Packing Central

On a typical day, our living room is pretty neat and orderly, like this:

Today, however, it looks like this:

Even the happy face balloon is cowering in terror. And that's only the living room. Now we're not some of those crazy people who bring everything but the kitchen sink. Most of what you see are supplies and gifts that we bring along when we go.

We already have 2 of our 6 bags packed full at 49.5 and 49.9 pounds respectively (we're allowed 50 pounds). We have everything from craft supplies to gifts for kids and adults to protein packed food to duct tape.

Also, what you may not know about these trips is that we have a few traditions that we keep every year. So tonight we fulfilled one of our traditions with our friends Allen and Debbie Chase. They have both done missions work - Debbie has been to Haiti and India and both have gone to Guatamala, and every time one of us is getting ready to leave, we go for a "Last Supper." This doesn't have to literally be the last supper we eat before we leave, but it's one last meal out (before airport food) where we can share a good meal and spend time in fellowship with one another. (My brother also joined us for this year's dinner!)

Other traditions (which, now that I think about it also include the Chase's) include them taking us to the airport and then picking us up and going out for our "First Pizza" once we get home. And even though I'm not supposed to have it, I may just have to make a sacrifice in the name of tradition.

I am so crazy excited about leaving. For some reason, today I don't feel the greatest, but I'm hoping it's just all getting out of my system before Tuesday. But I keep thinking about the kids and it gives me strength to keep going.

You prayers are always greatly appreciated! Specifically prayers that we will remember everything we need, and that God will provide the things we don't have. That we all will be able to get comfortable and get some rest on the plane, and that God will prepare the way by preparing our hearts and the hearts of the people in Uganda. Thank you all for your support. It means more to us than you'll ever know!



- Aly

What to expect while we're away

I wanted to give a little rundown of what may or may not happen after Tuesday. We've been on a 40 (well 45) day journey together. You've seen some of the ins and outs, the ups and downs of preparing for a trip like this.

But here's where it might change. I will be updating the same as I have been until Tuesday. Then it's up in the air (literally), as we're not sure what our internet access will be like in Uganda. But I hope to be able to update at least once a week while we're there. The problem is that we will not be able to connect to a wireless internet source from where we're staying, which means we'll have to rely on using the internet at the AMG office. Because of our schedule we will not likely have time every day to sit in the office and type something up.


So here's my plan: I'm hoping that I'll be able to type up something (almost) every night when we get back to our guesthouse. Then, one day a week (probably Thursday before or after our staff fellowship) I will post all of them at once. So once we're in Uganda, be sure to scroll down to see if we've posted multiple times in one day. I'm not sure if that'll be God's plan. So we ask for your patience with us. We will do our very best.


We always tell people that no news is good news. If you don't hear from us, that means things are going well.


But we do ask for your prayers. If you suddenly feel prompting to pray for us, please do, even if it's in the middle of the night. Remember that Uganda is 7 hours ahead of New York time so when you're going to bed at night, we're getting ready to start our day. And the middle of the night in NY is daytime for us. And we certainly feel those prayers.


We have some great friends who call each other while we're gone every night at 9pm. One year we were in Uganda I would wake up in the middle of the night and feel like someone was praying for us. Every time I looked at the time, it was always around 4am.


Your prayers make a difference. When we're facing a difficult situation, sometimes we can just feel the tension go away, and we know that someone is interceding for us. So we thank you for those prayers!


Well, I didn't think it could possibly happen, but things have actually become a little crazier here. I'm off to work on some packing and get in some time in God's word. It's the only thing that keeps me sane!


- Aly

Interview With Myself

Me: We're joined here today by Aly Houser who is leaving for Uganda in 4 days. So Aly, how are things going?

Myself: Things are crazy busy. If I had to sum it up in one word...I couldn't because my brain can't focus long enough.

Me: What did you to today?

Myself: We did our shopping for the trip, buying most of the supplies and food we need to bring along.

Me: Would you care to tell us some of the items you bought?

Myself: I'm so glad you asked! We bought things like soap, toothpaste, contact solution, cough drops, and shampoo - things we can't get while we're there. For food we bought things like protein bars, protein water, and nuts.

Me: That's a lot of protein!

Myself: You're telling me! But it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...

Me: Really?

Myself: No, but it sounds nice.

Me: So have you started packing?

Myself: [pause] No...but our living room is starting to look like walmart threw up in it.

Me: That's a little disturbing. So now you're spending all the hours of your day getting ready, that must be stressful.

Myself: It is very stressful. So much so, at times I just want to curl up in a ball and cover my head with a pillow. In fact I did that soon after I woke up this morning because it all felt so overwhelming.

Me: That must be tough. But is it still worth it in the end?

Myself: Oh, you bet! In a few days, our friends will drop us off at the airport, pray for us, and send us off. And as soon as we clear security it's like everything else disappears, all the stress, all the sadness about leaving our friends and family. Then we get to Uganda and see those kids and everything else just seems to fade away.

Me: That sounds so good I wish I could get in on something like that.

Myself: Oh wouldn't that be fun? The two of us together?!

Me: You know it! Well it's been great talking to you.

Myself: Yes, we should do it again sometime.

Me: Well you heard it yourself people, all the stress and craziness is worth every minute of it. But I think we need to pray that God will help them through these last few crazy days, giving them enough time to get everything ready they need and that they'll remember everything they need. And what they don't have, let's pray that God supplies it. Thanks for joining us.

- Aly

NOTE: I do not suffer from multiple personality disorder. I will, however, admit that I haven't had enough sleep in the past few days which makes me a little loopy.

Soon

It's so strange to think that we're headed into our last few days at home. I was talking to someone today and I uttered the words, "Well I'm leaving the country in a few days so..." And all of the sudden I realized that in a few days...I'm leaving the country!

And soon these sweet little hands will be waving hello to me.

These faces will smile at me in person.

And my arms will be just as full of kids as my heart will be full of joy.

And I can't help but smile.

- Aly

Home

I wrote this in my journal last year around this time:

I am stressed out and frazzled. I do not have it all together at this moment. My priorities are not where they should be and thus, I am stressed. Stressed spelled backwards is desserts and that's all I can think about because I'm stressed! I just wanted to write that so next year when the computer won't work, my to do list is piling up, and I'm hating the goodbyes, I'll remember that it's part of the process, part of the trip.

It was such a relief to read that tonight and to remember that this is kind of a normal part of the process of getting ready.



There are always so many emotions that go with leaving for Uganda. I'm so beyond excited to go, yet there are still some nerves, and I'm sad to leave my family and friends here, but so happy to go see my family and friends there. And it leaves me feeling my heart swell with joy as my stomach gets butterflies and my eyes tear up. It's like frazzled excitement filled with joy and nerves wrapped in tears of happiness. It's what I like to refer to as Ugandamania and if you haven't already figured it out...it's messed up. Those of you reading who have done missions work before may know what I'm talking about (if you do, please let me know so I don't feel like such an insane person).



But this morning when I woke up I realized that in 4 weeks, this will all be a memory. It will be a bunch of amazing stories to tell, and that's really sad to me. Because despite all the work and energy that goes into preparing for leaving, I absolutely love being there. I know I've joked a lot on this blog about some of the crazy things we've encountered along the way. But if you ask me what the worst part about going to Uganda is, I wouldn't say the food, or the bats pooping on my pillow, or bathing in a spigot where the water turns off randomly. I would tell you it's leaving.

Uganda is a second home to me, and to my family. We received an email from Reuben today and he said they are eagerly awaiting our homecoming.


Our homecoming. We're going home.


So over the next few weeks while in Uganda, when we refer to home we will be talking about the guest house we're staying at in Kampala. We'll refer to "home" here in NY as "Back in NY" or "Back in the States." We've done this every year. It just seems to fit, because while we're there, we're home. (Have I used the work home enough in the last few paragraphs?!)


I think writing this blog post has cured me of my Ugandamania tonight. I said before that I process things through writing and I've gone from tightly wound to completely relaxed while writing this. I was able to put it into perspective for myself. Things might feel crazy right now, but soon it will be over. I want to enjoy and cherish every minute of this trip because for so long I didn't think it would happen.


And honestly, I can't wait to go home.

- Aly

Is it just me?

...or do we look like crazed germaphobes?

Humble Service

Yesterday evening while people gathered at a local restaurant and rugby field in Kampala, Uganda, terrorists from a group based in Somalia set off bombs killing 74 people and wounding dozens more. You can read about the attack by clicking here.

It's a bit unnerving as this news comes just one week before we leave to travel across the Ocean to this very city. The attack was aimed at civilians, innocent people who were gathered to watch the soccers' greatest play. Among the dead were 14 foreigners, including 1 American who worked as an advocate for child soldiers in Northern Uganda with the organization Invisible Children. A church group of 6 people from PA were wounded in the blast, just a day before they were supposed to return home.

As we head into the last week of our time at home, the spiritual battles we face continue to rage on. Whether they appear in the form of unnerving news stories, or in the obstacles that come from trying to get packed, prepare lessons, or raise the rest of the money we need to go, we are bombarded at every corner with stressors that have the ability to wear us down.

As a family, we started to unravel a bit tonight. As much as I'd like to paint a picture of how the three of us always speak kindly to each other or always seek to encourage, it just wouldn't be true. (Is it true of anyone?) The stress started to weigh heavily on us causing tempers to flair and feelings to be hurt. But instead of allowing everything to cause divisions among us, we sat down together to pray. Immediately, the tension in the room eased, and the rest of our evening went so much more smoothly.

You see, it's not our job to worry about whether or not we'll get everything done in time or whether we'll receive all of our funds or what may or may not happen. Those are things we cannot control anyway. God has it all under control. He knows our needs and will meet them in His time. He knows what we will do, where we will go, and no matter what happens He will be with us every step of the way.

As I read the news article this morning I read a quote about the young American man who died in the bombing yesterday. It said:

Nate lived a life that demanded explanation. He sacrificed his comfort to live in the humble service of God and of a better world, and his is a life to be emulated.

I think we can all be challenged by this young man's life by serving God with all we have and devoting our lives to something greater than ourselves. If we allow the worries of this life overwhelm us, we can't allow God to work in us as He longs to. Our job is not to worry, but to serve our amazing God.

Please join us as we pray for our brothers and sisters in Uganda and for those who are affected by these attacks.

- Aly