Meeting for Team Missions Trip coming up Jan 4!

Hello all -

I have posted a note on Facebook for those of you I know to be interested in the August 2011 missions trip, but if you are interested and I don't know it, please let me know!  The meeting will be on Tues, Jan 4 at 6pm at my house (I'm not posting the address here on the web! send me a message...). We will be talking about our previous trips to Uganda, the overall Ten Eighteen mission, showing pictures, talking about the sports camp and safari, deadlines, costs, etc. We'd love to see you! (If you can't come but are interested in the trip, just let me know and I'll send you the info we discuss afterwards!)

Holly Days!

We raised $960 in donations at Holly Days, plus another $190 in "home shopping" donations on Friday and today. Very exciting!  We are looking forward to our final wire transfers of 2010, to provide the school fees for our 16 sponsored children, and wiring more money to Arise Africa for the school. We have been so blessed to be able to serve these wonderful people in 2010, and are so looking forward to all God will do in 2011!

Money to the school, and another craft fair coming up!

We wired $1600 to Arise Africa on Friday for the school. Things have started there, and we are excited that the donations are coming in, slowly but steadily. So to date we've sent $8600! That's really exciting!

We've seen some good interest in the missions trip, and I will be sending out an email/Facebook message to have an informational meeting soon. I know a lot of you are praying about going, and we will need to have some commitments probably in January to start the process and do some fundraising - August isn't that far away!

We will be at Holly Days at Sanderson High School in Raleigh on Dec 4-5. Come by and make a donation, see what's going on, and get some jewelry! The hours are 9-5 Sat and 12-5 Sunday.

Everyone have a safe Thanksgiving, and bless you all for your support!

Things are percolating!

Today I talked with the Foundation of Hospices of Sub-Saharan Africa, and got some good information in that arena, including some avenues to try to get Hospice Jinja morphine. They have been out of morphine in all of East Africa for several months, and the patients are only able to receive codeine for pain management. So we're working on that with several contacts, and finding out in the meantime how morphine can be shipped there as a controlled substance. Hopefully we will be corresponding with the Palliative Care Association of Uganda in Kampala, also.

I have also had a lot of conversation with a guy who is an engineer, who was introduced to Ten Eighteen and the primary school at the Our Lady of Lourdes Fall Festival this month. He is very interested in helping us out, and that has been a real God send - he is very knowledgeable about sustainability and alternative uses for things, so having someone come alongside and want to give so freely of his time and talent is awesome. If nothing else, it has certainly helped me to clarify in my non-engineering mind the scope of the project, and give me encouragement.

Next month, on the 13th is the Mistletoe Market at Wakefield High School. We'd love to have you come out and see all that's going on in Uganda!

Great fundraising events the last week!

What an awesome week it's been fundraising for Ten Eighteen and Uganda! We spent the weekend of Columbus Day in Florida, and had an awesome party with about 30 people. It was really fun, and over the course of the weekend we raised over $1600 in donations, with $725 of that for the school.

This weekend we set up a table at the Fall Festival of Our Lady of Lourdes, and got to share all about the school, the Nawezakana ladies, Ray of Hope, the school, and Hospice. Since the kindergarden class at OLL has used Nawezakana as their service project the last 2 falls, we had lots of families really excited to see how their donations had been used by the ladies to produce beautiful handcrafts. We received about $440 in donations from this event, with several people very interested in having me speak at other venues. So that was GREAT!!!

Thanks for all for your help, thoughts and prayers!

MISSIONS TRIP 2011

We have planned the 2011 Uganda team trip!

Here's the information:


DATE:  August 5-15, 2011


COST:  $2,000.00 
NOTE:  This is based on a $1600 round trip plane fare, so the cost could change somewhat - even go down!

INCLUDES: 
* 9 nights at Fathers House, including food
* All transportation
* 4 days conducting Sports Camp for street kids in the slums of Kampala, including lunches
* 1 night SAFARI to Lake Mburo, 2 game drives, all food and transportation included (impala, zebra, many types of antelope and birds, monkeys, water buffalo, warthogs and much more!)
* Souvenier shopping at local market


(Does NOT include visa, travel shots, or malaria medication)

For more information, comment here or at www.10Eighteen.org.

The view from the couch... (not much!)

I have been, for the last two weeks, spending hours on my sofa due to a bad back. As lovely as the sofa is, and as helpful as it has been for my back, I am frustrated with the mental and physical "do nothing-ness" of my life at the moment. Pain and inactivity make one extremely tired, and it is hard for me to do any more than the minimum required of me. I keep thinking "I'm not doing enough!" "I'm not raising all this money!" 

And then, in my morning quiet time, I always come back to this: God has given me all the vision for all His projects in Uganda. Literally NOTHING I'm doing there was my idea!  (When I tell people I have no idea what I'll be doing in Uganda on any given trip, they are shocked to discover that it's true...!) Which means that anything I do, as long as I'm listening to Him, will be what He is after. My American self feels like active, doing-something-all-the-time fundraising is what's required. But God has the money, right now. He's just waiting for the time to release the donor(s). And I really don't need to stress... Really!

My thoughts are always with my loved ones in Africa, and my heart is always profoundly grateful for my friends and family here who lift Ten Eighteen and our Ugandan friends up in prayer, and support us with donations. We were able to wire $7,000 to Arise Africa this week to break ground on the primary school, which is awesome, and also sent $1,200 to the hospice for their community day cares for the rest of 2010. God is so faithful! 

On YouTube

Check out the Ten Eighteen video on YouTube!

Craft fairs for your Christmas shopping

Just got all the applications and checks off for 3 craft fairs, so mark your calendars (if you don't want to host a party!):

Our Lady of Lourdes School Fall Festival, Oct 17  12:30-3:30

Wakefield High School Mistletoe Market, November 13  all day

Sanderson High School Holly Days, Dec 4 all day & 5th afternoon

We hope to see you there!

Updated website - with "DONATE NOW!"

One family, 5 sponsorships!

I am not a technical genius... and not totally in love with my web design and hosting company. But it is very affordable, and I have finally gotten the hang of their "improvements."  So now... drum roll!... we have a totally updated website, with a photo album page (check out the montage to the right) and also an online store where you can donate NOW via Paypal to sponsor a child, build a school, or help the hospice.  Please check it out and give me your feedback - I want it easy to use!

I had a wonderful opportunity to share what we've been doing in Uganda with my friend Rita this morning - we both shed not a few tears!  It is hard when you are caught up in 1st world busy-ness, and Uganda seems so far away... But it is always in my mind and heart, and sharing with others what life's like there, what the needs are, and how they can help just makes me so so excited!  (So if I can share with YOUR group or family, just let me know!)

The benefits of a bad back...

Kids in Namuwongo

I have been meaning to update the blog and website since returning last month, but life has been as life always is in the States, and I haven't spent the time. Also, my web hosting site has made "improvements" that have made working on the website a serious challenge. But, in an effort to see the silver lining, having had quite severe back pain lately, and spending the day on the couch, I have been productive and gotten the website all updated! (I'm very proud of myself for persisting, because it was not fun...) I am debating putting a store on the site to take donations for sponsorships and other things - thoughts anybody?

So actual updates...

I will be doing several craft fairs with the Ugandan handcrafts this fall, including Holly Days at Sanderson High School, the Fall Festival at Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, and the craft fair at Wakefield High School (pending acceptance). We have several parties pending also - and would love to add more! (Tuesdays are ideal for me, but I'm flexible!) Oh, and I'm doing an open house at my mom's in Florida on October 9th. I would love to speak at your youth group, Bible study, women's group, or church (or anywhere else!), just let me know.

We are wiring $7,000 to Arise Africa next week to start on the primary school! That is really awesome - only $193,000 left to go. haha... Seriously, Father gave me the idea for the school, and it was confirmed on several occasions, so I'm trusting HIM for money.

We are also wiring money to Hospice Jinja for two community day cares a month for the remainder of 2010. This is a great outreach for the patients, and Ryan was especially keen on supporting and expanding the program to reach more patients.

An update on our university student, who Ten Eighteen is sponsoring for all his ancillary needs - there was a strike at Makerere University for a couple of weeks at the start of the term, so he (and the rest of the student body) lost some time. However they are back in class now, so I expect he is doing well and adjusting. It is a phenomenal opportunity for him - his mother lives in the slums and is a member of Nawezakana. I will post his letter here - I think it is important for you all to know how so little can so change a person's life forever.

May God richly bless you for all your thoughts, prayers, encouragements and donations! Thank you so much...

Jennings (and Ryan, and Zeke)

Three weeks in Uganda...

We returned from our trip last Wed, and I haven't yet spent 2 consecutive nights in my own bed, much less been able to update the blog or website. However, some new and exciting things are on the horizon, and here's a quick preview until I can go into more depth:

** The biggest news is that Ten Eighteen has committed to build a primary school in Bukaleba for Arise Africa International. The school will be a boarding school for P1-P7, housing 560 orphans, and providing food, clothing, medical care and education for them. We need to raise $200,000... but we only need $5,000 to start. So if you're interested let me know - and more will come later!

** We have increased our support of Hospice Jinja, including buying 50 paper bead necklaces that the patients have made, and funding a twice-a-month community "day care" for the patients. The day care provides tea and a meal, a teaching on a topic of interest, and teaches them a skill (like the beads) that they can use to make some income and help their families.

** We added 9 children to our school sponsorships, including 1 who was accepted to Makerere University and given a scholarship for tuition, but didn't have money for all the other things he needed in order to attend. We are now sponsoring 16 kids' school fees... And would love for you to get to know them and perhaps even take on that hope-giving help.

** We are working with Arise Africa to find sponsors for the orphans currently unsponsored at their existing orphanage (they currently have 4 in need of sponsors), which is $30 a month; and also to sponsor orphans that they do not yet have room for at their orphanage, which would be $15-20/month. The latter will be handled by local churches that Godfrey knows personally, so you will be sure that the children are benefitting from the money.

Fall is almost upon us, and I'd love to do parties at your homes, speak at your church or small group, or do any craft fairs in the area! I brought back over 500 necklaces, and have all kinds of other crafts that would make great Christmas gifts. Remember that 100% of these donations go to the ladies of Nawezakana, and now to the hospice!

Thanks for your prayers - more soon!

Of volcanoes and gas prices...

We are trying to finalize the July/August trip, and the volcano-stranded backlog, along with the expected fare increases taking effect in May, are causing havoc in the airline reservation mechanism!! It looks, right now, like we will be going July 28-Aug 17/18... Please pray for resolution to this this week, as there are plans to be made here and in Uganda that depend on it!

If you would like to have a party to learn about Uganda, Nawezakana, and see their crafts and jewelry, please let me know! We had one last weekend, and received over $350 in donations, which was very exciting. I have some great spring necklaces that will make you feel like you should go to the beach!

This picture is of my wonderful friend Jenneth, who has made me a bracelet each time I visit. I haven't taken them off since she tied them on... she is such a sweet girl, quiet, but with such love. Can't wait to see her again!

Back and over the jet lag... well, kind of!

In a lot of ways it's wonderful to be home - most importantly because my husband and daughter are here! But there's so much that I miss in Uganda, and my heart and mind wander there a hundred times a day. So in the 4 months til the next visit, here is what we are working on:

* HOME PARTIES - if you'd like to have a party at your home (in the Raleigh area!), please let me know. I will show a short presentation, tell about Ten Eighteen and what we're doing there, and have all the handcrafts available.

* HOSPICES - I am going to be contacting hospices in the area to try to form some partnerships, or at least receive one-time help, for Rays of Hope Hospice in Jinja. If anyone knows anyone who works or volunteers for a hospice here, or had someone who was a patient of one and you know a contact, please let me know!

* CRAFT IDEAS - We are trying to come up with some ideas for new ways to use the paper beads for Nawezakana. If you have any creative ideas (and they could be combined with the sewing, too!) please let me know. I'm not super crafty, myself! We are looking at two lists - things that they could sell within Uganda, and then things that would do well internationally.

* SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP - If anyone is interested in sponsoring a child's school fees, we have a list of children needing help who are known personally to Emily and the staff at Ray of Hope. The costs differ with the particular school and grade, but the range is about 70,000 shillings to 225,000 shillings ($35-$110) three times a year. This would cover tuition, uniforms, lunch, and any supplies and books.

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!
Jennings

3/18/10 - HOME!

By the time I went to bed Monday night, AT HOME, I'd been awake for 46 hours. In some ways that midnight flight is good, but boy does it make for a LOOOONG time to be up!

Now that I'm home and un-jet-lagged... to sum it up: Awesome! I know we didn't "do" as much as last time, because of the driving situation, largely. But Father's House has 13 Ugandan children, and we were able to spend a lot of time with them, time with Suzanne and Steph and Jess, and helping where we could. I cooked some, drove with Steph to the store a lot, tried to help out where I could. I felt like the Lord really used me to help Suzanne during Eric's unplanned trip to Ukraine, and the girls' unplanned trip to Rwanda. So maybe we didn't do so many "big" things... but we made a big difference, and really felt the pleasure of Father.

Our next trip will start in late July, and I will update the blog as I know what we will be taking - I do know we will take medical supplies, and, if we still have some after the Mumford's visit to the States in April/May, the clothing we have that you all have donated. As things progress, I'll let you know - we would love to have all of your participation! Thanks again for ALL your thoughts, prayers, and encouraging notes. We felt it all while we were gone!

Blessings!
Jennings

3/14/10 - over too soon!

Our flight is actually at 12:20am on the 15th... but we will be leaving for the airport around 9pm. I got up at 6am, so it is a LOOOONG day! With Eric back last night, and it being Sunday, it's a laid back, quiet day, with lots of movies (Thumbelina AGAIN - UGH!) and pancakes and bicycles and swimming. It's hard to be packed and know we're leaving, and yet not go. It's hard to fully engage, and yet be DISengaging... 4 months til the next visit seems long, and short, too. I'm really looking forward to seeing Chuck and being home - and now that we're packed and ready, I'd like to start. But I hate to leave, too... As before, I am leaving a huge piece of my heart!

3/13/10 - Starting to pack...

I can't believe I'm doing laundry and packing already! I have a floor full of beads and other items, and we will need to take 4 bags home for the weight. (We brought 5, including the hockey bag, but that will squoosh up in the other suitcases.) After a nice morning at Emin Pasha and lunch by the pool at the Serena, we stopped at the grocery (of course!), and then headed to Father's House. And other than visiting with my family away from home, we're done! I can't believe it's been almost two weeks... wow.

Here are pictures of the kids at Father's House... Love all of these kids like my own! Thank you, Father, for all of these wonderful relationships...

3/12/10 - We did go to Oweno!

I forgot yesterday that we did go to Oweno to look for fabric. We didn't actually go INSIDE the market, which looks kind of like a hamster's Habi-Trail and extremely claustrophobic... But we held tightly to our bags, and trudged onward, finally finding both the chatingi fabric and some decently stiff plain colors that match.

Also found out that Eric is coming home Saturday night, so we will have to cancel our swim with Nesco... which is ok. With Drew, our main contact, in the States, it is a little more difficult. But we will get them the large bag of clothes and shoes as soon as possible, and Suzanne will reschedule the swim for their school break in August.

Today I went to the "real" market with Zeke and Page, and got a LOT of stuff for Ten Eighteen to be able to offer to donors: paper bead purses, bracelets, bone bracelets, etc. We also ended up with over 400 necklaces from Nawezakana, so it's awesome! I have gotten good at bargaining, as long as I'm buying in bulk... for personal gifts it's a little hard to say, "2,000 shillings ($1)?? What's the best you can do?!" I mean, it's a buck, right?! I am a disgrace to my Ugandan friends, but really... come on!

I am treating Suzanne to Emin Pasha tonight, Kampala's first (only?) "boutique" hotel. She goes there a lot for tea or lunch, and it is extremely lovely and relaxing. We didn't know when we planned this, back in October, that she would need it so much! But the Lord did, and He so wonderfully provided for us... We have a great time listening to the live "afro-fusion" band sitting on wonderful outdoor couches on the lawn. I can't believe we leave so soon!

3/11/10 - HOT

Wow, since we got to Jinja on Tuesday it has been soooo hot and dry! I mean... hot. Even the Ugandans are talking about how hot it is. wow.

We visited Ray of Hope and got a list of six women who need assistance, and who have been faithful to Ray of Hope and Nawezakana for some time. We read through the stories -and obviously what you WANT to do it help them all - and decided to visit two of the women. We had Christine go with us to visit Mary down in Namuwongo, in the slums. We stayed for about a half hour in her home - she has 8 kids, including 3 1/2 year old twins who were absolutely adorable, up to a 20 year old son. After talking with her, and with several of the children, I decided that we would sponsor the 3 school-age boys who were not already sponsored elsewhere.

We were going to visit a second lady, but it was already 5pm by the time we left Mary's, and it is Vincent's birthday, so we needed to get back to Father's House. For now, we will add these 3 kids... and if Suzanne or Page can visit any of the others before I visit in August and report back after prayer, we'll expand that some. This makes 6 kids that Ten Eighteen is sponsoring, which is awesome!

3/10/10 - Hospice!

What an awesome day! I was worried about the visit to the hospice, because I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd seem some pretty grim pictures... So we arranged for the kids to go horseback riding, and Suzanne and I went to the hospice. After a wrong turn or two, we pulled up - and discovered that the actual name is "Rays of Hope Hospice, Jinja". That was such a blessing and confirmation, esp given my worry.

We talked with Shem, the director, for awhile, and gave them the huge bag of medical supplies that we brought, as well as another large garbage bag full of adult sized clothing donated here in Raleigh. We were so impressed by their vision, clarity, dedication and compassion... It was really just amazing. We met all the staff (2 nurses, James the driver, and Shem, who is medical and administration) except for Joy, the office person; and also met an Australian nurse who had just arrived there to do some volunteer work - for a month, I think she said.

I gave them 600,000 shillings, which, Shem said, would pay for fuel for a month. Amazing! They were really blessed by it all - the economy around the world the last year has really hurt their funding, as they are almost exclusively funded by donations (they have been given an office space in a government area by the government, which is wonderful, but that's about it). Anyway... it was just so great... I continue to be amazed at the round-about way God connected me to them, and was even more so when I discovered that they had served Godfrey's mom - Godfrey is the founder of Arise Africa, which my church has been helping for several years. He is so far ahead of me!!

I will have more pictures from Shem soon - James documents everything with the camera!

Pictures from the Nile

3/9/10 - Jinja!!

We discovered the bypass today, and cut a lot of traffic out of going through Kampala, which is always EXCELLENT! The bypass is nice, although why they put this nice new road in and made it 2 lanes is a mystery....

It is HOT in Jinja - I think hot in Kampala, too. We had lunch at a little place downtown called Ozzie's, owned by a wizened Australian lady, and it was excellent. Then to the Kingfisher Resort... which is waaayyyy out. Let's just say you aren't going to stumble on it! But it's very lovely, lush landscaping, and we have a half of a banda with two twin beds and a nice en suite bathroom. Very refreshing pool, and a cold Nile Gold beer complete the cooling off period!

We called Shem and arranged our visit at Hospice Jinja for the morning, and arranged for horseback riding for Zeke and Steph while we're there. Then we did an hour long boat trip up from the source of the Nile, and saw a lot of gorgeous birds, and had a whole troop of monkeys about 2' from our boat. That was awesome!

For dinner I was convinced to order "whole fried tilapia". And it was WHOLE fried tilapia - about a foot long, teeth, eyeballs, fins and all... It was delicious! Suzanne and I laid out on the ground and looked at the stars for a couple of hours, talking about God, Ray of Hope, Nesco, hospice, life... It was awesome! (Are the stars the same? Because I didn't think they would be, but I swear I saw Orion.)

3/8/10 - Big rain!

BIG storm in the early morning, so things got wet way into the great room... But the house and furnishings are set up for this, since there isn't glass in the windows! However, it did force my quiet time into my room, since everything I usually sit on was wet!

Today was one of those days where EVERYTHING takes forever, and it is stressful! The girls get back from Rwanda tonight, and we leave for Jinja in the morning, so I am trying to take it all in stride. We sat on the side of Entebbe Road for a half hour while Suzanne talked to Eric (still in the Ukraine) and I did get some pictures as life passed me by. One boy, looked to be about 9, walked by us, then we moved a bit to get into shade, and he walked by again. He had one of those huge canvas bags on his head - they are about 4' long, and used for carrying anything loose. It looked heavy... Makes me sad.

We still haven't gone to Oweno market... and from all the stories I keep hearing, I'm not sure that I want to!

3/7/10 - Quiet time?!

If you're in a house with 19 other people, many of them under 11, there's not much quiet unless you get up before everyone else! The kids do know I have quiet time every morning, and they can be quiet... but they come sit right next to me and stare at or poke my Bible, my journal, or me. haha...

I slept 11 hours last night, and am glad for quiet Sundays. I think I am on the way back to health, but a day to do nothing is most welcome. Being the only driver is exhausting for Suzanne, and I generally go with her. It just takes so long to do anything, even the most ordinary of tasks, if you have to go in the car!

We are wanting to go down into Namuwongo (the slums) on Thursday when we visit Ray of Hope, but there is a nation-wide cholera warning due to the rains, so we'll see. Next week will be busy - we will be leaving for Jinja Tuesday and returning Wednesday, Ray of Hope Thursday, the market on Friday, and swimming with Nesco on Saturday or Sunday. Once the "big girls" are back to drive, we can get busy!

3/6/10 - Rain cancellations!

It just POURED down rain this morning. We were supposed to take the boys to soccer (football), but that was rained out; and to go to Oweno market to purchase some chatingi (native patterned) fabric for the buntings that Nawezakana is learning to make. But one doesn't go to Oweno casually is one is a mzungo - you wear closed toed shoes, long pants, and keep your purse in front! - so we have postponed that! Not to mention that smells in those areas are horrible when mixed with rain and mud... ugh. Zeke went to science with Jess, Steph and Rick, and did 5 hours of chemistry and physics!

Still no power, and it's not too bad. Amazing what you can still do, as long as you have a gas stove and a generator. The generator doesn't power everything, but we can put on sections long enough to charge phones and iPods, heat some water for showers, etc. But it's better on a sunny day than a wet one, for sure.

Supposed to go to an African women's thing tonight at Serena, but I took a 2 hour nap and couldn't do it... Hopefully this is the lowest point of this cold!

"It take Almighty grace to take the next step when there is no vision and no spectator - the next step in devotion, the next step in your study, in your reading, in your kitchen; the next stp in your duty, when there is no vision from God, no enthusiam and no spectator. It takes far more of the grace of God, far more conscious drawing upon God to take that next step, than it does to preach the Gospel." Oswald Chamber, My Utmost for His Highest

3/5/10 - Sick...

I have a cold... and feel pretty not great! I'm supposed to go to an African women's thing tomorrow night at the Serena with Suzanne... We'll see! (Note to self: Next time I need to remember to bring nice clothes!) Lillian is sick, too, so that leaves just Dora to cook and do laundry, not to mention kid-stuff.

Tova, Vicka and Page left last night for Rwanda, taking a midnight bus. They have no idea what to expect, but they were all very excited to go - can't wait to hear about it! The only problem is it leaves us with just Suzanne to drive all these people around... Steph has a learner's permit from the States, so can drive with me as far as Quality (the grocery) but not on the big roads. So until Monday evening, we'll be very busy just trying to get this household of 20 people fed and where they need to go. (Eric is in the Ukraine!)

The kids are all great, and Zeke loves having so many to hang out with. Mark is AMAZING - I can't get over how "grown up" he is, and FAT, compared to when he came up here from the city weighing 3 1/2 lbs. He is just too cute!!!

3/4/10 - Still no power!

It is possible that our entire trip will be powerless... Last time the transformer went out, it was 3 weeks before they fixed it. It's also very rainy, so kind of dark. But TIA (this is Africa!)!

Today we went down to Ray of Hope and talked with Emily for awhile while I went through one of two HUGE bags of beads. We got progress reports on Agnes's son, and on Miriam's daughters, who we have been sponsoring for school. We asked her to come up with a list of a few more women and/or children who might need help, so that we can discuss them and pray about them after our next meeting. They have been tossing around starting loans for the women, which I am not in favor of for a lot of reasons, so I will ponder possible solutions that don't require debt. (Some of the women are returning to making beer in order to pay school fees or rent, which we are trying to steer them away from - not from some moral issue with beer, but just because they can get into some unsavory situations when reliant on it.)

3/3/10 - Hit the ground running!

We hit the ground running today, after getting to Father's House at about 11:30pm last night. No problems with immigration or customs, and our bags came right out! Go figure... And Rick came with Suzanne to pick us up, which was great.

Anyway... Today we rode a boda! Twice! (see the picture above of a woman on a boda in the mud... and picture Suzanne and me sharing one!) And lived to tell about it. On the way back to the tire store, the boda driver took us through the edge of the slums, down a muddy, narrow path, passing chickens and naked children... I just hung on and prayed we'd get where we were going!!

We arrived to no power - the transformer went out 9 days ago. Thank goodness for the headlamps I brought! One thing it means, aside from no internet, is LOTS of grocery shopping!

3/2/10 - Over the Med

Flying over the Sahara!!

It's a long way! We did this trip at night last time, and a lot less turbulence. We have 2 air marshalls with a middle eastern looking prisoner, along with a paramedic and some other official looking person, sitting two rows back. They are apparently taking the prisoner from London to the hospital in Kampala.... which seems strange! I guess we should feel nice and secure with two big men with guns, but I'm not sure I do! The paramedic said they might have to fly back to London in a few hours, which would definitely not be fun!

Countdown!

Zeke and I leave in a week - Monday, March 1, at 4:30pm we will be winging it to London. We will have a short layover, then on to Uganda. I am very excited, especially that we are taking 3 suitcases full of clothing, medical supplies, and supplies for the women of Newezekana.

The picture is Page Colson, missionary from TN to Father's House, who works most days a week with Ray of Hope and Newezekana. She currently has malaria - please pray for speedy recovery!

So quick itinerary - not sure of the order we will do these things, but please be in prayer for them while we are gone:

* Visit to Hospice Jinja. We will be delivering bandages, surgical gloves, antibacterial wipes and other medical supplies to this facility, and staying for several hours. I confess to being nervous about this visit, as I am not a medical person for a reason, but I know clearly that the connection was made through the Lord's design, so I am trusting Him! Zeke and some of the teens from Father's House will be visiting a school/orphange in Jinja while Suzanne and I are at the Hospice.

* An outing with the kids from Nesco. Right now we are planning to take them to a local hotel where you can pay to swim in the pool, and then for ice cream. I spent time with these wonderful kids in September at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, where we did face painting, swimming in Lake Victoria, a picnic meal, and other games, and it was a blast, so I"m really looking forward to this! We will be delivering a bunch of clothing to them, also, and trying to photograph the kids for the website.

* Several trips to Ray of Hope. One of my goals on these visits, aside from catching up with Emily and visiting with the ladies, is to get a lot of pictures from Newezekana, Nomowongo (the slums) and the ROH school. Last time we were there I did get a few photos, but it began to rain, so that was limited.

Of course, we will be spending LOTS of time with the wonderful Father's House kids, and I will get updated pictures of baby Mark, who is now a fat and happy little guy. Zeke will be doing school with the older kids several days a week - pray for him! LOL

So - we are really excited, and thank you all for your donations and prayers. Suzanne and I will be planning the summer visit at that time, as summer is busy for them, so pray for the Lord's timing there, as well. As with last time, I might not be able to update the blog while I'm there - the internet, when we have it, will be very slow! But I will post after we return March 15, and (hopefully!) have a lot of photos for you all to see.

Blessings!
Jennings