Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

Naomi on friends new slack line

Today (Sunday) marks the end of our Christmas holiday.  We have all had a wonderful 3 weeks break from school and office, and have had a thoroughly lovely time! We celebrated with a Christmas party for the International staff at MAF just before Christmas, followed by carols by candlelight at a local pizza joint (organized by the Kampala International Church).  On Christmas Day we celebrated at church in torrential rain (under a tin roof).  They had the amps turned up HIGH so we can actually hear what was being said. We then had turkey and trimmings with 2 other families which was lots of fun.  We had to initiate the American family into ‘crackers’ and the awful jokes that they contain!

Brackenhurst Conference 2010/11 Attendees

On the 27^th Dec, we flew to Nairobi where we had 1 night at a MAF families house on a MAF compound, did some shopping in Nairobi and then on the 28^th, we drove to Limuru to Brackenhurst which is a conference centre where there was a Christian Family conference for workers in E. Africa. It was a huge amount of fun.  I (Em) confess to not particularly looking forward to it.  However, it was just what I needed. It is a beautiful setting…and is 8000 feet up so was ccccoooolllldd!!! (OK…not nearly like UK cold but it was for E. Africa!).  

Wrapped up warm to see in the New Year

There was a super speaker – John Woodside, and a fantastic kids ministry team from Mississippi. They did Bible stories, crafts and learnt some worship songs (that they have been singing ever since).  Our girls spent the whole week playing with other children in a safe environment.  It was lovely to give them some wings to have some freedom.   Laurie and I made many new friends and reconnected with old ones.  There were 5 MAF families there also from Kenya and Tanzania as well as us and another family from MAF Uganda. We flew home on 1^st January.  Since then, we have had a very chilled time as a family, including time at the American Club, going pony riding and playing with Christmas presents. 

In the mean time, there were reports of an unknown illness up in the north of the country.  It was thought that it might be Ebola or the Plague.  In the end, the Center of Disease Control (in the US) decided it was Yellow Fever, so we’ve had to ensure that we’re all up todate. And we are. 

Sunday was the start of the Referendum for the potential split between the North and South of Sudan.  We pray that the voting process is peaceful and fair and that the outcome gives the people of Sudan the freedom and stability that they desire.

We have Ugandan elections in mid February.  We would really appreciate your prayers for that time here.  It could potentially be volatile, although we pray not! School has a few days off either side of the elections in case of any trouble so that people can keep themselves safe.

Laurie and I have been psyching ourselves up for school/work again. 

We have a busy year ahead of us, but no visits out of the country on home assignment this year are in the diary.  Keep looking out for information on 2012.

Well, we wish you a wonderful 2011.  Please do continue for safety in flying, driving around town (which is getting increasingly busy), safety and fairness in the elections, for health too.