July 09’ News from the Mitchells,
We hope this letter finds you enjoying the summer months. Here in Uganda we are smack in the middle of a dry season and with a near empty cistern we are seeing the reality of and understanding more and more what daily physical dependency on the LORD looks like as we wait on the LORD with eager expectancy for rain. But with the dry season we are also celebrating the gift of the harvest as we prepare to close up shop tomorrow (everything comes to a screeching halt at harvest time, even the admin. offices shut down for a day) to harvest this season’s crop of maize.
On July 1st as Caleb’s parents celebrated their 37th anniversary we celebrated our 12th. Interestingly enough we spent last year’s anniversary on New Hope’s Lake Victoria Property and this year we were there just two days after our anniversary. The biggest difference was that this year we had Nicolas with us. We enjoyed touring the property with Jay Dangers (New Hope Director) and Steve & Angela Annett (a couple from the U.K. who were here for four weeks as business consultants). It was also great to spend a few hours with Syd and Andrea Sparks who are pioneering both life on the property and the beginnings of camp work- hosting teams, overseeing projects, and building relationships within the community. The highlight of Nico’s time was petting their puppy Nala, who didn’t frighten the living daylights out of him (probably because he was the first dog he’s been in contact with that was actually smaller than him.)
Nicolas is now 18 months old and talking! (At least we call it talking=) He is saying words like: De-Da (Lydia), boots, and Hallelujah (when it rains or when he sees the stars). Caleb pointed out the other day that he is talking in complete sentences: “I love you” and “I love De-Du” (Jesus). He even tries to sing “The B-I-B-L-E,” (taught to him by Kizza the mother of his good friend Andrew), as well as and the song Great Grandma Smith (Nico calls her G.G.) sings, “I Love You a Bushel and a Peck,” (famous to all Caleb’s cousins on the Smith side of the family). He’s getting taller by the day and acting more and more like his dad- mimicking almost everything he says and does.
Saying Goodbye to Lydia was bitter sweet, and I say that because although she is missed, we are fully anticipating what God has for her as she begins this term at Anderson. Right away Lydia found a special place in the hearts of the youngest members and the older girls of Pacific Family (who, by the way “send their greetings” to you Lydia). I (Alair) told her quite a few times that although her time here at New Hope looked completely different from her experiences with the team she was a part of in Kampala, she has blessed us more than she will know. You are missed (tremendously by Nico and Andrew)!
Just days before Lydia boarded her plane back to the States; she was able to observe New Hope’s Thanksgiving celebration with us. Right away you might be saying to yourself, “I thought the U.S. was the only country that commemorates the pilgrims and Indians first feast.” Well you’re right, but the Kasana family has much to be thankful for and has for many years celebrated a different version of the holiday by recalling the immense blessings LORD has shown throughout the year. With banners raised, banana and palm branches waving and voices loud and strong we sang, shouted, and danced our praises to God. This year each of the seven families, all the department heads, every tribe, and community represented at church that Sunday had opportunity to share (even in various languages) what they were most thankful for, among which “new family members” was at the top of Pacific Family’s list. Which of course is at the top of the our own family’s list too, as last July was the month we met Nicolas, and now he has become part of our family! Also high on our personal praise list this year is the “hope of glory” and our future home! It was a full day of remembering the works of the LORD’s hands.
For the next several months Caleb will be involved in helping with the teams that come to visit and serve here at NHU. The Teams Coordinator Nancy Kirsch is doing much of the organizational work involved with hosting teams, but while she is attending the Institute of Child Care and Family (the same five month training we were in last July) Caleb will be assisting with the ground work (pick-ups and drop-offs at the airport, leading orientations and tours, and being available to do various tasks that are needed. It has been a joy to see how these teams and individuals have been a blessing to the ministry.
Here are some tidbits about New Hope’s development and even a couple new ventures… You are already aware of the camp on Lake Victoria which now officially has a name: Musana Camps (Musana meaning “sunshine” and referring to walking in the light that is accompanied by growing in truth). Musana Camps has a first family overseeing its development: Syd, Andrea and baby Sparks (on the way in September). In addition to a few permanent structures, Musana has also been graced by many hardworking, hands that have helped to make it all possible, including EMI (Engineering Ministries
International) who completed a week-long visit to Musana and have completed design plans.
Other ways we are growing and changing include building projects. The Clinic Expansion is nearly finished. Upon completion the clinic will have more than tripled in size and will include a wing for dentistry and vision care as well as men’s and women’s general reception. Hope House Extension is New Hope’s baby house project. While the original baby house building (on the secondary site) is still caring for babies, the anticipated move to a new building and location (on the primary site where the church, primary school, clinic, administration offices and family groups are situated) will also triple the capacity to care for babies (infants- toddlers).
As a part of New Hope Uganda’s endeavor to see the villages and communities around us transformed through the power of the Gospel, we are excited to announce the beginning of our Pastoral Training Program. NHICF Pastoral Training Program’s vision is to mentor and disciple village pastors (most of whom have little to no biblical education) in a God-centered, worldview-confronting, Bible-saturated, Spirit-empowered, theologically-practical education that will provide a holistic foundation for life and ministry. The training will be centered on the Gospel and the Glory of God as it relates to all areas of life including agriculture, work and God-centered self-sufficiency.

Much love to all,
Caleb, Alair & Nico

Go Cubs!

Nico wearing a Cubs hat for Brent...

Thanksgiving Day

June News

Alair and Lydia having fun doing dishes

Family Pic at the Source of the Nile

Frog on Alair's hand

Dan with Caleb harvesting maze.

Sarah with Kayesu (Pacific Family)

Family and Friends,

What a joy it has been this month working for New Hope. We are both engaging the children that we work with in Pacific family. Caleb is leading Tuesday night devotions and Alair is leading Thursday night devotions. We are also planning game night every other Friday and Alair is baking with the girls on Friday afternoons. Caleb has been teaching computer to several Ugandan students and has been able to build some significant relationships as he teaches the vital skill of typing. It seems like we are busier than bees these days, and as each week passes new responsibilities come our way and new relationships are being formed. We are thankful to see God growing and deepening our relationships as we plan our involvement with our family group. Now we have to maintain a balance with ministering inside and outside our own family.
Poor Nico got malaria as many of you know but he is doing better and is back to himself. Caleb’s cousin Lydia Smith has now joined us here at New Hope and we are excited that she is now part of the family. We picked her up from Kampala last Saturday. She was with a team from Anderson University working with the Stevenson’s who are part of the Church of God. Lydia has been such a blessing to us during the past couple of weeks helping with Nico, and jumping in right away with Pacific Family, and what timing as we have been “in transit…”
MOVING! MOVING! MOVING! Or as they say in Uganda we “shifted” out of the one bedroom we were stating in into a two-bedroom house that is empty right now because the our friends the Zimmerman’s are on furlough back in the U.S. We shifted because Desire, a new missionary from the states who has come to run the guest house is staying in the one bedroom apt. The hope was to shift into a three-bedroom house however that move is contingent on a new house being completed so that the family that is in the three-bedroom house can shift into their new house and we can move into their old one. Well you may have guessed it, the house is not finished, hence this second temporary shift. (We’re not counting all the temporary moves back in the states over the past couple years=). Pray with us and everyone involved in the “wait and shift game.” What a blessing to see New Hope growing, and with it the growing pains; the opportunity to grow in patience and flexibility… needed, but not always our favorite blessing in disguise is it?
Caleb has been excited about some of the new ventures New Hope is getting into. As I’m sure you all know Caleb is very passionate about coffee and all that it entails. He had the opportunity a few weeks ago to go on a “coffee safari.” Joel, a student accompanied Caleb on the day’s journey. While on the safari they learned a great deal about Ugandan coffee and made many valuable contacts. The trip include a trip to the Ugandan Coffee Authority, a major coffee processing plant, a coffee roasting plant, the Ugandan Coffee Research Center, and last stop was a beautiful farm in Mukono where he learned how to wet process the coffee bean. Caleb also planted his first coffee tree. While we were in the Institute last summer, Caleb helped Joel start a small business roasting coffee to sell at New Hope. Since then Joel has shown great interested in learning the process in more depth and doing it for a full time job. After their safari Joel announced, “Wow, what an exciting day, I am ready to start growing coffee.”
Caleb has been helping promote New Hopes book The Long Road to Hope by going to the many different Kampala book stores to follow up on sales and make new sales. Have you read it yet? Information on purchasing a copy can be found on New Hope’s website at http://www.newhopeuganda.org/ 100% of the sales go to fund the IY (Investment Year) program.
Caleb is also excited about his temporary job with New Hope starting next month. He will be working with the short term teams that come to visit New Hope. Nancy Kirsh who is the team’s coordinator will be attending the New Hope Institute of Child Care and Family in July and will need help with teams. Caleb is excited about the relationships he will get to build and he is also looking forward to learning a different aspect of what happens here at New Hope. During these several months he will continue working on special projects and fundraising.
In the midst of all the busyness May 6th-9th was New Hope's 3rd annual foreign staff retreat, but our first. It was held in beautiful Jinja on Lake Victoria at the source of the Nile River. It was a joy for us to better get to know and fellowship with the whole team of foreign staff both old and new, which includes Christ followers from the U.S. and the U.K. who all have hearts to see the fatherless come to know our Father and experience His fatherhood. The retreat was a refreshing time of rest and of hearing Gods word from facilitators George and Donna, former missionaries in Venezuela for many years who now have a ministry of encouraging other missionaries around the world. We praise God for the time we had together!
Love to each of you,
Caleb, Alair & Nicolas

The Foreign Staff Retreat

Foreign Staff Retreat in Jinja

Dinner time

May 6th-9th was New Hope's 3rd annual foreign staff retreat, but our first. It was held in beautiful Jinja on Lake Victoria at the source of the Nile river. It was a joy for us to better get to know and fellowship with the whole team of foreign staff both old and new, which includes Christ followers from the U.S. and the U.K. who all have hearts to see the fatherless come to know our Father and experience His fatherhood. It was refreshing to have facilitators George and Donna, former missionaries in Venezuela for many years who now have a ministry of encouraging other missionaries around the world.
On May 23 we picked up my cousin Lydia from Kampala. Lydia was with the Anderson University team working with the Stevenson's in their childcare ministries and will be with us at New Hope helping in a variety of ministry aspects through mid July.

Familar Faces

Arlin, Whitney, Nancy, Steve and Dave with Nico

Trip to the Lake Victoria site with the Master Works Team

What a joy it was to have our friends from Master Works come visit this past week. It was truly a blessing and a big encouragment to have time with them.

April News from Uganda

Dodiveco saying goodbuy to JT

JT giving testimony at church service his last Sunday

Hanging out with Pacific family during game/movie night
We showed the movie Swiss Family Robinson.

Nico's 1st birthday a few months late.

Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from Uganda! We cannot believe that it has been over a month since we arrived (in early March). God has been good to us as our transition has gone smoothly. We are very thankful for the temporary house that has been provide and are anticipating the next move to our more “permanent” home in May.
Much has happened during the past few weeks and many things have moved quickly for us. We received our foster care order for Nicolas, so he is now able to stay with us full time. Praise the Lord! The process went rather speedily. Many of you may not know that things in Uganda usually take much longer than expected. We filled out many forms, created a portfolio of ourselves, met several times with the probation officer (social worker) and twice with the magistrate (judge) from Luwero. It was truly a blessing to get things processed and all of the paper work through.
Nico is doing very well…walking and talking (well, mimicking extremely efficiently… he doesn’t miss a syllable). We just had fun celebrating his “un-birthday” on March 17th as we missed his 1st birthday (January 17th). Needless to say the cake was a hit! He is very attached to mama (the name “mama” is a rare occurrence though, as he calls both Caleb and I “daddy”). Clingy is healthy however, in adoptive situations (it means he is bonding well and we haven’t had to “force” bonding- which would entail me wearing this 25 lb. boy on my back all day). But, clingy also means a tired mama who sounds like a parrot every time she sets him down-“no fuss Nico.” One of his favorite times during the day is wrestling with Caleb on the bed while I finish making lunch. I can hear laughter and squeals in the outdoor kitchen!
I am fully aware of God’s healing hand during this time as each remembrance of my mom that is often accompanied by tears of sadness has ended with tears of joy as I rejoice in the truth that she is residing in the presence of the Lord! Pray for both my dad and sister as they continue to adjust to this new reality.
Since we returned much has changed including Caleb’s role. He has been given the role of Special Projects/Fundraising. He has been working on several different aspects of fundraising and a wide range of projects to generate income, all that require research and a lot of footwork. The first week we arrived Uncle Jay asked if Caleb could research staring a mini biodiesel processing center. Shortly after starting the research for that, he was given the task of writing and submitting grants to the different embassies here in Uganda. There is money available it is just a matter of finding the right avenue to pursue. Caleb has already submitted two proposals for ten new bore holes (wells) to be dug. If we receive the money for this project, one bore hole will be on New Hope property and the other nine in surrounding communities. One grant was submitted to the US embassy and the other to the Italian embassy.
We are excited about another project that both Caleb and I are working on together. We just recently opened the official New Hope Gift shop. Many students, the New Hope’s Vocational Institute, staff members and local artists/craftsmen have sold their woven baskets, paintings, cards, jewelry etc. to short term teams that come to visit New Hope throughout the year. We have seasons of time that teams come virtually every week out of the year. With this new gift shop we hope to market local crafts, and promote craftsmanship. The gift shop was much needed as it will help organize small businesses on site, generate income for the ministry, and ensure quality and “fair trade” prices for both the individuals buying and selling. Caleb has already traveled to Kampala to negotiate and do business with some local wood carvers. We are excited to expand the merchandise we will have to offer and are extremely happy about the countless benefits a venture like the gift shop will create.
Another blessing has been reconnecting with our family group, reestablishing trusts and continuing to build relationships. It has been difficult, but a blessing to talk through the healing process God has faithfully begun in hearts that have been wounded. But we have also seen the joy brought by the addition of a family member, three year old Kiasu, whose smile can melt any heart in an instance. Kiasu’s lighthearted, playful spirit and contagious giggle has added warmth to the family.
Another much loved addition to Pacific and the greater Kasana family was J.T. King, (Caleb’s 21 year old cousin from Indiana) who has worked for three months with teams and New Hope staff welding water towers, swing sets, repairing almost anything that has been broken, and who has put much sweat equity into this place. The highlight of J.T.’s time here was a trip with young adults to work at Masana Camps (New Hope’s youth camp and some day retreat center). There God brought him to a place of full surrender and we are rejoicing with him because of God’s great mercy, grace, and relentless love ever drawing us to Himself.
We are thrilled to have another one of Caleb’s cousins Lydia Smith join us toward the end of May for three months. Pray for journey mercies as she travels with a short term team from Anderson University and for a strong sense of God’s presence as they serve in Kampala and throughout Lydia’s continued service here at New Hope.
We are also excited to see Steve and Nancy Longbrake from our Blackhawk family who will be visiting New Hope next week! We are thankful for the friendships we are building with staff members here at New Hope, and we are equally thankful for the encouragement that dear familiar faces bring!
Praising God for each of you as well,
Caleb, Alair & Nicolas