We are HOME!! Safely arrived back in St. Louis at 1:00pm yesterday. All flights were smooth and pretty much without incident - just like we like them.
On our last day in Uganda, we left Jinja and stopped by the village of Kateete for a quick rendition of one of our favorite songs "We are happy to receive you, welcome." (Sing this to the tune of "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" and make the word "welcome" 3 syllables long and you will get the picture!)
We left in the early afternoon to do some shopping before heading to Charles' home. We left for the airport around 6:30pm; our flight left on time at 9:50 pm. Some of us showered in Amsterdam. Seems like everyone slept at least awhile on the 2 longest legs of our journey home so we felt fairly good when we touched ground in St. Louis.
It's always so good to see family and friends at the gate waiting for us. It was a wonderful, productive trip. Thank you again for prayers while we were gone. Please continue to pray for the people of Uganda as they move forward.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tuesday Morning
Our last morning in Uganda! We had a great evening under the stars. We used our remaining tissue paper flowers and decorated all of the chairs where we eat. Afterwards we gave them to our waitress, Eunice - she was thrilled!
We will be checking out of the hotel this morning and leaving for Kampala. The plan is to do some shopping, go by Charles' house, and be at the airport in Entebbe by 6:30 pm. Our flight leaves at 9:50 pm (1:50pm Missouri time). We should get into St. Louis at 1:08 pm tomorrow.
Please pray for safe travel. It has been an incredible week!
We will be checking out of the hotel this morning and leaving for Kampala. The plan is to do some shopping, go by Charles' house, and be at the airport in Entebbe by 6:30 pm. Our flight leaves at 9:50 pm (1:50pm Missouri time). We should get into St. Louis at 1:08 pm tomorrow.
Please pray for safe travel. It has been an incredible week!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Monday Evening
We are back from a great day in Jinja. Started the morning by driving to the land that Charles has designated "perfect" to build a seminary on - 25 acres on Lake Victoria. It's a beautiful spot. We hiked around the perimeter; a great way to start a Monday morning.
We came back to town for lunch at the Source Cafe and did some shopping. Some of found a great little spot - Rita's African Crafts. She had the best prices ever and we definitely spiked her sales numbers for the month! She was a lovely lady; even threw in some tapestries as a "thank you". Pastor Jay takes the prize for being the best shopper of the day!
After shopping we headed to the Source of the Nile where we not only got to admire how gorgeous the area is, but we took a boat ride! Absolutely beautiful. So glad we added that to our itinerary!
We are back at the hotel. We need to pack up this evening and then enjoy our last night at the Sunset. Ready to see our families, but not so sure everyone is ready to leave this wonderful place!
We came back to town for lunch at the Source Cafe and did some shopping. Some of found a great little spot - Rita's African Crafts. She had the best prices ever and we definitely spiked her sales numbers for the month! She was a lovely lady; even threw in some tapestries as a "thank you". Pastor Jay takes the prize for being the best shopper of the day!
After shopping we headed to the Source of the Nile where we not only got to admire how gorgeous the area is, but we took a boat ride! Absolutely beautiful. So glad we added that to our itinerary!
We are back at the hotel. We need to pack up this evening and then enjoy our last night at the Sunset. Ready to see our families, but not so sure everyone is ready to leave this wonderful place!
Monday Morning
Hello everyone! It's been a great weekend in Uganda!
Saturday evening we watched the USA vs. Ghana soccer game. Charles concluded that the USA team lost "honorably", unlike the team from England last night! We put together 50 tissue paper flowers to help decorate the church in Nakabango yesterday morning. There are no bat incidents to reports.
Yesterday morning, Chuck and Tim headed to Bufula and the rest of the team went to Nakabango. Tim and Jay, from Hope Lutheran in Lubbock, both got the chance to preach. Jay also baptized and confirmed several. Tim had the chance to present a motorcycle to the village of Bufula! Later, James drove him over to Nakabango on the back of the bike - a ride I'm sure he will never forget.
Worship in Nakabango was a mere 3 1/2 hours! A 2o-minute speech by a local politician at the end was a bit of a stretch. We actually met in the new church building - with tarps put up so that we would have shade. It was a warm day, needless to say, but we all had kids on our laps and beside us, so we didn't think about the heat. It seems there are more and more kids in Nakabango, to the point of being overwhelming at times. They are all so precious.
After the service, we had a feast for EVERYONE!!! I wish I knew the number of people who got to eat rice,meat, and soda that day.
We met with 10 more of the sponsored kids and even gave some packets to the mothers of some kids who weren't able to be there.
We presented some more gifts to the congregation and ended our visit by presenting 21 goats to various women in the village. That is always a thrilling moment; it means so much to them.
We have a low-key day today, although Charles did mention something about a boatride on the Nile. Hmmmmm. We shall see.
Tomorrow we will pack up and leave the Sunset. I will have a chance to update this one more time before we head home. I can't believe our time is over, but it's good to know lives have been touched - ours and theirs!!!
Saturday evening we watched the USA vs. Ghana soccer game. Charles concluded that the USA team lost "honorably", unlike the team from England last night! We put together 50 tissue paper flowers to help decorate the church in Nakabango yesterday morning. There are no bat incidents to reports.
Yesterday morning, Chuck and Tim headed to Bufula and the rest of the team went to Nakabango. Tim and Jay, from Hope Lutheran in Lubbock, both got the chance to preach. Jay also baptized and confirmed several. Tim had the chance to present a motorcycle to the village of Bufula! Later, James drove him over to Nakabango on the back of the bike - a ride I'm sure he will never forget.
Worship in Nakabango was a mere 3 1/2 hours! A 2o-minute speech by a local politician at the end was a bit of a stretch. We actually met in the new church building - with tarps put up so that we would have shade. It was a warm day, needless to say, but we all had kids on our laps and beside us, so we didn't think about the heat. It seems there are more and more kids in Nakabango, to the point of being overwhelming at times. They are all so precious.
After the service, we had a feast for EVERYONE!!! I wish I knew the number of people who got to eat rice,meat, and soda that day.
We met with 10 more of the sponsored kids and even gave some packets to the mothers of some kids who weren't able to be there.
We presented some more gifts to the congregation and ended our visit by presenting 21 goats to various women in the village. That is always a thrilling moment; it means so much to them.
We have a low-key day today, although Charles did mention something about a boatride on the Nile. Hmmmmm. We shall see.
Tomorrow we will pack up and leave the Sunset. I will have a chance to update this one more time before we head home. I can't believe our time is over, but it's good to know lives have been touched - ours and theirs!!!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Saturday Evening
Wow! Made it back to the hotel in time for one more post! A quick recap of our day:
We left Jinja and headed to the village of Kawete. Spent several hours there playing with kids, looking at the construction of the new school, and visiting with the teachers. Also got to try casava (sp?) fries - they were great. Met a precious little boy, Matayo, who was around 8 and borrowed Carrie's camera to take pictures of all of us. He was just a doll and so proud of his photographic skills!
Stopped by the local market in Kawete - a new experience for all of us. Everything from clothing, to produce, to shoes, to goats - you name it. Great fun. Chuck bought some soap; I bought 2 granite bowls for forty cents each!
Off to Naigobya after that. So wonderful to see that completed church building, health center, and carpentry shop. Played frisbee with some kids and handed out candy. We had a bone-jarring hour and a half ride home!
Off to dinner at our reserved tables! I will update again on Monday. We are worshipping in Nakabango tomorrow!!
We left Jinja and headed to the village of Kawete. Spent several hours there playing with kids, looking at the construction of the new school, and visiting with the teachers. Also got to try casava (sp?) fries - they were great. Met a precious little boy, Matayo, who was around 8 and borrowed Carrie's camera to take pictures of all of us. He was just a doll and so proud of his photographic skills!
Stopped by the local market in Kawete - a new experience for all of us. Everything from clothing, to produce, to shoes, to goats - you name it. Great fun. Chuck bought some soap; I bought 2 granite bowls for forty cents each!
Off to Naigobya after that. So wonderful to see that completed church building, health center, and carpentry shop. Played frisbee with some kids and handed out candy. We had a bone-jarring hour and a half ride home!
Off to dinner at our reserved tables! I will update again on Monday. We are worshipping in Nakabango tomorrow!!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Saturday Morning in Jinja
Spent a lovely evening at the restaurant at the Hotel Triangle last night! We always eat there one night during our stay. Pastor Charles Bameka, that we work with, believes it is the BEST tilapia (whole) that you can find. Jeannette and Pat definitely polished theirs off last night - I believe the eyes were the only thing left. Carrie and others had the fillets; she tried to convince us all that the batter was almost like Long John Silver's!!
We went from the hotel to the village of Busabira yesterday morning. They have a great school there and the local congregation uses their school for church services. Very precious kids. We also got to have a snack of roasted maize and passion fruit juice - provided by Charles' mother, Jane.
Next we headed to Bufula, the village Hope Lutheran is partnering with. Immediately after we arrived, Tim had the pleasure (?) of helping slaughter a goat that had been given to him the day before by the village leader. The meat was to be given to the children - a very special treat. We had the good pleasure of getting to enjoy some fried goat ourselves later in the day. We definitely knew it was fresh!!
The women made bracelets with the women while Pastor Chuck taught the kids about the Apostle's Creed. Next we got to enjoy tea made by a local Muslim woman that we have visited with on all of our visits here. Let me just say that this form of tea was recently "harvested" cow's milk, boiled with some kind of leaf. Carrie, always the optimist, tried to convince us it was a hint of cinnamon. I wasn't seeing it.
Next we made tissue paper flowers with some of the older kids and the women (and a few men.) The younger kids were all given a "Jesus Loves Me" bracelet. We had our snack of fried goat and enjoyed a precious program put on by the kids. Great renditions of "Blessed Assurance" and "Above All".
Chuck had a brainstorm for our annual Christmas card picture that involved spelling out Merry Christmas with bricks. What he didnt' realize is that I would ask him to stand on top of the bus to take the pictures! After the color returned to his face, we got the bus into position and climbed to the top. The looks on the faces of the people in Bufula were priceless! It was great fun getting the kids all arranged around the letters. The results are amazing!
After we left, we stopped back by the Source Cafe in Jinja for a bite - grilled cheese, chips with guacamole, etc. It was an exhausting but rewarding day.
Today, we are off to visit with the people of Naigbya and Kawete - villages sponsored by Mike Schaser and friends, and Rudy and Dorothy Schaser. A school is being built in Kawete with funds donated by the good people of CCLS in Kirkwood. I'm excited to see the progress!
I won't be able to update again until Monday. Tomorrow we will worship in Nakabango and present some gifts. We also are hoping to have a feast for the kids, men and women. Should be an amazing weekend! Please continue to pray! God's hand is surely on this trip!
We went from the hotel to the village of Busabira yesterday morning. They have a great school there and the local congregation uses their school for church services. Very precious kids. We also got to have a snack of roasted maize and passion fruit juice - provided by Charles' mother, Jane.
Next we headed to Bufula, the village Hope Lutheran is partnering with. Immediately after we arrived, Tim had the pleasure (?) of helping slaughter a goat that had been given to him the day before by the village leader. The meat was to be given to the children - a very special treat. We had the good pleasure of getting to enjoy some fried goat ourselves later in the day. We definitely knew it was fresh!!
The women made bracelets with the women while Pastor Chuck taught the kids about the Apostle's Creed. Next we got to enjoy tea made by a local Muslim woman that we have visited with on all of our visits here. Let me just say that this form of tea was recently "harvested" cow's milk, boiled with some kind of leaf. Carrie, always the optimist, tried to convince us it was a hint of cinnamon. I wasn't seeing it.
Next we made tissue paper flowers with some of the older kids and the women (and a few men.) The younger kids were all given a "Jesus Loves Me" bracelet. We had our snack of fried goat and enjoyed a precious program put on by the kids. Great renditions of "Blessed Assurance" and "Above All".
Chuck had a brainstorm for our annual Christmas card picture that involved spelling out Merry Christmas with bricks. What he didnt' realize is that I would ask him to stand on top of the bus to take the pictures! After the color returned to his face, we got the bus into position and climbed to the top. The looks on the faces of the people in Bufula were priceless! It was great fun getting the kids all arranged around the letters. The results are amazing!
After we left, we stopped back by the Source Cafe in Jinja for a bite - grilled cheese, chips with guacamole, etc. It was an exhausting but rewarding day.
Today, we are off to visit with the people of Naigbya and Kawete - villages sponsored by Mike Schaser and friends, and Rudy and Dorothy Schaser. A school is being built in Kawete with funds donated by the good people of CCLS in Kirkwood. I'm excited to see the progress!
I won't be able to update again until Monday. Tomorrow we will worship in Nakabango and present some gifts. We also are hoping to have a feast for the kids, men and women. Should be an amazing weekend! Please continue to pray! God's hand is surely on this trip!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Friday Morning
We are up and ready to head out again. I believe the plan is to make a brief stop in Mufibira and back to Bufula. Possibly having lunch at the Source Cafe in Jinja today. We are having tilapia on the banks of the Nile at the Hotel Triangle tonight.
Dinner was great - although the Chinese food chef was still missing (due to illness) and they are still out of beef samosas. Personally, I had to resort to drastic measures and order pan-fried tilapia. I do NOT like fish - but this was wonderful. Carrie and Kelly split a pizza and some pasta. Toni even tried the tilapia!!! Oh, the things we do.....
Great night for getting to know each other even better last night. The 3 pastors on the team shared their "most embarassing pastoral moment" - that was fun! Even found out that Pastor Jay used to be an archaeologist! Didn't we ALL want to be one at some time in our lives?
I have lots of customers coming into the business center, so I need to focus on them! Hope to get to update again this evening. A reminder - we will have no internet access on Sunday.
Joe - thanks for the update on the chicken nugget fest. :) Violet filmed an impromptu Three Avocados commercial yesterday - you will LOVE it!!
Dinner was great - although the Chinese food chef was still missing (due to illness) and they are still out of beef samosas. Personally, I had to resort to drastic measures and order pan-fried tilapia. I do NOT like fish - but this was wonderful. Carrie and Kelly split a pizza and some pasta. Toni even tried the tilapia!!! Oh, the things we do.....
Great night for getting to know each other even better last night. The 3 pastors on the team shared their "most embarassing pastoral moment" - that was fun! Even found out that Pastor Jay used to be an archaeologist! Didn't we ALL want to be one at some time in our lives?
I have lots of customers coming into the business center, so I need to focus on them! Hope to get to update again this evening. A reminder - we will have no internet access on Sunday.
Joe - thanks for the update on the chicken nugget fest. :) Violet filmed an impromptu Three Avocados commercial yesterday - you will LOVE it!!
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