Team 23 Day 5

Today was going to be a bit different... No work on the site but a visit to Home of Hope, which is a home for disabled babies and children that HopeBuilders, partners with and helps to support.  So that mean a bit of a letter start for us all.
After breakfast we sat together while Luke led us in a devotion that helped us see that whether we do big and important things or small and seemingly to us less important, that we do everything as if we're doing it for God and it all counts and is important in God's eyes. Hence we would always want to make our best efforts.
A few of the guys raced up to drop off some washing at Village of Hope (yep, even that gets done for us!), and just made it back before the rain hit. there were huge black clouds and the temperature dropped as the rain set in.
Rain was not going to deter us though, so we headed off in our van along the 'scenic route' which Andrew decided might be adventurous (we won't be doing that again!).  We arrived at Home of Hope to a bunch of very excited kids, but began by spending a little time hearing the story of how HoH started and it's vision form Edith who started it and leads it. A very inspiring story and God led!
Then it was tome with the kids.  Some wanted bubbles, some wanted to be wheeled around and some just wanted/needed to be held.  It was special to send time with kids that God so clearly loves and cares for, and it was a privilege to be a tiny part of that for a few hours.
Lunch time came so we headed into town and decided to have lunch together, where the boys (Jeremy & Luke) decided the double, double burgers sounded good. They smashed them, but are still feeling the weight in their stomachs now!  After lunch and a real, we headed into town to do our first bit of souvenir shopping for a few hours...
Home again late afternoon and a contingent went for a walk up Monkey mountain to see the monkeys and there were plenty!
Juliets chicken and chips for supper and its all quietened down now.....
Check out a few pics below, and of course, keep praying, we appreciate it!!

Team 23 - We're baaaaack!!

We're back, after 24 hours of alternating between lying down sleeping, bending over and/or squatting to..... well anyway, they are now behind us!!! Yay.
So today it was a great feeling to get back into it.  Bodies a bit tired and achy, but raring to do something after yesterdays cabin fever.
Off we went back down to the building project at YSU, to continue our ceiling construction and finishing off the (hugely reinforced) lid of the septic tank.
While we did that, Emily decided to 'get the kids out of the house too) and take them to a cafe to have a bit of fun on the play equipment (whilst she had a sneaky iced coffee and relax - well deserved!!)
The pics below tell the story (except for Emily and the kids as Emily forgot the phone for pics :/)
Check out the random pic of the epic rains we had yesterday - including flooding.

Thanks again for reading and praying, and please keep the prayers for health going!!

Team 23 Day 4

An early wake up for some for a walk or run (Jeremy, Luke and Natalie 'tried' a new route and luckily found their way back!) for breaky.. After a hearty breakfast of Spanish omelettes and chapatti (those who rolled them together got rolex's), Emily led us in a small devotion helping us to see how we can be used by God here in Uganda and as a team.
Donned the work clothes, bundled ourselves into the van ready to get back into it at YSU. There was a ceiling frame out to finish, a septic tank site to back fill and more.
Emily and the kids decided to sit the morning out and get their breath back after a fully packed 3 days behind us..
Work progressed well until it was time for lunch.  Some ripper vegetable pies with chilli sauce for lunch, hand made by Juliet and crew. Our QLD contingent has discovered the chilli sauce and finding it tasting good on almost everything 😊!
30 minutes of down time after lunch and back to it for the work crew, while Emily and the kids planned some time at the village with the kids.  Melody had her hair done by the girls which they love doing whilst Jeremy and some other kids figured out some new hiding spots... (pics of both below).
A nice downpour of rain to cool it off late in the arvo made finishing work pretty well decided.
Back at home, shower and relax and supper of lasagne will round off the day!!

Thanks for the comments and prayers!! Check out some pics below.

Team 23 in Uganda

After meeting our QLD contingent in Dubai followed by an actioned packed journey to get here, we arrived at Suubi house Saturday evening all looking for a bed to lay down.
The tiredness taken care of, we joined our Ugandan family worship at Abundant life Church. For some a brand new experience and for others a great reunion!
After church, we headed into Jinja to relieve the ATM's in town of their precious shillings, only to spend them on some food and drinks.
We've settled in to our accomodation with another team from Australia, working with Jinja Christian school and doing soccer clinics in villages and schools. A great bunch of young people!  All in all it makes Suubi house a definite hive of activity, with umpteen adults and 4 little kids :)
Today (Monday) our team got to work down at YSU helping to finish off the building being built there. At breakfast, Luke shred the story of YSU and what they do with young people, and to hear how many lives it's changing is inspirational.
We've just got back from a days work and having a relax before supper.
Check out some pics of the working hard group below...
Keep us in your prayers as we get into work and ministry in the next weeks..

From the Village's Desk

Hi to All
We wish to inform you that Village of Hope is doing well, children started their second Term of 2017, and all their fees and scholastics catered for already....many thanks for the support, as the situation in Uganda in regards to house hold incomes is appalling, a number of parents have not taken back their kids for studies.
At the end of holidays for term 1, our friends Rachael and William took the whole village out for a swim at King Fisher and we had a good time there. On our way back, it was grabbing  ice creams as usual and the children had a great time.
On 23/Jun/2017, in Jinja District, it's the day we Celebrated the Day of the African Child, held in Budondo Sub County at Budondo Primary School. Our children and many other projects and Schools participated in various activities like Poems,Songs, Drama and speeches basing on the Theme: Accelerating Protection,Empowerment and Equal Opportunities to All Children by 2030. The DAC is celebrated in Commemoration of African Children who Died in South Africa While Fighting for Freedom,,During Apartheid times.
It was an amazing day for the children as the occasion was attended by lots and lots of fellow children, Teachers, a few Parents, Local Government officials,and different project managers.
Village of Hope presented in a Poem and the children did it so well... as everyone was asking "which  school is that"!!
The celebrations also involved  a Brass Band which rotated around the venue's field and many kids followed it as it played different musical sounds.

The Day ended with Music and Meals......We boarded back at 4:00pm with children having lots of stories to tell those they left behind..
Thanks to The Lord of Lords for the good time we had and the children continued to realize that they are so blessed to be in Village of Hope basing on the situation of some of the children who were representing other schools.
Ivan

at King Fisher pool

funny in the pool

Dac celebrations in Budondo

getting ready for a presentation

Lots of kids from different schools

a brass band at its best

Probation officer on the right in a group photo

ready for introductions before district Officers

First Term Holidays with a Graduand

The Village is again Vibrant with lots of game sounds  all day as children got their first term Holidays. They all came back with report cards with promising performances. We thank God for the gift of life, healthy and protection, and believe that the 3weeks holiday will be good to everyone.
Kids are busy enjoying with lots of games, attend church fellowships, and recently on Saturday, the Big girl's long time friend (Teopista) of Pr, George got married ,and our children were majorly involved in all activities... this was a good feeling to all our girls. Other activities being carried out are Music Dance and Drama training, helping mothers with the cooking and other domestic chores.

Another major activity last weekend was celebrating Winnie's Graduation after successfully completing her studies in Hotel Management and Institutional Catering. She was so happy to have achieved this and i, Rachel and Winnie's Grand Ma Mary attended the ceremony at YMCA.
After the function, we went into photos and then had our lunch in town before we headed to Masese (Winnie's Village) for fellow children in the slums to see what the Lord has done for her!!!
The next day (Sunday) was  a celebration at Village of Hope where she gave her speech and thanked Hope Builders for enabling her succeed and there after served a cake to all people..Pre -School was there to entertain us with congratulatory songs, and all of it was crowned with a Movie Night on the Projector....Many Thanks to ALL who have been there and Still standing with Us in Holistically Taking Care of Children and Helping Break The Cycle of Poverty in Uganda.

See Pics Below