Look for details on our team recap night–Saturday, October 13th 7pm–to come. We’re excited to share in person.

Will add pictures, though we have several thousand to process through. For now–a couple favorites:  

On a different note, the other day a boy named Sekatawa disappeared from STAO. He had grown attached to the members of our team, especially Jessica. Many at STAO kept claiming he would show up ‘tomorrow’, but to no avail. So Jessica began to inquire about his whereabouts. She was led to a small village across the street from STAO, and found out from a neighbor that Sekatawa was actually in another village with a different relative. After all this confusion, Jessica and Victor pursued the boy and were reunited! Shawna commented that it was like the parable of the lost sheep or lost coin; stories implying that God pursues us relentlessly.

Anyways, this may be the last post before the team leaves for SEATTLE. I personally will be on a different return flight (because I came with Ethiopian Airlines), and will arrive in Seattle on Tuesday (a day later than the rest of the team). Things are a little sketchy with that though, as I tried to call their customer service and they couldn’t find my reservation (although maybe its lost in translation? Even though I spent 2 months there, I had trouble understanding the English with thick Amharic accent). Pray that everything works out smoothly.

Well, this is Tusubira Trip07, signing out. You have all been amazing in your support, generosity, and thoughts. See you soon!

PS: For those interested, Jamie’s presentation in Austria went really well. Props!

Today we had our final worship service with the beautiful congregation of STAO. We heard an awesome message about our POWERFUL God who brought Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego through the blazing furnace. I feel in the same way God has brought us through this trip. We may have gone in with just 11 mzungus, but God has met us in every step of the trip to make it a powerful team of 12.

After church we said our goodbyes. It was about a 4 hour process, with lots of hugs and tears. I am so excited to know that we will have friends forever in Mafubira.

The next time you hear from us, we’ll probably be sitting face to face with each other, and sharing laughs and tears over this amazing journey that God has brought us on. Thank you all SO MUCH for reading our blog for the past month–for trying to understand the things that we’ve been through, to provide words of encouragement, and to be prayer warriors for us from across the globe. We have been praying for all of you back home, and we can’t wait to be back with you.

NOTE TO THOSE COMING TO THE AIRPORT: Kate has posted some info on our flight in her last posting. We have a pretty tight layover in London, and if we miss our London-Seattle flight, we’ll call someone on the parent contact list, who can call the rest of the parents. We’re REALLY hoping this doesn’t happen, but we realize it’s a possibility. THANKS, AND SEE YOU SOON!  (p.s. many of us on the team are chocolate-deprived. feel free to greet us with smiles and chocolate if you feel led.)

Well, with that said, I’ll attempt to describe one of the things that occupied majority of my time here in
Uganda, which has been trying to finish the STAO building.

Pastor Nelson often says, “In U.S. you use dollars, here in
Uganda, we use shillings, but in heaven, we’ll use faith”. Although it seems to my Western mind, inconceivably impractical, somewhat unwise, and ridiculously mind boggling, the STAO building construction began with that phrase in mind – simply by faith only.

Without any resources, a budget, nor a construction background, pastor Nelson and pastor Ivan started to construct a building solely with faith in God that He’ll provide. The building construction has taken around almost two years now, sometimes with stalling gaps of upto few months along the way.

Although Tusubira had made attempts to support the building construction this past year, without a designated supervisor or a consistent budget along with limited resources, it was very unproductive and an inefficient effort.

Therefore the task of building completion has been dropped on my plate while I was here as I had some background in construction management and I truly had a passion for this building and STAO staff’s vision for the building.

It has been very difficult and challenging dealing with technical problems with our bank atm, inconsistent budget, underestimated time schedule, workers who continually demand abnormally higher wages from me just because I’m a mzungu, material shop owners trying to charge me more, the language barriers (or some people pretending to not understand English even when they did), noone else with managerial skills or construction knowledge on site, some workers showing to work drunk, realizing that these workers who’ve been demanding money on a daily basis with an excuse to feed their family has been spending their daily wage on alcohol, substandard craftsmanship, very loose sense of productivity, and often times stealing of materials on site. (sorry, my rant stops here).

It was very discouraging and honestly seemed unattainable to complete the building.

As end of the trip drew near, my frustration and disappointment level only grew higher. However, after much prayer from the team, pastor nelson and pastor ivan, I realized that a lot of those frustrations and my will to finish the building sprouted from my own pride and insensitive and ignorant approach to their culture and the way they work. Moreover, it was eye opening and tremendously humbling to realize it has been absolutely a divine appointment from God to provide our team with abundance so that we may assist in finishing the building. He has been really showing us that He’ll provide when it is needed as long as we remain faithful and trusting of His power. We were able to withdraw just enough money day by day to pay off materials and laborers and the building is now around 90% complete. Truly all things are possible by God. We won’t complete the building by this Sunday, but the remaining final touches will be done within a few weeks after we leave. Praise God that He truly works things out for us.

For those wondering what this building is for, the building construction originally began to bring more children to STAO. However, we realized that STAO does not have enough resources to barely take care of current children. Thus the building will be used for sustainable income generating projects for them. We’ve just purchased sewing machines today for the widows and we’ll also be buying computers to start a vocational computer skills training program for the locals. God truly has best plans for us and the children and staff at STAO. It is incredibly exciting to see God moving.

Prayer request is for continued protection of children at STAO who are left so vulnerable especially since Mafubira is one of the most dangerous areas around Jinja. With all that’s been happening at STAO, we’ve been drawing much attention to the place and especially with increased robbery in the area, the children are left extra vulnerable.

Thank you so much everyone for your continued prayers for us and the children here. I hope I can rely on faith more often when I return to the states, as “in heaven, we’ll all be using faith”.

Kids yelling our names as we arrive at STAO, who literally pull us out of the taxi van with their tiny arms, then do this crazy hug and jump thing that shakes your whole body, all while continuously screaming our names: “Jimmy! Jimmy!” or “Katie! Katie!” or “Dell! Dell!”

Hand washing clothes with Sam, Kate, and Jessica, and laughing insane amounts to the point of ab cramping. Oh, and wet laundry fights.

Holding five children’s hands… at the same time.

Holding a child until they stop crying.

Going for a run at 7:30am, and soaking in the green banana trees, the reddish brown dirt, the “a muzungu! a muzungu!” rhythmic chanting of our 2 year old quartet neighbors, and watching a line of small brown children lug bright yellow jerry cans full of water up a long rutted hill. This country is gorgeous, and I will be leaving part of myself here in Uganda.

Our team. I love them so much, and have been blessed ALL the time as we are together eating, debriefing, “devo-ing” (devotionals), and hanging out waiting for the single bathroom to open up :). God has blessed me with such amazing friends!

Today, a 10 year old boy who I don’t even know his name, was devastated that I was leaving tomorrow. I hadn’t even played with him very much, yet as I hugged and held him, he just cried. I can’t fathom the impact that we may have unknowingly and prayerfully have had upon these kids, or even the impact that these kids have had upon me.

Later today, we had Sunday (or Thursday?) school. Irene, the teacher, sang out commands and the 25 or so kids, who sang, danced, or recited bible verses in unison. Seriously, African kids are superkids compared to Americans! No joke :). Pastor Nelson came and taught the kids, “We are the world, we are the children”. Dale and Rachel joined a 12 year old girl named Doroka, and practiced a hilarious skit about trying to serve two masters. 19 year old Nicolaus busted out the “Ragga” tunes and we all learned some sweet Ugandan dance moves until we dripped with sweat and pulsed with satisfaction. It was a perfect end to my stay at STAO.

Thank you so much for your prayers, we are truly feeling them here. God has been so faithful in our travels, health, and hearts. We have witnessed miracles here - all 96 of the kids at STAO tested negative for HIV!! God is so powerful, and so gracious to show us how powerful He is. This was no coincidence - this was a miracle of the Lord! Whooo!!! Thanks for reading, and God bless,

Jamie

As Melissa, Irene and I were walking through town, a man yelled to Irene in the vernacular, “You know they’re just going to leave, don’t you?” She laughed as she translated this to us. It’s starting to hit us that we’re leaving and may never see these people again. But I’m realizing that our lives have been forever changed as a result of having met and grown to care about one another. Some of us will be paying school fees for certain individuals God has laid on our heart. Some of us are exchanging email addresses and prayer requests. Early in the trip, I got this image of God standing between me and a Ugandan boy introducing us saying, “Oh Rachel! I’m so glad you get to meet my friend here. I’ve been wanting you two to meet.” I feel like God is so happy that some of his friends in Seattle have met some of his friends in Uganda. We’re now in the process of collecting photos and stories so we can come home and introduce our new friends to all of you. Be excited =)

Thank you for all your prayers,

Rachel

yesterday was the longest day yet.  as americans remembered the anniversary of 9/11, the 10 of us embarked upon a bumpy trip to the district of kamuli to visit child-headed households and widows and orphans.  it was the first time the team was able to experience the real uganda together.  in contrast to the lushness of the c0untryside, the ripening bananas and jackfruit, and the glorious hues of the sunrise and sunset, we saw a country devastated by poverty and disease.  it is absolutely sobering to stand in the presence of a 15-year-old boy sifting beans on the ground and realizing he is running the family and all his siblings depend on him.  on top of that, he carries the burden of rummaging for school fees.  no 15-year-old should ever have to endure the hardships he endures each day, but that is the reality for him and many, many others. 

the home visits were facilitated by a jovial and compassionate man named Robert, who heads the organization The Aids Generation (TAG)–an organization that oversees foster kids and widows groups.  a friend of Pastor Nelson and David, Robert introduced us to 18 families headed either by children or widows.  we brought along bags of sugar, soap, notebooks and pencils.  however not enough, they were accepted with much appreciation and thanks.  it continues to baffle us just how friendly and welcoming the people of uganda are.  there is no sense of inconvenience or obligated hospitality.  they truly enjoy others’ presence and make it known through the smiles on their faces and the light in their eyes.  an elderly lady even sang a song when we were leaving, translating something to the sort of…”i feel like a drunkard just given a bar.”  how does that not put a smile on your face?

today, thursday and friday will be spent at STAO playing with the kids, getting testimonies, and hopefully furnishing the new building with sewing machines.  shawna and i remarked yesterday on how different our attitudes toward STAO has become since the first day.  drained, weary and completely sapped of energy after our first day at STAO has become excitement, joy and happiness in knowing we will spend time with the kids. 

after a long and tiring day, it’s good to know someone loves you and cares about your well-being.  i only hope and pray the children, orphans and widows of uganda feel that overwhelming sense of love.

 see you all soon.  continue to pray for health and safety.

God bless.  webaleh Yesu.

–victor

It started with entertainment from our very own Jamie. We were all trekking down the stairs to the falls, which were very muddy from the rain when Jamie goes skating by on the mud next to the stairs. We warned him that he was just asking for it, but he only replied with “I’m a mountain goat”. The sentence had barely come out of his mouth when his feet slipped out from under him and BAM he fell right on his butt and went sliding down the hill. We were laughing so hard that no one could stand up. We can always count on Jamie.

The falls were gorgeous. They are bigger than Itanda and I personally like them better. There are about 5-6 sections of the falls with slower, calm water in between. Shortly after we got there a “Bujagali diver” (yes there is such a profession) came up to us and asked us if we would like to pay him to swim the falls. Crazy right? But of course we said yes…too hard to resist. So he changed, grabbed his gerry can (a water container), and dove into the water. As if swimming the falls wasn’t enough the guy also did tricks in the water. We were a little afraid after he went down the main rapid and didn’t surface for about 6 seconds, but he lived and we were entertained. Praise God.

After that we went for a boat ride to an island in the middle of the falls and saw more falls on the other side which were even bigger than the main ones. So terrifying and beautiful. The island also had something that many of the team joked about taking home, but since we are all good kids we resisted. The locals joke because it is an island that grows marijuana naturally.  It is hiding in all the pictures…and we thought it was pretty funny.  On the trip back on the boat the guide told us we could jump out and swim back which a few of us were tempted to do, but when we began to get out the guide stopped us. Apparently he was kidding. oops. Once we got to shore however, a few of us still wanted to go so he pointed us to a calm inlet in between two of the falls where we could swim. Don’t worry parents….we asked if there were crocs, snails, dangerous fish, leeches, etc. He said that because it is too close to the falls nothing like that lived in the water around Bujagali. So Jamie, Danielle, Sam, and I went for it. It was funny because none of us had suits so we just swam in our clothes. The water was super warm and none of us wanted to get out. But the rest of the team started to get hungry and antsy so we eventually gave in and got out. But now we can say we swam in the Nile. yay us!

From there we went to dinner at a place called 2 Friends, which has everything from American food to Indian food. The atmosphere was great and so was the food. We stayed for a long time, then finally headed home. GOOD GOOD day.

we miss you all very very very much. Thanks so much for the continued prayers and support. LOVE YOU!

jessica