Eight Months in Uganda!!

Chelsea
3 days ago
5 min read

Eight months.

It’s hard to believe we have entered our eighth month of living in Uganda. And somewhere along the way, something changed. Uganda is beginning to feel like home.

When we first arrived, everything required thought. Now, when we pull out of our driveway, things feel familiar. We know which butcher to buy chicken from, which toilet paper is worth buying, which clinic to go to, which medicine brands we trust, which dentist to use, who is a safe mechanic, and which ATM won't charge us a fortune. We know where to get what we need, how to dispose of our trash, when to shower if we want warm water, and what to do when the power inevitably goes out again.

We have friends we look forward to seeing. We have a home church. We have routines and rhythms.

These things sound so ordinary, but they represent something huge: we are finally learning how to live here.

For 15 years, we came to Africa on short-term trips. We thought we knew Uganda. But short-term trips don't teach you how to live somewhere. They don't teach you how to do laundry every day, cook without the tools you're used to, keep your house clean without a vacuum, figure out what to feed the dogs (and our family) or where to find milk the kids will drink that isn't shelf stable. They don't teach you the countless little adaptations that come with building an actual life somewhere.

There have been inconveniences, disappointments, stretching, growing, forming, and shaping. And Jesus has been in all of it. Honestly, without Him, we would not have made it this long. So thankful for a God that can carry all of our burdens no matter how big or small. Thank you, Jesus.

Our Family Is Finding Its Rhythm

Our kids are settling in, too. Sweet friendships have developed, and the longing for what we left behind doesn't feel so strong these days. We sure do miss our little red house and our community back home. For a while, it felt like we were living the same day on repeat, trapped in one town with no one community. Now, we finally feel like we are moving forward. Friends we look forward to seeing, and a community that we are familiar with and love.

And Monday starts a new chapter: school.

This year we will be homeschooling, mainly because the international missionary school isn't accepting new families. I'll be honest, I've had a hard time accepting that this is what our year would look like. But I'm beginning to see that this isn't simply what we're doing because another option wasn't available. I believe this is what God wants for our family this year.

So I'm embracing it. I'm preparing, planning, and surprisingly, I'm getting excited!

Ministry Takes Time

On the ministry side, we are learning the same lesson: slow doesn't mean nothing is happening.

We have spent these months building relationships in the community, connecting with other ministries, and listening. And the more we listen, the more clearly we see the enormous need for addiction support and recovery.

Addiction is a crisis here. There are very few conversations where someone doesn't know a person or family suffering from addiction and asking if our ministry can help. Yet there are very few resources available to address it.

It is hard to take things slowly when the need is so great. But we believe God is asking us to do it carefully, to build relationships, listen well, and make sure we are following His guidance rather than simply rushing to fill a need.

Currently, three groups are running: two addiction recovery support groups and one sexual integrity group. We are also actively looking for an office in a central location where we can reach more people and provide confidential one-on-one sessions.

We know there is so much more to do. But we want to build something that lasts.

We know we are home.

Home in the place we have felt called to for so many years. We are honored that God called us here. Honored that He trusted our family with this season. And humbled that He didn't give up on us when we weren't listening.

He kept calling. He kept leading. He patiently brought us back. And we are so grateful.

I feel like there is so much more I want to share. If you know me, you know I'm a girl with a lot of details! There are so many little stories, lessons, funny moments, hard moments, and things God is teaching us that I could probably write a book instead of a newsletter.

But I'm going to do my best to send these out more consistently now that we are finally settled into our life here. Hopefully, you won't have to wait another eight months to hear from us!

Thank you for praying for us, supporting us, and believing in what God is doing here. You are part of this story.

Eight months in, we can finally say it with confidence: We are home.

With so much love and appreciation,

Chelsea & Rocky

A Few Ways You Can Pray With Us

As we look toward the months ahead, we would love for you to pray with us in a few specific areas.

A second vehicle. We are discovering that one vehicle isn't quite enough for our family anymore. With the kids' schedules and Rocky's ministry schedule getting busier, we are often trying to be in two places at once! We have other transportation options here, including boda bodas (motorcycle taxis), but some of the roads Rocky travels to reach village recovery groups are not safe. And I don't ride bodas with the kids.

We are praying for a second vehicle, which will likely cost around $10,000. Used vehicles are so expensive here, which has been a painful surprise! Please pray that God would provide the right vehicle at the right time and that we would be good stewards of whatever He provides.

If you feel led to help us toward this need financially, you can give through our Cord Ministries account.

Our homeschool year. School starts Monday! Please pray for patience for both Rocky and me as we teach our children. Pray that we would create a healthy rhythm, give our kids a good education, and most importantly, that our home would be a place where they feel loved, encouraged, and equipped.

Our marriage and our relationships with our kids. Living in a new country is hard. It is exciting and rewarding, but it is also exhausting. Our kids have given up a lot to be here, and we don't want to overlook that.

Please pray that we would be gracious with one another, patient when we're tired, and understanding when the transition feels hard. We truly believe God is building a resilience in our children through this experience that will benefit them throughout their lives. But we also want to be sensitive to what they are carrying and make sure they know they are seen, heard, and loved.

And please pray for Rocky and I, that we would continue to choose each other, communicate well, give each other grace, and remember that we are on the same team.

Thank you for praying with us. We don't take it lightly that there are people all over the world carrying our family and this ministry before the Lord.

We are so grateful for you.