Dear Loved Ones,
We spent our first day out at the children's home yesterday. It was a day of very special reunions and joy. Impossible to even begin to describe holding our precious children again. Our Ugandan "daughter," Esther, is healthy and beautiful. (We sponsor Esther, and therefore have a strong connection with her. Wish we could take her home!) Fatima, who is a student at the school, but does not live at the home, is happy and not nearly as shy as she was last fall. OK, so we want to take sweet Fatima home as well.
I can see the evidence of hope in their lives. They do have a future and that makes all the difference. These children are so open about their love for Jesus and their love for us. I was amazed and humbled by their outpouring of affection. Little brown hands holding, hugging, stroking. At any time, we all have at least a half a dozen children attached to us. I occasionally thought, there is just not enough of me. Then I remembered, I am just a vessel. They need the love of Jesus and I am just trying to be his servant here. I prayed for his filling and his spirit. (and his memory! trying to remember all the names of each special one.) We cannot save all the children in Africa or even in the little village of Gganda, however God has graciously given us these precious ones and that is all that he asks of us now.
We also had wonderful reunions with the Santiam Team! What an amazing group and a privilege to join them. Jess was full of stories and enthusiasm. What a joy to see him with the children.
Thank you so much for your prayers and for joining us on this journey.
Love, Cathi
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Uganda!
Dear Family and Friends,
After 5 delightful days in London, we left last night for Uganda. A slight hiccup at the airport...I had gotten the departure time wrong! It was written in 24 hour clock and read 20:00. Mentally, I thought we were leaving at 10pm, and it was really 8pm. We got to the airport at 7:15pm! Good thing we didn't have bags to check! I had visions of OJ Simpson running through the airport, leaping over suitcases. We really did sprint to our gate. It was Kenya Airways; security was not too difficult. Micah was awesome, no panic, just saw it as another adventure! Just the day before, I had been pridefully commenting to Micah on how good we have been at getting to the airport/train station with plenty of time...
After a layover in Nairobi, we were met at the Entebbe airport by our dear friend and taxi driver, Richard. He safely transported us to our hotel and will be picking up Jerry on Sunday. That afternoon we are planning a get together with Richard, his wife and 3 little girls.
Jess and the team are still out for the day, working with two different childrens' homes. We can't wait to see them all.
Thanks for your prayers!
Much love, Cathi
After 5 delightful days in London, we left last night for Uganda. A slight hiccup at the airport...I had gotten the departure time wrong! It was written in 24 hour clock and read 20:00. Mentally, I thought we were leaving at 10pm, and it was really 8pm. We got to the airport at 7:15pm! Good thing we didn't have bags to check! I had visions of OJ Simpson running through the airport, leaping over suitcases. We really did sprint to our gate. It was Kenya Airways; security was not too difficult. Micah was awesome, no panic, just saw it as another adventure! Just the day before, I had been pridefully commenting to Micah on how good we have been at getting to the airport/train station with plenty of time...
After a layover in Nairobi, we were met at the Entebbe airport by our dear friend and taxi driver, Richard. He safely transported us to our hotel and will be picking up Jerry on Sunday. That afternoon we are planning a get together with Richard, his wife and 3 little girls.
Jess and the team are still out for the day, working with two different childrens' homes. We can't wait to see them all.
Thanks for your prayers!
Much love, Cathi
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Friends
Dear Family and Friends,
Due to the wonders of Facebook, which I joined a couple of months ago, we were able to connect with Crystal, our Chinese "daughter" in London. Crystal stayed with us as an exchange student two summers ago. She is studying in the UK at a university an hour from the city. On Sunday, she and her lovely friend, Vicki, took the train in for the day. We walked around Buckingham Palace and had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe. Crystal is such a beautiful and gentle person. Micah and I cherished the time spent with her.
Before meeting up with Crystal and Vicki, Micah and I went to the Hillsong Church, which meets in a large theater in London. It was great fun to worship with such a dynamic group. The worship band had 16 members!
On Monday, we met up with our friend Rich, whom Jerry and I know from a summer missionary program that we all were a part of, in Quito, Ecuador in 1982! Yikes, we are getting really old! Rich met us at the Tate Modern, which was fabulous! Here are Rich and Micah at the Tate. Rich is a film critic in London, so Micah could ask all his film/movie star questions!
We are doing well, loving the quiet evenings with my aunt and uncle, but missing Jerry and Jess!
Grace and Peace,
Cathi
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Lunch in the garden
Dear Family and Friends,
We are so enjoying our time with my Aunt and Uncle. Our first meal in London was a delightful lunch in their lovely garden. (I believe they are Master Gardeners!) It has felt like we have come to our second home, always a haven and respite.
Yesterday, Micah and I took the train to Ely to visit with our friend, Steven. He took us on a tour of the beautiful cathedral there. Breathtaking. Then we were served a delicious and traditional English lunch of Shepherd's Pie at Steven's home. We were so warmly welcomed by his parents and brother. So fun to hear about how this family of believers is serving God. Here is a photo of us.
We have been getting regular updates on Jess! It doesn't feel like we are so far away. If you would like to read about Jess' team, here is Show Mercy's blog and Steve Bittner's (Team leader) updates:
Show Mercy
Steve Bittner
Much love to you all!
Cathi
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Mind the Gap!
Dear Family and Friends,
Micah and I are safely in London. We have been reveling in the familiar: the Tube and "Mind the Gap", our favorite bookstore, the lovely and cozy apartment at my Aunt Tiz and Uncle Jack's home, being with Tiz and Jack. What fun to be here! However, we are missing Jerry and Jess. It is so strange to have our family spread out on three different continents. Tomorrow, we head out on the train to Ely to meet up with Steven, whom we met in South Africa while working with YWAM. Can't wait to catch up on his life and to hear about other dear YWAM friends.
We have heard from Steve, the leader of Jess' mission team in Uganda. All is well there. The team is loving our kids and we are so looking forward to joyful reunions very soon.
We miss you all!
Love, Cathi
Micah and I are safely in London. We have been reveling in the familiar: the Tube and "Mind the Gap", our favorite bookstore, the lovely and cozy apartment at my Aunt Tiz and Uncle Jack's home, being with Tiz and Jack. What fun to be here! However, we are missing Jerry and Jess. It is so strange to have our family spread out on three different continents. Tomorrow, we head out on the train to Ely to meet up with Steven, whom we met in South Africa while working with YWAM. Can't wait to catch up on his life and to hear about other dear YWAM friends.
We have heard from Steve, the leader of Jess' mission team in Uganda. All is well there. The team is loving our kids and we are so looking forward to joyful reunions very soon.
We miss you all!
Love, Cathi
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Africa Again!
First let me thank you for reading our blog. We are overwhelmed and humbled to have you join with us in our adventures. Well, here is the latest. Jess left on the June 2nd for Uganda, Africa. Cathi and Micah will join him after a 5 day layover in London, and leave tomorrow June 4th. Then I will join them, leaving on the June 13th.
We are going back to the same orphanage we worked at last fall. We are madly viewing photos of all the kids at the home to remember their names. What a task! 104 in total! Our job this time is to love on all the kids. We also plan to meet up with a few of those we blogged about... Richard, Kenny and Douglas. We can't wait to see them!
Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers for my mom, she is doing VERY well! In fact the physician stated that the cancer is in remission!
I look forward to keeping you updated. Peace. Jerry
We are going back to the same orphanage we worked at last fall. We are madly viewing photos of all the kids at the home to remember their names. What a task! 104 in total! Our job this time is to love on all the kids. We also plan to meet up with a few of those we blogged about... Richard, Kenny and Douglas. We can't wait to see them!
Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers for my mom, she is doing VERY well! In fact the physician stated that the cancer is in remission!
I look forward to keeping you updated. Peace. Jerry
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Final Blog
We have been back in the US for 3 weeks, and have been so warmly and joyfully welcomed home. We are settling in to a nice duplex just north of Corvallis; it is walking distance from the boys’ school.
The last few weeks of our trip went by in a blur. I will sum up: after leaving Italy, we took a train to Lucerne, Switzerland. After the busy time in Italy, it was wonderful to have no schedule and just wander the streets of this lovely town.
Then we headed to Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Notre Dame and finally, Disneyland Paris.
We ended our trip with a lovely time in London with my Aunt Tiz and Uncle Jack. They live in the north end of London, close to an underground station. We became “tube” experts. We love the public transportation system of London and could get almost anywhere. My aunt had set up a wonderful schedule of traditional British activities for us to enjoy. We ice skated at the Somerset House, saw the city from the London Eye Ferris wheel, enjoyed the Dick Whittington Pantomime, were enchanted by the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit at the incredible British Museum. We also headed out to the O2, the millennium dome, to see the King Tut exhibit. Most of all we enjoyed the time with Jack and Tiz and celebrating Christmas with my cousins and their families. We were renewed and strengthened by these relationships with family who have also become dear friends.
How to sum up a trip like this? Impossible. We are still processing and wondering what it all means. How to return to huge grocery stores and Starbucks (well, that might be OK) after such an experience? We don’t feel “called” overseas, yet are impelled to return. We wonder where and to what we are called.
Thank you all for traveling with us. Your prayers protected and encouraged us. We have been so touched by the outpouring of love for us and for Jerry’s mom. We know that we are right where we should be and that we serve a gracious and loving God.
An update on Jerry’s mom. Mary recovered well from her surgery and is starting chemotherapy treatments today, in fact, while I write. Jerry is with her now. Your continued prayers would be so appreciated. Mary has been so blessed by your prayers. Thank you.
Grace and Peace,
Cathi for all
The last few weeks of our trip went by in a blur. I will sum up: after leaving Italy, we took a train to Lucerne, Switzerland. After the busy time in Italy, it was wonderful to have no schedule and just wander the streets of this lovely town.
Then we headed to Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Notre Dame and finally, Disneyland Paris.
We ended our trip with a lovely time in London with my Aunt Tiz and Uncle Jack. They live in the north end of London, close to an underground station. We became “tube” experts. We love the public transportation system of London and could get almost anywhere. My aunt had set up a wonderful schedule of traditional British activities for us to enjoy. We ice skated at the Somerset House, saw the city from the London Eye Ferris wheel, enjoyed the Dick Whittington Pantomime, were enchanted by the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit at the incredible British Museum. We also headed out to the O2, the millennium dome, to see the King Tut exhibit. Most of all we enjoyed the time with Jack and Tiz and celebrating Christmas with my cousins and their families. We were renewed and strengthened by these relationships with family who have also become dear friends.
How to sum up a trip like this? Impossible. We are still processing and wondering what it all means. How to return to huge grocery stores and Starbucks (well, that might be OK) after such an experience? We don’t feel “called” overseas, yet are impelled to return. We wonder where and to what we are called.
Thank you all for traveling with us. Your prayers protected and encouraged us. We have been so touched by the outpouring of love for us and for Jerry’s mom. We know that we are right where we should be and that we serve a gracious and loving God.
An update on Jerry’s mom. Mary recovered well from her surgery and is starting chemotherapy treatments today, in fact, while I write. Jerry is with her now. Your continued prayers would be so appreciated. Mary has been so blessed by your prayers. Thank you.
Grace and Peace,
Cathi for all
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