ROAD TRIP TO EASTERN UGANDA

Joy and i finally took a trip we have been meaning to since the beginning of 2010.It was refreshing to get away from the noise and activity of the city and instead enjoy another rhythm of life.We traveled to eastern Uganda,a place where i was born and raised.It had a lot of history.while there we both were constanatly reminded of how far the Lord has brought us.

We are back home and feeling a lot more refreshed.
I hope you enjoy the pictures and that they can tell an understandable story.

Love
SP and JOY




The use of bicycles as a means of transport is a common thing in the eastern part of the country.Bicycles can be used by kids as well as adults to carry just about anything.

In most parts of the country,you dont have to go to the store to buy vegetables,fruit or even meat.The road side is used to sell foodstuffs.Good thing is they are usually fresh, right from the garden.We bought some of the food on our way back.







This building that used to be an army shop,was turned into a church.I attended and served in this church when i was on break from University.It just reminded me of the journey God has allowed us to walk.

And down below...it is common to find cows,goats and other forms of animals right in the middle of the road.So when driving you not only look out for pedestrians but also these road users...





The little hut above is my dad's house.. and these kids were attracted to the camera and enjoyed having their pictures taken.










Two african kids with blue eyes.......never seen anything like this!



Thank you once again....
SP and JOY

THE DREAM THAT IS GABRIEL LUTALO ONABA

I have been thinking about my son.I honestly miss and love him so much.It is funny how the tears have slowly but surely given way to sweet and pleasant memories.I remember before he was born,he would move a certain way whenever i touched his mother's womb or when he heard my voice.It was so cool.

I have never gotten over the fact that he only responded to jazz music.He would move on end whenever he heard jazz music.As i think about it now i really enjoyed having him the 42 weeks God allowed us to be with Him.It was a special something we had going.

Gabriel was a sign from God of His (God's) preesnce with us...immanuel.....The thought of Gabriel is a constant reminder that God is with us.This and other things have been a great source of comfort to Joy and myself.

Gabriel also represented (and still does) a dream of a new generation.A generation that is raised different from the way we were raised....(largely as orphans,absent fathers and mothers,broken,abused,poverty,polygamy sorcery,godless etc etc) We are committed to raisng a generation where parents are present,where one husband marries one wife for life,where children are taught the ways of their Maker,a generation that is not orphaned,abandoned and abused.

A generation that loves God and live their life fully devoted to Him and Him alone.This is a legacy we desire to pass on to Gabriel's siblings and others...

We have also been thinking about a healthy way to rememebr him.We have no specific ideas at this point.We know we have heard about people who start a fund,a school, a some thing...i dont know.What i do know is we want to do something that captures the dream and spirit he represented.

Ideas and thoughts are welcome.

SP

JOY of a WOMAN

These are some pictures that show case what i am trying to do.Training and equiping women with skills for economic empowerment and while doing this,to share life as a community of women.

Some of the items below include table place mats,runners and some unfinished quilts.We would love to eventually sell these to raise income for both personal and ministry growth.There are a wide range of other household type items that we are working on.Let me know what you think as we grow this ministry here in Kampala.Orders and ideas are all welcome.

Love
JOY ONABA
joyofawomanuganda@gmail.com

A DATE IN THE VILLAGE

Two things happened yesterday....

First,i took Joy out for our weekly date to Bombo,a little village about 20 minutes from Kampala city where we are setting up the goat/pig project.We both had fun.We just found out (not too long ago) that we both somehow enjoy going on trips,just being on the road.I think this discovery and desire was stirred up after our trip to see the Grand Canyon with the Fullers last year.

Joy took some pictures......We both laughed about how romantic it was to have a date in some remote village garden/bush.

This is the site for the pig/goat project which being cleared.


These are snake eggs we discovered.


Joy loved these stray butterflies


This is me working with the guyz



Second,after we came back, i had a little accident.While opening the car door,i hit my right eye brow so hard that i split it into two.There was a little bleeding but not for long.We had to rush to the hospital and have the tear stitched.It was not too bad. I ma actually fine save for some minimal pain.The doctor used removable stitches that will be taken off on Friday.So right now my eyebrow has whiskers......(Joy took a picture of this too,hope you can see it)


Anyhow that was our Monday.

Love
SP and JOY Onaba

DAY OUT AT LAKE VICTORIA

Joy and I were able to get out of the city and spend some really quality time together.We traveled to Entebbe by the shores of Lake Victoria.We both have been wanting to enjoy the lake,ocean or whatever huge what body we could access.

Cant really capture everything but we did take some pictures....hope you enjoy them and this is also our way to say..

We are back to blogging.






Blessings
SP and JOY Onaba

WE ARE STILL HERE

Friends just so you know, we have not abandoned our blog and you of course...it has been a tough couple weeks so far.We took a break from blogging but are slowing getting back.We've mostly been on facebook and email.

We will be writing and posting more often now.
We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers.

SP and JOY

A QUICK UPDATE

DECEMBER 2nd
We are in the final days of Joy’s pregnancy. As a matter of fact, her expected due date is December 2nd.We thus are on standby mode just in case anything happens. We will send you a more detailed update on what’s going on this side of the world after the baby is born.

The baby’s room is ready (you can see some pictures on our blog) and the expectation of seeing him has grown and become stronger. Joy and I are amazed at the mystery of loving someone so deeply even though you have never seen or touched them. One of the by products of this pregnancy on our marriage is a maturity that we sense our love has experienced.

GABRIEL ONABA
For a while we had been praying that God would speak to us regarding a name for our son. We looked thru several names before settling for Gabriel Onaba. Naming for us here in Africa is a big deal because your name carries with it a prophetic declaration of your destiny.

Susan Fuller (our host while in Vegas) suggested the name on facebook and that’s where I picked it up. Gabriel means devoted to God and our prayer for him is that he will be fully devoted to God all the days of life. Its pretty cool because it is in Susan’s house that Gabriel was conceived.

PRAYER
We continue to covet your prayers more so during this time that all will be well with the delivery of the baby.
We both have our times of anxiety, so pray that we will be rested and given wisdom to be the parents that God intends us to be to Gabriel.

GABRIEL'S ROOM

We finished setting up Gabriel's room.Two good friends of ours who are artists spent Friday night doing the painting and drawing. Joy and i could not believe our eyes when we woke up in the morning.It has become my favorite place in the house.

Check out the pictures...we wanted to capture a jungle theme.I hope we did.


















Love and Blessings
SP,JOY and Gabriel

BATTLE CRY UGANDA

We recently had an amazing outreach event at Makerere University together with Ron Luce of Teen mania and Papa San.These pictures represent some of the action that happened.

CATCHING WHITE ANTS

I woke up to open the gate for Phionah who was headed to church for the first service.On my way to the gate I noticed little bands of insects,in pairs of about 10-20.On looking closer they actually were white ants.(Now before I go any further you need to understand that white ants are not just ‘bugs’,they are a delicacay here in Uganda,especially amongst my tribe.)

I thought of getting a small container to catch them and take them for Pr Ssempa’s kids to see and play with…they love little insects.
However my plan quickly changed after I discovered several thousands other white ants that had lost their wings and were crawling around waiting for a savior to help them fulfill their God given purpose(to be eaten)
They were so many I could not catch them quick enough by myself so I woke up Amon and Joy to come help me.(Joy was not as helpful; bse she has great difficulty bending right now.so she took the pictures)



This was an awesome native african experience…catching white ants.(Disney rides do not compare a single bit to this…seriously)It reminded me very much as a little boy growing up how during the season of white ants(they come out in the night) we would be woken up in the middle of the night to go white ants catching.They are drawn to light.As a result we would go to school late and while in class there would be several kids dozing because they spent their night catching white ants instead of sleeping.

We are going to fry them (without oil)…just put them in a hot frying pan and add a few spices like onions and they will get ready.They are crunchy and yummy…very delicious.We will also be on the look out for more white ants.Let me know if I should send you some.On top of being tasty they are very healthy because they are natural and organic…very rich in protein

SP Onaba
the african

PICTURES OF OUR HOME

The pictures we uploaded the last time were those of our new house,these ones however represent the transition from a house to a home (big thanks to Joy) that we love very much.We are looking forward to hosting you one day!


SP's home office and study(its been very helpful in light of the fcat that there is limited space at the ministry center)

Dinner time.....we picked the idea of the dinning table from Travis Fox's home and Sam and Iris.

Our scattered bed...SP refused to make the bed,he says it is not his spiritual gift.



Joy's sewing,quilting and work room.She will be teaching skills and she is working on a christmas project.





Our living/family area...the cushions and covers were designed and made by Joy at home.



Joy dancing at the opening of the Soul Sistaz, ministry year.