Renewed Vision

Where have we been?

We are in the midst of five and a half month home assignment. We return to Uganda on December 13th. The goal of this time has been to rest, reconnect, and become better equipped to serve in Uganda. When we return to Uganda, we will have slept in 19 different beds, been on 14 flights, and changed time zones 12 times. Though we have been busy, overall, this season away has been refreshing. One of the main themes of this time has been renewal.

Renewed Vision for Rest

We left Uganda more exhausted than we realized. In the busyness of life, we let life-giving activities fall away. We found ourselves responding to life instead of prioritizing what's important in life and planning/doing accordingly. We got busy but without a focus and purpose. We were created with the need for rest. When we don’t get sufficient rest, our bodies slowly decline. We are now feeling rested, at least as much as we can with two small children. With all the changes in the past few years, we are now in a very different stage of life than when we first came to Uganda, and some of our priorities and focuses have changed. (Matt first came as a year-long volunteer with EMI having a primarily engineering role. Where he now primarily has management responsibilities and is a more senior staff member at EMI. Ashley first came as a fulltime volunteer of Doors Ministries serving on the leadership team and now primarily focuses her time at home with the children and engaging local vegetable stands.) As we prepare to head back to Uganda, we are looking to make adjustments to get regular rest and prioritize our commitments and activities with more focus.

Renewed Vision for EMI

Stepping away from the day to day of work has allowed Matt to reflect on the bigger picture of EMI. God’s heart for the world is restoration. EMI’s vision is people restored by God and the world restored through design. We desire to take our skills, experience, and knowledge and align them with God’s vision for the world to bring about transformation in our sphere of influence. 

What excites Matt most about EMI’s direction in Uganda is the focus on discipleship and industry transformation. We want to develop our people and raise up new leaders so they can influence the world for God’s kingdom. We are looking to connect more with the local industry. We want to be part of transforming the design and construction industry to reflect kingdom values. This goal cannot be accomplished alone. It is too big for us. However, God is able, and God is already using other people. We want to join with them.

In October, Matt was able to participate in the EMI Network Conference at Judson University, outside of Chicago. He gave a presentation on EMI Uganda’s partnership with UCBC and shared about EMI Uganda. It was a great time to reconnect with staff and volunteers. Matt left with a renewed excitement for the work of EMI. 

Renewed Vision for Life: 

Does our life’s focus align with God’s heart? We have been asking ourselves this question. During our home assignment, we have been taking a course, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. The purpose of the course was to align our hearts with God’s heart for the world. It has been intriguing, thought-provoking, challenging, insightful, time consuming, and fruitful. This course has equipped us with new thoughts and desires as we return to Uganda. We look forward to prayerful implementation. 

Renewed Vision for Learning

Matt started a master’s course during our home assignment. He is taking a Master of Management of Nonprofit Organizations through Biola University. This time of studying has renewed Matt’s love of learning. He has a desire to share what he has learned with colleagues in Uganda. 

Renewed Vision for Faith:

One of the most significant things that we have been learning is what God is up to in this season of our lives. We came into our home assignment with many hopes and expectations. After a few months of frustration with unmet expectations, we began to ask if our desires align with God’s desires. Have we indeed sought God’s desires, or have we asked God to bless our plans? The overarching theme in this season has been an invitation from God into deeper relationship with him. God is interested in our hearts and character. God has been working on our hearts. It has been a painful experience, but it has been fruitful and exciting.

Renewed Vision for Support

One objective for this time is to increase our support. We could not be serving with EMI without those of you who support us. We are grateful for the support we have received over the years. It has been encouraging to connect with many people during this time. We were created to do life together in community. The vision God has given us, to bring his kingdom transformation to Uganda, is impossible alone. We need people who will support us in this vision. While we do need finances, we also need prayer, encouragement, connection, friendship, and communication. We want to remain in a sustainable place to be able to continue to serve God here in Uganda. We need to be supported. If you are interested, send an email to matt.lammers@emiworld.org

Here are some ways you can be praying for us: 

• We want to see the transformation of the design and construction industry in Uganda. Pray that God would connect EMI with the right people. Pray that God would give us the wisdom to know our role. 
• For God to bring the right people to mentor our young professionals at EMI
• Continued rest and renewal during the remainder of our home assignment.
• That we would finish our home assignment well. We are getting ready to come back to Uganda, but we don’t want to miss out on what God has for us in the next four weeks.

Here are some pictures of life in the past few months:

 

Matt sharing at the EMI Network Conference in October. Attending and speaking about UCBC in Congo renewed his passion and love for EMI and their vision. He is excited about the work he gets to do and be apart of.

In the past 5 months, our kids have been on 2 ferry rides and 8 flights! (We still have more flights to go until we land in Uganda mid-December)

Playgrounds and swimming pools have been some of the kids’ favorite North America activities.

 

We got to participate in the annual Lammers Family Camping trip in Canada, which was such a treat. Joshua loved sleeping in a tent, and both loved the atmosphere and being outside almost constantly.

 

We have loved seeing so many friends and family, including former EMI staff and volunteers during a week-long Colorado trip.

 

Aquariums were a quick family favorite of ours. Abby especially loved watching all the fish through the tanks.

Hiking is the one activity Ashley misses the most while in Uganda as the opportunities just aren’t as plentiful. (pictures from our time in Southern California, Banff, and Colorado)

The kids even dressed up for Halloween this year, a fireman and a supposed lamb (though she refused to wear the ears).

Most of all we enjoyed the extended time we and our kids got with our parents/grandparents. It has been incredible watching relationships form between our parents and the kids, truly a gift.

Oh yeah…and there was that time we went to Niagara Falls and became a family totem pole, and went to Banff and almost froze….