Radio Norfolk!

This morning Sienna, Phil, Andy and Emily visited Radio Norfolk to talk about our trip.

If you fancy a listen were on at about 2:42!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p024zyt9

An interesting experience!

Today has gone great- we had an extra half an hour in bed, before packing up all of our stuff.

Last day :(

The gardening team were working like crazy planing all of the plants, the catch up guys taught about bones and made skeletons out of straws, and the painting team finished their 5th coat and started the decorations.

Megan, Tom and I (Emily) have ventured out of the compound to visit a local woman's savings group. It has been an interesting experience, sitting with around 20 ladies in a very small brick building. They were taught about malaria, and how to prevent getting it and how to treat it.
It then began absolutely chucking  it down, onto a tin roof. Which resulted in a very loud and dark wait for the rain to stop. The ladies have all been so welcoming and it is so great to see them saving for new businesses and supporting each other. Its a great part of Oasis work.

We had a great last devotion with the Kampala staff, we will miss them all and we are so thankful for how welcoming they have been.

We are now currently on the bus to Entebbe, we have had our final debrief and we are stuck in crazy Kampala traffic.

This country has been so amazing, the people here so welcoming and God has been awesome.
Our debrief led us to think about these 3 questions: what has surprised you most about Uganda? How have you changed for the better? What has God been speaking to us about over the trip?
They came out with some exciting and encouraging responses from many people.

Please pray for:
-safe travel home
-the traffic breaks up and we will get out of Kampala
-everyone's answers to these questions and to work out what we need to change when we get home.

Goodbye Uganda

We are now on the minibus and are very much enjoying clementines, apples and kettle crisps (thanks Wormald parents!)

The roads are so smooth, organised and quiet! It's such a shock not seeing little children playing on the side of the road who immediately stop and wave at you when you drive past.

The morale of the team seems so low as we drive back from the airport. I don't think anyone expected to miss Uganda so much already. Even the novelty of being able to wash your hands with warm water and soap and not have to use antibacterial gel afterwards is no competition. There are so many things at home that we don't realise that we take for granted until we don't have them.

One of the most surprising things that we saw was how joyful everyone was. When we arrived at the compound in Mbale all of the girls immediately ran up to greet all of us and were so excited to see us. These girls are so joyful in the situation that they're in and it really struck home that we should be joyful in our own lives and situations because joy is something that has immense value and cannot be replaced.

Thanks so much for all of your support and we can't wait to see all our family and friends to tell them more about the exciting time we've had!

We have had a great past few days, sorry for the lack of blog, tom used up all of his internet researching about teeth! (For catch up!)

Our second day on safari started with an early morning game drive, we saw loads of zebra's, as well as all of the animals we saw yesterday. We climbed up a very large hill, which had an AMAZING view of the whole park- wow! While at the top we also saw a herd of about 30 buffalo.
We had a fab breakfast of pancakes, then set off for our journey back to Kampala.

We were excited for the next project at Kampala, although energy is running low.

Yesterday- we had a tour of the compound, its very different to Mbale, with a large house and veranda, and not much outdoor space.
There were only 13 girls in the catch up- so a very different feel with no kids around.

The painting team managed to clean the veranda, as well as apply the first coat of paint, it already looked so much better! Today they did the second, third AND forth coat of paint, and martin and gemma began doing what they love doing best- detail!

The catch up team had a slight change of plan, but did a great science and art lesson, as well as a small amount of netball before it rained. Today they taught parts of the tooth and taught an interesting and eye opening sex education class.

The gardeners cleared loads of rubbish from around the compound and began levelling out. Today they did lots and lots of digging and brought lots of flowers.

This morning we had a prayer walk around the community, this involved walking through the neighbouring slums, which was difficult to see, but has shown us the benefit of oasis in this area.

Thank you for all your prayer, all of the illness and brown rain has passed, and the bus is currently very noisy- so people have some energy!

Please pray-
-we can have a great last day tomorrow, and leave the compound looking amazing, and have impacted the girls lives.
-energy for our final day
-that oasis can continue to do their great work in Uganda, and have wisdom in how they can do this best.
-safe travel home
-we will all be able to reflect, learn and grow from this amazing trip.

(Will hopefully post more pictures if Emily finds WiFi somewhere)

Wow- thankyou!

Wow, we have only just seen all your comments on our posts, they are SO encouraging and have really boosted us!

We have been so aware of all your prayers while we have been here, and they have defiantly carried us through!

You guys are so amazing and thank you so so so much!

In response to your question: Lucy's toe is feeling much better, but we are all still very aware she has a broken toe! (She isn't moaning too much!)

HIPPO ATTACK! (hasn't happened!)

Wow! God's creation is amazing!

Yesterday  we spent a lot of time traveling back to Kampala, this provided a well needed rest, apart from the very frequent and large bumps.

We visited a craft market and a food court, where we were swamped by different people trying to sell us their food- we all chose Italian in the end.

Today we had a very early start, but with a very welcomed change of breakfast choice.

We traveled to Lake Mburo with our wonderful drivers Carlos and Kenny.

We have seen zebras, monkeys, warthogs, water bucks, bush bucks, a python, topi, hippos, kingfishers, impala, some very small crocodiles and lots of other things we have forgotten the name of. Wow- they are all so cool! 

We have just finished an AMAZING devotion, around a fire, by the lake, hearing hippos and seeing lots of lightning in the distance. It was so great (Andy spoke well too!)

We are going on an early morning drive, and then traveling back to Kampala.

Please pray:
-that we can begin to work out what God is saying to us individually through this trip, and how we can apply this to our life when we return home.
- energy for our work back in Kampala.
- patience, as we are all finding each other a bit annoying!
- that the brown storms will pass!

Today was great, we are really going to miss everyone at the Beersheba project!

This morning we went on a prayer walk around the Musoto community, this was an eye opener, with lots of Gin breweries. It was obvious what need the community was in, and also the good effects of the Beersheba project. Some areas are inhabited by different tribes and so speak different languages, which meant that the project is currently unable to make contact with many who could benefit.

The playground has been finished! It looks amazing (you will get photos when I can get them onto my phone!)

The murals have now been finished- they are FABULOUS.

The Pre-school and catch up kids were all really sad to not have us coming back on Monday, but it's great to see how much they have all developed as the week progressed.

We had a longer devotion with the staff, with lots of singing and dancing!

We are looking forward to the bus ride tomorrow- for a bit of rest!

It's so wonderful to see God's work at the Beersheba project in just this week. God has answered the prayers of the members of the team who work here all year round and us, who are only here for such a short time.

Earlier in the week we learnt of the biannual circumcision ceremony that was currently taking place for the Bugisu tribe. Cissy, one of the teachers, warned the children to go straight home rather than go to the ceremony where much alcohol is drunk and rape is common as well as kidnapping for child sacrifice or slavery. The president is trying to promote this festival as a tourist attraction for the region. As a group we prayed for protection upon the children. God answered our prayers and kept them safe!

We were talking to the catch up leader, Stella, about the children in the community and we asked about Paul, one of the quietest preschool children. Paul had a large and distinctive scar on his head. When he was one, his Mum had left some food cooking on the fire and wasn't watching him properly, he got hungry so went to get some food. The boiling porridge poured all over his head. He suffered from poor health for the next year.

It was very sad to say goodbye to everyone at Mbale today and we would so love to stay. However we are equally excited about what we will encounter in Kampala. The team at Beersheba send their wishes to all who are supporting us back in the UK and are so thankful that the funds were provided for us to come. So thank you to everyone who donated (even by eating cake).


Please pray:
-the things talked about above.
-energy: we have a day in the bus tomorrow and then 2 days at the safari, so pray that we can get good rest to be back to normal for Kampala.
-the good work will continue at the Beersheba project, and that they can raise the funds they need to fulfil their plans for expansion.

AMAZALIBWA AMALUNGI WILL!

Yesterday we had another fun day at the Beersheba project, with lots of people swapping round groups!
We had the pleasure of Will in Pre-school, he was amazing! Lucy swapped to help the playground guys with painting the tyres- a female touch was needed for the neatness!

Rosie attempted manual labour, using a very large and sharp hoe (like a pick axe), and a panga (machete)! It was a bit to close to Ben and Sam's head, which provided much worry/entertainment!

In the afternoon Phil and Charlie led an amazing netball session, while Rosie, Emily and Jemima painted more tyres!

We had a great day, followed by a evening meal out with Pastor Nelson, in celebration of Wills birthday!

Pastor Nelson then led our evening devotions, rosie washed several girls hair in a bowl and everyone slept princesses in their palaces (mosquito nets!)

Today we did another day at the project,
Martin trusted me to paint a large black space on his mural!
There is great progress with the mural and it is very near completion!

The boys have done amazingly with the playground and only a few more tyres to paint.

The catch up teachers Hannah, Tom, Andy and Rosie have done an amazing job! We had all the girls approach us during break practising their English questions.

All the pre-school kids are loving all the toys that we have given to them, thanks so much to everyone who has donated in that way!

All the boys (minus tom) and Rosie stayed for an exciting evening of football with the boys, with Phil and Rosie's team reigning victorious! With Fred as man of the match! They were so pleased with the cup and the new football kit! Everyone else planned for our last day at the Beersheba project tomorrow :(

It is still so unreal that we are all actually in Uganda, but we are LOVING it!

Please Mum when I get home:
Jemima: bacon.
Rosie: put the kettle on.
Emily: LASAGNE!
Sam: mixed grill
Charlie: Frankie's and Bennies!
Sienna: stir fry
Gemma: bring Gill when you pick me up!
Will: spaghetti bolognese
Megan: cheesy pasta and grandmas apple crumble.
Phil: quiche and chocolate puddings.
Hannah: seafood carbonara

Please pray:
- health of the team, we have only had one case of the dreaded thunder so far!
-energy, we are all so tired!
-that we will have a lasting impact on all the kids we have had time with this week!
-we are having a prayer walk around the community tomorrow morning, pray for all the Ugandans in the Musoto community!
-for quick healing and no pain for Lucy's suspected broken toe.

We are over half way now :(

(So this is the second time I have written this blog post- so I'm sorry if its rubbish!)

On Sunday we went to the redeemed church, this was a very exciting and very African experience! We did lots of singing and dancing, and our presentation at the front was great! 
After church we walked to Pastor Nelsons house, where Agnes (his wife) and Grace (his daughter) made us an amazing lunch, and provided entertainment with lots of singing and dancing! 
We taught one girl (an orphan living with pastor nelson) how to play the ukalele .

After the very heavy rain stopped we went to play football with some of the projects boys football team, this was very muddy and we eventually beat the under 10s as we really couldn't handle the under 14s! - only slightly embarrassing.

Monday- today was our first day at the project, after a morning devotion we managed to overcome a lot of confusion and begin teaching the children! 
They hardly know any English, which made it hard when the interpreters wandered off, we found it difficult, but the kids still had loads of fun- which is the main thing.

Lots of progress was made with the mural and playground and we had a really fun athletics session.

Group achievements: 
Rosie, Sienna and Phil went for a rub monday evening!
Emily survived a VERY African toilet experience at church
Martin did a whole day of painting without updating Facebook!

Please pray for:
Continued good health for everyone
Energy
We can communicate and plan in the way that suits the kids the best.

Thankyou for all your support! Xx

(So this is the second time I have written this blog post- so I'm sorry if its rubbish!)

On Sunday we went to the redeemed church, this was a very exciting and very African experience! We did lots of singing and dancing, and our presentation at the front was great! 
After church we walked to Pastor Nelsons house, where Agnes (his wife) and Grace (his daughter) made us an amazing lunch, and provided entertainment with lots of singing and dancing! 
We taught one girl (an orphan living with pastor nelson) how to play the ukalele .

After the very heavy rain stopped we went to play football with some of the projects boys football team, this was very muddy and we eventually beat the under 10s as we really couldn't handle the under 14s! - only slightly embarrassing.

Monday- today was our first day at the project, after a morning devotion we managed to overcome a lot of confusion and begin teaching the children! 
They hardly know any English, which made it hard when the interpreters wandered off, we found it difficult, but the kids still had loads of fun- which is the main thing.

Lots of progress was made with the mural and playground and we had a really fun athletics session.

Group achievements: 
Rosie, Sienna and Phil went for a rub monday evening!
Emily survived a VERY African toilet experience at church
Martin did a whole day of painting without updating Facebook!

Please pray for:
Continued good health for everyone
Energy
We can communicate and plan in the way that suits the kids the best.

Thankyou for all your support! Xx

We have found Internet!

Sorry about the delays with the blog updates, Tom and I have found an Internet cafe!

Today was amazing, and so productive!

The mural is coming on amazingly, we have 3 very talented painters!

The kids loved Pre-school today (was much better than yesterday's confusion!). We taught them the story of Noah and then played animal games, did some singing, coloured a massive Noah's ark and did animal face paints! (Yes, we are very tired now!)

The catch up education guys taught fractions and decimals today, as well as English, basic hygiene and netball.

The playground boys have done amazingly well: they have built a tyre worm and tyre tunnel, both painted and have made the surrounding tyres for the sandpit! It's very dirty, hot and sweaty work for them but they are doing a fab job!

We are enjoying the food, we had amazing fresh pineapple today, as well as homegrown peanuts!
Although we are getting very tired of rice and beans- so parents: PLEASE no rice for at least a week when we get back!

Please pray for:
-energy
-thank God that we had a much better day with the kids today!
-that we can form good relationships with the kids
-safety for the girls we are meeting.
-the water will work again soon- there is lots of smelly people who need to wash!

Thankyou so so so much for your support, we are having such an amazing time!

WOW

We have arrived!
Its so hard to describe what its like, its very African!
The flight was alright, and nothing can describe what it was like leaving the airport! We had an hour drive to Kampala and arrived at the guest house at about 1.30am!
The guesthouse was simple, but very nice- we are already appreciating taps and clean water!
Thismorning we had breakfast of weetabix and cornflakes and are now on the way to mbale, the traffic is interesting, and seems very common to always be stuck in traffic! As well as lots of dodgy driving (but not by our bus driver Musa)

William- a man who works for Oasis that is looking after us has just given us a history lesson and every time we pass something interesting we are told all about it! He is so cool!

We are so excited and this place is so cool!

Please pray for health- a few people are feeling a bit headachy and lots of people are very tired

Also please pray for patience as Lucy is reading out pretty much every sign she sees (and there is a lot!) This is going to be a long 7 hours on a very hot bus!

Phils contribution: we are all alive!
Will: hi mummy
Martin: a visual feast
Lucy: sure maximum protection is supporting me well!
Hannah: this is Africa
Xx

Bon Voyage

We arrived at about 8 ish, so there has been lots Uno and ukulele playing!

We are now going to pray for will, as this is his first ever flight! And then board the plane!

xx

Le Grand Départ

Programme

Many people have asked for our programme, we would love if you could specifically pray for each project!

Friday: Fly to Entebbe

Saturday 16th: Travel to Mbale (6 hours)

Sunday17th: Attend a Church service, and meet the Oasis team.

Monday 18th- Friday 22nd: We will be building the playground, Painting a Mural, Running the preschool and the Catch-up Programme as well as Thursday football club.

Saturday 23rd: we will travel back to Kampala and visit a craft market.

Sunday 24th and Monday 25th we will be visiting the equator, go on a game drive, an evening boat ride and a walking safari.

Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th we will be doing another Mural, garden work and running another Catch-up programme.

On Thursday evening we will travel to the airport, spend lots of time waiting and depart in the early hours of Friday morning to arrive back at Heathrow for around 7ish. 

Thank you so much for your continued support and prayer, we are so excited! 

TOMORROW!

We leave tomorrow morning at 5am, we are all so excited (and a little nervous!).

We had our final parents meeting last night, which went really well.

Final bits of packing, I had some injections today!, and A level results! (Well done Rosie!)

Thanks so much to Sarah Buckley at the Globe travel health centre for doing all of our yellow fever vaccinations, as well as many of our rabies and other jabs! Thanks!

We are ready to go and are so unbelievably excited!

Xx

We have been busy!

With only 4 days to go we have been very busy the past week!
Several of the team helped with the Churches holiday club last week, this involved lots of gunge, shaving foam, singing and teaching kids about God- it was so much fun!
Also during the week we had the talk of making and icing 400 cupcakes for a wedding, this wasn't quite as messy but almost as fun!
On Saturday 3 of us helped waiter at one of the teams sisters wedding.
We are all so excited for our trip and are busy packing and planning this week!

Please Pray!

Please pray for us while we are in Uganda.

Points we would specifically love prayer for are:

-The Oasis staff, they have worked so hard preparing for our visit and will be looking after us while we are there. Please pray that we can bless them and serve them in the best possible way.

-The Children/young people that we will be meeting while in Uganda. We will be teaching some of them Bible stories, please pray for the continued growth of the seed we will be planting. Please also pray for positive relationships to form with the children while we visit.

-Our team, please pray that we can serve the Ugandans to the best of our abilities, that we can have energy, enthusiasm and a smile on our faces all the time and we can positively effect the Ugandans lives (as well as ours!).

-Please pray for each member of the teams spiritual growth during the trip.



I will soon post our day-by-day programme, so if you wish you can pray for each activity/project specifically. 


Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support. 
We are ALL SO EXCITED! 

Tom is ready! (6 days to go!)