Beating moments

I thank God for all the moments that Logan and I have had: happy, sad, confusing, weighty, mundane, profound, full, weak, disturbing, contented, deep, overwhelming, light-hearted....ALL of them God has seen and been with us through. I don't think I have ever experienced such a broad spectrum of moments in my life! Uganda has given me moments so profound, I don't know how to explain them. Also, I have had moments, days even, that have felt so ordinary that I forget where I am. All I know is that these days have changed my life and I thank God for the privilege I have had to live them. His Spirit is living, breathing, and drawing people constantly, and I feel freshly awakened and sensitive to it. I am suddenly hungry for those moments, however slight and small they may be. My boys are the biggest brats you have ever known, but the gospel is changing them. I see it, slowly. Softening, pruning, breaking, restoring them. Its beautiful. Some are still tough and hard as nails, but I won't stop sharing with them. There is no life within me, apart from Christ's flow. He makes my joy. He is my joy. They need this joy in their life! Not photography, not art, not teaching, not play (those are on the sidelines)----but to share with them the greatest thing I know: this man called Jesus is the only way to God, and he loves them perfectly. It would be so strange to go one's entire life without knowing the one person that loves them so relentlessly and so unparalleled to any love they have ever known. I hate that idea now more than ever. Because millions are. Waking, sleeping, living without knowledge of the one TRUE thing about themselves and for themselves: God made you, Christ died for you, Go back to your Creator, He wants eternity with you. You owe him your life..not out of be-grudging obedience, but out of love, in response to what he did.  So we want to keep sharing this, please continue to pray. We love you all 

Gracie

Some snaps y'all!!

The Greatest Adventure

Since the past week when Gracie and I took a few day respite to explore around beautiful places in Uganda, I have been thinking a lot about adventure.  As we piled in the matatus with our huge packs and drove from place to place squeezed to capacity with dozens of other Ugandans i was filled with this overwhelming joy at the life im living.  So i had to ask the question why is it any different from the life im living in America? And the only explanation is that when im here i am completely available and open to being a servant and vessel for God to use. 

So last week while we were moving around doing lots of cool and adventurous things like rafting the Nile river or hiking around beautiful waterfalls, or taking motorcycle rides around town, or going through the market in Kampala I realized something.  After spending days full of doing so many fun and adventurous activities, the contentment and happiness that i experienced from those things in no way compare to the joy and satisfaction of being in a living relationship with God and getting to be a part of His mission on the earth. Even though we had a great time last week, seeing a person believe the gospel for the first time or seeing a person experiencing God's love for the first time is better.  Its amazing how the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:39 describe this.  "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." I read Jesus' words and i look at this season of life and the deep happiness and peace that i have and i know that this is what He meant.  So often in America i live life and forfeit the life that Jesus is offering here because i think i can go and find a fulfilling life by pursuing my own ways and it just doesnt deliver.  It only leaves me frustrated and needing more. 

It sometimes happens that people can tend to put people living overseas as missionaries on this weird pedestal as if they are sacrificing so much really denying themselves of many pleasures. Not to say there aren't tons of people risking their lives and leaving behind many comforts of life in America but i would be willing to bet that those people are living with the deep joy and life in such a way that it hardly feels like a sacrifice anymore because the end result is more fulfilling than what you gave up. And its kind of interesting but since i have spent time living overseas and have come back to America and seen people really  living mission-ally right at home in America, I have come to have huge respect for those people.  I know for me it is easy to live as a missionary here in Uganda because i wake up every day and ask God to lead me and then i go about the day. It's at the forefront of why I am here and its something that i am focused on, God always moves and leads.  On the contrary, when i am in America i would probably pray most days that God would work through me but im also driven by other schedules and plans that sometimes take precedence over the role that i have as a follower of Christ.  And I don't know why we do this because we are denying ourselves of the most satisfying and rewarding life ever that Christ has offered to us. So just do it...lose your life and really find it.  I know Im hooked and want more so lets not waste any more time.  God truly isnt a killjoy even though we believe it sometimes.  He actually is after our joy so when we obey him we are most happy.

Thank you everyone for praying for Gracie and I. We really have felt so loved and supported from people back home. I cant tell you how many times Gracie and i have looked at each other and have been blown away at how we see God protecting us and holding our lives.  We have experienced the words of Psalm 91 in whole new ways and our trust in God is growing as we see him holding us.  We have had no sickness at all and we keep having those "right place at the right time" moments so we know God is with us.  We are sorry for not being better about blogging but we would like to post more in the future. Love you guys! 

Highlights from this week

Sam at Atin Afrika, now following Jesus

Lily and Aaron, (on either side of Gracie) who was able to get surgery on his leg, 

He is healing and ready to go back to school! If anyone would be interested in helping sponsor him, please email Gracie! 

Logan and her new friend Millie

Some snaps from our adventures

About to seriously risk our lives

 the first rapid, 14 ft waterfall...thats all

 the first fall we hiked to

 Logan climbing a mountain on a ladder made of sticks, her leg broke out in shakes, good ole muscle spasm

 at sipi falls

 beginning our morning hike

so beautiful! 

Some photos for your liking

We thought we should be better bloggers and give you some photos!

Lydia, Logan's friend. They have been meeting every week for discipleship...Lydia was being pursued by Watchtower folk for a while, so it was really timely when her and Logan started meeting up. Jehovahs witnesses and Mormons run rampant here..

  

This is Lily and Aaron's family, some friends of Gracie's. Aaron is the boy in the pink on the far right. He had Osteomyelitis, but through an anonymous donation of $400, we were able to help him get operated on...he is very excited! Please pray all goes well and grace-filled these next few weeks as he heals after the operation. 

This is one of our dearest friends at Alpha (where we are staying). He is called Patrick, we love him so! 

May we introduce to you dearest Opio. He is the sweetest thing, cant even begin to explain how lovable he is. He is staying at Atin Afrika center for street kids. He was completely abandoned by his family because of his down syndrome. Most here believe disabilities are a demonic thing or result of ancestor sin, so they are ashamed and reject disabled kids. So, Opio is staying at Atin but the hope is to find a family to adopt him. The Ugandan who runs the center believes this will be the best for him---because he literally has NOBODY. But we love him so much. If any are interested, please email Gracie. Like I said, this child is a treasure and needs a family; he soaks up any love and nurture that is shown to him and will melt your heart. 

Exciting news with these folks! They are a family of six from San Antonio, church planters living her full time for five years! We met them at a mzungu bible study we were introduced to (which was awesome by the way) last Wednesday. We clicked with them immediately and have enjoyed them so much already

Cowboy hat, and fellow texans...gives Gracie great joy

These are the boys Gracie is attempting to teach art, bible, and photography at Atin Afrika. They are a complicated bunch but need a lot of love. 

Bus rides: we love them 

This is Lucy, Gracie's friend...they meet weekly and talk about Jesus

Logan and Josephine, the best duo I know

A team from California stayed at Alpha for a few weeks, working on digging wells in the villages (a way to help). They were great to have around! 

Hope you enjoyed! 

love, logan and gracie

An opportunity to partner

Hey all,

I just wanted to write to tell you the story of a few precious ones and see if you feel led to help.

The past week has been one where the Lord has been putting orphans before us. As I've been going about the days here with a plan to carry out the discipleship curriculum with a few friends, there have been moments where God has changed my plans and I've come face to face with an orphan who is desperate for love and concern.  The word orphan takes a whole new meaning when you are here and it definitely comes with more weight. This week there have been three in particular that have caught my attention and concern. 

On Wednesday i learned of twins named Joseph and Josephine:

The two are around three years old.  I met them when a man named Washington took me to their home and introduced me to an elderly man named Zachary and his wife Josephina.  Zachary greeted me with a very genuine smile and began to tell me about the two little ones that had come into his life few years ago. 

He told me that the mother of the twins had met them at the market where she would buy beans from the madam.  The twins mother was struggling as a single mom as the father had ran before the babies were born.  One day when the twins were around 8 months the mother came to Zachary and Josephina and begged them to keep the twins for one night so she could travel to the next town to help her sick mother who was in the hospital.  Zachary and Josephina complied as they knew the risk for young babies to be exposed to so much sickness at the hospital.  A few days passed and then months and there was no trace of the mother. Zachary asked everyone he could find in an effort to learn of any information on the mother and where she could have fled to but he found out nothing. Initially Zachary filed police reports and missing person notices but had no luck finding the mother.  Soon after the babies were accepted into a babies home that is about 5 miles out of town where they lived for close to a year before returning to Zachary and Josephina's home. However, recently they have been unable to find anywhere for them to go. There are honestly few orphanages here and the ones that exist have no spaces available.  This has left Zachary and Josephina with the responsibility of providing for the twins, carrying out an "obligation to God and humanity"  as they put it. Caring for the twins has become a great burden on the family. Zachary is currently jobless and the only income they have is the little money that Josephina makes selling beans each day.  The couple have three other children that are currently staying in the village with other family members as they could not afford to have them living in town.  Currently  Jospeh and Josephina are spending the daytime at a nursery school called Lira Christian Centre Nursery School because no one is around the home during the day.  Out of compassion the teachers at the school have agreed to temporarily let the twins attend the day school at no cost until Zachary is able to pay the fees.  

I went to the school last week to meet Joseph and Josephine. Holding them and seeing their big brown eyes and feeling the reality that they live in has compelled me be an advocate for them and to help them. I have talked with an orphanage in town and we are going to begin the application process but they will be unable to take them until May or June.  Zachary and Josephina will continue to care for the twins but they just need assistance with food and day school for the next few months.  I talked with the school and got the tuition list and also the list of required items.  The total fees come out to $115.00 which will provide a good foundation of learning, two nutrition meals each day, a uniform and all of the supplies that both of the children need.

Zachary and Josephine are servants of God who has been sacrificing a lot to provide a safe place for the kids and now they just need a little help.  If you feel compelled to give in any way please let me know and we can discuss more options of how to make this happen.  It brings me a lot of joy to get to share the stories and faces of people here and to see people back home partnering and being generous towards people who are truly in need.  I am reminded here of how In Christ we have received much and as a response to what Christ has done we should be the most joyful and generous of all people. So please pray and consider giving whatever you can!!  I would love to hear from you so please let me know if you want more information or if you have specific questions!!!  Thank you!!

Josephine and Joseph at school! 

On Thursday i met Mercy.  Arombo Mercy is a 16 year old girl who lost both of her parents and wants to go back to school.  I interviewed her yesterday and asked her to tell me what she would tell people back in America. Heres what she said:

      "I was born in Lira, Uganda.  When i was very young my father divorced my mum.  My father got another woman and she did not take care of me.  We were four children. 3 girls and 1 boy but unfortunately our last born and only boy was born with HIV/AIDS.  My mother used to pay my school fees but when she became infected with HIV/AIDS she could no longer pay my fees.  Dad had abandoned us, so i was forced to drop out of school in 2009.  We had been living in the IDP (Internally displaced people) camps and raising money for food for all four children was very difficult on my mother.  While living there i learned that my father had passed away from an unexpected illness.  Life was very difficult as my mother became more sick and later died.  After the death of both of my parents i was forced to live with with a family member who wanted me to work doing household chores rather than go to school.  The madam recently died and now i am staying with different people who will keep me.  I have a desire to go to school and become a doctor so that i can help those who have experienced trauma like me."

I asked Mercy how she is able to remain so courageous and full of hope despite all she has gone through.  She responded by telling me, "I trust in the Lord because his word says that God is the father of orphans and he has not abandoned me".  There is something unique about Mercy. I have met many girls her age in difficult situations but never someone who has been as persistent and unwilling to give up as she has been. 

I recently met a man who started an organization called The Odwara Fund.  The organization provides the opportunity for a quality education to orphans and vulnerable children who do not have a future.  I talked with Eddie who is the founder and although the finances are not there to support her in school this term he has shared that he feels moved to pay for half of her fees from his own pocket.  I was moved by his generosity as he is very limited in his resources and thought i would join his efforts and post her story and see if anyone felt led to give.  The needs would be the second half of her tuition and the uniform/requirements necessary for her to board at school.  The school that she would go to is called Fountain primary school which is a Christian school where she will be taught the Word and also have daily prayer and fellowship time.  The total fees come out to $204.00 which will cover all of her tuition, boarding, food, and requirements.  I am not here to meet the financial needs of everyone but i have been moved to try to find provision for these three who are total orphans.  

 Arombo Mercy, age 16.

Email me if you are interested!!  logan710h@gmail.com

Thank you and God bless.  I am going to post a blog very soon with the highlights from discipleship and other exciting things.  God is truly leading us and protecting us and we are very glad. 

Love,

Logan

Days of Grace

   So far, 25 days full of grace and fullness. Friends have been made, places are now familiar, and we are growing accustomed to the "African way"…might I say it couldn't be more different than customs back home. I feel like America and Africa are literally the two greatest extremes there could ever be! Africa: time carries NO importance, everything has dirt on it, children (including babies) roam free, a days work dictates survival, not comfort, traffic has no order, motorcycles carry infants, people carry their groceries on their head (or even their furniture), breasts are out everywhere, fatness is desired by all, you can pay rent with goats and cows, and people don't care about being "cool". Every day wows you. I genuinely love this place. Even if its just seeing these funny little customs that are soo taboo to our culture. Yesterday was our most authentic and African experience yet. We watched an Acholi Dance Performance by a non-profit that teaches music therapy to youth. It was stunning! But there we were, only one other mzungu there, completely surrounded by tons of Africans, babies in the lap, sweat on our foreheads and all over, sitting for at least 5 hours because the show started three hours after it was supposed to. But we have learned to gladly and joyfully embrace those waiting times…..allows time to make friends! 

  This week was the beginning of teaching at Atin Afrika. School just started for everyone in town this week, so there is still some chaos in kids leaving and coming, however, it was a good first day. The way it works is, they have Ugandan social workers who go out to the streets and get to know the kids, offering them a home and education. Most of them already have homes, but either their parents have neglected them, they have chosen the streets, or they just have run away. These kids get into all kinds of addictions, most of them sniff glue, girls sell themselves as early as age 9, they drink the locally brewed alcohol which makes whiskey look weak, and all kinds of other awful things. So the kids that choose to come for a two month term, are quite the complicated bunch….and the concepts of love and care are foreign to them. Atin is a lovely little home with two dogs, a monkey, and a Ugandan momma named "Grace" who lives there and basically mothers all the children. During the term, the children learn how to live well with others, battle vulnerability, have reconciliation with their families (the social workers help to mediate), and learn respect. Also, they learn a bit of english and do some subject studies to introduce them into school. Then after those two months, they are enrolled for school and go back to their communities and homes. Its really amazing how it works. Most of the kids come to a place where they choose for themselves a better life. So, my plan there is to do a type of art therapy that also shares Christ. It would be unfruitful to keep the gospel from them and just do "crafts", I want to love them earnestly and not keep hidden the very thing that will make them feel most full in life. Its like showing them pretty things, but hiding the treasure. Especially because most of them feel forgotten. I delight in them so much already! You give them an ounce of attention and they light up. Most excitedly, I also get to teach photography! I was able to handle the 12 cameras for the first time on Monday and see which ones worked and needed batteries. So I will begin teaching photography either tomorrow or Monday. Yay!

   We were also able to spend the last week with the Chitesters and go through a Discipleship study with them. They were such a gift to us! Also, I think it was God equipping us for things here. Both Logan and I have been overwhelmed by the misinterpretation of God's Word here among Christians. People have a very skewed view of Grace here and live a very works-oriented faith. There even seems to be more preaching from the Old T. rather than the New. You basically find all these new Christians who have given their lives to Christ, but are acting like fearful slaves instead of children of God. The belief that Christ paid for their sin once and for all is misunderstood; people are constantly in the cycle of repentance because they think every time they sin again, God casts them away. They just want so desperately to be close to God, which is really beautiful, but they are missing out on the freedom that comes when you trust Christ. For the believer, sin breaks your fellowship with God, but NOT your relationship. Ever. And broken fellowship can be restored through love and confession to Him..so glad for that :)

The prosperity gospel also runs wild here. So please pray.

Lastly, we got bicycles!!! John and Janie bought them for us and we have enjoyed them so much. Been a great help.  Still getting used to the chaos of the traffic and being on the left side, but its been good. Also pray for His covering when we are on the roads :)

Love you all! More to tell later,

Gracious (they all call me this ha)

 

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

we made it to lira!!

We made it to Lira!

Just wanting to say that we have journeyed safely and made it to Lira. It has been very smooth so far and the people have welcomed us so joyfully! These people have blown me away. So much kindness and warmth from everyone. 

It feels like those summer days when you were a kid. You would wake up to the sun coming through the window and noises of outside. Then you would excitedly get up to greet the day, knowing that it would be full and adventurous. I feel so refreshed! Here are some photos from Pastor Thomas and his family; they served us a wonderful lunch today and we visited with them for the afternoon. 

love, Gracie

I have loved being able to see all of my friends again.  It feels like no time has passed since i was just here.  It has been so fun getting to show Gracie around and introducing her to all of these people.  We are trying to figure out whether staying in Lira for the remaining months or going to Gulu to live with Pastor patrick and serve there.  Please pray for us in these next days as we have decisions to make.  We both want to make the most of the time here and are excited about all of the opportunities to help here.  The people here are taking such good care of us and making sure all of our needs are met.  Please continue to pray for Gracie and i to be wise and discerning and also to have health and unity.  We love you all and thank you for your prayers.  

Love, Logan