New flight info

Updated flight info: missed our connecting flight. New flight gets into San Diego at 845 pm

United Airlines flight 240

In Brussels

Made it to Brussels safe and sound. Waiting for our flight to the states. Here for a little while. 

Serving Dinner

Today was one of the coolest days I have been a part of on any of the trips that I have been on. We woke up and ate breakfast like all other days and headed off to the school. We finished up our projects that we hadn't finished yet and then got to the best part of our day. Nations Changers school decided to provide a meal for all of the kids at the school as well as their parents. A couple of teachers at the school spent all day making a meal. Our kids got to help make the meal which was really neat. Seeing our kids sitting down and cooking with our Ugandan friends was the coolest picture of the kingdom. As the parents began to show up at the school, as well as members of the community who had heard that a meal was being provided, it began to look like the feeding of the 5000 from the bible. 

Godwin began to share some thoughts about caring for kids and the love he has for these kids, our student prepared to serve the food to all the students, parents, and members of the community.   Ours team started handing out plates of food and it was the coolest image of the kigd at work. There were so many people there, that some members of our team had to wash plates as they were turned in to use again. 

As people began to finish eating, it was near to sit back and watch our kids spread out and mingle with kids, meets parents, and just be a part of the breaking of bread together.  It was one of the coolest images, I wish there was a way to capture everything that was going on. 

We were very proud of our team today. They were tangibly the hands and feet of CHRIST today and it was so cool to be a part of it. There were some sad goodbyes after our meal as it was that last time we will see the kids. But such great memories. 

Church Day

There is no better start to a morning than attending a church filled with joy, worship, and fellowship. Today we attended Seed Faith Church in Mukono right next to Nation Changers Christain School where we have been working and playing with kids for the majority of the trip. Their church is very different from those at home. Here church lasts for four hours and switches between worship and a message throughout. Today's message focused on Faith and how much it can change our lives. Faith is one of the hardest yet key building blocks of Christianity. We are encouraged to live by faith and not by sight, relying on God and giving all things up to him. After church we walked around the top of prayer mountain and sat down over looking Mukono to collect our thoughts about the day. We walked down the mountain to Uganda Christian College where the boys played Godwin's women basketball team. After we headed back to the hotel and were surprised with a performance by John's dancing group and many of us got to join in the fun by dancing with them or playing an insturment. It's sad to think we only have a couple days left, but we are treasuring every moment. 

- Gemma Luther

Day at the Nile

Hello friends and family!! We began our day with breakfast and our morning meeting at the hotel and then a drive to Jinja. Throughout the ride we discovered more of Uganda as we viewed fields of crops as well as markets and small towns. We stopped at a scenic lookout where John, our driver, decided to bungee jump over the Nile river. We then continued our drive until we stopped to take a boat ride to the source of the Nile. There we learned about the history of the Nile as well as the types of animals that inhabit the river. After touring the river we continued our drive to a small coffee shop surrounded by a large marketplace. We stopped for lunch and then shopped for the majority of the afternoon. We bought things such as bracelets, drums, necklaces, paintings, keychains, coffee and much more. Our team then returned to the hotel for dinner and our nightly meeting. Thank you so much for all of the prayers, we are so thankful for your love and support and we can't wait to see what is in store for the rest of our trip!!

Lauren:)

Water Day

Soaked. If I were to use one word for today it would be soaked. Today was water day with the kids and it was amazing! After about an hour of water balloons, sponges, and water kickball we were all drenched. But, it was a total blast. Before all of this we began the day with a devotion focused on reliance. On our way to the school we stopped about half way and all hopped out of the van and onto boda bodas. Riding these bikes made for an amazing and unforgettable experience. At the school we finished the pavers and sand box on the playground and began to paint the school's emblem on the side of the school. Towards the end of our time at the school today the kids and teachers participated in evening glory. Evening glory is a time that the school comes together and sings hallelujah to God. I wish more people in the states would be bold enough to proclaim there faith like these Africans. The team is becoming more tired everyday, but we never fail to give a 100% with the kids. We miss you all back home but are enjoying every moment!

-Mandy Hannan

Service Day

Hello I'm back because everyone is pretty tired! Today was day 4 in Wakiso and another day that no one will forget! After waking up and eating pancakes, eggs, and cereal for the 5th day we headed into Nation Changers Christian School. Although the children had the day off for "Heroes" day that did not stop them from coming to play, hug, and love on all of us "Muzungus" (white people). Our work today consisted of the boys finishing the fence with might I add not having the Ugandans laughing at their work ethic lol! The girls worked on filling the playground with a sand pit and finished cementing the ground of the playground! By far the most fulfilling part of our work was painting a mural of flowers that enclosed the verse Deuteronomy 31:6 that was painted in the girls house at the school. It was truly amazing to do something that will inspire the wonderful girls to be strong and rely on God! Later of course we had our fun activities that included jump rope, bubbles, decorating crowns and masks, Sharks and Minos, duck duck goose, and the universal game of basketball! I think today was a pivotal moment in our hearts because we created relationships that we don't want to ever forget! I don't know about you but after girls tell you they love you in their language, boys won't let go of you no matter what, or the adults are so joyful to have you bring happiness into their lives it is truly something magical. It is safe to say that our hearts are being radically changed by the kids and by our wonderful Creator! Love you all and your kids, brothers, sisters, and friends miss you! See you later!

Xoxo

Nicolina Taylor Duhs

P.S. Our team has truly become a family through the laughs, cries, and water balloon fights!

Waterfall Day

Today we headed back to Wakiso! In the morning the girls painted a wall dark and light blue giving the school a little bit of pizaz and spunk! Some of the girls also participated in laying down brick for the playground! The boys are still working on the fence that will be separating the school and the other homes. As for me, in the morning I got to wash clothes with a 21 year old woman named Sandra. This was truly an incredible experience where I learned about her life, African culture, and how bad I am at hand washing clothes! Through the laughs and the smiles it was a moment that I will cherish because Sandra and I became friends even with a language barrier and difference in culture. Back to the group...the day at Wakiso ended with relay races, obstacle courses, a makeshift parachute and a craft that made crosses with yarn. After saying goodbye to the kids after day 3, we were off to out next adventure though it was a surprise! Where did we end up? A beautiful waterfall called Ssezibwa that used to be home to witch craft but is now home to tourists and Christians! we journaled, reflected and became inspired by God's wonderful creation! We are now home tired as can be! We miss you families but have fallen in love with this place culture and its magnificent people! So who knows about coming home :) Talk to you tomorrow our readers!

Xoxo

Nicolina Taylor Duhs

First Day of Program

Jambo! That is hello in Lugandan. Today like everyday we have been here has been nothing short of amazing. It is such a blessing to see how joyous and passionate the children are towards our group, each other, and God. My day started off interesting with my groups van breaking down on the side of the road to Jinja,but after remembering FAP ( flexibility, adaptability, and patience) we quickly made the best of the situation by playing car games and getting to know one another. Soon a new van came and we reached Nation Changers Christian school run by Godwin and began playing and hanging out with all the wonderful kids. After their break, the boys went to dig holes to put in poles and fill in with cement. Meanwhile, the girls and I finished painting the black on the curbs and filling in pebble in holes. During lunch, Pricilla and I ate with many of the older girls leading what they were learning in school, talking about our lives, and dancing. After lunch, we set up games such as pooping balloons tied around their ankles, making braclets, and playing soccer. Through out the day we were encouraged to Tori and Choles devotion to look for Gods presence in our day and being present in the moment and opportunity we have been given, and by watching everyone's smiles and hearing them laugh I can say for certain we did just that!

- Gemma Luther

Photos from our day at school

Today, we took our first trip to the school we are partnering with in Wakiso. This was a special day as it was the students first day back at school after a long break. After meeting the kids for the first time, the boys helped uproot trees to make room for the new soccer field while the girls probably painted curbs like they were supposed to but who knows. Then, the kids gathered together and played with all the students of the school. Then we returned home after a long day at work in the sun to a relaxing night at the "resort".

Day 1

Today, we woke up and had breakfast overlooking Lake Victoria from our hotel in Entebbe. We then set off for a day full of driving, stopping along the way to watch Godwin's Men's Basketball team and celebrate Joe Burich's birthday at a cafe with some yummy ice cream and cake. Traffic was quite hectic but we made it to the Mukono Resort safe and sound! 

We are all so excited for what God has in store for us this week in Wakiso. 

Safe and sound

We made it to Uganda safely with no troubles. Got to our hotel and had some food. Got a good shower and headed to bed. Hope to have some more detailed blogs tomorrow. 

On the Plane

We are all on the plane and about to head out to Chicago. Security was easy and quick and we are all excited to get going. Off we go.