Saturday, June 30, 2012

Uganda - Summer 2012....Go Light Your World!

UGANDA 2012

VIEW SLIDESHOW
More photos to come from this life changing adventure as well as TONS of video footage.  Just need time to sift through it all.  I tried my best to leave captions, so just read along.  Remember, I'm super jet lagged right now, so there are very likely many errors in spelling, grammar, etc etc etc.  What day is it anyway?



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

1 Day....My itinerary!

For those of you that have been keeping up with this humble blog since the beginning, my thanks!  Just for you....here's my itinerary for the next several days! :)  Ok, even if you're a late comer to this slice of the web, no worries. Glad to have you along on my journey!


Alyssa's Itinerary


Wednesday, 6/13

  • Depart Cincinnati @ 2:15 PM to Dulles (DC)
  • Depart Dulles (DC) @ 5:49 PM to Brussels, Belgium  ...... long flight (pray it's a decent movie, no obnoxious folks in the cabin, and for sleep!)

Thursday, 6/14

  • Depart Brussels @ 10:40 AM to Entebbe, Uganda ..... another long flight (yay)
  • Arrive in Entebbe @ 9:50 PM (local hotel....hooray)

Friday, 6/15

  • Drive into Busia, Uganda!!!!!!!



Friday-Sunday (6/15-6/17)

  • Getting acclimated to the area, meeting with Lucas & Prossy Hamirie (local pastor & wife).  Helping out whenever & wherever needed.  Going over materials for upcoming conference.  We'll either be staying at old or new orphanage building depending on status of progress.  We will be in the SAME location for our duration in Uganda.
Monday-Saturday (6/18-6/23)
  • The main event....our Children's Leader Conference will take place this entire week.  We'll be working with church children's workers from surrounding districts (this includes some from Kenya) teaching them techniques they can apply in working with children in the church environment.  PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS EVENT!!!

Sunday-Wednesday (6/24-6/27)
  • Again, helping out whenever & wherever is needed. Much of our extra time will be spent (I'm sure) working on the new orphanage and (I hope) with the children of the area including those in the orphanage.

Wednesday, 6/27 or Thursday, 6/28
  • Depart for Entebbe (driving from Busia)

Thursday, 6/28
  • Entebbe to Brussels @ 10:55 PM

Friday, 6/29
  • Depart to Dulles (DC) @ 12:00 Noon
  • Depart to Cincinnati @ 5:00 PM
  • Arrive in Cincinnati @ 6:48 PM

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

ONE WEEK....what did I forget?

ONE WEEK from this very moment I'll be meeting the rest of my team in Cincinnati (which we all know is really NKY).  We'll sort our luggage, make sure we're all at our 50 lbs limit.  Man, we're taking loads.  In addition to 2 weeks worth of clothes, hand sanitizer (which I'm reminded to take nearly everyday), and other various & sundry items, we're also toting building supplies, medications, literature, Bibles, and fun things for the kids at the orphanage.


Anyone who knows me can imagine that packing of clothes for two weeks can be daunting....much less packing for a continent and country that is essentially another world.  Right now, all of those things are set aside in my bedroom.  Yes, LOTS of hand sanitizer, handiwipes, travel sizes of a variety of items.  Oh, and batteries.  LOTS of batteries as electricity is still iffy once we're there.


I'm finding myself in this final week of preparation working a lot on the family calendar.  Amelia suggested yesterday that I should just make a giant calendar and put it on the wall so everyone would know what to do everyday that I'm gone.  She's visual...like me.  Yeah, I probably should make a giant calendar because sometimes I'm not sure people read my texts, emails, or BLOGS!!  Anywho....


It is quite humbling for a mother to step out of her role and let others take over.  One of my teammates said to think of it as it's their way to show service just as I'm serving those in Uganda.  That helped, but it's still going to take a bit for me to let go and relax knowing that my kid is getting to her practices, swim meets, etc.  Moms out there, you feel me?


Meanwhile, I have 7 days to completely set my eyes toward Africa.  In that time I'm asking for some specific prayers from those of you who read this:



  • Peace of mind for me and the rest of my team
  • Safe travel from Cincinnati to Busia
  • Understanding between our team and those we're there to serve
  • God's ultimate purpose will shine through
  • Children at the orphanage and in the village will feel love of Christ through us
  • Safety of the team while we're in Africa and on travel home
  • Peace of mind of our families here in the US while we're away

Thanks for reading!
Alyssa