Presentation

This was hanging up on the bulletin board at one of the schools

After our morning work, we went to one of the local secondary schools and gave a short program. We did several different drama/skits, shared testimonies, and Pastor Scott gave a short lesson on trusting GOD. Some of the pastors came along with us. They served as interpreter, as well as used the opportunity to speak Truth into the students lives. Several of the students gave their heart to the Lord at the conclusion of each of the programs. We went to Kalaki Secondary School, Olomet Secondary School, Midland High School, and Kaberamaido Secondary School.

We had to sign the guest book at each school

Kalaki Secondary School gathering to hear the Gospel

During the 'Everything' drama at the Olomet Secondary School

Midland High School students gathered under 'Assembly Square'

The students at Kaberamaido Secondary School

Each night the 'Jesus Film' was shown in different locations in the Kaberamaido District. It was a privilege to be able to see the people respond as they watched the film in their own language. We also enjoyed seeing the stars, Milky Way, and watching the full moon rise...it was a wonderful evening!

Intermission at the Jesus Film

Friday afternoon, we went to the Aswii church instead of a secondary school. We drove our bus down these small foot path trails for several miles until we could go no further. We walked the short distance to a tree -- the church. This church was one of the most recent churches that was started, which had 15 members. If I can remember the story right, Pastor Julius, the General Superintendent of the Assembly of God church in Uganda, developed a heart condition as a child. Each morning his parents carried him to a tree to die --they figured that the tree would give him shade and shelter and would be a good place to die. Each day after work, they would return and find him still alive. One day an old Christian woman had a dream about a boy under a tree who was dying. She was to go to him and tell him about a certain plant, that when made into a tea, would make him well. So, she obeyed the dream from the Lord and delivered this information to Pastor Julius. As he began to drink this tea, he became stronger and stronger, and was healed. Now, there is a church under the very tree where he was placed to die!! GOD is GOOD!

It was amazing to worship with these beautiful people! They came in their best clothes, fell to the ground while clasping our hands and thanking us for coming. One lady even gave us a chicken! God's Spirit was felt in a powerful way under that tree and definitely had His hand at work. We got a call from Pastor Scott saying that he had both music players for the skit. (Pastor Scott stayed back because he was sick) We knew that God had a better plan than what we had planned...and so it was that we did the 'Everything' skit without music, but with a very talented interpreter. He interpreted the entire skit as we acted it out. The people were moved and God saved 2 people that day -- one of them was Pastor Julius' step-mother! Isn't God awesome?! By the end of the day, 5 people were saved and the Aswii church members grew to 20!

Aswii church

Waiting for the people to arrive

Aswii congregation

Kate holding our gift

Pastor Simon with an offering plate for the Aswii church
--a special gift from the Krockenbergers

Thank you Don and Bonnie for the wonderful gift to the people of Aswii. They are very grateful and wanted me to thank you for them! God bless you for your thoughtfulness and giving spirit.

Morning duties

Olelai Church building

We attended an outstation church in Abata Kobulubulu where several congregations were gathered to worship. We rode in the bus as far as the driver would go, and then we walked about 2 km through the tall grasses, villages, and gardens to the little bush church. As we neared the church we could hear the people singing, clapping, and yodeling. Pastor Isaac led us right up front to chairs that were awaiting us! The service was awesome, and God's presence was felt. I enjoyed worshiping with them even if I didn't know their language -- We were all worshiping together in spirit and in truth! The service was several hours long with lots of introductions and greetings, as well as singing and preaching.

Emily and I walking to the church

Greeting the pastors and members at the church

The musicians

Each morning, Monday through Friday, we went to the church at Olelai and worked. We dug a trench, carried homemade bricks to the church, filled in the trench after the wall was built, and several other odd jobs. The bricks are made from mud and straw. After they are dried, they stack them in a very precise way, and then build a fire under/inside to cure them. Each brick weighed several pounds! They had around 4,000 bricks made, but we ran out of cement before the bricks ran out. The front and back of the church had a wall 5-6' high, and the side walls were only about 1' high before the cement ran out. We saved them over 2 weeks of work by helping.

Where the bricks were stacked and fired

Hauling bricks

Mixing cement

Filling in the ditch with Pastor Simon

Leveling the cement

Almost finished

Giving the children Salvation Bracelets

Washing dishes' Ugandan style' while baby Aaron looks on

Confirmation

Uganda! What an amazing place and full of lovely people! The 2 weeks seemed only like a few days before we had to pack up and leave this beautiful country behind... part of my heart was left as well. It seems like each country I visit captures a part of me. My sister, Emily, and I few from Indy and met up with the team at the Washington-Dulles Airport. We flew to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a fuel stop in Rome...then from Addis we flew to Entebbe, Uganda -- a total of 15+ hours in the air. We met up with the missionaries, Rob and Jeanel Shipley, and drove another 3 hours to Jinja where we had dinner and got some much needed sleep. We had dinner at the Black Lantern Restaurant overlooking the Nile.

Me and Emily on our way to Jinja

After a wonderful hot shower and restful sleep we headed into town to the bank to exchange our $ into the Uganda Shilling...after visiting 3 different banks we finally accomplished this! Several of us took a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) to the shopping area--this was the only scheduled day for souvenir shopping. By the time we all had our money exchanged, we had only 1 hour left to shop! We had a 6 hour road trip ahead of us, and did not want to be on the road at night. What shopping we did do, we did quickly!

The Black Lantern Restaurant

The Nile River as seen from The Black Lantern

The team (L-R back row) Jared, Pastor Scott, Carrie, Amanda, me, Emily, Jessica, Greg
(front row) Kate, Rob, Denise, Jeanel

Paradise Hotel on the Nile

View of the Nile River

During the drive from Jinja to Kaberamaido I enjoyed the view out the bus window at the people, homes, gardens, and countryside. As we passed different homes, I was immediately reminded of a vision I had at YWAM during an intercessory prayer time in 2009. The vision I had was of a home with a grass roof, and wood and mud walls. Standing in the doorway of this house was a very sad looking woman with a far-off look in her eyes. I can vividly remember what she looked liked, what she was wearing, and sense the longing she had. Well, I didn't see that lonely woman, but I did see the same type of hut. As God brought that vision back to my mind, I was overwhelmed by His hand and confirmation in this trip. Yes, I was exactly where HE wanted me to be!

Uganda plan

The church were we will be helping to construct brick walls.
(photo courtesy of Rob & Jeanel Shipley)

Only 5 days left until our departure date. The time has quickly passed as we planned, packed, and prepared for this 2 week trip. We will be mostly in the District of Kaberamaido working in the village of Olelai (Oh-la-lie). Here is a little of what we will be doing:

• Mornings -- Helping to build brick walls for the church (pictured above)
  
• Afternoons -- Going to 6 different secondary schools and sharing the Gospel through music, skits, testimonies, etc.
• "Shopping" to witness to the shopkeepers
• Jesus film
• Saturday morning VBS for children ages 7 - 12 years of age
• Going with 3 of the pastors in the area who have just started churches. Our goal is to attract attention via music, drama, etc. so the pastor's can share the Gospel and invite the people to their churches.
• Saturday afternoon we RN's (Carrie, Emily, and I) have an opportunity to speak to local women about Cervical Cancer and Fibroid tumors -- prevention, diagnosis, treatment, etc.
  

Please be in prayer for the team:

Pastor Scott and Kate Kramer [trip leaders]
Carrie Bartolomucci
Jared Knoll
Greg McFarland
Emily Rowzer
Lisa Rowzer
Amanda Snyder
Denise Williams
Stephanie Minotto
Jessica Lauricella

If you want to follow up with how we are and what we are doing, you can follow this blog: www.gtugandamission.blogspot.com

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Stay tuned for pictures and stories of our trip to Uganda, AFRICA.

A call to Uganda!

JULY 22 - AUG 4

Soroti, Uganda

I am so excited for this opportunity to go to Uganda and learn yet another culture! I had just been talking to my mother about my strong desire to go overseas on missions work. The next day I got a message from my Pastor from PA asking if I was interested in going to Uganda! After praying about it, I believe it was the right thing to do! Now, I'm just counting down the days till I go! ☺

I will be part of a team of 10 people. We will be going into the town of Soroti for evangilism and church planting. Part of the process involved will be loving on the children by presenting drama's as well as sports clinics for them. There is also a possibility that we will be doing some construction at the local church. Thank God for this opportunity to minister to yet another nation!

This trip will cost approximately $2,500 - $3,000 and will cover round-trip airfare, transportation, food and lodging, construction materials, and materials for any outreaches.

Please pray and ask God if He would have you support and partner with me. If you want to support me financially and want a tax deduction, please make your checks payable to GLAD TIDINGS with my name in the memo. Mail checks to:

Glad Tidings Assembly of God
1110 Snyder Road
West Lawn, PA 19609

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support. May God continue to bless you!

Easter

Happy Easter!!!

HE is Risen!!!

Easter morning: Jami, Joella, Jenny, and Me

Jami, Joella, Jenny, and Me

David giving me some love!

Joella

Jenny and David

Easter is my favorite holiday! We all went to church and enjoyed the cantata that Joella was a part of. Great job, Joey!! We all really enjoyed the music and message. Mom outdid herself again with an amazing Easter dinner of mashed potatoes, gravy, ham, beans, and Yorkshire Pudding. Thanks mom!!

Time to find our Easter baskets...
David's basket was about as big as he is!

Jami found hers.

Jen with her basket.

Me looking for mine...

...found it!

Joella, Me, Jami, David, and Jenny with our baskets...
...we will never be too old for an Easter basket!! ☺

On my own...and around the house

SPRING!!!

Our house

Magnolia blossoms

Peach blossoms

SPRING Flowers...

I am finished my 6 week orientation for home hospice. I thank the Lord for providing 6 40hour weeks of orientation. The hours helped me earn enough $ to catch up on all my bills and get a few necessary items that I've needed for a while. Praise GOD! Now, I just need some work! Since I am PRN (as needed), I am not guaranteed any work!! My name was penciled in the schedule for 2 days this week, but I already had a call to cancel one of them!! The LORD knows this too, so I will wait on HIM to provide me the days I need.

Happy Robin

In the meantime, I have been enjoying the beautiful Spring days outside! Mom has hurt her back so Jami and I have been filling in and helping out with the weeding of the flower beds, mulching, and planting the garden. It has been so much fun!! I had been away for several years living in apartment complexes and never had the chance to get my hands dirty! I have been loving every minute of it! :)

Working in the flower garden with Jami and David.

Simon, our cat, loves it when we are out weeding! He keeps us company.

Mulching