Wednesday, March 18
Home Sweet Home
Well, we are all safely back in Chicago. After a looong couple days of traveling, we made it safe and sound. Thank you for your prayers as we traveled - everything went very smoothly through customs and flight connections and everything. It was an amazing trip, and we are all very thankful for the opportunity we were given, and excited to see what the Lord will have for us in response to all we saw. We can't wait to see you all in person and tell you more about what the Lord did in our own hearts and through your support during this trip. What a blessing to have been able to share this experience with you every step of the way! May the Lord bless you as we all continue serving him together for his glory!
Sunday, March 15
Saturday and Sunday
Last night we were unable to connect to the wireless network in the hotel, thus the delayed posting. Sorry about that!
Yesterday (Saturday) we attended a meeting with leaders from two different NGO's. "NGO" stands for a Non-Government Organization. The first that spoke to us is called Daughters of Charity and they explained their mission to us for working with orphans. The second, which we heard most about is called UWESO: Ugandan Women's Effort to Save Orphans. This was started by the First Lady in the 80's as a response to children orphaned by the war. It soon shifted its focus as the HIV/AIDS crises created more orphans, and it now ministers to orphans of all kinds.
We heard about the purpose/vision/mission of the organization, what they do, why it matters, and how they need help. Much of what we heard about is the program they have to send orphaned children to school. 4 students from a secondary school attended the meeting and shared a little bit with us. One girl recited a poem about HIV/AIDS and another boy shared his story of loosing his father a few years ago, and therefore the ability to afford school. This organization has provided an education for him, and practical skills to ensure he has a future.
We were given handouts and information from these organizations and our "scribe" took wonderful notes of what we learned during that meeting. It was wonderful to see more of what the country is doing for its people and to hear what more can be done.
The rest of yesterday was spent shopping for souveneirs. As girls, we of course loved it. It was neat too because the places we went to do our shopping were places that will benefit different ministries that we've seen or heard about. Many of the products we bought were made by women in villages nearby and the money will go toward helping them in various ways. It was fun to buy things for family and friends, knowing that it would be also helping some of these ministries. Our bus driver Sam was very patient with us as we shopped...and shopped....and shopped. :)
Today (Sunday) has been a restful day. We went to church in the morning and have spent the rest of the afternoon packing, resting, and just having fun together as a team. We have a meeting tonight to discuss everything we've learned and how we are going to apply it when we bring it back home with us. Tomorrow will consist of visiting a few more places, seeing the last few things, and catching our flight tomorrow night.
I doubt we'll be able to update tomorrow as we'll go right from our days activities to the airport, and from there it's 25 hours of travel, putting us back at O'Hare around 3:30 on Tuesday afternoon. Please pray for energy as we finish out the trip. We want to take in as much as we can until the last moment possible. And then please pray for us as we travel, for safety and the energy to make it through. 25 hours is a long time. We are all looking forward to seeing our friends and family when we return, showing you our pictures, and sharing our stories. It will be hard to leave this beautiful country though. We will all be leaving with changed hearts and a deeper love for the people here in Uganda. Thank you once again for your care, your support, and your encouragement. I'll post again sometime later this week about the rest of our time and our travels home. If we end up compiling our photos online somewhere I'll be sure to post how you can access them. God bless you all these next few days!
With love,
The Uganda Team
Yesterday (Saturday) we attended a meeting with leaders from two different NGO's. "NGO" stands for a Non-Government Organization. The first that spoke to us is called Daughters of Charity and they explained their mission to us for working with orphans. The second, which we heard most about is called UWESO: Ugandan Women's Effort to Save Orphans. This was started by the First Lady in the 80's as a response to children orphaned by the war. It soon shifted its focus as the HIV/AIDS crises created more orphans, and it now ministers to orphans of all kinds.
We heard about the purpose/vision/mission of the organization, what they do, why it matters, and how they need help. Much of what we heard about is the program they have to send orphaned children to school. 4 students from a secondary school attended the meeting and shared a little bit with us. One girl recited a poem about HIV/AIDS and another boy shared his story of loosing his father a few years ago, and therefore the ability to afford school. This organization has provided an education for him, and practical skills to ensure he has a future.
We were given handouts and information from these organizations and our "scribe" took wonderful notes of what we learned during that meeting. It was wonderful to see more of what the country is doing for its people and to hear what more can be done.
The rest of yesterday was spent shopping for souveneirs. As girls, we of course loved it. It was neat too because the places we went to do our shopping were places that will benefit different ministries that we've seen or heard about. Many of the products we bought were made by women in villages nearby and the money will go toward helping them in various ways. It was fun to buy things for family and friends, knowing that it would be also helping some of these ministries. Our bus driver Sam was very patient with us as we shopped...and shopped....and shopped. :)
Today (Sunday) has been a restful day. We went to church in the morning and have spent the rest of the afternoon packing, resting, and just having fun together as a team. We have a meeting tonight to discuss everything we've learned and how we are going to apply it when we bring it back home with us. Tomorrow will consist of visiting a few more places, seeing the last few things, and catching our flight tomorrow night.
I doubt we'll be able to update tomorrow as we'll go right from our days activities to the airport, and from there it's 25 hours of travel, putting us back at O'Hare around 3:30 on Tuesday afternoon. Please pray for energy as we finish out the trip. We want to take in as much as we can until the last moment possible. And then please pray for us as we travel, for safety and the energy to make it through. 25 hours is a long time. We are all looking forward to seeing our friends and family when we return, showing you our pictures, and sharing our stories. It will be hard to leave this beautiful country though. We will all be leaving with changed hearts and a deeper love for the people here in Uganda. Thank you once again for your care, your support, and your encouragement. I'll post again sometime later this week about the rest of our time and our travels home. If we end up compiling our photos online somewhere I'll be sure to post how you can access them. God bless you all these next few days!
With love,
The Uganda Team
Friday, March 13
Farm Friday :)
Today we travelled back to Kampala, where we started out this trip. It was a long drive, but we were able to spend time in the Word and in prayer as a group and then some time singing worship songs together on the bus. Spending our time that way as we drove through this beautiful land was amazing. It truely is a beautiful country.
We had one stop on the way back, at a farm. It was started 13 years ago and has expanded into something wonderful. The woman who runs it explained the whole system to us. They have only 3.7 acres, but have used it in such impressive ways. She explained to us the cycle of how the animal waste is used to improve the soil which grows the crops, whose peels are fed to the animals who create the waste, and so on. It is a non-ending cycle and they are using it well. This farm has 2 purposes: one is to actually farm and sell, but the other is to train farmers from across the country. People come to learn how to used the land and what they have to make the most of what is available to them. They do not waste anything at all. With such small land they have done so much!
We toured the farm, which was fascinating. We saw the pigs, cows, goats, and chickens. They explained how the floors are slanted so that they can easily collect the waste to use in the soil. That whole drain system was shown to us and we were all amazed at how they do that so effectively. They we saw the land and how they have dug into the ground to collect water for irrigation. They plant onions by certain plants because the smell keeps the bugs away. The leaves of one of the plants is left in water for a week and then poured on plants to fertilize them. All kinds of things like that happen so that they do not need to use chemicals of any sort. Everything is purely from the ground and the farm. They also have a fish farm going, and bee hives.
We then got to see the building where they dry and package fruit which is exported to other countries. It was very fun to see that and we got to taste the dried mangoes, bananas, pineapple, and some others. Then we regrouped and the First Lady gave a small speech to the woman who owns the farm and all the people who work there. It was wonderful to hear her encourage this project and what is happenning through it. The first lady expressed how proud she was of this operation and how it is making a real difference in the lives of people accross the country. People who have land and don't know how to use it beneficially are coming to learn how they can be effective and make the most of what they have. It was such an encouraging and exciting thing to see this project and how it works!
We had dinner at the State Lodge in the district we were in. The first lady hosted us again and it was so beautiful. We are all so humbled by these experiences. She thanked us again for coming here to see and to learn about her country and her people. Again we were all just so impressed with her love for the Lord and her people and her desire to help them improve their lives. And that it is not just a desire but something she is working very hard to make happen. It's been so inspiring, and we are starting to talk amongst ourselves about what we can do when we get back, and how we are going to apply what we are learning and seeing.
We're back in Kampala now, at the hotel we started at. It's nice to be back somewhere we've been before-it's comforting in a foreign country to be somewhere familiar. Thank you for the comments you've posted on this blog. We love reading them at our nightly debriefing meetings. It's good to be reminded of the support and encouragement at home. May God bless you all as you live for him on the other side of his world. :)
We had one stop on the way back, at a farm. It was started 13 years ago and has expanded into something wonderful. The woman who runs it explained the whole system to us. They have only 3.7 acres, but have used it in such impressive ways. She explained to us the cycle of how the animal waste is used to improve the soil which grows the crops, whose peels are fed to the animals who create the waste, and so on. It is a non-ending cycle and they are using it well. This farm has 2 purposes: one is to actually farm and sell, but the other is to train farmers from across the country. People come to learn how to used the land and what they have to make the most of what is available to them. They do not waste anything at all. With such small land they have done so much!
We toured the farm, which was fascinating. We saw the pigs, cows, goats, and chickens. They explained how the floors are slanted so that they can easily collect the waste to use in the soil. That whole drain system was shown to us and we were all amazed at how they do that so effectively. They we saw the land and how they have dug into the ground to collect water for irrigation. They plant onions by certain plants because the smell keeps the bugs away. The leaves of one of the plants is left in water for a week and then poured on plants to fertilize them. All kinds of things like that happen so that they do not need to use chemicals of any sort. Everything is purely from the ground and the farm. They also have a fish farm going, and bee hives.
We then got to see the building where they dry and package fruit which is exported to other countries. It was very fun to see that and we got to taste the dried mangoes, bananas, pineapple, and some others. Then we regrouped and the First Lady gave a small speech to the woman who owns the farm and all the people who work there. It was wonderful to hear her encourage this project and what is happenning through it. The first lady expressed how proud she was of this operation and how it is making a real difference in the lives of people accross the country. People who have land and don't know how to use it beneficially are coming to learn how they can be effective and make the most of what they have. It was such an encouraging and exciting thing to see this project and how it works!
We had dinner at the State Lodge in the district we were in. The first lady hosted us again and it was so beautiful. We are all so humbled by these experiences. She thanked us again for coming here to see and to learn about her country and her people. Again we were all just so impressed with her love for the Lord and her people and her desire to help them improve their lives. And that it is not just a desire but something she is working very hard to make happen. It's been so inspiring, and we are starting to talk amongst ourselves about what we can do when we get back, and how we are going to apply what we are learning and seeing.
We're back in Kampala now, at the hotel we started at. It's nice to be back somewhere we've been before-it's comforting in a foreign country to be somewhere familiar. Thank you for the comments you've posted on this blog. We love reading them at our nightly debriefing meetings. It's good to be reminded of the support and encouragement at home. May God bless you all as you live for him on the other side of his world. :)
Thursday, March 12
Thursday's Adventures
Today was another wonderful day. We all felt much better today - thank you for the prayers! I don't think anyone was sick at all today. We set out in the morning for another village that the First Lady has been working with. There is a women's co-op there that asked the First Lady for a corn mill. They were all having to travel very far to grind the corn, or else do it by hand, and it was taking a lot of time and energy, such that they could not sell the corn meal and profit from it. The First Lady gave them some requirements before buying it for them, such as they had to supply the generator, build a structure to hold the mill, and so on. They willingly met the requirements and proved to her that they were willing to work hard and make this work. So she gave them the mill some time ago. This trip was a follow-up for her to inspect the project and see how things were going. It was wonderful. These people have taken what was given them and have worked incredibly hard and gained much profit from it. The women in the community have been able to make several products with the mill and sell it to other villages for good profit that is being used to further develop their community.
After the inspection and the tour of their mill, we went up a hill to a presentation of sorts. The project with the mill was explained in detail, including how it works, some of the challenges, how it has already made a difference, and how it will continue to bless them in the future. They thanked the First Lady many times and gave glory and praise to their Almighty Father. Two women came up to give personal testimony to how this has helped them, and a group of women got up to sing and dance in their native style for us. It was a long but beautiful service. At the end, Vicki Wauterlek from our group got up and gave 3 gifts to them. The first was a watch, given to the woman heading up the co-op, signifying the fact that this is "the time" for these women to thrive. Then Vicki invited up one of the women from the co-op who had danced for us with her baby on her back. Remember the goat that the women's center gave to the First Lady yesterday to give to people who could benefit from it? On behalf of the First Lady and our team, Vicki presented it to this woman for her family and community. It was beautiful.
But the absolute best part was the last gift. Vicki talked about how the co-op has worked hard and benefited much, but how they are now facing the challenge of being able to publicize what they are doing and spread word and product to other villages. So on behalf of our team she gave A TRUCK to these woman to be able to spread their business. The women went wild. It was one of the most special moments of my life. Many of us were in tears. As soon as the translator said what Vicki had said, the women jumped to their feet and were cheering, clapping, waving their hands in the air...two women ran over and hugged Vicki...the whole thing was so emotional and beautiful. It is so clear that they are going to use this gift wisely and to benefit as many people as possible.
The other presentation we went to today was the official opening of a bank in one of the towns. In Uganda most banks are from outside the country and are not willing to work with the people. The amount of money required to open an account is too high for most and it just creates a lot of problems. The very first Ugandan bank has opened and they are starting to open branches across the country. This was one of those openings. We heard about how this bank will help people here and why this is going to benefit the communities. The First Lady did the offical ceremony of cutting the ribbon and we all walked through to see the bank and congratulate the people of the town. A school band played the National Anthem and it was really neat.
Tonight in our debriefing meeting we talked about something I had not considered before. It is sometimes difficult to imagine that our being here is helping these people. We are offering our encouragement and our love, and we are learning more than we could have dreamed. We have met amazing people and our whole views on how to help the people in this country have shifted. What they need and want is the ability and resources to help themselves. They do not want us to feed them, they want the mill to be able to feed themselves and everyone around them. They do not want us to send them clothes. They want us to help them learn to make and sell products so they can provide for their family through their own hard work and dedication. But what the First Lady told us today is that our being here and seeing all these sites where she has started projects helps in a way we hadn't considered. We've visited projects that have been started in the past and are moving forward now. And so what the First Lady said is that us being here is encouraging them in ways we can't imagine. We aren't the Americans here to fix them. We are here because word of their hard work and what they have done has travelled to the First Lady and is so incredible that we bothered to come and see it. Imagine that! They don't see us as here to fix their problems. They see us as here to witness how they are doing it, and to encourage and empower them to keep on doing that. It's beautiful. They don't want us to hand them things. They want us to hold their hands as they do it.
Thank you for your prayers. We are all falling in love with this country and with the people in it. They are amazing. So beautiful on the outside, but just STUNNING on the inside. Hugging the women and the children today after one of the meetings was wonderful. Not being able to communicate with words, but with smiles, tears of joy, and pats on the back....they know we care about them. We could see it in their eyes. And it was so clear to us that their gratitude and love was so genuine, so deep.
A quick note about photos...I've tried uploading some on several different occasions, but the internet connections are never fast enough. The only connection I had that could handle it was in Amsterdam. So I appologize for that - we wish you could be seeing our pictures while we are experiencing this. But when we all return I'm sure each one of us would be thrilled to share what we have, so please don't hesitate to ask us in person! We love you all and are grateful for your support!!
After the inspection and the tour of their mill, we went up a hill to a presentation of sorts. The project with the mill was explained in detail, including how it works, some of the challenges, how it has already made a difference, and how it will continue to bless them in the future. They thanked the First Lady many times and gave glory and praise to their Almighty Father. Two women came up to give personal testimony to how this has helped them, and a group of women got up to sing and dance in their native style for us. It was a long but beautiful service. At the end, Vicki Wauterlek from our group got up and gave 3 gifts to them. The first was a watch, given to the woman heading up the co-op, signifying the fact that this is "the time" for these women to thrive. Then Vicki invited up one of the women from the co-op who had danced for us with her baby on her back. Remember the goat that the women's center gave to the First Lady yesterday to give to people who could benefit from it? On behalf of the First Lady and our team, Vicki presented it to this woman for her family and community. It was beautiful.
But the absolute best part was the last gift. Vicki talked about how the co-op has worked hard and benefited much, but how they are now facing the challenge of being able to publicize what they are doing and spread word and product to other villages. So on behalf of our team she gave A TRUCK to these woman to be able to spread their business. The women went wild. It was one of the most special moments of my life. Many of us were in tears. As soon as the translator said what Vicki had said, the women jumped to their feet and were cheering, clapping, waving their hands in the air...two women ran over and hugged Vicki...the whole thing was so emotional and beautiful. It is so clear that they are going to use this gift wisely and to benefit as many people as possible.
The other presentation we went to today was the official opening of a bank in one of the towns. In Uganda most banks are from outside the country and are not willing to work with the people. The amount of money required to open an account is too high for most and it just creates a lot of problems. The very first Ugandan bank has opened and they are starting to open branches across the country. This was one of those openings. We heard about how this bank will help people here and why this is going to benefit the communities. The First Lady did the offical ceremony of cutting the ribbon and we all walked through to see the bank and congratulate the people of the town. A school band played the National Anthem and it was really neat.
Tonight in our debriefing meeting we talked about something I had not considered before. It is sometimes difficult to imagine that our being here is helping these people. We are offering our encouragement and our love, and we are learning more than we could have dreamed. We have met amazing people and our whole views on how to help the people in this country have shifted. What they need and want is the ability and resources to help themselves. They do not want us to feed them, they want the mill to be able to feed themselves and everyone around them. They do not want us to send them clothes. They want us to help them learn to make and sell products so they can provide for their family through their own hard work and dedication. But what the First Lady told us today is that our being here and seeing all these sites where she has started projects helps in a way we hadn't considered. We've visited projects that have been started in the past and are moving forward now. And so what the First Lady said is that us being here is encouraging them in ways we can't imagine. We aren't the Americans here to fix them. We are here because word of their hard work and what they have done has travelled to the First Lady and is so incredible that we bothered to come and see it. Imagine that! They don't see us as here to fix their problems. They see us as here to witness how they are doing it, and to encourage and empower them to keep on doing that. It's beautiful. They don't want us to hand them things. They want us to hold their hands as they do it.
Thank you for your prayers. We are all falling in love with this country and with the people in it. They are amazing. So beautiful on the outside, but just STUNNING on the inside. Hugging the women and the children today after one of the meetings was wonderful. Not being able to communicate with words, but with smiles, tears of joy, and pats on the back....they know we care about them. We could see it in their eyes. And it was so clear to us that their gratitude and love was so genuine, so deep.
A quick note about photos...I've tried uploading some on several different occasions, but the internet connections are never fast enough. The only connection I had that could handle it was in Amsterdam. So I appologize for that - we wish you could be seeing our pictures while we are experiencing this. But when we all return I'm sure each one of us would be thrilled to share what we have, so please don't hesitate to ask us in person! We love you all and are grateful for your support!!
Wednesday, March 11
The Past 2 Days (long post!)
Tuesday was a travel day. We spent about 8 hours total traveling from Kampala out west to some of the more rural areas. On the way we got to drive through a national reserve and see all sorts of African wildlife!!! We had a tour guide come on our bus and he told us all about the animals here. We saw zebras (my favorite), impalas, warthogs, the bird that is on the Ugandan flag, long horned cows, and lots of beautiful scenery. I'm sure I speak for the group when I say that the best part BY FAR was when we came up to a long horned cow (I'm talking like several feet long) that had just given birth by the side of the trail, like MINUTES beforehand. It was still all bunched up and wet with it's head tucked under it's leg and everything. We stopped and ooh-ed and aah-ed over it for a while until the mama started getting nervous. At one point we were able to get off the bus and get a little closer to some of the zebras. It was a GREAT experience.
We arrived last night at our hotel out here, and had a wonderful welcome. Dinner was served to the hotel guests out on a patio and there was a group of African men and women playing tribal music, singing and dancing in their native clothing. It was so much fun to watch and listen while we ate. What a blessing to experience that!
This morning we loaded the bus at 9 and drove another 2 hours to spend the day in some villages. We had the honor of travelling with the First Lady to some sites she planned on visiting. She is very involved in the lives of the people here. About a year and a half ago, Vicki Waterlek, who we are traveling with, started a goat and chicken initiative with the First Lady. In the district of Ruhaama there are about 5,000 people in 1,200 families spread out through the villages. 42 of the most needy families were selected and given 3 goats each. A family qualified if someone in the family was disabled, if they were especially poor, or if orphaned children lived among them. We got to visit 2 of the homes where goats had been placed. It was so amazing to see how this has developed. When each family was given their goats they were trained about how to care for them and how to use them for gain. Now each family has multiplied them, from 3 goats to 8, 11, even 13!
Some famlies are starting to sell a couple to make a profit. It's a great program. One woman whose husband is mute sold 2 of their 11 goats and used the money to rent a bean field. The profit from the bean field is now being used to buy metal roofing for their hut, instead of the thatched roof. Another family who was especially poor has sold 1 of their goats and with that money has been able to send their children to school. It was so encouraging to see how this goat initiative has taken off and how it is practically changing the lives of these villagers in such a short amount of time! The way the project works is after a certain amount of time, the families are expected to give 2 goats back, which are then passed on to other families, with hopes to continue multiplying and blessing these families by providing for their needs and allowing them to take ownership of making it happen. If you are interested in getting involved in this neat project, go to http://www.handsofhope.org/ which is the organization Vicki Waterlek is president of. They are based out of Barrington, and donations can be made to them to purchase goats for the people we were able to meet today!
Today was fun too, because one of the villages we were in had NEVER seen anyone of a different nationality, and most of the children didn't know other skin colors existed. To see the confused looks on their faces turn into smiles of joy when they realized we were happy to see them was amazing. I have never waved at so many people in one day, and we have never recieved such smiles and excitement to be greeted. It was such a good thing for us to see how these people really live and how we can tangibly get involved.
After that we went to a women's center where we were able to see another tangible and practical way that the First Lady is working to develop the communities in her country. These women are entrusted a loan from the government each week and are required to pay it back. The way they do that and make a profit is by selling goods. It has become a very profitable business. They grow and sell produce, and they make and sell all kinds of fabrics, furniture, clothes, purses, jewelery, and the like. They had a display set up to show us what they do and a few of us bought beautiful souveneirs. Through developing this program they are able to pay back the loan and make a profit, therefore furthering their communities through their own hard work.
Our last stop today was at the HOME of the First Lady - the home she grew up in and now maintains for visits to the villages. She hosted us for dinner and told us more about the things she is doing to help the people in her country. She shared her testimony with us, how she came to know the Lord, and what she believes about God and his people. It was a beautiful time with just about a dozen of us sitting in a circle in her living room. We were all AMAZED at the opportunity. We keep being blown away by wha God provides for us on this trip. It was during this time in her home that we formally presented to her the check of $12,000 for the first well in the well project. Madame First Lady was overjoyed and incredibly grateful. She did not know that we had been working to raise that money and the joy on her face was incredible. The president of Living Water International, named Mike, has been travelling with us. He is working with Vicki and the First Lady to get this well initiative going and this was his trip to the country to meet the people and see the need up close.
As soon as we gave the check to the First Lady, she turned immediately and gave it to Mike and praised the Lord for providing the first installment of her dream of providing clean and healthy water to all the people in her country. It was an overwhelming and beautiful experience, and YOU ALL MADE IT HAPPEN! We thank you once again for your generous giving, your incredible support, and your consistent love. Having met some of the people in the district where this well will be and talking to them today about their water situation (one family walks 30 minutes each way to their nearest water source, 3 times a day...this is common...), I can just tell you that this is going to be such a blessing for them! Praise the Lord!
Today was wonderful because we got to see the First Lady up close, in action with her people, and it is so clear that not only does she love these people, but she very deeply loves the Lord. Her adoration for her heavenly Father just flows out of her. Everywhere we went, everyone we talked to, heard of God and his love through the First Lady. She hugged the people and spoke freely about the Lord and his provisions. It was SO wonderful. The people love her so much, and many of them are believers. I can't help but wonder how much of that is because of the witness and influence she has been on her people.
A quick prayer request, today is the first day we've had girls feeling sick, likely from the food. We're no longer in the big city, but out rural. We're being careful about what we eat and taking lots of antacids, but some are still feeling lousy. We were able to enjoy the day fully anyway and not miss out on anything. But please pray that we will rest well tonight and wake up healthy and energized and ready to get back out and keeping meeting the people and learning about this country. We thank you, again, for your love and support.
We arrived last night at our hotel out here, and had a wonderful welcome. Dinner was served to the hotel guests out on a patio and there was a group of African men and women playing tribal music, singing and dancing in their native clothing. It was so much fun to watch and listen while we ate. What a blessing to experience that!
This morning we loaded the bus at 9 and drove another 2 hours to spend the day in some villages. We had the honor of travelling with the First Lady to some sites she planned on visiting. She is very involved in the lives of the people here. About a year and a half ago, Vicki Waterlek, who we are traveling with, started a goat and chicken initiative with the First Lady. In the district of Ruhaama there are about 5,000 people in 1,200 families spread out through the villages. 42 of the most needy families were selected and given 3 goats each. A family qualified if someone in the family was disabled, if they were especially poor, or if orphaned children lived among them. We got to visit 2 of the homes where goats had been placed. It was so amazing to see how this has developed. When each family was given their goats they were trained about how to care for them and how to use them for gain. Now each family has multiplied them, from 3 goats to 8, 11, even 13!
Some famlies are starting to sell a couple to make a profit. It's a great program. One woman whose husband is mute sold 2 of their 11 goats and used the money to rent a bean field. The profit from the bean field is now being used to buy metal roofing for their hut, instead of the thatched roof. Another family who was especially poor has sold 1 of their goats and with that money has been able to send their children to school. It was so encouraging to see how this goat initiative has taken off and how it is practically changing the lives of these villagers in such a short amount of time! The way the project works is after a certain amount of time, the families are expected to give 2 goats back, which are then passed on to other families, with hopes to continue multiplying and blessing these families by providing for their needs and allowing them to take ownership of making it happen. If you are interested in getting involved in this neat project, go to http://www.handsofhope.org/ which is the organization Vicki Waterlek is president of. They are based out of Barrington, and donations can be made to them to purchase goats for the people we were able to meet today!
Today was fun too, because one of the villages we were in had NEVER seen anyone of a different nationality, and most of the children didn't know other skin colors existed. To see the confused looks on their faces turn into smiles of joy when they realized we were happy to see them was amazing. I have never waved at so many people in one day, and we have never recieved such smiles and excitement to be greeted. It was such a good thing for us to see how these people really live and how we can tangibly get involved.
After that we went to a women's center where we were able to see another tangible and practical way that the First Lady is working to develop the communities in her country. These women are entrusted a loan from the government each week and are required to pay it back. The way they do that and make a profit is by selling goods. It has become a very profitable business. They grow and sell produce, and they make and sell all kinds of fabrics, furniture, clothes, purses, jewelery, and the like. They had a display set up to show us what they do and a few of us bought beautiful souveneirs. Through developing this program they are able to pay back the loan and make a profit, therefore furthering their communities through their own hard work.
Our last stop today was at the HOME of the First Lady - the home she grew up in and now maintains for visits to the villages. She hosted us for dinner and told us more about the things she is doing to help the people in her country. She shared her testimony with us, how she came to know the Lord, and what she believes about God and his people. It was a beautiful time with just about a dozen of us sitting in a circle in her living room. We were all AMAZED at the opportunity. We keep being blown away by wha God provides for us on this trip. It was during this time in her home that we formally presented to her the check of $12,000 for the first well in the well project. Madame First Lady was overjoyed and incredibly grateful. She did not know that we had been working to raise that money and the joy on her face was incredible. The president of Living Water International, named Mike, has been travelling with us. He is working with Vicki and the First Lady to get this well initiative going and this was his trip to the country to meet the people and see the need up close.
As soon as we gave the check to the First Lady, she turned immediately and gave it to Mike and praised the Lord for providing the first installment of her dream of providing clean and healthy water to all the people in her country. It was an overwhelming and beautiful experience, and YOU ALL MADE IT HAPPEN! We thank you once again for your generous giving, your incredible support, and your consistent love. Having met some of the people in the district where this well will be and talking to them today about their water situation (one family walks 30 minutes each way to their nearest water source, 3 times a day...this is common...), I can just tell you that this is going to be such a blessing for them! Praise the Lord!
Today was wonderful because we got to see the First Lady up close, in action with her people, and it is so clear that not only does she love these people, but she very deeply loves the Lord. Her adoration for her heavenly Father just flows out of her. Everywhere we went, everyone we talked to, heard of God and his love through the First Lady. She hugged the people and spoke freely about the Lord and his provisions. It was SO wonderful. The people love her so much, and many of them are believers. I can't help but wonder how much of that is because of the witness and influence she has been on her people.
A quick prayer request, today is the first day we've had girls feeling sick, likely from the food. We're no longer in the big city, but out rural. We're being careful about what we eat and taking lots of antacids, but some are still feeling lousy. We were able to enjoy the day fully anyway and not miss out on anything. But please pray that we will rest well tonight and wake up healthy and energized and ready to get back out and keeping meeting the people and learning about this country. We thank you, again, for your love and support.
Monday, March 9
Monday in Kampala
We started this morning with a trip to the Makerere University, one of the main universities in Kampala. We had the opportunity to meet with the professors in the Department of Women and Gender Studies. There were about 18 professors who teach different areas of health, sexuality, economy, politics, religion and inheritance, all in relation to women and gender. It was a fascinating experience and we had the opportunity to ask many questions and learn so much. We learned about the feminist movement here and how different it has been from that movement in America. We learned about issues that women deal with in Uganda, and how the university is helping to train and equip both women and men to address these issues.
After lunch back at the hotel, we headed out to meet Frances Mondo, the Commissioner for Youth here in Uganda. "Youth" as defined by him are those Ugandans who are between the ages of 18 and 30. He gave us a lot of information about this country, and specifically women in that age group. He discussed many of the issues that women here face, how it affects the culture, and how we as foreigners can effectively offer our assistance. We enjoyed that meeting very much, and again, learned so much! One of our team members was a scribe of sorts at both meetings, so if you're interested in more of what we learned about, ask one of us when we return and we can show you the notes of what we talked about.
Tonight we had the honor of having dinner at the Archbishop of Uganda's home. He and his wife welcomed us warmly into his home and served us a beautiful meal. We gathered around him in the living room and he shared with us about what he does here, what Uganda has experienced politically and spiritually, and how things have shifted over the years. He talked about ministries that are happening through what he does, and it was very clear to us that he loves the Lord and was very passionate for what he does in service for God. He and his wife were incredibly welcoming and hospitable, and we all felt very comfortable there. They were so much fun and it was overall just a wonderful experience.
Today was full of learning and growing for us. We travelled around with open eyes and ears, and found out so much. It was so interesting and enjoyable! We all felt so blessed to have these opportunities.
Tomorrow morning we leave for a four hour drive west into some of the villages. We'll be travelling for 3 days, and the First Lady will be joining us (!!!). I don't know if we'll have internet access or not at the hotel we'll be at there, but we'll be sure to come back and update you all as soon as possible. Thank you all so very much for your prayers, and for the comments yesterday. We loved reading through them at our debriefing meeting! :)
After lunch back at the hotel, we headed out to meet Frances Mondo, the Commissioner for Youth here in Uganda. "Youth" as defined by him are those Ugandans who are between the ages of 18 and 30. He gave us a lot of information about this country, and specifically women in that age group. He discussed many of the issues that women here face, how it affects the culture, and how we as foreigners can effectively offer our assistance. We enjoyed that meeting very much, and again, learned so much! One of our team members was a scribe of sorts at both meetings, so if you're interested in more of what we learned about, ask one of us when we return and we can show you the notes of what we talked about.
Tonight we had the honor of having dinner at the Archbishop of Uganda's home. He and his wife welcomed us warmly into his home and served us a beautiful meal. We gathered around him in the living room and he shared with us about what he does here, what Uganda has experienced politically and spiritually, and how things have shifted over the years. He talked about ministries that are happening through what he does, and it was very clear to us that he loves the Lord and was very passionate for what he does in service for God. He and his wife were incredibly welcoming and hospitable, and we all felt very comfortable there. They were so much fun and it was overall just a wonderful experience.
Today was full of learning and growing for us. We travelled around with open eyes and ears, and found out so much. It was so interesting and enjoyable! We all felt so blessed to have these opportunities.
Tomorrow morning we leave for a four hour drive west into some of the villages. We'll be travelling for 3 days, and the First Lady will be joining us (!!!). I don't know if we'll have internet access or not at the hotel we'll be at there, but we'll be sure to come back and update you all as soon as possible. Thank you all so very much for your prayers, and for the comments yesterday. We loved reading through them at our debriefing meeting! :)
Sunday, March 8
The Pearl of Africa
After an overnight flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi, and a connection from Nairobi to Entebbe, we finally arrived in Uganda late this morning. We were met at the airport by a lady named Margaret, who is an assistant to First Lady Museveni, and a driver named Sam. They brought us to a VIP Lounge, took our passports and left us to relax while they processed us through security and got all of our baggage for us. We were trying not to gawk at the service we were recieving!
We boarded a small bus and were driven from Entebbe (where the airport is) to Kampala, where we are staying. It was about a 40 minute drive, and we all loved every second of it. I don't think we knew if we should take pictures or just take it all in or laugh or gape or what....it was just so neat. Seeing the sights and smelling the plants, hearing the birds, all for the first time was so much fun. We drove through some smaller feeling towns and then into the big city, which is their capital. It is very green right now, lots of palm trees and other plants that are cool looking, the soil is a sort of red color, and it was so warm and sunny. Probably low 80's. We had the windows open in the bus and with the wind in our hair we were all just so happy. A few things about Ugandan driving: you drive on the left side of the road, and you don't obey traffic rules. :)
Upon arriving at our hotel, we met some people who are involved in the ministries here. Vicki, from Hands of Hope, and her daughter-in law Sarah who is a photojournalist were there. A man from Living Water International who is working with the First Lady to start this big well initiative was here, and a missionary couple who has just moved to Kampala about 3 weeks ago to head up the well initiative and well digging accross the country. They have twin 2 year olds and we all had fun playing with the kids in the lobby while we got checked in. After checking in and getting some lunch we were able to get a few hours of MUCH needed sleep, and some of the girls spent some time out in the pool, soaking up the African sun.
This evening we had an absolutely amazing opportunity. We were hosted by the First Lady at the State House for a reception. This is the equivilant of having a meal in the White House. It was a little bit overhwelming at first as we went throuh security at the State House and were escorted to a waiting room. But then we were brought to the (really cute) building where the First Lady was hosting us, and from then on we were quite comfortable. Madame First Lady shook all of our hands, welcomed us to her country, and had us in for our meal. We were served a beautiful 4 course meal with many typical Ugandan foods, and were able to have some great conversations.
Joining us for dinner were 3 Ugandan women who are involved in ministries here and are considered pretty high up as far as leadership in the country goes. We sat at different tables, and each of us had one of these women at our table. Their names were Corrine, Angelina, and Marcella. It was fasinating to talk to them, hear about their country, their culture, and their ministries. They encouraged us to ask questions and learn from them. We learned that the number 1 cause of death in Africa is actually malaria, number 2 is water related diseases, and number 3 is HIV/AIDS.
Angelina explained to my table that when you translate the names of the family in Ugandan languages, your mother is called "momma", her older sisters are called "big mommas", and her younger sisters are called "little mommas". This shows a bit of how the culture functions, for if a mother dies of HIV, the children have other "mommas" already in their lives to care for them. Often times orphans will be cared for by their families. The problem there is when so many people in the family are sick or dying of AIDS, they are no longer able to care for each other's children, and that is when the children are sent to orpanages.
Something else we learned is that many people in the villages don't know that such a thing as running water exists, and most have no concept that water is to be clear. Angelina held up her glass of water at the table and said because you can see through it, if you were to hand it to a villager, they would not recognize it as water. It was a really strong reminder of how important the project was for the well, and how wonderful it is that the funds came in to make this happen!
It was such a humbling opportunity to meet the First Lady and interact a bit with her. She prayed for our meal and it is clear that she loves the Lord. Worship music was playing in the background as we ate our meal, and it was just so neat to see believers from multiple countries coming together to fellowship. Praise the Lord for this opportunity we have! There's much more to say about what we learned and saw today, but jet lag is in full swing, and we are suppossed to be sleeping right now since it is 1 in the morning here. We have a full day tomorrow, so we'll be sure to let you all know what happens.
We boarded a small bus and were driven from Entebbe (where the airport is) to Kampala, where we are staying. It was about a 40 minute drive, and we all loved every second of it. I don't think we knew if we should take pictures or just take it all in or laugh or gape or what....it was just so neat. Seeing the sights and smelling the plants, hearing the birds, all for the first time was so much fun. We drove through some smaller feeling towns and then into the big city, which is their capital. It is very green right now, lots of palm trees and other plants that are cool looking, the soil is a sort of red color, and it was so warm and sunny. Probably low 80's. We had the windows open in the bus and with the wind in our hair we were all just so happy. A few things about Ugandan driving: you drive on the left side of the road, and you don't obey traffic rules. :)
Upon arriving at our hotel, we met some people who are involved in the ministries here. Vicki, from Hands of Hope, and her daughter-in law Sarah who is a photojournalist were there. A man from Living Water International who is working with the First Lady to start this big well initiative was here, and a missionary couple who has just moved to Kampala about 3 weeks ago to head up the well initiative and well digging accross the country. They have twin 2 year olds and we all had fun playing with the kids in the lobby while we got checked in. After checking in and getting some lunch we were able to get a few hours of MUCH needed sleep, and some of the girls spent some time out in the pool, soaking up the African sun.
This evening we had an absolutely amazing opportunity. We were hosted by the First Lady at the State House for a reception. This is the equivilant of having a meal in the White House. It was a little bit overhwelming at first as we went throuh security at the State House and were escorted to a waiting room. But then we were brought to the (really cute) building where the First Lady was hosting us, and from then on we were quite comfortable. Madame First Lady shook all of our hands, welcomed us to her country, and had us in for our meal. We were served a beautiful 4 course meal with many typical Ugandan foods, and were able to have some great conversations.
Joining us for dinner were 3 Ugandan women who are involved in ministries here and are considered pretty high up as far as leadership in the country goes. We sat at different tables, and each of us had one of these women at our table. Their names were Corrine, Angelina, and Marcella. It was fasinating to talk to them, hear about their country, their culture, and their ministries. They encouraged us to ask questions and learn from them. We learned that the number 1 cause of death in Africa is actually malaria, number 2 is water related diseases, and number 3 is HIV/AIDS.
Angelina explained to my table that when you translate the names of the family in Ugandan languages, your mother is called "momma", her older sisters are called "big mommas", and her younger sisters are called "little mommas". This shows a bit of how the culture functions, for if a mother dies of HIV, the children have other "mommas" already in their lives to care for them. Often times orphans will be cared for by their families. The problem there is when so many people in the family are sick or dying of AIDS, they are no longer able to care for each other's children, and that is when the children are sent to orpanages.
Something else we learned is that many people in the villages don't know that such a thing as running water exists, and most have no concept that water is to be clear. Angelina held up her glass of water at the table and said because you can see through it, if you were to hand it to a villager, they would not recognize it as water. It was a really strong reminder of how important the project was for the well, and how wonderful it is that the funds came in to make this happen!
It was such a humbling opportunity to meet the First Lady and interact a bit with her. She prayed for our meal and it is clear that she loves the Lord. Worship music was playing in the background as we ate our meal, and it was just so neat to see believers from multiple countries coming together to fellowship. Praise the Lord for this opportunity we have! There's much more to say about what we learned and saw today, but jet lag is in full swing, and we are suppossed to be sleeping right now since it is 1 in the morning here. We have a full day tomorrow, so we'll be sure to let you all know what happens.
Saturday, March 7
Saturday in Amsterdam
(Photo in Amsterdam)
Dear Family and Friends,
Praise the Lord, our first flight went wonderfully and we arrived safe and sound in Amsterdam this morning. Most of us slept on the flight, and as it was not a full plane we were able to spread out a little bit and even lay down in the seats! Because of the tailwinds we arrived earlier than expected, and found ourselves waiting in the airport for Teri, our contact in Amsterdam. It was a little bit difficult finding her, but in the end she found us, and we have had a wonderful day here. It's been sunny out and warm enough that we're all in jeans and sweatshirts and enjoying ourselves thoroughly.
Teri got us onto the train system at the airport and brought us to the main part of the city. We left our things at the hostel where she works in ministry and set out to explore the city. Teri walked us through the Red Light District, only a block or so away from the hostel, and we were all very saddened and in some ways surprised by what we say. Pictures are not to be taken in that area, so we were careful to be respectful of that. Teri explained a lot of what the area is like, and how women come into prostitution in this way. She also explained that although there is a lot of darkness in Amsterdam, there are also a lot of wonderful things happening. She showed us several ministries in and near the Red Light District that are working with prostitutes, drug addicts, homeless people, and so on. It was very interesting to see, and we left with heavy hearts at the brokenness, but also encouraged by the ministries there and what God is doing.
We had the priveledge of going to a resturant famous for its Dutch pancakes. It was quite the experience! Pancakes are not a breakfast food here, and can be made with meat and cheese and vegetables, or with dessert items like chocolate and fruit. It was really fun to see that and enjoy taking part of a Dutch tradition.
We were also able to take a tour of the hostel where Teri works and find out about the ministries that take place through the hostel, and different ways that God is working here. It was so neat to see, and we all enjoyed it very much. One girl on our team, Angela, was able to connect with an old friend who works now at the hostel, and they've had a great time catching up today.
The rest of the day was spent walking through the city, seeing the buildings, the canals and boats, shopping some, and learning a little bit about the culture and what it is like to live here. We went to the Netherland's version of Starbucks, shopped in a street market, and got to see the house where Anne Frank and her family hid during the war.
It's been a really enjoyable day, and we are all having a lot of fun. We've been really tired all day, but so excited to see everything that it's been alright. We all expect to sleep through tonight's flight. We take off around 8:45 and fly overnight to Nairobi, arriving tomorrow morning. Then we'll have a short layover before flying just an hour or so to Entebbe (Uganda), where the African adventures will begin! We'll keep you updated about the rest of our travels, and plan on posting once we reach our hotel in Kampala. :)
Tuesday, March 3
Three Days and Counting!
I sit here amazed and in awe of what the Lord has done these past few weeks. Our team has encountered so many generous people, and seen things happen that we never expected. We have hosted two fund raising dinners on our campus and collected donations from the student body. It is so encouraging to see the support of our peers and fellow students as we prepare for this trip. We have received donations from our Bible Studies and small groups, Sunday School classes and youth groups, coworkers, friends, relatives, neighbors and even strangers. I think I speak for the whole team when I say that we have been incredibly overwhelmed by the love and encouragement from you all. THANK YOU for what you have done. For the financial gifts that are making the well a reality. For the prayer as details have been put together and preparations finalized. And for the hugs, the words of excitement and encouragement, and overall the love and support of you, the body of Christ.
Our flight leaves Friday night at 7 pm. We will be flying overnight and will spend Saturday on a 10 hour layover in Amsterdam. After that we fly overnight again with one more short layover, and after 29 hours of traveling we'll arrive in Uganda late Sunday morning. I cannot put into words how excited we are, and how much we are looking forward to this. Every time we pass each other in the halls on the way to classes, or send an email with another question about packing or an update about finances, we all squeal with delight and get these huge smiles that just won't go away. This is going to be the trip of a lifetime and we are all overflowing with anticipation and gratitude for the opportunity.
Please be praying for us these last few days before we leave. Many of us have midterms this week as well as jobs. Please pray that we would be able to finish this week of school strong, that we would not be overwhelmed and exhausted as we try to get everything done. Pray that the remaining funds would come in for the well. And please pray for our hearts, that we would be prepared mentally, emotionally and spiritually for what God has for us. Pray that we will leave on Friday with eyes to see what the Lord has to show us, and wisdom in regards to how to respond, and what our part is.
Thank you again for your support these past several weeks and months. Once we are in Uganda we should be updating this site daily, so be sure to check back for pictures, stories, and details about what we're doing, who we're meeting, and what God does on this exciting trip!!!
Our flight leaves Friday night at 7 pm. We will be flying overnight and will spend Saturday on a 10 hour layover in Amsterdam. After that we fly overnight again with one more short layover, and after 29 hours of traveling we'll arrive in Uganda late Sunday morning. I cannot put into words how excited we are, and how much we are looking forward to this. Every time we pass each other in the halls on the way to classes, or send an email with another question about packing or an update about finances, we all squeal with delight and get these huge smiles that just won't go away. This is going to be the trip of a lifetime and we are all overflowing with anticipation and gratitude for the opportunity.
Please be praying for us these last few days before we leave. Many of us have midterms this week as well as jobs. Please pray that we would be able to finish this week of school strong, that we would not be overwhelmed and exhausted as we try to get everything done. Pray that the remaining funds would come in for the well. And please pray for our hearts, that we would be prepared mentally, emotionally and spiritually for what God has for us. Pray that we will leave on Friday with eyes to see what the Lord has to show us, and wisdom in regards to how to respond, and what our part is.
Thank you again for your support these past several weeks and months. Once we are in Uganda we should be updating this site daily, so be sure to check back for pictures, stories, and details about what we're doing, who we're meeting, and what God does on this exciting trip!!!
Wednesday, February 25
Moody Radio Interview!
Three members of our team were on Moody Radio this past Monday. Vicki Wauterlek, Pam MacRae, and Angela Monteith were able to speak with Chris Fabry on the "Chris Fabry Live!" show and it was quite a success! To listen to the show, go to the following link:
http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_programarchive.aspx?id=31078
Scroll down to the entry for February 23, 2009, and click on the "Listen" link on the right. You'll be able to hear their interview on your computer (the interview starts about twelve minutes into the program). What an encouraging opportunity to hear more about what the Lord is doing through this trip!
Keep us in your prayers...just over a week until we leave!
http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_programarchive.aspx?id=31078
Scroll down to the entry for February 23, 2009, and click on the "Listen" link on the right. You'll be able to hear their interview on your computer (the interview starts about twelve minutes into the program). What an encouraging opportunity to hear more about what the Lord is doing through this trip!
Keep us in your prayers...just over a week until we leave!
Monday, February 16
Please Consider This!
Our team has talked in this blog about why we are helping fund a well, who we're presenting it to, and which communities are going to be forever impacted by it. I think it's apparent that all of us on the team believe deeply in this cause and are excited about the potential opportunity of helping impact lives. But what is your role, and the Church's role? The very idea of asking for money feels awkward to us, and for some reason we want to shy away from it.
We have discussed this in our team meetings and have really come to the conclusion that if this is truly something that the Lord is calling us to do, the Church is the means by which it is going to happen. We want you to see that your gifts are a stepping stone into the lives of these people in Uganda. Your gifts are a way to care for their immediate needs while also preparing to tell them about their spiritual needs. This is the key. We want you to give because you see the need just as clearly as we do.
Consider your calling in this. How can the Lord use you to work with those who are lost in Africa? Would you be willing to come behind us prayerfully and financially as we venture to be the hands and feet of Christ in Uganda? We leave in a few short weeks, and the money for the well is not yet in. Please consider what you can do to help!!!
We have discussed this in our team meetings and have really come to the conclusion that if this is truly something that the Lord is calling us to do, the Church is the means by which it is going to happen. We want you to see that your gifts are a stepping stone into the lives of these people in Uganda. Your gifts are a way to care for their immediate needs while also preparing to tell them about their spiritual needs. This is the key. We want you to give because you see the need just as clearly as we do.
Consider your calling in this. How can the Lord use you to work with those who are lost in Africa? Would you be willing to come behind us prayerfully and financially as we venture to be the hands and feet of Christ in Uganda? We leave in a few short weeks, and the money for the well is not yet in. Please consider what you can do to help!!!
Sunday, February 15
Excited For The Trip!
Some thoughts about the trip, written by Pam MacRae (director of Women's Ministries at MBI and a leader of this trip):
I am very excited about what God is doing in setting up this trip for us. We will see firsthand the needs of women in Uganda, having access to people of influence both in the church and in the political world. My expectation and prayer is that God will give us information that will stir our spirits and challenge us to see new ways we can serve Him. I am asking God to help us not miss anything He has for us! I want to come back with a renewed vision of what it looks like to help needy women. How can women help women is my question. We need prayer for the team, our schedule, our travel, safety, and provision not only for the trip – but also the well project. We did not want to come empty handed to a people with many needs and ask them to help us in our goals. We were challenged to raise money for a well because the very basic need for clean water is a struggle that impacts the lives of women in particular. Women often provide for their families in circumstances that make access to clean water nearly impossible. If we can give money for a well we can affect the lives of an entire village. That is a lot of people!! We are excited to have this opportunity. It is a walk of faith for us to see God provide that amount of money!
I am very excited about what God is doing in setting up this trip for us. We will see firsthand the needs of women in Uganda, having access to people of influence both in the church and in the political world. My expectation and prayer is that God will give us information that will stir our spirits and challenge us to see new ways we can serve Him. I am asking God to help us not miss anything He has for us! I want to come back with a renewed vision of what it looks like to help needy women. How can women help women is my question. We need prayer for the team, our schedule, our travel, safety, and provision not only for the trip – but also the well project. We did not want to come empty handed to a people with many needs and ask them to help us in our goals. We were challenged to raise money for a well because the very basic need for clean water is a struggle that impacts the lives of women in particular. Women often provide for their families in circumstances that make access to clean water nearly impossible. If we can give money for a well we can affect the lives of an entire village. That is a lot of people!! We are excited to have this opportunity. It is a walk of faith for us to see God provide that amount of money!
Saturday, February 14
The First Lady of Uganda
Our team is going to have the incredibly unique priviledge of meeting with the First Lady while we are in Uganda. Janet Kataha Museveni has been the First Lady of Uganda since 1986 when her husband, Yoweri Museveni came into presidency. She is a born again Christian, which is clearly evident in the ways in which she has served her country. She formed the Uganda Women's Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), and has also been working hard to promote abstinece among youth in order to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. Since beginning her campaign to fight HIV/AIDS, the nation's percentage of those infected by HIV/AIDS has so dramatically decreased that other countries have invited her to campaign in their countries as well.
Please be praying for the First Lady, that God would grant her wisdom and peace within the leadership role He has given her. Also pray that she can lead from a place of humility and that God will receive the glory from all the work he is doing through her. And lastly, please for the success of her campaign to raise money for wells for her country. Pray that people would be touched to give and that the campaign would positively impact the lives of many in her country.
Please be praying for the First Lady, that God would grant her wisdom and peace within the leadership role He has given her. Also pray that she can lead from a place of humility and that God will receive the glory from all the work he is doing through her. And lastly, please for the success of her campaign to raise money for wells for her country. Pray that people would be touched to give and that the campaign would positively impact the lives of many in her country.
Thursday, February 12
Location of the Well!!!
The well for which we are raising funds will be built in the county of Ruhaama Uganda. It's a real place with real people and real needs! Some information about the area:
The Ruhaama county is located within the Ntungamo district, in the very southwest region of the country of Uganda. The southern side of the Ruhaama county directly borders the country of Rwanda (www.tigweb.org/action/projects). The district as a whole has a population of approximately 410,000 people. The majority of the population (about 98.9%) stays within the rural areas of the district and depends on subsistence farming for their livlihood (www.travelingluck.com/Africa/Uganda/Ntungamo/_226637_Ruhama.html#local_map). The district has poor social infrastructure such as health centers, roads and schools. Within the district there are two main roads, one of which is paved. As a result of current schooling conditions, the literacy level in the district is as low as 60%. In Ruhaama specifically, the literacy level is as low as 55% (www.tigweb.org/action/projects). The well we are raising funds for will serve those located in places such as Chondo, Katozho, Murami, Kashanda, Chitwe, Rukoni, Chenkoni, and the surrounding areas (www.fallingrain.com/world/UG/59/Ruhama.html).
Please pray for the people in these areas, for both their physical and spiritual needs. Also please continue to pray for our team as we continue to raise funds for this much needed well.
The Ruhaama county is located within the Ntungamo district, in the very southwest region of the country of Uganda. The southern side of the Ruhaama county directly borders the country of Rwanda (www.tigweb.org/action/projects). The district as a whole has a population of approximately 410,000 people. The majority of the population (about 98.9%) stays within the rural areas of the district and depends on subsistence farming for their livlihood (www.travelingluck.com/Africa/Uganda/Ntungamo/_226637_Ruhama.html#local_map). The district has poor social infrastructure such as health centers, roads and schools. Within the district there are two main roads, one of which is paved. As a result of current schooling conditions, the literacy level in the district is as low as 60%. In Ruhaama specifically, the literacy level is as low as 55% (www.tigweb.org/action/projects). The well we are raising funds for will serve those located in places such as Chondo, Katozho, Murami, Kashanda, Chitwe, Rukoni, Chenkoni, and the surrounding areas (www.fallingrain.com/world/UG/59/Ruhama.html).
Please pray for the people in these areas, for both their physical and spiritual needs. Also please continue to pray for our team as we continue to raise funds for this much needed well.
Monday, February 9
Our Team
Left to Right: Pam, Holly F, Brittany, Holly S, Bridget, Frances, Rachel, AngelaGet to know our team below, by reading our bios and hearing about who we are and what we love!
Ministry Leaders:
Name: Pam MacRae
Title: Director of Women's Ministries at Moody Bible Institute
A Favorite Verse: Ephesians 3:20-21
Name: Vicki Wauterlek
Title: President of Hands of Hope
Goals/Passions/Ministry Interests: My passion is for people to experience the life transforming love of Christ! When I realized that throughout the ages God has used unlikely people for His purposes, I knew that I qualified and I signed up to serve Him on that basis.
A Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 29:13
Students:
Name: Frances Rau
Year/Major: Junior Year, Youth Ministries Major
Goals/Passions/Ministry Interests: My dream is that God will allow me to be a part of changing the hearts and minds of youth.
A Favorite Verse: Psalm 37:4
Name: Bridget Kilbride
Year/Major: Sophmore Year, Applied Linguistics and Compassion Ministries Major
Goals/Passions/Ministry Interests: I have a passion for international ministry. I love languages, diversity, and studying various cultures and people groups. I also have a heart for counseling youth coming from difficult backgrounds or broken home lives.
A Favorite Verse: 1 Peter 5:7; Zephaniah 3:17
Name: Holly Snider
Year/Major: Senior Year, Pre-Couseling Major
Goals/Passions/Ministry Interests: I plan to go on to get a masters degree in Social Work after graduation. It is a goal/dream of mine to work with orphans and children in crisis around the world. A dream of mine is to work in a Christian international adoption agency someday or to start my own. It has been a big dream of mine to travel to Africa on a trip like this since I was very young. I am so excited for this amazing opportunity and I know God has big plans in store for our trip!
A Favorite Verse: Psalm 62:1-2
Name: Rachel Gauger
Year/Major: Senior Year, Womens Ministries Major
Goals/Passions/Ministry Interests: My heart is for discipleship and mentoring among Christian women. I love getting to know women, hearing their stories, and seeing them move forward in their walks with the Lord. I hope to one day work in a church or a para-church organization, walking alongside women as they go through the everyday things in life and seek to know Christ better.
A Favorite Verse: Ephesians 3:16-19
Name: Holly Ford
Year/Major: Senior Year, Applied Linguistics Major
Goals/Passions/Ministry Interests: I have been forever impacted by seeing the needs of God's people suffering around the world. I hope to someday be a part of practicing justice and showing God's love through international ministries. My dream would be to one day open a coffee shop and guest house to reach the lost.
A Favorite Verse: Psalm 63:2-8
Name: Angela Monteith
Year/Major: Junior Year, Womens Ministries and Bible Major
Goals/Passions/Ministry Interests: I've found that I love school and I would eventually like to go to Grad School and get my teaching degree, possibly in English Literature. But I also love the outdoors and would like to look into joining an outdoor ministry for awhile. I may head in the direction of Europe. When it's all said and done, I just want to be where the Lord wants me.
A Favorite Verse: Psalm 73:25-28
Name: Brittany Marshall
Year/Major: Senior Year, Womens Ministries Major
Goals/Passions/Ministry Interests: I am hoping to go on to get a degree in International Law after I finish at Moody. The Lord has combined in me a deep love and concern for women with a burden for those who are oppressed and have no one to come to their aid, and so I am hoping to work on their behalf. My dream is to get involved in the legislative process of extending protection to women in Muslim countries. I want these women to see what our God is like, that He is good and loving. I am so excited to think of the way the gospel restores their dignity and reveals their value to our God.
A Favorite Verse: Habakkuk 3:2
Monday, February 2
Hands of Hope
Our team has the privilege of traveling to Uganda with Vicki Wauterlek, the president of Hands of Hope, a not-for-profit organization based out of Barrington Illinois. Hands of Hope is dedicated to the critical needs of women and children around the world who face disease, poverty and persecution.
Hands of Hope was founded in the late 1990's by Vicki who believed that "If women in our local community hear about how women and children are suffering, they will respond and want to do something about it." Today Hands of Hope is a group of women in the Chicagoland area who are serving in a variety of ways to help women and children around the world.
For more information about this organization and the exciting things they are doing around the world, please visit their website: www.handsofhopeonline.org or call their office at 847-381-7367.
Hands of Hope was founded in the late 1990's by Vicki who believed that "If women in our local community hear about how women and children are suffering, they will respond and want to do something about it." Today Hands of Hope is a group of women in the Chicagoland area who are serving in a variety of ways to help women and children around the world.
For more information about this organization and the exciting things they are doing around the world, please visit their website: www.handsofhopeonline.org or call their office at 847-381-7367.
Friday, January 30
Why Wells?
Did you know that every fifteen seconds a child dies from a water related disease? Or that at any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water related disease? According to OXFAM, an organization seeking to fight poverty and injustice, sickness caused by unclean water will claim the lives of 4,000 children in the next 24 hours. (water.org)
The water crisis is not only something affecting health, but also the rest of culture. It affects hunger, as crops need water to grow; it affects poverty, as poor health leads to poor productivity. It causes a lack of education, as sick students cannot go to school, and then move on to adequate jobs. Much valuable time each day is spent looking for clean water, and therefore not enough time is given to improving the community and preparing for the future. Communities remain in poverty because they are not healthy enough to break the cycle. (thewaterproject.org)
Building a well for a community in Uganda
Tuesday, January 27
The Trip!
In March of this year, a team of 8 women from Moody will be traveling to Uganda. The team consists of 7 students and Pam MacRae, the head of the Women’s Ministries department. We will be traveling with Vicki Wauterlek, the president of Hands of Hope, a non-for-profit organization dedicated to women and children around the world.
During our time in Uganda we will explore the realities of the struggles that face women and children in Uganda and how God may have us get involved. We will be traveling in prayer that the Lord will open our eyes to see this country the way He sees it, and to view the Ugandan people the way that He does. The purpose of this trip is twofold. We want to show the people in Uganda that we care enough to come and see, and that we care enough to offer our support. We want to be exposed to and informed about what God is doing in other parts of the world, and how we, as young women in America, can help. We also seek to raise $12,000 (money) to provide a well for a village in Uganda, thus meeting the immediate physical needs, as well as to travel there and see firsthand the needs of the people. We count ourselves as incredibly privileged and extremely blessed to have this opportunity, and we are humbled by the doors God has opened for us thus far. Please pray with us and for us. What God has ahead of us is far greater than what we could imagine!
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