Final thoughts on the 2012 trip...

I know it has been awhile since I last posted and promised my final thoughts. I apologize for the delay. Upon arrival home both Kysia and I became ill. Seems we brought a little visitor from Africa home with us. The first week back was a blur for both of us, but Kysia had to go to the ER. All is much better now, but last week was crazy. So.... We are back. The trip was incredible and hard and blessed and tough and amazing and draining and eye opening. We saw God work in the midst of darkness. The enemy tried to distract us, but God always prevails. It is hard for me to describe each trip. I cannot talk about my time in Uganda like it was a vacation. While we do get to do some fun things, our time is to serve with the local hosts. I have become very comfortable there after six trips. I miss my home here in the U.S., but I feel very at home in Uganda. I know that God has called me and my family to go and serve and be available to serve in Uganda. Each trip is always a blur, but I remember I mentioned in a earlier post that each trip, for me, is about faces and names and people I meet. So my final post for 2012 is a reflection on that.... Pastor Edward and his wife Julie and son Isaiah... I cannot tell you how blessed my family and I have been by this divine connection. None of us had any idea where this relationship would take us in 2007. Edward has become my brother and he is an amazing man of faith. I see him serve his people with love and mercy and grace. He inspires me. He is a true inspiration to me. Has a smile that lights up the room and a heart that does the same. Sam Mdune... Works with the bishops office of the East African Methodist conference and is the consummate host. Sam is quick to make sure you are doing ok and to help in anything he can. He is always sharing a laugh and I have grown to love this man. His heart of service is a beautiful thing. Heart of gold. Doctor Moses.... He was our driver in the north in 2007 while he was still in medical school. We anointed him our team doctor then and he has become like family to us all. Quick with a joke. Always looking to serve. He mentors and disciples the local doctors he brings to our clinics. You can see his concern for the people. Even on this trip I am still greeted by him with a hug and our famous quote..."Munu. give me a sweet. You have no choice." Bishop Daniel Wandabula.... He is a big and powerful man who loves the people in his conference and is quick to laugh and joke. How he goes to work each day and faithfully serves the people of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and Southern Sudan is truly God driven. Great man. Astra... The 85 year old grandmother I assisted in Gulu from the doctors to the prayer room to the pharmacy. We could not understand each other, but when I called her my grandmother she quickly smiled and laughed and beamed. I held her hand and walked slowly with her around the clinic. I thought of my grandmothers and was warmed in my heart. Calling her grandmother was a way for me to show her respect and dignity and love. She is not a forgotten person. The 88 year old man in the Gulu clinic that had worked as a police officer for the Queen of England... He looked much younger and spoke English and was just an amazing man to spend time with. He was funny in that when I told him he looked good he said "I don't feel good for an old man" and laughed. The policeman that watched over the clinic in the village of Lucero in the south... Kysia told me about having to ride on the bus with him to the village (I was not there on the first day) with his AK-47 hanging next to her. She was scared. He came into the prayer room and somehow asked for and ended up with Kysia's bible. God gave her boldness and she asked him if he read English (he could) and if he had children at home (he did). Kysia told him that if she gave him her bible then they would not have one in the prayer room for the rest of the day. If she gave it to him he had to promise to read it himself and to his children. He said he would. The next day he came to the prayer room and asked to pray for salvation, so Kysia and Arena prayed with him. Kysia was able to encourage Ben (local youth pastor) to pray for the leaders and police in their country. They have so much power and potential for corruption and goodness. It was a wonderful display of God's power overcoming human fear to witness the grace of God to a seeking soul. Powerful story. Innocent... A young man in the village of Koch Chorom in Gulu district. He sings in the choir at the Methodist church. I have seen him most years we have been to Koch Chorom. Last year he asked me where my son was who came with us in 2010. Innocent is smart and quick to smile and trade. He got me to give him my Not A Fan bracelet and gave me a bracelet that he made. It did not fit. I found out later he also got a bracelet off another team member. I like Innocent. He reminds me of me at his age actually. I took a picture of us together and I will be sending to him. Mondi.... I love my friend Mondi. He is very quiet. Mondi lives in Jinja with his wife and children. He has worked with us since 2007 and helps with the house builds. Mondi was a Muslim who came to Christ at Edward's church and is now on the church board. He is always quick to assist and help when we shop to make sure we all get a good deal. Mondi also drives a boda boda for income. We learned that when you are not the boss man (owner of the boda boda) you don't have much power. The daily rental fee is high and is owned no matter how much you earn plus you pay for your own gas and minor repairs. Mondi had a dream last year to be The boss man and own His own boda boda. Well through God and a relationship developed through some of our teammates Mondi is now the boss man! He is the proud owner of his own boda boda and will be able to keep more income daily to care for his family. I have been praying for a year for this and thought I had a plan; it turns out God had a different idea in mind. Mondi makes great jokes and his heart is so good. I love to see him in church praising God. He is a great man. The three small siblings who came to the prayer room in Lucero and asked Kyisa to pray with them as they wanted to begin a personal relationship with Christ.... We are not real sure of their story. Maybe the three of them were all the family they had. We do not know how they heard the gospel. All Kysia knows is these children came to pray for salvation. How amazing and cool is that? To be a part of God's plan of salvation for three small children in a village in southern Uganda? Sometimes there is nothing to do but be faithful and serve. What an amazing experience for my wife! The choir at the church in Kampala made up of Rwandan refugees....we stopped here on our way to the airport to leave as Traci had worked with the ladies in this church. They were simply amazing. The best choir I have ever heard in Africa. Ever. Their voices were beautiful. I truthfully was ready to be to the airport and start the long flight home. I was tired and not feeling well and selfish, but man am I glad we stopped. I only wish I had a CD of them. Powerful! Viola Mutsei..... Our sponsored child from CYORF who loves in the village of Kikubo. She is beautiful and has deep violet blue eyes. Very shy and quiet. Each time I have seen her she is smiling and hanging in the back of the crowd. Kysia and I got to see her at the school and spend some time with her. She talks so soft it is hard to hear her. We also got to see her in her home environment with friends. So much fun to see her in the element as well. Kariel writes letters back and forth with her and cannot wait to visit Viola one day soon. I saw her in 2010 and fell in love. It is also so hard to leave the school in Kikubo and the kids. Kysia told me that as we were leaving the school on Friday (out last visit) she saw Viola from the car and she was crying. Melts my heart even now. I am glad I did not see it then because I was have been wrecked. Sponsorship is amazing. It make a huge impact on the life of the child and the family unit they may stay with. Check it out at www.helpendlocalpoverty.com. Follow the sponsorship links and all the kids from Uganda are cared for by Pastor Edward. I cannot wait to get back and hug little Viola again! Beautiful girl with a beautiful spirit. So much more to share, but my time is done. I encourage you to talk to someone you know from the trip and ask them to share. They have stories and people and God moments that I know nothing about. And they are all amazing. I want to thank you all for following our trip and my random thoughts. Thank goodness my wife is a great editor and collaborator or you would have to read my bad grammar! It is always a blessing to share each trip with family, friends, supporters, and fellow travels on the journey of faith. Than you for your prayers as well. The team could not do it without your prayers. The enemy wants nothing better than to distract us and make us ineffective. Your prayers blessed us to be a blessing. God bless and see you next year! Chris and Kysia

It is finished...

The team arrived back at XNA last night around 11:30pm. Everyone is tired and wore out, but also blessed. The trip was incredible and beautiful. That you again for Ll your prayers and support. My final thoughts will be posted tonight or tomorrow. Praise to God for His grace and mercy! Chris

Recap of Saturday and Sunday

I apologize for the delay in posting updates. The wifi at the hotel in Jinja went out Friday night and never did work again. We have had a great end to our trip. Here is a recap.... Saturday was a recreation day. Mike, Jody, Melissa, Traci, and Samantha went to see the Sipi Falls and the pics are beautiful. Another natural treasure of this wonderful country. Dottie, Richard, and Susan spent the day roaming around Jinja. Keith, Jacqueline, Audrey, Morgan, Gary, Tamara, Charles, Kysia and Chris all went rafting the Nile. I must say we dominated that river! The rapids are different then in 2009 due to new dam, but it was still amazing. Our raft and guide, Tutu, did great on every rapid until... The Bad Place. We tried to do the 50/50 line for flipping, we did not hit it and everyone but Charles, Tutu, and I were swept out of the raft. As Tutu and I were scanning for our crew and i heard Tutu say he saw them in the water we came upon another rapid and it flipped the three of us out! Needless to say it was scary and awesome! We got to swim large stretches of he river and even got to float through some small rapids out of the raft. It was a great time. We even fought off the hippos and crocs! On Sunday we went to church at His Mercy church in Buwenda with Pastor Edward. Love African church. Loud music, dancing, clapping, singing. It is full of passion! Tamara and Keith shared their testimony and Jody preached and it was a great worship time with our brothers and sisters in Uganda! We then traveled to Kampala and stopped at a church TrCi has been working with. The members were refugees from Rwanda and it was amazing. The choir was incredible. Like nothing I have heard before. Beautiful. We all wished we could have stayed longer with them. We then headed to Entebbe and flew to Amsterdam where we are now waiting to bead to Atlanta. The trip has been hard and blessed. We all are still trying to process and it will take some time. Every year I head home I am ready, but i Leave a small piece of my heart in Uganda. I love Pastor Edward and our friends like family. My heart is heavy as I head home. My home is in the U.S., but I love my Ugandan family. Every team member has incredible stories to tell and amazing people to introduce you to. Kysia and I cannot wait to see our kids. We have served together and grown closer to each other and to the Lord. I shed soe tears as I leave, but they are tears if joy and blessing. This is not good bye Uganda. This is see you next time. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We experienced some darkness and could not have made it without your prayer covering. We also go to see God in His various distressing disguises. We love you all, Chris and Kysia

Sorry for the delay in updates

The hotel wifi in Uganda stopped working Sarurday morning, so I have not been able to post. The team is in Amsterdam and about to head to the city. We have a 10 hour layover. I will post an update later of Saturday and Sunday's activities when we get back to the airport. Please pray for the team. Very tired and ready to be home. The trip has been great. A lot of blessings I will recap later. God bless, Chris

A day of various ministry

Good evening faily and friends Today was a day filled with a variety of ministry opportunities. The team started out by going to the local prison in Jinja town. We brought gifts for the prisoners of blankets, soap, and razors. This year the gifts stayed with the guards and were not brought out to the general population! (incident last year that was 30 seconds of intensity, but all was good). Jody spoke to the prisoners about second chances and it was great. Many men made a decision to follow Christ and take the second chance God provides. I must say I aws a bit apprehensive going back after last year, but I knew God wanted us there to encourage the men. We did that and now Edward and his team are able to come and disciple the believers. Many of the men came up to talk to the team as we left. It was really a blessed time to minister. Then Tamara, Charles, Kysia and Chris went with Pastor Edward to visit the school at Kikubo again. I love this little school. It is amazing to see the progress of the grounds from our first visit. It was such a humble place. Now it is a light in the village. We got to watch a debate with the students and then they all sang and danced to welcome us. I started shaking my hips along with them and they loved it! This school is really blessing lives. It has enough class rooms for Primary 1 through 7 and a place for up to 20 kids to stay on sight. A kitchen is in the works and a new pit latrine as well. Al the. Lass rooms have new cement floors and stuccoed walls inside and out. Plus there are new wooden desks for the children to use. What a beautiful sight! Kysia and I got to see our sponsored child, Viola, again. She is such a sweetheart. Kysia told me that as we were leaving Viola was crying. I am glad I did not see it because I would have been a wreck. What a beautiful little girl. We also got to see one of my friends from past trips, Florence Baguma. Florence was a hue help to ajonah and I a coupe of years ago and she and I got to hang out last year as well. She is quiet and always has a great smile. It was so good to see these two little angels! We then met up with the other team at Wayange UMC for a service. This is where Traci has been meting with a women's group and teaching and discipline them. The bishop Daniel Wandabula was there again and a smaller Hope 4 Arica Childrens Choir. Jody shared a message (he is a fantastic preacher!) as Dottie and Melissa shared their testimony. It was a great time for the church to say, not goodbye to Traci, but see you soon. You could tell the impact this church and these ladies had on Traci and the impact she on them. It was a wonderful time of celebration. The ladies group was also presented with umbrellas so they could still walk to church when it rained. We in America really have no excuses for not attending church except for sickness. These ladies walk every where. I am so humbled to get to meet and talk with them. The people we meet a gracious and thankful for our coming. Great time to celebrate with Traci. The evening finished with the team eating pizza at Sergio's and sharing awards for each other. It was a great night of fun and laughter and fellowship. I am so thankful for all who came to Uganda to serve. I still cannot believe how far this mission project has Coe and where it is going and will keep going. god has doe some amazing things. I am humbled. What a great night! Tormorrow a group of us will go rafting on the Nile. A group will go to Sipi Falls and a few will just relax a d stroll around Jinja. It is time for us to come home. I love to be here and serve and interact and worship with my brothers and sisters. Africa is an amazing lace of hope and despair and poverty and love. I see God in his most distressing disguise and it is also so beautiful. Be ready to let your family or friend have some time to process when they he back home. It takes some time to really talk about it. But once they are ready oh the stories they will tell and the people they will introduce you to. We have experienced God in an amazing way. Get ready to want to come with us next year! God bless you all. I a off to bed because I need my rest to conquer the river Nile tomorrow! Peace Chris and Kysia

God's mercies are new every morning...

Good morning, The sun is rising in Jinja. The team is waking up. The coffee is strong. And God's mercy is among us. Yesterday was a difficult day. I was afraid after I posted the update that it was too negative. I want to be real. Sometimes these trips are hard. Lite itself is hard. Life at home for everyone on the team and for you is not always easy. But God is there to fill us up and carry us when we are weak. He makes all things new. Today we will spend time with some of the ladies groups Traci has been working with plus visit the local prison and get to visit with the Hope 4 Africa children's choir from the Humble House. This is the choir that visited Central UMC a few years ago. Talk to you tonight. Chris and Kysia

The medical clinics are finished.

Good evening friends, Well the last medical clinic of our trip wrapped up today, and I want to say it was a tough day. Not physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We arrived and the crowd waiting for us had grown to about 450 people. The need is so great, as I have mentioned, and we knew as we pulled into the school we would be disappointing many people. This is a day I have come to dread. Having to close down the clinic and turn people away. We work to see as many people as possible, but the numbers are so great we can never treat them all. There were 4 men who rode a boat across Lake Victoria and then walked 8 miles the to the clinic. This shows how important a doctor is to the remote villages. Incredible. Today we saw 290 medical and 41 dental with 44 teeth removed and 1,092 scripts filed. We also disbursed vitamins and pain reliver to over 200 people who did not get to see the doctor. We treated a home for the blind and crippled. It is not about numbers, but our reach into the community was strong. Than you God for expanding the team like the loaves and fishes. The clinic itself ran very smooth. The process we had in place worked so well. The doctors and dentists and pharmacy and prayer room were a well oiled machine. The team has been just incredible. Everyone worked together and even lifted each other up when someone needed it. This team was the hands and feet of Christ. Be very proud of your family or friend. They displayed God's light, love, and grace. The difficulty came from having to deal with the local politicians. The LC 1 (the mayor of the village Lucero) had a heart to see his community served and was thankful we were there. Unfortunately he wanted us to see everyone sitting under the tree as well as a number of others he brought or had brought to the clinic. This is tough. He have us the ok to set up the clinic in his area, so we wanted to assist him. The process became difficult when he kept bringing 'special cases' to be seen immediately. Mike did a great job is explaining to the mayor that if we saw all the people he wanted us to see then we wold not be able to see as many people who had been waiting for two days. Pastor Edward and Mike did a fabulous job of coming up with solutions to see as many people as possible ad the mayor was agreeable. The people became more determined to try and see the doctor though as the day went on and began to move for the waiting tree to crowding the door by the doctors. It became very active. We tried to have our helpers get people to back up, but it was not working. As the mayor was working with Mike I pulled him aside and spoke to a politician like an never have before! I gained his agreement that we had a plan he agreed with and we were implanting that plan. He thanked me and I thEn told him we needed his help to back people up. I told him we were going to have people hurt by pushing and shoving and neither he or us wanted that. I was a little afraid I had over stepped my bounds, but he agreed and went to work. It still did not work. The people are under a darkness in Lucero. They were aggressive and desparate. They had no hope except the medicine. Even in the prayer room Kysia mentioned that people wanted her to pray for them because she would place a hand on thei back or shoulder and they felt the touch of a white person had special powers. Wow. I do not want to make it sound like today, or this clinic for the 3 days, was all bad. There were many people who smiled and thanked us and were so special. Many people listened to the gospel and made decisions to start following Jesus. We had our local pastors there to feet and follow up. There was light and God was present. The last days of a clinic is always hard when you tell peopLe they will not see the doctor and you will not be back the next day. Hardest thing I have ever done. My heart breaks whe I think of the faces I had to tell I could not get me to see the doctor. Ultimately hope was there. When Mike and I told the crowd that we would not be back we did tell them how many of their family and neighbors we had seen and the crowd said Thank You. The people have nothing. But they have hope. They came I hopes of relief and our presence and interaction did show them hope and love. It was just a hard day, but God was there and with us and the entire team emptied themselves to serve others. Finally, I want to say we have a incredible leader in Jody. He is always positive and u.pbeat and encouraging. Jody makes sure everyone has what they need and keeps tabs on the team through the clinic. He is a fantastic leader and a dear friend. We did have a special event for dinner. Pastor Edwards father hosted us for dinner at his home. We got to meet Paul, Edwards dad, and mother and siblings. They had a huge spread laid out for us in front of his home and we all sat outside and broke bread together. It was a traditional Ugandan meal of cassava, posho, marooned, g nut sauce, cabbage, beans, rice, tomatoes, avocado, chicken, and goat. Everye loved the food and the fellowship with Edwards's family. Our partnership and friendship with Edward is special. He is a good man and his heart for the people he is called to serve is so big. What a great way to end the evening. Well almost e end of the evening. As we were driving back to the hotel we canme upon numerous trucks in the road waiting to enter the sugar factory and they were blocking the road. We could not pass on either side due to the ditch. The team got to experien e a little more Ugandan culture as we exited the bus and let our driver attempt to turn the bus around in the middle of the road without gettig stuck in the ditches or hit by other vehicles trying to pass the trucks. A bunch of Muzungus standing in the dark on the side of the road looked a bit out of place! Thankfully our driver is amazing and got turned around and we began the long road home. T.I.A. (This Is Africa) I apologize for sounding so negative abo clinic today. I am drained emotionally and spiritually. I helped Mike today with crowd control and staging and as I mention yesterday I have no idea how he does it. I have many great memories of today and people I prayed with and talked to. It was a good day. Just a hard day. I am off to bed. Good night my friends! Chris