Our New Hope Family

We have had a great time getting to know our Pacific Family.

Oli Otya!

Eating lunch in Jinja with our friend David.

David's bike ran out of gas on the way to the source of the Nile

Caleb Giving Nico a bath.

Oli otya! (Greetings!) Family & Friends,

So much has happened since our last update. We are so thankful for how God has made His presence known to us over the last couple of months, in the midst of joys- like baby Nico, and seeing our newest nephew Cash via Skype, as well as difficulties- like receiving the news of that Alair’s mom is wrestling with cancer again (and we’re ½ a world away). Yet, in so many ways, the Holy Spirit has been actively working to prepare our hearts to recognize His hand, worship the Lord as He reveals His glory to us in every circumstance, to point out His glory to others as it is revealed more and more, and to have a song of praise ever ready on our lips (Ps. 40: 16, PS. 34:1-3).
During a recent phone call with Alair’s mom (Averill), we learned that she is able to walk very short distances with a walker and uses a wheel chair outside of the house due to the degeneration that has taken place in her spine and hip. She is still feeling well (not sick), and aside from the pain (which she is treating with a “pain patch” as well as acupuncture treatments every other day), has enjoyed her time with family and friends who have visited. We continue to covet your prayers for her, and the rest of the family (Dad- Jim, Sister- Janea, aunts, uncles and cousins). Please pray also for clear direction from God as to when we should return.
God has allowed me (Alair) to walk through a similar situation with Silvia (a sixteen year old girl in our family group), whose mother is very sick. Although I can’t claim to understand what she is going through, I am confident that God has placed us in Pacific family to love and encourage, pray for and pray with those we have opportunity to cultivate relationships with, and to point them to Christ and the truths in God’s word.
We have been caring for baby Nico (Nicholas) from New Hope’s Hope House on the weekends, and after a few months of prayer have decided to begin the application process for adoption. We must first apply and be approved by New Hope then we will able to start the progressive stages of the process. While our New Hope application is in process, a staff person from New Hope will attempt to locate Nico’s birth mother. The complete adoption procedure in Uganda requires three years residency, and has three different stages (each having its own set of regulations): 1st foster, 2nd guardianship, and 3rd adoption.
This month marks the ½ way point in our five month training. At the beginning of class, we dealt extensively with learning to detect cultural word views, and as we have been searching the scriptures, we are coming to more fully understand and to cultivate a biblical or kingdom world view. This begins with seeing all of creation and life with God’s glory at the center. As God unveils His glory, His sovereignty and power are among the numerous attributes that are revealed! In addition we have seen from scripture what redeemed manhood, womanhood, and family look like. We are currently beginning a section on child training.
Slowly by slowly we are learning Luganda (the language spoken in our area and we were happy to hear, in the region where New Hope’s new camp/ training center will be located). Caleb practices phrases like “Well done”… “How is your family?”... “Welcome back”… and “I love you,” on everyone he passes by (literally) and is doing very well. Everyone loves the fact that he greets them in Luganda. Some Ugandan friends and staff have made the comment “You know Luganda as well as I do.” I (Alair) think he he’s well on his way to becoming Uganda’s favorite mazungu (white one). Although the timing is not certain, our next undertaking here in Uganda will be to take six months of language school before we move to the camp property. Yes, English is the national language in Uganda, and it is spoken widely here at New Hope, but there are many other languages spoken here…Luganda being the most common.
Please continue to pray with us about the purchase of the land for the camp. There has been a purchase agreement made, but we are still in the negotiation stages and a few land disputes must be settled before we can obtain the title. We are using Skype to chat and make calls, so if you want to do a search for us (our name is Caleb and Alair Mitchell) we’d love to hear from you. Also check out our updated blog Thank you again for your support and your prayers.

In His service and for His glory,
Caleb & Alair