Puddle Jumping

Yesterday we were planning to have a bbq down at the airstrip but a storm blew through before we were planning to go so that was the end of that plan. Not to be outdone we went puddle jumping instead round the hill where we live. As you can see from the photos we found enough puddles to get really muddy and wet. The last picture shows that Joshua and Zara did turn back to their normal colour after a good bath!!!

Playing Games

Even Joshua and Zara got into the spirit of playing games when I bought them a Winnie the Pooh memory game from the market. Joshua loves playing it and does very well. Even Mum and Dad get roped into playing. Joshua is quite the opponent and so we will need to watch him when he gets older as he is going to be stiff competition.

Friends come and go....

We had Joni and Silke with their friend Corolla staying with us this past week. Joni and Silke have been staying with us on and off throughout their travels. It has been great to get to know them and we have had a lot of fun. They brought some card games with them so whenever we got the chance we had some competitive game nights. We will miss having them around but look forward to hearing how God directs their path in the future.

Corolla is a medical student and is now working in a local hospital for 8 weeks in the south of Uganda. We wish her a great time and I'm sure she will go back to Holland with lots of stories.

(From left to right in the picture....Silke, Corolla and Joni)

Jesus Film Photos

There are some more photos on the Jesus Film Ministries space. You can check it out on the following address http://www.mafspace.org/JesusFilmMinistries/ Take a look at the dental extraction photo....YIKES!

My Little Helpers

We had more guests for dinner last night but I had two willing helpers in the afternoon as you can see from the above photos!

Earth shaking moments

Last night as Simon and I relaxed watching a DVD there was a loud boom boom and the house shook a little. I jumped out of the seat and said to Simon was that an explosion or an earthquake. I was ready to grab the kids out of bed as Simon calmly sat back in the chair as if it was no big deal. I guess that's what happens when you grow up with regular earthquakes in PNG. After we went to bed there was another loud boom boom. It sure got the heart rate going...well mine anyway. Simon was fast asleep in dreamland and didn't even wake up.

Last week there was a large earthquake 60 miles from a big town in Tanzania. It measured 6.0 on the richter scale and was felt in Nairobi. Some people on Wednesday refused to work in their office block in Nairobi in fear of another quake that might bring down the building. It seems like the fault line in East Africa is waking up after so many years of sleeping. We pray it doesn't wake up fully!!!!

Joshua our little preacher

Thanks to everyone who prayed for Joshua. He is doing much better and the vomiting has stopped. Yesterday afternoon he even wanted to play football which is a sure sign of him getting better. As we were playing I asked him if he was feeling better. He said that he was better although not completely. I said something along the lines of that God answers prayer and he said "...The Lord is powerful and we still need to pray for Daddy's foot..." Talk about your 4 year old challenging you in the faith!!!!

Funny Faces

Bits and Pieces

It has been a while since I have written anything on our blog. It has been one of those weeks where the days have just whizzed past and I haven't had time to sit down and write anything.
We had Joni and Silke (Swiss/Dutch) couple staying with us again for a week. It was fun to have them and also hear about their time in Kenya. They got a bit of a surprise when it came to the temperature as it is a lot colder in Nairobi than Kampala. They are now doing a bit of touring on the Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria before they return to Switzerland.

Simon was flying on Saturday so I took Joshua and Zara out to the airstrip to pick him up from his flight. We arrived there to see a huge storm over the lake. I have never seen a sky so black unless it was nighttime. It was quite eerie. We prayed that Simon would make it in before the storm arrived. We continued to walk on the airstrip with one eye on the storm and one looking out for Simon's arrival. The storm was fast moving and so we gathered up the bikes and rushed back to the car before the storm lashed its fury on us. Phew it was quite the rain storm. Simon said he flew circled for 10 minutes before he saw a hole big enough to let him land. He did a short pass over the airstrip before turning and landing. It was quite the sight especially when he landed and all the water on the airstrip covered the plane. We were all happy to see him land safely. Just another flying day with MAF ;)

Today Simon went to the clinic to see about his left foot. He has been having some problems with it for the last month and it hasn't gotten any better. Anyway the doctor had a look at and determined that he had an infection of some sort and would need antibiotics and 7 sessions of physiotherapy. It is quite interesting sitting in a Dr's waiting room in Africa it can be thoroughly entertaining. The lady sitting next to me was obviously tired of waiting so she just put her head in her lap and went to sleep. For some reason when they call out your name it almost sounds like they are whispering it. I always wonder how people hear their name being called especially with so much going on about but somehow they do.

Joshua and Zara are still enjoying play school at our house on a Monday and Thursday with their friends. They have made all sorts of creations as well as playing games. They have had great fun.

Well the computer is about to die on me due to lack of power so will end this entry for now.

Playschool

Joshua and Zara are on school holidays now so I am trying to be creative in coming up with ways to keep them busy and out of trouble :)

I decided a playschool twice a week might help. Two other families have got involved too so on Mondays and Thursday for a couple of hours in the morning five kiddies get together to have fun. I did crafts and games with them on Monday. They all did really well together and were proud of their creations.

Zara also got pricked by a caterpillar so that was a new experience for her and for me as I had to pull out all the tiny hairs that had got stuck in her finger. Thankfully she is a tough little lass so it didn't bother her for too long.

There is a sun in the sky....

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for Simon and Laura these past days. The weather has improved and the flights are going to schedule again. Simon is doing a long day of flying today and will also be flying tomorrow. Pray for endurance for him especially with having some difficult flying days this week. The cold/flu is doing its rounds at the moment pray that Laura and Simon don't succumb to the bugs as there is another full schedule to be flown next week. Thanks again for your prayers!

Laura was talking to one of our passengers this week who has knowledge of Uganda's weather history and said that this had been the coldest and most miserable time on record. The weather patterns seem to be changing!!

Bad Weather

The last two days has been really challenging for our pilots. We only have two at the moment in the programme due to delayed furloughs and holidays etc. Laura couldn't get back from Sudan yesterday due to bad weather so had to divert and stop overnight in the north of Uganda. She was planning to get out early this morning as she had another flight but that wasn't possible either. Simon is in a similar situation today in that he had to divert to Gulu (northern Uganda) due to bad weather. I just got a phone call about 10 minutes ago from him saying that he was going to try again but there was the likelihood of him having to turn around and do an overnight. Laura is also trying to get back tonight. Please pray for Simon and Laura at this time as they battle the weather and also for their passengers. Some folks are now travelling by road so that they can make their international connection. Pray for safety for them as they travel on treachourous roads.

Bible Translation

Last Saturday Simon flew some people from SIL/Wycliffe Bible Translators out to a place called Bundibugyo. This town is just over the Rwenzori Mountains (west of Uganda) and borders Congo. I have flown there with Simon on a couple of occasions. It is quite the flight as we pass over the mountains and then head down over the other side into bundibugyo. Not quite a roller coaster ride but certainly not as easy as coming into land at Heathrow :)

This team were coming into Bundibugyo to celebrate the completion of the book of Acts in the local language. It was a great time of celebration for all those involved. They met at a local church and celebrated with singing, dancing, speeches and then of course lots of food.

It is great to see MAF's involvement in this kind of work and to see the joy when a part of the work is completed.

(The photo above was one taken when I was on the flight a few years ago. You can see the lighter patch of green that is the airstrip. This part of the country gets a lot of rain and as you can see it was raining that day too. However, the good side of the rain is that everything is green and not dusty brown :). I have added in another couple of photos so you can see what it looks like in better weather.)

Oor wee lass