Hello again!

I feel as though I should reintroduce myself. My name is Taryn McKim, and I am writing this blog as a record of God's work in my life, my thoughts, and my feelings. As a spur to myself to keep writing, I promise not to give up, and to remember that my primary purpose is to glorify God.

Perhaps it would work well to begin my reintroduction by explaining some of the things I have not written about for so many years. Each of these paragraphs could be several blog posts, but for right now, here's the short version.

When I wrote my last post, I was already talking with a man I had met there in Uganda. Stuart came to Uganda from Idaho on a month-long visit, and by the end of a few weeks of being there, knew he wanted to keep in touch with me. Those conversations during his commute to work, and our occasional video chats got deeper and deeper, until we were talking of our love for each other.

When I came back to NY to visit my family, Stuart also came, to visit me, meet my family, and see the place I grew up. It was nerve-wracking to wonder how our relationship would change once we met in person again, but it was, as most things are, a silly thing to worry about. Our relationship has continued to get stronger with each parting and each reunion.

I visited Idaho that fall, 2015 and met his parents and church, and we got engaged, and a week later I had bought my dress and was back in Uganda for my last 3 months there as a single girl. It was a very blessed but hard time of transition and pouring into those who would be continuing the work I had been doing.

We married in May of 2016, and I moved to Idaho. There have been many adventures here, and many entirely new things that are now a part of my life. Our church, New Geneva OPC, is wonderful, and truly feels like family. We also welcomed our daughter, Margaret, born in December of 2018, and she's already 9 months old.

Now we are getting ready to see what God may have for us to do back in Uganda! Stuart, Margaret and I are leaving for a month long exploratory trip on October 28th. We will be visiting friends, but primarily we will be going to interview for two very different positions, hoping to see which one the Lord would have us pursue.

One option is in the capital city of Uganda, Kampala, working with Engineering Ministries International. The other option is where I lived for a little over two years, in Karamoja with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

There will be more to come, but I wanted to get my blog updated, at least a little bit.

You can read our letter at our family blog.

Culinary Adventures

So first I'd like to apologize for waiting so long in between updates.
I'm going to try and post more regularly.

Yesterday, we decided to put to good use some of the things we got while shopping in Kampala almost three weeks ago. We bought ghee, which is clarified butter, and canned strawberries in syrup.

So we decided to borrow a waffle iron, and make waffles!

The first step was to readjust to using cast iron, both its weight and the need to keep it oiled.

The next thing was to adjust the thickness of the batter. I knew the waffles were supposed to come off on their own when they were finished, but I had to pry most of the first ones off with a fork to prevent them from burning, partially because of the batter, and partially because of the temperamental nature of the gas burner I was using.

I made it my goal to get at least one to fall off on its own when it was done, but Leah and I had a couple of good laughs as I gave up on a few more and pried them off. I didn't want to let the stove win. Finally, I managed to get one waffle to fall off the iron without using the fork at all. I consider that a victory.

Of course, even the ones I had to pry off tasted delicious when smothered with Hannah and Bekah's strawberries, and my ghee. However, Leah's prized, real 100% maple syrup was the real star of the night!

Last night we watched the most recent Pirates of the Caribbean and tonight we watched Escape from Planet Earth. We love to laugh, tell stories, and watch movies, and we topped off the night by making egg creams! They're not as good as the ones my dad makes, but they're pretty special all the same. By far the best part is the time spent in sweet fellowship with these ladies.

Catching Up on Posts

So here are some previous updates, for my patient readers and prayer warriors, starting with the oldest, to the most recent.

October 12th

The short story:

We are adjusting to having new teachers on staff at KEO, which now includes five ministries: 

Moru Asia, (more-ooh ah-SEE-ah) an early village class under a tree; 

Nakaale Primary School; 

Alamacar Primary School; 

Afternoon Class, for older students; 

and our first ministry, Moru a Grace Preschool.
Erika and I were talking about how many children are taught, Bible and academics, in our ministry, and the most conservative estimate was hundreds!
I had Thursday off this week, as we closed the school for Uhuru Day, Ugandan independence day! There are parties and dances going on all around, and even the rain can't dampen spirits. I wasn't able to see any dancing, but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to see some of the ones that will be held to celebrate Christmas!
I was able to fully unpack and set up my home, so that I finally feel like I'm fully back.
On Friday I got to walk to Moru Asia and see the children there. I have now greeted everyone who knew me last year, or at least, everyone who is around.
I have not yet decided if I'm going to choose one person here to help me with my language study, but everyone I ask for advice or assistance is so helpful that I haven't yet had a problem.

The Long story:

It was great to be back with the children here. I am blessed to be a part of this work. It's sometimes hard to remember the names and faces of so many people, but it's slowly getting easier. I am enjoying walking to school and church, even if the culvert is staying full of water, making staying dry a bit challenging.
I was able to spend two days at the Preschool this week, one at Nakaale Primary School, and one at the village class in Moru Asia, with the letter 's' pronounced with what seems like a lisp, Moru Ah-see-ah.
At the preschool I was encouraged to see many of the same students from three months ago, but there were also many absent. Some are absent because of sickness, so please pray for their recovery. We are working on writing out basic lesson plans, as well as teaching the teachers to follow them.
When I went to Nakaale Primary School I was able to test how much of my Karimojong language skills I had remembered, and I was encouraged. I still have far to go, but my favorite moment was with my P4 and P5 students, basically 3rd-4th grade, asking them in English if they understood me, and getting blank stares. Then in Karimojong I said, “Raise your hand if you know Karimojong”” “Kikey akan, iyenete iyes ngaKarimojong?” and they did! There are still lots of things I have no idea how to say, but thankfully I am working with excellent translators. Through them I was able to teach the difference between how Rahab 'feared' Jehovah and how the people of Jericho 'feared' him. I haven't yet learned the words, but they are two different ones in ngaKarimojong.
I was also able to visit with the class near the village of Moru Asia. There were about 25 children there on Friday, and the teachers had taken the initiative to 'slash' the grass, so that there would be places to sit and separate the children into two groups based on skill level. I was so very happy to greet some of my former students at the preschool, who have become shepherd boys, in charge of animals. They can not make the thirty minute walk to the preschool anymore, or spend the whole morning, but I am happy they are still getting to learn. They are hearing the gospel, and learning their letters and numbers.
It's very good to be testing out my Karimojong, and I'm even finding it useful to make cards and techniques that might even help others after me. This morning at church we were able to have a Bible school class for potential members, but since it is dealing with the membership vows, it is a very basic gospel presentation. Afterward, I was able to say a simple sentence to the translator, and even though he didn't understand me the first time, he was able to help me clarify my thoughts, and teach me the right way to say, “The people who will be saved are those whose sins have been washed in the blood of Christ."

OCTOBER 19th

The short story:

My language lessons are continuing to help me teach. I am looking forward to increasing my understanding and lessening my reliance on translation.
I love teaching in the Primary school. I have started again with my fourth grade boys, who are struggling with reading. Pray for my diligence and creativity to hold out as I seek to keep them engaged and learning.
I am seeking to give myself, whole heart and soul, in the service of His kingdom. Please pray that I would not look at my failings, but at His mercy and grace, knowing that when he looks at me he sees Christ's righteousness. 
Pray that as I seek to give my all, I'd remember that he is my all in all. I have been so ministered to by the people here, both mission members and visitors, in so many ways. Please pray for my ministry to them to be full of the whole gospel.
I know that he has a plan for this place, and that it has a part for me to play in it. I'm just waiting to see what the best way for me to play it is. Pray that as I seek to rely fully on him, that he would give me the desires of my heart, to be a blessing in this place. Pray also that I would not think too highly of myself, I truly am just a small part of God's kingdom coming in this part of the world.

OCTOBER 26th

The Short Story:

Thank you all for praying for me, short story, Less rain is always good, both for mindsets and illnesses. I'm so thankful I haven't been sick at all! It's almost a month and in the beginning of Nov. I'll get to go on a trip to Mbale at least, and possibly to Jinja, so please pray that I continue to stay healthy. I'm thankful we'll get to have our conference, with Doug Clawson and Mark Bube. I'm also thankful for some really good conversations with a good friend here. I think we're both doing well, and the school is thriving, but she's leaving for Christmas, and I promised I'd keep her in my prayers.
UGH, it's about to rain, right before evening service down at the clinic. Here's hoping I can get a ride with someone and not have to foot it across the culvert on my day off.

Long Story:

I've been praying about the future, and I'm willing to wait on the Lord's plans to be revealed. I'm not in a rush, and I'm refusing to worry about tomorrow, for sufficient to each day is the trouble and grace assigned to it.
I'm very thankful for our new teachers, as they are incredibly easy to talk to, great men, who really seem to enjoy teaching. 
We are still praying for at least another teammate to come and help from America, so please bring that before the throne of grace. It would be wonderful to be able to expand our labors here, but it really only works with more help, and not less!
On balance, I love my life here, with all its idiosyncracies and even with the rain, although I could wish I didn't have to go out in it! I was reminded during the children's Bible school class that God makes the sun and the rain, and these little Karimojong children reminded me that God is good! Ejok Akuj! Forever and ever! Ngikaru ka ngikaru! and also, without prompting them, they sang, This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it, and I sang along, in ngaKarimojong! It was one of the first songs I learned, and I helped translate it!
My many Bible studies are going well, I am memorizing Hebrews 12 and we are studying that on Wed. nights. I am also joining the FSOPC women's study on Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, and I am reading a book I found here called, Yawning at Tigers: You Can't Tame God So Stop Trying. It is a very insightful call to be looking at God closely and honestly enough to be amazed at God, and not to make him in our own image, so that he's tame enough to understand and control.
Well, that's all for now, the thunder is rolling, and we are going to move evening service to the big room, so we don't have to travel to the clinic in the rain.

Well, I'm back!

It's so good to be back again!

(THIS ENTRY WAS WRITTEN ON SUNDAY)

The short story:

We had a long and exhausting trip up to Karamoja yesterday, with some of us not even arriving until this morning.

I am very thankful that it was not worse, and that no one was hurt.

It's wonderful to be back with everyone here.

Please pray:

For rest as we recover from a very eventful trip.

For peace as I adjust to being back on the mission and settle back into my banda.

For picking up relationships as I get back to work here.

The LONG story:

I suspect that some of you have already heard what an adventure I have had as I've traveled back to Karamoja. I am very thankful for all of your prayers, we have all arrived safely back here.

I am exhausted, and the only reason I am writing this now is that there are people who will want an update at morning worship at my sending church. I have had a good night of sleep last night, back in my own bed, and a blessed Lord's Day morning. It was so wonderful to greet my friends here, and especially exciting to see the children in church. They had some songs prepared to share with us after morning worship, and they did a beautiful job.

My trip started four days ago with a great send-off by my Wednesday night Young Adults group. My family saw me off to my first flight to London, and I got five hours of sleep! I made my connection in Heathrow with no trouble, bypassing the long security line and arriving at my gate even before boarding started. Once I was onboard, I was able to greet Dr. Jim and Jenny Knox, and their little one, Eoin. I tried my best to stay awake, since I knew I would be arriving in Entebbe at 11:00 PM local time. I watched a few movies, and chatted with my neighbor, who had been in NY attached to President Museveni's trip to the UN. When we arrived in Entebbe, we were able to collect all of our luggage, after they took our temperature to make sure we were not sick. We met up with Pastor Al and Chris Verdick who had come to pick us up.

The next morning, Pastor Al, Erika, and I were going to try and make it all the way up to Karamoja. However, after lunching in Jinja, the roads were congested, and the rain was reported to be heavy. So when we reached Mbale Pastor Al decided it was too late in the day to start the next leg of our trip and we spent the night at the Sunrise Inn.

This is where the adventure really begins, or stops, depending on how you look at it. We left Mbale by about 10:30AM, with the other car, including the Knoxs and Verdicks. We made great time until we entered Karamoja about two hours later. This is when I started to lose track of time. First we were waiting to see if the trucks that were stuck in the mud in front of us would be able to get out. We spent some time trying to pull them part of the way, and evaluating a passage off to the side of the road. Then we tried to go around the trucks, and one car made it through, but mine got stuck, up to its axles. The women and babies got into that one, and drove to the next tough spot. Then Erika and I walked back to the other car to get some things we'd left behind, and stretch our legs. When we got back, it was starting to rain, but we were going to drive through the next stretch of mud. We all walked through ahead of the car, except for Jim who was driving. It got stuck on the side of the road, but Jesse had come from the Mission and between digging and pulling they got it out. The rain had stopped, so with Jenny driving, the women got in, while the men went back to try and help the other stuck car.

We were through the worst of the mud, but there was still some, so Jenny was being cautious. She mentioned that it felt like she was overcompensating a lot for the mud, but it wasn't until we lost all steering as we were coming through a soggy place and ended up slowing to a stop that we realized we had lost the tie rod on the driver's side. This story is already long enough, so suffice it to say that Pastor Dave, Bobby, and Josh came from the mission, and after they had tried to fix it for a while, we just ended up getting into one of their cars for Chloe to drive us, while they clamped and tied up the tie rod and slowly drove it the rest of the way.

Pastor Al, Jesse, Chris and Jim tried to get the other car out, with assistance from a tractor, but there were too many cars in the way for them to get home that night. Chris and Jim came back in Jesse's car, with the valuables, and Pastor Al and Jesse spent the night with the car, arriving back this morning after morning worship.

A Blessed Resurrection Day!

So thankful for so many things!

I am thankful for my health, especially since I haven't been feeling well this week. Being back to normal energy levels and pain-free is wonderful!

I learned how to say, "He is risen" "He is risen Indeed!" 

In Karimojong you say, "Ayaru Yesu" "Ayaru inges Kire!" 

"Lord Jesus" "Ekapolon a Yesu"

I'm also very thankful for a connection to the internet so I can post this blog. I know that many of you are praying for me, so let me take some time to update you on our ministries here so you can pray with understanding.

Moru a Grace Preschool

The preschool is going along wonderfully. We are hiring more teachers so that we can continue other outreaches, but the first thing I did when I got here was start working with the preschoolers, and they are probably my favorite.

I'm not sure if I ever posted the specifics of what we are doing, so I'll try and give you an overview.

In the morning, we greet the children, sing some songs, most of which I now have memorized. Unfortunately, part of the reason is that the children love to sing the same songs, and if we let them pick them all, we'd sing the same ones about Noah, Abraham, and loving your neighbor. All three are in Karamojong, but they are very similar to the ones we sang in Bible School in the states. Someday I'll see if I can get a video of them posted on here! They love to jump and smile while they sing!

Well, that level of detail is just not good for an overview, so I'll try and be more concise, but it's hard when I have so many good stories!

After a Bible story told by our Headmaster Tete George, we split the children by ability, and break into groups for letters, numbers, and outside games. I love the way they are so excited for their turn to put the date up on our class calendar; their little hands shoot up, and they say, "Ayong, Ayong!" which means, "Me, Me! 

I also love getting to work with our Karamojong co-teachers. In the seven months I've been here, I've gotten to know these ladies, and they are wonderful. They are strong, faithful, and their joy is often clearer than my own. I usually begin the morning teaching the lesson, and by the end, they are often comfortable enough to teach the next group with some small assistance from me. The goal is for each of them to become confident, skilled teachers, so please pray they would continue to learn and grow!

How's this for a teaser, in my next post, I'll talk about how the children play soccer and how they liked flying my kite!

Shepherd Boys Classes

In Moru Asia (pronounced ah-thee-ah) they are meeting every morning before the boys take their animals our of the compound for the day. They are working on similar subjects as the preschoolers, because there is not a culture of literacy here, and most of them have no formal school experience. They range in age from about 7 to about 13, and they average over a dozen in attendance. There are very few things written in their language, mostly the Bible and some school books. So we are exposing them to books, letters, math, and other subjects slowly but surely. They are very clever and they pick things up quickly, so they are moving pretty fast.

Babysitter Girls Classes

In the afternoons, when the preschoolers have gone home, we have a class for about a dozen girls who are too busy in their homes to go to school. They are either working like their moms, tending children and cooking meals, or they are hired out to other homes. They haven't had much school experience, and they can be shy, but they have become more comfortable and they are able to understand much more quickly than the preschoolers, because they are older and more focused. We use a set up that is similar to the morning, but with less playing and puzzles, and other subjects like science and health sometimes included. They also really enjoy hearing stories told!

Well, 'til next time!

There's always more to tell, but for now I'll sign off and just say thanks for everything.

If you read all the way to the bottom of this crazy long post, please let me know what you think~ 

Language Lessons

Daily Lessons

Some of you have asked me how my language study is going, and I know many of you are praying for me to have diligence and success in this endeavor. I have been so blessed by my study of this language, and I am making progress, slowly but surely. Please pray primarily for continued willingness to sound ridiculous in order to gain fluency, and patience for those I am speaking with as they correct my awkward attempts.

Manners

My favorite thing I learned today is how to ask nicely! "Kingarakinae" means "Help me" but if I add "robo" I can use it to ask the teachers to help with something, instead of how it sounds when I am telling the children to do it.

Uncorrected Homework Assignment

I'd like to update you by posting my latest homework assignment. Today we worked on conjugating the past tense of several different verbs, starting with 'go'. My task was to write 5 sentences using some of the words we learned today.

Aponio iwon tolotoi Namalu ka Alakara Akidoun a Yesu.

Apotu ikes kiwara ecaka losikul.

Abu ayong olimok ngidwe daadang tolomutu tooma ka tolemutu ngiboro abolya.

Aponio isua  togyelai apukado ngitomon ka atap akwar.

Aponio isua kiboikinete kamukeke kakitatam losikul.

Translation Attempt

We went, without you, to Namalu for Christmas.

They searched for chalk at school

I told all the children to come inside and pick up the things for playing.

We bought 10 avocados for dinner tonight.

We sat on the mat for teaching at school.

Encouragements from Amy Carmichael's Pen

Encouragements

Some words from Amy Carmichael have been encouraging my heart today, so I'll share them below. Further down the page is a longer excerpt from her book titled, God's Missionary. She has always inspired me to reach for the hard things God would have me do, and she was the first missionary I loved to read about as a child. Please pray for strength for me and those I am working alongside, as we engage in the Warfare of God's kingdom.

Quick Quotes from Amy Carmichael

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”

“If you would live in victory . . . you must refuse to be dominated by the seen and the felt.”

“Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is.”

“It is a safe thing to trust Him to fulfill the desires which He creates”

“What is the secret to great living? Entire separation to Christ and devotion to Him. Thus speaks every man and woman whose life has made more than a passing flicker in the spiritual realm. It is the life that has no time for trifling that counts.”

“From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.”

“Pray that we may enter into that travail of soul with Him. Nothing less is any good. Spiritual children mean travail of soul-spiritual agony.”

“Satan is so much more in earnest than we are — he buys up the opportunity while we are wondering how much it will cost.”

“Joy is not gush. Joy is not mere jolliness. Joy is perfect acquiescence ~ acceptance, rest ~ in God’s will, whatever comes.”

“Give me the Love that leads the way
The Faith that nothing can dismay
The Hope no disappointments tire
The Passion that’ll burn like fire
Let me not sink to be a clod
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God”

Entanglements

Excerpted from God’s Missionary

Amy Carmichael

What is the ideal of God’s missionary? He is to be a Soldier, disentangled; a Nazarite, separated; a Priest, crowned. God’s missionary is a Soldier on service out on campaign, and he cannot be entangled in the affairs of this life, “the little affairs,” as the Greek has it. They are so little as compared with the great affairs of the War. Does not the word “disentangled” run straight across much that is sometimes accepted as admissible, and even desirable in the Lord’s soldier?

There is the social entanglement: such and such things are expected of us, and we cannot do what is required in this direction, and at the same time get the quiet we know we must secure if we are to go on in strength and in calmness of spirit. There are afternoon functions which to a conscientious worker often involve a crush somewhere, if the countless things that do not show when they are done, but are missed if they are not done, are to be peacefully accomplished. There are the late hours, simple enough for those whose duties do not call them up at dawn; but for those who, to have any sort of undisturbed quiet, must not only be up by dawn but awake the dawn, quite another matter. “It was so late when I got home that I was too tired to read or have proper quiet time,” said one in speaking of these social duties so called. Quiet time - the word is vital.

This little book was about to go out for the fourth time when a girl who had read it at home said, “There is nothing in it about modern women’s dress, and nothing about useless talk.” It is true there is not and, to be frank, it is not easy to write about either; thorns and briers lie round about these subjects:

Dress:
Dead to world and its applause,
To all the customs, fashions, laws,
Of those who hate the humbling Cross.
Are the words too old to matter now? I cannot think so. But let us go to our Lord, the Crucified, and ask Him what He thinks about it. And if He asks us to change our ways even in this, for His sake and for the sake of those whom we might help if we cared more for Him, and our windows were open towards Jerusalem, and not towards any earthly city, shall we not do it?

And talk:
If we write it down as a law of the house that the absent are not discussed to their detriment, that no belittling stories are told of any one, nor anything said about any one unless it passes through the three sieves, Is it true? kind? necessary? if we humble ourselves if ever, unawares, we break this law, we shall be astonished at the amount of talk of the kind that harms the spirit which it rules out with a stroke. And the frothy talk of nothingness, the mere noise of words that can dull and make dusty a whole table of Christian people, will not taste good to us if by His grace we keep that law. Talk can pull down as well as build up, and it can entrap and weaken in a very curious way. But the talk that is the kind He would enjoy, frank and simple and sincere and happy as the song of the birds - this kind of talk lifts up and helps. Imagination is in place here. Imagine the Lord at table or in the room (and He is); how would our talk sound to Him? All we need, all we want, is to have His ungrieved Presence with always.

And there is the entanglement of overwork. Who has not known it? The more we love our work, the keener we are to do it well, or the more the burden of souls unreached weighs upon our hearts, the greater our joy in reaching them, the subtler the form this entangling peril takes, and the more likely we are to slip into it before we are aware.

And there is another. I would not touch upon it were it not that it is so terribly familiar, so deadly in its entangling: the unconfessed, perhaps unrealized, awakening of ambition, the love of the praise of man that brings a snare.

Suddenly, to us thus entangled, comes a call for the exercise of special spiritual energy. Someone has to be dealt with in some definite way. A trial, from which the flesh shrinks back dismayed, waits for us round the next corner. There is a sense of coming conflict; we feel the air thick with contending forces - good and evil - and the evil so terribly strong. O, those bonds - invisible cords - why do they hold one so? “As a thread of two is broken when it touches the fire” - we think of that, and call upon the God of fire to burn the bonds and set us free to fight this fight for that soul, to enable us to stand ourselves peaceful and strong in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. But is it that the Lord is farther from us than He used to be? For we fail. And thus - and who that has gone through it can ever forget it? - is there not a grief too grievous to be borne, as the very heart breaks with the shame and the sorrow of the thought: If I had spent more time with God for souls I should have had more power with God for souls, and been more calm myself in this turmoil of great waters? For the powers of darkness are as strong as ever they were. Times have not changed since the days of St. Paul. The fight with the spirits of evil is just as desperate now as it was then. The stern condition still holds good: “This kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.” We cannot go in for entanglements of any sort, and for spiritual power at the same time.

”The evangelization of the heathen world” - it is Coillard of the Zambezi who said it - “is a desperate struggle with the Prince of Darkness, and with everything his rage can stir up in the shape of obstacles, vexations, oppositions, and hatred, whether by circumstances or by the hand of man. It is a serious task. It should mean a life of consecration and faith.”

It is not for nothing that the soldier’s word “entanglement” is used only once again in the New Testament, and then in connection with something dangerous. It is used of those who, having escaped “the miasmas of the world,” are drawn back into them and “overcome.”

We dread malarial fever, and fear lest it should get hold of us and drive us out of the mission- field. Should we less dread this spiritual malaria, the fever of a restless soul, which has a power, we know not how, to enervate the very fibre of our being, and so unnerve us for the fight? Surely this is the most dangerous form of fever possible. A fit soul in an unfit body is doubtless uncomfortably crippled, but it is not wholly ineffective; but what is the good of a fit body with an unfit soul inside it? It may was well go home at once for all the fighting it will do in the mission battlefield.

But is there not a better way?

Searcher of spirits,
Try Thou my reins and heart,
Cleanse Thou my inward part,
Turn, overturn and turn.
Wood, hay and stubble see,
Spread out before Thee,
Burn, burn.

Saviour of sinners,
Out of the depths I cry,
Perfect me or I die:
Perfect me, patient One;
In Thy revealing light,
I stand confused outright,
Undone.

O to be holy!
Thou wilt not say me nay
Who movest me to pray.
Enable to endure:
Spiritual cleansing Fire,
Fulfil my heart’s desire.
Make pure.

Holiday pics and more fun things!

Not sure if I ever shared a picture from Thanksgiving; I made the stuffing!

Students at KEO enjoying cupcakes for Madame Erika's going away party!

She built a fence, like the one around her house! They don't mind taking down their creations as much if I've taken a picture first!

I wasn't sure if I already shared a picture of one house in my Gingerbread Neighborhood.

This kitten gets bigger every day, but I still love her!

Poinsettia plant, one of many that are always in bloom.

Boxing Day playing Fishbowl at the Knox's house, I'll post instructions sometime!

For Christmas Day, we visited the church in Namalu, and they put on a skit as part of the celebrations! These children are displaying the dangers of falling asleep in church.

Saying farewell to the Webers as they head back down to Mbale after Boxing Day celebrations! Glad you could come!

This one pretty much speaks for itself!

New Year, New Stories!

So, I can't believe I haven't written a post since Christmas; I could blame lots of things, but I won't.

Let me start by saying that I am so incredibly blessed! I know that my God has promised to provide everything that I need, but it's an added blessing when I actually, from my heart, feel content in what he has provided for me! I have had a wonderful holiday season, filled with laughter and joy, both here and in the states!

I was, and continue to be, so thankful for the many cards, letters, and e-mails that I have received. I am making no promises, but I'm going to try and respond to them all. It is such a good reminder to me that so many people are praying for me, and thinking about me, even those who didn't send letters, no worries, I know you love me and that I'm in your hearts!

My family went totally overboard in the amount of things they sent me, but each one is cherished because it represents their love for me. I got DVD's, music, and audio books; special candles, soaps, tic-tacs, and notebooks; and even some of my favorite tea! I was able to talk, and Skype with them at several key moments, like the opening of presents, and I was able to send them gifts as well.

We are now back to school for two weeks after our Christmas and New Year's break, but I was only here for the first two days of the first week, because I went down to Kampala for my first trip to the capital since I arrived. Pastor Al, Maryann and I went down to drop off Maryann and pick up Erika, Jesse, and a new visitor, Hannah. Kampala is incredibly busy and fun, but somehow I miss America more when I'm in the city, probably because my own place feels so comfortable, and Kampala seems so strange and new.

There was a huge bookstore in the mall! It was so much fun to just browse and read, and of course buy some books, how could I refuse? I bought a map of Uganda, so I could trace my travels. I also bought a new stitch guide for crochet, so I can learn the UK method of naming stitches (pictures of projects soon), and I bought a new book called The Light Between Oceans, which I only know is set on a lighthouse island off the coast of Australia, sometime after one of the World Wars; it came highly recommended by a friend. I'll let you know what I think when I know more, but for now listen to this, "It seemed his lungs could never be large enough to breathe in this much air, his eyes could never see this much space..."

I've been able to enjoy some of the new DVDs my sister sent me, including Much Ado About Nothing, and Now You See Me, both excellent! And I'm listening to some of the great music my brother sent me, even as I'm writing this post, specifically "What Is This Feeling" and "For Good" in honor of my sisters' viewing of Wicked on Broadway.

The school is going well, and even though I've got miles to go, I feel like I'm making progress with the little pieces of ngaKarimojong I'm trying to learn. I can almost teach some of the simpler lessons in the Numbers Corner, so thank you all who are praying for my lessons to continue going well! I'm also grateful for my continued good health, and my adjustment to the high temperatures of the dry season, which are here to stay for a while. My blood has definitely thinned while I've been here, because I now start shivering and looking for my sweater when the thermometer hits 60F and my family is dealing with single digit temperatures.

Well, that's all for now, I'm so thankful for your patience with me if you've read this far, let me know what you think by commenting below!
Love to you all,
Kimala Daadang (Greet those who are there!)
Alakara dang (Thanks for everything!)
Taryn

Pictures for Christmas!

Old picture of Our Thanksgiving Feast!

Making Cupcakes for Miss Erika's Leaving Party

My First Ever Gingerbread Neighborhood
#1 Knox's house

#2 Tricarico's house

#3 Wright's house

#4 My house!

Christmas Times!

Joy to the World

As I sit here at my computer, I'm playing Christmas music for the teachers who are sitting and making our special lunch. We are cooking up Irish, muchulai, and cutting up cabbage for salad. We are making sure that the kittens stay out of the buckets, the more curious one already doused herself by falling in, and keeping the dogs out of the food. We are sitting on my porch, and behind me is an open fire with a big pot propped up on stones, cooking the piece de resistance, the three ducks that were taken home by one of the teachers and killed, cleaned and cut last night. I figured out that the dog and cat were mostly thirsty, so once I found a bowl that the kitten wouldn't fall into, she was okay, and now she's all dried off and looks more comfortable. I helped cut up the Irish, known in America as potatoes, and one of the teachers sorted out the muchulai, also called rice. I'm quite sure they would have laughed at my pitiful cutting skills, especially after I watched them slice up everything from cabbage to onions into expertly thin slices and slivers.

Tomorrow we will have a Christmas Eve service at the church, followed by a Yankee Swap, or White Elephant exchange, and munchies of various kinds. Then on Wednesday we'll go into Namalu for worship at the church there, and I will, Lord willing, call my family to participate over the internet in their Christmas morning celebration. Then we will have our Christmas dinner!
Thursday is Boxing Day, which is actually somewhat of a big deal, there will be games and celebrations in the evening at the Knox's house, and the hints I'm getting of stories from previous years are exciting!

The Lord is Come

In ngaKarimojong we say "Ikilakara Akidoun a Yesu", which translates as "Happy celebration of the Birth of Jesus", which makes me think of Pastor Shishko and his dislike of the greeting Merry Christmas. As I enjoy this time off from teaching at the school, and turn my mind to other projects, like Christmas baking, I am reminded of the way that our creating of delicious foods mirrors our Creator God. I pray that I can bring him glory in all that I do, including making tasty treats!

Let Earth Receive her King

I have greatly enjoyed learning Christmas songs in ngaKarimojong, even when the tune gets stuck in my head all day long... It just provides stronger motivation to learn the words, so I can sing, instead of hum. It also provides great encouragement as I continue to work on my language studies, five days a week for a half hour each day with Angelina, and various other times of setting up Quizlet apps and other language documents. I am really enjoying learning this language, and I'm glad that I have great opportunities to practice while I am teaching.

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

I have learned, in whatever state I am to be content. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. He will never leave me, nor forsake me, and what can man do if my God is with me? NOTHING.

I refuse to let worry control me, or make me doubt that my God does all things well! He has taken up residence in my heart, as king and conqueror, and through him we will conquer, even death.

And Heaven and Nature Sing

To close on a humorous note, you really should hear our Karamojong neighbors sing Joy to the World in English, I'm sure it's just as funny when I sing in ngaKarimojong, but the way it sounds is basically anhevin anachur sing, which we know is the final line of the song, but it just sounds great when they all do it together!

Some other interesting funnies: turns out there's a word for making things work without having the right things, Juakali, it basically means being able to fix a broken car with a cavera (plastic bag) and a scrunchie! Also, the measuring units are totally practical, but hilarious. They have a lot of soda bottles around, so a measurement of 300 mL is a Fanta, like the orange soda, and the laundry detergent comes in buckets, so that bucket size is called an Omo, the brand of soap.

Anyway, I'm sure there's more, but for now I'll leave you with my thanks for your prayers, and my prayers for you to have a safe, joyful, celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and when your joy in this season leaves others wondering the reason for the hope in you, I pray you boldly and gracefully tell them the reason for the season.

Love to you all,
Taryn

Gratitude: A Thanks Service Remembrance

Recognize; Appreciate; Respond
(an open letter of thankfulness to my Father)
a feeling or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive
 from Latin grtus, pleasing

Gratitude is the word we get from Latin to mean thankfulness.

I like that it brings up images of grace, and feelings of love, especially for this first Thanksgiving away from my family.

I have been writing a list of 1,000 gifts, inspired by Ann Voskamp; little (and big) things that I am thankful for.

One is the ease of worldwide communication! There are many stories around the compound of how communication was in the beginning of the station here, and I'm so thankful that I can talk to people back in the states!

Another is the sheer, incredible beauty of this place. It seems that every time I turn around there is some new vista opening up for me to enjoy, as a present from my Heavenly Father, especially the wonderful views of the heavens at night.

I am also very thankful for the community here. The encouragement I receive on a daily basis from these brothers and sisters is truly priceless. I couldn't begin to list the many small ways I have been lifted up, often just when my God knows I need it most.

Those of you who are reading this and praying for me, know that I love you all dearly, and I feel the blessing of your prayers upholding me each and every day. Thank you for your kind notes of encouragement and reminders of our Father's good gifts to us whom he loves.

So my family may have a puppy, but there are kittens here!

Another beautiful shot from my backyard!

I really am so blessed to live here! 

I am so glad that even when I'm not feeling great, there is so much to be thankful for. The weather has been beautiful and sunny, and now I'm not even feeling sick.

I wanted to take the opportunity of suddenly working internet to show you all some pictures of the kittens.

When they were first born, with their mother

The Grey One

The Brown One

And one last pic added in, of the Solar Eclipse in the beginning of November

Whitewater Rafting on the Nile Picture Post!

Everybody Ready!

Paddle Hard!

Hold on Tight!

Eight Weeks: Three Stories for my Patient Readers

Firstly, please accept my apologies at having let so many weeks elapse without a word on my blog. I'm hopeful that most of you have been following my shorter updates on Facebook, but for those who cannot, I sincerely apologize. 

Secondly, I have realized that tomorrow I will be here for eight weeks, which seems both a lifetime and a wink of an eye. There is far too much that has happened to tell all of it, but I will hope to paint a broad picture of my life here, and fill in with weekly updates from now on.

Thank you all so very much for your prayers for me, and for our work here at the mission. It is such a blessing to know that so many are praying for me. I have not been feeling well, on and off, and it's a comfort to know how many of you are holding me up in prayer. Today was a good day, I finished my latest set of medicine, and I'm only feeling a little bit off, so please pray that would continue to improve.

I will tell about three things, which should make for quite a long post, and then if my readers have questions, I'll gladly supplement to answer them. 

First, we had our spiritual retreat, if you are Pastor S. please read "Strategic Withdrawal," since I believe you came to mind every time I heard the word retreat. It was a blessed time of renewal and meditation, no matter what it was called. We were able to learn about the Christian's great unfinished work, from Ephesians, that of learning and growing strong enough to understand Christ's love for us. Praying for strength to know his love will require us to delve deeply into the riches he has given us in his word. As a part of each session, we were able to separate and think quietly about what we had heard, taking time to apply it for ourselves, and praying for the Spirit to use the lessons in our lives. Please continue to pray that this time would bear much fruit in the lives of all who were present.

The second story is that I climbed a mountain! Those of you who know me, know what an undertaking it was. Part of the way up was hiking without a trail, and part was climbing rocks; I only got hurt a little bit, and only got scared a few times. It was a hot day, but there was a good breeze at the top, and the view was incredible. I was so glad that I made the effort to climb, and that there were so many people willing to give me a hand up or out of difficult spots. There were a few spots where I was very tired, and I wasn't sure which way to go up the face of the mountain. It was good that I was with people who are better at it than I was, because they showed me what to do and helped me do it. When I got to the top I was so relieved and so grateful to be able to experience the panoramic views of the countryside, and the mission too. It was a crystal blue sky overhead, and we were on the same height as some of the soaring hawks!

Last, but not least, I went to Jinja and rafted down the Nile River! After rafting, we were able to spend time at a coffee shop in Jinja before going to bed, and with the Mbale mission for Sunday worship. My raft had our guide, and Sam and Alicia, from the mission, but there was also a lady from Colorado, who was backpacking, and three Asian men who were only half-day rafters. So halfway through the day we only had four people in our raft, plus the guide, which made it more fun and interesting.

After putting on sunscreen, checking in, hearing the safety talk, and picking up our jackets and helmets, we were given breakfast, and shuttled off to the place where we'd put in the rafts. Breakfast was a meal called a Rolex, which is usual for here. It's a chapati, an Indian circular flatbread, with a circle of scrambled eggs and vegetables on top. Then it is rolled up like a burrito without the ends folded in. It's literally, rolled-eggs, so you see why it's named roll-ex.

When we got to the put-in almost an hour later, we still had to wait for the trailer that got a flat tire to catch up. In the meantime, we had a safety demonstration, which involved us being dumped in the flat water, when the guide flipped the boat and watched us try to get back in. The other people were mostly able to do it themselves, but I displayed my complete lack of upper body strength by needing to be hauled back in. It was just too high to get myself pulled up over a foot out of the water with just a rope on the side of the raft to hang on.

The trip down the river was long, and there was a lot of rowing on flat water in between the rapids. The whitewater was scary, but I was never terrified, only pleasantly shocked and excited. We flipped over quite a few times, and there were a few more times that I don't think the raft flipped, but I'm not sure, because I wasn't in it. When you fall out, you're supposed to keep your head and feet up, and look around for the kayak guides to tell you what to do. The best parts were when we were all able to stay sitting on the side of the boat, paddling hard through the biggest waves of the rapids. There were two parts that we were all in for the rapids, and then we were able to surf with the raft, which is when the boat is in the rapids, but it's not moving forward. When the water is going past all around, it makes the boat shake like a bucking horse, and you just hold on tight and hope to not get thrown out. The scariest part was when I fell out halfway through the second from the last rapid, and went up and down a six foot crest without the raft, after spending a few seconds under the water. I was unable to catch my breath until I was through getting dunked under, but when I came up for air, there was a kayak guide telling me to hang on to his boat so he could row me back to my group. After the last rapid, the kayak guide asked me if I wanted to swim to shore, but after trying it, I realized just how exhausted I was from the efforts of the whole day.

Thankfully, they fed us well after our exertions, with a lovely buffet line of chapati (Indian flatbread), Irish (potatoes), rice, hummus, and salad, as well as beef, and any beers or sodas we wanted. Then we had the even longer ride to the hostel where we were staying, back at the main office where we checked in.

That night, after a blessedly hot shower, we walked toward the main part of Jinja until we found a piki that would take the three of us to The Keep, where we were meeting Erika. I suppose some explanation of a piki is required. Think of a small motorcycle, with a seat that goes out over the rear wheel, used like a taxi. So the three of us clambered onto the back of the piki and we took off for downtown Jinja. The Keep is a bit difficult to describe, but the most important thing is that it's run by ex-pats, short for ex-patriots, as opposed to Ugandans. The difference is that it serves American-style foods, along with African flavors. When we got there, we all ordered mint Oreo ice cream milkshakes! They were so deliciously cold and refreshing. We also had Ugandan chai, which is tea with strong spices, milk and sugar. The décor of the dining room is medieval, specifically, there are Rohirrim banners and Middle Earth weapons hanging on the walls! It feels like you're in an old castle, with big gray stone block walls, and arched windows with intricate metalwork. After our shakes, we walked a few blocks over and did some shopping, there'll be no hints here about what Christmas presents I may or may not be sending home to my family, since I know they all read these posts. Then Erika went back to where she was staying and the three of us caught a piki back to our hostel for the night, with only one minor stopover to re-explain to our driver which Nile trip we were with, and one stop to switch to a taxi car because our piki driver still hadn't understood where we were trying to go. But all adventures finished, I spent my first night in a hostel, and slept very well, with just our group and one other person in the room, except for when I dreamed that there were 20 people coming in and out.

All told, I was very grateful for the adventure, and also grateful to come home and recuperate from the trip! 

Uhuru Day! Picture Post!

Livestock on the Road to Nakapiripirit

Watching the Marching Band

Marching Band Dancing

Posho, Rice, Chapati and Irish

My Neat Clean Banda! Pictures 'Cause It Happened!

Bookshelf, Desk, Chair

Coffee table, Couch, Chair

Bed, Nightstand, Couch

Dresser

Bookshelf

My desk, by one of three windows.

Four weeks here today!

I suppose I should make a pattern of giving some words to this blog, instead of just pictures, because I know people who would not agree with the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I probably don't have a thousand words right now. This is what I've got.

I was able to skype to some of my family today! I think they were as excited as I was that it worked, and it was really great to see them. I'm so blessed to be here, now, when I'm able to communicate like this, instead of ten years ago, when they barely had cell phones and radio signals.

Today I made strides towards starting to exercise, which means I've gotten more used to the atmosphere, temperature, and altitude. Erika and I walked a 40 minute loop around the area of the compound; the same loop takes her 20 minutes to jog, so don't think I'm anywhere like running a marathon or anything of the kind. I'm grateful to be feeling like exerting myself even to this extent.

We also had another wonderful creation of chocolate cake by Erika, I'd post a picture, but it's already been devoured, deliciously! Dinner was at the Tricarico's tonight, and we watched a movie with Ashton Kutcher about Steve Jobs and Apple, really well done and interesting, although it always makes me wonder about the actual history of a dramatized story.

I am continuing my study of Ngakarimojong; three times a week for an hour Erika and I meet with a language facilitator, one of the teachers at the school. The other two days we go over our notes and practice with each other. Pray that we have the focus and dedication needed to have success!

Tomorrow is Independence Day! It is also known as Uhuru Day! There will be a day off, aparade, music, and general celebration. I will go with a group to one of the nearby towns and see what there is to see!

On Saturday, Erika and I will go over the house of one of the clinic staff, and the mother of two of our students, to have tea with her. It will be the first time and I'm very excited.

After the celebrations of Uhuru Day, Erika and I will be teaching without Martha for a bit, while she visits her family, so please pray for traveling mercies for them, and wisdom for us.

I'm so very thankful for the people who are here, and the opportunity I am being given to serve, and for all of your prayers! Thank you all so very much! I love you all!
Goodnight and May God Bless
In Christ,
Taryn

Akolong, Elap, ka Ngitopon

Akolong warmth on earth

drying the land and

lighting the day

Elap illuminates the night

protects from the dark

but obscures the stars

Ngitopon, known by name

each one a priceless jewel in the crown

of our Lord

Sun, Moon and Stars