The First Official Post from Uganda

An Internet connection, yeah. We have had less communication than I would have liked, but that is the nature of missions. Let me first let everybody know that all 27 of the team are doing amazing! We did have some minor stomach illness with a few, but all are up and busy today.
Let me see how much of the past week I can put on here. I don't have a lot of time, or much battery remaining on my laptop, so I must type quickly.
Our United flight from XNA was delayed over an hour on July 7. We made a 15 minute connection in Chicago, yes, 15 minutes. We literally ran through the airport. My (Jason) backpack actually came open in the run and stuff was falling out. How is that for a team leader. Larry and I were the last two of the team on the big United Boeing 777 and they shut the door behind us. Tony, Jane, Louie and Mary were resting comfortably in their seats when we came running on. It was a humorous event after we were in our seats. We were all close in our seating.
We arrived into London shortly after noon on Tuesday and decided it would be a bad idea to sit in the airport all day being that we were already feeling so tired. So we checked out hand luggage and got on The Lower or Tube or something like that and went to a place called Piccadilly Circus to eat lunch. We traveled in our pods and all ate at 4 different places. It was a good idea it gave us fresh air and exercise.
We got back to London Hethrow at 6:00p.m. and boarded our 8:00p.m. flight to Nairobi. It was the same sort of aircraft only on Kenya Air. The idea was to sleep on this flight so we would transition nicely to Africa time. Some did, most didn't. Tylenol PM is going to be on our checklist next time.
We arrived in Nairobi shortly after 6:00am on Wednesday morning. During our two hour stop, the ladies got dressed in their lovely skirts and proper attire. Might I note that the guys have enjoyed each evening voting on the best skirt of the day. So far, Aundra, Haley, Coco, Mary Max and Kendra have got to go first at dinner time as their prize for best skirt.
We left Nairobi just after 8:00am and arrived in Uganda after 9:00am. We had not trouble at all getting our visa's and past right through customs, praise Jesus. Pastor David, Ivan, and other staff member of Fathers Divine were eagerly waiting for us. We piled, I mean piled in for a 3 hour ride to Jinja.
We spend Wednesday night settling in. Thursday morning we were up early, some of us up all night. We had bread, butter, coffee and tea and left for Lake Victoria. We all got on a boat that I cannot even describe, you will just have to see pictures. We rode about an hour and half across Lake Victoria to the small island of Lingurra (spelling ?) It felt like something from a movie. To get on and off the boat, the people working at the lake side carried each of us on. The guys rode on shoulders and the ladies were carried in arms. The reason is the water has bacteria that makes one sick.
As we landed on this island, we were met by a large crowd of eager men, women and children. The brush was very high as we got off the boat and it felt like a movie as we followed each other up a trail. Very cool.
We went to work loving on kids, playing with kids and organizing our HIV testing clinic. The whole day into the evening was spent doing these things. It was such an incredible blessing and surprise to be able to go to this little island to serve. We spent the night in dorms that Youth with a Mission has. It was a very fun night as most of the guys shared a twin bed.
We left the island shortly after noon on Friday and headed back to Jinja. We spent the evening and all day Saturday loving on, playing with and hopefully encouraging the children and staff at Fathers Divine Love Ministry.
Sunday we were up and around for church at 10:00a.m. The service was so awesome, that is the only word I can think of for it. The Spirit is was and is so free. We sang, heard testimony from Mark, Coco, and Louie. We saw presentations, experienced a man covert from Buddhism to Jesus, sang, heard me give the shortest sermon ever in Africa, and then a baby dedication. Church concluded shortly before 2:00pm. It was just perfect.
Last night we helped with what is called Movie Ministry. People in the village came out to hear some local Christian talent, hear the gospel presentation given by Alan Hunt of World Orphans and watch a small video. There must have been over 1000 people there with a sea of hands raised indicating they wanted Jesus. We wrapped Movie Ministry up shortly after 10:00p.m.
This morning the team met and I challenged them to memorize our four verses and spend time with Lord. We sang and worshipped together and it was a great time with this family. We were to help build a mud hut for a widow woman, but it rained all morning, you can put the rest of that together.
The rain moved out and we split the team into 3 today. One team: Shellie, Jamie, Marena, Micah, Madonna, Kate, Tony, Jane are at Amani Baby Cottage. Branton, Louie, Matt, Haley, Coco, Mark, and Jared are at Fathers Divine working and the rest went to a couple of local schools.
We have had the most amazing food! Mainly it is rice, beans, pineapple and some sort of chicken. We had the most amazing shepherds pie the other night. It was so good! We have fresh avocado for lunch today.
I have to say I love this team and am so proud of each of them. I know each of the team has been stretched out beyond any preparation we did.
Please pray that we continue in such good health and keep our amazing unity. This years trip has been easier than last simply because I do feel like I am here with family.
Let me see if I can give a little shout out here for each team member.
Louie is having fun taking his teeth out in front of the children.
Mary Max is always ready to go.
Aundra always has a word of encouragement
Marena is much more goofy than I thought.
Shellie is really loving Africa and the whole experience (already planning the next time)
Lori is always spotting things to do.
Larry has the softest heart in this country.
Branton is on time in Africa.
Tony is comic relief, or some sort of relief.
Jane is learning how to cook African donuts.
Jenna writes the sweetest encouragement cards and dances in church.
Madonna wants to poke a needle in someone so bad she can hardly stand it.
Coco is wondering if Africa is where the Lord will plant her missionary heart. Mind the gap.
Kate constantly has children around her and telling them what to do.
Ariel loves sleeping with kitten in her room and loving all kido's
Haley loves to wear her "hiking skirts" hiking to see the monkeys.
Kendra is always first in line to eat, her mama didn't raise no dummy.
Karyn is 99% full of faith that she isn't going to get sick.
Aric is working hard to memorize his verses and keep enough deet on.
Mark is loving being close to his birthplace.
Josiah like to use the toilet on the upper level in the dark.
Micah like to have everything organized
Jordan likes to step on every bodies shoes and get his jeans really, really, really dirty.
Jared is learning all sorts of new convictions and hoping he gets worms.
Matt likes to eat the chicken that Aundra helped pluck.
Jamie always has a little girl named Flo in his arms and missed is curly hair.
And me, I think I like coffee without cream.
I am hopeful to have another post before we leave this Friday, it doesn't look promising though.
Praise God for using his people!