One Month

We have now been in Uganda for one month. Somethings are like I expected other things are harder others easier. I would like to share with you some of the things that I have learned.

1. Do not run during the rainy season, in Crocs, on slippery cement steps, holding a cat. Reason: just ask the rainbow colored bruise/abrasion/knot on my knee.

2. Anti-malaria meds make for really bad dreams.

3. A lie that the Devil tries to tell us is that places are different. I remember thinking as a kid that as we drove to Missouri to see my great grandmother that things were going to be so strange in Missouri. I was certain that the grass was going to be different colors, or the sky, or the people would look different or something. The truth, however, was that Missouri wasn't much different from Texas. As we were preparing for Africa a similar feeling was within me, that Africa was going to feel different. But here there are birds, there are trees, there are people, just like in America. They all are created by God and they all are loved by God. That is the truth that people the world over are all the same. God loves his African children as much as his American children as much as his Russian children as much as his Chinese children.

4. I have also learned how to roll out chapatis!

Africa

Here are a few pictures of the babies and the scenery.

There are more pics at zembekids.blogspot.com

Growing Fatter

The day after baby Theo came two more babies came. One of them, Asheraf, was not well and was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night. Last we heard he had been transfered to a heart specialist. The other baby, Moshe stayed with us for a few days before he went to his grandmother's. When he had first came he clung to me and I prayed and sang over him as I held him.

Theo is getng more and more happy, fat, and strong.

As some of you may have heard Mitchell was accepted to Carnegie Mellon University for their Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD program. Pray that God guides us into the next phase of our life, be it there or somewhere else..

Baby Theo

Last night a new baby came to Acacia Tree. Robin has decided to call him Theo, meaning gift from God. Pray that he grows in size and strength. He is one and a half years old and only weighs 6.7 kg. Right now he is taking a high caloric drink every few hours to give him much needed nourishment. There are a couple of other babies that may be joining us very soon.

Theo is adjusting very well. Please pray for all of the other children that are a little confused by the new baby. Also pray that when the new babies come that God shows us what they need most.

We will post some pictures soon. Thank you for all of your prayers!

Island Ministries

Cassidy and I went out to an Island on Lake Victoria yesterday. We got to the church at 8:00 AM and didn't push off until 10:00. It rained for a good part of our trip so we sat on the boat under a tarp for almost an hour of our two hour trip on what just might have been the slowest boat on the lake still powered by a motor. It was awesome though. We were on a rickety boat with visible leaks and water in the bottom, crossing wakes that were similar in size to our boats. While on the boat we were served tea and samosas. When we got the island, Cassidy and I were responsible for sorting out the medications that were prescribed by the nurses who did the consultations. After an hour or so of that Diana, director of the island ministries, walked us an another muzungu around the island. While on our walkabout we encountered an illegal tilapia stash. These fish can grow to be around 400lbs and the fish we saw weighed in around 8-12 ounces. We then approached a house with a stark naked baby outside who, when he saw us, got up and ran inside crying. I guess we were the first buzungu he had seen and we were still a little scary. After this we encountered a group of children leaving the bible club that was held on the island during the clinic. Each of the three muzungu had children clinging to a finger or two. It was an awesome day but the trip back felt even longer.

Uganda

Mitchell and I have been busy. On Tuesday we went into the capital city, Kampala. All of the people, cars, and motorcycle taxis called botas can be overwhelming, especially since traffic laws and right of way seem to be novel ideas.

The children here at the baby house are precious. During the day a two and a half year old named Deborah comes. The first day she kept looking at my funny skin. Benja is two and lives here. He is such a happy little boy.

We have also started trying the food. Two nights ago we tried motoke which is kind of like mashed potatos but it is made from bananas.

Tomorrow we are going with a woman named Diana to the islands for medical outreach. Also this afternoon we may be going with her to take pictures of ten children who all need surgery of different kinds that would only cost about fifty dollars.

Prayer: please pray for the outreach on Friday and that who needs the help is there. Pray that Mitchell and I continue to adjust well. Pray that God gives us great strength and endurance to do all the things we need to do.

I love you all and thanks for the prayers.

We are here!

Thank you for all of your prayers! We are safely here. Last night we got in around 9 at night and all of our luggage was there.

Today Mitchell slept until 3 and I woke up at 10. The children are precious! I will update more later!

Pray for continued health and that our jetlag is done with. Pray that God uses us while we are here.