Leaving tomorrow....:(

Thanks so much to all of you who have been so faithfuland diligent in your support, encouragement, and most importantly prayers for us during our time here. It's hard to believe it has already been six weeks. It has been an incredible trip. We will spend our last night with the safe house kid tonight. These kid's lives, i know, have been touched so much...we cant wait to share all the stories....we will see you all soon!!!!

Last Days in Gulu and heading back to the US

Hey Everyone.. its Rebeccah we have had a great last couple of days in Gulu. We have been able to work with some of the IDP camps the main one we worked with is Abili. We also have had a great time visiting with Cindi and her neice. We did some slashing at one of the Abili leaders house. It has been very good and productive. The girls have gotten to visit the Zion Project which is a womens home for young girls. We heard there stories about being abducted from Uganda and the Congo. It was a great time of celebration of how God restores. We also have had fun hanging around town too. We even found a place that made pizza. We took a bunch of kids from our neighborhood to church on Sunday at a Church called KPC. They absolutely loved it. We have enjoyed every endeavor on this trip and really appreciate all of the prayers while we have been gone!! Thanks so much for all of your support. We look forward to seeing you all soon!!

Love,
The Team- Rebeccah, Chris, Lindsey, Josh, Amanda, Jennie, Zach and Vince

It may be long..but its worth reading :)

Greeting blog people. Amanda here..and brace yourself for a long update. We have had some pretty epic adventures the past few days. So sunday, we finally got the van fixed after trying to leave the day before, breaking down, sending someone to Gulu to get the new part, then coming back to fix it. We headed to Paraa lodge for our safari. We decided to do the boat ride because we were told we would see most of the animals there. Riding into the park we saw antalope, impala, elephants, giraffes, and so on. So we get the boat and set off. The weather looked pretty nice. We saw a ton of hippos and crocs and some elephants along the way.Then we see this huge rainbow and we can see rain on the other side of it,so our guide pulls the boat up by a bank and we wait it out. Well pretty soon we get hit by a huge storm. It was crazy intense. And if you thought that Africa lacked the capability to produce ice-you my friend are mistaken. Thats right...it started hailing, on the nile. We were all abosutely soaked and the rain hurt pretty bad because it was coming down hard. THEN the canvas roof of our boat tore off and the metal bar came crashing down. It wasn't that funny but at that point none of us could believe what was happening so hysterical laughter came about for a good 10 minutes. Then our boat starts drifting so our guide pulls it up on the shore (with about 15 or so hippos fairly close by). After quite a while the storm calms down and we try to leave- minor problem, our boat is stuck. Sooooo we had to get out of the boat, on the bank of the nile with the hippos near by and push off. A hippo may have "roared" and there may have been some screaming haha. Finally we got to the falls-absolutely gorgeous. We took our pictures and headed back, soaked and cold. We get about 5 minutes from the dock and our boat runs out of gas..what are the odds?!?! Luckily our guide had extra, it was just funny. We got back to the lodge, they were pretty nice..let us use rooms to change, then we decided to eat dinner there (SO GOOD!) Then it was getting late and the lodge was threatening to not let us leave (something about it not being the safest idea, considering the lions and whatnot are out in the evenings) but eventually they let us out. Minor problem- our car got stuck in a small ditch on the side of the road heading out, so we had to get out- in the dark, with lions potentially close by, and push the car. Mission accomplished there and then about 10 minutes up the road we spotted 2 lions off in the distance..had we seen those before we had to get out, I am pretty sure we would sleep in the car for the evening. But we made it out of the park safe and sound-ran out of gas so we had to stop by in the local town-which was an experience all in itself. Then we almost ran into a hippo-yes, a huge, jogging hippo. I mean, I thought hitting a deer in jersey, or anywhere for that matter was bad..but a hippo would cause some damage-luckily they are big enough for you to spot before a collision happens. So that was our safari adventure-quite entertaining. We arrived back in gulu around 2 am monday. Cindy from VOH arrived with her team and stopped by to say hello. It was really good talking to her and just learning more about village of hope and what God is doing there. We have some AWESOME news (for all of you who have been keeping up with this) WOJAY GOT SAVED!!!!! Our muslim friend from across the street accepted Christ and wants to share it with his whole family and all his friends! Thank you to all who have been praying for him and continue to pray that God will provide a disciple for him and that he would have the courage to tell others. We were all so excited when it happened so we had to share with you. Last night we had the opportunity to visit Abili IDP camp where the beads of hope are made. Really amazing process. All the kids were excited to see us and we saw some familiar faces. So- we have one week left here and its going to be amazing. God is moving in ways that we cant even realize yet- just pray that we have direction with how to use our time the best what possible and pray that God opens doors for ministry. Thanks for everything...see you all soon! God Bless

Happy Father;s Day!!!!

Happy Father's Day....we love you Dad..s......wish we could be with you on this day but thanks to you we can be here.......lol


btw....our van broke down about 2 miles down the road today on our way to the safari...so we will be off tomorrow for the safari then to gulu......we had a great 2nd last day in gulu getting packed up and spending time playing with the kids

anyways...

Much love to our incredible Father's!!!!

Back to Gulu.....

its chris again.......So today was our last day here on the land.....tomorrow morning we will head off to Gulu where we will spend our last 10 days...
We have had a great time here....the past few days have been not soo busy due to the large amount of people here serving but alot had been done
the slab was poured and finished on the first house.....all of the land for the agriculture fields has been cleared. foundation finished for school...700 pineapples planted on the plot we cleared and even uprooted stumps----with an axe and hoe....that was hard work....
thank you for the prayer about more effectiveness and opporunities in ministering...we have had a great week of talking with those we work with...giving out Bibles...and jsut sharing with them more about God...
After church last sunday one of the men there asked us to go with him to visit his village close by and do our program for the orphans there.....today we went on the 3 mile walk there and back.....long way but a great time.....it was a small group but we shared with them and they with us....they had a local chuch near by but the roof and side wall had collapsed and the people had no money to buy materials to fix it so they had not been meeting....we were able to give the pastor some money that would help with that as well as for the few orphans.,,,,it was great to be a blessing there......though it was an awkward moment when we had to explain we were not leaders with village of hope that could sponsor those kids....i think that is was he was more expecting but God used us nonetheless

Tomorrow on our way to Gulu we will spend some time at a safari park and taking a boat ride to some falls out on the nile...we are very excited...especially to go back and see our friends in Gulu
Please pray that a muslim man by the name of Wojay will get saved before we leave...
Jennie, Lindsay and Zack have built a huge relationship in his life....he lives near our hotel and they have spending time with him pretty much everyday when we were in Gulu....they given him a Bible...which he said he read John and had a whole list of questions.....they were also able to help him when he got sick with malaria...they went with him to the hospital and got him medicine...God is really working in his life...we know the seed is planted....praying strongly God will bring it to harvest!!!

Also in Gulu...we will be traveling back to the camps just visiting hut to hut and sharing with people....Please pray God will continue to use us in the last days here!!!

thanks for all your prayers and support....we are all healthy and strong doing well!!!

Chris

Last week on the Land

So this is our last week on the land. Our team has really worked so hard. It has been so great getting to know Mike the missionary that works here and also the mens team from Baylife Church in Tampa Florida. We have been able to complete alot since we have been here. We thank you so much for your prayers for a few bumps in the road we may have had here in there. We are so excited to go back to Gulu and continue working with the kids in the refuge camps and at the safe house. Please continue to pray for us.

In Him,
The Team

Weekend on the land

Hey Everyone!
Its Beccah just wanted to give you all a quick update. We all had a pretty relaxing weekend. The boys worked very hard and they cleared part of the site. They also got dirt and some other things for construction that will be going on this week. They girls relaxed and read books. It was quite nice. But we also did pump some water so we did a little. Today we went to two churches. An Angelican Church and a Pentecostal Church. It was great to see how people worship the same God we do but just in a different way. Their was alot of dancing to which we all really liked. This afternoon we watched Night At the Museum on a projector screen Bill had brought and left. It was really fun. Now we all just resting and preparing to work hard for the Lord. Thanks so much for all your prayers!

Love,
Da Team

sorry about the delay.....

Hey its Chris....sorry it has been so long since we posted...we havent had much internet time and i think eveyone was thinking someone else was posting....but here we are finishing day 11 on the land.....we have done alot in these long hot days....
cleared a plot for a pinapple tree feild.....girls using the axe was a real sight but they did well....
we have recently been gathering huge trees to use as fence post to surround this 100 acre land....we will dip them in kreosol to prevent termite damage then put up the fence....
we have pumped a ton of water...soon a generator and pump will arrive to allow for tap water....cant wait..but until then we are gainin muscle.....alot!!!
foundation for the primary school is finished, and the foundation for the first house is almost done....
As a team we are doing well....enjoying the sporadic trips into town...its funny how we starve for civilization sometime....well at least so-called civilization compared to living here in the bush..
we are all getting a nice tan....some people have red ones....lol
menu has been alot of rice and beans ..spagettii!!!....we taught them how to make fried chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes...so we are tryin for some better food...lol...but we are def content with whatever food we can get as energy..
Mike(the contractor for the village of hope) just arrived from florida, his wife and daughter will be here soon...they will be here for 5 years overseeing the completion of this village----a team of 13 men from his church also showed up with him to spend 10 days here...so alot of work is getting accomplished,,,,

Regarding ministry......Rose brought the kids from the safe house here this past weekend and they spent the night....it was a great time spending with them....they love the fellowship and care ...we sat aroud the fire singing praises to God that night.....its great to see and hear the heart for the Lord especially after what traumatizing experiences they have been through..
Lately our prayer has been...as we hope you will join us...i smore effectiveness in ministry...its hard out here in the middle of the bush....but we have began relationships with those locals working with us....we have been able to provide bibles and even a devotional book for a man named Moses who is a local youth pastor working with us during the day.
Many of the locals we work with are all from further north but fled here when the war broke out...many have lost sublings and parents from the war....its been a great time encouraging them in the Lord and how He remains faithful even when times are rough..
We are looking for more opportunies to share the gospel....
So we have about 10 more days here then back to Gulu ministering there....thanks so much for all your support and prayers!!!!
Currently we all are healthy.....Praise the Lord....and losing weight....lol...but gaining muscle
Our heart has really been to leave an impact for the Lord.....we will give all we can!!!!
For Christ's Sake,
Chris

Land Day 2 3 and 4

Hey ya'll

It is Rebeccah. I am so sorry I am the one thats keeping yall updated lately but many are so tired we forget to get on. I will try and have them blog soon. We are all healthy!! Praise God!! We have had some long days pumping water at the well and clearing out an area for a pineapple field. It has been very productive the last couple of days. We are really enjoying being here on the land. We are really working hard and learning alot about everyday Uganda life. We really are so thankful for what we have in America. One thing I am so glad for is running water. Everytime we need water we have to go to the well and pump it and carry it all the way back. It has been cool to see all of us grow as people and in the Lord. Hope you all are good! Thanks again for your prayers!! Someone else will write on here soon!