NEWSLETTER: May 2017

31 May 2017: Working with more tasks

Continuing on and a little bit up.....

Well, generally speaking, it is "one of those months" where it doesn't seem like a lot happened. It's been a small whirlwind to be back in the swing of things for a month now. Some days I still feel like I'm training my brain to get the inner file system working again and ingrain names and dates for immediate recall. It sure does feel good to be back though. 

Even this week, I saw a boda driver that would often take me home last year. I enjoy each moment a Ugandan recognizes me. Seeing his or her face light up at the realization that an expat returned is a lovely moment. People can come and go easily but when someone returns, it really seems to be different. I remember having this same feeling with my short term trips. 

There is one thing that happened just this Monday. I was officially granted some more responsibility and tasks as well as a new title in my email. I'm not going to rattle on about why because that would seem strange. Instead I'll just offer a piece of the email that went out to those that serve in our region:

        "Effective immediately, Katherine Rowe will be taking on all of personnel as our Personnel Coordinator. Having helped in personnel for the last year and a half, we are confident in her abilities to manage it on her own." 


So there's that. It is just a little increase in tasks/responsibilities as well as a different email, but everything else stays the same.

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Left Picture: I felt so honored and privileged to be invited to AIM's leadership meetings earlier this month. This includes all upper level leadership with a few invitees. I was just a lucky opportunistic addendum invitee for the last two days. It was quite the pleasure to meet these leaders and share a few meals with them!!
Even during the breaks, there was always a few that were still thinking and planning. 

Right Picture: Just "paying it forward" back to you with a few snapshots of what I've had in OBK this month. The top picture has an adorable illustration of a character lassoing the sun and putting it in a mailbox. And that scripture reference is good any day! 
A little bit of sunshine from all around the world and a wonderful reminder in 1 Thess 5:16-18.

Top Picture: I couldn't recall if I've ever shared a picture of the office....so here it is. This is where I go for work.I hadn't realized how large that tree is on the right until I saw the comparison in this picture.

Please CLICK here and PRAY for the Unreached of Africa

Prayer Requests:

• patience with myself as I get settled and organized with a little bit more on my plate
• good, intentional time with friends so we all take a break from ministry
• wisdom in decision making and boldness when needed with my new responsibilities
• ability to rest and "check out" from work when needed

Tomorrow is a new day, new week & it will be better.

You know those days that you get to the end [or lunch or even by 9am] and all you want to do is hit the easy button that will allow for a do over??

I think you know what I mean. Nothing goes right. Every little thing that is slightly off just builds and builds. Or maybe it is one huge thing that destroys any ounce of positive in the day or week?


How have the first 7 days of May been for you?

fabulous?
mundane?
stressful?
sickly?
strange?
unique?
fun?
different?
typical?

Last week was definitely subpar for me.
Sunday brought on an unexpected, less than desired realization.
Monday wasn't near as productive as I hoped.
Tuesday put an abrupt end to planning some fun.
Wednesday was crushing news.
Thursday made me think more than I had energy to do.
Friday was full of cultural challenges.
Saturday was ok but just a little weird after the week.

According to facebook, I wasn't the only one that had a rough start to May.

I really wanted to play my selfish introvert card on Saturday. Actually I did a little bit. I wanted to declare a day for me to stay home and be lazy. Somehow I powered through.

I started a new book.
I spent some time on the balcony enjoying the fresh air.....
....even washed the dishes and did a little organizing.

I needed to be somewhere by 6pm. But first I needed a little bit of a re-start.

So I left in time to stop at a cafe place.
Got my book out and enjoyed some coffee and fruit. Even now I took a deep breath as if I was back in the moment yesterday afternoon. I just needed to put the week behind and declare a fresh start.

After my evening plans (which were great) I had a bonus couple of hours of conversation with a friend. It was one of those nights of pure, genuine, unplanned, meaningful late night conversations with a friend.

This morning brought a nostalgic feeling of comfort and familiarity.




This particular friend opens her doors to me often so as planned I slept at her place. In the morning I made my typical breakfast of banana pancakes. Fresh flowers were on the table from the market yesterday. Worship music was flowing through the air from the computer in the bedroom. There was excitement inside me for being back at the same church for the second Sunday in a row. (an event that had not yet happened this year).

As the day progressed, things took longer than expected, I felt behind on my internal schedule, and it caused great unrest in me that flowed out and was easily seen by others.

But at some point the ever faithful canine species reminded me that it is ok to slow down.




All he wanted was a little bit of attention. Just a moment of my time. A gentle touch and a leg to lean on while I was also apparently shading him from the late afternoon sun.

So my goals for today may not have been accomplished......well a few were.
I may be up a little early to get ready for tomorrow because some things won't get done tonight.
People are going to have to wait another day or two for an email response.
Some things just won't be dealt with today.

Even so...the sun will come up and it will be time to sing praises again.

Even when the small things fail...
the big things fall apart...
disappoint creeps around all the corners....

We can know that joy comes in the morning and HIS love never fails.

So whatever happened last week and whatever lies before us....

let's celebrate that joy is in the morning. 

I don't have a DeLorean so we can't go back to last week and do it again. So I'll have to be satisfied with some fun coffee, great conversation, a church family, and a friendly canine to reset things from the earthly point of view. 

Tomorrow is a new day and a new week. 

It will be better. 

I've just decided that. 

Thank you many times over.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.


Thank you for adjusting your schedules for me.
Thank you for letting me interrupt your usual routine.
Thank you for letting me sleep under your roof.
Thank you for giving me your wifi password.
Thank you for so much food.
Thank you being patient on the days when I didn't have enough brain power to make a decision (especially at the beginning and more so at the end).
Thank you for basing the menu on my cravings.
Thank you for listening to some of my stories.
Thank you for continuing with your life to give me the time and space to rest when I needed it.
Thank you for the ongoing prayers.
Thank you for the hugs.
Thank you for the laughs.
Thank you for the new memories.
Thank you for letting me pause and take pictures so I can easily revisit some moments.
Thank you for even more food.
Thank you for buying me coffee.
Thank you for taking me on new adventures (however small or usual it seemed to you).
Thank you for going the extra mile (or 90) so we could see each other.
Thank you for showing me parts of your life.
Thank you for the conversations.
Thank you for participating in OBK2.
Thank you for referring to my place in Uganda as home.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

This list isn't sufficient. But it is a start.
Thank you so much, many times over.