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Thanks to everyone that came out and served! We had a great time and can't wait to return to Lighthouse Ministries! 

Africa Update - Returning Home

The Africa mission team is on their way back to the USA! Please keep them in your prayers as they will be traveling for many hours to come. 

Africa Update - Long Days, Many Blessings, God is Great!

Since arriving in Uganda, the team has been extremely busy! On Wednesday the team spent their day at Ekubo Ministries. This is an amazing ministry... you can check them out online at  . Then on Thursday they headed to Return Ministries. And on Friday they returned back to Ekubo Ministries for some time with the kids, ate lunch and then made their way Jinja. While in Jinja there is no wifi (so it's been since Thursday night that I've heard from Jess). While in Jinja they spent the night at Canaan's.

Today should be an awesome day as well... the team will spend their day at Canaan's with the kids and then make their way to King Fisher Lodge. Then they will get the opportunity to take a Nile Boat Tour (can't wait to see these pictures!)

Tomorrow morning will be their last time of ministry before they all make their way back to us back here in the states.

Below are a few pictures I've snagged from their leaders page, Jason Root. (So glad he's been able to keep us updated with pictures :)

These kiddo's were just too cute!

Africa Update - Bags have arrived

Just wanted to let you all know that the team got the rest of their bags last night. 


Didn't hear too much from Jess, their days have been very long. But they did get to see an amazing dance put on for them by the locals yesterday. Here is a picture... 

Keep praying for the team! They only have about 3 more days left! 

Africa Update - And the day just got longer...

It's 3:30am right now in Africa and I just got a message from Jess. Their team has arrived in Uganda but with 27 less bags. 22 of these bags for donation/supply bags but the other 5 were personal bags, including Jess's bag. 


She has asked that we PLEASE PRAY that their bags are on the next flight, which will be coming in at 1pm. This means you all have approximately 10 hours to keep praying that their bags arrive. Jess mentioned that she only has her toothbrush :( 


Here is a picture of a few of them at the airport from their layover in Ethiopia. 

The team did not get to sleep anywhere during the night but instead slept in the airport prior to leaving for Uganda. 

Africa Update - It's going to be a long day...

Make sure you say a special prayer for the Visiting Orphan's Africa Mission Team before you go to bed tonight... tomorrow is going to be a very long day for them. 


The team had an awesome day today! The orphanage had 600 children!!! Yes, 600 children... starting from a week and 1/2 old baby all the way up. Jess got to play "football" aka soccer today and hold babies. The team also ate at really nice restaurant on lake Kivo. 

The team will be leaving in the morning for a 4 hour drive to the airport, then hang out while they have a 4 hour layover in Ethiopia. They will get into country the next day at 1:30am, go through customs etc. and then jump on a bus for another 3 hours to make their way to the hotel to have breakfast... and then start their day. There won't be any sleeping, other than what they get on the plane & bus, so keep the whole team in your prayers... asking for them to be renewed and energetic for all the kiddos they will be working with in the next day or so. 


Jess probably won't have internet over the next day or 2 so we won't be posting any updates. 


Pictures are slim with her, but I did managed to get a group photo from her. 

Africa Update - Jess Murdock in Rawanda

For those of you who have been checking for an update on Jessica Murdock's mission trip to Africa... I finally have heard from her and can share some info...

Note: Jess is in the background

Their team arrived in Rwanda and had their first day of ministry at Kimisagra orphanage on Friday. But before arriving there they had the opportunity to visit the Rwanda Genocide Museum. (As a side note, if you've not ever read the book "Left To Tell" by Immaculee Ilibagiza, you definitely should!) She was fitted for an authentic Africa skirt that will be made for her (how cool is that?!?!)


Their second day of ministry was at the same orphanage. They were able to purchase 40 mattresses for this orphanage which were delivered while they were there. She mentioned that one little boy stated, "God had answered his question." And they bought $800 worth of food (which she expressed that they truly needed). 


The team ate at a pizza place today and she said it was sooo good. Jess was anxious to get to bed and get some sleep under mosquito net. 


They leave tomorrow morning to head t0 Gisenyi, which will take them about 4 hours. They will then be visiting the Imbabazi Orphanage. 

Jess promises to send one or 2 pictures of herself soon!


Continue to keep their team in your prayers! (Feel free to leave her comments from this post. She is able to periodically access the internet)

DR Update - adios amigos

even though i spent the day with my compassion kiddos on thursday with darin and megan...the rest of our group went back to wrap up the time we had in both centers...CWAH and cienfuegos.  it was a full day of activity!  there was a roof to be completed, more teeth to clean, games to play, Bible to review, school supplies to be given away...not to mention the countless hugs and and goodbyes.

Before

THE ROOF IS COMPLETE!  the boys did an amazing job...through many bent nails, falls, bumps, bruises, laughter (BBBBBBB!) sweat, and extreme heat...CWAH now have a new roof (without holes)...an example of love and dedication to provide a desperate need.  way to go boys...we are so proud of you!

After

the dental team cleaned over 150 sets of teeth...gave away dental packs with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and other goodies.  they did their best to educate them and give them hope for dental health!  they not only touched their teeth...but touched their hearts as well..."tres mas" (three more) at a time!  in their very small, very hot and sweaty clinic...they followed what Jesus had called them to do.  they even had a chance to go in the streets to pass out spanish Bibles and share the love of Jesus outside the walls of CWAH...God is sooooo good.

my "spanish jen"...dulce...(darin calls her carmello abuela..grandma caramel)  led Bible review and lesson time for over 3 hours!  (needless to say...she gave everything...even her voice!)  the children remembered the Bible points and Bible verses and were reminded how much they need Jesus.  they need their own relationship with Him.  she continued to teach how to follow Him...how to Shine for Jesus everywhere they go.  we both loved the older group of kiddos and how much they held on to every word.  we encouraged them to be an example for the others...and to believe that God has a plan for each of them.  dulce sang with them songs that we taught them...laughed and "excercised for Jesus"...then they blessed her with songs they knew as well.

our team played games and cheered...making memories in their heart about the children with a hope...moments in time that are forever a part of all of us.

cienfuegos was a tiny place stuffed to capacity with children and excitement.  it was difficult as the children would ask, "manana?"  (tomorrow?)  and the team would answer no, with tears in their eyes.  the children here are starving not only for food and water, but for love.  the team brought love everyday.  they poured out hugs and smiles and prayed for these lives that came searching daily.  

Cookie told the story of mary at the tomb...sharing the excitement about how Jesus is Alive!  9 more little hearts asked Jesus to be their Savior...a few of our construction boys were able to come and experience this little place...amazed at how the kids welcomed them and wanted them to hold and love them.  the cienfuegos team were able to bless the children with "prize bags" and school supplies.  they could not believe the items were "theirs"...truly belonged to them.  they proudly filled their backpacks with treasures to take home and share with their family.  and all of us who experienced cienfuegos have treasures to take home in our hearts to share with our families too.

our whole team was invited to a wonderful dinner...a final "dominican style" meal...complete with rice, beans, plantains, meat, eggplant and salad.  we sat in a beautiful room with new friends from the states and new friends from the DR.  we had become a family.  all of us.  51 new hearts found Jesus and asked Him to be Lord of their lives...but all of our hearts were different...changed from this amazing experience together.  Pastor Pablo and his wife (mi hermana sangre...my blood sister) Elizabeth presented plaques to the leaders of the different projects completed while there...what a nice gift!  and their beautiful daughter closed out the evening with an angelic version of "amazing grace" in spanish.

we returned to the hotel to pack our bags and rest before our 515am departure.  we all came to the Dominican Republic to find what Jesus had in store for us.  we knew we would come home different, changed, inspired to live in a new way.  we all saw things we had never seen before...things so etched in our hearts and our minds...that even our dreams at night find us there again.  but one thing that is common for each of us...one thing that none of us can deny or even explain well...we saw Jesus.

we saw Him in the people, the places, each other...we saw Jesus.  And when you see Jesus...He changes everything...we will NEVER be the same...and THAT is what we all needed most.