New Blog

Hi Everybody,

Naomi and I have set up a new blog documenting our time in John D’or Prairie.

Check it out at joshampersandnaomi.wordpress.com

Sorry, my linking feature is not working properly. Copy and paste into your address bar!

Please pray for Uganda

Dear friends and family,

As some of you may know, there were terrorist bombings in Kampala yesterday that have killed 74 people so far, and left many more wounded. It is believed that the bombings were set off by Somali terrorists, angry that there are Ugandan peacekeepers in their country.

Fortunately, there were no AIM missionaries in the vicinity of any of the bombings. However, one American working for Invisible Children, has been confirmed killed. This causes great fear for those serving in Uganda, and especially in Kampala.

Please pray for Uganda, for the families of those killed, and those that have been injured by the attacks. Pray also for those serving in Kampala, that the peace of God would guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

For more information, you can click on the links below.

http://blog.invisiblechildren.com/2010/07/in-loving-memory-of-nate-oteka-henn/

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/07/12/uganda.bombings/index.html?fbid=wHsfxZvuy_9

http://www.monitor.co.ug/

http://www.newvision.co.ug/

Thank you for your continued prayers for this country and its people.

-josh

Pictures!

Hello friends!

I’ve just posted up some photos on facebook. Even if you don’t have an account, you can peruse to your pleasure by clicking on the two links below.

Album 1
Album 2

Thanks a lot again for all your support again. I’m still working out some dates on when I’ll be sharing, but I’ll let you all know soon!

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In other news, finding a teaching job is really hard here! Please pray for me that God will open doors for me and give me a good attitude through it all.

God bless!

Home

I have arrived home safely. It has been four days since I have stepped on Canadian soil once again and it has been a surreal experience thus far. On the one hand, things seem so normal and I feel like I never left. On the other hand, I know that the experiences that I had these past six months have changed me in ways that I will continue to notice each day.

Please continue to check this blog every now and then because I will be posting pictures now that I have reliable internet. I will also be sharing at my churches in Calgary and Edmonton so stay tuned for dates of when that will happen.

Thank-you so much for joining me on this journey. May God bless you!

See you on the other side

Dear friends and family,

Well, it’s been five and a half months since I first landed on African soil. I will be leaving for the airport in about a half hour, and should be home in a day.

Thank you for your support and prayers throughout this amazing journey. I am excited to see you face to face when I come home, and to share with you my many experiences that I’ve had here.

It’s time for me to go, and I will see you on the other side.

God bless,

-josh

3 Days, 3 Continents

The next three days I will have a chance to see Nairobi, spend 11 hours in London, and then, finally, arrive home sweet home.

I am currently at the AIM Mayfield Guest House in Nairobi, Kenya. After a harrowing seven hour bus ride, I arrived safely at this seeming oasis of a place. There’s running HOT water, and internet, and comfy couches, AND I had ice cream for dessert. YUM!

The past two weeks have been a blast. I had the opportunity to be somewhat integrated into a new, ie. Kenyan, culture and language, ie. Kiswahili. I also got to see and experience the work of the NGO that is Students for International Development, which my friend Neena is a part of. I’ve learned a lot and can’t wait to share some of my insights with you soon.

God bless you!

10

I am in Vohovole, Maragoli, Sebatya, Western Province, Kenya. It is a beautiful place with lush vegetation and blue skies, comparable to the villages of Uganda, minus the hills.

I’m staying with a friend who is working under Students 4 International Development, an organization started by students from the University of Toronto. She is working in the microfinance sector, while fifteen other students are split up between agriculture, health, education, and governance.

I’ve seen some really good work going on here, and it’s been a great experience being able to see humanitarian work done under a different structure.

See you in 10.

My Nearest Near Death Experience

I went rafting on the White Nile yesterday. It was insane. On the last rapid, I was being flipped over and spun around like I was in a washing machine. I actually thought I might drown. And in that moment, I thought to myself, “Wow, God is really powerful…” Scary thought…

Anyways, tomorrow I am off to Kenya. Just a quick note that I won’t have internet for awhile so probably no updates until I get back in… 15 days!!!

The Answer

On our way to a Give-Away, a celebration before a wedding where the bride’s family gives away the bride to the groom, hence the name.

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To the question, “Why are you so muddy in that picture, Josh?”

Well, at the WoL Camp, we made a mud pit and I was the first one to volunteer to jump in. The mud pit was part of an obstacle course that include balance beams, tires, and other fun stuff. Good times.

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Back here in Kampala, we’re moving towards the sunny, hot, dry season. The roads are super-dusty. Every time you take a boda, you have to brush yourself off after and watch clouds of red dust float away from you.

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I’m going rafting Saturday! On the Nile! Before they dam it up! Poor Nile’s going to be dammed.

Muddy Muddled Mind

I’ve attempted to write a new post for a couple days now, but nothing’s come out of my fingers. I feel as though so much has happened that I don’t know where to start. I don’t know how to make the multitude of thoughts in my mind cohesive enough to be understandable.

There have been times where I have been ecstatic, seeing a little boy run with all his might to give me the biggest hug he can muster. And there have been times of sorrow, holding the hand of a girl who just had her chemo treatment and at the same time seeing a mouse run over her mat on the floor.

It’s been a thrilling ride, full of ups and downs. And there’s been a lot of times right in the middle, just part of everyday life that could happen anywhere.

Do you ever feel so overloaded with thoughts, that it’s kind of like they bottle-neck and get stuck? Well, that’s what I’m feeling right about now.