Shine In Africa: 2014

The VAN!

25 years ago I took Drivers Training at Grandville High School (now its the Jr. High). I was taught to keep my hands on the wheel at 10 and 2. I think that is old school now. I was told to never take your hands off the wheel. I think something in me took that literally in my life. I wanted to control my life and where I was going to go and when I was going to get there. It took a calling to Uganda to realize that there is a better way. It isn't always the easiest or most comfortable way. It is giving up the wheel and allowing Jesus to take me where He wants to take me. Surrendering my life to Him. It sounds easy, but this journey has taught me that it takes a lot of trust. The hands come off the wheel, but we hit a bump and I want to grab that wheel again. We take an exit I don't like, yep I try and take the wheel again. It is a process. A process that may take me a whole life to learn. I am so thankful that my driver has a lot of patience and a lot of GRACE!
We began our journey in Soroti Uganda and quickly found out that we had a lot to learn about living in new country with a family of 6. The food was different. If we tried to make something like a pizza, Michelle, my wife (she's amazing by the way) would have to make the tomato sauce - no pizza quick here - make the dough for the crust, grate the block of mozzerella cheese - that we had to drive 8 hours to Kampala to get - and then sprinkle on a few pepperonis that we took from home. It isn't like the Hot n Readys I used to pick up on the way home from work sometimes.
Sleeping under mosquito nets is different, having to have guards sleep at the house is different, living behind a wall with razor wire is different, hearing the Muslim call to prayer every morning at 5am is different, being around the family much more is different. There are many things that are different about living in a different country. But like everything the different fades away and it becomes normal.
In Michigan To Do Lists are how to operate. I would write down the tasks for the day, prioritize them and get to work. I knew how to get it done! There was a feeling of accomplishment and a days work well done. In Uganda things work just a little bit differently. The To Do List still gets made, but the feeling of accomplishment doesn't and can't come from getting things done. For some reason things just take longer, ALOT longer to get done here. Relationships far outweigh getting the To Do Lists done here (and the fact that it is almost 100 degrees with no air conditioning). Greeting people is important. Asking about family and caring about those family members is important. Sitting down is important. Visiting your friends often is important. Just a few days ago a friend called and asked why Ive been lost? We have not communicated in over a week and that was just not acceptable.
On this journey our family has experienced so many things that weren't in the 5 year or the 10 year plan that I made for us. Michelle (the amazing one) is homeschooling our 4 children. There learning is important to us. We trust God that the experience that they have from living here will impact their view of the world for the rest of their lives, but it isn't always easy for them or their teacher. -this might be a good time to put a message out there that we would love to have one or two teachers come join us in Uganda for 6 months or a year to help homeschool our kids! Our van has broken down too many times to count, like at a burial in the rain or another time in the dark with the whole family between towns. We have learned how to farm doing it God's Way. We have learned how to dehydrate mangos and build the dehydrators and pack and sell the dried mangos. We have entered into so many amazing relationships with the people from Uganda. We have traveled around and have seen many amazing animals like elephants and water buffalos. We had to make an emergency trip on medical evacuation jet for one of our kids. We have been called upon to care for children living in the streets, children who are orphaned with no place to go. We have been able to encourage people with business training and walked with them as they started new ventures. We have been able to ride over dusty narrow roads full of potholes to bring the love of Jesus to people who have seemed to have lost all hope. Would I have picked it? Would I have "driven" here? Probably not. But have I been blessed? Absolutely. The places that Jesus is taking us have been so stretching. I can't explain to you in words. Even in entering into the pain and suffering of many we minister with we can see Him. We end up being the ones learning. His Grace is truly amazing.
It is hard to hear about the suffering that goes on back home. Hearing of friends that are sick, struggling and even passing into glory and not being able to hug them, cry with them, pray with them and be with them is not easy. We miss our family, friends, church and Shine. There are days when I would love to press a button and be back there, but then that would mean grabbing the wheel again. Instead we keep learning to get on our knees and give our burdens to Jesus Christ and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us.