Well, we made it. We arrived in Kampala, Uganda a couple weeks ago, and it has been a whirlwind so far. The days have been busy, meeting new people, seeing new places, and starting to figuring out life here. One of the major things we have been figuring is our transportation situation.

Last time I was here, I (Nick) came without the family, so transportation was simple. Jump in a car with a friend, take a quick taxi ride, or just hoof it. However, plus a wife and two little kids, transportation becomes significantly more complicated. After several days of bumming rides from some local friends, Sarah and I decided that we wanted our own wheels. We searched a couple of local Facebook groups for options, and came across a reasonably priced SUV. We looked into it, and a Ugandan friend and I went to see it. To my pleasant surprise, it was a diesel! Petrol, known as gasoline to us Americans, is quite expensive here, going for about $1.50 per liter, which translates to about $5.00 per gallon. But diesel is decidedly cheaper, is supposed to get better fuel economy, and sounds way cooler! So, after some brief negotiations, we agreed on a price, and that the seller would take care of transferring the vehicle to our name, which was well worth it! The Uganda version of the DMV makes the US version look like a fun place to hang out. So, The Eidens are mobile!

So, after buying the car, I had to drive it. Now, this seems like an obvious statement. But, in Uganda, we drive on the left, and the driver sits in the right seat. Not only that, but add in traffic of a city of several million people, and very lax traffic rules, and you understand why my hopping into the drivers seat for the first time, in the vehicle I just bought, was a little stressful. However, shortly into the maiden voyage, I realized that the driving shouldn't have been my big concern. Rather, navigation is rather difficult here. There are very few road signs, and if you ask for directions, wherever you are going is "just over there." But, we are starting to figure it out, mostly though a combination of nightly map studying and daily trial and error, emphasis on the error.

We spend quite a bit of time driving most days, because Kampala is a big place, and we like exploring (even if some of it is unintentional exploring). After having me be the chauffeur for the first while, Sarah has taken the helm a few times, learning her way around our righthand-drive car and the city. This is great because she can get around herself some, without all of us in tow when she is headed to the school or elsewhere. She's doing great! She gets through the rough roads of our neighborhood smoothly, and drives with just enough aggression to get a turn at the busy intersections with no traffic control at all (you just have to decide it is your turn and let the other drivers know that you're going to go now!)

So, we feel very blessed to have our own means of transport, and yes, we hauled carseats for both kiddos all the way here. The vehicle looks very African on the outside, but still has some of our American life on the inside!

Well, here we are!  This is what's been going on so far since setting foot on Ugandan soil a few days ago:



-rode in a safari van, with our many suitcases, to Courtney’s lovely apartment

-visited the “shops” (wooden/metal shacks with a few shelves of stuff, with gorgeous fresh fruit and veggies out front) to pick up pineapples, mangos, tomatoes, onions, peppers, watermelon, and freshly grilled chapattis!

-hand-washed clothes, towels, and dishes many many times (no washing machines or dishwashers here, folks!)  I’m actually enjoying the slower pace of life though

-discovered that this place uses rainwater in the faucets (which is much more healthy than well-water, and is usable for washing and cooking, but we still use bottled for drinking)

-took my first boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) ride to a tiny secret printing shop to buy paper for bead-making (visit kwagalaproject.org for more info on that endeavor)

-visited the Victorious Vocational School to see the women who are sewing iPad and laptop covers to raise money for the akaHOPE kids!  So good to see these projects in motion!  People helping people and getting some stuff done!  (https://www.facebook.com/akaHOPEinc?fref=ts or akaHOPE.org)

-learned how to use a mosquito net- it’s harder than you think!

struggled to get the kids to bed because of the VERY LOUD church praising God late into the night. These people really know how to worship! “Drums, Daddy, drums!  I hear them!” 

-heard a beautiful testimony from a former prostitute and AIDS victim.  It’s been 12 years since Jesus healed her, and she still tells EVERYONE she meets!  Glorious demonstration of faith!

-enjoyed the beautiful weather here!  I’m sorry to tell you, Kansans, it is cooler here than there! High of 80 is just about right for me! 

-met Teacher Clare, a fabulous, loving woman, and a wonderful teacher! I think we’re going to get along great!

-met and introduced our children to the akaHOPE kids of Naguru!  We learned some super-fun new games and songs.  Bethany LOVED the singing and dancing!   Andy was pretty overwhelmed by all the hugs.  What an amazing group of precious little ones.  I can’t wait to see them again on Sunday for church!

God sold our house!  As I write this, I am feeling overwhelmed, a little sad, but mostly hopeful and in awe of God.  If He wants something done, He can do it.  So here’s the story:
From the start of the whole Uganda journey, we have been asking for God’s guidance with all our decisions including those about our home here in Hays.  I specifically prayed that if God wanted us to sell our home, that He would have someone walk up and offer to buy it.  But, we were feeling pretty good about the idea of renting out our home.  So we proceeded in that direction by contacting a rental company.  It seemed like it was taking a while to get the paper work completed, and the few leads we had on renters weren’t quite working out.  So, on Sunday night, Nick and I sat down together and prayed again about selling versus renting and asked that God would bring us a buyer if He wanted us to sell.  
The next day, Monday, while I was at Washington School, Cindy, a coworker walked up to me. We discussed work stuff for a few moments.  Then she looked straight in my eyes and said, 
“Would you consider selling your house?” She looked as surprised as I was!  I told her, “Well, honestly, we had been planning to rent it out, but I have been praying that God would send us a buyer if He wanted to sell it.”  With tears in her eyes, Cindy said “and I’ve been praying that He would find us the right house. We have been looking, but nothing we have looked at felt right. I didn’t even plan to ask you this; it kind of just slipped out when I saw you!”  We discussed details and it all seemed supernaturally perfect!  (I had that feeling again- the one I had back in November when we joked about the 4 of us going to Uganda.) 
Cindy and her two awesome kids came over that night and loved our home!  (I will be honest, the walk-though was a little tough for me.  They were so excited about the back yard, adorable paint colors, laundry room, and herb garden.  I love those things about my house, too!)  They even started making a list of furniture they would like to buy from us- Nick is excited because that means less to move/store/sell!  
Last night, the whole family (including husband this time) came back to take a look, and a verbal agreement was made this morning!  So, here we go!  Bring on the paperwork, lawyers, and contracts!  Hooray for not being landlords from across the world! Hello, freedom from our mortgage!  
Good-bye, House.
I’ve never really gotten too attached to a house before.  I know it is the people inside that count.  This house holds a lot of special memories.  It is not fancy or new, but we like it a lot.  Leaving it wasn’t on my list of plans…but neither was moving to Uganda.  
So, God, here you go!  Thank you for letting us live in this home for the past few years!  Thank you for blessing us with enough rooms for our foster kids, a peaceful place for our babies, a beautiful backyard for birthday parties, and so much more.  You have provided shelter for my family, and I know you will continue to do so.  Thank you for making your plan clear and precise!  Please make all the details go smoothly from here on out.  We give everything to You knowing that Your plans for Your Kingdom are what matter.  Thank you for involving us and using us.  
 

The African culture and people are so beautiful and mysterious to me.  My family had the privilege of visiting with a lovely Ugandan family living right here in Hays, America.  Incredibly welcoming and sweet, they gave me a little taste of the African mentality, and I am hungry for more.  

Spending time in their home reminded me of the time I spent in my childhood best friend’s home in the Chicago area.  Those are some of my favorite young memories, and they often centered on my first experiences with another culture.  Our family friends, the Ochiengs, fascinated me.  The father, Otieno, grew up in Kenya, and the mother, Kim, is from in Indiana.  They produced Akelo and Okado, who have the most beautiful skin and features I have ever seen.  They were (and probably still are) kind, and funny, and smart.  My whole family loved coming over to their house.  Besides the amazing stew, chapattis, chicken, and sima they served up, we always had a wonderful time with them. I was mesmerized by each detail of their multi-cultural life!  I remember their little hand-knitted booties lined up by the door in size order, waiting to be replaced by their shoes when they entered the home. There was often Kenyan music playing.  I used to ask Akelo to teach me the Swahili words, and I still remember them!  I could spend the afternoon playing with her beautiful braids (when she let me), and got caught starting at the stunning photos of dark-skinned women and babies that adorned their walls.  The art, the accents, the baskets, the drum beats, the scents, the faces— I remember tiny intricacies of each piece because I was already in love with Africa. God was already placing the African people in my heart, way down deep. 

Up until now, all my (Sarah’s) posts have focused on my fears, reservations, and obedience.  I think that is because I wanted to make sure you all understood that this Uganda thing is not some extreme vacation or spontaneous adventure.  And I do not want to downplay the risks and concerns about moving my family to sub-Saharan Africa.  I do, however, want to glorify God by expressing my joy, peace, hope, and passion about this mission!

What an honor and a blessing to be used by the God of the universe!  How cool is this?!   I actually get to be His hands and feet. (That is pretty cliché and churchy, sorry about that!)  But the Bible tells us that when we accept Christ, we become part of one body doing His work.  This classic Christian catch phrase is becoming real to me, finally, after 28 years of thinking I had it figured out.  I want to reach out and literally touch those who need Jesus, who need food, who need love.  By saying I am His hands and feet, I am not patting myself on the back; I am proclaiming my goal and expressing my passion!  What an honor!  What a joy!

I can not believe we are doing this!  We are going to see parts of the world I never dreamed of seeing.   We will experience sights, tastes, smells, and views I never thought possible.  We will learn from new people.  We are actually going to spend time with the darling kiddos from the blogs and videos!  I can’t get enough of those precious little faces. I am so excited to look into their strikingly beautiful eyes and let them know that they are loved.  Loved by me, loved by the King.    

I cannot express how much we appreciate each one of you who has blessed us with your emotional, spiritual, and financial gifts.  Each hug, prayer, word of encouragement, hand shake, note, and smile mean so much to our family.  So, THANK YOU!  
Thank you, precious family members who have been praying and standing behind us throughout this whole journey!  Thank you, dear friends who didn't call us crazy the night we told you we felt like God had put Uganda on our hearts.  Thank you to the generous person who anonymously donated funds through our church! Thank you, church family for helping send Nick on his week-long trip, and for making it clear that you are behind us one hundred percent.  Thank you to the elderly couple in the check-out line who helped pay for the pencils, pens, and toys for the Naguru children.  With no fundraising effort on our part, God is using people to provide!  Thank you, fellow teacher, who provided books!  Thank you, sweet boys, who gifted their toy cars and sunglasses to children who don't have any.  We are thankful for each penny, each kind look, each prayer lifted up.  Thank you for believing in us, and for trusting us.  Thank you for being a part of God's perfect plan!

Well, I (Sarah) have been having some crazy dreams lately.  I must be feeling pretty unprepared and nervous because, in the last month, I have had the “First day of school, can’t find my class, big test” dream at least 5 times.  Such panic and worry!  People, if I look like I have it all together, I do not!  Yes, God has given me a peace and assurance about this upcoming change.  But my human heart is jumping out of my chest. 

And then there are the dreams where I physically wrestle with wild animals.  There was a huge yellow snake that I made into a lasso and whipped across a hotel lobby- I saved my children in that dream!  And I was brave enough to slice a guy’s face in my dream a few nights ago.  Knife violence is my biggest fear (up until moving to Uganda), so this was a pretty big breakthrough in dreamland. So, while sugarplums dance in my children's heads, I am fighting snakes and lions and scary guys for them.  I always win.

I am hoping my winning streak means that God is preparing me to have confidence in the midst of trials.  He is getting me ready to face some of my biggest fears. I hope I pass the test!  (and find the right classroom…)

Who:  The Eiden Family is joining up with a.k.a. HOPE 
What: providing education and empowering communities for traumatized, orphaned, and otherwise underprivileged and underserved in Uganda.
When: June, 2013-June, 2014
Why: We love Jesus and want to share His love.  We are being obedient to His call. 
How:  lots and lots of prayer

March 23, 2013
About a month ago, I (Sarah) promised myself I would not worry or stress or ask any more questions about moving to Uganda until Nick got back from his Spring Break visit.  I knew that a lot of my questions would be answered, and that we would either have a whole new realm of concerns, or that some of them would be alleviated. Well, he is coming home tomorrow….
And I was right!  Many of our concerns are gone, simply because we have more knowledge.  I got to speak with him a couple times, got some texts, and saw lots of pictures this week.  The first thing he said to me was “You’d better start packing!”  He is so full of joy and passion for God and what He is doing in Uganda.  I hope I never forget the image of my darling husband’s face surrounded by little black faces with big smiling white teeth.  I am so thankful l for that skype date with our two little blonde babies blowing kisses and high-fiveing through the computer to Daddy and “Uganda kids.”  
But now comes the part where we have to work.  The decision is made.  God is moving.  He has made it clear- praise the Lord!  It is time for the details-- renting out the house, selling the car, deciding what to pack, what to sell, what to toss, and figuring out the finances of this whole shebang. 
Big Breath.  
Hee Hee Hoo.  
We can do this.  We are good at details. If our Heavenly Father can orchestrate the Who and the What and the When and the Where and the Why of this project, I’m sure He can handle the How. 

We arrived, and this time, because Clare had also been absent, she received the brunt of the welcome, followed closely by Chris, and I brought up the rear of appreciation, albeit significantly more than my first arrival.  The kids are so joyful, and so loving, without restraint.  A part of me wished they had a little more restraint – the part of me that still worries about what germs and sickness these beautiful children are covered in.  However, this part of me is so quickly overtaken by the love and hope that these children see in us.  Having these thoughts is convicting, albeit natural and acceptable, but so quickly pushed aside.  I love these children, and the risk of whatever they might pass on through normal contact is far outweighed by what I hope to pass on to them in the name of Jesus.  These children are the least of these, and I will insist on loving them, even when my First World standards try to stand in the way.  Chris, Clare and I made our way of the hill to the schoolyard, each with our own pile of clanging kids.  I’m not sure of it was recess time before we arrived, but it certainly was once we reached the school.  All but about six students were out, playing, running, laughing and being some of the most joy filled children I have ever met.  Soccer was the main event for the boys, enthusiastically kicking a tennis ball from end to end of the 40 foot long dirt yard, desperately trying to squeeze the ball between two piles of rocks forming a goal.  Of course, whenever there was a point earned, the ball continued to fly off the ‘field’ and down the hill, across the trash pile, settling against the building that houses the ‘toilets’.  The boys race down after it, cackling and shouting with excitement of scoring a point, not a thought about the filth that they are playing in.  They just retrieve the ball, put it back in play, and go at it again.  The only thing that seems to distract them for the love of the game is my taking photos – I got very brief pauses for impromptu posing, and they are quickly back to their sport.  
The girls are moving around only slightly slower than the boys, laughing and giggling and running around.  Apparently, even in Uganda, girls are more relational than boys, as more conversations were taking place, in between the running and jumping and playing.  There was something that reminded me of Duck Duck Goose going on.  There was no fighting, no bickering; just happy energetic kids.  One of the little girls came up the hill with a small chink of frozen juice (where she got it, I have no idea). She offered it around to her classmates, gladly sharing what little she had.  It was completely natural for her to share what she had, even when it was obviously a special and rare treat for her.  I saw no hesitation in her sharing, just a communal love and respect for her classmates.  This was reciprocated by her fellow students, as no one took more than their small portion, and none expected to take more than their proportional taste of the treat.  These kids love and care for each other like I have never seen children do.  These kids, who have nothing, freely give it away. 

Soon, Teacher Clare gently calls for the students to come in, using a peaceful and calm song, not having to raise her voice, nor repeating herself more than once.  The children bound into the classroom, knocking against one another as they squeeze two and three wide through the doorway, to their desks.  Today the classroom is divided into three sections by a couple of large boards serving as temporary walls.  Clare greets the children, and allows Chris and I to do the same.  Clare then shares that it is my last day with them for a while, telling them that I have to go home to “collect Sarah from this picture (pointing to our family photo on the wall) and the children.” The children all started clapping emphatically, so terribly excited that I will be bringing my family to meet them.  There is no talk of the boarding school, no talk of moving, no talk of even a new project. They are simply excited to meet my wife and kids, because they have been told how much we care about them.  I stand up and explain that I have to go back to get them, and that it will take a few months for me to return with them, but in the meantime, God will continue to love them, and that I will continue to love them, and I will tell my friends about them.  I tell them that I look forward to seeing them again, and I thanked them for letting me come meet them.  (By the way, I was somehow able to hold it together for this, in case you were wondering.) 

Then, Clare tells them that we found Andrew, and that he sent them bananas.  Chris and I went to collect them from the car, and three of the older students were sent as helps.  We carried the fruit up the hill, and placed it on the front table.  It looked like a lot of bananas, until you looked at how many mouths were pursed toward them.  Each child would get half a banana. Clare told the kids that we would be sharing them, and that there would be no fighting, pushing or being rude.  Every student calmly sat at their place, patiently but anxiously waiting the delivery of their snack, which in reality was likely the only food they will have eaten today, aside from their bite of iced juice.  For at least a few of them, it might have been to only food they could expect for the day.  But each and every one of them sat, quietly, patiently and politely. Clare asked for a volunteer to pray for the meal – yes, the meal of a portion of a banana.  Several hands shot up, and Clare called forward one of the girls, and handed her a bunch of bananas, and told the rest of children that it was time to pray.  The girl prayed proficiently, and formally, but honestly, thanking God for this blessing, and for taking care of them.  This was a beautiful moment.  The students all said “Amen” and went back to patiently waiting.  Chris counted the bananas, and told Clare that we should have enough, so we started passing them out.  Each little one received one entire banana, and said “thank you” when they gently received it, not grabbing or reaching or begging.  Clare seemed very surprised that the quantity was sufficient, and I told her that it was the story of the two fish and five loaves.  Clare praised Jesus, loud enough that all could hear, thanking Him for blessing them with the bananas.  I suggested that she tell the story, but she suggested I tell it.  I stood up and asked the children to listen to a story as they ate their banana.  I had their attention.
I told the story, slowly, wanting to make sure I didn’t mess it up, and to make sure that I was giving the students enough time to eat and think at the same time.  I told the story in the way that my son’s Bible story book does in what it titles The Boy Who shared His Lunch, starting with “The mommies and the daddies and the aunts and the uncles and the grandmas and the grandpas and the children”.  The kids paid good attention, and then Clare followed up, checking for understanding.  The kids new that the point of the story was that God loves them, and will provide for them.  They added that sharing is important, and that when God provides, we share that.  I praise God for that opportunity.  After the bananas were all eaten and the peels were discarded, Clare asked of the children wanted to take me for a walk through the community.  They enthusiastically agreed! Clare led us out of the classroom, across the schoolyard, and down the hill.  The other two teachers had several of the boys re-tuck their shirts, because “we want to look like gentlemen” as we walk through the filthy, sewage ridden and disease filled slum that is their community.  The boys quickly obeyed, and continued bounding down the hill.  

After the bananas were all eaten and the peels were discarded, Clare asked of the children wanted to take me for a walk through the community.  They enthusiastically agreed! Clare led us out of the classroom, across the schoolyard, and down the hill.  The other two teachers had several of the boys re-tuck their shirts, because “we want to look like gentlemen” as we walk through the filthy, sewage ridden and disease filled slum that is their community.  The boys quickly obeyed, and continued bounding down the hill.  

After the tour of the community, it was time for Chris and me to leave. We had to stop by the Jesus House to get my luggage, and then head to the airport.  I had to catch my plane home, which was bittersweet.  I love Uganda, and I was not ready to leave.  However, since I will be moving my family here for a year, I need to go home and prepare! There is much to be done in Kansas, so that we can get to work in Uganda!