Happy July!

By Lauren

Our lovely front porch and Eric built us this fence!

Happy July to you, our family and friends!

I am writing to you on a beautiful Gulu afternoon! The weather has been delightful with just enough rain to satisfy the many crops and plants that Eric has planted over the last couple of weeks! (YUM!! The harvest is coming soon!)

This past month we have continued to settle into our life in Gulu. We are about to celebrate 3 months of living in here, but first, we will celebrate Eric’s birthday this coming weekend!

I joined a Bible study that meets weekly and I also formed a prayer group with two other ladies- we meet every other Friday morning. Eric and I have hosted a handful of new and old friends over for meals and overnight stays this past month. It is such a gift to have a guest room and space for hosting. We are still praying and working on building friendships here.

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The herbicide test plot in the beginning.

The herbicide test plot 4 weeks in!

Eric has been working really hard around the yard- putting up fences around our porches, as well as planting crops, herbs, flowers, and trees and he has also organized a well planned and structured herbicide test plot (I'll let him tell you more about that in another post). In addition, he works regularly with the World Renew farm just outside of Gulu. He has traveled twice this past month for work trips to look at farms with his colleagues and to help with agricultural work in a village several hours from our home. He also participated in a collaborative planning trip with a US-based university who is organizing to send students on a several week learning trip to work alongside the World Renew partners.

Eric hard at work!

Getting the ground ready! George and Ceasar hard at work.

The seeds have been planted and we are waiting for the harvest!

                      

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In early June, I got to spend time with an organization that I have known for several years. The organization is called One Tribe and their main focus is building peace in war-impacted communities through radio drama programs and community workshops centered on elements of peace. They also work in the communities by training in skills that strengthen personal and collective dignity. Their main focus is working with South Sudanese and since the years of war, many South Sudanese are now living in refugee camps in northern Uganda. I traveled (about 2 hours from Gulu) to the camps and worked alongside the team.

Our team meeting with the Office of the Prime Minister, before we set out to the camps.

Juma (left) is a dear friend and student from LASS who I have known for over 6 years, he volunteers with One Tribe on translation and recording of the radio dramas as well as acting as an advocate for the organization.

Community Peace Building workshop with One Tribe.

The expensive view from the northern refugee camps.

In the latter part of June, I traveled to Kampala for a work conference, where I met with the team I work with on curriculum and we were able to review the work we have gotten done so far this year and evaluate ways in which we need to progress forward. I am so grateful for this work that I get to do. I love education and curriculum that is Christ-centered and it is truly life transforming. The curriculum that I get to work on is training the youth of East Africa in spiritual disciplines, character development, and servant leadership. This work has been ongoing for over 25 years and I have witnessed first hand how the truths and lessons in this curriculum have impacted and influenced so many! It is a gift to work alongside east Africans friends who strive each day to see greater healing and change for their region.

While in Kampala, I went to the doctors for my 14-week pregnancy check-up. It is a miracle to me that we have made it this far and we are absolutely grateful! All looked good and the baby is growing!

We have a full July ahead of us and we look forward to sharing about it in our next update! Until then, many thanks for your continual love, support, prayers, and care for us.

The dogs love to find places to rest and play among the dirt!

                                                   

Waiting for an edible handout!

After driving on mudddddddyy roads, it got to this point! The car was covered in mud!

Love,

Lauren and Eric

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