Dreams are becoming reality!!

Our 1^st day: 10-31-2014 

            Today was an amazing day.  We started out with Ugandan tea and conversation out on the porch with everyone.  My imagination of Africa was extremely different than how it actually is.  I was thinking that it was going to be a desert with lions, other crazy animals, huts, and tribes or a complete jungle with raging rivers and monkeys.  But actually it is more like a regular city.  Things move and happen in a fast pace, just like they do in America.  There are lots of amazing plants with huge leaves and strange fruit on them.  There are also some cool animals like bats, quail, and lizards.  The quail birds live all over this compound and they make some astonishing noises, and their nests are constructed upside-down!

Kelsey surrounded by kids

Anyway, right after some yummy eggs and peanut buttered bread, we left to visit the school, Rock of Ages.  Oh my goodness!  This school was filled with lovely students and teachers!  All of the children would just walk right up to you and grab your hand.  It was a like a little sample of Heaven!  You know, those kids are just so filled with joy!  They absolutely love getting their pictures taken.  We would take one of them, and then show them what it looked like, and they would just giggle with glee!  They sang a beautiful song for us about how Jesus is alive!  It was so sweet!!  We played the hokey pokey with them; they just loved it!  

  

            Next we went to the market to buy some fruit.  The whole experience at the market was crazy!  Everyone wants you to buy their goodies, and there are so many vendors.  Most people were very friendly; they all ask how you are doing.  Some of the people even realized and pointed out that I was the youngest in the group!  One of Syd’s priorities was to buy some Novita-a pineapple sugary soda-pop.  We bought some and it was so delicious!  I’m thankful for her priorities!  

Novida!!!!

            Later in the evening, Kenneth showed some of us how to make chapatti- an extraordinary fried tortilla!  These are also very yummy!  After supper, we sorted all of the shoes!  I’m so stinking excited to bless all of the kids with new shoes!!!  Thank you to all who donated the shoes and supported this mission!  Now it’s almost time for bed, and I’m just reflecting on the day.  God is sooooooo super impressive, and I can’t wait to see what He will do the rest of the week!  Thanks God.

Typical  African Meal

          

Guys, I don’t think we’re in America or Europe anymore!

Arrival Day: 10-30-2014

Well, late last night we arrived in Uganda, Africa, and we met up with Abdu, Moses, and Kennedy at the airport.  Boy was I glad to walk on solid ground, but not for long…They led us to our ride where we smooshed all luggage and people aboard.  Once we started driving, I was very surprised to see so many people out and about, at 1:00a.m. partying and buying things from vendors!  I guess that it’s normal though?   This van ride seemed very short, but maybe it was just me, because I fell asleep!  I think that the ride turned out to be like 2 hours long! 

We finally made it to where we are staying- Abdu and Betty’s house.  Honestly, we chit chatted for a little bit and then got all settled in and we went straight to our beds for some beauty sleep.  Praise Jesus!!!


By: Kelsey and Team J

A New Experience

 Last week  Michelle and her team took  the P5 students  on a field trip to the Source of the Nile,  a park/tourist attraction a few miles from the school. When you get out on the water you can actually see the point where  the river starts it's 4,000 mile long journey northward to the Mediterranean Sea from Lake Victoria. It is a magical place and a lot of history surrounds it.

It is always fun to watch  the children's reaction to  a new experience. These children live less than 3 miles from one of the worlds most famous rivers and many of them  have never seen it. None of these children  had ever been to the source and  none had ever been on a boat. The trip was part learning experience, with the park guide providing  history and geography lessons, and all  fun.  Afterwards they enjoyed lunch in the park and on the way  back they stopped for ice cream. An exciting and memorable day for all.

Listening to the Guide

Getting on Boat

They're off

The whole group in front of a statue of John Hanning Speke. He is generally acknowledged as the European who discovered the source of the Nile.

Malaria is still a big problem....

Malaria mortality rates  have dropped by 54% since 2000,   but the battle still rages. On average 1 child  dies  in Africa dies every minute.  ( Stats from WHO). Today Arnold, a ROA student in P1 collapsed  in class and was taken to St, Francis clinic in a coma. He was suffering from malaria.  He is being treated and while still sick, has come out of his coma and is recovering.

 We are thankful for the partnership with St. Francis and our sponsors whose faithful donations  allow the children at the school to be treated for when they get sick. 

$1 of each  $20 monthly sponsorship goes into a medical fund to pay for medical treatment of the children.

Arnold

 
Help us make a difference in the lives of these children.  Sponsor a child.  $20 dollars a month provides an education, a daily meal and medical care. 

INTRODUCING...The Hands 4 Uganda 2014 Fall Team

It's crazy to think our team of 6 will be leaving on October 29th!  I would like to introduce you to our Hands 4 Uganda 2014 team:

Introducing the team from First Assembly Community Ministries in Lafayette, Indiana...

Cathi Delp & Connie Tolley

Connie Tolley
I've always supported missions and have seen my husband and kids go on mission trips but had not until last year. I had the opportunity to go to India. Now I get to go to Uganda and be with all the lovely people I've heard so much about. What an opportunity God is giving me in this season of my life."

Cathi Delp
When I was in elementary school we had pen pals from other countries. My first pen pal was from Africa & from that time on I always dreamed of going to Africa. In 2013 that dream came true as I joined a team from Idaho & was introduced to Jinja, Uganda! Now, one year later, I'm going back.


Syd Hair

Syd w/sponsored child, Sammy

I developed my love for Uganda in 2008, my first visit! I met and fell in love with Abdu and Betty Wasswa and their heart for reaching the children of Mbiiko Uganda with the love of Jesus, through education! In 2008 there were 11 kids attending Rock of Ages. In 2010 God put together an amazing team to return to Uganda! Through that team, Hands 4 Uganda, our non-profit organization was birthed!!! The school has grown to over 220!  
My goal and hope with this outreach is that God will provide opportunities for us to share the stories of the unsponsored children and that by the time we return these remaining 69 children will have sponsors! We will also be delivering new shoes to ALL of the children...and THAT....is a big deal, to these precious children!!!

Our Iowa teammates from Eastside Christian Church:

Pam Lindemann
I am excited to be the photographer for this mission. My hope is to capture emotion, beauty and the souls of the people inJinja. I started this journey over a year ago. God has opened doors in my education and developing my photography style. So get ready Rock of Ages school to show me your SMILES and JOY!

Lynette Bayer

My name is Lynnette Bayer. I live in Treynor, IA. I have been married to my wonderful husband for eighteen years.  We have two children, Kelsey (14 years old, in 9th grade) and Cole (12 years old, in 7th grade). Our church has greatly supported us in this mission. 

I did not sign my teaching contract this year because I wanted to focus on being a wife and a mom. I have prayed, "God use me!"  God spoke to me through the book, Kisses from Katie and my lovely friend Pam, which led to an invitation to this trip to Uganda.  My daughter Kelsey and I are getting the opportunity to say 'yes' to God. I look forward to meeting these beautiful Ugandan adults and children of God!

 

Kelsey Bayer (Our youngest team mate)
Just simply said, I love Jesus. He is my Superhero!  I am in ninth grade, at Treynor High School, in Treynor, IA. I have an interesting pet, a hedgehog, (Ginger) and a cat named Mo. I enjoy coffee, Dr. Who, gnomes, baking, and being with friends. Laughing is my favorite! I absolutely love being with children and old people! I desperately try to show Christ's love to others, by demonstrating His free joy! My dream in life is to SHINE FOR THE KING!!!!!!!



Our team hopes you will follow our adventures and journey to Uganda!  All of us wish to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for your support, encouragement and prayers!!!  

Blessings
Syd Hair

Who Am I that I should go?

Syd Hair, a Hands4Uganda board member and one of  our founders is preparing to leave for a short term missions outreach at the end of the month.  You will hear more about  the team and their trip in the coming weeks but I wanted to share a short devotional she  wrote for her team. It  is one of the best answers  to the question. "what will I do?",  that folks often ask when we invite them along on a trip. 

Syd writes:

Good morning team!!

God has really been laying some things on my heart so I wanted to jump start our devotionals by sharing this morning! I will be sharing along the way as we prepare the final few weeks before departure!

I remember the first time I went to Uganda in 2008.  I was struggling with my "American

Syd blessing a mom with a baby blanket in 2010

missions" mentality while I was there....I kept seeking the Lord's answer to my daily burning question "why am I here Lord?"  I felt as if I had to "accomplish" something in order to bring a report back to my church, friends and family of all the good I had done on my mission trip.  It was Easter Sunday while we were in Uganda and I remember it VERY well.  We had attended an amazing service and then headed back to the compound.  We spent the rest of the day inside as it was a torrential downpour.  As I sat in quiet meditation once again seeking the Lord to answer my burning question....It was SO clearly laid on my heart these words from the Lord...

"Syd, I have brought you here to love, Betty!  You have sacrificed to get here so that I can show my love to her"  As soon as I received that I was good to go!  Yes, Lord!  I will love Betty!  So I spent the remaining week...falling in love with Betty and the work God had called her to do at Rock of Ages school!  At the time we were there she had just started her school in this well known prostitution village of Mbiiko with 11 kids. 

 Upon my return in 2014 you will experience over 220 kids now attending ROA!!!  When I returned from Uganda the first time, the Lord led me to start a sponsorship program!  It just amazes me, what God can do with relationships!  I wasn't called to Uganda to do anything, but LOVE my brothers and sisters there!!!

So my reading this morning and the title of my devotional was "Who am I that I should go"?  This is the answer for us now, that God has brought together the six of us..

I/We should go, because I AM is the Who!   

Let me explain....

God showed me this week that really NOTHING else in this life matters but the "WHO's" he places in our path.  It's not the house, the car, the job, but the Whos' along the journey!  It's the SAME reason he is leading us to Uganda!  He loves you so much that he wants you to meet the "who's".  Our faithful brothers and sisters in Uganda!  

So, as people ask you "what" you will be doing in Africa, let them know, it's not about the "what"....it's about the Who!!!!

You will meet people that God will place in your path that will plant a seed in the garden of your heart that  you will carry forever!

It may be a child; for me it was a little boy named Henry in 2008, a boda driver named Peter, the founder of school named Betty, a cook named Grace, my African brother named Abdu....all in a place called Africa!!!

May our God; who provides, guides and leads us daily, assure your heart and spirit, the reason you are going thousands of miles away from family and home, sacrificing time and money; is for His purpose and His glory alone!

The best African word I ever learned was "Tomanya".  Which means; "you never know"

You never know what to expect; but one thing I do know....God is with us!