Today’s student perspective comes from Hayden…

Wow. Today was long! But it was so good. We spent the night at Katyazo last night, which went surprisingly well!  But before going to sleep we played soccer in the dark, it was so fun! We had glow sticks everywhere; lining the goal, lining the field, and on the wrists of the kids to differentiate the teams. After that we went back to the dorms and talked about 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 with the kids, which says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”. The guys wrote the verses on little basketballs and the girls wrote it on colored paper and got to use stickers and colored pens…you know, girly things.

After that we went to bed then they got to sleep in the next morning. We all woke up at about 7 instead of the normal 5 o’clock that the students usually get up. We then came back the the hotel, ate breakfast and got ready to go back to Mbarara. Emmy P (Pastor Emmy) got back today and he came to the hotel with Supermom before we left and we all talked for a little while and got stuff ready for the choir kids. We then headed to Mbarara and it was so sweet when we gave the choir kids their stuff! They were so excited to get even the little they got, so were the leaders!

We then went to the pitch (the soccer field) and played games with all the kids and teachers. I got to get in at the end of the soccer game and got to score a GOAALLLL! But it was a penalty kick so it wasn’t that impressive.

After that we came back to the hotel again and ate lunch and got to take about an hour nap.   We then went back to Katyazo and we were all gearing up for the first annual Muzungu vs. Ugandan basketball show down! It was a close game but the Muzungu’s pulled though and brought home the trophy! However, the Ugandans had only been playing for about a day and a half. So I am not anticipating a repeat next year.

After that we all gathered in the class and watched the video we put together for them and they loved it! Finally we came back to the hotel and ate dinner and I am now blogging about today. Today was a solid day! Definitely the best so far!

Here is the leaders’ perspective concerning today:

First some of our own highlights.

Waking up with kids who would give up their own bed for us, and go share a bed with another student was just so nice. Even when we thanked them for sharing their beds, one of the girls responded by saying that it was such a blessing to them for us to sleep in their bed. WOW!!! REALLY?! They loved on us so dearly. Though they have little, they give so much! Seeing the early morning and the sun rise over the hills of the countryside in Uganda was majestic and humbling.

And when we met with the choir at both Mbarara and Katyazo, it was so sweet to look into the eyes of these teenagers and talk to them about what will be a perspective altering experience in their own regard when they come to us next month. Some were scared of the plane ride, but the best question we got came from Laban at Katyazo: “If I am on the plane and I hear music, and if I begin to feel the music, can I get up and dance?” You know what Laban, if the Spirit moves, who am I to say no?

While the students played basketball, Beth got to go with Supermom down to the sweet potato fields to watch some of the students harvest. It was a beautiful thing to behold. All the girls wore traditional African wraps around their waists while working the crops diligently with their hoes.

Then they put the potatoes in containers and carried them back up the hill on their heads.

The boys also harvested some bananas and a few girls picked some type of lettuce called “doe doe.” We wish that our students in America had the chance to learn agriculture in high school. It was so wonderful to see these students work together to feed their whole school.

I think that Hayden was right. Today was probably the best day that we have had! To be honest, I was not sure what impact was being made on our students. I knew that they were appreciating what we were doing, and that they liked the trip so far.  But was the trip just a cultural experience, something that any world traveller could take in, make some mental notes, and throw out the information they learned at their next social gathering, hoping to impress those around them? That was my prayer last night before we went for the night at Katyazo. It was reaching that point in the trip where you begin to realize how long it has been since you were in the comfort of your own hometown. Were we going to choose to be homesick, or were we going to embrace what we were really doing on this trip: meeting God through the service of his people. Seeing the value of another who lives in a different day to day reality, and knowing that Christ died for them as much as me.

Today was the answer to my worries! God is faithful to work in his people as we are faithful to him in our obedience. We shared beds with teenagers trying to figure out who they are going to choose to be once they get out on their own, just like us. We had fun. We had fellowship. We spent quality time with many students. We shared interests. We played soccer on the “pitch” while others held little children, talked, or sat and took in the beautiful landscape.

We shared our lives. We shared basketball. We shared agricultural lessons. We were one community today. Mazungus and Ugandans, doing life together. It was that experience we are all praying and hoping for, no matter where we are in the world. As we sat in the classroom at Katyazo, the kids ate dinner, we played David Crowder Band songs, and we watched a slide show of pictures from the week that helped us all reflect on our time here, as we knew the end of it loomed ever closer. Hearts were full, but heavy…aching for some middle ground, where we did not have to go back to different day to day realities. And after dinner tonight, I asked the students to fully take in these last days of ministry here. Observe the details, and let our contemplations move towards processing what God wants us to hear and take home from this trip.

All of this, and we still have more for God to do tomorrow in Rwemikoma.

Today’s student perspective comes from Avery…

Today we went to Sanga and played games for two hours. Hayden and I were on a very steep hill trying to teach the little kids games who didn’t understand English very well. It was very difficult and long, but even though we could not communicate clearly we just sang and danced for the Lord. Hayden and I met Kellen, our sponsor child, who is so adorable!!!

We also met her sister Ruth and her little brother. We gave her a letter and play dough but they did not know what that was so we had to teach her.  We gave all the children at the school dum dum suckers, and they were so happy. One of my favorite parts of the day was just seeing the joy on all of their beautiful faces!

After that we went to Mbarara and climbed the hill (more of a mountain to Americans). It was a steep and long climb but I loved it! I was holding hands with the kids all the way up and down the mountain. When we got to the top, which was one of the prettiest things I have seen, we sang songs and just praised God for his beautiful creation. I also got to talk to two of the choir girls and I can’t wait to be able to see them in America!

I am loving Uganda so much and the Lord is doing amazing things in my heart. He is showing me what it is like to rely on his strength and I am also having to rely on him to give me the right words to say. I love all of the hugs from the children and even though they may not know that many words in English, all they want to say is said through a hug.

They give me a little glimpse of God’s love for me and that is amazing!!! These children are so loving and joyful and yet they have nothing. I am so blessed to be able to be on this trip and learn from God’s little children!

Additional thoughts from the leaders:

I feel like today was very tiring, but it has been a good kind of tired. We got a late start due to some unforeseen issues with our van. But I believe that God’s providence was in all of it. Instead of going to Rwemikoma, today, we went to Sanga. I think that this was our team’s best ministry for the children yet. We spent some quality time with the children from this blossoming school.

In just 2 years, they have grown from about 100 students to over 300 students. It is a very rural school. There were cows surrounding our van as we played. Many of the students are very poor, but they were all joyful. God is doing mighty things there. What a blessed place!

Naboth is one of the sponsorship coordinators here. He is a wonderful young man who works very hard for PCM while also finishing his school on the weekends. He grew up in the Sanga village, so that is the main school that he works with, although he helps with all the schools. Today, we had the opportunity to meet Naboth’s mother, father, sister, and little niece. They help serve the children of Sanga through the church that meets on the property. Naboth told us a lot about his family today. Naboth’s father is the pastor at the church next to the Sanga school. He has 6 brothers and sisters. His parents have supported him through school, and he started working with PCM because Pastor Emmy saw that he was such a good student and a good man. Naboth is a very big blessing to PCM!

A fun miracle happened today at Sanga. We brought candy to give out, but quickly realized that we did not have enough for all the students. We counted the candy, then started pulling any random candy out of our bags that we could find. Then we prayed for fishes and loaves! Miraculously, we had enough for each child, plus enough for all the teachers and staff! This might not seem like a big deal, but to these children, candy is a very rare treat, and we really enjoyed seeing their eyes light up when we gave it to them.

Some of you may be wondering how Sanga is doing after the two children there died of Typhoid. On the way to Sanga, I asked Supermom how the school as a whole was dealing with the loss. She said, “They are ok.” It is hard to understand how these children live, especially in the rural areas. They are always working very hard in school and in their homes. They still mourn the loss, but they must keep going in order to survive.

I also talked to Naboth about the children’s family. He said that they have fallen on hard times. The father had some money to buy some land. He thought that he had bought good land, but then soon found out that it was government owned, so he was kicked off the land. The pastor at Sanga gave him one forth of his own personal banana plantation just to help him get back on his feet. He also borrowed some land from another family. This family seemed to be willing to help him, so much so, that when it was it time to bury his children,they let him bury them on their land. However, now the family is kicking them off that land also. He and his wife have two other children and they need to find a home quickly. Please continue to pray for this family.

As we spent time with the kids it was wonderful to look over and see the progress on the new classrooms for Sanga.  Thank you so much to all of you who have helped to make these classrooms a reality.

When they are complete our 300+ children at Sanga will be even more proud of their school where they have the chance to receive a great education and learn about Jesus!

We got a special treat on our way to the mountain! Driver Emmy took Supermom home, and she invited us in to take a brief tour of their home. The last time we were here, in June of 2012, we got to tour the home as well, but it was simply the structure, with concrete walls and bricks. Today, we got to walk from room to room. Pastor Emmy and Supermom’s vision of what this house can be is fully realized. It has the space to take in the kids that need a place to stay when they are not able to board at the school. Supermom wanted to say “a big thank you to all of you in the U.S. who have helped to provide for this home”. So to all of you from Supermom, through us, THANK YOU!

Walking up the mountain was a great experience! We talked with students on the way up and down. The wind blew hard. We saw lightning, heard thunder, and feared rain. But we tarried on. We sang songs of praise with them. We prayed with them. We danced with them. We heard God’s voice in the wind and in the children’s voices. We shared how God’s blessing was seen in each other, which is the kind of encouragement that Paul so consistently communicated with his fellow believers in churches throughout his missionary journeys. Then we ran down the hill and said our goodbyes. Not a drop of rain came until we got into the bus. Praise God for a blessed time!

McCray:

My prayer always for every trip is for the time to pass slowly.  It never does. It never will.  Eventually the bus would make the last trip to our Mbarara campus. Today would be a bit different…today is Valentines Day.

A day set aside to show our love to those closest to us.

Some like these are much sweeter than I

and others like this girl named Angel are incredibly easy to love. Write this down. Angel will be coming to America on some future choir tour. She has the choir package already at such a young age: she can sing, she can dance, and she can pray.

Before we left our hotel, we said goodbye to Dora and Milton and Edward. Dora was thrilled to receive a valentine box of chocolate.

I don’t think I have ever seen her smile bigger and that is saying something. Just a $1 gift from Wal-Mart but she will never forget Valentines 2013.

Soon we would reach our main campus. Team 27 quickly flocked to the Bible teaching coming from Teacher Emmy.  One of our best teachers, Emmy was very busy using the whole board to talk about sin.

If you have ever heard this man teach, you would agree there are few like him.

We would make our way to the steps of the boy’s dorm where we would continue to wash the feet of those we missed this past weekend.

One of those people was our beloved Bonny.  Ever the servant, he is known as the Metropolian for the time he came to bring me some papers 3 hours away before 8am on the public bus after I forgot them. We invited him to join us for the remainder of the trip to Kampala at the Metropole Hotel where he would spend his first night ever in a hotel. He ate a huge meal and watched his favorite soccer team, Manchester United, on a big TV. In his words, “The greatest day of my life.”  Mark this down.  Bonny and his gifted voice will help lead PCM Choir Tour #2.

Teacher Allen would sit next to him. Of all the hugs I received this trip none was bigger than hers. A huge thanks goes to those of you who give to our general fund. You are helping pay for her continuing education fees.  What a blessing she is to our children.

Allen works right along with these two teachers, “Coca”Scola and Fausta. They were part of our original eight teachers and still remain five years later, each with a bundle of joy on their back. So faithful, so ever present and so engaged with their students while being excellent mothers as well. Thank you for serving us so well.

Last night we got to climb the mountain. We call it a “mountain” but it is more like a steep hill with 3 climbing parts. My favorite part is watching the children move toward the starting line before we start. Last night I assigned Duncan as the pace pupil. I dare ya to take him on. He can humble any cross trained mzungu ;o)

I love watching him race to heights in times I can only dream about now.

I was very proud of our children tonight. They have always walked alongside the mzungus and the various teams that have climbed.  Last night’s climb was difficult since the grass was so high.

Dave Dow, our experienced but senior member, would reach the first platform half way point and could progress no further. Three of our children would remain there with him…the whole time…even during worship. Way to go kids…you are teaching Epa how to be patient with others.

Further ahead, the choir was jumping with joy for my camera and me.

Especially Esther and Evalyn.

Both of these girls are members of our choir and resonate more joy than any of our other team members. Charter members of our PCM smile team, they will be front and center of any performance we will be making. You will soon see.

This place is like no other in Mbarara. When we are here, we feel even closer to Jesus. I know He hears these kids.

Andy would skillfully lead all the children in Amazing Grace with his guitar. I believe this guitar is the first one to make it to the top. Thank you Andy for donating this guitar to our Katyazo school blessing thousands of children.

I have been working on letting my family help out with pictures this week. Thanks Jude and Patrick. Y’all have been a blessing this week to me.

So many children, so many stories.  Randy got to connect with his daughter, Courtney’s, sponsored child, Amos.

Evalyn is looking forward to meeting her sponsor in Tyler, Texas.

These three leaders are all very important to me: A driver, a businessman, and a builder.

If there was a world’s best book for professionals and friends, they would be on the first page. All of them and in both categories.

Finally you cannot ever leave Mbarara without worshipping.

That’s exactly what happened.

We even saw some new instruments, the leg guitar X 2.

Team 27 got to thank the children for teaching them how to welcome, how to love and how to care for others.

Their joy will never leave our hearts.

Then Rich stole the show with this announcement. He said to the children and me that his family would be serving as the point family for PCM Choir Tour #2 in 2014 when the team will be traveling to Michigan.

Wow! Wow! Wow! Jump…jump as Pastor Emmy says. We haven’t even hit the ground with PCM Choir Tour #1 but I already see the Lord working in the hearts of some great men, men who have grown a great love for these children that have been traveling all week with us. Wahoooooooo, God is good. I am not sure when we will be in Michigan, but I would love late April 2014.  Kristen and Page, Sam and Seth, we will need to borrow a winter coat for a week’s drive.  Supermom wears the full parka for 60 degrees and under.  ;o)

Dave grew attached to Teacher Emmy and gave a family cross as a thank you for his leadership and love this week.

The Miracle Bus would load once again. This time with 27 people, 20 bags and 8 backpacks. It is such an incredible gift that I can’t emphasize enough. No one took public means. We traveled together. Not a single team member complained. They knew this was privileged territory.

The Metropolian followed us to the first fuel stop on his motorcycle. Then he picked up some passengers.

I just want to make sure Steve’s family knows he successfully made it around the gas station a couple times without injury.  ;o)

All aboard for PCM Kyasenya School.

Soon we would arrive.

It is our first ever PCM approved school and our newest.  We bought this structure for $8000 due to the generosity of a couple of donors.  Today, this place is thriving with hundreds of children learning about Jesus in a village nearby where Pastor Emmy grew up as a child.

The greeting is a highlight of any PCM trip and most resembles that love you receive from your puppy returning home………it’s unconditional, never changes, and warms your heart every time.

Some team members would find out the doorways aren’t made for everyone,

but we sure are glad he was with us this week and are thankful for his wife Kara holding the fort down with all their family treasures at home.

PCM 27 had another performance of the Good Samaritan within them; this time it was outdoor theater.

Jude got to perform with the group.

Steve was in his regal best robe passing by on the other side.

Frank, the Levite, thought about helping, but just like last time

he couldn’t manage

to help poor Jude.

The stars of the show once again were Randy P. and his Samaritan owner Emmy D.

Sometimes when we perform places, my favorite thing to do is watch the action “outside the fence” from the local villagers. This performance literally stopped traffic. Even those carrying the day’s firewood had to get a look.

Randy got a “mighty handiclap” at the end of the performance and seemed to really want to stay in character.

Andy did a terrific job narrating and then got to love on his brother-in-law and sister-in-laws sponsored child, Allen. Not sure who is smiling bigger here………you be the judge.

The horn was honking……….it was time to go………………load the miracle bus.

Emmy D, you have two new navigators, both worthy of the job.

We pulled up about 1 km away and stopped at the Kate Clinic to check the progress of our first ever medical clinic.

Much work has happened here.

I am so grateful to have met our nurse, Diana and Justus, our lab tech, two nights ago at the hotel.

We discussed at length where we are, what we need, and when we can start.  Sooner than you think was the answer. The needs here are huge, the impact will be enormous, and the community is waiting. So grateful to name our first clinic after Kate, Emmy’s aunt who has served in this area as a midwife for the past 50 years in her tiny mud home.

She delivered the first two of Emmy’s children and also pushed Supermom on a bike for miles taking her off for contractions until they reached a higher level of care.

Wow………..way to go Kate.  We are grateful for you and all the children you have brought into the world.

What is left? Furniture, basic lab equipment, a water tank, solar panels for our roof and a few more staff is basically all that is lacking.

Those of you that have given here have no idea what joy this building is giving the community already. They are taking pride in a structure that has no life yet.

People of all types of faith are rejoicing on the street.  We are thrilled for what Jesus is doing with the Kate Clinic.

Our bus continued down the road deep into the night.

We wouldn’t reach Kampala until late that night. We were sweaty, hungry, dirty and smelly. Our hearts were full though. We came to serve the Kampala and Mbarara business community, and we did. We came to encourage,

serve and wash the feet of every PCM staff member from Pastor Emmy to all of our water boys, and we did.

Thank you Jesus for this opportunity to give back to those who are in the trenches day in and day out. We will never remain the same.

Philippians 2:1-4: If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

This day was a Gift, but it wasn’t about our driver EmmyD’s daughter Gift who now will grow up a single orphan without her biological mother.

This day wasn’t about the expected mass hug greeting we received upon the first step outside of the Miracle Bus

or a fist bump for hundreds.

This day was not about loving our sponsored children

or the worship greeting from gifted leader Abias,

or the beautiful faces of Parental Care Ministries

Nor was this day about the PCM drummer boys of Jude, Laban, and Daniel who will soon be pounding a handmade Ugandan drum for thousands of US sponsors, supporters and fans.

This day wasn’t about wondering how these children could worship so well in their bare feet upon our rocky ground

and fill the air with dust or “foo foo” as we say as they worship Jesus.

Even making movies wouldn’t be the focus

This day we could have highlighted the ease of how the Ugandans carry their jerrycans because they lift them all the time

or about the mess we mzungus “white people” make trying to do the same simple tasks

We could have focused on how resourceful these people are like Patrick, taking a chalk box and putting it on his head to block the beaming sunshine.

Very easily we could have featured spontaneous joy created from today the 10 billionth revolution of our merry go round since Nov 2010 with PCM 7.  For some reason this joy never fades.  But we are not focusing on that.

Clearly we could have focused on Elizabeth, Immaculate and Annah but we didn’t.

We could have featured our hotel porter Milton’s daughter Lineous but we won’t.

Or finally it could have been about how good is God to move a man from a mud hut with 4 people inside for 5 years to a hilltop oasis that 58 orphans and children would now call home.

Nope, I am not going to feature any of that or talk about the 5 families that gave to make this dream a reality.

Rather today I am going to talk about something else.  I am going to talk about PCM 27 and what a gift they were today to the teaching and non teaching staff of PCM Mbarara.

You see today was about serving and honoring others.

Jesus demonstrated the greatest act of servant leadership. After finishing eating the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus knelt down at the feet of each of these disciples and washed their feet.

Today was our turn to wash the feet of our tirelessly working PCM staff. The Lord told me as a team we would serve our staff this way all week and we would start here in Mbarara. The joy was mine to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and begin with Supermom.

No one could be more deserving of honor and respect than this lady. She has 5 biological children of her own but somehow manages to teach, equip, discipline and love on thousands of children.

What an honor this was for me.

The entire team followed right behind my lead. Thank you Andy for your kind words and gentle spirit that exudes from you. You treated this staff like they were royalty and I am forever grateful for your service today.

I am grateful Mr Gordon for loaning us Mr Randy Plekker. He was not here in Mbarara in 2008 when Fausta came to our PCM staff meeting to discuss that they were hurting as staff, going without pay of $3 a day for nearly 12 months. Fausta and the other 8 were alive strictly on fumes, faith in Jesus and God’s grace.

But Randy was there today, showing some of the customer service skills he has learned from GFS and his knowledge of the story of John 13. Thank you for your presence today Randy. You have made a difference in lives of all you touched today.

Thank you also for giving us Steve Vander Molen. Sometimes a quick glance at people is difficult to size them up.

I’ve spent just a few days with this man called Steve, but I can see already what a blessing his heart must be to all that he touches in his home and at GFS.  1 Sam 16;7 says the Lord does not look at the the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Thank you Steve for washing the feet of Agness, one of our PCM matrons. You have one of the biggest hearts I have ever seen. I am grateful to serve with you.

Thank you Rich Wolowski for washing the feet of Teacher Emmy, for getting the Wolverine Foundation to donate all 150 pair of Merrill boots and shoes for every single PCM staff member and then letting the Lord use you to talk American Airlines into waiving the $1200 worth of bag fees to get them here. I am honored to call you my friend.

These shoes will be worn till they are no longer recognizable, but your act of service will never be forgotten.

Thank you Dave Dow for your encouragement to our sponsorship coordinator Mellon.

You didn’t know that Mellon was in a terrible accident a few weeks ago on the way home from the funereal of EmmyD’s wife and could have died easily, but your action of service and kind words will propel Mellon to a greater love for her Father while she works in Uganda and on her upcoming PCM Choir Tour #1 starting in April.

Thank you Dave for bringing smiles to so many today.

Thank you team for washing the feet of One by One, our dump truck driver. You didn’t know he got his name from doing things very meticulously one at a time, but he was thrilled to be honored by your service.

PCM 27 I don’t think you know truly what a servant that this man truly is. His name is Pastor Charles.

He has built with his hands and a hammer nearly every building that stands at our campus. No one works longer, harder or under such overwhelming obstacles than Charles. What you don’t know is that Charles has nearly died three times the last 5 years since I have known him. He is HIV+ and came to know the Lord nearly 20 years ago stopping in Mbarara with his construction team for some work.  Pastor Emmy brought him to the Lord and now together they stand as brothers serving the men and women of PCM together. He has helped build the houses of more people than I can count on both my hands while patiently waiting on his own to go up. You see PCM 27, you didn’t know what an act of service it was to wash the feet of this man.  If all you can do is pray for our ministry I am pleading for you to pray for this man and what he means to all us.

Thank you Frank for what you have done for him today.

At the end of the time together the team called me forward. Led by my neighbor Randy Stevenson they began to wash my feet.

Clearly I didn’t feel worthy. My feet lacked any callouses like those we washed today. There is not much of anything I have lacked in 47 years on this earth. I have suffered very little. Never probably would be a better statement. To think I should be honored like these heroes of mine is really not right. They have given nearly all they have………I have not.  To be honest, I have learned how to give from all of them.

They teach me daily of what servant leadership looks like. I am humbled to walk alongside some of God’s greatest servants. People loving the children who have been neglected and rejected in a big way. People working right off on a lonely dirt road in nowhere Uganda. People who shall have a crown in heaven someday that will so outshine mine in every way, shape, and form.

PCM Uganda thank you for the privilege of letting PCM 27 serve you today.

You are worthy of honor.

Jesus is smiling at you and so are we.

For His Kingdom,

Epa

Time would come for this day.  Seemingly we just arrived and time has flown by like a Ugandan crested crane.  Before departing we had a bit of work to do. As you know we are preparing a group of the children to come in April of 2013. Cultural training has already started and we decided on PCM 24 to be a part of that process.

Common greetings is one of the places we started. Shaking hands is taken for granted sometimes, but every single one of the kids now knows how to look someone in the eye and give a firm handshake.

Even Coffee Cup Cody joined us with this process.

These children will not lack enthusiasm either when they wake up thanks to Ed Barret. Nobody gets others “fired up” like you do.

One of our other jobs was to teach some table manners. Quite the job if all you ever know is eating with your hands and a plate.

The PCM Choir must no doubt be ready in all areas to make a good impression wherever they stay.

The fun part was including all the children learning how to eat like a “mzungu.”

There are still some gold medal champions out there from this summer’s PCM Olympics ready to accomplish another task.

Thanks to the ladies for leading this teaching.  I played the role of demonstrating how “not” to do a lot of things.

We told the kids that all of them would eat tonight with a fork and a napkin. Listening to their “cheer”  you would have thought we were offering a double dip of haagen daz to go along with their posho and beans.

Feet were on the floor and napkins were in the lap.  They were doing such an amazing job.  Some of them even asked if they could talk in between bites!!!  Supermom you have done a marvelous job raising these children. So teachable all of them.

Before leaving for the school we stopped by Emmy and Supermom’s home again to see how close they were to moving.

What a beautiful structure.  Since 2008 they have been renting in a very poor part of town. Jesus has given them a new residence with a million dollar view. If I didn’t have two terrific parents my prayer would be to be dropped off at the steps of this home. A home so full of Jesus’ love that everyone who enters never remains the same.

All that remains for them finishing and entering is money to pay the interior doors ($860), a tank for the flushing toilets ($560), and some bathroom wall tiles ($500). We know that God will provide.

I still can’t believe that they are this close to moving in to a home of their own. A place to call their own.

Supermom is something.  She sees a small piece of extra land, some extra bricks and convinced builder Godfrey to add on a few extension rooms so the boys wouldn’t be 10 to a room. Don’t ya just love Supermom.  Who can say no to this lady. Certainly not Emmy or me.

Just in their back yard, this is another Pastor Emmy. Yes that is right

He stood waiting to talk to us about the PCM church in the back yard where our PCM hotel will stand one day. This church is thriving and full of new members. Right now we have taken the outer cut of many trees (the cheapest piece of wood) and constructed a church home for these people.

One thing that both Pastor Emmys told me is they want to honor God first and move this church just down the street before we break ground on our PCM hotel. Folks, that is what I call having your priorities set right. Thank you Emmys for showing how to love God first like you commanded us in Matthew.  We have seen some property nearby and are praying that God will provide for that request.

“Pastor Emmys” also are striving to reach out to the prison nearby and we are having an incredibly fruitful influence already.  Here is an email I received today.

Beloved Epa ,

We are doing the Prison Ministry and we have seen God moving mightily in the hearts of those in Prison. We thank God for what He has done through PCM for the Prisoners. They are our brothers and Sisters and they really need us.” Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.” Heb 13:3. This Christmas season we really I have these Prayer requests below for the People in Prison:

1.Praying that many will accept Jesus as their personal Savior.

2.The Holy Spirit will tranform them and come out of the Prison preaching Jesus.

3.The Lord will also help their families to overcome all the challenges they meet while they are in Prison.

We would love to raise some help so we can be a blessing to them in the Christmas time by at least buying them rice, a few bulls to slaughter and eat, clothes, blankets and soap.That will encourage them a lot.

We also want to visit very poor widows in our community here with a package having at least some clothes, 5kg of Rice, 3kg of Sugar, 3bars of Soap, bread, and 2kg of meat because they normally feel very abandoned when they need also to enjoy this big day but they find having nothing and yet no one can give them.

Keep that in your prayers beloved.

Emmy

Thank you Pastor Emmys and Supermom for thinking of others first and always.  Your example of putting your faith to action is a role model to all of us.  Praise God for your giving hearts of love that knows no end.

So thankful that every single person that enters your home will walk over this greeting and know that it is true by your shining example.

Back to Mbarara and the children for our departure. Normally this day is met with many tears. Today I really wanted to make it different.

We would first play some  Ugandan games. No need to describe the joy that was had here.

Thank you Abias and Evelyn.

Thank you Martin

Elsam and Supermom your duel was a PCM classic.

Supermom even though you didn’t win,

you didn’t back down from the fight with the strongest man on our campus. Bravo. Superjob.

Kyomu, thank you for spending your entire Thanksgiving break encouraging these children.  You have loved your brothers and sisters well again.

You are having an influence on your peers by sharing your Ugandan family.  I know Jesus is proud of what you are doing for Him.

Mbabazi, you are a faithful servant.  You are a quiet leader of action. You are an inspiration to your Ugandan family and I know you will be waiting in April to greet them, offering your room to all your brothers and sisters who shall come. ;o)

I am so proud of the lady you have become and how you have stood for your Jesus among all the teen pressures.  Well done my girl.  Art school soon awaits for you but that doesn’t mean you can’t spend thanksgivings in Uganda with us.  ;o)

Dad, Kiconco and I have prayed for a long long time for this day to be a reality.

You have made the journey, even making it to Mbarara National Golf club.

There are only 2 holes and the course doesn’t look active, but you can say you were there.  There aren’t too many courses around the world you have missed.  Thanks for giving up your game to come with me for PCM 24.

Mom, so glad we got to honor your 50 years of marriage in a big big way.  Who can say that their Golden Jubilee celebration was such a blessing that 3 people came to know Jesus by attending.  Wow. Wow. Wow.  That will be a PCM classic for decades to come.

I am grateful that both of you have set foot on this land, that you know your Ugandan family,

and you know the mission He has called our family to.

You inspired others with your endurance and your strength during this trip doing better than many much younger that have preceded you. As many people know, this journey is not for the weak.  May the Lord richly bless you for traveling to the other side of the world at the age of 73 years.  One day I hope to stand at Katyazo when Kiconco and I are in our 70s and have a celebration like the one you had.

Kelly and Chandler you are such terrific travel mates. Never complaining and always ready for the challenge. I’ll never forget Chandler always leading the pack ready for any adventure ahead that awaited.  Some of our days were not easy, but you were always there ready to serve others with a great attitude. You encouraged me daily with that. You turned down a Disney cruise with the rest of your family to go tromp around in the mud with our PCM orphans. Thank you. We were so blessed to have you both.

Thank you Chandler for sharing your voice to inspire our children and especially the pastors.

Gabrielle, you are a PCM veteran now and PCM church member. No one has pleaded harder to go back than you. Thank you for that persistence with your father. We are so grateful to your parents for releasing you and your sister Noelle to serve this Thanksgiving week in Uganda. I love having both of you with my girls because not once did I have to correct anything either of you did.  You have been taught well the Wallace way and you were both model citizens of how to act without parents during a PCM trip.

Knowing your family for a long time, there is a certain spunk, a bit of “party in a box” when you ask the Wallace family to join ya.

This trip was no exception.  Way to go. You didn’t disappoint. You dove in headfirst at whatever we were doing………….there will always be room in our Miracle Buses or Vans for you Wallaces.  You are part of our family always.

Chuckles, we knew way back that your feet would hit this dirt in Uganda. The only question was when. We were not surprised when you told us you would join us for PCM 24.  God knew all along you would be Noah and He would call down rain right in His timing.

Together with your creative daughter, MK, we have never brought a Bible story to life like we did with Noah’s Ark. Thank you both for leading and sharing your gifts and talents to encourage hundreds of PCM children and other onlookers.

So proud to call your family a friend of ours here in America and now in Uganda!!!

Finally, this trip would be a bit unique on our departure. We would be leaving behind Kiconco and “Coffee Cup Cody.” There would be work remaining for both of them in Uganda. I can’t wait to see how the Holy Spirit uses them both these next three weeks encouraging others and capturing the PCM story on video.

There are not many places I would leave my wife, but this is one of them. I am kinda jealous to be honest. Staying back with the needy and orphaned. Can you imagine the unconditional love and acceptance they will experience just being present with this group daily.

As a doctor’s wife, many opportunities await you when you move to a community. The list is endless of what we could plug into. I am thankful to have a wife who serves as a rudder to the Barret ship constantly redirecting it from our selfish navigation. She knows only one path to travel and she is doing just that daily.

We are thankful in our family to have a mom and a wife that would be willing to “carry on” without us.  Not many women I know would be up for this challenge, but you are.  You are the wife Jesus knew I needed. Not only do you inspire me, but you do to so many other mzungus with your words and actions.  Yes, you are right…….Jesus is coming back and what you are doing for Him is just what He has asked of you.  Thank you for being obedient to His call.

I love you Kiconco……..forever.  I would never be the husband or father I am without your presence in my life.

Enjoy your time with the family.

Signing off from serving with PCM 24,

Epa.

Today was really why we make this journey.  If you ever doubted that our children didn’t anticipate or get excited for just our presence then maybe these pictures can change your mind. If you have ever sponsored with us and made the journey, you will be able to relate to the emotions conveyed on some of these photos.

Normally the children wait behind the gate for us to enter. Today was not one of those days. They came charging out of the gate at first site of the bus.

A bad rain storm had delayed our arrival. They had been prepared for hours to greet us.

If you ever volunteered as a greeter at your local church and wanted to know what you are supposed to do those mornings……..well this is what I think He had in mind.

I won’t say much else but you have seen this response over and over and over.  Never will it get old to be received by our PCM family.

This humble dirt patch down a potholed tiny mud puddle road filled with tiny homes is our home.  The PCM epicenter of the world. Entering in these gates requires smiles. Especially when Jude is on the drum.

A few weeks ago one of our nurses at my hospital came up to me and said she had just finished reading our PCM book, So Much More.  She said, “Dr Barret, the way you smile when you are over there……..I can tell that God has called you to that place.”

Of course that was followed by this joke, “How come we never see you smiling like that walking down the pediatric hall over here at the hospital?”

Sometimes the best thing to do is to try not to compare the thought of why being with a dirty hungry bare footed orphan is better than handling that case of chronic constipation that gets admitted to the hospital.  Sometimes it’s best not to say anything.  I am learning that slowly as my hair is falling out of my head.

After arrival I made the trek to the multipurpose building. For the first time ever we had a meeting there.  Gathered in the front to greet me were the headmasters of each of our seven schools and our school advisor. They had annual reports to give to Emmy, Kiconco and me.

Nearly five years ago Kiconco and I stood inside our humble PCM office and received a report from Pastor Emmy, Supermom and our 8 teachers about their incredible time of hardship.  No salary for an entire year. Only one teacher, Petua had remained from the year before.  The rest had given up faith. In short, for sure this was the hardest meeting I had ever been to in my life.  Two ministry directors and 8 teachers pleading for help through their eyes and unspoken words. To be honest, the needs were so great that Kiconco and I didn’t even accept the challenge. We knew we could find “professionals” to do this job to help them.  What we never knew (yet Pastor Emmy did know) is that He had called us to that job right there and then. Our stubborn disobedience was so blatantly obvious. I bet some of you can relate.  A job so big from Him that never in your imagination could you ever think that a possibility existed for you to be able to complete the task. No way. No how.

Today, was not that day.

In fact today, may have been one of the best meetings I have ever attended. The Lord brought before Emmy, Kiconco and me 7 PCM headmasters, our school advisor with their annual reports of school achievement and hardships.  Oh my goodness praise you Jesus. We have come full circle from that day in March of 2008. I received a typed 4 page report on each school complete with dozens of statements like this from one of our headmasters,  “Thank you so much for feeding our children this year.  We are the only school out of 12 in the subcounty (local region) that is feeding students lunch. We have been able to feed our children both breakfast and lunch. Parents nearby are trying desperately to get their children to attend our PCM school so they can eat and study.” Wowza……….nuff said. Praise God for all of you who gave to our feeding program this year.

Another PCM headmaster said  “A lady at a local school down the road is ready to sell her school of 220 to PCM. She says she will never be able to reproduce what PCM is doing for their children.”

Praise God for Supermom, Pastor Emmy and head teacher Jonathan for instilling “the PCM way” to all of our 7 schools. People are noticing the joy that is present.

About 3 hours later we were finished.  I could have listened for about 30 hours to be honest. I could type for hours but I won’t……..today.  ;o) If you want to know more just ask.

Today this picture tells a thousand words too.

Hey everyone.  This is Lori!  Almost to the exact date of this trip one year ago I set out on my first journey to Uganda to see my family’s sponsor child and experience what so many others had already experienced before me.  The trip was life changing.  The opportunity to witness the Ugandan people worship God with such abandonment was something you can never forget.

Soon after I came home, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to inquire about the sponsorship coordinator position for the Sanga school.  Within a few minutes into my conversation with Christie, she told me that she had already planned to ask me about the position.  I knew with certainty this is where the Lord wanted me to be.   The more I became involved with the ministry the more and more I began to love PCM; I loved the staff, the sincerity each person has to give God the glory, the sincere thanksgiving for what God had done and was still doing and the way God was clearly using the ministry to bring the body of Christ together.

Christie and I began discussing the next opportunity to travel to Uganda together in October of 2012.  Then in May, she announced to me that she would not be going and asked if I would be interested in leading a team.  In the beginning I was a little overwhelmed at the thought of taking on the responsibility.  I’ve never been one comfortable in the spotlight, but rather receiving the blessing of working behind the scenes.  However, God calls us out of our comfort zones to show how mighty He is.  With that in mind, I said “yes.”  God has had His hands in this trip since the very beginning, through the planning stages and now.  I can’t wait to experience what God will do through Team 23!  I am humbled to serve Jesus in the capacity.  My cup is overflowing!

Although today was designated a travel day, it was still wonderful!  We were able to see the children!  Here is Kim Sonnier’s account of our visit.

No words can come close to describing the experience our team shared here in Mbarara today.  After dropping our luggage off at our hotel, we were anxious to head out for a quick visit to our first school before dinner.  Pastor Emmy came and took us to the school.  When we entered the gates of school, we were greeted by hundreds of smiling faces, loudly singing for us as we stopped and began crawling our way out of the Land Cruiser.  The welcome we received was overwhelming.  The children began hugging us before our feet could even touch the ground. Each child wanted to take a turn hugging us and greeting us with huge smiles and bright eyes.  The children’s smiles were big, but I think ours might just have been bigger! We smiled until our cheeks hurt!  It was better than I could have ever imagined. The children then began singing and praising while we were blessed to watch in awe as they gave their hearts and souls to the Lord in worship.  I have never been so touched as I was today witnessing such joyous praise.

After we were introduced, Pastor Emmy asked us to stand among the children.  Then, the children reached out to touch us and to pray for our safety and health during our journey.  As we walked into the crowds of children, they each bowed their heads with eyes tightly shut and reached out and touched those of us closest to them.   Feeling those precious little hands touching us, and hearing them all praying out loud altogether their own little prayer, had to be one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard.  We were overwhelmed to tears.  I began to pray also and ask God to please let me be a blessing to these kids, but knew in my heart that it would be only a small fraction of the blessings they were giving me, in comparison.

The time passed all too quickly.  It was so hard to leave them, but we knew we would be seeing them in a couple of days.  With smiles and waves and tears in our eyes, we loaded up with Pastor Emmy and headed back to our hotel for some much needed rest.

The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. Lamentations 3:24

As we approach the date for our visa appointment at the US Embassy in just a few days, I thought I would look back at our choir and what they have meant to our family and everyone who has ever heard them sing.  Seems like yesterday when our family was traveling down the potholed roads of Uganda in 2008 with no view out of the windshield hardly.

I remember the first time we saw the children at school.  We got out of the rented van and looked to find these children staring right at us, not quite sure what to make of our mzungu family.

As the week went on, a comfort level developed between both of us. What broke the ice for our family was sitting in Sunday service and seeing the PCM Ugandan Children’s Choir step up to sing a song.  They had made a special white t-shirt  decorating it just for the special event. Soon, the singing would begin. There was Abias on the front row with her mouth open praising the Lord.

After hearing just the first song, we knew the Lord had something very special tucked away on a lonely dirt road in remote southwest Uganda.  Wow, could these children praise the Lord!! It was probably the most difficult thing on our return to express to others:  the joy of worship from these kids. Back 4 and 1/2 years ago, we weren’t even aware that He was calling us to lead this ministry.  Yet, all of us were able to discern what a precious jewel the Lord had shown us while we were there. What a gift we received that first ever Sunday service.

Their joy was magnificently greater than ours, and they were drinking this water from the river behind the school. Here was Abias putting good use to the Double Bubble bucket.

This water moved our family to action shortly after our first trip.  Along with the help of many others, we knew we were being called to action. There were so many needs we were nearly overwhelmed before He had done anything through us.

Romans 8:25 says “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” Soon many blessings would follow.  More and more teams would arrive.

Each team would be greeted by Jude and the rest of the choir on arrival and practically every day.  PCM USA team members would return home saying, ” I finally have seen what worshipping Jesus looks like. You have to go see these PCM children.”

Thank you Martin and many others for showing us how to express your love for the Lord.  Where can you go in the world and have a 7 year old teach a 42 old anything?

Mbarara Uganda.  That’s right.

“But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.” Psalm 71:14

As time has progressed, the worship has continued and the praise for Him has been more and  more.

We began to pray that Pastor Emmy would get a USA visa knowing full well, this would be a preview to bringing the choir over one day.  As I write, Pastor Emmy has visited the US three times, and we have had 22 US teams experience this worship in person with another in route within days.

My deepest desire is for my family, friends and all of our PCM sponsors and supporters to get to worship with these children in person next April during a tour of Texas.  There could be no greater gift we could share with you for all you have done for this ministry. Holding our hands up high to Him, I can just hear Jude now singing “Thank you Jesus.”  Abias will be right behind that with “Jesus is a winner man, a winner man, a winner man.”  Oh how we long for you to join us in worship for thanksgiving of Him.

All that awaits for that to happen is a blessing from the US consular officer in Kampala this Tuesday (Monday evening middle of the night US time.)  Please join with us in prayer this weekend and Monday when you go to bed.

“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.” Romans 15:13.

Lord, you have a hope and a future for all these children.  We are waiting to greet them.

“But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7

Epa and Kiconco

As we landed in Entebbe, imagine our surprise we discovered that our sextet has become a quintet! Danny Loeffleholz, who was arriving late from Tyler through Dallas through Houston through Amsterdam to Entebbe didn’t even make it out of the Lone Star State. He got caught in the post-Fourth of July travel madness, had a late flight, and missed his connection. He’s stuck in Tyler and will miss the trip.  If I’m not mistaken, he now holds the dubious distinction of being the first person in 22 trips to have his trip cancelled due to flight connections. Congratulations, Danny! Brad (Mr. Longhorn) Blacketer and Greg (Mr. Aggie) Strnadel are even now, as I write, in the process of brainstorming regarding what prize to give a Sooner like you for such an honor!

We made the 5 hour car trip to Mbarara, addled with sleep-deprived fog and punctuated with several planned trips to drop off things we had brought to several ministries, as well as several “mystery stops” initiated by Pastor Emmy. Upon arrival at the Lake View Resort Hotel, Brad  (“Murungi”) , grinning like a kid in a candy store, dropped his bags and, together with Morgan and the Strnadels, sprinted off to the school. I stayed behind to prepare, now that the four sessions I was preparing for Saturday’s, Sunday’s, and Monday’s pastors conference had spontaneously generated to eight.

This was Greg’s and Cason’s first trip to the school.  The kids greeted them with song. Cason was struck by how happy the kids were. Greg saw how intently they worshipped, with eyes closed and hands upraised.

Cason said it was different from worship at his school’s chapel. He said that he “believes that it’s due to gratefulness. They don’t live in the Land of Entitlement like we do; they count on the Lord for every meal, every provision. This dependence creates tremendous trust, reliance, and intimacy. It was awesome.” Greg was overwhelmed by the kindness and love he saw reflected in the eyes of everyone.

Morgan met her “sister” Olivia, the Blacketer’s sponsored child; it was an emotional moment that led her to tears.

She was overwhelmed that this girl, whose dad ran off and whose mom couldn’t take care of her, wound up being “adopted” into her family, provided for, loved and prayed for from afar. It reminded her that Christ had done that for her, too, and it heightened the tears. When they met, it was as if they had known each other forever, despite never laying eyes on each other. The Holy Spirit within their hearts cried out to each other. She was a part of her family. Words couldn’t describe God’s goodness in that moment.

Three more happy “customers”. Thank you, Jesus.