My first weekend in Jinja

It's taken a few days but I think I am now adjusted to the time here.
On Friday Risa and I had the privilege of going out with the COG staff
for food distribution. Once a month COG goes out and gives food to
those in the food program. We started at St. Francis Clinic and we
helped load up 30 cups of poscho (corn maize) and beans into bags.
Then Risa and I got into the back of the truck with the food and off
we went to a couple of villages. (Precious moment of the day-walking
through one of the villages I was attacked by about 15 little kids who
all wanted to hold my hand at the same time. I walked with them and
then played a little ring around the posy.)

Risa and I are trying to learn what kinds of things we can make to eat
here. So on Saturday we went out to one of the grocery stores. We
found cereal, Rice Crispies, for about 8 American dollars!!! Yea we
won't be eating that while we are here. We bought some good old
Oatmeal :) We found some soy sauce and on Saturday we made some stir
fry, yummy! :) We also went downtown and found a coffee shop with
free wireless internet-WHAT?! I never thought I would find such a
place here!

Sunday we went with Joseph to his church in downtown Jinja. It was
probably about a 2 mile walk (I'm definitely going to get exercise
here.) The service went on for about 4 hours, a typical service lasts
about 3. The church is getting ready for the big conference that is
happening now. A lot of speakers are coming in from different places.
So we look forward to going to that at some point in the next week or
two. After the service we were really hungry so we ventured up to
main street to try and find a Rolex (chapatti with egg wrapped up in
the middle of it). Those are going to be the reason why I'm going to
need to walk 2 miles a day! haha. They are SO good. So we ended up
finding one which totally made my day! And then we went back to the
church to see Abraham (whom we know from the first trip that we took
here Jan 2008). On our long walk back to the house Joseph found us a
jackfruit!!! (He must think we are crazy because I've been asking him
about finding one ever since I arrived.) So another awesome part of
yesterday I finally got to eat some jackfruit :) SO YUMMY! and so
sticky! And then last night our friend Colin dropped by with his
brother and we had a great time visiting with them. After that we
taught Joseph how to play Uno (oh and I taught him to play phase 10 on
Saturday morning :)). Poor guy ended up almost taking the whole deck
into his hands haha. Good times had by all :)

We made it to Uganda safe and sound

Before I left the states I was really blessed by so many people.  So from the bottom of my heart thank you to all of you who have listened to my stories about Uganda, who have prayed over me and continue to, and who have supported me financially.  I still can not believe that I am here and am so blessed to get to share this experience with all of you. 

Tuesday morning before I left one of my friends with her two little girls came over to see me.  I was blown away by her 4 year old daughter who made a card for me AND gave me a book that she has been reading (which is one of her favorites!).  She gave me this book because her mom had told her that I was going to go to Uganda to help little kids learn how to read.   If that isn't the most precious thing ever I don't know what is!!

Thank you for all of your prayers!  We made it here safely and with all of our stuff! :)  The first flight I took I got to talk to a guy who works for some African country's government (I say some African country because he told me and I could never really understand what he was saying).  Anyways it was really cool because he told me a lot about African history and we talked about the LRA and Kony.  He's working to try and put an end to Kony and him abducting children to be soldiers.  He had just met with some NGO's  in Washington D.C. as well as some people on Capitol Hill.  It was just a great way to start my trip :)  The rest of the trip I watched movies and attempted to get some sleep and I think I was a little successful with that.  We got to the house around 11:30 pm last night.  It's really nice!  I'll upload some pictures soon.

Leaving on a jet plane

I am now leaving from Dulles on Tuesday night (September 22nd) and meeting up with Risa in Amsterdam before we head to Uganda together. I am so excited for what God is already doing in Uganda and how Risa and I get to just come and join that. Please be praying for a safe flight, for us to stay healthy, and for us emotionally as we leave friends and family and transition to our new home in a new culture.

I'm on my way to Uganda on September 15th!

Support Letter

When I first asked Jesus to take control of my life 7 years ago I could never have envisioned what He had in store for me. What an amazing God we serve! When I look back and see the wonderful ways He has blessed my life, and my relationship to Him and others, I’m truly speechless. In January 2008 God lead me to go to Jinja, Uganda with a missions team to run a summer camp with an organization called Children of Grace (COG). God has captured my heart, mind, and soul for the children who have been orphaned by AIDS, I have not been the same since. Mary Ann McCoy, founder and executive director of Children of Grace, was changed forever following her first trip to Uganda eight years ago. As a result, she was felt led to begin the ministry of COG. (To read more about her story please go to the website: www.children-of-grace.org.)

I have had the privilege of returning to Uganda in August 2008 and most recently in January 2009. Over the past 6 months I have been asking God repeatedly where my next step should be as my internship at the church out in CA ended in September and I moved back to Virginia in June 2009. God has faithfully answered my prayers in abundantly clear ways. I believe He desires to use me in Uganda working for Children of Grace for the next nine months. God is doing some really exciting things in Uganda right now and I am so excited to go and be a part of what He’s already doing.

A good friend of mine, Risa Cranmer (who has been to Uganda with COG a few times) has felt a special calling to move to Uganda in partnership with COG, from September to May and has since been praying for a partner in ministry. I am so incredibly blessed that God has not only answered Risa’s prayers, but also affirmed my call to go, by allowing us to be there at the same time.]

The first program we will be working on while in Jinja is a “Reading Enrichment Program”. This program is already in full swing, we will however; help bring more direction and guidance. The goal is to be able to equip the teachers, giving them ways to teach reading that will help these students excel in school. The second program is the “Junior Achievement Program,” which will allow us to go into schools and teach basic skills necessary for them to succeed in the business world following graduation. One of the things we are most excited about is the opportunity to go into some of the high schools and start up Bible studies. (One of our prayers is to really bring the truth of Jesus into the lives of students, especially in their culture where Christianity and Witchcraft often go hand in hand.) While in Uganda, I will also be working at the COG office updating “QuickBooks,” a financial software, as well as their database. This is a huge answer to prayer for the COG staff!

With all that being said here are ways you can support me prayerfully:

• For me to have consistent time in the Bible and in prayer so I can be used by Him
• For God to open up my eyes and my heart to see what He sees
• For God to break my heart for what breaks His and to remain constantly sensitive to the Holy Spirit working in and through me
• For God to protect me from spiritual warfare
• Praying through these verses for me: Colossians 1:9-12

· (If you would like to receive updated prayer requests while I am there please let me know.)

Ways to support me financially (for airfare, insurance, food, and phone usage (about $4300)):

• Donate online at http://sponsor.children-of-grace.org/index.php?cPath=25_26 (Click on General Donation and then write my name in a memo or send me an email and I will let COG know that you supported me online.)
• Send a check made out to Children of Grace with a note that says it is for me to P.O. Box 2394, Danville, CA 94506.

• If you want to donate monthly please let me know and I will give you the contact information to be able to set that up.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27