Hello from Africa!

Hi!
I'm sorry I haven't been able to update everyone until now.  It is around Noon (I think) on Saturday.  We had a safe journey - our flight into Amsterdam even landed an hour early!  Praise the Lord!  We did not have any luggage lost or delayed.  That is quite a miracle considering we were traveling with over 40 pieces of checked bags!  Our drive to Busia yesterday went well and we had time yesterday afternoon to visit the school and prepare for ministry today. 

The team is currently out at a bush village doing a medical clinic and evangelism.  They were expecting to see at least 200 patients today in the clinic.  They will be doing this each day throughout the trip (except Sunday) - so they will need a lot of energy and strength!

I went shopping this morning with Edith (my local co-worker with the sponsorship program).  I had a much smaller list than my last visit.  So, all of my shopping is done (except for shoes which we have to wait until Monday to buy). 

I had a little excitement today - I had my first boda-boda ride!  The locals travel mostly by foot.  Some people have bicycles  with cushion seats on the back and you can pay for a ride.  It's a bicycle taxi!  It was a little scary going over the speed bumps, but it was fun!

It is VERY HOT here.  It has regularly been over 100 degrees lately.  Even in the shade it is in the 90's.  This is supposed to be the rainy season, but there is a drought.  People here are not able to plant crops now like they should, so I'm sure there are harder times coming with a lack of food. 

I had blessing today - I saw Christine making charcoal!  If you remember, in October I visited with her and HHFM was able to give her some seed money to start a charcoal business.  Now she is able to buy nutritious food for her and her children!

Please continue to pray for our mission team.  Everyone is still getting adjusted to the time difference and spending all day working in this heat, too.  I know we will all be exhausted by the end of the trip.

Also, please pray for the HHFM Village of Eden project.  Last night after we arrived, I was told of several situations that make this project so urgent.  Last week, the guardian of 2 of the children in our school passed away.  They have an aunt, but she already has 8 children she is trying to take care of, so they have nowhere to live.  There was another case like this just a couple weeks ago as well.  We usually try to find a local Christian from the church to take in a child when this happens, but everyone is running out of room and resources.  With the Village of Eden built, we will be able to provide homes for 2000 orphans!  Also, one of the children in our 3rd grade was hit by a motorcycle and had surgery yesterday - I am told he is recovering well, praise the Lord!  With the Village of Eden built, we would have a safe place for our children to learn and grow!  Last week, 2 of our highschool students went on their first mission trip!  Ugandans ministering to people in Kenya, Tanzania, and Congo - what a blessing!  We hope this Village of Eden will become a sending point for local missionaries all over Africa!

Some of our Board of Director members are coming in later this week.  They will be looking for land (approximately 500 acres) to purchase to begin building the Village of Eden.  Please pray for wisdom as they look at different tracts of land.  Please pray for grace in the purchase price, too!

I am so excited and so blessed to be a part of a project that can change so many lives! Thank you for your prayers and support.  YOU are a part of this project that can change so many lives!

God bless!