Spring is in the air and so are the construction projects.
I have been busy with work these days which is a good thing. We really need to add dollars to our bank account as taking 4 months off was draining it. But God is faithful and has provided and will continue to provide as we have needs. Praise Him!
The work in Mbale has slowed as Shawn told he wanted it to, but I will be getting more updated pictures from Heidi (the team photographer) after their trip to Kampala this week end. Other than that the father daughter tea was fun, but we ate too much sugary sweets. I will have a picture to post as soon as I get it from the photographer. All from here...we are well. Blessings, Tom

Looking Back Down the Road....
It's been 10 days since my last post. I was prayed through my healing from the malaria and God answered our/your prayers and I can report it's all gone. I started work last week and have been busy working on bids for work this summer. The work in Mbale continues to progress although at a slower pace. Ken Vaughn the 80 year old man who came 3 years ago to help in the process has come again and I pray him the same favor I had during my time there. The floors are finished and so is the all the face brick which leaves painting, air conditioning and electrical. The conference center is continuing to progress and I will update pictures as I get them. Well today is the father daughter tea at church and Melissa and I will attend again. All for now from this side of the planet. Blessings, Tom

Sorry,
I haven't blogged lately because I have Malaria...at aleast we think it is and I started treatment yesterday. Please pray because I need to work and we really can't afford too many doctors visits.
Thank You,
Tom

BACK THROUGH THE KEY HOLE!
I think I explained how we felt on our trip to Africa and now we've got sucked back through and now to dig out, do taxes, contemplate our time in Arica and WORK to top up the bank account!
Our trip;The flight from Entebbe was delayed and hour and we had to stop in Nairobi cuz there was not enough fuel in UG so we were 2 hours late. Missed a planned meeting with some friends in Amsterdam and got right back on the plane for MN, but besides that nothing out of the ordinary...even slept the first leg.
We got a nap thursday afternoon so we could go to the Maundy evening service...was real special and it even brought a tear to my eye (not exactely sure if I was so moved and greatful that God ahd brought us safely back or if I was just exhausted, or both).
One nuget I walked away with and I want to think on it more was that life as a missionary isn't so much about the spectaular (like people want it to be) and it is some times, but it's about the mundane, the day to day sluggin it out in a difficult world of circumstances with out the conveinces we have in the USA.
Thanks for all your prayers...don't stop now...will have more posts and pictures as the days pass. Blessings, Tom (the pick was us all packed up going to the airport)

here

The inevitable day is here!

So we leave for Kampala today. Not sure if we'll have e-mail there, so about near future blogs might have to wait untill we get home, but we'll have to see.

I'll start with Saturday...my last day at work and only part of a day at that. In the AM I handed over all the finances and records to Shawn Tyler (missionary-Mbale C of C) and that load was lifted. I have to say having all those millions of shillings passing through my fingers was probably the most taxing part of the work.
So most of the day was filled with taking Jeremy to the market, buying gifts for his friends and getting stuff he wanted to take back. We had a small going away party with the workers down at the site, soda's and bisquits and a few speaches and prayers...then dinner with the Tylers...Something happened for the the 1st time since we came, I actually saw the power going out as a blessing. Usually Saturday nights are very loud (party music)and need I say more? We had a peaceful night sleep.

Sunday...church, but a big surprise! Service was just starting and I was told I had some (white) visitors. I went out to find our neighbors brother and son loaded down with back packs standing there grinning at me. They came into the service and afterwards we went out to lunch (with the whole Mbale CoC team too) and the story unfolded. They now live in Israel and the son was doing the traveling for his barmiztfa. They were traveling to Ruwanda via Uganda and stopped in to say "Hi". We'll take them to Jinja to raft the Nile on our way to Kampala tomorrow.
Sun night bible study and pancakes at the Shelburnes...saying our fairwells at 2 different groups (was bitter sweet), but as we said our "see ya laters" (better than good bye's) to so many that we have been fellow shipping with while here we felt grateful that God had blessed us with these dear olf friends and many new friends also.

It's now 5 AM and We leave in just about 4 hours...I've lots to do and as I said before the blog will continue for some months as news of the building, and thoughts and musings come our way...Blessings and thanks for blogging with us. Tom for the whole family...