They made it!

Jack just talked to Phil & the team is there! They are all off the plane, all the luggage is on the truck & they are on way to hotel! Now for some rest....

-Jen (sent from my blackberry)

Trip to Detroit

Ok ignore the first blog I meant to push save and instead hit send. Let me try again. Please post this one.

First, we want to thank everyone who came to the airport this morning. What a wonderful blessing to have each of you there and to have Scott pray over the group. We really appreciate you being there. Personally I should have known something special was going to happen when I got on 281 this morning and there was absolutely no traffic and every light was green!

Our flight to Detroit was interesting. We got rerouted a little due to weather so we waited for more gas. Meanwhile the A/C dripped on us, their was only one bathroom and the aisle was tiny. God must be preparing us and we all know he has a sense of humor!

We'll update you again.
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry

Trip to Detroit

We want to thank everyone who came to the airport to see us off this morning. We really appreciate you being there for us and for Scott praying over us. We truly do believe God is leading us on this trip and we are taking a part of each of you with us.

Now for our flight. The bags all got through with no problem. The gentleman weighing them
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry

Two More Days!

Preparations for Uganda

For the last 6 months we have been meeting and preparing. And now, in less than 48 hours, our team of 12 will be boarding a plane and will eventually make it to Iganga, Uganda. Meeting together for the final time before we leave, the church leaders came and prayed over us. We packed 24 bins with medicine, clothes, food, VBS supplies, medical supplies and anything and everything we could think of to help care for our kids in Uganda. For many of us the reality is beginning to sink in and we feel the weight of what we are about to encounter. The excitement and feelings of anticipation are at times overwhelming. We know, however, that God  put together an amazing team and He will use us in ways we never imagined possible. Please keep us in your prayers. To sign-up to be a part of our prayer vigil please click here.

In the airport....tired....but thrilled

I think I truly fell in love with Israel this time. We have seen more than I ever imagined and had time to linger and experience some things I never thought I would. Last night we watched as thousands came together at the Western Wall and danced and sang as Sabbath began. The sun set and all went quiet. Family and friends walked home together laughing.

The memories of this trip are crystal clear. The Bible once again has opened itself up here with a richness that is irresistable. When Cathi and I commited in prayer that Israel would be my PhD, we couldn't have know what a wonderful adventure it would be.

Now we head home and I am looking forward to everyone being together again. Praying for worship and my great friend Bryan Dunham's return.

Shema and Shalom

Slowly Making Our Way Back to the States!

In an hour Dasha is taking me to the train station to meet up with the rest of the team and head back to Moscow. We should arrive around 6am. Check into hotel, visit monestary, shower at hotel, dinner, and then the ballet! Saturday we will be heading home. Again, bittersweet. :)

I still have 2 days to post and I'm sure more from our time in Moscow coming up. However, I will not be able to blog again until I'm home in Texas. Please check the blog in a few days and we should be all caught up. Thank you so much for your support, comments, and prayers.

Pray for safe travels. We love you all!
Jenny

Last Day in Uganda

Hello,
It's our last day in Uganda and it's amazing to look back on all that has happened. I have really noticed how much everyone has grown in this experience including myself.

We left Phil's house yesterday morning and I have to say that was the hardest part for me. As we were packing and getting ready to leave all of the girls of the orphanage were doing their chores. I walked into the kitchen and saw Ruth, I had gotten so attached to her throughout the week. I went up to her and said goodbye and told that I would write her all the time. It broke my heart when she started to cry and told me that she was going to miss us and that she didn't want me to leave. I just sat there and hugged her for a few minutes and thought about how much all of the kids loved us and how much they were so happy that we came. I knew that nothing could ever replace the feeling they get when we are there in person spending time with them. We could have sent thousands of dollars and they could have gotten so many things that are temporary, but being there in person and spending time with them is long term and it will always stay in their hearts.

Back on Saturday, New Grace had a celebration for us because Riverside funded the money for the fence that was built. It was very big and it look like they put allot of work into it. After all of the staff from the school had a chance to speak they brought out food and cake to serve to us and everyone else. The looks on the kids faces as they were looking at the food just tore me in half. When they passed out pieces of cake to the kids all chaos let loose. Kids were pushing and hitting, they had the look of hunger in their faces. As I looked to the back of all the kids fighting I saw a group of kids just standing in the back not even fight to get the food. The kids in the back were Phil's kids. The pain I felt from seeing those kids fight was lessened because I was so amazed at how well behaved those kids were. It showed me that everything Phil was doing was working... Big Time. Things happened at the celebration that shocked me and it is to much to explain correctly. The big culture difference is hard to take in, but all of had to push through it and just take in our surroundings.

Now I know I just talked about something negative. But trust me there was so much that happened that changed my heart and the way I think of things.....

Well its time to go, and I am super sorry that we have only blogged a few time.

Yesu Akwagla!

Megan