Karamoja Okkens

As most of you are quite chilly, we are starting to feel the heat! Yes, we are into our dry season it seems which means lots of wind and rising temperatures. We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We enjoyed a Christmas Eve service with our Karimojong neighbors and then a time of munchies and fun with our teammates. Now we approach the end of the year! As I have said many times before, time goes by so fast! We thank God for his protection and giving us health this year. We thank Him for the opportunities to spread the Gospel and continue to pray for wisdom on how and where to do that as David and Pastor Al preach/teach in different villages. We have been encouraged by the things that are happening with our friend, Pastor Emuron, in Namalu. Through his invitation we have had some involvement in the ministry at his church for some time and more recently have begun a midweek meeting of teaching and a literacy program with teammate Martha Wright. So, please pray for that time ...

This is often the view around us right now. Dry season...people are either burning their fields preparing for next year's planting, or shepherd boys burning an area to catch rats for some good eating! It can make a nice haze in the sky at times and make us a little nervous wondering if it will get too close. But, most of t he time, it does its thing and dies...the fire and the ground.

Jacob is ready Curious George cake (didn't have to work hard on this!) what a ham!

the little party birthday breakfast new toy

Well, yesterday we returned to our home here in Nakaale after spending the week down country. A wonderful time of swimming, ice cream and seeing friends. Not to mention a wonderful internet connection! It had been quite some time since the family had been out of Karamoja, so we were excited from some little luxuries. Hot showers, ice cream, pool, and yes a little shopping ;-). We also had a great time visiting with our teammates and new friends in Mbale, and also seeing friends we haven't seen in a long time. Thank you to all who made the visit wonderful! Until the next time...which won't be so long! P.S. Cholera update. It is still here, but moving slowly. Someone did die in the nearby village of Kopetatum (where we hold a early Sunday morning service). I think still just a few cases seen at the clinic, but not everyone goes to the clinic. So please continue to keep the community in prayer.

Well, it seems our clinic has had two cholera cases since I last wrote. Please pray for Dr. Jim and the clinic staff as they handle things. The cases were a child and wife of one of our workers. Right now, we are actually down country enjoying some vacation so are not right in the middle of it. Please keep our teammates and neighbors in prayer.

It has been confirmed that there is a cholera outbreak in our district. So far there have been no cases at our clinic. If we are just careful to wash our hands and not drink water from the river or puddles (of course not!), we should be fine. Please be praying for all in our region who will be affected by this. Pray also for Dr. Jim Knox and the clinic staff as they prepare to deal with possible cases.

Yes, this morning we decided to go as a family to the closest trading town, Namalu. Right before we left I was trying to Skype with my parents, but, as can often happen, it was a bit 'in & out'. So, David says, 'lets bring the laptop with us to Namalu where we can get a strong signal!'. So off we went, fully prepared to be quite the spectacle in town. We thought we found a 'secluded' spot, but that soon changed after about 20 minutes. It was quite the scene. My parents actually got a kick out of seeing these Karimojong in the background of the video while Skyping. We even took it on the road and continued Skyping while driving back into the center of town and walking into a shop to buy a few things. Even ran into a friend, and she enjoyed 'meeting' my parents. But then we decided the craziness needed to end. The scene of wzungu (white people) + technology out and about here in Karamoja can only be endured by us for so long!

We are excited about a new ministry venue, which has emerged ‘right under our nose’. For years we have had a work in Kopetatum . That has been the west side of Kopetatum, across the river. To get there we have had to pass through the east side of Kopetatum before the river through a village which never seemed to me like a great venue for ministry. Well, in recent months, one resident of that village, Mariko, has been among the regular group working with Bob Wright for the work for food program of the farm project. (We have begun teaching Bible stories to these folks during the work since a good group is required to sit under the tree and remove the seeds from the hibiscus plants Bob has been growing.) Mariko invited us to begin teaching in his village and promised to ‘mobilize’ (invite the community). I agreed. I have since led a study there on Friday afternoon and preached in the afternoon on the Lord’s Day. Both times the ministry has been well attended and well received. The folks...

Our little girl is now 5!! She enjoyed a family birthday with a Strawberry Shortcake theme. Even with Mom's way less than perfect cake decorating abilities, Megan was pleased. :-)

So, today is our 11th wedding anniversary. We decided to celebrate by taking a trip up just north of us about 25 minutes or so to have lunch to the booming metropolis, Nakapiripirit. Yes, kids were left behind with teammates and we were off. The drive wasn't too eventful except for having to take the alternate route because two big trucks were stuck and no one could pass on the main route. (a common thing to deal with on the roads here) Upon arriving, we put our order in, first to ask what was available (usually need to do this in restaurants) and to ask them to start making 'now, now'. So, we set off for town while waiting for the meal. After buying a bit of produce, we were back at the 'hotel' and eating our lunch about an hour and fifteen minutes later. That may sound long to you, but we were quite pleased. Patience is a virtue and living in Africa gives you many opportunities to learn it! Except for the somewhat annoying sound of their inverter (they apparently ...

on side of our house our water tower and back up generator shed other side of the house our little garden Jean Louise Scout & Levi

Jiggers. Ever heard of them? They are nice little parasite/bugs that get into your skin - mostly on the foot and develop into a worm and lays a nice egg sac. Lovely, isn't it? Well, in all the years we have lived here I had yet to get one. Recently that all changed. It seems the Okkens are magnets for them right now. Since returning in June from the States I have had four, David and Jacob two and Megan one! The Karimojong are pros at spotting them on your foot and removing them. Unfortunately, they have to deal with them a lot more than we do. So we go to our African friends for removal. Which has happened a lot recently. I don't even venture far from our compounds! How are we getting so many I scream or think? It seems it might be the excessive amount of rain we are having that is bringing them out and/or something about our compound. As it seems the other mzungu (white folks) are not getting them much or at all. Right now I am in the 'wear socks and shoes' mode when I...

Where have you gone month!? Some hightlights… Tricarico family (teammates) were still away in the States Jacob fell back in his chair and split his head open. Just 2 stitches needed. :-) One of the puppies, Levi, was bitten by possible rabid dog and needed quarantined for 10 days. Thankful to say all is well now. No rabies present. Tricarico family returned to Karamoja Sept. 4 :-) Yes, we are happy to have the Tricaricos back with us! David and Al can continue working on outreach opportunities and together attack ministry challenges that we face here. We continue to struggle with how best to minister to the Karimojong and long to see African leadership in the church here. Please pray for us in this. Please also pray for continued language learning. I and the kids have started up…again and it is slow going. Pray that our tongues would be gifted. :-) Yes, Jacob has had some excitement this month. Little boys! We also have been tackling potty training. Oh dear! I will admit I am...

Meet Scout and Levi (right). We are enjoying our new puppies! Current dog, Jean Louise isn't too sure what to think. Hopefully all will be well. ;)

I have been playing musical beds with my kids of late. Our youngest, Jacob, seems to just be scared of his bed all together and would only sleep with big brother Caleb or mom and dad for a while. Then a few nights ago it was ONLY in mom and dad's bed. Now he is back in his bed, but he wants a candle lit AND mom or dad to stay there until he is asleep. Then our daughter Megan will every now and then wake in the middle of the night crying out that some shadows are scaring her, then realizing she needs to 'potty' as well. Parenting...crazy, trying, rewarding, emotional and eventful! Jacob is slowly getting on the road to being potty trained. He will be 3 in November so I suppose it is time. This time of training is both easier and at the same time more difficult. It is nice to just stick that diaper on and not have to worry about being inconvenienced at a moment's notice. But the thought of no diapers and no wipes definitely has appeal. Cale...

The visitor season has been upon us for some time. But more recently, we have been enjoying three from San Diego! It has been such fun to see Karen, Chris and Chloe walking around here. I trust they are having great fun too as they make life a little more interesting here in Nakaale. It's also nice for the church at home to get more first hand encounters of the work here. Plus Chris' pictures are so cool! May see a few of those in a future slide presentation. ;) Thanks for your willingness to come!

fun in the puddles...for a while 'football'

Time still goes by quickly. For the most part, I am in the routine of life here in Karamoja. Second grade has begun, again, for Caleb and I am even trying to do more 'preschool' with Megan. Yes, the 'nice' interruptions from Jacob make this challenging at times, but I still try and plug along. This morning has been a bit frustrating I must confess. Mom needs some more patience and student needs some more understanding. ;) Can we both get some please?! One day at a time. So, with God's help, we will continue after our current 'recess' and finish for the day. When school isn't taking place, the kids are busy playing with each other or some local Karimojong kids. Lately, it has been some football (soccer, for we Americans) out on the compound. What fun they have! Now, to 'finish' for the day...

We finally arrived in Karamoja on Friday after almost a week of traveling. Thankfully, our children survived the 25 hours of flying (6 more than usual due to a British Air strike that re-routed us through South Africa!) plus layovers and then the drive from the airport all the way up to Karamoja. And….all our luggage arrived! God is good. We so enjoyed our 7 months stateside and were thankful to see those of you that we did. Yes, the time went quickly. The children so enjoyed their time with grandparents and old and new friends. I must confess I am greatly missing home. But taking care of three kids while unpacking doesn’t leave me much time to sit around and cry about it. Until next time, San Diego. We are slowly getting settled and organized. David is easing back into the ministry thanks to his colleague, Al Tricarico. We have returned at about the beginning of visitor season. It keeps things busy and it is an encouragement to have many folks here from the states. Th...