HungryForLifeInternational

Hi Folks,
We have had a diverse and enriching last few days in Uganda.
On Friday, progress continued on the playground, with all the support poles for the 35 foot swing set being cemented into place. While, elements of the play set will get completed during our 2 weeks, it has become apparent that our purpose here is meant to be more than just a construction project. Other elements of the playground, including the ping pong table, the teeter tooter, the climbing wall and the slide, will be completed by locals that earn credits for their children’s tuition and schooling costs at NACMA. The balance of Friday we headed to Jinja, for sightseeing at various waterfalls, a walk through a rainforest, and a river tour of the mouth of the Nile. Not only did this excursion give us a taste for some of the beauty of Uganda, but gave us a further glimpse into the hard life of the people of the country outside these walls. Saturday was community day at NACMA. 80 adults, mainly women, and about 100 children from a nearby village spent the day at the compound attending firstly, a seminar on children’s safety, and then a presentation by a local group on new techniques for making charcoal. After these presentations, came one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Our group was invited, to hand out Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Child boxes to our visiting 100 children. To see the pure joy on the faces of these unsuspecting children, kids that have virtually no worldly possessions warmed our hearts. It was beautiful. An hour after our visitors left, the skies opened up and we had a 2 hour monsoon. I have never experience rains like that, and the rainy season is still a month away.
Sunday, our team had an integral part in the two Sunday worship services. Steve and Tim led the children’s worship service of about 75 children from NACMA, which include bible readings, a message, singing and prayers. Others of us spent time in the nursery assisting the Aunties with the younger children. Even though the children are well loved and taken care of in this facility, the children are still craving one on one time and hugs. Ryan was guest pastor for the afternoon adult worship service which was attending by about 60 people. Many of the worship songs were familiar songs we sing back home. Ryan was his usual dynamic self and delivered an impactful message. Immediate prayer concerns are baby Jesse who is about 7 weeks old, has been sick since birth and is not responding to medication. Also, a young boy Owen, is going for foot surgery this morning. Owen has had many surgeries in his young life, as they are attempting to turn his lame foot to give him a better ability to walk.
We all miss our families but are being tremendously blessed, and changed, in our time here in Africa,

Gerry R

The last couple of days have been very productive for the team in Mukono. Wednesday saw the construction of the playground kick into high gear and to the end of the day Thursday we have made great progress. Our job entails the construction (out of treated eucalyptus poles) of a large swing set and we hope to also assist in the construction of a concrete slab ping pong/multipurpose table as well prior to departing next week.
We have been living inside the walls of the compound of the Children’s ministry quite comfortably, and Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon saw our first meaningful trips outside of the compound. Thursday’s trip was the most eye opening for all of us. We had an opportunity to accompany senior members (mostly mothers) of families who had been working as casual labourers on a new wing of the school back to their houses in villages not more than 15 minutes up the road. All of the families were quite large (5-7 children), dependent on single mothers for their well being and all of them have had the good fortune of having one of their children attending the school at Noah’s Ark. We had an opportunity to dialogue with them through an interpreter (as many speak the local language Luganda as they have never learned English). It was a sobering experience in how great a need there is for help in this country, help which can take many forms - many of which Noah’s Ark is trying to employ in their assistance of the greater community outside of their walls.
All of us agree that we have experienced and learned as much in the 3 ½ days we have been here as we expected to our entire trip. Literally our cups have runneth over and looking for that trend to continue.
We are missing our families and the congregation back home and are looking forward to reuniting with you all to show and tell you more of our travels.
Steve