Last week when the group from our organization, The Reckoning International, was visiting, we took a trip to Sipi Falls. We got up at 4:30 am. That’s right, you read that correctly. A.M. We picked everyone up and got around to leaving by around 5:30. A few hours later we were driving up the mountain, amazed at the beautiful scenery and picturesque waterfalls that could be seen from a distance.

Once we arrived, our guide took us on a short, steep hike. It was colder than we expected and the spray from the waterfall gave a sharp chill as we got closer and closer. Lillie had the whole hiking with comfort thing down as she got to ride in the back pack. Gracie was a trooper, but when her little legs couldn’t make it, Dustin carried her along.

It wasn’t very long before we reached the waterfall. We took pictures as we got sprayed by the water and took in the beauty and power that surrounded us.

Here are a few of the pictures to give you a little taste of some of the beauty you can find in Uganda. God is an artist, and it is so evident here!

The month of June FLEW by! With how quickly June has come and gone it’s not hard to imagine that at the end of our three year term we will look back and wonder where those three years went! We continue to grow accustomed to Ugandan living as each day passes and we are so appreciative of the continued prayers and support we know many of you have been sending our way. We thought that now that we are a few months in, it may be a good time to update our prayer requests!

As a family we ask for prayer for continued safety and health. We have been blessed with both so far and pray that as we continue traveling (occasionally longer distances to Kampala, which is a four hour drive) we will be granted safety. We also ask for prayers that our visa situation will continue to progress and the paperwork would go through speedily and with little or no complications.

Dustin-prayer to continue meeting the right people needed to help projects progress and thrive. For wisdom and safety as he travels, builds relationships, and plans his next steps. For patience with those he works with as he often has to wait on others to fulfill their tasks first and patience at home as we adjust to a new family schedule.

Moriah-prayers for guidance and wisdom as she seeks more defined roles at the orphange (Smile Africa), and continued guidance in her continued roles as wife, mother, shop owner, friend, etc.  For patience, confidence, and courage to love without fear at home with her family and also with those she meets and forms relationships with.

Gracie and  Lillie- prayers for patience and peace as they often have to wait longer for things or through things than accustomed to. For a growing understanding of the importance of kindness and generosity to those we meet and a desire to strengthen their walk with the Lord.

Thank you again for all the support and love you have sent our way. We are so thankful for each of you and want you all to know that you are appreciated and are a great blessing to us!

Love from Uganda,

The Steiners

We’ve been in Uganda for over a month now! There are still times when I look around me and I think, “Wow, I’m really in Africa!” That may seem kind of weird, but it still amazes me at times that part of God’s plan for me and my family was packing up and moving half way across the world to a place I never imagined living. Even a year ago, I’m not sure that I would have imagined how I would be spending my days in Africa. For those of you interested in what a typical day looks right now, I’ll give you the run down. This will be continually evolving as we are still settling in on some level, and as new projects and focuses become evident.

As a mama, I try to wake up early before the girls to get in a little time to myself. Maybe work out a little, do devotions and pray. About 75% of the time, even if I wake up at 6 am, this is done with the girls wide eyed and bushy tailed in the living room with me. Sometimes daddy gets to sleep in till seven, and occasionally the girls sleep till seven, though  this is rare!

Breakfast by 7 (because they’ve already been up for an hour). A lot of mornings making African tea is part of the routine. Gracie likes hers with honey. If it’s a Saturday, we’re making pancakes!

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AFRICAN TEA

Black tea (African tea or garden tea)

2 cups of milk

2 cups of water

Combine milk and water and seep tea packets or loose leaf African tea in pot on medium high until it starts to boil. Take off burner and if using loose leaf, strain the leaves. Add desired amount of sugar and serve hot. Will make about 4 cups of tea.

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Start doing laundry. There is ALWAYS a load of laundry to hand wash in buckets and hang dry on the line. It hardly ever rains in the morning, so at least you know it will dry!

On a typical day I try to do some school lessons with the girls. We read a Bible story, work on our ABCs, sing, do workbooks, read, art projects, those sorts of things. Dustin may try to get some e-mailing done and make needed phone calls.

Some days we head into the market.  Other days we may take a walk, or maybe just stay home, get some cleaning done, turn up the music and dance it out. By dancing I mean jumping and flailing.

Lunch and naps. A needed break in the middle of the day for us all!

After naps we often take it easy. Relax outside, or if you are Gracie and Lillie, you will walk up on our neighbor’s porches, chase chickens, or get your legs nipped by all the puppies.  This week we have also gone to the orphanage, Smile Africa, a few afternoons to hang out at the baby center. What do I do there? Hold babies!

Thursdays we often go to fellowship (kind of like a church small group) with the girls. This usually means one of us is inside the house trying to pay attention and the other is outside watching the girls.

We’ve slowly started exploring more as we’ve settled into our new environment. Some days we may go to the pool that is a short walk down our road. We have made the trip to Mbale a few times (a 45 minute drive) where we have learned you can find less common household and food items, swim in a nice pool, and eat American food! Salad and a burger never tasted so good! We have even made the trip to Kampala (a 4 hour drive) and visited a Reckoning project that Dustin is overseeing.

There are days that involve meetings and planning with people for Dustin, Skyping with family and friends, and always lots of relationship building. The evening are a time to relax, work on projects, keep record of finances, and try to plan ahead.

There are so many things different about our days here, yet some things that seem just about the same. We realize there are  a lot of things we took for granted in the U.S. and are learning new ways to do things. It’s a blessing, an adventure, and a challenge all in one! Thank you for all your support and prayers!

Oh, and on the way back from Kampala, you get to see baboons!

 

 

Welcome to our home. If you hopped on a plane to come visit us, or you happen to be reading this from Uganda and want to go grab a boda and come on over, here is what you would find. I didn’t particularly clean up for these pics, so this is the real deal.

Porch

You’ll always find a pile of shoes by the front door.

The porch is a pretty nice hangout

Living Room

The living room is really coming together since we got our couch and chairs last week.

School/Play Room

The girl’s play area and room we have been having our “school lessons” in.

Kitchen

Personal chef?

Bedroom

We all get to sleep together. You get the good, bad, and the ugly, but mostly good.

Bathroom

We have an actual toilet for those of you that were worried we would have to use a squat pot.

Address

We are working at getting an address for those that are wanting to mail things. Apparently since our landlady does not pay for a box at the post office, things cannot be shipped here.

 

No matter where you are, you’re circumstances aren’t always joyful. Your day doesn’t always go smoothly. Everything you planned on doing doesn’t always get done. You don’t always find everything falling into place perfectly and effortlessly. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Ohio or Uganda-some days just don’t appear joyful.

I was recently reading one of the She Reads Truth devotionals on the fruits of the spirit. One particular post that has stuck with both Dustin and myself was the devotional on joy. It was emphasized that joy is not found in our circumstances. It is not found because our day went just as planned, we had loads of fun, or accomplished a lot. Our joy is found in Christ. So even on the days when we’re tired of everyone staring at us, we really wish a Dalton Dari-ette would magically appear in Tororo, or we just miss our family and friends,we can still find joy. Even when everything is strange, and new and the learning process and relationship building feels slow going, our joy rest in knowing that Christ alone guides us.

The gift list continues…and you can see I haven’t posted it in awhile! In these gifts I find so much joy. Not just because these are things that make me happy, but because of the joy that is found in giving thanks to the Lord who has provided these things.

I’ve also reached 1000! And here I start back over,  with new friends in a new place.

#965-1000

Lillie saying “kitty” and “hi kitty”//Lillie point to things when asked and saying “there”//Gracie tracing numbers//zoo day//hikes//Lillie’s feet and fingers in creek//Emily’s baby shower//movie with Dustin//gentle breeze and a babbling brook//Lillie’s warm cheek and smell//cleaning out house//friends and family to help//lunch date with a new friend//Gracie sleeping with leg in the air//supportive church family//walks in woods with Dad and Lillie//fairy garden//Elsa braid//girls running around in church//Uganda countdown//time spent with family and friends//Gracie and Lillie’s first boda ride//Dustin killing cockroaches//mosquito nets//skype with mom//rain//cold bath water//chipate and curry//naps//chairs//clothesline//hugs from kids at orphanage//driving around Tororo//Gracie’s arms around my neck//Lillie’s restless sleep//Lillie saying “book” and “rock”

#1-7

fellowship with new friends//nursing in public//being malaria free//Gracie dancing on stage with other kids at church//Lillie backing up to sit with you and read//girls playing in mud//skype with family and friends