Where has the time gone?

I cannot believe my time here in Kampala is coming to an end. Today is my last day at the school and tomorrow Angela (the new VIA) and I will be heading up to Arua. I am looking forward to living in a new city and meeting new people, but I will greatly miss my friends here in Kampala. I have come to know and love our guards, the staff at the school, the pastors, the store owners, and the friendly boda boda driver ;) and I am sad to leave all of them. Yet I am excited I have the opportunity to experience a new city and new ministry! I am not sure what is in store for me in Arua, but I know God will continue to guide each step I take, just as He has in Kampala. I know I have said this many times before, but I am so blessed to be here. I am so blessed to share in fellowship with the people of Uganda and all the missionaries here!
Sunday, Leeann took Angela and I to a church way out in the middle of tea fields, called Nakigalala. It was so beautiful I couldn't stop taking pictures. But what was far more beautiful was the spirit of the people at the church!! We did not tell them we were visiting so they were so surprised to see us. We were greeted with undeserved cheers and praises. Although I would normally consider my visiting a church as nothing special, but here it is. Just our presence there gives them such encouragement and joy. I am so thankful that by just showing up to church I am able to be an encouragement and support to the people of Nakigalala. The church is in the process of making bricks to build a new church and hopefully a daycare school. The current church is made of papyrus reeds and is easily torn up and not stable. Please be in prayer for the church as they find the resources to build.

~Buvuma Island~

I joined the IWU team for an overnight trip to the island, where WGM assists in ministry. Buvuma Island is in Lake Victoria, just south of Kampala. It is the image many think of as being "Africa", with no running water or electricity, and a village filled with grass huts. We drove through part of the rain forest to reach our port. A port with no dock, that is. Here at the port the boat is parked 75 feet or so from the shore, in order to get into the boat you are carried...yes carried like a baby, in the arms of a Ugandan man (whom I call boat boys) trough the water. Hahaha...it was humbling to say the least. But we made it safely onto the boat for our hour and a half ride to the island. Once we reached the island we were welcomed by a group of small boys who were eager to help carry our bags (on their heads) up the hill to the school. We would be spending the next day and a half playing with the island children and teaching a bible school. It was a joy to be apart of the island life for that short time. Being able to show the children the love of Christ was a blessing to all of us. I will always carry the memories of each new friend I have come to know and pray that God will continue to bless each one of them. There are so many opportunities for ministry on the island, from the basic need for clean water to sharing the Gospel. I hope this experience will encourage us to take action!

Blessings!

Busy times. Last week was a week of preparation. For the IWU team and for the big Bazaar at school. The team arrived safely on Friday evening, and now Leeann and I have five more housemates ;) The team will be here for three weeks and I look forward to working with them! H.I.S. held their Bazaar this weekend, where locals and people from school set up booths and sell basically anything. It was fun, a lot of work...but of course some good shopping!! I am pretty sure I could start a good shopping ministry here :) It may sound funny, but I have been so blessed by the people I come across while shopping or just browsing. I know that by buying a little beaded necklace can help provide for a family and I am more than willing to support the local shop owners and artists here ;) Today I came across a random blessing. Last week I had been at a small craft store...shopping of course...and had set my house keys on the counter. Not noticing until today that they were missing. Delight, just happened to call for a grocery run, so I went along and stopped by the store. And what do ya know, they had been keeping my keys hidden away, just waiting for me to pick up!! That doesn't happen a lot in Africa or any country for that matter. These people were so sincere and honest...and I was so blessed by that! So you can be sure I will return and bring lots of friends to give them business.
This Sunday was another adventure at a new church! More blessings! The kids are precious!! I have lots of pictures and wonderful memories! There is such joy and freedom in the worship here...it is refreshing!
Check out the pictures I finally got up!!