I began this post as I was busy preparing to leave with David’s Kidz Uganda 25 in December. I’m just cleaning up my unpublished posts and finishing them. Here’s what I wrote with updates.
Packing
These are photos of what went into my checked luggage, staged for packing. Of course, a lot of it did not come back with me!
Welcome to my most recent musings. Christmas is coming, and I leave for Uganda in 12 days. Gathering things to pack, shopping with my husband, and wrapping gifts. Pleased to meet our granddaughter Faith at the train station, readying paperwork for tomorrow’s early run on the way there.
We had a good chat with our lovely granddaughter, Faith, a beautiful young woman excited to have time off from college. She was eager to share about her first trip into the city with friends. We had a good visit and meal with her family and animals when we got her home. it was a blessing to see them all and share our bounty of Christmas gifts with them.
Vehicle problems?
Did I mention that Faith used our KIA Telluride during her vacation because her mom’s car broke down on the way to pick her up? Which is why we headed down after our early run for work. A couple weeks after, they got a used minivan at a good deal from an individual.
With a bit of cleaning and fixing, it served them well. Until Joanna was driving Steve to a doctors appointment, and someone backed into it coming out of a driveway. Alex was able to fix it. But in February, he was waiting for new parts to put in, when he was coming home from work and got swiped by a woman at a corner. The van was totaled, but God is good! We were at his house for Steven’s birthday, so when he called, John and Joanna went to rescue Alex. Caleb & I were able to stay with Steve. SO, we plan on picking Faith up from college for Summer Break. Please pray for the transportation needs of their family.
Books
I have read three or four books and am halfway through another. I think I’ve said that I’m reading books from my stash to pick some to take to Uganda and leave rather than send them to Love Packages.
Well, I did get several books read and also purchased two Bibles to leave. I was able to give the books to Michael & Esther, who help Bishop Makka. Esther loves to read and couldn’t wait to read my book! [Bishop’s wife, Brenda, is also eager to read my book] I gave them the two Bibles, Esther claimed the blue one and Michael claimed the black one. I am so blessed to be able to bless them with tools for their ministry.
Uganda 2025 Davids Kidz
You will have to check out previous posts to find more of my writing about the Uganda 25 trip. It was an amazing time of adventure and growth. I encourage you to look into joining a short-term mission trip, as the Lord leads. There are lots of excuses for not going. The Lord can take care of them all if you are willing! “Here am I LORD, Send Me!”
Our constitution gives us a privilege in this society. We each have the right to vote and make our choice known. Suffragettes marched and battled for years for a woman’s right to vote; they were horribly persecuted before their right to vote was established. Colored people were not given the right to vote in our nation for many generations, suffering similar woes. People who were not landowners also had to fight for this right. We fast forward to this generation and the horrid statistics showing how few who call themselves Christians are registered to vote; then how many fewer actually vote!
“I just don’t have time!” “My vote won’t make a difference.” “I can’t get out to vote; I’m handicapped.” These may be good excuses, but not good reasons to not vote. We have a letter giving us multiple days to vote early in multiple places. This letter also tells how to vote by mail and how to do absentee voting. I know volunteers who will drive people to polling places if they need a ride. Of course, you can look on the internet to find answers to any questions you have: how to register, who is on the ballot, what their track record is, etc.
Another issue is what party to register for. I know there are two major parties and several others that are interesting, so research their platforms and pick one. Alternately, when I changed my address on my driver’s license, they gave me the chance to change my voter registration. I never knew I could register as “No Party”. Well, I did that and other than only being able to vote in the general elections, I am happy with my choice. 
What does this all have to do with following Jesus? We are salt and light in this world. In the past decades, our salt and light have been watered down. Churches encouraged followers not to get involved in government or politics. This took the Biblical voices out of places where they could make a difference. We have let evil work its way into our nation by standing back and thinking we were protecting ourselves. Don’t worry; I include myself as part of this and repent with you all. 
In this era, the spirits of civil war and world war are ripening. Not just in our nation, but in our churches, neighborhoods and families. We do not help when we militantly slap others with Biblical truth without love and mercy. If we humble ourselves and repent for not listening to God and to other people, we can begin walking in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. This will give us inspiration for practical, Biblical responses and right, Godly ways to turn conflict management into God-management. We must love the Samaritan; not demonize him. 
Yes, we are not to demonize our opponents because that’s not where the fight lies. Jesus says:
Musings along life's journey 