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.

------------------------------------------

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.

------------------------------------------- 

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!

------------------------------------------

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

Food Security Evaluation in Nebbi

by Eric

"Nowadays, I even go into homes and break up fights between a husband and wife, fights where other people are afraid to even enter the house because the husband and wife are fighting with knives," a woman told us. As I sat and listened to the story, even the breeze that was blowing and the shade of the mango tree wasn't enough to keep me from wishing for a cooler place. This testimony was one of many we heard that day, of how training in gender roles had impacted a family. I joined the evaluation team from World Renew that was evaluating a 7-year project targeted at improving food security. Focusing on gender, specifically household roles between men and women in the family, was one element of the food security program World Renew was helping to implement. Another man stood up and told us how he wasn't helping his wife work in the farm, weeding and harvesting crops, because he thought this work was for women. The gender training helped him to change, "now I help my wife and she doesn't complain about body pains", he told us. This man also went to his neighbor, who spent a lot of time at the disco (nightclub), and convinced his neighbor that he needs to help his wife.

Our evaluation team listening to stories in a village

 "You see that man sitting back there peeling cassava (root vegetable)? Because of the training, he is now peeling cassava, a job culturally considered to be for the women" they told us.

Man peeling cassava in the background

A duck walks through our meeting

Another key component of the food security program was village saving and loans associations (VSLA). Every VSLA may be run slightly different, yet the core components are the same. Meeting as a group, saving some money each week, and in some cases loaning to each other creates accountability, community, and helps people plan. These groups are a common development model that is used by many development groups. When asked which helped to improve food security the most: VSLA, training about gender, or conservation agriculture, VSLA was voted as having the most impact.

Standing in a line as a way to vote for which element of the food security program was most helpful

A third element of the food security program was the promotion of conservation agriculture (CA). Interestingly, CA had the least impact out of the three elements: VSLA, training of gender roles, and CA. However, there were testimonies of farmers appreciating some aspects of CA, particularly the aspect of reduced tillage because it saves work and time. The traditional way of preparing the land for the rainy season is either plowing using cows or a tractor, or for a farmer to use a large hoe to dig very deep and open the soil. Reduced tillage, in this case, is where a farmer simply uses a machete or hoe to cut the weeds at soil level.

Finally, beehives were given to some of the VSLA groups. The beehives were not a main focus of the overall project. However, the thought was that by giving beehives to each group and then providing training on taking care of bees, that it could become an income generating activity. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a lack of ownership of the beehives, as well as some problems with the hives not colonizing well.

For this food security program, World Renew had partnered with the Nebbi Diocese of the Anglican Church of Uganda. World Renew provided funds and training to local staff, hired by the Nebbi Diocese, who did the leg work of traveling to the villages and carrying out the various training on VSLA, gender, and CA.

Sitting in a circle with World Renew and partner staff

One method that was used to evaluate food security in the village was to create a calendar on the ground. Rectangle boxes were drawn, one for each month of the year. Then items: phones, keys, leaves, containers, etc. were used to mark each month of the year. Finally, stones, cassava, etc. were used to marked during which months of the year food was available in the house. The people often had fun with it, once saying "put that big piece of cassava in December, since that is when we have the most food!"

Women drawing the calendar of the year

Woman placing cassava in the months where food was available 

A chicken intrudes and eats the cowpeas we were using as a marker

For me, the trip was a learning experience about the work that World Renew is involved in, as well as seeing first-hand types of development, how development works or doesn't work, and getting to be a part of the evaluation. World Renew focuses on both relief and development. They strive to work with local partners as much as possible, in this case, the Anglican Diocese of Nebbi. The work I will be a part of beginning next month will be to work with another World Renew partner in Gulu. I look forward to sending an update on that position once I am settled in!

Sights from the village; notice the solar panel on the thatched house to the right- the house on the left is getting new grass

Mango tree loaded with mangos- hey eat mangos like an apple, skin and all, even before they are ripe

Who we are becoming

Post by Lauren

Our beautiful Mbale morning sky!

Hello and happy February to you!

Each month, it is always our aim to share about our lives that we live here with you, in order
to bridge gaps and to build understanding from across barriers, boundaries, and cultures. This
month has drawn us into deep sadness over the loss of another baby yet simultaneously we
have known the love of God and have been drawn into His truth in a fresh way. There has been
a lot of processing (I will share the whole story another month) and amazing provision in my life
since the second miscarriage, to the point that it’s impossible for me to deny God’s leading
amidst my pain.

One of my favorite poets writes:

“ When suffering knocks on the door of your life, may you glimpse its eventual gifts and may
you receive the fruits of that suffering…” - John O’Donohue

Therefore, I was thinking that I do not just want to tell you about what we do, but instead to share
about whom we are becoming because of the encounters that we experience throughout each
month. Eric and I deeply believe that our Creator God uses challenges and opportunities to mold,
teach, refine, and grow us as His children.

In January, we welcomed 2019 not feeling the greatest so we stayed in to rest and recover! We
were excited for the opportunity to Skype with many of Eric’s siblings and some cousins who
were gathered together to ring in 2019, 12 am EST, 8 am Uganda time!

We got a FUN Christmas gift from Grandma Ranck, 
a Ranck Family calendar and a handful of Christmas cards, thank you!

Eric is learning the ups and downs of gardening in Uganda. To me, he is a rockstar gardener
and is harvesting incredible vegetables that are so beautiful and delicious! Everyday, he
cares for his garden so well as he is working hard to evaluate what is working and what isn’t.
He does his research by consulting other agricultural companies, other practitioners in the
field, and by doing online reading. He is using a lot of his knowledge from his agriculture
degrees to go about his work in our garden and on the dairy farm that he helps with.

My favorite farmer shows his hardworking bountiful harvest!

We are both learning that marriage = becoming more selfless. However, to be honest, I am
the one learning that I am just not always a nice person and I need to work harder on
maintaining a selfless posture.  All that to say, Eric and I went to our first marriage
conference as a married couple called “The Art of Marriage” and since we had only been
married for 4 months when we went, we did not have a lot of experience to glean from.
However, we definitely added tools to our toolbox for our future. It was also a delightful
getaway to a beautiful town called Jinja that sits right on the Nile River.

The home of dear friends, where we stayed in Jinja!

On the topic of marriage, Eric and I are learning to walk life together each day as we strive to communicate effectively with love and a listening ear. We really love being married and allowing this relationship to teach us and transform us. I have always been a believer that true transformation happens in relationship; that indeed has been the case so far in our marriage and we are so grateful and expectant for what is ahead.

We are both learning a different pace in life. I have stepped away from the full time (and very
full it was) job that I have had at LivingStone International University (LIU) and I have started
doing part time work remotely with an organization that I know well. I deeply believe in the
missionand heart of the organization I am currently working with. I am working on modifying
and structuringcurriculum for them. In addition, I teach two classes once a week at the small
international school in our town (it reminds me so much of my teaching job in Rwanda). I also
do some side work for my old organization in South Sudan and some other projects with friends
as they come up! This new season has been very welcomed since becoming a wife and
embracing the beauty and responsibility that it holds. Eric is doing an incredible job of being
a responsible and proactive husband who takes care me as well as many house/life things.
He is preparing to start his full time work in a few months when we move to Gulu, for now,
he is enjoying the myriad of opportunities in farming and some academia. Also, we started to
go to a new church and we are really enjoying the refreshing journey of building new
friendships and being apart of a married fellowship!

A lady who we did not know at church had no idea what we were going through the week after the miscarriage, yet she leaned over and shared this verse with us!! This is an example and reminder of God's individual care for us! 

Eric and I still mentor groups of students at LIU and we are grateful for the students who continue
to be in our care, if they are in our mentor groups or not. It has been exceptionally incredible to
watch the students that I have known since 2014 in South Sudan blossom into truly excellent
people. Many of the students are in their last year of university and as they prepare to graduate
and take on the working world I cannot help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for who they are
and who they are becoming. It is astounding to me that I still have such incredible relationships
with so many of them and have the immense privilege of walking through life with them. They
amaze me with their strength and character and their servant-natured leadership.

The evening sky in Gulu (our to-be new home!)

Living cross culturally and addressing the challenges that exist in expectations, communication,

and interactions with others can often leave us with a sense of “high justice” or entitlement.
As we work through this, we hope to become people where love and humility is our first
response instead of frustration and anger just because things are not going “our way”. We aim
to become people who seek to understand before pushing the need to be understood. We desire
to learn from our Ugandan friends, colleagues, and neighbors instead of always feeling as if we
need to teach them our “right” way. We want to be people of gratitude who give thanks to the
Lord instead of presenting yet another request.

It is HOT here and so dry! Poor Kona is suffering!

Most importantly, we pray that we are becoming more Christ-like in our relation to each other in
marriage and to all people around us. Eric and I are committed to reading through the Biblical
book of Psalms each day. We want to strive toward becoming people of truth in which we declare
that the Lord is our Lord in all situations that we are in (Psalm 16:2). We want to become people
who make the Lord our refuge; that when trials come, we will not flee like a bird, yet we will know
that God is our shelter in time of trouble and because of that we stand on solid ground
(Psalm 11:1-4). We yearn to trust the Lord, because He has not forsaken those who seek Him
(Psalm 9:10). We believe that the Lord is enlarging our inner territories and capacity to know and
desire Him, believe in His Word and to stand on His truth (Psalm 15:5). As we are being molded
into instruments of His Spirit through suffering and gladness, we are immensely grateful for the
opportunity to know God, to serve Him, and to be apart of building His love and truth in Uganda.

Thank you for praying for us and loving us!

Happy Valentines Day,

Eric and Lauren

Feeling overloading? Think about this truck!

Future plans and a prayer request

Written by Eric

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from hot, dry Africa! Living on the equator definitely creates a warmer January than Northeastern US! We did have some rain last week, which is very unusual for January, which is typically the driest month of the year.

I am going to update you on three things in this blog post:

1. Lauren's miscarriage (prayer request)
2. Our plans for 2019
3. A thank-you to supporters

Prayer Request

I'm going to start with the prayer request first. Lauren had another miscarriage Wednesday morning. Our hearts are sad, as we were anticipating a little one to join our family in September. There is a chance Lauren will share more of her story later; it was hard for both of us, but especially for her. It made us wonder, "why us twice in a row?" For many people conceiving and giving birth to a healthy baby seems so easy.

We did just see a fertility specialist in the capital city, Kampala, on Friday. Lauren's TSH levels (these are produced by the thyroid) were high so Lauren is now taking something to help reduce these levels. The doctor said that this may have been the cause of the miscarriages, but cannot be absolutely sure. The doctor also told us that the chances of having a healthy baby after two miscarriages are 75%, so that was encouraging.

While we are grateful for good medical advice, we also don't want to lose the wonder and blessing of childbirth or forget how conceiving children is really something that the Lord is in control of.

Please pray for us, that we could have a healthy baby. Please pray for Lauren, that she would not live in fear of another miscarriage.

We welcome your personal stories, how the Lord work in your life through a miscarriage, etc. However, we would prefer that people keep the medical advice/ideas to themselves, as we simply covet prayer and have various medical advice we are currently seeking.


Our plans for 2019

Lord willing, we plan to move to Gulu the end of May. I will begin my full-time position with World Renew (WR). I will be working with one of WR's local partner organizations called Karin Community Initiative Uganda. Karin started out doing medical work in 2001 and have gradually expanded to other development initiatives including: agriculture, education, and economic initiatives. I will help with administrative tasks but I will also be involved in some of the farming and economic initiative projects.

Learn more about Karin at https://karincommunity.org/

We currently live in Mbale, and plan to move in May of this year.

Second, it has been a dream of mine for some time to have a farm/training center in Africa. We are currently in the process of renting a house, along with two acres of land where I hope to do a little farming during the weekends, as my position at Karin is a full-time position. I will start with projects that I believe are less risky/costly enterprises, such as bananas, papayas, vegetables, local chickens, and pigs. If I am successful with these then I might move into more "technical agriculture enterprises" such as dairy or a greenhouse.

My goals for a farm include:

1. A place to practice my skills in agriculture!
2. Be a training ground for both simple and more technical farming practices.
3. A potential income generator in the future, but we will see about that.

Lauren and I are both very excited about moving to Gulu! It will be a fresh start for both of us, Lauren will be in a central place for her work, Gulu is a nice town, and I'm excited about beginning work with Karin!

Please pray for us as we move. There are still many details to fall into place, the biggest being we need a place to rent. 

A thank-you to supporters

We are SO thankful for your gracious financial giving! Wow, I was really grateful for the money that came in during December! The Lord is using you to provide for our financial needs. 

I looked at several vehicles, but have decided to wait to purchase another vehicle until we move for two reasons. First, we won't need a vehicle until we move in May. Also, it is going to cost a little more money to get the type of vehicle that we need, so waiting will allow for more funds to be raised.

Until next time, may God bless you all!

Eric

Our small garden!

Eggplant