The Hines Family: May 2011

So what does one write about when one has not posted to one's blog in almost two months?

The challenge of finishing my first term of cross-cultural teaching and administering and marking final exams and assignments?
The joy of participating in a retreat in the shadow of a volcano in Kisoro with theology students completing their studies and preparing to return to full time ministry?
The ongoing frustrations, failures, and triumphs of trying to get furniture for our home?
Watching our kids experience their second round of final exams in the Ugandan educational system?
Presiding over my first Holy Eucharist service as a priest?
The joys and challenges of kids being off from school for a month before their next term begins?
Easter in Uganda?
The maturing of our Hines-Morrow team as we understand more of what it means to live, love, and learn together under various levels of stress? Humility, forgiveness, openness, communication, tears, prayer, listening, receiving, giving....
A two week trip to Kenya and back for a tiring but wonderful time with Global Teams team members from the US, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, and Congo?
The sadness and joy of celebrating Lucy's 5 year old birthday far from home?
Traveling with the Bishop of Kigezi to preach at a confirmation at a village church?
Traveling for hours along a treacherous road to emerge in the beauty of the village home of our friend and deputy-principal of BBUC?
What life holds for us in the next few months?

Whew. Let me just share what's on my heart today, and then I'll put up a few photos for fun.

Kabale is beginning to feel like home, but at the same time the sadness, weariness, and frustration of cross-cultural home-away-from-home living continues. A glimpse of what it's like: We were sitting at the lunch table in Kampala about a week ago, after almost a fortnight away from Kabale. I asked the kids whether they missed anything about home, meaning Kabale. What they said was sweet: "I miss Maureen...Protase...Sharon...Gideon and Esther!" These are our Ugandan house help and neighbors; I love it that when our kids started talking about what they missed, it is the people they mention first. Then Julia piped up, "I miss Andaddy's house in Merica." (I miss Granddaddy's house in America.) *sigh* There it is -- Kabale is becoming home, but we miss home.

The "fortnight away from Kabale" was so we could spend time in Kampala doing some necessary business (dental visits, shopping, work on our van, visas, and rest) and joining other Global Teams missionaries (both North American and African) for a gathering in Kenya. The former was both practical and fun, and the latter was tiring but very, very good. Regarding the latter, a small team of GT Missionary Care Givers flew all the way from the USA (carting along requested items plus a few surprises) to lead us in almost a week's worth of Scripture study and reflection, and to connect with us on a personal level and hear more of the reality of life on the field. Additionally, they coordinated with the East African Global Teams leaders to have two days of integrated engagement. In other words, for two days we North Americans connected with GT members from East and Central Africa (see above), hearing about their work with unreached people groups, and exploring cross cultural issues together. It was our first face-to-face encounter with the realization a significant part of GT's vision:

Global Teams equips and sends teams of missionaries from many nations to multiply disciples of Jesus within cultures least familiar with the Gospel.

We listened to stories of work East and Central Africans are doing to "see the heart of Christ in the skin" of cultures where the Gospel is only beginning to make inroads. We have a lot to learn from these brothers and sisters. We're looking forward to more!

The return to Kabale has been good and hard. Good -- we have a renewed perspective and vision for our time and work here; we love the geography and climate of our home; it's wonderful to realize we a becoming known and welcomed here; it's good to know there are people we miss, and there are people who miss us; our Hines-Morrow team is more closely connected than ever. Hard -- kids are diving back into long days at school (8-5); I'm two weeks late in the BBUC term; day-to-day living is still a challenge, and our house is still not fully settled; we're tired from the travel with little chance to rest.

Through it all, however, we keep sinking deeper into the reality that Jesus really is the source for all aspects of our lives, that the Father really does love us and is providing for us in ongoing, deep, significant ways, and that we are desperately dependent on the presence and power of the Comforter/Counselor.

And now, for a few photos:

Lucy celebrated B-Day #5 while in Kenya! I felt a bit sad about it being so different from what would have happened Stateside, but she loved it and said she didn't want the day to end!

One of the dear ladies from the GT team brought fixin's for s'mores! We roasted marshmellows over a coal stove.

A group of us visited a Kenyan church about 45 minutes drive away, and only a stone's throw from Obama's family's home. Afterward we attended an amazing dance performance at a local girls' school.

GT in action!

Jesse, Micah, Aaron and I made a new friend and enjoyed a round of volleyball.

The team with which I served when presiding over my first Eucharist service. The man on my right is the chaplain of BBUC, an alumnus of Trinity (my seminary alma-mater), and our wonderful neighbor, Gideon! Many of others are my students from last term.