I've gotten this question a lot over the last few months as I've prepared to go to Uganda. The real answer, and the only reason I'm capable of leaving the girls for as long as I am is this: God. I'm trusting God to take care of the girls while I'm gone. I'll be praying for them and for my husband every day that I'm gone, and I hope you will too! However, I don't write "God" down on the emergency contacts lists for them, and there are obviously real preparations that have to be made for them while I'm gone.
One of the reasons that I'm going on this summer trip rather than on my church's winter trip is that my older nieces are out of school for the summer now. Between them, my sister, my mother, a friend, and my husband's flex-time allowances at work, they should be well-cared-for even if something unexpected happens to whoever was scheduled to watch them on any specific day. I am soooo thankful to have my loving family living so close!!
However, they aren't Mommy. I know my girls will miss me because I remember being a little girl too. I would have been lying there at night wondering what would happen if my Mommy never came home. I would've worried. I would have missed her. I probably would never have even told anyone the extent of my anxiety over the whole situation either. Because of this, I've often wondered what past Uganda team members might have done to help prepare their children for the absence. I'm nosy. I want to know details of what they did, so I'm going to share some details of what I've done.
I've talked with them about it. I've prayed with them about it. I've promised to pray for them every day that I'm gone, and I've encouraged them to pray for me whenever they miss me. I've also written them notes to open for every day that I'm gone. They made a "Mama Mailbox" this week, and Philip has agreed to deliver my notes every morning (and the first night I'm gone). That's 12 notes for my 3 girls, and since I knew there would be fights about who got to open the note each day, I've gone ahead and addressed each note to a specific girl, keeping in mind that they'll be read aloud for all to hear. My notes tell them about what I'm doing that day, give them tasks and special jobs that they can do while I'm gone, remind them of my love, and hopefully point them to God for their help and comfort.
Here are the rough drafts that I typed out for the last 6 notes they'll open while I'm in Uganda:
One of the reasons that I'm going on this summer trip rather than on my church's winter trip is that my older nieces are out of school for the summer now. Between them, my sister, my mother, a friend, and my husband's flex-time allowances at work, they should be well-cared-for even if something unexpected happens to whoever was scheduled to watch them on any specific day. I am soooo thankful to have my loving family living so close!!
However, they aren't Mommy. I know my girls will miss me because I remember being a little girl too. I would have been lying there at night wondering what would happen if my Mommy never came home. I would've worried. I would have missed her. I probably would never have even told anyone the extent of my anxiety over the whole situation either. Because of this, I've often wondered what past Uganda team members might have done to help prepare their children for the absence. I'm nosy. I want to know details of what they did, so I'm going to share some details of what I've done.
I've talked with them about it. I've prayed with them about it. I've promised to pray for them every day that I'm gone, and I've encouraged them to pray for me whenever they miss me. I've also written them notes to open for every day that I'm gone. They made a "Mama Mailbox" this week, and Philip has agreed to deliver my notes every morning (and the first night I'm gone). That's 12 notes for my 3 girls, and since I knew there would be fights about who got to open the note each day, I've gone ahead and addressed each note to a specific girl, keeping in mind that they'll be read aloud for all to hear. My notes tell them about what I'm doing that day, give them tasks and special jobs that they can do while I'm gone, remind them of my love, and hopefully point them to God for their help and comfort.
Here are the rough drafts that I typed out for the last 6 notes they'll open while I'm in Uganda:
My Lovely Lily,
Guess what!? I get to
go to church today in Uganda ! I wonder what it will be like! I hear that church services in Uganda
are really, super duper long! If you go
to church today, then listen carefully to the story and tell Melody to write
down what you learned about in church.
When I come home, we can share with each other what we each learned
about in church today! Maybe it will
even be the same lesson! I miss your sweet hugs and kisses, and I love you!
Love,
Mommy
My Treasured Melody,
Guess how much I love you! I love you more than Ugandan
children love soccer and more than African elephants love their trunks! Today, I will meet the wives of pastors who
have come to learn more about God, and His love, and His will for their
lives. I get to sit in these lessons
with them today and learn with them and from them. I know you’re good at learning too! Write
down something that you learn today for me.
It can be something that you learn from a book, a TV show, a cousin, or
a grown-up. These pastors’ wives are
learning today about how God made each one of them unique and special. You are unique and special too. I love you soooo much.
Love,
Mommy
My Enchanting Noelle,
It’s Mommy’s turn to teach the pastors’ wives today. I’m
going to tell them all about how God made them all special to love different
things. I know you love bunnies and
stories. Have you heard or watched any
good bunny stories lately? Can you tell
Daddy or Rara or a cousin about your favorite bunny story? Can you pray for
Mommy to be good at telling stories today too? I have a lot of stories to tell
and to listen to today. I love you,
Bunny!
Love,
Mommy
My Big-hearted Lily,
This is the last letter you get to open because I’ll be home
in 2 more days! Do you have a countdown
going yet for when you get to see me again?
I can’t wait to see you and hug you! Today, the pastors and their wives
will learn about how to tell kids all about Jesus and how Jesus wants to be
their forever friend. Do you have a
favorite Bible story or person in the Bible?
I loved to learn about David when I was a little girl. Have you been praying for me? I’ve been praying for you every day! I love you and miss you soooo much! I’ll see you soon, Sugar Cookie!
Love,
Mommy
My Tender-hearted Melody,
Today is the last day of the conference, and it’s the last
letter you’ll be opening from me before I come home tomorrow! Today, the women
will graduate from three years of conferences, and they’ll get a special study
Bible to help them to keep learning more about God, and His love, and His will
for their lives. You got your own special
Bible after you graduated from Kindergarten too! Have you been reading your Bible lately? What have you learned about in your Bible? I
loved to read Psalm 1 when I was a little girl.
I wanted to be just like the tree in that Psalm. I’m so glad that I’ll
get to see you tomorrow because I’ve been missing you, praying for you, and
loving you every day! I’ll see you
tomorrow, Angel Pie!
Love,
Mommy
My Warm-hearted Noelle,
I’m coming home today!!!
I’m probably going to be so tired when I get off the plane because it’s
a super long trip home, but I’m so excited to see you all and hug you all
today! Have you been sweet for Daddy while I’ve been gone? I hope I get to see you all at the airport
today. This is my last letter, but I’ll
be with you giving you hugs and kisses soon!
I’ll see you soon, Honey Bun!!
Love,
Mommy
I know many of you have committed to praying for me while I'm on this trip. Would you please pray for my family while I'm gone too and for the families of all the teammates going with me? We're leaving behind spouses and children and other loved ones who will need some extra strength and peace from God while facing our absences.
"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:10-12, 14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:10-12, 14-21
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