I got to speak with my mom (Barb) today.

First thing she said was it was another wonderful day, but they are still exhausted...and some are now also sunburned!

Secondly, a shout out to Mrs 'Potz' Hartzell (sorry if I've got the name wrong) for an excellent job on preparing the sewing kits. Also a huge thank you to all those that helped with all the sewing projects. They spent 5 hours teaching 75 women (only 60 had been expected) how to start sewing and handed out the kits. Barb reported that at least 11 of the ladies seemed to catch on to the training quickly and were able to complete some very nice and neat stitching. (She will bring a sample home) She was encouraged by this and the enthusiasm of all the women to learn. They also spent some time teaching about and handing out the feminine hygiene kits (there was even some modeling that lead to lots of fun giggles!) All the kits were handed out.

Jim, Adam and Lillian (Ugandan woman in charge of accounting for school) started signing up kids for the child sponsorship program. All seemed to enjoy the process and had some good interactions.

The well diggers have made it to 150 feet, but still no water. They had to send for more piping which will let them dig to 200 feet. Please pray they strike water! To give you a sense of how dry it is - instead of us driving through piles of snow, they are driving through 6 inches of dust...and leaving huge "brown powdered sugar clouds" behind them as they go.

It has not been all work -- a solid game of Wiffleball was enjoyed by the men and boys at the school. There were a few standout athletes among the students!

A local pastor who is helping to interpret for the team shared time and a very encouraging devotional with the team in the evening.

Tomorrow many of the above activities will continue with the addition of a team joining the well diggers to help teach on water safety for health. Some are also going to spend the night at the school.

Gretchen McMichael

Hello all,

I got to speak to Les and Barb today. They wanted to let you all know that they can tell you are praying. Just as they feel they are out of energy, or some other roadblock, God provides what is needed to accomplish the task at hand.

- All continue to be healthy with the exception of Adam. His stomach went bad, but he was able to rejoin the group after resting a few hours.

- Seven members of the team did sleep over at the school on Wednesday night.  Jane is now famous at the school as she is the first female white person to sleep over. The got to enjoy time in the bathhouse with a boiling bucket of water to wash with. Then fun with a DJ, music, dancing and outdoor lights. Sounds like quite a party!

- The kitchen is almost completed! They hope to be able to even get started on the roof before leaving.

- Randy Herbe was able to share his testimony with the men of Kabwoya and it was well received. Rev. John followed it with a message and the men have committed to come back for regular times of bible study and testimony.

- Sponsorship information has been set up for 63 kids at the orphanage. It will cost $300 to sponsor them for a year. Many did not know their birthdates or much of their history.

- The well diggers hit water at 180 feet. They have used a 3", 5" and 7" augers. Tomorrow they will try to put in the casing. They had some trouble with poor maintenance of the equipment which caused the engine to seize, but that has been able to be fixed quickly and with lower than expected cost. The team is trying to impress the importance on maintaining the equipment to the local drilling team.

- Some were able to visit the new area where 100 wells are to be dug in the coming year.

- Today they were at the coffee farm and got to celebrate the retirement of the coffee farm manager, Jessica. She has been working there for 17 years. Local dignitaries came to offer praises, there was much singing and dancing and general good time. The team taught the Fruit of the Spirit song to the children - with costumes to assist!

- Tomorrow they head to Kigorobya, northeast of them, to help with the jiggers ministry. The will wash, dry and medicate the children's feet to help kill the jiggers and treat the wounds.

- Sunday the team will break into four groups and visit four different churches.

I should revise an earlier update about the wiffleball game and let you know that the girls learned how to play as well!

Keep lifting them all up to the Lord.

~Gretchen

We visited a refuge camp today where several hundred people have lived for over three years. The children there have jiggers which are a type of dust-born flea that infests their feet. We provided washing and treatment with benzyl-benzoate which will provide some relief. Jigger infestation is debilitating ... looks like leprosy. 

     This is the first sense of extreme poverty with no hope of recovery that I have seen. I was almost unable to function there for quite some time. Our efforts here were not "development" but"relief" efforts. 

    These families are displaced squatters as I understand it. The landowner decided he wanted other uses for his 2000 acres and they all were evicted to live in two very small camps about 500 yards apart. They have stomachs worms, little water, ringworm, malnutrition, no work opportunities, and because of the dry dusty conditions during this season ... jiggers. 

     I have returned to our home base a little early at a loss of what can possibly be done here. 

Hello all,

Yesterday was another good, but tiring day for the team. I just got a little update.

The ladies returned after doing their sewing homework and kept building on it.

Some men had to drive 5 hours to Kampala for a new engine for the well drilling.

Some other team members were at the coffee farm helping with a medical clinic.

Today is their last day at the school.

That is all for now,