tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7613467796194657672024-03-12T23:07:33.205-07:00BeAuTiFuL WoRkMaNsHiPmelanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-2582589907091722482014-03-27T07:48:00.000-07:002014-03-27T07:48:24.225-07:00LONG TIME COMING...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>HELLO HELLO!! </b></div>
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<b>I AM BACK IN THE US FOR A VISIT...</b></div>
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As you well know, between my weekly travels to and from the islands and around EA I am not the best at keeping up with this blog, so I have made a trip across the ocean to come share some of the personal stories, update face to face on what God is doing in the Ssese Islands, answer questions, thank people, and share ways to be involved. I am in the US between now (end of March) and April 24th and I am available for meeting with individuals, groups, churches, etc... I will be in the Philadelphia area, but also traveling some, so if you are interesting in catching up or having me come to share with you and your friends, or if you want to know where I'm already planning to be, please send me an email (melanie.musselman@aimint.net) and we can arrange!</div>
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Ministry is difficult between these rural islands without the support of others both through regular prayer and finance. This time around we are looking for more partners in the ministry so that God's work in the lives of people in East Africa can continue! If you or someone you know is interested in contributing, there are several options.</div>
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<li>Commitment to regular prayer (daily, weekly, monthly) </li>
<li>One time gifts</li>
<li>Monthly contributions</li>
<li>Gifts toward specific projects</li>
<li>Personal gifts</li>
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You can find out more on how to <a href="http://www.aimint.org/usa/give" target="_blank">GIVE </a>by following the link attached to the word "Give" (follow instructions to designate it to "melanie musselman support") or by contacting me personally for more information and specific needs via email (melanie.musselman@aimint.net). All gifts and contributions go toward making possible God's work which He's called us to specifically in developing pastors, churches, community health, and women's and children's health within these remote East African communities in Lake Victoria. </div>
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Lives are being saved, redeemed, and transformed and I'm happy to share more with you in detail...</div>
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Thank you for you continued interest and support and may God bless!</div>
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Melanie</div>
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melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-61725342978563362272013-09-15T13:25:00.002-07:002013-09-15T13:25:23.091-07:00“…But time can be a greedy thing – sometimes it steals all the details for itself…” Khaled Hosseini wrote in his book, The Kite Runner, when referring to the loss of memories to time. So true that with the quick pace we run at, the time between
events and recounting them leaves enough of a haze to somehow loose the
details. Obviously it’s been a while since I’ve recounted to
you stories from here, but that does not mean that they have not been
happening! So, I am sitting here to do my best to try to steal back some of the details and
provide you a few glimpses back into what God is continuing to do in the Ssese
Islands here in Uganda! Enjoy the short stories!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our two very special girls...</td></tr>
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(<i>Remember the photos from the last entry of these two beautiful faces? I told you I'd tell you more…)</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastors wife with a bag of help to feed the mouths!</td></tr>
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Pastor and his wife, at <b>Mukaka </b>have been busy taking care of the two young girls
(two and half and three and a half years old) while their own children are
grown. About four months ago the girls’ mother was brought to the attention of
this couple in the church when she was very sick. The father had died of AIDS a
few years earlier and the mother’s disease had progressed leaving her too ill
to care for herself and her daughters. The pastor, also the Community Based
Volunteer (CBV) in this camp, together with the believers in the church and
some from the community decided to unite and help. They brought what they had
to assist in different ways since there was no family remaining who would agree
to care for them. The pastor took the children, another from the community
agreed to care for the mother, and several contributed toward the expense of
feeding two more mouths. They continued these efforts and remain a beautiful
example of Christ’s care and value for children within this and other island
communities. Sadly, a week ago the mother passed away and now the children are
left with relatives who don’t want and are not able to care for them well.
Please continue to pray for the pastor and his wife who want to take the girls
in and care for them if the family will agree!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice with little Joy, one of her sunday school kids and a gem we find each time we visit!</td></tr>
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The church at <b>Kagonya</b>
is slowly growing again after many of the believers had fallen away in the
community, discouraged by lack of leadership or having moved to other camps
following the fishing industry. Francis and Alice Kiyimba, our teammates, have
their home a Kagonya and view this community as their very own. Particularly
over the last year God has spoken to Alice on many occasions about the church
body its need for strength and unity to fight against the strong powers at work
around them. Francis and Alice have taken it upon themselves to spend as much
of their time as possible teaching, leading, and encouraging the believers
there and Alice has been leading a children’s Sunday school for some time now
and over her holiday began an adult Sunday school that meets prior to the
worship time. A few of the members have begun fasting and praying every
Saturday and some have started working collectively to identify and care for
sick people in the community. They are putting into practice what they have
learned over the years in bringing what little they have to offer physically,
whether food, skills, time, or knowledge, together to demonstrate the physical
care of Christ and use the opportunities to pray for people, share the gospel
truth, and educate on topics such as health care, sanitation, and planning. One
success story as a result of their efforts in the past few years is that the
believers have cared for the needs and schooling of an orphaned girl in the
community who is now twelve years old! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Early this year while visiting <b>Kakyanga</b> clinic run by the CBV and his wife, a mother and
baby were brought to the attention of our team. The mother had delivered a
premature baby who a few days after birth returned weak and unable to suck and
swallow, quickly dehydrating and incapable of adapting to the camp environment.
The mother has other children and the father was doubtful this one was his so
he was refusing to provide food or care for them. Together the CBV, nurse,
mother, pastor of her <b>Kamese</b>
community, and the team made a plan for her to take the baby on the public
transport to the mainland that day. The plan was that she would travel to a
hospital with facilities to care for a premature infant near the woman’s home
village where she could receive the support of her family while her children
were cared for by a community member. Though frightened of the outcome of the
situation for her baby and children, she was dedicated to doing her best to
care even if the baby would die, which she was confident of at the time. The
team shared the truth about Jesus with her and she accepted prayer before the
CBV and pastor helped her board the boat. Fast forward a few months, we arrived
at Kamese one afternoon to visit with Pastor and found the mother and her
children, even baby Giovani, now plump, healthy, and nursing well! The mother
is full of joy and grateful for those who came along side her to demonstrate
compassion and assistance when she cared so much but felt so helpless. She
happily accounted to us all of the details of how she, the health care team in
the hospital, and the family had worked together diligently every day for
several weeks to fight for Giovani’s life. Mother and children now are a part
of the church body at Kamese and this beautiful woman is not quiet about her
testimony! She and her children remain in a difficult home situation, however
she has learned and the community as well has seen the possibilities that come
when we unite to demonstrate and fight for the value of every life. (<i>Photos
to come of this chunky fella soon…)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Kitobo Community landing site<br /></td></tr>
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<b>Kitobo </b>and<b>
Banda</b> in the recent months had an extended
visit from a false prophet who returned to Kitobo after a few years ago coming
to Banda where he had deceived and robbed the believers when he left. He spent
several weeks in the Kitobo church wanting to preach and requesting that people
bring the believers from Banda to Kitobo church to be prayed for and that they
would receive blessings. Thankfully the pastors joined together, warned one
another, took seriously shepherding their congregations, and guided the
believers in the truth in God’s Word during the time this man stayed in the
camp until he moved on to another place. </div>
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Over the past year Pastor from <b>Namasengere</b>, Pastor from <b>Kaya</b>,<b> </b>and<b>
</b>Pastor from<b> Semawundo </b>have given testimonies of God’s work in their
marriages. Since their attendance at a Transformation of the Heart Conference
and a weekend of follow up at Boyovu, God has worked in the couples’ lives to
expose their hearts toward their spouses. They are learning to forgive one
another and to begin to trust each other with shared finances, phones,
business, issues in the home, and children. The road is long and difficult, but
all have expressed their praise to God for beginning to uncover and change
things in their hearts and relationships in the past and present.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor and wife and baby Blessing and her brother from Kamese</td></tr>
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If you’ve been following this blog for some time, you may
recall that Pastor and his wife at <b>Kamese</b>
have experienced some hard times over the past year, however are not quiet
about giving testimony to the power and faithfulness of God in their camp. Less
than two years ago the church at Kamese blew down in a windstorm and God has
provided through the believers coming together to rebuild along with the help
of AIM. The church is now nearly rebuilt and this time out of brick to be a
more solid structure and a visual representation to the community that God is a
permanent fixture in the ever-shifting communities. About a year ago Pastor’s
wife went into labor with bleeding complications in the nearby camp clinic
while he was at a pastor’s conference and she was in need of an emergency
cesarean delivery. This family experienced the provision and love of God
through the pastors who came together and brought a boat to carry her to the
mainland where she safely delivered a beautiful baby girl named Blessing!
Finally, the couple had been struggling to provide food for their family
through farming and a small home business. At the Transformation of the Heart
Conference, Pastor was convicted by the Holy Spirit to restore relationships
with the family he had not seen for 20 years and his wife found herself aware
of her need to entrust her business to God and believe in His provision. Since
that point, Pastor’s family relationships have been restored and their business
has been thriving so they also have been able to care for and help others in
their camp, including Giovani! They are now humbled, and joyfully outspoken
giving glory to God for his work. (<i>Kamese Pastor and family photo</i>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our CBV at <b>Bossa</b>, an
individual who cares deeply for people in his community and is a practicing
Muslim, actively connects people with necessary healthcare on the mainland. He
regularly attends and participates in the trainings at Boyovu whenever he is
able. Early this year he contacted the Ssese Islands Team about a big problem
he was caught in and called to court over. He came to AIM for wisdom, advice,
emotional, and spiritual support as he was in the middle of a divorce and was
called to court with threats from his wife and the potential of loosing his
children. This I believe gives testimony itself to what God is doing in the
hearts of those directly related to and impacted by the Gospel teachings and truths
over the years. <o:p></o:p></div>
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These are just a few of the recent stories that remind us
that God is not finished here! I am honored to know these people and walk
together in our difficult places and I am thankful I have the opportunity to
share with you their stories…stories that tell of a much bigger story taking
place in our world and time! God is not content to leave us as we are and He’s
clearly redeeming day by day each of us as we learn what it means to grow in
His image and demonstrate Him to those around us as He works to redeem His
creation to Himself. Thanks for tuning in…I hope you’ve appreciated the read
and that it’s also left you thinking of that bigger story and holding on to
some of those details that time tries to steal away from us! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank you to all of you who are involved in financial or
prayer support to make this all possible!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before too long! Until then…peace to you!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Melanie Joy<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEegpkLEKYSbbCGxSWNlQEU6fSiAcgB4h5eNDx9RO0AmPfTTdB6LTTqqhek2gPtSbDnP5jYC3O9GEaVYXHiBJR_i8SObLC9PRyo32JL3mgXSsZSZnZKanloNZmY_pc0gsYW9JU8-MWEpnm/s1600/IMG_3711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEegpkLEKYSbbCGxSWNlQEU6fSiAcgB4h5eNDx9RO0AmPfTTdB6LTTqqhek2gPtSbDnP5jYC3O9GEaVYXHiBJR_i8SObLC9PRyo32JL3mgXSsZSZnZKanloNZmY_pc0gsYW9JU8-MWEpnm/s640/IMG_3711.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mwelaba! Kwaherini! Bye for now! See you again soon!</td></tr>
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melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-2526926208304595002013-09-07T11:27:00.000-07:002013-09-07T11:27:01.340-07:00Well look who it is!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello hello! Just want to touch base and say hello from home
and let you know I haven’t forgotten about you! I’m sitting down for a few
minutes on my day of rest…ha ha! That’s a funny sentence, but a true one! I have
sat down more than once today and am thankful for each time I do so and let my
mind wander and return before continuing whatever is the next thing on the list
to get done before my eyelids close tonight! Anyway, there goes my mind off
wandering, ha ha! I am still here despite my absence from this page! I continue
traveling between the Ssese Islands and realize that I’ve been terrible about
including you in on what’s been going on! Forgive me! </div>
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So here’s a quick glimpse of the week…tomorrow I head back
out to Kagonya community to one of the churches for the day and then to Boyovu
where we’ll be gathering our Community Based Volunteers (CBVs) together for two
days to review a training they participated in earlier this year about HIV/AIDS
in the church and the church’s response. I’m sure there will be lots of
interesting and lively conversations about the challenges faced and solutions
discovered! God is at work! I’ll return to Kampala late in the week, God
willing, at which point I have every intention of writing up a variety of brief
stories to share with you how He’s been at work over the past few months. I
hope it will help to bring you back to speed with what’s going on and how best
you can join us in making it possible through prayer and other means.</div>
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I’m off to finish up packing to be on the road by 630am
tomorrow heading toward Lake Victoria…Once I’m back from our very own
Gilligan’s Island Episode this week…I’ll tune back in!</div>
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Upcoming stories will include details about God’s work in
the lives of the above beautiful joyful faces…</div>
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melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-72999286534011193122013-04-22T02:39:00.000-07:002013-04-22T02:39:20.450-07:00"All of these lines across my face Tell you the story of who I am So many stories of where I've been And how I got to where I am..." STORY by Brandi Carlile<b style="color: #00ccff;"> S T O R Y</b><br />
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<span style="color: #00ccff;">I used to say that God has given
each of us a story to write and live that is unique and is meant for us to
share with others shamelessly. Somewhere along the way I forgot my own words
and I became lost in the despondency of the story that is my own without and
forgetting the primary Author who is not stuck inside it with me, but exists
both inside and out of my experience. I recently finished a read through Donald
Miller’s book (gifted to me from my little bro, a shout out to you Caleb) <i>A
Million Miles in a Thousand Years. </i></span><span style="color: #00ccff;">Ironic
how appropriate the timing of some gifts can be, and it never ceases to amuse
me! So now I’m considering how to stop getting lost in the depressing elements
of my half written story and learn to live and write a better one that tells as
much as possible through the words and deeds that flow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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You know it’s hard to be fulfilled in this line of work
sometimes, ha, or maybe it is my attitude? Anyway, the challenge I mentioned
above and the fact that I have the choice to make it a positive experience or a
negative one leaves me with a large challenge and standing at a door of
opportunity. Needless to say, it has left me contemplating a few things these
days…<o:p></o:p></div>
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This past month, well two now since I last posted, have held
a variety of things. The following words are a little recap on the events of
the story the past few months… <span style="color: #99cc00;"><b>The</b></span><span style="color: #99cc00;"> <b>March chapter</b></span><b> </b>was made up of visits to islands where I spent time
in the fishing camps and continued to teach with Alice about basic nutrition.
It has been a good topic, or so it seems. I pray the information and values are
penetrating deeper than the sessions in the communities which appear to be
positive…God knows. Our other colleague has been ill and is looking at several
months of recovery time until she will be 100%, so the rest of the team
continues praying for her and pressing on as we are able. Some of my tasks have
recently expanded to include writing on the teams’ behalf; newsletters, meeting
notes, etc… It comes some what natural to me and has opened doors for me to get
to know people I interact with at a deeper level and challenges me to be more
observant for the positive things in our experience. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Toward the end of March, I was blessed with an unexpected
opportunity to visit and observe some maternal neonatal child health (MNCH) and
other medical ministries in Ethiopia. I spent a week tagging along and talking
with very hospitable and gracious doctors and nurses who are involved in
working with un-reached people groups in remote villages providing what medical
care they can for the sake of people understanding the God who created them. It
was encouraging to learn about some of these people and meet those with a heart
to treat them with dignity as such! Came away with a tip or two about what
works with MNCH and medical care in other rural areas, which was helpful to
challenge my mind to look at “the possible” in the midst of “the unlikely”, if
you know what I mean.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #00ccff;"><b>The April Chapter</b></span>
started with an unexpected opportunity to take care of a woman and her child
coming from DRC and needing a place to stay and some medical care. I am
thankful for opportunities to BE HERE for times such as these. I love having a
home that I can open up and extend God’s hospitality and generous care for me
to others. The following week we
hosted an over night fellowship at our boyovu island camp for pastors to come
together and reconnect, be taught in the Bible, and share the struggles and
joys of ministering in their camps and churches and pray and support one
another. We hope to be able to do this on a quarterly basis as God provides, as
those involved were grateful and encouraged. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most recently we have begun to develop a
relationship/partnership with another ministry from a local church and
organization that has also been working for seven years in islands within a
different but close district of the lake to where we work. Island Mission
Uganda has been providing regular clinics, HIV testing and counseling,
immunizations, treatment of children 0-17 years, and community development
projects. I will share more about this over time as we hope to become more
involved in the weeks and months to come with the practical medical provision
and care that this team provides weekly! So far I have accompanied the team to run
mobile clinics twice. I anticipate you’ll be hearing a lot more toward these
ends as we look to merge and expand as God provides the way. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This partnership has already started to open some new doors
of possibility including relationships with the local health system and
potential opportunities to gain experience within. As of last week I was
included as one of a few representatives from our two organizations to go to
the main district island to meet the health officer. It was a good experience
and one in which we were able to begin linking our work in with the local
system which will be necessary for it to be embraced on a sustainable level.
Today an article was included in the local paper from an interview with that
health officer who again recognized and described the population and challenges
accurately as we have experienced them being transient, complex, and suffering
from significant figures of illnesses, including 30-40% HIV prevalence. (See <i>The
New Vision </i>for the article)<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the Kampala home front, mom gave a sewing machine that
was first used by a creative young fella this month, I’ve been cooking lots in
my free time, catching up with some friends, thinking on life and story, and
motorcycles, jetskis, and unexpected surprises have made for some weekend fun
between the island work too!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #99cc00;">The story continues…</span>I’ve
recently learned more clearly how little I ever envision big pictures of the
future. I tend to move and think day-to-day, goal-to-goal. So, recognizing that
fact, I don’t know what’s next or what the future will hold, but I expect that
I’m going to try to take what’s coming in front of me and use the bits and
pieces to write a better story or maybe it’s about letting the primary Author
actually have the freedom to write this character’s story without too much
fight. Anyway, some things to think on I suppose…<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’d like to leave you by sharing a few thoughts from the
book I noted at the beginning of this entry. The following quotes are the words
of Donald Miller.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #00ccff;"><i>“I
don’t ever want to go back to believing life is meaningless. I know there are
biochemical causes for some forms of depression, but I wish people who struggle
against dark thoughts would risk their hopes on living a good story—by that I
mean finding a team of people doing hard work for a noble cause, and joining
them. I think they’d be surprised at how soon their sad thoughts would
dissipate, if for no other reason than they didn’t have time to think them
anymore. There would be too much work to do, too many scenes to write. [in their
story].”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00ccff;"><i>“Where
there is an absence of story, or perhaps a bad story, a good storyteller walks
in and changes reality. He doesn’t critique the existing story, or lament about
his boredom, like a critic. He just tells something different and invites other
people into the new story he is telling.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00ccff;"><i>“Our
story demanded that we change, and so we did.”</i></span><span style="color: #00ccff;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Hopefully you’ll hear from me again in May to hear how the
story is coming along!! Take care and be challenged and blessed to do something
different and out of the ordinary…along with me…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCt642kIRok2KefBpbQO4c63Qz59GaHwuPdEKK_e4MZAywmoMy2i3qsRfZSuV8QltPu3aY-Ql_imApM_V-DniGbE1FeFZTP9IkyMayYGtqNPxq3udSVQBsoP9AomrgSHXEI9PxtHDQ7-a/s1600/IMG_3027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCt642kIRok2KefBpbQO4c63Qz59GaHwuPdEKK_e4MZAywmoMy2i3qsRfZSuV8QltPu3aY-Ql_imApM_V-DniGbE1FeFZTP9IkyMayYGtqNPxq3udSVQBsoP9AomrgSHXEI9PxtHDQ7-a/s640/IMG_3027.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toward the end of the day of seeing 60 maamas in the Ethiopian village antenatal clinic...Got to hear lots of little heartbeats and celebrate with these maamas and sadly discover a few missing...my prayers go out to them...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnX0jYbRnIt7HEFsAikNYv4QtokAWp5RdY1uNnrPuLYgaJSKlyOG7akFVeIQVpjXh9NeN7c1-nIcIwv2kfK44wZSds_YfNAxawoOcgTZ1A3ubX0bSAHUDMg5gBXY-P7mN13_wUqzIhKgQ/s1600/IMG_3084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnX0jYbRnIt7HEFsAikNYv4QtokAWp5RdY1uNnrPuLYgaJSKlyOG7akFVeIQVpjXh9NeN7c1-nIcIwv2kfK44wZSds_YfNAxawoOcgTZ1A3ubX0bSAHUDMg5gBXY-P7mN13_wUqzIhKgQ/s640/IMG_3084.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This nurse is a gem God is using in Ethiopia doing several things, but who now also accompanies those who operate this chopper to go to un-reached people groups and provide medical care.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOI8aJDxY7Y4c3ZYa9i6vePkYZye_uLJYKoysuxT8_uEED-lVY0KQYvi62OEZLyCx08zsz5fIS-YIxx7ydK_OJid8xOWfx9WYxY_eJybJMABMHR_T4g0hntNkx-pQEjv23zqY7GXYAimd/s1600/IMG_3096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOI8aJDxY7Y4c3ZYa9i6vePkYZye_uLJYKoysuxT8_uEED-lVY0KQYvi62OEZLyCx08zsz5fIS-YIxx7ydK_OJid8xOWfx9WYxY_eJybJMABMHR_T4g0hntNkx-pQEjv23zqY7GXYAimd/s640/IMG_3096.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes stories require a big leap :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMgZCjBJOpZYnUFojwQTruP1W_st9k68013sIlzZnwlZhpNe1tDwlZY5yruU-CkdTQCD_Rg5jRwUJUHMRauVJyoF-Y_ipxEcLXRPv_ToOB8wYQK6V1WElvY5F_MAjN57vDX3MwPJ-P-ZX/s1600/IMG_3136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMgZCjBJOpZYnUFojwQTruP1W_st9k68013sIlzZnwlZhpNe1tDwlZY5yruU-CkdTQCD_Rg5jRwUJUHMRauVJyoF-Y_ipxEcLXRPv_ToOB8wYQK6V1WElvY5F_MAjN57vDX3MwPJ-P-ZX/s640/IMG_3136.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erias exercising his creativity...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUCYaSv3FWmED59EJxv6n7Tbo1-MkZx8BvLUCMPRsR6CzzROYGGG0UJKsAfwa62rOsMYL0Y-VMqokcswlG4shXKdftlVi8AHDvUQKAa1dA5siEL1fq1c3y1PJi8diYlCF-8BKE9DZQqS8/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUCYaSv3FWmED59EJxv6n7Tbo1-MkZx8BvLUCMPRsR6CzzROYGGG0UJKsAfwa62rOsMYL0Y-VMqokcswlG4shXKdftlVi8AHDvUQKAa1dA5siEL1fq1c3y1PJi8diYlCF-8BKE9DZQqS8/s640/photo-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partnering = Your strengths meet my weaknesses and my strengths meet your weaknesses...see what can come of it! Time will tell. Another gem who I've been blessed to cross stories with...</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-27251118786276170702013-02-28T11:24:00.003-08:002013-03-02T00:12:37.804-08:00What happens when you start to RISK, CARE, DREAM, and EXPECT...<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">You end up in places like this: </span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmrDGenW4ZwBcI12fhPGmKF6dAYAmoPufsUTq4KvRQ-OLWudP5EekY1oyBCl3tl930QqTAIoCgb4bc2WYOZSG85G7tw1cacUdlt97TccZobDtk7HZ6-VT_uLoEVramRl_5oRsrlzZbO-r/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmrDGenW4ZwBcI12fhPGmKF6dAYAmoPufsUTq4KvRQ-OLWudP5EekY1oyBCl3tl930QqTAIoCgb4bc2WYOZSG85G7tw1cacUdlt97TccZobDtk7HZ6-VT_uLoEVramRl_5oRsrlzZbO-r/s640/IMG_0130.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the front door of our house at Boyovu</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">That sometimes look a little like, but even feel more like this:</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKfYILwcKlI10w-jy-MxmeW1fGfYBHLpwfr6EJUrmKlCwh0G9bO8xiMNoam48j_g-s8YJZR6Y3Wz5xRjA1kHmIE0rqxe9uyPkTKxPbZjaYGDdO9Kxwl3R8hBkGiZ53-7OdYJ6Ys0nW3Bf/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKfYILwcKlI10w-jy-MxmeW1fGfYBHLpwfr6EJUrmKlCwh0G9bO8xiMNoam48j_g-s8YJZR6Y3Wz5xRjA1kHmIE0rqxe9uyPkTKxPbZjaYGDdO9Kxwl3R8hBkGiZ53-7OdYJ6Ys0nW3Bf/s640/IMG_0225.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm moving in as we crossed the lake in our little 40hp canoe... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTno7Ipeus02T9najASvurvq1a9hD58bKncREZIfNAn6fJ0njCS7ay4BiutscMNl2WeEhBieoWEVU8bDGRPFlCsOlU1MCBoiNcRN1omBvsLBC5gF0OiC3W6rLUB8DCu-0zOPKZElwk6d_Q/s1600/IMG_0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTno7Ipeus02T9najASvurvq1a9hD58bKncREZIfNAn6fJ0njCS7ay4BiutscMNl2WeEhBieoWEVU8bDGRPFlCsOlU1MCBoiNcRN1omBvsLBC5gF0OiC3W6rLUB8DCu-0zOPKZElwk6d_Q/s640/IMG_0212.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omusumba driving us safely home from the Bufumira Health Center and Semawundo Camp visit as the storm rolled in and threatened us!</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Learning and experiencing things like this:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">"Sometimes you'll never know the value of a </span></b></div>
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until it is a memory." </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">-Dr. Seuss</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;">This week I was graciously reminded of this truth when I went to
visit the sick brother of one of the teenagers I’ve come to know and care for
over the past few years. While at Mengo Hospital catching up with the nurses
and doctors whom I worked with a few years back and have maintained friendships with, I stopped
by to see this patient and his maama who was caring for him. This young
man reminded me that actually we never know how much a little thing, a little
moment, a little visit, a little gift can mean and the volume it speaks to
someone laid up in a hospital bed. I needed that reminder!</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> It is the little
things, those little moments and opportunities that Christ shines through so practically
and yet we’re so quick to miss his presence in them. How true that upon looking
back we see the value! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;">This week I caught up with a few of the teens (one of who’s
brother was the above patient) that have been a big part of teaching me how valuable little moments with special people are in the scope of eternity!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJuPcCFwfZ2vpz1i5d4sWxMwDzadXG78bascvaCPQk1nqMEPMtiDKHJLI7Q4JC3NXcYEBV7QjtFoRmhW3I_0CTH1fc5fyWjPc72c_xnLdiCJZPW1fZMxAleFxxFsmsoNa5ZP4qq3sHjiq/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJuPcCFwfZ2vpz1i5d4sWxMwDzadXG78bascvaCPQk1nqMEPMtiDKHJLI7Q4JC3NXcYEBV7QjtFoRmhW3I_0CTH1fc5fyWjPc72c_xnLdiCJZPW1fZMxAleFxxFsmsoNa5ZP4qq3sHjiq/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;">In my every day life outside of the islands, in my home and
neighborhood in Kampala, God graces me with opportunities to love on and be
loved on. I’m thankful that I get to be Auntie to so many and practice being a
nurse providing care, comfort, and advise often in the course of everyday
interactions with those around me. Here’s a little glimpse into one recent
blessing of this little guy you’ve gotten to know if you’ve followed my life
the past 1.5yrs. On this particular night </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Abdul</span><span style="color: #111111;"> was sent to “musawo’s” (my)
home for the night because he hadn’t napped and was dirty, snotty, tired, and
stubborn and maama needed a break! Turned into a little blessing for me to care
for this guy until he was fast asleep and I carried him home…</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiQvDCGaYHQhVdbQPZoIzmZjJ3Hy4w2-VBAh8UtyaZXANz_TNcuc-2b4q2QutGgNAh7u3niYl5omEnq8phgOqPXNT90_YL2kj-ufrOzeXdG2ZXtQidk7znEzU_ikFfofvtQObKRd_VBik/s1600/IMG_0272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiQvDCGaYHQhVdbQPZoIzmZjJ3Hy4w2-VBAh8UtyaZXANz_TNcuc-2b4q2QutGgNAh7u3niYl5omEnq8phgOqPXNT90_YL2kj-ufrOzeXdG2ZXtQidk7znEzU_ikFfofvtQObKRd_VBik/s640/IMG_0272.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First things first...Bath time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBJERPPMdDLjKoIN9hkWVNaAVoVoqBqfcYy4238UfvnvyW3FurS6XbJeB2p8ujYAs7yHx2vaYMNc-ea_FDxQ0WopekxGW0xHMwU0sAqPFzhJdpcF_jKN9YVFkDln8jOjJmyjnacIr5U6E/s1600/IMG_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBJERPPMdDLjKoIN9hkWVNaAVoVoqBqfcYy4238UfvnvyW3FurS6XbJeB2p8ujYAs7yHx2vaYMNc-ea_FDxQ0WopekxGW0xHMwU0sAqPFzhJdpcF_jKN9YVFkDln8jOjJmyjnacIr5U6E/s640/IMG_0300.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After bathing and eating and reading, he was out like a light!</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">“…abused so long, institutionalized by their slavery so fully, that they had lost their capacity for a vision of hope…Sometimes we are just too broken to hear and believe.”</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">-Chuck DeGroat</span><span style="color: #111111;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Even amidst the brokenness making it too hard for us to hear and believe there is hope, value, dignity, and possibility of change, we find Jesus entering and opening hearts and minds to receive health care teaching.</span><span style="color: #111111;"> Here is a little glimpse into our various classrooms…sometimes under the shade of a tree in the middle of the camp, sometimes on a hillside, and sometimes even in a pool hall/bar, wherever we can gather people in a public place with shade! I’ve rejoined the team in the islands moving around the camps, following up with and encouraging our community-based volunteers, but also resuming teaching in the camps. The group gathered usually adds up to between 5 and 10 people maximum at the start, but by midway through the teaching anywhere from 20 to 50 have gathered of all ages to learn and participate! Here we are learning about Nutrition, how to care well for our selves and others by intentionally providing good and important nutrients on our plates!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik88fkXmYlK4ITBNRGsuQyT-KJT3jMHMvYMscIK2-3wf2RfuDYPkJJQm_P8ybwPNZAAFr1-GNzzuZt-g510S8lZTQV4Gisb7FEaL2zorJEsFBKSyBSQ5y8GQ7RNUUCQdWfiwODhWizYaGG/s1600/IMG_2949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik88fkXmYlK4ITBNRGsuQyT-KJT3jMHMvYMscIK2-3wf2RfuDYPkJJQm_P8ybwPNZAAFr1-GNzzuZt-g510S8lZTQV4Gisb7FEaL2zorJEsFBKSyBSQ5y8GQ7RNUUCQdWfiwODhWizYaGG/s640/IMG_2949.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quarter of the class at Bossa...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHkhMfrmXGZOMCnEQCSR8vkagMX9OwyzKgQjGffw6_4zZWbwGBBo1mrIl-0dIIdxrcZBqbCtFOyO9cMXUtv0Xg9-1L0hoWTC7PmpaHNySfh2MwvJO_uBatxh_pP5tjTfy41a4rQCdvmFT/s1600/IMG_2955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHkhMfrmXGZOMCnEQCSR8vkagMX9OwyzKgQjGffw6_4zZWbwGBBo1mrIl-0dIIdxrcZBqbCtFOyO9cMXUtv0Xg9-1L0hoWTC7PmpaHNySfh2MwvJO_uBatxh_pP5tjTfy41a4rQCdvmFT/s640/IMG_2955.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quarter of the class at Kagonya...My maama and baby company!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA-hoQ_msjGIB94zWKiBX553K2M3GwMOht7Y9uQ_qBzdy1wGUGVFF0x3i7Tx1Eq1w7OHrBT8NgHcjfNusY9ATf1B5LfyYyZzdbSG68b6uaGJA5SixFQ169VdPrDNpfDH3qESlFOmzmFHj/s1600/IMG_2962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA-hoQ_msjGIB94zWKiBX553K2M3GwMOht7Y9uQ_qBzdy1wGUGVFF0x3i7Tx1Eq1w7OHrBT8NgHcjfNusY9ATf1B5LfyYyZzdbSG68b6uaGJA5SixFQ169VdPrDNpfDH3qESlFOmzmFHj/s640/IMG_2962.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demonstration...which of these people here need to eat well the most? <br />
Ani ku bano yetaga okulya obulungi okusinga mu ne?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSSF9VsEBcmSlEAQ5Td6E-BtIiFL5Joe_U14puxYY27-Zhk7LnlhSWXRJjkgifIPkDDbFmsXxFDhYIytnakVuENWYg_JoqPCr60tVQyHXZQzZlNx1FAW2ly2s2Wb7qCFC4KiGTpfNdEpO/s1600/IMG_2973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSSF9VsEBcmSlEAQ5Td6E-BtIiFL5Joe_U14puxYY27-Zhk7LnlhSWXRJjkgifIPkDDbFmsXxFDhYIytnakVuENWYg_JoqPCr60tVQyHXZQzZlNx1FAW2ly2s2Wb7qCFC4KiGTpfNdEpO/s640/IMG_2973.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bar/pool hall turned...CLASSROOM at Kusu!<br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 21px;">I’ve spoken of this couple before…In fact we have a bit of history walking with this particular family and camp. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Pastor</span></span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 21px;"> is one of the faithful ones serving with in the islands whose church building at Kammese blew down in a storm last year and is in the process of rebuilding it there. During my time away he and his wife accompanied the rest of our pastors and wives in the islands to a week long retreat which they all came away from encouraged, challenged, and ministered to in many ways. They have not come away quiet…God is using what they learned about the Father’s heart toward them to restore families, marriages, churches, communities, and much more! They’ve come away radiant and walking in the light of Truth. His wife was pregnant last year and upon the time of delivery had complications and was delayed in getting to the hospital on the mainland. She was fortunately rushed to the mainland hospital reaching only in time for a Cesarean Section that saved both her and the baby’s lives. This is an unusual story, one I thank God I had the opportunity to hear first hand from her this past week and encourage her to share with other women that they may learn and go early for care and delivery! Why? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Because they and their little ones are THAT Valuable!!</span></span></div>
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Little gorgeous healthy 6 month-old Blessing now says hi and thanks for the prayers for her and her maama! She is the last of 6 children to this blessed family serving the Lord faithfully in Kammese Camp!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPEL8AGObY41gkQWNhFClmlt-8DkA8GQJq25On2YuZdXpclvNAWsGKKj64XobbqM4rRQMSjXSmDJvIT1-dU3FN464Sd4_k0zW1I4xfxFjL-ii_psb2E2-lUWsP2WdB4GBbFgZD7vYPRdf/s1600/IMG_2996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPEL8AGObY41gkQWNhFClmlt-8DkA8GQJq25On2YuZdXpclvNAWsGKKj64XobbqM4rRQMSjXSmDJvIT1-dU3FN464Sd4_k0zW1I4xfxFjL-ii_psb2E2-lUWsP2WdB4GBbFgZD7vYPRdf/s640/IMG_2996.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> Blessing and I both thank you for your continued prayers and support to make such moments so valuable and possible! God bless you as you bless us and so many!!</div>
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<b>Melanie Joy</b></div>
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melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-58358770441258881632013-02-02T10:29:00.001-08:002013-02-02T10:44:17.968-08:00BACK<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">RISK more than others think is safe.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">CARE more than others think is wise.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">DREAM more than others think is practical.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">EXPECT more than others think is possible. </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">–cadet maxim</span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">What does this look like in your life? Attempting to figure out what it looks like in mine...Looks like we're on the adventure together finding out...might take years and lots of miles!</span></b></div>
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<b>I'm back home in Uganda as of a week ago, following 4 months of leave (aka. home assignment) in Tanzania and USA, where I was able to spend time with many of you who are reading this right now and unfortunately not with some of you who are reading this too. Either way I am thankful for the time and have been reminded of how blessed I am to know many of you and have you in my life as well as have the opportunities that are laid before me.</b></div>
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<b>I am preparing to return to the Ssese Islands this week for the first time since being back home. I'm sure I'll have some stories to tell in the next week or so, but in the meantime <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I only ask that you consider praying for me and our team as we reunite and particularly as I re-acclimate to the team and work transitioning back in, but hopefully with more creativity and risk...</span></b></div>
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<b>Thank you Thank you for everything, your thoughts, prayers, and support making the impossible for many a little more possible! I'll tune back in soon to give a little recap of my leave as well as some stories from the lake and neighborhood!</b></div>
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<b>God bless and keep us all in His grace...</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note: Lake view from a distance...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vVOyZU9A7SVb7u8zTAxaL8x1aIMILCclH2fE-H-HJHBrab_m996uJ34zEDh56Iqy6RL8IxiAMjGENVt-5wum1TPmbcSBPS1S2skGAKpgVjKJRW1fHOzz9F0Swxq6BPuxxvqifZixVxZX/s1600/IMG_2929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vVOyZU9A7SVb7u8zTAxaL8x1aIMILCclH2fE-H-HJHBrab_m996uJ34zEDh56Iqy6RL8IxiAMjGENVt-5wum1TPmbcSBPS1S2skGAKpgVjKJRW1fHOzz9F0Swxq6BPuxxvqifZixVxZX/s400/IMG_2929.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Abdul says thanks for making snacks and toy trucks possible!!</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-53987527469381338982012-12-19T07:36:00.002-08:002012-12-19T07:36:04.782-08:00HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD YEAR!So much for tuning back in a day or two later...here I am two weeks later after traveling from Philly to Utah to Boston and back! Thanks for your unmeasurable grace and patience with me!<br />
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I plan to give a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">more detailed account</span> of my time in the US once I’m
finished this home assignment period and am heading back home to Najjanankumbi,
Uganda...only a few weeks from now! I’ll be sure to include snaps to narrate some of the moments that have
blessed me!<br />
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The past weeks and months have been full of opportunities I could have never
planned, moments of celebrating with those rejoicing and praying with those
on their knees. It has been a healthy time of reconnecting with the body of
Christ here in the US and particularly with my sending church, Liberti and our
focus on the Gospel of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Jesus Christ who came as a child for the purpose of
redeeming His broken creation to restore peace and provide a way for us all to be restored to
the image He intended, to make all things sad come untrue. This ultimately is my only
hope and that which spurs me on in my life and work</span>! It is easy to loose sight of the Truth when I’m not weekly/daily being reminded of them directly, so I am grateful for this
time home to come back to my identity and be reminded of the Truth which is the
hope for which I practice as a nurse and care for the children and people
around me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before Christmas rolls up in a week and I wrap up
my time here in the US visiting my family and friends, I'm touching base
to...</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS,</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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With that said, I also want to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>THANK</b></span> each of you for
your love, support, examples, encouragements, and prayers over the past two years! Without you, none
of the relationships, learning of language, culture, and medicine, and extension
of Christ’s compassion and care for men, women, and children would have been
and continue to be possible. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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On<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> January 08, 2013</span></b> I will be on a flight <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">home to</span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">UGANDA</span></b>! I am planning to continue in the community health
development work in the Ssese Islands with Africa Inland Mission, which I have
been involved with the past two years focusing on Maternal Child Healthcare Development in the rural fishing camps. I am looking at another 1-3 years at
this point and ask you to continue to join with me in this work by prayer and
financial support as you are able and as God lays on your heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Prayer Needs:</span> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">As I
return to Uganda at the beginning of the year I will send some specific ways
you can continue praying for myself, our team, and those we work with. But as
always please pray that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">we would keep our eyes fixed on Jesus</span> and that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">God would give us wisdom in our
lives and work</span>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Financial Needs: </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Below
I’ve listed a few ways/funds to which you can contribute as a monthly or one time gift. If you are interested in being a part of the
work and ministry through giving, please feel free to </span><b>contact me</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> or </span><b><a href="http://www.aimint.org/usa/give" target="_blank">click here</a></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to see information on GIVING toward "Melanie Musselman"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> - Monthly support</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> - Vehicle fund</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> - Work funds (for medical/teaching supplies and travel
expenses)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>THANK YOU FOR JOINING WITH ME IN DEMONSTRATING THE </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>CHARACTER OF JESUS TO ALL NATIONS! </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>MAY GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY THIS SEASON</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>melanie JOY</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oOdWMPWyh7eznqpHRwTqFNa3vHgIa_T97_9gBCKorDWHfLUhQpmE_5-7GyWghGBxkMPqa7Q14nXWH-l6HfZkEI3UkGEh9YxrJBxFvQ18n6lSjCoG-UcJzSB4GEluxzjbldiHXXsxQWqv/s1600/IMG_2631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oOdWMPWyh7eznqpHRwTqFNa3vHgIa_T97_9gBCKorDWHfLUhQpmE_5-7GyWghGBxkMPqa7Q14nXWH-l6HfZkEI3UkGEh9YxrJBxFvQ18n6lSjCoG-UcJzSB4GEluxzjbldiHXXsxQWqv/s640/IMG_2631.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like the nostalgic warm feeling of this season in NE America<br />Decorated the tree with my Maama, placing these old childhood <br />ornaments of my brother and I on the tree...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXLyE3Loxo4-axOhrwD0zJl3IctK6DXSJzOTKncU6QixO2mIEeGhoL_4XjCH7zatQ9GVBIxjzSHc4ynpaYEkvXeDHWOjD-yJ9VB2bd6y46zJJnoKtBM3nzjTZ7kp4HGwO2K5SPSEDM1PI/s1600/IMG_2662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXLyE3Loxo4-axOhrwD0zJl3IctK6DXSJzOTKncU6QixO2mIEeGhoL_4XjCH7zatQ9GVBIxjzSHc4ynpaYEkvXeDHWOjD-yJ9VB2bd6y46zJJnoKtBM3nzjTZ7kp4HGwO2K5SPSEDM1PI/s640/IMG_2662.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy White Christmas from snowy Utah</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwDTcfojFPYL6d4tAzBTDvqxXGjxwPcss3VyCkVnSM3JDsT4r-94yxst9bax8KcwCDtqwh3C_0BXzjHMfNprooEvArlOr417WvdTyodmYngnmGdA5CUOy5e64e8aB6A-Pki1Y_Bv7eCXa/s1600/IMG_2536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwDTcfojFPYL6d4tAzBTDvqxXGjxwPcss3VyCkVnSM3JDsT4r-94yxst9bax8KcwCDtqwh3C_0BXzjHMfNprooEvArlOr417WvdTyodmYngnmGdA5CUOy5e64e8aB6A-Pki1Y_Bv7eCXa/s640/IMG_2536.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a happy Thanksgiving with family and friends from <br />Elverson, PA, USA and UGANDA at the <br />beloved Maama and Taata's home!!</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-55294504745961709152012-12-04T20:05:00.001-08:002012-12-12T12:07:10.171-08:00I'm coming back...back to the blog and Uganda!Hello Hello Hello!!<br />
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Just want to say, I'm working on a little post, so check back in the next day or two...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">ONE MONTH to go til my return to Uganda God willing</span></b>! Can't wait, but at the same time soaking in the time I have with family and friends this side while missing those that side...Hard to believe two months have passed since I arrived in the US. Thanks again for your continued support! It's still needed...more to come...<br />
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Check back soon...<br />
m<br />
<br />melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-23773501285504571272012-09-13T13:43:00.001-07:002012-12-12T12:09:25.515-08:00"The grass is greener where you water it" -Neil Barringham<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I appreciate this
quote…In fact I don’t have words to add to it other than the following to
express how true and important it is…</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It ought to be the quote
of our Island team as we work to invest in the training and lives of those
working in fishing camps to bring about transformation and change in their
lives, homes, and communities as one teaches one and truth spreads on…that’s
how we’re “watering” so to speak…And we do see patches of green immerging!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">MONKEY HEAR</span>…<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">MONKEY SEE</span>…<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">MONKEY DO</span>!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b>Monkey Hear:</b>
</span>Imagine…I’m the Monkey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">August
13-16—BuruBuru, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My
Colleague and I flew from Uganda to Kenya to HEAR and participate in our first
of several trainings in the current model and strategy being used in our work
in health care development in the Ssese Islands. Community Health Evangelism
(CHE) Training of Trainers Part 1 (TOT1). Brief History is that in the past,
our CBVs (community based volunteers) were trained in this model and have been
using it as the strategy and method for teaching and developing their
communities ever since although of late little training has been invested in
them and performance has diminished. CHE is a model used to disciple and
multiply disciples, to identify and empower leaders in communities, and to
encourage communities to look within for solutions to problems. Neither my
colleague nor myself were trained before now, so we joined this training. We
were the only non-Kenyans in the group and it was extremely helpful! We spent
the week interactively and practically learning the tools and methods for this
model in a repeatable manner that we can take forward and teach to others in a
way they too can teach others. We spent the week in a large circle and smaller
circles working on projects together and in essence being facilitated to teach
ourselves what we already known as adult learners and explore ways to help our
communities identify and solve problems themselves and with their own
resources! Brilliant. I never knew that it could be so easy to teach before!
Haha. Anyway, one of the highlights and benefits of doing this course at this
time and place was the experience of learning along with our colleagues in
various work throughout East Africa and from the people themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Monkey See:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>August
19-23—Ikuza Island, Tanzania, East Africa…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A
week of<b> r</b>eview and continued
training of the CHEs. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Ikuza to
observe the review training that my unit leader conducted with the Tanzanian
CHE team. Here I was able to spend time interacting with these lovely people,
hearing there stories, watching them work together to solve problems and teach,
and intentionally focus on learning more Kiswahili all day every day! I was
thankful for the opportunity to not only learn from hearing these models, but
this week I was able to SEE it in action in a fishing camp, a similar context
to the communities we work in and are teaching people within!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Monkey Do:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>September
03-08—Boyovu Island, Ssese/Kalangala District, Uganda<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s
not enough to hear and see…learning takes one more step…DOING! This is the week
that came into play. This week my colleagues and I worked together to conduct a
review CHE training with our CBVs in the camps we work with in the Ssese
Islands. Only six of our 15 camps were represented, but it was a great group.
We laughed, we taught, we learned, we shared, we ate, we sang, we danced, we
acted, we planned, we read, we prayed…all in all we applied and those who have
spent some time now (2+ years) without reviewing the training, found themselves
encouraged and in turn motivated us to continue “Watering” the few so they can
multiply and grow others to grow others to grow others! It is toward these ends
we work and pray now…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>2 Timothy 2:2 </b>(a verse used over the past few weeks sums it all
up…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">“and what you have heard from me through many
witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here’s a few snaps…a
peak through the window into the last two weeks mentioned in Tz and Ug…<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtNCkecOkHaFl75DpP_bjEA1TnE7h6s2bkU4b35rGMBWZd1Fj8vz0UazhF0UsZWz2t8yBX2S1w6dRHQd5FvKd6JihtWmieMbGxqF0VT2vxNO6TqRaMsrwCUiKcrWujviVSs4P5F3gToOB/s1600/IMG_1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtNCkecOkHaFl75DpP_bjEA1TnE7h6s2bkU4b35rGMBWZd1Fj8vz0UazhF0UsZWz2t8yBX2S1w6dRHQd5FvKd6JihtWmieMbGxqF0VT2vxNO6TqRaMsrwCUiKcrWujviVSs4P5F3gToOB/s320/IMG_1921.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ikuza, Tanzania CHE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflPF-rOg7UlppjFoKPVP1ajHnqDhEXvtTDcpyOIebOVbbu6uaH1pOPsXvVMrnR0NjVN7Ja8z21MYLZkdXf_IpY-VOm8UMZLBYI3QKabZ0mf_QQ3TwNvklw2tWREasSQ-3FIJTIhw0rTOb/s1600/IMG_1934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflPF-rOg7UlppjFoKPVP1ajHnqDhEXvtTDcpyOIebOVbbu6uaH1pOPsXvVMrnR0NjVN7Ja8z21MYLZkdXf_IpY-VOm8UMZLBYI3QKabZ0mf_QQ3TwNvklw2tWREasSQ-3FIJTIhw0rTOb/s320/IMG_1934.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvXWZ7gLt9gsifiWq7fTivNlu570_tgh77QsmId515bRCjMyBDjdR2H_GA_5kNxmnXim7WOGn2gcxDpthbqobN8fvz3K93TI6kz_vChtNkMVH6D3fblJoo6J7HjNrxti1uUlLeVwQVUNc/s1600/IMG_1949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvXWZ7gLt9gsifiWq7fTivNlu570_tgh77QsmId515bRCjMyBDjdR2H_GA_5kNxmnXim7WOGn2gcxDpthbqobN8fvz3K93TI6kz_vChtNkMVH6D3fblJoo6J7HjNrxti1uUlLeVwQVUNc/s320/IMG_1949.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkCMm6Csddc36vBesJPZurwiXBm8FynfzjLCDN0FWqiR68Xwde15M0A-oqx5SlChSycTBNxZSvaweV_PNcAJoApAhOHqxPA9V12dmmZ30WhlUyHK7Pe9wv9FLUH3FQjFFpQcZTu0I1Bf7/s1600/P1020640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkCMm6Csddc36vBesJPZurwiXBm8FynfzjLCDN0FWqiR68Xwde15M0A-oqx5SlChSycTBNxZSvaweV_PNcAJoApAhOHqxPA9V12dmmZ30WhlUyHK7Pe9wv9FLUH3FQjFFpQcZTu0I1Bf7/s320/P1020640.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to Boyovu with our cook and the teenage son of<br />
our colleagues so excited about getting their photo taken,<br />
what's up with that one? ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5W5S9zJl9Qb5qvNqwRaevXpENbpVfHyyigxKw2MwyBPjBTT30Jjx4GJfVyl5ZLl4lIK0wJCAifOkIpl0n-iqz95IBnR5NSqrRI0Jqi1OJ_p-vlN4AWw-ruj2Mw2aUHL_VU1Ox7639CvH7/s1600/IMG_1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5W5S9zJl9Qb5qvNqwRaevXpENbpVfHyyigxKw2MwyBPjBTT30Jjx4GJfVyl5ZLl4lIK0wJCAifOkIpl0n-iqz95IBnR5NSqrRI0Jqi1OJ_p-vlN4AWw-ruj2Mw2aUHL_VU1Ox7639CvH7/s320/IMG_1990.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boyovu, Uganda CHE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzID9qWJM_iPwGcfoGFcl89tffJgmiDfI3yYngeNK279w3-1MY2afo92r8krj9VgE_KzO_SKyZ76nth7cWBpX64zbjqbkF-5Sz86-Ij-f3JikyuCqpcuNY3FWI36twI4SdY_rVODZ-_sR/s1600/IMG_2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzID9qWJM_iPwGcfoGFcl89tffJgmiDfI3yYngeNK279w3-1MY2afo92r8krj9VgE_KzO_SKyZ76nth7cWBpX64zbjqbkF-5Sz86-Ij-f3JikyuCqpcuNY3FWI36twI4SdY_rVODZ-_sR/s320/IMG_2007.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMUGxIceEjNbCO_l43aQncfsb7e317WRNnp_qdT9lCmYrcsRT9yw6BR8q4b8NIRFmHChaJSUzivydKar-B_6RK6aodTEgWdcsDUN3fOtCVh01_imb5Uspk5h_2UnJ8nd5XHo1vmrlyJV0/s1600/IMG_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMUGxIceEjNbCO_l43aQncfsb7e317WRNnp_qdT9lCmYrcsRT9yw6BR8q4b8NIRFmHChaJSUzivydKar-B_6RK6aodTEgWdcsDUN3fOtCVh01_imb5Uspk5h_2UnJ8nd5XHo1vmrlyJV0/s320/IMG_2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my lessons...A creative method for Problem<br />
Identification and Prioritization in Communities</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IlecBQB2ZXz2_5COlepORPARxFsxWXf4GDuzTsxm7sQabWCAMbBeNVG0em9RZesPX0-70ACHNsnRCel2ZD2NMLdervskRLEJViiCxSXT7Lj7l0znxOdtwqxBvVmMnZAElARAaxUddH5H/s1600/IMG_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IlecBQB2ZXz2_5COlepORPARxFsxWXf4GDuzTsxm7sQabWCAMbBeNVG0em9RZesPX0-70ACHNsnRCel2ZD2NMLdervskRLEJViiCxSXT7Lj7l0znxOdtwqxBvVmMnZAElARAaxUddH5H/s320/IMG_2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group Project times...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUD4NLqfPvf_Y0bqBp31kLQqQGW8PFnGXJreNnwCjo0hMLJsJe90-Bz3OtZ7E_qMQJylv7MZ2U15hL6E7dDiSFaVb2TmWvDyVy3ODd2XMXW0K5mkSDMEdUSMa9W_dG6ZQhLOwU7VWfcOi/s1600/IMG_2029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUD4NLqfPvf_Y0bqBp31kLQqQGW8PFnGXJreNnwCjo0hMLJsJe90-Bz3OtZ7E_qMQJylv7MZ2U15hL6E7dDiSFaVb2TmWvDyVy3ODd2XMXW0K5mkSDMEdUSMa9W_dG6ZQhLOwU7VWfcOi/s320/IMG_2029.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Requirement for Phone ringing during teaching...singing<br />
or dancing...Pastor here choose his traditional dance :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXIt9bm8RjORCUaN67jCVDPqf7utFfucYU8PxBZw5PSz7LZZYHnvxnXWxNdOcMBLRoFuDytAASbW20Vy3aK4_BAA_x-I7Y79lvPp_C_y5mWTTbCms1-_CH8MujMnnTaeGfQE83RP2pDBO/s1600/IMG_2032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXIt9bm8RjORCUaN67jCVDPqf7utFfucYU8PxBZw5PSz7LZZYHnvxnXWxNdOcMBLRoFuDytAASbW20Vy3aK4_BAA_x-I7Y79lvPp_C_y5mWTTbCms1-_CH8MujMnnTaeGfQE83RP2pDBO/s320/IMG_2032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhquwjelPhVQXKc3_qrEPS8LcBU9zWba9fextVpjy8SuWKYxSMTQCgzWBKaKz9i8Dom6ShCWbKH1xF0xn5fDt8DTFIDDasQ1OyuxhyJD7_4g7V_ppnFKW-fM0fqAr-cm15cyemOnzueeM6/s1600/IMG_2043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhquwjelPhVQXKc3_qrEPS8LcBU9zWba9fextVpjy8SuWKYxSMTQCgzWBKaKz9i8Dom6ShCWbKH1xF0xn5fDt8DTFIDDasQ1OyuxhyJD7_4g7V_ppnFKW-fM0fqAr-cm15cyemOnzueeM6/s320/IMG_2043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo-a_oML1VOabz99u7boct8D1ok6f_4v-zLknvtx1zITzpfo6Kk79ZBPZNGa2-gv87IhJkxutxi4ZYGX5XFEbNUpqbpO4oLbUn6p6UCEUAl9tzxN8PKCQUyN-EIf_pGsHGHbXcf3BUpCf/s1600/IMG_2069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo-a_oML1VOabz99u7boct8D1ok6f_4v-zLknvtx1zITzpfo6Kk79ZBPZNGa2-gv87IhJkxutxi4ZYGX5XFEbNUpqbpO4oLbUn6p6UCEUAl9tzxN8PKCQUyN-EIf_pGsHGHbXcf3BUpCf/s320/IMG_2069.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our skit to demonstrate my lesson on using methods to<br />
develop and carry out plans to begin to address the<br />
huge problem of people not taking full doses of<br />
medication...little did they know I have an actress side ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSxRERGD9xkNlVPFyzUwO5-Yctg1zB592RIHsRxG9MCj5G7G5LpVYnYg9GGUKETH5bWtwvvMeekGAJOvSIrFKpxIKTsplCnQlKoJ4G29NBDg7WshiZAjqKkV74ChGaqFUnxDD0Zw8eY0t/s1600/IMG_2074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSxRERGD9xkNlVPFyzUwO5-Yctg1zB592RIHsRxG9MCj5G7G5LpVYnYg9GGUKETH5bWtwvvMeekGAJOvSIrFKpxIKTsplCnQlKoJ4G29NBDg7WshiZAjqKkV74ChGaqFUnxDD0Zw8eY0t/s320/IMG_2074.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">haha, didn't finish my full dose as a sick patient with<br />
malaria, now worse and "aggressively vomiting" ...they<br />
enjoyed that drama and all in Luganda!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOfyL_Of8_0KR2jGJY4J1fbO1MXA5DmiZ7Mg2ORfQtCqrZVrv6W5Hdq46Pl13WA5r8855s0oCoeD_5TgSN1WuKIEp6RfrCpo-nqY5epVmgVHQ399uAitgkAbPre3157OfEIJX23qe9h0L/s1600/P1020739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOfyL_Of8_0KR2jGJY4J1fbO1MXA5DmiZ7Mg2ORfQtCqrZVrv6W5Hdq46Pl13WA5r8855s0oCoeD_5TgSN1WuKIEp6RfrCpo-nqY5epVmgVHQ399uAitgkAbPre3157OfEIJX23qe9h0L/s320/P1020739.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now very sick at the clinic with a huge bill and a friend who<br />
doesn't know how he'll pay it and get me to the mainland<br />
for proper treatment before I die! true stories put into<br />
skit form...this is life here!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_xCHp6qghcB4Lw7wtsM2aVS44EJSmthyphenhyphenGNiVI8yvuh3ayBVmhVCBP3WDxIZdQ6oE9_HZX8p_voIB4XwEeu-y1IlNdM-MD8veqlHQgyH3L2W9Etv_PReiLO2WvJSYiqT9DJzBPC3WaX_X/s1600/IMG_2089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_xCHp6qghcB4Lw7wtsM2aVS44EJSmthyphenhyphenGNiVI8yvuh3ayBVmhVCBP3WDxIZdQ6oE9_HZX8p_voIB4XwEeu-y1IlNdM-MD8veqlHQgyH3L2W9Etv_PReiLO2WvJSYiqT9DJzBPC3WaX_X/s320/IMG_2089.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPcdOggCsAMKwBUK-X-QhgGnaViV5zt6OXQHu7nOjqDeuVCvN0HNlJQZ6Xi1uuDXJHnLc0N4BMWtumswHVCE8aeJ3YUAxR0bt0HGe2XtRXJHFUd2IpOOW4UTs2-T3uMWUioLt3LDmrE9V/s1600/IMG_2093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPcdOggCsAMKwBUK-X-QhgGnaViV5zt6OXQHu7nOjqDeuVCvN0HNlJQZ6Xi1uuDXJHnLc0N4BMWtumswHVCE8aeJ3YUAxR0bt0HGe2XtRXJHFUd2IpOOW4UTs2-T3uMWUioLt3LDmrE9V/s320/IMG_2093.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minus one who had to leave early, this was our group this<br />
week...these are the ones to pray for and encourage and train!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekUKbWENSQkkSdVFru4y8TeWGMe3Q1g_8-BTtUBQWdrK0xVDkWby3__lm7vSu_xKYaR-hXTXtxkWYL4l6TbFRhUQsDOeZaEmZaFMYqSGBtmLXhW_fOJWfJbluBZOAkTpaddNHTcEGFIer/s1600/IMG_2103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekUKbWENSQkkSdVFru4y8TeWGMe3Q1g_8-BTtUBQWdrK0xVDkWby3__lm7vSu_xKYaR-hXTXtxkWYL4l6TbFRhUQsDOeZaEmZaFMYqSGBtmLXhW_fOJWfJbluBZOAkTpaddNHTcEGFIer/s320/IMG_2103.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The youngest two members of the group...maama and baby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f2ZbLuo2FVWettyBfNoNx2Jju_tgHyqv1TfssWt47wVbWoXtGhqoZBVEGazbDmupklBpUl_RYjULbLwK24ivtpXhkGeR6vG2cKPxukVpCZ1ZfTioCW6wKAkNOUklCGGneTwF90cDQgGQ/s1600/P1020753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f2ZbLuo2FVWettyBfNoNx2Jju_tgHyqv1TfssWt47wVbWoXtGhqoZBVEGazbDmupklBpUl_RYjULbLwK24ivtpXhkGeR6vG2cKPxukVpCZ1ZfTioCW6wKAkNOUklCGGneTwF90cDQgGQ/s320/P1020753.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">This is our lake...this is its weather...this is us on the way home<br />
and one of the 4 storms on every side of us...somehow<br />
we didn't get wet or struck by lightening...God.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGshYCQnk5P2wj5hGoQJqRx-h269QmJQeMqEVLkCHRmae2y7_yYy8JtSZB-vg4GyrqkFP_AkNnZiul3VmwX8Ns6PqOwEjqpglQUH04uf8MztiTodcYnYEpDUz5vk7SvsoMCZXQIkWyKEPB/s1600/IMG_2106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGshYCQnk5P2wj5hGoQJqRx-h269QmJQeMqEVLkCHRmae2y7_yYy8JtSZB-vg4GyrqkFP_AkNnZiul3VmwX8Ns6PqOwEjqpglQUH04uf8MztiTodcYnYEpDUz5vk7SvsoMCZXQIkWyKEPB/s320/IMG_2106.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home to Najjanankumbi in Kampala to my precious friend<br />
welcoming me home...a familiar face to you if you follow<br />
my life here at all...Love Him!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">A short note:</span> I am
preparing to go on my “Home Assignment”…</b> this is a time we working with AIM are allotted to
revisit our 'homes' where we come from, rest a bit, reconnect with all of those
who are supporting us through prayer, encouragement, and finance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A time to give a face and stories and
bridge the gap between "the two worlds", recognize just how much a
part of the work this side each of you are and appreciate you for it! It's also
an opportunity for us to receive more training if we need and maintain
certifications, etc... So I’ll be in the US from October 06 to January 09!
Perhaps I will see you there <span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> But, just as a heads up, I
may not be blogging much until I return at which point I hope to do a better
job of it! I appreciate insight and comments as to improvements!!<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks again for tuning in! Stay Well...Until Next Time! - Melanie Joy </span><!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-28527769314211102792012-08-04T05:12:00.000-07:002012-08-04T05:21:46.804-07:00“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.”-Seth Godin<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">ebbanga ddene! (Long time!)...Apologies for this form of neglect!</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Please
send this poor lost soul a tutorial on “how to blog”.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> Appreciation
in advance. God bless you as you <i>will</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
bless many !!</span></span></b></div>
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You know how you find those tiny windows in old castles,
sometimes round, sometimes thin slits in the wall? When you look through them
you get this tiny glimpse of the landscape outside, you know it? A view similar to that in a pair of binoculars when you're looking at one elephant among a herd in the distance. Well, that’s
what I hope to give you here…a little glimpse of the vast landscape that makes
up my life and the work I’ve been involved in these past months.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">“If it scares you,
it might be a good thing to try.”-Seth Godin</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I love this quote,
because to be honest, it is often exactly how my life and choices go. It
presents a fright and so I try it! In life and fun these past few months that has included diving in the ocean, learning to ride a motocross motorcycle, water skiing, flying a small airplane, driving a boat, swimming in lake victoria and the indian ocean, and a few other little adventures. In work, when presented with challenges I try to have the same attitude and motivation!</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Here are few windows:</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Motivation seems to come and go, especially when you
don’t know how to fit into a picture you’ve recently entered. The past few
months I’ve learned a lot surrounding the work in the Ssese Islands of Lake
Victoria where I’ve find myself working. Invited to work with Maternal
Neonatal Child Health Care (MNCH)…rare to non-existent in these
communities…what can my miniscule self do and what hope is there with this
need? It’s been easy to let the fear of what it doesn’t look like swallow the
hope of what’s possible and I think I let myself go to far down that road. So,
now over the past few months, I think God has graciously and slowly been
opening my eyes to see the need, some ideas to go about MNCH, and how maybe I
can be a person to start emphasizing/caring/showing the importance,
possibilities, and value in going above and beyond to care for children,
particularly among these island communities. <b>A few particular circumstances
that have helped pick me up and push me to try:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Last year after coming across a woman with a very
sick child in one of our camps, we spent the past year following and
encouraging her in the care of the child when we visit the camp. Both maama and
baby HIV+. Child was less than a year, but only a few kilos in weight with
full-blown AIDS when we found them. Now almost a year later, I’ve received news
of the child’s death. Maama had begun with some encouragement to take baby for
testing and to get drugs and baby had some improvements along the way, but it
seems something happened and baby’s health declined until the point of
death. Unfortunately, we had not been in that camp for a little while and were
unaware of this cascade. After the fact, I was informed baby died, but sadly
baby died more from neglect, as it appeared to the community that the maama lost
hope and disregarded the child until a few days before his death. Two sides of
the coin…1) I can understand the maama’s discouragement and burden and now
grief or relief (only she knows), but 2) I cannot understand neglecting a child
to the point of death! This is one circumstance that spurred in me something I
haven’t felt before. These maamas need teaching, support, an understanding of
the value of human life, accountability, hope, and empowerment to take the best
care of their children as is their God-given responsibility even to the point
of death. I still have a heart for kids to know the value and care of their creator and sustainer even from an early age and believe it starts with the parents!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Upon
arriving for a recent visit to another camp, one in which there is a small
government health center, I received the news of the death of a 16 year old
girl leaving behind an infant to the care of the grandma. Cause of death,
hemorrhage during childbirth at a health center not equipped or staffed to
handle such complications…tragic!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Walking
through a camp, a boy of about 2-3 years runs by screaming (not from the sight
of a white person this time, but rather from pain). Upon looking closer I spot
two abnormal things: 1) A large swelling, looking like mastoiditis, 2) A string
with an unripe eggplant tied around his neck. Upon inquiring, I’m informed that
this is the traditional ‘treatment'. The maamas believe that the child
will heal by the time the eggplant ripens there around their neck. Some die, some live with severe damage, some heal, but none are taken to the clinic for the proper antibiotic and pain
management treatment and the children are left in excruciating pain with
infection brewing near their airways and brains in hopes they will recover!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Maama
after maama deciding to deliver from their homes/huts in the islands with
health services a several hours boat ride away…I’d be terrified too of giving
birth!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>As
Alice and I worked on translating into Luganda my teaching materials for our
next round of community health teachings on Nutrition, I learned so much about
MNCH in this cultural context! Whoever knew you <i>don’t </i><span style="font-style: normal;">feed any children milk or meat or even certain
vegetables in a village with a case of Measles! Truth of the matter is that is
exactly the foods they need to get well and prevent complications! Or that you
don’t give injections or place IV canulas in a child with measles when again
the truth is that they often need just that! Just one example of cases where
cultural beliefs hold strong sway over health care!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A short
time helping in a Tanzanian clinic with maama after maama coming for antenatal care left
me asking this question. How can/what can this start to look like in the next 5 years in the
Uganda side of the islands?</li>
</ul>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">I’ve left you with
a few small windows…So, what do you see ‘outside’? Scare you? Scares me
often…now picking up to give it a try! I'll be in touch with how it's going this next month, God willing!</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZpYBQGJFjyadleu1beWIg-PalOkratwqwOfilQxMZRx_Gby1mnJACsPReQ1DLWR-TTf9xBHpp4CjRcoEJJcodX3M93zox6geiBGh2h5GV2zs1kE1gUAoAblHt9FHBt5DXPW7-dis7J8O/s1600/IMG_1872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZpYBQGJFjyadleu1beWIg-PalOkratwqwOfilQxMZRx_Gby1mnJACsPReQ1DLWR-TTf9xBHpp4CjRcoEJJcodX3M93zox6geiBGh2h5GV2zs1kE1gUAoAblHt9FHBt5DXPW7-dis7J8O/s320/IMG_1872.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The newest edition to a couple who run a clinic in one of our camps! Didn't even know she was pregnant, haha, welcome to Africa :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVH0cQOf_aWZQPIowlUxr9j58NsX4w8uETz7NRUp-IIWE-f_14LZ1QpqfSDj5RCxkcAM2QE6-pKS0ODErNIFDh8Sliq4IBV_y6tjvYZPTwcKkhtNAhioe4v9uUz1cQOK-YkWWdr7jG8d3/s1600/IMG_1876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVH0cQOf_aWZQPIowlUxr9j58NsX4w8uETz7NRUp-IIWE-f_14LZ1QpqfSDj5RCxkcAM2QE6-pKS0ODErNIFDh8Sliq4IBV_y6tjvYZPTwcKkhtNAhioe4v9uUz1cQOK-YkWWdr7jG8d3/s320/IMG_1876.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maama, baby, and me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6YtZebq0aFIIVM77DjVrBTJoSjyvgOX0LMcDbORBzRjQz8aryOjGszkRXM6fxoCcPsvAT_0cia68OE9VBeXbcAq8teGpvllHDvV33tywmWEOkIZr3m5gZzzvjUprcwGbXrNCO1hC5hQK/s1600/IMG_1825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6YtZebq0aFIIVM77DjVrBTJoSjyvgOX0LMcDbORBzRjQz8aryOjGszkRXM6fxoCcPsvAT_0cia68OE9VBeXbcAq8teGpvllHDvV33tywmWEOkIZr3m5gZzzvjUprcwGbXrNCO1hC5hQK/s320/IMG_1825.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boyovu Company! Thanks Dogs and Boys for watching out for us! This is a cobra for those wondering...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJGJxCzxO7P0LK0JLXU036uUtwaWMcpBadYHmdWj_Nr7PUKv_V0pYGW7-y-rB-ITsFN1GrR_7jCvAm8CVztFhvBuEAsuRS7RYQT53_JmXozDaUAnUExUN_vtrqbNbiExXB0CYLZFfgU9H/s1600/IMG_1830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJGJxCzxO7P0LK0JLXU036uUtwaWMcpBadYHmdWj_Nr7PUKv_V0pYGW7-y-rB-ITsFN1GrR_7jCvAm8CVztFhvBuEAsuRS7RYQT53_JmXozDaUAnUExUN_vtrqbNbiExXB0CYLZFfgU9H/s320/IMG_1830.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside toilet and shower in the islands!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdoWSFOZ5QW2BYWunvZY2_aqUI_5vgAuogPMqpWyARTDGlPhqYiu9yRyPhzh27N3QU66H6z5c3KqWzblEksuCR86kqx8_1BLeZJNR2x05RCvGwzwnaSPrfFS-AAtX-Sm7xjZXuKQnUKaF/s1600/IMG_1836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdoWSFOZ5QW2BYWunvZY2_aqUI_5vgAuogPMqpWyARTDGlPhqYiu9yRyPhzh27N3QU66H6z5c3KqWzblEksuCR86kqx8_1BLeZJNR2x05RCvGwzwnaSPrfFS-AAtX-Sm7xjZXuKQnUKaF/s1600/IMG_1836.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from the front door of the island house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvEu_N7hlIZMxA3ynyAsPc2BdMKz2l48J8ivmGIIaG4Q2HBATRZA1INyZ70ewa8m9ySYbcrigqXZZm-05XtgINHtECQ_JG5y31C46BYm2teRjA29d9ub98WCR1_JwIBwx47OGPUFd8yjs/s1600/IMG_1838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvEu_N7hlIZMxA3ynyAsPc2BdMKz2l48J8ivmGIIaG4Q2HBATRZA1INyZ70ewa8m9ySYbcrigqXZZm-05XtgINHtECQ_JG5y31C46BYm2teRjA29d9ub98WCR1_JwIBwx47OGPUFd8yjs/s320/IMG_1838.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Island house from the outside...what a blessing it is!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaQjVCo8mTlTrI4l1kO7dG5zU-P_MwLnKa5OBVN3DM2Y8XV38LgpMK_-9e-_AQ3Q92SfhyphenhyphenQw2ZRw_bN7AXpMAbXtJQNdLWInAP_Svlz3jpyu16wDMKP-3LEYjyRnHXTuappu6N6tGbhWh/s1600/IMG_1879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaQjVCo8mTlTrI4l1kO7dG5zU-P_MwLnKa5OBVN3DM2Y8XV38LgpMK_-9e-_AQ3Q92SfhyphenhyphenQw2ZRw_bN7AXpMAbXtJQNdLWInAP_Svlz3jpyu16wDMKP-3LEYjyRnHXTuappu6N6tGbhWh/s320/IMG_1879.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deworming for everyone!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KnQSDAz6YKbdNvt5bRT2g0ANtD3NhUYEmO6h0uiDmDD_bMIgyl68ev9DzcZO8UCYBCsFCkmLhNmu_PNmLc3-RorOoBKpsFeiddGdxtEL4q3NStmosucciqCUMI975soPUdZEISIFeCW5/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KnQSDAz6YKbdNvt5bRT2g0ANtD3NhUYEmO6h0uiDmDD_bMIgyl68ev9DzcZO8UCYBCsFCkmLhNmu_PNmLc3-RorOoBKpsFeiddGdxtEL4q3NStmosucciqCUMI975soPUdZEISIFeCW5/s320/IMG_1887.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If this doesn't scare you from staring a cobra in the face and force you to turn on your heels to run I don't know what will!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUeykuQS306ShJ27U8WaXJN7Ry8e-taiDlM9dEks1PShHW_cCJ1UQdiBbegTTehAVOjPdFn_c1ZJfLyV_aWPxQrWoffve25ZyvnpUmKIS8XoEmeKmLj3iYhu7VvLhqKjZU_dQ_2jVemKC/s1600/IMG_1896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUeykuQS306ShJ27U8WaXJN7Ry8e-taiDlM9dEks1PShHW_cCJ1UQdiBbegTTehAVOjPdFn_c1ZJfLyV_aWPxQrWoffve25ZyvnpUmKIS8XoEmeKmLj3iYhu7VvLhqKjZU_dQ_2jVemKC/s320/IMG_1896.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ready to replace now blind maama as guard dogs!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-63930939564930665122012-05-09T23:30:00.002-07:002012-05-09T23:40:16.283-07:00KARIBU (kiSwahili "Welcome")<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">How do you
begin to talk about 4 weeks, covering 3 countries and over 3,000 kilometers by
road, boat, and plane through mountain, valley, savannah, lake, ocean, and air
traveling as four people and interacting with ~100 others along the way? Beats
me, but here goes a shot in the dark…</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: my
camera has a problem and decides to get tired or something and turns off on
it’s own which discouraged me from photography these days, but here’s a few scenes.
To be honest another excuse is that something about me meeting people the first
time as a visitor just doesn’t click with me for taking snaps…I make a pretty
lousy tourist I guess, ha. Anyway that wasn’t my goal. So…all that to say
forgive me for the scant photographs and I hope I can paint a decent picture
for you with words…When/if I return one day you’ll see the faces of the amazing
people I met along the way…</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF58INn02CQDiOI3QaFwZv915aw1yPcD4ois4k5o5sD2wvovgVA6t6wi9tI6REwmawStWFZqVflf-0kCHU908j9kIXy2D_x2gTtHaSlVCNRI9PI8hIK0eEUMP86t-TRZ8VNFZumj3nLFQH/s1600/IMG_1543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF58INn02CQDiOI3QaFwZv915aw1yPcD4ois4k5o5sD2wvovgVA6t6wi9tI6REwmawStWFZqVflf-0kCHU908j9kIXy2D_x2gTtHaSlVCNRI9PI8hIK0eEUMP86t-TRZ8VNFZumj3nLFQH/s400/IMG_1543.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inpatient room in Dispensary at Bumbire Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPplVDPmhaCnSp6YZrontibILNDgMp8q7epqw7lj3t6DThzD9ZTopvuBMuPV9qOdECBhQ_ld1J3wP10bpHq513QmaXxrz-ovLAR_tdYzd-qsCppFJahSpmNqpYbzbdX-UVmAV3fW83qV7p/s1600/IMG_1545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPplVDPmhaCnSp6YZrontibILNDgMp8q7epqw7lj3t6DThzD9ZTopvuBMuPV9qOdECBhQ_ld1J3wP10bpHq513QmaXxrz-ovLAR_tdYzd-qsCppFJahSpmNqpYbzbdX-UVmAV3fW83qV7p/s400/IMG_1545.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from house on Bumbire Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH1TDXWVMJkMbh7lvxf5orB6qWuhIZJgcBU-t5gAV0V9b0qMBa2tHGHyD_baAUmj7siNjyFIstbSu5-04k7fiTSAHEP6AEH3XaM6n9b8zqXH_LarbUg906xndWBTCshio5rbFhwkKgDnM/s1600/IMG_1570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH1TDXWVMJkMbh7lvxf5orB6qWuhIZJgcBU-t5gAV0V9b0qMBa2tHGHyD_baAUmj7siNjyFIstbSu5-04k7fiTSAHEP6AEH3XaM6n9b8zqXH_LarbUg906xndWBTCshio5rbFhwkKgDnM/s400/IMG_1570.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Islands residential rather than fishing camp scene (difference from Ssese islands)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHCaBg0SBRNkAAXHzddrM4plm_-sUzI7UKGATDvkSMqU2D8DLzFbC_JY2QUc9IRYd9K-wYqTO-dIVLfTxeJr7HdVj3U8IMkGa50eEkSJOmHL-BHR8le7fh1-i0RpvSxrifPm-CchXXRWG/s1600/IMG_1592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHCaBg0SBRNkAAXHzddrM4plm_-sUzI7UKGATDvkSMqU2D8DLzFbC_JY2QUc9IRYd9K-wYqTO-dIVLfTxeJr7HdVj3U8IMkGa50eEkSJOmHL-BHR8le7fh1-i0RpvSxrifPm-CchXXRWG/s400/IMG_1592.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise across savannah (sorry while we were moving) on our way to Dar es Salaam</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS18VRnG8LoNR3AEqLJexSmRWLMqMw2A_0eX9uhaJtTUdOqrd3j0hCMn9AgQmA3PGLdOpQiPhIIfnOh43cAd8DPie9gteCV8XgrI_HBzPw-EccDoMKqx2fnHghyB2-bnlEhwgGD_MSEu0/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS18VRnG8LoNR3AEqLJexSmRWLMqMw2A_0eX9uhaJtTUdOqrd3j0hCMn9AgQmA3PGLdOpQiPhIIfnOh43cAd8DPie9gteCV8XgrI_HBzPw-EccDoMKqx2fnHghyB2-bnlEhwgGD_MSEu0/s400/IMG_1599.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jam :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOnBRxSsOeWzFqs6UVRJI6GqpWA4oaz76gOZpyAsFoT_OBkM_3aO0Yelh_nW6JTWSKgu48TXHYxOhW2LOTsdWG5ZH-eUJm3J-acI5WH60yDPkRRtAya7oESANUAkRpFyxlH_dGo3B-KE_/s1600/IMG_1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOnBRxSsOeWzFqs6UVRJI6GqpWA4oaz76gOZpyAsFoT_OBkM_3aO0Yelh_nW6JTWSKgu48TXHYxOhW2LOTsdWG5ZH-eUJm3J-acI5WH60yDPkRRtAya7oESANUAkRpFyxlH_dGo3B-KE_/s400/IMG_1600.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dar es Salaam days often went like this...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtKyIxbOqVL3GYqoP4SbB1b2zjjWg-HIYXgAhiWj26zpMFFP5ByQIPzqch1CfcZcVvUuid5sRXossb8r0TTauVIKS3M-E-lu0sBSfBOVnog8azoC32BlmVQjt9zhVMrgbnZm-mv78aj7V/s1600/IMG_1653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtKyIxbOqVL3GYqoP4SbB1b2zjjWg-HIYXgAhiWj26zpMFFP5ByQIPzqch1CfcZcVvUuid5sRXossb8r0TTauVIKS3M-E-lu0sBSfBOVnog8azoC32BlmVQjt9zhVMrgbnZm-mv78aj7V/s400/IMG_1653.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zanzibar :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgRKw1sR8T-ZYIchYXiB3ZY-hwz89fmrXbS5v0Ix__lhKv53mwuiPQS1Sv2U8zTlmxDR2vzUgfmVo0eIABlag1SEE6jIoU9YyQHzs-zhhgLCnVpFAv-hftP-ZntxTvmR_lGcOtdoc-esO/s1600/IMG_1679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgRKw1sR8T-ZYIchYXiB3ZY-hwz89fmrXbS5v0Ix__lhKv53mwuiPQS1Sv2U8zTlmxDR2vzUgfmVo0eIABlag1SEE6jIoU9YyQHzs-zhhgLCnVpFAv-hftP-ZntxTvmR_lGcOtdoc-esO/s400/IMG_1679.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to pass Mount Kilimanjaro (hidden from view) on the last leg of our driving trip to Kenya...This was a familiar view for Chris and I from the back seat this whole month :)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: large;"><b>TRAVEL LOG</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 02, 2012—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Hit the Road from Najjanankumbi with Chris
(my boss), Dale (her husband), and Josh, my travel companions for the next
month, toward the Uganda-Tanzania Boarder. After passing through immigration we
continued on to a place called <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">BUKOBA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> where we spent our first night. This began the start of an
amazing trip through Tz where we found people they knew at every stop across
the country…what a beautiful picture of the impact and importance of investment
in relationships over years this side of the globe!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 03-05—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Chris and I boarded a small fiberglass
canoe with engine and headed to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">BUMBIRE</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"> <b>Island</b></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">
where they have a lovely home and one of the dispensaries developed through the
years of community health evangelism in these islands. A place from which mobile clinics are sent out from as well to other camps. This is also the home of
the old float plane which played a large part in the development of the health
care and churches. Chris and I stayed there working, organizing, reconnecting,
and seeing patients (mostly pregnant women for their antenatal visits) for a
few days and then Dale and Josh came to join us and bring their speed boat to
take us back to the mainland on the south side of the lake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 05—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The four of us drove the boat south to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">KAHUNDA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> (one of the first sites/camps for island
ministry). We spent a night there and explored the fishing camp and community
that surround their property greeting people along the way as I stumbled
through kiSwahili greetings and trying to pack away my now instinctive oLuganda
(kiGanda) language! God did bless me with a few people along the way who new a bit of Luganda which was lovely to be able to communicate and not feel like a 1yr old again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 06-09—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">I accompanied Josh and his brother, Odhi,
in their work for the weekend which was to take his SA sport fishing clients on
a fishing trip to and around an island called <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">RUBONDO</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> (which is a game reserve island). This was
a fun experience as the 3 of us worked together, a bit of a break, and of
course fun to learn about engines, boats, and fishing as I helped out as crew
and enjoyed the lake. Chris and Dale met us for the last two days of this time
as we spent Easter on the island watching crocs and hippos float near the
beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 09-12—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Dale, Chris, and I returned to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">BUMBIRE
Island</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> to continue some
work. While there, an accident occurred that cascaded into a great opportunity
for me to learn about and see people playing up a situation all in order to get
money from whites…even after knowing them and working with them for all of
these years. I learned a lot as Chris and I assessed, evaluated, cared, and
dealt with this situation. I also got practice testing patients for HIV,
Malaria, parasites, STIs, and being involved in observing and determining
treatment for patients in the clinic. Good experience to see how health care
works in this new context. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 12-13—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">We drove the boat from BUMBIRE to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">IKUZA</span>,</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> another island where there is an old
dispensary that they hope to reopen this year, which we visited along with a
pastor who will be moving to this side in between a fishing camp and a
residential community. From there we headed back to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">KAHUNDA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 14-17—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">We spent the first part of the day driving
and meeting the Bishop of the Africa Inland Church of Tanzania whom Dale and
Chris have and continue to work very closely with. From there we continued on
to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">MWANZA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">, the 2<sup>nd</sup>
largest (having said that a quite small) city in Tz. It is along the southern
part of the lake and was the initial site where island ministry was based. We
spent the weekend there meeting up with a variety of people who are close
friends and colleagues and whom they have had a unique array of relational
connections with over the years. Again beautiful to meet the faces, hear the
stories, and see the importance and impact of relationship, language, and integrated life in this corner of
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 17-21—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The morning of the 17<sup>th</sup> we hit
the road before dawn and spent the day crossing savannah and passing through
gorgeous mountain ranges to the opposite side of the country by the coast. We
reached <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">DAR ES SALAAM</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">
in the evening (about 16 hours after starting the drive). The following days we
spent in a variety of offices that I never anticipated or dreamed of my feet
stepping into here in Tz. Some of these offices and meetings included the
Ministry of Health for Tz, the Nursing Counsel of Tz, Shipping and road works
offices (in regard to bringing a medical cruise ship to Lake Victoria in the
next year or so! More to come on that at a later date I'm sure...), and the Office of the President of Tz. Is this really my
life?!?! All I can say is relationships, corruption, relationships,
relationships, relationships…Over these weeks and many circumstances that I
happened to be around or a part of, I learned an abundance about Tz and East
Africa in the way of cultures, government, corruption, relationships, language,
caring for the needy, food, life, health, myself, God, and the list goes on…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 21-24—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">We took a weekend break away and since we
were so close to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">ZANZIBAR</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">
we hopped on the ferry and went there for that weekend, chilled on the white
sand beach, swam in the gorgeous clear Caribbean blue Indian ocean water,
snorkeled, and walked far out into the seaweed fields to talk with the ladies
growing and harvesting it (a huge industry there for the locals in the villages
that make up Zanzibar). Such an interesting place…bandas along the beaches set
just behind and among native Islamic villages and communities…anyone feeling
called to start living Christ out in such a place, I’ll be right there with
you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 24-26—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">We returned to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">DAR ES SALAAM</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> to wrap up some meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 26—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">We drove north to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">ARUSHA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> where we stopped again to meet a long time
friend of theirs and his kids whom we spent the night with to break
up the long trip to Nairobi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>April 27—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">We finished the last leg of the driving
journey across the boarder into <b>KENYA</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> and to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">NAIROBI</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">.
I stayed and hung out in Nairobi with the 3 of them at another of Chris and
Dale’s homes and visited some of their family members and friends for a few
days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>May 01, 2012—</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">I boarded the evening flight home to <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">UGANDA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> to complete the month long loop of East
Africa. In many ways a survey trip and an altogether eye and heart
opening experience for which I am very grateful I was able to be a part of this
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">You can see the
places on this <a href="http://www.travellerspoint.com/member_map.cfm#/map/7918">map</a>, open and click on the link on the left entitled "east african wanderings",
but sorry I wasn’t able to easily trace the roads and water-ways that we
crossed from place to place! </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b>Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do
not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go.”</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">GRATITUDE</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">1)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">For all of those who support me and God’s
work in prayer and finance who made this trip (a big one in heart and mind and
maybe even direction) possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">2)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">For my boss Chris, her husband Dale, and
Josh who hosted me as we traveled and worked together this past month. I was honored
and blessed to have them welcome me into their lives, homes, car, boats, work, history,
experience, joys, and difficulties and accompany them as we went day by day and
place to place…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">“God made you as
you are in order to use you as He planned.”-J.C. Macauley</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">“I will give them an undivided heart<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">and put a new spirit in them;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">I will remove from them their heart of
stone<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">and give them a heart of flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">Then they will follow my decrees<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">and be careful to keep my laws.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">They will be my people,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">and I will be their God.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444; color: #3d85c6;">-Ezekiel 11:19-20</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">In Summary, the truth is, this is what God has been and
continues to do in me and this Tz trip was a big step in God showing me the
undivided heart He’s forming in me, the new spirit that is not my own, removing
my heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh, teaching me to follow
and keep His ways and showing me confidently that He is mine and I am His no
matter what else…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">He’s opening me to things I never thought I
would be and even fought and He’s filling me with a spirit of peace about it
all no matter how uncertain things appear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">As I write this I have to ask…Is this
coming from me?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Thanks for taking the time to read this lengthy post, but also thank you for your thoughts and/or prayers as I was traveling. Tune in again soon :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Melanie Joy</span></div>
<br />melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-636045882255061042012-04-01T22:51:00.000-07:002012-04-01T22:51:40.804-07:00TZHi, I'm on my way to the Tanzanian Islands in lake victoria for a few weeks to observe the healthcare and discipleship work that's been going on there for over 20 years. Please continue to pray for God's way behind, beside, and before. Catch ya on the Flip Side!<br />
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mmelanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-53192695405266531512012-03-19T03:42:00.001-07:002012-03-19T03:44:30.948-07:00"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why."-Mark Twain<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first is given to us freely, but the second some discover in their youth and some spend a life time searching and running after. I thank God for revealing His purpose for me while still young, but the details of that purpose and what He's knit me together for, He continues to reveal to me. From what I understand it is for the goal of me being able to fulfill to the fullest that purpose in His way and for His fame! I am honored and humbled to be asked to walk alongside and guide youth also to find their purpose in and from Him...The following words I hope give you a glimpse into the details Jesus is showing me about how and what He has knit me together for...</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus put it this way as Paul reminds us in <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”</span></b> It just so happens, I’m learning that in the pouring into others whatever it be, food, time, energy, love, healthcare, education, comfort, it is the joy that accompanies the giving that is the greatest blessing of all. This joy has come to me as I slowly, slowly learn and grow in my understanding of what it means that, doing unto the “least of these” in the worlds’ eyes, is in reality being an act of love and grateful service to my King and Lord and Redeemer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think by now anyone reading these entries has begun to recognize that I love <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">KIDS</span></b>, all ages, shapes, sizes, and personalities from the time they come out of the womb to the time they hit the work force! Now, my life crosses paths with many of them, some in my neighborhood, some in the Ssese Island fishing camps, some on the streets of Kampala, some through my friends’ growing families, some through the Biblical Counseling study (although most of these are not kids anymore!), and some I’ve met through the Reach Out program here in Uganda. What God has taught me more deeply about myself these past weeks and months is that an additional blessing is the joy that comes from building relationships with those I am able to pour into! What I actually love most is time spent investing in, building relationship with, and caring for Children and Adolescents in such a context.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HeZGGNMuMX0Rnis3j6PtnTQRkTOI5Kfu5FKPyGaXojExkBWv6-OHLtN2BoGaedtzJsBHzHVZDsHG0x9GP6RBoYv3Vi5xhqnoqscwUDs37AvGuLY85OvEJX5YzwNj7IfoM_BcXrabIZ9-/s1600/P1010874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HeZGGNMuMX0Rnis3j6PtnTQRkTOI5Kfu5FKPyGaXojExkBWv6-OHLtN2BoGaedtzJsBHzHVZDsHG0x9GP6RBoYv3Vi5xhqnoqscwUDs37AvGuLY85OvEJX5YzwNj7IfoM_BcXrabIZ9-/s400/P1010874.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">one beautiful thing</span></b> to be surrounded by kids, a group of 10-30 young children, being ushered through the fishing camps as we make our visits. Having my hair “combed”, light mole covered skin explored, glasses attempted to be confiscated, every finger held by a different child and fought over at that, legs being clung to, lap being filled by 1-3 kids every time I sit down, lots of little games and conversations, having often both hips or my back occupied, and taking note of and caring for ill children as we’re able, is one type of my experience and interactions with children here in Uganda. I thank God for this opportunity and what I can bring to them. I can whisper to them the precious truth that Jesus loves them. I can tell them what he came to do for them. I can pray for them. I can let Jesus show himself to them as I pick up and carry or stop to talk and play with the forgotten, separated, or left behind ones. This is one way that God has put on my path to love His little children and bring them to Him.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">another beautiful thing</span></b> altogether to have my home filled with God’s beautiful and unique creations, to ride in Kampala and as Richard (a boda boda brother) and I approach my destination to have some youth run up to greet me on their way home from school yelling “Nantongo Joy!” (the name some call me by), Saturday visiting some of the youth at their dance practice and not long after finding us with side-stitches as they teach me and I make a fool of myself attempting to learn the traditional dance, to have a boy want to accompany me to church this past Sunday and then spending the afternoon with a few others studying and eating snacks at my flat, to come home from the islands Friday evening and not long after hearing a knock at the door to find one of the young girls in the neighborhood wanting to visit and come read at my house…I love this! This is where I find my heart...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6MeZZHOmxevfxtMsTBvJ8b5vdp7XGdG4rfwQriH-G6uBU_u4D6xhD5Tu_reI0s8M1nesD3GGoru6fEU2PEKdo4eVsY2_usBs-iSMu0oYCH7ONwGxMSN5RBgnB1FcSplNZKFJvqF_hxTt/s1600/IMG_1392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6MeZZHOmxevfxtMsTBvJ8b5vdp7XGdG4rfwQriH-G6uBU_u4D6xhD5Tu_reI0s8M1nesD3GGoru6fEU2PEKdo4eVsY2_usBs-iSMu0oYCH7ONwGxMSN5RBgnB1FcSplNZKFJvqF_hxTt/s400/IMG_1392.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love that I can be one wee woman on this planet who has the blessing and opportunity to demonstrate Jesus’ deep care for kids by opening up my home to be a safe and comfortable place where girls can be girls and boys can be boys. I love that kids know they are welcome. I love that God has blessed me to be a blessing in feeding them when they come and providing toys and books they know they are welcome to use! I love that they invite me into their worlds and what matters to them. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love that some of them now come to share about life and ask for advice or my thoughts.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love that God’s Word has the answers for them and that I have such an opportunity to speak Truth and lead them to the One who does care and has the greatest answers and guidance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0E9M6N8GtQCeo_Gft9oLzRoTVWqPkos73bh0uUGArrtpwfn1TNV9EpLryerzTybRCdQ7hOAGD6fLmbq0l0uUdTYU9XTCLwzTU34vjRys-LugRqTTPYYEuTFxgeINSR1xegpg5h7q9Bed/s1600/IMG_1368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0E9M6N8GtQCeo_Gft9oLzRoTVWqPkos73bh0uUGArrtpwfn1TNV9EpLryerzTybRCdQ7hOAGD6fLmbq0l0uUdTYU9XTCLwzTU34vjRys-LugRqTTPYYEuTFxgeINSR1xegpg5h7q9Bed/s400/IMG_1368.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><b>One particular experience </b></span>recently is pictured above and I want to share a bit more about how God used it in my heart. Two Saturdays ago I invited some of the adolescents that God has brought into my life and whom I have been developing relationships with over the past months to come for a visit. I was so excited, blessed, and honored that they would travel very far for them to come and spend the day hanging out with me! Only some of the boys could come that day and so it turned into a boys’ day at Musawo’s house! We had a blast! We laughed and laughed and laughed and they ate and ate and ate (May God abundantly bless every mother and father of an adolescent boy!). I could not have been more blessed to be able to get to know them more, welcome them into a nice home, and feed them something different than their every day meal of posho and beans at school! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the follow up is a taste of how God uses such times…all last week following that day I have heard from them, thanking, missing, and asking when we can repeat, when I can visit their families, and when they can come back and bring the others and have me sit back and they cook for me! God is showing me the impact of investment in relationship with youth and how over time they come to know, be known, receive care, but also come for counsel…what a beautiful opportunity to demonstrate who Christ is to me/to us and how His Word guides. God alone is the One who I am known by fully. He is the One I am to invest my life in knowing and imitating. He is the One who cares for me. He is the One who guides and counsels me. I am honored and excited for how God plans to continue to shape and use this heart to love on, care for, and encourage youth to know and seek the One who knows them most and gives them utmost counsel…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for tuning in for another wee taste of what’s going on this side. Thank you for all of your love and prayers and support that make it possible for me to bless these kids. I hope one of these days I’ll figure out how it is that people keep on top of blogging. For now it looks like a once a month or twice a month endeavor in the midst of the business of hosting, feeding, caring for, and visiting God’s precious creations!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Melanie Joy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-11973657002892535152012-02-14T13:18:00.001-08:002012-02-14T13:20:45.311-08:00“Everybody, everybody wants to LoVe! Everybody, Everybody wants to be LoVeD…”-Ingrid Michaelson lyrics<div class="MsoNormal">I am not much of a enthusiast of this day the commercial world has made into a ‘holiday’, but I am thankful today and these first two months of 2012 that in the midst of the business of life, the joys and sorrows, the work and fun, God is answering my prayers and is leading me in the long journey of knowing, growing, and understanding LoVe…that He is LoVe…how to LoVe as He is and does…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I thank my Lord for His life of love. I thank Him for His Word and the instruction and teaching it provides me for what LoVe truly looks like and means. I especially thank God for the people and opportunities that He has placed in my life daily to practice and be challenged to LoVe God and others:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">LoVe is patient and kind</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">LoVe does not envy or boast</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">LoVe is not proud, rude, self-seeking, or easily angered</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">LoVe does not keep record of wrongs or delight in evil</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">LoVe rejoices in the Truth</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">LoVe always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">LoVe never fails…</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (adaptation)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I also thank my Lord for the many people and opportunities that God has blessed me with to be LoVeD on both sides of the big pond in all areas of life! Above it all I am learning that I could not be more LoVeD than I already am by the Savior of the World and I am learning to place Him as my first LoVe in return with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is my prayer for each of us reading and following this blog and God’s work here in Uganda that over time we all would come to know and share that same LoVe of Christ who came while we were still sinners and died for Us! It is this that makes me believe that He is continuing to patiently form me and each of us into His beautiful workmanships...and for the hope of transformation through His LoVe I can not be more grateful when I look within and around me...</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>“[I am so] Lucky to be in LoVe with my best friend [Jesus]…”-</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Amos Lee lyrics </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(A year ago...even a few months ago I wouldn't have been able to say this...It shows God is transforming and shaping me and I praise Him!)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Much LoVe and blessings to each of you this week! May each of us come to know and experience the depth of true LoVe this week, month, and year and may we find it spilling over to others!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;">melanie joy</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Here are a few of the easiet moments of loving captured over the past few days :)</b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUUXWvUHnZPU1Hkxdjt_-n9qu55Wy2b0v59SFkUrU0T30KRYU04gAlqNhUxMv083bpCflFyHMGdWVktGpobXyqkGIjdvsFFLCDTgxkn1i4ZFdpoowJQQ9il3JjYCf-9tbbCf8H5Q1jAXS/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUUXWvUHnZPU1Hkxdjt_-n9qu55Wy2b0v59SFkUrU0T30KRYU04gAlqNhUxMv083bpCflFyHMGdWVktGpobXyqkGIjdvsFFLCDTgxkn1i4ZFdpoowJQQ9il3JjYCf-9tbbCf8H5Q1jAXS/s320/IMG_1240.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet and stubborn companion for the day "Sophia" in one of the fishing camps<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EmIpE7XNVWTig1ZV7qr_Hh0uMooD107wSKqd8c22N_i3gHwPgpB_zaztK2AZ6ONjBFVHx794N_mMN9XrK_Iu_b0Cg2VvWI0icnKNOUrKlqynPXEBmsM43LTM-jK0lrVo2i1WwrM8BpWz/s1600/IMG_1255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EmIpE7XNVWTig1ZV7qr_Hh0uMooD107wSKqd8c22N_i3gHwPgpB_zaztK2AZ6ONjBFVHx794N_mMN9XrK_Iu_b0Cg2VvWI0icnKNOUrKlqynPXEBmsM43LTM-jK0lrVo2i1WwrM8BpWz/s320/IMG_1255.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dear friend, a nurse here, Lucy's newest addition...a baby boy!! Meeting Auntie Melanie/Auntie Joy for the first of many many times!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXg2icH_4h5S6o9S5e0B6YF5JrutdJGhM1pkpLjxGSXNYa0T7YolodEXD2NM8VOwOxZOZBiA5t0E8cbz8AMCytFpNRI6r3AA6AX8LNg7dgp2UfEdubr6Wqx6pC4AWSzdLsX0M1nMFjrJs/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXg2icH_4h5S6o9S5e0B6YF5JrutdJGhM1pkpLjxGSXNYa0T7YolodEXD2NM8VOwOxZOZBiA5t0E8cbz8AMCytFpNRI6r3AA6AX8LNg7dgp2UfEdubr6Wqx6pC4AWSzdLsX0M1nMFjrJs/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA8ywLBWED9ZG6b-MDx5Fc5-XdBMtjYzhyE2W81TgDrjdNzOMAvk4JbnwQYWNsMlLmuZue1lnfeN4JUeo_q6q88ahqeuZtLyGZ0AxBIAr3x8B_ThbKo_jtoGWt6CQCF-w5_rrDLWx079i/s1600/IMG_1275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA8ywLBWED9ZG6b-MDx5Fc5-XdBMtjYzhyE2W81TgDrjdNzOMAvk4JbnwQYWNsMlLmuZue1lnfeN4JUeo_q6q88ahqeuZtLyGZ0AxBIAr3x8B_ThbKo_jtoGWt6CQCF-w5_rrDLWx079i/s320/IMG_1275.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy and baby...Proud and happy first time Maama!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many little boys being born to the nurse's at Mengo hospital! Wee 5 months old John and I enjoyed some precious love and play time together when visiting this week!</td></tr>
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</div>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-42699926216449898302012-02-07T12:06:00.000-08:002012-02-14T12:00:01.034-08:00"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." Isaiah 61:3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes I feel more like papyrus swiftly flowing down the Nile through the rough and tumble of the current rather than an oak tree steady and strongly grounded on the bank of the river displaying God's splendor...but all that to say I praise God He hasn't given up on finishing the good work He started in me and I hope I am becoming such an "oak" as I have seen and heard in others who so uniquely and distinctly display the splendor of our King! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I said I'd write on the weekend and I like to be a woman of my word, so I'm still calling this "my weekend" although really I don't believe my weekend ever started...Maybe that gives you an idea of the background to those quotes and verses that I began with last entry...</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"NEVER tire of doing what is right."-2 Thessalonians 3:13</span></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The phone rings or I meet with a friend and am slammed time after time with the reality of pain and joy, the rejoicing and the suffering in life...Deaths, births, illness, broken families, abuse, restored relationships, legitimate fear of threat, effects of corruption, darkness and depravity of the human heart, accidents that lead to the upheaval of life, loss of jobs, dignity, food, rent, school fees, hope...(I know this is scattered but I hope it gives you a wee picture and gets you thinking. Each of these ideas all stem from real scenarios that have or are happening to people close to me in the past few weeks, weeks, not months or years even...). The seemingly insurmountable problems that I can not imagine facing on my own are the very opportunities that God is laying in front of me and all around me giving me opportunity to do right and walk as Jesus did along side people as I learn to love; to pray for wisdom for what to do when hope seems gone, and how to help bring relief or wisdom or encouragement as appropriate. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I never cease to be amazed that as I ask God to teach me something very specific...along the barrage of lessons and opportunities to practice and see come! This year I'm striving to learn to live by and obey and make my first priority at all times the command in <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Matthew 23: 37-39 </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">"Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."</span> </b>God is certainly answering my prayers for Him to teach me HOW to love Him first and then to love my neighbor as I would want to love myself. Before I used to love in the reverse order of this verse, but I'm learning and He's graciously teaching me, but like most lessons we ask Him to teach us and grow us in, it is not the easy way around. It takes opening up our hearts in order to love Him and others and opening our hearts means we open ourselves to the reality that we will FEEL, joy and sorrow. But something I am learning is that, "Where our [my/God's] work is there let our [my] joy be"-Tertullian. I think or hope I am beginning to understand or taste a bit of the joy in suffering that Paul so often talks about in the New Testament...It is not a happy feeling, it is hard to explain...it is JOY and joy isn't changed or removed when we're living right before God even if circumstances do plummet. It seems to be both a choice and a blessing...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My prayers </b>are as follows each time I'm confronted now by such opportunities to find Joy through Love:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1) Thank you God for weaving me to be a woman who CARES deeply for people and for bringing me to a place of understanding that purpose that you've created me for and how nursing is a means to using it fully. Thank you for calling me to care for people as you did which often means walking hand-in-hand, kneeling side-by-side, and crying arm-in-arm.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2) "Teach me to number my days aright that I may gain a heart of wisdom...Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing Love that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days."-adapted from Psalm 90:12 and 14.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3) Most of all right now, how do I love you 1st? Then how do I love my neighbor as I want to be loved? Thank you for your Word that teaches me what love is so I can learn how to apply it in each scenario brought to my heart each day...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">"Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the Truth. It always protects. Always trusts. Always hopes. Always perseveres."- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4) Lord, teach me to trust that you love each person so so much more and far beyond what I will ever be able to! </span><br />
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</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."-Abraham Lincoln</span> </b>I'm now beginning to realize and slowly learn that this is one of the best places I can be and best things I can do as I walk in love beside my brothers, sisters, friends, and loved ones.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Obudde Bugenze (Time has gone)! Time for bed before waking early to travel again! Back to the islands until the weekend. I will fill you in with more detail soon...particularly with the island ministry, but also with the ministry that is my life here in Kampala. For now there's some of the food in my thoughts these days...Good night from Uganda!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">May God bless and keep and grow us all in His grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the life of love He lived...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">melanie</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-3593921815358657242012-01-30T12:13:00.000-08:002012-01-30T12:28:54.981-08:00"Where our work is, there let our joy be."-Tertullian<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">"Never tire of doing what is right."-2 Thessalonians 3:13</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."-Abraham Lincoln</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">"Pray without ceasing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:17</span></b></div><br />
I know I have just left you with some 'at random' thoughts...words from some renowned figures in the past accompanied by some simple and yet profound agreements and instruction from the Word of God...Actually I'm going to leave you with just those for now to reflect on and consider...<br />
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I will write an entry this weekend and expound upon some of those thoughts and how God has brought them into my life this past very full month. For now, I'm preparing to go back to the islands tomorrow morning...just a few hours from now...and will be there until the weekend. We hope to visit and teach in another four camps this week and I ask those of you interested, to join me in prayer in these ways...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>1)</b></span> That our hearts would be open and guided by God's Word in the work before us and seeing everyone of the individuals as the only and most important one as God sees them...And that they would know Jesus through such encounters with Him and the value and worth they have as His own children...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"><b>2)</b></span> That my mind would be fully present this week, as in honesty I have to say that my heart and mind have been and continue to be pulled toward many dear people in my life in many different directions and places who are currently suffering in tremendous ways and whom I am and want to continue walking along side and ministering Christ and His love, care, and compassion to, but I need God's strength, hope, joy, stamina, grace, and wisdom to care for all well...and also grow in Trust that God cares infinitely more than I can or imagine...And pray with me that God would be each of their Great Counselor in the way they need...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>3)</b> </span>That our Joy would be so evidently not our own but from God and living in obedience to and hope in Him.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>4)</b></span> Also and always team unity and safety on the water as well...<br />
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Tune in next Sunday (God willing) for more specific updates on these 31 days of January 2012...In the meantime, may God keep us all and grow us in His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-24)<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">MuCh</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">LoVe</span>,</b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">MeLaNiE</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">jOy</span></b>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-71700714626724576492012-01-12T11:36:00.000-08:002012-01-13T11:48:08.607-08:00OLD YEARS AND NEW YEARS, OLD MEMORIES AND NEW MEMORIES<div class="MsoNormal">A month since you last found me here…in the meantime, a lot has happened as usual in my life and all of yours. I wish I could hear all of the little details and events that make up the lives God has given each of you, but who knows maybe in eternity we’ll have story time <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> Until then here’s a taste of what’s happening this side…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">MERRY </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">CHRISTMAS </span>AND <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">HAPPY</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> NEW </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">YEAR</span>!!</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was reminded very much this year and wanted to share with you the Truth of Emmanuel, Our God with us. What a precious name for the Lord, the One who came to save us from our Sins, conquered the grave, and now reigns on high and within! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">“She will bear a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins…’Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us’.”</span> </b>–Matthew 1:21&23</i><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am blessed as I am reminded of this precious truth about my God…I am never alone…He is always with me…This past year and even now I am learning to cling to my precious Emmanuel more than I ever have before...</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The visit from <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">MY MOM, DAD, and BROTHER HERE IN UGANDA</span></b> was another clear reminder of God’s presence always with me!! I was blessed by their company, laughs, encouragement, and memories, and I know I will continue to be blessed as time passes and now part of my family can picture, understand, hear, and know the life and people God has called me to live, walk, and love among.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We traveled about half of the time north, south, and west and the other half of the time we were backward and forward in Kampala between many friends and important individuals in my life this side of the pond. After three weeks here, I think they have a good taste of a portion of what my life involves these days <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> The quick stop in the supermarket which almost always takes an hour...The stroll down my street and all of the hellos that accompany it…Relationships, transportation, relationships, food, relationships, weather, relationships, health care, relationships, social life, relationships, language, relationships, culture, relationships, safari, relationships, village, relationships, Ssese islands, relationships, music, relationships, joy, relationships, sorrow, relationships…I think you can see a theme here? ;) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I think the best way to share about their time and the impact it had on people is to show you the story through a series of photos that capture some of the interactions and faces…I wish I could recount to you the whole experience, but I’ll do my best to invite you into it…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.632692113313.2083784.54203404" target="_blank">Photos…</a> Click here to see a photo album tale of the three week visit and some of the interactions and visits with people and experiences while my family was here visiting...</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYDnt6cbcOOhzWzgrNOMjmKuM73efSHRnvysj4qMud7m0dpyB-GSPFIH2tRb0MqXQJklhc9gHjvknbKxUqw2nKBCrArcIJIBxkYFfazCskFbE_hDvIPUG6SE18TEWkjtmzOCMfyCyMr80/s1600/IMG_0360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYDnt6cbcOOhzWzgrNOMjmKuM73efSHRnvysj4qMud7m0dpyB-GSPFIH2tRb0MqXQJklhc9gHjvknbKxUqw2nKBCrArcIJIBxkYFfazCskFbE_hDvIPUG6SE18TEWkjtmzOCMfyCyMr80/s320/IMG_0360.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #666666;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Merry Christmas from Ntungamu!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYDnt6cbcOOhzWzgrNOMjmKuM73efSHRnvysj4qMud7m0dpyB-GSPFIH2tRb0MqXQJklhc9gHjvknbKxUqw2nKBCrArcIJIBxkYFfazCskFbE_hDvIPUG6SE18TEWkjtmzOCMfyCyMr80/s1600/IMG_0360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>As I enter this new year, God has placed it on my heart to slow down, reflect, organize, and refocus so that in 2012 I may live and love well and intentionally, investing in a few things and people to a deeper level. This may be coming partly from the realization of how very full my life is and can become and how stretched it could be, but I think it also comes from Jesus’ words in response to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:37 <i>“…<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”</b></span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"> I realize this year is yet another opportunity for me to realign my priorities and focus on Loving my God first and allowing that to flow into selfless love for others in all I do. Please be praying with me for wisdom and obedience to God’s Word as I decide on areas and people to focus on investing on and allowing what I’m learning about the life and character of Jesus to play out within. Some of these I already know including Biblical Counseling Bible Study Members, developing my nursing skills and health care base, Ssese Islands (teaching/counseling, patient care, and relationships), Language acquisition, a few youth, neighbors, and health care workers who have become dear people to me…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Thanks again for tuning in and I will be sure to be frequenting this page more often in the coming weeks and months to invite you in this world and life…Thanks for joining for the ride in so many ways! I cannot be more serious that if it were not for YOU, your support, your love, your prayers, and your encouragements I would not be here. SO THANK YOU!! I wish I could put in words how valuable and meaningful you are around the globe, especially here in Uganda, but my words are insufficient...I hope that through the stories, the photos, the thoughts you get a wee glimpse of how very valuable and loved and appreciated you are!!</span><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I pray God blesses you beyond measure and reminds you of how precious you truly are to Him and the world!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With Much Love,</div><div class="MsoNormal">melanie<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-32230405114501352922011-12-09T14:21:00.000-08:002011-12-09T14:32:20.498-08:00"Is it a girl or is it a boy?"<div class="MsoNormal">“Is it a girl or is it a boy?” the few children crowded around in one of the camps who hadn’t met me before asked my colleague. When she informed them I was a girl and in fact a woman, they all understood and gave an agreeing “Oh…” This lent for a great laugh the rest of the week! Seems some little ones in all of their blunt honesty see my short height and don’t know what to make of it…am I a girl or a woman; am I my colleagues child? Ha! </div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I guess it gives me an ‘in’ into the kids world, but when it comes to speaking to women and mothers, it can bring its own challenge. Here within the culture I now live and move, being a female without children and unwed means you are still a girl. That has been a bit difficult to adjust to since in my own mind and culture I have been a woman for some time and yet now seem to be referred backward to as a girl only after others discover I have not yet given birth…shocking to most apparently, except for those kids <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All this to say that place can be a bit intimidating at times when my role now is to stand in front of communities of men and women and TEACH about HIV being spread from mothers to children and how WE can prevent that as mothers and fathers. Well, anyway, that was just a bit of intimidation added on top of my great fear of speaking in front of people…a mountain this week I could not go under or around. I had to climb over it! Thanks to God and His help and reminder to me that “it is not about me (Melanie). No, it is about people knowing and understanding the Truth and allowing that to work change.” The way we have come to know is because someone was not too scared to tell us, right? So, up I went and God in His great mercy surrounded me with the prayers of many of you and the support of those with me as well as audiences eager to listen and learn. The words even came out!! I could not ask for more!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">These words came as a help to me this week as they have challenged me to know where my heart is…and was created to be:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>“Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”- Matthew 22:37-40</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">“If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, ‘You do not understand,’ or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; If I put my own good name before the others’ highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary [Jesus Christ’s] love.”-Amy Carmichael</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This does not seem like a challenge that will be moving from me for a while, but I hope one day my love for people will really over take my fear of being in front of them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope one day to be a maama, but until then, though I have not yet given birth, I find myself mothering many children and working with many maamas, in fact this daily routine makes me feel I’m filling the role. Anyway, all of this mothering in the month of December brings ANOTHER BIRTH to mind…Can you think of who it is?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yeah, Jesus, the reason for this season…can you imagine Mary, finding herself pregnant like many of the young girls I work with? Although she unlike some of them wasn't experiencing a consequence of actions! Like some (for example those raped) she may have felt the guilt of being blamed and accused when she had not acted outside of the moral and cultural expectations known to her. The difference being with Mary came in the peace she received from the Angel of God reassuring her this was an act of God and she was carrying the Savior of the World within her womb…I like to think of how carefully she cared for herself and Jesus even as he was still inside and when He came on that special day…we all have such value…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Even more I love to reflect on and meditate on the Savior of the World, of you and of me, the One who came to make all things right, to make it possible for one day there to be no more mourning or crying or pain…that this One chose to come in the form of a baby going through the whole process God designed for human babies to come…He did it all, knowing that He was doing so to die for ME, for YOU, for EACH ONE OF US…wow…if He could do that, I can stand up and speak the Truth!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for everything everyone of you :) God bless!! Touch base again in the next week or so this time :) Much love and grace and peace to you!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">My Welcome back:) Kagonya Camp, some of the kids who asked the above question:)</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JmH7hbxDLlWJ8GhJlNONeWEJ0fcaVaJqSOkGssmH7jbcxEbd_XlJiGpqew339G-sSKgG1hgjgIJIq8oWPwx-_u9J3FXlngtmWucLfWdsTwKmBhahrqDi6hHB3yMLmWap_8n-BwLckUFd/s1600/P1010208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JmH7hbxDLlWJ8GhJlNONeWEJ0fcaVaJqSOkGssmH7jbcxEbd_XlJiGpqew339G-sSKgG1hgjgIJIq8oWPwx-_u9J3FXlngtmWucLfWdsTwKmBhahrqDi6hHB3yMLmWap_8n-BwLckUFd/s320/P1010208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Myself with the help of Alice (my teammate and interpreter) teaching about mother to child transmission of HIV to a group of about 25-30 men, women, and teens at Mukaka Camp</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkqO88UFio-RH3QfbvzgBWQ_SIeeDuVR9yken3x3_O6BpeEF4h222yTrTo4332MOMUYFwcBd_OPt_jRDGxQaZq9cERQFpZI4BMTJeJC4FkN_qE9-FT0rMJ3erlvxkRtyF9aq0g-sC-9yy/s1600/P1010209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkqO88UFio-RH3QfbvzgBWQ_SIeeDuVR9yken3x3_O6BpeEF4h222yTrTo4332MOMUYFwcBd_OPt_jRDGxQaZq9cERQFpZI4BMTJeJC4FkN_qE9-FT0rMJ3erlvxkRtyF9aq0g-sC-9yy/s320/P1010209.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Camp for the teaching...brief pause in the teaching as one of the young teen boys spotted it and killed it...probably came to take care of the rats scurrying past on the other side of us...this is our life ;)</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HgZYCf3e8xW_9OXaOe3VSyOaaNJyo4u4QE27qdcxtQIKiJvidp8v692e2BzpSGgV8jsv6tOzmy2ioDHyYLQZAWEl8Cwe9fsWmXhFJydYIaqC94EJlwD_D2jwpOeEvc5vOsuRCsGBFyEF/s1600/IMG_6588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HgZYCf3e8xW_9OXaOe3VSyOaaNJyo4u4QE27qdcxtQIKiJvidp8v692e2BzpSGgV8jsv6tOzmy2ioDHyYLQZAWEl8Cwe9fsWmXhFJydYIaqC94EJlwD_D2jwpOeEvc5vOsuRCsGBFyEF/s320/IMG_6588.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">we had a joint 2011 birthday party after I returned from the US last week for the kiddos who hang out with me many weekends from my neighborhood. Cake, juice, games, laughter, individual candles and happy birthday songs! Good times had by all :)</span></b></td></tr>
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</div>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-5327764244617887852011-11-11T12:04:00.000-08:002011-11-11T12:16:22.174-08:00Links some people look for from my old blog when beginning to follow this story from the middle of the book...<a href="http://melaniejm.aimsites.org/" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">All the Little Children-previous blog</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://melaniejm.aimsites.org/ssese-islands-intro-2011/" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Ssese Islands Intro 2011</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://melaniejm.aimsites.org/my-support-family/" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Join my support family</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/16530637" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Island Video</span></b></a><br />
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Simply so it's easy to catch up on the past year and find info you may or may not want :)<br />
Thanks for taking the time to look through my eyes into this world...<br />
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Currently, I am on an unexpected visit to the USA following some unfortunately events in my family that I felt God was calling me to come back for a few weeks to be a support to them. While I returned to support them in the death of my grandma, the recovery from surgery of my other grandmother, and the farewell to my brother who is being deployed to Afghanistan in January, it has been a blessed time for all of us to be together again and for that I am so grateful that my Creator and King knows our needs before we even articulate them or know them. I am in the Philadelphia area with family and some of you and will be returning home to Uganda after two weeks...<br />
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In the meantime, I ask for your continued prayers and thank you for your support that enabled me to take this compassionate leave for my family and make the distance seem less far.<br />
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Much love and blessings and I'll tune in again soon to catch you up on all that happened before I took this unexpected leave and what will happen when I return...<br />
melanie joy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylK-byGLXusqkdX4y9k5akzJoa1TGg0LTz3ncsglOMs0_-ylQTSPDXDgeEW9YVMFTDWXpsIAE62kohgtydV3R-4Xw7z3iv-pnlcQfm-K7shQBalvE0zuFwQRzyqRbp0cAbLiVGqg1Lfev/s1600/IMG_6283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylK-byGLXusqkdX4y9k5akzJoa1TGg0LTz3ncsglOMs0_-ylQTSPDXDgeEW9YVMFTDWXpsIAE62kohgtydV3R-4Xw7z3iv-pnlcQfm-K7shQBalvE0zuFwQRzyqRbp0cAbLiVGqg1Lfev/s320/IMG_6283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh and Caleb (My Brothers), Jessy (My Sister-Josh's wife), Me, Emily, Zion, and Stazi (Niece and Nephews)</div>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761346779619465767.post-84472190901910591632011-10-28T14:02:00.000-07:002011-10-28T14:03:20.810-07:00I Welcome You Behind the Scenes...Hello and welcome through the window into the thing I call My Life, which I'm learning is the very thing the Craftsman is taking out of my grip and working with me to reshape and reflect in His own image, the image of my Creator and Redeemer.<br />
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For those of you who have been following my part in the Author's grand story, welcome to my new blog. I hope you will find this easier to navigate and read than the previous one as it is much easier for me to update and communicate to you in word and picture!<br />
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For those of you who are just beginning to follow my story, I have made the switch from another blog All the Little Children which I began to keep when I was preparing to move from USA to Uganda and have maintained over the past year if you like a bit of history reading you are welcome to check it out at <a href="http://melaniejm.aimsites.org/">http://melaniejm.aimsites.org/</a><br />
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I will be recounting glimpses into my story over the days, weeks, months, and years to come on this page . It is my hope that as I do we both come to know the Designer, Craftsman, Author and Redeemer of it all!<br />
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Thank you for visiting today!<br />
Much Love,<br />
Melanie Joy (and Joshua as pictured below)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJP2xBTqkltUF1S2gHd-jqF7DcxGClBs_1W1KCX2Agghv7FPpEPT05Jq3ZDTGzXw9nAiBTeHkflE2mN5GphDdnpA3XKIwbFJtYw2V0rcmD4F3fUCeJObXRNipZuFVKZhI-YiT2NLG8iyf/s1600/IMG_5991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJP2xBTqkltUF1S2gHd-jqF7DcxGClBs_1W1KCX2Agghv7FPpEPT05Jq3ZDTGzXw9nAiBTeHkflE2mN5GphDdnpA3XKIwbFJtYw2V0rcmD4F3fUCeJObXRNipZuFVKZhI-YiT2NLG8iyf/s320/IMG_5991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>melanie joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10040539731618747768noreply@blogger.com0