Flip-flop Problem

As a missionary (I think this also includes Moms everywhere) we learn the word “flexible” and get to use it a lot.  There are times when we need to be creative with what we do.

Taylor children and Grandpa at the airport

Coming back with us from Texas to Uganda were the Taylor kids.  They have practically become family (We are Aunt Jan and Uncle Lynn) so it was no problem to bring them home from the Grandmas’.  We met them at DFW airport just a couple of hours before we flew out.

Karis had on flip-flops and in the first few minutes we were there the toe strap broke. Flip-flops without a toe strap to hold them on are pretty worthless.   Bags had already been checked and she had no other shoes with her.  So what to do?

We checked at all the stores in the airport and while there were adult flip-flops at a couple of places there was nothing for a 7-year old.  We had an 18-hour flight ahead of us with a 9-hour layover in London.  Going barefooted probably wouldn’t be a very good option.

How can we fix the flip-flop?  How can we make the toe strap stay in?  Finally, I figured out a possibility.  I had a safety pin in my carry-on and I thought maybe we could use that to keep in the strap in place.  Sure enough, I stuck the pin through the rubber strap underneath the shoe and it held the whole way home.

Funny remedy, but, it worked.  

OBU Students - June

Our Kampala team received word this week that there was a team of 7 students from Oklahoma Baptist University who were stranded here in Kampala.  We invited them over to hear their story and see what they needed.  

Back in the States, Ben had located a small mission here in Kampala run by a gentleman from South Africa.  His organization has been here about 7 years  and it looked interesting.  Ben contacted him and decided that it was worthy to come and help out this summer.  He then enlisted 7 other students to be a part.  Three of them are studying to become physical therapists and two of them are in medical fields.  They thought they would be able to use their skills as part of their assignment.

When they got here they found that things had changed because that gentleman was sick and had been in a car accident and there was no one else to take over.  Ben’s grandfather had been a missionary in Africa, so he called him.  Through his grandfather’s connections they contacted us.

There are many ways to minister here in Kampala so we gave some options to see what they would like to do.  They have already been to house churches in two different slum areas, helped paint walls in an orphanage, and interacted with university students. Though their plans were disrupted they are willing and eager to be “out there” serving.

For me, this story is about God’s sovereignty.  Our team had requested summer missionaries and through some miscommunication, that fell through.  Our Father knew that these 8 students would need a place and a mission.

Pray that our Kampala team will see the places of need that will most fit their skills and interests and help them to grow.

Mid-term Break in the States

In August we took our mid-term break in the States. We spent the first two weeks in Washington state, staying in Tacoma with Lynn’s mom.  She is doing well after having broken her neck last April.  She has a few complaints --but then, who wouldn’t at the age of almost 95.

Lynn was ordained in our home church, Bethany Baptist, the first Sunday home.  It was so good to visit our church family and catch up on the ‘happenings’ in Elma.  Friends had a cook-out with fresh salmon and halibut they caught in Alaska.  That was good:  the fellowship was better.

Our children, including our daughter’s finance′, all drove or flew in to visit.  We packed in the activities:  Pike St. Market and wharf in Seattle,  Mt. Rainier climb, family get-together, and church together at Mom Skuza’s.  They all flew out Sun. afternoon and we followed them to Texas the next day.

In Texas the BIG event was the marriage of our daughter Charissa to Nathan Ikel.  I am not bragging, nor am I prejudiced (well maybe a little), but it was one of the most beautiful weddings I have seen.  We feel so privileged to have Nathan in our family and to be connected to his family.  Our daughter Amye sang and our nephew Josh performed the ceremony.  Everything was perfect!

My (Jan) mother missed the wedding because she was in the hospital so we drove to OK City to visit her.  She was on the road to recovery but sure hated to miss her granddaughter’s wedding.  

In all too short a time we had to pack up and go back home.