Team 23 Day 10

Team 23 update time..
The last 2 days have have been pretty busy, with a visit to Masesi (the slums where some of our kids come from. Visiting homes, giving gifts and praying for them. We were privileged to be able to pray for a few sick and infirmed people and believe God moved with healing. We're hoping to be able to go back and check on those people and encourage them before we go. God was amazingly present and we would love to share more about Him with those we met.
The afternoon was spent backing at YSU beginning to clean for painting the 'almost complete' unit, and cementing the ceiling we'd spent the last days framing out. The evening was spent relaxing and chatting as the power was out (so no internet 😏).
Today we spent the morning finishing the cleaning and doing the first layer of undercoat on the walls.  It was all hands on deck and we even had the kids cleaning and painting (when they weren't on the hammock!)
For the afternoon it was a trip into town to relax and have a look around a bit further, check on our ordered paintings and have a milkshake or 2. Emily even had a boda boda ride!!
Home again to no power as it seems that the 'load sharing' means that Jinja area might be without power each afternoon until evening - good to know...
Check out the pics below, there are a few this time.
Please keep praying for us, especially for health as we are up a down with stomach viruses etc...

Team 23 Day 8

A few days without posting....
Saturday had us working on site again down at YSU, continuing our work on the ceilings and the cornice work. We're moving along pretty well getting it all ready for render and painting... Theres still lot to do, but we're certainly kept busy.
Half of the team went out to an African music festival out at the Black Lantern on Saturday night to enjoy music from a bunch of different African nations and of course to relax and have a meal. All reports were that it was good..
Sunday, we slept in a bit then headed to Abundant Life church to worship with the local community. A few hours relaxing after church then we headed into town to see the 'Source of the Nile', and have a boat ride out to the source and surrounding places of interest. We rounded out the day with supper at our favourite restaurant 'All Friends', and towards the end of our dinner our last team member, Tiffany, arrived.  It was nice to meet her and welcome her into the team. She was ready for a good sleep after the long journey.
Today, Monday was another day of work at the YSU building. Our master ceiling construction crew pretty much completed framing out the ceilings in the second unit, whilst Rob worked on the rendering of the eaves.  Tiffany proved herself keen and adept at wielding a hammer and tried her hand at render work too.
Relaxing now waiting for supper and happy to sit for a while.
Tomorrow morning we will go into Masesi (the slums where many of our kids come from) to visit homes and encourage them. On one hand we're looking forward to it, yet we know it will be confronting..
Most everyone is well again now, including the kids, and we're thankful for that. One or 2 still have aches and or slight fevers, but a vast improvement.

Please, if you read this, keep up your prayers for us, so that we can be effective and safe, staying healthy and well.

Check out some pics below of the last few days..

Our little forman/helper today on site - colouring is important!

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..