A few pictures... =)

 Gay teaching Sophie the ropes. =)

 Lynn showing Nicholas some new tips!

 Jeremy with Zane (of course!) =)

 At church on Sunday we were there for a baptism.

 The day we met with the local women's group and heard their stories.

 Jeremy with the local community kids that found their way into our day camp. =)

 At the top of Murchison Falls!

 Loving us some rainbows!

 They were lining up!

 Last day of class....

 Jessie and I on the sunset cruise down the Nile!

 Hippo!

 Elephants! =)

Giraffe!

Can I get some more hot water please?

I’ve discovered I can take a longer, hotter shower in Jinja than I can in my apartment in Reno.  What gives? =)

It’s good to be home.  It’s nice to see friends and get back into a routine.  Those of you who know me well, know that I am in love with routines and to-do lists.  Which makes Africa an adventure, as there is no concept of time and no point in having a to-do list.  =) But… oh how I love not needing a schedule, a watch, a plan in Africa!  It’s freeing to just live life.  To slow down and enjoy every moment, not needing to rush off to a meeting, a coffee date, a church event.  There is something simply beautiful about taking a deep breath and truly living in a moment.  This is easy in Africa.  It’s easy for me to check-in, engage, and experience.  

Can I go back now? =)

I love my job with Fount of Mercy and I love the work we’re doing in Uganda.  I secretly wish I could go back every 6 months… but my schedule, routine, and to-do lists won’t allow it.  So alas, I will continue to return to the lovely country of Uganda every 2 years for 2 weeks.  And I am thankful for that.

Since returning to the states I’ve been asked, “ What was your favorite part of being in Uganda?”  I’ve been asked, “Will you return?”  I’ve been asked, “How has this trip impacted your role with Fount of Mercy.  I’ve been asked, “Are you changed?”

So many questions to answer… I love it.  I love that people have a desire to know, even if for a moment.  I love having the opportunity to share.  After my first trip in 2008, I knew I could not stop sharing.  I knew I could not deny the responsibility I now felt to do something.  I knew that I would return.  The same is true after this trip.  I love these people; I love what they teach me.  I love that they challenge my perspective, my theology, my passions.  I love that they live life to the fullest, having little of what we experience here.  They remind me of truth, of grace, of passion.  And… I am changed because of their impact in my life.

So… 2013… I’m anticipating greatness. =)

~Rebecca Brown
I'll post a few pictures tonight! =)

certain, yet unsure.

Since being home, I feel restless, exhausted, and... out of place. It's weird being home, even though I was only gone for two weeks. Today was my first day back at work and the weight of how small I've been living started to come down on me. It became very real to me how content I've been just to stay in my own bubble, when there is so much opportunity out there waiting for me to seize it! I'm not sure if this weight will wear off as normal life becomes more and more... normal. Or if it's the kind of weight that will cling tightly to me until I do something about it. Hmm.

The past two days of being home have also been hard because I've been back in my own head. When I was in Uganda, my time, energy, and thoughts were pretty much constantly on the work we were doing there and the people we were with. I spent very little time just sitting and digging around in my thoughts. And honestly, it was a great. I now feel unsure of how to think now that I have entire work days to just... think. And think. And think.


I miss Jinja, as I suspected I would. Though I did not grow especially close with any of the kids, I miss those small moments of exchanging smiles, hugs, and laughter. Juggling, dancing, playing, taking pictures, running around, teaching, learning. I hope it all sticks with me forever. It was one of the most challenging experiences I've ever had, and an amazing adventure every step of the way.


I'm certain that God was with me in Uganda. I am certain He is with me now.
I am only unsure about how He will use the time I spent there.

Though I may never know, I press on to search out the weight in my heart and the thoughts in my head. I press on to not only do life, but live it. Confidently. Knowing that I in my own strength cannot teach, love, or reach out to anyone. But that in Christ, I am love and I am light to those in Uganda, in the U.S., and in whatever country my next adventure will take place.

-Jessie

Pictures

Jessie teaching her photography class.

Jeremy playing with Zane.  Zane had maleria when he was 2 years old.  his mom took him to get an injection, but it was an expired dose and his leg got infected.  They had to amputate it.  Zane LOVED Jeremy.

Eustace interpreting for Jessie's class.

Our sports leader (aka slave driver) working us out!

Having dinner at the Gately on Nile restaurant.

Heading home...

Currently, we are sitting in the Red Chilli Hideaway cafeteria... eating breakfast and waiting for our driver Fred to come pick us up to head to the airport. There are mixed emotions as we prepare to travel home. Having just had an incredible experience on safari... with truly breathtaking moments... some of us are ready to get home, and others are sad to be leaving so soon. While up at Murchison Falls, we went on a game drive and saw lions, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and more! We hiked to the Falls and spent some time cruising the Nile. It was so beautiful and I think everyone is thankful we had the opportunity and took the time to do it.

As I leave Uganda, I am thankful for the work God has done in me during this trip. I sense an awakening in my spirit that I have been longing for for some time now. I deeply love the work Fount of Mercy is doing here, and am grateful for the opportunity to be on staff with such incredible women. I learned much about the deaf culture in Uganda and was blessed by the sweet students we worked with. Here's to the next season of preparing teams/individuals to travel here this summer to work with Fount.... any of you want to go? =)

I have lots of thoughts in my head... as do the rest of my fellow team members. I imagine we'll all continue to blog for the next couple weeks and upload some pictures. =)

Love to you all... we're on our way home! Entebbe to Dubai, Dubai to San Francisco, and San Francisco to Reno... here we go!

~Rebecca Brown

My Closing Thoughts

Well, our week of working with the children and young adults of HODASSU has come to an end.  We are all very drained in many ways, and looking forward to a day of rest preceding our safari adventure that will start on Wednesday.
As I look back on our week I am think about the preconceived notions that many people have, myself included, about doing mission work in Africa. No doubt many of the thoughts that come to mind when we think about Africa is the AIDS epidemic, as well as the many other diseases that have dramatically changed the face of this continent. We think about the orphans that these diseases have left in their wake, and about this children who are left to fend for themselves perhaps having to raise other siblings. We think about children with no shoes, one old pair of clothes, who get few meals a week. Well, while we wouldn't have to look very hard to find these things, I was very surprised that our experience on this trip has been very different. The group that we have been working with as near as I can tell all live with their families (perhaps not with parents, but some sort of relative), they are fairly well dressed (probably wearing some of their best for us), they all have have shoes or sandals (although many choose not to wear them when doing sports), I've even have seen one or two with cell phones. By some standards they are pretty well of given there surroundings.
However, just because they are not plagued by some of the main problems that we think of when we think of Africa, doesn't mean that the don't have there share. For deaf children in Africa, which is the majority of those that we have been working with, living in housing situations with two maybe even one parent and many other children they are often the outcast within their own home. With so many children to take care of, often due to family members dying and having to take care of children that are not there own, parents have little time to focus on teaching and raising a child who is deaf. Because of this these children grow up with their own parents thinking they are useless, unable to communicate, unable to help around the house, behind all their siblings. Even many schools are unprepared for the deaf, while their are schools for the deaf most don't have classes for children under a certain age. So, they are placed in regular schools where they can't hear the teacher, and thus fail the first year, and then they are passed the second time through just to keep them moving through the system. A pattern that continues until they are old enough for the deaf school, by which time they are very behind.
Such are the kids we have been working with this week. Children who have been viewed as less than much of their lives, yet from the first morning when we saw them they greeted us with genuine smiles on their faces, something that didn't change the following mornings. Such strength to choose joy when it rarely an option given is uncommon, and inspiring to behold.
I often wonder about people in parts of the world such as this, who live such difficult lives. Whether, they are stricken with some horrible diseases, or orphaned at a young age, or in such poverty to not be able to afford shoes, or to be deaf in a society that views the deaf as useless. I wonder about the strength it must take to live through that, and why God choose to have me born in America? Would I have the strength to live the life of a deaf child in Africa, or did God choose for me to be born in America because I don't have that kind of strength? I know God does not burden us with more than we can bear, so perhaps we live the lives we live, in the countries we live because God in His infinite wisdom knew that this was the life we could handle. Irregardless of the answer I am thankful to have the blessings I have, I am thankful for those who choose joy even when it is not an option given them, I am thankful for the time I have spent with these kids, and I thankful that even in a seemingly small way that we were able to bless there lives in the same way that they have blessed ours.

Matt Brown

The New Me

Well this blog entry is going to be different, it will not be a normal posting. This blog is going to be about my thoughts and feelings about our trip. Well as we started this trip I was anxious and very excited. I had heard alot of stories of what to expect on my trip from Rebecca and other people that had been to Africa. But in all honesty all of the stories and what I expected to see and feel helped only to keep me being flexible, because everything I expected left the moment we arrived. I quickly learned that no matter how many questions you ask or how prepared you are for everything, in all reality you are and I was completely unprepared. I may have a TON of supplies and things I will never use or didnt really need but I was still so unprepared. I came to Africa expecting a trip like what I had heard from other people and in fact I am having my own experiences. No amount of stories or hints can prepare you for Africa, because no matter what anyone had experinced before you or with you, your experience will be one of a kind. I am so in love with it here in Jinja. I love being with the kids and doing sports because its completely my thing. On sat we had a small group of street kids that were not part of our kids that I was in charge of keeping them busy and that kept me completely in my element. I was doing what I love and I was so happy to be doing it, yet no one else in our group is going to experience it like I did because each one of us is different and we take things in different ways.
     I am loving the people here and just seeing all of the kids around Jinja. All of what I expected to see, I havent really seen; but what I didnt expect to see I did. I love how the kids we are working with are so helpful with teaching us sing language. I never even thought i was gonna learn sign language while I was here, yet thats all I seem to be going and its such a grand experience. I planned on this trip challenging me in ways and things Im used to doing while working with kids just on a whole new level, yet that itself was not true. I was challenged in things and ideas and thoughts i never even imagined would happen.
   God really has been such an important part of me staying all of myself on this trip. I wanted to come to Africa to see another part of the world, experience a new part of life, and to be humbled and to really evaluate my own life and see where I stand with God. God has truly tested me while on this trip and I have found myself thinking and seeing life through a whole new pair of eyes. These eyes are not mine, but actually in starting to see life though what God has planned for me and I am seeing what a child with disabilities in Uganda is going through. I think everynight about these kids and I pray for them because I truly am afraid that in some way I will fail them. I know sports are important but sometimes I feel as if sports can be more to these kids, I just am unsure of how to do that with only one day left. I worry that when I leave I will have left these kids with something they cannot use and all I gave them was something to pass the time.
    If only I really could see how God can use these sports because He has really changed me and my beliefs, because as I came to Africa sports has always been a way of life and im used to just messing around with friends or playing sports on some sort of competitive level, but now I am in charge of giving kids not only a way to pass the time and to be active, but a way to show that no matter that they are blind or deaf they truly are a God breathed creation that is capable of anything. I am seeing these kids start something that may be unclear, yet the moment I turn around these amazing kids have mastered our games or relays and have added something new to the game.
  I am so blessed to be here in Africa, I have been given an oppurtunity that before this I could only dream of. I see my life changing everyday and I can feel God shaping my heart and mind and I love how its changing. I know that when I get back Im going to miss these kids SO SO SO MUCH, and I am happy that I was able to be with them for a week. I came here to teach sports to the kids and to be a leader, but as I may have expected this to stay the same I will have left here being a student and a follower. I am learning so many more things and I love everything that has been going on. Tomorrow is our last day with the kids and I am going to make the most of it because it only takes a second to change a life.

- Jeremy Byrnes

Be like Gumby

Today it accured to me that our time here is almost over, we are half way through our trip. As joyful as I am to see my family I recognize that I very much enjoy being here. I think of Lori often as she is a FOM staff member and is living here full time. The foot work that is involved, relationships with the people and organizations is vital to the success of Founts goal. And regardless of how many times I've heard the stories from the women of Fount, until you are here you will never understand why they do what they do and say what they say. You can only be so prepared, the rest is the land of the unknown. When they say be flexible they truly mean FLEXIBLE!!

Before we even left San Rafael I already wanted to make this journey again. As of this moment I would still want to do it again. Considering the pre trip meetings we have had and all the extra conversations Rebecca and I have had regarding our trip I felt as though I was as prepared as I could be and had a general idea of what to expect.....WRONG! Things rarely go as planned which would normally be very difficult for me. It is still a great success but the plans may have changed several times. The kids seem to love to being with us no matter what we are doing. We usually start with stretching and move to relays or kick ball and either way they enjoy it. I can't say I have made one special friend...maybe I won't. Each day I find myself drawing closer to a different child, they truly are all special to me, I'd like to think I have a friendship with all of them.
It is hard for me to understand how a parent could feel that their child is useless because they can not hear or see. But here if they can not work they have no purpose. Often times the parents don't learn any sign language to communicate with their own children, that is just crazy to me. I in no way feel like I can change the way Uganda treats children with disabilities, HOWEVER I can be a piece of the pie. Spending time with these kids and teaching them not just skills but how to think or have a choice of what beads to string together brings an overwhelming joy for me. Something that is so simple can go so far.

How soon before I return?

Lynn Bailey

"well, that was some pretty fresh dirt."

So crazy we left Reno a little over a week ago! On one hand, it seems like time here has gone by slow; on the other hand, time seems to have flown by.

Over all, this week has been... challenging, but good for the most part. Yesterday I hit a bit of a wall (not literally) and was just totally checked out and not wanting to be here. But thanks to the Lord working in my heart, today was filled with joy and... awesomeness. =)

My photography class is going well. And I am very thankful for Rebecca's assistance with the kids and interpreter. =) Her attitude and confidence has been a great help to me (probably more so than she realizes). My students' names are Catherine, Charity, Nasiri, Stella, Miria, and Sylivia. I've taught them about a few different types of photography: portrait, documentary, nature/wild life, and still life. And today, I taught them about taking pictures from different points of view, which has been probably my favorite day so far with them. They've become more and more comfortable taking pictures as the week moves on. I truly hope they will have taken something good away from this class.

I by no means feel cut out to be a teacher, let alone, a teacher of photography to deaf teens. It has been a great challenge to keep in mind that the main point of my being here is to invest in and love these kids we're teaching and playing with. It's been hard to not stress because I don't have the perfect lesson planned or I don't feel like I'm teaching well. The point is not me. The point is not to show my awesomeness. The point is to be emptied of self, filled with love, and poured out so these kids will know they are not worthless and they do have purpose.

*sigh* good stuff. =) Anyway, tomorrow (Sunday) is our day off... going to church and doing some shopping. Then Monday is our last day with the kids. I feel it will be hard to say goodbye.

Alright, so on a less serious note, today we crammed 23 people (only two of which were children) into a 15 passenger van. It was a good time for sure. haha.... oh man.

Also, today when we were out for dinner, this man came up to us and started talking to us. I think he over heard us talking about the safari we're going on, so... yeah. Anywho, the last thing he was telling us was that hippos are pretty much the deadliest animal and to stay away from them. And previously, we found out that there will be LOTS of hippos while we're on safari. Neato.

And then on the way home from dinner, we were walking along the road and watching out for cow poop. We passed by some and weren't sure weather or not it actually was cow poop. So Gay chimes in... "well, that was some pretty fresh dirt."

Okay so maybe you had to be there for it to be funny. But... yeah. It was funny.

=)

The food is good here. Our hotel is pretty nice. And the bugs.... not to bad so far.

All is well here in Jinja. And I hope all is well on the other side of the world, as well.

I miss home and will be quite ready to go back to normal life after this. But for now, I am enjoying this crazy adventure!

Love you all.

-Jessie Marie


ps - I think I've just written enough for both Matt and Lynn.... *slacker bloggers, cough cough*

Do you hear what I hear?

That was the question around the breakfast table this morning as we were all talking about the amazing thunderstorm we had during the night. Today was a great day and cooler due to the rain. My new nickname is baby elephant becuase while as the the rest of the team is drinking no more than 2 liters of water a day i am drinking about 6 liters. haha. The sleep is good kinda, it varies eachnight for each of us as some of us are still feeling jet lag and how sore everyone is from sports with me. Today was great as Rebecca spent 25mins talking in sign language with one of the girls and understood everything. Jesse is doing well with photography and the kids are really enjoying it. Gay is doing a great job with the embroidery and the girls that she is teaching are all doing well. Jewelry making with Lynn has been a blast for all the kids and they are all happy to show off their new creations. Today we taught the kids kickball and we will play again tomorrow :) well its getting late and tomorrow will be a long day so off to bed. Goodnight

-Jeremy Byrnes

A great day

Wow so Jan 13th was a crazy long day. It was very hot but lots of fun. In the morning after tea I got everyone streching their sore muscles from our previous days workouts. Had a great time working with the kids and playing sports. Then we all shared lunch again with the kids and we all got lessons in sign language which was amazing. Then everyone went to their jobs with their kids. And had a great time, because now we are able to communicate with the kids better. During the time when jewelry and embroidering and photography is going on, Matt Brown and myself are free and able to take pictures or just play with the smaller kids. This is the day I met Zane. He is a 6 yr old boy that is missing a leg and uses crutches. He contracted malaria at the age of 2 and due to the meds that he had to take the malaria became septic and he lost his leg. My heart instantly went out to him and i spent my afternoon with him. We are all having a blast and are all finding kids that we are connecting with and really spending quality time with. God is Great.

Pictures

Hi all... it's proving difficult to upload photo's.  We've tried about 7 times and have sat and waited for a VERY long time, to no avail.  So... sorry for the lack of pictures.... the internet simply isn't cooperating with us!  We're off to HODASSU for the day and someone will blog tonight!

~Rebecca Brown

First Day of Work

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST REFERS TO THE ACTUAL EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON JAN 12^TH, 2011 IN JINJA, UGANDA, AND HAVE NO REFERENCE TO ACTUAL EVENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT OCCUR ON JAN 13^TH FOR THESE HAVE NOT BEEN DECIDED. YET THIS IS POSTED ON JAN 13^TH.  READ AND REFER TO JAN 12^TH.

Today was great everyone was sore from Jeremy’s boot camp of sports and stretches. Everyone was super pumped to start our first day of being the kids all day. Once we arrived at church/college/school where we were working with the kids we enjoyed tea time with the kids. Many of us learned new sign language and have been trying to figure out all the sign names for our deaf kids because they have given all of us unique sign names. Today in addition to our deaf kids we were blessed to have JJ and Christian, two mostly blind kids, joining up with us. JJ has a God given musical talent and he played some amazing drums and he can sing our Jesus like you cant believe. Today we started our vocational training with Jessie leading Photography, Lynn working with Bernard and Pam in Jewelry making, and Gay teaching Embroidery. We spent all day with the kids and enjoyed having lunch with them. After we finished up with the kids we went out to dinner at a restaurant called 2 friends (which in one of Rebecca’s favorite places) we had a great time at dinner. The ketchup bottle attacked Jeremy and Lynn made some great comments. It was just a good chance to unwind and talk about our day. Everyone has been doing well besides being sore and tired we are all doing great. Bottled water is a must and we are drinking a lot. Everyone drank about 1.5 liters today while as Jeremy drank 4.5 liters. So we are all staying hydrated and eating well. These kids are amazing to work with. They are so happy to teach us their sign language and its fun to learn, can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings us.

- Jeremy Byrnes

*sigh* we are tired.

Everyone is exhausted. I can barely keep my eyes open as I write this.

It's been a good trip so far though; however, I still can't believe we're in Uganda. I'm still waiting for it to sink in.

Today was fun... we were able to meet some of the orphans we'll be working with this week. They were all so awesome! =) Some of us even learned some sign language! I'm excited for this week and all that it will bring.

Well, this is all I have to say for now because I need sleep.

More pictures to come soon!! =)

Goodnight from Jinja.

-Jessie Stipech
 

Sickness...

So, Jessie and I (Rebecca) win the first-to-get-sick award.  We are both so very honored to have the privilege. =)  Ha!   This morning Jessie and I were awakened by the sound of a million bats flying around outside our window around 6:00am.  So, instead of fighting it, we got up and enjoyed the amazing view outside our window.  The Lake is gorgeous in the morning, and we loved watching people paddle by us in boats.  After about 30 minutes of chatting and just enjoying the early morning, we decided to take our malaria medicine and start getting ready.  Well.... about 3 minutes after taking the medicine, both Jessie and I simultaneously headed for the restroom.  Good times. =)  With absolutely nothing left in our stomachs... we currently both feel fine.  =)  Awesome start to our first day.  But, at least we're laughing, right?

I feel the best I've felt this whole journey... having gotten at least 6 solid hours of sleep.  I think we're in for an amazing day.  I went to everyone's rooms this morning and the team is up and excited about the day.  We're meeting Lori and Vanessa for breakfast around 9:00am this morning for our orientation (we were too tired last night to take in any information... just pizza).  After breakfast, we'll head to HODASSU to meet the kids we'll be working with. Hooray!

Thanks for all your prayers.... please thank God for our safe travels, no lost luggage, and no bad attitudes.  I am truly thankful for this team and the way everyone is working together.

Here we go!
~Rebecca Brown

Are we there yet?

Yes, Yes in fact we are here at the Hotel Triangle in Jinja, Uganda right on the bank of Lake Victoria. We are all happy and excited to be here, and all of us are dead dog tired and are so happy to just be done traveling and to be finally in Jinja. We are all doing well and everyone is feeling good. Todays adventure started as we left Dubai International Airport, 2hrs late due to some sort of issue on the plane and then there was 15 other planes in front of us to take off. Well we flew into Ethiopia and then continued onto Uganda. All of the baggage arrived with us and we headed out of the airport with our amazing driver Sam who has been working with FOM many times. The trip from the airport to Jinja was supposed to take between an hour and a half to 2hrs. Well four and a half hours later well after the sun went down we arrived at our hotel. We quickly got into our rooms and met with Laurie and Vanessa, who are our Fount of Mercy staff. We went over our plans for the week and enjoyed a nice taste of pizza :) Well all is well and cant wait to meet our kids tomorrow.

- Jeremy Byrnes

PS. Mom and Dad I love you and i know your worried like crazy but all is well.

Fun Times

Well so far the trip has been exciting and very long, the plane flight was the longest ever but i enjoyed watching movies such as the Expendables and Inception, me and Lynn played battleship and I attempted sleep in a variety of ways that any yoga teacher would be proud of. Landing in Dubai was amazing just getting to see the city. Dubai is a city of wealth and power. I saw a variety of exotic cars including a Ferrari Enzo, SLR Mcclarren, and Roles-Royce, we saw the worlds tallest building and had a good time touring the city. Im quite excited to get to Africa today and experience that. I am feeling good yet still tired after going 24+ hrs without sleep then only getting 5hrs of sleep last night but still in good spirits and excited to see what awaits us in Uganda. This is such a great group of people to be traveling with and Im excited to really get to know each and everyone of them. And now to the plane and immigration.

-Jeremy Byrnes

Dubai

 Taken at South Reno Baptist Church - January 7th - Right before we left the city!

 This is taken outside the house we stayed at in the Bay.... thanks April!

 After our "mini-tour" of GGBTS campus. =)

 In Dubai... at "The Dubai Mall" ... taken in front of tallest building in the world - 162 floors!

Hi all!  We made it to Dubai, most of us not having slept at all on the flight. =)  Thankfully, Emirates Airlines was able to get us 3 double rooms and we were incredibly grateful for that.  After landing, we waited for our hotel confirmation, then took the shuttle to our hotel and dropped our bags off.  Still delirious, we walked out of the hotel, found a cab driver and said, "Show us the sights!"  And he did!  We had such a fun adventure, driving all over the city, to the beach, to hotels, etc.... I'm going to try and upload some photos.  We got back to the hotel around 11:30pm, ate a VERY late dinner, and headed up to our rooms.  This morning... wake up call came at 5:45am, and we are all completely exhausted.

I'm thankful we have such a wonderful team... everyone is working hard to curb their grumpiness and put one another before the others.  It makes for easy traveling.

Overall... we're having a blast!  And now we are sitting in the Dubai airport... ready for next leg of traveling... to ENTEBBE!

~ Rebecca Brown

Whew...

It's 3:05.... plane boards in 5 minutes... and we stopped to grab food and blog.  That's commitment. =)  We made it to SFO on time, but realized our hotel booking in Dubai never went through.  So... as we head onto the plane, prayers would be appreciated for us to actually have a hotel to sleep in while we layover in Dubai. =)  Ah.... the joys of traveling.

We've had a GREAT day... woke up, ate breakfast with friends and headed to take a mini-tour of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (where I worked on my masters).  I'll post pictures tonight when we land in Dubai... but for now...

Gotta go board!

~Rebecca Brown

Itinerary

Hi friends!

Below I’ve listed our itinerary, for those interested in knowing what we’re up to on a daily basis.  Obviously, this is Africa… so the plans will change… but at least you’ll have idea of what we’re doing.

Last night, we met up as a team to have dinner at Chili’s and just check-in before we head out tomorrow.  It was a good evening of prep time to discuss our work and what we’re packing, etc. =)   Towards the end of the meal I asked everyone to tell me in one word what they were feeling/thinking about our fast-approaching adventure.  Here are our words.

Matt – Excited

Gay – Apprehensive

Jeremy – Anxious

Lynn – Unprepared

Jessie – Unsure

Rebecca - Ready

Sounds like the perfect team, right? =)  Ready or not… here we go!

Itinerary: January 8th-23rd

January 7th:  Meet at South Reno Baptist Church at 6:30pm

·          Drive to Marin, CA (right outside San Francisco) and stay the night.

January 8th: Breakfast and heading to SFO to take-off! 

·          3:45pm EK226 departs SFO

January 9th:  Arrive in Dubai at 7:25pm

·          We’ll take a shuttle to our hotel in Dubai for the night, and then get settled, grab a bite to eat at the hotel… and then….explore Dubai a bit!  Hooray!

 January 10th:  Travel to Uganda

·          8:25am EK723 departs Dubai

·          Arrive in Entebbe around 2:45pm

·          Drive north 2 hours to Jinja.

·          Check-in at Hotel Triangle, Jinja – Dinner, Orientation, Bed!

January 11th: Up early and heading to HODASSU to meet our kiddo’s!  Play and fun in the morning, and leave around noon (we’ll be jet-lagged, so we’ll be exhausted around 3:00pm).

January 12th-13th: Work! 10:00-4:00

·          8:00am-10:00am – Breakfast, Time with Jesus!, Travel to HODASSU.

·          10:00-12:00pm  - 3 classes

o    Photography – Jessie

o    Embroidery Card-Stock – Gay

o    Jewelry Making – Lynn

·          12:00 – 1:00pm – Lunch!

·          1:00 – 4:00pm – Sports!

o    Sports – Jeremy/Matt

** Also we’ll be doing music (Rebecca will bring her guitar to lead), painting, crafts, etc. during this time!

** During 2 of these afternoons, the women’s sewing and tailoring group will come and meet with us.  Gay will be teaching hand embroidery/patterns… Lynn, Jessie, Rebecca will assist!  Jeremy and Matt will be with the kiddo’s playing sports!

** Keep in mind these orphans are all disabled – deaf, blind, mentally handicapped, etc… so please make your work flexible!

January 14th: Day of Rest! 

January 15th: Work! 10:00-4:00

January 16th: Church at Calvary Chapel Jinja & HODASSU in the afternoon.

January 17th: Work! 10:00-4:00

January 18th: Drive to Kampala

·          We’ll probably shop in Jinja during the morning and then head down to Kampala.

·          Check in to the Red Chili Hostel in Kampala.

January 19th-21st: Murchison Falls SAFARI

January 21st: Check back into the Red Chili for the night, debrief, pack!

January 22nd: Depart Uganda

·          4:20pm EK724 Depart Entebbe

January 23rd: Arrive in Dubai at 12:35am!

·          Connect to EK225 at 8:55am to fly back to SFO

·          Arrive in SFO at 12:55pm

·          Eat in San Francisco, and head back to Reno!  Planning to arrive at South Reno Baptist around 6:30pm!

~ Rebecca Brown

Are we there yet?

Tomorrow is the begining of a huge change in my life. Although I am not big on change I know it is coming, I can feel it in my heart. I can't imagine that spending 2 weeks in a country with people that have experienced what I believe to be great pain, like the loss of a child or a child that has lost both parents, and still have joy within them.

The story goes that we are going to teach them a skill within their resources, as time has moved closer to leaving I am convinced that no matter what we teach them it won't compare to our own personal growth. How will God use me to care for them?..... How will God use them to care for me and my brokeness?

I am blessed that I will sign off this blog, walk up the stairs in my home to wake my children for school and make them breakfast.

Are we there yet?

-Lynn Bailey