One Step at a Time

July, August, and September have come and gone with little evidence of their passing. Seasons don't change here as they do in much of North America. Our leaves haven't fallen in festive colors, pumpkin spice isn't a “thing”, and the sun continues to rise and set at roughly same time as it did the beginning of the year. Regardless, we have said goodbye to “summer” and welcomed “fall” with refreshed perspectives and enjoyment for life in this continued weird season of COVID. We've taken one step forward at a time, and are encouraged as we look back from where we've come to where we are now and see growth and God's faithfulness to us. Included in this time frame was Abby's 2^nd birthday, the end of a Master's Course for Matt, the beginning of a popup home preschool for Ashley and the kids, a mini family getaway, and continued at home learning for our oldest with no end in sight as of yet.

We enjoyed much needed 2 night getaway at Lake Nabugabo. This was our first time away from Kampala since returning to Uganda in December. We are so thankful for the little vacation and came away refreshed and ready for whatever falls on our path next.

Since our last update, Uganda has registered its first of many COVID-19 related deaths. Kampala (where we live) is now in the wake of experiencing the first wave of virus community spread. Despite this, many restrictions have been lifted with strong warnings from the government for citizens and residents to abide by regulations including compulsory mask wearing and social distancing...which many are reluctant or unable to do due to lifestyles and perspectives. Uganda's economy would not survive another “lock down” so we are not anticipating restrictions to be reinstated at this time. (It is also an election season here which affects some of the government decisions regarding lock down). Recently our borders have opened in some capacity and institutional quarantines done away with unless a person tests positive for COVID19 upon arrival. Places of worship have reopened allowing maximum congregations of 70, but no Sunday School or Children's services (which keeps us away for now). Schools have reopened for “candidates” and graduating students meaning the students who are in the last year of primary school and last year and transitional year of secondary school (there are two levels of secondary school here) are returning this month to prepare for national exams, as well as those in graduating years of vocational programs, universities and other tertiary programs. All other students have been advised to study from home to be promoted to the next grade level sometime in 2021. This is the category our oldest falls into.

To celebrate the end of Matt's Master's Course in August, we took a family day trip to the Entebbe Zoo. Joshua loved the lions while Abby was a big fan of the wild monkeys that roamed the place free.

In August, Matt wrapped up another Master's Course which focused on leadership. It was an enjoyable and fruitful course that has given Matt lots to reflect on. As a family we were so encouraged by how much less intrusive this course felt compared to previous ones. The lighter course load helped, but mostly we attribute this to better family and work rhythms that allow for plenty of study time and family time. We've found ourselves taking advantage of closed churches to spend that time intentionally together as a family walking around our neighborhood exploring or “adventuring” elsewhere such as at the Zoo or nearby forest.

With churches closed, we've enjoyed extended “Family Time” on Sunday mornings. Walking around our neighborhood on routes we typically don't take has been a fun way to explore and “adventure” as a family. We always come home with pockets of seeds, flowers, and whatever other treasure is picked up along the way.

Work at EMI continues to be busy. There is no shortage of work, though we are short on people with some on people away on leave and gaps in other roles. Four Ugandan interns started at the end of August, though two of them will likely leave early with universities re-opening for finalists. We will be sad to see them leave, but are glad they have the opportunity to complete their degree. Matt feels stretched in his new role, but overall is enjoying it. Most of Matt's time is spent managing projects and people. 

Some of Matt's time has been spent managing a team working a primary school administration block for Amazima Ministries. Our team has done a great job and construction is set to begin in the next couple weeks.

Matt enjoyed a recent overnight site visit to SOS Ministries, two hours North of Kampala. Their vision is to strengthen the local church in Uganda by discipling pastors through the Shepherds Training Center and spreading the gospel to their local community through a church and school. EMI has worked with SOS several times in the last decade to develop a site master plan and advise on construction challenges. Our current scope of work is a master plan update and concept design for a chapel. It was great to get out of the office and connect with our ministry partner.

Joshua and Abby love having friends from the neighborhood come over most weekday afternoons. They have picked up some Luganda phrases and enjoyed this companionship to our mostly quiet days at home.

In August, Ashley and the kids decided to take the plunge and begin some informal at home preschool learning. Joshua is loving learning his letters and sounds, and doing the various activities and crafts, Abby loves anything her brother gets excited about, and Ashley has surprised herself and really enjoyed the planning process for each week and the purpose this brings to each day at home with the kids. Some activities have included painting, cooking, homemade play dough, planting and gardening, crafts, and Luganda practice. Afternoons continue to bring several children from the neighborhood to our compound for playing in the sandpit, swinging and climbing on our makeshift swings, or decorating our walls with chalk.

Abby turned 2! She celebrated with a baby under arm, a visit with horses, and friends over for a spaghetti dinner.

July ushered us into Abby's second year of life as she turned 2 on the 18^th. Her love of all things baby and horses had us celebrating by visiting a nearby resort with a horse stable. She loved seeing the horses (with a baby under her arm), but did not want them any where near her. Joshua was brave and cashed in her pony ride for himself which he smiled from ear to ear throughout.

Joshua bravely took a ride on a pony named Easter for Abby's birthday. He was very timid at first but by the end of the ride did not want Ashley to hold his leg reassuringly as he rode with pride and smiles. Ashley also got peed on by a monkey this day which just added to the memories for all.

Our oldest is continuing with home tutoring, at least through the rest of this year. He has also spent the last number of months working some odd jobs to save enough money to trade in his acoustic guitar for an electric acoustic. He was able to make this purchase last month and could not be more excited about his guitar and the opportunities it opens for him to lead worship at more churches, and at his school whenever it reopens in 2021. He has helped to lead worship at a friend's church via Zoom until recently when he was stopped on the street while carrying his guitar and asked to help lead worship at a church closer to us without a guitar player. He has helped one Sunday at that church and plans to continue there for at least another couple of weeks.

Any chance he gets, Joshua loves to go with our oldest on nearby walks to the shops to buy food or household item. At least once a week they leave the compound together and is typically the highlight of the day for Joshua who can't help but admire and look up to our oldest.

As mentioned earlier, we did get to do a 2 night getaway as a family to Lake Nabugabo. It was just the break from Kampala that we needed as a family. Fresh fish every night, swimming in a bilharzia-free lake, exploring trees and seeds together, chasing monkeys, watching hornbills, and sitting at a nightly bonfire are just some of the highlights.

 

Lake Nabugabo is about a 3 hour drive outside of Kampala and requires crossing over the Equator. We did the “mandatory” stop and photo op at the line despite tearful, grumpy kids...

Our family getaway was wonderful. Despite starting the trip by breaking a window at our house while locking the last door and ending it with a flat tire right after packing up the car to leave, we all had a blast and came back with lots of memories, stories, pictures, and even a couple of bags full of leaves, feathers, seeds and flowers.

Praises:

• We had a wonderful getaway to Lake Nabugabo as a family. Home assignment showed us that we needed to take breaks more often as a family in Kampala, this trip solidified it. We are already planning a slightly longer break over the Christmas holiday.
• Overall we all seem to be in a healthy (and healthier) place physically, emotionally and spiritually since the beginning of this year.
• We continue to enjoy growing relationships with our neighbors and community.
• Restrictions are starting to be lifted allowing more and more people and families to resume work again and receive paychecks.

Prayer Requests:

• For our oldest as he continues to navigate at-home learning, and for us as we best guide him in that through learning challenges.
• For Matt as he prepares to take on another Master's Course later this month and continue to walk in his new role at EMI.
• For our family as we host a house guest while she gets on her feet after returning back to Uganda recently. That we would love and support her well in this time.
• For schools, churches and other businesses around Uganda as they prepare and begin to reopen and navigate the process for doing so.
• For us as we make decisions of how comfortable we are in regards to exposure with the increasing numbers of community cases in our city, and balance that with the comfort levels of others in our community that we see regularly.

Ashley and the kids have enjoyed a couple of day trips outside of Kampala as part of their self-planned preschool curriculum. These have included a day at the Botanical Gardens in Entebbe with friends, a morning at Reptile Village catching chameleons in the rain, and a day trip to visit dear friends in the village who have large gardens and a small herd of dairy cows.