A Near Miss

Well, it’s me again: Elisha McFarland, with a crazy story to tell. Now, don’t get me wrong: I love blogging, but when this story happened, I knew that I had to share this testimony with everyone.

Yesterday we went to drop of the Vogt family, who were leaving Uganda for good. We went to Entebbe with them, swam in a pool, and went to the zoo (I will enclose pictures). It was fun, but also sad at the same time, like when you give your teddy bear to the family next door, and you are sad, but when you see the shining eyes of their 3 year old daughter, you know it is worth it. The shining eyes of those kids who were sad to leave, but eager to see their mother in the US made the drive and trip worth it.

                

After seeing them off, my family and I drove to Kampala, where we shopped and ate lunch. However, God had a surprise for us just before lunch: Right after we drove up to the Thai restaurant, 4 fighter planes flew overhead, doing barrel roles, looping the loop, and other awesome tricks. The reason for this was because of the threat by Al Qaeda to Uganda after President Museveni was elected for the trillionth time in a row. Because of the threat, Museveni launched these planes in the air to show that Uganda had power (please pray for Uganda as the inauguration is on Thursday). It was loud, but fun to watch. So, after an air show and lunch, we set out for home.

Traffic was good, so after shopping a bit more, we left Kampala at 4:00 in high spirits. We talked as we drove home, as well as napped in the car. After about an hour of driving, we reached a town called Wobulenzi, which is about 50 kilometers from our home. Before we even reached the town, however, something in me told me that there was something wrong. A cold pit of fear gnawed at me, and made me wonder: Is this a warning from God? I didn’t tell anyone of it, because if it was really not a warning, and I told someone, then I would have gotten laughed at by my siblings. The whole drive through the town, I prayed, asking God if he was trying to tell me something. Finally, when we reached the end of the town, I decided that I was just creeping myself out (that does happen, you know!), and I didn’t need to worry. However, I was still on my toes as we began to drive down a hill. We had just gone down when it happened: 

A bus in the opposite lane came whipping around the bus in front of it in a no pass zone, doing at least 90 kph (the speed limit was 50), and was 10 feet from hitting us.

The bus whipped around the car in front of it, and swerved towards us. Looking back on it, I remember only one thought: Help! Now, my dad and I saw it at the same time, and we both reacted: he spun the wheel 45 degrees left, swerving us into the shoulder (that’s what they call it, right?). There were people on both sides of the road and my Dad just swerved in a way to miss the bus and the people.

My dad told me this afterwards:

The bus driver was panicking. Rather than slow down, he sped up to finish his pass and in that he had to make that split second decision: Hit us, a van with 8 people in it, or swerve to the left and hit a young man just beginning to cross the road on his bike. The driver chose the latter.

                

As I think about it, I am grateful to the driver; not for almost hitting us, but for avoiding us and choosing to instead hit the young man collecting water for his family in a Jerri can. If he had hit us, then there is no question: I would be a young orphan with 2 or less siblings to take care of. Instead, somebody else is mourning the loss of their father, brother, or son (we didn’t get a good look at the guy). Even so, the bus drove on, for if the driver went back to check on the injured or dead man, then the locals would have torn him out of the bus and killed him.

My dad told me this the next day:

                I looked back at the bus through the side view mirror, and saw it strike the bike with the kid on it. Watching it was like watching a crash test doll: The bike and kid went flying. The bus slammed into him. There is no question in my mind: The boy is dead.

                

This whole scene made me wonder so many things that my head hurt afterwards. Did the boy wake up in the morning, knowing he was going to die that afternoon? What was his last thought? Was he a Christian? Did it hurt to die? Was he scared? Did he have any family?

                

I answered most of these myself, and my parents answered the rest: He didn’t wake up in the morning knowing he was going to die, and his last thought probably was “Oh, God!” He might have been a Christian, but we won’t know for sure. He was hit so fast that it probably didn’t hurt, but he definitely felt something. He was most definitely scared, and probably did have family, a family that would stay up all night with neighbors mourning their loss. But this I know: Neither choice was good. But I am thankful God has preserved our lives, because if the driver had made the other choice, than I wouldn’t be here: Because I wasn’t buckled in.

                

This evening I have a few mixed emotions. It has taken me a while to finish this blog post, because I have some kind of curse with computers (making them break while i am writing this) and because the internet is slow. Museveni was sworn in, and for that I am glad. However, before I finish this, I would like to give 2 grateful thank you's: The first one to the family of the boy, for sacrificing their son's life in order that we would not be killed (even without knowing it). Thank you ever so much.

                

My second thank you is to God: For sparing my life. I really do not deserve it, and deserved death. And yet..... He saved me, and in that I may rejoice. He has plans for me! He is an amazing, awesome beautiful, holy God. Praise Be!

Elisha McFarland

Grandpa and JD's trip to Uganda

I am so excited that my grandpa and cousin are here! I have loved seeing them and hearing about there past experiences, as well as hearing news about home. I am really thankful for God's grace in giving my aunt the money to send her son here, and for God's grace in giving my parents the money to go to Murchison! Here is a couple of pictures i took!

I really loved seeing all the animals God has created (Genesis 1:1-20), and hope to see as many as possible. Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Elisha's snow poem

The snow is like a whippoorwill,

Singing in the morning.

Falling softly to the ground,

The tears of our Lord mourning.

The snow is white like the blanket sheet,

On our comfy bed.

Glistening in the morning sun,

So bright it hurts my head.

The snow is cold like a ice cube block,

Melting in a glass.

Students walking through it,

Hurrying to get to class.

The snow brightens up the winter time,

Making things to do.

Snowball fights, Snowmen families,

And building a large igloo.

This is my first poem. I did it for school, and enjoyed every minute of it. I especially enjoy making Limericks. What was funny was that it all came to me in the first 5 seconds; so fast i had to write really fast so that i wouldn't forget it.

The McFarland Fantasy league newspaper

Ladybugs take lead with 8-0 win/loss ratio!

            After the end of week 8, the ladybugs still remain undefeated with an easy win over the ().  With their fantasy football star RB Devonta Freeman leading their team, the ladybugs are looking up to a potentially undefeated season. However, with the loss of their 2 string RB Matt Forte to an MCL pull, and Freeman loosing precious touchdowns, their season is looking bleak. The league manager, Elisha McFarland, was quoted saying: “The Ladybugs team has been a large surprise, especially since at the start of the year they were believed to be the worst team. Their team is very good, but now that Matt Forte is injured, it is believed to be possible to defeat them.” In week 8, the Ladybugs easily defeated 10^th ranked JD’s Homies 175 to 131, giving them their 7^th straight win in a row.  This week the Ladybugs are already off to an 18 point lead against 3^rd ranked Chicago Blackhawks, due to the points given by Cincinnati Bengals’ Jeremy Hill and the Cincinnati defense, which triumphed over the Cleveland Browns in the NFL.

Week 8 matchups

Chicago Invincibles:  189

Thundering Herd:  170

Big Nose Bears:  134

WV Wildcats:  105

The Old Men:  185

The Chicago Blackhawks:  181

The Uganda Cranes:  153

The Buffaloes:  126

The Ladybugs:  175

JD’s Homies:  131

Uganda Cranes triumph over Buffaloes because of late game blunder!

The Uganda Cranes (5-3) triumphed  153 to 126 in a huge upset win because of Andrew Luck’s 26 points against the Carolina Panthers, and defeated the Buffaloes. However, the game would have been won by the Buffaloes if not for 3 Bye week starts, (2 RBs and a K) LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray, and Dan Carpenter. On the bench, RB Todd Gurley scored 40+ points, showing that if the Buffaloes had started even just Todd Gurley then the game would have been theirs. Also, this is a reminder to PLEASE CHECK YOUR LINEUP EVERY Tuesday AND FRIDAY, AND PLEASE SUB OUT BYE WEEK PLAYERS. Thank you.

Editors note: A bye week start is where a player whose team is not playing in the NFL that week does not play as well, and will not give any Fantasy points. Therefore it is advised to start another player in place of him. 

A surprising accident

                

One night, we were playing a game with Papa and Brooke. The point of the game was to sneak           past the person that was ‘it’ in the pitch black house and make it to a base. The person that wants to get the other people can move obstacles in front of them to block them. If they hit the obstacles it       will make noise and he can get them. If you manage to sneak past him and get to the base, you           win. So as I was saying, we were playing this at night and were having a great time. Isaiah and           Elliana were ‘it’ and we knew that it would be hard because there are two of them. So we                   came up with a plan that Papa would make a distraction and we would make it to the base. We       snuck up as Papa yelled and started running around. The only bad thing was that we didn’t know that a stool that was one of the obstacles was in his way. He slammed right into it (He was on his knees) and fell down. We stopped the game and he got up and said, “Well, that was fun. I’m not hurt that bad.” He removed his hand from his forhead and it started dripping blood. He ran right into his room and asked mama if she knew anybody about stiches. We were so scared. We thought and whispered to each other, “Oh no. He’s going to have to get stiches.” We were freaked out! We knew that stiches on his forehead were going to be hard. We prayed and went to bed as our friends drove him to the hospital. We woke in the morning and there was Papa, smiling and greeting us cheerfully! On his head were strips to hold the wound together. We were happy but sad at the same time. We knew that he will have a scar. Thank God that he protected Papa from getting hit in the eye or the cheek. I am glad he didn’t get stiches. Praise God!    

NJM                                      

A exciting trip to Kobwin

My dad had to go on a trip to a NHU branch in far north  of Uganda called Kobwin. I was really excited, because my brother and I were allowed to go too. We ate dinner early the day before, and went to bed early as well (or at least tried). We had to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, pick up three other men, and make the 9 hour journey to Kobwin. It was hard, but we survived :)  After the harrowing drive, we finally made it. Finally! At last! The rocks and view were totally worth it. There were rocks that were over 50 feet high! Here is a picture of Noah standing next to one. The top was way above the view of the camera! 

A rock comparison

The 50 foot rock

Our house, car, and backyard from the top of a rock

There was no power at night, but we made due with flashlights and lanterns. Meals were small, but delicious, and were cooked by one of the family mothers there. We also got the opportunity to go to a special birthday party, have tea every night, and have some amazing north Ugandan food called Atapa. We stayed there for 4 days, and although we were supposed to stay for five, we decided to come home a day early, do some shopping, and surprise Mama. She was so surprised! She loved it, and she was able to enjoy us for an extra day! All in all, going to Kobwin was awesome!

-Elisha McFarland

My Pet Dog

               My pet is a dog. She is brown all over with soft brown eyes. She has floppy ears and                            beautiful fur. She is very pretty. She loves to chase cars and play with us. She is very                            protective and loving to us. She guards our house well. She barks when people come to                        warn us. My dog likes to lie outside and relax. She is the best dog every. She has a rough                    ridge on her back. She is a special type of breed called a Rodeisan Ridgeback. She loves                      children and loves us best of all.              
               I love my dog. I feed her and care for her. Without Mounty, my life would be dull. She is                    the best dog EVER!!!!

                                                                   NJM