I reread the post from yesterday and have to apologize for the typos. The internet is so spottyand unpredictable and slow, that there just comes a time when sleep trumps proof reading.
Tuesday began with enthusiasm and a more comfortable feeling about our second day to go out into the village. The groups were mixed up and we were sent to other parts of the village but our experiences today were again so rich in a realization that people everywhere just plain ol’ need Jesus. We needed him to fill us up again and then give us the courage and transparency to speak truth into the lives of complete strangers. One of the things that sticks out today is the patience of the people listening to stories about us and the gospel message. The idea that whether or not they responded today, it’s a message that won’t be forgotten. God will pursue them and show them the truth of his love in perfect time.
Yesterday I mentioned that one group approached and was able to talk to a witch doctor. When one of ours asked if we could pray for him he agreed, when we asked if we could lay a hand on him, he said “No”. His reasoning was that he believed God would take his power away. It made us wonder why he would serve something so easily conquered by the true God, except that the comparatively large income he takes in by offering darkness and witchcraft has won his loyalty, at least for now. It also made me want to touch him...my rebellious nature...thankfully God doesn’t need anything but a decision on timing to wipe such a thing right in to oblivion.
We arrived back at the church building and used the time waiting for lunch to play camera games with the children that seem to always be running in and around the place. 
We sat and talked with the older of the Chayah children who have come to help us by translating as we visited. 
Janet asked me to drive to pick up the food that had been prepared and what a challenge it was to zig zag avoiding potholes so as to keep the beans and fish stew inside their pots. We were preparing today for a graduation and the women from the class arrived dressed in their best ready to celebrate.
Last fall as Janet described again to us via skype about the great needs of the mother’s in the village, together we felt a help would be some sort of business class for them, teaching the very basics followed by an opportunity to begin a savings group and some start up capital. 
The internet and Google gave me several ministries to begin networking with and finally “Fount of Mercy” described exactly what we had been looking for. Ugandan’s teaching Ugandan’s and willing to travel twice a week to teach 28 women, some completely illiterate. Today those women came ready to celebrate and thank God and everyone else for the opportunity. The afternoon was long and we were hot and tired, but there was something so sweet about watching them sing, perform a skit and stand proudly to receive their certificates and have a picture taken. 
Camera’s flashed from our team members and the Pastor of the church, a few shared what they had learned and a report was presented of what was accomplished in this group. Women from 20 to 70 were there. Traditional tribal hooting was heard as the utmost expression of excitement.
The internet and Google gave me several ministries to begin networking with and finally “Fount of Mercy” described exactly what we had been looking for. Ugandan’s teaching Ugandan’s and willing to travel twice a week to teach 28 women, some completely illiterate. Today those women came ready to celebrate and thank God and everyone else for the opportunity. The afternoon was long and we were hot and tired, but there was something so sweet about watching them sing, perform a skit and stand proudly to receive their certificates and have a picture taken. 
Camera’s flashed from our team members and the Pastor of the church, a few shared what they had learned and a report was presented of what was accomplished in this group. Women from 20 to 70 were there. Traditional tribal hooting was heard as the utmost expression of excitement.
We ordered a cake from the hotel here (which means I bet they have a cookie sheet too) and the symbolic cake cutting ended the afternoon in Kakira. We are so grateful that God has provided this experience for them. What their success will look like is unknown for now, but they have hope and a God who loves them; a perfect combination to make the future look a bit brighter.
Tomorrow, we will make a big U-turn in the level of activity and the number of new faces we will see. The three day VBS or the Children’s Rally as its being called, begins at 10am. We spent the evening preparing 750 craft sets for day 1. The thought of turning anybody away does not sit well with anyone but the building itself can only contain so many. Please pray that is all that shows up, we will hardly be able to stand the disappointment.
The “Actor” among us will train a few of Chayah’s children in the skit for day 1 and the Captain will have his guitar tuned to the voices of children. Our “Secret Agent” is planning some organized chaos outside with games and the “teenage darling” will begin the first of 3 days of the greatest story ever told. Yep, we’ll be living the dream! If God could perhaps turn down the humidity by about 50 percent, we would smell a little better by the end of the day, but we’re gearing up regardless.
The morning will end with the feeding of the 700, which isn’t even close to 5,000 but will feel like it. Pray the food stretches just as far as it needs to and that the 30 helpers we have requested to assist us will show up eager to serve along side us.
Yep, tomorrow will be an adventure! Stay tuned!
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