FINALLY...TWO DAYS AWAY

A friend of mine summed this trip up the best when he said it is like finding out you are pregnant. You are SO excited when you hear the news and then you WAIT forever for your baby to finally arrive. People have asked me repeatedly if I am excited to be going. I've been excited from the start. Now, I just want to get on the airplane and be there!! Fortunately, my sweet daughter-in-law set up this blog for me and showed me how to use it so I can communicate with you all while I am there (assuming we can connect to the Internet). Cheta or Jon, please copy the posts and put them into an email for Mom and Dad so they can keep up with what I a doing. I will greatly appreciate you doing that as I'm sure they will as well.

I want to thank each of you again who contributed to my trip. Without your help none of what we hoped to accomplish would have been done. I was able to purchase ALL of the medical supplies (even with several more urgent emails from Phil (our missionary) continuing to add to the list. In addition, I was able to get socks, underwear, pens, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, ink cartridges, toner cartridges, (they do the printing for the school at a reduced rate for the students), cement glue (to repair shoes), dish soap, recharger and rechargeable batteries, toothpaste and toothbrushes (thanks Sue Duertsche for your wonderful advice), popcorn, peanut butter, American rice (a real treat), noodles (an even greater treat), forks, mosquito netting and chemicals to re-dip them, quart, gallon and 2-gallon baggies, deodorant, and so much more. I am so, so thankful for all your help. Honestly, without your help this would not have been possible. We are also taking a DVD player, a car battery charger and tools to help them build new buildings. You all were just awesome and I am still overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity. I wish I could take each and every one of you with me. I know the kids would certainly be blessed.

Below I am going to list my itinerary which I got this morning. For an over 50 woman who hates mornings I've pretty much decided I'm going to be exhausted for two solid weeks. It is time for my adrenalin to kick in!!!!

We leave on Wednesday at 12:05 p.m.

Thursday, June 24

8 PM - arrive at Entebbe Airport - we are to check our backs before we leave the baggage area (all 26 footlockers stuffed to the brim) for anything missing - if we don't submit a claim form before leaving they will dismiss it. It will take 30 minutes to an hour to get through the visa lines and get our baggage. We CANNOT tell anyone where we are staying and our schedule - as security is critical here - and we have to be private with passengers not in our group!

9PM - arrive at our hotel, unload and get into our rooms. Eat supper, visit and vital orientation meeting.

Friday, June 25th

8-9 am - eat breakfast, devotional, and prayer

9:30 am - load and leave for Kampala. Stop at Hamid's shop to give greetings and thanks. Stop at Game store for supplies forgotten or needed - cokes (hallelujah) and snacks.

2:30 pm - arrive at Iganga. Unload, get settled in rooms, snack on fruit - peanuts, orientation. Visit children's house, meet with Dr. Ivan, assess projects.

7:00 pm - supper

9:00 pm - Prayer, Discuss schedule, rest (again Hallelujah!)

Saturday, June 26

7:30 - 8:30 am - Breakfast and Devotion

9 am - Health Clinic for girls and ladies at Casablanca (missionary house). This is my focus

9 am - Work at children's house with men.

1 pm - Lunch with children at children's house.

2 pm - Resume clinic work

5 pm - Break for showers and rest

7 pm - Supper, prayer, debrief, games!

Sunday, June 27

7:30 - 8:30 am - Breakfast and devotion

9 am - Walk to church

12:00 pm - Lunch at Mum's (don't know who that is but can't wait to meet her!)

2:00 pm - Health Clinic - part 2 // Football with boys/men

4:00 pm - Devotion with children

5:00 pm - Break/Free Time

7:00 pm - Supper, prayer, debrief

8:00 pm - Pref for VBS (Vacation Bible School)

Monday, June 28

7-8 am - Breakfast and Devotion

9 am - VBS at Children's house

10 am - Start Immunizations/Physicals/Medical Records at Casablanca (that's me)

1 pm - Lunch at Casablanca

2 pm - Continue Immunizations - for those not involved in immunizations/Medical Records - work at children's house

5 pm - Break for showers and rest

7 pm - Supper, prayer and debrief

Tuesday, June 29

7-8 am - Breakfast and Devotion

9 am - VBS at Children's house

10 am - Immunizations/Medical Records at Casablanca

1 pm - Lunch at Casablanca

2 pm - Continue Immunizations - for those not involved in Immunizations/Medical Records - work at children's house.

5 pm - Break for showers and rest

7 pm - Supper, prayer and debrief

Wednesday, June 30

7-8 am - Breakfast and Devotion

9 am - VBS at Children's house.

10 am - Immunizations at Casablanca

1 pm - Lunch at Casablanca

2 pm - Continue Immunizations - for those not involved in Immunizations/Medical records - work at children's house.

5 pm - Break for showers and rest.

7 pm - Supper, prayer and debrief.

Thursday, July 1

7-8 am - Breakfast and Devotion

9am - VBS at Children's house.

10 am - Immunizations at Casablanca.

1 pm - Lunch at Casablanca.

2 pm - Continue Immunizations - for those not involved in Immunizations/Medical records - work at children's house.

5 pm - Break for showers and rest.

7 pm - Supper, prayer and debrief.

Friday, July 2

8-9 am - Breakfast and Devotion (Thank God an extra hour of sleep :)

10:00 - depart for Sipi Falls! A day of fun in Uganda

1 pm - Lunch at Sipi, excursions, rest - games

7 pm - Supper, prayer, games?

Saturday, July 3

8-10 Breakfast

10:30 - depart for Iganga

2 pm - Lunch at Casablanca - Afternoon - free time!

7 pm - Supper, prayer, debrief.

Sunday, July 4

7:30 - 8:30 - Breakfast and Devotion.

9 am - Walk to Church

12 pm - Lunch at Casablanca - Afternoon with children

7 pm - Supper, prayer, debrief

Monday, July 5

7:30 - 8:30 - Breakfast and Devotion

9 am - visit to new Missionary House land

10 am - visit to Farm

1 pm - lunch at Farm

2 pm - return to Casablanca - Afternoon - packing - time with children

7 pm - Supper, prayer, debrief

Tuesday, July 6

8 am - Breakfast

9 am - Depart for Jinga/Kampala - Shopping in Jinga

12 pm - lunch at Source Cafe

1 pm - visit Bugugali Fallls

3 pm - Depart for Kampala

6 pm - Arrive at Maranatha Guest House

7 pm - Supper, Prayer, Debrief

Wednesday, July 7

8-10 am - Breakfast - devotion, sharing, plans, vision

11 am - Depart for Entebbe

2 pm - Lunch? (Now why would you put a question mark by lunch. I love to eat!!! Ask the Adams!!!)

5 pm - arrive at airport.

Ok, I don't know about you but it sounds like a packed schedule, but it sounds like we are going to be very productive while we are there. As I said before, I can't wait! I am so excited! Tonight we head up to the Loft to meet as a group with our families to pack up everything we've bought for the children and get ready to leave. This is finally happening. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me. I am sure I will come back changed. I really have a heart for this mission trip. And again, I can't begin to thank each of you enough for your contribution, your words of encouragement, your prayers. If you get a chance please comment on this post and stay in touch. I love each and every one of you very much.

To my family, you are my life. I am so blessed to be a part of this family from my mother and father all the way down to my kids, my daughter in law and my future son in law. I couldn't have asked to be in a better family. You guys are the world to me.

To Abby and Brian, welcome Grant with all the love you have. He will be graduating from high school in the blink of an eye! May God bless you with his life.

I will update as I can. Until then, I love you all. Sue