40 Years!

40 years ago today John Michael Atherstone and Sallie Catherine Pastula tied the knot... I wasn't there! But I also wouldn't be here if that event in history never took place...

As a child I heard the stories of them meeting around Halloween... being engaged by Christmas... and being married by Easter! For all the rush to get married those crazy kids have done an amazing job sticking together...

No one sees a marriage closer than the kids and for 18 years Jen and I got a first-hand look at what made our parents marriage click...

I will forever be grateful for the example the I saw from them...


I get my fire and my passion from my dad... I've never seen a harder worker... and a more committed father... for 18 years he left for work before we woke up but there was never a morning where we wouldn't find a hand written note from dad... I've come to realize as a dad that sometimes the words love and encouragement don't come easy but when I take the time to write I can truly feel and express the deep love I have for my own wife and kids... my dad was always the life of the party and my mom always seemed to enjoy him the most as he was making people laugh and making everyone in the room feel welcome and loved!

My dad is the reason I understand Ephesians 5:25... It seemed the older we got... and the longer they were married the more my dad traded in fire and passion for gentleness and care... he traded disputes for serving and he traded arguing for understanding... he is much quieter than when I was young... but he still has a gift of making everyone in the room feel welcomed and loved!

I get my deep love for family from my mom... mom was all-in all-the-time... she was our teacher, room mom, soccer mom, team driver, field-trip monitor, VBS leader and constant fan...our friends loved coming to our house because they knew my mom was waiting with hot food and warm words of encouragement..  Long after we left the house our friends were still visiting mom because they also knew she cared... Mom was always on our side... even when we were wrong... unconditional love for family is the legacy that my mom shared with me!

In another month Christine and I will be hitting 12 years... anyone who has ever been married knows that marriage is one of the greatest joys as well as one of the greatest struggles in life (being that half of all marriages end in divorce)... this year we have watched her parents reach 35 years and now see my parents reaching 40... I am so grateful for the example they have set... marriage isn't easy but the journey is the reward... the longer we are together the sweeter the journey gets... we've seen it first hand in our parents... and now we are experiencing the joy ourselves!

Mom and Dad... here's to another 40 years! I love you both and I am so grateful for the model of love and commitment that you have shared with me!

Happy Birthday Kadin!

Somewhere along the way a "Birthday Blog"has become a tradition for the Atherstone family... some would say it is because I am such a thoughtful father... "thank you!" ... others would say it is because I am too cheap to buy presents... "oh, you know me too well!"

Kadin, for your sake more than any other member of the family, I am so happy we are still in Uganda... being 8 now Uganda will forever be apart of your childhood memories... and that brings me such joy because Uganda has shaped your personality more than any of us... who knows whether a childhood in the US would have made you much different... but who you are today is a joy to everyone around you!

You are a delightful, trouble-making, creative, genius with an out of this world imagination... not a day goes by when a friend, neighbor or stranger doesn't stop what they are doing just to watch you... you are an entertainer to the core with a sweet spirit that most find irresistible to ignore!

8 years old seems so old... and I can't believe how much you have grown this last year! 

You are reading now... it only took 2 years of nightly battles of the will with your dear ole dad... 

You know the names of the kids in your class now... they are no longer referred to as "my children" or "those kids!" 

Even yesterday you picked up your toys and did your homework without being asked... was that an out of body experience? Your mom and I just watched in amazement! 

We love to see your daily climb up the guava trees  and your overloaded pockets as you bring your haul down to be eaten... we love to watch your interactive monologues as you chase dragons or overtake kingdoms... and we love to see your daily outfit accessories which include a belt around the belly, a sword tucked in the belt, a canister of some kind of fairy dust a pocket knife for safety and untold trouble ahead... you truly are one of a kind!

And so my son... my birthday wish for you is that you never settle for normal... but instead that you set your imagination free to create new things, explore new places, meet new friends and chase after big dreams! You are one of a kind and at some point in your life you may desire to fit in or be like everyone else... just remember that God made you unique and special... you may not look or act like everyone else but God did make you in His image...  that is nothing to hide but something to let shine for all the world to see!

Kadin there are not enough words to express how much we love you!  Happy Birthday Son! Today is your day and a special time to remember how good God was to us to bring you into our lives!

Lumasaba Dance

I'm pretty sure I agreed to be circumcised last Wednesday...

After 7 years there are still times where I have no clue what is going on... rather than trying to figure it out... sometimes you just have to be a good-sport and go with it!

In chapel this term we have a special song and dance from a different tribe or region each week... this has definitely become one of my highlights of the week as students have added in local instruments, local dress and each week it has become a bit like American Idol where they are each trying to out-do the rest...

Our students from Eastern Uganda (Mbale) raised the bar yet again this last week as they went out to the farm and made costumes out of banana fibers and other vegetation... 

Their hips, shoulders, legs and heads were all going in different directions with such amazing speed and co-ordination that the whole student body was clapping and shouting with joy...

And then it happened... a student reached out for my hand and I was pulled out of my chair... it looked a bit like a recent Insanity workout I had with Shaun T so I just went for it...

I should have paid attention to the sharpening of the machete against the concrete floor before they called me up...  but fortunately the act itself was not performed and everyone had a good laugh at my expense!

Until the next dance...

 

We know drama...

I tried finding pictures of Noah's first school play... they are somewhere but won't be found today...

 I remember it so clearly... he was in preschool, shirtless, wearing a ton of beads and some wrap around his waist and he was supposed to put a pot on his head... except there were 8 pots and 9 boys... Noah was the last to reach the pots and froze in fear when he saw that all the pots were gone... Noah barely held it together on stage fighting back the tears as his teacher ran across the stage to hold him...

We've come a long way Noah!

Last Thursday Noah played Kevin... a young boy entering the land of Aesop's Fables... Christine and I were a bit worried when we found out that he was one of the lead parts when we realized how many lines he would have to remember... but in true Noah-fashion he had them memorized about 2 months before the play...

The performance itself was amazing... although I'm the parent...so you might have to ask someone else for an unbiased review... 

There were a few dance moves, songs and dramatic scenes along the way... and at the end Years 3 and 4 had wowed and amazed every parent and sibling in the audience... 

Way to go Noah!

Futbol

It wasn't AYSO but it was our first attempt at organized sports for Noah and Kadin... 

On Saturday we celebrated our final week of 9AM - 1PM in the sun watching soccer... excuse me... futbol!

 

Kadin and Noah didn't end up on the winning teams... but just like AYSO everyone gets a medal or trophy...  this was apparently the only reason why Kadin signed up for the league... he hasn't stopped wearing the medal ever since he received it... other than in the bath!

I don't know how it happened but both boys ended up being goalie... For Kadin I think it was because he realized he wouldn't have to run... for Noah I believe it was because he was frustrated that his teams other goalie wasn't stopping much of anything...

As always Kadin awed teammates, opposition, referees and the crowd with his play in goal... in the game and a half that he played goalie the other team didn't take a single shot on goal... the ball simply wizzed by as Kadin watched it pass outside the goal posts every time... legend has it that the opposition simply feared him too much!

Noah is starting to re-think the whole goalie position now that he realized that the goalie can't slide-tackle anyone... til next season!

She was born for this...

I'm writing a screen play for a movie...

It's about a young girl born with a gift for handling animals... she's more than the "Horse Whisperer"... she is the "Horse, Pig, Cow, Chicken, Rabbit, Duck, Turkey, Goat Whisper" all wrapped up in one... there isn't an animal she fears and every animal is considered a dear friend.

As the story progresses she begins to dream of working with animals in Africa as she sits in her grandfather's lap and he shares photos of his adventures from around the globe... she is hooked... she begins to gather animals in her backyard in quantities that most parents would balk at...

As she enters her teen years she gets opportunities to work at medical research facilities and manage a large pig farm at a local college... her prized project being the complete dissection of a pig and reassembling its entire skeleton... she also becomes fascinated with disease and begins to cut out newspaper articles about Ebola and posts them all over her room... to some this may seem disgusting but this girl is in awe of the powerful disease and someday hopes to stop it...

But trouble strikes... as she becomes a young woman she begins to hear that a good Christian girl should dedicate her life to her husband and children... making 5 course meals, keeping a spotless home and meeting the every need of any visitor in her home... even better she is told that to be a pastor's wife is the greatest honor of all.

She does it and in fact she's amazing at being a wife, mother and host… look out June Clever… Wally and Beaver never had it so good... but despite all her good Christian girl success she dreams of something more…after 12 years of leaving her animal pursuits behind she has occasional moments of self-doubt wondering why God would give her such a passion for animals and disease yet did not give her the chance to do what she is most passionate about… or worse, is it wrong to have such a passion for animals and disease when there are three little pigs (a husband and two sons) she is already responsible to care for at home?

By now you might be picking up on who I am writing about... despite my propensity to exaggerate I would say that up to this point 99.9% of this story is true... and here is the Disney ending...

Christine just got offered a job... to research Ebola in the pig population of Uganda. It's a 4 week contract to start but if all goes well and the risk assessment shows a serious enough level of threat there could be a long term research position with her name written all over it!

So the "three little pigs" had a meeting... and they all decided that 5 course meals and a spotless house aren't all they are cracked up to be... instead the "three little pigs" want to see mom dream big, eradicate Ebola, make Bill Gates wish he hired her to cure malaria and have her Disney ending. An ending where her sons can see clearly that God gave their mom passion, brains and skills for a specific purpose. An ending that shows other good Christian girls from hyper-conservative backgrounds that "bare-foot in the kitchen" is just one option but God might have designed them for something a bit outside of the norm. An ending that isn't written, that at times is a bit frightening and might not be easy... but an ending that no one can deny is the ending that God made her to chase after!

So my Disney Princess ( I might get kicked for that new pet name)... go for it! Don't hold back! We can live with a few messes here and there... better yet, we can learn to pick up after ourselves. We can live with dad's three meal cooking options of pancakes, mac-n-cheese or toast... but we can't watch your dream job pass you by!

Just don't bring any of the Ebola home with you is all we ask... but a pig in the yard is perfectly acceptable!

7 Years in Uganda!

I can't believe we have been here for 7 years... for some reason that number seems significant, biblical or worth a touchdown dance!

Every time I think about boarding the plane from LAX on January 16, 2006 and arriving in Uganda on January 17, 2006 I can't believe we stuck it out... surviving a 2 day flight with a 9 month old and 2 year old after saying goodbye to family, friends and what we viewed as "normal life" is not something I would like to repeat again... but always a decision I am glad we made!

Usually I take time on this day to thank family and friends... so here it is... thanks a million! We could not have pulled through so many triumphs and trials without such an amazing group of people who hold us up in prayer each day, are generous beyond compare and treat us as if we never left each time we see them... we truly have the greatest team of support a missionary could ask for!

But this year more than most I feel like saying thanks to Christine and the boys... I often try to compare my family experience with them to my own experience growing up and there is no compare. We have truly been blessed by the experience in Uganda... but there is also a great sacrifice that Christine and the boys have made to make it through 7 years!

I have to thank Christine for giving up the chance to raise her boys surrounded by her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins (who are all amazing)... we both have great families and the countless holidays, birthdays, funerals and gatherings I have asked her to miss can never be replaced. I also have to thank her for giving up the chance to raise her boys surrounded by friends in similar life stages who can share the joys and trials of child raising together... we have some amazing friends and every visit is a joy but also a reminder of times of joy and encouragement that she has gone without. I also have to thank her for forfeiting an amazing church back in Moorpark for the opportunity to serve a country that has nothing that can compare... for all the food, fun and comforts we have missed none comes close to missing out on these relationships.

There are also the days, weeks and months without power... the strange disease (which I think she enjoys a bit but not when it has her husband or boys down for the count)... the hundreds of visitors in and out of our lives... the occasional riot, unrest or unease just when passing to the market. Christine, your one in a billion and I can't imagine having survived this long without you. It is a joy to see you thrive in Uganda and I cannot say enough how much I appreciate every sacrifice along the way!

Noah and Kadin, you don't even know what you missed out on... each visit to the US opens your eyes a bit more to the wonders of legos, ice-cream, Disneyland, grandparents, In-n-Out, cousins, beaches and so many of the pleasures I enjoyed as a kid. I also know that one day you will fully understand how different your childhood was than mine. When that day comes and you stubble upon your dad's blog I want you to know how proud I am for how Uganda shaped your characters and personalities... I also want to thank you for the sacrifices you made without even knowing what you were giving up...

As I meet adult missionary kids it can go one of two ways... it is either a joy and a privilege or a childhood that they feel they missed out on... I hope you remember the trips around the world, the exotic animals, the thrill of adventure, the friends around the world and the support of friends from across the globe... I also hope that every time you check to see if the power is on before opening the fridge, you let the yellow mellow in the toilet, you board a plane, discover a new animal, can't understand a new piece of technology or get excited over mail - I hope you remember that Africa was home and you think of it as the best childhood you could ever have!

I often encourage new guys on the field... whether they are listening or not... to take care of their families or they won't survive here for long. Christine, Noah and Kadin... thanks for the adventure! There isn't a family in the world like you and I love being on this adventure with each of you!

2012 Wrap-up

On January 17^th we will be celebrating 7 years in Uganda! Thanks for keeping us here through your prayers, encouragement and support!

Here’s a look at the highlights of the year…

Kadin (7) is a budding vet, following in the footsteps with mom. He is so comfortable handling animals, enjoying daily conversations with them and helping mom to diagnose their disease and injuries. Our house is a small animal paradise where Christine and Kadin enjoy 8 ducks, 20 chicken, 4 rabbits, 2 dogs and our new puppy, Sadie! When he isn’t with the animals Kadin enjoys creating and inventing – there is a bin full bottles, cardboard and other trash behind the house that he is constantly “recycling” into his own personal creations.

Noah  (9) is growing fast and enjoys a world full of Legos, sports and friends. This year he got to be a ring bearer in a wedding and impressed all of us with his dance moves. He is the top French student in his class which is concerning for his parents who don’t have a clue now what the boys are saying to each other in French from the back seat of the car. We are especially grateful for his safety and health this year – 3 weeks ago he had his first peanut allergy reaction in Uganda. Christine was able to keep him breathing using the Epi-pen and then raced him off to the hospital. By the time they arrived the doctors could only pat Christine on the back and say “well done!”  The scary part for all of us is that there wasn’t a peanut in sight – we could only assume that the yogurt he was eating was contaminated and God was faithful having Christine there at just the right time!

Christine is now a graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a Masters of Science in International Animal Health. Christine’s graduation in November was a highlight for all of us as we traveled as a family to Scotland to attend her graduation. She spent the first part of the year putting together her dissertation on leptospirosis in the African buffalo and cattle population in Queen Elizabeth National Park. We are excited to see what is next for Christine. She is currently exploring different opportunities in Uganda in the area of animal disease. Stay tuned…

Jeff is now the President of a University, Africa Renewal Christian College became Africa Renewal University on December 17. In the process he lost plenty of hair from the top of his head! There was plenty of adversity along the way as he navigated the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). But by September he was asked to be one of the keynote speakers at their annual Symposium, which gave him an opportunity to share his faith before other university heads and NCHE members as he shared the need for Values-Based Education in Uganda. Jeff and the boys also had their first overnight camp out this year and they are all trying to learn how to fish… the boys seem to be having more success in learning!

After 7 years we can truly say we couldn’t have navigated the triumphs and trials of living in the developing world without your encouragement, prayers and support.

Thanks for loving us and keeping us here in Uganda! When you get a chance let us know how you are doing and how we can pray for you. We’d love to hear from you!

Jeff, Christine, Noah and Kadin

If you are not on our mailing list and would like to be - drop us an email: jatherstone@gmail.com

Send support to:

Training Leaders International

Attn: Atherstone Support

PO Box 15292

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Online support:

Atherstone Family: http://trainingleadersinternational.org/field/missionaries#fl.5.missionaries

Africa Renewal University: https://africarenewalchristiancollege.cloverdonations.com/arcc-donations/

Merry Christmas!

While you are escaping your family this holiday season to mindlessly surf the web and facebook I thought I would give you a treat and show you some pictures of my family... specifically the Scotland cousins! At least I figured you would enjoy it Mom!

 Jason, Cam and Hayden did an amazing job taking their African cousins all over the frozen terrain of Scotland...

Grandparents came from Manchester to make take full advantage of all photo ops...

And the kids delivered... posing for countless photos at every spot... 

 And now I'm just rambling to give you something to read on Christmas Day...

 

But isn't this a cute cousin photo! Way to go Kadin and Hayden!

I can't tell if he was puffing out his chest or just had too many jackets on... 

Noah bowing before Hayden...

And now I'm bowing out... Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas from Uganda!

If there is anything we have learned in our 7 Christmas holidays in Uganda it would be... don't sit around missing home or feeling sorry for yourself... instead celebrate new traditions with whatever family and friends you can find!

It appears the boys have no problem with that idea! Today they ended our Christmas Eve meal with a mud bath... I had no clue what was happening until I heard Kadin yelling to Noah "Stuff the mud down my pants!"

That got my attention!

 

 

For all the times that I have dreaded the holidays in Uganda this year I am noticing more than ever that our Ugandan celebrations (however they turn out) are normal for the boys. Kadin has been belting out Christmas carols for weeks and Noah finally convinced him that presents are a very important part of the holidays. Just like when I was a kid they are bouncing off the walls counting the seconds until Christmas!

And this holiday Christine has been a champ in making sure we have friends around... today we had our "Rookie Missionary" friends over for their first Christmas in Uganda... and tomorrow we will head over to "The Warlord's House" for Christmas day... Having friends to laugh and celebrate with is the perfect remedy for missing family... I also think the site of the electrician installing her new generator gave Christine and extra heap of Christmas spirit after another 3+ day stretch of no power!

So where ever you are and however you are celebrating here's wishing you a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our King!