The Kolb's Journey

Tottenham Tottenham!

2012-02-12T06:01:00.000-06:00

On my cell phone here in Uganda you can sign up for something called a CallerTune. Basically when someone calls your phone, they hear whichever CallerTune you set up instead of the simple ring. I have the above song as my CallerTune which is one of the fight songs for the English Premier League football club that I support, Tottenham Hotspur.

Nico loves to sing along with the song and will sometimes ask Rachel to call my phone so that he can hear it. "Tottenham Tottenham! No one can stop 'em" is often heard resounding from his mouth if he ever hears me talk about Tottenham or if he sees me watching the highlights of the matches.

Tottenham is having a great campaign this season and it is fun being a Spurs supporter here in Uganda, as I am one of the only ones in Soroti!

Come on you Spurs!

2 years

2012-02-08T13:12:00.000-06:00

Peace is turning 2. She was born just a few days after we first landed in Uganda. I didn't meet Peace until she was about 3 months old and when I began teaching with her mom at Amen Primary School. I saw her a lot since she lived at the school. It's fun to think I've known this little girl her whole life:) and crazy to realize it's been 2 years since we arrived.

My mom has sent us some of these balloons that are made for helium but you can blow them up easily with a straw (or a pen) anyway, I used one for a game during Bible club at school last year before we went back to the US. After finishing the game I left the balloon with Peace. When I went to visit Teacher Hellen and Peace in November, I found that Peace still had the balloon I gave her 8 months ago! Hellen said that she loved it and that it had been patched a few times. I immediately thought of the Valentines balloon my mom sent for Nico we considered it destroyed after 2 days and threw it away. A gentle reminder of how much we have. Nico has more toys than he can play with. Peace just had that balloon. Anyway, this balloon was meant for Bobby, but I knew Peace would enjoy it more... and I was right! She is thrilled to have a new toy for her 2nd birthday.

the color in my eyes

2012-01-19T05:01:00.000-06:00

Martin in his suit. Dennis in his 'smart' shirt. Bobby in his T-shirt.

The above picture was taken in September of 2010 at the celebration for the Freedom Boys winning the Championship. To the left is Martin, I am (of course) on the right, and the tall guy in the middle is Dennis. These are the two men that I partner with in ministry to street kids. On that very day, Rachel complimented Dennis on his shirt saying, "That is a very nice shirt. You look very smart." Cultural tidbit: Smart is what you say when something looks nice, or in this case, handsome. If Rachel would've left it at that it would've just been a nice compliment to Dennis but she then said, "I wish Bobby would dress smart like you Dennis. He only ever wears T-shirts." First of all honey, what is wrong with T-shirts? Second of all, this is what you get when you make comments like that......................

Smart!

Dennis bought me this shirt as we approached the New Year. He came to our place and told Rachel that the reason he wanted to give me this shirt is because she said that she really liked the one that he had on many months ago. Sadly, we cannot take a picture of both Dennis and I wearing our "smart" shirts because his was stolen while he was away for training. I am honored to wear this shirt that my friend gave me.

For what it's worth, the shirt looks better on Dennis but I think it does bring out the color in my eyes...somehow!

20 Somethings No Longer

2012-01-15T01:35:00.000-06:00

Often times when I would visit new churches back in the States I would most always look through the bulletin to see what type of ministries they have to post college-not yet married-married without children-type people and also what the names of those ministries are. Some names are very clever and cute but my home church just called the group "20-Somethings". As of Thursday of this week, 12 January, I can no longer attend that group because I no longer fit the label of "20-Somethings". I have now reached my 3rd decade and am embarking on the journey of my thirties!

To celebrate my birthday my family and I stayed at a guesthouse in Jinja, Uganda where we enjoyed good pizza, swimming, and quality time as a fam. One of my gifts that I received was a package of new tennis balls. (the story behind this is that I eventually want to put a concrete slab in our yard so that I can hit tennis balls against the wall to relieve stress :). As I opened the lid of the container, peeled back the seal, the magnificent scent of new tennis balls wafted up to my nostrils and I thought to myself, "I LOVE the smell of new tennis balls." Then I began thinking about other things that I simply enjoy the smell of. Here they are (not in any particular order): the inside of a new pair of running shoes, new tennis balls, patchouli, my wife's peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and freshly cut grass.

What things do you like the smell of?

You can't tell by the squint of my face but these tennis balls smelled very nice. Even Nico got to enjoy the smell :)

Levi enjoying the poolside in the shade!

Tan line!

The receding hair line is why I wear hats! Actually, it's because I wear hats that I probably have such a bad hair line :)

Christmas Celebration

2011-12-28T01:03:00.000-06:00

Now that the Christmas celebration dust has settled I wanted to post some photos of the Christmas celebration that we shared with the street kids. On Christmas Day, the boys gathered early in the morning to clean the compound, set-up the shade tent, bathe, shave their head, and put on their new Christmas clothes. I took Rachel and the boys for the morning preparations and the kids were all so excited to see Levi and Nico on Christmas!! Later in the afternoon, the food was prepared and the boys were ready to feast. They thoroughly enjoyed the goat, chicken, and rice as well as the sodas that were provided. Over and over again they said that their stomachs were full and that they were satisfied. After the feast, Martin, Dennis, and myself were able to share the Christmas story from Luke 2. The kids understood that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus but sharing the reason for why Christ came was so new and exciting to them: "unto you is born this day a SAVIOR" (Lk. 2:11) and "you shall call his name Jesus, because it is HE who will save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

It was a great day of celebration and it was so great to share with these boys and see the joy on their faces and in their hearts.

Edwin and Moses holding the Mzungu baby!

Olinga is full of smiles on this day!

Brian enjoyed decorating himself as well as dancing for joy.

Here the boys are dancing because they are happy! Don't they look sharp in the Freedom Boys shirts?

Cake was made by my beautiful wife. It didn't stay that way for long :)

Cake cutting is a big deal in Ugandan culture. Is that snow?!!!

How do you spell?

2011-12-25T00:32:00.001-06:00

Last week I took a trip to Kampala (capital city) to pick up a partner in ministry from the airport. Kampala is quite a bit more festive this Christmas season than Soroti is but I was struck by one major thing. Throughout the city there were banner advertisements that highlighted upcoming concerts and celebrations on Christmas day. The banners read "Merry X-mas", "X-mas concert on X-mas night", "X-mas Xtravanganza", etc. Those banners reminded me of this old school Christian rap song. It is dated 1989 and you'll know why as soon as you hear the first beat. But the message is true. You truly cannot spell Christmas without CHRIST!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the KOLB'S

For Unto You

2011-12-24T07:20:00.000-06:00

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." (Luke 2:8-15 ESV)

As we plan to celebrate Christmas with the street kids at the TECDEFO house I am struck with whom the message in Luke 2 was given. Shepherds. Lowly shepherds. Verse 11 says, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior...". The angel is speaking to shepherds. This glorious message was proclaimed to the lowly. Unto the shepherds is born this day a Savior!

Jesus came for the shepherds. Jesus came for the street kids. Jesus came for you and Jesus came for me. A Savior who is Christ the Lord. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel has come to thee...!!!

100 cookies, 100 smiles

2011-12-23T11:18:00.000-06:00

*not all smiles are pictured here

Big Bird and Co.

2011-12-20T06:16:00.000-06:00

Two weeks ago a street kid came to the TECDEFO house (TECDEFO, Teso Children's Development Foundation, is the ministry that was started by Martin and Dennis, two Ugandan men that I am partnering with.) wearing a t-shirt with the picture of Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and the rest of the Sesame Street family on it and the words "I Was Raised On The Street". At first thought, I laughed quite a bit and thought about how ironic it was to see a street kid wearing a shirt like that. The more and more I thought about it, however, the more my heart broke for these boys who truly are raised on the street. The boy wearing this shirt was not a suburban middle school student wearing a shirt from Kohl's that he received for his birthday but rather, a child that has experienced neglect, abandonment, hunger, beatings, loneliness, and fear. The slogan, "I Was Raised On The Street", can go so far with the street kids in Soroti that we minister to. Whatever the cause of their coming to the street is, the reality is that they have no one guiding them, nurturing them, and raising them. The family that they have are the other street kids with whom they roam the streets collecting bottles and metal scraps to turn in for money.

Dennis and I spent some time last week praying together as we gathered at the TECDEFO house. We were praying for each of the boys by name and the LORD led us to a passage of Scripture in Lamentations 2:19 that says, "Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street."

Our prayer is that the boys would experience the love of Jesus as they come to the TECDEFO house three days a week. The house is a place where they can wash their clothes, bathe, take a rest, receive porridge, and just BE in a safe place. We pray that they would experience guidance and shepherding as we listen to them, counsel them, and share with them that they have extreme value as God's children. We pray that they would experience freedom from their addictions to sniffing glue and would open themselves up to the transforming work of the Cross.

(Left to Right) Musana, Moses, Patrick, and Joseph are here playing Ugandan checkesrs. Shida is lying down on the mat.

Emma, George, and Joseph

2011-11-26T00:22:00.001-06:00

We have three fruits growing in our yard, we don't really like any of them... do you know what they are??

Glory on Display

2011-11-20T12:17:00.001-06:00

The African sky is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Many days go by where I don’t really ponder the beauty of the sky but the times that I do stop, look, and think about the beautiful vastness of the sky I am blown away. Tonight was one of those nights. As Rachel and I were getting the kids ready for bed i.e. bath, brush teeth, read stories, etc. the power went out because a storm was brewing. The clouds billowed and lightning beckoned as the wind picked up and blew out a couple candles that I had lit. Once both of the boys were asleep I felt led to just step outside and gaze at the sky. It was just one of those days where I wanted some time of solace out in the open with God. With the power being out the view was absolutely amazing. The way the storm had travelled through it left half the sky with a canvas of stars and the other was a light show of lightning. It was a spectacular thing to behold. My words just can’t do it justice so I will let the Psalmist and the prophet Isaiah describe it a lot better when they wrote, His lightnings lit up the world; The earth saw and trembled. (Psa 97:4) and Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing. (Isa 40:26)

The LORD is majestic and I am thankful that He allowed me the privilege to see His glory on display!

Learning to be mom and be content

2011-11-18T12:15:00.000-06:00

I feel like we should put up another post, but I haven't been struck by anything super meaningful to write about. We have mostly been reconnecting with people and adjusting back to life here. I have found that caring for a 4 month old and using a bike for transportation in a third world country is not as easy as I assumed it would be-- baby bjorns are just not meant for bike riding. I've tried all 4 made in the USA carriers I have and even tried tying him on my back with cloth like they do here, but I still haven't managed a comfortable way to transport Levi while riding my bicycle. I've also found that Ugandan women are eager to share their expertise about caring for babies: always breast feed them if they cry... and by the way the proper way to breast feed is sitting with both legs straight in front of you. This is especially difficult when I am riding my bicycle and Levi is crying because he is uncomfortable... I hear so many comments along the road like "why are you making your baby cry?" The other comment I hear so often when Levi is peacefully sucking on a pacifier is "Why are you punishing your baby with that thing? You give him to suckle! (nurse)" Most Ugandans are amazed to see a mzungu baby, many of my friends have said this is the first time they've ever carried a mzungu baby. I also hear so much what a handsome nice baby he is, and that he resembles his father :)

So, anyway, I find myself staying home when I can to avoid the transportation struggle and the hot Ugandan sun on poor Levi's bald head. I'm trying to embrace stay at home motherhood as much as I can. This morning while Levi slept I got out playdough with Nico for the first time. It was fun to watch him play. I love to see him imagine and it's fun to see when he copies the things I do when I play with him. He was really excited about making playdough birthday cakes and blowing out the candles. Bobby reminded me today it's good God gave us these precious moments when children act so sweet (I think Nico was greeting Levi with a baby voice saying "Hi Lee-li") It seems like we have just been disciplining Nico lately, but at the end of the day we love him so much!

We got Nico a little potty chair the other day and are introducing the idea of using it. Today Nico went "su-su" on his toilet 3 times!! It's fun to see his excitement when he knows that we are proud of him. Tonight he was sitting on that little potty naked, before his bath. I remember so vividly a day I visited Amacet and found him sitting on the same kind of potty, naked at 6 or 7 months with terrible diarrhea. I remember he looked so sweet and so sick and so alone, I think there was another little baby on a potty chair next to him but the workers were in the next room or hall taking care of the other babies. I remember how I wished that day that I could take him home that he would never have to be sick alone... and today I see him sitting in the same position so much bigger and healthier with such a different look on his face. His big eyes gaze at the train pictures on the book I'm reading and he smiles when he stands up to show me what he's done. I loved this boy when I saw him in Amacet and I love him so much more today. What a special adoption story, that I knew him before he came to be our son. I wish I had a picture of every memory I have of him. I'm so glad I have a camera now for all the ones to come:)

Celebrating Nico

2011-11-09T05:36:00.001-06:00

9 November 2010

One year ago today, 9 November 2010, our lives changed forever.

For it was on that day that we took Nico home!

We are thankful for each passing day that we get to spend with Nico being blessed by his smile and laughter.

Nico wanted pizza for lunch to celebrate!
9 November 2011

HOME

2011-11-07T11:26:00.001-06:00

Bobby and Nico playing cars on the airplane

At 5:30 this evening I was chopping vegetables for dinner. Bobby was holding Levi on the veranda (front porch) catching up with Erasmus, and Nico was playing in the yard with Joram, Elly, Silas, Tin Tin, and Edwin (neighborhood friends). All I could hear was laughter and joyful boy noises (lots of car and truck sounds). Our house is still not in order, our toilet still leaks, the power is out every other night… but all I could think is that it’s good to be home!

Bobby and Nico adding stickers to our new car

Levi meets Beatrice, Elizabeth and Martha

We arrived in Entebbe late Tuesday night and were met by our teammates, Jim and Margaret Guzzaldo. Their little boy, Elliot is just 1 month younger than Nico and they have enjoyed playing together! We spent a day in Kampala resting and shopping and picking up our new car. We drove back to Soroti Thursday. We were greeted, in the dark, by the rest of our team as we pulled into our yard. The team welcomed us with loud horns, hugs, a nice meal, and our house clean enough to go to bedJ We have a wonderful team!!

Nico and his new friend Elliot

Our first days back we have mostly been trying to unpack (It takes a while to organize 600 pounds of stuff we brought with us) We have greeted our neighbors. They are excited to meet Levi, our mzungu (white) baby. We have fixed our electricity, and our plumbing, and just today the water came back on! We are adjusting to the load sharing going on in Soroti. The power goes out every other night about 6:30 and comes back on sometime in the night. We have enjoyed some meals with our team and done a bit of grocery shopping and looking for new bikes. We are almost back to sleeping all night. Overall we are not yet settled, but still happy to be home!

Keyless Running

2011-10-22T08:47:00.000-05:00

Earlier in the summer my wife posted about my experiment with barefoot running and I just wanted to write a follow up post about my last two outings. We have been in Omaha for the last two weeks and I recently found a cross country course that winds through the rolling hills and walnut trees for about 4 miles. I have enjoyed this course greatly because I love running off-road in my NB Minimus (thanks brother!) Last Friday I embarked on the trail placing my van key in the key compartment of my running shorts, which I have done countless times. After my run, as I was cooling down and stretching I realized that my key was missing. It fell out of my pocket! I threw my hands in the air and said, "You've got to be kidding me!". My phone, wallet, and spare key were in the van so there was no way of getting in nor calling Rachel to come and get me. I flagged down a nice couple who allowed me to use their phone but Rachel was talking to her good friend from college so there was a busy signal for the 10 minutes that the couple allowed me to use their phone. Great! The lady eventually said that she would keep trying to call the number and if she got through she would tell my wife to come and get me. Rachel finally picked up the phone and this is what she heard, "Rachel,, your husband was running at Walnut Grove Park and....." Rachel told me later that her heart skipped a couple beats and was scared that I was murdered or something. I then retraced my steps through the trail and actually found the key!!! Amazing. After arriving back home and having a good laugh about it all I then purposed to move the spare key from the van and into my wife's purse. (probably should've done that first but we are just borrowing the van so the fact that it is not ours made us not do what we would normally do with a spare key). Fast forward to last night when I went to the same park for my final run in Omaha for the next couple years. I parked the van, locked the door, and placed the key in the other compartment for keys. I stretched, warmed up, and departed for my run around the cross country course. Half way through I felt my shorts to make sure that my key was there only to find that I did not feel the little metal key in my pocket. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? AGAIN. This time I knew the point of where it must have fallen out so I retraced my steps but to no avail. I finally went over to a man who was grilling burgers for his elementary school daughter and her friends. I asked if I could use his cell phone to call my wife because I lost my key while running. Rachel was out shopping with her mom so I talked with my brother-in-law. He said that he would tell his dad and he would come and get me and then he said, "wait a minute, didn't this happen to you last week." "Yes it did, and I willingly accept the jokes." While waiting to be picked up I once again tried to find the key but was not successful. It is gone. Somewhere along the rolling hills and walnut trees lays a key to my parents van.

What can I learn from this I ask myself? Or what in the world is God trying to teach me? I don't completely know just yet or even if there is anything. I do know that I had to practice humility in asking others to use their cell phone and again walking through the front door of my in-laws house after it happened to me for the second time! And I know for sure that I will not put keys of any kind in those running shorts again!

Autumn leaves

2011-10-18T17:08:00.000-05:00

We have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the falling leaves and the crisp air of the autumn season. It all shouts the beauty of God's creation! Here are a few updated pictures of our family thanks to a good friend of ours: Sean Macdonald.

Greetings, the T, jumpers, and Boston in the Fall

2011-09-16T08:05:00.001-05:00

I still cannot quite believe it myself but on Tuesday, after a short weekend visit to my aunt and uncle in New Hampshire, my uncle dropped me off at South Station in downtown Boston. I then called my friend and coordinated to meet him at South Station in 1 hour. This friend, however, was not a familiar friend in the US as this was a friend that is Ugandan! I partner with Martin in ministry with street kids in Soroti and if you would've asked me months ago if I would be walking down the streets of Boston, MA with him I would've probably laughed and thought, "no way." Martin had the opportunity and was accepted amongst other internationals to travel to the US and work in a program that promotes peace. It still amazes me that he is here.

When we met in South Station Martin greeted me the way he always does in Soroti, an embrace and a kiss on both cheeks, except this time business men and women were walking frantically by trying to catch the train out of the city and looking at us with frustration because we were standing in the middle of the mass transit. Martin was now in my home country, experiencing the day to day things that are just so hard to explain to our Ugandan contacts. Things that make the cultural gap that much wider, Martin was now experiencing first hand. As Martin and I walked to his apartment we talked a lot about his experience in the States, I just had to laugh at everything he said. His perspective was priceless! One such thing was about the amount of cars in the US. He said, "Wow, there are too many cars in the US, they don't even have places to put them. Look at them just left in the street. There is no space."

All in all, I had a blessed time with Martin and think that this experience will be one that I will never forget. I pray that it will grow our relationship and partnership and will help us understand each other a bit better. I look forward to connecting with Martin again because the next time we do so will be in Soroti, Uganda.

We just had to stop by the place where everybody knows your name!

2011-08-28T15:27:00.000-05:00

Last week we enjoyed a Kolb family vacation in Colorado! After visiting friends in Hutchinson, KS and aunts, uncles, and cousins on the farm in Kansas, we carpooled our way to the mountains of Colorado and enjoyed a week of time together as a family. It was a lot of fun and we are so thankful to have had that time with family before we head back to Uganda. Here are a few pictures of our family in beautiful Colorado:

Atop the Summit of the Crags

(Grandma, Grandpa, Kim, Nathan, Bethany, Matthew, Rachel, Levi, Bobby, Nico)

I wish that I could say that I hiked to the top but I'm confident enough to say that I took the Cog Railway.

Nico and Rachel at 14,110 ft above sea level

Mountain climbing Nico!

Levi and his overpriced sun shade from the souvenir shop

The Brothers K

(good book, you should read it)

Grandpa and Grandma with their grandsons

I Will Again Praise Him

2011-08-17T10:08:00.001-05:00

I am working through a 2 year Bible reading plan and this morning I read Psalm 43 for the second time through this plan. As I read and prayed through this Psalm I was reminded quite vividly of the first time I read Psalm 43.

It was back in February of this year and I was sitting for what seemed like hours (probably because it was) in a hot, muggy immigration office waiting to hear the result of Nico's passport. I had been in the office the two days prior and was challenged like never before with the reality that I am not in control of anything and was to be honest, struggling with why God was not answering my prayer. At that point the situation looked hopeless as I was flat out told by the immigration officer that I was not going to be granted the passport. As I waited and waited, wondering if it was my words that made the situation difficult I was overwhelmed by the weight of it all and felt like I was to blame. I turned to Psalm 43, the Psalm reading for the day, and the words resonated in my heart. I remember resonating deeply with the first half of the Psalm based on the situation I was in and then I remember crying out to God and made the last verse my prayer "Hope in God for I shall again praise Him!"

As many of you prayed for us during this time, I stand amazed at how so many people, known and unknown to us, stood in the gap. I also stand amazed at how God answers the prayer of His people and is truly our refuge and our salvation. He is worthy of our praise and no matter what the situation may be, we can hope in Him and we shall again praise Him!

If you don't know the rest of the story, Nico was granted his passport and a month later, his tourist visa!

[43:1] Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
[2] For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
  because of the oppression of the enemy?
[3] Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
[4] Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
  O God, my God.
[5] Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
  my salvation and my God.(Psalm 43:0-5 ESV)

Omaha African Craft Night

2011-08-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

We're having African Craft Night in Omaha!

Thursday Aug. 4th 6:30-8:30pm

Prairie Lane Church

3111 S. 119th St

Omaha, Ne 68144

Bring your friends!

Learn the art of African paper bead making.

Make a bracelett to take home

Hear stories and see pictures of the Kolb's ministry in Soroti, Uganda

Bid for an authentic Ugandan craft item in a silent auction

$5 suggested donation

proceeds go to Bobby and Rachel's missionary work in Uganda

Beyond Basketball 3 on 3 Tournament

2011-07-20T23:35:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, July 16, we held a 3 on 3 basketball tournament at Faith Community Church as a fundraiser for our ministry in Uganda. We called the tournament, Beyond Basketball, because we wanted to give the players an opportunity to play for something greater than the basketball court and to hear about what God is doing among the people of Uganda. We talked especially about the ministry of the Freedom Boys Football Club to the street children of Soroti. It was a great way of connecting guys who love sports here in the US with young kids who love sports in Uganda. Some of the players even purchased a Freedom Boys t-shirt that we are selling with the name of a Freedom Boys player on the back to remind them to pray (if you are interested in purchasing a Freedom Boys T-shirt for yourself let us know).

The day was filled with competitive games, friendly conversation, and turning our hearts and minds, beyond basketball. In all, 10 teams signed up for the tournament and I am very grateful for each guy and girl who came out to play. Here are a few pictures:

bobby, rachel, nico, and levi kolb

Going over tournament rules and format.

The Tournament is set!

Two groups of 5 teams pool play. Top 2 in each group advance to the Final Four!

Team Derus!

Championship Game: Team Simmer vs. Retired

The Champions!

(the prize was an African beaded necklace, meant to give to their mom or significant other :)

Thanks to everyone involved for making the BEYOND BASKETBALL 3 on 3 TOURNAMENT a success!

i just want to be like you

2011-07-03T17:34:00.000-05:00

As I write on this quiet Sunday afternoon in July, Nico is struggling to fall asleep for his afternoon nap, my bride is resting in bed, and I am left with my newborn son sitting beneath me in his snuggle chair. It is quite a feeling. One that I can honestly say I have never felt before and can't even put into words (as you can read by my lack of eloquence :) As I gaze into my son's eyes I am filled with thoughts and desires of wanting to be the best father possible. I want to be like Jesus in everyway as Levi and Nico will want to be like me.

O God, give me the grace.

Will Levi be an infielder like his Dad?

Nico already loves the water more than his Dad ever did :) But now that I'm a daddy, I get to be the first one in the water! and I love it!

African Craft Night!

2011-06-15T17:50:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all the ladies who came out to African Craft Night!! It was so much fun and a great success! Women of all ages learned the art of making beads out of paper and everyone went away with a homemade bracelett! Auction winners even took home some authentic Ugandan crafts. Here are a few pictures...

Some paper beads we made ahead of time

We had a great turnout: 75 ladies!!

paper beads glossed and drying

choosing just the right filler beads

Done!

Mother and daughter with matching braceletts

silent auction for Ugandan crafts

These amazing girls made it all possible... THANKS SOS:)

If African Craft Night looks like fun to you, let us know, we'd be happy to host another one near you!!

barefoot

2011-05-25T14:58:00.000-05:00

Bobby has been learning a lot (even attended a free workshop) about a new trend among American runners... running barefoot. They now sell shoes which are designed to allow your foot to think you are barefoot and just provide protection from glass, rocks, or other things on the road that might cut an uncallused American foot that is used to the protection of shoes. Well, as Bobby has been coming along on our family walks without shoes and working on his running form, I have been reminded of a little girl's foot I was shocked by before we left Uganda.

Joyce, 7 years old, was at our house playing barefoot as usual. I don't remember if she showed me intentionally or if I just noticed a wound on her big toe looking terrible. I am not at all a medical person and get woozy at the sight of anything that looks like it must be painful, so I was immediately appalled by the dirt caked under the big flap of skin she pulled back. She didn't really ask for anything, but I couldn't not try to help somehow... so I got a basin of clean water and told her to try to clean it. I was so bothered that it looked like it had to be infected or something that I called our teammate nurse Jennifer. She said she had seen Joyce a couple days ago and thought that it would be ok. (Jennifer has obviously seen much worse and knows what she's talking about) I asked Jennifer if I could at least put some neosporin and a band aid on it, and she approved. So, after washing her foot I gave her a bandaid and a sock, thinking that might at least help it to stay clean. She said she had no closed toe shoes. When she left our house her friends were laughing at her wearing socks without shoes and I doubt she kept them on much past the end of our road. But sure enough, Jennifer was right and after some weeks without shoes, bandaids, or cleanliness, Joyce's foot somehow healed and is now "fine." Callused and scarred like so many other Ugandan feet? yes. But "healed."

I was struck that day by the pain Joyce must have felt the day "her sister stepped on her foot" and caused such an injury. I thought about the lack of a mother or caretaker who would have comforted her and taken care of her cut. It seems so normal to me when Nico steps on something prickly in our yard that I come running, pick him up, remove any stickers, and put his shoes back on. I can't imagine not cleaning and bandaging a cut on my son's leg, but this is the reality of life in our community: shoes and bandaids are luxury items. How different will Nico's feet be because he is living in a family where we consider these things a necessity?

I wonder what the feet mentioned in Isaiah 52:7 looked like. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news". I wonder what the feet of the disciples looked like when Jesus washed them at the last supper (John 13). I wonder if Jesus thought "these guys need moms and bandaids!" or if he saw their calluses and scars and thought "these feet are beautiful, they will spread my gospel throughout the world." I hope my feet look beautiful to Jesus.

Walking With the Wise

2011-05-24T13:53:00.001-05:00

Walking with the Wise – Our Newest Kids’ Album

Since welcoming Nico into our family and soon his little brother, our music selection while driving in the car has changed. Don't get me wrong, we still blast Hip-Hop that reps the name of Jesus and Nico is adorable when he starts jamming to it, but we also have been exploring some kids music. A good friend of mine, Brad Franklin, is a big fan of Sovereign Grace Music and he spoke highly of the kids worship albums that they have. Since being in the States we have been given two CD's from Sovereign Grace Kids and Nico loves them, as do his mommy and daddy. As we just returned from a trip to Columbus, OH we listened a lot to the album, "Walking With the Wise". I was deeply struck by how seriously the words spoke to my heart and Spirit. The song "I Don't Have To Hide" is taken from Proverbs 28:13. The bridge and chorus says, "If I confess my sins, I find mercy...Blessed is the one who fears the LORD, and admits his sin. Blessed is the one who trusts the LORD, who alone forgives. JESUS died so I don't have to hide anymore."

Wow, my heart was blessed and encouraged by this deep truth rooted in Scripture. Jesus died so I don't have to try to hide my sin. My sin IS forgiven. Sins curse has LOST ITS GRIP on me. Hallelujah! Thank you JESUS!

If you have kids, grandkids, or even if you don't, I would strongly encourage you to fill your hearts with worship music from Sovereign Grace Kids.

JESUS is alive

2011-04-28T09:53:00.000-05:00

I know that Easter is almost a week past but the truth still remains: JESUS IS ALIVE!!!

Somewhere in Middle America

2011-04-19T11:03:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago we made our way across I-80 and into the great state of Nebraska to visit Rachel's family in Omaha. We have enjoyed time with the grandparents and uncles, and we even had the treat of seeing aunt Michelle, although the reasons for her coming home from Ukraine weren't ideal (rabies shots). We are so blessed to be together and look forward to celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus with all of the extended family. Last week we also travelled to Minneapolis for a wedding for one of Rachel's good friends. Though the wedding was beautiful, we were freezing. Will spring ever arrive in the midwest?

Anyway, here are some pics of our time in Omaha so far.

Nico and Grandpa reclining

Nico and Uncle Matthew's dog, Ziggy, don't always work well together, but Nico loves to crawl into Ziggy's kennel. I don't know what Ziggy thinks about this!

Daddy and Nico sliding down the "Omaha slides" in dowtown Omaha. Not sure if you can see but Nico loved it!

Look at that handsome boy getting fixed up by Grandma. What a stud!

Waiting for the dancefloor to clear so he could have his turn.

The little one is coming soon!

Nico with Grandpa & Grandma Maly

Back in good ole' IL

2011-03-30T17:21:00.000-05:00

We arrived to the US on Sunday after a very long and tiring two flights. Nico did fantastic on the first flight from Entebbe to London but the 4 hour lay-over in London and the 8 hour flight to Chicago was quite the fun (note sarcasm). All that matters now though is that we are here and it feels great! We are still fighting to get ourselves on track with the sleeping schedules and adjustment to the time change but it will all come together soon enough.

When we arrived to my parent's house I was able to watch my first KU game of the year and it was a good thing that I was half asleep because that is basically how KU played. What a letdown. My father-in-law kindly called and extended his condolences :) so that helped.

Anyway, on to more important things. Thank you so much for praying for us and for our journey. We are very grateful for your constant prayer and support and we cannot thank you enough.

Here are a couple pictures from our first days back in the US of A.

Nico fascinated by the fire place. We were welcomed back to America with 30 degree temps!

Nico and Grandpa Kolb outside in the woods

Nico and Grandma Kolb. She is loving it :)

I remember playing with that garage!!

we will live

2011-03-20T09:21:00.001-05:00

As I sit and ponder the events of the last year, in particular the last 5 months; I am left feeling humbled and awed by the body of Christ. We have been so blessed and encouraged by your prayer and support. Each time we receive an email, facebook post, text message, skype conversation, etc. we come away so encouraged and blessed. We are so thankful for you and praise God for you each and everyday. This song spoke so clearly as I was thinking about each and everyone of you. As our journey has been filled with ups and downs, we take comfort and shelter in the support of the many people who love and believe in us. We find our ultimate shelter and refuge in the arms of the Almighty, but He ordained His body to function in that same way. Living together in community. Sharing our lives with each other. Walking the road together. We have experienced this during the last week as so many people were praying, offering advice and help for Nico to receive a visa. He did receive the visa but we knew that whatever the outcome would be, that we would NOT be walking alone.

With all this being said, we are so thankful for you and look forward to continuing this journey together! We also look forward to seeing you soon!!!

grace & peace,

the kolbs

A Glimpse into our church

2011-03-10T02:34:00.001-06:00

like an instrument

2011-02-25T00:22:00.003-06:00

i have been in the whirlwind experience of learning how little i am in the grand scheme of things and how focused on my self i can be at times. i have been challenged by how my life should be characterized by servanthood and humilty. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). when my perspective is zeroed in on myself and my circumstances, servanthood and humility gets trampled. my dad said once in a sermon, "humility is: exalting Christ". this has been at the forefront of my mind over the last two weeks. when i exalt Christ, the view of myself gets put in the right place: in the background.

Lord, may i continually play the background

Nico and Company

2011-02-22T11:26:00.002-06:00

Nico sure has some great friends! Our neighborhood kids have always enjoyed coming to play at our house, but now Nico seems to be the main attraction! They used to always shout "Bobby, Rachel" when we walked or rode our bicycles past... now all we hear is "Nico! Nico!" We are so thankful they love Nico. Their favorite toys are his stroller and little bicycle although they are too big to ride them, they love pushing Nico around the yard. I don't know who enjoys it more, the boys running and pushing the stroller, Nico riding around, or mommy inside gettting things done:)

pig skin

2011-02-20T04:57:00.004-06:00

I stopped on the side of the road at my usual butcher for 2 kilos of pork. I trust this particular butcher and rarely go elsewhere for meat. I know the price and his name and it's not far from home. The other day I rode up on my bike with my cavera (black plastic bag to put the meat in) and 10,000 shillings (less than $5) only to be informed that the price had gone up. The "special" meat that I always request was now 5,500 shillings per kilo. ("special" means no skin and few bones) Well, I needed 2 kilos and didn't have the extra 500 shillings (25 cents) to get the "special" meat, so I told him he could give it to me with the skin on and I would remove it at home... It didn't look too hard when I had watched him do it all the other times. After getting home and spening the next 30 minutes removing skin, fat, bones, and a few ants, I resolved to remember my extra quarter next time and let the butcher skin the pig!

What a ride!

2011-02-15T05:38:00.008-06:00

Last week we took another family trip to Kampala. It seems we have been spending a lot of time there lately with all the little things we have to do there as we continue working on Nico's paperwork. This trip was mostly because of a training that Rachel was to attend for some children's ministry materials that are becoming available in Uganda. We also, at the last possible minute, got the last signature that we needed on the passport application so we hoped to get that accomplished as well.

To make a long story short, we spent 3 nights in Kampala. The training went well. Bobby spent a lot of time in the passport office on Monday, and then we were just waiting to go back and pick up the passport. Then a teammate of ours was also in Kampala and needed some help, so we ended up driving out to Jinga (2 hours from Kampala) on Wed. and spent another night there still waiting to hear about the passport. On Thursday morning we finally heard that they needed us to come back to Kampala to discuss issues with the passport, but we also heard from our lawyer that our court ruling would be on Friday, and we should be in Soroti court at 9am. So, Thursday at noon, needing to be in 2 different cities fairly soon, with no vehicle... Bobby and I split up on public transportation... Bobby headed back to Kampala and I headed back to Soroti with Nico.

My experience taking a matatu (van taxi) from Jinga to Soroti with Nico was quite an experience and somehow a picture of the journey we have been on since we've taken Nico into our home...

We arrived at the taxi park about noon. There was a taxi waiting to go to "Soroti/Mbale" the driver assured me that this taxi would take me all the way to Soroti and rushed me to get on an empty van. Nico and I got a nice seat next to a window that opened, and enjoyed a mandasi (kind of like a doughnut) while we waited 45 minutes for the taxi to fill up so that we could go. I thought that might be the hardest part of the trip, keeping an active 1 year old inside a taxi that wasn't moving... When the taxi filled up, I realized my seat wasn't the best choice as it was in the front row, all of the other benches had 3 passengers sitting comfortably, but the front seat holds 3 passengers plus the conductor (who takes money) so we were a bit squished, but not too bad. Once we got moving the breeze was nice and Nico fell asleep on my lap. I was praising God that Nico was sleeping and even bought some mangos from a vendor out the window.

Upon reaching Mbale (the biggest city before Soroti) I was hoping we wouldn't stop long and that Nico might keep sleeping, but the taxi pulled to a stop outside the taxi park and all the other passengers got out, which left me asking, "what about Soroti? You told me I could take this taxi all the way to Soroti" I found out that was not true. I had to go and wait for another taxi to take me the remaining hour and a half. So I carried Nico, now awake, my bag, purse, and pack and play into the area where they told me to wait for a taxi to Soroti. After 3 minutes someone announced to me that there were no more taxis leaving for Soroti today, if I wanted to get one, I needed to go to the clock tower. I knew that was a little ways away and would be an impossible walk with all I had to carry. I motorcycle boda (taxi you might say) happily piled my luggage with me and Nico on his bike and drove us to the street where I was to find my next taxi. He let me off and pointed to a very full van and told me that was my ride. He gave the people my luggage which they tied on to the back of the van. Then someone else told me to get in. I responded "this taxi is full. I don't see any space for me to sit!" "Oh yes, there is space!!" The man argued, and instructed a person from the 3rd row to move to the back row making a little opening for another person where he had been...That was my seat. I took a deep breath and climbed in over all the other people and managed to turn around and sit down with Nico on my lap. As the last passengers piled in around me I counted... The same size van that had carried 3 people on each bench now carried "4" on each bench, but in the back there was a 10 year old girl who apparently doesn't count because she was number five, plus another child made 6 bodies in the back seat. Then there were 4 of us in my row, plus Nico. Everyone has their suitcases or bags on their laps, and the ground was full too, even a chicken was riding along:) The two rows ahead of us were crowded too. 4 paying passengers, plus the conductor in the front row and there was another man who was standing with his back to the sliding door, bending at the waist to lean over the people in the second row... he rode that way for 2 hours!! I counted 22 people in our taxi and I'm not sure that was everyone. So, we were off. Nico was now awake after his nice long nap on the first taxi but he had no space to move at all. I was really surprised at how well he did. At first maybe he was just taking it all in, like me, thinking "I can't believe this!" or maybe he was just too hot to want to move. We found ourselves next to a window again, but this one was broken and try as we might, we could not get it open. The back row had their window open so we could feel a hot breeze for maybe 20 minutes, until they decided they didn't want the window open... then we were just hot. Nico tried to move a little bit to stretch out, but found there was just no space. I tried to give him a toy but I could barely move to reach in my purse and there was just no room to play. Half way through the ride the nice lady next to us pointed out that Nico was so sweaty, I should remove his shirt. I didn't see a problem with that idea and neither did Nico so maybe he was a little more comfortable on the last half of the ride. After two hours of driving we slowly rolled into Soroti. As I recognized familiar landmarks I knew we were so close and didn't understand why we were slowing down... until the first place we stopped was a gas station! Thank goodness we didn't run out of gas completely! Finally at 6pm we stopped in Soroti town, it was just the first stop for some of the passengers, but when a few people got out, there was no way to keep Nico inside! He wanted out too... so we got out as well. Our wonderful teammate picked us up in his van and took us the rest of the way home... what a spacious van they have!!

When we got home Nico was all smiles just so happy to be able to move and walking all over the house laughing. It was sure good to be home! As uncomfortable as that taxi ride was there were still things to be thankful for: Nico didn't have a dirty diaper!! I didn't have to go to the bathroom! Ultimately, we made it home safe and sound, and we sure got an authentic Ugandan experience!

As I reflect on the last days, and all that we have gone through in the process of trying to get Nico home with us there are so many times when I have felt so discouraged and thought "I can't believe this!" times when people told us one thing (this taxi will take you to Soroti) only to find out it wasn't true. So many things have surprised me and felt so miserable seeming to take much longer than they need to. This "ride" or "journey" we have been on as we desire to adopt Nico has been a bit like taking public transportation in Uganda. We never thought it would be easy, but we also couldn't have ever imagined the situations we have found ourselves in. But in the end... there are always things to be thankful for. Step by step we are getting closer to bringing Nico home to the states, and sooner or later, although we may be exhausted and very ready to get out of the ride, I believe we will make it safe and sound. We will bring Nico home to meet our families, and one day he will officially join our family!

Oh the fun things they have in Kampala!! Grocery carts kids can drive!

Nico learned about slides... and loved them!

Nico's first trip to the beach, in Entebee on Lake Victoria.

Life in Color and COMFORT

2011-01-29T06:51:00.004-06:00

In 2010, this is how we had to trek the Ugandan roads as a family. Barefoot and rugged.

In 2011, thanks to my brother, who is a manager at New Balance Chicago, we can now trek the Ugandan roads both in comfort and style! Notice that with the addition of new shoes for our family, we are also now experiencing color!! (Kind of like the Wizard of Oz :)

...little ones to HIM belong...

2011-01-26T23:13:00.005-06:00

The last week has been crazy here. On Thursday Jan. 13 we put an advertisement in the local newspaper for the father of Nico because he was unknown. It is a requirement for attaining legal gaurdianship. The next Tuesday we got the surprising news that Nico's biological father had come forward and suggested that his mother be the one to care for Nico. The probation office assured us not to worry, but the chance that Nico would be taken away shook us up. We definately want what's best for Nico, but it is so hard to imagine that staying in our family is not what's best. As we waited for probation to investigate the situation and visit the father, there was little we could do, but enjoy Nico's smiles and laughter and treasure every moment with him, not knowing how many more we would have. As I was rocking him to sleep one night singing "Jesus Loves Me" I got choked up on the line that says "little ones to him belong." I never really thought much about the words to this song, but suddenly they had new personal meaning. Our precious little Nico ultimately belongs to Jesus and how many days he spends in our home is in the hands of God. Although the risks may be greater in a foster care situation, we are never really in control of how long we get to spend with our children. Biological or adopted... children are a gift! After this scary week, I will certainly remember to treasure every moment I have with any children God entrusts to our care!

A week later we received the news that Nico's father and his family have agreed it is best for Nico to stay with us. The father will sign a consent allowing us to obtain legal gaurdianship of Nico. The father will have to sign again in 3 years for the adoption to be final, and there is no gaurantee that will happen... but we are trusting in a mighty God and we know that Nico doesn't really belong to us, and the one to whom he really belongs has everything under control!

a small success

2011-01-11T12:05:00.003-06:00

Joshua is going to be in grade 3 next year. He goes to Harmony Primary School and lives at Amacet Namun (The baby shelter where we got Nico from also has a home for older children. These children are all HIV positive and their families in the village are not able to give them the medical care they need, so they stay in a home here in Soroti and visit their families occasionally). This holiday, I've been teaching him and his friend John who both struggle in school. He has been coming to some of my classes throughout the year at Harmony and has always struggled to remember the letters of the alphabet. He always needed help to put his letters in order and was slow to answer when asked to identify a certain letter. But after lots of practice... he has accomplished a big step: yesterday in our class he put the letters of the alphabet in the correct order without any help at all! I'm quite proud of this little guy! Well done Joshua!

Christmas time!

2010-12-30T04:58:00.006-06:00

Our church decorated for Christmas
Our family on Christmas

playing Christmas games with our team
Nico got a sweet baseball cap

but he was more interested in Jennifer's gifts... live chicks!

Nico was amazed by our little Christmas tree.

Bobby with some of the Freedom Boys at a Christmas party our team held for them, the week before Christmas.

Nico enjoying his present from Grandma and Grandpa

Christmas Eve dinner at our house

Family pictures

2010-12-20T22:26:00.007-06:00

We wanted a few good family pictures so our wonderful teammates came over with thier quality camera and photography skills... here's what we got:)

One of his favorite places, holding on to mommy's skirt.

Distracted by yet another bird, wow Nico LOVES birds!

The closest thing we have to a real Christmas tree

Nico, we love you! We're so glad you've joined our family!

First Christmas

2010-12-20T01:23:00.004-06:00

As we anticipate Christmas this year we have been filled with amazement at how it will be our first Christmas with Nico. The high temperatures and the scorching sun definitely don't remind us of Christmas back home, but we thought that we would try to give Nico some of our Christmas traditions. Yesterday afternoon, we rode our bicycles to town to pick out a Christmas tree as a family. Rachel put it together while Nico napped. He loves looking at the tree and of course, grabbing it and trying to pull off the lights and 'ornaments'.

We stand amazed continually at how our Savior and King came to this earth as a baby. O Come Let Us Adore Him!

City Water and NICO

2010-12-15T00:04:00.003-06:00

Our kitchen sink is run by the city water source and every so often the city water is off. This usually happens when we have a sink full of dishes which to some people, may be nice timing, but for me, a clean freak (thanks Dad) it drives me nuts. Sunday night the water was off. After we put Nico to bed and went to do the dishes, we turned the water on but nothing came out. Great! Just Great! We have a mess of dishes and it is very difficult for me to go to bed with a mess in the kitchen. Around 4 a.m. on Monday I woke up to use the bathroom and I heard some trickling water. I walked into the living room, which is before the kitchen, and my feet were standing in a half inch of water. Yep, you guessed it. We forgot to turn the knob off and the city water came back on through the night. The sink overflowed and spilled out into the kitchen, dining room, and living room. I woke Rachel up and said that I needed help. We then spent the next hour and a half mopping up the water with whatever we could find. Ah the memories we created early that morning! Notice that it has taken me a couple days to have this perspective :) There were two things that were running through my mind as we were cleaning up the water. 1) we were glad that we have tile floors and not carpet. That would have been a huge mess. and 2) we were glad that it happened while Nico was sleeping because there would've been no way of keeping him out of the water. He loves water! When we finish dinner and get things cleaned up and I go to the bathroom to get his bath water ready, Rachel literally has to hold him back because he wants to get to the water so bad.

Nico is walking, walking, walking everywhere. There is no stopping him now! We are so proud of him and he has a toughness to him that amazes us. He hardly cries when he falls. He just gets back up and tries again. He is also talking and talking, of course, nothing that we can make out but it is so cute. When he wakes up in the morning he lays in his bed and just makes noises with his mouth. When he hears the rooster crow or the birds chirp, he talks even louder as though he is responding to them. We love it!

We are readying are hearts and minds (and we pray you are as well) as we enter the Christmas season and are so thankful that our Savior came as a baby. You shall call His name JESUS, for it is HE who will save His people from their sins! (Matthew 1:21) AMEN

Something New

2010-12-06T11:25:00.012-06:00

Each day brings something new! This is obviously true about everyday, unless you are Bill Murray who woke up every morning to the same voices on the radio saying, "Bundle up cause it's cold outside, today is Groundhog Day" (reference to the movie: 'Groundhog Day', for those who don't know).
Rachel and I have obviously experienced many new changes very quickly but we are completely blessed with each new day as Nico brings so much joy, laughter, and revelations of God's love for us. We praise God for Nico every morning and are so grateful for His gift of grace.
Here are some pictures of the last couple of weeks:

Thanksgiving family picture!

Nico's first ride on his new bike seat. Welded Ugandan style!

Nico fell asleep on the ride home from church. Notice the temporary headrest!

Nico loves looking at birds. He gets so excited when they land on the electrical wire in our compound.

Daddy and Nico just chillin' on the veranda.

Thought we'd try Jackie's #42 on for size

Our son!

Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. We are so blessed to have so many people who care about and love us.

Mam Anyam

2010-11-19T01:06:00.006-06:00

So, we're going to try to teach Nico as much Ateso (the local language of his tribe) as we can with the help of neighbors and friends. We know enough to give a few simple commands. The one he hears the most is "mam anyam" meaning "don't eat" or "not food." Yesterday I was sitting on the porch with him and a few of our neighborhood kids. Nico tried to eat leaves, flowers, grass, and finally cardboard that the kids were drawing on and cutting up. When I again said "mam anyam" and took the cardboard from his mouth, 7 year old Marvin commented "You won't die from eating paper! Even me I eat paper. Anytime I find a piece of paper I just eat it." I have seen several Ugandan children chewing on paper, I think they usually just chew on it and spit it out, but her comment made me smile... maybe I shouldn't be so tough on Nico :)

Nico

2010-11-14T23:25:00.009-06:00

Family picture at home

First things first, expose Nico to Christian Hip Hop! He liked it:)

Nico was pretty excited about Bobby's Bible... maybe he'll become a pastor:)

Nico seems happiest with food in his hands.

Meeting the neighborhood kids

They were fascinated by Nico's toys

Like father like son, enjoying a nap

He loves crawling to daddy.

Order of Service

2010-11-04T07:17:00.011-05:00

When you go to church in the States (at least most of the churches that I have ever attended) one of the first things to happen is that you are welcomed at the door of the sanctuary and handed a bulletin. In that bulletin are announcements, current happenings, prayer requests, sermon notes, and an ‘order of service’. This order of service will let you know what songs will be sung, what Scripture will be read, what “special” music will be sung and by whom, and the topic and Scripture text that the pastor will preach from. As a kid these bulletins were nice because it gave you something to do when you got bored. What little space that was left was always used for drawing pictures, forming poems, or writing notes back and forth with your mom asking questions like what she had planned for lunch. The downside to the bulletins was that with the order of service laid out in front of you, if you were having a really bad Sunday it only put you through more torture because you got to see step by step just how LONG the service was going to be. There was never anything worse than feeling like the service was going fast only to look at the order of service and realize that we still have to hear a missionary report, a special update on children’s ministry, a prayer dedication, special music, and then the sermon! (I hope that you are laughing and understanding most of my sarcasm here but I apologize if you are not. I really loved church as a kid and I still do, I just remember many a Sunday when this was my attitude and feelings.)

Two weeks ago as Rachel and I were sitting on a wooden bench in a brick building with cow dung floors worshipping alongside our Ugandan brothers and sisters I was struck with the idea of an ‘order of service’. Our church does follow an order of service, somehow, but it looks very different. There are obviously no bulletins and no greeters at the door making people feel welcome. There is really not even an exact start-time to the service. When the singing starts and the African drum begins to pound, moms carrying their babies, men with their Bibles, and children with their smiles and ‘Sunday’ clothes begin trickling into the church. As we are still learning about church and adjusting to the differences, it is easy to dwell on the things that we don’t like and get frustrated with, rather than
focusing on the good and the beauty that lies within the Ugandan church. This particular Sunday as I sat in the church, I remember telling myself, “The way this church praises and sings is so beautiful”. There is no worship leader, no list of songs that will be sung, and no time constraint for fitting the amount of songs that will be sung in. If you simply have a song on your heart you are welcome to lead the congregation in singing praises to the LORD. As the timekeeper was about to transition to the next part of the service, he began to feel as though there was another song out there that wanted to be sung. He asked the congregation if anyone had one last song to share. As most of the congregation was silent for a couple minutes and it looked like the singing was finished, a young 8 year old girl named Doreen stood up and said with a soft voice, “I have a song”. As Doreen began singing so softly, yet beautifully, and leading the congregation in worship I was deeply moved in my heart. Here was this little girl leading adult men and women, and young children in worship. It was a beautiful picture of worship and how everyone; young and old, male and female, Ugandan and American are valuable and can be used in leading God’s people into the presence of the King.

(Doreen is the girl on the right)

A New Job

2010-10-18T11:40:00.009-05:00

About a month ago, I arrived at school after being away over a week because of a retreat in Jinga, to hear news that my closest teacher friend at Harmony Primary School, along with 3 other teachers were leaving the school at the end of the week. The news was quite discouraging to me because I really enjoy these teachers, especially Esther who I had grown the closest to. The 4 teachers leaving included all 3 female teachers on staff. It was surprising because there are only 2 months left of the school year, it seems like they should just finish out the school year and transfer the coming year. It was also understandable because the government had offered all 4 of them teaching positions, and the government pays better than private schools, and offers a retirement plan.

Esther and I

So, with mixed emotions I celebrated with the leaving teachers and bid them farewell (they were moving out of Soroti, although Esther is only 1 hour away, so I hope to see her again!) Three new teachers were at the farewell party, replacements for the four departing, leaving one vacancy.

Departing teachers cutting the cake, an important Ugandan tradition

The following week I came to school and found that only 1 of the 3 new teachers had shown up to teach meaning that there were 4 teachers for 7 classes that day at school. I volunteered to helpout by teaching P1 and P2 the first 2 periods of the day. As I rode my bicycle home, I couldn't help but think of offering to take over one of the classes for the remainder of the school year. It has been a dream of mine forever to have my own class in Africa! This seemed like the perfect opportunity to step in and help out a school that I have been working with all year. It's not too big of a commitment because it's only 2 months and I would take a young class that finishes the school day at 1:00pm.

So, Tuesday I approached the headteacher with my offer and he "welcomed the idea." He needed to check with his supervisor, and I had a trip to Kampala scheduled, so I waited eagerly for his phonecall. Sunday afternoon I ran into him on the side of the road and he informed me that the school would be very greatful to have me teach in P1.

So, with nervous excitement I showed up on my first day. Here are a couple of pictures of the classroom the way I found it.

It's been 6 days now, and I've found many interesting challenges, language being one of them. Because it is a private school the teachers use mostly English, but in government schools P1, 2, and 3 are taught in Ateso (the local language). All the other teachers at Harmony can use Ateso when they need to make sure the children understand. I have a couple of children in my class that don't get much of the English I am speaking, but I also have a few helpful 6 year old translators:)

My resources are quite limited. I have one bookshelf in my room, and after cleaning out trash and a lot of dirt, I've got a nice shelf of natural materials:) I'm committed to only using teaching materials that Ugandans could also make, so that means no photocopies or anything that I brought from the states. It's quite different than my experience in the states, but it's strengthening my creativity.

My resources: alphabet letters made from squares of cardboard, bottlecaps, stones, and sticks

Kids putting together the alphabet

My first day, I had an interesting experinece applying first aid. At break time, all the students are served porridge for breakfast. The porridge is often boiling hot, but they are used to it. Well, a couple of my little pupils bumped into each other carrying piping hot porridge, and thus spilling it all over themselves. I heard wailing and went out to see what happened. I saw the girl first covered in porridge and I took her to the faucet and washed off what I could, but she was still obviously in pain holding her arm where the porridge hit her skin directly. Well, after discussing with the other teachers what to do, I sprinkled a spoonful of sugar on her arm and she calmed down. I don't know if the sugar really helped the pain or if she was just happy because now she got to lick the sugar off her arm:) It took me a minute to think of what we do in the states for a burn... oh yeah, we use ice or something frozen... well, when you live without electricity and thus no refrigeration, you use cooking oil and sugar!

Tikolo Eong Atwana

2010-09-12T14:54:00.001-05:00

These are the words to a popular worship song in Ateso. It is one of the first songs I learned after moving here, and I hear it again and again from children on the back of my bicycle, to women washing clothes, and often in church services. The words mean “without you I would have died” the only other words in this song are “Thank you, good God” I pondered these lyrics again the other day when in church my pastor acknowledged a young man in our church and ended with “May you do what God has spared your life to do.” It struck me that he said God has spared your life, the guy was only 18 or 19, and it got me thinking about the way I usually think about life. I think, as many Americans would probably agree, that life is a GIFT from God. We expect life to last at least to about 70 and we question God when it ends before that. But in this land that has seen so much disease, hunger, and war people are very aware that they would be dead at a very young age if God did not protect them. Even if they haven’t lived through being abducted to be a child soldier or diagnosed with AIDS, they know those experiences are very possible, and they credit God for sparing them from death. I had to stop and think in my own life how many times when I didn’t even realize I was close to danger, has God spared my life??

Last week, our team leader, Tim, had some serious symptoms that would have put him in the emergency room in the States. He had been poked by a cactus a few months ago and the infection in his elbow flared up. Our team rallied together to help out and get the best medical care we could for him, but there simply is not great medical care here in Soroti. He ended up going to see doctors in Kampala and is currently doing okay. But we can all attest to the fact that it was not a doctor in Kampala that spared Tim’s life last week, it was God! The nurse on our team told us the seriousness of the symptoms Tim had, and that she knew of patients who died from them.

Living in a place like this where medical care is not readily available might seem very scary or even stupid, but I was encouraged today as I’ve been reading the book “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. Chan wrote: “The greatest blessing I received during those trips to the inner city was seeing God work in situations where He has to. As a result I’ve made it a commitment to consistently put myself in situations that scare me and require God to come through. When I survey my life, I realize that those times have been the most meaningful and satisfying of my life. They were the times when I truly experienced life and God.” We certainly live in a place where medical problems require God to come through. Many of us turn to God only after we’ve rushed to the emergency room, and when there isn’t an emergency room, we turn to God first. It truly is a blessing to see God come through when He has to.

And it helps me to understand my Ugandan brothers and sister’s perspective as they rejoice in singing “Eyalama, Eyalama ejok Edeke, tikolo eong atwana, ejok Edeke.”

The Day of the Finals

2010-09-05T13:08:00.009-05:00

Today was a big day for the Freedom Boys F.C as we geared up for the Finals of the football tournament. We were told that we were scheduled to play at 10:00 a.m. Knowing that we wouldn't get kicked off right at 10 I thought that we could at least have the boys arrive by 10 so that we could warm-up and just be together. With that being said, here is a timeline of the day...

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My whole team arrived at 10:00 a.m but we were the only ones in the field. We then were

told that we would be the 2nd match of the day. Now, our expected time of kick-off would be 11:00 a.m, but with the first match not even kicking off yet we knew it would be much later. After an hour and half of waiting already the boys were getting a bit restless and decided to fill their time...

By swinging on a tree with huge vines hanging down!

After too many swings the vine gave way and then it became a rope for jumping

It is now noon and we can begin warming-up as the under-11 finals is finishing

The Freedom Boys are called to midfield for "screening". (WE PASS)

The starting 11 are set and we kick off at 12:30 p.m.

Game is in progress and we are quite the underdog. The other team is a lot bigger, (I don't think they should've passed the "screening") and faster but we are hanging in there. We go to halftime with the scoreline 0-0. Midway through the second half our striker makes a nice run and gets tackled inside the penalty box. The ref awards us the penalty kick and....WE SCORE!!! Pandemonium, mayhem, whatever you want to call it breaks out as kids run onto the field cheering, jumping for joy and exuberance. The rest of the half is intense as our defense scrambles to keep the other team at bay. By 2:00 p.m. the final whistle blows and the Freedom Boys are CHAMPIONS!!!

We have to wait until the ladies final and the under-17 final finishes before the trophy presentation can take place. The under-14 champions, Freedom Boys F.C, are finally awarded their trophy at 7:00 p.m, as the storm threatens and darkness has already hit. Despite all the waiting around and conditions surrounding us receiving the trophy, the celebration that we experienced as we hoisted the trophy, the joy and the pride that was evident on the boys faces was worth it all!

The trophy was a nice award, but here is the ultimate prize!!!

The Freedom Boys goat will be living at our house, grazing in our grass for a week until we have our feast, where he will then promptly be slaughtered and enjoyed!

The Freedom Boys Will Win the Goat!

2010-09-03T23:57:00.007-05:00

It's been quite a busy week for me as I've spent much of my time, if not all, at the sports ground for the football tournament. I should mention that you need to throw away any thoughts about how leagues and tournaments are run in America because it is absolutely NOT that way here. For instance, the Freedom Boys are in the under 14 age group. Our first match of the tournament the refs called the teams to the middle of the field and our opponents were all over 14 years of age. I'm not talking, 15 or 16. I'm talking 18, 19, 20. These dudes were huge and it was actually quite hilarious to see my little boys standing next to these big guys with huge muscles and facial hair. To think that these guys actually were putting up a fuss that they were under 14 was out of this world! The official of the league said that he was going to do screening of all players. Here is how the screening went. Both teams lined up in the middle of the field and he called over two adults from the crowd to pick out which boys looked like they were under 14. The official made sure that these adults were 'parents' because parents know how children are supposed to look. The parents scrolled down the line and pulled aside 1 of my boys (Okay so I guess I bent the rules a tad, but he was very close to 14). However, the parents only left two of the boys from the other team. Sorry 20 year olds, but I think your facial hair gave you away. All in all, I think the tournament got off to a good start. Another issue I have been facing is that apparently you can just join a team right before kick-off. I cannot even begin to tell you how many kids, and yes, even adults who have come up to me while my players are warming up and have said, "Coach, you need to put me in the line-up, I am very good". My response is usually a laugh and then an emphatic "YES, why not just join the team and take the place of the kids who have signed the forms and have come for the trainings" (okay so I don't say that because sarcasm doesn't translate here). My response is a laugh and then an emphatic "NO". Another reality of how things run here is that the games are supposed to start at 10:00. I think for all of our games we have been the first game of the day. I usually arrive to the field around 9:30 knowing that it NEVER starts on time but I have learned quite quickly that 12:00 is somehow keeping time. I still arrive at least by 10:00 now because you never know when they will actually start on time.

Freedom Boys Football Club

We have finished the group stages of the tournament and finished first in our group. We had 5 points and won out on goals scored. We had 1 win (3 points) and 2 draws (2 points). We played in the semi-final yesterday morning and took the victory with a 5-1 scoreline. The Freedom Boys will be playing in the Final on Sunday! Again, this is where you need to throw away any thoughts of tournaments in America because the Champions do not receive a trophy. They receive something better that everyone wants....a GOAT! After our victory yesterday the boys were not saying "we're going to win the Championship!", they were saying "WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE GOAT AND HAVE A FEAST!"

Reaching the final was, to be honest, way out of my thinking. I thought that it would just be nice to field a team and gets the kids excited about being a part of something. This week has been a huge blessing in seeing the happiness and joy of the boys. They are so proud of what they are doing and we are getting some great teaching moments with the boys.

Bobby with Okure, one of the Freedom Boys

We've had a "Toto" (mama) cooking lunch for our boys after each match.

Freedom Boys F.C

2010-08-31T00:18:00.004-05:00

Over the last 2 weeks or so I have been working with Martin, Dennis, and J.P (Ugandans who are working with the street kids) in trying to mobilize the street kids for a football tournament that is taking place here in Soroti. Just about everyday we gather in the field and wait for the kids to come to play. Sometimes they come in droves and other times they trickle in one by one, and of course, other times we are left alone. That seems to be the nature in working with these kids. They are quite difficult to mobilize as a group. Nevertheless, we felt like entering this tournament would be a neat thing for the boys to be a part of. During the previous school holiday there was a tournament in which the boys played and it was a good experience for them. The boys were going to enter that tournament as "the street kids team". Because of the negative connotations we thought of changing the name. The kids came up with "Town Boys". Different but still quite negative.

As we embarked on mobilizing for this upcoming tournament we began thinking of a different name. The team name for our boys is no longer "street kids" or "town boys". It is: (drum roll please) Freedom Boys Football Club. We came up with Freedom Boys because that is what we want to instill in their minds and hearts. True freedom can only come through Jesus and we are praying that these boys will experience that freedom. Freedom from the oppression that they live in and experience. Freedom from the streets. Freedom from sniffing the bottles of glue and petrol. Freedom from the label, "street kids", "town boys","thugs".

We are, Freedom Boys Football Club, and our motto is: Freedom Beyond the Streets

(A badge created by Junior, a neighbor who I have been spending a lot of time with)

* The tournament is kicking off this week and I will have pictures to follow.

We are all somehow the same...

2010-08-20T07:24:00.004-05:00

I had a flashback yesterday when my 11 year old neighbor, asked if she could pick up the rotton tomatoes that had fallen in our garden to use for play cooking. I specifically remembering asking my dad the same question when I was little and having so much fun in my backyard clubhouse mashing up rotton tomatoes to add to the meal I was creating out of sand, water, grass, and mud. I gave my neighbor girls a few old cans and a couple spoons and they set up a restaurant at the side of the house, having so much fun! When I used to create restaurants like this my meals were things like spaghetti, stew, green beans, or cake. This restaurant served a tap, beans, sakumawik, and posho (typical Ugandan food) but somehow it tasted just like I remember the food at my backyard restaurant 20 years ago. Children are such a beautiful reminder that black or white, rich or poor, we are all the same inside!

I continue to be amazed...

2010-08-06T00:11:00.005-05:00

I continue to be amazed at how many things Ugandans just consider normal that I would have never thought of. Just the other day we were visiting a Children’s transition Center and the kids were eating porridge for breakfast. There are 13 children at the home right now, but only 2 spoons. Many times children just drink porridge out of the cup, maybe this porridge was extremely hot, because the children without spoons had picked leaves from the tree and were slowly sipping porridge off their leaf! It made me think of all the things I’ve seen leaves used for here… hot pads, wash cloths, toilet paper… and I’m sure many other things. Next time you're at a picnic and forgot the plastic spoons... grab a leaf:) [one week later] Leaves are also good for bingo markers when you forget to bring them along. Isn't it wonderful that God made leaves in so many shapes and sizes?! The tree next door had just the perfect leaves for our game!

I also learned this week how to make a person out of a stick. I’ve heard over and over again that Ugandans have to use the resources available to them, so instead of the visual aids we might use to teach in the States, they make nearly everything they use. I’ve been told to make people out of sticks numerous times, but could never wrap my mind around it. Well, some friends have showed me that if you start with a stick from a banana tree, which is a bit soft and hollow, it's really quite simple. I also learned to make dolls from banana fibers (a banana leaf when it is dried), and that porridge can be used for glue. These people might not have much, but they really know how to use what they have!

Safari

2010-07-28T04:25:00.007-05:00

The Christian Hosptiality Network with a church in Tennesse put on a Getaway retreat for missionaries in Nairobi, Kenya. We only had to get there, so our team took a week long "holiday" and got some great rest, hair cuts, and massages, and enjoyed some cold weather:)

We also spent a couple extra days traveling and went on a safari!!

It's hard to choose, but here are just a few pictures from our trip.

Our team at the retreat center in Nairobi
We didn't see elephants on our safari because they aren't in the game park we went to, but we got to see some at an elephant orphanage in Nairobi.

We also went to a giraffe sanctuary and got to feed the giraffes!!

Bobby put a pelet in his mouth and the giraffe gave him a slobbery kiss!

Water buffalo, zebra, rhinos and flamingos.

Parts of the park had so many animals grazing together.

There were sooo many babboons!! They came really close to the car, even at the hotel where we stayed in the park, they jumped the fence and came right up to people hoping for food.

Overlooking Lake Nukuru, the pink spots on the lake are flamingos. There are so many someone said that the lake can look pink from an airplane.

We were lucky to see three lions lounging around.

We saw a herd of giraffe and drove right in the middle of them!

We were also surprised how many Rhinos we saw. These animals are HUGE!

Wow. A sweet safari experience!

A little monkey family :)

morning jog

2010-07-27T00:53:00.002-05:00

There is nothing like waking up to a chill in the air and then setting out for a morning jog as the sun rises. I have been doing this for months now but for some reason this morning sticks out to me as one of beauty. My run usually consists of a lot of sweat and a lot of stares (people staring at me that is). Today there wasn't much sweat as it was quite chilly and there weren't that many stares because people were not setting out for their day yet because it was so "cold". This provided a beautiful setting for my run. I need to savor this coolness in the air because I'm quite sure it won't happen that many more times.

Sad day for Doodle and Doo

2010-07-10T12:18:00.004-05:00

Yesterday both of our "domestic" chickens passed away. Doo somehow got sick, maybe from the chicken's next door and she was looking pretty sick for a chicken. Then she just croaked. We couldn't eat a sick chicken, so we had to throw her. Next thing we know, we were told by our friend that Doodle got into a cock fight. He said, "The other chicken's were beating him." We don't know why he always insisted on escaping from our compound, he was outside hanging out with other chickens daily. Maybe we should've seen this coming. I had no idea chickens had fights, but Doodle was pretty beat up when he was brought home. So we decided if we were going to eat him, it should be soon. We had a friend slaughter him last night and kept him in the fridge until this afternoon when we had some friends over, and enjoyed him fried Ugandan style with posho and rice. I was surprised it wasn't really that hard to eat him.

Life

2010-07-10T12:00:00.006-05:00

Kids from the Saturday children's class in front of our church.

Neighborhood kids love to come play with all our fun toys:)

We spent a day with young people who have spent time as child soldiers.

They enjoyed reading children's books.

Bobby shared the story of Joseph.

Bobby with some of the street boys he's been working with.

When one of the street boys was killed, Bobby organized a funeral service.

School

2010-07-10T11:22:00.014-05:00

A full class at Amen.

This is P4 where I teach Mon, Wed, and Friday.

Usually there are 80 kids in class.

I've been teaching Religious Education.

So, this was my "section" to decorate the classroom:)

(We're learning about the early church.)

Every day when I teach at Harmony the first task of my pupils (they aren't called "students" until they reach secondary school) is to arrange a set of alphabet cards. Then I ask them to pick up a certain letter so that they practice identifying indivdual letters. They are improving!!

After 30 minutes of whole group activities, I work with smaller groups.

These are my kids from P2, aren't they cute!

Doodle and Doo

2010-06-20T13:22:00.005-05:00

During one of my first school visits here in Uganda I sat in on a 1st grade science lesson about domestic vs. wild animals and where animals live. I would have taught that a bee lives in a beehive, a spider lives in a web, and a bird lives in a nest. Yet, although it makes sense, I wouldn't have thought to teach that a fly lives in a pit latrine.

I also had an understanding that domestic animals, which live in your home, are things like dogs, cats, birds, or fish. But on the poster in this classroom none of those animals made the list. Domestic animals, which live in your home here in Uganda, are chickens, cows, goats, and pigs.

Well, without really intending to, we've taken on a few domestic animals. Our first chicken was a gift from a neighbor, but she needs to fatten up a bit, so she'll be running around our yard for a while before she's big enough to eat for dinner. Then our watchman insisted that we couldn't have a hen without a cock, as they call roosters. So, I came home one day and found Bobby holding a rooster by it's legs upside down :) Another gift. I decided since we name our domestic animals back home (even though we don't intend to eat them) we should also name our chickens. Their names are inspired by the way they wake us up every morning, which we are already used to because we have a hundred of their relatives living next door.

Trash or Treasure?

2010-06-10T04:24:00.009-05:00

A couple months ago our team leader gave me a box of children’s ministry materials. He said I could go through it and keep whatever could be useful and throw away the rest. I guess it came from some other missionaries who were going to throw it away, who probably got it from some people in the States who were going to throw it away. I spent a while sorting through half-used Sunday school workbooks, random posters (one with the words to “Jesus Loves Me” in Spanish…just what every African child needs!), and some of the visuals that seemed to go with an American Sunday school curriculum. In the States I would have probably trashed the whole box. However, here, where cardstock or colored paper is so hard to come by, I had to keep anything that I could maybe use the back of :) There were some pictures for telling Bible stories on a flannel board. They are just paper, but have that funny stuff on the back to make them stay on felt. They looked like they were printed in the 70s and not one Biblical character had even tanned skin, except for the Ethiopian Eunuch, they are all rosy white, which really frustrates me. So I wasn’t too eager to use them, but I decided to keep them just in case.

Well, this term at Amen, the government school I volunteer at, I have started teaching R.E. (Religious Education). The P4 teacher gave me a curriculum book and showed me how they are expected to “scheme” (lesson plan). This term the theme is “The Christian Community” and I’m teaching about the early church. So, the lesson on Monday was about Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch and the stoning of Stephen. Since I happened to have some pictures of those stories I decided to use them. I don’t have any felt or any way to put them up so that kids could see them, so I cut up a box and taped my pictures to the cardboard so they could lean on the little ledge that holds the chalk under the blackboard. They looked to me a little shabby, but better than nothing.

When I got to school I greeted the teachers who were out in the yard. They saw the cardboard sticking out of my bag and admired my “visual teaching aids.” They commented that they were beautiful and wanted to know if I could get some for them. They went on about how wonderful it is to have visuals for teaching. I showed them the scroll I had made out of toilet paper tubes and a long paper, and asked if they could make something like that. They said where would we get the paper? I can only agree with them that teaching in Africa is difficult! Imagine teaching but never making a photocopy, never writing on chart paper, not having any crayons, scissors, glue, or paper in your classroom, never being given any supplies or money to spend at a teacher store…
How do I, as a teacher trained to use all the millions of materials we have access to in America, make a positive impact on schools and teachers here?

Heroes Day

2010-06-09T10:49:00.006-05:00

Today across Uganda, the public holiday, "Heroes Day", was celebrated and commemorated. Children had a day off of school and of course, their was a parade. Parades generally consist of one group marching and the rest just being people who have joined in along the way. I wanted to know what this 'Heroes Day' is all about so I decided to ask the neighborhood children who come to play at our house. This was how the conversation went:

"What is Heroes Day?"
"It's a day to celebrate the heroes of Uganda."
"Who are the heroes of Uganda?"
"I don't know, but they are our heroes."
"So you don't know who the heroes are?"
"They are ones who died because they are Christians."
"I thought that was 'Martyrs Day' (celebrated on June 3, another public holiday in Uganda)
"Oh yeah, that is Martyrs Day. I don't know who they are then."

Hopefully one day they will get taught who the Heroes of Uganda are that they celebrate. But when you are a child, do you really question why you have a day off of school?

For what it is worth, Happy Heroes Day!

Stars and Coffee

2010-06-06T23:36:00.011-05:00

For the past two nights there has been a beautiful display of God's handiwork in the sky. I mean, stars like I have never seen before. Last night, as the power went out, Rachel and I sat in our yard and gazed at the stars. Ah, so romantic! As we sat and enjoyed the night, I was reminded over and over again of God's majesty. Scripture says in Isaiah 40:26 "Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name, because of the greatness of His might, and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing." As we sat and gazed at the stars, we were reminded of the greatness of our God.

This past week on Thursday (June 3), Rachel and I celebrated 4 years of marriage! We travelled to Sipi Falls for a short getaway. This part of the country is so beautiful and lush as it is in the Mt. Elgon region. We went on a hike to the first falls and got as close as we could before getting completely soaked. During the rainy season their is just too much water that you can't get very close. We also took a coffee tour during our trip. We visited a local coffee farmer and got the ins and outs of how the locals grow, pulp, wash, dry, roast, and pound their coffee. It was very interesting and fun, even for Rachel, who has no desire for coffee at all. Bobby even got to plant his own coffee tree! He just has to come back in 3 years to see it even begin to grow.

We have also purposed in our hearts to be more consistent in posting updates about our experiences and ministry in Uganda. For those who are following our blog, we apologize for the scarcity of our posts and we plan to be more diligent in keeping you updated. Though we cannot promise! :)

"God has blessed you"

2010-05-14T13:22:00.004-05:00

This is what our neighbor girl said to me the other day when she pulled back the grass right along our front porch and saw hundreds of "white ants" crawling in and out of holes. These ants have big wings and come out at night after big rainfalls. They are attracted to light, but lose their wings, or "clothes" as our neighbor girl called them, and die quickly. Later that evening, we decided to turn off all lights and play cards by candle light because the ants were fluttering around our windows and some were finding their way into the house. Our watchman on the other hand asked us to turn ON the porch light so that he and our backyard neighbors could collect the ants. People here fry them and eat them as a treat... free food! Not my idea of God's blessing, but I'm glad the neighbors enjoyed them!

Pictures

2010-05-10T09:51:00.008-05:00

Thanks to our new team mates, I was able to upload a few pictures, finally... so here are some of our favorites from the last few months.My mom gave me the great idea to paint rocks as a craft for the story of David and Goliath which I told at Bible Club today, but before painting, the rocks needed to be washed! So, I had some help from our neighbors:) My grandma would be proud. We used to wash rocks at her house just for fun!
At the source of the Nile River on Lake Victoria, standing in front of the boat we took to get there.

Monkeys on Soroti Rock.

A fraction of the P4 class that I was helping in. (It was the end of the term when I brought my camera and many of the students didn't come to school, I don't really blame them, the teacher wasn't there either!)

Big Sisters

This baby fell asleep in my arms while we were standing under shelter waiting for the rain to stop.

Bobby with the kids in Karamoja

Sitting with the women on our visit to a friend's village. (Women usually sit and eat on the ground like this)

Bobby with the guys. Men usually sit in chairs, seperate from the women.

When you give a little African girl a doll, or teddy bear....

Otim, showing the craft he made at our Easter party.

The Good Samaritan

2010-05-10T09:27:00.005-05:00

We've been having a Bible club at our house on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons while school is on holiday. The other day the kids acted out the story of the good Samaritan... The man gets robbed and beat up ...

The priest and the Levite see, but don't help the man...

The good Samaritan nurses the mans wounds...

We learned " We love because he first loved us."

A Day in the Life of a Village Woman

2010-04-29T03:24:00.007-05:00

I got an interesting look at the life of a village woman the other day. We went to visit the family of our night watchman. When we arrived after the 1 ½ hour motorcycle ride, his wife was fetching water. We sat down under the little shade of a small tree. Moments later, his wife arrived with one jug on her head and the other in her hand. After greeting us, she called her two daughters to come and bathe and changed their clothes from the ragged ones they had on, to nice matching dresses. Then her husband told her to get a chicken. So, together they began chasing one of their hens so that she could kill and cook it. It looked exhausting just catching the chicken! I chose not to watch the chicken’s throat get cut, but then I worked up the courage to observe the rest of the process while the men sat in the shade and talked. (the children had fallen asleep during the chicken chase) So, I watched as she plucked the feathers off and washed the dead chicken. While she worked we had this conversation…

Do you get lonely here in the village?
I get lonely but I manage.
Do your neighbors come over?
Yes, friends come and we can talk.
Is it good when your husband can come home to be with you?
Yes it is good.
Is he a good husband to you?
Yes, he is good.
I’ve heard some husbands beat their wives, he doesn’t beat you does he?
Yes, he beats, but not much, only when I have wronged him.

We have observed our watchman with his wife a few times when she was visiting him in town, and we’ve been impressed by the way they seem to get along. They sit and talk together and laugh and he says he really loves her and is thankful for her because she does so much for him. It is a bit surprising to hear that he beats his wife occasionally. The rest of our visit I began to wonder… what might she do to wrong him? When he calls her, what if she didn’t respond right away? When he says go and get this or that what if she said “just a minute”? Does he not beat her very much only because she does everything she’s supposed to?

Well, when the chicken was de-feathered and clean we moved to the kitchen hut (one of 4 houses on the compound) and she continued her work preparing the food. First she cut apart the chicken and took out the guts, most everything went in the cooking pot, even the eggs that the hen hadn’t laid yet, only a few things were thrown out. She needed a second fire outside so she broke apart some sticks and branches and brought a flame from the first fire one some long straw and slowly built a fire. She asked if I cooked on fire like that. I could only think of camping. She balanced a pot on three rocks so that it would rest directly over the flames. When she needed to move a pot off the fire, she tore leaves off a tree to use as hot pads. She fried onions and tomatoes (her husband had gone to the market to buy them) and added some to the chicken and added potatoes and bananas in the other pot to boil. While we waited on the food to cook, she washed dishes, and I helped lay them out on a bush to dry. She went a little way into the yard and picked some grass. I asked what it was for and she said “washing” and proceeded to lather up her hand full of grass with soap, then rub it in dirt to help scrub a new pot for the rice. After she rinsed out all the dirt I was impressed with how clean the pot was! Now she spread the rice on a tarp and we picked out the rocks, then she tossed it gently in the air and blew out the grass/sticks. I learned a lot about cooking today! I also learned about village life… she said first she goes to the garden to dig, leaving her 4 and 2 year old daughters home alone, then she goes to get water and begin preparing food. She must prepare food twice in a day, also go to fetch water twice in a day, she washes clothes twice in a week. All while her husband is away, working in the city. I asked if she is thankful when the rain comes and she can sit and rest, she smiled and said yes.

After about 2 hours the food was ready. By this time it had started to rain and she insisted that I join the men in the best hut with a roof that didn’t leak. I have been treated as a guest before, the only woman eating with all the men in a hut with a table and chairs while the women and children are somewhere outside on the ground only coming in to serve and wash, so I really wanted to sit and eat with her. Some neighbor ladies stopped by on their way from the hospital for shelter from the rain, so I helped serve a couple of dishes then she insisted that I sit and eat while she cared for her other visitors. I felt a little better that their two young children were also eating with us, but the wife still ran back and forth from the kitchen hut first to bring the food, then to kneel down and pour water over our hands into a bucket so that we could wash, then she disappeared until she was called again and finally came to take our dishes, wash our hands again and sweep the crumbs off the floor. She said she ate her food in the kitchen with her other guests…

I was thinking also about washing… how it is done here in the developing world where there is no running water and lots of dirt… probably something like it was done in Jesus' day… Women, kneeling down with a cup of water and a bucket, maybe a towel in some fancy places… I also think of washing feet… I washed Bobby’s feet the other day, they were filthy, and I thought… I wonder if this is how dirty the disciples feet were when Jesus washed them, not just a simple rinse with water like we do when we attempt to imitate this story in church services occasionally. I thought of the significance it may have carried that Jesus not only was a teacher and leader, but that he was a MAN. Women have been cooking and cleaning for centuries, I imagine that women in Jesus’ day were treated similarly to the way women here in Uganda are treated, and if that is the case, it would have been shocking that a MAN would kneel down and offer to wash… what an example Jesus was and is to all of us!

Update Letter

2010-04-05T09:04:00.003-05:00

We wrote this update a few weeks ago hoping to send it out in an email with pictures, but we've had some trouble with our internet so we decided just to post the content before the information is too outdated. It's a bit of an overview of our first weeks here, sorry there aren't any pictures.

We’ve been in Uganda for over a month now. So we thought we’d let you know what we’ve been up to! We’ve been busy VISITNG, ADJUSTING, LEARNING, BABYSITTING, and MOVING.

VISITING… The Shaardas, long term missionaries here, have taken us around to meet people and ministries they are involved with. We have met the association for the blind, the students and teachers at the local Bible college, pastors of local churches, and many friends and neighbors. We sat in a mud hut and heard the story of a man our age who was abducted to be a child soldier. We met a woman who is working with Compassion International and visited the project. We have also visited a number of schools both secondary and primary. We have seen many needs and opportunities for ministry. We are seeking God’s leading to know how we can best serve.

ADJUSTING… We are adjusting to many new things here in Uganda. It is between 90-100 degrees everyday! Cooking is a challenge because everything must be made from scratch. We ride our bikes almost everywhere and we are becoming more familiar with how to get around the city.

LEARNING… We are learning a few words in the local language, Ateso. We have also learned that everyone who lives in Soroti doesn’t speak Ateso. There are many local languages in this area and also many Indians who live here and run businesses. Thankfully English is a common ground. We have also learned that the IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps in the area have been eliminated. The government provided water and security guards in these camps from 2003-2006. Then the water was shut off and people were told to return to their villages. Many people feared going home and stayed in the camps walking long distances to get water, and living in terrible conditions. We walked through a camp just days before the government brought in prisoners to break down any remaining houses, forcing the people to move out. There are still many IDPs living in the area, which we will interact with, just not all together in a camp as we anticipated.

BABYSITTING… A huge unexpected need came up when our only teammates Josh and Mandy Shaarda needed to take their one year old son, Luka, to the hospital in Kampala for tests. They asked us to stay with their girls to make the trip easier. One night turned into two, then three as the doctors became more and more concerned that Luka was not urinating. The third night we heard that Luka had to be medically evacuated to Nairobi, Kenya because his kidneys were failing, and he was becoming anemic. He needed dialysis and a blood transfusion. It was a scary time! We ended up taking care of Lydia (6) and Grace (4) for over a week. We had a fun time with the girls playing games and doing special projects. It was neat to hear so many people were praying for the situation and helping out in different ways. Luka is now doing much better after several weeks in the hospital. Our other teammates, the Sleidrechts, have arrived and the girls flew home to Michigan with their grandma. Mandy, Josh, and Luka also returned to the States for the rest of Luka’s 6-8 week recovery period. We will miss them dearly. Please continue to pray for little Luka.

MOVING… During our first week we decided to move into our own little home for the rest of the year. The landlord did some work on the house that took some time, and we were able to move in this week. It has 3 bedrooms, one of which Rachel will use one as a classroom, and a big yard Bobby can use as a sports field for neighborhood kids who come by after school. We are eager to settle in and make it feel like home.
Thanks so much for all your prayers! We couldn’t be here without you.
Share the Well,
Bobby and Rachel Kolb

Sweet Little Girls

2010-03-12T04:03:00.004-06:00

What we thought would be a one night stay has turned into a week taking care of Lydia and Grace Shaarda while their parents are away with their baby brother in the hospital. We have had lots of fun with the girls and we are amazed by their joyful personalities, how cooperative they are, and how much they love Jesus! Their parents have done an incredible job raising them on the mission field and we have been blessed to spend time with them. We are thankful we are here to help during this difficult time. The girls miss their parents and are looking forward to seeing more relatives soon, but we are impressed by how well they are doing. Thanks so much for your prayers!

Prayer Request

2010-03-10T08:38:00.006-06:00

Josh & Mandy Shaarda (http://www.shaarda.blogspot.com/), one of the missionary couples in Soroti with International Teams and the couple that we have spent a lot of our time with as they have helped us settle in and get connected, have 3 children: Lydia (6), Grace (4), and Luka (1). Last week, on Friday, Luka began coming down with a sickness...fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. On Monday, as his condition did not improve, Josh and Mandy decided to take him to Kampala for better treatment and testing at the International hospital. They asked if Rachel and I could watch Lydia and Grace for them as they would have to travel 6 hours to get to Kampala and would need to stay the night, maybe more. The girls have been great and it's been a blessing to spend time with them. As Josh and Mandy have kept us informed on Luka's condition we have continued to pray for his recovery. The doctors have been doing tests and have been giving Luka IVs in order to get him to urinate so that they could get more tests done. Through all the IVs and getting him fluids, Luka was not able to urinate and his condition continued to worsen.

About an hour ago, we just heard an update that Luka's kidneys are failing and he has become anemic. The Dr. in Kampala does not know what it is wrong and Luka, along with Josh and Mandy, will be medically evacuated to Nairobi, Kenya for kidney dialysis and a blood transfusion. During this time we don't know much but we do know that our God is a God of refuge and healing. We also don't know when they will return so that means a longer stay with Lydia and Grace. Pray that Rachel and I will be able to continue to be a haven for the girls during the time of their parents being away and also that the Lord will give us wisdom as we are still fairly new here in Soroti.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Recovery, Rescue, Refuge

2010-03-05T07:03:00.007-06:00

My last post I wrote about the amount of rainy days that we've had in Uganda so far. The premise behind my post was along the lines of it being a shock since we were expecting very hot and very dry, only to find that it has been rainy and wet. It turns out that on Monday, in the eastern part of Uganda, near Mt. Elgon, the rain has caused landslides that have destroyed villages and taken many lives. It is hard to imagine that the rain that has fallen here in Soroti and been a blessing to many (agriculture, farmers) is causing so much destruction just 2 hours away. I'm not sure if this news has reached internationally but you can keep informed through these Ugandan on-line news sources: www.newvision.co.ug and www.monitor.co.ug.

These landslides have occured at the base of Mt. Elgon which is on the border of Uganda and Kenya. It happened in the Bududa district (Eastern Uganda) and the hardest hit areas are in the Bukalesi sub-counties, in particular, the village of Nametsi. There are a number of dead, hundreds still missing, and thousands who will be displaced from their homes due to their villages being buried. Pray for recovery, rescue, and refuge for those affected by the landslides.

Silence and Shouting: An Observation of Schooling in Uganda

2010-02-26T07:42:00.000-06:00

I have been introduced to 6 schools here in Soroti. The other missionaries first took us just to see each school, meet the head teacher, and ask if it would be okay for me to come again to visit for a longer time. All schools were happy and said “you are most welcome.” (Ugandans use “you are welcome” in a much different context than we are used to. We would usually say you are welcome as a response to “thank you,” but here it is more like a greeting. Whether we are going to a person’s home or a school or church, the first thing we hear is “you are welcome.”) So in the last week, I have been returning to these schools for a better understanding of what school is like here.

Two of the schools I have visited are government schools. One was created “way long ago in 2003” (as I saw written by one of the teachers) because of the overwhelming number of students at the other school. Now both schools have between 60-90 children in a classroom with one teacher, most classes are around 85. This is manageable, one teacher told me, compared to a school in another area of the city where there are 200 students in a class! Most students have uniforms, but many come without shoes.

Then there are private schools. This seems to be a trend in the last 10 years. All of the private schools I have visited have been open for less than 5 years. These classes are much smaller, between 20-30 students, but the classrooms are also much smaller so the students still seem squished. It is also common that these young private schools buildings are not finished which means that the walls do not continue all the way up to the ceiling, and there are no doors on the classrooms. This makes the noise from one class easily heard in the neighboring classrooms. These private schools are more expensive, but also provide food for the students at morning break and lunch. Children in government schools sometimes go the whole school day (8:00-4:30) without eating. The students I have talked to occasionally get money from their parents to buy casava chips or something else for a snack during their breaks.

So a few things have impressed me about my school visits. The silence and the shouting. Most schools have a break from 10:30 -11:00, at one private school it was from 10-11. I have so far not seen any teacher who seemed to be on yard or recess duty, the children just run around and play, and the teachers really take a break. They sit and have tea and chat. (I don’t remember many breaks in the States when I wasn’t making copies or getting something ready for the next lesson…. I learned that the key to classroom management is being prepared) Today at the school I visited when the bell rang to return to class at 11:00 all 81 students filed into their desks and sat silently for 10 minutes while the teacher copied, from the one text book she has, an English conversation onto the board. (It was reading class.) The teacher didn’t even have to turn around once, the room was silent. I was thinking to myself about what would happen if 80 American students were put into a room like that and asked to sit for 10 minutes while the teacher got ready for her lesson? When she finished, she began the lesson. She briefly talked about the conversation, then instructed the students that she would read the conversation, then they would repeat and eventually read the conversation on their own. So these repetitions went on for 30 minutes until the students could recite the conversation from memory. During this part of the lesson I was struck by the noise. It seemed that every time they repeated the words they shouted them. I suppose maybe 81 students in a small space talking in a normal voice sounds like shouting, but it was really loud! At this particular school the walls did reach the ceiling, but in another school I remember the same shouting. The teacher had to shout to be heard by the students, and when the students gave a quiet answer I couldn’t understand them because of the noise from other classrooms of students singing rhymes or repeating the words their teachers were reading.

They certainly do a lot of reciting and memorizing, which should be very helpful to them with multiplication facts! I have also seen however a lack of understanding of what the words mean that they are repeating over and over. I am thankful for the opportunities I have to observe first without just starting to teach. It is good to have an understanding of what the students are used to and where I can be most helpful in assisting. My trouble now is deciding which school I will focus on volunteering at consistently.

Precipitation

2010-02-26T01:52:00.004-06:00

"You guys aren't going to believe this but we could literally count on our hands the amount of rainy days that we've had during our 3 years of living in Soroti." This is what Josh said to me yesterday as we were in a village watching ominous clouds and wind approaching to bring yet another African rainstorm. Since we've been in Soroti for 3 weeks now, we've had 6 or 7 storms and rainy days with it not even being rainy season yet. Rachel and I are beginning to wonder if we brought Seattle like weather to Uganda as we woke up this morning to yet another rainy, drizzly day. Sometimes in Scripture, rain is a sign of blessing so we are looking at it in a positive light, even if we do get muddy and soaking wet!

I'll be the Carrier

2010-02-21T05:23:00.005-06:00

Rachel and I have been deeply encouraged by the song "Carrier" written by a worship leader named Jared Anderson. Below are the lyrics to the song and it is, to say the least, our prayer.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me
to preach good news to the poor
to bind up the broken-hearted
to make you known even more
so the people living in darkness will see the great light

I'LL BE THE CARRIER OF LOVE AND COMPASSION
I'LL BE THE CARRIER OF LIGHT TO THE WORLD
I'LL BE THE CARRIER OF HOPE AND SALVATION
I WILL GO SHINE YOUR LIGHT TO THE WORLD
I WILL GO SHINE YOUR LIGHT TO THE WORLD

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me
freedom and truth to proclaim
trade your ashes for the oil of gladness
and your sorrows for garments of praise

I'LL BE THE CARRIER OF LOVE AND COMPASSION
I'LL BE THE CARRIER OF LIGHT TO THE WORLD
I'LL BE THE CARRIER OF HOPE AND SALVATION
I WILL GO SHINE YOUR LIGHT TO THE WORLD
I WILL GO SHINE YOUR LIGHT TO THE WORLD

Here am I, send me send me
Here am I, send me send me
Here am I, send me send me
Here am I, send me send me

To listen to the song, click here

Visiting

2010-02-17T04:44:00.002-06:00

These first weeks we have been mostly visiting people and ministries that ITeams is connected with here in Soroti. We have visited the association of the blind, and a school for blind children. We have met with a couple of local pastors and met some couples who are involved in ministry in the area. We have visited local schools where we may be able to get involved. Sunday we worshiped with a local congregation. The children outnumbered the adults. We found that sometimes families don’t go to church together because of transportation. We have heard of a couple of situations where the father is the pastor of a church a ways from his home, so only he and his wife can travel on a bicycle or boda. The children go to a church that is closer to home where they can walk. Sunday afternoon we met with a man our age who was abducted by the LRA in 2003. He was a child soldier for only 3 weeks, but the stories that he had to share were terrible. I have read and watched quite a bit on the issue of child soldiers around the world, but it was something different to sit in a mud hut face to face and hear his story.

Although I have traveled to underdeveloped countries before, as I am here seeing the poverty first hand, I am struck by the reality of the poor. Children walk around in rags with no shoes, single mothers have no income, very few people have electricity, they have to walk a mile to fetch water, and everyone has a story of suffering to tell. Here we are wanting so badly to help, why does it have to be so complicated? We have been talking with the other IT missionaries, and one of their biggest issues is how to give without creating dependency. The other day Josh said when people ask what is the biggest need here in Soroti, he says, “more people.” People who stay, and live out examples of Christian families and disciple young people to grow in Christ. Will it be us? Most days I hope it is. I hope God confirms that this is His calling, but I don’t know. Could it be you? There is certainly a need. I have received a book about the history of the Teso people who live in this area. A quote I read last night stuck out to me… “ Out of the world’s 48 underdeveloped countries, 33 are in sub-Sahara Africa.”

One Week in Uganda

2010-02-12T07:10:00.014-06:00

Well, we've been in Uganda for one week now. This week has been spent learning a ton and a lot of sweat. Uganda is hot! Which for Rachel is a great thing, but I am having a little more trouble with the climate change. All in time I'm sure I will adjust! We are currently staying in a guest house but will be moving to our own place in, hopefully, early March. This week we have spent a lot of time with Josh & Mandy, who are one of the full-time couples. They have been a huge help and we have loved just sitting and hearing their heart.

As Rachel and I have been observing, learning, and meeting Ugandans, we have been praying as to where we might see God using us for ministry. We don't have anything concrete right now and we don't expect anything for awhile. We are simply taking in all we can, meeting people and making contacts, and then from there praying to see where we feel God using our gifts. It is definitely a time of being patient and waiting on the Lord.

Yesterday we bought bicycles which will be our mode of transportation for most of the year. In Soroti, most of the people either ride a bicycle or a motorcycle for their transportation. I took a 'boda boda' ride to get into town to pick up my bicycle. A 'boda boda' is a taxi service on the back of a bicycle. It was quite the experience. But the experience of riding my Ugandan style bicycle through town for the first time was one I will never forget. Riding on the left side of the street, ringing the bell, and swerving out of the way of a goat or chicken were some skills that I never used while riding my bike in the States!! All in all , we are doing well and look forward to what God has for us around the bend!

Until next time...

Grace & Truth,

bobby and rachel

We have arrived!

2010-02-09T02:42:00.003-06:00

Greetings from Soroti, Uganda! We have arrived safely with all of our luggage and are beginning to settle in. It rained the first 2 days we were here which is very unusual, and now it is back to VERY hot:) There is so much to learn. We see a little bit more of the city everyday and are enjoying meeting people. We will buy bicycles today so that we can get around like most people, as bicycles and motorcycles are everywhere :) We are enjoying things so far as we continue to observe and learn.

Departure

2010-02-04T09:10:00.002-06:00

We leave for Uganda today!!! We fly out of O'Hare this evening, stop in London for a few hours, and arrive in Kampala on Friday night (9 hours ahead of C.S.T). Thanks for your prayers for safe travels and we look forward to updating you from Uganda!!!

grace & truth

Moving

2009-12-31T16:45:00.002-06:00

We are counting down the days now! As the New Year arrives we are so thankful to see how God has provided for us! We are soooo close to 100% of our support and we have a ticket to Uganda on hold for February 4th. We are packing up and moving out of our apartment in Omaha next week and heading to Illinios to spend our last few weeks with the Kolbs:) Our packing lists are started, visas are being applied for, and shots are almost done. After all the snow in Omaha we are excited to plan for warmer weather so soon!

Gold for Uganda

2009-10-29T17:44:00.005-05:00

We are so excited and thankful for a new fundraising event! Bobby's parents together with some friends from IL have planned a gold-buying fundraising event to benefit our ministry in Uganda. It is an opportunity to bring in old jewelry and trade it in for the cash value of it's gold! We are certainly not experts with gold, but if you would like more information about the event just let us know! We never would have thought of this, and are so encouraged that people are thinking of creative ways to help us out!

Another interesting way we have been attempting to fundraise is by selling tap shoes. We have literally hundreds of children and youth size black tap shoes which have barely been used. (It's a long story). We have sold quite a few at garage sales and with Craigs list but we still have over a hundred! If you know anyone who might be interested in stocking up on tap shoes for the next few years please let us know or search for our ad on Craigslist in Omaha. The cost is $10, but we are willing to negotiate seeing as we'd really like to get rid of them:)

We are hoping to put together a basketball tournament in Davis sometime in January. Stay posted for more details:)

We've recently had contanct with the missionaries we will be working with and hope to have some big news to share soon! Thanks for thinking of us and praying that God will provide for us and we will be able to leave in Jan.

Eulogy of my bike

2009-09-01T13:08:00.005-05:00

Well, yesterday was a sad day in the life of Rachel Kolb. She lost a good friend to theft. This bike was her faithful companion and form of transportation for three wonderful years. Their relationship started at Village Bicycles just down Wells St. from Moody Bible Institute. Bobby convinced her that she should have a bike, so she agreed and they bought one of the cheapest bikes in the store, although still quite expensive:) The bike didn't get too much use in Chicago that first year partly because it is too cold for a novice to ride to work many days of the year and partly because the bike was warm and cozy in the Kolb kitchen where it lived and didn't especially like being carried up and down all those flights of stairs to get to the back alley. However in Philadelphia, Rachel's bike took on a whole new life. With milder weather and bike lanes all the way to and from CCA, biking to work was a normal routine. It didn't mind at all being locked to a fence in the yard all day, it got the joy of watching children play at recess! (And at home it didn't have to be carried up quite so many stairs.) Rachel's bike also enjoyed long rides at Valley Forge and laps around Gettysburg on special occasions. In the summer of 2008 Rachel and her bike spent quite a bit of time together, riding each day across Philly, past the nation's first (and maybe most expensive) zoo to Dream Camp each day. It only strengthened their friendship. Upon moving to Omaha, Rachel planned to ride her bike as much as possible, back and forth to her parents house was their main route. They hadn't yet had the chance to ride one of the nice Omaha trails recommended by Sarah Campbell. The bike stayed a few days in the living room this time, until Rachel found a sturdy pole in the nice cool laundry room basement and thought the bike would be more comfortable... Then on August 31, 2009... Rachel went to retrieve her bike for their ride over to the Malys, only to find a shred of her lock on the floor and the bike was nowhere to be found. Fighting back the tears, she walked the mile to her parents house, alone. After a long day of sorrow (no serial number, a high deductable on renters insurance, and no suspects) it seems the only thing to do is to mourn the loss of this good friend.

Fall without School

2009-08-21T12:30:00.001-05:00

What a strange thing it is, for the first time in 20 years not to be going back to school this fall. Strange to walk into a school supply store and not need 20 extra folders for my students. Strange to look through the dollar spot at Target with all their little teacher tools and not have a reason to buy some. Its a bit sad to think of my students returning to Cornerstone this year, without me there to greet them and hear all about their summer. I am beginning to miss having a classroom, the beginning of the year is always so much fun! I hope any of you who find yourselves in an elementary school classroom this year enjoy it a little extra for me:)