It’s been one of those weeks here where I have to keep focussed upward.

I have been surrounded this week by heartache and tragedy.  Our former househelp, Harima lost her sister on Sunday in a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) accident, leaving behind 3 small children.

My own house help, Margret is going through some difficult personal issues of her own. Then this morning we got news that her younger sister, whom we helped through school lost her firstborn, a baby boy when he was just a few hours old.  Margret has now rushed off to be at the burial in the village.

This morning I attended my ladies Bible study.  We are looking at the book of Ephesians right now.  As we studied ch1 v18, I was struck in a fresh way with both a desire to know Him better myself and to live a life that reflects my confidence in the certain Hope to which he has called me.  Also, my heart aches for those around me, facing really difficult times right now who do not yet have that certainty and hope for themselves.  Pray for wisdom for me in the coming days…

Sometimes we need these wake up calls eh.  I had been feeling low this week just because my family has been going through a rough patch with colds and tummy bugs.  The weather this month has also been hot, which is draining …. just minor things in comparison because I am filled with “Christs incomparably great power”( v19)

Thank you so much for lifting us up

I thought I would just let you know some of the things that are happening right now and that we would appreciate you remembering in prayer.

On a personal note, Mark has submitted the paperwork application for his next aircraft maintenance exam.  He is busy studying while he waits for an exam date from the CAA.

For Sarah the year has started off quite busily. She is doing speech therapy on a weekly basis with seven children this term at Rainbow school.  She will also be meeting with our lawyer in the next week, to start work on gathering the necessary documents to apply for Amy & Joshua’s adoption in a couple of months. She is really not looking forward to the process but counting on the promise that “My Grace is sufficient for you” and the end result will be worth all the hard work.

We have a couple more visitors planning to visit us, which is always a huge encouragement.

Our MAF planes are extremely busy right now.  There is much need in Uganda and the countries around us…  The fighting between militia and government troops continues in DRC.  The Lords Resistance Army have also been active in Congo lately.  Large areas of N Uganda and S. Sudan are facing drought and acute food shortages due to the lack of rain in recent years.  Areas of S. Sudan are often unstable due to tribal fighting.  With the country also facing elections in April it appears from a human perspective that the violence in Sudan is likely to get worse.  Please pray for safety and wisdom for our pilots and engineers on a daily basis.  That we would honour God in the work that we do each day and that we would use resources wisely.

I realise that we are already well into January but I thought that many of you would still be interested in our Christmas news.  For us it still feels a little like Christmas since all of our cards have arrived in January so I still have them up.

Prior to Christmas we had the visit of friends from the UK, Nick & Aileen White.  They brought some Christmas treats and a new bicycle for Amy which was very nice.  We were able to show them around the hangar and they were thrilled to go on a MAF flight one day.  We enjoyed carol services together and they then moved on to visit another friend on 23rd.

Christmas day was spent relaxing as a family.  The children were so excited with their stockings and gifts although Joshua managed to tip his Bubbles all over his bed before we even got to his room! After church, we had a traditional English Christmas lunch complete with Christmas pudding! We were able to Skype or call most of our family back home which really helps bridge that gap of feeling so far away during the holiday season.

After Christmas we went away to Lake Nabugabo for five days, camping.  It was our first camping trip and Nabugabo was the perfect spot to rest by the lake, swim and build campfires.  We enjoyed wonderful sunshine which was a blessing.  Back home in Kampala it rained every day.  On New years eve we sat on the shore and watched as a full moon rose across the lake - It was stunning! I marvelled at the majesty of our Creator as 2009 came to a close and pondered the things that 2010 may have in store.