If you look closely.......you can see the little bitty road on the mountain....

THAT is the road that our HUGE bus went on...very close to the edge at times....but Jamille was the BEST driver ever.......He was very confident and comfortable...

First Class Accommodations!

We must have been the talk of the village.....traveling up the mountain on the dirt road in that huge bus. We really enjoyed the bus ride. It was great getting to rest the night before after the flight, before we headed out again towards Kanungu.

I remember how shocked I was to be greeted at the gate by all the thankful relatives.

We had to pass by the gates of the school in order to reach the JOY Guest House......

Someone flagged down our bus because they wanted to welcome us. They were so excited and eager to express their excitement.

It was a major culture shock. I had my camera and I also took some video.....but I remember how we were all moved to tears........at how we were received.

I was so surprised at how expressive they danced, that I was a little embarrassed. It seems ridiculous now.......but I had just arrived.....and I was too taken back to even video the man who danced the best and put the most in every move.

As you watched them dance, you knew how thankful they were and that this was a "WELCOME" dance. They are so loving and appreciative....

Uganda is a beautiful country. Mountain ridges off in the distance in almost every direction. The people were very excited to see this huge bus with all these WHITE people coming into their village.

The team had a blast getting the sponsor letters and pictures together for the children. We checked out each of the watches, making sure that they were working properly and setting them to the correct time.

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.