Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Day of many Blessings!

It's difficult to believe tomorrow is our last full day here in Uganda.  Our days have been tremendously full, so it's been difficult to stay up late each evening to blog.

We've been able to visit with "Baby Blessing" and his foster parents, Francois & Sarah.  With each visit to Uganda, I'm continually amazed with how much he's growing & developing.  God truly does restore what the locust have eaten.  Thanks to a faithful monthly donation, ekissa has been able to financially assist this family to care for him. Monthly donations of any size, do so much!  Not only can it change lives...it saves lives!






ekissa would like to thank New Philadelphia Moravian's, Friendship Class, for their unexpected donation prior to our coming to Uganda.  Because of your generous donation, we've been able to repair the backside of a family's home that collapsed in the middle of the night during a horrific rain storm-displacing the family of 4.









We visited Rebecca, a 7 year old little girl in Bweya Village.  She was involved in an accident and was hit by a boda boda (motorcycle).  Rebecca is at home recovering from a broken leg.  We were shown her x-ray, and there is an obvious break in the middle of her femur.  I must admit, it was troubling to me that with such a break, her shin was wrapped with a thin bandage. This young girl was terrified of us because we are white (a muzungu) as well as, she thought we were going to hurt her leg. We were able to provide the family with some simple groceries and we plan to provide Rebecca with some crutches.





So excited to be able to visit our friends, "Daudi" & Maureen.  A week ago they gave birth to their first son, Ron. It was a joy to be in their home and celebrate the blessing of this little life. 






Various Pictures from the Day

Poor Cow!




These two are for you Michelle-please note we had to catch him to pick him up!

                                                   

This is recycling at it's best-At first glance you might think these school papers are for reading! I never cease to be amazed at how resourceful Ugandans are.

Amazing time with amazing friends serving an Amazing God!

Love-Sarah, Debbie and Deana



Sunday, March 29, 2015

Freedom!

Freedom of worship at Bweya Community Church
....such a beautiful thing! Can't say I've ever danced
during Sunday morning worship in the USA!


Deana was deeply humbled with an invitation to 
minister in the children's ministry at BCC.


It's the little things in life we take for granted in 
the US...but a toothbrush is an extremely necessary
"little thing".  Thank you to Dr. Wilkinson!! (Local 
dentist in Winston-Salem)

This was a long drive behind the long horns!

Abbey and the boys are an amazing team!
...& they were loving their bracelets, made by
 Chloe Ledford.

Young Vincent is the newest family member at our
children.  Anyone interested in sponsoring?  He is 7 
years old and was cuddling in Deana's lap within
the first 5 minutes of meeting us.  Poor lil fella needs
an extra dose of TLC.  ---and did I mention he's in 
dire need of a dentist, Dr. Wilkinson???--seriously!!

This "kid" has lost his mind if he thinks
 he'll ever get the keys to this car. HA!

Eddie (our driver) LOVES to invade police escorts
(or ambulance)....always looking for an opportunity
to bend a few rules.

We've had an amazing day--and our cups continue overflowing as we head to bed. We started our day with morning with worship music at Gaba Community Church (the Mother church of Bweya Community Church) and then made our way to Bweya Community Church.  We were warmly greeted by the congregation and offered a permanent bench.  

The freedom of worship as we sang and danced was like an unexpected cool breeze on a hot African day. Interacting, singing, dancing...totally abandoned; uninhibited... I was finally "home" again. We in the West, are missing out on so much by with-holding our worship...our outward expression of praise.  

Pastor Gerald preached today and in his Psalm Sunday message, he encouraged everyone to understand the celebration of Easter.  He said many people are found celebrating, yet lacking understanding of WHAT they were celebrating.  Jesus requested his friend to go and fetch a young colt, untie it and bring it to him.  He instructed, that if anyone questioned  what he was doing, to simply tell them that the Lord has requested it.

People were lining the streets of Jerusalem, laying down their cloaks as Jesus passed by riding on the colt.  They were expecting and celebrating what they assumed to be the Kingdom of God being ushered in. Instead, Jesus knew he was entering Jerusalem to be sacrificed.  Rather than focusing on the "Kingdom of God", as the people assumed, Jesus was focusing on the freedom (the untying) of the young colt...He was focused on "freedom".  Christ came to offer freedom!  Freedom from our sin, our shame, our past, our failures...FREEDOM!  The people who lined the streets of Jerusalem, completely misunderstood what they were celebrating!

So...today, we celebrated...F-R-E-E-L-Y celebrated!

Sarah-



Saturday, March 28, 2015

Deana's first........




1. The longest plane ride ever-

2. Riding in the car with Eddie (our driver) who puts any New York cabbie to shame. Even driving alongside animals, people walking and boda boda's.


Eddie-and yes he is actually this cool!

3. Eating a Somosa- fried pocket with either veggie or beef-well we think it's beef.

4. Meeting Abbey and the boys and witnessing "family" in a whole new way.






 5. Well...this one could almost speak for itself except (with permission from Deana) this is how our conversation went. "Deana-make sure to aim or you will get your ankles wet." Deana replies "You mean there isn't a toilet in here"? She didn't realize when she got dressed this morning that her shirt would be her mantra for the day.



Make sure to take note of the hole in the floor. See why aiming is so important!!

6. Freedom of Worship!
 To stand in a land so far from home and to hear them pray in our language and theirs-knowing God understands all of it is so humbling. 


More updates tomorrow-