home.

Sorry for the inconsistency in the blogging... there's been a lot happening and a lot of unknowns this past week or so.

For those who don't know yet, my grandpa Larry passed away on Thursday after a few weeks in the hospital and less than a week at home in hospice care. He's up in heaven with my Dad and our Heavenly Father, and I am rejoicing so in the knowledge that his body has been healed and he doesn't have any more pain or frustration. Every time one of the Lord's own goes home, it just makes me yearn for heaven all that much more!

It is also a struggle to get through, especially being on this side of the globe... It was so weird getting the information by email early on Friday morning; and then having to get dressed and go teach at school for a whole day. My selfishness still makes me sad, though, and I simply wish that death and loss and grief didn't have to be a part of this life, even in light of the amazing salvation that we have as believers in Christ. Oh, I wish we didn't have to endure this pain while we're here... I miss my grandpa already.

We were able to go out to dinner before I left for Uganda, and did a mini photo shoot in the parking lot outside of Hometown Buffet in Camarillo :) Yep, that's right. I have some hilarious shots of Grandpa and Grandma making silly faces too! I am so so so thankful that this time, the Lord granted me the chance to say good-bye before He took Grandpa home. I just talked to him last week when he was in the hospital, and when I said, "Hi Grandpa, it's Kristi - from Africa!" he replied, "Oh, oh! So this is long-distance, huh?" And then I tried (I think, unsuccessfully) to explain how I was talking to my computer through Skype, etc. and then we kept chatting for a while... it was a really good last conversation to have.

I'll probably blog more later, but I just wanted to ask you all for your prayers and love to comfort Grandma and Aunt Nette, Aunt Nessa, and Uncle Tom especially. It's tough to lose two men that you love so much almost a year apart from one another, but I pray that even in the feeling of loss, there'll be joy that, because of Jesus, our family will be able to share in that overwhelming victory some day.

I'm trying to catch the Sunday flight out of Entebbe and return on Monday to be with everyone for 2-3 weeks. I'll keep you all updated. Thank you for all your prayers!!

(added after Meg's comment)

I had forgotten about these ones :)

Teach Me Your Way

Well, I want to start this note by saying a big thanks to everyone from home who offered to send me a care package with peanut butter - yum! I love facebook :)

I hesitate to give anyone my address, simply due to the fact that I've heard from most people that packages get 'missplaced' sometimes here in Uganda.

*cough* they get stolen *cough*

I've also been told that fewer packages seem to get misplaced if they are labeled with items that the 'postal' workers don't want... like deodorant, toothpaste, etc. Since it is international shipping, apparently you have to label the contents of the box, which is something I just learned too! I don't think we should lie about what we put in, but if there really is conditioner, go ahead and write that instead of the chocolate that I'm sure is in there too! (TOTALLY KIDDING) :)

That being said... here it is:

P.O. Box 11788 Kampala, Uganda

I'll also preface with what I'm about to write and just say that I want you all to know my joys and my struggles over here, so that I'm not being 'fake' when I write these blurbs. I'm sure I'll be continuously writing of all the amazing things God is going to be doing this school year, but I also want to be honest with how I'm feeling.

Your prayers are so encouraging and your support is a lifeline to me.

"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." ~ Psalm 86:11

I want to walk in the path that God has laid out for me, not making decisions or choices based upon my own needs or wants, but out of steadfast prayer and taking my burdens before the Lord. I'm tempted right now to think that the struggles I'm facing over here are simply me being in a new place and desiring the safety and comfort of being back home.

There has been some change in teaching stuff at Heritage; I was originally going to teach grade 6, do yearbook once a week, and coach soccer. I am now going to be teaching grade 6 language arts and reading, ALL computer classes for the entire school, yearbook twice a week for grade 9, coaching 7 and under soccer, and a few other tidbits here and there... I'm also having to do a lot more with my mission group than I had originally anticipated, which is diminishing my 'fun' time outside of the classroom.

Right now, I'm just feeling slightly overwhelmed, burdened, and unsure about my choice to come to Uganda. There have been a lot of changes here, but also a lot of changes back home as well. I don't want Satan to get a hold of my heart and make me yearn for home, without taking full grasp of the opportunities here... and at the same time, I'm sad about the big changes that are going to happen at home ... (please be praying for Grandpa, who's in the hospital, for Doug & Jessica's marriage, since they got married last Saturday, and Catrina's wedding, which is just over a month away!)

Oh Lord, you do know our needs and have all things working together for the good of those who love you. In an email today, Jess reminded me that even amidst these questions and uncertainty on my part, God is sovereign, and our strength will absolutely rise up as we wait upon Him! It's so wonderful to have friends with strength and wisdom when we are faltering in our own... what a blessing.

"From one man he made every nationof men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determinedthe times set for them and the exact places where they should live.God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." Acts 17:26-27

in heaven.

Tonight, I'm feeling that sad/joyful/peaceful/mournful angst that comes when remembering those we've loved on this earth who the Lord has taken back home. It is so wonderful when someone who trusts in the Lord is called home, amen? I mean, we can't even to begin to fathom the splendor and grandeur and GLORY that await them when they get to see Jesus! It's never hard for me to remember that my dad is in HEAVEN, in the throneroom of our Creator, and to be so thankful that I'll get to spend eternity with him and Him up there too!

There are also times when I know we can't help but grieve the loss of those who are so precious to us here on this earth, and to not feel the sadness that comes when we realize we won't get to see them for a little while. We don't get that special hug, that special greeting, that special gift that we know they picked out just for us. We don't get those special goodies that they bake and send in the mail, or get to see them for our family traditions at Christmas time, or get those little notes that they sent just to let us know they were thinking and praying about us. Even though THEY have gained something so much infinitely better and amazing, it still hurts sometimes to remember who I don't have here anymore.

I was reminded of this part of life, and the grieving that comes through losing someone we love yesterday, when I found out that Brian's Grandma Gardener had died. She was such a vivacious woman of God, who never ceased speaking His praise and glory in EVERY part of her life. Brian wrote about her being a 'prayer warrior' on the behalf of her grandchildren, and you just know it was true. Anyone who knows her knows that she's one of those people who wouldn't just take down your prayer request and forget about it - she PRAYED and beseeched the Lord for you. I wish I could have been there to see our Heavenly Father embrace her and welcome her into heaven! And I wish I could have seen her reaction. (She was also a Texan through and through, and I'm sure she was whooping and shouting and raising her hands in exultation for our Savior!!) The angels are rejoicing now, that's for sure.

Heaven's going to be a mighty great place to be.

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." ~ 2 Timothy 4:6-8

'cuz everyone likes ice cream, no matter where they are!

A celebratory 2,000 chocolate ice cream after the first day of school! (2,000 shillings worth = about a scoop at Baskin Robbins and about $.75 at Bali's for all the SLOcals)

Mmmmm....

Also, if you notice my hair a little bit messy, it's because I had my first ride on a boda! Not as bad as everyone said, but then again, I asked them to go slow :)

Twas the Night Before School Started...

Twas the night before school started when all through the house,
not a person was sleeping, for we were arouse(d).

All the lesson plans done... err... "Sort of," I declare,
In hopes that the children would not even be there.

My class expectations still swirled in my head,
while hoping somehow to build up street cred.

One bulletin board done, and one fallen-down map,
I needed to settle in for the night before's nap.

When suddenly I realized, in the moment latter,
surely my first day would not make me blather.

Away to my bed I hopped in a dash,
Making sure to put away my drive called a flash.

... (this is me skipping many, many lines of the actual poem)...

On Math, and on Science! On Hist'ry and English!
Now Art and now Bible and now French with a swish!

To write on the chalkboard, to write on the wall,
It's time to teach again, teach again, teach again all.

In anticipation of what lay ahead in the morn',
I was suddenly feeling slightly reborn.

My nerves were subsiding, laid by the way side,
"Sixth graders!" I said, "oh, why would I hide?"

I put on my p.j.s and gave a good sissle,
And fell asleep thinking of all bells and whistles.

And I know tomorrow will be a day of DELIGHT,
so Happy First Day of School to all, and to all a good night!!!

You leave everything behind you?

Ok, so I've been told that more posts are needed... (thanks Meg) ... so here's one of the funny stories from the plane ride. Just as a forewarning, this is in no way meant to be racially discriminatory or prejudiced, it is simply funny :)


On the plane ride from LA to Dubai, I was seated in the aisle, which actually allowed for more leg room once we were cruising and boredom became an issue, but that's beside the point of this, hopefully, short story - seeing as how it's 10:30 pm and I need to get some sleep before my last day in my classroom without any kiddos!!

Alright, side track noted. I was seated next to this Indian couple who were flying to New Delhi. (Again, I promise I'm not being racist, it really does relate to the story.) We got to talking, and they told me that they were in the U.S. visiting their daughter and son-in-law, who lived in Pasadena or something. We were talking about what they had done, since they had been here for a few weeks. The husband mentioned that they had gone for one of the weekends to Vegas.

Strange, I thought, seeing as how I don't think I'd enjoy Vegas all that much, and I think I'm somewhat conservative :) "Oh really?" I asked. He mentioned how they went to see some plays, and how his wife liked to gamble a little in the slot machines (she slapped him in the arm for saying that) and just saw the sights.

I said that it sounded like a fun trip, to which he replied, "Well, you know what they say about Vegas. You leave everything behind you." Thinking that he meant that you lose a lot of money, I agreed, and said, "Oh yeah, definitely." Then, a few moments later, I realized that he was referring to the motto, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

Kind of got lost in translation :) I thought it was so funny that I grabbed my notebook and tried to discretely write it down so I wouldn't forget.


I tried to upload some pics from Dubai, but alas, the Internet is finicky and is not allowing it. And I need to go to bed!!

Should I reset my clock?

Now that I've arrived in Kampala, the big question that I'm grappling with is whether or not to change the time on my computer to reflect Ugandan time or keep it as the time in the States... I think I'll keep it as is :)

Ok, where did I leave off? I flew out of Dubai early on Sunday morning (around 8:15 am) and it's true - the shopping at the airport was even phenomenal! I bought a pair of sunglasses because somehow mine got misplaced in deboarding the initial plane a.k.a. they were probably right under my seat and I didn't look. bummer. We had a quick drop-off of passengers in Addis Ababa, but those of us traveling through didn't get off the plane. It was actually a little bit interesting... we kind of did a 'touch and go' the first time around, trying to land. We were around 5,000 ft. to the ground, with the wheels down, and in full-landing mode, when all of a sudden we were heading up into the sky again! The co-pilot came on a minute later, explaining we were going to make another go at it... very reassuring :)

I was also flying next to a man who seemed to be an incredibly nervous flyer. Everytime we'd hit a little bit of turbulence, and especially during landing and take-off, he'd grab hold of the arm rests and lean forward to look past me and see out the window. At first it kind of stressed me out, and then, pretty much amused me for the rest of the trip.

After landing and taking off successfully and without any other glitches (thanks, Lord!) we flew the additional 2 hours to Entebbe. We all got off the plane, filled out a paper that said we didn't have swine flu, and separated into lines - mine being the "I need to get my visa and I look like a foreigner who doesn't know their way around this airport" line. I actually got to meet a lady coming from the U.K. who is working in an orphanage for the next few months, and another lady who is traveling back to Uganda after living in the U.K. and Canada for the past 5 years. She said that she had 8 checked bags and had had to pay $700 extra! and I thought my extra $50 was bad...

I know this is long, and if you're still reading, you're a trooper! I'll add more anecdotes from the flights later (there are several funny ones), as well as pictures and everything from the flight, the layover, the arrival, and being here!! However, it's past 11 pm and I need to get to bed!

Love you all and miss you lots!!

I'm In Dubai!!!

I'm posting this from my hotel room in Dubai, United Arab Emirates!

And what an eventful day (err... technically two days) it has been. I left yesterday, though technically for me it was only this morning... or tonight is really this morning :) Anyways, time zones are funny things to figure out, and right now it's almost 10:15 pm, which means it's 11 hours ahead of everyone in Cali, 8 hours ahead of Mom & Teri in New York, and 14 hours ahead of Uncle Tom & Aunt Jacque in Hawaii. Right?!?

I have several funny stories about getting checked in, being on the plane, making new friends, meeting people who are also going to Entebbe tomorrow, and silly kids on the plane. BUT those will have to wait for another time, since I only bought 30 minutes for Internet and my computer battery is running low... Another long story in how they made me check my carry-on since it was 'overweight' so now I don't have a change of clothes for tomorrow, my electric socket converter, my snacks, ugh.... Like I said, another time!

I had a lot of fun today and am looking forward to ending up in Kampala tomorrow evening!! Miss you guys already!!