Ready for Uganda?

It's currently 7:35pm and our team will be leaving in less than 5 hours for Atlanta. We'll fly from Atlanta to D.C.; D.C. to Rome, Italy; Rome to Addis Ababba, Ethiopia; AA to Entebbe, Uganda. Pastor Dave Eby will be meeting us at the Entebbe Airport to take us to Kampala around 2:15pm there time, 4:15am our time.

The team has been running around today like crazy getting last minute items. Nobody's too sure of what we will and will not have there, so the majority of us may have overpacked. Some of our team member's ran into a girl today at a wedding that has not only been to Uganda, but has also stayed with the Eby's! She said that she loves it there and can't wait to go back, to sit at Pastor Dave's feet and take notes on everything he says, to avoid most vegetables (she got a parasite last time!), and that many missionaries have lived in Uganda for exactly three years so they can qualify for adoption rights to bring back a Ugandan child! The kids there are awesome!

The day after we get to the capital (Kampala), we'll head out to a village called Kagadi for seven days. I tell you this for your prayers, but also to let you know that we probably won't have internet access during that time so wait until around July 8th to check back on here for some stories of what's going on!

Steph excited that her luggage finally weighs

less than 50 lbs. Jenna's not as excited.

A Great Preview

Our team had the privilege to have dessert with two native Ugandans this past Wednesday night, nicknamed "Godffrey" and "Dennis." You could immediately sense their humility, and their light-heartedness proved to be contagious to all who were present. They spoke of their country with great longing in their voices, and we were surprised to hear certain details of Uganda like the following:

-Many Ugandans grow up in church, but not many seem to have genuine faith.

-Most would like to own a Bible, but cannot due to its cost (the equivalent of 2 weeks worth of food).

-"Ugandans love to hear the Gospel," and are always open to new ideas.

-Ugandan women will often kneel onto both knees when serving food to you.

-Walking and eating at the same time is culturally unsound.

-Instead of nodding their heads in a conversation, Ugandans tend to raise their eyebrows up and down instead.

-The country currently has nation-wide electricity shortages due to a 3-year drought in their main hydro-electric dam.

And a big thanks to Ben Gallant for driving these guys down from Birmingham to meet us! Our team was invited to visit them in B'ham when we return to discuss our trip--I know we'll have quite a few stories to share!

Prayer Request from the Ebys

This is an email forwarded to our team recently from the Ebys. This happened a couple weeks ago and we can't imagine what it's like for their team right now, especially for the families. Please pray for them.

"Scott and Laura Sheffer and their four children, Robert 17, Erica 16, Christine 14 and Michael 12, came to Uganda last July to serve in missions. Scott is a deacon from Woodruf Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. He has been a contractor, cabinet maker and home builder for 28 years. Scott has most recently been assisting Westminster Theological College and Seminary as the construction manager for our new campus. He has also been involved in developing a construction training school and a vocational school for woodworking that has great prospects for significant employment- creation among our pastors and students (pastors here are all bi-vocational).. Last night, after a dinner party at a nearby restaurant with a large group of the trainees, Laura and one of Scott's workers, George, were walking on Entebbe Road just in front of the restaurant and were struck by a car. George died on the scene and Laura died enroute to the hospital. George leaves behind a wife and two children including a four month old baby. This is the second time that his wife has been widowed. Today at 4 PM a memorial service will be held for both at Zana Community Presbyterian Church. This is a blow to the whole missionary communty here in Kampala and Uganda. Please pray for Scott and the children who are devastated. Laura was the bonding glue in this family. She was a very close friend of Darlene's, a weekly shopping partner, a daily listener and encourager, her hair cutter and a huge help in our ministry of hospitality to students and others. We are all shocked and grieving. The Sheffer family is staying at our home now. They will be going with Laura's body back to the States for burial early this week.
The mission field is hard. The battle is serious. The stakes are eternal. The enemy is relentless. Rejoice with us that we know the Lord is in control and that nothing can separate us from Christ's love. Rejoice with us that Laura and George knew Christ's love and knew transforming grace and are in the presence of our King. Pray for those left behind for grace to persevere and for faith to remain strong and for the Lord to get glory from this pain.
In the Lamb, Dave and Darlene"

Jenna Jumps In

So things have been rolling along rather quickly for our team-- receiving visas and passports, raising the last of our support, continuing to talk about our vision and goals.... but not too quickly to add another TEAMMATE! That's right, Jenna McCollough joined our team this past month without a second to lose. And like a champ, she's not only got all of her vaccinations, she has also raised all of her support! But to all the faithful 'bloggers' out there who are thinking "First Aaron, now Jenna.... maybe it's not too late for me to join?!," the answer is yes, yes it is too late for you to join (according to MTW). But we are thankful for your prayers!