I am very excited to be writing you, because I feel like I have been out of touch with everyone for sooooo long!  I guess 4 small children can take up some time. J  We made it to Uganda!  We are home and it feels so good!  The kids did excellent-ly (is that a word?) on the plane trip.  Mom and I both took 3 outfits each, expecting Hallie to spit up on us at least a couple times, but she was a great traveler!  Daniel, Emma and Ely also did well.  On the first couple of flights, Daniel and Emma had to sit across the aisle from us.  Luckily, the seat next to Emma was empty, so she ended up with a window seat.  And Daniel sat next to a very nice “grama,” who helped him with his meal and headphones and made him feel very comfortable.  They did great!

We are settling in here at home, getting things unpacked and put away.  The kids are doing pretty well.  Daniel and Emma remember our house and the neighborhood and are anxious to get back into our old routines.  Ely doesn’t really remember much, but when she was just learning to stand and walk before we left, I would have her stand at the end of the tub while I showered and we would sing songs.  Today, she came into the bathroom while I was showering and was standing at the end of the tub.  She said, “Sing Old McDonald?”  And I realized that she remembered doing that before we left.  That was really cool!  Emma is very happy that she’s gotten to play with her best friend Amy twice now.  They are so cute together and have picked up right where they left off, which is a huge answer to prayer!  Emma and Ely are a little scared in their bedroom at night, but I think they’re starting to get used to it now.  Last night, Ely called us in around 10:30 and asked, “Can I get up now?”  But, thankfully, she slept through the night. J

Hallie has not slept through the night yet.  We put her to bed and she wakes up a couple of hours later, wide awake and ready to play.  We’ve tried different things, but nothing’s worked yet, so tonight, we’re trying closed windows – to minimize the noise – and no pj’s – to help with the heat.  Hopefully, she will sleep through til the morning!  She loves the people here, which is a big answer to prayer.  Since she cried a couple of times when a stranger would talk to her in the States, we were a little worried that she would do the same here, especially with everything being so new… and with the fact that everyone here loves to touch babies.  But, she has been great.  She loves our gardener Ronnie and she’s been smiling at the people that we’ve met on the street or at Daniel’s school.  So, we’re hopeful that tomorrow at church won’t be too overwhelming. J

Daniel seems to be doing fine, as he always does.  We went to his school on Thursday and Friday to “interview” with the Headmistress and get him registered.  Even though I kept telling him that he was going to a new school, I don’t think it really clicked until he saw the school.  He was definitely disappointed.  And he is nervous about going.  So, that would be my one prayer request.  Please pray that God will comfort him while he is at school by himself on this first day.  You’d think as a teacher I wouldn’t struggle with this, but I am praying constantly that God will protect him… cause his mom can’t be there to. J  Pray that he will make friends easily and that his nervousness won’t cause him to be silly in a way that will embarrass him more.  (I think some of you saw this side of him, while we were visiting your churches.)  I know he is in God’s hands and I know that everything that’s going to happen, God is going to use to draw Daniel to Him.

He starts on Monday and we stopped in Friday afternoon to buy his uniform and meet his teacher.  It was a bit weird being on the other side of the teacher’s desk.  Her name is Mrs. Kisa (pronounced Key-sah) and she seems like a very kind person, so I am so grateful.  I think kindness will go a long way with Daniel.  I am trying to stay hands off and not say anything that will cause her to prejudge him.  I want her to get to know him and evaluate him for herself, so please pray that I will not interfere and that she will be able to determine what, if any, extra help Daniel may need.

I want to mention one final prayer request.  Please pray for the health of our family and for my peace of mind about it.  I am tempted to try to “save” all of us from the different illnesses that I struggled with last term, especially Hallie.  But, I want to trust God… I know that He is in control and that He can use whatever happens for His glory… but my emotions want me to panic and keep Hallie from touching anything or anyone.  This would not be glorifying to God.  So pray that I will, in those split seconds when a Ugandan friend at church tomorrow is asking to hold Hallie, smile warmly and hand her over, confident that she is under God’s protection…. that we are all under God’s protection.

I know we’ve said this many times, but I need to say it one final time… thank you so much for the love you demonstrated our family.  Thank you for your hospitality, friendship, generosity, and care… in so many places and in so many ways.  God blessed us with so many of you in just the right place at just the right time to meet the needs of our kids or Dave and me.  Most importantly, thank you for your prayers!  I cannot tell you how encouraged I was, when we went from place to place and so many people told us they were praying for us!  I am so thankful for each of you and would humbly ask you to keep praying!  I know that God is going to continue to do amazing things during this next term and we are so excited to have you be a part of it!