in his unique way to his close friend.

Joshua and Matt at a recent farewell breakfast for friends.

These past few months have also found us preparing to say hello. With our approaching due date of 13 July, we have been doing our best to take advantage of the days we have as a family of 5, before we make the huge change to a family of 6. Good thing we invested in a big SUV! Friends from our EMI community threw Ashley a Baby Shower/Blessing Way that was very meaningful and encouraging for us all. We’ve also appreciated the support and words of encouragement from friends and family abroad during this pregnancy as we prepare as best we can for the unknown.

FAMILY

The older of our two boys recently had a school break. He spent it mostly playing on a local soccer team that he joined as a walk-on. He has natural talent that a friend of ours believes can get him a scholarship into secondary school. This is a dream of his; we have enjoyed watching him chase and invest his time and efforts in that dream. He played every afternoon and evening with the team which was made up of young men older and bigger than him. Despite that, he scored many goals at their practice matches and made quite the impression on his coach. He is now back at school and using his energy towards academics. He continues to be a bit behind academically, but not for lack of trying. We are proud of his efforts. Recently, he was also asked to lead some worship songs at the Saturday Night youth service for our church. Doing this is another dream of his. He was excited and nervous as it was his first time to perform at the church. He came home and said it was tough, he was nervous and didn't do so well. We hope he will try again sometime.

He is a man of style and many talents.

The second oldest boy has finished his first term at his new school. We are thankful for the improvements we have seen in his social skills and personal confidence as results of this school and program. He has really enjoyed it too and looks forward to the next term. He is currently on his school break and is spending it taking care of his rabbits, helping Ashley around the house and playing with Joshua.

With a friend enjoying a nearby swimming pool to celebrate his 16^th birthday. (The older boy also celebrated his birthday at the swimming pool recently turning 18).

Joshua continues to bring joy to each one of us in the family. His personality shines more and more each day. He has become fond of running everywhere (sometimes not looking where he is going making for some close calls with walls and other objects), jumping, and racing his push-boda/motorcycle. Recently he has tried saying “On your marks, get set, go!” and racing either on his boda, or with his toy cars. He hasn’t started speaking yet, but continues to try, and has begun to become more and more able to understand what we say to him.

Striking a pose on his push-boda/motorcycle.

Joshua has also taken a new liking to playing with grasshoppers…a habit that the older boys and Matt encourage by bringing him ones that they catch.

EMI 

The transitions continue with EMI. A project term has finished and some of the interns, including the 2 interns Matt was overseeing. These interns had been here since August last year. Matt enjoyed working with them and they expressed appreciation as they left. Though the project term has ended, there are still some projects ongoing and Matt is working hard to get things organized so he can take some time off when the baby comes. 

Two staff families have departed/are soon departing. It is a challenge to continue to say goodbye to people in our community. We are thankful that God continues to bring the right people at the right time.

Preparations for the 2019 Kilimanjaro climb are in full flow, and registration is open!  If you are on Facebook please check out the Climb4HOPE - Kilimanjaro Facebook event page or Climb4Hope – Kilimanjaro web page. Matt participated in a similar climb in 2014 as a fundraiser for EMI Uganda's office construction. If you are interested in participating or have questions send us a message.

 

Matt attended a training for the Ugandan Institution of Professional Engineers. He enjoyed being able to get a better understanding of what structural engineers in Uganda looks like such as what challenges they face, as well as learn more about the new codes that Uganda is looking to enforce.

DOORS MINISTRIES

Doors Ministries officially made the announcement last week of transitioning to a solely-Uganda based organization (no longer an internationally-registered NGO, but a locally registered NGO). This transition and preparing for it is what has been keeping Ashley busy these past couple of months. To learn more about the transition, about what Doors Ministries looks like on the ground now, and ways of partnering with the organization as we move forward, please check out our Facebook Page (Doors Ministries), follow our blog (www.doorsministries.blogspot.com), or visit our new donation site (www.allegrosolutions.org/donate/DoorsMinistries001). Though the transition has been a lot of work, and stressful at times, Ashley has enjoyed seeing the ministry get to the position it is in now, and seeing new leadership step forward, instilling new vision upon the organization. She will continue working with Doors as their Sponsorship Coordinator in the months to come in an effort to help the organization continue to get fully set up post-transition.

 

Students in class at Doors Primary School, one of the 5 Ministry Arms of Doors currently.

PRAISES

• A continued healthy pregnancy and growth of our little girl on the way. July 13^th is the due date.
• Joshua’s continued health and growth and joy he brings to our family and community.
• Noticeable growth and maturity we have witnessed in our two older boys.
• A great kick-start to Doors’ transition as a solely Ugandan organization.
• Hard goodbyes with community that has left recently as it shows how deep friendships and relationships have been.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• For Doors as the ministry fully makes the transition. Specifically for sponsors to step forward to partner financially with each of the children and students in Doors programs.  
• For our oldest boy as he continues to prepare for the end of year national exam which will determine if and what secondary school he can attend.
• Continued wisdom as we plan for our family’s future in Uganda collectively and individually.
• For a safe delivery for Ashley and the baby, and for Joshua who will stay with a friend of ours when the time comes.