Emmett Update | February 2026 - Emmett Periodically

As we near the end of February, we have been busy preparing for our departure and getting tasks done to set others up better here in Karamoja. To say the to-do list feels never ending is accurate! We wanted to update you before we left because much has happened since our last newsletter and we do not know how the adjustment will go Stateside so we did not want to have you waiting for too long!

Heading to the USA!

The twins have finished ⅔ of their school year and are enjoying a few weeks off as we clean our house and pack and then travel. Jackson has taken some interest in school so he works on his preschool workbook when he wants, but he often would rather play with playdoh, climb, slash (cutting grass like the locals!), or ride bikes outside. Dawson and I celebrated our birthdays this past week! We cannot believe Dawson has spent over 75% of his life in Uganda! The baby continues to wiggle and grow inside my ever-growing belly!

As I pack us back up again, I remember how I used to like packing and the new adventures it would bring. Since our living out of suitcases for months in the States in numerous places before getting to Uganda, it does not feel as exciting (but I still get some enjoyment!). It also comes with a lot of different emotions as we navigate leaving our home here and heading back to another home. We are feeling all the emotions! The children are definitely in “transition” again. They are excited to see loved ones and we often talk about what foods we will eat (good icecream, cheese, berries, pizza, just to name a few!) when we get back to the States or what we will do, but Uganda has been our home for a few months shy of 2 years and they are sad to leave it and their friends and family here. Pray for us as we walk through lots of changes in the next couple of months (the blessings and the challenges because there is definitely both!!). Also pray for our team as we are few in number and the comings/goings of team members affect everyone in various ways!

Happenings around the Mission!

The mission is busy with new “visitors” – some who just visited quickly from the home office and the OPC as one was teaching down at Knox in Mbale. Others who will be here for 6 months to overlap with Travis and cover his role while we are away! It is a blessing to have others willing to help out in this way!

Our team has also been busy interviewing and following up with some new young men who have joined our Timothy Discipleship Training (TDT) Program. Many have headed off to school and are working on secondary or post-secondary schooling. Pray for them as they continue their studies and that they would grow in their knowledge and love for the Lord!

Before the TDT guys headed off for school our family hosted them, the Church Ministry Team, Pastor Julius, Timo, etc. for ‘tea’ and a meeting. We were able to pray with them, get to know them more, and then Travis was able to share some about pressing toward the goal of becoming a self-sustaining, self-governing, and self-sustaining church. Later the Mission had a meeting with the TDT guys and their parents- praise God each TDT guy had at least one parent attend! We talked about being all together and the importance of the parents in the spiritual life of their children. We invited them to come to church and praise God many of them came!!

Travis’s work has been constant. He had been working to get a crane truck up from one of the cities to move shipping containers from the old clinic site to the current clinic site. The first truck came up and a part broke when it attempted to move the first container (Thankfully it was only a few inches off the ground!). So, after reaching out to more connections and a week or more of waiting, another truck came up from Kampala bringing some supplies for other projects. They were able to bring the supplies, move the containers, move a water tower, and take an old skid steer back down with it to a mechanic in hopes to sell it for parts. Travis was able to install a solar fridge and freezer in what we call the “Main House” where we often host short-term visitors and groups. Lord-willing, the two other men will be able to start restoring the kitchen (the previous one had seen a lot of wear and tear especially from termites and had to be ripped out). Along with these bigger projects, Travis’s time is filled with lots of other odd jobs, answering numerous requests, attending meetings, and many administration tasks as well! Pray that he would be able to manage all of it well and set up others well in his absence.

As the new missionary associates settle in, Travis has been showing them the various compounds and maintenance needs. There are definitely enough projects for them to do while we are away! Pray for good team dynamics and productivity and that they would be blessed and be a blessing in their time here!

One project they have already worked on together was setting up a solar hot water heater for our house! There was no little excitement by all to have running hot water!

Church Life

Travis attended presbytery in Kampala at the beginning of this month alongside many of the church leaders of the two church plants we are involved with (NPC in Karamoja and ANPC in Mbale) and a few other churches in Uganda. Timo officially became an intern under the RCEA and will begin his pastoral internship here at NPC. What a joy to see! The Church has also seen many new visitors, a few new members, and a couple baptisms these past few weeks! What a blessing to watch the continued growth the Lord is providing!

Thank you for following along with us and for your prayers and encouragement along the way! See some of you soon!

In Christ,

The Emmett’s

Praises

We have so many things to be thankful for in this newsletter. The Lord is good!

The missionary associates have arrived and are settling in!

Travis had safety in his travels to and from Kampala for presbytery and picking up visitors
We have been relatively healthy
Dawson is gaining back some weight!
Timo is now a pastoral intern of the RCEA
NPC’s new members, baptisms, and visitors!
New Timothy Discipleship Training Program members

Prayers