Landing in Uganda

We landed in Entebbe Uganda late in the evening and stepped into the refreshing cool air. We had arrived! It was so good to be in the land many of us have grown to love. For Jonathan, Doug, Joan and John it was a first step toward a new and glorious adventure.

Pastor Ruth, Andrew—our tech guy, and our driver Bobby, met us. After an exciting exchange we loaded the bus and headed to our hotel and a bed! Oh how good it felt to lie down flat after hours of flying!

We were up early the next day and drove to Fort Portal. What stunning countryside! We ooohed and awed most of the way. There are mountains and valleys and everything is so richly green. Joan and John are from Colorado and agreed it was similar to a Rocky Mountain high. Each time we rounded a curve the view was amazing!

We pulled up to Evelyn’s house of Outreach to Africa just in time for lunch. She showed us her school and shared her vision for the future of the school with us. We met students and teachers and were amazed with the quality and how cheerfully decorated everything looked.

Outreach to Africa is a fairly new partner for Hope 4 Kids International. We will be sponsoring children within their school. Evelyn does so much to reach out to the community around Fort Portal. She constantly holds crusades, conferences and humanitarian efforts to those rejected by society. She crosses the river to the Congo and reaches out to the Pygmy community. Evelyn writes of their efforts: “So far we were able to give them clothes, hoes, axes, seed, soap and salt. These are basic needs, which are like an unreachable dream for them. We have hired 2 teachers and 1 pastor. They have adult literacy classes as well as educating the children. They are using a temporary building made of mud, sticks and grass for a church/school. The Gospel is being preached and several have given their lives to the Lord.”

There is a chance the November team will have the opportunity to meet these special people. Watch for more details.

From there our little group met up with the bishop and his son James. We toured land purchased for Sunshine House by friends of Hope 4 Kids International. Like the rest of the country it is breathtakingly lush. We stood at the site where we will be drilling a well. This well will be located near a school and will serve the whole community.

We saw where James and his family live and met his son Sam, named after our Arizona Senator, Sam Crump. Arriving at last at Sunshine House where we support 52 orphans. They delighted us with songs and the girls laid out their handcrafts offering us the opportunity to purchase necklaces, purses and hats. Each girl pointed out what was made by her and we made certain we bought something from everyone.

Our weary cluster was dropped off at two different guesthouses and Elizabeth had the privilege of staying at Evelyn’s.