Monday, August 17, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Update from Uganda Mission
Update from Uganda Mission Team.
Thank you again to all of those who have supported Taylor and her trip. As you will read in the letter below, the work has not stopped. We will continue to receive updates about the church in Jinja and what the church in Fayetteville is doing to help support them.
If you would like to stay on and receive the updates, do nothing and I will continue to forward them on. If you do not wish to receive these, just send me an email and let me know and I will remove your name.
Taylor will be putting together a "presentation" about her trip and we will plan on sharing that with all of you in the very near future.
Thank you again!
Lori
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"'
Greetings friends and family,
well we made it home safe and sound. I know all of the team are glad to be back with family again. I have spoken to a few of the team the last coupe of days and the jet lag seems to be smacking us all!! It does get better!
I want to thank you all for your support of us on this trip. Whether through financial donations, or prayers, or sharing the work we are doing with others your support was felt and needed by the team. We could not have done this without you!! Thank you so much.
The trip was amazing. We held 5 medical clinics and were able to see and assist almost 3,000 people. What a blessing. We handed out over 1,000 mosquito nets to pregnant women and families with small children to help prevent malaria. We also had a couple hundred people come to faith in Christ through the two showings of the Passion of the Christ movie and the prayer room at each clinic. Actually.. God did all this through us. It was a tremendous trip.
I will say it is going to be difficult for the team to explain it to you for a bit. I have been three times now and still have trouble describing it. There are times when exhaustion and frustration set in, but honestly I remember the blessings. Seeing a child smile as they play games and sing songs. Having a parent thank you for helping them see the doctor. Getting word that the 2 infants rushed to the hospital are doing better. Seeing your friends freely giving of themselves in service for others they do not even know. Sharing a time of fellowship with our hosts who thank us for coming and blessing the people they work with daily. Worshiping in a new church building in the middle of a village. These things far out weigh the inconveniences to our normal comfort zone. It is such a blessing to have been a part of what God is doing.
I want you to know that the Uganda mission is not over. We have new projects we will be working on in the near future. If you would like to stay involved or updated please let me know and I will keep you in the email group. Here are a few things we have going on currently and coming up:
1. CYORF newsletter - Pastor Edward sends out a monthly newsletter to update what is going on and needs of the ministry in Jinja.
2. Child Sponsorship - for $31 a month you can sponsor a child through CYORF and provide food, clothes, school, medical attention, and spiritual guidance.
3. CYORF monthly partners - we also collect donations to assist Pastor Edward and CYORF with their monthly budget.
4. (New) Purchasing a new vehicle for CYORF - we will working to buy a new 4x4 for CYORF so they can travel to the various villages where they minister
5. (New) Water well in Mayuge district with CYORF
6. (New) Water well and church building for the East African Methodist conference in Koch Gomo
Again, the team would like to thank you for your prayers and support while we were in country. Your prayers were felt trust us and they were needed to do all that God wanted us to do. Thank you for being there for us. Talk to you soon and hopefully see you in Uganda one day!!
We love because God first loved Us.
Chris Thornton
Thank you again to all of those who have supported Taylor and her trip. As you will read in the letter below, the work has not stopped. We will continue to receive updates about the church in Jinja and what the church in Fayetteville is doing to help support them.
If you would like to stay on and receive the updates, do nothing and I will continue to forward them on. If you do not wish to receive these, just send me an email and let me know and I will remove your name.
Taylor will be putting together a "presentation" about her trip and we will plan on sharing that with all of you in the very near future.
Thank you again!
Lori
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"'
Greetings friends and family,
well we made it home safe and sound. I know all of the team are glad to be back with family again. I have spoken to a few of the team the last coupe of days and the jet lag seems to be smacking us all!! It does get better!
I want to thank you all for your support of us on this trip. Whether through financial donations, or prayers, or sharing the work we are doing with others your support was felt and needed by the team. We could not have done this without you!! Thank you so much.
The trip was amazing. We held 5 medical clinics and were able to see and assist almost 3,000 people. What a blessing. We handed out over 1,000 mosquito nets to pregnant women and families with small children to help prevent malaria. We also had a couple hundred people come to faith in Christ through the two showings of the Passion of the Christ movie and the prayer room at each clinic. Actually.. God did all this through us. It was a tremendous trip.
I will say it is going to be difficult for the team to explain it to you for a bit. I have been three times now and still have trouble describing it. There are times when exhaustion and frustration set in, but honestly I remember the blessings. Seeing a child smile as they play games and sing songs. Having a parent thank you for helping them see the doctor. Getting word that the 2 infants rushed to the hospital are doing better. Seeing your friends freely giving of themselves in service for others they do not even know. Sharing a time of fellowship with our hosts who thank us for coming and blessing the people they work with daily. Worshiping in a new church building in the middle of a village. These things far out weigh the inconveniences to our normal comfort zone. It is such a blessing to have been a part of what God is doing.
I want you to know that the Uganda mission is not over. We have new projects we will be working on in the near future. If you would like to stay involved or updated please let me know and I will keep you in the email group. Here are a few things we have going on currently and coming up:
1. CYORF newsletter - Pastor Edward sends out a monthly newsletter to update what is going on and needs of the ministry in Jinja.
2. Child Sponsorship - for $31 a month you can sponsor a child through CYORF and provide food, clothes, school, medical attention, and spiritual guidance.
3. CYORF monthly partners - we also collect donations to assist Pastor Edward and CYORF with their monthly budget.
4. (New) Purchasing a new vehicle for CYORF - we will working to buy a new 4x4 for CYORF so they can travel to the various villages where they minister
5. (New) Water well in Mayuge district with CYORF
6. (New) Water well and church building for the East African Methodist conference in Koch Gomo
Again, the team would like to thank you for your prayers and support while we were in country. Your prayers were felt trust us and they were needed to do all that God wanted us to do. Thank you for being there for us. Talk to you soon and hopefully see you in Uganda one day!!
We love because God first loved Us.
Chris Thornton
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What an awesome trip!
We met Taylor at the airport last night about 4:45. I could tell from the minute I saw her, with the ever present smile on her face, that she had a wonderful time. To cement her good experience, the first words after "I missed you" were...."We need to talk about the trip to the Amazon next year. I want to go."
We all headed over to her dad's house to share her homecoming and were blessed by several stories and gifts.
Unfortunately her camera didn't work, BUT, one of the guys from the trip is compiling pics from everyone and giving a cd to all the mission team members.
All of that being said, we will be having a get together soon so Taylor can tell everyone about her trip.
Keep checking back or if you want me to email you the details, send me a note... lori.swearingen@yahoo.com
Thanks for all your prayers!!
Love to all!
Lori
We all headed over to her dad's house to share her homecoming and were blessed by several stories and gifts.
Unfortunately her camera didn't work, BUT, one of the guys from the trip is compiling pics from everyone and giving a cd to all the mission team members.
All of that being said, we will be having a get together soon so Taylor can tell everyone about her trip.
Keep checking back or if you want me to email you the details, send me a note... lori.swearingen@yahoo.com
Thanks for all your prayers!!
Love to all!
Lori
Monday, August 3, 2009
HOMECOMING!!!!
I just want to say thank you to friends and family alike who have prayed for our missionaries and missionary families this week. The prayers were felt. It has also been a blessing receiving encouragement from many of you. Please continue to pray them through all the way home.
It looks like their flights are on schedule. They are currently split into three groups arriving at three different times this evening.
Chris will probably send out one more e-mail in the next couple of days just to let you know final details of their work.
Thanks so much for supporting and encouraging us.
In Christ's arms,
Kysia
It looks like their flights are on schedule. They are currently split into three groups arriving at three different times this evening.
Chris will probably send out one more e-mail in the next couple of days just to let you know final details of their work.
Thanks so much for supporting and encouraging us.
In Christ's arms,
Kysia
Saturday, August 1
The float trip on the Nile was Amazing!!!! We all had a great time and it is hard to describe it. We went through grade 2 thru grade 5 rapids today..... Many rafts tumped over.... I was in the boat with Keith, Dewey, Clint, Rebecca, Laura, Katie, and Elizabeth and we named our boat the Sons of thunder.... Our chant after each rapid was Thunder Thunder Boom..... We never tumped over.... We did lose Laura and Rebecca on one rapid and on the last rapid known as 50/50 we lost Keith, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Laura, but we did not turn over.... Awesome.... It was incredible to think we were swimming in the Nile river..... This river has so much historical and biblical significance; we were floating down it like baby Moses!!
We had slow and lazy parts where they let us jump out and swim and the rapids were just indescribable..... I saw tons of smiles and lots of laughter and tired people..... Wait till you see the video and pics.... Our guide Dave was incredible... He took us to as extreme as possible rapids without flipping us.... He was outstanding with the boat.... I cannot find the words anymore.... I would do it again in a heartbeat.....
It was great to see Sue, Hank, Cheryl, Tamara, Taylor, Liliia, Joey, Mary, Mike, Gary, Jody, Brittany, Hannah, and Susan and the Sons of Thunder conquer those rapids and love evey minute of it!!!!
And I was only kidding about the hippos and crocs.... It was the nile perch as big as a man and the snakes we had to watch for!
Just kidding!!! No animals to worry about.... Its the rapids that can get you!
One other thing.... We had to remove our sandals and we got to walk around Africa barefoot.... Everyone is getting a baggie of meds to take when we get home.... We all will be de-wormed!!
This was a great day. We have gotten to see the best and the worst of Uganda and the team needed this fun filled day.
And please pray for Dr Cross... He had to pull out early with a dislocated shoulder. He is doing good but he needs prayers.
We have an early morning tomorrow... Breakfast and team meeting at 6am... Church with Edward in Mayuge at 9am... Drive to Kampala at noon.... Lunch, zoo, and seeing the market and them begin the flight home at 10:20pm.
God bless you.... See you all in a few days!
Crt
We had slow and lazy parts where they let us jump out and swim and the rapids were just indescribable..... I saw tons of smiles and lots of laughter and tired people..... Wait till you see the video and pics.... Our guide Dave was incredible... He took us to as extreme as possible rapids without flipping us.... He was outstanding with the boat.... I cannot find the words anymore.... I would do it again in a heartbeat.....
It was great to see Sue, Hank, Cheryl, Tamara, Taylor, Liliia, Joey, Mary, Mike, Gary, Jody, Brittany, Hannah, and Susan and the Sons of Thunder conquer those rapids and love evey minute of it!!!!
And I was only kidding about the hippos and crocs.... It was the nile perch as big as a man and the snakes we had to watch for!
Just kidding!!! No animals to worry about.... Its the rapids that can get you!
One other thing.... We had to remove our sandals and we got to walk around Africa barefoot.... Everyone is getting a baggie of meds to take when we get home.... We all will be de-wormed!!
This was a great day. We have gotten to see the best and the worst of Uganda and the team needed this fun filled day.
And please pray for Dr Cross... He had to pull out early with a dislocated shoulder. He is doing good but he needs prayers.
We have an early morning tomorrow... Breakfast and team meeting at 6am... Church with Edward in Mayuge at 9am... Drive to Kampala at noon.... Lunch, zoo, and seeing the market and them begin the flight home at 10:20pm.
God bless you.... See you all in a few days!
Crt
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