Some know that David is cautious around spiders . . . The black widows we
had in our garage in San Diego were a bit off-putting to all of us, but most
of all to him.

Last night God gave him a doozy of a gift – a great big hairy tarantula
right in our house. He was just as big as the ones you’ve seen in zoos or
pet stores and had a triangular body and big beady eyes, making him a
little more sinister.

David gished him with a shoe – go DAVID!!

You gotta wonder what happens if one of those bites you. Just another
reason we sleep with a net – and don’t walk in dark rooms . . .

Today is David’s 45th birthday . . . . Who could imagine it of him . . . He
has yet to grow up. He always said he would when he retired from the Navy,
but here we are, and he is as much a kid as ever.

David is not a big birthday celebrator, but has chosen to spend this day
indulging his introvert tendencies .. . . I have sent away every visitor and
guarded his space fiercely. Meanwhile he has napped, read with Quinn,
exercised for the first time in a long while, finished his book on Chaos
that FASCINATES him, and is now working away on Soduko. He requested a
special birthday lunch while the kids were at school and I cooked him steak,
pasta salad, and a gourmet cabbage salad – along with a special drink. He
was happy. Of course, for dessert, a bar of dark chocolate, specially
carried for this day.

You who know David know that he is steadfast, kind, gentle, brilliant,
loyal, faithful, and wise. He has tremendous character and integrity and is
unswayed by others’ opinions. He is a true leader, always able to decide
and act quickly, yet is characterized by a complete tenderness around those
he loves. I have never seen David angry at me or our children, yet I have
often seen him act with passion on our behalf.

I am sending out great thanks to his parents, Bill and Mim Pierce, for
raising a boy into a man – and sharing him with me. And to God, for knowing
exactly what Naomi, Quinn and I needed and giving him to us.

Truly David, we thank God daily for you. We love you more than we can say.
All the way to Alpha Centauri and back . . .

So, just for fun, I thought I’d give you some general idea of how cooking
dinner goes. Usually recipes don’t include “where to buy” information, but
if you don’t just get it on your usual weekly Giant run, I think it’s only
right to explain how to get it.

Tacos (our Friday night, “Family Fun Night” favorite)

As soon as your worker arrives for the day, give him enough money to go to
the market and buy one kilo of beef (this assumes that you have already
trained him what beef is good to buy and what cuts will work), when he
arrives back about an hour later, have him grind it (this assumes you have
purchased and brought with you in your limited eight trunks from America, a
meat grinder weighing about half of your allotted trunk weight). This may
take an hour; then (if you have already trained him how), have him cook the
ground beef and save till dinnertime when you will reheat and season the
meat. (assuming that on your last Kampala trip you remembered to buy plenty
of Mexican seasoning (if there was any available).

Now start with your beans. Hopefully you have a good supply from the last
market day. First sort your beans, picking out stones, sticks and grasses -
no quick job.( this your worker could do if he wasn’t already dealing with
the beef) Now the beans must be rinsed and placed into the pot for quick
boiling, then let to rest for an hour before beginning to cook again for
about three to four hours (unless, unlike me, you are very confident with a
pressure cooker). As the beans become soft you may add in your oil,
tomatos, onions, garlic, till you have a nice soft bean dish to add to your
tacos.

By this time, with all the usual interruptions that necessitate turning off
the stove as you leave the house, it is close to five pm. Now is the time
to start the tortillas. Using flour, salt, and Tamu (like Crisco); mix up
your batter, then roll out each tortilla very thin and cook two at a time on
your large griddle (which you continually thank God you decided to buy in
America). This process may take you about 45 minutes if you work quickly
and answer questions and requests through the kitchen door and window,
pleading floury hands, rather than sitting down with each visitor.

As the tortillas cook, you must quickly pull out tomatoes, avocados, red
onions (the only kind we have here), and a small hunk of precious cheese (if
you have remembered to thaw it). These vegetables will be ready and
available to you if you have asked your worker to buy them the day before
(or gone yourself) and clean them thoroughly. They only hold their ripeness
for a day or two . . . Chop tomatoes and onions and place in bowls on your
special platter. Grate cheese and add to the others. Mash avocado and add
onion, garlic, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper to make guacamole. Add to
platter. Hope and pray that during this time you have not burned too many
tortillas as you simultaneously chopped and flipped (and stirred your
reheating and seasoning meat).

Serve to happy family along with a big pitcher of sent-from-America Kool
Aid.

Feel terrible that you didn’t prepare cookies and figure out a way to fit
making them into your next Friday.

In contrast, my American taco prep included:
- one half hour before dinnertime, pop frozen ground beef in microwave to
defrost
-put thawed meat, taco packet, and water in a skillet to cook
- pull out shredded cheese, and prepared guacamole, put on table
- no need for beans, we have plenty of meat
- put some soft and some soft store-bought tortillas in the oven to warm
- chop tomatos and onions and place on table

Trader Joe’s cheesecake for dessert.

Wasn’t life simple then??

Today and yesterday I have been marveling at how far we’ve come. Marveling
at what we’ve adjusted to, at what has become commonplace, normal and
acceptable in our lives in just a few short months. For example:

-being careful to never use our home tap water on our toothbrushes, mouths,
or wounds

-washing and sanitizing every fruit or vegetable that enters our home,
before handling

- learning to drink when we will be near home or school . . . . Otherwise
not, unless we want to find a jungle path to pee on.

-coordinating our water usage, including switching our valves to collect
either rainwater or Ngite (upper river) water, pumping water once or twice
daily to our overhead gravity based tank, filling our filter twice daily at
least so that we ALWAYS have potable water.

- killing dozens of ants every trip into the kitchen

- picking beetles out of pasta before devouring the next bite; when you have
sauce, you just accept the extra protein, because they’re too hard to spot

- sleeping under a low-hanging mosquito net, despite the claustrophobia and
heat factors

- protecting items in various parts of the house from the ever falling bat
guana (especially my hairbrush, that was yuk!!!)

- planning ahead ever so carefully to always have meat and cheese thawed for
meals that include them(no microwaves here!), always have bread made
(keeping in mind that our freezer is always full with meat/cheese from
Kampala so we can’t freeze anything else, like bread for emergencies), etc.

Food is one of the biggest planning challenges. One of the problems is
accessability and planning ahead. Unlike in America, where I had my several
grocery store lists (Trader Joe’s, commisery, Costco) and would travel once,
twice, three times a week to wherever I needed to; here I have several lists
also, but a bit different. I have my Nyahuka market list which comprises
items I buy locally (available some days, depending on market and requiring
a 20 minute walk each way plus bargaining and shopping time), my Bundibugyo
town list which has items that David picks up for me when he travels to the
bank town 1/2 hour away, and then items that I have brought by trader from
Fort Portal (three hours away over the mountain). And last but biggest, my
Kampala list which includes my case goods and stock up items. The issue
comes in when you forget something important in Kampala (theoretically of
course, can I say “honey” for granola?!), you’re just screwed for the next
three months. No pressure.

But the mere coordinating of these foods is quite an undertaking. With
fruits and vegetables I have to try to bring in a decent selection, keeping
it fresh, and available when I need it. If for example, I want to bake my
husband a birthday cake using carrots, I’d better have thought of that at
least one to two weeks ahead or have some great alternative ingredients in
mind. Creativity is everything.

Coming tomorrow, some typical from-scratch recipes, more from-scratch than I
ever thought possible!!

Today, Sunday, is our mail day. We save it for Sunday mornings as we enjoy
oatmeal with mix-in’s . . . . A simple yet fun meal for all. My desire is
for Sunday to be both a sabbath – day of rest – and also a shining day for
all of us. A day of peace and fun. For this reason we have instated “no
visitors day” on Sunday, which is real bliss here!! It must sound terrible,
but it is the only day of the week when people aren’t knocking on the door
by 7:30 and continuing on with little pause until nightfall. We luxuriate
in our uninterrupted family time.

Mail is opened, we have quite a pile, as we haven’t gotten any for a few
weeks due to travel (ours and others). I am amazed by the goods piling up
on our dining room table as we open several boxes containing lots of
clothes, toothbrushes, protein bars/powder, and little goodies for us as
well (who knew that a kitchen timer could bring such rejoicing in my heart!!
Thank you to whomever sent it in our Mariners box!) You wouldn’t imagine
the fuss that was made over a bag of walnuts and another of roasted almonds.
Nuts were immediately devoured!!

Each time we receive a box from the U.S. we are amazed by the cost
associated with sending it and the time that went into picking and packing
the things inside. Each box is such a testament of the love and care
directed our way. And the heart that friends back home have for the people
we live among. Perhaps economically, there is a cheaper, easier way to get
things to these people. But I don’t think God is as much about effective
finances as he is about relationships. And I marvel at how those boxes
connect Americans, Ugandans, and us.

When we decided to come here, following what seemed to us to be unmistakable
leading from God, we disrupted what we and others believed about resources,
intelligence, and our place in the world. Some said to us, surely there are
others who are qualified to do this kind of work, you are overqualified.
You will be wasting your intelligence and experience in a place like that.
You will be risking the lives of your children in a place like that. You
will be throwing away your career and your future in a place like that.
And our responses to these questions could not center so much around
refuting their truth. We had to agree at least in part, that it didn’t make
a lot of sense. Really, it still doesn’t. But it reveals something big and
important about who God is and what His kingdom looks like, I think.

“God has chosen to save the world through the cross, through the shameful
and powerless death of the crucified Messiah. If that shocking event is the
revelation of the deepest truth about the character of God, then our whole
way of seeing the world is turned upside down . . . . All values are
transformed . . . God refuses to play games of power and prestige on human
terms.” – Richard Hays

God’s reality is upside down (or more accurately right side up) from what we
are accustomed as seeing and believing as truth. When we trust what He
tells us not because it makes sense, because it feels right, or because we
understand it, but only because we trust His character, His wisdom, and His
love for us – only then are we able to step out into His worldview . . . .
And catch a glimpse of glory.

Just returned from Kampala. Back into the district with its beauty and
heartbreak (not to say there wasn’t tremendous heartbreak in Kampala, but
the beauty was lacking). Seeing this place through the brand new eyes of
Scotticus, our newest team member, who is here to teach mission and Christ
School kids for two years, is a revelation. How quickly I have become used
to this place. I have already forgotten how far it is into the middle of
nowhere to get here, how primitive and more primitive as you pass farther
and farther around curves and over mountains to arrive in Bundibugyo.

We’re so thankful to be home. And that is a blessing and true answer to
your prayers that we feel home is here in Bundibugyo. It was wonderful to
return.

But the guilt. The guilt as we unload box after box from our vehicle. As
Ugandans, looking for a little work/money unload box after box from our
vehicle, containing things they have never seen or heard of. The bulk more
than all they own. The cost more than everything they have ever had, maybe.

As our friend/worker helps me to unload the goods, I am keenly aware of each
prices marked on the containers, pancake syrup (we are overjoyed to have
found) for 7000 shillings, more than a days wages and a weeks worth of
groceries for his small family. ( we pay our workers a similar wage to that
of the other mission families workers, and the best wage in the area) How
can I explain how that small jar is worth so much to us, to my kids. How
can I explain both how much we don’t have and how much what we do have means
to us. Should it?? How could they ever understand what we left behind in
America, and does it even matter?

I have always been a people pleaser, the source of much of my own pain. I
somehow want to satisfy my children, myself, and the hearts of people living
in poverty. I am caught between and among these completely different lives
and hearts. And once again I am in a place of trying to find rest in
individuals. I’m not sure if the way we are living here is right. I’m not
sure if it’s right to buy cases of toilet paper when people here don’t use
it and that money could be spent on them. What about soap? They rarely use
it! (maybe once a week) How will we choose what ways we will lives our
lives the same as this culture and in which ways we will be different
because we choose health, sanitation, nutrition. I can only do what I feel
is right, with prayer, with pleading that God will show me the next step.
All I know for sure is how much I don’t know, and that the knowing is not as
important as the trusting day by day, hour by hour, yes, for sure, minute by
minute.

And still sick, so pray for health . . . .

As the deer pants for water,
So my soul longs after You.

You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You.

You’re my friend and you are my brother
Even though You are a King.

I love you more than any other
So much more than anything.

The last several weeks have involved a significant amount of discouragement for us as we continue to adjust to our lives here.

. . . . . Weight loss and not enough protein, are concerning . . . . . .

. . . . . . Persistent sickness and feeling miserable, is wearing . . . .

. . . . Car problems, despite a “new” vehicle, are frustrating . . . . .

. . . . . Time in Kampala that has left us tired rather than rested, is depressing . . .

. . . . . Old demons rearing their ugly heads as we enter into new relationships here, are distracting . . . .

But through it all, God is always present. God is always, always good. God is always faithful. God is always gracious.

And we want to say with our whole hearts that we choose to THANK HIM passionately for difficulty, for adversity, for common, tiring troubles. . . Because they draw our hearts closer to Him.

As the deer, after running from danger, longs for water, we long for our God’s soul-satisfying water of life as we encounter struggles. He is our hearts desire and we long to worship Him with our whole lives; not just lips, voices or a few actions. May our whole lives be poured out before Him as a sweet smelling perfume, spreading His beauty and fragrance into all the dark and foul places.

And we do not worship alone, but with you all, His body, gathered with us in adoration. Whatever you’re doing right now, please stop and thank Him for who He is, for everything He is. A King greater than any we could ever imagine, and a friend and a brother to us.

Would your heart’s cry for us be that our struggles would draw us closer to the heart of God rather than bringing us a heart of self-pity, and that as we stand in His solitary presence, we would shine out His love, His light, and His always-enough-grace, to those we walk beside.

BE with Jesus,
Annelise for
David, Naomi and Quinn

We wanted to share with you the incredible view from our kitchen window; the moon rising over our “Mountains of the Moon”

For those who worry that we’ve dropped off the face of the earth (or worse), take heart.  We are merely in Kampala forgetting our worries for a little while we eat red meat, drink milkshakes and stock up on the necessities of life (think toilet paper).

So much to write about Kampala and the juxtaposition of life here vs. the village, but I’m not feeling up to it yet so I’ll tide you over wtih a picture of our little neighbor boy, Keboy (the one I bring eggs to) scarfing down one of the protein bars we’ve received!!  Look closely, maybe YOU sent it!  Your love and care are a treasure both to us and to those around us.  Thank you!!

I have some ancient heart struggles, places where I easily lose heart and
falter. I have a deep desire for the love and respect of those around me
and feel rejection very acutely. A dear friend wrote to me this week and I
wanted to share her words, so true and so timeless:

“I’m afraid it has to be enough that God knows who you are and deeply loves
you. If anyone else comes through for you the way God does, then it is
really Him anyway. If they don’t, then it is for your best somehow. I
trust that.There are no special people who have incredible capacities to
love – only God Himself.”

Coming out of the slump of an awful lot of sickness and related
discouragement, I walked up the path to our neighboring missionaries house
yesterday. My mission: to get Naomi away from all of us sickies for some
much needed play time. I felt ancient and exhausted and it was all I could
do to make it there and back, with Quinn sick and sad on my back.

On the way many, many people stopped to say that they were sorry that I hav=
e
been sick. To say, we hope you soon are well. Here people understand
sickness, they understand suffering. For me I am walking a path that they
have walked before and they are excited to share it with me.

For me it’s a reminder that the things that are painful in my life always
have sweet purpose, whether or not I can see what it is. And rather than
running away from pain I can choose to step into it, embrace it, accept it
and see what may be contained there.

Our bathroom sink started making loud croaking sounds a few days ago. We saw all kinds of bugs around it, and a nice fat cricket sitting inside, but thought that major sound couldn’t possibly come from any of them. We’d hear it intermittently while in the bathroom, and Quinn always ran to check the sink . . . .

After a few days his efforts were rewarded when he arrived at the sink to find the frog had come out of the drain and was perched on the ledge of the sink. Not sure how he got there or how he survived down there, but we released him outside using some of our usual skink-catching tupperware (boy, becky, that stuff sure does come in handy!)