Counting down the hours...

After some chaos at the airport this morning...we made it to D.C.!
The lady at the ticket counter definitely needed more coffee or something.
There was some miscommunication on their part & our bags almost went straight to Uganda!
Luckily, they straightened everything out & our Nashville crew thankfully ended up with all 15 checked bags!

Want to see what that looks like?

Arrived at our hotel & our rooms still weren't ready yet so we stored our bags & went to get lunch.

I think all of us were definitely running on adrenaline & it just hit us all- we needed a nap after a big lunch.

After we checked in, most of the team decided to rest until dinner time.

We gathered in the hotel lobby for a team dinner! What a fun group of ladies!!

It is so great seeing all of the different personalities :)

I'm excited to see what God is up to with this group!

So far, we have 18 team members

We have 1 more team member arriving yet tonight, her flight was delayed. Praying she arrives safely!

Tomorrow, we meet up with 3 more team members to complete our team of 22!

So excited for this adventure to begin!

Boarding Ethiopian Airlines at 12:00 PM tomorrow- straight to Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia!

That 5:30 AM alarm is going to come quick- so good night everyone!

Thanks for all of your prayers!

Next blog post will most likely come from Africa!

Blessings,

Brenda

Women on a Mission...

Well, here we are! Off to D.C. tomorrow with most of our team..

and then on Sunday it's off to AFRICA we go!
22 women. Lots of luggage. 2 countries. Lots of children to love...and a big, big GOD!


“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God Reigns'." Isaiah 52:7




Please PRAY that:

• God would be glorified by EVERY aspect of our trip
• Each of us, as well as the ministries & children with whom we work and share with would have a personal and powerful encounter with God
• The unconditional love of God would radiate in and through each of our lives
• God would put a hedge of protection around the entire trip
• Satan would be bound from anything that distracts anyone from hearing the voice of God in the area where we’ll be sharing the love of Christ
• All participating on this trip would be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit
• God’s Word would be proclaimed with power and produce life change (transformation)
• God would give us strength and good health through the trip
• God would protect and provide for family members back home
• God would give wisdom to those speaking and teaching and listening ears to the people we come in contact with during the trip
• Divine appointments, both with those we share with as well as other we might encounter while traveling
• All team members and translators would be bold and creative in sharing our faith
• We would make quick adjustments to time and cultural changes
• Revival would break out with people to whom we minister
• Angels would surround our flights
• We are all able to sleep well on the plane in order to be refreshed to do God's work
• All of our team members and all of our luggage will arrive safely
• God would protect us during our in-country travels since we will be doing a lot of it on this trip
• Many orphan children will know they are loved by us, and most importantly -  by their HEAVENLY FATHER!

Thank you for all of your love, support & prayers!

Serving in HIS name,
Brenda

Uganda/Kenya 2011 Itinerary

In just a few days, I will embark on another amazing journey with Visiting Orphans to Africa with a team of 22 women traveling from all over the United States! This trip will consist of traveling to Uganda for the 1st portion of our trip and then to Kenya for the 2nd portion! This will be our 1st Visiting Orphans trip to Kenya, and thus our 1st visit to these partner ministries and children's homes. Below is our general in-country itinerary. This is how many of our trips are set up, with changes as we form new in-country partnerships and relationships. We ask for your prayers as we begin this journey on Sunday, June 26th!

Uganda/Kenya June-July 2011 Itinerary

Day 1

Fly out of the Dulles airport on Ethiopian airlines Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia.

Day 2

Arrive in Kampala. Check-in to Guest House. Exchange money, use internet. Rest some,

sort through orphanage donations, have dinner & devotions with the team.

Day 3

Breakfast at Guest House. Spend the day ministering with the children at

SixtyFeet (children’s prison). Dinner with team.

Day 4

Breakfast at Guest House. Spend the morning ministering with the children

at SixtyFeet (children’s prison). Eat a quick lunch at the Guest House. Spend

the afternoon with Rebecca Sorensen and the children at My Father’s

House. Dinner at Guest House.

Day 5

Breakfast at Guest House. Depart to Jinja and spend the day with

Godfrey and the street children at Pillars of Hope. Check into King Fisher

Resort. Drive to Amani Baby Cottage to spend time with the babies, help feed

them dinner & put them to bed. Dinner at King Fisher.

Day 6

Breakfast at King Fisher. Spend the day with the Karamajong’s with

Pastor Andrew. Shopping, internet & coffee in Jinja. Relax by the pool and

have dinner with team.

Day 7

Breakfast at King Fisher. Drive to Amazima ministries to work with Katie

Davis and her feeding program. Drive to Kampala & check-in at

the Guest House. Sort through donations for Kenya ministries, have dinner,

devotion & relaxation time with the team.

Day 8

Breakfast with team and check-out of Guest House. Attend

Church with Pastor Samuel and the children at Return Ministries. Arrive at

Entebbe airport and depart to Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia.

Day 9

Arrive in Nairobi. Take mini-bus to Hope Community

Center orphanage. Breakfast with the team. Spend the morning with the children.

Teach a VBS and eat lunch with the children. Dinner with the team.

Day 10

Breakfast with the team, spend the day with children at Hope Community

Center and say goodbye. Depart to Nakuru. Arrive at

Fiwagoh Orphanage & spend time with Pastor Benson and the children, eat

dinner and spend the night.

Day 11

Breakfast with the team. Spend the morning with children at Fiwagoh

orphanage with Pastor Benson. Eat lunch with the children and teach a

VBS. Dinner and devotions with the team.

Day 12

breakfast with the team, depart to Eldoret. Arrive at Grace of God Children’s

Home and eat lunch at Christ Restoration Church. Spend the day with the children

& teach a VBS. Eat dinner with the children and the team.

Check-in to Hotel in Eldoret City. Rest & relax the rest of the evening with the team.

Day 13

Breakfast with the team and spend the morning with children at Grace

of God Children’s Home. Eat an early lunch and say goodbye to children.

Depart for Nairobi and check-in to the YMCA. Dinner and trip re-cap with team.

Day 14

Breakfast at hotel. Shopping at market in Nairobi. Arrive at the Nairobi

airport and depart for Addis Ababa airport. Depart to the States!

Day 15

Arrive in D.C. and depart for home! This trip has changed your life

and has touched the lives of hundreds of orphans in Uganda & Kenya!

 

Are you interested in a mission trip with Visiting Orphans?

Visit our website at www.visitingorphans.org to view a list of our 2011/2012 mission trips!

Is God calling you to GO?

Take a glimpse into a Visiting Orphans mission trip to Africa!

Why not you? Why not Africa? Why not now?

Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not

This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong

But I refuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself

Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God

So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well

I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I refuse
I refuse

 

- Josh Wilson -

 

Visit our website today for details on our upcoming Summer/Fall/Winter 2011 Africa trips!

You can also view our current 2012 trips- more to come!