Christmas – The Rousehouse

Christmas on the Equator 2019

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Spanky Rouse

What does Christmas on the Equator even look like? Well, for starters it’s hot and sunny and full of outdoor pool activities.

You may have noticed the Rousehouse hasn’t posted daily stories or pics the past few weeks. We intentionally took a little break to simply enjoy the Holiday season. We did however take lots of pictures of all of the festive activities and adventures that we went on so that, we could share them later. Christmas was a lot different here in Uganda but we are learning to create some of our own family traditions and enjoy this season we are in. We know that this isn’t how it will be forever but we know that forever we will look back on these times and cherish the memories. We would love for you to scroll along and enjoy the memories we made during Christmas 2019!

Because of your support and generosity towards the Rousehouse we were able to throw a Christmas party for the Sole Hope Staff. There was a soccer/football match in the morning, big meal together, and games and prizes in the afternoon. It was a great way to end the year here at Sole Hope! Thank you for making it possible!

Some new friends invited us to a Christmas party, white elephant gift exchange and time of singing Christmas carols. They even turned on a small air conditioner to make it feel a little cooler for all of us Americans. (Yes, that is a live chicken and it felt quite normal as we all passed it around the living room to check it out)

Our electricity wasn’t working properly for about a week but thankfully we found a guy that knew a guy that took care of it just before Christmas. It now works and our stove and fridge don’t shock us anymore!

My friend Obed and I travelled about an hour away to deliver 114 pairs of shoes to a community center for children. We wished we had at least double that amount once we arrived!

For Christmas I surprised Lara with a night away at one of the most amazing places! This is a resort in the middle of nowhere on an island in the middle of the Nile. It was exactly what we needed to refill our tanks! They had the most comfortable bed, delicious food, private huts, bathtub on your patio, and the rapids rushing by you as you slept. Paradise!

Our church here in Uganda (Jinja Town Church) had a nice candle light service on Christmas Eve. We sang Christmas songs, read the Christmas story and then we went to eat Chinese food.

Lots of cooking and baking our Christmas favorites over this week. Everyone was involved but some just wanted to be taste testers.

Christmas morning was slow and perfect. We opened stockings, made a huge breakfast, opened presents, and laid around the house. This is one of our favorite Christmas traditions.

Christmas night we invited some friends and expats over for snack foods and desserts. It was such a fun evening. We played ping pong, ate really good food, and ended the night with a dance party! No videos were allowed to be posted to protect the integrity of others.

The Day after Christmas we headed off to Kampala (this is the biggest city and capitol of Uganda) for some R&R. We shopped for some goodies we can’t find in our town, went to the movies, spent the days swimming, spent time reading, sleep in, played board games and ate a lot of great food!

Lots and lots of great food!

While in Kampala, we also spent one morning at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Praise the Lord we left there with everyone’s passport stamped with the appropriate permit to live and work in Uganda! While we waited we could see the largest mosque in Kampala and Elly and Grey in their own little world entertaining everyone else waiting.

The kids are all doing great and really enjoyed this season! (Mac taking a pic with dad’s dream vehicle to make him jealous. Grey spending time with one of his besties. Elly giving loves to a friends baby goat.)

It has been a good time but we are looking forward to some normal rhythms of life, work, and family this coming month.

Ways to be praying for us this month:

Protection…physical, spiritual, and over our relationships
Increased favor with our staff and those in our community
Strong community of friends and encouragers in our lives
For Sole Hope leadership as they lead us in a healthy direction for this next year
Wisdom in finding a new car
Healthy bodies
Encouraged hearts
Increased vision and passion for the work God is calling us to

Praises!

We all received our visas with no problems!
We have almost raised all of the funds for a bigger, stronger, better vehicle!
These past 6 months the Lord has protected us from Malaria!
Sole Hope was able to finish the year financially strong and healthy
God is continually showing us His power and faithfulness

How can you partner with us:

Pray Pray Pray
Have your church partner with us and Sole Hope through hands on events like shoe cutting parties and more. Sole Hope, Get Involved
Come visit us! or Bring a team to visit and experience Sole Hope and Uganda
Share with others. We would love for others to have the opportunity to be a part of this mission and Sole Hope www.rousehouse.org
Be generous. We need more monthly givers Give Monthly
Give a special gift to support this ministry here in Uganda Special gift

Believe me, YOU WANT TO FOLLOW along on our social media pages! So many fun adventures, stories, and pictures.

https://www.instagram.com/spankyrouse/

https://www.instagram.com/lararouse/

https://www.facebook.com/spanky.rouse

https://www.facebook.com/lara.rouse.7

https://www.instagram.com/causing_wonder/ – Mac’s Instagram

*Please go and follow Sole Hope to see the Hope of Jesus in action and the impact local Ugandans are having on communities and in people’s lives!

https://www.instagram.com/solehope/ – Sole Hope

Happy New Years, Jan 2018,

Posted on January 4, 2018January 4, 2018 by Spanky Rouse

It seems to be easier to be hopeful and optimistic at the beginning of a new year regardless of the outcome of the past year. We are grateful for 2017 for so many reason and are extremely excited for all that 2018 holds! Looking back on 2017 we are reminded of the mountains of miracles from God and the way He took such good care of us during one of the toughest seasons for our family. One of the biggest ways we experienced the favor and goodness of the Lord was through YOU! **Philemon 1:4,I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers. I know we say thank you a lot but we are realizing more everyday that through you partnering with our family there is a great impact and hope for people and communities across Africa and locally in our city. Great, young leaders are being equipped to change the world, people are meeting Jesus face to face, and others are experiencing God’s love for them. This is a great picture of “His Kingdom come” and it is happening because you decided to join us in this great mission. We are so grateful for your sacrifice, prayers and encouragement in 2017!!!

Christmas lunch and white elephant gift exchange with friends

Our first South African Christmas…

It was super hot and we don’t have A/C at home so we had to road trip it to the beach! Stopped for lunch and enjoyed the view on the side of the road.

It was a little odd to be celebrating Christmas when it felt like summer time. We literally wore no shoes and went swimming over Christmas break. Even though the weather was not what we were use to back home in North Carolina we still had a great time! A typical Christmas for our family is filled with family and good food. Even though we couldn’t be with our family we were very grateful for the chance to FaceTime many of them. Technology is a wonderful gift. The Lord has blessed us with some wonderful friends that we spent the holidays with. We really enjoyed our times of celebration with each of them.

It’s a powerful gun, I am guessing

Mac at the outdoor movie

Christmas Morning. Our favourite gift was the family XL beanbag!

Christmas Eve we went to see one of our favorite Christmas movies, Home Alone at an outdoor theatre in Cape Town. Christmas morning we spent time together, just the five of us at home opening presents, eating a big breakfast, and reading the Christmas story. We were invited by some friends to a traditional South African meal called potjie (pronounced, poiki) which was unbelievably delicious! We finished the day off by hanging out with some other families who serve along side us at East Mountain. The boys shoot their new pellet guns, we shared yummy snacks and watched Christmas Vacation one more time this season. This made our first African Christmas really feel like home. It was a full day of fun, friends, and food! We felt blessed!

Turkey cranberry potjie

Prayer updates from December’s Update:

Travel to Durban, South Africa for a UWM Africa Missionary Conference – We spent the week before Christmas in Durban which is about 18hrs from Cape Town but thankfully we were able to take an easy 2 hour flight there. We really enjoyed spending time with some other UWM missionaries that serve all over Africa. They are pretty special people!
UWM African family outside of Durban
Vision for the specific ministry areas the Lord wants us to invest in deeply in 2018 – Next week we will spend a few days with our team here at East Mountain planning and preparing for 2018. We look forward to the time of team building, praying for the new residents that move in Jan 20th, seeking after the Lord’s heart for how He wants to use each of us this coming year, and identifying what communities and areas our family will invest deeply in during 2018. We believe the Lord has us in South Africa not for a what but for a who and we are excited to love, serve, care for people and point them (who’s) to Him this coming year!
Having fun with friends on New Years Eve
God’s grace, strength, peace, joy, protection and constant wisdom for everyday situations – Life seems to be going well for us. We obviously all have those moments in our week, especially around the holidays, when we are missing things back home like family, friends and familiarities. God’s given us wonderful people in our lives, so we are not surprised that we miss them the most during the Holidays. It is slowly feeling like home here. We have settled well in our house, found a great church we enjoy, we are building strong friendships, slowly learning some Afrikaans and finding our way around. God has been good to us and we feel like we are daily walking in His grace! Please keep praying for us! We know that all of these blessing are a direct result of you lifting us up regularly.
Rice Crispy treats at a friends farm house. The Marsh mallows are pink therefore the rice crispy treats are too.
Water Crisis! – There is still very little water and we are entering into the hottest and driest part of the year. PRAY!!! God is in control though! On New Year’s Eve we had a big down pour that lasted on and off all night. Our South African friends said that it NEVER rains this time a year, so we must be praying or something. God’s working behind the scenes and He is using this to open peoples eyes and hearts to Him.
Awareness of opportunities to love, serve and care for those in need around us – The Lord brought an opportunity to our family just before Christmas to help out a young South African guy. His name is Romero and he was one of our residents from last year. Romero is a special guy with amazing potential. God has big things for his life and we want to be a part of it. He shared that he needed somewhere to live this coming year so that he could continue with the resident program. Lara and I began praying specifically for this guy but knew that the Lord had already answered our prayers. When we moved to South Africa we were lead to a much larger house than we actually needed. The cost is more than we wanted as well but we felt like the Lord was saying we was going to use this extra space to bless people and this is where He wanted us to live. With this extra room in our home we had been praying that the Lord would fill it with the right people and thats what He did. Romero moved in early December and we look forward to how he will become more apart of our family. Please be praying for Romero as he is working on school at the university, participating in the East Mountain resident leadership program, and following the Lord’s call on his life.
Romero taking me out for my first surf lesson

elly and matthew — Elly and Matthew making snacks

South African wildlife and a giant fake snake

Prayer needs for January:

Pray for the new residents that will be moving in Jan 20th. We will give you snapshots of each of them throughout the year.
Pray for Homeschooling…For everyone to finish the year well in these next 5 months
Pray for wisdom of when to travel back to the US for a visit this year and for affordable flights. We are looking to visit the beginning of July.
Pray for Spanky’s parents (Nana and Pawpaw) as they travel to visit us Feb 1. Mom doesn’t like to fly and it is a long trip.
Pray for success: that others may know Jesus and know His plan for their life through our lives and ministry here. We want to have a deep impact on people and communities this year for His glory!

Let us walk in the power and wisdom that Jesus offers to us this year!

^{Ephesians 1:17}that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,¹⁸having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

If you would like to know how you can partner with us this year please check out our link Partnering with us… If you would like more info on specific projects and/or needs that we might have please email me at spanky.rouse@gmail.com. Thank you!

Below is all of the social media outlets that our family has and this is a great way to stay connected and up to date with the Rousehouse!

https://www.instagram.com/spankyrouse/

https://www.instagram.com/lararouse/

https://www.facebook.com/spanky.rouse

https://www.facebook.com/lara.rouse.7

https://www.instagram.com/causing_wonder/ – Mac’s Instagram

Merry Christmas 2017

Posted on December 11, 2017December 11, 2017 by Spanky Rouse

Prayer needs for December:

Travel to Durban, South Africa for a UWM Africa Missionary Conference
Year end giving and continued strong financial support
Vision for the specific ministry areas the Lord wants us to invest in deeply in 2018
God’s grace, strength, peace, joy, protection and constant wisdom for everyday situations
Water Crisis!
Awareness of opportunities to love, serve and care for those in need around us
God’s favor and favor with others (neighbors, community, team, partners, etc)

If you would like to join our financial or prayer team you can check out how to partner with us by clicking here Partnering with us…. It is coming close to that time of the year when many are thinking about those charitable donations. Would you consider a special gift to our family and the ministry projects we are planning for 2018. If you would like more info please email me at spanky.rouse@gmail.com. Thank you!

Lastly, we regularly post pictures and stories on our Instagram and Facebook accounts. This is a great way to stay connected and up to date!

https://www.instagram.com/spankyrouse/

https://www.instagram.com/lararouse/

https://www.facebook.com/spanky.rouse

https://www.facebook.com/lara.rouse.7

https://www.instagram.com/causing_wonder/ – Mac’s Instagram

Everything is going to be alright

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Spanky Rouse

Tis the season…

This is this Christmas season. It is also the season that most of us get sucked into stress, worry, and feeling overwhelmed because of the extra financial items in the monthly budget. I could talk about how bad this is and how this is nothing more than the enemy distracting us from the real reason for the season, Jesus, but this week I am caught up in the cycle of worrisome and frustration too. Therefore, I am probably not the best to be talking about the reason for the season.

We have been trying to save money for a new car since both of our cars have well over 200,000 miles but it seems like the more we try the harder it gets. Just in the past few weeks we have had expensive plumbing issues, both cars needing extensive repairs, medical bills from Lara’s shingles and my ankle, and all that comes along with Christmas. Needless to say the car fund has been depleted and I have been stressing over my stupid, rich, first world problems! (Embarrassed but honest)

–On the bright side I am SO thankful that we had the money to pay cash for some of these items. That is a blessing and we know it!–

After spending some much needed time of being refreshed by the Holy Spirit, I began looking through some emails and work stuff when I ran across this..It was a video from one of the missionaries I support in Africa that serves local at-risk-children. It was a GREAT reminder that “everything is going to be alright because of Jesus“. Hearing little African voices singing this song broke me, renewed me, and reminded me that life is all good with Jesus. I am blessed.

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I am thankful for the small reminders my Heavenly Father sends me right when I need it! He is so gracious and merciful to this slow learner he calls, His beloved.

December 2014

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Spanky Rouse

During this time of the year most of us are celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world, enjoying some down time, and looking toward to the new year.

This year during December I have been reflecting more than ever with a new sense of clarity, eyes wide open one may say. This year has been a bit taxing on the mental, emotional, and spiritual side of life for the Rouse House. Life has been good but on the inside it has been a little more than we would wish to have carried. Let’s just say transitions are tough, even good changes can be hard. On the bright side, I know that we have grown in our relationship with Christ and discernment for His will for our life and ministry. I would not be honest if I didn’t at least say God has blessed us more this year than any other year, for real! Our children are incredible, we are healthy, life is exciting, and ministry is ramping up. God is up to good things in the Rouse House!

With the thought of the new year, I am growing with excitement with the sense of what God is building with in the hearts and dreams of the Rouse House. So much good; good probably isn’t the best word to use because I have come to learn that His plans are not merely good but UNBELIEVABLE. Lara and I have began talking through some of these crazy God size dreams. Dreams and ideas that revolve around missional living. Don’t get me wrong, with dreams come plenty of fears. My thought is, we shouldn’t continue in the ordinary just to have a life of comfortableness, but to take a step into the extraordinary to experience the fullness of this life, is the true meaning of life! The life He is offering to us who dare follow (John 10:10). What does it look like for us to be living “missionally”? We don’t really know the specifics but we do know that it is taking the opportunities we have and living in away that people, families, and communities are changed. Living life in a way that is pleasing to God through our faith and loving others in a way they may know Him more. I am sure we will be able to share more in the days to come so stay tuned.

This new year I am so excited to jump deeper into my role at UWM (United World Mission). I have been loving it so far! I have had the privilege to start the connection with people that have a passion for what God is doing in the nations, help build and create local partnerships, and seek new opportunities to for UWM to serve. I can not believe the amazing world changers I have been able to meet and get to know thus far. People from the poorest areas of Charlotte to the largest cities in China. The stories they have one could write a book about!!! I am honored to call this a job!

January 1 I will be heading to Thailand for 2 weeks (what a way to start the new year!). I get to be a part of our Asia Conference with UWM and get to meet missionaries from all over that region. I can not wait to tell the stories from that trip! I will try to post regularly during then too. The majority of my time will be working but I do have a wish list of things I hope t to do while I am in Thailand. Just a few of them are visiting the lying Buddha in Bangkok, take a river taxi, visit the floating market, and take a ride on an elephant (believe me I will post a few pics of this one).

In February we will be tackling some big projects at our local ministry at Piney Grove Elementary. The school has received a new grant to improve certain areas of the school and asked if we could provide the workers. I am so glad we will be able to be apart of rebuilding a food pantry and clothing pantry for those who may need it! We would love to have you come volunteer with us if you are local. More details to come.

We have much more on the horizon for 2015 so please stay tuned by following us. We would also love your prayers for our family as we keep pursuing God’s desire for who He has created us to be and what He has called us to do.

Love the Rouse House, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Son of God went unnoticed

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Spanky Rouse

I was asked to lead our prayer time this week at UWM. With it being during Advent what better than to do a devotional from Billy Graham’ Advent devotional, Hope for Each Day; Morning and Evening Devotions.

The First Christmas Morning

So [the shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. — Luke 2:16

It would have been logical to expect God to tear open the Heavens and descend to Earth in majesty and power on that first Christmas night — but He didn’t. Instead, on that quiet night in Bethlehem, a virgin mother lay her newborn Baby in a manger designed to feed cattle. The lowing cows, the sweet-smelling hay, and the dark sky illumined by a magnificent star provided the setting. Humble shepherds joined the carpenter husband to witness the miracle and praise God.

The most significant drama of the centuries was unfolding — the drama of salvation that would ultimately take this Child to the cross.

Truly, God works in mysterious ways. The wheels of His mercy and justice move quietly, but they do move. The birth of Jesus Christ — the Son of God, our Savior — went unnoticed by the vast majority of the world that first Christmas night, but no event in human history was more significant. May His birth — and all it means — not go unnoticed in our lives!

Remembering that first Christmas I can’t help but to think how God is at work today in my life in BIG and small ways. His finger prints are all over me and His best is just waiting on me to take hold of it today. This reminds me of something a good friend of mine, the incredibly talented Chris Kincaid (If you are needing a new Christmas album you will want to get this one And Winter) said, “Father gives us enough faith to see your grace in our lives”. Look for Him to day, He is ready to blow you away with His goodness! Our God is a father that stands ready to give, love, bless, rescue, heal, and care for you like no one could ever do for us. He is just waiting on you.

Take a deep breath this Christmas season, slow down, and fix your eyes on the Father.