A great first week

We have been in Lira now for one week and it feels like it has been much longer!  Each day is filled with so many people and experiences that leave us feeling very full at the end of each day. We have prayerfully decided to stay in Lira for the remaining months rather than go to Gulu.  We are excited for how we have seen God direct our steps, feeling confident that building upon the time that Logan was here will be helpful. As we try to make a weekly tentative schedule, we have spent most days so far meeting with different leaders in the community.  It has taken several days to do this because of the amount of time that it takes to finish tasks here.  We are definitely making progress and are looking forward to John and Janie Chitester coming to Lira to visit. They are also going to lead a discipleship training program which will be very beneficial to us and also to the people at Victory Outreach Church that we are partnering with.  We plan to start our weekly routine after the Chitesters leave next Wednesday.  We will definitely write out a typical week once we get it squared away so that you guys can know how to pray!

 The first week has already brought many interesting and funny experiences.  We have riden many bodas (motorcycle taxi),  witnessed street kids break dance, eaten mystery meat, and learned the challenging art of communicating with Ugandan english.  Perhaps the most memorable day was when Pastor Johnson asked us to come with him to the village to the burial/funeral of the first Christian convert at the church that they started in November.  It was very uncomfortable for a lot of different reasons.  There were over 400 ugandans that gathered to pay respects to the late but while we were there we were forced to sit in the seats of honor along side Pastor Johnson.  It was just weird to have so many eyes constantly glued to us as many of them have never or rarely see mzungu skin.  We were there for around 5 hours and understood nothing of what was being said around us as they spoke in the native tongue.  Then we were served a meal of gray meat and cornmill mush with more flies than you could believe.  It was a moment of definitely being in Africa and we laughed and enjoyed the new experience of learning more about the way that other people live. Another highlight of the week was getting to participate in the youths new Bible study where they are studying the book of 1 peter.  We are excited to deepen our relationships with people here and have found so much enjoyment in the small things of each day. Some of our favorite small things have been buying stamps at the post office, an avocado for 25 cents, finding coke zero, or a boda boda ride at sunset.  Its just neat to be in a place where we genuinely notice the gifts of small blessings in each day and are able to find enjoyment in all of the things God gives us.  

Lastly, gracie is so excited about an opportunity that arose a few days ago. It was a moment of really seeing God's faithfulness in showing her what work She is to do here. We visited a street kids rehabilitation center that was started by a Canadian girl and a ugandan a year or two ago, Atin Afrika. We were conversing about what it would look like for gracie to do art therapy every week with the kids, when she randomly said something that was awesome. She mentioned that she had a dozen used digital cameras stored up in her office that she had just gathered from back home....and  gracie was welcome to use them. This had been gracies prayer before coming to Uganda that She could teach photography, but did not have the materials... But God provided and We are so excited!!! 

We appreciate all of the ways that you all are supporting us from home and would love if you would join us in prayer this week.  Please pray  that:

-God would continue to direct us each day and give us wisdom with where to invest our time

-We would be completely available to love and help whoever God puts in our path

-Boldness to make the most of each opportunity no matter how small or odd

-And also for the discipleship training that will be next Monday-Wednesday

Also, here is our NEW address if you would like to write letters:

Gracie Jones or Logan Hartman

c/o Johnson Ogema

P.O. Box 113

Lira, Uganda- East Africa