Day 10 -- Another Update from Team

Yesterday must been computer day. Have two updates to post:

From Jeremy:

Greetings from the Uganda Team!
We're still here, and God is showing us his greatness every day. We
have had so much happen in the last week that it would be impossible
to include it all in this e-mail. We have grown to know and love the
Amani children, staff, volunteers, and surrounding community. We're
learning their names and stories, and when someone says "I met so-and-
so and they said such-and-such!", we get jealous that each of us
didn't get that experience or hear that story.
We're wrapping up our last couple of days here at the baby cottage,
and we're not looking forward to leaving the children behind. But we
are anticipating what God has for us in Kampala with the Rwothumios.
We are also missing our families and friends. I pray that God is
revealing Himself to you as He has been to us. Keep your eyes open,
He's everywhere.

See you soon,
Jeremy and the Uganda Team

PS In case some of you are unaware, we are scheduled to be back in
Kalamazoo at 2:49pm on Monday.

From Laurel:

I am having a wonderful time in Jinja, Uganda. My time with the 'babies' has been incredible--although I sometimes feel quite selfish holding and loving the kids----and most afternoons I end up with a sleeping baby in my arms!! Heaven!! It has been great to play and love on them, and also really wonderful developing relationships with the Ugandan women who work at the Baby Cottage. They have been so welcoming and warm.
Because our initial housing arrangement changed, we have ended up staying at Calvary Church--which has led to an incredible opportunity to join in their ministry--in church services, Bible Studies, and visiting local villages. And again, the Lord has developed friendships in very quick fashion as we have partnered together in sharing God's love.
We have one more full day at the Baby Cottage and then on Friday morning will say our goodbyes to our 'babies'----keep that time in your prayers as i am sure I will be an emotional wreck that morning!!
We will then be spending the weekend in Kampala with a church where the pastors are missionaries from our church in Richland, Michigan. We actually are going to be passing out the Christmas Child packages to the kids there in Kampala!! That will be wild!

I have loved my experience here ---I have fallen in love with the babies---wish I could take a few right home with me---and love Africa!!

One of the exciting adventures of this past week was that we went White Water Rafting on our day 'off'!! In the NILE!!!
No crocodiles in that section! We actually got off the rafts and went swimming for a bit! Can you believe it? Swimming in the NILE!!
We went down a few rapids, the most being a Level 3---it was a gorgeous day!
We even saw monkeys in the trees! Red tailed monkeys! Very exciting!

Day 9 - Back to work

Judy said the team made good progress on projects today. Not sure exactly what they were.

She posted following picture of the team at the Nile.

Day 8 - White Water Rafting the Nile

Saw a note from Judy Kleis that the RBC team had a "fun" day and went white water rafting on the Nile. She reported that they had a good time and that everybody made it back safely but they would be sleeping very well last night.

Day 7 - Live Link with RBC Missions Sunday Service

Okay the link during both services did work. One dropped connection, some pixelated graphics and occasional garbled speech. What an amazing time we live in that we could be communicating around the world with video in a church service, .... and then sharing you all.

Okay marveling done? We however at RBC are not used to recording video of service - audio we do routinely. We need to import the video and merge with audio and then convert to a format we can post for you all. We hope to have this this week.

Some of you are probably not marveling, but frustrated that you are not hearing more. I have included a link from Judy Weis's Facebook page which includes a two part video made by a previous mission trip to Amani Baby Cottage by another group. It does not show the RBC Team but I think it gives you a very nice picture of what the team is probably experiencing.

Continue to keep the team in your prayers.

The videos are about 9 minutes and 12 minutes in length respectively and should be able to be viewed small size or full screen and two resolutions to allow you to match with your internet speed for best viewing. Copy the entire line into the address line of your internet browser. You do not need to be a Facebook member to view.

Uganda Part 1

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=546537759&k=55MX666XP6VM5AFGQFWXYQ

Uganda Part 2

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=546537759&k=54GYXWVXPZ6M5AFGQFWXYQ

Day 6 - Update from Team Member - Laurel

Here is first actual message from Laurel. She does mention a Facebook group with photos of Patrick. I went online to see if I could get his picture and add it to email, but last photo update does not include titles or names of the children. So rather than guess I have left it out. As I get actual photos from Laurel or any of the team I will post.

Rick

Begin forwarded message:


HI Everyone!!

..., I am having a wonderful, wonderful time and I really wish that you were here with me experiencing it!!

|Getting on computer has been difficult, but found a way today to reach you! Sorry there has been that gap---not sure how many times we can use this one but will try.

First, look up the Amani Baby Cottage Volunteers and Families Group on Facebook. There are recently uploaded pictures on there and you can see "Patrick". He is a baby who has chosen me as his special 'auntie'. The Ugandan national women who work at the cottage are the "Mamas" and the volunteers, like us, are called "Aunties". Patrick is probably about 8 months old or so and he has found me several times out of the whole group. He crawls up in my lap and quickly falls asleep. So there we sit in the African afternoon under a big shade tree and he naps in my arms!! It kind of does not feel much like 'missionary work', but it feels good and it I know that the value of those moments he can feel embraced and comforted go far beyond what I can even imagine! Yesterday we had the bubbles out and I got some video of the babies laughing and giggling trying to catch bubbles! Again, I wish you were all here cause you would love the smiles and the laughter and giggles----not to say there are not tears too! When I took Patrick inside for lunch and put him down to eat, he started crawling towards me and bawled----breaks my heart and warms my heart at the same time.

Last night we went to the slum village nearby called "Loco". This is where the babies often come from. It is hard to describe the extreme poverty of that area----they have absolutely nothing----the children came for a Sunday School and it was wonderful to hear them sing in both English and Lugandan---singing their praises to God--the God we share and loves them just as much as He loves you and me! They even sang "Father Abraham".

There is, of course, so many more experiences I wish I had time to relate, but for now I hope this gives you a glimpse of what I am doing here. We are all well, eating well (far better than I had thought) and it has been just a joy to "love the babies".

I have officially fallen in love with the babies and Africa!!!


Much love,
Laurel

Day 5

Jeremy here. This is my first opportunity to say "We made it!" We've had internet and power problems, so sorry for the delay. God
answered prayers, and travel was a breeze. the team is tired, but we
are loving the kids, our hosts at the church, and the Ugandan people
at large. Jerry is currently out with pastor Jesse taping the
distribution of "Operation Christmas Child" boxes. Please prey for
his safety. We have witnessed God working on the planes, in the
airports, and here in Uganda totally independent of our efforts.
Imagine that. We're here ready for the live feed test, hoping the
internet holds up. We'll see you soon. Tanks for praying. Don't stop!

Walking where he leads us,
Jeremy and the Uganda Team”


The "live feed test" is for a direct feed into the Sunday morning service during Mission's Sunday. This is supposed to occur during both services.

Day 4 - Contact with the team

Received following update from Judy - one of the full time missionaries at Amani Baby Cottage.

Judy Kleis picked up the RBC team-the arrived safely and are doing well. We are having internet problems, so sorry for lack of communication (no news is good news).

So keep checking - I'm sure when they get online they will have all sorts of things to share.

Rick Flaget for the team.