Recent Events and Upcoming Travels

Several months have passed since our last update, and with it several ups and downs. We've discovered a wonderful nearby camping spot that makes for an affordable, nature-filled getaway. A 3 hour drive takes us to beautiful views, a lake beach, and several waterfall hikes and adventures. We've been twice and have enjoyed it so much.

We absolutely love this newly discovered camping spot. Exploring together as a family is something we all find restful and refreshing.

Also in the past several months Matt has had several projects at work with some challenging and leadership growing opportunities, Ashley and the kids have been able to join and help organize a small nature club that meets weekly for nature-oriented outings, and our oldest has started a computer training program then returned to school...only to be sent home after just 6 days when the President announced the commencement of another lockdown as Uganda entered the second wave of COVID. We (Matt, Ashley, Joshua and Abby) had the opportunity to be part of the statistics of the second wave of COVID in Uganda as all 4 of us tested positive for COVID recently and spent over two weeks at home on isolation being well taken care of by our neighbors and community. Just 2 weeks ago, Uganda went into full lockdown once again to try and reduce the infection rate. Public transportation has been suspended as well as the use of personal vehicles, schools and churches and several businesses are closed, and people are strongly encouraged to stay at home. Our hearts break for the many Ugandans who's livelihoods and sources of income are highly affected by these measures.

 

Getting COVID made us all the more thankful for God's gift of a beautiful green compound as we isolated for over 2 weeks as the virus made its way through the 4 of us starting with Ashley and ending with Abby.

We are also very thankful for the many friends we have living nearby. Here Abby is purchasing cassava (a fried snack readily available across Uganda) less than 2 minutes walking from our home. Walking around our neighborhood and purchasing from nearby vendors has opened doors to friendships and relationships.

Matt continues to be excited about hte work happening at EMI Uganda. One of the things he is passionate about is helping other people grow and develop. A highlight of the past few months has been coaching a new project manager through his first project. He is doing a great job, and Matt is enjoying working with him. 

At the start of the year, Matt prepared an assessment report on EMI Uganda for one of his master's courses. Our leadership team is beginning to implement some of the recommendations. This project has helped Matt think more about the big picture, which he really enjoys. We pray that God continues to lead our office and align us all in that direction. 

As we prepare to travel to North America in July and August. Matt has been busy planning for our time away. This trip has caused Matt to consider the growth tracks of the people who report to him and facilitate professional growth opportunities as they take on new roles in Matt's absence. 

We are thankful that work can continue despite the current lockdown. Almost all our staff can work full time, though we are spread across the city. We praise God that our remote connection to the office server started working the day after that lockdown started. It hadn't been working for months before that.

  We completed a shipping container retrofit for a child-friendly interview room for International Justice Mission. This small project brought together our many of our departments, design, QS, CM, and workshop. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with IJM to bring their vision into reality.

Ashley has continued to enjoy her role of mentoring one of the EMI interns this term. She goes to the office once a week to meet together for about an hour. She has also enjoyed continuing homeschooling with Joshua and incorporating Abby more and more. Joshua officially finished our “preschool” hodgepodge and is eagerly recognizing letters and engaging in at home learning activities. Ashley and the kids have also had the opportunity to team up with some friends and create a little nature club that meets for nature-oriented outings one morning a week. This outing has become the most anticipated and enjoyed of the week.

Joshua (and Ashley) has thrived with homeschooling preschool/preK. He seems to enjoy learning eagerly and especially gets excited about recognizing his letters and numbers as well as any science related activities and lessons. We are currently going through a pond-oriented unit.

 

Nature Club morning has been a high in the week for Ashley and the kids. Outings have included a birding boat ride at Lutembe Bay exploring migratory versus non-migratory birds tramping through a swamp looking for bugs, and the botanical gardens.

We have continued to find our compound filled most weekday afternoons with several children from our neighborhood, families that Ashley has continued to enjoy engaging and developing friendships with while stretching her Luganda. Some of the children have also been able to join on Nature Club outings when their classes aren't meeting at school.

Our oldest has endured his 16 months at home and out of school with as much patience as he's been able to muster. He spent much of the last months enrolled in a computer course learning various tech skills that will put him at an advantage post-graduation, chasing down his national ID card and personal documents, and continuing to review his school books. When his school's opening date was announced, it was a day of celebration. The night before he left was also lots of celebrating and excitement...and even a special meal of pizza per request. Unfortunately, just 6 days after he was dropped off at school, the President announced a new lockdown that closed all schools again, all churches and places of worship, limiting number of people allowed in vehicles and restricting most movement across district lines trying to keep people where they are and not spreading the virus all over the country. He was sent home, however during his 6 days away Ashley tested positive for COVID followed closely by Matt, then Joshua, then Abby. A good friend picked our oldest up and hosted him while the rest of us recovered and finished our isolation period. All are in good health now, and we are all now reunited for the next couple of weeks. Though, as mentioned earlier, a week after his return from school the President instituted even stricter lockdown measures.

We’ve enjoyed extended time with our oldest at home. Both kids will miss him terribly when lockdown ends and he is able to actually return to school. He has maintained a good attitude through the school closures and has used his time to pursue other interests and catch up on his weaker academic subjects.

Though these past few months have been ups and downs and lots of opportunities to be stretched as plans change, lockdowns are announced, and health affected, we have summer plans that we are very much looking forward to. Early July we are planning to fly to Canada to spend most of the month with family there and reconnected with friends as restrictions and time allows, then spending the bulk of August doing the same in the States.

 

July 3^rd we leave our home in Uganda on a “big airplane” to Canada, then the US in August. We have bitter sweet feelings about leaving during a lockdown in Uganda. While we are excited at seeing family and reconnecting and being able to make new memories with the kids and move around more freely...we are sad to leave so many Ugandan friends behind and not walk with them through another lockdown season. Please pray for many struggling in Uganda and for God to be an ever present help as He has promised.

Praises:

• A newfound camping spot that is budget friendly and is already a family favorite to return to time and time again.
• Nature Club for Ashley and the kids giving them weekly opportunity to engage with other international moms and kids while exploring the beautiful outdoors of Uganda nearby their front door. SO many hidden treasures.
• Matt is having a nice break from studying and enjoying more time to engage in other interests and rest in the evenings.
• Our oldest being able to participate in a computer training program. He will complete it during his next longer school holiday post-lockdown.
• Our oldest being able to finally submit all of the proper paperwork for his national ID. Now we wait 2-3 months to see if it is approved.
• Recovering from COVID and the blessings of positive tests for upcoming travels that will save us from several additional tests upon landing in Canada and before travelling to the US.

 Prayer Requests:

• For those at EMI Uganda who are taking on some of Matt's roles that it would be season for them to grow and develop.
  
• For our family as we prepare for 8 weeks away from Uganda. We are still sorting out what will happen with our home and dogs while we are gone as well as how to best set up our oldest now that he is home from school with the new lockdown measures.
• For our oldest to safely reach our friend's home where he will stay while we are gone. Logistics of him getting there have been made a little more difficult with the ban on vehicles moving.
• For our upcoming travels, that we would be able to connect well with family and friends and create new experiences and memories with the kids that will help tie them a bit to their passport countries.
• For Uganda and the recent wave of COVID infections and lockdown response. Everyday we hear of more infections and deaths within our communities and connections.