V-team took a Leap!

Yesterday evening around 6 PM, V-team went bungee jumping over the nile! It was amazing! First Andrew, then Christian, next was Philip, and finally Evan! We had a blast! The fall was 150 feet, from the east bank of the nile here in Jinja.

We will have pictures up soon!

Bungee Jumping

-- from Christian's Facebook Note:

Okay, its the morning and I am back from bungee jumping of course...and it was AWESOME!!! God is so good! man! Okay, I will explain...our whole house family gets in the car to go: Joe and Melissa (americans who are the house managers/onsite suubi managers), Amber (american volunteer), Josh (canadian volunteer), Amanda (american volunteer), Jacob (american volunteer), Betty (Ugandan, house staff), Kimbi (betty's 2 year old son), Rachel (betty's 8 yr old sister), Philip (Ugandan YL dude), Anifa (Ugandan, house staff and YL volunteer, Evan, Andrew and Myself. We get to the place and we see a big town, probably 50 ft high, on the river bank (the nile). It stretches out probably another 50 ft over the water. However, this tower sits on a cliff. From the ground to the water is another 100 feet. So, altogether, its 150 ft high, and over the water. There is a small restaurant down stream about 50 yards that sits on the cliff side as well. we go over there and pay. I also paid for philip to do a jump. Ugandans are much cheaper than americans. Gosh our high priced economy! So, after paying, we walk over to the tower and go up. We all get up there and Andrew has been asking to go first so he walks out to the end and there are 2 New Zealander guys that run the whole thing. Andrew sits down, gets tied up and 3...2...1...he jumps. Its about a 2 second free fall, and you come about 15 ft from touching the water. Then he gets down and I go....i sit down and get tied in and talk to the NZ dudes for a bit. Its time to jump. I asked if i could do a swan dive and they were like "totally bro!". so 3...2...1...i crouch down and jump, I spread my arms like wings and jump as far and as hard forward as i can. Out in front of you is the restaurant where you pay and the dudes tell you to jump towards the restaurant. The further out you jump, the better the experience, because it cause you to swing more as you are bouncing. So with arms spread, falling, I felt free, I felt liberated, I did not feel fear. I felt like i was flying. What lasted only 2 seconds felt like an eternity. Its was the most exhilarating experience i have ever had. The excelerator at eliche's has nothing on this! It was so cool, because once I was there, i wasn't scared. I was pumped and of course my heart was racing, but that was just adrenaline. It was amazing. I jumped out pretty far I guess because everyone told me that I swung really far back on my first bounce up. I felt like i was gonna touch water! So, I bounced a bunch, then they bring a raft over and two guys pull you in, untie you and then drop you at the bank. The walk back up is rough! haha. After me, philip went, then evan, and then Betty (our cook), and Amanda did a tandem jump (they jumped together). It was a great night, hanging out and getting to jump was amazing for sure. So that was bungee jumping.

Happy New Year!

V-Team with Young Life friends in Uganda.


Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile River.


















Young Life,

Jinja
Uganda















Young Life Friends


(Andrew and Christian far right).












New Year's Celebrations ...

Andrew with Melissa and Joe, regional directors of

"Light Gives Heat"
http://www.lightgivesheat.org/











Evan. No really. Honest.

That's Evan.








Boda Boda driver-- Ibrahim

(next to Evan).







Amazing Children.

YOUNGLIFE POST-XMAS

So the past few days have been consumed with preparation and doing work in the style/name of "work crew." This has been incredible to be on this side of the whole thing. We have been cleaning this student center/hotel preparing for the 60 some YOungLife leaders to arrive from all over Uganda for training from the Younglife leaders in the USA. Before the Americans or "Muzungu's" arrived, we hung up signs in their room saying, "Malaria is endemic in Jinja District, MUST TUCK IN MOSQUITO NETS!" (when there were no mosquito nets). Another saying, "extensively check under bottom bunks for snakes/rats/lizards prior to bed." Along with multiple others about rat infestations and typhoid- all that great stuff. You know, malaria is very prevelant and we probably shouldn't use the water for stuff we do- so the warning is funny to us but normal to others:) The past few nights have been doing Younglife club and fellowship. Getting to dance and listen to REALLY LOUD music, play instruments, share with the leaders and watch funny skits. This has been a great time for us to reach in further with the people attending this camp. We have been getting to exercise serving and there is a lot of opportunity for that definitely. This is something we are all very excited about- getting to be alongside the experienced Leaders and learn from them.

Today, 12-29-08 was inturrupted with evan and christian going to see CHarles... remember him? This was the man i met a while back, and today we got to meet up with him and his family for the third time. Each time God grows our reltaionships. I can't even describe, its like we show up, and dive more and more deep. Leaving each other with blessings, encouragement and love. The Spirit just leads the conversation more and more to where it is obvious that God has purpose for all of us speicifically in that moment. It is a beautiful thing. Today was our last visit, and an amazing time of ministry. Very personal, just God leading us two strangers together to a very unique, and interesting relationship. Where we go to his house and minster and pray with the whole family. This is something only God has orchestrated, and we give God glory for His plan. We pray that Charles and his whole family come closer to the Lord- as He gives them eyes to see and ears to hear Him. That they would see God's glory and hand in their lives and continue to grow in their relationships with Him.

MERRY X-MAS... AGAIN!

Our Christmas was incredible for a lack of a better term. After our church service, we went over to Philip’s house for lunch. His mother made us beef, rice, pineapple, sweet potatoes, irish potatoes, and mashed bananas. We sat around and enjoyed company then headed home. We quickly began preparing for the Christmas Extravaganza BBQ Celebration! After gathering firewood from the “jungle,” starting the fire, and roasting all the meat and peanuts, we jumped into it! It was very weird in the fact that we haven’t really had Christmas anytime recent that didn’t have snow or wasn’t freezing outside. One of the girls was describing being at the pool on Christmas Eve, getting sunburned listening to Christmas carols. Strange. Well we all (us, our 5 room mates, Philip, and Hanifa) sat around the bonfire, eating our Christmas dinner (roasted peanuts and beef) playing a game called “ZIP-BONG.” Ah, I can’t even describe it to you. To briefly give you a picture, it was not letting your teeth show while saying these words going clock-wise or counter clock-wise according to the specific direction of what the words “zip” or “bong” meant. After the crowd died down a bit, us five- Hanifa, Philip and v-team- circled up for some serious dance-time. Thanks to matt for introducing the youth-group game of memorizing dance moves and adding on, we had ourselves a Christmas Extravaganza Dance Celebration. This was an amazing way to express joy. Looking like fools, not caring, being bad at dancing but being together in love and in the Spirit. We experienced God’s grace displayed through Jesus being born today. So in the most unusual and unexpected way, today we were able to dance and laugh and celebrate Jesus’ coming into the world to save us. It is all made possible by the grace of God.

That is a beautiful place to end, but it doesn’t end there. Soon after this, we introduced to them what we did when we go to rock and metal shows. As we gathered around for tea afterward, Kimby (Betty, our hostess’s baby boy) began to cry. This boy doesn’t like anyone except his mom, unless he is alone. Then he only likes evan. Surprising? Well, evan was closest when he began to cry and Betty left, and this was not a cry of loneliness, but because he had filled his pants. So in excitement that evan was going to get to hold Kimby and he wouldn’t cry- in fact it may stop his crying- he grabbed for him. Evan placed his hand right under his backside as Andrew mumbled, “… uh, I think that he went…” and walked away hysterical. So evan discovered why Kimby was crying when he looked down to see Kimby’s feces on his leg. This ended with an uproar of laughter to put lightly.

This Christmas was so incredible. Thank you for your consistent praying and support for us here. We hope that you enjoyed Christmas as well. This was a time of growing in our understanding and love of Jesus and His love for us. We are looking forward to this new year, beginning with new hearts and seeing what God has for each one of us. May Gods grace and peace be with you as we all embark on this new beginning- 2009.

Pictures from the Farm

The View from Canaan Farm

Christian, Andrew and Evan

"V-team in the Botanicle Garden at the farm -- prime time realestate for Cobras!"

Richard Angoma

Canaan Farm Director

Giant African Harps!

Jackson Ochaya -- Former LRA child soldier, Jesus Follower

Christian, day one in the hut.

Men's Bible Study

African Sunset.

"God is good!"

Merry christmas to me! GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU THROUGH JESUS!

On Christmas eve, I felt a tug on my heart to go on a walk. So as i am walking down the street beginning to be wrapped up in my music, a man looks at me very strangely and crosses over the road, walking the same direction down the road as im walking. Sensing something, i pulled my head phones out. As he approached he said in a quiet voice, "Hello, my name is Charles..." And after a short introduction i was able to share Jesus with him. After a long walk on this Christmas eve through the side-streets of Jinja- talking about Obama, the LRA, Cobras, the works- I was invited to his home. This is what the travel book i read before leaving on this trip said not to do. So i accepted and was lead into this mans home into the building projects. I sat there, drinking a citrus Fanta (which i don't think they have in the US, i could be wrong it's been a while) and eating some crackers. I sat for about an hour, and we talked about God, and what Christmas was originally about. About how we received a gift, that Jesus was humbly born and came into this world as a hero to save us in the most unusual and serving way. After a while of this, and hearing his testimony it was definitely time to go because i was expected home long ago. So we prayed together with his wife and mother, and am expected to return back on Christmas day to take pictures and celebrate! I was even given homework to research Daniel and God's protection over him. So i am now writing this with much joy because God always has a plan. His timing is so different and sometimes we don't understand, but there is always something bigger at work and we can never know God's thoughts, but trust in His plan and character.

So I am overjoyed to write this blog to you, listening to my favorite artist ever- Judith Babidea- a Ugandan singer. May you rest in Gods grace and peace as this year ends and as we worship Jesus for coming to our rescue right when we needed it.

12-20-08 LUBANGA WA NI BE!!!

The past few days have been wonderful ones to say the least. I write this to you in reckless joy. We jumped right into things after getting here. First was a very warm "younglife welcome." This entailed skits, music, worship and prayer. We were honored to be apart of the youth here in Jinja for the first time. After an extreme and first experience at the local market- we went to choir practice. We are teaming up with a church here called "Oasis Center." Joining instruments and voices has been a unique experience, especially listening to them sing, "So I'll join with the earth and I'll give my praise to YOU!" Every night so far has involved this somewhere in the schedule, rehearsing for a big Christmas service this upcoming weekend. Except this past night was a bit different- ending with such... pandimonium, hoopla, furor, chaos, laughter.

Boda Boda is comfortable (somewhat) with one person being the passenger and one driver. It pushes the limits when the driver is used to you (knows you by name) and drives as if you are not on the bike. But having two passengers as well causes for a little more joyful tension. Where the bike bounces up and down and rubs on the tire. Similar to me or Andrews' trucks back in the states. Well that is always interesting, much less when there are three passengers and a driver- four people on a motorcycle. An ordinary motorbike. I cannot explain- pictures wont even do it justice. But on one bike was Ibrihim (the driver), Anifa (our African friend), Betty (our African hostess), her baby and Andrew. And a guitar. On the other bike was our driver, Philip, a guitar, drum, Christian and me (evan). Philip was like an "uh-oh" oreo smashed between Christian, me and the guitar case. Keep in mind that Philip is about up to my chest when we sit on the motorcycle, so he looks like a true, double-stuffed oreo- squished between my torso and Christians back. It got to the point where i couldn't explain why (partly because i didn't know why) i was laughing so hard. I just lost it. It was the wrong time, because when someone gets a case of the laughs- we all know its contagious. So Philip- if only you knew him in this kind of situation- began to laugh with me. Luckily we were home soon before one of us fell off. "You know you're in Africa when..."

So we spent that day ministering to the small villages around the outside of Jinja. Driving about, gathering children over the loud-speaker on top of the mini-van, 16 of us piled out (yes, 16 human beings) and released the soccer ball to witness what Rob Bell calls "Amoeba Ball." This is where a cluster of kids violently chase after the soccer ball until seconds later it is torn apart. After gathering hundreds of children around, we split up into groups and shared the Gospel with them. Philip walked around the field with the wireless microphone inviting everyone to come hear. "Young and old, rich and poor, healthy and unhealthy, angry and happy, broken and together..." A dance off took place after the sharing and praying. This dance off was more of all the little African kids who actually can dance coming out of the womb and three white guys that look like the tin man trying to scratch his back. And suddenly when a "mizungoo" (white person) throws a dance move it really is a great method for breaking the ice because it A) makes them feel more confident and comfortable for obvious reasons and B) laughter breaks the ice for relationship and conversation.

We were invited after the long day to go speak at an over-night prayer gathering. As we approached this half-built brick building we could see the hearts pumping Gods love. We stepped into something great. Getting to share about Job and Gods glory was an incredible opportunity, as was to worship with them. We prayed together and headed home. Unfortunately (fortunately) our boda boda guys didnt come on time so we caught a ride with... yes i am going to go ahead and say it... a complete stranger in the back of a truck. Sounds intense. So we rode off in this pick-up after laughing and talking about "If it wasn't for you God...." moments with our new friend Emmanuel. After all of this we ended with devotion and spending time with God together at somewhere between 12 and 2 a.m. Philip described ministry in Africa like, "If you dont have the logistics or you do... you go and minister anyway." This vision is taking place daily, giving God our tiny, feeble offering. As we find individually who God has made us, we are learning to serve Him better with our strengths, weaknesses, identities, etc. As we continue, we are finding that God is too big to fit inside a box. We are finding that no matter where you are or what the circumstance is- God is holding up walls of water beside you. God is good, and He doesn't change. And we are each walking closer and closer personally with God, building our relationships with God from the ground up. We are so thankful for you praying because we want to affirm that Gods grace and peace is with us, and we are persevering, remaining in His love as you've been praying. God is here and He is truly a shepherd for His sheep. God has given us tight-knit friendship being built, constantly praying, challenging, affirming and encouraging each other- with us and others close by.

Please pray for the following things:

1) Pray that we would be bright lights for all the people close around us and people we are ministering to.

2) Good health and energy so we can go full speed, safe boda rides

3) for God to prepare our Boda's for Gods message of love, and we would have wisdom in those times.

4) The children that accepted Christ on 12/19/08 during the sports/dance outreach would remain firm and not fall away from God, but chase after Him with their hearts and grow to understanding and wisdom of Him in a relationship.