Today (Saturday) was, to say the least, a day like Ive never had before.  It was worship day at Amazima.  I didnt know really what to expect, and I got a whole lot more than I expected.   At around 8:30 or 9 a.m., little faces began to appear, at first glancing through the opening in the front gate or through the cracks in the fence.  I would see one of them peer through a crack, then disappear, then eventually make his or her way through the front gate into the yard.  I think some of their hesitation was that they could see quite a few "vis-tas" (as we American visitors are affectionately called) so they had to scope things out before they committed.  Before I knew it there were 200-250 kids in the yard...  they just kept coming!!  By about 11 a.m. Raul (the worship leader here) had them all gathered together on and around the porch (we will publish pictures once we can get them downloaded) singing African worship songs...200 or so little voices lifting up praise...quite a sight....i hope our video came out well.  After the praise and worship time, then came the games.  Girls against boys, of course (some things are universal), and Grace, Mallory and Michael all participated...fit right in.    Sack races, balloon games, etc...  The girls won and had to rub it in a little (again, some things are the same everywhere!).  After the game came snack time.  250+ hard boiled eggs!  Best hard boiled egg Ive ever had (with a piece of white bread to wash it down!).  All the kids line up in a single file line, smallest to largest, to receive their egg from Auntie Katie.  I'd guess the last ones in line had to wait 20 minutes or so to receive theirs, but oh were they grateful for that egg.   

It is 11:11 PM here in Uganda...Today we had over 200 kids come over and worship God, eat food, and play games (i got to be in a sack race....surprisingly, i won, giving the girls team the lead...) :) . Also, we gave everyone a sack of food, a BIG bar of soap, and a t-shirt, (another example of God showing himself)....we had the EXACT amount of t shirts to give each kid one, and after handing out the last one, we were out.  After all the kids had left, Katie, my mom, Mallory, Michael, my dad and I all went to visit Amani Baby cottage (an orphanage about 15 minutes away from Katie's house), where we visited and loved on the kids... Many of the kids there are special needs, and some have had a rough past....please pray for them that they all stay healthy and that they would be able to find homes. Although we have only been here for a day, our hearts are already changing, and drawing closer to God. Pray for safety and protection for Katie, her kids, the Amazima children, our team, and the children with out someone to tuck them in tonight. Good night!! :)

I cannot describe to you the joy and love these children have for life and for others other than that it is AMAZING! We arrived at Katie's house really late and as soon as we could we went to bed. This morning I woke up to 15 smiling and excited faces before I could even get out of my bed! As soon as I stepped onto the floor I was being hugged by three little ones and they all took turns hugging and greeting all of us. We gave them all a stuffed animal and some chalk this morning and they are all holding them and drawing outside on the walls. 

WOW!  Africa is a long way from the US!!  When we arrived  at the airport in Nashville, they informed us that our flight had been canceled due to weather.  We joined hands in prayer and asked the Lord to make a miracle happen.  And HE did!!  We went through Dallas and ended up in Amsterdam just in time for our flight to Entebbe.  There have been several mishaps since arriving...4 bags are lost, katie had a flat tire on her way to pick us up, and Abdula ran out of gas on our way home to Katie's house.  I have already shouted at satan to go elsewhere....WE SHALL NOT BE DEFEATED!!   Our sweet Saviour is MIGHTY  and is TOTALLY in control!  Our flights were fabulous.  We slept, ate, and played a little scrabble.

Gwen Here .. posting on Suzanne's behalf ..

This is all via text, so if I goof anything up Suzanne can fix it ...

They got to the airport this morning and their flight was cancelled to Detroit and told they probaby couldn't leave till tomorrow or Saturday ...Suzanne told me to spread the word, so I got on the phone and started texting everyone to pray ...

Here is the lastest text from Suzanne, "Okay... on plane now... deep breath, all airplane people said "no go" on each airways ... last person told us that all 8 of us could travel plus 16 bags ... NOTHIN short of a miracle .. our GOD is BIG !!! blog it !!! " And just so none of us miss who made this happen there were only 8 seats EXACTLY left on this plane !!!! God thanks for providing a way for this group to get to Katie !!!

Stay Tuned for this Adventure ... God has big things instore for them and for US here at home !!

The Lord kept nudging me out of bed this morning.....I finally gave in.  There are 147 million orphans in the world......can you even count that high?  The Lord always takes me to Nehemiah when I think of this number.  You see,  Nehemiah was called by the Lord  to rebuild a wall that was so BIG that the thought of it overwhelmed him.  He knew there was NO WAY that he could do it on his own.  He had a choice to make.  He could sit in his place of comfort or answer the Lords calling.  He started calling on person after person to help him.  They each took a brick and laid it side by side, one after the other, and before they knew it, the wall was rebuilt.