So the kids had small baskets with some chocolate, a new movie and a gift. He also hid several eggs filled with jelly beans throughout the house. It was SO fun searching for them!
What a wonderful morning
Friday, March 21, 2008
That Sneaky Easter Bunny
Today was a very cool morning. The easter bunny TOTALLY surprised the Pannell house and came early. As Dad and Jude are heading to Mexico and Mom and Merrick to Colorado, it seems ol' Mr. Cottontail was on top of it!
So the kids had small baskets with some chocolate, a new movie and a gift. He also hid several eggs filled with jelly beans throughout the house. It was SO fun searching for them!
What a wonderful morning
So the kids had small baskets with some chocolate, a new movie and a gift. He also hid several eggs filled with jelly beans throughout the house. It was SO fun searching for them!
What a wonderful morning
Monday, March 17, 2008
Just Beat It
Last night was a great time. My family had a “dance party”. They just released the 25th anniv. Edition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album (am I THAT old???). So the Pannell’s cranked it up last night and went to town. It was SO fun. The kids just laughed and laughed! We had a blast. Merrick can move!!!!
It really made my soul smile. I can remember dancing together as a family as child some 20 yrs ago, and guess which record was on the phonograph??? You got it, “Thriller”. Thanks Mike, for the many memories!
It really made my soul smile. I can remember dancing together as a family as child some 20 yrs ago, and guess which record was on the phonograph??? You got it, “Thriller”. Thanks Mike, for the many memories!
Friday, March 14, 2008
1-16-08 Goodbye Pearl
Last day in Africa. It is truly bittersweet. I did wake up feeling much better. I was able to drink some water and some of Wendy’s magic serum, and even some dry cornflakes! Although I am seriously dehydrated, God is putting me back together! :)
I was determined to go shopping with my friends and bring home gifts for the family. It was fun. We went to a neat little artisan market.
I was able to find a little something for everyone. Here is Jenna testing out one of the many uses of her beautiful new fabric: 
Now…..it is going to be a LONG day. We have to waste time until later. We do not fly out until after 10:00 tonight. So, we sat and waited quite a bit. We went to a place called I Love NY Kitchen. It was very close to good ol’ American food. I jealously watched them devour their pizza and calzones while I ate a scrumptious bagel.
After more time wasting, we went to a really nice Indian restaurant for dinner. It was a great place. From there, our private little cab took us to the airport. That was a very hard ride for me. My stomach was lurching and I started to feel very panicky. I got extremely grumpy. Not sure what happened. A mix of tiredness, sadness of leaving, emotions and general American attitude.
This is my ONLY regret from the whole trip. The last few days I have not been myself at all. I let myself and spirits get defeated, and I am sure I came across like a jerk many times. This is NOT who I am, and I just pray that any I may have affected have the heart and grace to forgive me, and will know who I REALLY am.
But….this was it. In 1 hr we will leave this country on a giant Airbus heading west. I simply cannot believe what I just experienced. I cannot wrap my head around it. God took 3 weeks, and through them, he literally crashed into my very soul! And everything I thought I knew and understood so clearly, God has turned upside down. And as cliché as it may sound, I will never be the same again.
God, I truly thank you for this opportunity. Thank you for the way you brought this all together. Thank you fro a supporting church leadership to send me. Thank you for an amazing wife to allow me to leave fro so long. Thank you for dreamers of faith like Jeff and Greg for making this a reality. Thank you for letting your Spirit change me.
I pray I will take all of this, eventually process it, and use it for the rest of my life. Goodbye Africa. Goodbye Uganda. I will always love you.
I was determined to go shopping with my friends and bring home gifts for the family. It was fun. We went to a neat little artisan market.
I was able to find a little something for everyone. Here is Jenna testing out one of the many uses of her beautiful new fabric: 
Now…..it is going to be a LONG day. We have to waste time until later. We do not fly out until after 10:00 tonight. So, we sat and waited quite a bit. We went to a place called I Love NY Kitchen. It was very close to good ol’ American food. I jealously watched them devour their pizza and calzones while I ate a scrumptious bagel.
After more time wasting, we went to a really nice Indian restaurant for dinner. It was a great place. From there, our private little cab took us to the airport. That was a very hard ride for me. My stomach was lurching and I started to feel very panicky. I got extremely grumpy. Not sure what happened. A mix of tiredness, sadness of leaving, emotions and general American attitude.
This is my ONLY regret from the whole trip. The last few days I have not been myself at all. I let myself and spirits get defeated, and I am sure I came across like a jerk many times. This is NOT who I am, and I just pray that any I may have affected have the heart and grace to forgive me, and will know who I REALLY am.
But….this was it. In 1 hr we will leave this country on a giant Airbus heading west. I simply cannot believe what I just experienced. I cannot wrap my head around it. God took 3 weeks, and through them, he literally crashed into my very soul! And everything I thought I knew and understood so clearly, God has turned upside down. And as cliché as it may sound, I will never be the same again.
God, I truly thank you for this opportunity. Thank you for the way you brought this all together. Thank you fro a supporting church leadership to send me. Thank you for an amazing wife to allow me to leave fro so long. Thank you for dreamers of faith like Jeff and Greg for making this a reality. Thank you for letting your Spirit change me.
I pray I will take all of this, eventually process it, and use it for the rest of my life. Goodbye Africa. Goodbye Uganda. I will always love you.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
1-14 and 15- 08 "Squatting around the Throne of Glory
1-15-08
I skipped yesterday….well because it was spent in a toilet induced haze!
I am just really ill. I must have been in the bathroom 300 times in the last 24 hrs. I am very weak. Jeff says it is either Giardia or some Amoebic dysentery. OH BOY! I did start taking cipro last night…I hope this will kill something in me!
Today I am still pretty nasty. I did drink a little water and a Sprite today. I could even walk. I woke up and went to get a drink. I forgot where I was, so you can imagine my surprise when I opened the door up to a giant warthog!
The drive home was a little rough, but I made it fine. I even ate 4 crackers, my first food in days! Once on Ft. Portal we find out that the Kenya violence is worse and there is literally NO GAS. So sadly, Jeff and Andrew cannot take us and see us off.
But Jeff found a cab driver in town to take us in a crammed little van for a good price. So, somehow we made it to Kampala that night. We stayed at the MAF house. Once again, I was too sick to join my friends, so they left to eat at the American Club. I called my wife and for the 1st time I really lost my emotions. It was totally unfair to her. SORRY DEAR!
We called Dr. Ellen, and Wendy got me some meds. She is convinced it is dysentery. It was STRONG meds. I took 4000 mgs of antibiotics in one dose. Since we fly tomorrow, she was trying to kill anything in me!
What a day.
I skipped yesterday….well because it was spent in a toilet induced haze!
I am just really ill. I must have been in the bathroom 300 times in the last 24 hrs. I am very weak. Jeff says it is either Giardia or some Amoebic dysentery. OH BOY! I did start taking cipro last night…I hope this will kill something in me!
Today I am still pretty nasty. I did drink a little water and a Sprite today. I could even walk. I woke up and went to get a drink. I forgot where I was, so you can imagine my surprise when I opened the door up to a giant warthog!
The drive home was a little rough, but I made it fine. I even ate 4 crackers, my first food in days! Once on Ft. Portal we find out that the Kenya violence is worse and there is literally NO GAS. So sadly, Jeff and Andrew cannot take us and see us off.
But Jeff found a cab driver in town to take us in a crammed little van for a good price. So, somehow we made it to Kampala that night. We stayed at the MAF house. Once again, I was too sick to join my friends, so they left to eat at the American Club. I called my wife and for the 1st time I really lost my emotions. It was totally unfair to her. SORRY DEAR!
We called Dr. Ellen, and Wendy got me some meds. She is convinced it is dysentery. It was STRONG meds. I took 4000 mgs of antibiotics in one dose. Since we fly tomorrow, she was trying to kill anything in me!
What a day.
1-13-08 "Goodbyes and Fevers"
1-13-08
It is the last day at the FP Church. I am going to miss these people and this experience of praising God with them. It was bittersweet in church. I could watch Derrick lead worship all day long. I cherished every moment in my prayer group with Earnest, Derrick, Martin Luther and Agnes.
I had the honor of doing the call to worship today. Following this Cheryl shared a prayer for a beautiful little girl named Anna Marie who’d been having serious medical problems but is doing better. It was a great morning.
During the service I quickly began to feel terrible. I was burping up rotten eggs, had a fever and shivers and was sweating. My whole body got tired, achy and sore. I prayed and prayed that I was just tired, as I do NOT want to return to my family feeling ill. I want to go back to OR healthy!
Church was so good. Matt gave the sermon and did a wonderful job. Afterwards, we went and got sandwich stuff for lunch before taking off to the Game Park. I was still feeling nasty. I took some Advil and had a 102 fever.
By the time we took off, I was really sick. I was trying my best to stay positive, but the prospect a few hour drive was not sounding great to me. I just hope I do not miss out on our “vacation” part of the trip.
The drive was okay. Mweya Lodge is beautiful.
On the way in we saw deer, elk, birds, warthogs and buffalo. We even saw an elephant on the side of the road!
I skip dinner and go straight to bed. Let’s hope tomorrow is better!
It is the last day at the FP Church. I am going to miss these people and this experience of praising God with them. It was bittersweet in church. I could watch Derrick lead worship all day long. I cherished every moment in my prayer group with Earnest, Derrick, Martin Luther and Agnes.
I had the honor of doing the call to worship today. Following this Cheryl shared a prayer for a beautiful little girl named Anna Marie who’d been having serious medical problems but is doing better. It was a great morning.
During the service I quickly began to feel terrible. I was burping up rotten eggs, had a fever and shivers and was sweating. My whole body got tired, achy and sore. I prayed and prayed that I was just tired, as I do NOT want to return to my family feeling ill. I want to go back to OR healthy!
Church was so good. Matt gave the sermon and did a wonderful job. Afterwards, we went and got sandwich stuff for lunch before taking off to the Game Park. I was still feeling nasty. I took some Advil and had a 102 fever.
By the time we took off, I was really sick. I was trying my best to stay positive, but the prospect a few hour drive was not sounding great to me. I just hope I do not miss out on our “vacation” part of the trip.
The drive was okay. Mweya Lodge is beautiful.
On the way in we saw deer, elk, birds, warthogs and buffalo. We even saw an elephant on the side of the road!
I skip dinner and go straight to bed. Let’s hope tomorrow is better!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
WHAT THE...... ?
Seriously...this NOT a joke. Read this
here
And if that doesn't work they are thinking armed Knights at the border, or a tower with a yodeling watchman......
here
And if that doesn't work they are thinking armed Knights at the border, or a tower with a yodeling watchman......
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
...more U2
I know that many of you are burnt out on Bono. But, I personally think he is a great theologian of our time. Here are some great quotes from the band.
here
here
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