MONKEYS AND CATERPILLARS................YUM!

David and Jassy are brother and sister and live with their family in Kampala.. Their father owns the “Joy Guesthouse” where our team stayed in Kanungu. Because of the unrest in Kampala, their father sent them to stay at his “Guest House” in Kanungu where they would be safe.

We were blessed by everyone at the “Joy Guest House”, and He intended for David and Jassy to be there too. They added a crucial element to our time in Kanungu, and forever touched our hearts.

David had two prophetic dreams the week before we arrived. In one of the dreams, he saw Jesus coming to Uganda and many people being lifted up with Him. He was left behind and saw this from the ground. We asked David to share his dreams with the children. This was very powerful and perfectly arranged by God and presented on the same day that these children heard the Gospel for the first time.

Nicole had a plan for the Vacation Bible School, but was willing and even eager to lay those plans down and allow God to do His thing. That was one of the reasons for the success of the entire trip. Being flexible and knowing when to relax and let things happen.

After 23 hours in the air.....and 12 hours on a bus through the jungle......we were headed to the Joy Guest House where we would be staying. We passed by the school on the way........and they stopped us. They had prepared a "Welcome" song and dance for us.......and were anxiously awaiting our arrival.

They had already begun to amaze us with their eagerness to give of themselves and and show their excitement and thankful hearts. It was amazing.......and a bit shocking. I remember being overwhelmed with emotion as I watched the adults who had gathered to welcome us..the best way they knew how.

Are we really making a difference? Yes Yes we are....by holding and loving, teaching and caring, sharing the gospel and letting them know how valuable they are to God and telling them about HIM and how much HE loves them.

Yes we are making a difference. God has also used them to change ME.

I was the grumbling child in the dessert complaining about all the manna and quail. Instead of being grateful for all that HE has supplied, I complained that it was not something better.

How dare I.

I appreciate everything God has blessed me with. I want to know His voice and hear Him clearly and obey and be a good steward of everything He has given me.

These wonderful grateful appreciative people have taught me a great deal.

When we first arrived the children were guarded and observant. They soon relaxed and had fun and begin to trust us. It was like watching a flower blossom. These children are so bright and beautiful and talented and creative. They are hungry for the TRUTH.

What a wonderful thing to see the children open up and respond to the word of GOD.

This has been a true life changing experience. My eyes have been opened. We have so much! When Moses led the people out of Egypt and God miraculously provided manna, they complained. Even when He gave them manna and quail they complained......that was me!
What is there to complain about?

This was my first mission trip overseas and it wont be my last. This team was fantastic and hand picked by God. The only one I knew on a personal level was Janice, and we had lost touch since she moved to TFH. I have known and respected Denise for the last 15 years as our spiritual leader and trusted her wise counsel. Now I can honestly say that I love and trust everyone of these people. They are all so wonderful and loving and their hearts are filled and overflowing with love for the people of the Pearl of Africa.

This is Zulu. The leader of the community of Kanungu. He is the father of several sons all named after terrorists. He now knows the truth and needs all of our prayers. God is doing something powerful in this village. The ground is fertile.....and they are hungry for the TRUTH.

Going to Uganda changed my life. I will never be the same.

We have so much. Even the poorest person in the United States of America has a choice to sleep under a bridge or go to a Shelter, apply for food stamps or bus tables or sweep floors.

These people in this village do not have a choice. In the village of Kanungu the people I met ranged from highly intelligent hopeful energetic people with a sparkle still in their eyes down to the little expressionless face who has given up all hope.

Membe and Hadiji -
Membe wore pajamas very proudly everyday to school.
Hadiji and her brother were very closed off and observant first day.
They let me hug them but were resistant.
By the fourth day they were coming to me and hugging me and saying I love you
The community has been so blessed by Mercy Missions
Some of the children refer to us as their parents in the US
Some of our children have mothers and are in our program for a variety of reasons
These mothers are so thankful that they planned together before we arrived and organized songs for us and sang many songs of appreciation and expressing their grateful hearts for supporting their children. They gave of themselves. Even though they have absolutely nothing – they would give us avocados or passion fruit or eggs. Wade was given a rabbit.

They have nothing, live in little tinny homes made from mud and sticks and they are giving us what they have. It was so touching. They are so appreciative.
When they learn who their sponsor is, and find out that he is right here with them, you see their faces change and they want to express how much it means to them and their entire family and how thankful they are..

They have nothing.

Membe and Hadiji are brother and sister.
Their mother is alive and they have 7 children in their family.
Their home is small with no door. It is a small mud home with three sections and no doors. Animals freely walk in the house and hens lay their eggs in the corner of a room. They all sleep together in these shelters, farm animals and the family.

I remember one young girl when we were distributing the clothing. I helped her go through the clothing and picked out a simple shirt and skirt. She was so appreciative and tearfully repeated “thank you thank you”, for these two used items.

These sweet little children will wear the same dress or shirt until it cannot be worn any longer. It is not unusual at all to see a child in a dress or shirt- black from the dirt and torn and barely hanging on their little bodies. They will wear the same clothing for 2 years if it will last.

These children need us and appreciate us. We have 12 more children that need to be sponsored this week. School starts next week. They have to be sponsored now or they will not be enrolled in school this year at all. They will miss their opportunity.

They have nothing. Children as young as 4 or 5 walk through the jungle and work all day and take care of their siblings. They have nothing to stimulate their little minds and challenge them. They are little sponges just waiting for the opportunity to learn and grow. They are not only hungry for food, but hungry for education and the TRUTH.

Tuesday afternoon at our VBS Ivan preached the gospel and when the alter call was given and the children were instructed to take this very seriously and to “not come forward if your heart wasn’t ready because GOD knows”……out of 100 children only 7 stayed in their seats, and the rest gave their lives to Jesus.

If you live in a strong Muslim home, you risk being beaten for doing this.
The Holy Spirit was their. These children cried and were broken and asked Jesus into their hearts.

We need to pray for all of our children right now, harder then ever. We need to pray for salvation for everyone in their households and the entire village.

Please take this opportunity and sponsor one of these 12 remaining children.
God is using us to touch this place.

If you want to do something but are not comfortable making the long term commitment for the monthly support for a child, you can also give to the building fund for the new school that is going to be built. Mercy Missions International will own this land and school when it is completed. We need to all come together and raise the funds for this operation. Denise is organizing the entire thing, so you can designate the money for the Uganda building fund.

These people need GOD and He is using us to change things for these wonderful intelligent hungry people.

http://www.mercymissionsinternational.com/html/dreamaker.html


Thank you very much for all your prayers and support.

Meeting these children changed my life forever.