A new sermon series began this morning:

I just need to point out that they chose to print "Gray Matters" in black and white.

Ironic.

Small World

Earlier in the week I had conversation with a Baylor student working in the call center (trying to persuade alumni to donate to worthy school causes). She asked if we keep up with football and basketball. I politely said something like, "Baylor football and basketball? Not really." Although, I guess technically we "keep up". It's easy to do with football; generally we hear or read that they lose...or we can just surmise that they lost and can usually be correct.

She followed up by asking if we were coming to homecoming, which is near the end of October, so I told her we would not be there this year since we are going to be in Africa. Unbelievably, this girl said, "Oh! Where are you going in Africa? You're not going to Uganda, are you? I'm from Uganda."

As a matter of fact we are. The student then told me how she came to college in the U.S. and about all the lovely things we must see while we're in her country. And I got to tell her about Compassion and how she can sponsor a child. She ended by promising that we would absolutely love Uganda and it is a beautiful place.

While I've been preparing myself for the stifling heat and tiredness that this trip is sure to bring, I sometimes lose sight of what an awesome experience it could be. After speaking to this girl, I became a bit more excited about seeing a little of Africa.

After shopping last night for some gifts for Ronald, I became even more eager to get there and finally visit this little boy whom we love and support.

Just two days ago we met a new couple in our small group. In another surprise turn of events, they are moving to....you guessed it...Uganda in the spring of next year as missionaries. Although living in Amsterdam, and not as missionaries, is a far different experience, we got to talk to them a bit about living for a long time period in a culture and place different than your home country. We promised to take lots of pictures of Uganda when we're there. The wife especially wants us to take a picture of a house...so that she can be assured people really do live in houses over there.

Of course, we will take as many pictures as humanly possible, no worries there.

Isn't it a small world?

Compassion International Uganda Sponsor Tour October 23

Ronald
Originally uploaded by john_and_erin_rogers

In the next couple of months we'll be thinking more and more about our upcoming trip to Africa. After visiting some good friends in Ghana, we'll spend 10 days or so in Uganda to visit Ronald, a child we've sponsored for three years through Compassion International. We're tagging along with a group of other sponsors, who we hope will somehow stumble upon this blog and introduce themselves to us before we rendezvous in Kampala. So, if you're going on the trip, email us and we'd love to get to know you!

There's a number of things to do before we leave. One of the most difficult tasks so far has been deciding what gifts to bring him. We've spent the last several days thinking about this and tonight we put together a tentative list:

- backpack
- football (soccer, for all the Americans out there)
- small toy airplane (he wants to be a pilot)
- socks
- soap and shampoo
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- hard candy
- bubbles
- photo album
- 2 twin sheets

Is it possible to cram enough stuff into our suitcases to prove our love for him? Could we dramatically change his situation in life (or make ourselves feel better) by stuffing that backpack with cash? We think the answers aren't really that simple, but maybe we'll help him out a little with a few practical gifts.

They say that our visit itself is by far the best gift of all. I imagine we'll receive far more from Ronald, his family, and friends than we could ever hope to give back to him.

Isn't it great that there are hardworking people in Colorado Springs helping two Texans connect with an 11 year old boy in a rural Ugandan village, and that God has allowed us to witness the steady process of lifting a million children out of poverty, one child at a time?

You'll hear more about the trip in the coming months, and about Compassion, and how you can sponsor a child yourself.

Healthy Food

A healthy breakfast
Originally uploaded by john_and_erin_rogers

Need I say anything about this photo?

OK. Of course I do.

This picture was taken one of the multiple times we visited the Safeway during our brief week-long trip to Estes Park. You can tell we were frequent customers (normally arriving in a pack of at least five) because we took to walking around the store, observing the merchandise and snapping pictures while waiting for others in the party to finish their shopping.

I can count on two fingers the number of times I was allowed to eat pop tarts for breakfast as a kid. And, come to think of it, those two times might have been at someone else's house...say, after a slumber party. And I'm pretty sure the only flavor available was strawberry...at least that flavor is a fruit.

I mean, these pop tarts aren't even trying to pretend to be healthy.

I look at this box and wonder, "Why is America the most overweight nation in the world?" Then I think, "It would almost be cheaper to just buy a package of Oreos...and probably just as healthy".

"Don't they add at least 7 vitamins and a couple minerals to almost everything anymore?"

"That can't possibly make up for the fact that these particular pop tarts are honestly just like eating dessert for breakfast, can it?"

"Why am I talking in quotes?"

The shelf is rather empty, so the cookie/dessert-for-breakfast must be pretty popular.

We're having breakfast for dinner, only it doesn't include pop tarts. Just some perfectly tasty items like Southern style biscuits, sausage, eggs, and grits (with cheese of course).

You know, healthy food.

Old Faithful

Against all laws of nature and genetics, I use a steam iron quite frequently.

I was probably thirteen before I knew what a steam iron was and how to use it. Just as I do not remember shopping for or buying clothes until well into junior high, I do not remember ever having need of an iron to correct wrinkly clothing until maybe sometime in high school. Even then the occasions to iron were few and far between.

If I could live all those years without a steam iron, then it is obviously possible to buy and wear only garments that do not wrinkle. As far as I know, my entire family can, to this day, attest to this fact.

One day I entered into married life and began living with a husband who must wear button-down, collared shirts to work everyday. For a couple years, we let the drycleaners do all the ironing. However, when more time availed itself and the cost of dry cleaning mounted, I decided to add shirt-ironing to my domestic duties.

Much to my family’s surprise, I declared late last week that my steam iron simply quit working. As far as they can tell irons should last a lifetime…safely stored in a closet somewhere awaiting the yearly ironing emergency. Mine lasted only a few years.

The clear solution was to look up steam irons in Consumer Reports at the library, discover that the last ratings were awarded in 2004, assume that the same brands might still be “best buys”, and head to Wal-Mart to purchase a new steam iron. The most expensive product offered at Wal-Mart is only $30, so we came home Friday evening with a new iron.

Imagine my surprise when my husband appeared Saturday evening after a short visit to his parent’s house with an iron, still in the box with the instructions, that he happened to find at the top of a bedroom closet. By the look of the packaging I swore the iron must have survived from the ‘80s so it can now grace us with it’s presence in the 21^st century.

My insight was correct. The copyright date on the box is 1989. Sunday morning I humored my husband and tried out the 1989 iron, sure it would be defective in some way. Against all odds, the thing still works!

I shall call it “old faithful”.

Apparently while one iron per lifetime is more than enough for members of my family, John’s family uses an iron so often that a perpetual back-up iron, stored away at the top of a closet, is a useful necessity. I briefly thought of employing this technique myself when we discovered John’s family would graciously allow us to use “old faithful” as our own at no charge. I could use the 1989 model and just keep the newly purchased item in my closet until the fateful day when “old faithful” kicks the bucket.

Needless to say, my husband prefers to return the 2008 iron to Wal-Mart and keep the $30 we shelled out in his pocket.

While my “new” steam iron is not the most stylish, I like to think it is bona fide “retro”…or is it “antique”? I am uncertain as to the age limit for those two categories. Either way, I am pleased to own such a fascinating “retro” steam iron…or such a useful “antique”.

Heat Advisory

Heard on the car radio Friday morning:

"There will be a heat advisory in effect until 7 p.m. Monday."

Ummm. While listening I was sure she was going to say "...until 7 p.m. this evening", so I was surprised to hear "Monday". That's three and a half days away!

1.) What's going to happen at 7 p.m. Monday? A cold front suddenly blows through right at that moment to cool things down to a bearable temperature?

2.) Does that mean that even at night, after the sun goes down, temperatures are still at dangerously high levels for the next three nights?!?

Today the high is supposed to reach 107 degrees farhenheit. That's 42 degrees celsius for those of you in most other countries of the world. 42 degrees! With the humidity, it might get up to 43 degrees! That's 110 farhenheit.

Yes indeed. There is a heat advisory. Take precautions. Go into your air-conditioned house and stay there.

Until 7 p.m. Monday.

I escaped with my life...and my sanity.

I dislike Babies R Us. Can anybody ever find anything in that store? Even the employees can’t find anything in the store.

Oh, the merchandise is fine (once you find it), and sales prices are good, and there are even good coupons and discounts quite often. It’s just that problems seem to ensue once I step into that store.

Today I had a Babies R Us coupon for diapers and needed to get a couple baby gifts anyway, so I prepared myself for the chaos that is Babies R Us.

I did not prepare well enough.

I should know by now that any trip to Babies R Us will involve a wait of 10 to 15 minutes, possibly 20, while an employee tries to a.) find something for me, b.) figure out the right price of an item, c.) find something for me, or d.) print the appropriate number of receipts if a gift receipt is needed.

When I walk in the store and have to wait for an employee dressed in a giant Geoffrey the Giraffe plush costume to move out of the way so I can walk down the aisle I should know the trip will not be simple.

Not only do I find Geoffrey the Giraffe in the store, but also a clown painting children’s faces, scads of employees aimlessly wandering around and stopping abruptly smack dab in the middle of the aisles (they are probably trying to find something for a poor customer), and a Chick-fil-a cow complete with a green T-shirt advertising “Eat mor chikin” being led around the store by a woman who looks like she is rather less than excited to be leading a character around Babies R Us this morning.

It is like a circus. Or a zoo. Or both.

After finding my items...finally...I make my way to the cash register thinking a little too smugly that this visit to Babies R Us might be unusually quick and easy despite the giraffe, the cow and the clown.

It is at this point that the register decides not to print my receipt. I thought of just leaving, but I like to have the gift receipt in case I buy the “Diaper Genie II special edition” refill cartridge when really the recipient has the “Diaper Genie IV ½ mom’s best friend” pail at home.

So, I wait. And wait. And wait.

Ten minutes later the girl helping me finally goes to the back of the store and returns with a computer print-out of my purchases. She signs it with “Valid for refund” and her name. I fear that asking for a gift receipt might just be asking for trouble and a further wait in a store that is becoming ever more chaotic. Lunch time is approaching and the natives…er…children are getting restless.

I quickly wheel my cart out to the parking lot just as I hear the beginnings of someone’s screaming fit, carnival music…and possibly a cow moo-ing.