Sounds of Grief

The wailing went on for at least 2 hours. I knew something horrible had happened by the intensity and raw hurt in the sound coming from the woman next door. I wasn't sure what to do, so nothing was the option that I chose. The wailing finally petered out to just sobbing, then to nothing. Over the next 24 hours the sobbing would begin, then end, again and again.

The next day when we were outside under the mango tree talking to our dear friend Robert, the sounds of several people singing began next door. A peculiar look came over Robert's face. He speaks Acholi, the local language. Robert said the song was sung when someone died, and that he could tell that it was a child. The song was interspersed with the sobs of the mother next door. Robert said that when he had walked past the opening to the yard next door, he knew someone had died because the stalks of a banana tree had been placed on both sides of the opening to their compound.

Over the next few days, there was crying, singing, and talking from next door. Lest you think that we were eavesdropping, you need to understand that the people next door sleep inside but the rest of the day is spent outside in whatever shade they have from the trees in their compound. I've included a photo that I took right after we arrived; I thought the assortment of structures  and activities was fascinating. I especially appreciated the juxtaposition of the straw hut and small stucco house, tin shed (and a wooden house) next to our property which contains a large and permanent house.

The intermittent sounds of grief left me sad and wondering what I should do. I found out that, no different than at home in the US, it would be appropriate to pay a visit and take some basic staples such as oil, tea, and soap. So we bought the basic items, and included a non-essential item, sugar. Robert went next door with us to translate. The father and mother met us in the center of the compound, and explained that their three year old son had died of pneumonia while in the hospital. The grandmother joined us and pointed to a 4 foot high freshly-turned pile of soil and indicated that he was buried there. The mother didn't cry the entire time we visited. Our gifts were accepted, and Jeff added a very small amount of money. Other children from the family joined us in a line and introductions were made. The father told us how much he appreciated our visit. He also told Jeff that he enjoyed it that Jeff waved while passing by on his daily walk.

Over the next few weeks, sounds from our neighbor's yard returned to normal. I wonder if life had reached its new normal with a child missing from the family. I wonder if the young boy would have died had there been better health care. I try not to wonder if the mother still sobs.

So This is Christmas?

No, this is not a post about whether or not it might be difficult to be away from our family and friends during the holidays. You can probably figure that one out yourself. No pity party.
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Yes, this is a post about why I can walk around town and not tell that it will be Christmas tomorrow. No gaudy decorations (no classy ones, either.) No Christmas carols being gently piped outside so that when you walk around you'll be in the spirit to spend money. No unusual rushing, no children crying about what they want, no parents frantically trying to buy presents for family and friends.
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Several weeks ago on FaceBook there was a friendly battle about whether it was too early to decorate your home. So as I watched the comments on FaceBook and looked around Gulu, I kept thinking that it must be too early. Okay, it is still too early,  But here we are - Christmas is tomorrow. It must still be too early. The only sign in town that something is different is that there are more people on the streets. This is because villagers have just harvested their crops and have come into town for shopping and to celebrate. And live chickens are being sold on street corners for dinner on Christmas.

Still, I wait for Christmas to arrive.

I looked forward to church last Sunday. I love Christmas carols. But no; no carols were sung. It was explained to me that the celebration of Christ's birth happens on Christmas day. On that day, people wear the newest clothes that they have. Some even stay home, I've been told, because of their lack of a new dress or suit. I've been told that on Christmas the church services will be very special with Christmas music, dances, and skits. I'm looking forward to participating in this tomorrow, even though I don't have a new dress.

I haven't quite decided if I like the way things are done here with respect to the celebration of Christmas. I could conclude that this is a better way, focusing on the day that Jesus was born. That would be easy. "Yes, that is what Christmas is all about," I would say. Too easy.

Things are just different here with respect to Christmas, just like they are with just about everything else. That is just a fact. Not good, not bad. It is just the way it is.

Have a Merry Christmas wherever, whenever, and however you celebrate.

5 Tips Everyone Should Know

Here are some of the things I've learned so far which make me a better person. I hope they help you, too!

Our egg trays in their place on the counter.

1. Raw eggs won’t go bad for at least a week and a half in warm temperatures even if kept unrefrigerated on the counter 
2. Women do not whistle (even while they work)
3. Mosquito nets won’t work if you nap in the middle of the day unless you pull them down around the bed just like you do at nighttime.
4. Bats fly out from the attic of a house at dusk at a rate of about 1 per second for 45 seconds, and 
5. Never use a toothpick on a bumpy road!

A little bit of education can be a bad thing.

A little bit of education can be a bad thing.

We found out there is a large opportunity for support raising at the end of the year as people reflect upon finances and decide where to donate for tax deduction purposes. Since we are so new to this missionary thing, we decided to sign up for a course about end-of-the-year support raising.

Bad move on our part.

Granted, the course did have helpful templates to send to current and potential supporters. There were bible verses to use, with places to plug in names of our country and the names of our ministry. But they felt phoney. We know the best way to ask you to support us is to be genuine, tell our story in our own words, and to let you know up front that, yes, this post will end with a request for funding. Move on right now if you want, but we hope you will give us just a little of your time to tell you about what we have accomplished in Gulu since arriving a few months ago. We hope that you will see the importance of our work to individuals in Uganda and will choose to support us financially.

We found out that our home church, The Grove Community Church in Riverside, refers to our residence as “the Missionary House”. At first this was amusing to us; it is our home. But as things have evolved, the term makes more and more sense. The garage has been set up as a place for sewing and we call it “The Sewing Studio”. One of the rooms in the building behind our home has been converted into a “Fellowship and Fitness Centre” with gym equipment. Two rooms inside our home host visiting pastors (only one has a bed, the other has two sleeping pads that we would like to exchange for 2 twin size beds soon). Our living room has been used for a planning/study session by the leaders of Gulu Bible Community Church. Our dining table is always in use for computer lessons. Do you get the feeling that this house is truly not “ours” but “His?”

Our days are now filled with teaching ladies how to sew, doing outreach in outlying churches, hosting visiting pastors, encouraging church members and friends to exercise, doing computer trainings, and providing resume services to the community. We have settled into a nice ebb and flow of an “always busy but we never know just what the day will hold” mode. Our days are so unlike the ones that we left in Riverside - there we rarely entertained, and this house of sustained activity has been a huge adjustment. We also need to remind ourselves to say “no” or we might have ladies sewing from 5 am to 10 pm every day instead of 10 am to 5 pm; or men exercising through the night.

The major milestone we are looking forward to is an exhibition in the Marketplace in Gulu on December 28. It is an open air bazaar where tote bags made by our sewing ladies will be sold. Please pray that the sales are successful.

Pastors here rely on tithes and offerings to survive, just like in the US. Yvonne’s most touching moment was when one of the young pastors whose wife is learning to sew, confided that “she now has hope”.

We would like to share some information about our current financial situation. The Grove Community Church provides 15% of our monthly budget. Individual/family contributions total 43% of our monthly requirements. We contribute from our personal funds to make up the balance.

This is your opportunity to support a ministry that has eternal impact to the people we reach in our bible classes, and also provides hope to individuals through our sewing ministry.

To continue to support us on a monthly basis, we thank you for your kindness and generosity! No action is necessary on your part unless you would like to increase the amount that you contribute.

If you would like to join us as a new donor in making a difference to individuals in Uganda, please click here. Monthly donations help us plan for expenses. We are genuinely grateful for any amount you are able to contribute, either one time or on an ongoing monthly basis. Your gift is tax deductible.

Thank you for considering supporting us.

Yvonne and Jeff Weinstein

Here is a timeline and some photographs of activities over the months:

Mid-August: Arrive in Uganda. Begin to set up house with essentials such as kitchen supplies and bedding. Nighttime theft while we were asleep of all our valuables. Amazingly generous response by friends and church community of donations of cash to partially recover losses.

Early September: 3 treadle sewing machines purchased.

Mid September: Social event held at our home (aka “Missionary House”) Yvonne invites 10 ladies over to have tea, eat, and hear about the free sewing activities available to them and others in the community. Began meeting and researching with Gulu Bible Community Church leaders for Vision 2040 (Church planting in 10 African Nations). Our home (aka “Missionary House”) first used for lodging for visiting pastors.

End of September: Exercise equipment (barbells and dumbbells) purchased. Almost daily walks (2 miles) into town to build relationships with shopkeepers.

October: First of monthly visits for Men’s and Women’s programs (Bible and sewing) in Adjumani and Anaka. Hired local church member/tailor to teach ladies to use treadle machines. Began computer trainings. Outfitted room in the back building for use as a “Fellowship and Fitness” Centre. (Painted room, built weight bench, hung mirrors, painted inspirational texts on walls). Church members and pastors begin coming for exercise.

Mid October: First Quilt top finished. Yvonne invited to “Women of Virtue to show how to bake cakes and hand sew clutch purses.

November: First tote bag completed. Plans are made to sell tote bags at a local exhibition on December 20

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Turkey, and Typhoid, and Malaria (oh my!)

We knew that Thanksgiving would be different in Uganda since it is not observed as a special day. We just did not realize how different it would be. It is our favorite holiday because it is both a chance to gather with loved ones and to take extra time to remember all the things that we are thankful for. We knew we would not be having a turkey dinner. We knew we wouldn’t be seeing our family, but the texted picture of all three of our children together in one place made us smile! And we could still take extra time to reflect on and to thank God for our blessings.

In the morning I worked with two teenagers for a few hours on very basic computer skills, and was again reminded of the opportunities that we have because we were born in America that Ugandans don’t have. Yes, I am thankful for many things.

After the computer lessons, Jeff and I went into town for lunch at a cafe that specializes in American type food (we had Mexican food). It was an enjoyable time, both the change of food and in the time to slow down and enjoy each other’s company. After lunch I headed home on a boda (small motorcycle taxi) and Jeff stayed in town to complete some errands.         We have a couple of extra rooms in our house that are used by pastors from out of town when they come to Gulu for training. Patrick from Lira has been staying with us. He had been feeling a little “off” in the morning, so he went to the doctor for tests. It turns out that he has Typhoid. Typhoid. The day before, our housekeeper had greeted us with the news that the reason that she hasn’t been feeling well is that she has malaria. We sent her back home to rest and for more medical treatment.

Yes, we knew that Thanksgiving would be different this year. And it was.

Rachel, Jonathan, and Jacob.

A Quiet Whisper or a Magnificent Roar

Not wanting to dwell on it, I have pushed the unhappy theft episode to the back of my mind and have moved on in everyday activities. I no longer have tears trickle down my cheeks when I stop and consider what happened. In other words, I am fine.

In reality, it has had an impact on me. When I hear noises at night, I wonder if there is someone in the house. Barking dogs next door must mean that someone is about to climb into our yard. A phone call from Gabriel, our security guard just 100 feet from our house and stationed at the secured entryway, must mean that something dangerous is happening. And there are other more subtle things. But I never turn into a simpering helpless woman. My mind immediately turns to what I would do if we were actually in one of those situations. That is one positive that I derive from this situation.

I wrote the previous paragraph at least 3 times. Mostly because I can't believe that I wrote those things! Six weeks out and I am still having these feeling and thoughts. Surprising.

On the other hand, people are showing up to provide reassurance and love. They provide reassurance by reminding me that lightning doesn't strike twice. That we have a different guard than the one who is implicated and under investigation as instrumental in the break in. The new guard is a good man. New locks, new keys that no one else has copies of. Most importantly, every time I turn around, something happens that cancels my feelings of loss and insecurity of safety. Something that says "I care" or "You are loved." Sometimes it comes in a quiet whisper, other times a magnificent resounding roar. Some of the quieter times have been the messages that people have sent via Messenger, WhatsApp, FaceBook, and email. Coming unexpectedly, they sprinkle my days and nights with a simple hello and to ask how things are going. Nothing complicated but so very appreciated.  Other "I care" and "I love you" feelings have come in the shape of financial donations to help recover the cash and items that were stolen. Who are we that people would want to help us this way? And the anonymous donor that contributed $3000 to help get a new sound processor into my hands? Humbling.

The magnificent roar was the duffle bag which arrived last week. Michael Gillette, who took his time to come on a very long and uncomfortable 2 day trip to bring it to us, was a roar of caring. Table 7 of Women's Bible Study led by April Henson roared by sending every last thing that was on our wish list. Everything. Embarrassing! Had I known that they would send everything, I would not have asked for so much.

One thing that this experience has taught me is that we are undoubtedly cared about by people on both sides of the globe. God has placed people in our lives to show us we are loved and cared about. Thank you.

Visiting the Child We Sponsor

Meaningful?

Stephen and Yvonne 2012. Photo Credit Bob Adams

Sometimes I wonder if the things that Jeff and I have done over the years have made a meaningful difference in the world. Of course, we wouldn't continue to support these causes if we didn't think that they were doing good. Everyone has a limited amount of money; we want to be good stewards of the money we are entrusted with. 

One of our privileges has been to sponsor a child through World Vision, a relief, development, and advocacy non-governmental organization dedicated to working with children, family, and community to overcome poverty and injustice. We chose Opio Stephen to support back in 2008 when our church hosted a "Walk Through Africa” exhibit. After touring the exhibit, much of which dealt with the Aids epidemic and the issues with orphans as a result of the war in northern Uganda, there was an entire wall filled with photos of children to sponsor. We quickly decided upon Stephen. There was no compelling reason that we selected him out of all the other children, but we pulled his picture off the wall and signed up. And that was really the moment that our hearts began to soften toward Uganda and lead us on this journey which ultimately has us sitting in a house in Gulu where we plan to live for as long as God desires. Meaningful.

Almost 12 years have passed since the day that we selected Stephen. 

I’ve visited Uganda 7 times. The first time that I traveled to Uganda, one of the main motivations was to meet Stephen. 

On visitation day, after traveling by 4-wheel drive to reach the cluster of huts that included Stephen’s family home, I remember being greeted by a huge crowd of family members and villagers who were in awe of me. Just as I was in awe of them, There were speeches by the head of the village, Stephen's father, and then me. I had to remember to speak slowly for the translator, We then sat and "visited." How do you visit with someone so different than you? Different culture, Different language, Different age. I remember having questions ready to ask to keep things moving along. Questions that I thought were appropriate for a 6 year old boy. "What is your favorite color" is probably the most ridiculous. As if he even thought past where his next meal was coming from or whether someone had fetched enough water for his family to drink that day.

We exchanged gifts. School supplies, a picture Bible, a toothbrush, a t-shirt for Stephen. A soccer ball for him to share with his siblings. Tea, soap, cooking oil, and sugar for his mom. A shirt and socks for his dad. Wasn't I the surprised one when handed a live chicken as a gift! Held upside down by its feet, the chicken was offered proudly. It didn't dawn on me until later just how precious that gift was, that the chicken was a meal for the family. They had given up a meal for me! Meaningful.

Over the years we have had the honor of visiting Stephen and his family five  times. I have always brought gifts for him and his family. Once it was quilts I had made for them. Sometimes we were given a chicken, twice we were not. Those were the years that the family was having particular struggles with food. The last time that we went, we were able to present the family with a goat. Such wonder! Such happiness! I am so glad that the escort from World Vision encouraged us to give a goat to Stephen's family, and even found a local family from whom to purchase the goat. That family was so happy to have the money from selling a goat; such a win-win situation! Meaningful.

Two years have passed since we have been able to visit Stephen. He has grown into a tall young man, Studying to be a mechanic, one of our gifts to him was a tool box and tools. A look of delight crossed Stephen's face when he was presented with it. We had brought many gifts. And we were handed 2 plump roosters as a gift from Stephen and his father, a sign of prosperous times. His mother presented me with a container filled to overflowing with g-nuts. And we gave them another goat.

During each visit, Jeff and Stephen's father Martin sit next to each other, struggling to make conversation, translator between them. This year, Martin was anxious to talk to Jeff. After the ritualistic greetings from everyone, Martin stood up and held Jeff's hand. He explained just how important our support has been for his family over the years. He told the story of struggling to feed his family, and how our donations each month have helped. He told how the gift of one goat led to the ownership of three cows, giving them a very significant steady source of income and food. Cows are rented out to plow fields. And they produce milk. He explained how one goat became a cow. The goat reproduced and allowed them to sell the offspring; four goats equal one cow.

But the most touching part of all of our visits can be summed up in this picture. Stephen's father holding Jeff's hand, looking him straight in the eye and trying to explain what an impact we've been,

Yes. Meaningful.

Stephen's father, Martin, with Jeff. 2019

Yvonne and Stephen greeting each other, 2012. Photo Credit Bob Adams

Yvonne, Stephen, and Jeff. 2019I

Stephen's mom presenting Yvonne with a container overflowing
with g-nuts from the family farm, 2019

Stephen's mom and dad, Jeff and Yvonne, and Stephen. Note that Jeff is holding 2 roosters. 2019

Family members watch the visit. 2019

Driving down the pathway to Stephen's village. 2012. Photo Credit Bob Adams

The second visit in 2012. Photo Credit Bob Adams

News Flash! Michael Gillette the Courier to Arrive in Uganda Monday!

We are so excited!

Everything is having a happy ending. Stated differently, "for we know all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes."

Last week I contacted my Audiologist, Donna Eskwitt, at the Riverside Medical Clinic (she is wonderful) to tell her the story of our break in. One of the things that was taken was my sound processor. It might be a surprise to many that I am deaf on my left side as a result of treatment for Meniere's Disease. One very nice thing that improved the quality of my life immensely was the bone implant conduction surgery developed by Cochlear (Here is a link to more information Cochlear Americas). The system has two parts. The first is the titanium post which was implanted into my skull (Hey, this was not taken during the robbery).  (That is supposed to be a joke). 2) The second is the sound processor which attaches to the post. The sound processor, also known as a BAHA, was in my purse which was stolen. Without it, I can't hear sounds on my left side.

After contacting Donna at about 11:30 a.m. on Monday the 9th of September (did I mention that Donna is amazing?) she swung into action, calling Cochlear. She found out that the warranty had expired one day after the break in, so the BAHA could be replaced. She filled out paperwork, emailed it to me, and filed the claim to receive the new BAHA that same day. She also convinced Cochlear to overnight the BAHA to her. Tuesday she programmed it for me based on my records and packaged it up for shipping via Federal Express. When have you heard of such speedy response from a medical care professional? (Did I mention that Donna is incredible? )

This is where the story bogs down. Things continued to be pushed along by Donna, a fantastic professional, She coordinated with FedEx to deliver a package to us in Gulu. It was coming down to finding the elusive storefront that was supposed to receive packages from FedEx versus shipping it to Kampala, the capital city which is located a good 6 hours away. Jeff and I had some interesting interactions with shop keepers here in Gulu trying to explain what FedEx is. Not one of the-20- some thing shop owners had ever heard of something called a FedEx. So it seemed that shipping to Kampala and having them hold the package for me until I was able to get there would be way to go.

But wait, there is more!

Meanwhile, the Outreach Department at The Grove Community church was also trying to find a way to get things to us, including a replacement for my stolen computer. A team of staff members, including Andy Gibeault, Crystal Niermann, Joe Hobbs, and Adam McIntyre (did I mention how outstandingly creative they are?) were brainstorming to find a solution. They had the idea of sending someone to deliver things to us. After calculating costs, finding a super low fare available for use in doing humanitarian work, and looking at other logistics, they determined that sending a someone from church was the best option. (Did I mention that the Outreach department is made up of amazingly clever people?).

Now it all boiled down to this: who was available to come to Uganda on short notice? This person must have had the required yellow-fever immunization which is in short supply. He/she must also not mind the long 2 day trip each way, and be flexible with respect to logistics on the Uganda side of the ocean. Here enters another hero of my story - Michael Gillette. Michael is a college-aged man who has been to Uganda on short term mission treks twice during high school, and was available for just the right time period before beginning a new job on October 2. Besides, Michael loves Uganda and has a true servant's heart. (Did I mention that Michael is a remarkable young man?)

Once the decision was made to send Michael, I went onto Amazon and, using some of the money that had been donated by kindhearted and generous friends to help us, ordered some things to replace other items that had been stolen.

My sister, Ginny Scarbrough, (yes, another stupendous human being) ran around in the heat wave collecting glasses, the sound processor, and other important things we absolutely needed. These included a jumbo sized bag of chocolate chips because my "baked in a frying pan" cookies are such a hit over here. Kari Gillette (who happens to be incredible) told me that there were a few people who wanted to know what they could send to us, so I can't wait to see what arrives. (Did I mention that I know some of the most remarkable people alive?)

Meanwhile,  my son, Jacob, (a young man who is second to none -- yes, I agree that I am a little bit partial, but I know that everyone else who knows him believes the same way) ordered a new computer for me. He was a wise shopper and found what is almost never heard of - a $300 off sale on an Apple computer. Amazing. He is also coordinating the receipt of all of the things that will be delivered, and making sure that they are ready to be picked up Saturday afternoon by Andy Gibeault (you know it already, an incredibly compassionate man).

From there, Michael will leave Sunday morning from Riverside and we will meet him Monday night in Kampala. Sigh.

It is 2:00 a.m. Uganda time and sleep eludes me. I keep thinking of all the things that are falling into place, all the people who have worked so hard to make this happen, and how fortunate I am to be surrounded by people who are willing to put so much time and effort into something to help us out. Unworthy, yet loved. People showing up to be the hands and feet of Jesus. People who care. I am blessed.

Thank you,

September 2019 Newsletter

We emailed our September Newsletter but wanted to post it here for those who have not signed up for our email updates. If you would like to be added to our list, enter your contact information here and we will include you next time: https://tinyurl.com/WeinsteinSignUps

It seems like a long time since we began our Journey to Uganda, but other times it seems like just yesterday. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to encourage and support us during our "Journey to Uganda". Whether you are someone who has committed to supporting us monthly, has provided a one time financial contribution, showed up to help us pack, consistently prays, left money on my porch to buy a treadle sewing machine, donated and organized sewing supplies, sends emails and/or texts to check in with us, - each one of you is an important component of our Journey. It is just like a body, where every part is important (see Corinthians 12: 15-20). We can't be successful without everyone doing their part. So, thank you for being a part of our crazy lives right now. We can't believe that we are in Uganda, writing this on a Saturday morning while most of you are sound asleep on the other side of the world.

We are calling Gulu, Uganda our home for the next year or two. Gulu is a thriving town of 150,000 people located in the northern part of the country. There is construction everywhere as sidewalks are being installed, drainage features constructed, and roads paved.

What could possibly go wrong? We left our home at 3:30 on Wednesday August 14 and reached our destination of Gulu Uganda on August 16 at approximately 6:00 p.m. with nothing remarkable to report. What could go wrong? We had the backing of friends, relatives, our home church (The Grove) and our sending agency (Harvest Alliance). We were "prayed up" and knew that we were walking as God desired. What could go wrong? After all, we had been to Uganda a total of 12 times between the two of us so we knew what we were getting into. What could possibly go wrong? If you read our blog (Weinsteins2Uganda.blogspot.com) you already know that 2 days after we moved into our house, while we were sleeping (and apparently were helped to keep sleeping by a whiff of a gas such as chloroform) someone entered our house and took everything of monetary value. If you haven't already, please go to the blog for details. Our house was a hive of activity the next few days. People we knew from Gulu Bible Community Church stopped by with hugs. Church leadership intervened on our behalf with the police. People listened, talked, and let us know that though we were miles away from our loved ones, we were loved right here in the midst of it all by the locals.  When the news hit our home turf, we received so many texts and emails with expressions of love and concern that we are still overwhelmed by the knowledge that so many people care about us. Although I am still processing this experience, we are moving on with the things we have come to Uganda to do.

Tea at Three I wanted to invite a few of my friends over to surprise them with the plans that are taking shape for the sewing ministry. So I did. Did I know that tea meant a full feast? No, I did not. Fortunately, I have Evelyn in the house. Evelyn, who is helping me learn to cook the Ugandan way, also prevents me from making a major social error such as only having tea and the lovely chocolate chip cookies that I was going to prepare on the stove top. She helped me through the menu planning mode and we ended up with a meal fit for a queen. Pasted beef, fried pork, millett, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes; enough food for everyone and leftovers. When my friends showed up, they were wearing traditional Ugandan garments and brought gifts of cassava root, bananas, roasted g-nuts, and beans. I went back to my bedroom and put on the dress that they had surprised me with 2 years ago. We had fun eating, and I showed them the two treadle machines that they and other ladies in the area will be using. After the excitement of seeing the space for the sewing machines (I think I'll call it a studio) we settled down to visit. And what do you do when visiting at a tea? Why, shuck beans, of course! I love it here!

Age is Just a Number In Uganda babies, children, teenagers, and young adults are seen everywhere. The absence of older people (especially men) was something that struck me on my first visit. In Uganda, the median age is less than 16 years old. (The median age is the age where half the population is younger and half the population is older.) In contrast, the U.S. median age is almost 38 years old. A few weeks ago we met a young pastor and his first comment was,"I heard that a couple was coming to Gulu, I thought you would be younger. Maybe in your 20's or 30's." Another time we heard that the church leaders were looking forward to us sharing our wisdom, knowledge, and experience from our more than seventy years of life. We are both "only" 62 years young.  It is a matter of perspective. Back in Riverside, we are following a generation of those who grew up in the Great Depression and fought in World War II. We've respected and learned life lessons from them. It is a hard concept for us to grasp, but over here, we are those role models. A pretty weighty realization. These boys fashioned cars out of plastic bottles, using bottle tops for the wheels. Children at the Gulu Bible Community Church Preschool Jeff is with Stephen, the young man who we have sponsored through World Vision since he was a child.

Eye Can See Clearly Now Three years ago I started bringing reading glasses to Uganda as part of the High School Mission Trek. This ministry was first started by Ron Richmond of the Grove and glasses have now been given out in Mexico, South America, Belize, Thailand, and Uganda. These non-prescription magnifying type glasses are a blessing to help people read again, reduce eye strain, and allow them to do close up work like sewing and manual labor. When we arrived in Anaka for a three day visit, Pastor Alfred had included time for glasses distribution. We had not brought any glasses with us on this trip, but I let him know that the Adult or High School Teams would bring them next year. He said that there were over one hundred pairs left from the High School visit in July. I was touched when he wanted me to give them out because this was my ministry. I hadn't realized just how very much I had become associated with eyeglasses in the community. Working with Shirley Moran and church volunteers we were able to hand out thirty pairs of glasses to the community members in just ninety minutes. What a blessing to be able to be used as a part of such a life-changing ministry.

On the Road Again During our first three weeks our good friend Shirley Moran from Kentucky joined us. She helped us settle into our new home and travelled with us around the country. Together we visited the Grove's church plants in the towns of Adjumani and Anaka. We attended Sunday services and led programs and interacted with the community in both locations. In Adjumani we visited one of the refugee camps that is inhabited by the Dinka people from South Sudan. Over one million refugees have moved into Uganda from this country immediately to the north. We met with the church's youth soccer team, Yvonne and Shirley led a Women's Program, and Jeff talked with the Men's Leadership Board. In Anaka we visited the church's grain storehouse, and walked through the market area praying for the vendors and their businesses. Yvonne and Shirley met with the women of the church and taught a lesson on how they are God's handiwork, created by Him for a purpose.  Jeff held a reading glasses give away and met with the men to talk about leadership and the roles that men need to play in the church, the family, and the community. It was very rewarding to see how these young churches have grown and the impact that they are having on their communities. During the programs for the women at both churches, ladies were given jewelry which had been donated to remind them of how precious and unique they are.

No Prior Experience Needed by Jeff Before we left Riverside I had several people ask me what I would be doing in Uganda. My answer was usually…I’m not sure, or whatever the Church needs. Yvonne knew she wanted to teach sewing and use that as a ministry to fellowship and help generate income for the women. But I was a bit uncomfortable and unsure about what God had planned for my life in Uganda. After meeting with the leadership of Gulu Bible Community Church we are now “Church Mission Specialists”. Our roles will be to offer expertise and guidance to evangelism, church planting, discipleship, and leadership development. We will also visit and support the pastors and churches planted by the Grove in Lira, Anaka, and now Adjumani. Pastor Martin Onen has proposed his “Vision 2040 which has a goal to plant 10,000 churches in ten African nations in the next twenty years. Yvonne and I will play a small part in this plan as we do research in best Christian practices, look to build relationships with agencies in different countries, and establish systems that can be replicated and used for trainings. In addition to her sewing ministry Yvonne has been asked to use her computer skills to train the new pastors, help with websites, newsletters, and report writing. I will use my background to assist with developing business and leadership classes, and helping with programs for the men in the community. So, if you ask me next year what I did during my time away from Riverside, I think this will be my answer.

Ways to connect with us: Our Blog: Weinsteins2Uganda.Blogspot.com Facebook Group: Weinsteins2Uganda Email: mrsweinstein@fastmail.fm We love to chat: use FaceBook Messenger To Donate: http://harvestallianceintl.org/contact/

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

I have a love-hate relationship with technology. This evening I’m deep into the hate side of the equation. I guess that wonderfully written post, so thoughtfully crafted, was not meant to be seen. This post might be better, or perhaps worse, but I’m moving on.
Moving on. That’s what we’re trying to do. We knew when we were planning to come to Uganda there would be a time of transition. We hadn’t planned on unwanted visitors in the middle of the night as part of the transition, but many of life’s largest growth times come with the unplanned. So we are interested to see see how God is going to grow us.
A few mornings ago this was the verse on my daily calendar:

That is the image that is filling my mind, replacing the thoughts and images from the unwanted visitors.

The three questions that I am asked:

Question: What address should be used for mailing letters and packages
Answer: None. There is no reliable delivery/ mail service to Gulu. Even Amazon doesn’t deliver here.

Question: How are you managing without your prescription drugs?
Answer: The carryon suitcase stolen was found on the backside part of the property, contents intact.

Question: How can I make a financial contribution to replace items that were stolen.
Answer: A dear friend, Chasity Testa of The Grove Church, has put together a fundraising effort. It is posted on Facebook, but I’ll copy/paste the information here:


Friends! Prior to this post I have NEVER asked anyone to pull out their wallet and donate cash to anyone or any organization. Our dear friends , Jeff Weinstein and Yvonne Weinstein left the comfort of their life in California to live for a year in Gulu, Uganda. They expected to love on, teach and empower the citizens in their village and surrounding villages.

What you will read is that after just a few days there, they were burglarized while they slept. It is still unclear as to how this happened. It appears as though someone they trusted, set them up. I know that I could be writing about two missionaries that were murdered here and I am so grateful this is not the case.

The reality is that everything of value, including a cochlear implant processor($4500), all of their medicine for a year, all of their cash, credit cards and literally everything of value was stolen from them. THE WEINSTEINS ARE STAYING in Uganda. They will take what the enemy intended to harm them and turn into good.

There are two ways you can donate: You can send your donation to me (ANY AMOUNT) and I will combine all together and take to The Grove Community Church and it will be wired directly to them and you will be provided a receipt for tax purposes or you can go to the following link :

http://harvestallianceintl.org/contact/

This will send the money directly to their account (MUST MENTION WEINSTEIN) as well and will also provide a tax deductible donation. Will you help me love on this family that has just suffered immeasurable loss. I cannot imagine the defeat they felt as they begin their life in a foreign land. I am free to answer ANY and all questions that you may have. I RAISE A HALLELUJAH EVEN IN THE MYSTERY!

Things that Go Bump in the Night

We arrived in Entebbe after 22 hours of flying, as scheduled, and had a rather uneventful 7 hour drive to Gulu. Little did we know that things would become eventful in an unwanted way before too much time went by.

Even though it was late in the day, we were greeted by a couple from Gulu Bible Community Church who gave us a warm welcome and a tour of our new house. Since it was not furnished, we spent the first few days in a hotel in Gulu. We purchased the bare minimum of furniture: beds for 2 of the rooms, 10  plastic patio chairs, and a few kitchen supplies such as dishes and cups. We were beginning to unpack the suitcases and incredibly large duffle bags; Shirley describes them as large enough to put a body in. Thoughts of the many people who had contributed sewing items and money to make this trip a reality warmed my heart. Although we so far from making this house a home, it felt natural to be here. 

Unfortunately, something happened to make us feel very uncomfortable and insecure in our house. We were asleep the night of August 21 when we were awakened at approximately 3:00 a.m. by the sounds of men shouting and fighting outside. Jeff ran into the living room to see the front doors wide open. He called out for me, concerned that I might be outside. I ran up to him and saw that the strong padlock we carefully use each night to secure the front door was missing. We ran into the hallway leading to the bedrooms, locking the hallway door behind us. On the way to our bedroom at the end of the hall, we woke up Shirley. We three locked ourselves into the unlit bedroom, armed with the only things at hand: a can of mousse and a spray bottle of DEET.

By this time, things had grown quiet outside. Jeff peered around the window and saw someone with a bow and arrow. He whispered to me to phone Robert, our faithful friend and driver for long distance travel. “Robert, please come! There were men shouting and arguing, Jeff saw someone with a bow and arrow, and we don’t know where our guard is”. It took about 10 minutes for Robert to arrive.  He ascertained that no one was on our property, then knocked on our front door.  “Baba Jeff and Momma Yvonne, it’s safe to come out” were some of the most beautiful words ever spoken.

We turned on all the lights in the house and found that someone had gone into every room of the house, taking everything of value. The mini photo printer- taken from the kitchen counter. My MacBook Pro - taken in its case from the living room. Shirley's backpack was missing. And from our bedroom they took a number of items. A quilted case containing external USB drives which had been right next to my head. My purse. A large suitcase partially unpacked. A carry on suitcase with prescription bottles  needed for a year, and the meter for measuring the INR of my blood. All gone. 

And all then cash we had on hand was gone. Poof!  Just like that. 

And it slowly dawned on me, My purse contained not only cash, my passport and credit cards, but my $4500 sound processor which allows me to hear from my deaf side. 

The guard was in the guard house adjacent to the only entrance to the property. 

Robert and the guard walked the property, and came to the gazebo which had been designed to look like a hut. From the outside looking in, Jeff and Robert could see many of our belongings thrown around.  For example, all of the contents of the large suitcase from our bedroom were dumped out and rifled through.

Robert went to the police station and paid for the police to come out to do an investigation. When the sun rose, he went back to pickup the officers He also picked up a police dog and handler. Fingerprints were taken from any flat surfaces. When we were allowed to retrieve belongings from the crime scene, we found that Shirley’s backpack was untouched except for her share of the cash she was carrying, Jeff’s backpack was gone - except that his passport had been taken out and left behind on the floor.  My computer was taken, as were my USB backup drives. And my purse was gone, including all of its contents.
People from the church were called early on and began showing up to lend us support. Tim Cypher, another missionary located in Gulu, heard and came with coffee and muffins. We were surrounded by loving and caring people throughout the day.
Later that day Jeff and Robert were called to the police station to give their statements. The security guard and his friend were arrested as the prime suspects.

It has been an odd week, with the security guard and friend being bailed out by the landlord, who began pointing his finger at Robert as the criminal. The investigation is still ongoing. There is little hope that we will recover our money and possessions.

We still have many unanswered questions.
How did the thugs get the key to our front door padlock?
How did all three of us sleep through the activity of people going through the house carrying things. And what about the large number of the things that were taken from our room? That must have taken some time. One theory is that they used some sort of gas to put us into a sound sleep.
Where was the guard during the time they broke into our house, removed our belongings, and went through our possession?. What didn’t he check on our safety after allegedly chasing off the thieves?

What have we learned from this?

1) We have a lot of love and support in Uganda. We are so far from home, but they have helped carry us through.
2) The Grove, our home church, has some incredibly loving and dedicated people in the Outreach Department. They worked round the clock to make sure we knew they were backing us.
3) We have a strong network of caring friends in the U.S.  They are a steady source of strength for us.
4) Satan would like for us to go back to Riverside. Between this and the equally upsetting challenge that was occurring back at our home on Monterey Rd, we feel strongly that we need to finish our work in Uganda.
5) We praise God that we did not wake up during the robbery and face physical harm. He is good.