Africa: Part 2

I wrote this back a couple months ago to let you all know that we are alive and well. Well, now, at last, I’m posting this to let you know just how alive and well we really are. Let me begin by briefly telling you what happened the last week we spent in Uganda…

After numerous appointments with the Ugandan passport office, we finally got our passports. That was a joyous day, knowing that all we had to go through next was the U.S. Embassy. However, we were running out of time. It was just over a week until we were scheduled to leave and stress levels were high as we tried to deal with crying babies, restless nights, grumpy officials, and above all, a terrible longing to be home. After meeting with the Embassy a few days later, another load of stress was added as we were told that it would be at least two weeks until we were issued our visa. It was Thursday and we were leaving the next Thursday night. Over and over we prayed that the Lord would work out the details and speed the process along so that we could come home. Day after day was spent in restless anticipation as we wondered whether or not we would be able to get Caleb’s visa on time. Every other night it seemed like one of us, exhausted and worn out beyond our own strength, would burst into tears which would set the other off in a second. But in His mercy, the Lord sent relief.

The previous Sunday we had been unable to find the church at which we hoped to worship and so we were forced to hold our own worship service. The following Sunday it seemed like the same thing would happen, but right when we were about to give up, an elder from the church showed up and drove us the fifteen minutes to the church building. To many people, Sundays are social events: chances to see friends, eat food, and overall have a good time. They are missing out, though. Unless one is in a situation where they are deprived of Christian fellowship when they desperately need it, they can hardly understand the joy it was for us. We hopped out of the car to be greeted by a joyous chorus of voices. Soon we were in the midst of a group of African Christians, with a scattering of white skin here and there. The seven person choir swayed rhythmically to the music and passionately sang praise to our Maker. After the singing was over, the pastor gave a sermon that can only be described as doctrinally sound coupled with African enthusiasm. Though we missed worshipping with our church body at home, how much we enjoyed the encouragement of that morning! The Lord is truly a refreshing stream and He revived our spirits through the ministering of His people. Looking back on that day, I think of how blessed I am to have experienced the worship of another people group. Here in America, we often forget that the reason we go to church is to worship an all-powerful, all-mighty, all-seeing God. Many don’t go to contribute to the meeting of His people. Often, we go to worship the Lord in the company and fellowship of others who have come to do the same but how little we follow the commands of Scripture which say, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God,” (1 Peter 4:10-11) and also tell us that “God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:10-12). We so often want our own needs to be met that we forget to minister to the needs of others. Yet we truly had our needs ministered to that day. We returned to the hotel with renewed hope and trust in the Lord’s provision.

The next day, that hope was dampened somewhat when we returned to the Embassy to check the status of the visa. It was still predicted to be done in a week and a half with the possibility that it would be done early enough to arrive the day after we were scheduled to leave. Our biggest worry was that we would have to reschedule all of our flights: a task that would cost well over a thousand dollars. For the next four days, we were on the edge of our seats, hoping and praying that we would get the visas before Thursday. On Wednesday, we were told to come back the next day to check and see if they were done. So Thursday morning, we got all packed-up in anticipation that we would be leaving for our flight at 9:00 p.m.. At 12:00 noon, my mom left for the Embassy while I stayed behind to watch Caleb and pray. And pray I did. 1:00 came and passed, followed by 2:00. 3:00 passed and still nothing. At last, at 5:30 p.m., I heard my mom talking with another mom who was also in Uganda adopting. The moment I heard that voice I was excited, but told myself to stay calm. I could tell that my mom was cheerful, but this could be attributed to a blessing of peace from God. Yet the moment I saw her face, I could tell we’d be going home. For fifteen minutes we did nothing but smile, dance, and shout for joy. Even Caleb caught on to the excitement and began frantically bending up and down, laughing hysterically with eyes half-closed. When 9:00 p.m. rolled around, we began our journey home. Several events occurred during that trip home, but I will leave that to a third and final post as this is already quite lengthy. However, for now, suffice it to say that we made it home safely and are now in the midst of training this young bundle of black-skinned energy in the path of the Lord. May the peace of God be upon you and may He reveal His bountiful mercies to you, even as He has so richly opened our eyes.

Until next time,

~Corey (for the seven of us)

Update numero uno

Sorry for the late update everyone! Between late nights, crying babies, and sketchy internet, we’ve been either unable or just plain too exhausted to post.

Also, in advance, I’d like to apologize for the lack of pictures. We didn’t realize the laptop doesn’t accept our camera card and so aren’t able to show you what everything looks like. However, we’re trying to figure out a way, so don’t give up hope!

Ahhh, where to begin? It’s been such a hectic week that it seems like I have enough information to talk your ear off for a week. We left from Modesto on Sunday for a quick hop to San Fran. We must have set a game speed record that day, because we finished three games of Settlers of Catan in a little over an hour, and for those of you who play Settlers, you know how long it usually takes :) Though it was a foggy day, we quickly got above the clouds and were greeted by a beautiful sight: blue skies and the coastal mountains partly submerged in a white blanket. This leg of our journey quickly ended and we disembarked in San Francisco for a couple hours until it was time to leave. Our trip to London was uneventful and by this time, the reality of our situation was starting to kick in. We looked at each other and smiled excitedly at the thought that it wouldn’t be long before we got to London and from there, a short time before we reached Africa. After a ten hour flight, with about four hours of that in sleep, we reached London where we had a loooong layover. However, we were able to take a walk around town during that time. Though we were tired, we still were amazed by the city. When we download the pictures, we’ll let you see, too :) The transportation there was what first struck us. We were trying to reach Westminster Abbey before it closed and so we hopped aboard what is fittingly called The Tube. It is a series of interweaving networks of trains that serve all parts of London. We got aboard and four minutes later got off, walked ten steps to where our next train had just arrived, got aboard this second one and rode for another five minutes ‘til the station.

After our short stay in London, we hopped aboard a plane for our final leg. After we got through customs, we were greeted by our driver and driven to our hotel for the night. Having just come from London, the weather here was a shock to our systems. We went from about 43^oF to 83^oF with humidity. My first view of the country came the next day (it was already dark when we got here). We hopped aboard another rickety van and went down the road to pick up some water and orange time (a.k.a. phone time). As we drove along the road, we were greeted by a mixture of extremes. Even as I sit here, I can look out and see what looks like a Los Angeles view: hills covered with lush landscapes and dotted with fancy-looking houses. Yet it only takes a few steps outside of the gate to see reality. Every street is filled with shacks and architecture that looks like it was beautiful once, but due to no maintenance, is falling apart. Yesterday, we drove into town and on the way I saw a sign that said, “Showroom: Mattresses, Beds, and others.” This sign was hung on what looked like a dumpster flipped on end.

The sky here is almost always smoggy, due to a nationwide custom of burning your trash. Though this leads to few waste sites, it gives the air a continual smell of smoke. Driving here is an adventure to say the least. First you hop into a car that usually has a broken windshield and uncomfortable seats. The roads are full of potholes and bumps that shake you without mercy. The windows are always down, since there is no air conditioning, and this lets all the smoke and exhaust into the car. There are no stoplights and everyone passes whenever they wish. Taxis are stopping to pick up passengers in the middle of the road and crosswalks are non-existent. People run across the road and drivers honk at them to tell them, “watch out, we’re coming!” Driving in the city is like being stuck in an accident. The drivers even turn off their cars every 30 seconds to save gas.

Food here is good. It’s nothing amazing, but it’s filling and tasty. Tonight we had matooke: a plate of a yellow vegetable that tasted like potatoes, rice, a meat broth, and most importantly (at least for us :) was chapatti. Chapatti is most easily described as a thick tortilla-like bread. It even tastes like a tortilla that’s been drenched in butter. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it.

Through it all though, the Lord has shown me many things. I look around and am filled with idea for engineering and mission works. Africa has the effect of simultaneously killing ambition and firing up new excitement. When I came, I was all gung-hoe about how I could change the fate of this third-world country and make it a modernized and Christ-loving nation. However, I’ve been shown that that is not the way it works. Yes, there are many things I could do to improve the state of the country, but its problems will not be solved by one generation. Like in all foreign nations, the language barrier presents a challenging obstacle for missions as well. People here speak English, but so many words make no sense to them that you’re sometimes left wondering if they really know what you’re talking about. But even when my ambition was killed by reality, new ideas and thoughts came in. What could I do? What difference could I make? I could build wells and houses, fix the roads, build railways and dumps. I could teach the men here to be engineers and go out to do their own work. There are a thousand things one can do, if only one takes the initiative. A speedy difference looks nearly impossible, yet I hope for a speedy way to learning, so that I can begin work as soon as possible. Spending time here has only increased my love of home, but as we are reminded over and over again in the Word, Christians are called to be servants; going outside their comfort zones or first picks in order to save souls from eternal death. Though I’m not sure this is my mission field, I’m still praying and keeping my mind open for that possibility.

Well, I’ll try and figure out a way we can post pictures, but until then, I leave you with this:

“…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus… For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself….Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” (Phil 3:13-14, 20-21; 4:1)

"When the world my heart is rending
With its heaviest storm of care,
My glad thoughts to heaven ascending,
Find a refuge from despair.
Faith's bright vision shall sustain me
Till life's pilgrimage is past;
Fears may vex and troubles pain me,
I shall reach my home at last."

~Corey (for the three of us)

Go To this Link.

Family Camp.

August

Summer is always busy for the Walkers. August and September are busy anyway. Here is a random collage of pics from the last month.

In the early days of August, the E.'s invited us to go boating with them.

That look before you look and see that you look like you're going to fall off.

See what I mean?

Reverse a bit and see what it looked like before he fell off. Notice his tube is flattening. A sure sign that air is leaking out from the tube.

Corey takes a jump with ease....

Maybe not...

Synchronized tubing.

My favorite series of shots from the day. Yes, I am falling on Caleb.

Jump to the end of August (I don't have that many pictures from August). "Normal" everyday life.

What's a guy to do when there's a box of old dress-up clothes around? My answer: find the most ridiculous costume I can.

Hope joins in the fun.

Ditto.

I think I out-ridiculousized myself (ridiculousized is definitely a word).

Hope did too.
Add the glasses.

And now, some pictures not even close to August 2010.

Custard, anyone?

Brothers!

Brothers...

That's all for now.....

Casey

Flashback Picture

Lindsey found this picture from 2003! Look how young we all look!


~Casey

Busy Few Days

Friday, Saturday, Sunday. These three days (also known as the weekend) can hold a lot of activity.

Friday was a dance that the Chamberlains put on, which was held at the Barringer's house.

As guests arrive, circles start forming, conversation starts rolling...

...and finally, the people get up on their feet, and DANCE! (no, I was not Kevin's dance partner!)

Friends.

"The dance is starting!" "Sez who?" "Ben's fez sez!"

...Unfortunately, I can't think of anything that rhymes with "fedora". Lookin' good, Nic!

I only have one picture from Saturday. I made some peach pie. Here is the finished product.

Sunday was obviously church, but it was a special Sunday because Hope got baptized! She wasn't too thrilled about the water on the head, though.


Disciple Makers (our church's version of Sunday school, with the big difference being the fact that it is Sunday school for the whole family) is always fun and interactive. Dad brought some of the men up for some memory work.

And Sunday night was fun, because we had an impromptu concert in our front yard!

By the way, Corey and I are Kevin's biggest fans. We got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing on stage with him!

I got to hug the rock star!

Corey got his biggest dream, two signed Sticky Notes!

Pose with the rock star! Look at the excitement on Corey's face!

YES!!!!!!!!


And that's all for now!

Casey

The last week...

July is fruit and vegetable season, and that alone is enough to keep us busy.

Look at all that BEAUTIFUL FRUIT!

Wash wash wash slice slice slice pit pit pit cook cook cook can can can store store store; that's the way it's usually done.

Green beans.

Grrarr.

Corey's birthday goes on and on.

Grandma and Grandkids.

Grandpa and Grandkid.
Papa T is an expert at double tasking.

See you next time!


~Casey