We are Sorry to Say "Bye-Bye"!

The team completed teaching at Busuubizi on Thursday and Friday. They created and delivered gift bags to the teachers on Friday. Following Friday's lessons, the students and teachers thanked them with gifts, kind words, and songs.  The team was frequently moved to tears as they concluded their time and said good-bye to these precious children and teachers.

We continued to be well fed and have opportunities to try traditional Ugandan meals such as Matoke (steamed plantains with a geenut sauce) along with eating American favorites such as biscuits and gravy; cornbread and taco soup; and pancakes.

We completed our work at Hope Village's piggery on Thursday. On the way there, we stopped by a local leather shop to buy handmade sandals. Among our team, we purchased six pairs of sandals. We learned from our host, Eric (who has been sharing with the woman who owns and operates the business), that she would likely sell one pair of shoes or sandals on a good week. The woman thanked us and Eric profusely and seemed near tears when we left. It felt good to be able to bless her and affirm the relationship that she has developed with our host. 

At the piggery, most of the girls worked to clear the property of stumps and debris. However, the MVP award of the day must go to Emma and Kari who donned rain-boots and proceeded to clean 25 pig stalls!!! They worked incredibly hard, had fun, and were able to finish in under two hours!  Enjoy the pictures below! In the process, an escape artist pig managed to get out of his pen. Monica may or may not have chased and poked the pig in her efforts to coax him back into his pen!

After teaching their final lessons on Friday morning, the team spent the afternoon preparing to host a festival for the children of Hope Village as well as hand-washing some of their clothes (a new experience for most). Following their preparations, they were able to purchase craft items that the children make to raise funds for their food and schooling. The evening concluded with worship at Hope Village where Haylee and Kailey were able to share.

Kari is a pig stall cleaning MACHINE!

Emma & Kari lovin' on Jamie, the Pig.

Emma, Kimberly, & Sienna with P6 at Busuubizi Primary

Haylee leading P4 in "Jesus Loves Me"

The Team with all of the children & teachers at Busuubizi Primary.

Keri & Kailey (AKA Keri & Kairey)
enjoyed learning Lugandan from P5!

 

Megan saying goodbye to the children at Busuubizi!

Monica with two of the Busuubizi Choir Members. 

A Piggery, Grasshoppers, and Jackfruit!

On Tuesday morning, the team began teaching classes at Busubizi Primary. Tuesday's lesson provided them a framework within which the team members will teach specific stories for the remainder of the week.  They will follow the morning schedule below each day this week:

9.30-10am:
Babies:  Kari and Kailey
P3:  Jen and Megan (teaching Cain & Abel / Abraham / Noah)
P4:  Haylee and Quel (teaching Joseph & Moses)
P6:  Sienna, Kimberly, & Emma (Daniel & Christ)

10.30-11am:  Break for all of the classes and our team to play together

11am-Noon:
P1 / P2:  Jen & Megan (teaching Cain & Abel / Abraham / Noah)
P5:  Kari and Kailey (Samuel & David)
Working in Garden:  Haylee, Quel, Sienna, Kimberly, & Emma

The team returns at 12.30pm each day to Eric & Krisann's for lunch each day. Tuesday found us enjoy a great Tex-Mex lunch complete with homemade tortillas and fresh guacamole.  Wednesday's lunch consisted of chipati bread, hotdogs, and cooked cabbage. 

On Tuesday afternoon the team hiked about a mile to 100% Hope's Hope Village property to work on landscaping their piggery.  We cleared the area of heavy rocks which were then used to create a retaining wall to prevent erosion at the project.  Emma has able to draw on her experience of doing similar work last summer at her grandparent's to build the retaining wall. The team demonstrated their work ethic and strength, once again proving that OBU girls are a tough bunch!  After a couple of hours of hard physical labor w/ Eric, Dan, & Patrick, we hiked back to Eric & Krisann's for welcomed bucket showers and dinner.

Tuesday evening was filled with lesson planning, laughter, and an intense round of Mafia!

Wednesday morning, Quel, Monica,  Emma, and Jen made a trip to the bank to exchange US dollars (USD) to Ugandan Shillings for our expenses throughout our trip as well as for individual team members spending money.  We also had an opportunity to experience an open air market and purchase some geenuts (ground nuts...similar to our peanuts). 

Wednesday afternoon, Quel, Emma, Megan, Haylee, Kailey, and Kimberly returned to Hope Village to continue our work at the Piggery.  Later that afternoon, Monica, Sienna, and Kari accompanied Eric to Busimbi to lead a weekly Bible Study. Monica taught the lesson on Ruth and Kari and Sienna shared a brief word of testimony and scripture. We were well received and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the pastor and his congregants. 

After an amazing dinner of chicken pot pies made from scratch, we spent Wednesday evening with Haylee, Megan, and Sienna singing / practicing music for future worship services.
The past two days have provided opportunities to try local treats such as geenuts (both salty and sweet), Jackfruit, and chipatis.   However, the most exciting (and traumatizing experience) had to be the opportunity to eat Grasshoppers!  While this is one of Monica's favorite Ugandan delicacies, the team was not so sure!  After much squealing, squirming, and protests...EVERYONE got ONE grasshopper down!  Enjoy the pictures below.

LIFT US UP...
...that teaching would create opportunities to share with both teachers and children
...for physical strength and endurance for the challenging work being done
...for an emerging opportunity that would enable Haylee to coordinate / lead a conference on worship for local music pastors (to be assisted / supported by Megan and Sienna)
...praise that Jen's lost luggage finally arrived on Tuesday evening!

The Team BEFORE getting to work at the Piggery!

Kailey, Haylee, Jen, and Kari MAN-HANDLING a bolder at the Piggery

I am Woman, Hear me ROAR!

Bison Athletes on their summer workouts!

Kailey & Megan LOVE OOOOOklahoma.....

Emma is a ROCKSTAR!!!!

Distributing the GRASSHOPPERS!!!

Down the Hatch!

The Aftermath!

We LOVE Uganda!

After a journey of many hours (60 hours), many miles ( 9000+ miles), and many delays, we arrived with great joy and exhaustion at the home of our gracious hosts, Eric & Krisann at 8pm on Monday night. As we drove from Entebbe / Kampala to Mityana, I was blessed by the wonder and joy on each of the girls' fatigued and travel weary faces. It was a thrill to witness Sienna's contentment with being in the place for which she has deep love complimented by the satisfaction of the rest of the team for FINALLY reaching this step in a long-planned for journey of faith. 

We took care of the basic necessities of food and bucket showers before falling into our beds. The morning found us rising early to enjoy Ugandan bananas and coffee along with a lovingly prepared breakfast. 

We spent our first morning meeting the teachers and students and observing their classes at Busubizi Primary School where our team will teach each morning this week. I am happy to see our team return to this school which we so enjoyed last summer!  This rural government school has limited resources and we are thrilled for the opportunity to encourage and bless these students and teachers. Their Head Master, Christina, is a wonderful and gifted educator and leader. 

Eric and Krisann's house woman, Herima prepared a traditional Ugandan meal of beef and rice for our lunch. Following lunch we got acquainted with Trishelle, the founder and leader of 100% Hope. We will serve this amazing charity throughout our time. I'm excited to share this work with you. You can learn more about it through their website:  http://www.100-hope.org

The remainder of our day has been planning teaching lessons, sleeping, laughing, and playing. 

Please lift us up...

*for health, sleep, and rest

*for the relationships developing on the team and with our hosts

*for Eric, Krisann, and Emily as host us (that they will be strengthen and encouraged rather than burdened by our time here)

Blessings,

Monica

Our group (minus Emma) preparing to board our flight in OKC (photo cred to Kailey's mom)

Our team with Krisann, our host, and Christine, Head Master of Busubizi Primary

Kari and Kailey (AKA Kairey) observing the "babies" class at Busubizi Primary

Halfway There

In the 24 hours since we were gathered with friends and family in the OKC airport, we have had a bit of adventure, experienced the kindness of strangers, and been reminded to trust the Father's plan for our journey. After a smooth departure, we were blessed by the kindness of a stranger seated by Jen on our flight to Detroit. He gave her $100 to buy our dinner at the Detroit airport!!!  Amazing!

The hours following that blessing reminded us that the Father's plan is not always our own and, even in that, blessings abound. We spent 3-4 hours on board our Amsterdam plane on the ground with minor mechanical issues. Eventually, they were able to secure a new plane and we took off five hours behind schedule. We arrived in Amsterdam about ten minutes after our African bound plane's departure. 

The team has remained positive and flexible. The details are working out and we are relaxing in the Amsterdam airport awaiting the final legs of our trip. If the Father is willing, we will arrive at our final destination about 48 hours after our departure. 

Lift us up that our travel will continue to be safe and in the Father's hands. We also ask that you lift up our luggage situation that it make it on our flights. Finally, ask that we will be able to rest adequately and be ready to serve and bless those to whom we are called. 

Photo credits to Kailey's mom! 

MEET OUR TEAM - Day Five...and WE'RE OFF!!!!

It's our day of departure!!!!  Lift us up throughout the day asking for safety and ease of travel!

Let me introduce the final two members of our team!


RAQUEL
Senior International Business Major from Brazil

Lift up my team as we are about to face many fun but challenging situations. And for every team member to remain safe and healthy in the trip.  For my family as they are letting me go help people, but they know how challenging and insecure it can be.

KARI (center w/ Sienna & Jen)
Junior Communication Studies Major from Tulsa

MEET OUR TEAM - Day Four!

Each day this week, I will introduce you to two members of our team.  Please lift them up as they prepare to depart on Friday.

KIMBERLY
Sophomore Communication Studies Major
from Denton, Texas

 John 13.34-35:  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Please lift up our safety along with those we will be in contact with. Please also ask that the Father will reveal Himself to all people through not only our words, but also our actions, and through Him many will find salvation.

MONICA

Director of Student Success

Habakkuk 3.17-19:  Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights. 

Lift up our team as we travel and are in country.  Ask the Father for His hand of protection over us and His love to be visible in all we do.

MEET OUR TEAM - Day Three!

Each day this week, I will introduce you to two members of our team.  Please lift them up as they prepare to depart on Friday.

Haylee 

May 2014 Vocal Music Ed Graduate from Bixby

II Corinthians 12.9:  My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Emma

Sophomore Biology Major

from Eudora, Kansas


Colossians 3:12-17:  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the LORD forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father though Him.

MEET OUR TEAM - Day Two!

Each day this week, I will introduce you to two members of our team.  Please lift them up as they prepare to depart on Friday.

Megan

Junior Piano Major from Broken Arrow

Isaiah 1.17: "Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause."

and Isaiah 61

Jen

Sophomore Nursing Major from Edmond

John 14.18:  I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.

MEET OUR TEAM!!!!!

Each day this week, I will introduce you to two members of our team.  Please lift them up as they prepare to depart on Friday.

KAILEY
Junior Biology Major from Edmond

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD." - Jeremiah 1.7-8

Pray for us to feel the direction of The Lord, and to be willing to follow it.  Pray for courage to do the work that God has called on us to do.

SIENNA

Senior Family Sciences Major from Meeker

Served on last year's team!

My main concern is that coming back to the states (reverse culture shock) is going to be worse this year than last year. I really struggled for months after we got back. Sometimes still do.

The Final Countdown...

In a short five days time, our TEAM will be somewhere over the Atlantic en route to our destination in Mityana, Uganda!

Thank you for your interest and lifting us up as we prepare to GO bring LOVE, knowledge, and peace to the people of Africa.  We will be teaching in a village primary school, building new facilities at an orphanage, and conducting medical clinics on a remote island.

We are departing from OKC (and Kansas City) on Friday morning, May 23rd and will be in Uganda around 4pm on Saturday (CST).  It will be midnight for us!  We will spend the night in Entebbe after landing and then travel to Mityana the next day.  If you are interested in getting a sense of where in the world we will be, check out Google Maps:  https://goo.gl/maps/6LxkU

We will post updates throughout our travels to and from the country as well as about every 48 hours while in country as WiFi access allows.  Watch for stories, pictures, and concerns for which you can remember us to the Father.

As our departure time approaches, I will introduce each member of the team and share specific needs for our final preparation.

Blessings,
Monica