Just hopping on to say hello!  Just had a yummy salad and thought that it was worth sharing.  It may just be a perfect snack as you look out on the snowy ground.  That was a little snarky wasn't it?  Oh, just love coming your ways.... A snowy day sounds probably just as good to me as a hot day sounds good to you all.  ( c :  It's a rather simple recipe... but it was DELICIOUS! 

Avocados diced, tomatoes diced, and mixed with Italian Dressing.  That's it! 

Good Day Everyone.  It's Friday evening and I am relaxing on a l-o-n-g blue couch with a cap sleeping at my feet. There is an ever so faint breeze coming in through the windows.  The bugs are chirping away and I can hear the occasional person walk by.  Someone gave me a packet of Oreo's and I have to confess that I just consumed a grand total of SIX OREO's in the last couple of hours. They were yummy and even though I felt some need to confess I can't say that I feel too guilty. They were yummy.  It's been a full week.  Prior to that, I was down with malaria. So thankful to be feeling better.  It is definitely something that knocks you on your socks... or whereever one gets knocked onto.  ( c :

I am going to go ahead and post some pictures from our maize harvest from last week.  The whole ministry helps with harvesting the maize (corn).   Each husk is picked, stripped, and gathered all by hand.  The profit from the maize here at the ministry goes right back into the ministry.  It was a morning full of hard work, sweet conversations, LOTS of ants crawling all over, and the gift of just laughing and connecting with others.

Just chilling before the big harvest

The best combine ever!

Journeying through the banana trees to get to the field. 

Hard at work

Each husk removed by hand

The detail of Our God

Momma Emaculate.... the Harvesting QUEEN!

Just chilling at the end of a hard morning's work.  We had So MUCH fun! 

hers.  

I type a few words and delete them... it's happened multiple times in the last twenty minutes.  I am waiting for my soul to take off and for my fingers to start typing.  It's not happening as quickly as I want it too.  There is so much I would love to say and yet, I realize, that my soul is not quite ready.  It is still absorbing and spinning all that has happened in the last five weeks.  Has it really been five weeks since I said farewell to so many of you and boarded the huge jet that took me halfway around the world.  So much has happened in these last five weeks.  So many things that have been surprisingly natural... like putting on an old pair of jeans.  And then there are things that have not felt as natural.  Probably as unnatural as brushing your teeth with chocolate syrup.  I have been thankful for the overall transition and find myself smiling throughout the day.  It still tickles my soul that God has led me here.  I smile when I look up at night and see more stars that I can count, when I see the joy in a little boys eyes who was COMPLETELY petrified of "muzungos" (white people) now freely receiving love and care, when I clean the wound of a child and give them a hug when it is done, when I hear the laughter of children in the background, watching as God provides opportunities to listen to new friends process their lives, and the list could go on for quite a while. 

Linda and Fiona

Linda, Rachel Myself, and ... ( c : 

The Lizard

Last Saturday, I met up with the kids from my family group.  We spent time slashing the long grass and soon realized that we were NOT the only ones hanging out in the grass.  One of the boys found this lizard.  We played with him for a few minutes and then headed back to work.   After slashing, we sat and washed laundry together.   There are four young ladies that I    have been  getting to know these last several weeks.  This coming week, we are going to get together for a special dinner on Thursday night. So looking forward to just getting to KNOW them and just living life with them.  

Linda and Rachel

The wound treatment room

The wound dressing station

And then there is the clinic.  It is a happening place to be... especially true for the children who come to be cared for and truth be told for many of them... to get out of school.  I am on to them... and definitely direct them back to class.  But in the meantime, there is opportunity to clean their wounds, medicate their bodies, and just love on em.  And some of the wounds they have.... eesh.  I would be crying.  Most of us would.  Cuts and irritations that have transformed into angry, painful, and infected lesions. Cleaning them is painful... and yet necessary.  Malaria is an everyday reality.  And I am asking Jesus to give me wisdom and I am choosing to rest in the truth that He is the ultimate Physician and that He has led me here.  He has given me a solid education, significant experiences in the hospital setting, various professionals eager to assist, and ultimately, He has led me here.  And where He leads.  He is... 

For some reason, the format of this post is not coming through.  I need to head out... but will try to make it look how it did when I put it together and even how it is when I look at it right now.  

Good morning! or for some, Good afternoon.  I am currently sitting on my bed listening to some teenagers as they are having worship practice in the main room.  Some are strumming the guitar, others are beating the drum.... and all are singing together to their King...to our King.  And even as I type this, my fingers are trying to pick up the pace... to the rhythm of the drum.... and for those of you who know me... know that no matter how much I try to pick up any rhythm... it's almost always off.  Music and I are like... butter and oil... wait, those are pretty similar. We are like butter and water.  "More than all I see... You are more than enough for me.... You satisfy me.... with your love and all that I have in you... It is more than enough."  It is timely that these words are the words that are being sung as I bring fingers to the keyboard and share with you about the last couple of weeks.  And how exactly would I describe the last couple of weeks?  I think that the best word would be peaceful.  Sure, I have been brought to tears more than once because I miss friends and family... but even in the tears, there is a sweet peace because I know that this is where I am supposed to be.  So if someone out there could please go through the drive through at McDonald's and order themselves a LARGE coca cola with ice in my honor that would be great and when the time is right for me to be back with all of you, then it will be and it will be GREAT.... absolutely GREAT!  For now... know that I hold each of you close in my heart.

Tomorrow, I will start working in the clinic.  Ahhhh!!! It's for real.  Excited, but also fully aware that there is so much I do not know.... very thankful that God has brought doctor's, NP's, and other medically enlightened individuals that have so graciously made themselves available to answer my questions.  I am thankful for all of them... yes, they are doctor's, NP's, and nurses, but beyond their titles, I count them dear to me... Below is a picture of the clinic... 

Another exciting thing is that I have met my family group!  Earlier last week, I went and met with the family group parents.  Uncle Rose and Uncle Dan are parenting the ten children that call the worcester clan their home. Yesterday morning, we harvested the maize together.  I was odd one out wearing boots that went up to my knees.  Probably more unnecessary than necessary... but oh well! After we worked in the fields, I sat with the kids and ate porridge.  It was great to just connect with them.... This afternoon, played some basketball with them and just hung out.  I haven't taken any pictures yet... but when I do... I will introduce them to you.  

Institute is going well.  My mind and heart are being stretched... but it has been good. Getting to know 21 other individuals from several countries in Africa and the United States.  We came together strangers and will undoubtably leave very close friends.  Below is a young woman, Anna, who is from the Congo.  We have had lots of fun getting to know each other.  A week ago, we hopped on little motorbikes and rode into town.  We picked up some necessary food for dinner and also picked up some coca cola... which was highly enjoyed.



Riding one of these on a dusty road....holding on tight.... and praying as you go that you make it to point B.... the end result is a sweet memory and well, fun treats!

And as each one of us rides on our own dusty roads... may we hold on tight to our God...and in the end relish at the sweetness and gift of HIS presence.  

hello from Uganda....

It's Friday evening and I am sitting on another blue couch.  This one, however, is thousands of miles away from the one that I sat on just one week ago.  It's about 9:15 PM and this day is quickly coming to an end.  This week is quickly coming to an end.  I cannot believe that it has been one week since I boarded a plane and left the United States for Uganda.  Instead of a crackling fire, I am listening to the various bugs chirping outside.  The cat just brought in a mouse and it was still very much alive.  It was more alive than dead and so instead of having to worry about killing it all the way, the little critter got a pass and was put back outside to live.  ( c :  Instead of the white snow there is plenty of green.  All five pieces of luggage arrived safely… though I must say that there does appear to be a couple of things missing.  Arriving late in the evening on Sunday night, I was immediately greeted by the warm, African air and a man holding a machine gun watching us all as we walked off the plane and towards the airport.   And I can honestly say, I didn't feel nervous.  I took several deep breaths and smiled an internal smile.  I was on African soil.  ( c :  After nearly 3 hours of travel, we arrived at New Hope.  Along the way, I saw the contrast between absolute beauty and poverty.  Eesh, I am so blessed!a few snapshots of the current chapter of my journey...

some of the view at New Hope

Banana tree right inside of my house

the little goats that lives steps away from the porch

Where I live for this season

Minutes after arriving to New Hope, I went down to the institute which I will be attending for the next 5 months.  Classes are five days a week from morning till lunchtime.  The focus is to learn more about God being our father and sharing that with children who do not have a present earthly father.  There are men and women from Uganda, Zambia, Congo, and the United States.  From what I hear, it is an absolutely amazing experience and challenging all at the same time.  I know that I will be stretched, but am confident that God will bring me through it a different person that I am this very moment.  Over the last several days, I have had the honor of hearing the life stories of individuals who have journeyed through paths of immense pain and sorrow and now share with a peace  and a genuine heart depth smile that only comes from Jesus.  Truly.  Their stories of His redemption are proof enough.  For my Blackhawk friends, there is a young woman from the Congo.  We were talking about the significant pain that women in the Congo are experiencing and I shared with her about the group of women coming together regularly to pray for them.  Her face LIT up.  She was encouraged greatly.  

As of right now, the plan is for me to participate in the institute fully over the next month and then begin the transition to working in the clinic in the afternoon.  Not sure what that will look like exactly, but know that it will become clear in His timing.  From what I know, within the next week, I will be matched up with a family group.  This family unit will be the group that I will come to know closely over the course of my time at New Hope.  When a child comes to New Hope, they are placed into a family group.  These children stay with their family group and experience life in a stable family setting.  Various Ugandan couples and individuals have stepped into the role as parents to these children.  I am excited for the opportunity of just being able to be actively present in the lives of these children.  I'll definitely keep you posted and introduce them to you as I meet them and get to know them.  

And so I bring this first blog entry from Uganda to a close.  I want to thank each and everyone of you who have joined me on this journey.  Your words of encouragement and support have been an absolutely amazing gift to me.  I cannot wait to share more as the pages of this journey are turned.  It has been a mixture of emotions... an ever budding excitement and missing loved ones back home.  God has truly met me and I have sensed the prayers of so many.  For real and for sure.  I am excited for the kids to come back from their break (kids who can go home to family members or friends do so at Christmastime) and to love on them as He leads and prompts.  I cannot wait to introduce them to you.... 

Lots of love... 

Kimmy

Four weeks from this very moment, I will be in transition.  Having said goodbye to my life in Fort Wayne, I will be preparing to board a plane from Chicago that will take me across the grand old ocean.  It has been an interesting last week.  I expected to work one full last week at the hospital and then hop on a plane to go see family all around the country.  While the latter has begun, my week looked little to what I had anticipated.  Shortly after Thanksgiving, my knee, which had never posed any problem to me, decided to protest my upcoming move to Uganda.  Within a few short hours, my knee began to ache and swell.  After ignoring it for a couple of days with no improvement in symptoms, I went into the doctor's office.  And within one week, I was limping into the hospital for surgery.  That was Tuesday... four days ago.  The surgeon, a believer, sped up the clock and scheduled surgery the day after I saw him.  A miracle in the medical world especially in December.  A piece of cartilage had broken off and was floating around inside of my knee.  There were areas of cartilage that needed to be repaired.  A simple surgery with an overall simple recovery.  And yet, such a gift to have it addressed before I left.  Time to recover and heal.  A testimony to me of just how involved Jesus is in our lives.  Wow.... a week later and I would have been traveling the country (or wouldn't be and missing time with family).... a month later and I would have just landed in Africa....so thankful that even in the small things, HE IS.  And so, with a list of things to do and a heart realizing the impending change, I bring this very short entry to an end.  God is...  in the details of all that needs to be done, the visits with friends and family... and with me as I allow Him to prepare my heart for this next season of life.  (Posted a few days later.....)

Gabriel....about 5 years ago!

I am currently sitting at the car shop.  My car is getting a final check through before I hand off the keys to the new owner.  It is hard to wrap myself around the reality that in just about 5 weeks, I will be boarding a plane  and heading thousands of miles away.  When my prayer cards came in the mail, I gave one to my little nephew, Gabriel.  Turning the picture over in his hands, he looked at me and asked "Why are you doing this?"  I paused and swallowed the immediate lump that formed in my throat.  I know that God has opened this door for me to head over and yet, leaving loved ones behind is by far, the hardest.  Gabriel and I have had good conversations and I believe that He understands the "why" behind my leaving.  He just doesn't want his aunt Kimmy to leave and I don't blame him.  I don't want to leave him or so many others as well.  I am  savoring every moment now.  And I am filled with peace that comes only from God. I know I am where He wants me. Technically, I have one more week of work and then I'll be heading off to see different family members around the country.  I'll  then return back to Fort Wayne and just hang with peeps here before I take off on January 5th.  Prayer and financial support are coming in and I am getting through the long list of things to do.  The next three nights are filled to the brim with TIME with friends.  Tonight, my Fort Wayne friend, Tasha is throwing me an African shower.  I head off to the Chicago area tomorrow where I will again, be surrounded by friends celebrating this next chapter of my life.  Thank you Jesus for surrounding me with so many dear friends and family.  In the coming weeks and months, I anticipate more frequent entries filled with pictures and stories of HIS faithfulness in not only my life, but in those around me.

My big bro and my nephew, Benjamin... two of the same pod fo sure!  Borrowed my camera....