Greetings from the Uganda team!

 There has been a lot that has happened over these last few days. Last Wednesday and Thursday was our overnight sightseeing trip to Samuka Island. It is a beautiful bird sanctuary off the coast of Lake Victoria and just beyond the Source of the Nile River. We took an hour long boat ride from the coast out to the island and it was so relaxing and beautiful! When we reached the island, it was a beautiful paradise! Birds flying overhead, a beautiful swimming pool that flowed inside the dining hall, beautiful cabanas surrounding the edge of the island. The island was small enough that you could look around and see water all around you. We had a fun game night as a team. It was very relaxing and a great getaway. On the way home from the island, we stopped in town for some souvenir shopping and had dinner at a restaurant called Java House. It felt like we stepped back into the US! It was a coffee house and restaurant and the team really enjoyed the meal, complete with milkshakes!

On Friday it was back to our normal schedule for the team. We finished our daily Bible study on the book of Genesis. It has been so encouraging to hear all the team’s thoughts and opinions over the first 25 chapters. The team also continued work on the security wall. Some of the staff and students have joined us throughout the process and the team has enjoyed getting to know them. They share stories with us, testimonies, and sing lots of songs. There has been a lot of progress on the wall. It is now several feet off the ground and the team is ready to finish the section by putting a few layers of blocks. Friday was also a very special day for one of our team members; Allison got to spend her golden 18th birthday with the team! It also ended up being her KP day, so she got to make gluten-free cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. They were so delicious, the team made sure to even scrape frosting out of the bowl! The whole team had party hats and got to celebrate together. She also opened a few birthday cards from her family that Miss Cheyenne had kept for her.

Saturday was our last eyeglass and medical clinic! We went to a primary school in the town of Kakira. We showed up, and at first there was no one there. The team had some good laughs playing on the playground while they waited. After a while, people started showing up and we were able to put on the clinic. Some of the team were outside playing with the kids, while the others were inside helping with the eyeglasses and medicine. It was our smallest clinic yet but it went well and several people surrendered their lives to Christ!!! GLORY TO GOD! A local food that is a big hit amongst the team is chapati. It is a fried flat bread, similar to a tortilla, and many of the team members ask all the time for it. So on the way to the clinic, the bus stopped on the side of the road and the team was able to get some. After the clinic, the team was able to stop at a supermarket to pick up some things for our last week here. The team got some snacks, drinks and toiletries. Today, Sunday, the team went to Jinja Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church. We worshipped, danced, and then the team gave a 20 minute presentation. Cora and Jaxon shared their testimonies, and the team sang three worship songs. Later today, we are holding a big soccer or futbol game. The team is looking forward to it. Pray for safety for this last week and for good health. Also please be praying for unity and continual spiritual growth. Thank you!

Testimonies:
“A guy named David came into the clinic and when he was first told about Jesus from Cora (teammate) and a Bible student, Sammy, he was reluctant to receiving Christ. He eventually came around to the idea and Sammy brought him to me to pray with him. He said he wanted to accept Christ. I led him in prayer to give his life to Christ. Afterwards he was so happy and was so grateful. When I asked if he needed prayer for anything else, he said to pray for his family to also accept Christ because he wanted to share what he learned about Jesus with them. The joy he had on his face after committing his life to Jesus was so precious.” - Fiona

“This is my story of how me and Jake led a Muslim to the Lord yesterday. It was late in the afternoon, about 4 around the time when my 2nd or 3rd partner and I started to feel exhaustion. That’s usually around the time when the mass of people at the clinic start to dwindle though. During this time, me and Jake were helping this 19 year old man named John who was both struggling to see and had other painful eye issues. We had just finished up treatment and had asked him about salvation. He laughed a bit, and finally said he was a Muslim. At first I didn’t know how to respond, but God gave me the words to say and they just poured out. But it wasn’t just me talking. Mr. Liam and Jake helped out a lot with making the Gospel flow together. The man was very receptive and was serious about salvation. I helped him pray and ask Jesus into his heart, and it was a simple and beautiful moment that impacted both of us.” - Liza

“Hello! This is Cora. Yesterday our team held our very last clinic in Uganda. Each person that I was able to treat, I also had the privilege of praying for. One man in particular had a prayer request that especially stuck out to me, and I am sure that he would greatly appreciate all the prayers he can get. When I asked him if he needed prayer for anything in particular he said yes and shared that his wife was demon possessed. He explained that he was a Christian. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be. I then prayed for him, and asked God to do a mighty work in his wife’s life and rid her of these demons. After praying I looked up to see tears in his eyes. Please pray for this man and his wife, and that the Lord would do a mighty work in both of their lives.” - Cora