H.E.A.L. Ministries, Inc.

Preschool and thankfulness

2012-01-31T08:44:00.027-06:00

The first week of preschool is already fun and successful and I am thankful for that in just the first two days. The most rewarding thing to see and hear is the sweet prayer that comes out of the children. The first challenge will be separating the children by skill level. Right now we have them separated by age - 3's, 4's and 5's - however, some 3's are ready to move up or down, etc. The children love learning. We have written a curriculum titled "God's Creation" and basing it on the 7 days of creation. The children will learn shapes, numbers and colors as well as the Bible Stories of each day.

They are quick learners! Today the older children remembered the answers to many of the questions I asked about Genesis 1: 1-5. They also love playtime outside and it is almost as fun to watch the mamas and auntees play as it is to watch the children. We played duck, duck, goose and talked about circles and running around the circle and one of the little boy's tagged his mama. She got up and ran around laughing and yelling "circle, circle, circle" just like the children were doing and then tagged another auntee!

One of the crafts that the children did was cutting up yellow pieces of paper and then glue them into a circle to create the sun. Some looked like circles, some looked like mosaic abstract art but all of the little artists knew the difference between the darkness and the light, between black and yellow and even that the light represents God. My little students are Ugandan genuses, but I am probably biased! A simple star sticker each day encourages them to be obedient and we are treating the 3 kids each week with the most stars to a ride into town on a boda boda to get ice cream.

During lunch I visited with Mama Cook and helped her sort rice (or pretended to help - I really am so slow at it compared to her) but it gives me the opportunity to talk about our beliefs. She is a converted Muslim and says that she knows Jesus is her Lord and Savior. She made African Tea today for me and it is the best in Uganda! She loves making it for all the HEAL teams. She is a special lady and I'm thrilled we will be laughing and cooking in Heaven together!

After lunch and naptime, we surprised the children with all the dress up clothes. Outside playtime has never been more colorful and fun to watch! There were firemen, princesses, spiderman, cowboys, Yoda, spacemen and many more little colorful imaginative creatures running around having a fun time. Watching the children play made me aware of all that I am thankful for. The children are so happy and loved and I am thankful.

I am thankful that there are places that allow children to be adopted. I am also thankful for places that allow children to stay in their own country to grow up and make a difference. I am thankful for places here that help families stay together. God is showing me that all these situations are right and perfect. He decides the plan for all of us. And I am thankful that I do not have to figure it out.

I am so thankful tonight that there are places here working with 14 year old girls having babies. Babies having babies and nowhere to turn.......this continues to bother me. I am thankful that I am able to help the girls at Canaan learn about purity and that it is perfectly okay to have a menstrual cycle and deliver something so easy to get as kotex pads. I am thankful that my eyes are opened here every single day. I am thankful for everything that has happened in my life to get me to this point - good and bad. I am thankful that God has taught me how to live through trials and that my weaknesses are okay because He makes me stronger. I feel closest to God here because I know that I am in His plan and I feel lifted up because of everyone's prayers.

“Unless a life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

“We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.” – Corrie Ten Boom

"Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart" – Bob Pierce, World Vision founder

Splashing the Saturday away!

2012-01-28T11:02:00.007-06:00

oday is very hot in Jinja. Many locals are very frustrated with the power situation. It seems that the power is on for 12 or so hours and then off for 12 or more hours. There are rumors that it will be moving to some days having 24 hours on and 24 hours off. Businesses (especially supermarkets and restaurants) will be most effected by this. I don't really understand the reason but praying that this will be resolved soon! I ate something that did not agree with me today........probably due to food sitting for so long and probably due to my puny immune system getting adjusted to Uganda!

After visiting the Canaan Children's Home again today, I left forgetting that I even felt bad and was glad that I went. The children were so excited and the teenagers are very excited about starting a Bible Study each week. All of the kids had just finished lunch and were cleaning the dishes and drying out corn to mash and make pocio. The Canaan Children's Home and the Canaan School both have a fresh coat of paint and looks very nice!

I talked with one young man that we have built a relationship with the last couple of years named John. He is 18 years old and attends a boarding school now. He no longer resides at Canaan but came out to visit with me today. His story of education desires and wanting to be a doctor encouraged me. He is very bright and has a strong passion for the Lord. I asked him if he needed anything at school and he said he needed a pillow. Most 18 year old boys would ask for many things but probably not a pillow. John has polio and never uses it as an excuse. He is a determined young man that has a positive story of how a Ugandan orphanage served him well.

I was glancing at Robert washing dishes after his meal and just watched him and another little boy for a few minutes. I thought about how responsible they are at such a young age and how content they were in their situation. Then, just as I was thinking that, Robert started splashing the water up and then on his friend! I guess that ole saying "boys will be boys" is true everywhere! No matter where children are on this earth, they are all the same. They love to play and they all need Jesus! Robert splashed away for several minutes on a hot Saturday afternoon until his Auntee caught him and then he went back to being a responsible little boy washing dishes.

I learn alot from the children at Canaan. They teach me more than I feel like I ever teach them. They are determined; they love to learn; they are responsible; they love to play; they help each other out and they love hearing about the many stories in the Bible. Their passion for life is one that will stay with me all of my days.

We ended up with a goat and a chicken!

2012-01-25T14:08:00.033-06:00

I went to Mbale Monday and Tuesday which is about 2 to 2 -1/2 hours from Jinja. David drove me, Helen and Sarah (known as Mama Cook at Amani). Sarah and I have been planning this for literally about one year. She has wanted me to visit her home village and meet her mother and to see that there are needs in her home area. We left Monday afternoon and spent the night at a guest house in town. Sarah's mother is a widow and lives in a village about 30 minutes from Mbale town and we headed there Tuesday morning. I found her mom full of life and smiles and hope and her neighbors (which consists of family and friends) were helping her with her headdress to greet us as we walked up. The ladies were busy preparing a feast (and that is NOT an exaggeration) because they knew that their guests were arriving. It was so sweet to see how excited the entire family was to see Sarah and her new friends. We were seated in their precious humble home and greeted by everyone with smiles and excitement. All of the neighbor's children were peeking in the windows and the doors because a muzungu was visiting their village!

I presented them with two pineapples and in typical Ugandan style, they were the first things cut up and prepared for our table. Ugandans are very hospitable and eager to serve. We were served hot tea to drink slowly because they love to sit and talk and laugh. They served us fruit and bread and then rice, matooke (similar to plantains), beef and chicken.

Sarah showed us around her mother's compound and inside the home where she sleeps. Her mother is pictured sitting on her bed in her bedroom. Sarah's dream is to help her mother finish her house in the next two years. She needs a bed and new netting. And, yet she does not feel as though she needs anything. She has a small piece of land that contains many banana trees, avocado trees, papaya trees and matooke trees. I thought that I would go and visit her and learn the needs (and there are many all around) but I really learned more from her. Life should be simple so that the focus is correct and joy should be found in all circumstances.

After brunch with our new friends, the ladies danced and sang for us. I had so much fun watching and laughing and clapping with them. They were so cute: every lady wanted me to film them and to see their picture! They then wanted me to dance with them and we all laughed and had fun. I knew that I could not even come close to dancing the African dances but I was willing to at least try to show respect. They then surprised us all with a gift that I could not believe. Sarah's mother walked in with a goat and then the neighbor walked with a chicken! They wanted us to drive them back to Jinja but we worked it out for Sarah's son (Omar pictured with her) to drive them back the next day. Sarah decided that the goat should be fattened the next few months and then cooked for the grand opening of the new baby home for Amani Baby Cottage! We hope to start a chicken coop so that Amani can have plenty of eggs at the new home. I actually felt bad accepting a goat and a chicken from this sweet elderly widow, but I knew that it would be disrespectful not to accept them. Sarah told me she was so excited that we visited her home and I was so glad that I took the time to do this. Sarah and her mother had not seen each other since last May.

Since we were so close to Sipi Falls we visited a couple of sights there before heading back to Jinja. Uganda is full of so many beautiful natural creations. As we headed home, Sarah wanted to stop at several market sights to purchase food for Amani. She is such a dedicated and caring employee because she knew that she would save Amani money by purchasing food just past Mbale. She said that the market prices in Jinja are much higher than the remote village areas. She purchased several things including beef from a cow that had just been slaughtered!
Today, I was at Amani when the chicken and the goat arrived! All of the ladies were yelling and laughing and clapping and so excited! After the excitement, I took Alima to town. She is five years old and one of the oldest girls that will be in my preschool classes. Her Mama and Auntee cleaned her and fixed her hair. She had on a pretty pink dress and was excited that she was going to town! I asked her what she wanted to do and she said that she wanted chocolate ice cream! Trey went with us to town and Alima was all smiles! Amani Baby Cottage allows their volunteers to take a child to town between 4:00 and 6:00 pm every day so that they get the experience of outings. Our little field trip consisted of riding a boda to town, having ice cream, and shopping for a baby doll! I called Danyne to ask if it would be okay if I bought her a doll and we both agreed that it would be fine if we bought two. There is another little girl named Lydia that is also 5. They are the only two girls that are older at Amani and they are friends. Alima was just as excited to pick out a little baby doll for Lydia as she was to pick out one for herself!

We went back to Amani and Alima showed everyone her doll and was excited to find Lydia to give her the surprise. Both girls wanted to pose for pictures! They have a doll that is their very own and they can sleep with them. Both girls will probably need a place to go as they are getting too old for Amani's home. Alot of the babies at Amani are adopted: alot are reunited with their families and some need a home when leaving Amani. I am praying that Heal Ministries will partner with places like Amani Baby Cottage to be able to provide a Christian Care Center for little girls and boys just like Alima and Lydia. A place that they will learn about their own beautiful country and grow up to make a difference with joy and hope that comes from Christ. The children at Amani were full of laughter and happiness as they played with a parachute and when I think about the last few days, I think about why Heal Ministries began; to care for orphans and widows and abandoned women. God is so awesome because He has given me a target audience everywhere I go in Uganda.

A fun Week-end in Jinja and finding out about needs

2012-01-23T02:56:00.017-06:00

Saturday was a great, sunny, hot and busy day in Jinja. There seemed to be more people out on the streets than usual. As David drove me around town and to Buziika (the village where Canaan Children's Home and the Amazima feeding program is) I felt like I was home and not just visiting for the first time. Jinja is really beautiful. It has so many pretty sights such as Lake Victoria and the Nile River. And, I know it sounds corny but I really do LOVE the red clay-like dirt. I don't even mind anymore that my feet are always a dusty red. The people are beautiful too. The children are so precious and as I drove into Canaan, I teared up because many of the children ran to the van yelling "Mama Tina or Auntee Tina". They remembered me. And it is not about me at all but it made me realize that God's business of relationships is really strong here with the children that the Heal Ministries teams have worked with.

Claire is a beautiful young girl at Canaan. She is pictured here with my sunglasses on her head and sitting on her bed. She hugged me and kissed me and started asking questions about everyone she met in the past on the Heal teams. She knew everyone by name and asked about each one. I gave her a letter that Jill wrote her from one of the teams and she acted as if it was Christmas! I'm going to encourage all the past team members to write to the children to give them encouragement. They love pictures and I want to develop some pictures for them to have in their dorm. Claire wanted me to take a picture of her on her bed because the HEAL teams bought sheets and blankets for the girls dorms last July. She is so proud of her bed and makes it look perfectly made every morning.

I talked with the older girls and asked them how they were doing and asked if they needed anything. They told me that the suitcases of sanitary pads that the Heal teams brought them in July have lasted until now and they are almost out. I promised them that the board members would bring some pads for them in March and they literally jumped up and down and started jumping on me and hugging me. Rice scattered everywhere during the chaos because their chores on Saturday include cleaning all their clothes and preparing and cleaning rice for them to eat. We laughed and I helped them sort rice and listened to them talking as teenagers do. We are going to have a Bible Study every Saturday afternoon and the girls are so excited about that.

One project that I have wanted to start for these girls that have no money for sanitary supplies is the paper for paper project - where teenage girls and college girls in America give one paper dollar to help supply sanitary supplies for girls in orphanages. Younger children in America could give one dollar to help supply school paper for young children in orphanages. I cannot imagine being 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 years of age (or any age) and sitting in a classroom when a menstral cycle begins; having no supplies, nobody to get help from, and nothing to do. I asked the older girls what they do when they run out of supplies and they told me that they just use rags and stay home. The Mama of the girls dorm told me that years ago, girls and women would go to the bush and sit for days. As far as school supplies, many of them share paper and use pencils that are about 3 inches long. Please pray about this Paper for Paper Project. Until that is launched successfully, our teams send suitcases full of sanitary pads and school supplies. This is one way that anyone can help out: buy sanitary supplies or school supplies for our teams to send. Think of girls like Claire with no supplies. If you are interested in helping us with this please email me at tina@heal-ministries.org or you can email our board chairman at kevin@heal-ministries.org. If you would like to talk to a female on our board about this in the states contact Valerie Mowery or Dee Anne Proctor (our executive directors) at valerie@heal-ministries.org.

I visited the boys and told them that I would be spending time with them also on Saturdays and when I asked them if they needed anything, a few said they wished they had their own Bible. I told them that I would begin to work on that. They have all received Bibles in the past but somehow they slowly disappear and walk away. This is another great project that anyone can get involved with. I am often asked by people "what is something that my family can do" - and this is a great one! Lifeway Christian Stores sells paperback Bibles for $1.00 for mission purposes. The Canaan Children's Home has about 100 kids that could use a personal Bible. Even if someone donates just one Bible, it makes a difference! Marvin and Frank are two little boys that are pictured here from Canaan. Marvin loves to pose for the camera and Frank was scared of muzungus the last trip! On Saturday, he ran to me and hugged me!

After spending time with Pastor Isaac (who runs the Canaan Children's Home), I learned that the Canaan Primary School is in need of a fence as required by the government. This may be a project that one of the Heal teams can work on this summer. As I am working and researching in the Jinja area, I am also learning about needed projects for the three HEAL teams to complete while here.

I visited the Amazima feeding program after leaving Canaan and it is always amazing to see the hundreds of children and hundreds of families that benefit from this program. Katie Davis told me that she added about 150 children making it total about 600 now that attend on Saturdays. The most amazing part of that is everything still finished around the same time. She has done an excellent job of allowing the Ugandans to run the program and to take ownership in what they do. The Pastor that teaches the children the Bible Study on Saturdays is so entertaining and the children love him. It was so exciting to see Grace, one of Katie's daughters, walking after her surgery. She is literally a walking miracle and a joy to be around. I am looking forward to spending time with Katie's precious girls over the next few months. One of the highlights of the HEAL teams is to see firsthand the Amazima program on Saturdays. It is amazing to see that one person really can make a HUGE difference. Every child gets a HUGE plate of food on Saturdays in the program of rice, beans, chicken and an egg. They also take home flour, rice, beans and soap for their family. For more information about that program go to the Amazima website.

I ended Saturday by going with Danyne and her boys and Darlene & Ron (missionaries pictured that live below me) to Skewers. Skewers is the restaurant that Trey is managing. I am so thankful that Trey followed his heart and his calling to move to Jinja. It is so rewarding for a mom to see her children grow up and live in God's plan. He is really helping the local people and they are learning from each other and working together quite well. Sunday was a busy day for them. They cooked for about 50 people which is a very busy day for a new restaurant in Jinja!

Sunday we visited the Canaan Church where Pastor Isaac and Pastor Andrew preach. I was pleasantly surprised that Pastor Isaac was preaching and this is the church that the HEAL teams have helped with Sunday School. I am going to be working with Pastor Andrew a couple of times a month with the children and also with the women that we have worked with that live in the slums across the street from the church.

Sunday night Trey and I went with friends to The Keep (a restaurant owned by Americans) to watch the Ravens vs Patriots football game. Because of the time difference, we were there from 11:00 pm to 2:30 am to watch it! I felt like I was watching something foreign since we do not have a TV. And I have to say, it was fun but I'm enjoying the simple life without it right now. Without the many distractions that I have in America, I am more focused here. It is easier for me to focus on God and His plan here but I realize that because of where I was raised (in the wonderfully blessed country of the good ole USA) I can sit in an apartment typing on my computer looking out at the red dirt road and Lake Victoria. I can visit the orphanages, work with children and widows and abandoned women because of the blessings that I have been given. I can relate to the ones that I have been called to serve because of life experiences and I can pass on the HOPE of Christ that got me through life's trials. I am thankful and blessed and I pray that I'll never forget that.

Amani and Ekisa

2012-01-20T10:49:00.009-06:00

I said that I was going to write on the blog every other day - and there is just so much to write about in one 24 hour period here! Today I visited Amani and Ekisa. You have heard me say alot about Amani and it feels like a second home to me now. David, the driver that our teams have gotten so close to, is pictured below.

Ekisa is a special needs orphanage and it is where Mweru lives (pictured above with Emily holding him). I have written about him many times in the past trips to Uganda because he stole a piece of my heart. He started out at Amani Baby Cottage and is so incredibly fun to be around! (and now that I think about it, MOST of the ministries that I work with had volunteers that started out at Amani). Mweru doesn't know how big he is now (almost as tall as I am now) and he still runs to jump up on me when he sees me! I guess he'll be 40 years old and still jumping up and loving on people! He lives in a world full of energy and happiness and his JOY is contagious to all around him. I walked into Ekisa as the children were going down for nap time and Emily (one of the two Emily's that run Ekisa) let me peek in Mweru's room because he wasn't asleep. As soon as he spotted me, he jumped up and ran to my arms laughing and chanting a chant that only Mweru can say! I love him. He reminds me of innocent, pure, unconditional love. After he ran around the yard, his auntee helped him back to bed for nap time. I sat and talked with the staff and looked around the room and realized how incredibly lucky these children are. They have handicapped workers that work with the children because they understand the needs. The scripture painted on the walls as you enter Ekisa is Psalm 139: 14 and is pictured above.

When I was returning to Amani, there was a really loud noise and alot of smoke at one of the factories down town. David (the Amani Driver) and Trey and I were near the factory and we saw alot of people running and then heard explosions. We turned around to leave the area because there were some people throwing large rocks into the road. We later found out that the people were rioting because the factory blew up and there were employees inside that died. I'm not sure if that is all totally the truth yet but whatever happened, we learned that when the unexpected happens in Uganda, it is best to stay low key and out of sight. Uganda is typically safe here but when the people are scared, they do crazy things!

I returned to Amani to help in the office for a bit and then stayed to play with the children. What a joyful way to end the day: laughing, playing, hugging and singing with God's children here in Uganda! They all have imaginations that are wonderful. Two little boys were tying twigs around their head imitating my headband! Some were playing with cars and trucks and riding toys. One little girl was imitating one of the auntees at Amani and telling the babies to stop crying (and the babies were not crying that she was talking to!). Then there was Godfrey and Richard. They are two babies that have become great friends but when I picked one up, the other would cry. Children are the same everywhere. They just want to be loved. And, as for me, I'll keep trying to figure out what God is calling us to do, although I have an inkling as my grandmother used to say!

I am figuring out my schedule here. I will be helping with preschool in the mornings at Amani. I am going to work with the young ladies one afternoon a week at the Pregnancy Crisis Center. I'll be helping out with the Ekisa children one afternoon a week. Tomorrow I'll be at Canaan to see what I can do there weekly and visit the Amazima Feeding program. There are alot of wonderful things going on here in Uganda and God is still opening my eyes to many more needs. I realize that we are all the same: in need of HOPE that can only truly come from above.

I wish tonight that everyone reading this could hear the African Music outside my windows. There must be a wedding or some festive event going on. I can see the lights and dancing and I can hear the people laughing and talking. I'll go to sleep tonight to the wonderful sounds of Africa.

crocs and babies!

2012-01-19T11:35:00.009-06:00

Yesterday I visited a small Bible Study group at the Pregnancy Crisis Center. A sweet lady named Carolyn meets with the young ladies once a week and she has several groups that meet with her at different times on different days. As I listened and asked questions, I found out that one of the 18 year old girls was raised in an orphanage. She had a baby and twins and was seeking help. She was abandoned and scared for her babies because she stated that the village witch dr was chanting spells against them. As they went around the room to get prayer requests I was overwhelmed. The 14 year old girl that was pregnant wanted prayer for her delivery because she was scared. Carolyn said that she is from the poorest slum area that she has seen and that the poverty that she lives in is hard to grasp. The 14 year old girl also was thankful for the food that the girls receive once a week at the crisis center. They receive one kilo of carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, flour, oil, beans, rice and fruits. The food is just enough to last mother and child for one week. Another 17 year old girl with a baby needed prayer because she did not have a job, the father of the baby abandoned her, her mother passed away, and her dad kicked her out of his hut. This group of young ladies ranged from 14 to 19 years of age. They are hearing about Jesus and HOPE and their babies (even the unborn) are being prayed over.

I left yesterday feeling very overwhelmed with the needs of these beautiful young girls. It really encouraged me to begin a Bibly Study with the girls at Canaan Childrens Home that I have grown to love. I'll be seeing them on Saturday and cannot wait!

I spent the day at Amani again today and it was so fun to watch the children at amani race outside after snack to get their shoes on. Many of them have crocs (some our teams sent) and the boys LOVE the camo crocs! I am hoping that many of you reading this will be encouraged to help us in our "Crocs and Children's Vitamins" campaign. The children that I'll be visiting at Canaan Saturday and at the Canaan School need shoes frequently. Many schools do not let them attend if they do not have shoes. To find out more about the Crocs and Vitamins Campaign go to www.heal-ministries.org or email me at Tina@heal-ministries.org

There are many miracles here. The 2-1/2 year old boy at Amani that has been with them only 3 or so months with aids. He was in the office today sitting on Helen's desk just smiling and teasing her. He is pictured here lying in his bed with the blue and white striped shirt and looking up at me with those huge brown eyes. The 4 month old new baby boy named Fred that just arrived today is a miracle because he is alive and being loved and taken care of now. He was abandoned in a house and I do not know the full story yet but there are 4 siblings somewhere. As you pray tonight for the hurting children in the world, remember to lift up a prayer for Fred's siblings. Fred is pictured above with the nurse at Amani.

Today I helped at nap time and the children were holding their beanie babies that the July HEAL Ministries team gave them. The team painted their rooms and beds and then gave every toddler a beanie baby. Even today, they still sleep with their beanie babies and they know which one belongs to them! Sometimes the small things are HUGE things to a child! A smile, a prayer, shoes to wear and a beanie baby to cuddle with really do sometimes make a BIG difference! I'm thankful that God is reminding me daily here to enjoy the small things that make a child smile and to see the miracles He is creating daily here!

"Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see."
C. S. Lewis

Red Clay like Dirt Days in Uganda

2012-01-16T12:07:00.012-06:00

Today was the first day to get my feet dirty as they say...........and literally dirty here. I love the red clay like dirt! The red dirt road where I am living leads me straight to the Amani Baby Cottage. I started the day out by visiting Amani Baby Cottage and observing several things. There was a dad that is in a sponsorship program and he was visiting Amani to seek out advice and funds on some poor choices that he made. I was impressed with the calmness and confidence that the Amani staff handled the situation but more than that it reminded me of the vast needs here. There are so many hurting people and so many people that just do not know how to make ends meet. They do not have the tools needed to get out of their situation. When I see the reality of this it makes me realize the importance of places like Amani and many others that are giving second chances for life to babies that would otherwise have a very sad and possibly terminal fate.

I am working with the director and supervisor at Amani to assists in setting up a curriculum and structured schedule for the preschool and toddlers. They really don't "need" me but I'm so happy to be a part of this. I'll be developing the schedule and curriculum (along with the Amani staff) that we hope to implement in the next few days.

While at Amani, I was able to to see the baby that arrived with HIV a few months ago. I remember when I first saw the pictures of baby Joram he looked so tiny and sick and was near death. Today he is still small, but his ribs are not showing anymore and he is eating and growing. For him to be able to hold his own cup (that is almost as big as he is) is such an accomplishment and testament to the good care given at Amani. I also am struggling with the needs of the children that are not adopted before aging out such as a five year old little girl that is at Amani. God is working in my heart about this very matter. There was another need brought to my attention today that I'll be researching and requesting much prayer: There is a HUGE need to assists teenage girls here that are having babies. There are girls as young as 14 years of age having babies. Babies having babies with no place to go. Many times they are raped and many times are abandoned by family. Sometimes these young girls do not have anyone that will help them. They need hope and a promise of a future.

I know that I can't solve all problems while here and I know that I am a small tool in the workshop that God is using, but I also know that I am a chosen servant that has been called to look after those orphans and widows and abandoned women in distress and my God is bigger than any crisis in Uganda. Until I figure out exactly what Heal Ministries will be focusing on here, I'll work, research, pray and rely on the One that sent me and to love on those living in the red clay dirt.

Back in Uganda!

2012-01-15T11:42:00.011-06:00

I am finally here. I have been talking about it for months and months and now that it is here it doesn't seem that I ever left. Reuniting with friends has been so sweet in just 3 short days. I flew here with Trey, my 24 year old son. I'll be working for Heal Ministries and Trey will be working here in Jinja with friends and volunteering at orphanages.

Uganda is a very special place in my heart. The people are, of course, what makes it so special. I find people so very special everywhere I go. I left alot of very special people in the states: friends, family and the Heal Ministries board. They gave us a send off and prayer and we left so encouraged and lifted up!

We flew in Thursday night, Jan 12th, after a long layover in London. We arrived in Entebbe around 11:00 pm. Our driver picked us up Friday morning in Entebbe after spending the night near the airport. The drive to Jinja is normally between 2 and 4 hours (i know if you have never driven it, you are asking why a 2 hour span!). When we made it to our apartment, we were greeted by the family that we are renting from. We have grown to be friends with them. Danyne runs one of the orphanages that I'll be working with, Amani Baby Cottage. She is married to Surj, the owner of the Guesthouse (Surjios Guesthouse) where our teams stay while here in Jinja. Danyne and Surj have 4 children. I'll be working with their niece Helen at Amani. After work, I get to sit on my balcony that overlooks the beautiful Lake Victoria.

The last 3 days I have been setting up the apartment and resting. We visited the Amani Baby Cottage and will be visiting and volunteering in several other orphanages such as the Canaan Children's Home and Ekisa. I was so surprised when I saw how much the babies had changed in just six months! One of my many favorite sites as I drive up to Amani (besides the obvious - the babies and the mommas) is always the clotheslines with 100's of clothes and diapers! I'll be working with the preschoolers (and helping with the laundry and the cooking hopefully) and cannot wait to get started!

Church Service this morning was a sweet reminder of God's forgiveness and I left remembering that I am loved, I am forgiven and I am in His care. Friends from home are trying to adopt a baby here that I was fortunate enough to see at church. What a great provision by God to see how well taken care of this child is while the parents are in the horrible waiting stages.

The Amani Baby Cottage is having to relocate and I hope to be of assistance in the move, setting up and transition. We visited the site today as the workers were laying the concrete so that the second floor could begin. I was amazed as I watched the workers. Some were as young as 12 years old. They were working so hard and were chanting as they ran with the wheel barrows. I was actually amazed at how joyfully they worked and then found out that if they finish in a certain amount of time, they will receive a bonus.

We ate at the new Skewers Restaurant where Trey will be working tonight and the food was so delicious! After we finished eating, there was a teenager that wanted our left over bread and as Trey handed it to him, I watched how thankful he was to receive it. I hope that I'll always be in tune to when God is tugging at my heart to listen to His people in need. There are alot of needs in Uganda. As I visit the different villages and areas, I'll be praying that God will continue to direct me and guide me in His plan. And I'll continue to pray that I'll be able to look at Uganda through the eyes of Jesus. Looking through His eyes is Love and I love Uganda! I have quoted Saint Augustine before and I place it here as a reminder to me of what Love looks like as I work in Uganda over the next several months.

blessings from Uganda,

Tina

"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."
Saint Augustine

Headed to Uganda

2011-11-19T16:56:00.006-06:00

It is with great excitement that I can announce that I will be headed to Uganda in Africa in January. The HEAL Ministries board has commissioned me to Uganda from January 10th to August 2nd to research and assess the needs that we feel God is leading us toward.

Please come along the journey with us through this blog. And if you feel led to actually visit, we'd love to have you! Visit our website for mission trip opportunities in 2012 at www.heal-ministries.org.

These pictures give you a glimpse into our hearts.

blessings!

Tina Weir

Director of Missions

Reflections from the field............

2011-08-01T14:19:00.006-05:00

God has used Uganda to change the hearts of HEAL teams. We sent a team of 12 in January and a team of 8 in July. Both teams had heart changes and passions created for orphans and widows in their distress.

Meredith Manning from Harpeth Hall writes about her January experience: "Our team's trip to Uganda with HEAL MINISTRIES is one I will never forget. Tina is an inspirer, and all of our mission work was enhanced her her love and years of investment in her passion for orphans and widows. My time in Jinja, Uganda was a trip that truly changed my heart and instilled that passion in me too. I am so thankful for the opportunity and incredible experience HEAL Ministries has brought me!"

Meagan Rae Mitchell reflects on her recent July trip:

" I came to Uganda with HEAL Ministries in search of something I couldn't put my finger on. It wasn't clear or obvious at all but I knew the answer lurked somewhere deep inside the winding red roads and foreign territory of this faraway place and I was determined to set out to find it. Only a few days into this journey I realized that the answer I was looking for was a place in this world. It has become very evident to me that God is amazing at putting every single person in the right place at the exact moment they are supposed to be there. I had a thought that shook me and was dumbfounded that I hadn't thought of it before. Imagine God sitting on His mighty throne, watching each and every soul that He has created, knowing our life's story, knowing what comes next. I pictured him seeing, watching the need in a place like Uganda, a village like Jinja, noticing the poverty and hunger need. But He does not fear, no, He is not shaken, for our God sits with the book of life and whispers to the people, "Do not be afraid, just hold on a few more days, for soon I will send you someone to answer your prayers." He knew Katie Davis' plan and chapter down to every period and question mark there was. He knew that's what He made her for, to serve others, to serve Him. Now she's made this place her home, made her job serving others and feeds hundreds on a weekly basis. She is one small mark on God's canvas probably entitled 'The Big Picture'. Because if we do step back and look at the big picture, we are all put on this earth for a reason, we have a calling, we have a purpose, and He knows exactly when and where the details of our life will blend together to make up our story. I came to Uganda feeling lost and now that I am finding myself, I am finding that God is in charge of my soul. I am okay with knowing that if God knows my place in the world, then I will reach that destination as my story unfolds."

So don't get tired of doing what is good, do not get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
Galations 6:9

"Its one thing to have faith, and another matter entirely to act on your faith."

Last day of LOVE with the children of God!

2011-07-28T00:54:00.011-05:00

We have all heard the saying "love is all around" but we our team has lived this saying the last 3 -1-2 weeks. There has truly been love everywhere we have been. We visited several ministries that we have worked with the last two days here: Amani Baby Cottage, Serving His Children, Canaan Children's Home and Ekisa. We have grown to love deeply in a short time and that can only be from God. We love so deeply that it hurts to leave but are encouraged that we will see our friends again: even if it is not this side of Heaven for some, we will talk with all of them again. We look forward to the day that we can have conversations with the ones that cannot communicate. We have loved meeting the children of God everywhere.

One of my favorite quotes from Mother Teresa is: "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can no no more hurt, only love."

We leave Uganda with only LOVE in our hearts. Love that comes from our heavenly Father. We have seen His love shine down on every ministry that we have partnered with and we have seen tremendous JOY everywhere. His JOY. We witnessed the miraculous change in a little boy yesterday at Serving His Children: he could not walk because of pain 10 days ago and yesterday he was smiling and laughing. There are many stories like Emma's. He is being shown God's love and is healing. We were able to assists with Amani's rearranging and place beanie babies in every bed (because of a generous donor) and see the joy that the children felt when receiving them. We have witnessed love through the eyes of everyone we have worked with and met Jesus there.

We are going to post reflections and stories for those that care to read them in the next couple of days. For now, we leave Uganda remembering a favorite quote about love and we pray for all of our friends here always.

1 John 3: 1 - "How great is the love the Father has has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

Building In Every Way..........

2011-07-26T14:57:00.017-05:00

As I have watched our team and the children interacting with each other I realize that we have been constantly building the last 3 weeks. Building shelves for Canaan Children's Home, building a pantry for the kitchen at Amani Baby Cottage, building puppets with the children, building pictures with paint on the walls, building relationships with all the ministries that we have partnered with, building relationships with the children and the staff at each orphanage, building new friendships, and building God's kingdom. We realize that we are not "needed" to do any of these things that God has led us to do. And, we realize that we are much more blessed than those we have blessed.

So what is the purpose of these HEAL mission teams? To build love. To build a bridge that truly bonds all people in all nations for God's purpose. To look after orphans and widows in their distress. To continue relationships year after year with those we are constantly building things with. To realize God's plans sometimes change and these "short term" mission trips most often lead to long term plans that God has had in mind since the beginning of time.

We played with the babies at Amani the last couple of days and they enjoyed eating animal fruit snacks that we brought while making their tiger puppets. We enjoyed watching the "mammas" interact with the children. The males on our team worked the last two days building a promised kitchen pantry for "momma cook" at Amani and we are going to stain it and place it tomorrow. She is so proud of her new pantry. There are doors with locks and shelves at different heights to fit the different size pots for cooking.

Our last time to visit Canaan Children's Home during this trip was tonight. It was a bitter-sweet visit. We are sad to say good-bye but look forward to saying hello again in the future. Some of us will see the children again on this earth. All of us will see them again in Heaven. And that is the real beauty of this mission team that has been building.

A day of rest and fun in Uganda

2011-07-24T09:55:00.012-05:00

A day of rest and fun started out in a way that we could not have planned any better. There was a parade downtown Jinja as we left. The parade was celebrating 100 years for a school in town and it was a morning of celebration for the team. With just two weeks of work behind us and just 5 days left after this week-end to finish up work in the orphanages., the team was ready for a day of relaxation and fun. We started out a Kilombera where we learned how a local village makes fabric from a loom. The work they do is so beautiful. We were then on to the beautiful Bujagali Falls, a waterfall near Jinja where Lake Victoria and the Nile River meet. Moses (and I'm not making that name up!) gave us a boat ride on the Nile River and the team got out and took pictures at the source of the Nile. The source has a 90 foot spring under water and bubbles constantly. As we rode around the Nile, the monkeys hopped all along the banks and the trees and entertained us. We took several friends that we have made on the boat ride.

Three team members decided to go bungy jumping on their own and the rest of us watched! We ended our day of fun having dinner with the Amani volunteers. The day of rest came at a needed break in the trip. We have worked hard and fought stomach bugs. We have loved much and learned alot and we are looking forward to our last few days in Uganda. We pray that the good we do will be noticed by God and we are a thankful small team sitting in Jinja excited to see the end of the journey that God has us on.

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
— Mother Teresa

Painting projects finished at Amani

2011-07-23T00:46:00.008-05:00

Any time a project is completed, there is a great feeling of accomplishment!

We finished the rooms this week at Amani Baby Cottage, and while we have more projects to do the last few days, the team was able to step back and smile. Not because of our efforts, but because of completing the desires of the staff. They wanted to transform the preschool room into looking like a classroom with a blackboard, change a room to look like a girls bedroom and a room to look like a boys bedroom. The greatest accomplishment, however, is the relationships made during the process, the friends made, and the teamwork achieved. Teamwork among the HEAL team, teamwork with the Amani staff and teamwork with God. Following His plan is always great.

During devotion today as we start out our day of Rest and Fun we leave you with this riddle that 80% of kindergartners guessed and only 17% of Stanford University students guessed:

"What is greater than God, more evil than Satan, the poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it you'll die?"

NOTHING!

Ekisa, Canaan and Uganda Fair!

2011-07-21T23:59:00.010-05:00

Yesterday was a full day of JOY! We started out at Ekisa - the ministry that was started for special needs children. Going back there takes a person out of a bad mood instantly. The children and staff love each other so well and the happiness among the children transfers to everyone present. We were lucky yesterday. We were able to go with the staff to a resort swimming pool where the children are allowed to swim for a couple of hours. For some children, it is pool therapy. For all the children, it is a fun day that they experience summer fun as all God's children should be allowed to do. We left very tired and yet very energized and realized during devotion that the calling that God has placed in the hearts of those that serve special needs children is very special indeed.

We had lunch and visited the Agricultural Trade show fair. The team has not had very much time for R and R and this was a needed afternoon of fun. Fun that included a camel ride and crafts markets from countries all around Africa. We were all impressed with the agricultural booths and exhibits. Thousands of people were there: school field trips, families, kids, teams, etc. It was a fun afternoon full of laughter and heat that we spent with friends from Amani.

Yesterday evening we headed back to visit our friends from Canaan Children's Home. As we drove up, the children ran to the van. They were so excited and some said "I did not think you were coming back." It made us think before we speak. These children have been told many promises that have not come true. The girls on the team went to the girls' dorm and taught them how to braid headbands out of fabric scraps. They were all so excited and it was a special time of bonding and love. The boys were playing cards with the older kids when we finished and I observed around for a minutes as I sat with two little girls. The children at Canaan love the "things" that we take: the snacks, the crafts, the Bible lessons, the shelves built, etc. But what they really want is time. Time to build relationships with people that are willing to invest time year after year. I observed Sam playing cards and laughing with the older boys, Tripp holding a sleeping boy and laughing with older boys, Trey laughing with Clair, Jordan holding a boy and learning Ugandan, Kate and Meagan braiding headbands with girls that continued to asks, Mary Lynn sitting on a bed with a girl reading the Bible, and all the children smiling. Canaan is a great place to do that since most of the children will be raised there. Today, I am grateful for the places that God has placed on our hearts to visit. My prayer is that we are always willing to invest "time" and to build relationships. My prayer is that we never forget and that God continues to stir compassion in our hearts for the least of these.

A full and rewarding week at Amani Baby Cottage

2011-07-21T14:14:00.008-05:00

This has been a packed week for the team but most rewarding in many ways. We have assisted in re-arranging the rooms for Amani, painting a couple of rooms, transforming one room into a preschool with a painted blackboard, pulled weeds out of walk-ways, had a Noah's Ark craft with the preschoolers, gave a lesson that incorporated goldfish and animal cookies, played with the babies, built relationships with the "mommas" and "auntees" and volunteers and staff, played "dress Up" with the babies, walked alot, worked alot, played hard, laughed, cried, have eaten really well thanks to "momma cook" and Surjios Guest House, and lots more that I'm sure I am leaving out. It's amazing how fast relationships build. It's even more amazing how fast we have all grown to love this place so deeply that it hurts to think about leaving. While many of the tasks seem small, the love that was produced is HUGE!

We have shared devotions and testimonies and cannot believe that 2 weeks have passed. We have bonded together spiritually as a team and with the ministries that we have served. As we approach the end of 2 weeks (and looking forward to the last week here) we realize that the most important reason God had us here was to draw closer to HIM. Our hearts have been broken by the things that breaks God's heart. We have prayed to see things as HE sees, to hear things as HE hears and to love all as HE loves. He has answered many prayers for us and we are thankful. We prayerfully seek His will for our last week in Uganda and ask for prayers for renewed strength and health.

We can do no great things, only small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa

Sunday - a day of Pentecost & Rainbows

2011-07-17T10:38:00.006-05:00

We had a wonderful Sunday Church experience today. While reminding the children about last week's lesson on Noah's Ark, there were about 100 extra children walking up to join us from the village that we visited the other day. We invited all the village women and children to meet us at church and they remembered the invitation. We taught the children about God's promises and they made mosaic rainbows. They were able to answer what the rainbow represented and the children repeated "God's promises are faithful."

God is faithful. As bright as the rainbow is, so is His love. God's love for us is so bright that we are often blinded by it. Most of the women from the village that I spoke to were present at church. There were single moms, abandoned women, and widows. All of them have a hard life. All of them have real pain that is shared by women alike all around the world. All of them need Jesus. And today, they understood what the rainbow represents.

Today, the majority of the women that showed up and accepted Christ. Today, they understand the simple story that the children learned in Sunday School: God's promises are faithful. Today, they understood that there is HOPE and that they have a new eternal family with their sisters in Christ. It was an emotional experience to see that many women go down front for an alter call and it reminded me of Pentecost. As I looked around the room and saw a teenage girl on her knees praying to our Abba Father and crying, I teared up and thanked God for showing His amazing love. Rainbows were everywhere and His love was raining down in floods on every woman and child.

The bright colors of the rainbow are bright examples of God's love.

Reflections from Jordan: His HEAL experience

2011-07-17T10:31:00.002-05:00

While watching women of a local village in Jinja dance the other day, I started thinking about how different their culture is. I started noticing when they dance it comes totally out of feeling, a dance led from the heart. When asked by the women to do a Mzungu dance (white people dance) we all did the mocarana. You can imagine how silly we felt after seeing these women do this beautiful dance that is so culturally rich and then here we come doing these few simple movements and switching sides. The women liked it, or at least they acted like they did anyway.
I left that village feeling as if I am culturally poor in a sense. Later that night I was thinking about how different their faith is and how it is led from the heart much like their dancing. Our dance is this set of memorized moves that to be real, lacks a lot of feeling. I began to see how a relationship with God is like an african dance led from the heart rather than a feelingless movement.
So my time here in Africa is teaching me how to dance this dance, how to lead from my heart, how to listen and be open to the voice of God. The people of Uganda have inspired me to say the least, I am learning so much through their love and their faith in God. I thank God for the people who surround me, my team, the kids, the locals, they are blessing my life more than they will ever know.
The way these kids love is unbelievable. Opening a van door and having a kid who has never met you jump into your arms and five more grabbing your shirt and hands, feeling this huge wave of love hit you....it is truly beautiful. I encourage everyone to come and experience it.
As I lay here in bed nearing sleep I feel content, knowing I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

village and SHC

2011-07-16T15:42:00.011-05:00

We visited Serving His Children which is a non-profit organization that trains moms to care for their children. Most of the children are malnourished and need assistance with getting the family back together. They care for the babies that are about to die. They are learning to care and love for their own as well as the village. The team spent a couple of hours just playing with the babies and talking to their moms and realized that it is one of the best ministries we have visited. This ministry is changing families and the next generation of Uganda. What a blessing to witness.

We then went to the open market which was a total ugandan experience: walking through and seeing all the vegetables and all the vendors was exciting. It was exciting to purchase beans, rice, potatoes, pineapples and carrots for five different families that we visited in the village but also exciting to know that we were helping a local farmer. Going to the village slum area was the most fun we have had. We had over 300 children show up and over 100 women. When we talked to them with Pastor Andrew, we asked how many moms were single moms, abandoned or widows and almost every arm went up. The ladies enjoyed making flowers out of fabric and the children enjoyed coloring and receiving sweeties.

We then visited four women to give them the food that we purchased in the village. Harriet and Juliet are positive for HIV. Harriet has five children and Juliet has 8 children. They are single moms living in a very small shack. They desire to love their children and to raise them in a pleasing way before the Lord. Praying for them was humbling. Giving them food and talking with them was great but it made us realize priorities. These ladies were so appreciative and joyful. While their circumstances are different, the pain is not. Abandonment and rejection are both real forms of pain in any culture. We gave them words of encouragement and walked away more blessed than they were by spending the afternoon with them.

We were told by Pastor Andrew that most white people will not go into their village. We never felt unsafe but were frustrated at times because of the number of children. But, that is what Satan wanted: for us to be frustrated and distracted. We walked away feeling great about the day and learning once again that all people are the same. And, in this particular village there are large numbers of orphans and widows. God is looking after these precious families and we hope that we left them with a small glimpse of hope, encouragement and love.

Butterflies in Jinja!

2011-07-14T10:18:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was such a sweet day with the children. We set out to Canaan Children's Home and planned a craft that we knew the children would love. They colored butterflies and then glued them on sticks so that they could fly butterfly puppets around. We told them the story of how a catapillar becomes the most beautiful butterfly with a beautiful new life just as we are given a beautiful new life in Christ. After crafts with about 300 preschoolers we rode into the village to purchase wood for the shelves that we planned to build for the older girls and the older boys dorms. That was an adventure all in itself, but the team members had a blast riding "Ugandan style" in the back of a truck. As we rode back into the orphanage we saw the preschoolers leaving school and walking through the village with their families to go home and have lunch and there were butterflies everywhere! It was so sweet seeing the children fly their butterflies all around the village shouting "muzungu!" Today, I asked a girl if she remembered what the butterfly means and she said "I am new in Christ" and my heart sang a song of joy! The team built the shelves and the contractor that helped had on a shirt that reminded us all why we are here. It is pictured below and says "Man Up - Protect and LOVE the fatherless!"

new sheets and all smiles in Jinja

2011-07-12T15:17:00.009-05:00

Today was another great day at Canaan - we got to sing with the school kids, and watched their joy as they showed us how to truly praise and worship. The team talked to the classrooms and answered their questions.....they wanted to know what we do in America, what we eat, what our hobbies were, etc. We all saw very quickly that there are really no major differences. Teens in America like to paint nails, read and talk......girls in Uganda like the same. Girls in America love fixing up their bedrooms and girls in Uganda are thrilled when they receive new sheets for their beds. We saw the need for new sheets and the team went to town to purchase them for 20 girls in one of the dorms. We only saw the reaction of two of the girls because the rest were away at school all day. They were so thankful and so appreciative. The pink and blue flowers all over the room looked like a typical girls bedroom. Only it is not typical. Not typical by our standards. These girls have very little.........sheets for bedding is a gift they will treasure and the smiles received are treasures that will forever be embedded in our hearts. We are sad we cannot do more but blessed that God is allowing us to do what we can.

The children ate their beans and rice for lunch and we left to order and get wood for the next day. Tomorrow they will receive new shelves and lockers for their dorms. They will no longer have to place their school books under their bunk beds. The girls and boys will be able to hang their favorite jacket up and they will have a "space" to call their own. Girls and boys in America and Uganda are all the same.......they just want a place to call their own. They all want family and love. We left Canaan and visited the Amani Baby Cottage where we will be working next week. It is a different feel. They have colorful, bright surroundings.......from the rooms, clothes and mommas. They love well and we were emotional as we met our friends again. We love them and are very loved by both Canaan and Amani.

Jordan shared a devotion with us from 1 John 4: 7-12 this morning.

"Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

We are learning what love looks like...........

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” by Saint Augustine
santiz

Canaan Children's Home

2011-07-11T15:42:00.012-05:00

Yesterday was a day that is hard to put into words because the emotions and feelings were so real, so enlightening and so hard to express. The pictures tell the story much better than I can express. There is a need. There are many children that are in orphanages that are not true "orphans". Many of them have at least one parent. Many have family. Poverty, drugs and sickness are some main reasons that children are in orphanages here. They are abandoned. Some have a bed with a mattress and sheets. Some have blankets. Some only have a mattress. All of them deserve more.

Canaan Children's Home is an orphanage right outside Jinja. They have some awesome "mommas" and "auntees" that help with children, but they do not have the financial support needed to get everything that they need. HEAL Ministries supports them in several ways: delivering shoes and children's vitamins, and money for food. However, this trip shows a bigger need. Yes, they need physical needs such as food and bedding and clothing. But this trip reveals the emotional needs that they are missing. They are in desperate need of one-on-one relationships. They need love.

Our group will be building shelves for the older girls and boys dorms this week. We will be providing bed sheets for the younger girls that do not have sheets. We will provide some mattresses for a few that are without. The team worked hard prior to the trip to be able to provide some needed things. While this is a current need, we realize the biggest need is to develop relationships and continue to partner with the least of these.

The day started out by talking to the Canaan Middle School. We talked to each classroom about the importance of staying in school. When we asked them what they want to be when they grow up they answered: a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, a pilot, etc. We told them that they could do all things through Christ and they memorized Philippians 4:13. When they sang songs for us, it was emotional. They sang "this is the day that the Lord has made" and listening to it in that setting was a reminder of how blessed we all are........both the team and the children attending school yesterday.

We then went back to the Children's Home and had crafts with the preschool children. They loved working with the crayons and they knew exactly what the rainbow represents.............another example of how Canaan is providing HOPE to the children. They also loved making beaded bracelets. While these "things" are not needed......they sure bring a smile to a child's face. Hopefully, we showed love by showing up. We showed up and they showed us unconditional love and we are thankful for today.

Sunday in Jinja

2011-07-10T14:46:00.012-05:00

Worship today was one of the best experiences that our team as a whole has ever had. We went to church and helped with Sunday School outside. God was so evident in our preparation.

The church copied packets of Noah's Ark and it is the lesson that I had prepared to teach. God shows up in the little things and it made us all smile. The team acted out Noah's Ark and the children assisted with acting out the animals. They enjoyed the interaction and laughed at us which made us laugh. Laughter. It is so contagious. We learned that the children and adults here communicate with us through a touch and their eyes. They look intently into our eyes and reach out to grab a hand. Their love is contagious and this morning at church we learned that they love as Jesus taught us to love. They love humbly, with no alterior motives and sincerely. They practice hospitality. The team members were sitting on the ground as we acted out the animals on the ark and men from the church brought out mats for the girls to sit on. We were humbled by this kindness and sincere love for us. We also were amazed at the children sharing what few crayons they had with each other and looking after the younger siblings.

Watching the children pray and the adults worship was a beautiful experience. Everything done here is with full expression and uninhibited emotion. We went into the village after church and were blessed by the ladies that danced for us. They are so proud of their culture and heritage and their dress, smiles, laughter, dance, family ties, community love and hospitality was a reminder to us all that life itself is a form of worship. After the ladies finished their dances and songs, they asked some of our team members to dance for them. The only dance they could think of that everyone knew was the macarena. It was quite a comical scene seeing the muzungus (white people) teaching a village of Ugandans how to dance to the macarena! God uses all kinds of things to develop relationships and I would have never guessed that the macarena was one of them!

Pastor Andrew visited us this evening and asked our team to come back next Sunday and to go into the village with him to visit homes with widows and abandoned women and children. Pastor Andrew did not know that God had instilled a passion for abandoned women and children in my heart and it was another confirmation that God's plan is perfect He connects people intentionally. He asked as if it would be a favor to him as he is trying to reach out to the village around his church. However, it is a humbling honor for us to even be asked and we look forward to seeing what lessons God will teach us as we visit their homes. We hope to deliver food and a message of Hope that only comes from above as we are learning to worship in all that we do. Our hearts are changed and our love is growing here day by day.

A day with Amazima

2011-07-09T14:49:00.016-05:00

Our team went to the Amazima feeding program today and everyone was excited to meet Katie Davis who started the ministry. Driving up was emotional as some of us saw the growth of the ministry - the playground complete with the building for the praise and worship. As the children started singing "hallelujah" we were moved beyond words. The joy is evident and it is so rewarding to see how God has used this one lady to grow His kingdom by the hundreds.

The children played and laughed and patiently waited their turn to receive an egg, beans, rice & chicken. To see the operation from start to finish is quite remarkable. After the children eat, they take home a bag for their family of beans, rice, chicken and soap.

This program is more than just the rice and beans and chicken the families love. This program has taught the Hope of Christ and has reached hundreds of families while teaching them to look after each other responsibly. Katie shared a story with me about a baby that a local family adopted because of watching Katie's family, and now, this program has taught the Ugandans to reach out to the orphans and to adopt. To learn more about this ministry follow Katie's blog at amazimaministries.blogspot.com.

As we watched the children leave with the heavy green bags to take to their families, we realized that here, in Uganda, children are taking care of each other and their families. The children in this program will be key in making a difference for the next generation. There is a genuine love of relationship here. It is evident to all that experience Uganda. Perhaps here, the love is more real because of the lack of distractions. Perhaps here, they are closer to the One that created Him because He is the focus. And, perhaps here, we have grown closer to God and are thankful for the relationship that we have developed with each other, with our new friends in Uganda that have become family, and with the Creator for His awesome love for everyone.

We ended the day going to town to get "rolexes" which is a handmade tortilla with eggs. The owner of the guest house where we are staying drove us. His name is Surjio and we saw God in him today. He purchased our meals and then purchased five extra for the five children that played with us while our food was being cooked. Perhaps here in Uganda, everyone looks after each other and that is the way it should be.

a day in Uganda

2011-07-08T15:21:00.006-05:00

Today was a hard day emotionally. Everyone on the team shared an honest range of emotions and feelings felt throughout the day: joy, fear, sadness, overwhelming thoughts, stress, tears and laughter. We started our drive to Ekisa - which means grace. Emily and Emily (the two young ladies that started the ministry) seem too young to have something so magnificent. And, yet, as we met one Emily, it was evident that she was doing what God intended.

She has started a special needs orphanage. Right now, there are 13 children. 13 children that are loved individually all day. The vision that God gave these young ladies goes far beyond just taking care of orphans with special needs. They have hired a staff of approximately 20 adults that are all handicapped. They have hired people that would not have jobs otherwise. They provide transportation for the staff and meals and their children are able to go with them when needed.

As a result of this awesome vision, all the people living in the home and working in the home are blessed. As a result of this vision instilled by our Creator, we are able to see the children and staff at Ekisa from God's perspective. The team realized through an emotional group time that God is more evident at Ekisa. Some would look and question God but we were able to be present with the awesome 100% evidence that God is real and that everything has a purpose to glorify Him even when we can't make sense of it all.

Steven is doing great. He still can't communicate fully with us but he can laugh and love and kiss our cheeks. We met him at Amani and now he and Debra and Jason are at Ekisa doing awesome. Debra is great. She knows her name when she is called and smiles as we hold her. Jason runs to us as he wakes up from nap reminding us all of the God that wants us in relationship with His people. Rachel cannot walk but never appears sad. She laughs as we play London Bridge and we are reminded that God is real. One little boy gave us such sweet joy as he mimicked everything we said while another little boy kicked a soccor ball and made us teary. His name is Walter and he should not be alive. His mother poured acid on him when he was a child and while it is hard to see the purpose in this extreme sad situation, we see God when he laughs and smiles at Ekisa. He is loved. All the children at Ekisa are loved and well taken care of and today was a great day for the team. We are looking forward to going back.

We did a few minor projects for Ekisa - cleaning out a shed, organizing shelves in the kitchen, trying to repair a wheelchair, etc. But, the truth is they didn't need us - they honored us by allowing us to work for them. The real project that God intended was to teach us today that all His people are the same - we all just need love.

We ended our night with an African Choir that was performing downtown Jinja. They were so joyful and full of the Lord. The choir praised God and made us realize that our God is so awesome and full of personality. When we left dinner to head to the concert, we were emotionally drained and God provided us with a way to laugh and sing and dance tonight.

Travel Day of Uganda

2011-07-07T14:58:00.008-05:00

Today was the first day in Uganda - after 17 hours on the plane - we were ready to crash in the hotel last night. This morning, the bus picked us up to travel the 2-1/2 hours to Jinja from Entebbe - and we had a flat. Normally, this is a very frustrating time - flat tires - however, we found joy in this particular flat tire. Joet - the bus driver was so joyful and kind and made us all feel so safe. His perspective on the event was one that we could all learn from.

We also met the family that lived right next to where the flat occurred. The ladies brought their baby to show us and although there was a language barrier, there was no barrier when we took photos of them. They were laughing at their pictures and so excited about the pictures of the baby. Maybe it was the first time they had seen their baby in a photograph. Regardless, they were elated to see the photos and thrilled to laugh a few minutes with the girls.

Simplicity is the word that kept coming to the team's minds tonight. Everything here seems more simple. Simple in a good way. There are no distractions here that we normally have back in the states. As we walked to town, the children would run over and smile and say hello and hold our hands. It is funny to hear them yell "muzungu" which means "white person". They are receiving and welcoming.

God showed up in a big way today to all of us. He showed us that in a very short time, one can grow very fond of His people in a different environment and that no matter what the circumstances, we are all the same needing a saviour that created us all.

We are a small team in Uganda but we believe that we can do BIG things because of God and we are most excited to see where He leads as we continue our journey tomorrow in a special needs orphanage.

We are hopeful that we will see everything in the right perspective as our bus driver did (in God's perspective). We were reminded during devotion tonight that as poor as the people of Uganda seem, they have the stars at night to light up their yards, Lake Victoria and the Nile River, Rainforests and mountains to view His beautiful creation, and that joy comes from the heart. That no matter what one's circumstances are, choosing God's perspective is always the best way.

Reflections from Emily and John regarding Honduras

2011-07-04T23:18:00.003-05:00

Any parent trying to raise children today can attest to what a challenge it is - with ever developing technology that inhibits face-to-face communication and a sense of entitlement that seems to creep in no matter what efforts we make - how do we make sure our children become adults that understand the true meaning of life - and value what is important versus the accumulation of more stuff?

We decided this was the summer to do something more radical - not your typical summer vacation. We prayed about what we could do together as a family - and HEAL ministries was our answer. Our family of 4 embarked on a journey with Tina and 7 other amazing people that will provide us with a lifetime of memories that will forever be ingrained in our hearts.

We had no idea nor any expectations of what the experience would provide for us - we simply prayed for open hearts and an experience that would be life-changing. And boy did God deliver!

Our kids learned how to work up a sweat in service (without complaining) and how to operate as a team (they had some fantasic role models in 7 CPA high schoolers/new grads). They experienced how the heart can love someone after just one encounter, and how to identify "God moments" in the everyday. They now understand that laughter is universal - the same thing that makes a child in the U.S. laugh, also makes a child in a Spanish speaking country laugh. You don't have to understand a language to form a connection - and the simplicity of blowing bubbles or kicking a soccer ball can bring much more happiness and joy than an ipad, psp, or wii.

We as parents learned - that the love of a parent is universal - and that ultimately there is no doubt that we exist for relationship with each other and with God. We learned that God is a father to the fatherless and that our "family" extends well beyond the boundaries of our given family, our given community, or even our given country. Even with the challenges of language barriers, we found family in Honduras and family in the team of people with whom we served - a family that we will see again - not just on this earth but in eternity. How exciting that is!

We are so grateful to have had this opportunity and for the supporters "back home" who help make this possible. "Service" is so ironic as those that "serve" are as equally blessed as those who were served.

Emily and John Leonard

Reflections from Hannah.......

2011-07-04T12:41:00.003-05:00

First going into the trip, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. All I knew to do was to hope for the best, but what I got instead was so much more than I could have ever thought possible. Bonds were made with team members, staff members, and children, but also with Honduras itself. The country and its people as a whole are a blessing and a privilege to be apart of and I feel like they impacted me more than I was capable of impacting them. It’s curious how God uses us to bless one another, and when he does there’s not a better feeling in the world, even if it’s just an unexpected smile, a hug, or tiger puppet craft.

Although this HEAL Ministries trip was the best trip I’ve ever been on, it was also the hardest to say goodbye to. One week just isn’t gonna cut it next year. You fall in love with the colors, the constantly changing sky, the people and so much more that leaving it behind doesn’t feel natural. I don’t want to wait a whole year before going back! Honduras brought me closer to God and gave me a knew perspective on what I should do/ how I should live my life. The experiences and lessons of going to Honduras were like squeezing toothpaste out of the tube; once it’s out you cant put it back. Now that I’ve gone and learned all that I have, I know I can only go up from here.

-Hannah Ruff

Reflections by Alice - a team member

2011-07-03T09:16:00.005-05:00

The story of our trip to Honduras is really a two-sided one, written on opposite pages yet each reflecting the other. On one side of the page is the story of La Providencia: the staff, the families and their children and the school. What an amazing story it is. We were all in awe of the passion, the dedication and the love these people had for each other and their mission. Our team immersed itself in the daily life of the orphanage and school and soon found itself caught up in this same passion. It was contagious! The time we spent with the children was, of course, the most satisfying. Their smiles, laughter and unconditional love touched every nerve of our bodies. Talking to and getting to know the staff and foster parents however, proved equally as uplifting and at times humbling. Their stories and witness are a powerful testament to God’s grace and faithfulness. The reality of the many obstacles this project faces, though, was not lost on us either. The abject poverty in which most of the school children live in, the emotional and mental scars left on the orphans by abandonment, and the lack of funding in order to address these issues speared us to the core, making the whole book of James relevant and urgent.

The other side of the page tells the story of our small team, especially the kids, and how incredibly responsive they were not only to the task at hand but to each other also. The ages ranged from 10 to 50 but you would have thought they were family and not individuals thrown together by a mission trip because of the way HEAL brings the team together every morning and every night to reflect. As the days passed the bonds grew stronger. They were kind to each other, patient and accepting; they teased, played, laughed and cried, allowing themselves to be vulnerable and open. Every night they brought their experiences and feelings of the day to the devotional, and somehow what they experienced and felt was reflected in the way they treated each other. They embodied the truth that by serving others and loving each other, we love and serve God.

So those are the two sides to our mission story. We were all touched and changed by La Providencia and I would like to think that we left an impression on them too, even if it was fleeting. I do know that the love was real, and in the end that is what really matters.

Reflections by: Alice Jones - Toledo

A colorful day in Honduras!

2011-06-30T07:47:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was one of those days that during our team meeting last night, we could not just name one "God moment" each. It was a fun, rewarding and colorful day. Honduras is full of color: the mountains, the people, the bright colors used in all the buildings, clothes, etc. And, so, it was only fitting that the day ended with the best part of Noah's Ark........the rainbow.

The children loved the projects with the animals as puppets on the craft sticks, but it was the mosaic rainbow that they loved the most. It was so sweet watching all the children help each other with the sorting of the colors and siblings helping each other to get the craft done.......60 ish children packed in a small room, all joyful, all colorful.

One of our team members, Hannah, worked with a little boy that worked intently on his tiger puppet with various colors because he wanted his tiger to resemble the rainbow. It was sweet watching the relationship between team members and the children and Hannah's patience was another moment that made me smile. The message was clear to the children in the school and to the children of the village and to the team: God's promises are consistent and His colorful world created was meant for us to be in relationship with each other.

A universal language of laughter!

2011-06-29T00:27:00.006-05:00

Today's theme would be laughter. It's amazing how laughter knows no language barriers. We had a day full of laughter - on the playground, during school crafts, Bible stories, acting out animals to enter Noah's ark, playing with the children of La Providencia on the playground, and in the sweet, simple village church where we had VBS.

Our team ranges from age 10 years old to 50 years old. There has been a specific purpose designed by God for every age on this trip and laughter has centered around all of those purposes.

One of the team's favorite moments of the day was when Sam (our 10-year old on the trip) was making faces at a little boy that bursts into hearty laughter.

It is during moments like this that we realize - sometimes through tears - how awesome and amazing God is................that He planned for Sam to be here in Honduras at 3:00 pm on a rainy afternoon so that an 8 year old boy from Honduras could laugh for a while.

La Providencia - Honduras

2011-06-27T23:48:00.004-05:00

This morning we were able to assists the developmental process of starting a coffee plantation for La Providencia. Each family home will grow coffee and patiently wait out the 2 years it takes to grow and develop the coffee beans - and then the produce from the sales will benefit the family model homes. We loved that we were able to be a part of the process that will help to sustain such a wonderful place.

We will be planting some more coffee plants the next two mornings. Quite honestly, they do not need our help in getting this project done. They are gracious and kind enough to allow us to be a part of this and I'm sure that we slowed them down a little. Their humble and patient hearts teaching us how to plant the coffee was such a reminder of Christ and how He was such a humble teacher.

The school at La Providencia has 4 classrooms and they add one classroom each year. Right now, they have pre-k, kindergarten, first grade and second grade. We working with one classroom each day, reminding them of God's promises with the story of Noah's Ark. The children loved making animal puppets and eating animal fruit snacks. The classrooms are very small - 12 to 15 students - which makes our team's one-on-one time with each child very special. Building relationships has been the key to our story this week. As we get to know the children and the staff at La Providencia, we are blessed beyond words at how God knits all relationships together.

We spent some time after lunch with the children in one of the homes and the excitement on their faces as they colored Noah's Ark and placed animal stickers on it was more than joyful. It was a reminder of the the important things that keep us happy: Christ, family and relationships that God puts in our lives.

Today was a sweet day. The rain did not stop the soccer clinic that the Hondurans love so much. Some of participated, some of us laughed as kids of all ages slipped in the mud to play, and some of us just smiled at the relationships being developed on the field. We ended our night with dinner in Mizael and Bessie's home. Mizael is the director of La Providencia and a pastor. They are truly some of God's most compassionate people. The conversation at dinner from Mizael was about relationships. He said the coffee projects and other work projects are just "excuses" to get teams here............the number one goal is to develop relationships among God's people.

We love the families that God has placed us with this week and we will hold them in our hearts forever. Hopefully, in the next two years, we will return to see our friends that have become family. And, hopefully, we will see our small coffee plants that we planted growing very successfully. They will remind us of how a tiny plant helped us to develop larger than life relationships. God uses all things and all people: even the beautiful orphans that are orphans no more, and even beautiful plants to teach us valuable lessons.

Sunday in Honduras

2011-06-26T23:12:00.007-05:00

Today is not only one of the most memorable days in Honduras, but a definite top 10 best mission trip days of all time! We started our morning off by going to the market and buying some fruits, beans and rice for a family in need that the pastor told us about. The pastor is Misael - a humble servant that is also the director of the La Providencia Orphanage. We listened to his message that was so needed by everyone: praising God at all times.

We walked to Delsey's house after church. Her floor had just been mopped. Delsey is the beautiful lady pictured with her three children. She is only 23 years old. Two months ago her husband was murdered. Delsey is a widow at the age of 23. She is beautiful, sad, confused, strong, shy, and asked for prayer. As I entered her humble home, I noticed the picture of her little girl on the wall. The photograph is one that I took a few years ago when I took pictures of all the children in the school program and used them at the dedication. I realized when I saw the picture that I had met this family before. Our team gathered in her simple and wonderful home, presented her with the food and prayed over her. Through tears, she thanked us. Through tears, I left asking God to provide for Delsey. I know that God will provide everything that Delsey needs. And, the team is thankful that she has a home and family living around her.

We had lunch with the medical team that will be here this week with us and then toured La Providencia. The medical clinic is quite impressive. Medical teams travel here to help the children all around the village. They have a dental clinic as well as an equipped surgical room. We walked around the property and saw the colorful school, the playground, the plans to complete each stage and then ended up at the two family homes.

Beatrice and Mario have six children. Their sweet testimony of how God provided these children brought more tears to our eyes. They prayed for children and never dreamed that this was God's plans when they started praying. Across the street, Orlando and Elsie have the second family home with another six children. They are only 24 years old. Both couples have passion and love the children that is recognized immediately. They provided dinner and entertainment for our team and we enjoyed getting to know them. We really enjoyed hearing their hearts, and hearing them tell the stories of their children that will never be orphans again.

Beauty everywhere!

2011-06-26T00:14:00.009-05:00

We have had such a wonderful two days seeing God's beautiful rainforest, waterfall, flowers, beautiful colors everywhere, and the beautiful people of Honduras................words can't describe the beauty in the scenery or the eyes of the people here. Our team even discovered beauty in the laughter of being served fish - head, eyes and all!

We saw God today in: the eyes of the people, the smiles and joy in their faces, the rainforest, the laughter of the team bonding and prepping for VBS crafts, the humility and kindness of the staff at La Providencia, the staff at the hotel and the streets of Siguatepeque. There is a simplicity here is that is very pleasing and desirable and everyone on the team has already realized this. We discussed the similarities and differences tonight of the people that we are meeting and it all comes back to the two main ones everytime: The biggest difference is birthplace and the biggest similarity is that we all need Jesus.

Made it to Honduras!

2011-06-25T00:22:00.005-05:00

Our team made it safely to Honduras yesterday - we spent the night in San Pedro and drove 2 hours through the rain forest this morning to get to beautiful Siguatepeque. The village area where La Provadencia is located is quite pleasant. The people are beautiful. It was thrilling to watch new eyes see the area for the first time and just as thrilling to see friends that we have here again.

A sweet moment for me was driving into the family model homes area and seeing children playing on the swing-sets. One of our HEAL teams built the playground and swing-sets a few years ago and to see it in action with the children was thrilling.

There are 12 of us on this mission trip and we have already bonded. It is always so amazing to see who God puts together on a team. We learn from each other and grow spiritually together each day. And, we learn to be flexible in Central America.

We spent tonight playing with the families at La Provadencia, the staff and two other teams. There is a team here that is leaving tomorrow and a medical team arrived today. All of us played soccor with the village children and then we played games with the orphanage children and had tamales with them tonight. I did not bring the right equipment to upload the pictures to share but I wish that I could show the smiles on the team members faces as they played, talked and laughed with their new friends tonight.......friends made in the village, and friends made quickly with the other teams.

One of the best moments we had was praise and worship. "Lord I lift your name on high" could be heard in the village in both English and Spanish. What a sweet vision of the way Heaven will sound - with all the languages coming together - all the nations rejoicing and loving each other and praising the One that never abandons us.

This is going to be a special week and everyone is so excited to be here - we will be planning and learning tomorrow as we prep for vacation Bible school. I'm listening to the rain pouring down as I type this and it made me smile. Our theme this week will be Noah's Ark. The children in the program will definitely understand about rain pouring down - and we are looking forward to explaining the best part of the story to them: God's promises never fail and the rainbow is often seen here in the beautiful mountains surrounding the rain forests. God has given me the rainbow so many times when I needed His smile from above - and while I did not see one today, I'm most certain the children that we will be talking to about the rainbow have seen rainbows many times here in this beautiful sunny and rainy area...........

borrowed a card reader from a team member - and posting pics!

Headed back out in the field

2011-06-22T07:42:00.003-05:00

It seems that it has been a long time since out in the field, but it has only been 3 months. During those 3 months, God has been constantly reminding me and the teams that have prepared their hearts for Honduras and Uganda that it is all about HIM. We will have a team of 12 traveling to Honduras from June 23 to July 1. There, we will serve La Provadencia Orphanage and the beautiful village that it resides in. The African team will be going to Uganda from July 5 - July 29th. We pray for a covering of protection, safety, health, and God's will to be ever present on our hearts. Please pray for the VBS crafts, lessons, and projects that we have prepared and that we will be received with love. Please pray that our hearts are serving with the right intentions and that our focus will be on the ONE allowing us to go. God please change our hearts so that we never come back the same. Our desire is to show love, give love and to receive love as Jesus did.

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” Saint Augustine

El Salvador Beach Project and Service Day at La Casa De Mi Padre

2011-03-17T22:27:00.012-05:00

Wednesday - Beach Project

We went to Costa del Sol for our beach project.

This might be the sweetest village people that I have ever met. They reminded us all about the importance of family and friends. Family means something here. We were reminded of that throughout the day as we entertained the children while they waited patiently to see the doctors and dentists. Our team definitely had the sweetest job. We were able to witness the kind acts of the medical team, witness the family love of the community, witness God's amazing faithfulness to a people that have very little material means but Very HUGE hearts for the Lord.

One little boy asked us for another lollipop. We could not understand what he wanted and when we finally did, we gave him one. Nobody asked for seconds of anything for themselves. We gave out animal crackers and goldfish and lollipops while playing games and helping the children with art. Yet, one little boy was insistent on trying to make us understand that he needed one more lollipop. It was the same little boy that showed us God through his enthusiasm and smiles as he played football. His name was Carleta. As he walked away with his second lollipop I watched him. He walked very deliberately to an elder lady that was his grandmother and gave her the lollipop. Family here is everything.

The families of the village waited so patiently to register. While they were in line we handed out animal cookies and every age of every woman and man and child said thank you with a smile and were more grateful for the few cookies (which was lunch to many) than most of us are for an entire meal.

Bubbles, badminton, dodgeball, coloring, magnetic fishing and football were past-times that were rare in the lives of most of the children that came to see us. They were so excited to have someone to play with and even more excited to have their family watch and smile. Family is everything to a community like Costa del Sol. God is evident in their lives even for the ones that are not familiar with God. When we handed out stickers it was as if we were handing out Christmas. The children reminded us all of our many blessings. The children quickly became our favorite blessing from God for all they taught us.

Pedro is the man that allowed the medical team to use to his home. He helps the local boys get out of gangs and teaches them to fish so that they will have a way to make money. Pedro is Jesus in the skin to these young boys and he has opened his home to hundreds. It is always so overwhelming to see God work all around the world in so many different ways.

Thursday - La Casa De Mi Padre's Orphanage Work Project

Today the team cleaned up a room off the toddlers bedroom so that they would have a playroom. Everyone scraped, painted, reorganized, put new furniture together, folded hundreds of little clothes, cleaned toys and bathed the dog! The work itself is not the reason we were there. The work could have honestly been done better by the locals. The work brought us to La Casa and we are thankful for that. We saw how important the work at this orphanage is and how important it is to reflect and pray about the impact that it has had on all of us.

All of the team members have now shared their testimonies. God is so good on these trips to strengthen each other spiritually as we speak into each others lives. Two high school students and three college age students have taught me about coping, trials, passion, love, hope, humility, leadership, family, forgiveness, and teamwork. God brings the people that He calls to go and serve. Not because He needs any of us to paint or blow bubbles or organize toys at an orphanage, but because we need to draw closer to Him.

We are seed planters. Sometimes we travel to see God's purpose for us. Sometimes we travel for others. Sometimes we travel to see a smile on a child as he hands a lollipop to a grandmother. Sometimes we travel to paint so that we can meet a man that teaches us selfless sacrifice to gang members while looking out at God's amazing ocean. Sometimes we travel to get out of our comfort zone and tell our story so that God becomes the focus. Sometimes we travel and never know why God has us do so. But always we travel knowing that God's plans of connecting people are evident.

Today as I saw Abby and Ericka (the reasons that HEAL now partners with La Casa) I couldn't help but smile at how God has used two little girls this side of Heaven. Two little girls that probably would not have chosen the path they have been given. This side of Heaven, we won't know the full impact of God's plans or why we really do what we do. But, this side of Heaven, we will faithfully keep serving, praying and pursuing the orphans in distress as we are called to do.

2011-03-15T22:45:00.008-05:00

Today the team had a day where we came away asking: How in the world can anyone see God's beautiful creation and doubt there is an amazing creator of all things? Even in the after effects of a volcano hundreds of years later, we see a beautiful Creator. It is easy to see God in the BIG things but it is not always easy to see God in the little things. Gary took us to see where La Casa started in Old Elsavador and to see a volcano. It was a beautiful experience and breathtaking - literally taking our breath away as we climbed the volcano to look down. Then we saw the most amazing tree God has ever created!

We then took a small group of the girls from La Casa Orphanage on a field trip to McDonalds to play and have ice cream. The team members live in a culture where children experience McDonalds as a weekly event. We didn't actually know that this small group of girls had never been to McDonalds to play and have ice cream until we were leaving and I asked. It was another small example of how we take so many things for granted.

At McDonalds, God showed up in the small things in El Salvador. Connor was sitting at a table with Carleta. She was showing him her animal bracelets that we handed out and she was enjoying the one on one time with him. Carleta just lost her dad last week. All the sudden this little thing seemed so HUGE because we serve such an awesome HUGE God that knew exactly what Carleta was going to need this week.

Tripp was sitting alone and just watching the girls play. Two of the girls were Abby and Ericka. As they ran and screamed loudly throughout the jungle gym, God showed up for Tripp at McDonalds to say that all is perfect in His plan for His children. Gabrielle was holding the hands of several girls. Ashlee and Shelby were running and screaming with the girls and playing. God showed up at McDonalds for the girls at La Casa. He loves us so much and we often forget to see Him in the little things.

All the girls were doing their homework at La Casa and when Abby finished she waited for Ericka to finish. She was looking after her little sister. Ericka was taking a little longer to do homework. Ericka finished and had some more reading to do and Abby quickly gathered Ericka's things and put them away for her so that she could go to McDonalds with us on a field trip. God shows up daily for the children at La Casa in the little things and He showed me in this sweet moment that His plans are better than ours and sometimes when we serve He is more evident in the small things if we open our hearts and eyes to His viewpoint.

Showing up and Being There

2011-03-15T19:08:00.007-05:00

Sunday was a beautiful worship day in El Salvador. We were able to spend the afternoon playing with the kids from La Casa on the church grounds. They were so happy and full of energy. One of the little boys was so fun to watch dance. Entertaining us was definitely a bright spot in his day - but an even brighter spot in our day. Juan is a performer. His big smile stole our hearts as he danced to the beat of Michael Jackson by team members!

Monday:

Every now and then we get the opportunity to just show up and by being present we get a small glimpse of why God has us in the very moment that we are in. We look around and see God's beauty in all the children. Today, we assisted a medical team on the farm of La Casa. Families from the village came to see physicians, dentist, and pharmacists. Our job was to entertain the children while they were waiting to seek medical care.

In my own human weakness, I was frustrated that we were not able to share the VBS that we had prepared for the children of the village. It was too difficult with children coming in and out at different times. We were outside and sometimes 2 or 3 children were with us and other times it was 20 ish. We had to change the course of our plan. I am a planner. God showed me today that while we are supposed to plan and do things to the best of our ability - sometimes it is more important to just show up and be present for someone.

I looked around and this is what I discovered about our flexible team mates that couldn't carry out our plans. Connor was playing badmitton with a little boy that could barely see. He never hit the ball. Connor was so patient with him and I wonder if anyone ever takes the time to play with him. Shelby was blowing bubbles over and over with a little girl and patiently helping two little boys with the magnetic fish. Gabrielle was coloring with some little girls and talking with them while the little girls had nothing but smiles on their faces. Ashlee was finding cups to give all the children water because they had been waiting patiently and playing for hours. Tripp was kicking a ball with a little boy that acted as if he had never kicked a ball. Physicians and dentists were playing with the very poor village people.

We were supposed to just show up today. My prayer is that we never forget to show up and be there for God's people and He will show us what to do. Maybe we'll get to do the vbs, maybe we won't. But one thing is for sure - no matter where we go - God shows up and so should we!

El Salvador Spring Break Mission Trip

2011-03-12T22:44:00.010-06:00

We are a small team but serve a large God and already feel blessed for being here. In 24 hours, we have developed a deep passion for La Casa De Mi Padre - My Fathers House - an incredible orphanage in San Salvador. We visited the farm where they one day hope to have 8 family model homes with 8 children in each home. There, they will grow up as every child should: under the roof of a set of loving parents.

The children get to go to the farm on Saturdays and ride a horse. Whitney is a certified horse therapist and it has remarkable for them to see the changes in the children emotionally. They learn trust, confidence and learn to overcome fear and many obstacles. There is an autistic child that was screaming and crying and when he was placed on the horse he calmed down and started singing. It is a great program that we were thrilled to witness first hand. Not only did we get to witness it, but we were allowed a little glimpse of God's faithfulness and favor by watching Abby and Ericka ride the two horses together.

Abby and Ericka are sisters. They are now 8 and almost 10 years of age. I learned about them when they were just 2 and 4 years old and started a process of trying to adopt them. After going through the legal steps, we learned that the birth mother would not sign over the rights and later had problems and could not take care of the girls. They will remain in the program at La Casa. Trey and Tripp and I were crushed and hurt. We could not figure why God closed the doors at the time.

Abby and Ericka are part of the reasons that HEAL Ministries began. They are a perfect example of the quote that we give: There are 145 million orphans in the world and only about 250,000 children are adopted each year. The statistics are alarming and overwhelming. Most orphans will never be adopted. Who takes care of them? God called me to a harder place. We learned that we were not supposed to take care of the two beautiful little girls that we fell in love with. We were supposed to send teams to care for hundreds. God used Abby and Ericka to develop a deep passion for the unadopted. While adoption is most often the best solution, there are times that God reveals it is not always what He wants. Abby and Ericka are where they are supposed to be. We want to partner with La Casa and assists them with their vision of providing a home for Abby and Ericka and all the children there. Family Model homes. Not my home but a home where they will grow up and be loved and raised by loving house parents and still be able to visit their family.

Trey and I met Abby and Ericka two years ago. Tripp met them today for the first time. It was an emotional experience for all of us that will forever change us. God has placed a deep passion in our hearts for the children that cannot be adopted but has also taught us to dig deeper and love the family of the orphan.

La Casa helps to restore the family. They are exemplifying Christ in every way. Many of us would choose to abandon the family of the orphan and yet doing that is exactly the opposite of what God teaches us in His word. To care for the heartbroken, to help those that cannot help themselves, to defend the defenseless, to help the thirsty and hungry. La Casa has figured it out. They are restoring the family and helping a nation understand redemption. Abby and Ericka get to see their mother a couple of times a month and La Casa is working with her.

We met an 8 year old boy that will be reunited with his mother this year. He was living on top of a trash dump a few years ago with his mother. La Casa took the child in and started teaching the mother how to live. They built a home for her and assisted her in starting a cooking business. She was so uneducated that the day they gave her the key to her house, she did not know what the key was for. They had to show her how to unlock her door. She thought that the oven was a bird cage. Now, she keeps her house and cooks for others. She has been trained in how to take care of her child and they get to see each other often. Instead of taking the child away and abandoning the mother, La Casa took the time to do the right thing. They reached out to the mother and now the most beautiful example of restoration happens. What a beautiful example as mother and child have learned about Christ together because of La Casa.

The 30 plus acres La Casa bought is beautiful. There will be 8 family model homes, an administrative office building, missionary housing, a guest house for teams, school, playgrounds, sports complex, etc. We saw the large retaining wall where steps and decks are being built that will lead the soccer players to the pavilion, housing and playgrounds. The chapel was the first building and it is beautiful. Our team had the privilege of praying together with Gary Powell, the orphanage director, for the entire orphanage, grounds and God's plans. We are excited about our week. Already, the team members have taken the time to build relationships with the kids and play games, color, kickball, soccer and just talk and laugh. Well, talking is sometimes hard - but they love that we try to speak their beautiful language.

In typical El Salvadorian tradition, we were invited to Gary and Sharon's home. They live in the parsonage at the church where Gary is the pastor. We had real tacos! Not fast food tacos - really great tacos for dinner! Tomorrow we are looking forward to attending church there where the La Casa children will join us and have an afternoon of playing games on the church property.

Tonight, I sleep a little easier knowing that there really are orphanages that are making a difference. I'm thrilled that Abby and Ericka took over my heart a few years ago and even more thrilled that they are healthy and happy. They know their heavenly Father. I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve and to know that God's plan is always better than mine.