I'm Back.......

Just a quickie post to let everyone know that I'm home safe and sound and very tired.
It is 6:18 a.m. California Time and 4:18 p.m. in Uganda.
I don't know if I should eat or go to sleep. Maybe I should go take a nice hot shower. Yeh, that's what I'll do.

April 21-22, 2011 – Please Come to Jaaja’s Dental Bazaar

Due to power shortages, a VERY SLOOOOOOOOOW internet service IF you want to include pictures (it took me 3 hours to post my last blog) AND the fact that I have been very busy doing whatever seems to be the project of the day, needless to say, I haven’t had any time to blog.  Something has happened to my camera and I can’t download pictures onto my laptop anyways so I can’t waste the precious time that I have. 

I have 3 more days with the very special people I’ve met but I’ve only taught 1 person how to floss.  So, I had to come up with another Plan of Attack.  God gave me a GREAT  IDEA!!!  Have a carnival or a fair.  But… there are animals at a carnival and rides at fairs.  They don’t know that but I do so I had to think of another name.  Since Crazy Jaaja is always doing something bazaar that makes the kids and everyone else laugh, that’s what we are going to do this Saturday!!!  The admission price is passing Flossing 101.  I will be teaching my teachers tomorrow.  Starving Wyclef, Shouting Sharon, Almost Floating Kato, Safe Driver Sheriff (pronounced like Omar Sharif) and Tender Takola will be just a few of my teachers.  I will be the Supervisor and hand out Tic Tacs after they pass inspection.  There will be stations set up for “Rainbow Toes”, Tattoos, Hula Hooping, Jump Roping and anything else I can think of  between now and then.  We’ve been inviting others as well and the word gets around very quickly because we all have cell phones.  The STAO kids are looking forward to it.

Tomorrow at 6 a.m., my day will start with sewing buttons on Nora’s blouse that is currently soaking in Oxy Clean. The roosters wake me up when it is still dark so I’ll have to wear my “torch” as Grace calls it.  It’s a Head Lamp that has been most valuable during the power outages that seem to last all night of which there has been at least 6.  Then, I MUST be at “work” by 8:00a.m. California Time to teach my teachers.  At 10:30 a.m. California Time, we hopefully will get to have our last Floating Lesson.  Nothing is scheduled after that so far but I’ll do something…who knows… whatever … on Uganda Time.

Today, I had to be at STAO by 7:30 a.m. California Time to give a shirt to Paul because he HAD to wear his one uniform to school.  He had asked me to sew on his badge because he didn’t have the money to have it done by the ladies that sit on the dirt road with their 75 year old sewing machines.  I was ready to go first, so I opened the gate and got the keys from Nelson.  “I’m driving!! We must leave NOW, please.”  So, I got to drive on the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the rode.  Nelson had to tell me how fast to go at certain places and when I could go faster.  “How do you know how fast you can go?” I asked.  Nelson said “You just know”.  Did I mention that there are no street signs OR house addresses??  “So…How do you give directions to someone that wants to come to your house”?

Nelson said “Everybody knows how to find everyone”.  The major and only “Speed Bump Ahead” sign that I’ve seen is some cut tree trunks by a HUGE speed bump.  You are not allowed to take pictures on the major bridge but there’s no sign for that either.  You just know.  Got the picture yet??  There’s a LOT of polite horn tooting but  NO ROAD RAGE.  My camera is still able to take pictures and videos so I’ll have lots to share when I get back.  Now then, where was I?  Oh yes, we made it alive to STAO and gave Paul his shirt, picked up Kato and came home for breakfast.  Then we loaded up the straw mats that we purchased the day before from some widows in Buwenge that Nelson visits every week and went back to STAO.  Sharon and I walked past the Medical/Dental construction site and took progress pictures of the Dental Bldg. Then we visited a friend of a friend for a nice long visit on Uganda Time.   we had to leave to get our Boda Bodas  (motor bike taxis) loaded with the mats and ride to another widow camp.  I had bought bead necklaces from Lucy last week and owed her some money.  THEN, we walked in the BLOODY HOT sun to flag down another pair of Boda Bodas to get a ride back to the “road” that leads to STAO. Takola had invited Sharon and me to her house for a visit.  I ended up sharing about my family, my mother’s illness, meeting Nelson and ending up eating fresh mango and papaya for lunch somewheres around 4:00 p.m.  All of these stops were on Uganda Time.  The difference is that California Time involves using a watch.  No one in Uganda wears a watch – including ME.  I quit wearing it because I didn’t want a “watch tan”.  In fact, I’ve quit wearing bug repellent too because I don’t need it during the day and I have a net around my bed at night to keep the mosquitoes out.  The SPF 30 sunscreen w/bug repellent that I bought at REI doesn’t do a thing except make me stickier than I already am.  I’m down from 4 showers a day to 2 like everyone else and if I had another week, I would no longer be a “muzongo” (sp?)  which means white person.  I would be an African.  I love this place and these people and I have already told them that I will try and come again next year.  It is 12:47 a.m. California Time by my phone so I must go to sleep. 

Please pray for the Dental Bazaar.  Blessings to all, Crazy Jaaja 

When Will I Have Time For Flossing School???

Uganda is incredible!!!  The people are fun and very friendly.  I have "adopted 3 more "sons".  They are very special guys that have shown me much love and given me many laughs. I have started giving everyone nick names.  Most of the time, I am known as "Crazy Jaaja".

My "#1 Son" is Trevor, of whom I am very proud and love dearly.  

Nelson, of course is "#2 Son".  I wouldn't be here if I hadn't met him last year.  I am "Jaaja" to his wife, Grace and his 2 little girls, Patricia and Victoria, as well as all the children at STAO and everyone I meet.  I haven't met Nelson's son, Elvis, because he is still away at school.

Wyclef is "#3 Son".  He is the Chief Administrator/Volunteer Coordinator at STAO.  We are FB friends and he asked me to bring him a good study bible.  He has been my driver as we shop for things that are needed for the children.  We have THE LIST that keeps growing and when I think of things to add to THE LIST or when I tell him that I have an idea, he says "Bring it on".  He knows where to find anything and he's always starving.  He introduced me to his favorite dive, Bismat, and so far, I've eaten there 5 times.  I'm going to bring home some great recipes.  We are plotting many things as we drive and shop. 

Kato is "#4 Son".  He is one of the pastors at church.  He is a powerful prayer warrior and leads  the prayers in church.  He anointed several people at church today with the oil the I brought for Nelson.  He is also one of my floating students.

Edrine is "#5 Son".  He is one of the STAO kids.  I first noticed him in the pictures that Nelson sent me from Tooth Brush Day last year and I could tell from that picture that he is a very compassionate young man in spite of his circumstances.  I finally got to meet him and he is indeed the gentle person I knew he would be.

In addition to playing with the children, meeting with widows and organizing Nelson's office, I've been giving floating lessons to Grace and several others that don't know how to swim and have never been in a pool before. 

 I am also the Unofficial Building Inspector at the construction site!!!


Please pray for Time Management for all of us.  In Uganda, 20 minutes usually means 1.5 hours.  I have started teaching them California Time!!!  Wyclef and I have fun timing each other.  He is getting better.  Nelson is NOT!!!

April 9-14, 2011 – Jaja Laurie! Jaja Laurie! Jaja Laurie!

I woke up very early on Saturday morning but not to the sounds of lawn mowers, trash trucks, sirens, screeching tires attempting to stop or take off from the stop sign near my home in Irvine or the roaring freeway in the distance.  Instead, the roosters were doing what they do best, the crickets were cricketing and little song birds were singing their hearts out.  It was GLORIOUS!  No one else was awake yet so I walked outside to see and hear my surroundings.  Pastor Peter had kept the car from the night before so he came to breakfast and then drove Nelson and I to STAO.  The road from Nelson’s house has barely survived some serious rains and we could have made great use of my Trooper.  This was a serious “Off -Road” experience.  As we drove through Jinja Town, I learned about their “taxi” system.  It consists of small motor bikes with 2-3 riders plus cargo and maybe a live chicken or 2.  The “First Class” drivers only carry one passenger.  The “Economy Class” gets the bulk of the business and they are everywhere – passing you on the left while we are trying not to hit one that’s passing an oncoming car. Third class riders use the bicycles.  You have to see it to believe it.

I wasn't prepared for the greeting that I received when we got to the Agape Children's Home at STAO.  About 50 kids were waiting for us and chanting, "Jaja Laurie, Jaja Laurie, Jaja Laurie" over and over.  When I got out of the car and spread my arms, I was mobbed.  We almost ended up in a huge pile.  Nelson gave me a short tour of STAO and then we took a short walk to the Medical Center.  The Dental Clinic is the first thing you see and is in the middle of the complex.  When we walked through it, I couldn't help but cry. We held hands and I prayed for all of the people that would that would receive care and for all of the special people that would give care.   It truly was a very moving experience.  We both know that it is a miracle.  The used dental equipment that Nelson found is only 3 yrs. old so it will be very modern. 

That's all for now.  We just had another power outage and the modem is very HOT.  I'll try to send some more tomorrow.

April 7-8, 2011 – There’s Nothing Like Running 2 Hours Late!!!

Running late as usual – 3 boxes still not roped or tagged, I found more bills including  THE  PROPERTY  TAX  BILL that had been buried on my desk along with 2 checks that I thought I had already deposited.  The promised 16 GB camera card that I had ordered last Friday never showed up so our first stop at 11:00 a.m. was Office Max.  Trevor and I had a rather tense ride to LAX.  I paid bills while he drove.  I wasn’t able to print my ticket online so I was glad to see an empty airport.  Trevor loaded my luggage along with my 3 carry-ons onto a cart, hugged me goodbye and left the LOADING ZONE ONLY zone with my prepared bank deposit and the paid bills.  I wish I had a picture of me pushing my monumental luggage cart and dragging my Pullman.  But at that point, I didn’t know where my camera was.  I hardly knew who I was!!  I had to plead with the clerk to give me the 20% discount on my 5 pcs. of extra luggage because I wasn’t able to register them online.  I explained that I was taking bibles and dental floss that weren’t worth as much as she was charging me.  The supervisor finally gave the OK for which I was very grateful and I proceeded to luggage scan and left without my un-tagged laptop bag because I had to run to my gate with only 50 minutes to spare.  About 15 strides along, I realized that something was wrong, screamed and ran back to luggage scan to find 3 people looking for the “lady going to Entebbe”.  I start running again only to find the security section had 4 rows of very long lines.  I told the stationed security lady that I was very late for my plane and she directed me to a secret elevator to the second floor with a MUCH shorter line.  You know the drill – take off your shoes, get the laptop out to go through by itself, find the baby liquids in their baggie, pray that everything goes through only once, gather it all up, put it back together and put your shoes back on.  Now I have 35 minutes to spare.  I had just enough time for a pit stop, buy 2 bottles of water and get to my gate.  The plane was just beginning to board.  As I was waiting to board, I texted Nelson and told him that I was getting on the plane, how excited I was to see him and gave him my flight #.  I got on and discovered to my dismay that my seat was a middle seat.  I plopped into my seat sweating and panting in total disarray because I had 3 carry-ons instead of the 2 allowed but I told the flight attendant that I would consolidate everything once I cooled off.  Then, my window seatmate arrived – a very sweet Christian lady from the Philippines named Filomena who now lives in Rowland Heights.  We felt like sardines and instantly prayed that the aisle seat would remain empty.  It wasn’t until the plane started moving that we knew our prayer had been answered.  I moved over to the aisle seat and we put our stuff in the middle seat.

There’s nothing like a 22+ hour flight to catch up on movies you haven’t had a chance to see or want to see again while trying to stay up long enough before you can take you sleeping pill!!!  KLM comes complete with remote controls and 3 movie lists.   We took off and immediately were served a snack.  I snoozed off & on through Black Swan and was served dinner.  Afterwards, I watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows I and The King’s Speech.  The best steward I’ve ever had - he played with all of the kids nearby and knew them all by name - brought out hot wipes and breakfast was served.  “Mena” and I talked as we were getting ready to land in Amsterdam.  She was on her way to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for 3 months to visit an old friend.  We walked together to our gates, hugged goodbye and we’ll meet up in July when she returns. 

From Amsterdam to Kigali, Rwanda, I finally got to take my sleeping pill!!!  I slept, had lunch, watched Burlesque and had dinner.  During the hour layover in Kigali, I brought my checkbook up to date and reorganized my backpack.  The flight from Kigali to Entebbe, Uganda was a short one – just enough time for juice and a quick snooze.  Not too bad for an entire day of flying.  I left LAX at 2:00 p.m. on 4/7 and landed in Entebbe at 10:30 p.m. on 4/8.  Somewhere along the way, I gained 10 hrs.  Surprisingly, it was a very enjoyable trip.

At the Entebbe Airport, I went through immigration without a hitch.  Then I went to find my luggage.  I had to use TWO luggage carts for all of my stuff. 

A very nice attendant offered me help before I had a chance to ask for it.  On the way to meet Nelson, I discovered that real men DO where pink - at least in Uganda. 

Nelson and his baby daughter, Victoria, met me and he told me that his family and Wyclef, the Volunteer Coordinator at STAO, had also been on the same plane from Amsterdam.  They were in row 10 and I was in row 31.  Since I was asleep for most of that flight, I didn’t get up and walk around or I might have found them. They were already waiting at the car for us. 

Needless to say, the car was already full.  Nelson said, “We have a plan.”  Obviously, we were going to need a 2^nd car just for my luggage.

Everyone thinks that I’m a crazy fast driver in my little Mini.  I challenge YOU to ride shotgun with Nelson for 2 hours – late at night – on a poorly paved one lane road with no line – no street lighting – the driver’s seat is on the right and the car is on the left side of the road – going 80 - 100 mph!  But, he does keep his right turn signal on and beeping the entire time so oncoming cars know how to pass him.  We even stopped for ice cream and we still got home before the other car with my luggage. HE gets the Crazy Fast Driver Award!!!

We arrived at Nelson’s house at 2 a.m. and got unloaded.  THEN!!!, he lets me know that I will be speaking in church on Sunday.  I wasn’t quite ready for that announcement.  I wonder why?????!!!!!  Stay tuned…

See the little RED marker? That's Jinja, Uganda

“I’m Leavin’ On A Jet Plane” – Tomorrow!!

I just got home from my last shift at Atria.  Everyone is excited for me and told me how much I will be missed at the front desk and driving the Wednesday walkers to Dana Point Harbor.

“Mother Hen” is officially off to Uganda. 

Now then, let’s check things off the “TO DO LIST”:

The frig is empty.

The bills are paid. 

The plants are watered. 

The pool has been tested and is running clear. 

The front yard is weeded, edged and mowed. 

The Christmas decorations finally got stored away high the garage. 

The shopping is done.

All of the plastic bottles have been taken to the recycler. 

The back yard has been raked and swept.

I’ve counted and rolled 17 of 95 Jinja Jugs, traded the rolls for cash at the bank and gave it to my church for donation recording.  The Jinja Jugs contributed $1,807.76.  To date, $5,887.62 has been raised for the well and the dental clinic. 

The banking is DONE!  

My passport, immunization cards and plane ticket are in with my laptop in my new laptop roller carry-on bag. 

My backpack is loaded with munchies, DVD’s, CD’s & CD player, earphones, book, water and sleeping pills! 

My Good Neighbor Roy will be collecting my mail while I’m gone. 

My other neighbors will be watching my house. 

My son will be coming over weekly to keep my pool from turning green and watering all of my house plants.  His “to do” list is waiting on the counter for him.

My sister cleaned my teeth today and gave me a crash course in TEACHING FLOSSING 101.

Thanks to Stan Gray, I learned how to use my laptop, transfer pictures and videos from my camera so I can blog while I’m gone.  This blog entry was a “laptop test” and it worked.
The packing is DONE!!!  I managed to pack everything into 4 suitcases and 3 boxes.

YEEHAH!!!  Everything on that “TO DO LIST” is DONE!!! 
It's 2:00 A.M. and I’m going to bed!!!  

Unlike the song, I do know when I’ll be back – 4/27.

My flight is 22.25 hours.  Please pray for “Airline Mercies”.

Only 8 Days Left

I want to thank all of the Jinja Juggers that have already donated so much to the dental clinic.  We have raised over $5,500.00 since July.  
I also want to thank everyone that has given me encouragement and things that they’ve made or bought for me to take to Jinja.  I have been so blessed by your generosity and support. It means the world to me.  
I have been told by people that have been to Uganda that this will be a life changing experience for me and that when I get back, I’ll want to sell my house and move back to Jinja.  I have faith that it will be the wonderful trip that God wants it to be.

Now, for the packing!!  My suitcases finally yelled at me loud enough for me to get them out and let them look at all the stuff I want to take. My job is to figure out how to fit dental floss, floss dispensers, knitting needles, crochet hooks, yarn, yarn and more yarn, bubbles, kid stuff, the huge kite, nail polish and remover, filing boxes, hanging folders, label maker, camera, jump ropes, clothes lines and clothes pins, homemade wash rags, a handmade baby blanket, a big patchwork quilt from church, the bibles and all of my personal stuff into the fewest suitcases according to KLM regulations.  No problem…

Then there’s the laptop.  It’s been waiting for over a month to be set up and learned about but I’m afraid of it.  Do you know what that means?  There are 2 reasons.  They are both facts and challenges for me.
#1 – I didn’t grow up using computers.  I grew up in the 60’s and it wasn’t available from kindergarten through High School.  
#2 – People don’t like change.  But we all know that going through trials makes us stronger.  I will overcome both challenges by having a private lesson tomorrow night.  Hopefully, next week’s blog will be sent on my new laptop.  We’ll see…

I’m not even going to tell you about my TO DO LIST for the next week.  It would scare you.

Please, please, please pray for organization, calmness, time management and sleep. 

15 Days and Still Counting

Nelson called me Saturday night to let me know how excited everyone is about my visit.  He confirmed that he would be picking me up at the airport.  I let him know that I was a little anxious about the trip and he assured me and prayed for me.  I instantly felt such peace when he prayed for “gentle travel mercies”.  When he was done, I cryingly told him that he was going to have to give me Prayer Lessons!!
  
Yesterday, while I was reading my devotions, I read in Joshua 1: 9 - “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  

There are NO better words for getting me to Uganda and back.  People keep asking me whose going with me.  I reply, “Me, Myself and I”.  “We” are going to have a great experience and God will be with us!

Ps. 138:8 – The Lord will accomplish what concerns me.  This is my sister’s favorite verse.  When I first got the idea for the dental clinic, I knew that God would make it happen. What I didn’t know was that God was already smiling on what was actually going to happen.  Yesterday, I ordered 40,000 YARDS of Dental Floss, 6 Wall Mount Dispensers and 100 Individual Dispensers to take with me.  I will be teaching everyone I meet how to floss their teeth and how important dental health is.  You can’t smile when you have a toothache and if you have missing teeth, your smile isn’t complete.  Our teeth are our pearls!!  Your smile is the first thing that someone should see when they meet you and you want your smile to be beautiful.  One of the ways we can show God’s presence in our lives is to smile through ALL of our circumstances - successes and adversities.  Dental health is SO important!!!  THAT is the mission of my trip.

I know that I will be doing other things as well – praying and playing with all of the 80+ children at the Agape Children’s Home and meeting with Nelson’s Widow Ministry and teaching them how to knit and crochet as well as how to floss their teeth. I also get to help Nelson organize his office.  I’m taking filing boxes, hanging folders and my label maker.  Now THAT will be FUN for me! ;)

I have a lot of stuff to take. In addition to my malaria pills, clothes, camera, laptop, all of the floss, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, bubbles, bottles of fun colors of nail polish and polish remover, a big kite, stickers, temporary tattoos and office supplies, I am also taking 100 Bibles.  Please pray for wise packing decisions! 

22 Days and Counting

I leave in 22 days.  I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone by.  A year ago, I was just thinking about this trip.  Now I’m getting ready to pack for this trip.  I have boxes of bibles in my living room, clothes hanging from my bedroom door, gifts for the children and widows and I’m still gathering things.  I’ve been counting money from Jinja Jugs so I can purchase dental floss.  I have one more shot to get and I’ve started taking my Typhoid pills.  My travel plans have been made both going and coming back.  I am very excited about what God has planned for me and the people I will meet in Jinja.

As you can see, the construction on the medical/dental clinic has already begun.  I can’t wait to pray over it and walk through it and take lots of pictures.
  
Please pray for me as I get my house in order, empty the frig, pay the bills, set up my laptop and get my camera ready to go.

V.I.F.F. Update AND Exciting News

I know it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to blog.  All I can say is that November and December were very challenging months for me and I was sick for almost the entire month of January. 

Here are some Very Important Facts and Figures:

95 Jinja Jugs have been adopted.  There are 45 in my kitchen waiting to be adopted when Nelson is visiting and speaking in June.

So far, $1,124.56 has been raised to support the Agape Dental Clinic.  One of Nelson’s foster children had an oral problem that turned into a very painful life or death situation and required immediate surgery at the English hospital in Kampala.  Nelson requested that we send our “Jug” money to help cover the $3000.00 operation.  The surgery was successful but $800.00 is still needed.  Please pray for Alice’s full recovery.  She is only 12 years old.

A lot of people have been asking me “How are the Jugs doing?”  The Jugs are doing great!  I know that it can take months to fill a Jinja Jug.  But when they’re full, not only are they very heavy, they can hold over $200.00.  That money will be used to support the clinic with supplies.  I want to thank you and encourage you to continue to pray for the clinic.  Just keep plunkin’ your change and call me when your jug gets full.

Since Nelson will be coming back to the states with me, he kept bugging me to get my airline ticket so he could get his.  After much frustration with Orbitz, I went straight to the source and successfully booked my flight online through KLM.  I got the flights that I wanted for the same price that Orbitz was charging.  Keep that in mind the next time you want to book a flight online!

I only have 8 weeks until I leave!!!!  I know the time will fly.  I still have to get my shots and malaria pills and whatever else I’ll need to keep me safe while I’m in Uganda.  Please pray for me as I prepare for my trip and that I can get my taxes filed before I go.  Thank you for being a part of my journey.

Now for the EXCITING NEWS!!!  I received word from Nelson that there is a donor who has pledged to fund the building of a modern medical/dental clinic in Jinja.  I knew that God would provide the means to build the dental clinic, but He had even bigger plans.  Now there will be a medical facility that will offer medical AND dental care.  We serve an AWESOME GOD. 

Did you just get Goosebumps?  I sure did.  THANK YOU, LORD!!!

A New Song

On Sunday, Oct. 24, I spoke again in church to give an update.  After having made the video and watching it a bunch of times on Youtube, I felt that I needed to encourage everyone as well as let them know how the progress is going in Jinja.  Little did I know just how much I was going to be blessed and encouraged!  Right before I was to speak, we sang “He Who Began A Good Work In You”.  It had been a long time since I had heard that song but, oh, what a blessing it was to me.  I felt like everyone was singing to me and that God was – yet again – confirming and affirming my dream.  So of course, I had to add that song to my blog.

I gave a month-by-month report on the well and the Jinja Jugs.  I also shared about how we came to know Nelson.  About 6 years ago, our outreach pastor, Batt Stout, felt a calling to be involved with an orphanage in India or Uganda.  He did some internet research and found many orphanages.  He contacted some and asked how he could help.  Everyone asked for money – except Nelson.  Nelson asked for prayer.  So, I got on Facebook and started looking for people that knew Nelson.
I found someone in Norway that had been to visit Nelson in Uganda so I sent her this message:
 
Hi Merethe, I know that Nelson will be visiting Norway beginning       Oct. 4.  I have just finished this video and wanted to make sure that Nelson would have it while he is visiting and speaking.  If you know who he will be staying with, would you please forward the link to him?  I will be praying that you will be blessed by watching this video.  In Him, Laurie Woodward

THREE hours later I received this reply:
Hi Laurie, Thank you SO much for sharing your video with me.  I will make sure that Nelson will get it and download it for him to use.  He will live with us for a week or two and also rest at out cabin by the sea.  Your project is wonderful, necessary and absolutely possible. You can look forward to your trip to Uganda in April.  Be prepared for a life changing experience.  Is it OK that I publish your video to our STAO Giver Facebook group page?
In Him, Merethe

Out of all the millions of people on Facebook, I found THE ONE PERSON that I needed to find.  What can I say?  I had NO idea who Nelson would be staying with but God did.  It gave me goose bumps.  God is SO in control. I feel so blessed and honored by following the desire that He put into my heart.

We all have something in us that God wants us to do for Him.  Have you discovered what your “Good Work” is?  I pray that this song will inspire you to dream big and move forward towards it.

Enjoy blogsong # 3.  Blessings to you ;)

I’m On Youtube

So, I’m working at Atria one Tuesday night in September and Stan Gray comes in for CCC Choir practice. Stan plays the base guitar on our worship team and he also records the sermons every Sunday.  He stops and says to me, “I want to interview you”.  “OK”, I said, wondering what he was up to.  He told me to come see what he’d been working on after I got off work.  His hobby/gift is making Memory Videos.  When I saw what he had done, I got VERY excited.  He had dove-tailed my speech that I gave in July with Nelson’s speech from January. 
Stan wanted to make a video that I can show when I speak about the Agape Dental Clinic.  He came to my house on Thursday night and recorded me talking about my desire to build the dental clinic. He asked me if I had ever done any other missionary work. He wanted to hear about the miracles that Nelson and I witnessed during our time together and how I got the idea for the Jinja Jugs.  Over the next couple of weeks, we worked together on the video.  At some point during the whole process, I had an epiphany.

It’s NOT about the money!  
It’s about FAITH, HOPE, JOY and PRAYER!!!

I made 140 Jinja Jugs to collect money.  It takes a long time to fill one of those jugs.  I realized that the “purpose” of the jug is to be a "PRAYER PROMPTER".  God will provide all of the funds to build the Agape Dental Clinic in His time.  It’s our job to have FAITH in knowing that it will happen, showing our HOPE for the people that need it,
JOY in knowing that we are doing something for others and most importantly, PRAYING for it. 

Be encouraged that your Jinja Jug is doing just what God wants you to do with it - whether you are putting your change in it, telling your friends why you have it in a prominent place in your home and watching them put their change into it or praying each time you look at it for the provisions needed to build the clinic.  Whenever it gets full, it will help support the Agape Dental Clinic once it becomes operational.

The video that Stan made is now on Youtube for the world to see.         It’s called "Agape Smiles Journey 2011".  Nelson loves it.  I can tell that it has already been seen in Norway, Canada and Uganda. 
Thank you Stan!!
  
I feel like a big wave is about to form and roll in. Don’t you?

Calling All Juggers

I have a favor to ask each of you.  Would you please give me a call and tell me how full your Jinja Jug is?  You don’t have to count it – unless you want to – I’ll just guesstimate.  I would like to give everyone an update and thank each of you again for joining me on this adventure.  
I pray that you are blessed each time you plunk some change into your jug.  I know that it takes a while to get one filled.  The Atria Jug is about 2/3 full.  My Jug is almost 1/2 full.  If your jug is like mine, I won’t hear from anyone until Christmas.

Please call me ASAP at 949-533-8081.  Thanks and God Bless

The Pump is Pumping!

I received a phone call from Nelson on Monday night – at 3:30 in the morning!  I guess he couldn’t wait to tell me the great news.  The well   is complete and the pump is pumping.  They don’t have to haul water anymore.  This is wonderful news.  What an honor for all of us to have been a part of the process from start to finish.  Nelson came to us for help in January and it only took 7 months to complete.  I know that if Nelson could call each one of us, he would thank everyone that contributed dollars and prayers for this project.  But he can’t,so I will.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you and God Bless all of you.


Nelson also told me that he would be leading everyone in prayer this coming Sunday for my trip to Jinja.  I gotta tell ya, I am in awe of how God is in control of my life.  I am at peace with waiting for the Jinja Jugs to do their job.  I am at peace with all of the plans that have to be made.  I am at peace about the cost of my trip and where the money will come from for it.  Knowing that all of the children and Nelson’s church family will be praying for my trip, fills me with more peace and much love.  Words can hardly express how I’m feeling.  I am at peace!  Period.  

Juggers - Goin’ Green!!!

Here’s another way to add to your Jinja Jugs.  The folks at Atria have been saving their empty water bottles for me to recycle.  I took in a HUGE trash bag full to my Drive-thru Junk Yard and received $5.21. They were amazed that their efforts yielded that much when I added it to the Atria Jinja Jug and told them “Thanks for recycling and keep up the good work!!”  The word got around and it looks like I’ll be going to the recycler again soon. 

I am recycling for my plane ticket.  It feels good to see the trash bags fill up with bottles and cans, knowing that I’m doing a “green thing” and saving for my trip.

V.I.F.F. Update - 6 Jugs have already been emptied and are working on being filled again.  $587.50 has been raised so far.  The goal is to fill each jug 4 times.  I am amazed at the generosity that has already been shown.  May God bless you each time you add to your Jinja Jug.

Thank you for your continued prayers as I speak about the Agape Dental Clinic and distribute more Jinja Jugs.

Vacation Bible School at CCC

Last week, I was so busy that Wednesday came and went without a chance for me to write on my blog. CCC’s VBS was a blast and a great success. This year’s theme was:

The Holyland

The children were divided into 6 of the 12 Tribes of Jacob – the easy names: Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Judah, Levi and Ruben. Everyone wore robes with braided belts and headbands. I hosted the Missions Tent. Each day we learned about a different mission and made a craft for that mission.

On Monday, I told the children about Jinja and the children at the Agape Children’s Home. I explained that all of our VBS offerings were going towards building The Agape Dental Clinic for Pastor Nelson’s daughter, Irene. Each child created a square for the quilt that I will take with me when I go to Jinja.

On Tuesday, Miss Thelma told the children about her mission in the Philippines. She wants to teach English in a NEW school building because they are presently using a WW II quonset hut. She showed the plans for the building that she is raising money to build. I sat on the ground with the children and learned too. The children made bookmarks to send to the children in the Philippines.  It was such a blessing for me to listen to someone that has a passion for their ministry the same way that I have for mine. 

On Wednesday, Max the Tax Collector came to collect taxes from everyone. In the Missions Tent, the children made sachets to give to the residents that live at Atria. The sachets were delivered on Sunday after church and the residents really appreciated the visit.

On Thursday, I spoke about being a missionary right where you live or work or go to school and that not everyone is called to leave the country to do missionary work. The children had great ideas about where they could be missionaries and made bookmarks to give to a friend.

That night, the children performed for their parents all of the songs they had learned during the week. The songs were signed as well. It was very impressive to see such little ones singing with all their might and going through the motions of each song. I spoke again about the Agape Dental Clinic and reported that the children had raised $359.86 for it.

10 more Jinja Jugs were adopted.

Being a part of VBS was such a blessing to me.  I encourage you to be a part of VBS at your own church.  You’ll be incredibly blessed and have a blast.

V.I.F.F. Update

Last Sunday was a wonderful success. 18 Jinja Jugs were adopted.
For whatever reason, there weren’t any children in the service.
Hmmmm - I think I know why… They will get to hear my story and share it with their families next week during Vacation Bible School.
I will host the Missions Tent and tell the children all about Jinja,
the Agape Children’s Home and the Agape Dental Clinic.

To date, 60 Jinja Jugs have been distributed. 30 are waiting for VBS.
50 are back in my kitchen.

The Jinja Jug display at church.

It was such a blessing to get into "Nelson's Office" and drive to church looking at all the Jinja Jugs. At least I could see through my rear view mirror when I drove home on Sunday.

Please pray for all of the children that will attend CCC’s VBS next week.

Jinja Jugs are Loaded and Ready to Go

As you can see, Nelson’s “office” is loaded to the brim with Jinja Jugs.

This coming Sunday, I will speak at my church, Capistrano Community Church aka CCC.  Please pray for me as I share the need for the Agape Dental Clinic to my church family and that Nelson’s “office” returns home empty.

God Bless You for your prayers and support.

V.I.F.F. aka Very Important Facts & Figures

To date, I have made 140 Jinja Jugs. 34 have been distributed.
30 are on reserve for Vacation Bible School in July.
76 are waiting in my kitchen for distribution.

The gift of $2000.00 has been wired to Nelson to complete the well.  Praise God!!!

Nelson informed me that he has taken in a few more children in addition to his own 3 children.  Now, there are 86 children for Jaja to hug, kiss and tickle.

Nelson’s website has been restored and the NEW address is: 

www.staouganda.org 

STAO is the acronym for Save The Aids Orphans. You can visit the website to learn more about the organization, Nelson’s large family, the local community and their needs.

Pastor Nelson Lufafa and his wife, Grace 

with McClain, Candace and Megan.

They are the three volunteers that visited Nelson, Grace and the children in April. Please watch the “must see” STAO video on their blog. It will give you a very current view of the Agape Children's Home and life in Jinja. The green building with the blue doors - near the beginning of the "drive through the village" video - will be the Agape Dental Clinic. Their blog address is:

www.livinghislove.blogspot.com

Please keep my pastor, Rich Anderson, in your prayers.
He has a serious medical concern that requires surgery in August.