Hello from Africa there has been so much here that GOD has allowed me to be a part of since my last email home. I told you in my last email home how I had the chance to work with the street kids and the children's ministry day at Calvary Chapel. While on June 3rd - 6th GOD gave me the opportunity to serve HIM in a very different way, this time with Missionary kids mostly Muzungu. There was around 50 or so missionaries from the IMB where here in Jinja. They were from Jinja, Kampala, Kenya and even the Sudan they were here for a 4 day prayer retreat. While they were here I had the privilege for serving as one of their children volunteers and teaching their children in VBS for those days.


I have to tell that doing VBS here in Africa is very challenging do to limited supplies and things don't always work here, like they do in the states either. I have be truly honest with you I really missed our supply closet at Tunnel Hill, being able to go Wal-Mart or calling the best church secretary around to have her order stuff for me and of course all of you who help with VBS at Tunnel Hill.

How I wish these MK and the children of Africa could see and experience how we do VBS in the states. They could not truly imagine just how VBS is suppose to be done. And you think you are tired after doing VBS from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm each night there in the states you should try doing it here in this heat from 8:30 am until 6:00 pm with only a break for lunch.

God can and does great things even with limited supplies. It was great to see these precious children bond with each other over these few days. And to hear them interact in the story telling. I looked into these precious faces of these dear boys and girls during that week and see future missionaries, Sunday school teachers, preachers and worship leaders. I can not wait to see just how GOD uses each of them as they grow up to be men and women serving HIM. I am very thankful for this chance to be a small part of their lives even if it is just for a few days.

I am also very thankful for all of your prayers during that week. I asked you specifically for a certain little preschooler and I praise GOD that I can report to you that I truly bonded with that precious little boy and I am ever thankful to report to you that your prayers were answered and he never said “THAT WORD” the whole time I had him. Please continue to remember him and his family in your prayers as the face great challenges in the Sudan.

On Sunday I had the chance to not only serve the children but also serve all their parents as well. We had on last meal together before they all headed back to their homes. We went eat at Serge’s for pizza and he were short handed and since he is husband to the owner of the baby cottage I serve at I filled in for him and took drink orders and delivered drinks and pizzas to over 70 people. (GOD will use you in a lot of ways if you are just willing to let HIM).

This week I got a great and wonderful surprise from home it was the care package that the Boyd’s, Smith’s, and all of the McClain’s sent me. It was wonderful to receive this fantastic care package. It made my day and the day of so many others as I shared what was in side.

I have to tell you I never knew how such little things can make someone so happy. You see about 4 weeks ago how Mama Agatha one of the dear Ugandan ladies (she is our Ugandan case worker) asked me if I had brought some extra notebooks with me and I told her no I had not. But I had forgotten that I had asked Julie to send me some so when she came into the office on Monday she asked me was the big box sitting there from the states and I told her yes.

Then I asked her did she remember asking me about an extra notebook and she said yes. I told her that my church family had sent me some and I would give her one. She could not believe that I would share with her what you sent me from the states. So I reached down inside that box to pull out a simple spiral notebook and handed it to her and you would have thought that I had given a million dollars. She hugged me and thanked me over and over so I asked her would one be enough she told me she would make it do. I told her that they had sent me several so I pulled out another one and handed it to her and she hugged and thanked me over and over and told me mama you have truly blessed me with your gift.

Even after being here almost 12 weeks now it still amazes me just how they are so excited over the littlest of things here. That same afternoon I opened a bag a gold fish crackers and shared them with her and several of the other Ugandan ladies here and they had never had anything like that before and to hear and see the excitement when they try these things is totally amazing.

One of the other things in my box that I was very excited about getting was applesauce (which I have been craving but Julie did not know that). On Wednesday I had given Agatha a strawberry granola bar and that got us started on another one of my great conversations about American this one was on farming and canning.

We got to talking about apples and what all can be done with them and I mentioned applesauce. She had never heard of it let alone tried it so I told her that was one of the items in my care package. I told her to hold on of just one minute while I ran up stairs to get something for her. I returned with a cup of applesauce and a spoon. She opened it and ate every last bite she said it was great and thanked me for sharing my American food with her and introducing her to applesauce.

I can not tell you just how much I appreciates all that you have sent me and these dear people. I just want you to know that GOD has used it in ways you can not imagine and for HIS honor and glory alone. So thank you a hundred times over for everything you have done and for all your prayers. I know that this may not seem like big things to you but to these dear ladies it means the world to them and to me that you sent these things. Thank you again for all you have done.

On Wednesday during our ladies bible study we were talking about going to some of the villages and I was telling them I had not been to the village yet here in Uganda and I missed that. Teresha who is the founder of “SPRING of HOPE” ministry said Friday was her clinical and she could really use the help if I wanted to come ago. I told her I would love to and that I would try to get her some other help too.

On Thursday it was truly bitter sweet for me as I moved from the baby’s home in to the owner’s parents house to house sit for the next few months at least. I know I need time away from the baby’s home but I also hated to move because I have been with my roommate Sarah for over 2 ½ months now and hated to leave her and the other volunteers that I had gotten close to. I also don’t know if I will feel safe in a big house by myself when I have lived in a room no bigger than Larry Anderson’s Sunday school class for almost 3 months now with at least 3 to 5 other girls. I moved in with Corky’s wife Dorothy and their daughter Stephanie and 3 of her 7 children. Stephanie has been her 8 months now working on her 3rd adoption here and they will be leaving here just as soon has she gets their visa worked out then I will be alone in this big house.

One of the things that I have done an awful lot of even before I ever left America and arrived in here in Africa is saying good bye, whether it was saying good bye to family and friends back home or to the people here that GOD places in my life for just a short time. I have to tell you that it does never gets any easier no matter who it is or how short a time you have known the person. Thursday night was another one of those nights where we had another one of our good bye dinners and to say our final good byes before someone else left to go back to the states. You know GOD puts people in our lives at just the right season and HIS perfect time so whether it is for a few weeks or for years GOD timing is perfect.

On Friday morning me & my roommate Sarah got up early to meet Teresha Clark of SPRING OF HOPE ministry who is one of the organizations' founders (she has a passion for helping children living with disabilities and epilepsy). We took boda bodas to the taxi park where we got on a van licensed for 14 and ended up with 22. At one point there were 5 people setting in the seat with me on a seat made for 3.

We took the taxi to the this little town were we met Teresha’s team of 3 Ugandan men, Emma (who teaches daily living skills to the children and as the Luganda translator), Charles (records, bookkeeping, organization during the clinic and education), and Moses (an occupational therapist that does a lot of PT and education as well). We all got on another van to drive into the village where there clinic is set up.

We arrived to fined a tent full of people waiting to be seen and waiting for their medication to be given out to them. Teresha had asked me would I be willing to do a GOD slot when we got there. I set under the tent with Charles as he took roll. I started my GOD spot by telling them that in the states we were getting ready to celebrate Father’s Day and I wanted to tell them about a Father that loved them so much that HE gave HIS one and only son for them and that HE would never leave them or forsake them. As I spoke Emma translated for me.

I went in to help count out pills for the clinic for a while. Then I came outside sit with Charles as he took roll. It was then that this little boy came up and grabbed my hand and tried to talk to me as only he could because you see he was deaf. His mother came up and told Charles that he needed to go beck to the deaf school but she had no money to send him. We told her that we would do what we could to send him. She told me as he was trying to communicate with me that he really loved Muzungu. I told her this muzungu loved him too.

I went back in to help count more pills when Moses came in from his nutrition class to tell Teresha that there were two that needed to go to the hospital. He asked what can we do to get them there so she turn to me ( you see on the van ride there she was talking about there need for sponsors so I had told her that GOD had provide some unexpected funds this week from a couple churches back home). Teresha look at me and said you had some extra money with you can you pay to send these kids to the doctor. I told her yes I GOD blessed me with this extra money this week that I was not expecting so yes I will help them. So I gave her the money and Moses asked me to walk back out to his class to met these two mom’s and their children.

It was there in Moses’ nutrition class that I noticed this mom holding this little girl. I am telling you that I have never seen anything like it before, you always hear about starving kids in Africa until you see it with your own eyes you can‘t believe it. This child’s arms and legs are no bigger then a stick. I have never seen anyone so skinny in my life. Moses turned to me and said that this little girl is 14 years old which I could not believe she looked to me be no older than 7 or 8 years old. I have never seen anything so sad as this little girl. She had malaria at 3 months of age, she doesn't talk, has never walked. Moses left me with them while he went in to get Teresha and she came out see this child. She said they needed money to feed this precious child. I gave the mother what they told me to give to feed this child for one month then they explain that they would be checking in on this child weekly to make sure she is improving & that the mother spends the money on milk for her.

I then when back into the clinic to help count out more medication and help out any way they needed. Spring of Hope ministry http://www.springofhope.org.uk/index.html works to provides Phenobarbital (anti-seizure medication) and folic acid (supplement) to 140 children with epilepsy. When we ended our day it was to get back on the van to leave out of that village and we took the little deaf boy that I started my day out with, with us so we could drop him off at one of the deaf schools.

Then we made one last stop and went to check on a 16 year old that they had found lying in the streets on Tuesday having a epileptic seizures. She has a one year old child that her grandmother is raising. She does not live with her grandmother she lives on the porch of a store in the village because of her condition and a mental illness and while she sleeps on that porch men who come and rape her in the dark of night. This is how she gets money to eat. Moses said that she will probably make 200 Ugandan Shillings (about 10 cents) for sleeping with them. We stopped by to check on her and Sarah and I gave the team money to get her medicine and buy her some food. They will continue to check up on her and hope that one day she will be able to go home.

I praise GOD for this opportunity to be a small part of what this great team is trying to do for GOD here in UGANDA and I look forward to serving with them again. Thank you to those who sent me extra money this week so that it come be used for these dear precious children. Thank you for all your prayers for me.

Continue to pray for these dear families who are trying to get home with there children and get all their paper work done. Gwen arrived back in Uganda on Wednesday and went to her visa appointment Friday now it is just wait and see what they ask for next. It was so good to see her and to she her with her babies.

Today is Tuesday and I received another fantastic care package from home this box was from JoAnn, Geneath, Judy, Judy, Missy and Carole. It was great and everyone is jealous of my American snacks. So I have been sharing with my Ugandan buddy’s and the family I am living with at the moment who has been here 8 months. So thank you so, so much for loving me so much and for sending me a care package.

Please remember me in your prayers as I fly to Kenya tomorrow to visit with Martin and the staff of PA for a couple days. Please pray that GOD will use me in Kenya these days. Pray for safe as I will be returning late on Saturday night and traveling through the forest after midnight and that is not always safe. Please continue to pray that GOD will be glorified and that HIS will is done. Please pray as I will be taking on a new roll at the babies home when I return on top of handling all the business there. They have asked me to help Agatha in reuniting the children that we have who have families in Uganda and to help with the home visits. Also pray as I have also been asked to help Teresha in her ministry and an other missionary has asked if I would pray about working with the street kids on a weekly bases. So please pray that GOD’S will is done.

Thank you for all your prayers for me and I miss you all so, so much. It is hard for me to believe that I have been gone three months. I stand amazed at what I have see GOD do in those three months and just what HE has taught me. I do miss being with each of you and being a part of what you are doing. But I know GOD has a mighty plan here and I am very honored to be just a small part of what HE is doing. I can not wait to see what HE does next and where HE leads me from here. I never imagined that I would have ever been a part of the things HE has allowed me to be a part of and oh the lessons HE has taught me.

Let me begin by thanking each of you for all your prayers for me and my dad. I PRAISE GOD that everything went well with his surgery. GOD was truly showed me that HE is in control and also with us in our time of need no matter where we are. HE also gave me two awesome room mates during this time that prayed with me while I was waiting for that phone and several other great volunteers that asked me about him. GOD also showed me that there is nothing more I could have done from the states that I was not already doing in Africa. HE is the one in control not me.


HE also allow me the opportunity to talk to one of my Ugandan mamas while we were waiting, she asked me was I worried about what would happen to my dad and I told her no that no matter what happened my dad would be ok and that GOD was in control. She kind of smiled this funny little smile so I asked her what and she said that the owners two girls had just asked her earlier if she noticed that every time you ask Auntie Tracey something she will said “let’s see what GOD has to say about that or “God is in control and if that is what HE wants me to do then I will.” She said they say you are always bring up GOD or talking to GOD. I told her I hope this was always true of me because I really truly to live my life under HIS control.

I have already had to say a lot of good byes in my 2 1/2 month stay here and one was to a very sweet young lady name Natalie she was one of my roommates that prayed for me during my dad's surgery. She and I had several great talks about what God is doing my life and hers. I just got the following email from her and wanted to share it with you:

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!! you have been such an encouragement to me!! Through our talks, your prayers for me, and your messages, God has totally used you to bring me encouragement and comfort! The tremendous, unwavering faith that you have in our Lord Jesus is so so inspirational and it really inspires me to be more trusting and faithful in my own walk with God!! Thanks so much for everything Trace!! I cant wait to see and hear about all the God is doing in your life, and how He works during your time in Africa!! i will be praying for you!! Also thanks so much for continually reassuring me that you will always be there for me! It means so much and I appreciate it beyond what words can say!! Your sincerity and love just truly blows my mind!! :) i miss you tons and just want you to know that I too will always be here for you!! please keep me updated on everything going on in your life!! give everyone a big hug and kiss from me!!

God Bless,

Nat

I wanted to share these two advents with you not to brag about what I have done because I have done nothing but to remind you that kids and people pick up on everything you say and do and you may never realize it. This is way it is very important that we live our lives pleasing to GOD because we are truly the only BIBLE some people will ever read. You never know who is watching you or listening to your every word. So please live your life as an example of GOD and HIS great love because you may never know just who you are impacting.

May 22nd was another one of those days to remember and I PRAISE GOD for I have now been here two months and as most of you know on April 6th of this year I had the honor of watching two families from Nashville meet their children for the first time one of those was my friend (thanks to Jon & Stacy Pardee) Gwen Oatsvalle and the other was the Hannah family. Gwen is getting two children a little boy and a little girl and the Hannah’s are getting a little boy.

The Hannah’s have stayed in Uganda since they arrived in April to work through all the red tape and the government run around here. Thanks to the flooding that happened in Nashville they were able to job to the top of the line and receive their visa for their son. This is the first guardianship visa issued in Uganda in over 8 or 9 months now. We are very excited about the fact this was done legally and through all the right channels because so much here in Uganda is done by paying people under the table.

It was amazing to be a part of everything this precious had to go through while they have been here. And to watch them bond with their new son these last 6 weeks. It was also amazing to see GOD’S perfect timing in all of this in the fact that the Hannah’s middle child in the states is graduating from high school on May 30 that they will be home for that. GOD is truly amazing and HE is still in control.

Please keep you prayers coming for these other dear families because we still have 3 families that are trying to get visa appointments and several families that are trying to get court dates. So please keep them in your prayers. Gwen is coming back next week for her visa appointment.

Other day while I was walking to town I saw a Uganda woman who I would say had to be in her 60’s. She was trying to balance a 12 foot log on her head. She was having a hard time get it centered by herself so I stopped and asked her get I help so together we lift it and placed it on her head then I handed her the machete and she thanked me and on her way she went. It truly amazes me what these amazing people can carry on their heads and even on the back of a bicycle or motorcycle.

I know what one of the first things I want to do when I do return to Tunnel Hill is and that is get Hunter & Will to teach me to ride a motorcycle. (Will you PLEASE?)

I walk or foot as they call it here most everywhere I go. And this truly amazes the Ugandans and even the Muzungu. I try to smile and say "Hello, how are you?" to everyone I pass by. Most will smile back and say "fine, how are you?" But there are a lot of street kids that will say "Muzungu, you give me my money." And this is hard to hear coming from a child but I have been told that it is not wise to give them money because they will use it to get high.

These dear people here in Uganda have a hard life but they are also so of the happiest people you will ever meet. Most make no more than 2,000 to 3,000 shillings a day which is $1 to $2 USD a day. Could you make it on that? Could you feed and take care of your family on that? Most of them live in houses no bigger then the men bible study class, most have very little electricity if any and no running water. I try to help when I can with some of the ones I have gotten closest to here by feed them when I can and I have even help with a couples their medical expenses.

We get volunteers from all over the US and Canada here. Since I still do not have not found housing I am still rooming with the volunteers on one of the top bunks in a room that sleeps 4 it is not as big as Larry Anderson's Sunday school class room. There are two bedrooms in the volunteer house one sleeps 6 and the other 4 but we have had up to 6 in my room on several occasions now. Then we also have a room in the back were the office is that will sleep 2. Being together 24/7 you get close to most of them and it is hard to say good bye. I have gotten the oppertunity to share what GOD has done in my life this past year with most of them. We have even had a Grandmother here for the last 2 1/2 weeks with her granddaughter. They where from Alabama their names were Dorothy and Macy. So don't say you are to old to go to Africa to serve GOD.

This past Sat morning I got the opportunity to to help serve at Carvery Chapel and to help with their children's ministry event it was a race for kids 5 and up. I took Macy with me and we were asked to work with the kids who were under 5 years old. We had 60 that were under 5 years of age most were street kids and most of them did not understand any thing this Muzungu said but we played with them and sang to them and I even told bible stories to them for over 4 1/2 hours. One of the songs I sang was "Zaccahaeus was a wee little man" and I had one of the Ugandan ladies there come up to me and ask me to write it down for her so she could teach it to her kids later. These kids loved to rub on my white "Muzungu" skin I told them "that they my see me different then them but GOD see us all the same." Then we watched the older kids race and heard their bible stories. It was a fun event there was over 400 or more children there and they all heard about JESUS.

I walked to town just after I finished with that wonderful event and was picked by some of the ladies I have bible study with on Wednesday mornings. They asked me where I had been and I told them I just been with 60 street kids under the age of 5 for over 4 1/2 hours that did not understand Muzungu. And one of them asked me "And that makes you happy?" I told her yes that makes me very happy that I got to minister to them and love on them.

I went to the post office just after that to receive a very special envelope from the PRE-SCHOOLER of Tunnel Hill 1st Baptist Church and also a card from the Adult Sunday school class. That just made my day. I am still look for my care packages from home they still have not arrived yet but in GOD'S perfecting time they will come just on the right day just like these did. Thank you to all my pre-schooler who drew pictures for me. I love and miss each of you every much. Thank you for all your prayers for me and your love that is what keeps me going.

Please pray for me this week I am still not over this BUG that I have taken and I still in a lot of pain and very tire and week. Pray as I am suppose to be teaching missionary children this week and I still don't have materials together yet. Please pray for me as I love on this pre-schooler that they have warned me about that is know for saying the "F" word. Pray that GOD will give me wisdom with him. Pray for the IMB missionaries that will be at this prayer conference that they will get refreshed and restored themselves. Pray for our Ugandan workers several have malaria and pray for our children several have bad colds. I do have a PRAISE one of our Canadian volunteers received Christ as her savior this week. She is the one I told you about in one of my early letters home, the one who had all the questions for me about my "True Love Waits" ring and everything else. God really started dealing with her this week about what happens to you
when you die. So we are very excited to welcome her into the family and that she now knows that she is HIS forever.

God has done and is still doing some amazing things here and I can't wait to see what is next. Thank you for all your love and prayers for me. I miss each of you every much. I am praying for you and your VBS and for Super Wow, how wish I could be there to help. I look forward to hearing from all of you very soon.

Blessings

Trace