Mr. Harris Here from Masaka, Uganda

All is well here in Masaka. Everyone is well with the exception of Ms. Gordon's sore throat. The work is going well at the Jireh Childrens Center. We have introduced rabbits to their facility! We purchased 3 does and are in search of a pure bred buck. We built cages and a shed to keep the rabbits in and are building a bed underneath the cages to capture droppings to develop fertilizer. We are also helping repair thier water catchment system and give them the ability to pump rainwater up to a large storage system.

The children here at Jireh are amazing. Their joy and laughter are humbling. Easter Services at Jireh Church were amazing! We took all of the Jireh children that had no where to go for the holiday to the Nabugabo Lake and the beach. A happier group of kids you could not imagine! We had lunch on the grounds, watched the kids swim, & took lots of pictures of the laughing, wet faces!

We are also trying to dig a latrine pit but it is very slow in solid rock. Stuart, Jonathan, Landon, Hunter, and Mitchell have been working up some new muscles in the bottom of this pit. The boys and Mrs. Lorie (now known as Mommie Stuart) have also been working on building door frames and doors for the showers that the FCA group from 2008 built.

The first couple of days the girls organized all the supplies (toys, clothes, school materials) for the kids. Then handed out all of them outside. You should have seen the mob of kids that were screaming and laughing. It was the greatest thing in the world for them. Most of the girls have been getting t know the older girls at the center. These girls have such a humble joyous spirit.

The children of course love to sing. So we have learned a couple of songs in Lugandan. They also have learned a couple of songs in english as well. Our team performed a skit and our songs at the childrens center and at the church on resurrection sunday.

The hotel Maria Flo has been very comfortable with the exception of the rooster that begins crowing at 4: 30 am. Its great the boys love it. But other than that it is safe and the food is delicious. every morning and evening we have meetings as a team and discuss what's on our minds.

One of the interesting "cultural" expiriences has been watching a spanish soap opera every evening during our dinner....LA TORMENTA it is dubbed in english. Hahah everyone loves it.

The Internet is slow & hard to get to but we will try to update you again soon. Pray for our team as God continues to break our hearts for the Children of Jireh and the people of Uganda.
Blessings H2 & Yanira.

And We're off

We are heading out in the Morning.

Please pray for our safety as we travel by plane and for our health.

Pray that we will grow together as a team and in the Lord.

Thank you!

The end of our adventure!

And we made it!!! After 4 long flights of restless anticipation we finally made it HOME. To the cold wet hormonal weather of Nashville Tennessee! We were so excited to be back, but so sad to have to leave! I hope that if this opportunity comes again next year that everyone will go, because it is life changing and will capture your heart forever!
i love everyone and hope to see you soon.
love Krsiti

African Wildlife

Today has been quite an adventure. We went out about two hours outside of Masaka to a wildlife park. We left our hotel this morning at 5am "Kingdom Time" (Which means 5am sharp). You have to understand that here in Uganda the roads are terribly bad. Half of them are paved and half are not. Even the ones that are paved are terrible with huge potholes and tons of people walking on them. So its pretty risky business to get in a car and travel here (atleast according to Americans).

On the way there Emily got sick and threw up...thankfully in a pan. there were 16 of us in this van and it was inncredibly close. We finally got there and then drove around for almost 4 hours or so. We had a guide named Andrew who showed us around. We got to see antelopes, zebras, baboons, monkeys, cranes, buffalo, wart hogs, etc. etc. We have plenty of pictures to show when we get home. But the terrible thing is, while we were out in the park, Joanna got sick and started throwing up. so needless to say, it wasn't a fun day for the bransons. Kristi also has been really sick the past two days with some kind of bateria or perisite, nasea and diarehha. thats another thing here, we have al gotten extremely close and are willing to share almost anything. So keep everyone in your prayers in terms of health because it seems like these days we are dropping like flies!

There is good news, yesterday we found this great Mezungue resturaunt just down the road from the hotel. They have actually hamburgers, fries, grilled cheese, pizza, and even ice cream. I think it has been the highlight of our trip. A couple of us are here now. (the also have free internet which is amazing).

So needless to say, we are extremely tired today and ready for some good ol' American style food. (no more beans and rice please). We love you all dearly and miss you! Can't wait to see you all at the airport on Friday evening! XOXO

Love, Ris

Sunday April 13

Yesterday we went to a traditional African Wedding Introduction where they act out a drama to introduce the two families. We got to wear traditional African dress and we were quite a spectacle. All the girls played the role of the brides sisters and it got a good laugh. Today we went to church from 9:00 until 3:00 whew! keith preached and the kids sang two songs. It was great.

Right now we are at a mezungu (white man) restaurant eating things like hamburgers, pizza and banana splits! They kids are quite pleased. Kristi woke up feeling ill this morning with stomach cramps and such. With medicine she is feeling better, but please keep her in your prayers. Mitchell has also been sick with fever but he is feeling better today. All the rest of us are feeling healthy and strong and enjoying all of our many adventures.

Tomorrow we are going on a day trip to an Animal Park to see some African Wildlife. We have to leave by 5:00 a.m. in order to get there early enough to see the animals.

Thanks for all your prayers. Keep praying for our continued health and safety.

Day 5

Today we did a presentation for the children. Thank you Ashley M for your skit. It was perfect! And all the AIDS information was very helpful. We presented the gosped to two groups of kids through bead bracelets and many prayed to accept Christ! Wow. The team sang praise songs and danced! for all the kids. Several shared their testimony and encouraged the students to stay pure until marriage. We were taught Ugandan dance and some got their hair braided. By the way Rachel's foot is not broken. It is bruised and sore, but she is walking fine and it did not slow her down today. Both Marissa and Caitlin are feeling well. No one has really been sick and we are so thankful. The bath houses are almost complete. We have one more day to work on them.

We will be attending a traditional African wedding tomorrow in African dress. The kids are very excited! We will go to church (4 hours at least) on Sunday. The students will be leading 20 minutes of praise and worship and Keith is going to preach. We are going to an wild-life park on Monday, work at the Children's Center on Tuesday and head to Kampala on Wednesday to visit another village and school that is in worse shape than where we are now. Then we will have some time for shopping before we leave on Thursday.

We rode "African Style" today with nine people in a car about the size of a camry. We are quite a spectacle everywhere we go. We attract a lot of attention as everyone waves at us, smiles and laughs to see "Mezungue" (white people). The people here are so full of love and joy, so welcoming and fun. We are already beginning to feel sad about leaving. But we are all thinking of everyone at home. We are praying Week Without Walls goes well for everyone!

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Love, Lisa & Rona

It is incredible

This has been a great trip for everyone. It is an amazing thing to be in a place that God loves so much. Caleb and Rachelit is hard to get to internet so I just want you to know I love you and wish you were here. Thank you all FCA friends for your prayer and support. We feel your prayers.
Love Lisa