His Grace For The Journey

What No One Tells You About Coming Back

I first want to apologize to those of you who have followed our adventures, struggles and happy times. Covid hit hard for everyone but I feel it was really the beginning of the end of our time in Uganda. There was so much stress coming at us, I started having health issues, my husband had his own health issues and daily life was becoming to overwhelming. I believe God chose to bring us back to the States to heal all three of us and prepare us for our next adventures!

For nine years, our family lived and served in Uganda. It was a season filled with beauty, sacrifice, spiritual warfare, purpose, and profound stretching. We were all in—heart, body, and soul. And we gave everything we had to the ministry and to the people God entrusted to us.

But what they don’t tell you is how disorienting it is to come home.

Coming back to the States after nearly a decade overseas was not the joyful reunion some people expected it to be. In fact, when people would greet us with, “Aren’t you so happy to be back?”, I didn’t always know how to respond. Because honestly? At first, no. We weren’t. It was painful and heartbreaking saying goodbye to those that love us and had depended on us for nine years.

Reverse Culture Shock Is Real

We have stepped back into a country that feels unfamiliar—faster, louder, more disconnected. So much has changed in nine years, and we have changed too. The hardest part? Feeling forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind wasn’t just a phrase—it became our reality. While we were pouring out everything we had in Uganda, life moved on here. Most people didn’t mean to forget. But they did. And we felt it.

We were tired. Burnt out. I personally faced health issues and depression in the last few years before we returned. Our daughter, who had spent most of her childhood in Uganda, was suddenly thrown into American teenage culture. High school in the U.S. was a world she didn’t know, and the adjustment has been overwhelming—for all of us.

For nine years, we carried heavy spiritual responsibility. We shepherded others, discipled, prayed, led, taught, and gave until we had little left to give. And we did it alone. No team, no regular support network, no deep well of emotional or spiritual backup. Just us—and Jesus. There’s a strength that comes from that… but there’s also a cost.

Now that we’re here, everyone expects the next step. When will your husband pastor a church? What’s next for your ministry? Where will you serve? But the truth is—we don’t know yet. We’re in a season of limbo, and while that’s uncomfortable, we’re learning to see it as God’s mercy.

Healing Isn’t Always Instant

This season isn’t about launching into the next thing. It’s about healing.

God has placed us in a loving church family—a body that sees us, embraces us, and gives us space to simply be. Our daughter is making friends and learning what it is to be a Christian teenager in America! For the first time in a long time, we’re not rushing to meet the next need—we’re just letting God tend to ours.

No one really talks about this part of the journey. The grief, the exhaustion, the strange guilt for not jumping right back into “productive ministry.” But healing takes time. And God is in the waiting just as much as He was in the work. I know He is the same God that sent us to Uganda (which was unthinkable to us at the time!) and I know He isn’t finished using us.

So if you’re there too—in between seasons, exhausted from your last chapter, unsure what’s next—I want you to know that it’s okay. God sees you. He holds your story. And He isn’t done yet.

“For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Isaiah 41:13

I am WOWED!

My my my how beautiful the sight! I received pictures last week of the progress in our new tailoring classes. In four weeks the students are already sewing uniforms for children in our village whose families struggle to pay school fees and supplies for their kids, and children that don’t have families to help them. We want to instill into the students the joy and blessings of giving.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,for God loves a cheerful giver.⁸And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8

We are so very proud of them. And proud of our Takia, she’s an excellent teacher!

Hope For Mamas

This week our girl Salima has been busy giving out fifteen Mama kits. She, along with her mother Jenifer, educate the women on pre-natal care and give the life saving MAAMA kit along with the receiving blankets, panties, soap, pads and wash clothes all in tote bags made by our training center instructor Takia.

Jenifer works alongside the government checking on, teaching pre-and postnatal care for mothers and immunizing babies. So she is the perfect person to speak to these ladies as a group.

We are so thankful to know everything is in such good hands when we are not there. And we count everyone of these ladies, both mamas and our workers, blessings in our lives.

Join us in praying for healthy and happy births!

Dreams of a Future

We – The Mandate – are supporting and funding the building of a new school and a water well. The Pastor has been a good friend to us for about five years now and has a huge heart for the “mother- and fatherless” children he cares for on very little. He started schooling underprivileged kids under a tree a few years ago. They now have two small buildings. He has taken care of over one hundred young teenagers on very little. There’s been times he’s had to choose between getting girls what they need for “that time of the month” or getting food. He was so thankful when we went and gave over 60 girls the Hope for Girls kits. As time has gone by and people know he takes in children there have been at least six babies just dropped off at the schools. So he has gotten widows to care for them while also trying to keep the widows and the children fed and clothed.

The current school office and classrooms

This is what the new land looked like a month ago!

We are so amazed at how fast they have been building. School has been out for two years now due to covid and the plan for Ugandan children is to start back in January. We pray (and at the rate they are going they may well) that more of the buildings and dormitories will be ready. The building in these pictures is all ready getting the roof on!

When we left the country four weeks ago the first building was started.

This is from The Mandate Newsletter: You change the world one life at a time in the Eastern Region of Uganda in the village Ikulwe. The Mandate is doing just that by supporting “Hope of Provision for the Vulnerable Child”. Hope of Provision is a ministry that provides a school, The Global High School, along with a safe place to live for 160 displaced, abandoned and often abused young people. The school is presently operating in two rundown buildings. Pastor Kriwa Kireri Emmason and missionary Christian Welch direct a staff of five full-time teachers, nine part-time teachers and three support staff. These tenacious and resolute men and women provide leadership and Christian development for these precious young people.

This secondary school (high school) is about an hour away from The Mandate. It is being built in phases as funds are available. In May of 2021, The Mandate gave Hope of Provision a grant to purchase the land. Phase One of the buildings began about three weeks ago. The progress is astounding.

They have been operating with one building for classrooms and two dormitories for over 150 students. These are very small, rundown buildings.

It is so exciting to be part of a project that will enhance the lives of so many youths now and for years to come.

In addition to new, safe buildings, work on a water well will be starting next week.

If you would like to be a part of giving these kids the education of their dreams please click on the link below. The school is being built in phases and there are many things listed that you can donate toward.

https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_828bd6b7-a404-11ea-9d7f-0ab70f91e480&WidgetId=2042880&blm_aid=440320

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter or learn more about The Mandate visit https://themandate.com. If you scroll to the bottom of the homepage you will find the form to add you to The Mandate Newsletter.

Baby Boom

A few months ago we gave out nineteen Maama kits. We are now seeing the healthy Mamas and their babies. So far only two have been girls! We are so thankful we are able to help these mothers. The clinic in our village doesn’t have enough supplies so they are grateful these women are able to come with their own.

“All in all the ladies have been greatful including their husbands, the husbands said that you really helped for mama kits, they said mama kits were so expensive and hard to get yet its so essential. But you save them”

We thank all supporters of The Mandate. You can see the end result of your donations and your prayers. The $10 donated saves the lives of these Mamas and their precious babies! And gives us the chance to spread the gospel while giving out the kits, along with education about the care of themselves during pregnancy and care for their babies. We give them out to 7-9 month expectant mothers. May the Lord bless you as you are a blessing to our ministry.

21 Years

Still going strong! Yesterday (October 14) was our 21st anniversary. We had about five years of seeing each other at our worst before we married. Before we left for Athens Chris pulled out a book I made on our first anniversary where I wrote 365 things I love about you. I can say that after 21 years I still feel the same and even more! We don’t even know half the time what day, month or time it is, especially during covid and not going to the prison on Mondays and church on Sundays. And I’ve always considered our anniversary in May when he asked me to marry him a few days after telling me he could never marry me! 🤣 If my mom hadn’t said something yesterday it would probably have passed right by without us noticing (That was already about 5 pm!). But everyday together is special so the one day isn’t much different!

Tailoring School

Finally since quarantine has been over we were able to start our tailoring class. It is a seven month course, we have started with three girls and one boy. The boy is about sixteen and has no father, his mother is mentally ill so he has been taking care of himself.

They will start out learning the basics and then move on to making school uniforms for students in our village that families struggle to buy. We want to teach them about serving others. They have been given this opportunity so we want them to show gratefulness and know the blessing of giving to others.

After they have more skills down they will have an opportunity to make girls kits and earn a little money which we will encourage them to save some of it to put towards buying their own machine.

The student with the highest marks will receive their own sewing machine and the other students will keep their “tools” to help them get started on their own.

We are so excited to see them learn and grow into responsible adults while learning about Christ from devotions before class every morning.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

Happy and Healthy

We have been on lockdown since June, the country is now starting to open back up slowly. But it hasn’t stopped babies coming! It did make it more difficult for some mothers to get to clinics or hospitals. There were three mothers that had their babies at home. They all told us that having the kits took a lot of the fear of having a safe birth. Our small clinic has also told us they are so grateful for our Mama kits because there are always mothers needing things they can’t supply. But they also told us they believe the education about pre- and post-natal care has been very very helpful for mothers.

This month there were nine mothers-to-be ready to get kits. While we were on lockdown we didn’t have them come here so we are very grateful Salima was able to give them out.

We are praying to have our first group of students start tailoring school in September. We almost have the training center ready but in the meantime our instructor and one of our “adopted” girls have been busy sewing for the mama kits. More to come soon with pictures of the work center!

New Babies!

So far this month we’ve had four of the women we gave mama kits give birth! All girls!

There were two others that lost their babies that were stillborn, including a set of twins. We pray for those mothers but they thanked us for all of the other things in their kits that helped them so much.

One mama brought her baby born June 2 to see us last week. She was so tiny. She said she was so thankful to have the mama kit when she went to the hospital as they didn’t supply them.

Another had her 9 1/2 pound baby at home by herself! I couldn’t even imagine having to do that and be all alone. She was taken to the Dr the next day and mama and baby are doing fine.

Here are two more of the babies that were brought to show us, one was just born this past week and is our “Ugandan Granddaughter”. Her mother is one of our girls that went to tailoring school and will be teaching at our training center. She has a little time anyway to rest and be with her baby – we are under full lockdown here in Uganda. Takia and baby girl are doing well and at home.

A certain little girl was determined our Takia name her baby after her middle name Noelle. I don’t think they knew how to spell it but named her in R’s honor!

And baby born June 7 is called Shemora. Her mother only had a midwife to help her so she was very very thankful to have everything she needed so a safe birth.

I thank all mothers who have received the mama kits for bringing their babies so that we could see. And so thankful they are all healthy and Mamas’ are happy! We will be having 25 mothers ready to receive their bags July 1 but since we are on lockdown they will be delivered to them individually.

Everything in the tote bag, including the important Mama kit plus other things a post natal woman needs.

We are thankful to Takia that she got so many tote bags done before she had her baby!

Covid Sewing Class of 2021!

Since we are on lockdown and the training center isn’t finished, the girls are out of school. Raelee is on summer break so they’ve started classes in the apartments. It was so exciting getting our first two sewing machines that were donated by a very sweet and giving man who loves supporting us. Phiona (on the far right in the pictures) is actually the first student. The other two are learning while they are on break. I had hoped we would start classes in May in the training center but covid messed that up! But there is an advantage to being in the apartment for a little while, as you can see our teacher will be having a baby at the end of this month! We pray we will start officially in August and by then the baby is already set up with a babysitter 😁. We are excited to be “God Grandparents” to a baby girl!