Friday, July 10, 2009

Week 1 is Done

Hi Everyone,

Well, our first work week is done and it has been a great success. Many hours of laundry, painting, home visits, time with the kids, and Church.

All four sub-teams have had the chance to go on Care & Compassion now, and some of the stories from the homes visited are so hard to hear. One young man (an 18 year old) lost his mother to AIDS and ended up living with his Father and Grandmother. When they both died, he found himself responsible for himself and the 10 other brothers & sisters (biological or not) in their home.

Stories like this are the norm...and they leave you feeling somewhat numb. We just do not have a 'file' in our brains to put things like this...it just shouldn't be. Our teams were able to visit these homes and bless them with some food and, more importantly, some things to help them sustain themselves in the future--chickens or pigs and different kinds of fruit trees. I'm sure one of the more memorable parts of the trip will be driving around in a van with pigs running around on the van floor...a true african experience!

Wed we split up into girls and boys. The female team members took the Children Home girls to the zoo near Kampala. Many of these kids do not travel outside of a 5 km raidius so to drive 2 hours to a zoo is a real treat. The boys stayed back and played soccer....after they were given soccer uniforms that we brought from Canada....they were stoked! Of course the final game--Canada vs. Uganda--had a trophy on the line and, regrettably, we lost and the boys received the award...great joy!!

Wed night it was off to Mpigi town church for 6 of us to attend a 2 hour church service. Charlotte and Ryan shared their testimony. Shannon gave a 'word' and Scott preached. We were all very tired at the end of the day!

Thurs it was the boys turn to go to the zoo. The girls played games, made necklaces with beads, played volleyball with new volleyball shirts (on the new court/v-ball net that Pat Kenyon got us) and painted their nails.....yes...they had a blast!

We are now in Kampala...the crazy busy city where traffic is best described as chaotic. We'll spend time at the mall (here at the internet spot), and then go to the craft market to see how good of negotiators we are. After that, it's off to dinner for an authentic african BBQ (pray that it is cooked properly!). We'll arrive home late....9:30-10:00pm and get to bed.

Tomorrow it's our eye clinic, a Pastor's meeting, a youth group rally, and time with kids...and this is our 'down day'! Sunday is church, another eye clinic, a special ladies meeting, another church meeting, and a team meeting....and then off to another work week...

Tomorrow we say goodbye to Cheryl and on Monday we say goodbye to Tracey and Shannon. The Dycks will be joining us today. CHeryl has been feeling under the weather and needs to travel home so please pray for her. Most of us are doing well health-wise....so we are thankful.

thanks for your prayers.

2 comments:

  1. Glad to hear from you guys; have been praying!!

    Cheryl, I'm so sorry to hear that you've been unwell... I know how it feels for the trip to be cut short, but know that God will use this experience (both your time in Africa and the early departure) to continue to change and refine you! Safe travels.

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  2. Hi, Doug here (I am just using Mari's google account) Wow, reading all you adventures brings back such great memories (and emotions) of 3 years ago when Mari and I were so fortunate to go with the group. I don't know all of you, but I am truly jealous, as I want to return sometime soon. It sounds like there are some exciting things happening there - I see that the 3 hour plus church services are continuing. I am sure you are being kept busy with the all the kids, there were only about 12 when we went. I imagine the toilets are still the same (hole in the ground). Make sure to tell Anna to keep her shoes on and not to wear flip flops - you don't need another experience of Kampala Hospital......and you don't have Scottie there to help. I pray that you continue to touch many lives, and build relationships with the people of Africa, each other, and Christ. Love Doug Klassen

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