tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63267515401186523762024-03-13T23:45:47.240-07:00The Terranova'smelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-82821409829808716302011-12-29T12:30:00.000-08:002012-05-23T11:05:45.737-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I can't believe it has taken me so long to write in here again.<br />
<br />
I have so many emotions right now - I keep thinking about the days ahead and the days behind and the days that I am living. Something that I can't seem to shake is: we could go anywhere - we could do anything.<br />
<br />
It all started several weeks ago when I was having a no good, terrible kind of week. After a horrendous excursion through town and epic cry I asked Joe if we could go to Thailand. "When?" he asked - my response? "Tomorrow". I admit now that it was extremely dramatic but that's how I felt - I had to go...not run away... just go. Five days later we were in Thailand. We road elephants, took boats rides, raced around the streets of Chiang Mai on the back of a motor-bike, ate amazing food, and we were completely joy-filled.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXlYgU96ZkA/TvzSLIG2tpI/AAAAAAAAAm0/B4F74Gys6Mc/s1600/IMG_1907.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691655117686093458" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXlYgU96ZkA/TvzSLIG2tpI/AAAAAAAAAm0/B4F74Gys6Mc/s400/IMG_1907.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 266px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
I did it... for the first time in a long time I let go...I stopped thinking. See, when you start working with the poor you analyze every single thing. You think about how every action, every word is going to effect some-one: spiritually, economically, culturally, and emotionally. All the time non-stop you worry about the decisions you make...and that day, I didn't think. When we cleared our minds we felt this deep peace about our future. A peace that was missing for so long - something we needed to make these big decisions in our life.<br />
<br />
Today we are thinking about us. Joe and I are leaving Uganda at the beginning of next year - like always the details are blurry but I keep thinking: we could go anywhere - we could do anything and it's exhilarating.<br />
<br />
Please pray with us as we seek.<br />
love,<br />
melissa</div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-70720160807632060472011-09-05T17:30:00.000-07:002011-09-05T18:16:51.655-07:00The last month has been a whirlwind.
<br />We left Uganda in a hurricane...we packed, organized, delegated, said goodbyes, and tied up loose ends all in a matter of a few days and then we took off in the middle of the night. I always wondered what would happen if there was a family emergency and we were half a world away...now I wonder no more and wish it wasn't so.
<br />
<br />Those 3 1/2 weeks in America were the hardest we have ever been through. Seeing the person you love the most hurting over the loss of a loved one and not being able to do anything about is incredibly painful and humbling. I felt completely vulnerable and not strong enough...and still feel remnants of it even now as we are home...even now as tears well up in my eyes.
<br />
<br />We returned to Uganda on a wednesday morning, packed up our house in bukaya on a thursday, and moved to jinja town on a friday. Looking back I dont know how we did it but I'm glad we did. With this move has come a lot less stress and a lot more community. I think down the road I will really ache to be back in that house... our first real home but today, I do not.
<br />
<br />We are finally getting back into the swing of things and once again contemplating more change as we consider opening a retail space/office area here. On top of all things tukula I have recently begun helping with admin. work at Amani Baby Cottage and teaching an art class once a week at St. Nicholas Primary. I enjoy all of this but can't help but miss my days of solitude - learning and growing in the comforts and quietness of my home. Learning and growing outside of my own environment means more holding back tears and having to think quicker. We're still continuing with the bible study with friends on Saturdays - learning about life, love and other mysteries. I realize more than ever that I need that time so badly - to fellowship and really dig deep into scripture. It's rewarding and also humbling to know that we were not made to know everything.
<br />
<br />The ladies of tukula are doing well. Esther said "when you are here with us it feels like home".
<br />To me, that's worth way more than selling a billion bags.
<br />
<br />I ask that you please keep us all in prayer as this is a season of grace and change for us.
<br />Lots of love,
<br />melissa
<br />melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-82645128602557504912011-07-09T14:06:00.000-07:002012-11-07T18:04:24.156-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At only one year she was abandoned at the hospital. She couldn't speak to tell anyone who her guardian was or what they looked like or if they would be back. A few days passed and she found herself in a yard full of other children her size and ladies she didn't know. Every day she is loved, fed, and cared for but it's not enough. She goes down the slide laughing the entire way and lands in my arms. She places her arms around my neck and points back to the slide. She is my friend and I see Jesus in her. <span style="color: #663366;">"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."</span><br />
<br />
Hassan is around 15 years old and calls my name from across the street. He runs to me and immediately asks where I'm going and I reply "market" and without hesitation from either of us we walk together hand in hand. On our way he makes sure I don't get hit by cars or ripped off by local vendors. Hassan knows the streets well because he lives there and most days he likes it that way. He has big dreams of being a taxi driver and going to America. With the little money he gets from begging or selling soap, Hassan will buy me popcorn not expecting anything in return and when I give him money for it he says "don't mind". Hassan is my friend and I see Jesus in him. <span style="color: #663366;">"This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. "</span><br />
<br />
I follow the sound of humming sewing machines through the loud, muddy market. "Auntie M, you're most welcome!" comes from a small blue stall. We greet each other with hugs and hand shakes as I make my way to an empty spot on the floor. We spill our insides and chat like we've known each other for a lifetime when really it's been only a year or a few months, even a few weeks. Each of us from different backgrounds, tribes, and religions but we love each other. These ladies are my friends and I see Jesus in them.<span style="color: #663366;"> "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry."</span><br />
<br />
Jaja Pius loves serving her family. She wraps her grandchild in a blanket and ties the baby to her back as she digs in the garden. She walks barefoot through the village and greets everyone along her way. I bring her some beans or fish and she kneels down to thank me and I get down on my knees and rub her back. Jaja Pius is my friend and I see Jesus in her.<span style="color: #663366;">"The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned"</span><br />
<br />
I spend my days staring Jesus right in the face.<br />
Every day is different but every day He's there calling my name, seeking my attention.<br />
Some days I refuse to look back - I don't acknowledge His good and perfect gifts...His people.<br />
Some days It's all I can do to keep from falling flat on my face before Him...hugging His people.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Everyday is different but every day He's there calling my name, seeking my attention.</span><br />
<span style="color: #663366; font-weight: bold;">"...I saw God face to face and He spared my life."</span><br />
He's there looking back at us - even on the hardest days.<br />
Turn your eyes to Him...<span style="font-style: italic;">it makes all the difference</span>.<br />
*</div>
melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-10132134720669711242011-06-14T18:11:00.000-07:002011-06-13T15:57:26.497-07:00bringing love with a sword<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:85%;" >Recently Joe and I started going to a bible study here that has really been making me think about what I truly believe. How it goes is the leader will tell stories of things that have happened in the bible but these stories are told almost like "old wives tales". It's fantastic - because this makes it easier to remember and re-tell but also helps us to ask questions instead of taking the verses for just what they are - allowing us to dig deeper. I would like to post here about what I've been learning as a way to share but also remember.<br /><br />We started with creation and Adam & Eve.<br />While we were discussing these stories I couldn't stop thinking about the song "When We Fell" by David Bazan - this song made me extremely uncomfortable when I first heard it.<br />"...</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:85%;" >If you knew what would happen and made us just the same then you, my Lord, can take the blame</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:85%;" >..."<br />I was quick to think that God would never do something like that to us. The bible study leader asked if God is just playing games with us. once again I was uncomfortable and immediately thought about God's mercy and gave Him the benefit of the doubt. But after a lot of thought I can see how people think that God simply is just messing around with us - like we're puppets. I was reading through the verses several times and couldn't help but notice that God SEEKS US. He extends His grace quicker than He gives curses. When Adam & Eve ate the forbidden fruit He WENT LOOKING for them and asked what happened. He gave them a chance to ask for forgives but instead passed the blame around. When Cain killed his brother Abel God WENT TO HIM and asked where Abel was - Cain lied.<br /></span><h3 style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);"><span style="font-size:85%;">"Because the God who is Love desires to love the whole world and genuine love involves freedom, the creatures of the Creator have received the gift of freedom to love God as a result of God’s own free decision to create and love."</span></h3><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:85%;" >Last week we read the story of Noah and what struck me the most during this story is Genesis 6:6 "<span style="font-style: italic;">The LORD </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">regretted</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled</span>" He felt regret. we discussed this at length and we ended with "God Himself never changes but He changes His mind". This makes me feel like He is flexible, that He hears our cries and re-acts with genuine feelings. He may know everything that will happen before it happens but He may not know how it's going to make Him feel in the moment.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNWmwMIIfQ8/TfaUsIRd-7I/AAAAAAAAAjY/oTkXALiUW1c/s1600/249208_10150198106602453_501552452_6889495_3635243_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNWmwMIIfQ8/TfaUsIRd-7I/AAAAAAAAAjY/oTkXALiUW1c/s400/249208_10150198106602453_501552452_6889495_3635243_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617841071047179186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:85%;" ><br />*We serve a God that is LOVE and love is messy. When love comes in there has to be room for changes and flexibility. I'm learning a lot about this personally. As God uses His sword to cut away everything that is not Love inside of me (<span class="messageBody" ft="{"type":3}">matthew 10:34) </span>I'm having to change a lot and although I thought I counted the costs it's been really hard and painful. </span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">Please keep us in your prayers as we keep going ahead with all this stretching.<br /><br />to those who read this: we love you!</span><br /></span></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-14290593672492752372011-06-01T23:21:00.000-07:002011-06-01T23:38:24.211-07:00rise and fallSorry again for the lack of updates.<br />To be honest it's been hard to write lately because life's been hard.<br />Lots of letting go of things that I have been carrying for years.<br />Lots of dreams lost and relationships broken.<br />Lot's of good to come though...at least I have hope.<br /><br />Once again, I find this fitting:<br />"<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears</span>. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight</span>. Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.” But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy. Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall</span></span>."-Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZM9YB943w4/TecvXst3aQI/AAAAAAAAAjM/WkPuks2NPrY/s1600/247555_10150204579327453_501552452_6953255_8019891_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZM9YB943w4/TecvXst3aQI/AAAAAAAAAjM/WkPuks2NPrY/s400/247555_10150204579327453_501552452_6953255_8019891_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613507544727644418" border="0" /></a>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-54049106768357379032011-04-20T06:21:00.000-07:002011-04-20T06:32:41.167-07:00well this is embarrassing...I completely fail at keeping this blog up to date.<br />I promise I will be better... someday.<br /><br />In the meantime <a href="http://tukulawegrow.blogspot.com">go here</a>. It's surprisingly up to date.<br />I also started this whole "friday favorites" thing - which I already missed one.<br />I really apologize for all this not writing business.<br /><br />If you are really itchin' for some good blogs check out <a href="http://www.faithblogs.net">FAITH BLOGS.</a><br /><br />Hope you are all well and that you have a fantastic Easter weekend!<br />love, Melissamelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-79318776385710777422011-01-08T09:10:00.000-08:002011-01-08T09:13:37.831-08:00A glimpse of TukulaWe made a video! It gives a small glimpse at what Tukula's tailoring business does and we can't stop watching it over here - we get to hang out with these women whenever we want but this video totally puts everything into perspective for us. We love them and we hope you can get to know them a bit better through this video!<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18533765" width="400" frameborder="0" height="300"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/18533765"><br /></a></p>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-22850936424634570222011-01-03T14:02:00.000-08:002011-01-03T15:41:26.175-08:00<span style="font-style: italic;">"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7)</span><br /><br />There's a little boy I mention A LOT his name is Becaham. He was a part of <a href="http://servinghischildreninuganda.blogspot.com/2010/05/in-little-house-outside-town-called.html">serving his children's malnutrition rehab program</a> back in the spring of 2010. That's how Joe and I got to know him and fell in love with him. Every time something was happening with his family/situation the director of SHC would call us and let us know. We prayed for him and loved on him and desired for him to grow in Jesus. We took him in for the month of June while the Director was in America and during that time a lot of people told us that we should "just adopt him" there was "no hope for his family" and so I became vulnerable and really wanted to adopt this little boy and make him a part of our family. I daydreamed about taking him to America and about meeting my family and how great it would be to have him in our lives forever. and then in July he went home - I was selfishly hurting and felt like I had lost a child and was unbelievably bitter towards all the things "standing in the way" between Becaham and I being together. I tried to distract myself so I dove head first into Tukula - designing, relationship building, sourcing materials, building a website/online store, getting promotional materials, etc etc and I loved it. I was so happy to be doing what we set out to do here and to be spending some time learning about three very incredible women. But this little boy captured a large part of my heart so I constantly thought about him - about what he was doing - if someone was loving him - if he was happy and healthy...<br /><br />In early November we decided to visit him in his village called Mayuge. We took a translator and we learned that Becaham was "good but not so good" we started interceding on Becahams behalf and my heart ached - "WHY GOD can't he just be with us?" - We went back the very beginning of December to check up on him again - once again we took a translator and heard so many different things - women of the village kept saying "just take him there is no one here to care for that boy" - we heard stories of cowives coming and going of arguments about who would care for the boy. Once again my heart was aching - "WHY GOD can't he just be with us?". I pleaded with God and asked him to take the desire to have him away from me if it was not His will to have Becaham be a part of our family - I wanted so badly to guard my heart.<br /><br />We asked the family if Becaham could spend Christmas with us - they were excited and happy that we wanted to take him. Two weeks passed and we went to pick up Becaham up and the father told us that all his wives had left and there was no one to care for Becaham (his 7- year old twin brothers were currently the ones to do so). He asked if we could take him for five years and then bring him back for school. Joe told him our situation - about how we didnt know if we would be in Uganda for five years and that if we took him we would want him forever. the dad immediately said "NO" - almost chuckling like Joe was crazy for even thinking that he would give his child up forever. We were shocked - all we have ever heard was "just take him" we never knew there was a time limit or that the dad actually cared (or at least what it seemed like). After the next three days he was with us we thought about everything - we thought about the possibility of fostering him and decided that if he was going to return to the village living with us, learning english, getting used to us being his "parents" was not a good idea so we decided to tell the father that we would be willing to help him with anything but we couldn't take him for only 5 years. my heart ached and again I pleaded with God - "WHY can't he just be with us?"<br /><br />The day after Christmas we made the trek back to Mayuge to return Becaham and give the dad the dad our decision. When we arrived who was there to greet us but a NEW WIFE. I was SHOCKED - seriously THREE DAYS LATER. The father was in good spirits and looked relieved - he told us that his family now has hope for Becaham - that basically a new wife had solved all his "problems". As we drove away I just stared and stared at Becaham on the back of his brother. I cried - I cried for Becaham - for his little life and out of how unfair it is that his mom had to die of AIDS. I cried for his dad - that he is so unbelievably wrapped up in Satan's lies. I pray for them a couple times a day and constantly think of him and miss him and wish I could just be his mom. I still continue to ache not just for myself now or that he could just be with us but for Becaham that he will grow up knowing that there is God who LOVES him and DESIRES him and that no matter how many women go in and out of his life - they do not leave because of him.<br /><br />To be honest I am about to break.<br />Dealing with this experience and also just seeing other friends who have been hurt because of there husband/father has had multiple wives is ripping my heart apart. I know that it's a different culture here and it's hard to understand without seeing but I ask you please to pray for the women and children around the world feeling unloved, unimportant, and neglected because of men in their lives who are having multiple wives or committing adultery.<br /><br />I know that for now Becaham is happy - that he knows no different and that he loves the children in his village and they love him. Everyday it gets easier to "let go" and God is bringing me <span style="font-style: italic;">a peace that surpasses all understanding</span>.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">hallelujah</span>...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TSJcjB79I3I/AAAAAAAAAds/KKkryegnQek/s1600/edited.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TSJcjB79I3I/AAAAAAAAAds/KKkryegnQek/s400/edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558106647013696370" border="0" /></a>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-62245636490211242822010-12-16T20:32:00.000-08:002010-12-16T20:34:50.403-08:00GUEST BLOG<p class="MsoNormal"><br />It took about 17 hours to fly from my home in America to Uganda, and about 3 more to realize that I was actually there. <span style=""> </span>Three hours: the approximate amount of time it took for me to shatter every rule and piece of advice that had been offered to me about visiting Africa. . . </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Do not travel <span style=""> </span>with undocumented drivers, do not eat uncooked fruits, vegetables, or any food prepared under unsanitary conditions,<span style=""> </span>do not walk in open toe shoes, do not make contact with anyone who appears ill. . . </i>(to name a few).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yes, believe it or not, people actually said these things. <span style=""> </span>People who I am guessing have never been to Africa , but after all, <i style="">I</i> had never been there either and although I seriously doubted that these guidelines would<span style=""> </span>be realistic to follow, I did not completely disregard the advice. . .at least on the plane ride there.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Our first afternoon in Uganda and a walk up the rutted red dirt path in Bukaya to the main road gave me a chance to really breathe the air and absorb my surroundings for the first time.<span style=""> </span>I tried to take in the view from ceiling to floor – the open sky, the mountainous island, the sliver of Lake Victoria hovering between the trees and roof tops, the haphazard gardens tumbling to the edge of the path, a goat here, a goat there, a piece of an old flip flop, a chicken, another chicken, more trash, another chicken, a baby playing in the ditch – wait, a baby playing in the ditch? Melissa smiled and pointed up the road, “It’s OK her mother is probably up there somewhere.” Sure enough, two small brown houses down the path was a woman sitting in the doorway, quietly watching us.<span style=""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We reached the main road and stopped – “Now what?”. “Well, now we just kinda wait for something to come along,” Joe shrugged . . . and just like that, rule number one cracked wide open. Two young Ugandan men on bodas (small motorcycles) pulled up and scooted forward on their seats. Two passengers plus the driver to a boda, a barter down to about 2000 shillings to take us into Jinja town, and suddenly the first ride of my life on a motorcycle was happening in a cotton skirt and sandals, clinging to a stranger in a strange country, weaving around potholes and cutting between trucks.<span style=""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Exhale</i>, I thought as I loosened my white knuckled fingers from the edges of my boda driver’s jacket . . . <i style="">just let go. </i><span style=""> </span>And I did. Within the next hour, I had devoured a vegetable egg wrap (rolex) made by a boy on the street who handed it to me in a scrap of paper from his flour sack and I had gashed my blood gushing <span style=""> </span>bare toe on a rock on my way down to the Source of the Nile. I was quickly drifting from the familiar territory of “be careful” to enjoy the land of “just <b style="">be</b>.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have heard time and time again that Africa is “a different world,” the terrain, the people, the culture. . .but although that is an easy way to describe the physical differences of a country like Uganda, I never really felt that way at heart. When I was able to let go of what I had been told, and began to trust what I was experiencing in the moment, it was as if I was just wandering my own country, my own home, and had somehow come across a bizarre part of town that I had not visited yet - a part of town that was bright and chaotic, lovely and scarred, but more human and real than any place that I had ever been before. <span style=""> </span>Each day seemed to be an enigma of “predictable unpredictability” and that lack of structure often forced our “to-do list” to become more reliant on the people around us rather than on elusive plans.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes it seems easier to trust and depend on plans rather than on people, but the latter requires that one trusts and depends on God a little more. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In an environment that sometimes appeared to be out of control to me, I learned to allow God to take command of my perspective, I began to identify the line between carelessness and faith, and to realize that as much as I needed to let go and trust that my boda driver would take me safely to Jinja, he was having to trust that this nervous American would pay him fairly when we reached our destination. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of my last days in Jinja I was walking through the market and a woman who had only seen me once before reached out and handed me her baby to hold for her while she helped bag fruit for a customer. While she worked, she never glanced in my direction to make sure that I was still there with her sleeping child in my arms and I wondered if she didn’t care if something happened to him, or if she simply had faith that her baby was in good hands….either way, I like to think that she trusted me in that moment with her most precious gift.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fortunately it took more than a couple of hours for me to adjust from the Ugandan lifestyle when I returned home. I walked more slowly for awhile, I worried less, and I thought about other people more than my agenda for the day. . .but I am sad to admit that I feel these wonderful side effects wearing off. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I miss Uganda, sure I miss the red dirt and the beautiful people whom I was blessed to meet, but more than anything, I long for that raw state of mind that forced me to be fully present in each moment, to depend on the “undependable,” and to concern myself with keeping only one rule in this life: an unwavering faith in the God who did not form “Ugandans” and “Americans,” but who simply breathed life into the dust and created willful, fickle humans to love Him. I will never claim that I understand a place like Uganda anymore than I understand a place like America, but my trip across the Atlantic has taught me so much more about this life… “For we are (all) fearfully and wonderfully made.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thank you Melissa and Joe, for an experience we will never forget.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Laura Pritchett</p>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-16174968391432216402010-11-08T20:33:00.000-08:002010-11-08T20:50:01.990-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TNjSCPuHyXI/AAAAAAAAAco/QjOyG2Ef_ac/s1600/editIMG_4492.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TNjSCPuHyXI/AAAAAAAAAco/QjOyG2Ef_ac/s400/editIMG_4492.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537406677873576306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />To my very best friend:<br />On Saturday we leave for Lebanon.<br />I don't have words to express how I feel and how excited I am for you<br />but Dr.Seuss offered some help...<br /><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Congratulations!</span><br /> Today is your day.<br /> You’re off to Great Places!<br /> You’re off and away!</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">You have brains in your head.<br /> You have feet in your shoes.<br /> You can steer yourself any direction you choose.<br /> You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go...</p><p style="font-style: italic;">Oh! The Places You’ll Go!</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">You’ll be on your way up!<br /> You’ll be seeing great sights!<br /> You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest...</p><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><p style="font-style: italic;">Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV...</p><p style="font-style: italic;">But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Life’s a Great Balancing Act</span>. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">And will you succeed?<br /> Yes! You will, indeed!<br /> (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)</p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Kid, <span style="font-weight: bold;">you’ll move mountains</span>!<br /> So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!<br /> Today is your day!<br /> Your mountain is waiting.<br /> So…get on your way!</p> I love you...and if my love was an ocean I would have to take many MORE than two airplanes to get across. Thank you for letting me a part of this.<br />onward and upward...<br />Lebanon here we come!!!<br />-mmelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-68442939070758814972010-11-01T21:40:00.000-07:002010-11-01T22:13:52.475-07:00standing in the gapWhen Abdallah cut his foot open that night at central market we knew what to do after we heard the older street children tell him that they would kill him if he came back to the streets. We took him home and after a week he went to live with a really beautiful family here in uganda. We stood in the gap for Abdallah it wasn't easy but we knew what we had to do.<br /><br />When Mama Yusuf was dying of AIDS we knew there was nothing we could do for her but stand in the gap and pray with her during her last few days and bring her beef stew. It was hard to say goodbye when she passed away but we knew it had to happen and we rejoiced at the thought of her not being forgotten anymore.<br /><br />When we first met Becaham my heart stopped. Those big brown eyes and that smile made me melt. We stood in the gap for him for a small period of time caring for him loving him and then returning him back to his family in the village. It was hard but we had to do it and we were excited when he would visit jinja and we could see he started crawling and was a bit chunkier. I closed that gap and praised God for all he did in Becaham's life.<br /><br />Until yesterday when that gap was ripped wide open.<br />We went to visit him in the village where he now lives with two moms (neither of which are his own) and his father. Friends, I wish it were as easy as giving his family a job or food or money - I wish it was only a matter of him just needing to go to the clinic. I wish it wasn't this hard family dynamic and lack of love. Our translator said that "he is good but not so good" and that sums it up completely. I wish there was some sort of closure he was either really bad or he was doing great. This time standing in the gap is hard and confusing and I have no idea what stepping out of this will look like.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TM-b56FA3gI/AAAAAAAAAcY/n9wvlO9GOKU/s1600/becaham.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TM-b56FA3gI/AAAAAAAAAcY/n9wvlO9GOKU/s400/becaham.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534813886206762498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Joe kept telling me yesterday that this is what being obedient to God looks like.<br />So here we are praying and waiting and filled with so much love for this little boy.<br />Please pray with us for his family we know that only God can place love in hearts and change lives drastically through it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On earth as it is in heaven...</span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-72181219131794399492010-10-18T19:47:00.001-07:002010-10-18T20:31:35.528-07:00autumn updatehello dear blog readers!<br />we have a lot of exciting things happening over hear and a few not so exciting things.<br />I'll start with the not so exciting:<br />-Bennah has been SICK. malaria. She's just started eating and we are praying for a SPEEDY recovery because we really love her and she's making some stellar new designs.<br />-Our dear Norwegian friend Eirik left last week. We selfishly wished he could just stay forever or until we leave but we wish him all the luck in the world! <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you for making us laugh and for introducing us to the Nyenga community, but importantly thank you for your friendship! we miss you!</span><br /><br />now for exciting news!:<br />-We are meeting with a possible NEW TAILOR this Wednesday.<br />-We are starting the endeavor of teaching money management to our tailors - this doesn't sound that exciting right? well, it was THEIR idea. talk about self-empowerment!<br />- There are 11 kids right down the road from our house (ok so they're far down the main road branch left onto a very dusty dirt road slope right at the train tracks onto a "path" pass the evangelical world vision church and there they are!) who are part of an ever growing children's home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TL0NVnkbuEI/AAAAAAAAAcA/PflLbqaLzik/s1600/bw_paulina.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TL0NVnkbuEI/AAAAAAAAAcA/PflLbqaLzik/s400/bw_paulina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529590582531045442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(me & paulina)</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TL0NVr9siUI/AAAAAAAAAcI/4Hvz2XMTyww/s1600/edward.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TL0NVr9siUI/AAAAAAAAAcI/4Hvz2XMTyww/s400/edward.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529590583710746946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(edward)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TL0NVxDo4gI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/G2EJc5dVPk0/s1600/ivan.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TL0NVxDo4gI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/G2EJc5dVPk0/s400/ivan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529590585077850626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >(ivan - one of the newest additions :)</span><br /><br />The children's home also currently teaches kindergarten to children from the community who can't afford school and gives them each a nutritious meal a day. They also will be teaching English during school holidays. They have future hopes of building a clinic and a school. They currently do not have a clean water source...that's where tukula comes in and where YOU come in. The excess profits from the sale of the bags goes towards building them a rainwater harvesting tank (which we will start constructing in December for the home and in the future for the school!) - <a href="http://www.tukula.org/shop.html">so keep shopping</a>, friends!<br /><br />lots of love,<br />The Terranova'smelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-35918125950055912782010-09-30T19:15:00.000-07:002010-09-30T19:58:31.004-07:00snaps<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVMxDuFNtI/AAAAAAAAAbI/pjoyHM6M3Cw/s1600/boat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVMxDuFNtI/AAAAAAAAAbI/pjoyHM6M3Cw/s400/boat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522904923735668434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVM01oTwEI/AAAAAAAAAbo/Av91-aIdDNQ/s1600/screen.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVMz6tIT9I/AAAAAAAAAbY/QjISC3_QO1I/s1600/jep.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVMz6tIT9I/AAAAAAAAAbY/QjISC3_QO1I/s400/jep.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522904972855365586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVM0Z3UVNI/AAAAAAAAAbg/hOh03D_qDUE/s1600/kids2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVM0Z3UVNI/AAAAAAAAAbg/hOh03D_qDUE/s400/kids2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522904981219595474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVMz-Goy9I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/e4LucjeAYko/s1600/burlap.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVMz-Goy9I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/e4LucjeAYko/s400/burlap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522904973767658450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVOATg-E-I/AAAAAAAAAbw/GFThwi6Gj0A/s1600/screen.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TKVOATg-E-I/AAAAAAAAAbw/GFThwi6Gj0A/s400/screen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522906285185307618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />happy October, friends : )melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-54899557850477171152010-09-18T00:25:00.000-07:002010-09-18T09:11:09.720-07:00<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">sometimes...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I walk down the road and one of the neighbor kids will ask for money and I just smile at them...because honestly I just want to cry. why can't I give them money? I'm given reasons on a daily basis "they will come to expect it and that's not good... they cant be reliant on white people" "because then you will just give them reason to ask other mzungus for money" "because you're making their parents lazy" and I keep smiling and walking and wave bye when I get to the main road.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />sometimes...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">One of the tailors, or a shop owner, or someone I'm meeting with doesn't have what I asked for the days prior, is late, or has a long list of excuses about something and I can't get too frustrated because it's "African culture to be late" or "I dont know english" or "we're all out I have to go to kampala for it come back monday"... so I just smile and say "see you next week".</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />sometimes...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">my husband asks me what happens if tukula doesn't work out and I have a panic attack and I smile and say "I've never thought about it before".<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">sometimes...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I miss a little boy named Becaham so much and I think why can't he just be mine - his family doesn't even care if he's with them or not. But I'm told everyday "he has a family" and I smile even though it doesn't make me feel better.and the toilets don't flush, there's a million ants on our "clean" dishes, I wish I had someone other than my husband to hang out with, some one is always at our gate asking for a job, our best friend is dealing with witch craft spells, It's rainy season and I get caught in the rain several times a week....I just want to pull out my hair...but then...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And I smile because I know there is a new day and God has placed me right here right now in the middle of Uganda for such a time as this. And I realize all this messiness that's inside of me isn't mine to carry alone. and if I threw in the towel then I would be saying that my best friend, the one who created me was wrong for bringing me here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">and He's not. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He says..."</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >It's ok if you want to pull your hair out. I do too sometimes because of this mess you've created, but I love you....I love you with my whole life. So, stay here with me</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">."so I stay and the same neighbor child dances in my front yard, and the tailor makes me laugh, the shop owner says "thank you for loving us" , If it doesn't work out I took a really beautiful risk, and Baby Becaham has a heavenly Father who wants him to be right where he is.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And I have absolutely nothing to worry about.</span></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-21619806388237545812010-08-27T21:02:00.000-07:002010-08-27T21:26:23.755-07:00friends,<br />we recently finished this <span style="font-weight: bold;">beautiful</span> wholesale catalog.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/THiPPZor_sI/AAAAAAAAAao/7feBIS0VKmw/s1600/brownbag.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/THiPPZor_sI/AAAAAAAAAao/7feBIS0VKmw/s400/brownbag.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510311638830153410" border="0" /></a><br />A catalog with just the items we feel ok about wholesale-ing (meaning: the ones that we can pump out a lot faster than the ones we cannot because for some reason we can make 30 burlap clutches in a week but it's like pulling teeth to complete 10 wallets in a week...but I digress : )...) So we are asking that if you know of any boutiques or markets or anyone really who you think would want to purchase 10 (minimum) or more of our products at a whole sale price please send me an email (melissa@tukula.org) or leave their contact in a comment and I will send them our catalog! I promise you these ladies would be so grateful:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/THiNYSL13JI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/oUNRxJk3PQY/s1600/esther.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/THiNYSL13JI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/oUNRxJk3PQY/s400/esther.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510309592425684114" border="0" /></a><br />(esther, 31 years old: In the center of Madhavani Market you will most likely find Esther hard at work, making her neighbors laugh, or quite possibly both. She is a single mother of 4 children: Prince, Precious, Posh, and Shami - the most joyful family you will ever meet!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/THiNY9KO10I/AAAAAAAAAag/3FkYK2HBbc0/s1600/pross.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/THiNY9KO10I/AAAAAAAAAag/3FkYK2HBbc0/s400/pross.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510309603961657154" border="0" /></a><br />(Prossy, 33 years old: The best friend and side-kick of Esther, Prossy is the shy one of the two. They became such good friends while Esther was teaching her how to sew. She is a hardworking single mother of 2 with an always sunny disposition [like Mary Poppins!])<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/THiNYj25DDI/AAAAAAAAAaY/H5NWhmrvSNc/s1600/bennah.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/THiNYj25DDI/AAAAAAAAAaY/H5NWhmrvSNc/s400/bennah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510309597169650738" border="0" /></a><br />(Bennah, 25 years old: This young newlywed was the first tailor to join the tukula team. She came to Jinja after finishing off tailoring school in Uganda's capital city [Kampala]. She always takes pride in her work and often tells us she will "<span style="font-style: italic;">try her level best</span>"!)<br /><br />thanks!<br />-mmelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-75289627782024288192010-08-19T22:07:00.000-07:002010-08-19T23:05:41.123-07:00Jesus asked me if I would be His disciple and I said "yes".<br />I remember thinking "this means I have to live and love like You"<br />I tried really hard and then all of a sudden... I gave up.<br /><br />I'm currently living in a fantasy world where just because I moved to Uganda and spend time with dirt on my feet and extremely poor people I thought that was good enough. Dear friends let me tell you, it is not. So if you thought moving to africa, adopting an orphan, or giving your summer vacation money to a project in a developing country was "living and loving" like Jesus - you haven't even touched the surface.<br /><br />He wants us to live and love like Him in EVERY situation. Living and loving like Him means we have to be genuine...in the words we speak and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> the thoughts we think</span>. I have been affirmed time and time again for the things I am DOING but because no-one (but Christ) can say "your thoughts are on heaven - well done!" - no one can see my thoughts ...I get to think whatever I want and not be judged. This is where I stumble and this where I find myself thirsty. I was able to drop my plow and walk away and not be held accountable for the work I had left to do because everyone saw the work I have already done and in the eyes of the world it's good enough. But something is missing - <span style="font-style: italic;">the harvest is here</span> ...and He wants EVERYTHING because He created us FOR HIM.<br /><br />Can you imagine how different our actions and what we say would be if we CONTINUOUSLY thought about heaven? But not just that but how GENUINE our actions and words would be. Can you imagine how unimportant where you live, who you are with, even what you were doing would be? <span class="body"></span><br /><br />I'm going to try this again - giving <span style="font-style: italic;">everything</span> to follow Him.<br />I dare you to.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-53275090621588765892010-08-06T07:00:00.000-07:002010-08-06T07:11:36.200-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TFwXQa3v3FI/AAAAAAAAAaA/6bb7CSdnCwo/s1600/charles3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TFwXQa3v3FI/AAAAAAAAAaA/6bb7CSdnCwo/s400/charles3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502298415598394450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday our dear friend, Oneka Charles, passed away. The past couple of weeks had been so hard for him. He was in so much pain and fighting so hard. The last time we saw him was on Saturday right before he left for his homeland, Gulu. The moaning and groaning I heard that day haunted me for days I knew that things weren't good but still had hope that God could heal him if He wanted to. But today as sad as I am I also rejoice knowing that Charles is reuniting with His beloved creator and that they are having a huge celebration. : )<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TFwXQBAh0HI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/S3y98tvR1WQ/s1600/charles%2Bjoe.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TFwXQBAh0HI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/S3y98tvR1WQ/s400/charles%2Bjoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502298408655900786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We will never forget our time with you and how excited you would get to see Joe. We are celebrating with you today and missing you so much! I feel so blessed to know you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TFuO590QE1I/AAAAAAAAAZw/hITPUO3ZxTc/s1600/group%2Bmelissa.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TFuO590QE1I/AAAAAAAAAZw/hITPUO3ZxTc/s400/group%2Bmelissa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502148496260600658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Amari Matek, dear brother!melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-3567028513797840432010-07-15T17:49:00.000-07:002010-07-15T18:22:32.556-07:00<p>On any given day I feel about 10 different emotions. Sometimes those feelings come all at one time - even when I don't think it's possible. But for the past few days sorrow is the only emotion that can really be reached.<br /><br />Uganda experienced a really <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10602791">hard hit</a> on Sunday night. <br />I'm still trying to process what happened and every day there's a point when I think I might break.<br /><br />During this time we are also aching for a dear friend whose baby girl is fighting for her life. We are all praying harder than I think we ever have. I invite you to pray with us.. for everything and everyone. It's heavy around here but God is ever present and faithful.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">hallelujah</span><br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears</span>. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight</span>. Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.” But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy. Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall</span></span>."-Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran</p>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-48515908005315940152010-07-11T05:02:00.000-07:002010-07-11T05:38:28.855-07:00Sorry about the lack of blogs! I'm fired!<br /><br />Just thought I would let you all know that you can now purchase the summer products on <a href="http://www.tukula.org/">www.tukula.org </a><br /><br />were excited!<br />celebrated with some good ol' boy meets world and oreos (yes yes all sent from "the 'merica")<br />: )<br />certainly lots to celebrate!<br />*<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TDm5hd8s6bI/AAAAAAAAAZA/0xljp7cwWL8/s1600/edit.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TDm5hd8s6bI/AAAAAAAAAZA/0xljp7cwWL8/s400/edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492625205181082034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TDm5h_-I22I/AAAAAAAAAZI/cAgZW-pdE60/s1600/IMG_7070.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TDm5h_-I22I/AAAAAAAAAZI/cAgZW-pdE60/s400/IMG_7070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492625214313913186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TDm60tTXOOI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/27eAyTxpd5Q/s1600/IMG_7000.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TDm60tTXOOI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/27eAyTxpd5Q/s400/IMG_7000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492626635231803618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TDm61OKkxNI/AAAAAAAAAZY/wjggDegfKXI/s1600/IMG_6816.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TDm61OKkxNI/AAAAAAAAAZY/wjggDegfKXI/s400/IMG_6816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492626644053312722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />love,<br />Joe and Melissamelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-55133255742340850312010-06-26T11:38:00.000-07:002010-06-26T11:42:12.126-07:00thirsty?<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">my next door neighbor is an extremely old woman who I call JaJa Pius - she sits in her ditch and waves to me while she collects water for her family.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">my best friend once told me about a time she was house sitting for a family and she had to give their cat BOTTLED WATER everyday.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">think about the insanity of that.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">then also think about these facts:</span>
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<br />3.575 million People die each year from water-related disease.</span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />43% of water-related deaths are due to diarrhea. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0 – 14. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world.<o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately one in eight people.<o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />At any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >Less than 1% of the world’s fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the typical person living in a developing country slum uses in a whole day. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />About a third of people without access to an improved water source live on less than $1 a day. More than two thirds of people without an improved water source live on less than $2 a day. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />Poor people living in the slums often pay 5-10 times more per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />Without food a person can live for weeks, but without water you can expect to live only a few days. <o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:85%;" >
<br />The daily requirement for sanitation, bathing, and cooking needs, as well as for assuring survival, is about 13.2 gallons per person
<br /></span> <span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >
<br />and house pets are drinking bottled water......
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<br />there are seven children who live down the road from the road from meand they lost their father when they were very little and recently lost their little brother who was poisoned. They live in a room (with their mom) that's a little bit bigger than my bathroom.
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<br />think about that...8 people living in a room the size of my bathroom where I use more water showering for two minutes than they would all use in an entire day.
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<br />THEN think about the 2,000 verses in the bible that talk about the poor and marginalized. The one's that talk about how they are thirsty but no one will give them anything to drink (matthew 25: 41-43). or how about that one verse that talks about how we need to sell everything we own and give to the poor and only then we can go and follow Jesus. (luke 18:22)
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<br />THEN think about your lifestyle and if you're anything like me this will scare you. This fear will then cause you to justify every single one of those verses because if we even dare to think about how serious God is about ALL of the people in this world that would mean we have to change something about the way we live and interact with others. This same fear that does all that will then have you looking at every other verse in the bible to find the one thing that you can discuss with strong convictions because it doesn't cause you to look internally...verses about homosexuality and politics...verses that make us feel like we're really following God's word.
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<br />all this to say...I have a lot of lifestyle changes and internal examinations that need to happen.</span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-77771905777096625862010-06-16T00:27:00.000-07:002010-06-16T00:49:46.135-07:00"<span style="font-style: italic;">Lead me to the truth and I will follow you with my whole life</span>." - Mumford & Sons<br /><br />Here's TRUTH:<br /><br /> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30158">1</sup>Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30159">2</sup>This is what the ancients were commended for. <p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30160">3</sup>By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30161">4</sup>By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30162">5</sup>By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30163">6</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. </span></p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30164">7</sup>By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith <span style="font-weight: bold;">he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness</span> that comes by faith. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30165">8</sup>By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30166">9</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country</span>; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30167">10</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. </span></p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30168">11</sup>By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because considered him faithful who had made the promise. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30169">12</sup>And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30170">13</sup>All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. <span style="font-weight: bold;">And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth</span>. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30171">14</sup>People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30172">15</sup>If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30173">16</sup>Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30174">17</sup>By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30175">18</sup>even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30176">19</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. </span></p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30177">20</sup>By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30178">21</sup>By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30179">22</sup>By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30180">23</sup>By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30181">24</sup>By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30182">25</sup>He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30183">26</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30184">27</sup>By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30185">28</sup>By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30186">29</sup>By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30187">30</sup>By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30188">31</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.</span> </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30189">32</sup>And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30190">33</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, </span><sup style="font-weight: bold;" class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30191">34</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.</span> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30192">35</sup>Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30193">36</sup>Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30194">37</sup>They were ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30195">38</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">the world was not worthy of them</span>. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. </p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30196">39</sup>These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-30197">40</sup><span style="font-weight: bold;">God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hebrews 11</span></span>)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will follow You with my whole life.</span><br /></p>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-84493488764804914492010-06-13T20:49:00.000-07:002010-06-13T21:03:35.151-07:00oh, June, you move way too fastSo much to write but not much time.<br />This little one has been occupying much of our time:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TBWpAmAE1BI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ofsvsjS2OfM/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TBWpAmAE1BI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ofsvsjS2OfM/s400/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482473949059404818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />along with cleaning up several food messes, killing ants and cockroaches, trying to be a better wife, trying to figure out this whole tukula business thing, trying to figure out what this super complicated crying baby (who I love unconditionally) wants, future thoughts, researching the world's water crisis, making meals, washing pooped clothes/sheets (by hand no less!), Joe being sick, me feeling sick, kampala, fabric fabric fabric, crying baby, dealing with our super particular but sweet landlord, date nights, the bat-man, playing with the neighbor kids, crying baby, attempting to return emails, meeting new friends - fostering relationships with old friends, etc etc etc<br /><br />good and bad - I love it all.<br />Becaham's up and here goes another day...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TBWpq5-s17I/AAAAAAAAAYw/IuixbfeniPk/s1600/IMG_6988.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/TBWpq5-s17I/AAAAAAAAAYw/IuixbfeniPk/s400/IMG_6988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482474675976853426" border="0" /></a>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-17384301423439096952010-05-30T21:55:00.000-07:002010-05-30T22:40:37.401-07:00hello blogger friends - I know it's time to update when I get emails asking me what we're up to. So here we go:<br /><br />Joe and I have a had a bumpy month. Things are going super slow and made even slower by having to re-adjust the whole tailoring team. So we stepped back and tried to see the bigger picture of tukula and although we started this journey with the desire to help small businesses flourish it's turning into something I never thought I would be the slightest bit interested in...sustainability through sanitation and health. As much as we love that we get to help a handful of ladies grow their tailoring businesses we also love the idea of getting to help whole communities grow also.<br /><br />A couple of weeks ago I watched some very young girls carry large amounts of LAKE water in jerry cans back to their house where their mother (their only parental figure) was in town looking for money to pay for medicine because she was sick. As I helped the oldest carry water back to the house I thought about how if they had access to clean water maybe the mother wouldn't be sick and the children would for sure not be walking to the lake at night to fetch water. And instead of using the money on medicine they could use it on things like a garden so they can grow their own food and even sell it if they have more than enough.<br /><br />My thoughts became faster and faster and I knew in all reality I was being completely idealistic but I began researching<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainwater_harvesting"> Rain Water Harvesting</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanure">Humanure</a> anyway. I learned the <a href="http://www.farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/38-6script_en.asp">benefits</a> of having <a href="http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/36/712913">these systems</a> and how people were thriving by using them.<br /><br />In September with the excess profits we make this summer (from selling bags made by some lovely ladies in bukaya and jinja town who I will update you on in our next post) we are hoping to do a small scale pilot project to see if in the future we can actually make this happen for larger communities.<br /><br />Please keep these plans and our current tailoring team in your prayers and please e-mail me if you have any helpful thoughts on any of this! (melissa@tukula.org)<br /><br />grace and peace,<br />melissamelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-10970968301699965372010-05-16T16:15:00.002-07:002010-05-16T18:00:51.269-07:00I get asked very often what I do and why I am in Uganda.<br />My answer to question number one is: I own a business.<br />My answer to question number two is: I'm following Jesus.<br /><br />I am not in Uganda because I own a social business that works with young tailors - I am in Uganda because Jesus called me to be a disciple and I said yes...then he called me to leave everything again and I said "I'll go" - reluctantly but I said it. THAT is why I am in Uganda.<br /><br />BUT because people are usually interested and I get asked to "elaborate" a lot I will fill you in on "what I do"...<br /><br />I wake up around 6:30 am (or in today's case I wake up at 1 am and can't go fall back to sleep - fingers crossed that as soon as this blog is finished I will!) I wash my face, make tea, check all the many accounts I have on the world wide web (internet works best in the morning). around 7 am I usually get bored of writing emails and stalking my friends and family back home so I wake up my husband. I then make us breakfast (which usually consists of eggs or oatmeal or like yesterday a banana because electric was out and I didn't feel like lighting the charcoal stove) and we usually chat a bit. After that I usually shower (the shower part only actually happens about 3 days a week) and get dressed. Joe and I then coordinate schedules and decide if we want to go to town before lunch or after (we try to be back in bukaya for lunch [which consists of leftovers usually] to save money). When we're in town you can find us carting large amounts of fabrics or bags of materials or groceries or sometimes (only one time really) a broken stove top that needs to be fixed. : ) - Currently all tukula tailors work in town or around town so we visit them a lot and make sure things are going well and no one is running out of any sort of material. You can also find us in central market (main market in jinja) a lot - buying food or random materials like the burlap we just purchased for a very special project we're working on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/S_CMrNlZRPI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/XyZKPn622-0/s1600/blog.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/S_CMrNlZRPI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/XyZKPn622-0/s400/blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472028221263922418" border="0" /></a><br />When we are home during the day we are usually doing research, screen printing bag pockets, dyeing fabrics, making receipts, schedule planning, chasing chickens, cleaning the house, doing yard work, going to bukaya market, editing videos for amazima and shc, etc. etc.<br />Usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays if we don't have anything planned in the afternoon we go to Masese to hang out with our friends at <a href="http://servinghischildren.org/">Serving His Children</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/S_CU6HI9KtI/AAAAAAAAAYg/vIU7kB01sso/s1600/Untitled.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/S_CU6HI9KtI/AAAAAAAAAYg/vIU7kB01sso/s400/Untitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472037273325087442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We really aren't too extremely busy and usually let things wait until tomorrow if we really need to - because first and foremost we are disciples and that means taking time out of our schedules to help a little girl carry water, stop & chat with a complete stranger, or hold a baby who just needs some lovin'. : )melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326751540118652376.post-15407757428654050252010-05-10T04:21:00.000-07:002010-05-10T04:53:24.174-07:00quick updateMeet Carol...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/S-ftSyeiIdI/AAAAAAAAAYA/KWr6GVOu9Zs/s1600/carol.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-9vm4XiK6qA/S-ftSyeiIdI/AAAAAAAAAYA/KWr6GVOu9Zs/s320/carol.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469601179508023762" border="0" /></a><br />Carol is currently working as a bead roller for <a href="http://www.lightgivesheat.org">SUUBI</a> but is also doing some piece meal work for us while we receive applicants and interview future <a href="http://www.tukula.org">Tukula</a> employees. She is very humble and does great work and we are happy that we get to work with her for a small period of time.<br /><br />We currently have one bag design that is pretty popular and we are working on some smaller pieces as well. I'm really excited about everything and hoping to get a package sent to America by the end of June.<br /><br />We are still enjoying Uganda. many hilarious things happen on a daily basis...today I got called Auntie Mombasa by a little girl in Masese.. bless her heart - my name is just too hard. I often get Auntie Musa or Auntie Molesta...My motorbike driver once called me Mwanza and kept insisting it was the most beautiful name ever...haha : ) We sometimes have people walk through our gate and come right up to our door selling bread or avocados or all kinds of different things - It usually ends with us being really confused because we have no idea what they're saying and them leaving bummed because we didn't purchase their goods. We had a chicken die in our yard a couple days ago - not quite sure what killed it but it was our neighbors chicken and I felt awful. It's pretty hilarious though because we are constantly have our neighbors chickens walk around our yard and we insist on locking our gate every night- I'm assuming if a chicken can get in a person can figure out how to get in too. A couple of weeks ago I was need to transport two book shelves to our house from town and so we strapped them on a motorbike and the driver said "OK now you get on.."so there I was smooshed between two bookshelves and my driver - I laughed the entire way down the bumpy old bridge path home. I really enjoy the simplicity of life here and sometimes can't imagine my life anywhere else - but I sure do miss people in America and sometimes can't imagine living away from them for long. If only I could have the best of both worlds. (Oh, Hannah Montana how do you do it?!) : )<br /><br />Keep us in your prayers as we are making some important decisions this week.<br />much love,<br />Melissamelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10465485415958930196noreply@blogger.com1