The hardest part about leaving a place is saying goodbye to the people you've met while there! This week we've said a lot of goodbyes.
Drew's last day of work - saying goodbye to colleagues.
He's going to miss these people!
Saying goodbye to Byron.
Farewell dinner at Cafe Javas!
Saying goodbye to Shiphrah!
Eloise had fun crawling on the table from person to person!
Enjoying chocolate fudge cake (the manager gave it to Isaiah for free because he touched it on the shelf! Whoops! )
Goodbye dear friends!
Saying goodbye to Juliet, Drew's awesome boss and friend!
Saying goodbye to Beej.
More goodbyes!
Saying goodbye to Shiphrah and Wendy.
What makes saying goodbye even harder this time is that now we have an almost 3 year old who thinks of Uganda as home and his friends here as some of the most important people on earth. When he says goodbye this Monday he's not going to realize that it's for the last time ever. But I know that once we're back in the States he's going to be asking for his friends here and the reality will sink in. :(
Isaiah is going to have the hardest time saying goodbye to our house helper, Suzy! For the last year she's spent every day of the week (except weekends) in our home, doing the housework and cooking, but also spending alot of time with the kids. Both Isaiah and Eloise ADORE her! They both call her "chu chu", give her lots of hugs and kisses, and miss her when she's gone for the evening.
Suzy has been a wonderful blessing in our home and we will miss her also!!
Goodbye Suzy!
Goodbye kisses from Isaiah.
Goodbye hugs from Eloise.
Saying goodbye to one of our neighbors. These boys have lots of fun together!!
This past weekend I went with the ladies from my Bible study on a weekend getaway! We went to a beautiful island in the middle of Lake Victoria. After an hour and 15 minute boat ride on the choppy waves, we finally reached the gorgeous island (completely drenched and happy to be on dry land again!). What a fantastic view.
We had a great weekend talking, laughing, eating way too much (the food was AMAZING!), playing games, swimming, and taking walks. It was so much fun!
On Sunday morning we all went our separate ways to spend about two hours alone in silence and solitude. This was the hardest part of the weekend for me. For those of you who know what’s going on in our lives right now you know we are so busy! We are preparing to leave Uganda in only 22 days and there are LOTS of things to be done. We also have many uncertainties in our lives right now. We haven’t even purchased our on hold plane tickets to come home yet because we are still waiting on Eloise’s visa (although we have been assured we will get it soon…let’s hope!). We are moving to Boston in the fall but still have not found a place to live and Drew still doesn’t have a job. We are stepping out on faith. We trust in the Lord’s faithfulness, but oh how hard situations like these are on the heart and mind!
During my 2 hours of solitude on the island, I was supposed to spend about 30 minutes doing and thinking NOTHING…just letting God speak to and move me. I tried my hardest but it was nearly impossible to do! I kept thinking of every thing I have to do. Buy plane tickets. Pack. Post list of for sale items. Pack. Write Suzy’s letter of recommendation. Pack. Prepare for the ARA sale. Pack. Respond to 50 e-mails. Pack. Buy gifts to bring back. Pack. The list goes on and on…
As hard as it was to do, being still and silent was a good exercise for me in this busy time of life. As I sat and tried my best to slow my mind down, the Lord reminded me of this: “Even when I stop, God does NOT stop. He can accomplish His will even without my help!” The whole world did not self destruct just because I took a few hours to not think about or do what I need to do. Whoda thunk it?!?
Our solitude study guide had this quote from Dallas Willard in it: “And ‘doing nothing’ has many other advantages… possibly the gentle Father in the heavens would draw nigh if we would just be quiet and rest a bit. Generally speaking, He will not compete for our attention, and as long as we are ‘in charge’ he is liable to keep a certain distance.”
My prayer that day was (and still is) that God would slow down my mind so that I can accomplish HIS will through me today and every day to come!
From Uganda to Boston: Hello Grad-School, Here We Come!
Living in Uganda for this past year has been amazing. It’s been eye-opening, thrilling, and adventurous. At the same time, it’s been home. The friendships we’ve formed, the family we have here, and the experiences we’ve encountered all have made Uganda a place in which we truly feel comfortable. Our work with International Justice Mission has been stretching and fulfilling. We’re going to miss being here. Needless to say, it’s hard to even think about leaving.
Nevertheless, the time is coming for us to board another plane and head back to the states. This chapter of our lives in ending... but another is about to begin!
We leave Uganda in less than a month, flying out on May 28th and arriving in Florida on May 29th. We will be in Jacksonville for two weeks, after which time we will head to Michigan to spend the remainder of the summer there.
Ultimately, however, our final destination is Boston, Massachusetts! Drew will be attending Harvard University (which is in Cambridge) for his masters degree. He will be going to receive his masters in business management with an emphasis in finance. These are exciting times and Drew is eager to be back in the classroom.
While we look forward to this next adventure, we also realize as with any new adventure, there comes its own unique challenges. Would you join us in praying about the following?
Prayer
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That we would finish our time in Uganda well! We still have much packing to do, Drew has to finish up at IJM, and we still have many other things that need to fall into place before we can leave
That transitioning back to the states will go well for both us and the kids
Moving to Boston and that our finances will carry us through
That Drew would be able to find a good job in Boston that will work well with his school schedule
And please PRAISE the Lord with us:
Praise
We were able to obtain Eloise's passport and her U.S. visa is in process!
We have found buyers for most of our furniture and appliances, as well as our car! A huge relief!
That the Lord is faithful and is upholding us during this time of transition. So thankful for His peace!
We would like to mention that upon our return to the States we are looking to purchase a mid size SUV or minivan. If you are selling one or know of someone who is, please let us know!
Be on the lookout for one more paper newsletter with a special gift from Uganda in it once we get settled back in the U.S.
Thanks for walking this journey with us. We have been overwhelmed by your love for and support of us during our time in Uganda. You have helped make a difference for the vulnerable and oppressed here! THANK YOU!
A "boda boda" is how Amber gets to all the appointments she has had to go to in order to get Eloise her visa and passport. Boda bodas are all over Uganda. You flag one down and pay them to take you to your destination!
Isaiah and Eloise in their Ugandan attire!
Working on the paper work to get Eloise's visa. Adoption requires SO. MUCH. PAPERWORK!
You are receiving these e-mails because we think you may be interested in keeping up with our work in Uganda with IJM! If you wish to unsubscribe please see the link below. Our mailing address is: International Justice Mission
Drew Hutcheson
P.O. Box 70445
Kampala, Uganda
The department I work in at IJM holds what we call a Justice Week usually once a quarter. The justice week is where we spend most of the week at one of our justice churches preaching on justice, teaching on the Ugandan law, and holding a will-writing clinic. One of the highlights of a justice week is the Justice Act wherein the church seeks out someone in the community who is in evident need and reaches out to serve him or her. Sometimes the person's needs can be simple things such as filling jerry-cans with water, collecting fire wood, slashing the grass and bush around their home, or even washing their clothes. The pictures below are of the justice act during our most recent justice week in Kisowera (in Mukono, Uganda).
Serving with a justice pastor and one of the church members. There's nothing like seeing the leadership of the church get their hands dirty for the sake of the community!
Talking with the lady we were there to serve. She was over 100 years old and was so frail and weak.
This is me being told she can't hear me, let alone understand English! =)
Inside her home.
Dithan (IJM colleague) talking quite loud to greet the lady when we returned the following Sunday to see how she was doing. The justice church in this area slashed her grass and gave her a new gomesi (dress).
"Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause." - Isaiah 1:17
We can't believe how fast time is flying. We've had Eloise home for six months now and today she turned one year old! Eloise has changed so much in the last 6 months and we've enjoyed seeing her grow and progress.
When we brought Eloise home on October 16th, 2012 she was a tiny 13 pound 6 month old who couldn't sit up on her own or bear much weight on her legs. She was lethargic, unresponsive, and didn't make a peep! But little by little we saw her blossom and grow. She started exercising those vocal cords and making her needs known, she became more active, she learned to sit, then crawl, then stand on her own. She started smiling whenever we entered the room. She started crying when we left! She started laughing at her big brother. She started pulling our faces in for a kiss.
Today Eloise is a happy, healthy one year old! She is a giggly little girl who loves to smile and laugh. She thinks her big brother is THE GREATEST thing since sliced bread. She LOVES baby dolls and will pull her doll in for a hug and kiss when she sees it (SO different from Isaiah!). She knows please, thank you, more, all done, and bye bye in sign language. She also knows how to say the words Dada (no Mama yet!), all done, thank you, uh-oh, and poo poo. Her very first word was "hot", the same first word as Isaiah (no, I did not try to make that happen!).
Eloise is miss speedster in the crawling department. She can get anywhere she wants to go in her walker or by crawling. She walks along furniture and crosses from one piece to the next but no walking on her own yet. She can stand by herself though so it's not far off! She is a climber and loves to climb on the couch and into any little bucket or box she can find.
Little Ellie Bean is a cuddle bug and I absolutely LOVE IT!!!! Isaiah was not a cuddly baby (although he's more snugly now that he's a toddler - go figure!). Eloise will lay her head on your shoulder, pat your back while you hold her, pull your face in for a kiss, and hug you tightly. Some of my favorite times are snuggling with my baby girl! She is such a sweetheart.
Eloise is a pretty laid back baby. Isaiah was a good baby, but Eloise is a great baby! She is a bit more whiny than Isaiah was (a girl thing!?!) but for the most part so content. She can entertain herself for very long periods of time. She also plays well with Isaiah. They have just recently started "playing" together although much of it is still side by side play. But each day I see them interact more. Also, the fighting has already started although it's still few and far between. They will fight in the bathtub over a WASHCLOTH. Seriously?? =)
Eloise is a good sleeper though she doesn't require as much as Isaiah did at this age. She usually sleeps 11-12 hours straight through the night and takes two naps during the day. Can't complain there! She eats a wide variety of foods, still nurses several times a day, and loves her fruits and veggies!
Eloise Ann Hutcheson is our blessing and our Joy. We are so thankful the Lord blessed us with her precious little life. We look forward to the years to come as we watch her grow into the young woman God has planned for her to be!
Happy Birthday Eloise!
The birthday girl!
Eloise: "Umm...this string thing is really getting on my nerves."
"I think I'll just pull it and get it off my face."
"AHHHHHHH! That was a BAD idea!"
Right before she grabbed the cupcake and burned her hand with a little wax!
Trying to convince her that the cupcake was not going to hurt her. After she got burned she was so scared of it! =)
Adelynn being silly and Isaiah thinking she's like the coolest thing ever!
Being goofy.
"Yay! I tried the cupcake and it didn't burn me!"
Frosting kisses for mom.
Nice lipstick Adelynn.
Messy kisses from Daddy.
"Mmmmmm, this cupcake thing is actually pretty GOOD!"
She finally got into it and discovered she loved it! =)
Mr. Cool with his sunglasses.
My two cuties!!!
Can't remember why Isaiah didn't have a shirt on....lol.
The cute little backpack Eloise got from Meema and Papa .
Isaiah got something from Meema and Papa too!
A little monkey which he LOVES!
Happy birthday sweet girl. Mommy, Daddy, and Isaiah LOVE you!!
