Africa #1

I am 23 days away now! It has gone by really quickly since Kirk and I decided that it would be feasible for me to go. Kimberly, Marianne and I were having dinner at Peter's Sushi and Kimberly suggested that I go with her on her mission trip to Uganda and Kenya. A trip that she had planned for a year to go on and registered several months ago for. A trip that she had already raised all of her support for when she was telling me there was still room on the team going and that I should try and go too! That night I went to bed at 2 or 3am. Once given the go ahead from Kirk, I completed online registration forms, read over paperwork and was just too excited to sleep!
Currently our team of 23 is preparing and having a lot of correspondance via email and weekly conference calls. I just received my renewed passport. My passport expired in May (we are leaving in June ha!).
Kimberly and I got our shots last week. I needed 5 so my arm was sore for a few days and I didn't sleep all that well after getting them. It is kind of gross thinking about vaccinations and that you just deposited little bits of junk into your system.
We are all going to start working on our packing list and make sure we bring everything we need in addition to donations for the orphanages we are visiting.
We are going to 10 different orphanages and will be in contact with up to 1,500 kids...could be less...could be more!
I have been pretty overwhelmed and humbled by the donations to this trip. I am very thankful for the financial donations that have already come in and the prayers that have been lifted up on behalf of this trip. I am also thankful for the honesty of those that do not feel called to give to this trip due to financial strain, financial obligations elsewhere and supporting other ministries. I am also thankful for the friends and family members who want to help Kirk with the care of the girls while I am away for 2 weeks!
I am going to attach our schedule while we are there so you can keep track if you are interested in knowing what we are doing daily.

UGANDA portion

Date	Day	Activity
Sunday June 26th	Day 1	D.C. crew will meet at 6:30 a.m. for breakfast and depart for the airport. Entire team will fly out of the Dulles airport on Ethiopian airlines at 11:00 AM for Uganda.
Monday June 27th	Day 2	Arrive in Entebbe at 12:45 PM. Head to the Adonai hotel and check in. Exchange money, use internet. Rest some, sort through orphanage donations, dinner & devotions with the team.
Tuesday June 28th	Day 3	Breakfast at Adonai. Depart to Kampala and spend the day with Pastor Samuel and the children of Return Ministries. Dinner at Adonai.
Wednesday June 29th	Day 4	Breakfast at Adonai. Spend the day ministering with the children at SixtyFeet (children’s prison). Dinner at Adonai.
Thursday June 30th	Day 5	Depart to Jinja. Spend the day with Godfrey and the children at Pillars of Hope. Check into King Fisher Resort. Drive to Amani Baby Cottage and spend time with the babies from 4-6:00 PM, help feed them dinner & put them to bed. Dinner at King Fisher.
Friday July 1st	Day 6	Breakfast at King Fisher. Spend the day with the Karamajong’s with Pastor Patrick. Shopping, internet & coffee in Jinja. Dinner & boat ride tour of the Source of the Nile at the King Fisher Lodge.
Saturday July 2nd	Day 7	Breakfast at King Fisher. Drive to Amazima ministries to work with Katie Davis and her feeding program until 3 PM. Drive to Kampala & check-in at the Adonai hotel. Sort through donations for Kenya ministries, dinner, devotion & relaxation with the team.
Sunday July 3rd	Day 8	7 AM Breakfast with team and check-out of Adonai. Attend Church with Rebecca and her children at My Father’s House. Arrive at Entebbe airport at 2 PM for check-in. Depart to Addis at 5:15 PM.

KENYA portion

Date	Day	Activity
Monday July 4th	Day 9	Arrive in Nairobi at 1 AM. Take mini-bus to Hope Community Center orphanage and grab a bunk. Breakfast with the team, spend the day with the children and teach a VBS at Hope Community Center. Dinner and devotions with the team.
Tuesday July 5th	Day 10	Breakfast with the team, spend the day with children at Hope Community Center. Drive to Fiwagoh orphanage, eat dinner and grab a bunk.
Wednesday July 6th	Day 11	Breakfast with the team, spend the day with children & teach a VBS at Fiwagoh orphanage with Pastor Benson. Dinner and devotions with the team.
Thursday July 7th	Day 12	Breakfast with the team, drive to Grace of God Children’s Home and spend the day with the children & teach a VBS. Shopping, coffee & internet time. Check-in to hotel (TBD).
Friday July 8th	Day 13	Breakfast with the team and spend the morning with children at Grace of God Children’s Home. Take mini-bus back to Nairobi.
Saturday July 9th	Day 14	Arrive at the airport for check in by 2 PM. Flight leaves at 5:45 PM for the States.
Sunday July 10th	Day 15	Arrive home in the States! Your trip has changed your life and touched the lives of hundreds of orphans in Uganda & Kenya!!