Hello!

Joelle and I (Stacy) have made it safely back to our respective states and we are beginning to get over our jet lag.

Last Tuesday we drove down to Kampala to begin our journey home. Our flights went well, we arrived only one hour behind schedule, and almost all of our luggage made it! The box that was missing showed up at my door only two days later. Praise God!   

We really enjoyed this summer and the opportunities that we had to serve; God taught us so many lessons and blessed this trip enormously!

Thank you for your prayers and support; we couldn't have made it through without your support and encouragement.

In Christ Alone,
Stacy & Joelle

 

 

Yoga!

The past few weeks have been very eventful; we've done so many different things. We finished up our week-long Bible club in the village of Serere, where we had around 150 children each night. The Lord has blessed those clubs and allowed us to water the seeds of the Gospel in the villages.

   We also were able to visit Sipi Falls, a series of waterfalls about an hour away from Soroti. They were beautiful! However, I'm sure it was a funny sight seeing Joelle and I climbing up steep, muddy slopes. We both had our own guide to pull us up...I guess we looked needy, or something! I can't imagine what they were thinking about us. It was a good adventure, for sure!

   This past week we were able to teach Bible for about an hour in three different public schools within Soroti. It was an awesome opportunity and they were so welcoming! Even though a couple of the schools forgot we were coming, they still gave us time to present a lesson from God's Word. One of the schools brought together their 939 students outside and sat them under two huge trees to listen to us. Ugandan schools are so different from ones in America and it was a huge learning experience.

   Another adventure was going househunting in Gulu, a town in northern Uganda. We traveled with two other missionaries, one of which will be moving there to start a church planting ministry up north. Gulu is a war-torn town where many people fled during the rebel war in Uganda. We saw IDP (internally displaced persons) camps, where there were tons of huts so closely packed together. The people who lived in these camps fled from their villages and have nowhere else to go. It was a humbling experience to see the needs of these people. Not just a physical need, but a spiritual one, as well.  

We also learned so much about a practical area of missionary life - househunting. We traveled around town looking for property, trying not to get ripped off because of our white skin. It sure was exciting!

Our journey in Africa has almost come to an end, but the Lord has done so much in us and through us this summer. We thank you for your prayers and support throughout it all and we cannot wait to share our story with you!

Until next time,
Stacy & Joelle

 

Hello!

 

We've just finished up our 5th week in Uganda, Africa.

 

We've completed two weeks of Bible club in two different villages. They both were amazing and we got to meet so many children excited about hearing about the Lord.

 

Next week we'll have our last Bible club for our trip; please pray for the Lord to work in the hearts of those who attend. Also pray that language will not be too much of a barrier because we will be out in a village where most people do not speak English. Even though we will have a translator, we need much prayer to keep things running smoothly.
  

This past week was full of interesting food adventures: from killing and plucking chickens, to baking cookies and peanut butter pies! Today we enjoyed a nice American cookout in a nearby town, where all of the missionaries gathered together to celebrate the 4th of July. It is always nice to spend a day relaxing and enjoying the company of other believers.
  

Joelle has been teaching the nursery school class every day at the orphanage, and things have improved greatly in the past few weeks. I have kept busy with some orphan application work and with random tasks for the missionaries. On each Saturday morning we take part in visitation, where we go with a group of children and pass out tracks in town. This is always a nice time to show the community the love of Christ and invite them to church the next day.
  

We have both gotten to know the orphans so much better, and we love spending time with them out on the playground or in the garden during their free time. The children are so sweet, and they will be very hard to leave!
  

The Lord sure has blessed this trip so far, and we look forward to the weeks ahead! Please continue to pray for us as we serve in Uganda, Africa.

Stacy & Joelle

Hello!

Things have been going very well in Uganda over the past few weeks.

Joelle and I have started our Bible Club program here in Soroti. It is very much like Vacation Bible School (every afternoon for 5 days). We have songs, verses, Bible stories, missionary stories, games, etc. for the children.

We've been averaging 80 children each afternoon, so that is a huge blessing! We introduced them to new motion songs ("Peace Like a River", "Read your Bible, Pray Everyday", "Fishers of Men") and they LOVE singing them! The motions help them to remember the English words and also allow them to release some energy!

Though many children know and understand English, we still have to use a translator so that everyone can fully comprehend what we're saying. This has been a huge challenge, but the Lord has helped us to adapt to these conditions.

We're having an awesome time serving the Lord, and we ask for you to pray for the people of Uganda. Please pray for our Bible Clubs which we will be having in other villages over the next two weeks. Thank you for all of your prayers!!

Stacy & Joelle

 

Things are going well here in Uganda.

 

Joelle has been teaching daily at the orphanage K4, and working on visuals. Stacy has been working on administrative things, such as orphan applications, and getting teaching materials prepared for the ladies in the village church of Adachar.

 

Saturdays are filled with visitation and preparation for Sunday children's services in Sararai.

 

This Monday, we began Bible Clubs. Please continue to pray for the children and all involved to come to the Lord.

 

The food in Uganda is pretty good... although, yesterday, we were walking through kitchenjugie and a lady offered us a huge pot of fried white ants. We knew that she had intended to sell them to get money at the market. We knew it would not be a good idea to take all of her labor and source of income and eat it. Praise the Lord -- she was thankful when we declined.

 

On Friday night, we had an earthquake, but there was no harm done and everyone was okay. We were all on the floor playing "Phase 10" (real hard missions work) when it happened. The Lord blessed and nothing was broken or anything harmed.

 

There is so much going on right now, with the national pastor leaving and Mr. Pittman having to return early to the States. Please continue praying for the ministry here in Soroti.

 

Praises

 

Teaching has been going great

God has given us safety

We have had many opportunities to serve

We have been blessed with good health

We got over jet-lag quickly

We were protected during the earthquake

We've had amazing learning opportunities

 

 

Prayer Requests

 

For children's hearts as we teach

For God's word to accomplish His purpose at Bible Clubs

Health for the children at the orphanage as many have come down with malaria and are having a hard time getting over it

For the ministry here in Soroti

For salvation and committment to ministry with those in Uganda

For everything to be in order when we head back to the USA

For provision for our college costs for 2007-2008 school year

 

Thank you for your prayers!

 

May He find us faithful,

 

Joelle and Stacy

 

 

 

11 June 07  - Monday