Christmas with the Funk

One movie that I know many people love yet others hate is Christmas with the Kranks… For me personally, it both makes me laugh because of similarities I see with my family getting excited for when I’m home for Christmas but it also nauseates me because it shows just how much Jesus is missing from the “necessities” of Christmas.

This Christmas, I didn’t have it with the Kranks but with the Funk (in two different ways). I had one type of “funk” in that I was so so sick leading up to Christmas. My permanent residence was the couch in Jess and Bev’s house as I had to miss so much of what captures this season (parties, food, etc… ) it definitely was not a pleasant time. I’m just happy that I’m FINALLY getting better!

But honestly, even before that I had the another type of funk… I am normally nuts about Christmas… more about the magical (for lack of a better word) feeling that comes along with the season. Even here in Africa, in the past I’ve really just loved this time of year. This year was a different story. I just couldn’t get into it. Now given, the extra things that we get so bogged down with don’t make Christmas… it’s about rejoicing in God’s love that He chose to put skin on, but I just was honestly a bit of a Grinch and didn’t even allow that focus to bring joy to my heart.

All day yesterday, I was in probably the worst mood I’ve ever been in. I feel bad for Davis because as it tends to normally be, the ones you’re closest to take the brunt of when you’re in a sour mood, even if they don’t deserve it. Instead of trying to make the best of everything, I just allowed myself to be miserable… and in turn make others miserable as well. Instead of being focused on Him, I was focused on myself, and really that’s the worst funk of them all… I wasted what could have been an awesome day and now have a whole year before I can enjoy this time again.

Yes, I could use the excuse of: but I was just homesick, or this was wrong, or I was sick, blah blah blah… bottom line is that truthfully I was focused on me, myself, and I and that’s just not ok. Just yesterday before the service I was having my quiet time and reading about John the Baptist calling his listeners to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” and then this morning in Proverbs I read “As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly”. I need to truly repent from my attitude yesterday, change my temper, and not be like that dog. It was definitely a sobering holiday, and let’s just hope that next year, I will have learned from my mistakes and make my focus 100% on Him and not on myself.

I feel like hopefully this was me reaching rock bottom, and it’s been a long time coming. I feel like my focus has been on myself for a while now and that’s possibly why I’ve been a failure at blog posts and keeping you all updated about the work out here, I’m hoping that will now change after the firm beating I got yesterday from Him.

But all that to say, I hope you all had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A new chapter

Life is full of new beginnings and changes. Sometimes it seems like you're kind of in what you seem will forever be you life with very little change. You have your routine and you get comfortable... that's when God goes, "yup, time to shake things up". I thought my life was pretty good, couldn't complain, I was happy with my work and life in general. Last winter I went to the States and talked about my plans to reach the 17 million youth of Uganda and had my game plan on how I was going to achieve it and what not. But again as it has been said, if you want to see God laugh, make plans.

Shortly after coming back from furlough, God showed me through a variety of ways that I had the man He made for me standing right in front of me. The nice thing is that He was showing him that too (except it was the woman He made for him :) ). After almost six months of officially dating, Davis Muwumba asked me to marry him and I couldn't be happier... like seriously I don't think I've stopped smiling since Monday. I am amazed that God would love me so much as to give me such an awesome man to spend the rest of my life with.

The amazing thing is that with this new twist of me getting married, I'm realizing that the vision God gave me of reaching the 17 million is in fact even more possible then it was before. I get to marry a man who recognizes my call and my giftings and desires for us to work as a team to make it happen. This is simply to say, please don't think that just because I'm getting married does that change anything about my passion to see the 17 million youth of Uganda turned into true disciples of Christ.

As I enter this new chapter and begin preparing to add on the new ministry of being a wife, I just ask for your prayers for both Davis and myself to maintain our focus on Him and that we would be sensitive to the opportunities God continues to open up in reaching the youth in Uganda.

In sickness and in health

At Calvary ABQ, we are currently going through a serious about marriage. It's been awesome so far, and this past Saturday was one that God spoke volumes to so many people. The message title was "In sickness and in health" dealing with what happens when one spouse gets sick. I honestly couldn't believe it considering what my family has been going through for so long now.

I've said this before and I will definitely say it again... I have learned so much from my parents about what love and marriage are all about. The first and foremost most important thing I've learned is that marriage is not about you... it's actually the total opposite. It's about dying to yourself each and every day putting that other person's needs above your own... even when it's not easy. Love is a commitment, it's about hanging in there even when you have reasons not to and other people have split up for much less.

My parents have been married for almost 30 years and they've had to deal with a laundry list of trials, especially in the health arena. It's amazing what sickness can do and the toll it can take to all involved. My mom is sweet and kind and hands down the strongest woman I know! My dad, in the midst of his sickness and pain continues to love my mom and wake up early in the morning to make her breakfast and miss her like crazy when she's at work. Marriage isn't going to be perfect, but it's about how you deal with the curve balls and choose to deal with them together.

I praise God that I have parents who I can look at their relationship as an awesome example of living out those vows promising to love one another "in sickness and in health".

A quick trip to the States

So for those of you who don't know, I'm currently in the States right now... Some of you may be responding right now with the thought "ummm... what is she doing back, wasn't she JUST here!?" You would be right, I was back here just a few months ago, but well... life happens.

I came in about two and a half weeks ago because my dad was having severe complications with his diabetes and it got to the point that my mom was really needing me to come home in order to try and revive some life in him and really the rest of our family as it has been a really long past few months. I praise God for Jess and Bev and Neil, Trudy, and Servy who helped me get on a plane less than 24 hours after my mom asked for me to come back.

My mom and I were so proud of ourselves that we were able to keep a secret and didn't tell anyone here that I was coming. I don't think I will ever forget the look of surprise on my different family members faces as they saw me, and then when I went to the hospital to see my dad, he just couldn't believe that I came back. I am here only another week and a half as I leave bright and early on the 21st, just enough time to help my family get back to "normal" now that my dad is doing amazingly and is out of the hospital. Like seriously... It's a full on miracle how well he's doing.

I apologize for not getting to spend time with really anyone except for family, but they have truly been my sole reason for coming back and the focus of this trip. Even though I may not have been able to meet up with you, I thank you for your prayers and encouragement and know that you continue to be in my heart and you can look forward to continued updates for when I return back to my usual ministry.

I miss life and ministry back in Uganda terribly but I do know that it's right for me to be here now for this month. God has just shown that He had numerous reasons for me coming back right now, it really was the perfect time.

Introduction 101

After four years, sometimes I forget that I’m in a different culture, but then other events come around that a blaring reminders that I’m not in Kansas (or I guess I should say Albuquerque) anymore. One of those reminders came this past Saturday where we had quite an event go down for one of our long-time church members.

Here in Uganda, there are typically two very big events for couples: an introduction and a wedding. An introduction is where the groom is introduced to the brides’ family. It’s an absolutely huge “to-do”, where the groom brings all sorts of gifts to appreciate the family for their daughter. Before the event meetings are held primarily to figure out how the event will be funded because typically nobody really has the money to pull off the event by themselves so they send out “budgets” to friends and family asking for help in paying for everything from luggage, to goats, to seating for the event.

The day-of begins with everyone getting dressed up in their traditional wear of gomezi for the ladies (dresses with pointed sleeves, tons of fabric, and a huge belt) and kanzus for the men (basically off-white night gowns they wear with slacks and a suit jacket). Everyone is told the event is to begin at a certain time but everyone gets there about 2 hours after said time. If they are a part of the groom’s party, they meet at a certain location and then head out with a huge convoy bringing the guests and gifts from him to the location of the introduction. Once they get there, the women line up on one side and the men on the other and they make their grand entrance as the bride’s side is already seated. The guests come and sit and on each side there is an emcee to help run things, and it make the whole day a lot less painful if they’re more on the charismatic side (for this one, the emcee was from one political party, and the groom from another which helped for lots of playful banter). Then the whole ceremony is carried out in the language of the families (for this one it was Lusoga). There were several groups who came and danced in traditional wear and envelopes of money were given out to members of the bride’s family. And finally it’s time for the bride to make her big entrance wearing the first of several very fancy gomezi and the maid of honor (somehow) is to go and fetch the groom from among the crowd and bring him to his bride. Then it’s time for the groom’s side to bring in gifts. The women carry in baskets wrapped in cellophane filled with everything from bread to cooking oil to potatoes and they MUST carry them on their heads. The men bring in the bigger stuff like Matooke (green bananas), charcoal, and furniture. And it’s all placed before the bride’s family. Then there’s the cake and the food.

That’s what happens at the event, and now to personalize it a bit. I had never worn a gomezi 100% the traditional way until this event. I will admit I was pretty miserable. It is literally yards of fabric over a whole other layer in order to give you an ehem… figure. It rained the day of this introduction so the first part of the ceremony people were getting soaked and there’s nothing like using your gomezi that is hanging down to the floor to help soak up some of the water (or at least that’s what mine ended up doing). I will also admit though, that I loved my material and enjoyed the fact that Ugandans really appreciate when bazungu (westerners) support their traditions. I will also say that Davis looking unbelievably handsome in his kanzu and I found myself having to make a conscious effort to look at the bride and groom and not at him (hehe). Overall it was a really fun day and I’m so glad we were able to be there to support the bride and groom as they begin the process of beginning their lives together.

After four years, sometimes I forget that I’m in a different culture, but then other events come around that a blaring reminders that I’m not in Kansas (or I guess I should say Albuquerque) anymore. One of those reminders came this past Saturday where we had quite an event go down for one of our long-time church members.

Here in Uganda, there are typically two very big events for couples: an introduction and a wedding. An introduction is where the groom is introduced to the brides’ family. It’s an absolutely huge “to-do”, where the groom brings all sorts of gifts to appreciate the family for their daughter. Before the event meetings are held primarily to figure out how the event will be funded because typically nobody really has the money to pull off the event by themselves so they send out “budgets” to friends and family asking for help in paying for everything from luggage, to goats, to seating for the event.

The day-of begins with everyone getting dressed up in their traditional wear of gomezi for the ladies (dresses with pointed sleeves, tons of fabric, and a huge belt) and kanzus for the men (basically off-white night gowns they wear with slacks and a suit jacket). Everyone is told the event is to begin at a certain time but everyone gets there about 2 hours after said time. If they are a part of the groom’s party, they meet at a certain location and then head out with a huge convoy bringing the guests and gifts from him to the location of the introduction. Once they get there, the women line up on one side and the men on the other and they make their grand entrance as the bride’s side is already seated. The guests come and sit and on each side there is an emcee to help run things, and it make the whole day a lot less painful if they’re more on the charismatic side (for this one, the emcee was from one political party, and the groom from another which helped for lots of playful banter). Then the whole ceremony is carried out in the language of the families (for this one it was Lusoga). There were several groups who came and danced in traditional wear and envelopes of money were given out to members of the bride’s family. And finally it’s time for the bride to make her big entrance wearing the first of several very fancy gomezi and the maid of honor (somehow) is to go and fetch the groom from among the crowd and bring him to his bride. Then it’s time for the groom’s side to bring in gifts. The women carry in baskets wrapped in cellophane filled with everything from bread to cooking oil to potatoes and they MUST carry them on their heads. The men bring in the bigger stuff like Matooke (green bananas), charcoal, and furniture. And it’s all placed before the bride’s family. Then there’s the cake and the food.

That’s what happens at the event, and now to personalize it a bit. I had never worn a gomezi 100% the traditional way until this event. I will admit I was pretty miserable. It is literally yards of fabric over a whole other layer in order to give you an ehem… figure. It rained the day of this introduction so the first part of the ceremony people were getting soaked and there’s nothing like using your gomezi that is hanging down to the floor to help soak up some of the water (or at least that’s what mine ended up doing). I will also admit though, that I loved my material and enjoyed the fact that Ugandans really appreciate when bazungu (westerners) support their traditions. I will also say that Davis looking unbelievably handsome in his kanzu and I found myself having to make a conscious effort to look at the bride and groom and not at him (hehe). Overall it was a really fun day and I’m so glad we were able to be there to support the bride and groom as they begin the process of beginning their lives together.

After four years, sometimes I forget that I’m in a different culture, but then other events come around that a blaring reminders that I’m not in Kansas (or I guess I should say Albuquerque) anymore. One of those reminders came this past Saturday where we had quite an event go down for one of our long-time church members.

Here in Uganda, there are typically two very big events for couples: an introduction and a wedding. An introduction is where the groom is introduced to the brides’ family. It’s an absolutely huge “to-do”, where the groom brings all sorts of gifts to appreciate the family for their daughter. Before the event meetings are held primarily to figure out how the event will be funded because typically nobody really has the money to pull off the event by themselves so they send out “budgets” to friends and family asking for help in paying for everything from luggage, to goats, to seating for the event.

The day-of begins with everyone getting dressed up in their traditional wear of gomezi for the ladies (dresses with pointed sleeves, tons of fabric, and a huge belt) and kanzus for the men (basically off-white night gowns they wear with slacks and a suit jacket). Everyone is told the event is to begin at a certain time but everyone gets there about 2 hours after said time. If they are a part of the groom’s party, they meet at a certain location and then head out with a huge convoy bringing the guests and gifts from him to the location of the introduction. Once they get there, the women line up on one side and the men on the other and they make their grand entrance as the bride’s side is already seated. The guests come and sit and on each side there is an emcee to help run things, and it make the whole day a lot less painful if they’re more on the charismatic side (for this one, the emcee was from one political party, and the groom from another which helped for lots of playful banter). Then the whole ceremony is carried out in the language of the families (for this one it was Lusoga). There were several groups who came and danced in traditional wear and envelopes of money were given out to members of the bride’s family. And finally it’s time for the bride to make her big entrance wearing the first of several very fancy gomezi and the maid of honor (somehow) is to go and fetch the groom from among the crowd and bring him to his bride. Then it’s time for the groom’s side to bring in gifts. The women carry in baskets wrapped in cellophane filled with everything from bread to cooking oil to potatoes and they MUST carry them on their heads. The men bring in the bigger stuff like Matooke (green bananas), charcoal, and furniture. And it’s all placed before the bride’s family. Then there’s the cake and the food.

That’s what happens at the event, and now to personalize it a bit. I had never worn a gomezi 100% the traditional way until this event. I will admit I was pretty miserable. It is literally yards of fabric over a whole other layer in order to give you an ehem… figure. It rained the day of this introduction so the first part of the ceremony people were getting soaked and there’s nothing like using your gomezi that is hanging down to the floor to help soak up some of the water (or at least that’s what mine ended up doing). I will also admit though, that I loved my material and enjoyed the fact that Ugandans really appreciate when bazungu (westerners) support their traditions. I will also say that Davis looking unbelievably handsome in his kanzu and I found myself having to make a conscious effort to look at the bride and groom and not at him (hehe). Overall it was a really fun day and I’m so glad we were able to be there to support the bride and groom as they begin the process of beginning their lives together.