Tickets are Booked!!!!!

Well the tickets are booked, this makes the trip seem SO much more real! I'm giddy with excitement, and can't even believe this is happening. We fly out of Calgary Feb 24th and return March 11th. I've had the biggest smile on my face every time I stop and think about this:-) So now that we're reeeeeeeeaaaally doing this it's time I introduce you to the team. I don't even know where to begin. It's been truly amazing to see God bring this team together. We have already been learning SO much together. These girls are amazing it's hard to use words to explain, so just bear with me.

I'll start with Ruth because in my mind she's our unofficial leader. She brings such maturity and insight to our times together. Her focused attitude towards doing Gods will drives us and continually encourages us. She has always wanted to be involved in missions and finally now God is putting things together and she's being faithful in that. Ruth has been contacting Frontline Ministries in Kampala and setting up some opportunities for us there. She has such a heart for the people living on the streets. She is also raising money to provide HIV tests to a doctor in Kampala once we get there. If you want to donate HIV tests please do so! You can just let us know to designate your donation for that cause. She is also looking forward to snuggling adorable little black babies:-)

Next there is Andrea. At one point in all this trip planning I thought I was going to end up going over to Uganda alone. I kept asking God to just put people on my mind and I would ask them to come too. God put Andrea on my mind, and I dismissed it because I didn't even really know her, how crazy am I!? BUT I got a second chance. The next week Andrea found out about our trip through her parents (her dad is our pastor), and jumped at the chance to come along. When we finally connected I got goosebumps because it was NOT a coincidence that we were put together like this! Andrea has also always wanted to do something like this, and now things are really just falling into place perfectly. I dub her our enthusiasm leader, because she brings such excitement and joy to our group, it's contagious. While we're in Uganda she's looking forward to getting a feel for the need there and helping out where God would have her be. We will also be keeping on eye on her to make sure she doesn't smuggle a baby home;-)

Then there is moi. I have loved Africa for as long as I can remember. My sister went to visit my Auntie in Kenya about 15 years ago, and I always wished I could go SOOO bad. I'm thrilled that it's finally being put in place and working out so well. I've been learning to listen and obey God, submit to Him and His plans, and rejoice in seeing His hand in my life. I sooo look forward to meeting the people over there, meeting some practical needs, but mostly just being the church with them and for them. I don't want to get into a theological sermon her about Christ loving the church like His own beautiful bride. I just want to say how much I look forward to meeting other people no matter where they are in their walk of life and walking with them. Oh, and I should also mention that the cute black babies will very much be affecting me too;-)

So there we are. Three girls who have always had this desire from God to go and minister to people. After all these years God has brought us together, and now off we go. There is no way we would be doing this if it wasn't for the desire God gave us, and now God putting things into place and working it all out. We are also so thankful for the support we have, we just wouldn't be able to do this without our peops. We all have wonderful families and friends backing us up in enthusiasm, prayer, and love. We are also super thankful for people donating to the Mama Florence project, may you be richly blessed in this! If you want to donate to the building project or HIV tests we still need more and we're trusting God to provide. I have a pay pal button or you could mail cheques in to Box 501 Sexsmith AB T0H 3C0, make the cheque out to Pathway Christian Communities. Any money raised above the building project and our HIV goal will go to meals, mosquito nets, medical supplies, blankets etc. Thanks again SO much faithful readers, we love you!

Let's Raise Some Money!!!

Official Fundraiser Day, whoohoo! God is moving and putting things into place. We have seen His hand and faithfulness as He shows us His plans, brings people together, and meets needs. You are being used by God as you give towards a delivery room for Mama Florence in Kamengo Uganda. We are giving people a better chance at life, right from the very beginning. By providing this building it is allowing for healthier babies, and who knows what they will be capable of as they grow up. We are not only meeting physical needs here, but we are showing Christs love.
I am so excited to see that thermometer go red over the next few days. As soon as the 3000.00 is raised the money will be sent to Uganda and the building will be started! Any amount helps, don't feel like you have to give a ton. If a ton of people give a little we will make a huge difference! Thank you all for joining with us in this project!

There are so many other things that we can help with in the future. Most people, especially in the villages depend on agriculture for their income and well being. This is another area we can equip these people with, with tools, information, etc.

This is the bed in the current delivery room at Mama Florence's house. Very humble. The new building will have three beds.

A typical Kamengo house, this would be for about 6 people. It's probably the size of our bathroom.

Let's Build It!

This is Mama Florence standing at the door to the current room she uses for delivering babies. It is the middle room of her house. The new building will be very close to her house. She is raising her three grandchildren, so she needs to be close to home. This picture was taken by Kelties friend Tanya who was just in Kamengo last month. She has been a huge help as I've asked her hundreds of questions.

What are we fund raising for?
Project: A building to be used by Mama Florence (a mid-wife) to deliver babies. This building will have a roof high enough to feel like you can breath in the building, it will have three beds, two cribs, and shelves. Sounds pretty simple doesn't it? Compared to the 8x8 room with low tin roof that is used right now, it is far from simple. The building will get started as soon as the money is raised, we are hoping it will be done by the time us girls visit Kamengo next month.
Place: Kamengo, a remote village 45 km south west of Kampala Uganda
People: Mama Florence is the midwife, she delivers 3 to 4 babies a week. She is a woman who loves the Lord and His word. The women that come to her live very simple lives. They are happy people, and don't need lots of "stuff", they do need some basic needs met, like regular healthy food, and a safe place to deliver their babies. Godfrey is a man in Kampala with a very big heart. He is the one who will actually be getting the building done.
What's your role?: We need to raise 3000.00 to get this building started. It will only take a couple weeks to build it. I'm asking that you join me and get excited about this project. Look at the pictures and think about these people. If you can donate money then great! If everyone donates even just a bit we can get this building started no problem. I made it really easy to donate, look over there to the right, a paypal button! How convenient!

Ok, now I'm going to blab a bit. Actually not that much because I have three kids running around the house and I need to get this done. Just a quick update on how the planning for the trip is going. We now have a team of four women who are leaving Feb 10th and staying in Kampala until Feb 22. There is myself, Keltie, Ruth, and Andrea. I really believe that this team is handpicked and this trip is being planned by God. We all have different interests and abilities and putting us together makes for a well rounded group of individuals willing to let God be the guide. We all feel like this is the first trip of many like this. Who knows who will be coming on the next one, wink wink nudge nudge. We want to go and do a few different things on the trip to see what the needs are over there. There is orphanage work, street ministry, medical training, and spending time in Kamengo. I will post more of a schedule after our next planning meeting, but for now that kind of gives you an idea of what we'll be up to. Because the building will (hopefully) be done before we get there, we will spend our time in Kamengo playing with the kids, sewing with the ladies, getting the building cleaned up and set up nice, and hosting at least one community meal and a celebration for the completion of the building. I want you guys to feel involved in this, so shot me your questions! I'm hosting a supper fundraiser this Saturday night, come! I'll be doing a short presentation, showing some amazing pictures of the village, and of course there will be good food! Here is the facebook invitation, check it out for more details on the fundraiser. If you can't come, you can still be involved. I will post the pictures here on the weekend and there's that special little button over there too;-)
I'm bringing a suitcase of stuff to share with the people there, here is a list of items that would be great to bring over. Drop them off at my house any time. We are flying out of Calgary, so if my Calgary peops want to send stuff over drop them off at Felicia's house, ask me for more details on that if you don't know where she lives.

baby blankets
baby hats
children's clothes
children's underwear
baby washcloths
sandles
sewing supplies (needles, thread, buttons, ribbons, scissors, embroidery hoops)
small rubbermaid containers for Mama Florence to store supplies in
sheets (single bed size)
towels
tank tops (the kind with extra support in the top would be great)
hankies, farm supply stores and I think Marks Work Wear House sell these
deflated soccer balls and hand pumps for them

I also have a sewing project that I would love to delegate to someone, if you're a sewer and want to help out with some stuff, let me know and I'll send you the info on that.
Now for some pictures! These were taken by Charity, a lady that was there last summer for adoption. This first one is the children in Kamengo. I'm not sure what they were doing, but she said at the beginning of the day they had about 100 children, and by the end of the day 400-500!



Mama Florence, I can't wait to meet her!


Godfrey. They carry their water from a well, usually they carry it on their heads. I'm pretty sure this picture was taken last summer, the day they got their new well. I saw a picture of the old water source, it looked like a dirty pond. Soooo thankful it's no longer used! Godfrey really has a heart for this village and we couldn't do all of this without him.

Uganda, the journey in my heart

Africa has always been on my mind and heart in some way. Now here I am in my 30th year of life and I'm praying that I will finally get to GO! I want to share with you this past year, the journey in my heart.

March 7 2011 - Sad but true, my story kind of starts at McDonald's. Some wonderful ladies from church got together for lunch and play time for the kids. I asked my friend Keltie about her experience in Uganda because she had recently adopted two children from there. As our kids played we got talking about this wonderful place and how amazing it would be to go and love people there. We started dreaming and praying about a trip there in the next year.

Oct 2011 - Since March I've had a really totally crappy time. Through many trials, (death, bitterness, and depression to name a few), I have been drawn to God as my only strength. I am so thankful to come through this hard year, knowing more about God and his incredible love for me. This is important to note here because God has been laying the ground works in my heart for this journey. Around this time Keltie and I started writing back and forth about our Uganda dream. Dream. And prayer. That's what it was at this point, but God knew our hearts, and He had a plan.
Dec - One week before Christmas and Keltie calls to say there are seat sales in Feb to Uganda. That was just the fire under my butt that I needed. It really got me into action. Got me on the phone to our pastor to ask for prayer, help, and support from him and the other leadership. Keltie and I got together with her friend Ruth to talk about the trip and what we would be doing. Like I said, Keltie has been there before and knows wonderful people there that we could stay with, help, bless, be driven around by, etc. God has been giving her the desire to bless Mama Florence, who is a midwife in a small village Kamengo. There are also a couple different orphanages we could help out in. We would want to be in country for at least 10 days. We want to be as much help to people there as we can in such a short time.

New Year 2012!!!! And with the new year, new plans. Keltie can no longer come on the trip:-( I was so disappointed to find out, BUT I was still totally in if that's what God had for me. I really believe that God makes his will known in the Bible. Back in October I read James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" We are also told to love our neighbour as ourselves, and how many references are there to feeding people in need? God gives us all different abilities, interests, talents, and desires. So following His will may look different for different people. This wasn't meant to become a theology discussion, I'm just trying to say that I'm trying to be faithful and let God ordain this trip. I want to stay within His plan as I follow His will. So in the last week I've really been talking with God a lot, asking for His guidance and asking Him to please take over. It's been amazing to watch it all come together. When Keltie first told me she couldn't come I thought of a few other people I could ask. In my circle of peeps not many people can just drop everything and run off to Uganda with me for a couple weeks, heeehmmmm next month! I wrote to my good friend Lindsay, who is also my #1 fan of this once lonely blog:-) She lives in England and it would be so amazing to meet up with her there. Then just today I get a call from Pastor Dean saying his daughter might be interested in coming. Are you surprised to find out that she was someone on my mind last week when I went over my list of possible travel companions? Well you should be, because I hardly know her and it's totally a God thing that she was brought to mind at all. So we got together and acted like giddy school girls looking at pictures of Kamengo, dreaming, and trying to come back down to earth.
So now what? Well by the end of the week I'd like to know for sure if I'm going, and who else is coming. Then we need to get tickets, which is another cool story for another time. Then I'd like to raise money for a building for Mama Florence, but that is also another story. I will keep you all posted on up coming events in this wonderful journey that is going on. Oh one more note before I head off to sweet beddy by. My mother-in-law was in Uganda when our eldest Munchkin was born. She brought back a necklace (I think it was supposed to be for the Munchkin, but I claimed it, ha ha), it's a green stone cut out to look like Africa. I've been wearing it a lot lately, and I LOVE it. God is amazing and I marvel at how he gets people involved in things like this in such different ways. So I'm asking you to be involved and excited with me for this journey as it goes from my heart into the real world.
* Disclaimer: This last paragraph used to be pretty good and eloquent before it somehow got erased. Now the hour is late and the thinking things inside my head aren't working so well. Goodnight:-)