OSANIDDE!!!!!!!

Oh my GOSH!!!! The cutest orphanage in the world! We went our last 2 days. The kids are such powerful prayer warriers and worshipers. They love Jesus a lot. They sang for us and hugged us and as soon as we got on the Island, they grabbed our bags from the boat and held our hands and didn't let us carry a thing! That night they prayed for us and hugged us and said Goodnight! We love you! AHHHHH!!!!!

The 2nd day we had a carnival for them and did music and facepainting and games and candy. The whole sha-bang! I did face painting for a whopping 3 hours straight! They loved it. All 165 or so kids came to get it done. After the carnival we helped Pator Joash in his pineapple plantaion. It was our thank you service to him because he took a week off of his work which is his only living to help us on the Islands. Basically we walked in the thick jungle with bare feet or flip flops and pulle trees, branches, brush and anyhting else that wasn't pineapple or casave, and got repeatedly stabbed by razor shapr thorns and had spiders, poisoness worms, and fire ants crawling on us. But it was awesome to see all the kids join with the team and other helpers to get it done. Within 2 hours we were done, and reaped the rewards of fresh pineapple just cut off the plant. There is no other pineapple in the world that can ever compare to the ones in Africa. The most amazing taste!! It's like eating 90% juice. Mmm.. It was amazing. Thank you Jesus for Joash and his pineapples! And the kids!
:)
great day.
Love,
Andrea

At the Villages...

Now that we are back, I still have some amazing stuff that didn't get shared due to lack of internet. It was in the 2nd part of the Island that we went to where poverty was extreme, and everyone lived in tiny shacks with dirt floors. We had just got there, and was sitting in the tiny plank church, and all the little children of the village kept coming in to see us. At one point we were eating lunch (rice and beans and soda) and I saw a little girl who kept walking in and sitting in a corner. I was full from lunch and called her over. She must have been only 3 or 4, and she came and sat in my lap. So many children there have enormous bellies from starvation, and are sick from the dirty water. So I held her on my lap and gave her the last half of my food. With her bare hands she scooped every last grain of rice out and shoved it in her mouth. She even chugged the soda to where she wouldn't breath and would down half of a bottle without stopping. She was very hungry. After we fed her and held her, Kelly who is the nurse on our team, examined the sores on her whole body. Apparently the kids have parasites that can eat away the flesh. This little girl was so open to have us look at her sores, it was clear that she just wanted to be well, and didn't care if the process hurted.
It was hard not being able to take her back home with us, or any of the kids for that matter. But we trust that God will provide in mysterious ways.
Later that day we had a crusade for the village, asking if they wanted to recieve Jesus, and needed healing. There was always healings and spirits cast out. It became common to me. God really opens the hearts of the people who don't have much. Everyone wanted to receive the Living God.
But After we had prayed and danced and sang for them, the time came to tell them about their ways of witchcraft. That village had a lot of it and it was very obvious. The children were covered in beads around their waste neck or wrists, which was a demonic curse of life. A curse that they won't die. It's funny how the devil tempts us with that lie. You will never die, however to be separated from Jesus Christ means death. How can the Enforcer of death promise life? It's nothing but a lie.
I was holding another little girl there who continually called me momma, and when I told her I wasn't her momma, She went to Israel the 20 year ole male interpreter and called him momma. She was adorable, but she was restless, and violent. As I held her she continually tried slapping me and others around me. She would toss her head to and fro and laugh and push other kids over. She was probably only 1 year old, and I knew that there was something greater behind her actions. I felt an angry spirit around her and I started to pray for her as I held her. But it wouldn't leave. So, as the pastors are asking if any one has witchcraft, they need to get rid of it if they want to follow Jesus. Just then I feel something under her dress around her waste. This little girl had the witchcraft beads around her waste, and immediately I knew, That was causing it. I grabbed the string that was wrapped around 3 or 4 times and broke it off.
The beads fell the the ground and as fast as a light, the girl became calm. She wasn't hitting or wiggling, or angry. Instead, she became peaceful and just smiled. Then I let her down and she joined in with some other little kids that we broke the beads off of and handed us all the beads from the ground, and I threw them in the fire.

Not only did that little girl find freedom, but the little girl I fed earlier that day captured my heart. She was the cutest thing I have ever seen. So I gave her a necklace I was wearing. I prayed over it and put it on her neck, a prayer for healing and protection and love, and I broke the witchcraft off of her neck as well. That night was amazing. God did a lot. That was just a small part of the night, but it really amazed me to see that something so small like a string of beads can hold a person in bondage. Letting things in your life, even if they are small can take over. I loved seeing Jesus take action and free so many people, not just kids but everyone there. If only you could have been there. All I have to say is know the power our Jesus has. Know that he who is in us is stronger than he who is in the world.
Love,
Andrea

Day... somethingth

Hello, its Brad here,

I'm going to attempt to sum the entire trip up in this post starting where I left off. Which I think was wednesday the somethingth? 

Thursday---

We drove from Entebbe to Kampala to Life Church to begin the worship seminar. Jay spoke to the majority of the worship team on being a true worshipper at home and at church. After the service our team practiced with the church choir for the sunday service. It was so much fun. We learned a few songs in Luganda and played some familiar ones here the states. The church is bilingual so that's usually how they do it. It was a very productive day.

Friday---

In the morning we drove again to the church to begin day 2 of the worship seminar. I spent the morning setting up a stage with some of the other guys for an outreach in the church parking lot later that night. There was a cute little Ugandan girl named Bonnie who I played with for a while. She took my shoes off and threw them across the room. Then she so innocently tied the laces in a million knots before I got them back. Haha

After the seminar we spent a few hours at a secondary school (basically high school) teaching the kids there about the importance of living a pure life in all aspects along with doing some worship. It was definately interesting, but we were able to pray for many of them for healing and some addictions in their own lives.

We then quickly ran back to the church to sound check for the outreach. We practiced very quickly then I was asked to play with the opening act which was the Life Church worship team.

It was one of the funnest moments of the entire trip to me. I was thinking to myself, I'm in Africa playing worship with Ugandans, singing in a language that I don't understand on a rickety stage that is about to fall over. Haha After that our worship team played a few songs. Followed by a quick preaching from a local pastor. About 35 people accepted Christ that night, including multiple healings! On our way home our tire literally exploded leaving an exposed rim. We are lucky that the car didn't fly off the road. We had a spare tire, but it was flat with no way to fill it up. So half the group hailed a taxi home and the other half stuck it out with Brent trying to figure everything out. After a while Virginia had to come meet them with a tire pump and a jack. 

I'll put more on here later. The jet lag is still messing with me.

haha

Brad   

I'm not sure what day it is. ha ha

Church was amazing. The Sunday service was packed, and the message was simple yet impacting. About commitments and marriage and not being bound in slavery to the sin of the world, but being free in Christ. After the message, Brent called anyone up who needed prayer for anything. All of the prayer team stood up, and more than half of the congregation came up for prayer. I stood there watching so many people being prayed for, and the tears and the brokenness. God was again, doing something big. I took a few pictures of the prayer session. It was awesome feeling the presence of God fall so hard. 

A little later into the prayer, a woman comes up telling them that she is suffering from horrible visions and needs them to leave. Well that is no problem for my God. So a pastor begins to pray for her, and she begins to manifest. She had a spirit that needed to be cast out. She fell to the ground and was trying to be violent with her arms. The pastors prayed and stood around her. All the kids were right there watching so I grabbed there hands and took them to the other side. I didn't think it was good to see the manifestation. But after much prayer, I saw her get up and walk away in peace. Her cousin is the pastor and was going to continue to do a follow up. It was amazing to see the peace in the building with such an event. God really does restore, and give freedom. It's true, there is no lie found in Him.

All in all, this first week has been amazing with Life Church. 

Yet today, was the awesomest day ever and yet really sad.... It was sad because we had to say goodbye to all of our friends we made at Life Church. We said goodbye to Rogers and Francis and Joyce. All of the coolest people I have ever met. Ha ha, a man named Christopher gave me and Brittany hankerchiefs with his name and number on them. Every one found some creative way to give us all of their information. I'm just going to give a shout out to all the people of Life Church. You rock our socks. The Muzungu's love you! ha ha

After church and saying goodbye to the most precious kids I've ever seen, who attached themselves to us the whole time we were there, even walking to church on a friday morning just to see us. It almost made us cry, even the guys. ha ha Thomas had to leave fast or he would have pursuaded the kids into the van with us, using  granola bar. They love chewy bars. :) 

After the goodbyes we were taken to a resturant where they serve the most tremendous food servings. A whole plate full of 2 large chicken pieces the size of our heads and avocado and fruit and african tortillas and plantains and so much more served on silver platters!!!! It's weird being served on silver giant platters and then going to a place that doesn't have much food not too far away. But the food was amazing. Especially eating with your hands. :) Mmmm...

After that... ha ha Virginia drove us with the option of going to the pool or the zoo or go home. We all opted for home. :) and rested ever since, till we go to the islands today and sleep in a tent for a week and there is no internet. So I will say goodbye till then, Love you mom! and see ya everyone else! 

-Love,

Andrea 

Day 6

Hey all! Its Britt! I miss you guys! I havn't written cuz I've been having too much fun down here! ha, idk if i miss Bend yet??! no, actually I do a lot, but i love it down here :) right now its around 10 at night we just had dinner at 9 and were all gathered around the living room chatting :0 tomorrow were off to the Islands! our biggest adventure yet, so be praying :) well just wanted to say I love you all. Jess and Jack ur the best happy almost birthdays!! I wish i could be there! Dad i miss ur jokes and ur company and ur hugs! mom i miss being with you and hanging out and talking! hope all is well in Bend. Night night. Love Britt XOOXXO

DAY 3 & 4!!!!!!!

Wow, what to say, what to say... 

Yesterday we had a worship conference and hung out with the people of the Life Church in Kampala. Today, waking up early, way too early, we headed to the church to begin session 2 of the worship conference, talking about what worship is and the meaning and purpose behind it. It was fun being able to praise and worship with these people. I learned a lot about true worship and how powerful it is. The people of Life Church are really loving and are always shaking your hand and saying how are you followed by thank you. ha ha sometimes there english is a little confusing. After the seminar we headed to a school just down the road where the kids where being taught sexual purity. The kids where going to write down questions and we were going to answer whatever they wanted to know, honestly and as best as we could. We did some worship there and shared some of our testimonies and shared how staying abstinent or in some of our cases, messing up and finding the grace of Jesus so amazing.  Afterwards the kids came up for prayer if they were suffering from stuff from their childhood or dealing with anything that was sexually immoral in there lives. There was a lot of amazing breakthrough there. Some of the kids left really free. 

That was so amazing. After that we went back to the church and set up for the movie night and music night we were putting on in the parking lot of the church. We played worship with another Ugandan band. It was awesome to hear afterwards that there was a man named Isaac, who was 21, and was just walking on road next to the parking lot. He said he heard a voice tell him in his head that if he went to the parking lot that he would never be the same. He walked in and ran into Jay. Jay and another man asked who he was, and where he was from, then asked if he knew the gospel. He had no idea what the gospel or the Bible was. So Jay said if he stayed 2 more minutes he was about to tell the whole crowd who Jesus was and what he has done for us. Isaac ended up waiting, along with many others, and 30 people ended up accepting Jesus as their personal Savior. After the salvations the pastors asked if anyone needed healing for anything from aids to cancers to hurt limbs to anything that needed it. Almost the whole group of people came seeking for healing. From what I heard 2 or 3 people immediately were healed and stated publicly. I’m not sure but I can almost positively say that there were others there that found out they were healed a little later. 

That night was so amazing. I was swamped with little children running around and holding my hand. Little babies always walking up out of no where wanting to hold onto you and crawl in your lap. It’s too adorable. I’m going to have a hard time leaving. :(

part 2 of day.... Can’t remember.

On our way home from the movie night at the church, we must have done the Lord’s Will because our tire blew out in the middle of the road in Entebbe. However, we didn’t feel much other than a tiny bump. We had a jack (but didn’t know it) and a spare (that was flat) and needed to wait for Virginia to come and bring it. Three of us stayed with the van and tried to fix it while the rest of us were out in the dark running on the side of the street flagging down busses and taxi’s that were full to the top and over. It was scary because the driver’s are so reckless that they almost run you over if your too close. However, after many taxi’s and waiting, FINALLY! A completely empty taxi! Which again is a miracle! We headed home and went to bed. Only to wake up 7 hours later. oh my. We’re all pretty beat. Can’t wait to chow you pictures of this one. :)

Love you all,

Andrea Fox