Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day!!

I would love to introduce you to one of the newest Dads in training- Eric Ranck!

We are celebrating Fathers Day with gratitude for our own fathers, who we love and respect so dearly, as well as the gift of fatherhood that Eric is stepping into in December!

We found out about this pregnancy on Easter weekend and baby’s current due date is December 25! Therefore, this Christmas season will be extra special for us. We will be gratefully rejoicing in the birth of our Savior and the birth of our baby!

Our Father's Day photo.

I am now in my 12^th week.  The last 2 months have been challenging with all day sickness and I am slowly coming out of it and I do look forward to some reprieve.

If you have been a part of our journey for the last several months, you will know that I had two pregnancies that both ended in miscarriage. After some consultation with a doctor and some added supplements, this pregnancy has been the strongest. Eric and I have been for three appointments with this pregnancy and we have been able to see the baby moving (a true wiggle worm), to see and hear the heartbeat and we have gotten good reports back on my blood work and health of the baby.

This baby is a miracle. It is not because of the works of our own hands or the hands of the doctor. The master Creator who is our loving Father has given this baby vitality and strength up to this moment. Each day, He continues to mold and craft this baby into His image. Eric and I are so grateful for this gift that we get to welcome into our family and we pray each day for this little life. 

Throughout this short journey of praying for a healthy and viable pregnancy and experiencing 2 losses, I have heard countless stories of different families fertility journeys. It is certainly not an easy and short path for so many. Because of the HOPE that we have in an eternally good God, we continue to trust His plan for building our family as we continue to pray for those families asking God for the very same thing.

Thank you for continuing to walk with us, support and love us. We are very grateful!

Lots of love,

Lauren and Eric

Settling Into Our New Home

By Lauren

Dear Family and Friends,

It seems crazy that we've lived in our

We have now been Gulu residents for just over a month! There has been a lot to settle into: getting things fixed on the house, clearing the grounds for gardening, learning where to buy things in town, building community, Eric getting into his work and learning what is expected of him.

We are grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn!

Our town of Gulu; it is currently under a lot of construction!

Our compound (photo taken standing at gate).

Ceasar and I clearing the compound.

We really love the beauty of our home, the space that it offers and the location here in the north, where a handful of people pass through and we are able to see those friends.

We were able to host a few new friends for dinner, also Eric’s uncle JC was in the northwestern part of Uganda and came by with his team for lunch, and a handful of my former students from South Sudan are studying at university here, so they came for dinner. Another good friend of mine was in town, so I had time to catch up with her and there are a few other friends coming in the next few weeks!

Eric's uncle, JC Ebersole, visited us!

Since leaving Mbale, I left my work at the university to work remotely from home for an incredible organization in Kampala, Uganda, modifying curriculum for their schools in the east Africa region. I am also able to do some small project based assignments for organizations that I am connected with in and around Gulu. Lastly, since settling into Gulu, I am starting to volunteer for an organization that trains local government and private school teachers in phonics and quality educational practices. I am excited about that! There are a lot of opportunities to participate in development here and I like that I am able to hold a flexible schedule in this season of life.

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One of Eric’s former coworkers, David, had his engagement celebration ceremony, it’s called an “Introduction” where the two families come together at the ladies home and officially declare their intent for marriage. It is as “celebratory” as a wedding in the US would be with lots of decorations, a program with many aspects: a confirmation of the couple, an exchange of rings, a sharing from a local pastor, a blessing from both families consenting to this relationship.

One of the funny traditions is that a group of ladies will come out all dressed in their beautiful attire and the groom to be and his men will look around at the group of ladies to find “the one” the future bride! If she is not there in that group then another group of ladies will come out and perhaps the bride is hiding in there! So Eric participated in that fun aspect of it with David!

Us! :)

Eric "looking" for the bride to be.

Esther and David.

David and Eric.

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We added some new furry ones to our family! Meet Vaugn, Zepplin, and Vitz. Vaugn and Zepplin are from a dear family in Mbale who are moving back to the US and Vitz is the youngest, a puppy we got from a family who breeds dogs in Mbale. They will be fun for Kona (I hope) and great security for our compound!

Zepplin (nearest), Kona (left), Vaugn (right), and Vitz (back).

Left to right: Zepplin, Vitz, and Vaugn.

Vitz and Vaugn like watching their food being made.

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By Eric

I was telling Lauren the other day, that I feel so grateful! The first couple of weeks after we moved to Gulu were a bit harder for me. Being in a new place, wondering at times how I would fill my days with things to do, and a few personal challenges. However, the last couple of weeks, I am so thankful for the Lord's provision during the hard times. Lauren also agreed that we have so much to be thankful for. Our home is feeling more and more like "home". We have been blessed by all of you financially, allowing us to live and work here in Uganda. I'm getting more opportunities to practice agriculture and development. We keep making friends. And so much more!

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A project that I had Ceasar do (our grounds keeper and daytime security) was to remove a large termite mound from our backyard. I wanted to clean up our compound. The soil in the mound is also high in plant nutrients, so we are using it for our garden and fruit trees.

Termite mound in our backyard.

Termites.

This was the queen of the mound. A large head, but mainly just a very large abdomen
(Abdomen looks like a caterpillar)!!

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Last week I took part in World Renew's annual Partners' Forum. This is a time for all the World Renew staff and the partners from around Uganda to meet, share, and learn from one another (there are 8 partners World Renew currently works with in Uganda). I'm still learning about the various partners World Renew works with. This gathering gave me the opportunity to learn more about the various work happening within World Renew, as well as an opportunity to connect with the partners.

Gathering at the partners' forum.

Cooked cow foot for lunch one day at the partners' forum. 
I tried it, but it was "rubbery" and not palatable to me, so I gave it to my friend beside me. 

On the way home, I swung by Mbale (our old home) and picked up the 3 dogs and some furniture from some missionary friends heading back to the US. David joined me for this trip.

Transporting our new dogs and furniture.

Prayer requests:

1.  For us to continue to develop relationships here in Gulu. 
2.  Safety here at home and as we travel (we do a lot of traveling for work).

Thank-you for your love and support.

Eric & Lauren

Renewing Joy

by Lauren

Happy Easter friends!

What I know is that who I desire to become is always being renewed through daily surrender. 

In each day, life brings revelations of truth. The opportunity to trust. The strength to hope. 

It is these experiences that illuminate God’s great love and His grander purpose for His world.

As Eric and I continue growing and learning each other and walk into various seasons of marriage, we are continually reminded that we are not in control.  We are becoming more aware of how we need God as our refuge.

I have always loved the season of Easter, the freedom that it represents, and the reminder that there is a mighty Savior who came with great love to know and rescue me. It is unfathomable; I love to reflect with awe of the weight of His sacrifice and what it means. 

New life. Freedom. Perspective. Miracles. True communion with my Creator. Becoming His child.

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These last few months have again been packed as we began the full transition out of life and work in Mbale to settle into our new home in Gulu. 

That meant having our last student fellowship with the South Sudanese university students who are in Mbale, wrapping up our weekly meetings with our mentees, we had goodbye times with various friends, we sorted and packed and finished up last minute work assignments.

My last time sharing in chapel at LivingStone, where I worked in Mbale for 3 years

And last week, off we went to Gulu!

Loading up! Chase wanted one last picture!

Ready to go! We had a driver load and drive this, what is supposed to be 5 hours, but took 7 hours to Gulu.

Welcome to our new home! Your guest room awaits J

Kitchen and Living Room!

Eric is very much looking forward to starting work in the communities here.  I will continue to work my part-time job from home and travel to Kampala as needed. I also will be apart of other project-based assignments with organizations I have been a part of in the past.

Outside our front porch!

Our first visitors in our new home! They are friends we made in Mbale and they were in Gulu for a wedding, so they stopped by for a little chat Easter evening.

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Besides our work and everyday life, here are some fun adventures we had in Mbale before moving to Gulu!

We became hosts in March and we are ready to host again!

Three of Eric’s brothers came to visit and we really enjoyed our time with them! We went on different excursions around Uganda and spent some good time living life in Mbale.

Eric met the brothers to go on Safari for a few days then they came to Mbale!

We celebrated our one year since we got engaged! It was this hike here where Eric proposed at Sisiyi Falls, we also took Eric's brothers there to hike and camp during their visit.

The guys rafted the Nile River in Jinja, so we spent a few days there!

Of course every visitor needs Kona time! Shawn embraced his time with her :)

We "worked" through the coffee making process at one of Eric's friends home in the village near Sipi Falls. 

Roasting coffee beans

The beauty of Sipi Falls where we were among coffee trees and the truest of nature's colors!

The last day with the brothers, we did not want to send them back to the US!

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With some Mbale friends, we took advantage of the beauty of eastern Uganda before leaving!

Our hiking group!

We found some of our friends at the top!

At the top of Mount Wanale in Mbale

Thank you for your continual support and love for us! Thank for your celebrating life with us from afar. We look forward to updating you as we settle into life and work in Gulu.

Love, 

Lauren and Eric