It has been very stressful 48 hours or so. Trying to have my ticket changed for my flight to Seattle...waiting to speak to a travel agent. Waiting and waiting and waiting on hold. Listening to the same awful elevator music over and over. Hell must certainly have the same elevator music on a continuous loop. No escape from it. I even drove to Frankfurt airport hoping to manage it in person. 1 1/2 hours there, 1 1/2 hours home. But no. They will not let you change your ticket in person. And not online either. Only over the phone that does not answer. Stuck in a loop...litterally for days. Unable to rest. Unable to get anything else done. Just stuck. Waiting. Angry and frustrated. Feeling robbed. And on top of everything else I am so sad. This was going to be so great. To see my family. To spend days at the beach with my mom and sisters. To hang out with my brother. To be home in America. But I know the entire world is stuck. We all canceled so many plans and feel losses. I am only one small voice among billions. My loss is small but for me significant. I know my loss is small. There are really big things to manage. The young mother in Suubi Teen MOPS in Kampala Uganda that was attacked and raped on Christmas eve is now homeless and pregnant. Sylvia found a midwife that will manage her pregnancy. We need to be sure she gets the care she needs to have a healthy baby. And I know some would advocate abortion. But we are pro-life. And abortion is not legal in Uganda. The mother is afraid. She just needs support. And she will receive that support from us. This baby was not planned, but it is wanted. Maybe that is what the world is experiencing...a change of plans. A dramatic change of plans. And like an unplanned pregnancy comes all kinds of stress and anxiety. But the results could eventually also bring good things. Today they have to find a home for this teenage mother. We will pay for the rent. She will keep working at the soap workshop, her sons will keep going to school. And she will get the health care she needs right now. And I will endure the music and eventually get to speak with an agent to change my flight.
Nicole got to change her flight yesterday. She is in Seattle. Her travel health insurance was canceled or will be March 30th because of the Coronavirus. It looks like everyone in her class is unable to continue their internships. The churches are all closed...most likely for 4 or 5 months. If you do not know, Nicole is studying to be a pastor. Her class had pastoral internships in churches. Nicole was interning at a church in Seattle. So they may go ahead with school. And even graduate a semester early. God willing she flys back next Thursday. A week is like a year right now. We hope she makes it home ok. But doors can close. We just hope it works out ok.
5000 new Coronavirus cases are now counted in Germany in the past 24 hours. That is the tip of the iceberg. We are almost 100% sure we have a weak case of the virus. And there must be thousands more that are not sick enough to test. We have remained home. When we do go out it is with a mask, gloves and keeping our distance. There is almost nothing open now. Even the garden centers and building supply stores close today. Juergen is feeling much better. Jessica and Sarah both are better. Their cough is gone. I was feeling worse yesterday. But I slept in. So I am slowly recovering. I hope you remain well and manage to cope with whatever you have to manage today. I pray for the medical community. they have to fight in this war. I am just a civilian facing some inconvenience. And I pray for this teenage mother that is now almost 3 months pregnant from a rape. She needs to pay a rent deposit that is about 250 euros/300 USD. If anyone wants to help her. or help support the work of Suubi Teen MOPS in Kampala you can read how to donate on our website. www.teenmopsuganda.com
I saw this t-shirt yesterday. I liked it. We can not meet in the church building, but we can find ways to be the church in the world. This morning I watched my service on my laptop. The message was about home. Finding our home in God. Today I was going to be at my sister's house celebrating my mom's 80th birthday. Unfortunately, we had a pandemic... kind of changed everyone's plans. But I have a home in my heart. I feel home right now in Germany, and in America. It is the place I am welcome. The place I am loved. I should add Uganda to that list because my heart is there as well. And I hoped to retire in Italy part-time. My heart breaks for them. God bless Italy. God save Italy. I am using the Instant pot I got for Christmas. Right now I can smell the chicken and peppers cooking. I will make a coconut curry for lunch. I am trying to use up all the food I bought a month ago. ...
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