Final Thoughts

As we close our blog, we wanted to share some of our most prominent memories. We feel blessed to have had the opportunity to serve in Uganda and thank all our supporters for making it possible and praying alongside us. We hope you enjoy the photos and videos we have added throughout the blog.

Here is a collection of the things we will never forget:

•Waking up to the squeal of giant pigs

• The smiles on the children's faces (especially the younger ones) as they donned their new tie dye shirts that they had designed themselves

• The corporate prayer. Each child sending praise to God in their own little voices, barely above a whisper, but which combined together to be a moving and powerful call to God.

• The children crying out and wailing while watching the crucifixion of Christ in the Jesus Film.

• The excitement of the children to open up the letters from their sponsors. We, as sponsors, need to make every effort to write to our children whenever possible. It truly makes a difference to them.

• The packed out church on Sunday morning and the Karamajong people's desire to know more about God

• Watching the primary children load in the back of a pickup to leave the retreat. Many were going home to difficult situations with families who can’t afford to take care of them, temptations to go back to the streets to beg or get involved with raiding cattle to support their family, and sometimes pressure from their families to help with the family rather than return to school.

• How proud Esther was to show us her small hut where she lives with her grandmother and two siblings

• Repairing a blown out radiator hose with no tools (and making it work)

• Getting to Nakayot and realizing that all the work and promises to the people in this new village were so tied into the availability of water. And how quickly things can change when the water is no longer there. We take so much for granted here.

• The hardship of life in the peace villages, yet the people endure with faith that God will provide peace in their land

• Hearing about other families' Thanksgiving traditions as we prepared that (fresh!) turkey and other foods with Val at her house

• Understanding Val's work better, both the difficulties and joys. What an amazing privilege to support Dr. Val all these years, God is doing amazing things through her obedient and very brave heart.

• Meeting the wonderful people Val works with. It was a joy to hear their stories and see firsthand what God is doing though them.

• How awesome God is to bring together a group of nine at the last minute with such loving, servant's hearts and to bind that team with the CLIDE team, unified in bringing the love of God to the children and in furthering the work among the Karamojong.

• Driving home from the Portland airport thinking, "what a smooth road!" and "there's so much room in this van!"

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it”
Proverbs 22:6