Merry Christmas

Just FYI..... this is OUR tree!

G-nuts

Harvest time!!  We planted Ground Nuts a few months ago and were finally able to harvest them! I have to take a moment and admit my ignorance.  G-nuts the nut of choice in making peanut butter, so for a very long time, I thought that the name, "ground nut" had something to go with the fact that the nuts are "ground" in to a paste for peanut butter.  It was only recently that I looked at the name "ground nut" and realized that the name probably comes from the fact that the nuts are grown in the "ground" as opposed to a tree.    Go ahead and shake your head in wonder and shame....

 The kids that live in our neighborhood have been weeding the g-nuts, and so when it was time to harvest they were the first in line to help.

 Harvesting is quite simple..... just up root the plant.  That is also how they harvest beans.  After they have been up rooted and have dried a day or so, you remove the nuts from the roots.  Then you let them dry some more.  Then you shell them.  You can shell by hand, which is what we should have done, or you can take them to the sheller.  We obviously took them to the sheller, but because we had let them dry for too long a lot of the nuts split and it was hard to get all the dirt out of them....

Next time, we will know better.  But here's to a TON of yummy nuts to snack on this "winter".

Table fit for a King

Before we moved I had heard it rumored that you could show a carpenter a picture of a piece of furniture and they could make it.  So I brought a Pottery Barn catalog with me when we moved, so I would have plenty of pictures to choose from.  But we didn't have anything made right away.  Instead we bought this table with 6 chairs to get us started.

The table was just big enough to fit all our family and our plates.  Serving dishes.... forget it. No room.  But we faithfully used what we had until the oppertunity to upgrade presented it's self.
When we were ready I made a nifty order with pictures, drawings, and even a few arrows... I wish I had been able to keep the page...  the carpenter said "three weeks".  We said GREAT!  It will be ready just in time for our guests from Waco.  But remember we live in Africa..... 'nuff said.

SIX weeks later Kent brings home this:

The first few days it felt like we were eating mile away from each other... but we have now adjusted, for the most part.... games can be hard to play, but you can put all the serving dishes in the middle so that is a plus.
You can't see it in these pictures but the chairs are HUGE~!!!~  I don't know if I wrote down the wrong numbers, or if he misread them but two children can comfortably fit into ONE seat!  Huge I tell you!

And so you don't think we are wasteful.... the old table is now my sewing/craft table and the extra chairs will be modified into end tables for the livingroom after the new year!   I will post on those when they are finished!

Thanksgiving

I had TONS to be thankful for this year for Thanksgiving!  MY MOM was visiting! 

In September I sent her some Achoil paper bead necklaces, she sold them to her coworkers, and there was a craze!  She called about a week after she sold all the beads and said ..."I may be coming to visit you next month."  She dug around found her passport, got it renewed, got her shots and booked her tickets. 

It was so fun to have my mom get to see where we live and experience Gulu first hand.  When I asked her what she thought.... she said "It is not as bad as I thought".  I was afraid that it would be worse.... funny how that works.

We had a giant house full on Thanksgiving day! Kent invited every family-less American, and a few Canadians as well and we made our own family. We had chicken, pumpkin, mashed potatoes, mac'n'cheeze, ham, green bean casserole.... and TONS of amazing desserts.  Mom brought Velveeta, french onions, and cranberries as well as cute thanksgiving plates and napkins. Everyone was so surprised (and blessed) to have a real American Thanksgiving.

All in all it was a great day.... we were even able to watch the Macy's parade via the internet that night.  We hooked it up to the TV and  enjoyed all the floats and performers, it almost felt like we were home. 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!  Enjoy some cold weather, hot chocolate and Christmas lights for us this year!

Groovin'

So in the last weeks we have had so much going on.... and yet nothing new.  How that is possible is unknown to me, but it sum up life lately.

We started a Life Group with the people in our neighborhood that want a deeper walk with Jesus.  Our first night was about five weeks ago, and we went over Acts 2:42-47 

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

That night one of our group members was having a baby, so we all gave to their need.  We had people give food (bananas, posho and rice) and money for cloth diapers, and soap.  It was so awesome to see the group give freely to someone with a need.  Since that night we have had other opportunities to bless people in our group and is has been AMAZING!

Kevin and Becky Ann are doing well!  Small Kevin left, then Kevin's cousin Susan moved in. Not long after her arrival they had to move into a new house.  She isn't right next door anymore. but we still get to see them. Kevin and Susan come three times a week to help with cleaning and laundry.  Susan usually washes, and Kevin cleans.  I am still getting used to having someone in the house andtrying to find something for her to clean.

Originally Kevin was comming by herself everyday (five days a week) and she did cleaning on some days and laundry on others.  But trying to do school with some one around, and having Becky Ann as a distraction was too much for my introverted self, so we decided to have BOTH, Kevin and Susan come on three days and I pay them both.  It is a win-win situation.  I have two days "free" and they earn more money and have two day they don't have to "foot" (walk) to my house.  YEA!

Kevin led Concy one of our neighbors to Jesus two weeks ago.  Concy's husband John gave his life to Jesus a few months ago, and he has been praying for her to receive salvation.  Concy comes to our Life Group and is doing really well!  Kevin's sister Miriam also gave her life to Jesus and was baptized a few weeks ago.  Things are really hopping around here.

We are praying for a new church building.  Each week our building looks more and more like a dance hall... which we don't mind other than there is also a restaurant right out side, and they are open on Sunday mornings and we don't want to disturb Frank who has been SO kind to let us use the building for free! We need something that will accommodate our 30 adults and 70+ kids.

Our village church is doing REALLY well!!  Remember my Shall We Gather At the River? post.  Well that group has turned into four groups, and last week there were over 15 people that were baptized in the river!
They meet every Monday and are planning on meeting together other days during the week as well.... trying to follow that Acts 2:42-47 model! 

I'm sure there is WAY more that is going on with Kent and all his guys..... but I will leave that for him to add. He is considering adding his own two cents to the blog  as well, so soon you may get a second perspective!