My Family

I know that God is a God of Families...

How do I know this?

It seems that wherever I go, no matter how near or far...God always provides me with a family.

As you all know I have a village mama...Mama Jane, who along with my kids gave me the name Mirembe... I love spending time with her but being that she lives 2 hours away from me now, I only see her every few months.

I guess God thought I needed family more than every few months though and so for the past several months now I have been adopted into the Kasekende family!! So my full Ugandan name is now Mirembe Kasekende :)

How did this happen??

I made friends with my neighbors :)

After a couple of months, one of them invited me to their family Sunday Lunch and the rest is history...I now have a standing engagement every Sunday afternoon for a family meal.

I love my new family and I am so very thankful to God for yet another home!

Let me introduce them to you...

Left to Right: Liz, Mum, Me, Angela, Barbara, Dad - Here we were Celebrating Mum's Birthday and Father's Day all in one at a great new restuarant!

Here is Mum and I at Emin Pasha...watching Barbara awe the crowd with her beautiful voice!

Dad and I...Not sure what we were laughing about but I know we had a great time!

My Sister Barbara...when we celebrated her 30th bday! We are both 1980 babies :)

My other two sisters (Liz & Angie)...enjoying our lunchtime conversations with each other!

Taking a Hit...

When I left for Uganda I took alot of hits about it...

People thought I was crazy, other's couldn't understand how I would leave a good paying job, or my comfy condo...but over the last year and a half most have come to understand why I did it and the good that has come of it...

There are still others though, who love to bash people that they just don't understand. So once again I find myself trying to defend what I do and why I do it...

I am glad that the disciples were questioned and often had accusations made against them when they left for their missionary journeys...

I know I have big shoes to fill!! I just pray that I will have a good attitude toward those who desire hurt me and mock the things I do.

Joburg

Despite the fact that Johannesburg, S.Africa is pretty much every list I came across as the 10 most dangerous cities in the whole world, I was surpised at how much it looked like LA...

1. LA is for the most part old and made of concrete...so is Joburg

2. LA is a desert...very dry and usually brown...so is Joburg

3. LA has crowded roads full of nice cars...so does Joburg

4. LA has big malls, McDonalds, KFC, and theatres of all types...so does Joburg

5. LA is host to drugs, graffity & sketchy neighborhoods...so is Joburg

6. LA is host to the Santa Ana winds and while the Santa Ana's arent in Joburg, it is surprisingly hot and windy just like LA.

So really...even though I was in S.Africa for work, it really was like taking a trip back to my home town of LA...I left complete with a tummy full of McD's, chapped lips and dry skin...ready for Uganda with its moister air and preservative-free food once again :)

The Search is ON!

A couple of months ago I heard of a book about a Jewish guy who set out to live out an entire year according to the bible...from what I was told, he followed all the old testament rules as literally as possible and gained a deeper understanding of Christianity as a result.

I forgot about the book until just this past week when it was brought up in another one of my conversations, so being in Jo'berg, I decided to check out the 5 bookstores in the local mall to see if I couldn't get a copy for myself...

About a day later, and with 2 sore feet, I am now convinced it is not for sale in the East Rand Mall!!! I did however find a huge stack of Francis' crazy love book on sale for the bargain price of 109 Rand...but I digress...

The only place this book seems to exist is online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, both of which do not ship to Uganda :(

SO as a second option, I checked out the guy's website...making me want to read the book even more but definitely solidifying the fact that even though this guy lived out the bible for the year, he missed the good news of it entirely...

What did he conclude about living biblically after a year...well...according to his web page...for him it meant he had to:

• wear sandals
• eat Ezekiel bread
• play a 10-string harp
• carry a staff
• drink goat's milk
• wear a biblical looking robe
• burn myrrh
• light your house with olive oil lamps
• sit on a handy seat
• taste some kosher crickets
• and avoid lustful movies

That is all the list said...I was kind of amazed that there was nothing in there about loving your neighbor or carrying for orphans & widows...despite his obvious holes...I still think it may be an entertaining read, and definitely a book I will continue to look for in bookstores nearest me :)

You can find out more about the book at:
http://www.ajjacobs.com/books/yolb.asp?id=live

Condo for Rent

After a great first tenant experience, my tenants were able to purchase their first home and my place is now available to rent again!

It is being offered at a REDUCED PRICE!!!

$1,695 per month with $1,000 security depost!!!

Here are some pics of the place:

It is important that I get the place rented as soon as possible so if you are interested, or someone you know is interested...please feel free to contact me at: 8710rental@sbcglobal.net

Here are some of the details:

• 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in Canoga Park California
• 1,218 sq ft
• Hardwood floors throughout
• Granite in kitchen and baths
• his/her sinks
• wood burning fireplace
• all appliances included (refridge, stove, microwave, washer/dryer)
• free water
• shared pool/jacuzzi
• 2 balconies
• 2 underground parking spaces
• central ac/heat
• top floor unit in a quiet building
• Available October 1, 2010
• Security check and 1 year lease required
• Sorry...no pets allowed

Price: $1,695 per month with $1,000 security deposit required
This is below what I pay on it every month so you are getting a deal!!!

Contact: 8710rental@sbcglobal.net

Its begun...

This week was the start of Term 2 at GBI...It's bizarre to me as I see students applying to spend their first 2 years in college studying a program that I just finished writing...

The student side of me questions whether I even have enough education to write college programs while the teacher side of me wonders how all the ideas for each course will actually transfer out of my brain and into our professors' brains...

All I know is that this thing can't be from me...it's impossible...it's from God and while I had a tiny hand in it...I know he is the one who put it all together and will continue it for the years to come!

I am excited to see where our students are in 2 years when the first class of child development majors graduate!

I am excited to see how God will continue to use me, despite my pitfalls and inadequacies, and more importantly I am excited to see how this generation of grads will transform generations to come!