Malaria?

A few nights ago, as we were sharing with friends from our home church about God’s work in Uganda, I started feeling pretty ill. Soon afterward I was shivering uncontrollably. I had been having back and head aches all day, actually on and off for a few days, but I assumed it was just from packing and moving heavy bags. (I’m not as young as I once was.) When I started shivering and then felt nauseous, I realized that this is the normal progression when I have malaria. Last summer when we had been in the US for 2 months, two of our kids came down with malaria. They tested positive after several cycles of high fevers and nausea. 

Now I am wondering if I have malaria. I tested negative for Covid and so I am just treating for malaria. We know too many stories of people coming down with malaria in the US and it getting very severe because the treatment isn’t as accessible here. So we travel with malaria treatment. I have now treated and am feeling much better. The day after my high fever, Esther took care of Evie and did the shopping and packing for heading back to Uganda. She is an AMAZING daughter! What a gift! I slept on and off most of the day and was feeling much better after medicine and some good rest! 

The next day was another day of packing up and shifting to another house. We are very grateful for all of the generosity of many people sharing their homes with us! We will also be happy to be in our own home in Uganda and not living out of a suitcase! One of my children pointed out that we will have slept in 9 different places this summer. I thought that couldn’t be true since we spent a whole month at one missionary guesthouse, but then I counted. It is true. And it is hard to wake up each morning and need to remember where everything is in this house. This morning I noticed that Google maps told me that my “home” was the missionary guesthouse where we stayed for a month. I almost cried. I am thankful that during our next furlough we will be able to stay in our own house in Georgia! 

While a physical “home” has been elusive, our church family certainly felt like home again quickly. Our whole family has reconnected with friends from our church. I am so thankful for these relationships that have been a tangible representation of the love of Christ to us over the years. It makes saying goodbye hard every time, but I am thankful! 

Last night this amazing church family helped us celebrate Elijah turning 18! Since Elijah enjoys chess, our sweet friends who were our gospel community group 10 years ago set up a chess tournament birthday party. It was so cleverly decorated and set up with his favorite things. In the midst of sickness and packing and everything, I didn’t know how I would plan a party, but my sweet friends did it all! I am so very thankful for this community that loves us and uses their gifts to show love to our family! 

 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:12

I am so thankful to know the love of Jesus better because of these dear friends who show his love to us! 

The Final Days

In 10 days I drop my firstborn off at college and a few days later fly back across the ocean. As I write these words, tears stream down my face. I remember the day just about 18 years ago when he was born. He has been a blessing to our family all of these years. He has always had wisdom and maturity beyond his years. He is an amazing young man and I am so very proud of him! 

As he begins this new adventure far away from home, I am reminding myself of truths that have brought me comfort over the years. The first and maybe the best “mom advice” I received came when I was pregnant with Elijah. I had been concerned that I might be having a miscarriage. I was crying in the teachers lounge and a friend walked in. When I explained to her what I was so anxious about, she told me that this was the beginning of my practice in trusting that God has my child in his hands. She said, “At first we worry about the pregnancy. Then once they are born, we feel the need to check on their breathing in the night. We feel like it is up to us to make sure our children are ok. Then, once they can walk we worry about if they will run into the street. When they learn to drive, it is an even bigger concern. But all of these are opportunities to trust God with our children. We can choose to live lives worrying, or we can pray and trust that God has them. He can care for them much better than we can.” She was not suggesting that we neglect to equip our kids for these stages of life, but she was suggesting that maybe it would be good to also equip ourselves to trust God. In each season when I begin worrying about my kids, I remember her advice and try to shift from fear to faith through prayer. 

In a little over a week, I get much more practice in trusting God with my child. It isn’t easy or painless, but God is good. All the time. He will be with me and He will be with my son in this new adventure. 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3-4‬)