Merry Christmas!

Thank you all so much for your kind love and prayers in response to the post that I wrote and shared about my miscarriage. Please know that Eric and I are doing really well and we are tremendously grateful for the friendships that we have that are spread vast around this world!  

We are abundantly grateful for our parents and families who communicate, love and support us so well while we are so far. 

Our family! Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

Also, we are immensely grateful for the “family” we have here in East Africa who medically and emotionally helped us through the miscarriage. These are friends who we get to build deep relationships with on a regular basis, who we get to support and who support us as well.

This year, like many, has been a true gift filled with different experiences, adventures, surprises, joy, sorrow, challenges and the overall fullness of life. 

To say we are grateful and amazed at what this year held would be an understatement.  We have often found ourselves looking at each other and saying, " if you would have told me this time last year that we would be where we are now, I would not believe you....". 

We are in awe of the beautiful journies that our lives have been and even more so now that we get to walk them together as one and we get to build relationships with so many people and continue growing in the individual passions and talents that God has gifted us with and support each other in them.

Here is a quick recap of our year:

January: I left Eric in State College to work hard on his thesis after a wonderful three weeks of getting to know each other's families and communities and deepening our own relationship. I returned back to Uganda to start a new semester as Academic Registrar and teaching in the school of education at LivingStone International University (LASS).

Christmas Day together- 2017

Eric's view from his Penn State office window. He would often send me a picture of this view each day!

March: Eric came to visit me in Uganda and we got engaged! It was such a beautiful and special time to commit to each other in a new season and to celebrate and plan for what was coming.

Engaged couple in Mbale

May: I finished my semester and Eric was working really hard on his thesis.

June: I came back to the US to prepare for our wedding, took a two week trip to Northern Ireland with two of my dearest friends (who live in Mbale as well). 

Also, Eric defended his thesis and alllll of those months, never ending days and endless hours of research, reading, and writing paid off!

Eric's defense in action!

Beautiful Northern Ireland Coast

Katharine, Rhonda and I

July: I moved to State College to be close to Eric and we spent our days working, hanging out, meeting friends and family. I learned more about what life on a farm is like. 

Also, we were showered with TONS of love from family and friends with three wedding showers: a couple's shower at my mom's teashop, one for me hosted by my mentor Mary and one hosted for me by Eric's church family (it is incredibly loving because they didn't even know me! It shows how much they love Eric! And I sadly did not get any picture from that shower.)

Summer Softball watching with some of my new siblings:)

My dad and mom (and her amazing team) hosted the most beautiful and loving shower for us at her teashop!

My mentor momma Mary hosted an intentional and lovely shower in DC for me!

Eric planted and nurtured sunflowers for me and for our wedding!

August: Eric graduated with his masters in Animal Science from Penn State!

Happy Graduation! I am so proud of him!

We got married and we had a blast! It was completely humbling to have our dear family and friends put forth so much hard work to make our day easy and stress-free for us, and it was more than we could have envisioned. It was so fun to celebrate with people we love and admire.

Our first look- Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

 

Our first look- Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

If you know me, you know I love tea. Tea in real tea cups was essential for my wedding. Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

Our ceremony at Eric's parents store property. Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

Our brunch wedding was served by JDK Group weddings and it was incredible!
Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

Our dear wedding party! Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

Cake cutting! This INCREDIBLY beautiful cake (and all desserts) were made by the talented bakers at my mom's tea shop!
Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

And away we went! Eric used to be a firefighter and drive the truck, so naturally, this was our getaway!
Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

September: We moved back to Mbale- I started back to work teaching and doing some admin work. Eric worked on the farm that he was apart of in 2016 and taught a computer class at LIU. We settled into a new routine together and we have been loving it! 

October: We had LIU graduation and graduation for my students in South Sudan at LASS. Also, Eric worked so hard to create our personal garden (and throughout the months we enjoyed a delicious harvest!). During this time, he has taken the opportunity to teach others about effective and sustainable farming.

Outdoor thanksgiving:) 

November: We celebrated a fun Thanksgiving together with our Mbale community! 

Also, we went north to Gulu so I could spend time with the recent LASS graduates to share some lessons with them. 

We found out that I was pregnant then sadly, lost the baby a few weeks later.

GOOD ice cream on the road to Gulu! If you know Eric, you know he LOVES ice cream!

Thanksgiving!

Me sharing with my LASS graduates in Gulu

December: We officially finished the school semester!

Also, Eric went to an agricultural training/workshop in the northwestern region of Uganda in a town called Moroto for a week.

So beautifully, our first sunflower blossomed J

This beauty greeted me whenever I walked out of my house, since then, some of his friends have bloomed!

We are now on our way to Israel for two weeks for our honeymoon, our first Christmas as a married couple! 

We will travel to various parts of the country and spend time with a dear friend of mine and her family in Jerusalem. 

It is an incredible gift for us to spend this season in one of the most sacred of lands. We look forward to learning, seeing, reflecting, and being in awe of the tangible nature this trip will be in drawing out and bringing us closer to Scripture and truth.

One of my most favorite parts of Christmas is the reflection that the HOPE of a long enduring promise was fulfilled. We now have a Savior born in the most unique way and He is compassion, peace, strength, and the truest embodiment of joy for all.

Thank you for loving us, walking life with us, supporting us, praying for us! Thank you for your encouragement and intentionality to reach out to us with a note, letter, call, text, or email!  Your love and friendship has strengthened and sustained us and we are immensely grateful for each of you. We will share what is in store for us in 2019 in our next update.

As we close, we pray for peace, joy, hope, and newness to embrace you this season as you celebrate Christmas and enter into 2019.

We wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

With love and joy, 

Eric and Lauren Ranck

Photo by Katherine Zell Photos

Joy and Sorrow

Miscarriage. It is a scary word. It is a word directly connected to death and sadness and also the hope of new life.

It was a real life experience for me.  It has been a thought and a fear in my mind even before Eric and I conceived… what if?  Am I dismissed from having such a thing happen to me?

Early last month, we found out that I was pregnant, we were surprised that such a gift was becoming a part of our new little family so soon. In the less than two weeks that followed, there were a whirlwind of feelings, emotions, efforts to plan and the struggle to comprehend what our life was about to become. However, before we could even get our minds fully around baby, we lost her. She slipped through my hands before I even felt her there.

I wrote this little note to her in my “baby journal” that I had just started in order to process my own thoughts about her coming. The journal only had three entries in it- this one being the 4^th.

“It was so strange and so unknown, yet you, little blueberry, were apart of me and the one I love, your daddy, and now you’re gone. You will always hold a sacred space in my heart and in my mind, yet you no longer take up space in my body, you no longer need that home. The only one who can carry you to death has carried you and has given you life once again.”

There is a cycle that I am familiar with-- the cycle that life needs death and death needs life.

Death is only apart of the process of living. Death is a process of transformation.

In times past, life has challenged me to drink from the cup of joy and of sorrow, as one of my favorite authors (Henri Nouwen) states. That cup is life and the drink is beauty. The ability to hold two seemingly conflicting postures is the depth of beauty in which our life is written.

In the days and weeks since my miscarriage, I have been hearing ladies stories as I have shared my own. I have learned about myself, my body, the way I handle pain, both emotionally and physically, and the way that we keep things hidden.

I have learned that a miscarriage is not a curse or an end, for me it’s been a pathway to know, to hope, and to trust that death is needed for life.

Identity is not formed by my present day situation- I am not pregnant, I am not. My identity has been refined by those situations that ultimately point me back to me truest, deepest, unchanging identity- a beloved daughter of my heavenly Father.

Trip to Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp

Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp.

     “They killed two missionaries, burned two of our vehicles, and our buildings as well; that was during 2004 ” said Elly. “They didn’t like the work we were doing here”, continued Elly, speaking of Muslim’s in the area. Elly is the leader of a Christian organization called “Here is Life” (HIL), located in Northern Uganda. Here is Life began in 1988, in response to the war of 1979-1986, that left the area in an unstable and very needy condition. Since 1988, HIL has evangelized and discipled people in the area, as well as met physical needs that arise. “This area was very friendly toward Christians before 1979. However, after the war in 1988 when HIL began, many Christians were scattered. "We discipled the people and were building churches, but that is why we were attacked in 2004” Elly told us. Thankfully, the hostility from Muslim’s has greatly decreased and Christians and Muslims live peacefully together in this area today.

From left to right: Edward, myself, Anthony, Susan (holding the baby), then three HIL workers, Elly (seated on the far right).

     Here is Life is a partner that World Renew (WR) works with. I was on a trip to visit the partner, along with friends Anthony and Sara Sytsma, and another WR staff member Edward Etanu and his wife Susan. The purpose of the trip was to see some of the work that is going on in the refugee camps. It was also a way for me to learn what a partnership with WR and a local organization, in this case, HIL, looks like. 

Elly, leader of HIL, shows us a pit latrine (outside toilet) that they build for a refugee family. 

      When the conflict in South Sudan began in 2016, HIL began working in Bidi Bidi, the nearby refugee camp that was created to handle the flow of refugees from South Sudan. Currently,  Uganda has over one million refugees, mostly from South Sudan. Follow the link to learn more about the conflict. https://www.cfr.org/interview/understanding-roots-conflict-south-sudan Bidi Bidi is one of the largest camps in the world at close to 250,000 people. “We went into the camps when the crisis began in 2016, to see what we could do. We realized that there was a great need for pit latrines (outdoor toilets), since people were defecating in the open, which greatly increases the risk of diseases” said Elly. “After some time when most people had latrines, we targeted the vulnerable population, the ones’ who could not build a latrine for themselves” continued Elly “People who are elderly, have a physical disability, woman or child run homes”. While have latrines have been the current focus of HIL in the camp, they also do other programs, such as peacebuilding and trauma healing for refugees. Here is Life would also like to launch training on income generation, such as sewing, baking, and agriculture in the Bidi Bidi camp.

     As I left the camp at the end of the day, I had a heavy feeling that stuck with me. Here were 250,000 living in less than ideal conditions because of tribal conflict that has wreaked havoc in the country. The camps are places where idolness and poverty create habits and lifestyles, such as prostitution and laziness, in the youth. 

The grandfather is seated on the ground in the center of the photo, with his grandchildren spread around him.

     The sad story with the family pictured above is that when the whole family came to the camp, the parents (the ones who gave birth to the children pictured above) of the grandparents told them "you stay here with our children, while we go back to South Sudan and find a job". However, the grandparents later learned that their children had NOT gotten a job, but had joined the army in South Sudan. 

     The trip really made me grateful for the work that HIL is doing. The whole situation with the conflict in South Sudan and the refugee crisis is very complex. Please pray for the work of HIL and for the refugees at Bidi Bidi. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving dear family and friends!  

This is indeed an important time to stop and reflect as we gather to share a meal and to be grateful for the lovely community we have in this season of our lives.  Eric and I will get together with the expat/international community on Thursday- it is a group of people from different parts of the world who live here in Mbale for ministry, work, a short-term volunteer opportunity or just for a visit. We will post those pictures next time! It is guaranteed to be a good meal with enjoyable conversation and guaranteed to be no snow or cold weather J

Once again, we are in awe of the full month that just passed us, since we last updated you all on the blog.

Pre- garden

Our garden now!

Eric has continued to work in our home garden and it's beautiful! His diligence and attention to caring for it provides us lettuce, a local green (like collard green/spinach), cucumbers, and beautiful flowers to enjoy on a regular basis. There are tomatoes, sweet corn, onion, peppers, carrots, eggplant, and bananas growing so we look forward to the harvest that is coming.

My most favorite farmer!

Towards the end of October, we drove up to the northern part of Uganda and Eric met with a few farmers up there to learn about their work while I went into South Sudan to visit my old school where I used to work – Leadership Academy of South Sudan (LASS). I was able to be apart of the 4^th graduation at LASS! It was so special for me to witness the continual growth and to celebrate the hard work that the students and staff have put forth. I deeply love that place!

Sunrise on my way to LASS

Graduates!

Actually, Eric and I are heading back to northern Uganda this weekend to visit this latest graduating class as I will be a part of the orientation day program as we welcome these students into the LASS alumni group and to speak to them about university. Eric will also visit the farms that he is connected to in the region.

In early November, Eric was able to travel with some of his good friends and coworkers to the refugee camps in a different part of northern Uganda, he will share more about that on another update.

During the time that Eric was traveling to the refugee camps, I went with the university that I work with for a community day to a mountainous region in the east called, Bududa. We went because there was a terrible mudslide that came down one of the mountains on a Thursday afternoon in late October. Over 200 people died, including many children who were in classes at 2 of the primary schools that we wiped out from the intense water that was carrying huge boulders, strong waters, and debris. I went with about 5 staff and 45 students, we broke into groups and went around the community to listen to their stories, pray with them and give them some household goods (that were raised by the students) as they rebuild after this horrific tragedy.

Buildings destroyed right next to where the landslide came 

This used to be land where houses and businesses were

Huge boulders that came from up that mountain, where the landslide started

This was not a river before but was formed because of the massive landslide

Normal everyday work usually involves us going to the university (LIU) to teach classes, have meetings, and attend various programs. Eric will often go to the PTC farm (where he worked last time that he was here) that is a bit out of town. He really enjoys working with the guys there as they continue to build a sustainable farm with quality procedures and practices. Somedays, our pup Kona and I will go out with him to enjoy the peace and beauty of the countryside.

Cows at PTC farm

Eric working with the farm manager and staff

Kona LOVES to go for a drive to the farm and see life around Mbale!

I have been working alongside a peacebuilding radio program called One Tribe for several years by organizing some of my former LASS students to translate and record the radio programs. We have also begun a partnership with LIU to begin developing a peace studies program. So, earlier this month, the director of One Tribe and some of the team came to visit us in Mbale. They have become good friends of mine and it was a gift for Eric to meet them and for us to work on these partnerships together.

The director of One Tribe, Elizabeth, and one of the student recorders/translators, Juma

Two of the student translators and recorders, Idris and Chris

Lastly, we cannot forget to appreciate the Penn State football season! Eric and I are committed to watching the games each weekend- it’s a fun tradition that we started and really enjoy it! There is another American family here who are Penn State alum, so we watched the Nittany Lions play Wisconsin last week together with them!

Penn State fans in Mbale, Uganda!

Whenever you think you are carrying a heavy load, just remember this motorcycle driver who is managing to transport these chairs!

These are two of our dearest friends in Mbale, Rhonda and Katharine

Thank you for your love, care, and support :)

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!

Love, Lauren and Eric