NEWSLETTER: June 2019 Looking ahead

What is ahead? As my communication seems to be dwindling, I thought I would offer some little bits of knowledge on what I do know about the future....at least known events. The first major event on the horizon is I am going to South Sudan to visit our teams there. I will fly up on 27th July and spend a long weekend there, traveling by air each day. I feel rather honored to get this opportunity. It didn't actually feel real until today when my visa was approved and put in my passport. This is a great chance to get a better understanding of what life is like for our missionaries there and how we can best support them from Kampala. Just after that, I am taking another few days for some holiday in Ethiopia. I will get to see the same friend that came to visit me in April. She has been able to get an amazing trip organized and this will be so much fun! It is good to get out of the normalcies (good and bad) of big city Kampala life and I think these two trips will definitely provide that. In August, we have our regional conference that happens every other year. I help to plan for this and coordinate some logistics as it gets closer. We are thrilled to have a team and speaker come from the U.K. The team will have a program planned for kids and a separate one for our teens. This is a great opportunity to spend time with people that we so often only communicate with via email. Possibly the most exciting event on the calendar is going to begin just as August comes to a close. My mom and brother will come visit for two weeks. All three of us are so excited; though it probably shows in our own unique ways. I've been working on a schedule for while they are here. I think they will be more excited about the sunrise at the Nile than Waffles was in the picture below. That's a little snipet of what is on the horizon here. So at least now you have some idea of what I'm doing when I'm not communicating well with you. Many thanks for all your continued prayer and financial support. There never will be words that can effectively convey my gratitude for all that you do so I can do what I do. Be Well and Love Much, Katherine

NEWSLETTER: June 2019

10 Highlights for 10 Weeks - Part 2 Recently, I haven't communicated well. I shall assume that you offer continued forgiveness on this and for that I am grateful!! Life continues on here. The "10 for 10" line was supposed to highlight 10 things in my first 10 weeks in Uganda after returning at the end of January from a short sabbatical. I'm pretty sure an additional 10 weeks (plus more) has passed since the first part. Not to worry...I remember (most) of what I was going to wright for part 2 and all of what's in my brain is still applicable. Without further delay, let me get right into it.

6. News from the office  New job and new boss. That's right, a couple months back, I switched jobs. Surprise! I still work at the same place and serve the same amazing missionaries around central Africa as we seek to further the Kingdom. I was asked to consider and did accept the position of Office Manager. I realize this isn't the typical thing that comes to mind for someone serving overseas for mission work. There is much admin and background work that goes into the organization (and probably any company). Leaders have noticed my ability to see how different parts overlap and work together. In this new role, I try to keep they overlapping pieces working and interacting smoothly. It puts me in a position to see processes and put things in motion to make improvements where needed so that we can serve the missionaries in our region more efficiently which will in turn spread the Gospel.  The leader for our office and region has also changed or is changing. This has been a long anticipated and planned for change as the previous one and his family have needed to transition back to America. The new one will start on Monday after we've had an interim and unique transition time. Please pray for this ongoing transition in the office. I think some of us, myself include, are still processing the grief as one leaves and the anticipation as a new leader comes. Picture: My office complete with some pictures hanging above the computer and a lovely chair for visitors when someone comes to see me. Prayer Point: Please pray as my new role continues to develop and gain definition. Pray for clarity on how I should focus my tasks. Please pray as we continue this transition with our leader.  Pray that everyone would have grace for each other and that we would all of a learner's attitude as we move forward under new leadership for the office and region.

7. Two Great Weekends  At the time of starting "10 for 10" there were two fabulous weekends on the horizon. One of them was camping with two other ladies. Their husbands were gracious to take care of their kids and let the ladies get away. We stopped for an adventure at a ropes course on the way. It was incredible! We didn't know what to expect but it far exceeded anything we could imagine. The second weekend was a friend coming to visit from Kenya over a long weekend. We had met at meetings in September and have stayed in touch. It was so great to be together again as she will soon make the transition across the ocean. Picture: From the ropes course, here I am crossing the spider web section. It was sooo much fun! Prayer Point: Though it is weeks later, please join me in praise for the time with my friends. Looking through pictures of these adventure out of the city and time with friend(s) on the long weekend, I was reminded of how blessed I am that God has provided the exact friends I needed in different situations.

8. Doing Well  You may remember that I went to the states for about six weeks at the beginning of the year. In a nutshell, the last quarter of 2018 had worn me down and I needed a major reset. Thankfully, my leaders acted and suggested I get a break and some much needed rest. Since returning at the end of January, I am so thrilled to say that I have been doing well. Actually, just last week, a good friend was telling me that she can still tell that I doing really well. It is reassuring to know that is seen from others and not just my opinion. I'm still human and this is still life so there are times of homesickness and the typical bad day everyone gets from time to time. In all the greatness, I am sure that Waffles (my dog) plays a part in this. She's been a great addition to my life. Picture: Waffles and I just laying around enjoying life. Prayer Point: Please join me in thankfulness for this time in the states at the beginning of the year. Thankfulness that AIM has policies and procedures in place for such a time and need. (I've learned not every organization has this.) I'm ever thankful for all the logistics coming together of where to stay and how to get around. I'm thankful for the time that I had with a variety of people, each one that encouraged and helped in their own unique way. I give thanks that even months later, it is clear how wise that decision was and that the rest and encouragement received sustains me still.

9. Revolving Door  This is a recurring topic and will remain a hot topic as long as I live this life. The revolving door of friends continues to revolve. I often tell people that there's no way for any orientation to cover this aspect of expat life. There is something so unique about the bonds formed overseas and when those bonds get stretched over an ocean, much grief is had for all involved. The above picture is from my balcony. Somehow the light area, dark clouds, and obvious rain seemed fitting for such a situation with a variety of emotions. Light - thankful for the good, the memories with friends. Dark - the gut wrenching feeling as people transition away that builds as the time approaches. Rain - the messy feelings of everything all mixed together and yet one must keep going through it all. Prayer Point: Join me in praise and thankfulness that God provides amazing friends to provide the support needed while our paths overlap. Please pray for the undefined loss as our paths part and we both make adjustments. Pray for these friends that are settling into America after up to 10 years of service in Uganda. Pray for the new friendships to form and current ones to deepen as I mend the holes of support these friends provided to me.

10. Home Assignment is Coming  This picture is from a day a while back when I started dreaming a little about what my next time in the states would look like. At the time it was some months away. However, soon it will be just four months away. That's right! In early November I will be headed to the states for 6 months. AIM refers to this as "home assignment". Historically, some may have referred to this as furlough. The problem is that furlough gives an implication that rest may be sole focus of this time. Other high priorities include seeing many of you, sharing stories about this term (since 19 April 2017), and raising more support where needed. Now is the time to start thinking about if you want to spend some time with me or if you have a group that may be interested in hearing about my small part in AIM's efforts to spread the Gospel in Africa. Just a few days ago, I made some tentative plans with friends for December. I started looking at filling in the time before and after and it made me realize how blessed I am to have so many people to see and places to go. It does mean that you should speak soon so I can get you on the list as I put the calendar together. Prayer Point: Please pray that I would remain present in life here and still find the right times to start planning for my time in the states. Please begin praying for the big details like transportation and a place to stay. I am praying for a place that I can use as a "home base" of sorts instead of continually going from one to another like I did in 2017.  Well, I will consider you a little bit more caught up on the happenings. I'd love to hear of the happenings in your life as 2019 reaches the midway point. Top picture: from the camping trip with friends. A simple sunrise selfie at the Nile. Be Well and Love Much, Katherine

NEWSLETTER: April 2019

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10 Highlights for 10 Weeks - Part 1 Recently, I heard someone say that the reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. This may or may not been heard on a show, though it also appears to be a quote from Albert Einstein. It seems that somehow 10 weeks have passed since I returned to Uganda after a short notice trip back to the states for some sabbatical time. In all that time and in the time before, so much has happened. I am so thankful all of it didn't happen at once. For the sake of a catchy line, I thought I would highlight 10 things. I will go back into the end of last year to help ensure you are caught up on the highlights.  1. Moved in November. Surprisingly, even some friends here are just now finding this out. I'm not sure how I managed to move in the middle of November and have it be not common knowledge. Since getting a vehicle almost a year ago, my life has had more opportunities. One of these means that it is no longer as necessary to live so close to the office. I had been wanting to get closer to church. With the ever evolving door of expats, my community of friends in the city has shifted too. The picture above is the front of the building that is now my home. I am in the half that is closest in this angle. There are two bedrooms and bathrooms up and the rest downstairs. I have loved being able to host weekly bible study group from church now that I am closer to those in my church community. Prayer Point: Though there have been many blessings, the change to living here has had some challenges. Please pray for wisdom and guidance in these.  2. Visitors and Waffles  At the end of November, I was blessed to go to a missionary retreat by Go Be Love. Possibly the best part of this was that my friends were not only leading the retreat but staying after to visit. Visiting doesn't truly describe all that they did. They encouraged me, served me, helped me, cared for me (I was sick while they were here), spoke wisdom into a difficult decision, and so much more. With them around, I laughed to tears and felt so loved. While they were here, I got a dog! Yep, I am a proud owner of a 4 year old Ugandan special (local mix breed). She was with another family and had been named Waffles. So Waffles she is. she often finds a way to be the center of things as she did in the above picture and was in the center (though under it too) of a card game. She's been fun and challenging. Prayer Point: Though it is months later, please join me in praise for the time with my friends. Even nearly 4 months later, I am still amazed that they would make the sacrifices they did so that they could be with me for so long.   3. Time in the states  Towards the end of my time with my friends, it was becoming clear that I was actually having quite a difficult time. Life had been a bit too crazy for too long and through all of that, I hadn't been doing anything to care for myself. I am blessed more than I deserve in the support of AIM and the leaders I have. They suggested I take a break and go to the states. With all the travel on both ends, it was an even six weeks from leaving Ugandan soil until I returned. The time in the states was so many things. It was so needed, so delightful, so challenging, so restful, so blissful, so surreal, and more. The challenging part was accepting that it was okay that I needed the break. Some of my time was spent at this lovely place and enjoying a tasty treat by the (electric) fireplace. I hope to go back at least once next time I'm in the states. Even today, I was in agreement with one of my leaders that it was good I went willing when I did. Otherwise, we both know I would have been told to go not too long after that. Prayer Point: Please join me in thankfulness for this time in the states. Thankfulness that AIM has policies and procedures in place for such a time and need. (I've learned not every organization has this.) I'm ever thankful for all the logistics coming together of where to stay and how to get around. I'm thankful for the time that I had with a variety of people, each one that encouraged and helped in their own unique way. 4. Church Family  Once I returned, I was delighted to get back to my church here. The first Sunday back, one of my good friends told me it looked like five years had been lifted from my shoulders. I'll never forget this. It speaks so much into the value of that time in the states. It also helps people all around (including myself) that there was such a noticeable difference. I recognize that there difficulties no matter where you live, but once out of your roots and known culture for an extended time, it is refreshing to be back even with the oddities of reverse culture shock. I am so thankful for the friendships that are deepening at church. I am thankful for friends that text me Sunday evening to make sure I'm ok after missing church one time. (I really just needed 24 consecutive hours at home.) This picture is from an even called Cell Fest. It is something the church has in March and is a time for fellowship and, of course, food. Cell group is the term of the weekly studies that happen around the city. What's the popular term in the states these days? I was so happy to be able to host everyone. It was a great time together all around. Clearly we ate well too! Prayer Point: Again join me in praise and thankfulness for the church home that I have here. I am so thankful for the friendships that have stemmed from being there. Please pray that our cell group would continue to thrive each Tuesday evening. Pray that we would be open and honest with each other, encourage each other, as well as challenge everyone.  5. You are mine, come back to me.  This picture is from the first morning I went back to the office in early February. This is nearly the same avoidance treatment that Waffles give me each morning. Don't be misled by the number of adorable dog photos on my phone, it has been a challenge with her. Since I left so quickly after bringing her home, it was understandably a bit of a challenge to earn her loyalty and trust back. So many times I've called her to me while she lays at the neighbor's door. She would leave me while I actively pet her to go run if she heard the door next door open. Through this annoying struggle, it had me thinking.....how often are we waiting by something that won't help us and God is calling us back. Our Saviour wants us to know we belong to Him. He is waiting with His arms open wide just as my door (and arms) are open wide for the dog to come and be loved. So many times I've told her, "I pay your bills, you belong time me." Have you found yourself being called back into belonging and closeness with our Lord while you are seeking fulfillment in an empty place? Prayer Point: Please pray that I would seek my deepest joy from our Lord. Pray that I would desire the closeness and make it my priority each day. Pray that I would know to whom I belong and have confidence in the things that don't have a stronghold over me. Well, I will consider you half way caught up on the highlights. As I wouldn't want you to have to read and process everything at the same time, I will wait and send the second half another day.  The second half includes a recurring topic, fun days, and news about how I spend my days. Be Well and Love Much, Katherine

NEWSLETTER: January 2019

New Year begins with Resting. Greetings to one and all. The amount of appreciation I have for each of you in the various ways you support me is never able to be put into words. Just a few days ago, I reached FOUR YEARS with Africa Inland Mission. It is amazing to look back and see how each person came along in different ways all along the way to make this journey possible. Most recently I am thankful for both leadership in Uganda and those dear to me in the states that are always available to offer wisdom and encouragement when needed. This became needed in December and I didn't even realize it until those closest to me were willing to speak honestly with me. After sharing with friends/leaders about how it seemed to be a difficult time, the idea was presented to me to essentially have a bit of a sabbatical, especially with the holidays right around the corner. After talking with a few people, it became clear that this unexpected time of rest was much needed. I quickly made some arrangements and I was off to the airways. It has been an emotional, restful, beautiful, challenging, chilly, never snowy enough, memory filled time being in the states. As this time was meant specifically for rest I did not share this ahead of time. There was such a limited time to see people and I so appreciate your understanding of this. Do know that it was often challenging to not just go and see everyone when I was close to friends. However, God made it clear that He wanted me for Himself and He wanted me to be still. Top picture: taken in East TN as the sun dropped below the horizon leaving a beautiful display of how light breaks the darkness even in small amounts

I would not be truthful if I said I didn't SEE snow.  Happiness really is going to your favorite coffee place especially when its with friends (not pictured).  What a blessing to get a chance to eventually have enough for some short fun in some cold temperatures.  Too many pictures depicting friends and food to choose just one so here's this.

I have much appreciation for everyone that helped with details and logistics. Do know that I will return in November for a period of about 6 months. This will be a proper Home Assignment as I had in 2017 and I will be eager to see each of you as well as share about how God is moving in Central Africa. It brings my heart so much joy to look through the flurry of pictures with friends from the last few weeks. I was blessed to meet children that have been born since I was last in America and make more memories with friends of all ages. There never seems to enough time as each "see you next time" gets harder. For now I'll hold tightly to the memories and technology that provides connections. I will be traveling back to Uganda over the weekend and look forward to going to one of my homes. This short trip has certainly reinforced the fact that there are many places I can call home. I look forward to being in the states at the end of the year. Be Well and Love Much, Katherine Below picture: Sunset in Western TN that clearly shows God's creativity and His desire to give us beautiful things Prayer Requests:  Physical health: Join me in praising God that I stayed physically healthy through this trip even when there was obviously "something going around" where I was. May this continue through the travels.  Catching up on return: pray for the details of this and that to come together quickly as I get going in Kampala. With moving a month before leaving on short notice, there is still settling to be done and various other tasks I'd like to get done in the next week.  Pray for wise transition: Pray that I get back into things in a smooth way and that I don't dive in too deep too fast and end up right back where I was in a few months.  Pray that lessons learned and lessons still being emphasized would continue to sit in the forefront of my mind. Pray that I would take time for myself and ignore lies the enemy tells me.  Give thanks for the provision of a trip such as this. It was only possible because of those that continue to prayerfully and financially support me leading to details coming together.

NEWSLETTER: November 2018 - personal note

On a more personal note.....

Over the recent months you may recall me sharing a blog on social media. You may recall me occasionally asking for prayers at times when the miles seem longer because a friend is unwell. Both of these situations were in reference to a very dear and special friend, Christine Moritz.

It is with a hurting heart and flooded eyes that I share with you the news that Christine is now with Jesus. Her Earthly suffering ended and she was embraced by our Saviour on 30 October.

Todd and Christine are friends and mentors (to say the absolute least) that have been in my life for 20 years. They have spoken truth into my life, asked me the hard questions, welcomed me into their home, prayed for me when I didn't know I needed it, supported me in countless ways, and that's just a start. The Earthly loss is great but the celebration in heaven is greater.

Would you please pray for Christine's family as they continue grieving this indescribable loss?

Selfishly, I also ask that you pray for me as I process this from across the ocean. It is certainly a first for me in this life I'm living.....to process through the Earthly loss of someone so special and dear to my heart.

For those that are interested....
Christine kept a blog through the years. It is an encouraging eye opener into life with cancer. It speaks into many different aspects of life when you battle cancer. The last few posts are focused on dying with faith. I am certain that someone reading this will benefit from it and/or that someone may know someone. Here is the link. The last entry in her words shows the depth of her faith. I encourage all to read that HERE.

The picture at the top is from February 2017 when I was visiting Todd and Christine during my time in the states.

Thanks for checkin' in!*

Katherine


*This is often how she would end her blog posts. So it feels like a fitting way to end this. I am thankful for all the times you are checking in with me over the years. 

NEWSLETTER: October 2018

Greetings from Kampala! Again, I feel like I should open with an apology for how long it has been since I last wrote. The good part is that this stems from being busy and that's an indicator of being in community. For this, I am thankful! The last few months I keep finding myself in situations and moments where I realize that Kampala has become home on so many levels and that's an amazing feeling. So, let me tell you about a few aspects of this place that I can so easily call home. PEOPLE WERE MADE FOR PEOPLE...... ...and I'm so thankful for some of my people. A few nights ago, I was invited over to hang out with one of my American friends. I couldn't quite force the spontaneity to go that night, so we agreed to spend time together the following evening. This evening was so so very much needed for me. It was wonderful to laugh at things that I don't even remember, but I know we laughed. It was wonderful to laugh and talk about recent events in our lives, some of which overlapped. The whole evening was so organically uplifting that it just kept going and well, by the time I got home at a time I won't mention, I walked in with a goofy grin on my face. All I could think was: People are made for people and I'm so thankful I had a person that night. I challenge you to consider: Who is your person? Are you letting someone into your life to be that person for you? Have you been a person for someone recently? Who in your life needs a person and do you think you could fill that role?  FOOD IS GOOD Cooking is challenging when you aren't in your home culture. For me, sometimes the challenge is finding what is listed on a recipe or finding the closest thing. Sometimes, you know it isn't possible to get what you want so some lovely people arrange to get it to you. One of those things for me is Chick-fil-A sauce. With a bit inspiration and lots of hope, I decided to attempt a CFA pizza. And let me tell you it was a great idea. Tortilla for the crust, CFA for the sauce, chicken and tomatoes...YUM! You'll see below I only put cheese on half. This is because I don't know if CFA sandwiches have cheese and because I had only a small amount of good cheese that I was rationing for different meals. Something moving up my list for meals is enchiladas. However, first I must make enchilada sauce because I can't just stop and buy it in a can at the store. Oh! This reminds me. I had grilled hamburgers and baked beans a couple weeks ago. And those beans started as dry beans the day before. Who knew that baked beans are properly made and not just from a can? Have you ever been without a certain food for a while that you then realized how much you appreciated it when it was gone? *top picture: a look out over the city from a building in town as the sun was starting to approach the horizon

I was quite proud of my Chick-fil-A pizza the other night.  How many spare tires do you have? This boda seems to have plenty though I'm not sure how helpful they would be.

WHAT WILL YOU SEE? Even though this place is certainly home, it still surprises me. A couple weeks ago, I saw the above pictured boda (motorcycle used for public transport of people and goods). As you can see it was certainly carrying a full load. I was reminded of the uniqueness of this when my brother was visiting as he commented on some of the boda loads. Have you seen anything new in your part of the world? What adventures local or not so local have you been on recently? THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT Probably every restaurant has an option for customers to order African tea. This can be ordered spiced or not spiced. Personally, I could go either way but I definitely prefer spiced tea. Sometimes you learn what restaurants have a better spice mixture/method than others. Now imagine you are in the Southern part of America and you very specifically prefer sweet or unsweet tea. Sometimes humans make mistakes and maybe the wrong one is brought to the customer with a strong preference. So here we have the same issue that presents itself in a different way in a different culture. I like finding moments like this because it makes it easier to accept the challenges and differences knowing that the same ones exist in America, they just present in a different way. What challenges have you had recently that you think I might also have? Does it look the same here or might it look different? That sums up some aspects of this place I call home. I hope these tidbits of stories help you to get a glimpse of my life here. As always, please do know that I am ever grateful for how you continuously support me both prayerfully and financially. Be Well and Love Big, Katherine PS: I didn't edit this in the least, so please pardon the typos!   Prayer Requests:  Give thanks for the friendships that have been so encouraging Thankful for creativity in the kitchen Pray for friendships to continue to deepen...a good support system is essential for living any where but especially overseas Pray for wisdom in some work situations Pray for smooth transition as I move to a different place in town in the next few weeks (and if a few of you remind me I'll try to remember to write about it next time) Pray for good health...rainy season has started some and even that small change in weather seems to allow germs an opportunity

NEWSLETTER: August 2018

Hello, do you remember me? No, seriously. Do you remember? I know many of you do remember and I'll tell you how I know later. But really. How has it been two months since I last wrote?? Let me try to figure out where the time went.... 11 days of travel to Northeast Uganda at the beginning of July 11 days with my brother visiting a few days here and there to welcome new people to our region a couple days with friends to celebrate that I successfully made another circle around the sun a couple days of meetings here in Kampala And a slew of other regular days of living life Do you feel caught up now? The top picture is from the travels at the beginning of July. It was so wonderful to get to see the people and different places where our members serve. It was quite the whirlwind trip. Even at each location, I was able to see/do different things....a very busy schedule the whole time but so worth it. I loved seeing our people in their element and among the people that God has laid on their hearts. Later in July and into August, my brother came to visit!! This was and still is super exciting! It was his first time to Africa which added another fun angle to his visit. It was great to hear first hand observation of sights that are so normal and part of every day life here. We did quite a bit in the time we had together and it was so fun! Countless memories made that are one of a kind. I am beyond thankful for that time we had together.

Jon, my brother, and I were able to spend a few days at the Nile River. It was glorious and we had such a great time!! This was somewhere in the middle of the birthday celebrations and only shows three in a still moment of many that worked hard for me that weekend.

The other big event and most recent is that I completed another circle around the sun. This is how I know many of you still remember me. So many of you sent cards with Jon and it has been so great to read all of them. Actually, I decided to spread out the love and I still have a small shrinking stack on the table as I'm only opening a few each day. There was much love given through time and food on that day. I even had my own cake that was made with a lick-able beater bigger* than my head.  *bigger....with the right camera angle anyway. But it was quite big! More along the lines of work.... It was great to welcome a couple from New Zealand that will be serving in South Sudan for a year. Since I last wrote, we also had a some new people arrive to serve in Uganda in various ways. It is refreshing to see new people arrive with great amounts of excitement and enthusiasm for what lies ahead. The guy that leads our region and therefore office returned after a brief home assignment. We also had all the leaders from each country our office serves in town this week for some meetings so much has been happening at the office. The dreamers have had some time to dream and the others try to keep things a bit orderly. Usually at about the 6 week mark after a newsletter I start getting a few messages and that makes me realize I'm late on a newsletter. That didn't happen this time so I feel confident in assuming you must have been quite busy in July and August. What's been happening in your life? I'd love to catch up with you! Be Well and Love Big, Katherine   Prayer Requests:  Give thanks for so many safe travels in the last two months Unending praise that my brother was able to visit Pray for friendships to deepen...a good support system is essential for living any where but especially overseas Pray for wisdom in some work situations Pray for guidance about where to live.....I can sometimes dream about benefits of being in a different part of town. My lease is soon finishing and will need renewed or I'll make the decision for a big change. Give thanks for those that made me feel loved for my birthday Picture below: A sunrise moment over the Nile River. Confession.....I was still in the tent and only thinking about the picture. My brother captured the moment and I stole the picture from him.