It's happening Again

It's officially happening in 2 weeks, I am leaving for Uganda again. So excited!!! I only hope that God would move as much as last time in Uganda and that it is ALL for God's glory!!! Be praying for our team to make an impact for Christ, for our safety and for our health as we travel in a new place. Looking forward to more from Uganda.

Erika

2nd Saturdy in Uganda

Acholi Quarters: IDP

We were greeted by 100's of children screaming with joy. I was one of the first people through the crowd. Children were coming up to me left and right. Not for the cookies I was carrying but for a hug. They wanted to be touched. Their smiles were big and their hugs even bigger.

We de-wormed around 300+ today. I wish we could've had doctors to do a full on medical clinic there. So MANY children had ringworm and had it bad. We've seen many poor and impoverished people on this trip but these were the worst. They had to leave their homes with nothing and you can tell they haven't recieved much either. Most everyone we meet has dirty clothes but these people had ragged clothes. Pants with no butts, shirts with huge holes. I wished we had clothes to give them.

This time in Africa has been hard and amazing! So many hurting people but they have the Joy of the Lord in their hearts. I'm not sure how to explain all the sights and sounds and smells to others when I get home. But I look forward to my return.

I will probably not write any more today. And we leave here at 6am tomorrow to go to Entebbee to get on the plane to London. Overnight in London on Monday and fly home by 2pm on Tuesday. Since I have no more minutes on a phone card.....Dad, happy birthday!

I'm looking forward to being home. I just pray God keeps the memories fresh. It's hard for me to keep memories it seems so I hope God can keep the images and sweet memories in my mind as only he can.

Thank you Jesus
This has been a blessing!
Erika

An awesome 2nd Friday in Uganda

6 souls saved

1 muslim
1 catholic

This morning was a little slow. We had to wait for some british doctors to arrive. They helped us at our medical clinic. This clinic was also in a slum.

So many things I could mention about this afternoon

We went to a slum. Many people are displaced from Northern Uganda and others are just poor from central uganda. A large percentage of the households in this area are children run. Meaning there are no parents and the oldest child (no matter how young) takes over the running of the house.

I met a girl named Betty. Both of her parents died recently of Sickle Cell. She was 13. I began to pray for her to have peace but instead my heart ached with the heart of God and I began sobbing. Aindrea was with me but she could not pray either so we called Kim over and she prayed with fervor over this young woman. I pray she has hope and peace

Martha helps bring children in off the streets to have a home in the slum and to go to school via sponsors. She was a beautiful young woman of God! I hope to stay in contact with her via email

Lastly, outside of our clinic there was a tree. The tree was full of green leaves, all but the very top. One branch stuck out of the top and it was bare and in the shape of a bent arm with a hand that reached toward the sky. I felt God telling me through that vision that HE was holding these people up. That they mattered to him.

God is Good

Erika

2nd Thursday in Uganda

Morning was spent at Watoto Bulrushes. It is a baby home in Kampala operated through the Kampala Pentecostal Church and begun by people in Canada. It was so different than even the hospital. It was clean. 96 babies, many mothers and many more volunteers. When I say mothers I do not mean the children's mothers but there's always 1 or 2 people per room of 10 - 20 children who are the head and they are called the mother's, the children call them mama too. I fed one named Isaac and got my picture taken with him to show my Isaac.

I am still amazed at the sheer number of orphans!!

This afternoon I played hide and go seek with the children at New Creation Family Home. They got a new swingset today and they loved it. Just 2 swings but they just kept swinging and taking turns. So much joy in that home. I'm sure there's sorrow sometimes but more than anything there is love and joy.

I want my house to be a house of love and joy.

Erika

2nd Wednesday in Uganda

Today was a layed back day. In the morning we went and taught at the New Creation Centre for a couple hours. It was pretty fun. We had it scheduled that we would go there and teach them anything we wanted about America but then when we got there 2 of their 3 teachers were sick. So we ended up teaching for a long time without any supervision. It was interesting. The kids learned a lot about Michigan and the Great Lakes LOL. Those kids are SO beautiful! They sing a song that goes like this, "How many times, how many times, how many times Lord...have I called out your name? Rescue me. Rescue me my Jesus, rescue me, rescue me King of King. Rescue me, rescue me" Then it repeats but it's beautiful!

Then in the afternoon we actually got to relax at the house. Some went shopping, some stayed home, some rode on a Bota Bota (motorcycle taxi). It was good to have a little down time.

Today is actually Thursday here and we are going to Watoto Baby orphanage. It'll be great. Other than that I'm not sure what I'll we're doing. I'll update you tomorrow.

Love to you all
Erika

2nd Tuesday in Uganda

Ok, so our bus is from the early 90's (don't think school bus think small battle creek transit bus) But anyway it's almost 2 decades old Plus it gets driven around Africa which is a rough and dusty terrain

This morning our bus was at the shop It was supposed to be here at 10am but instead we left at noon You just learn to go with it and make the best out of every situation So we did We played a game of - boys vs girls keep away football (yes we made it up) Young and old alike played and it was a lot of fun Even the kitchen staff joined in :)

Then we went and visited the headquarters for the invisible children bracelet campaign There were around 20 Acholi people there making bracelets The director said there are also 5 different places at the IDP camps that make bracelets and ship them to Kampala The money raised sends children to school and replaces bracelet supplies It's a wonderful cause

Today we learned that Joseph Kony has taken his LRA army to Congo and there has been some peace in the NOrth for a year and a half, two years But sadly he's begun some of the same tactics in Congo The Acholi people are slowly moving home if there's a home to go to The night commuting has stopped and there is beginning to be some hope for these displaced people

We ate lunch on the bus and did 2 de-worming clinics back to back Gwame orphanage and Bethel orphanage

At Gwame mariah and I played a game of catch with 5 girls That was a lot of fun!

At Bethel Eve walked me through the foundation of the new church they're building It's huge! The best part is, their current church is a temporary structure Reminded me of the Old Testament tabernacle, just think sheet metal not cloth. The sign on their church said, "Talk less, pray more"

Beautiful

I love you all and miss everyone

Tell the kids I love them and I can't wait to come home and show them pictures of the kids I've met and been able to play with

Erika

The 2nd Monday in Uganda

This was a hard day. I will not share all the details but when I get back to the states, if you have more questions I would answer them. Now on with the blog

Mentally exhausting. That best describes today Neonatal ICU, Pediatric surgical unit and burn unit to start the day Shopping and lunch then off to the Uganda Jesus Village All orphans, 50-70 or so, from Gulu. (If you don't know about Gulu you should look up invisible children)

But let's begin at the beginning

Mulago Hospital - NICU
around 30 babies
2 nurses
1 doctor (reading a newspaper)
So many tiny babies (around 10) and around 20 full term babies that were sick. Hard to see but you could tell everywhere you went that the nurses cared. That was good

Mulago Hospital - Pediatric Surg Unit
I prayed over a young boy named Frances He was waiting for surgery for an obstructed bowel His dad was holding him and they both looked scared Touching Frances you could tell he had a fever His father was so grateful that I had stopped to pray I have prayed for him many time today I hope his surgery came soon and that he comes out of it good

Mulago Hospital - Burn Unit
Will not share but can talk about it at home

Shopping - Good but high priced, done shopping now :)

Uganda Jesus Village - Beautiful
These are Acholi children from Gulu. Three gave testimonies All lost their parents somewhere along the ages of 2 - 5 But all were thankful for Uncle Memory (the young man who began UJV) for now they have a home and "mother's", they can read and write, speak english and go to school. One girl said in her testimony, "I did not know how to sing until I came here." What a beautiful testimony of how God can touch a soul

I can sing!
Erika