Todays The DAY!!!

Well as I sit here at my computer, and the clock has just passed 12 am, I think to myself, WOW... today is the day that we leave for Africa. In just over 12 hours we will be on the plane waiting for takeoff, which is scheduled for 12:40pm.

Some of you maybe slightly concerned if you have heard about the recent bombing in Kampala, which is in Uganda. There have been some e-mails that have gone back and forth and it looks like we will be very safe. Here are the words we received from Julie, one of the Hope4Kids coordinators....

Hi Team - Yes. The first team has safely departed for home. Those team members and staff staying through both trips were safely en route to Tororo hours ago.

Our teams' safety is of utmost importance to us on this trip - and every trip. And, please be assured that we will be working in primarily rural areas. We do not, at this time, do any work in Kampala. Tom, Angie and Elizabeth are always in touch with local authorities as well and you will be well taken care of.

Our prayers are with the Ugandans who have lost loved ones and also with your team for safe travels tomorrow.

I will be in the office in the morning to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Blessings,

Julie

Please continue to lift up the people of Uganda. Here is some of the itinerary of what we will be doing while in Uganda... there is a saying ...TIA... This Is Africa... which means that things can change at a moments notice.

AFRICA ITINERARY
(Tentative) JULY 12th– JULY 26th

MONDAY JULY 12TH Everyone check your departure times from your city. Be at the airport at least two hours early. Be sure to have your passports and airline tickets or your E-Ticket itinerary! We are on our way!

WEDNESDAY JULY 14TH Arriving in Entebbe airport in Uganda. Welcome to Africa! Our team will meet you at the airport and we will board the buses to travel to Tororo. The trip will take about 5 hours and we will keep you well fed! Today may bring your first experience with chicken-on-a-stick and fresh bananas! The excitement will build as we near our home for the next several days - the Rock Classic Hotel in Tororo. After this long day of travel, you may want to dip in the pool, take advantage of the sauna or steam room and for a few bucks, ask for a massage! Later this afternoon you’ll get a first glimpse of the 35-acre site that is home to our partner, True Vine Team Ministries. This site is home to our hospital, boarding school, church, orphan headquarters and some of the sponsored kids! Each morning in Tororo, breakfast will be at 7AM, followed by Family Time at 8AM. This is a time to reflect on what we are experiencing and also learn what options are available each day.

THURSDAY JULY 15TH Today you will meet some precious children. We’re headed to Vision Nursery School to meet the children and Pastor Peter Obbo of Kingdom Preparation Church. The children have prepared some music for us. Those of you with sponsored children here will get to meet with your kids today!! We are planning for construction projects to begin here today. Also, there will also be artwork/painting opportunities in the school classrooms and Rachel will lead a women’s outreach to empower some of the local women and widows. You won’t want miss this opportunity to make a difference!

FRIDAY JULY 16TH Today, you have the opportunity to experience well dedications in Rwaniah and Bukembi A. There is nothing like witnessing first hand the difference that fresh water makes to a village! We will also be distributing our first set of dresses at the well. The dresses were made through our Dress A Girl Around the World program. Elizabeth will lead a sponsorship outreach distributing goats to children in the program.

SATURDAY JULY 17TH How about climbing a mountain? Those who are interested will meet our hosts at 7AM at hotel lobby for a climb up The Rock. Others may sleep in but we will all join for breakfast and family time will be around 9AM this morning. Today sponsors with children at True Vine will meet with their children and Rachel will be leading a women’s outreach at True Vine as well. Later this afternoon, Angie and Pastor Eric Sabitti will lead a group to the prison in Tororo to pray with the inmates.

SUNDAY JULY 18TH Some will be going to True Vine church for worship this morning while others will worship at one of the village churches. Hang on! This is an experience! Be ready to experience joyful worship like you have never experienced before. This afternoon we will visit Mile 8 fish farm to see our partners’ steps towards self-sustenance. And then, you have the opportunity join Pastor Eric Sabitti and visit the Tororo City Hospital. We’ll be providing spiritual and physical blessings by praying with patients and families and delivering food.

MONDAY JULY 19TH Today, Elizabeth will lead a village sponsorship outreach. Painting and construction projects will continue as well. Others will want to join Angie for a special journey to Sigulu Island, a remote island off the coast of Lake Victoria. Although Sigulu Island is one of the poorest areas we will visit, Sigulu Island is home to five church villages under True Vine Team Ministries. After a drive to the shore, we will reach the island by boat and plan to distribute school supplies to an underdeveloped school that shares one teacher for seven classrooms. This is our first opportunity to do an outreach to these children.

TUESDAY JULY 20TH Today we will visit Smile Africa Ministries with Pastor Ruth! First we will go to Water Village where the women participate in the sewing ministry. This is a great shopping opportunity because there is a small store selling the women’s projects. Then, we will head over to meet the Karamojong children. We’ll feed lunch to more than 400 kids through the partnership between Hope 4 Kids and Feed My Starving Children. Also, we will have a women’s outreach today while we are at the Smile Africa site. Tonight…..we hope you’ll join us to visit the children of Awinjo House who will lead us in worship as the sun sets in Uganda.

WEDNESDAY JULY 21TH Come celebrate two more new lifesaving wells in the villages of Nayemba East and Imuli. If you haven’t had a chance to attend a well dedication earlier in the trip, don’t miss it! There is nothing like the joy of a village during the dedication of a well. Painting and construction projects continue today and you also have a choice to join Elizabeth for a sponsorship outreach at a local village

THURSDAY JULY 22ND This morning we will wrap up any unfinished construction and artistic painting projects. We’ll hold another women’s outreach and True Vine and also have a sports day with the kids. If you don’t know how to play netball, here’s your chance! Tonight, the team will enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by our dear friends at True Vine.

FRIDAY JULY 23RD We will check out EARLY and load the buses for our trip to Tanzania. After we arrive in Tanzania, we will spend some time with the children in the sponsorship program. You are the FIRST team to visit these special children and they are eagerly anticipating your visit. Tonight, we will stay at the Bunda Elephant Hotel. Sleep well!

SATURDAY JULY 24TH Be sure your camera batteries are ready! After an early breakfast in the hotel, we will depart for our Safari on the Serengeti. We hope to see herds of elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, and if we are really lucky we may see lions! Tonight, we will travel to Kisumu, Kenya.

SUNDAY JULY 25TH This morning we will be worshiping at a small Kenyan church and then spending the majority of our day with the sponsored children in Kenya. Our children in Kenya are also so excited about our visit. Many of these children were displaced during the post election violence that occurred several years ago. We are so pleased to see that through the support of their sponsors, they are attending school and doing so well. This will be a special day. Tonight, we head to the airport in Kisumu and after a short flight to Nairobi, we will connect to our international flights home.

MONDAY JULY 26TH Connecting to our various flights. Arriving USA on same day! We hope you all have had an incredible experience! Thanks for being a difference maker and part of the Hope 4 Kids International team!

We will arrive back to LAX on Monday evening about 8pm.
We are looking forward to sharing this adventure with you!
Love,
Kelly and Amy