My Hubby, The Bloggy Missionary Gives an Update From Uganda

My hot missionary hubby is AGAIN stepping out of his comfort zone....I asked if he would give an update as to how it is going in Uganda so I could post it to my blog.  He agreed!!!  He is now a missionary and a blogger!!!  

From Charlie:  1/2/2016

So for the Uganda up date.

Things went really, and I mean unusually smooth getting here. Starting in PDX, the check in gal was running behind on getting to a gate and thus basically tagged all of our check in bags without really weighing them, thus we brought an extra five pounds of stuff here. Our flights were good and got to Amsterdam in enough time to walk directly to our Entebbe flight and board.

Patience and Simon met us the airport, loaded up and went to CSI, where Prudence had our dinner waiting for us, so we ate once again and finally got in bed about 1 am.  Prudence was up at some ridiculously early hour to make sure our breakfast was awaiting us by 7am., at 6am when I came down in search of caffeine, she was already prepping and tea was ready. As we ate Patience came back from her morning routine with Irene close behind. I was excited to start the gift giving as Simon had already been treated to his new phone from Ms. Brenda, a computer from us and Scott Johnson, and some extras thrown in by Michael at Redmond Computers, plus clothes and shoes from us and the Harrods. He was so excited that Ben's work boots fit him and the Harrods black Sunday school shoes were perfect as well.

Then I was able to give Ms. Irene her purse and lotions that just so happened to match her outfit!!!! That was huge!

Patience and Prudence who do so much for CSI, I believe are actual angels here on earth that you can physically see.  They were giddy as well for the purses and little gifts brought for them.  Then, in comes my Ugandan cousin, Ms Gertrude.

 She is the CSI money manager. She reminds me so much of my cousin, Kari, its almost uncanny their mannerisms and just overall spunk.  She is the one we do battle with when it comes to CSI trying to spend their money on us, as we are there to bless them not them bless us. We have been fortunate the past few years to bring a wheelbarrow of money  that people give and things CSI can use in their various ministries, put together by our church family at Shiloh Ranch Cowboy Church, other people's, and ourselves; and Gertrude tries to spoil us.  Well let me tell you... That ain't happening, thus our reoccurring banter back and forth. She got a purse and goodies as well. Of course we had to take photos of everyone with their new goodies.  The girls and their purses, TJ's new boots, Devine and Destiny with their new shoes donated by the Harrods, and Pastor Tucker in his new SRCC hoodie. He said it made him ready for battle, to continue to fight for Jesus, plus it will keep his head warm as he comes and goes from the late night prayer meetings at church.

We headed out the next morning for Jinja with Mulundo Patrick, in the CSI van, which Gertrude had already made sure was full of fuel... see how she is... we rent the van and driver and should fill it up ourselves, right! I will get even.  We had to make a few stops on the way for painting supplies, thus, we got to Jinja just in time to eat supper with the X Hope team that had been at Redeemer House all day, and got to celebrate Rick Cross's birthday. We ate chicken and goat on a stick, Rolex, guacamole, rice and beans, and of course birthday cake and ice cream all while sitting around a big fire for the festive occasion. After eating our fill we took turns thanking God for all the things he had done for us the past year. The good and the bad. Of course I tried to speak of what Uganda means to us, the people we know and love here, and not bawl. Right. Not!!  After all I  do go to cry boy church! The RH kids look good and they were blessed with a ton, and I mean a ton of brand new clothes which the X HOPE team had brought with them, all 15 of them, which equates to 1500 #'s of goods brought for the RH family and the various other community outreaches they will do in the next few days. They have brought 300, yes 300 soccer uniforms that will be given out tomorrow after church and a VBS service in a village near Jinja.  I am sure it will be my next opportunity to have water flow out of my eyes, as Wendi Cross said that a lot of these children might have a shirt to wear. Might have a shirt, didn't say anything about pants,  just a shirt.

Kole, Ben, Simon, myself and the X HOPE men have been furiously working on the new RH house, prepping for paint and cabinets.  It is going as fast as anything goes here in Uganda, especially with the lack of electricity, power tools, air compressors, ladders, etc. Unless banana pole ladders are OSHA approved! So we will do our best and pray we can get the inside painting completed before we leave.

Praying for a clear mind and the right words God wants said tomorrow at church and VBS. I get to speak tomorrow as well at church, as is expected, "After all you have come such a long way, you must have a good word for us, right."  Kole and Ben will help with a section of the VBS as well and afterwards we all get to hand out the 300 uniforms. We are all praying God's provision for that as their could be more than 300 kids there.

That's all I have for now.

IU!!!!!