Building it!!

Well what a start to our Uganda adventure. It was typical Ugandan day with a thunderstorm over night and early morning followed by the hot sun breaking through. We have had no power for 38 hours but I think we have all had a great bonding time with no WIFI.
Today was our first full day of building. We started moving all the mud-bricks that were stored in house 13 ready to be laid as the final 4 courses of house 14. We had a great chain gang going and moved them pretty quickly. Dale then took charge and organised all the "bricklayers" for the day. Coby was like the pied piper with the village kids in tow following her to learn how to knit. It was a sight to see!!
Some of us spent the afternoon interacting with the children of the village - it was an awesome day - I can't wait for tomorrow!!!
Meagan

Safe arrival & setteling in

Yes team 22 has arrive safely and is settling into life on the ground in Uganda. Unfortunately we have not had power for our first day so contact back home has been limited - But we are here and we are safe and we have had a great welcome.  -  More updates to come soon!!!

X-mas at Village of Hope well Celebrated

It was a night of no sleep on 24/Dec/ 16 for almost everybody at the Village. Children,mothers etc, it was only one language!!! How the 25th celebrations for this year will be. At night African dishes were prepared like Matooke, meat,chicken, chapatti, g.nuts and others in order not to be late in the Sunday service at Abundant Church.
Morning came in with lots of excitement about the Birth of the Lord especially from the kids... as they requested for Jesus' Movie on the big Screen after lunch. By 9am, most of the Village occupants were already marvelously dressed in their new outfits for Church to celebrate with other community members.
This time it wasn't all that a long service, by 1pm, we were back at the Village for a BIG Lunch prepared by the mothers and older children. Lunch was served with lots of Sodas and the children were so happy for this as they could go for more than 1or2 happily enjoying with local music playing in remembrance of the King of Kings who was borne for us so that we retain eternal life.
Great THANKS TO All those who enabled us in Here in Uganda Celebrate Christmas with joy, you put a smile on many People's faces and help them gain more Hope

See our Celebrations in Pictures

House family

House 2 family

House4 family

Line up for the Big Lunch

It was the little's' time

Uncle Ivan will join us?

Lunch blast

House 7 ,its only Girls!!

Hse 3

The Juliets

Up coming big Boys

Well done mother, it has been a big day

The Micheals

x-mas indeed

Team 22 - packed and ready to go

Team 22 is just one sleep away for departing Melbourne and looking forward to arriving in Jinja for the adventures God has organised for us to be part of.  Will keep updates flowing in over the next 3 weeks.   Uganda here we come!!!!

Merry Making Schoolies Last Days

All went joyous with lots of Merry making for both the Schoolies and all those in Village of Hope plus communities at large. The last days of a two weeks and three days visit was occupied with happy moments........After raising House 14 to Beam level, it was time to have fun especially with the lovely Village of Hope Children.
It started with a Swimming expedition at King Fisher Safaris Resort on Sunday with all Children who love water 0000s and the Team members who were far better swimmers than any one in the pool. For the Kids, it's the best time of the year and they wait for it deary...Many thanks to Schoolies who helped the children enjoy pool water at ease ,you provided the safety for them since swimming is a luxurious leisure activity which receives less attention here in Uganda. We had good moments and the weather was conducive , then on our way back, we had a stop over to grab some Glucose Biscuits to replace lost energy.

On Monday, it was a football game between Schoolies and the African Builders at Jinja Christian School soccer field, this started as a simple one in round one but gained in 2 as Mzungus reinforced their defense and builders could not get through, it was more sweaty,and breath taking by the time it ended in favor of Builders.

Tuesday climaxed it all with an amazing farewell party which also called for the presence of Uganda Hope Builders Board Members. It started with the introduction of the Board by Hope Builders International Chairman, the Cultural Musical and Dance performances by the Village of Children's Choir neatly dressed in their new uniforms accompanied by our new set of instruments......These then followed by speeches,award certificate to team members, lots of Sodas and snacks then Mixed music and dances between team and children...it was a joyful moment!! Lots of thanks and God's Blessings to all those who had a hand in all what happened in the 2wks,3days visit to Ug.
Ivan

house 14

to King fisher for swimming

enjoying the pool

swimming lesson

having pool fun

in new dancing uniforms

had a match at JCS

choir entertaining team

appreciation certificate

Awarding Cert

board and Management

in the little ones' pool

Schoolies Revolution 2016 at Village of Hope

Hello to you all!!, and thanks to God for the Schoolies Team which arrived safely in Uganda on Monday 21.
The Team is on well,  and all planned activities in High Gear...Building of House 14 is now at window level, and Guys are seriously getting dirty as they help in Breaking the Cycle of Poverty.
Home of Hope has been visited and team was overwhelmed by amazing work being  done out there.It has also visited Welcome Home in Jinja Town , this is a babies Home and this was done on Saturday and after, it was leisure at the source of the Nile and Dinner in town after a hard week's work....

It's so far going on well with the Team and everyone at Village of Hope, yesterday on Sunday, our weekend was spent in a cultural interaction style where Children taught Schoolies cultural dances like Kigisu Dance(Kadodi) from Eastern Uganda, Kiganda Dance from Central Kisoga Dance from East. The day was so exciting to the Team and the Children, with the different " bone breaking dancing strokes" at least from one of the Team Members..The dances came to pick when our own Uncle Johann got a waist tie to try out the Kisoga Dance which he indeed tried!!!

Our Sunday and the week was ended by the Team Helping Mothers in the African Kitchens with cooking of Dinner....Schoolies had Hard time with the Smoky choking stoves of our kitchens, pounding of our matooke,cutting onions and chopping of firewood. This was so amazing for the Team members and all activities in preparation of meals truly different from what they knew..
                               
                                                     See Happenings in Pics Below  

learning Ugandan cooking styles

cultural dances getting harder

Uncle Johann tries Kisoga Dance

trying out Dances

Dances Gearup

Schoolies For House14

It's getting  on though dirtier

Door flames in, window flames next

progressing well

Blessings
Ivan

VOH Update-Schoolies Coming Soon

It's all fine here at Village of Hope, as we anxiously wait for the coming Schoolies Team in less than a week.
Everyone from children is aware of the team', 'for the kids, its known for taking them for a swim at King Fisher.....Uncle Johann is well known for this among the kids. We pray for God's journey mercies to you guys into Uganda.
Still on the coming team, as they've always done, they are to build House 14, the last house at Village of Hope... We thank you all for the Great Work you've done right from House 1 to now 14 whose Slab is already complete and we believe in the coming 3weeks or so, a whole house will be completed......It's really beautiful to have this happen...GOD is so good.

From the academics side of view, our 6 children in Primary Seven sat their National P.L.E Exams and we hope for good results next year. In Senior 4 Christine sat her National U.C.E Exams and she is expecting good results which will take her to Senior 5 and 6.
For Brenda, Sam and Derrick, they sitting their U.A.C.E National Exams as i post this write up.....We thank God for these children for the far he's brought them, we pray for success in all these exams.

With the rest of the Village, our activities are going on well, mothers are doing their ministry well, there is more unity,staff prayers are being conducted, and every department is carrying on it's roles. Our big Girls have received guidance and counseling sessions from Professional counselors in the last 2weeks and we hope all will be well.
            
                        See Some of the Updates in Pictures Below  

House 14 slab..waiting schoolies team

Slab House 14

VOH's P7 class 2016

whole P7 class 2016

Counseling sessions with big Girls

Christine's last visitation Day before exams

At start of staff prayers

staff prayers Geared up

All from Village of Hope-Uganda

Thanks to all our lovely supporters....

Ivan