NEWSLETTER: Checking in from a new place

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Greetings to all -  May this message find you doing well. May you find ways to enjoy life no matter whatever stage of pandemic status your area of the world is experiencing.  Waffle Wednesdays Wiffle ball Wednesday season came to an end. It was a wonderful season played in sun and (light) rain. There were laughs, tiredness, fun, and more. As with all things, it didn't last forever and now it is Waffle Wednesdays. I can say this confidently because just a few hours ago I completed the first week of Waffle Wednesdays complete with some sausage. You may wonder the reason that Wednesday has gone from a family activity to a solo activity..... First - let's establish that Waffles can certainly be enjoyed in groups. I encourage you to do this with your family and friends as well as with me, especially if you get the opportunity to visit me in Uganda. My dog's name is Waffles. ;-) Last week I shifted to a new place and that's the main reason that the alliterated activity adjusted. Actually, today marks 8 months since I left Uganda. Goodness, that is hard to see in writing. As thankful as I am for all those that have opened their homes to me for one night or a few months, I made the difficult decision to get a place of my own for the short term. A friend helped me find a good place and and a few others helped me get what I needed to settle. Thank you! Way back in May.... I had the opportunity to go to a retreat for missionaries in eastern Tennessee. I encourage you to check out EdenRidge. This is an amazing place! They understand the need for space and nature and that's what they offer. All of this comes at a highly discounted rate to missionaries. For that reason I ask you to consider donating to them so they can continue their wonderful ministry. They might even have a donation matching opportunity now; though, I can't recall when that was ending. It was incredibly refreshing to be there and be in the Cumberland Plateau. I was able to hike 3-6 miles most days. One trail led to a great overlook that was great for contemplating all the topics. Top Picture Do the days blur and create a fog? I sure feel that way. A few weeks ago I woke up and mother nature certainly displayed the fog that I was feeling.  After a hike on a trail, I found a good spot to contemplate.

Starting waffle Wednesdays with success! I've really enjoyed spotting daisies and trying to capture their beauty from different angles.

Some Book Group (SBG): Round 2 - Week 3. What else is happening? Well....I'm sure you are wondering what the plan is now. Some Book Group (SBG): A few months back a friend asked if I would be interested in reading a book with a group. We would "meet" by Zoom once a week and discuss the chapter. The catch? Well everyone one else is on the west coast. For 8 weeks, we meet and I think only one night they caught me almost asleep as we finished our Zoom meeting. It was such an incredible experience that I thought I would do it again. Pictured above is the second group. I asked a few friends and some asked another friend which led to God orchestrating a really amazing group. I truly love it. Each week we have 4-7 people and we discuss a chapter just as before. Some would say I am leading it. I really start the meeting and loosely facilitate the discussion; though I've already accepted we won't finish within an hour. It is exciting to see how God directs our conversations sometimes in the depths of the chapter and other times on the rabbit (and deer sized) trails of off topic happenings. There's also school happenings. Yes, I wrote school. Earlier this year I started an online program for a degree in Leadership and Administration. I have completed 3 courses and and finishing and 3 in the next couple weeks. This term with 3 class has kept me rather busy. There's excitement in seeing how much I enjoy some of the classes and how they ignite desire in me to learn more on the subjects. Eventually, I will return to Uganda. Within the week of making the arrangements to get my own place and actually going there, I heard the rumblings of Uganda starting discussions about allowing those with work permits to return. Ironic. Yes, I know. At first I ignored it because I couldn't think past getting at least a few weeks at the new place. Reality is that my return will likely be on unique circumstances and not look like my other trips across the ocean. There are countless questions to be investigated about the process. It is a step in the direction of returning but that is as far as things have gone. There is still lots of unknown about the specifics of how and when this will happen. I am trusting God to work out the details and supply me with the peace for all the details I won't know. The unknown can dominate so easily. What I do know is that I'm thankful for how you have provided and prayed for me during this time. I appreciate those that have opened their homes for me to stay. I appreciate those that have expressed interest and appreciation in the ministry of AIM. I appreciate those that have listened on the hard days and laughed with me on the better days. Thank you! Many thanks to each of you! Be Well and Love Much, Katherine   Prayer Requests:  Thankfulness - For a place to stay and how great the details came together. SBG - this has been such a blessing each week. Please pray for the ladies in the group and for our conversations as we study our identity in Christ. Pray for peace of mind and spirit during the waiting. It is hard to plan when I don't know when I can go back to Uganda. It is even more difficult to be extending the time away from my friends and my home. Please pray for when and how the return to Uganda will work out. God already knows the details! Uganda - restrictions have been lifted some. The curfew is still in place; however, life still looks really different there from when I was there 8 months ago. Please pray for the leaders there that are trying to make the best decisions for Uganda.  Personal refinement - pray that I would clearly know what God is asking of me during this time. Pray that I would have eyes opened to all that He has provided and ears open to what He is teaching me through the waiting and the unknown.  Working on some school work. I discovered a junior loft bed works really good as a standing desk.