Exciting News

I have been following some blogs of families that are adopting from the orphanage I am visiting in Uganda. Today I found out that three of the Moms are flying to Uganda the same time as me. We are actually all on the same flight! We are making plans to meet up at Heathrow Airport. This is such a blessing because I have been praying for them and their children! Here are pictures of 2 of the families when they first met their children in April:



The Pari Family with Jay

The Gunderson Family with Judah

Good Morning America!

African Children's Choir to Perform on Good Morning America! Wednesday, July 11th at 8:45am. Check local listings.

The bandannas have arrived!

I had a little help practicing for the project I will do with the children in Africa. Here are the results. What do you think?

Great work Lydia and Josiah!

Africa: Popular travel destination?



Apparently the answer is a resounding NO! Tonight I was in Barnes and Noble and the INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL section caught my eye. I wandered over and began looking for Uganda. I then realized that the books were categorized by region so I began looking for Africa. Know what I found??? 7 books...that's it...7 books. There were 5 bookcases full and less than 1/2 of a shelf was dedicated to Africa. This served as a huge reminder of God's goodness to me! Not very many Western people will get to visit Africa in their lifetime and here I am traveling there for the second time! "Every good and perfect gift is from above."



Just in case you forgot how BIG Africa is or ever wondered where Uganda is I am providing this visual:)

I just ordered 55 doz. bandannas!!! Please pray that they come in on time. I ordered several different solid colors that the kids are going to tie-dye with bleach. I had an interesting time in the ordering process. The first place I found that sold them in bulk had the smaller size (14x14in) available for the great price of .30 each ! BUT, when I called to order they mentioned that this size would not work for the kids to tie on their heads....bummer! The next size up would cost almost twice as much and I could only chose ONE color. On top of all of that....the amount I was ordering would weigh 58lbs!!! I had to laugh...their was NO WAY that was going to work! So I decided to wait and pray. The next day I was searching websites once again. I found a place where I could order the larger size in many colors and it would cost the same as the smaller ones AND (surprise!) they weigh only 42lbs! God is so good!

Help! I'm stuck in the baby department!

HELP! I'M STUCK IN THE BABY DEPT. OF WALMART!

In anticipation of making Amani Baby Cottage the first stop of my Uganda trip I have run into a slight problem~Walmart Baby Dept.! The two little outfits above have strawberries on them so of course I HAD to get them. I am hoping the pink dress will fit baby Violet who I met last year. But if you see me wandering in the Baby section of Walmart please chase me out! I can only fit so much in my luggage! The orphanage specifically requested pajamas and cloth diapers so I am trying to make that my priority! The next pictures are of pajamas that Mary Ellen, Peggy, and I found at garage sales and some new pairs from a CCA family. I can't wait to dress the babies in them!

60lbs of school supplies

60 lbs OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES!

I have one bag almost packed! I filled a whole suitcase with craft supplies from an organization that collects used school supplies at the end of the school year. Now I have enough crayons, pencils, scissors, glue, and watercolor paints for all 625 students!!! I am hoping to use the last 10lbs allotted to this bag for cloth diapers and pajamas for the orphanage. Thankfully, the airline allows me to take three 70lbs bags because my trip is considered a "humanitarian effort". The next few weeks, at my church, I am collecting items specific to the crafts I am planning. I need safety pins, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, fun foam, construction paper, and colored drinking straws. Any help with these items is appreciated!