Visitors!

A couple weeks ago 3 blessings from our church in America arrived via KLM in Entebbe, Uganda! Our whole family was expectantly waiting in the airport for their arrival! You would have never known they just survived 20+ hours of travel as we saw them coming through the doors, embraced, and shared the joy in them finally being here!

They were also greeted by the new smells, new climate, and a new way of driving! Chris would say it feels like a constant game of chicken. We always cover our travel in prayer as we set out to share the road with cars, buses, bikes, cows, goats, people, motorcycles and pot holes.

stopping during our drive to Soroti to take in the beauty of the Nile River

The Market in Soroti where we buy our produce

We spent time at a local orphanage loving on the babies. Three infants, only days old, had just arrived. We listened to the sad story of the mothers, who had all bled to death after delivering. We also loved on a little girl who was found sitting, all alone, alongside of a busy road, and a beautiful little boy with special needs who has been waiting much too long for a family.

Our friends; Sally and Sandy teach the worship center children at our church back home. The Bible stories are taught in a creative way with simple visuals. They took 2 of these stories with them to bless the children of Fred and Ruths village, Jesus the Way Church, and Urias’ village. The stories they shared are ones that the children and even the adults will always remember.

Their first Ugandan meal!

Sandy- sharing the story of the Good Shepherd with the children in Fred and Ruth's village

The whole family loved having them there!

Pastor Fred, Sandy, Ruth, and Sally

A game of chicken and pig (otherwise known as duck duck goose)

Theresa Kooistra from our church back home made 20 beautiful babydolls for the girls in the village of Amuria

The worship center children were also raising money for audio Bibles in the Ateso language! The women arrived with 5 more in hand. They blessed 3 villages with an opportunity to hear God’s Word!

presenting Urias with a proclaimer 

Sally mastered the latrines! 

Urias' Grandmother in Amuria

Isaac, Bri and their friend Charlie the dog

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We spent two days with Fred, Ruth, Henry and their family hearing about the way the Lord has been at work; drying mangos, making and selling jewelry, business training and budgeting, sharing God’s Word, and caring for orphans.  They also spent time with George, hearing about his vision to bring youth together to do business to help others and seeing his ISO Graphics business office.  We were also able to drive to the village of Naigobya to share The Afayo Project with them. The Lord has opened doors for our family to work with this project and specifically with the orphan children in the school.

Getting water from a bore hole

Making beads with Ruth

Telling the Story of the Good Shepherd in the village church of Amuria

Sally sharing with the church at the village church in Amuria with Urias

Breakfast in Jinja

While having these friends visit was such a gift to our family, it was also a blessing to our friends here. They were encouraged and energized by their willingness to listen and see what God has been doing in their lives as we have been working together. We share in letters and blogs about life and ministry here in Uganda; but it is really hard to put it all in words. Having these friends here joined our hearts in understanding and love for the people and ministry happening here.

Sandy, Sally, and Bri; thank you for taking a huge step of faith, for getting on the plane and traveling all the way to Africa. Thank for your encouragement to us and our friends here. Thank you for listening, laughing, and crying with us. Thank you for the way you loved our friends and the precious children here in Uganda. Thank you for the memories of our time with you that we will have for a lifetime!