Wonderful day!

Our day started with team devotions and we then headed to church. As we drove we passed lots of children walking to Sunday School. The class was full and more children sat outside under the tree on papyrus mats. The lady from our team that was teaching Sunday school taught the lesson again to those outside who wouldn't fit in the building.

What precious children, ready to learn about Jesus!

This morning the team leader/pastor for our trip preached a wonderful message from 1Kings. The church service was different from home, but the same in many ways...the word of God and a clear gospel presentation was given......AND APPROXIMATELY TWENTY PEOPLE CAME FORWARD FOR SALVATION! Oh praising Jesus! Sweet ones that the Ugandan pastor will continue to mentor and disciple.

After church we were able to tour the children's home grounds including the boy's and girls homes. Then we headed back to the guesthouse to sort through donations which we will give out on home visits tomorrow and Friday. We had hundreds of pairs of flip flops and lots of clothes! What a blessing this will be to the people. Thank you to all who donated!

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Awana in Africa!

Awana in Uganda was amazing! Children walked excitedly to church for Awana. We had a thousand kids for Awana! We were told to expect 500, we were amazed with 1000!

Game time!

Children singing!

The little church was packed, children squeezed onto benches with smaller children sitting on the laps of the older siblings. The stage had over a hundred children sitting on it also. In America children go from one event to the next...dance, soccer, play dates....the list could go on and on. Or toy after toy to play with, here church and Awana are the highlight of the week. What a humbling thought! Their joy and enthusiasm is wonderfully contagious and convicting.

After Awana we headed to a nearby town to walk through a huge market. It was a large building with four levels. Venders come to sell their produce, fish, beef and chicken. The produce was quite a sight, huge bunches of bananas, loads of pineapple and watermelon. We also went to a textile market where we could buy fabric to have made into dresses or skirts. The afternoon was quite a taste of the local culture. We loved it!!

Today has been amazing!

Africa!

We are in Africa! ...and very busy already. After three days of travel we arrived at the guesthouse in the village last night. Our team is amazing! It's amazing how God knits together a team from all over the U.S. and we all come together to serve Him....only God!

On our drive out to the village we saw amazing sites! We crossed over the Nile River, ate lunch on the banks of Lake Victoria, past bustling villages, shopped at street venders, met joyful Africans and saw lots of vegetation. We saw fields and fields of tea plants, corn, sugar cane, more corn, rice, potatoes and more. The country side is beautiful, interspersed between busy towns. 

Next up Awana!!

Africa Prep!

Carrie Anne and I are headed back to Africa! We have been counting down the days and can't believe the day has arrived! Yesterday was very busy with lots of prep work and packing. We will have the opportunity to work in orphanages, a local school and make home visits through the ministry in Africa that we will be helping. We will also get to help with AWANA in Africa, I am so excited for this privilege!!

We so appreciate prayers that God would go before us and prepare the hearts of those to whom we will be ministering, He would give our team safety and that we will be used by Him to help the people and share His love and gospel!!

Congratulations Taylor!

Good job, Taylor!

We are proud of you!

Jonathan and Taylor have been friends since birth and now have graduated from college together.

Taylor with two good friends who graduated last year who came back to see him graduate.

Happy Birthday Jane and Jackson!

Each month Emma has a birthday party and celebrates any children who have birthdays that month.  For the month of June, Jane and Jackson both had a birthday and she decided to include that party as part of our pool day.  So fun! So, after everyone had there fill of swimming we gathered around the table to sing and partake of cake in honor of Jane and Jackson.  Jackson did not seem to understand exactly what was going on but Emma does a great job of making there life's as "normal" as possible.  Cognitively they may not understand everything but I'm sure they understand more than we know!

Happy Birthday sweet little ones!

Pool day fun!

If these pictures had sound, you would hear squeals and laughter in very high volume!  The children and staff had such a fun day of play experiencing swimming for the first time.  Pure joy is the only way to describe them on pool day!

Michaela with Gift

Karoline with Hannah and Beth with Opio

Carrie Anne with Jeremiah