Update

12/31/09 6:34PM

Uganda; Day 2

Today was our first full day in Uganda, we started the day with a devotional time with the hotel staff. They meet almost every morning. It was inspiring to see how thankful some of the locals are for the small things that God has done for them through the year, even in the wake of great loss. They truly count their trials as joy. We’ve spent the day so far here at the hotel with the team. Tonight is New Years Eve so we’ll be leaving for a church in Kakira Village shortly to see how they celebrate. We will probably be there most of the night. Tomorrow we get to go to the home and meet our new friends.

-Brandi

1/1/10 10:00PM

Uganda; Day 3

Today is the start of a brand new year! We had our first overnight as the locals call it yesterday. We spent the night worshipping God and thanking him for the past year. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen in the states. I’ve been in charismatic churches before, but they just don’t match the energy and enthusiasm we saw from the locals last night. There were 7 churches that came together to celebrate the new year. The preaching and singing would alternate between English, Swahili, and Luganda, though even the English is at times hard to understand. There was no misunderstanding the passion they have for worshipping God though. The night was filled with singing, dancing, cheering, and preaching. It was a good way to start the new year.

We got to see the Living Hope Children’s home today. It was eye opening to see where the kids live. We were able to bring some games to them that had been donated, so we spent the afternoon teaching them how to play various games, and getting to know them. After the games we had a devotional with everyone and Eydie announced that Kurt and I would be staying for 3-6 months (depending on the visas), it was encouraging to see how excited everyone got when they heard that. I can see from today there will be a lot of adjusting to do as we move into the home, and I’m sure God has a lot he wants me to learn from it.

-Brandi

1/2/10 11:00 PM

Uganda; Day 4

After having breakfast at the hotel the team took a trip to town today. We got to meet some of the local shop people that Eydie has made friends with and do some shopping. Afterwards we stopped by the hospital to visit David one of the toddlers from the home. The poor guy has malaria again, he just got over it a short while ago. I learned that they put an IV into their head, I had no idea. Godfrey, who is one of the men that helps with the home and church, was explaining to us that in many hospitals in Uganda the children will die because the nurses/doctors are trying to find a vein in their head to start the IV. He told us people come from all over the country to the children's hospital here in Jinja, because they are more careful or better equipped to take care of them.

After we visited David we had lunch at the hotel and headed over to the Living Hope home. We had a wonderful time with the kids today. We had them all paint pictures, that Eydie will be taking home to mount or frame to sell them, to raise money for the kids. I know they are excited that they’re able to be a part of earning money. We spent the rest of the day playing with the children, they taught us some of their games and we were all laughing as we tried to figure them out. We had a great devotion tonight at the home, a lot of the older kids and even a few of the younger ones were singing songs. They have really pretty voices and it’s surprising to me how good the songs sound even with no instruments. Although Kurt bought an African drum today and brought it to the home, which the kids seemed to love.

Today was full of blessings. I know that God is working in the home and in our team and I’m looking forward to what he has for us next.

-Brandi