Enjoying the breeze in Haiti.

Enjoying the breeze again while sitting in the shade on the patio. It has been a busy couple of days as the household prepares for the rest of the team to arrive. Their flight should get in this afternoon and they should be here for dinner. Charlene and Dave have worked hard to prepare the house to be comfortable and welcoming; they've even planned some surprises for the team that I'm sure they'll enjoy.

Yesterday, I did get to go to Roberta's house and spend time with kiddos. Started with the kindergarten class and we had a " Painting Party"! Showed the children how to take their shapes and use them to help draw pictures of things around them. Then we broke out the water colors and had a great time creating art. Water was spilled numerous times, colors were mixed and lots of paper were used...the perfect party! Good conversation, special pictures were taken and I even received an invitation to snack time, a great wrap-up to a fun morning. Then it was nap time and I headed out to the field next to Roberta's where the farming projects happen. There's a team of men from Healing Hands helping the family start preparing to raise rabbits. First, on the list was building the enclosure. You can see them working away behind Ben who is the foreground holding an eggplant from their garden. They raise several vegetables, chickens (sell the eggs), and have a small grove of banana trees where several are loaded with fruit ripening right now.

Ben, in garden.

Ben, along with his brother Matochee, proudly showed me around their Tilapia farm.  They have 3 tanks dividing eggs and babies, mid-sized fish and the large, ready to eat or sell size. My tour ended with the women's group busily sewing under a porch covering. They have found a market for bags made by Haitians with Haiti sewn on them. Roberta reports they are delighted to take their profits and give the first 10% to The Lord, pay themselves and then put rest back into their business.  What delighted me especially is Roberta's account of how their self-esteem has grown with these accomplishments; also, though, how they are looking around now and helping those who need help and how much joy they have doing so. God is truly being glorified by these enterprising sisters in The Lord.

Tomorrow our team heads to Gantier for our first clinic this year. Please lift the people in that area in your prayers, and for the team to show them the love of Christ as we serve there.
Blessings from Haiti,
Jeanne

Jeanne Evans reports from Haiti!

Jeanne and Roberta preparing meds for first clinic.

Today I got to have my morning time break on the Guest House patio. There was shade from a mango tree and as I sat there, I got to listen to the local happenings.  A couple of streets down the way, there were a group of worshipers singing praises to God. The tunes sounded familiar but the words, not so much. The street beyond our wall was quite busy. Besides vehicles, people were walking along greeting neighbors, children were having fun with some kind of game and industrious folk were going along hawking their wares. Then, Bam! The breeze knocked another ripe mango off the tree onto the tin roof which covers part of the patio! I laughed out loud and thought to myself, this is all part of being in Haiti.

The couple who are the innkeepers of the Guest House this year is David and Charlene May. They are this delightful, Christian couple who don't happen to believe one should retire from doing God's work just because they've retired! I want to grow up to be just like them! They are busy organizing and creating a welcoming atmosphere here. Roberta is doing well this year, after recovering from surgery last year. She's also very busy! There are 19 children in the Sonlight Children's Home she mothers. For almost 3 months, she has had help with homeschooling her 5-8 year old kiddos by a young lady named Melissa. Melissa says, "it's been wonderful!  I've been blessed and have learned so much!"  I've seen the pictures from some of their activities; I think the blessings have gone both ways!

Last Thursday night, Charlene invited all from Roberta's over for a traditional Hmong dinner. As it turns out, they have been part of the St Paul Urban Ministries where Rob and Heather Starnes are now serving. It was a great  evening closing with a devotional. Roberta has some wonderful singers in her home and Dave continued a study about being ready, a theme he's been discussing with the young ones when they get together. I sat between two tired little boys who found a comfortable spot for their heads on my arms, precious!  I got in a lot of hugging, some snuggle time after dinner with a little fellow and caught up with some of the older children. These children are part of the reason I come a week before the rest of my team.

Another reason I come early, is an opportunity to prepare for the first clinic which occurs the day after the majority of the team arrives. Medicines are sent ahead and they always need unpacking(Roberta helped), sorting and dividing for each day of clinic. This  year I'm happy to report that I wrapped up that preparation today! Since I got that done (with help from several children and handy adults), i just started on the next clinic day's preparation. I'll continue to prep but I have a day scheduled with kindergartens on Monday; it involves paint, should be fun!

Thanks everyone for your prayers; please always keep Haiti in your prayers and all our brothers and sisters here. Hope I'll get to write again; thanks for letting me share!
Blessings,
Jeanne

New photos from NTCC meeting!

Steve Kenney leading us to the NTCC meeting, a little nervous.

Steve teaching from Colossians 2.

Dear Readers, Here is an update: Sunday night September 3, we attended Living stream meeting which is a meeting of young adults. We were super encouraged by the faith they cling to.

On Monday, September, 3, 2012 [we visited] chicken project in Ndejje, a 40 minute drive from Kampala. The goal is to train folks how to care for chickens and to begin a life-care group. Ndejje is a mostly Muslim community. Nearby is a village called Kibiri where a school is being built. Kindergarten will begin in March. There is one teacher so far, but needs two since expectation is 30 students.

Later we visited Chebondo village for lunch at Okello's house where a wonderful meal was served.

On Tuesday we went to Gganda where the church meets in the front yard of Jonathan Katerega who recently converted from practicing witchcraft. Some of us walked to a site where witchcraft was practiced, but due to recent conversions has been turned into a site where young Christians sleep. The holy spirit of God has now replaced the bad spirits. Willington, a Christian from Kampala church, told me that, "Most converts from witchcraft love God more because of the bad place from which they have come."

On Wednesday we spent the day at Wabegalo church. There we sang, the children performed, Steve spoke, and we ate a large meal together. Five people were baptized. They showed much bravery since the idea of submerging one's head under water here is terrifying. We toured the maize project where Jim took soil samples determining that lime was needed for the best corn crop. It is about 2 acres in size. Corn is needed because it stores easily in times of drought.

On Thursday plans to visit the new church-plant in Kasangiti changed when part of the team visited
an injured friend. In the evening we visited a life group at Emmanual's home. Many are from Congo.

Blessings,
Leslie

New photos & videos from Uganda mission team!

Click the link below to see photo and video galleries of the mission team in Uganda!
Uganda Mission team photo & video galleries

First week in Uganda

Dear Readers, this is Leslie. Much has happened since we arrived in Uganda. From Tuesday to Friday, the North Central team of Jim Risk, Nancy Harbron, Steve Kenney, and me, along with Isaac Sanyu and Francis from Kampala church, visited Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Park. Highlights include being charged by a wild elephant and later, our van being surrounded by 50 plus lively baboons (we have videos). Friday we drove to Kampala and met new church friends. To exchange currency we did so at a Michelin Tyre [sic] store (aren't all Michelin Tire Stores so hospitable?). On Saturday we ate breakfast in the hotel lobby. They bring hot milk and you use a teaspoon of Sanka per cup. Sanka's very popular.

Speaking to the Women of Grace about the hospitality of God.

Later I spoke to the Women of Grace group about the hospitality of God; how God, since Abraham and Sara, has worked through the foreigner, the stranger and through the marginalized. And as a counter cultural movement in the heritage of Abraham, our history as Christians also carry the designation as foreigner and stranger. And so it was especially poignant for me as a foreigner to speak about the experiences of foreigners and sojourners of God. But our little team from NCCOC are not strangers for it is clear that we have true fellowship with the Kampala church. It also was ironic to speak to such hospitable people about hospitality. But my aim was to give their works a framework within the story of God; that small acts of hospitality are really loving acts to Jesus; that a glass of water in His name has spiritual impact; that because he first loved, we too love. I presented the women with a poster, 'Welcome to the Table of the Lord,' a reproduction of a painting my friend Brenda Brown made for me. Nancy presented many gifts and enjoyed many reunions.
Our team had lunch at Seth's house and spent several hours in great conversation with Seth, Terzol and Blaza Blaza, young men from the congregation. Jim had his picture taken with a 200 year old tortoise and happily interacted with 7-year-old John, a little boy from the congregation whom we brought along with us. All enjoyed our time together. 

Steve Kenney teaching in Ganda about the four legs of a table.

In the family life class, Steve spoke and conversation was stimulating as our two cultures discussed challenges families face. We are looking forward to a new week and many home and new church-plant visits.

Mission team off to Kampala, Uganda!

Kampala mission team of Leslie Kenney, Jim Risk, Nancy Harbron and Steve Kenney.

Jim Risk, part of the Kampala mission team, is learning about the chicken project.

Leslie Kenney is teaching women about the hospitality of God.