Honestly...

As a missionary living on the generosity of others, we like to give good news. Pretty pictures of our work, which is of course going better than planned. It's easy to censor what we put on blogs, newsletters, and social media to sound like everything is peachy keen. I guess though its probably easy for anyone to do that. 

But I really don't want to be like that. I want my friends and family in the states to see what our life is like here in Uganda. The good and the bad.

We've had a tough time in the past three months since we returned from the states. We've suffered two rather serious physical injuries. And we've said goodbye to three families we grew very close with over the past year. Throw on top some illnesses, tedious traveling, medical bills, difficulties at work, and power outages and the Allen family is dragging its feet a bit. 

Its really easy at times like these to look back on our life in the states and compare. And think life was just simple and predictable and easy. I miss that. But deep down even as I type those words I realize thats a lie. My life stateside wasn't perfect and I know that our difficulties would never be solved by running home. 

We are not giving up. Not by a long shot. We are committed. We knew it wouldn't always be adventurous and fun, although it often is. We see this for what it is: a rough patch, a bump in the road. It sure stinks while you walk through it, but you know God will get you through. After all, he certainly has before.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 16-18 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.