Back To America

Well it is that time

I am going to back to America the beginning of next week for a visit.

It is so strange that I have lived here for a year.

Time sure does fly when you are having fun!

It is hard to leave here in Kitgum,

But I know that it will be good to see friends and family

Drink a few Starbucks

And have some rest and relaxation

Lord Willing I will return to Kitgum in February of next year

Please be praying that I have a safe trip

And all my stuff gets back to Oregon without anything getting broken! 

:)

Can't wait to see everyone soon!

Bri

Me!!! Versus Him!!!

Just yesterday I was talking to my friend Hailey who lives down the way

We were talking about how it seems we are always busy

Yet when we try to tell people what has been happening

We can't really think of anything to say

"Every day is pretty much the same,"

I informed her

"Nothing much happens that is worth writing about"

Me and my BIG mouth

Why is it every time you say something like that

It always seems to come back to haunt you...

Well sure enough my words came back on me

That very evening none the less!!!

Here is my story

And I am sticking to it

Don't worry, no exaggeration here!

It is so good...

I don't need to exaggerate 

Last night

(as has been the norm)

The power was once again off

Fortunately

The solar was just set up two days ago

So I had a small lamp in my room 

Let me explain the lamp

Before I go any further

The lamp shade doesn't come off

And if you move it...

The light flickers...

Keep that in mind as it will be important later

Now for the weather

It has been really storming all afternoon

It had stopped raining

But there were so many clouds

That it was pitch black outside

Not even the moon was getting through that cloud cover

Now for the room-mate situation

I was all alone

Therese is currently in Kampala

So it was just me...

So there I was

In my bed

Watching "House of Flying Daggers"

(which as a side note I enjoyed... on and off through this story)

I had turned the lamp off

I was after all just sitting in my bed

Watching a movie

Why on earth would I need a light...

Well... 

That is what I thought...

Then I heard it

Things moving around in the next room

My first thought

The wind

My second thought

I can't see a darn thing!

And to be able to see

I have to get out of this mosquito net to turn on the lamp...

Now you may not think that the mosquito net is that great of a protection

But when you have no idea what is outside

It seems like it at the time!

My next thought

Ok calm down

You are over reacting

(Remember that silly flying cockroach!)

So I climb out of bed

Turn on the light

And see... 

Nothing 

Thank goodness I was just over reacting

For my peace of mind however I left the lamp on

And continued with my movie

Then I hear it again

Rustling and...

CRUNCHING?

What

on

Earth!

Stick my head out of the mosquito net to see better

Still nothing

Wind?

Does wind crunch???

It is 10 o'clock at night people

Give me a break 

I was a little tired

Still nothing

So back to the movie

Then

I saw it...

And dread sunk in

It was big

Black

And Scurrying!

What... asks my mind...

Could that be...

Then the truth sunk in

HOLY MOLEY THERE IS A STINKIN' RAT IN MY ROOM

AND I AM ALL ALONE

What does one do in this situation

I did what every self respecting Oregon girl does

I went and got a broom

And decided I was gonna hunt that sucker down and kill him!

Yeah, I was tired

But I couldn't hide in my net

Rats can eat through material ...

And nets aren't made of sturdy enough stuff...

I kept picturing myself waking up with my feet all eaten up...

Yeah it happens

At times like this I always wish I had watched less TV

Gross!

I had no where else to go

I HAD to kill it if I was gonna be able to sleep

So I went outside with my candle

And found 

A broom

With a broken end

"Yeah"

Thought I

"I can just stun it with the broom

Then flip it around and stab it with the other end"

Looking back I realize that thought probably came from the martial arts movie

I always feel like I could be an awesome fighter when I watch those movies

So picture me

Poking around with the broom

Trying the scare that sucker out

(By flickering lamp light no less)

There is a lot of stuff it can hide behind in Therese's room

So I was having a hard time finding it

So back to my movie I went

Waiting for the crunching

So I could fly out and be awesome

Bri Garrett

Rat Slayer

So this when on for about 2 hours

I would lay in my bed

And when I heard it 

I would fly out

I had it cornered twice

But the first time it rushed me

And I panicked

It escaped

Darn it...

The second time I was standing on the bed

Broom raised

Holding my breathe

Waiting...

I was SO gonna get that sucker

Unfortunately

He went into hiding

And quit eating things

That's when it happened

The solar ran out

Pitch

Black

and I was all alone

In a room with a huge rat...

HO-LEY-MO-LEY

Candles... 

Where were the candles

Found those

Lit them

Now...

I was hunting rat by candle light

You have NO idea

Finally 

At 1:30 AM

After chasing that sucker for 3 1/2 hours

I had to admit defeat

I lit a bunch of candles and put them next to my bed

I woke up twice

Once because that sucker was UNDER MY BED!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

So much for Bri Garrett Rat Slayer

The second time I heard him...

In the bathroom!!!

Let me tell you what

I FLEW across the room

And slammed the bathroom door...

Then panic!

He can get under the door...

So I ran and got a towel

And I rammed it under the door...

Then I pushed stuff against it so that he couldn't eat his way through

He tried though

BLECH!!!

First thing I did when I got up

Went inside and told Zane I had locked a rat in my bathroom...

Ew!

So the REAL Rat Slayers 

(Zane, Julias and Mr. Ahnono)

Went out

And they killed him

Thank

Goodness

Even Mr. Ahnono said it was a huge rat!

He was about 6 inches long (without the tail)

and really fat...

I

Hate

Rats...

Africa! Come on give me a break

Why do these things never happen when the power is working?

Please Be In Prayer

Hey Everybody!

Please be praying for those of us here in Kitgum. 

Summer is having some health problems and is going to have to go down to Kampala and then fly to Kenya to see a Dr. there about this.

Here is a link to the McCourtney's ministry blog where that is mentioned

http://fromglory2glory.blogspot.com/2011/09/urgent-prayer-request.html 

I would appreciate your prayers as I will be staying home and helping care for the children. 

I would also like to continue with their homeschooling 

Prayerfully Summer will only be gone for a week or so!

 

Your prayers are so appreciated!

Bri

God's Sweet Tart

This is Quomo

At least...

That is it's African name

I personally like to call it

God's Sweet Tart!

Sorry I didn't think to take a picture of the inside

But I will describe it as best as I can

It is filled with large seeds that have a pulpy fruit around it

When you first put one in your mouth

It tastes like heaven

Or sugar

Then as you continue to eat it

That sweet taste turns sour

It is so good!

It literally hurts the more you eat :)

Love it...

God always does it best

My Most Recent Room-Mate

Meet Stan

As far as I can tell

He is some sort of lizard

(Although I am not an expert on reptiles)

Super cute

And if you look closely

He even has a Goatee!

And for the last month

He and I have been room-mates

Until today

When I FINALLY cornered him in the bathroom

And exercised my right to have him evicted

He now lives on the wall outside the courtyard...

I am sure that he will do well there

I even warned him to stay away from the two dogs...

They enjoy munching on those of a reptile sort

Hopefully he will do well in his new home...

Although

He may find his way back to my room

In which case...

This whole process may start over again

I love my life!

Eden Christine

So I was looking back on some previous blogs that I had written

I realized that the last picture I had posted of Eden was this one

Which was taken 2 days after she was brought home

Looking back I can't believe how much she has changed
Here is a picture I took recently!
 

Doesn't even look like the same child does it!
Wow, God is so good...
Every time the McCourtney's bring a new child in the their family
I am reminded of what God did for me
He took me, broken and bruised by the world
and brought me into a new life with Him

Awesome!

And Zane is off!

Hey Everyone!

Well, Zane is off to America tonight. There were a few mix-up's with his passport, but as always God is faithful and he will be able to make his flight. What a blessing for him to have the opportunity to return after four years straight in Africa. He will be flying out at 11 PM on the 14th from Entebbe and will be arriving at 11 AM on the 15th in Portland. Prayer for his safe travel would be greatly appreciated by all!

For those of you from Crossroads Christian Fellowship, Zane will be teaching there on Sunday the 31st so if you are wanting to hear what is happening here in the busy town of Kitgum feel free to go down. I know he is really excited to share about what God is doing and to hear from all of you who so faithful to pray for the ministry.

For the news here in Kitgum :)

The well is going extremely well! They hit a water channel yesterday and the water is coming much quicker now. They got 30 jerry cans worth of water out of it today so tomorrow they will begin plastering the walls. They have to begin plastering now because when they do hit a better water source a little deeper the plaster on the walls needs to be hardened or they won't be able to plaster that part and you run the risk of the walls caving in over time. To plaster the walls, one of the workers will be standing at the top of the well lowering a bucket with cement in it and the other will be plastering below along the wall. As you can imagine that is some hard work! I will try and get a picture up soon. I still can't believe how far they have gotten!!!

Homeschooling is going well. We have taken a break from Science this month and we are instead teaching the kids how to play football (soccer for us Americans). Lessons seem to be going well. Some of the kids still can't quite get their minds around trying to run, kick and aim all at the same time. There has been quite a few falls, but they keep on and that is all you can ask right!

Keep Emma in your prayers if you think about him. We had word from the village that he has been sick lately so when Zane returns Summer will head out and visit to check up on him and see how he is doing.

Blessings!
Bri