Manry Family

Happy New Year! We hope your holiday season was full of fellowship, good eating and joyful celebration. Our second Christmas spent in Jinja was a blessed one. Our dear friends Sean and Tessa Stockman and their one year old daughter Emerson came to be with us. We shared a special time together as families, which made this Christmas one to remember.

As we anticipate the coming year, we naturally reflect upon the one we just left. We have gradually developed a familiarity with our new surroundings and have felt a sense of belonging. We are truly thankful for each and every experience and relationship we encountered during our first year in Uganda . We have sensed God working around us and are honored to be apart of what He is accomplishing in this place.

During this past year we've grown in our faith and understanding of God and His Kingdom. For the first time in our life we have been surrounded by poverty. Having relationships with those who are poor has changed our life. We daily share life with the kind of people with whom Christ dwelt on this earth. Surrounded by our Ugandan friends we are reminded that Christ didn’t choose the successful, sophisticated and wealthy to partner with him in his work.  Christ ministered to the poor.  Christ became poor.  Christ chose the poor and ordinary people to be leaders and accomplish his extraordinary work. This is a message that is exciting to the people with whom we work and dwell, and it’s a message that continues to challenge and shape our family.

This year has also taught us that God is indeed our provider. We've been challenged simply by living away from what we've always known as home. We are learning that God is able to fulfill us in places where we anticipate emptiness. It is so easy to find comfort completely in the things around you, in things familiar. In a place where nothing is familiar, nor very comforting, we are learning to look to the Lord for satisfaction.  Truly He is the source for it! We give God the glory for helping us endure difficult times of being apart from loved ones, craving certain foods that we are unable to get here, and wanting to be in a place where people know us.

2006 was a year that confirmed to us what we already knew about one thing: we have great children! Luke, Connor and Lydia Jane have exceeded all of our expectations in adjusting to a new home. They have joyfully accepted this major change, embracing their new Ugandan friends, while grieving the people and places they left. Luke turned six in May and continues to prove himself a clever young boy who completely looks up to his father. He and Mark have begun a new adventure together in Cub Scouting. They will work together to earn badges and learn interesting tasks and meaningful principles.  Download this short video of Tiger Cub Luke:  2007 Luke the Tiger Cub

Connor turned five in October. He is such a sweet boy who loves to love people! He especially loves and looks up to his big brother. We are so proud of the relationship between Luke and Connor and pray they will always remain special friends. Connor enjoys learning about animals. We often find him alone in his room with an army of animals set up for battle. Safari has become so natural for him that he probably doesn’t realize he’s one of few children who have seen lions, elephants, giraffes and leopards up close and personal!

Lydia Jane will turn four on March 2. She is full of energy and joy, and a delight to be around. (Don't take our word for it.  Check out this short video of LJ's dramatic reading of Dr. Suess' Green Eggs and Ham:   2007 LJ Green Eggs )  She loves to make up songs, and do interpretive dances to them. She enjoys cooking in her new kitchen that Santa brought and she cares for her baby Lucy all day long. All three children have enjoyed camping with dad each month on Hairy Lemon Island . It’s been a special time for them. They’ve also enjoyed home schooling together. It’s been joyful to watch them grow and learn in abundance this year!

As we enter this New Year we look forward to the many new things God will teach us in the communities we belong to.  For Lori, this will now include an academic community at Fuller Seminary where she will begin an M.A. course in Global Leadership (very interesting!).  Mark will begin research for his M.A. in History (not as interesting to everyone but Mark) from Sheffield Hallam in England.   We are privileged to be a part of so many meaningful conversations about God and God’s world.  

We're learning that following a God who moves in unexpected ways often means living without the certainty, safety, and comfort.  But our hope in this coming year is to be open to change and growth because we know God is continually at work in and around us to bring us closer to Him.  We will definitely be growing in numbers! We are excited to be expecting our fourth child in August. Praise God!  We pray this year that you and your families will be encouraged (and maybe challenged!) in your faith so that God will be glorified in your lives.

We’re looking forward to seeing many of you in April and May!

Love to you all,

Mark and Lori

Luke, Connor and Lydia Jane