Bukeeka 2010

Victory

Thank you for your patience as we have had some slower internet services making it difficult to sign on and keep you updated. Let's see... The soccer and netball tournament was awesome!!!! Twelve hundred children and parents, community members, staff, etc. People, people everywhere! So much team spirit! They were able to share the love of Jesus with every person there, simply by the t-shirts that were worn. There were 10 different teams and 10 different colors and they all wore them during their games. The prize for first place for both netball and soccer was a steer! We had medals for everyone participating and lanyards for badges. Fountain of Hope did a phenominal job! The girls took 1st in netball and the boys took 1st in soccer! The soccer game was so intense. The boys looked so professional with their new uniforms from People to People. It was 0-0 and they added five minutes of overtime and in the last two minutes Fountain kicked it in just barely brushing the fingertips of the goalie. The field absolutely erupted! People were running everywhere screaming, jumping, hugging, yelling, laughing, cheering. The villagers had been cheering for the opposing team and calling Fountain kids "Obama's Grandchildren" because the Americans were visiting. The opposing team had also been caught trying to substitute unregistered players and they had also been caught paying players. It was a moment of showing what integrity can do. That evening they showed the "Jesus" film to approximately 300 people including many Muslims from the community and they actually thanked Fountain of Hope for bringing the generator and the film in.



We worshipped at True Worship Center in Bukeeka on Sunday morning before the final game and listened to beautiful singing and watched beautiful dancing. Pastor Robert preached about not worrying. He talked about combating the sin of worry and trusting the Lord for everything.



The theme that keeps surfacing for me is the focus of relationship. God's relationship with each one of us enabling us to be in relationship with one another. It is not about the items that we share, what we give or what we get, it is about who we are, who God made us to be and how we work together to enlarge His kingdom. So much of what we believe about each other is built upon assumption and miscommunication. If we can bring ourselves to let the guard down long enough to witness how God is using someone else's individuality, culture, resources, etc. to impact the world around them, we are able to witness miracles in action. Miracles that can be completely overlooked because we are so focused on the differences rather than the wonder God has taken the time to place right in front of our noses. Congratulations Fountain of Hope. You have fought the good fight in Jesus' name, you have won the prize. Well done!

Reality

There are moments that will remain etched in my mind forever. Dramatic, I know, but true. Last night I shared my bedroom with four Ugandan girls who lost there mother less than a month ago. They were showered, lotioned, given new clean clothes, used a toilet for the first time, ate a huge meal, fell asleep in the team's arms and were placed in bed. As I listened to their breathing, I was reminded how much God loves. He clothes and feeds, cleanses and holds us, and is as close as our next breath. He hovers and protects, and at the times of our greatest sorrow, when fear can become our standard, he brings answers from unlikely places and faces, giving promise to a future that is threatened and redefining family in a way that defies the norms that our culture has put in place. Such love is not deserved, but lavished anyway. Weebale, Jesu.

Fountain of Hope has much to celebrate. 1,200 children, plus adults, showed up today! YEE-HAW! We took measurements for game qualification, and handed out lanyards and t-shirts and welcomed FIFA OFFICIALS! Can you believe it?! Yeah WORLD CUP! It was a high energy, activity filled, wonderful day! A little dose of reality came when a few teams danced with disqualification because of hiring and paying players from other schools to compete. Competition is high and integrity gets sacrificed for money and winning. We praise God that the Director of Fountain was able to discover and confront this corruption. Fountain of Hope is currently in the lead in both soccer and netball. It is wonderful for Fountain to share their ministry and their positive impact on the community of Bukeeka. Academically, they are the highest scoring school in the area. They kids of Fountain erupted with cheering and dancing and singing! Absolutely amazing!! Rice and beans were eaten by the athletes and guests and we spent a great deal of time pumping up soccer balls for game play and prizes after the championship games, which will be held Sunday afternoon. The five college kids on the team are working so hard...and so well...it is as if they've known each other all along. Vicki and Monita have provided so many things physically and emotionally. Wisdom goes a long way and so does Vicki's suitcase. Beth is the truest form of herself. There is a freedom here that is not found other places. Becca continues to believe that the world can be saved one sweet soul at a time and is led by the Holy Spirit to pursue that goal...indefinitely.

Here is a "SHOUT OUT" to Immanuel, Tonasket/Havillah! and Oliver, BC. Thank you for your support! The supplies and beautiful bags were warmly and excitedly received by the teachers and the students. Thank you for partnering with us! We are working on filling your sponsored children's lists of needs and taking pictures for you. They are so grateful! Also...Pilgrim, Spokane...we contacted Bill Groth and hope to meet up with him in the next couple of days. We may even get a tour of the Nile Dam. Traci Blank, you are a legend here. We have fielded so many comments about you. All have been wonderful, happy memories that you helped create. The people of Bukeeka are longing to reunite with their "mworgezee" (clever one) and have some "mint ministry." The HIV clinic is coming on Monday and Tuesday, so we anticipate quite a bit more medical intervention.

Now...for another dose of reality. The "Jesus" movie is being shown in the community hall of the village of Bukeeka. This involves a generator, a sheet, a speaker, some evangelism and a heap load a faith that everything will come together. Please pray that Jesus becomes the "Answer" for so many of the sports tournament participants. But, what is more intense than this single event is the fact that the community is reeling from the effects of witchcraft tonight. Last night, the local butcher/meat grocer was kidnapped, chopped into pieces and offered up as a human sacrifice to the devil. Due to lack of electricity and preservation he needed to be buried today causing many of the parents to be unable to attend the soccer/netball tournament today. The butcher's shop is approximately three doors down from the Fountain Boarding House where many of our sponsored children live. Witchcraft and human sacrifice are real here in Uganda. It is spiritual warfare, frontline battlefield. We pray, in Jesus' name, that evil will be expelled from this place and that Truth will reign. One Sacrifice for All. "ON CHRIST, THE SOLID ROCK I STAND...ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND." May God bless you, keep safe and aware of His matchless grace.

A Day in the Life of Todd

So today was filled with great, touching moments that make me love Uganda even more than I already do. The day started out with a breakfast of oatmeal, milk and sugar! whoo it was yummy in my tummy (according to Peta) ha but after everyone got ready it was time to head out! But before I tell you more I just want to say that me and Peta have had on ongoing battle of which one of us screams like a girl and is like a lady. We bicker back and forth, you scream like a girl! NO you do! oh mamanze! =] but he told me the other day he was going to get me lady shoes, a red dress, a wig, and earings. But anyways our first stop today was the market where Vikki bought milk, eggs, rice and beans for Bruce and Nakatos family. They were in desperate need of food and no food means bad health...especially for someone in as bad of shape as Nakato. After the market we drove out to their place and dropped off all the food! OH my goodness! They were all so happy and greatful for us bringing the food and they showed it. Nakatos mother stated singing and dancing which really affects me because we are making such an impact on them and showing Christs love through a simple gift of food. The next stop on our adventure today was a gas station (this is why i told you about me and Peta)...well we pull up to the gas station and everyone was wondering why we were even there in the first place. well a woman comes out with a bag walks over to Peta and hands it to him, he then turns around hands me a bag and then says...i bought you some shoes todd! cause your a lady! and sure enough i pull out a pair of high heeled shoes! =] It caught me wayyyy off guard...definately something i was not expecting! after everyone was done crying of laughter we headed off to the high school where the fountain of hope kids go after they are done. We saw Joshua, the brother of the girls and we got a list of what he needed for school which we will go into town another day and get. But basically we just hung out and kicked and threw a little nerf basketball around, juggling and hitting each other. I made the mistake of kicking the ball so hard that my shoe fell off and of course Cassie got it and wouldnt give it back! ughhhh! To add to the embarassment of walking and hopping around with one shoe Peta made me try on the high heels and hold Megans handbag
and pose for pictures. Then Cassie and Kyle tied my shoe to the front of the van...and it was there until we got to Fountain of Hope. Today at the school our time was spent putting bags together for the pre school classes which didnt recieve bags yesterday because they had already gone home. We got there after 12 today also so we are hopefully handing them out monday because of the football and netball tournament. We had rolleggs for lunch again and then headed down to the field to play a little football. When we got down there a guy was using a weed whacker to clean up the field so its all ready for tomorrow, and they were painting the lines with black oil. Its truly an amazing field that they have set up for the amount of resourses they have. But there were many kids down there so football could only be played a little before the kids took control of the ball and played by themselves. Peta still had the little orange nerf basketball which of course resulted with him hitting someone with it and it turned into a game of dogeball. As Cassie and I were both going for the ball she went to stop me from getting it and smacked me in the face which resulted in me getting a bloody lip! (TALK ABOUT BEING A TEAM!) haha but after we stopped hitting each other we could all sit on the sideline and just throw the ball and watch the kids run after it, trying to be the one to throw it back...this resulted in full out dog piles, everyone throwing each other around trying to get that little ball...it really was a funny sight. After this we walked up to the school and helped move bags into a room where it could be locked up. And i got a bloody nose (side effect of Cassies slap to my face) =] and then we had to leave. But today was special because we got to take Jeffrey(Graces son which is our cook and the person who does our laundry) and all the girls back with us to eat and spend the night with us. This was special in so many ways because Jeffrey stays in the boarding house and doesnt get to see his mom but once every couple months and because my mom and becca love those girls like they are their own. SO DO I!!!! THEY ARE MY SISTAS!!!=] but after a dinner of fried chicken, we had special guests tell their stories. Their names are Jim and Hellen. They have both have rough times whether it be in their childhood or problems with just having a matress to sleep on. Their love is so strong for one another and its this and their love of Jesus Christ that keeps them together! Becca prayed for both of them and i cold tell it touched Hellen because she was crying...but now im just up writing this and everyone else has gone to bed lonnngggg ago! I am so greatful the God has given me the opportunity to come here and get to know these people and their love of Jesus Christ. He is a God of details and he has a plan for each and every one of us. We just need to trust in him through everything, whether it be good or bad, everything we encounter in our lives was part of his plan for us and we need to give everything we have o honor him. MASTA FRY OUTTTTTTTTTT=]

Fountain of Hope...River of Mud

EHHH...Mamanzei!!! Means...OH, MY GOODNESS! And my goodness, did it rain! Buckets, upon buckets. Rivers of mud on the pathways. Kids with no shoes, including some of our team members. Caked brick red feet. It was wonderful. The rain was so loud on the tin roofs that we had to yell to hear each other speak. We filled school bags today with laundry soap, bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, band-aids, nail files, etc. and we handed them out. God blessed the amounts in our suitcases because every student is going home with a filled bag. We handed out over 500 today in grades 1-7 and we'll finish Preschool and Kindergarten tomorrow. God is good. Todd, Kyle, Tynishia, Cassie and Meghan played ball with the kids again, today, in bare feet. We visited sponsored children and read letters and passed out gifts. The t-shirts that Beth arranged for the tournament are organized and ready to go. (Thank you, Brunette's Sportswear!) Twelve colors, twelve schools represented. It is going to look like a rainbow.

The second graders from Bethlehem Lutheran School in Kennewick, WA, wrote letters and made bags with embroidered hearts on them. (Thanks to Mrs. Duncan's class!) We will hand out the letters tomorrow. The kids are enjoying your beautiful bags. Beth and Becca were able to give Ruth's daughters their gifts today. They have been transfered to the Boarding House due to Ruth's death and they needed mattresses, bedding, towels, storage trunks, wash basins, gerry cans for water, clothing, shoes, socks, school supplies, etc. Providing these items makes it possible for them to have a home with their friends and continue their education. We will meet their 18 year old brother, Charles, on Sunday. Beth had guessed with a prayer that the shoes she had purchased for Mary would fit...and they fit her perfectly! You should have seen the smile on her face..."I am so happy!!!" she said. Timm Eitreim - get ready, I think Beth is packing them home in her suitcases!:) Rice and beans were purchased to feed the masses at the soccer/netball tournament. The Fountain children and staff are very excited about this tournament and the school will earn a lot of respect if this tournament is done well. It is very important to this community.

To all of our followers....thank you for your support. We are grateful for your prayers and we are glad you are on our team. God be with you.

Kneeling in the Dirt

Some of the most beautiful pictures of Jesus that I have seen show him walking with the people he loves, eating with them, talking with them and kneeling in dirt with them. Reaching out to people right where they are at...just as they are. I can visualize him looking right in their eyes and sometimes holding their faces in his hands promising a peace that the world cannot give.


I had the privilege of witnessing a love like this in each of the team members in the last two days. Let me tell you about them...





Beth had the scary experience (one that happens all too often here) of having a hangnail be exposed to bacteria that has turned into an infection. Her finger has swelled up and and turned purple, requiring a trip to a Ugandan Clinic, navigating the world of street pharmacies and antibiotics and having Vicki perform outpatient surgery on the dining room table with her surgical kit, an IV needle and a lot of prayer. I thought Kyle and Todd were going to hyperventilate with excitement...it may show up on Youtube! Please pray for her healing. But, those same hurting hands were the ones that held Mary, Jeanette, Ritah, and Helen's faces as she met her Ugandan daughters for the first time and walked home from school with them to deliver mattresses to the boarding school so they had a place to sleep. Their mother died a couple of weeks ago and the Lord is allowing Beth to come along side them and love them through this difficult time.


Todd and Kyle have been playing soccer with kids like maniacs! It has been awesome to witness. They have played in the heat in barefeet and requiring great amounts of food, water and sleep at the end of the day. Kyle has been inspired by the possibility of designing a chicken coop at the school to provide meat for the students' meals. He even attempted to create a watering system with empty water bottles and IV tubing. He has lifted suitcases, sorted materials, greeted and hugged children and families and met a family in the bush that we helped out with medical assistance and as a result of our help they gave him a tour of their agriculture and gifted the team with avocadoes, jackfruit, papayas, passion fruit and bananas. Todd has laughed his way (and I mean laughed...head back...uncontrollable) into a friendship with our driver, Peter (pronounced Petah). Peter is our protector, transporter and resident comedian. Yesterday, in the bunch of bananas that we received, appeared a friendly little gecko. The gecko climbed out of the bananas, up the car seat and onto Peter's shoulder. Needless to say, after Peter swallowed his tongue and practically drove off the road, we thought we were going to have to perform CPR on Todd who was also riding in the front, witnessed the gecko incident and laughed till he fell out of his seat. Todd spent many moments, today, reliving that event. He has spoken of how impressed he is that the men and women he has met here have shown him, with great impact, that regardless of circumstance...God means good for his people and that we should not miss the opportunities that He sends us. P.S. Laughter does great things for friendship and Todd has a great laugh.


Vicki is a healer and a mama...no matter what culture she is in. She helped orchestrate a clinic visit for a woman named Nakato whom we spoke about in an earlier blog. Nakato was looking very tired when we saw her at church and we wondered if she was anemic. The blood tests revealed that she is very anemic and Vicki helped provide iron, vitamins and good food to help make up the loss. Pain medication provided relief for the pain of severe headaches as the result of her condition. Vicki also met a widow from the Widow's Bakery that has been suffering severe back pain. An x-ray revealed arthritis and Vicki was able to provide pain relievers and Margaret will also get medication to treat her condition.


Monita, known as MO, has undertaken, with great conviction, the task of planning for small business development for women in the bush. She is planning goat soap making, paper making, sewing and craft classes and many, many more. She shows God's kindness and compassion without reservation and she shows genuine love for the children of Bukeeka.


Fountain of Hope has grown, in five years, from 7 students to 700! They have grown by 150 in just one year. We were swarmed at our visit today and were welcomed so warmly. Chapati bread filled with eggs (called Rolleggs) were served to us today and they were warm and delicious! We set up soccer equipment and medicine supplies at the school and we look forward to building health kits tomorrow.


Tynishia is steady and dependable. She loved the children of The Caring Center with a gift of toothbrushes, paste and floss. She's friendly and soft spoken, has an easy laugh and she works so hard. She is an incredible team player and the children respond well to her.

We have been joined by Cassie and Meghan from Fairview, Oklahoma. They are such a fun addition to the team. They fit right in. They will be in Uganda for a month and they'll provide a VBS in Bukeeka along with the rest of the Oklahoma team that will come toward the end of July. We have been given the opportunity to provide a two day HIV testing clinic out at Bukeeka. It will be free to the school and the community. St. Francis is an institution that provides the lab techs and the counselors to provide this service and Next Generation Ministries has offered to support our efforts as well. Many blessings are being brought about because of God's love for His people and we are blessed to be a part of it.

Jinja Town and More

In between feeling amazingly alive and completely exhausted, the following events have taken place...

1. We got to watch Ghana defeat the US in a World Cup game. We Americans were in the minority and when Ghana scored, the room erupted into cheers and jumping! When we scored, we made an attempt to match it...but to no avail...we got a few laughs and some "sorry for your loss" responses. It was a great time and the orange FANTA was cold! AHHHH!



2. Church in Jinja Town was incredible. Beautiful expressions of worship in song and dance. Lots of clapping and encouragement for the leaders. We sang Amazing Grace and it was so moving. The songs with Lugandan words were strong and loud. Preaching and teaching were passionate and the team was welcomed so warmly. You have to move to worship, here.



3. After church we had an opportunity to share in an open house for Paul and Pam Hunter's (our hosts) daughters. They are visiting from the states and they will be returning home this week, so they invited all their friends to visit. We entertained the children with balloons and suckers. We met Bruce and Nakato and three of their children. Nakato has been in the hospital with a serious infection due to a miscarriage and the Lord has allowed us to be involved with helping her with vitamins, iron, and some possible blood tests.



4. We were treated to a dinner out at "Two Friends" and we had tilapia, spare ribs, steak, chicken, potatoes, salad....and more FANTA! It was absolutely incredible!!! Good people, good food, good fun. We also started meeting with the Bukeeka team to get ready for the tournament at Fountain of Hope and began the daunting task of unpacking outreach suitcases. Thank you, Marilyn of Spokane for your amazing packing! We love you! Thank you, Tynishia and Kyle for your great organizational skills and for all your efforts at prepping for the health kits.



In Luke 10:41-42, it reads, "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Mary had been sitting at the feet of Jesus rather than being consumed by the details of the day. This team has been sitting at others' feet looking for and listening to what Jesus has to teach them. They, of course, have had many details to consider as they prepare to host 1,200 children, but God has brought powerful people with powerful stories to tell into their midst and they have responded with grace and attention and patience. They have shown love when people anticipated a response of fear and they have experienced laughter and joy in the middle of poverty and sickness. God is so good. This is not just a statement. It is an embodiment...a way of existing in this crazy, mixed up, unfair world.



5. Monday brought some "out of the box" experiences. Vicki stepped out in faith and rode a boda boda (motorcycle with a driver) to meet Cera from the boy's home and took her to get chest x-rays and a diagnosis, as she has been coughing sometimes with blood for some time now. She has double pneumonia and will require medication, which will be purchased by the team tomorrow. Cera is a survivor of the genocide in Rwanda and we heard her awe inspiring story today. Todd, Becca and Beth took on downtown Jinja to purchase medical/health kit supplies, mattresses, soap, rice, beans, sugar, sheets, towels, and medicines. I've never seen so much Amoxicillin! Sarah Sityo and Paul Hunter were so gracious to help with the shopping so that we got good prices. Sarah's husband, Robert is the executive director of Fountain of Hope School. Kyle, Tynishia, and Monita worked hard to create health kits, teachers bags, and organize t-shirts and soccer equipment for the tournament. In the afternoon we visited Abdu's farm and chicken business and we saw the cows that were purchased by the team that came last year. They are so healthy and thriving and ready to have calves!!!! Yeah...the beginnings of the Fountain of Hope Dairy Farm. Can you believe it, Traci Blank? It is happening! We visited the Widow's Bakery and saw their production of banana bread and pumpkin bread, donuts and cake. They are also beginning a wedding dress business. We gifted them with peelers, measuring cups and spoons and many other things. Abdu has purchased 7 extra acres through the GGI micro-loan program and he has planted some alfalfa. Thank you, St. John's, Benton City! We had chapati tacos tonight with fresh Guacamole! And of course, Fresh Pumpkin and Banana Bread. Weebale Jesu! (Thank you, Jesus) P.S. Becca just killed a cockroach in the bathroom...it was cream-filled...she is recovering in bed, satisfied that she has fulfilled her purpose. BLEECH!