Some photos!

Things have been going great at the farm. The time with the team has been so good. Everyone really seems to have worked well with each other, and it's clear that everyone is using their gifts to the fullest. I don't have much time to write, but I did want to get a few pictures up. I will be in Jinja this coming weekend and have much more internet access to blog and catch up on my time here. Thanks for the prayers and support.

much love.

christian.



Construction of a new hut!



The Interns and Sarah at the Jinja Leather Tannery



Heading to the Farm with the Intern group



Ochaya "Jackson" repairing a muddy road!

Life in Uganda

My world got kinda flipped upside down once I left Memphis. All my flights got completely changed and I ended up in Uganda 2 hours early which was a plus in the long run! It was so great to see Richard at the airport, and the first evening, we slept in Entebbe. The next day, Richard and I toured around Kampala and that evening we ventured back to the airport to retrieve Sarah Ray, Marlena Dorsey, Laura Pearson, and Vern & Alicia McRoberts. That night we slept in Kampala and the next day we headed to the farm.

We were greeted with open and loving arms when we arrived at the farm. It was so refreshing to see so many familiar faces. Everyone has asked about Andrew and Evan! You guys are dearly missed here as well. For the next few days, I spent getting the lay of the land and we started a few projects. The intern/teacher house is now in the process of construction. We have also had to repair a few of the roads around the farm to prepare for more vehicle traffic in the coming weeks. During or first few days, we also began expanding the Yobel Jewelry project. The jewelry workers on the farm are creating new and beautiful designs.

In this time, I have been reconnecting with Geoffrey, Dennis and Jackson. Those guys really were awesome leaders and friends the last time I was here, and it has been so good to see how their lives have changed and they have grown. Geoffrey has been given a guitar and is playing very well. We are continuing lessons in my time here. Dennis is in school and striving hard to succeed. Jackson has moved back north to his home of Gulu and is seeing a girl whom he plans to marry in the next year. This time feels so different but so good, like a new chapter in a book. Its been great to be here with the other Americans as well. Great relationships are forming.

I am currently riding on a bus between Jinja and Kampala. We came down from the farm last night to Kampala to scope out the city and purchase more jewelry supplies. Then we went to Jinja, where we met up with some old friends Joe and Melissa Terranova. After staying at there house last night, we awoke this morning and went to the Jinja Uganda Leather Tannery. That was a really cool experience, very smelly, but good. We bought some leather to use for new jewelry and necessity designs for the women and men to make on the farm. For the rest of the day, we have to pick up the remaining 16 Americans from the airport and then travel back to the farm.

Over the next few weeks, we will continue construction on the farm, host medical clinics, and further the jewelry project. The farm is growing and changing so much and God is truly blessing the dedication and efforts of all those involved. Thanks for the prayers and support! Love to all!

~Christian

P.S. I tried uploading photos but the internet is not cooperating with me, sorry but I will have to try again later.

Going to the farm!

Last night, Richard and I went to the airport to pick up Sarah, Marlena, Laura, Vern and Alicia. After sleeping at a guest house in Kampala, we awoke this morning rested. Today we are taking care of money and some supplies and this afternoon, we will head to the farm. Please pray for safe travels as we drive 4 hours north today. Also, pray for the safety of the team traveling to Uganda next week. They arrive June 4th, and we will travel to entebbe to pick them up. Thank you for your prayers and love, it means the world to me knowing that your are all so faithful in your support to what God is doing at Canaan Farm.

-Christian

I'm HERE!

After two days of travel and completely rerouting me through different cities, I have made it to Uganda. Richard picked me up at the airport last night and we stayed at a hotel in Entebbe. We will be picking up Sarah, Marlena, Laura, Vern, and Alicia this evening; then we will travel to the farm tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers and support. I will post some pictures within the next week.

~Christian

Leaving Tomorrow!

I will be hopping on a plane tomorrow morning around 10:00. Today has just been a day of packing and taking care of last minute things, yet I always feel like I'm forgetting something! Thanks so much for following the blog and keeping up with the guys and I as we continue progressing in our lives. I did want to post some prayer requests before I leave.

-Ultimately keeping Christ as the focus of this trip in all we do.

-Travel for all those coming from Colorado, and those coming from other parts of the country.

-Connection and communication with the team.

-The locals at the farm.

-Overall direction for each day at the farm and the other parts of the country.

I'll put up pictures as soon as I can! Thanks for following!

In Christ,

Christian

4 Days to Go

I leave for Uganda in 4 days, and these last few weeks have been filled with lots of family time. I just wanted to post a few pictures of my nieces, nephews, and sisters. Thanks for your prayers and support! I will make another post before I leave.

~Christian

Skyler, Addison, Mom, Alexis, Asa

Skyler and Asa

Mom, Alexis, Amber, Addison, Allyson (all the "A" names)

Alexis (the newest member of the family)

Uganda Bound and Prayer Requests

Last week was finals week. I had 7. My brain is still in recovery. The good news is that I am officially finished with my freshman year! It does feel good to be done; however I am already missing my community there. The summer will be good though; God has big plans.

The last time I posted, I wrote about going back to Uganda. Well, in 2 weeks, I will be back with Richard and his ministry at Canaan Farm. God has truly provided and made things very clear that I am to go back to Uganda this summer. Within 3 days of deciding to go, the Lord provided the majority of my financial needs through great friends and supporters. If you have been involved either in prayer, giving or both, thank you.

My family and I will be driving to Memphis from Little Rock on the 25th. My flight is on the May 26th. I will be in Uganda until July 2nd. This trip will look different from the last time I was there however. This time, there will be about 20 people on the team. We will be working on the construction of a school at Canaan Farm. Last time I was there, it was just the V-team (Andrew, Evan, and I). The thought of 20 Muzungus (white people) on the farm at one time kind of overwhelms me, but it will be good. I am excited for this chance to get to know all new people and serve alongside them. Technically, I was asked to go on this trip as an Intern. This means I will be in more of a leadership position and help more with the behind the scenes tasks. Because I have spent excessive time at Canaan Farm already, I will be able to help be a bridge for those who have never been to the farm. I am excited to help in that process, because I know how much of an impact my time at Canaan Farm had on me.

As you all know, my use of Internet while there is very limited. I will be doing my best to post blogs and pictures. There is a rumor that Canaan Farm now actually has internet. I'm not completely sure if this is true, but given that it is, I will probably have more internet use this time around. I love being able to share pictures and stories of my time there with all of you. Once I get back, I will be able to post more of those things, so keep a look out for that!

Prayer Requests:

-THE TEAM. Pray for relationships and communication. Pray for the hearts of all

going that they are will to let the Lord change and move them in there time at the farm.

-LEADERSHIP. Pray for those leading this trip. Taking 20 people by Ugandan transportation

4 hours from civilization and coordinating all the details that go along with a trip like this can be

stressful. Pray that the enemy has no chances to get in and mess things up.

-THE FARM. Pray for the people of the farm that they will see the Lord in all that is done. Yes,

physically we may be the ones traveling to the farm, but it is because of the Lord's grace and

provision that we are there.

-SAFETY. Traveling 10,000 miles away to a foreign land is never completely safe. Pray that the

Lord protects and guides and that we keep our eyes fixed on Him always.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and time. I will do my best to keep the blog going while I am there. I will try to make at least 1 more post before I go. Please write comments, I want to hear from you too!

~Christian