Saturday Lulwanda Children's Home

Video of one of the Song sung for us:

Today the team went to Luwanda Children’s Home. The children and the staff were extraordinary in their welcome. They presented the group with a thank you poster made by the children and a poster with the names of the children so we can pray for them by name. 

The home is overseen and sponsored by Grace International Children’s Foundation. This home focuses on children who have been orphaned or have one parent who cannot support them on their own. Overall they have 108 (64 girls and 44 boys) fully adopted children who live, eat, and are educated on the ground of 33 acres. Each child is supported by sponsors to pay for school, food, clothing, medical, and anything else. They concentrate on two main goals: restoring hope in the life of these children and to demonstrate the love of Christ in their lives. Lulwanda means “The Rock”, which is an apt name for the character and concentrate on Christ in the home. The land it now sits on was know for thieves and robbers before the home broke ground. Praise God that He has redeemed this place for such a mission as this. The home consists of 40 staff members from teachers to cooks to farmhands. They currently cook for about 250 people per day and allow about 120 children from the surrounding community to pay for school fees to attend their school. 

The grounds include two dormitories for girls, one dormitories for boys, two kitchens, a dining hall, a playground, a preschool, and a primary school. The ages range from 4 yrs to 15 yrs. There is a clinic too, but currently they do not have a nurse on staff due to an unexpected and unforeseen event with the previous nurse. It has been over a year without a nurse running the clinic and they are coveting any prayer for the situation. 

The school has a scholastic frontrunner and is currently number 7 in the Mbale district, one of the largest districts in Uganda. The government of Uganda requires what is called a “talking environment”. This consists of signs giving inspirational and moral messages that covering the property and rooms. The home is looking to add a secondary school, depending on the logistics and God’s provision.

Friday Crusade (Pictures)

Friday Medical Clinic

Hallelujah! God blessed us with another great and final day in Ogosoi. We arrived to the village with hundreds of people waiting to be treated at the medical clinic. God gave us the energy, patience and strength we needed to end our session In the village. More rounds of temperatures and blood pressures were taken, and plenty of pills were distributed again. Several children were put on IVs for severe malaria and thousands of HIV tests were given. 

Dr. Bartha saw what seemed like an endless number of patients. Just like yesterday, the Ugandans were thrilled to be seen by a Mzungu doctor. Our team is truly blessed to have Dr. Bartha on our team! He is a superstar! 

Richard, Pastor Rob and many others spent all day distributing mosquito nets in the hot back corner of the church. What a hot commodity! In the past arguments, spats and even fights have broken out due to mosquito nets. Luckily tantrums were less this years past, however it was quite chaotic. The Translators were very much needed when passing out the nets, and we were so thankful to have them help! 

At the end of the two day medical clinic, the mission team, along with lots of help from our Ugandan team, served over 2,000 people, filled roughly 6,000 prescriptions and distributed about 3700 mosquito nets.

As the Ugandan children chant, "GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME... ALL THE TIME... GOD IS GOOD!”

Friday School Teams

Today the school team visited two schools. One primary school and one high school. The team was composed of Andrew Green, Elizabeth Darr, David Peters, and Zureyma Thompson. Elizabeth, David, and Zureyma gave there testimonies and Andrew delivered a sermon on how to love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. The first school welcomed the team with open arms and was very excited to see them! At this school there was a boy with special needs, who was born with only arms and legs, and a very small torso. He sits in a wheel chair all day, but despite that he was as energetic as any other child, and praised The Lord with a huge smile on his face! The second school responded the same however the trip was cut short due to rain. Overall it was a successful excursion.

Thursday School Team

Casey, Michelle, Sharon, and Richard went to three primary schools that had around 400 students each. Richard preached about the call of Moses and how God had a plan for him even before he was born. He spoke about how even when we doubt our calling God will “be with us” and equip us for that call. Casey, Michelle and Sharon each gave their testimonies to enthusiastic and attentive children. The praise team led the students in songs throughout the lessons and were very energetic about the message of God.

Wednesday School Team

Today, Brooke, Pastor Rob and Megan went to the schools with the Ugandan Scripture Union. With two primary schools visits and two high school visits, the team was warmly greeted, in true Ugandan style, in each spot. The smiling faces illustrated the happiness each child found in God.


At each school, Brooke and Megan shared their testimony and Pastor Rob gave a sermon. Brooke reminded every student how strong God's love is for them, and that no matter who you are or what you have, Jesus will love you. Megan focused on the importance of having a strong relationship with Jesus through the parable of the seed and the sower. Pastor Rob preached about Peter's relationship with Jesus. The scripture union introduced us as U.N.C.L.E.s, which means U Need Christ to Live Eternally. Pastor Rob took this introduction and reminded every students that we ALL need Christ, even Peter who was Jesus' good friend. Without Christ, we are nothing.


At every school we praised Jesus through song and dance. Pastor Rob even led several worship songs at the first primary school they visited. What a voice! What a day!  Brooke, Megan and Pastor Rob were incredibly touched by the way God worked through them in each school today.

Medical Clinic Thursday

 

What is normally a chaotic day started peacefully today. God laid his hand on Ogosoi and blessed us with time and cool weather for the start of the medical clinic, and soon the chaos ensued...

Dr. Bartha tended to many village people, and healed them. Every one of them was so thrilled, as usual, to have a "Mzungu" (American) doctor. 

The team worked together to count pills, take temperatures and blood pressure, and pass out mosquito nets. All of the patients were then allotted to the different doctors at the clinic. The crowds grew very quickly! At the end of the day, we had to distribute numbers as line-place holders for the clinic tomorrow. About 1100 mosquito nets were handed out.This year we had a dentist for the first time... Many teeth were pulled! 

Overalll it was a very successful day in the village, but in a completely different manner.     

   

We are looking forward to our final day in the village tomorrow. Please pray for our team's energy and courage and a strong ending for such a powerful week.