The children of Gulu, Uganda.

I just spoke with Don at 9 PM our time. I couldn't call him this morning because Josh and I were in the hospital for a scheduled medical procedure for the day. It was 7 AM there and the team was rising, packing, heading to breakfast and then the long drive back to Kampala.

Don was awoken at 3 AM by a HUGE termite in his room he said sounded like a helicopter. Then a rooster began crowing at 5 AM in the courtyard! He was not happy with his interrupted sleep!

They had 4 performances yesterday with 4 different groups!!! They saw 2000+ people. They visited and performed at one IDP (Internally Displaced Peoples) Camps with a population of 17,500 people. They were able to tour the camp after the performance. Tomorrow night they will perform in a slum church in Kampala.

Everyone is pretty tired. Joy stayed back for a couple of performances because of a funny tummy. Don also had an upset tummy, but took some medication and powered through. Janae slept on the bus, because she was so tired and Jubilee and Janae fell asleep at the dinner table last night!

Ruth said, "It is so amazing to see these people who have been through so much happy and singing, and dancing!"

Lee said, "The Bible tells us the greatest is LOVE, but HOPE is a close second. These people need HOPE."

Don commented on how many good changes have happened from just 2 years ago when he last visited. Then he began to tear up as he talked about Aloysious and Esther. "They have sacrificed so much for this ministry. What they are doing here is amazing." They have had to send their 3 children, Hannah, Job & Karen to a boarding school in Kampala. They just weren't receiving a good education in Gulu. This is common practice in Uganda, but they miss their children terribly. They visit them once a month and are happy as their children are at the top of their classes.

Aloysious has taken a young man under his wing as a "Timothy". Just as Paul of the scriptures took Timothy under his wing for training and mentoring. This is a common practice for the SOI staff. This young man used to be one of Koni's soldiers! What Satan meant for evil, God is using for His glory! Don said he is very gifted and an exceptional young man.

Esther works with some children from Gulu and the Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped. The school is in Kampala, but 2 of these children live with she and Aloysious in Gulu. So Esther works with them and other children from the area teaching vocational skills so they can support themselves one day. They sew, pounding bark and making purses, wallets and other crafts. They need a sewing machine and Jim Band has decided to donate the money when he gets home! Thanks Jim!

Mitchel, Robert, Barnabas, David and the rest of the SOI team have been amazed at our JNB team. "They never complain. They keep going despite the challenges." "They are so flexable, which helps our SOI people so much!" "This ministry is like a well coached soccer team!" "I thought it was going to be junvinile, but it's not!" "The children of Gulu have never seen anything like it before!" "This will not be the end of what you have started!"

The climate as you travel further north in Uganda towards Sudan is dryer and hotter. They were so terribly HOT that first day...too HOT. Nan prayed it would cool off. Guess what? It has been overcast with a few rain drops here and there ever since!!! God hears our prayers!

Janey Rose called tonight to relay a message to Don and the team asking for prayer. I want to share it here, because we need to pray also. Robby Dugger, Liz Dugger's son was in a boating accident during the highschool camp at Lake Shasta and had to be life flighted out to a hospital. Evidentally, his feet were caught in a boat propellor. Allie, his sister, saw the accident and is pretty traumatized. The entire camp is upset, of course. Please pray for Robby, his entire family and for the campers. Pray for healing for his feet. Pray there would be no permanent damage.

If there's one thing I've learned through these last 20 months is that life is very fragile, but GOD IS THERE. He never leaves us whether we are in a remote part of Africa or on a California lake...He is there...He never leaves us...He never forsakes us. I love the scripture that talks about how we can never flee from God's presence. No matter where we go, He is there. I would look up the verses now, but I need to get Josh to bed.

Pray, pray, pray.

Please forgive my spelling...no spell check!