One of the joys for us as we return to Uganda has been to visit memories that have grown dusty on the shelf of our minds. Not that the memories aren't important... many are very significant... but with few to share these memories it just means they are visited much less often.

For example while waiting for weekly bible study last week we heard what sounded like a gun shot (relax mom, we are fine!)which thankfully are relatively rare occurrences at this point in time... but it wasn't always so. My dear friend looked at me and said, " do your remember the night we gathered the children from their beds and all huddled in the bathroom (no windows) the night that the gunshots were steadily coming closer?" It was an event I haven't thought about in years, but in that moment we remembered together the protection of God and the joy of shared experiences.

We remembered the births of children and the care of those children through the various illness and incidents that they got into (stinging caterpillars, mango worms beneath sensitive skin, flapped corneas, and burned hands to name a few!)

We have remembered our initial cultural goofs and our journey towards greater understanding. We have remembered the creating of a home and friendships that have grown even in our fragmented visitng.

I remembered the death of my father with my dear friend Vincent who cried with me and helped me to try and find a phone to reach Tom with the news. So painful, yet so dear that I was not alone.
We remember the Hand of God that has sustained and strengthened ever so faithfully over the years.

It is good to remember and be in a place where sharing makes the memories fresh and in light of God's grace more sweet.

Julie