Barb Queen of the Yard Long Bean!!!!

   My next couple posts are going to feature those who were the core members of the Team that God called to Uganda/Ethiopia 2010. I am going to start with Barb. She is an Agricultural Missionary. I did not know they had those either. I assure you there are some kids at the Abba house that cannot praise God enough for Barbs "major" choice.   She actually did not travel with us for the Ethiopia part of the trip. She stayed behind in Uganda. It's ok, she had a mission. During the time we spent in Uganda Barb's mission... let's start with a story. The following is an exert from "Deckers Diary" (Barbs last name)  anyway her words are titles Daily Mana...
  Though I went with them as a team, I staydr in Uganda while the rest went on to Ethiopia. My purpose there was to plant a garden with good vegetables to enhance their daily food. They eat a LOT of RED BEANS and "posho" (pasha) a bland corn flour mush. Posho is a word in Swahili meaning "provision". At the school, which is on the same property as the Abba House, they cook up about 25 pounds of beans every day and serve them as lunch with posho. Big sweet potatoes appear occasionally and sometimes the beans are flavored with small eggplants or with small sun-dried minnows. I am reminded of the stories of the Israelites and their "posho" of manna, and how tired they got from eating that stuff every day! It is basically the same scenario at the Abba House. They eat posho porridge for breakfast, their school provides posho and beans for lunch, and then they return to the Home for a hearty eal of beans, perhaps with minnows or eggplant, and posho. Sometimes groups of individuals will refuse to eat,the Bible says that hunger makes things taste better. I remember in Venezuela when someone commented concerning sun-dried minnows,"yeah, we boil them together with some potatoes and then, with a little hunger they can make a fine meal." The groups wait until hunger gnaws at them, usually by suppertime, to receive their portions of the "manna".
      While  Barb was in Uganda she broke the soil and as one pastor said " I don't understand why someone would come from so far away to dig in the dirt and plant seeds. But I give God all the glory for this person who came and worked in the soil like an African so that these children could have a better diet." If you do not know anything about Africa they call it a "warm" climate. Not because it is warm but because the people are well people oriented. In other words Barb taking the time not only to go to Africa, but that she is willing to give of her time and effort to improve the diets and overall health of the children. The seeds Barb will sow in the hearts of the Ugandan people because of the seeds God asked her to plant in the ground will light up the sky's of Uganda so to speak. Word will spread of what Bard has done. When the second water source is completed and others come from abroad to get water  the love of Christ will be passed through the African grape vine and because of a few cucumbers, zucchini, beets, spinach, chard, watermelon and a white lady from Missouri who knows how many hearts will be changed for the Lord.

   By the time Barb left some of the seeds she had sowed were by the grace of God were already poking their heads through the soil. We had a reunion at our home a couple weeks ago... Barb came to the house with a basket of Yard beans. they were green beans 18 inches long. We were all wowed by them. She excitedly told us these are also growing at the Abba House in Uganda. Wow one bean per plate is all that is needed with this variety.  It is impossible for me to even imagine eating chicken every day,,,,,,,,every meal.  Nor can I imagine never getting chicken. Or just eating cheerios EVERY DAY. We have such variety here in the US we can hardly imagine eating the same thing more than once a week. Whew imagine meatloaf every day.. not just Mondays 8)  That's for the old timers.
   
   In September Barb hopes to go back for the harvest.. to see the fruits of her Labor. To give all the praise to God not only for the new foods the kids will have, foods that allow the kids to have a bit of variety in their diets imagine how their bodies will feel with a new variety of vitamins that will flood their bodies as a result of the children eating the fresh veggies. The improved health, eyesight, energy levels. Not to mention just the thrill of watching a seed sprout, grow, blossom , and become the vegetable God intended it to be. We sure get excited at our house when we pull a tomato from the vine or when the green beans don't even make it to a pot of water. Just snap the ends and pop it in your mouth. mmmmmmmmm

   Like I said , Barb is a missionary she has been asked by God to serve those in Uganda.  Barb has willingly given her life to God's service. In turn she relies on his leading  of others for her financial provisions. When she goes back in September she will be staying for three months. She is working on helping them create two water sources. One with solar power. These water sources will benifit many communities of people. Barbs story and the vision God has given her is longer than what I have posted here. Her three month journey will hopefully end with ample water sources, but he possibility for farming jobs for the boys that will graduate from the Abba house in two years. I am working on finding a a link so you can read her whole newsletter. It is great reading.
   
  Please pray for Barb and the journey the Lord has called her on.
             Pray she can secure the funds (God knows who he has called to give)
             Pray for her safety ( there has been a bit of violence in Uganda lately)
             Pray for her health ( Barb has a knee injury that the Dr has ok'd her to serve)

Barb is on the left with the green shirt. Standing with some of the children who excitedly wait for harvest day!!!

I believe it is a part of God's plan for Barb to continue to minister through gardening to  the children of Abba House  would you prayerfully consider how God would have you to help Bard in her service to those in Uganda. If he would have you to help financially go to
http://www.houseoffriends.org/  and click on donate (it's a little down on the left)  there is  a place to share that the donation if for Barb. Tax deductible of course.  

 For it was I that planted the seed in your heart, Apollis  watered it, but it was God not we that made it grown.  I Corinthians 3:6

Another day in Uganda

     One of House of Friends main goals while at Abba house was first and formost dedicate the Orphanage to the Lord. This house was built in honor of David Anthony. You can read more about this on the HOF website. Look up in the upper left side of my blog their is a tab HOF. If you click on it you will be taken to House of Friends website. I welcome you to look around there is a link to the Kansas, Missouri, Iowa team Newsletter there. You can also see prayer requests and pictures of the beautiful children that call Abba House home. It was a wonderful day full of great food, the childrens choir Tabernacle of Christ Church came and sang for us. The Mayor of Entebe came as well. God blessed us with beautiful weather and an all around great day of fellowship. While the dedication ceremony was going on there was a man a pastor (I dont' remember his name)  he shared testimony of how two little children David and Doris (twins) were left on his front porch. The pastor and his wife were investigated by police and  accused of child trafficing. They were eventually cleared. Now David and Doris who are around three are the  youngest children at Abba house. Can you even imagine so not being able to provide for your children that you would feel your only choice is to abandon them on anothers front porch. What would you do if you were the person who has walked out your front door only to find two small.,beautiful, helpless children on your stoop? Would you welcome them in? The amazing thing is in Africa this is done often. If a parent/s die. So often a realitive takes them in. We often complain in America about not having enough. Let me assure you we have a feast. Even those of us who believe we are without have so much more then they do in many place's in Africa. One of the boys at the Abba house was asked by an American what his favorite food was? He just looked at them and said I just eat posha and beans everyday. Posha is a kind of cornmeal that is boiled. Beans are well beans. Red beans. EVERYDAY. Beans and Posha everyday. We often say this at our house when someone complains about what is being served. With all the little ones we have Mom often does not get out to the store as often as she would like, we still always have so much more in the cupboards then beans and posha.  It was a humbeling experiance to see how joyful everyone is/was really everywhere we went in Africa. The faces were faces of Joy... those especially that had the love of Christ knew that beans and posha was food. Food provided from the Lord. So they were thankful everyday for beans and posha.

        My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;with singing lips I will praise you. Pslams 63:5

     Watching the kids perform for us singing praises to God you were just mezmorized by them. The beautiful smiles on their faces. So eager to please us and their Lord with their songs. They could have come to us complained about the things they do not have. We interacted with them, many many other chidlren as well. There were no complaints. Even when we handed out treats or shoes there were many that did not get shoes. We had over a hundred pairs , but of course that was not enough for all. Some left empty handed. They did not complain or scold us. I assure you we felt worse then they did about not having something for everyone.  All you could think when they walked away was..... NEXT YEAR. I pray the Lord will allow me to come back next year. Next year perhaps I can make a difference in the lives of those who walked away empty handed this year.

         Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. Jeremiah 20:13

        This is what God is using House of Friends for. To rescue the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. Satan is alive and well everywhere, but noticable in Africa in ways we can only imagine. That also is another post.

~N

Roots

Hello, anybody, somebody,
        Yes it has been a long time since I have visited this place. Let's just say I was growing my roots. My Mom says to admit and just say I met a boy,,,,,, she says I might get made fun of but most everyone will understand. So it's true I met a boy (he's wonderful)  but that is a whole other post.
        So where did I leave off? CNA class , I did finish and pass the class. What ever happened to Matt? Well only God knows. Hopefully he left there with a couple seeds that with the proper watering will grow and he can resume his relationship with Christ and be a happier man of God because of it.
        In June I went on a mission trip. The mission trip I started the blog for. A trip that was initially to include Egypt, Uganda and Ethiopia. Yet because of Christian persecution became Uganda/Ethiopia. That was ok.. we can see the Pyramids another time I'm sure.
        So in June we left for our three week adventure to Africa (yes I had to leave the boy) this was my first "out of country" mission trip. I have witnessed in other places, volunteered in VBS and such but get on an airplane go sooo far around the world to serve others. Yup my first time. No I was not nervous, nor was my Mom she hopped up out of bed at 4:00 a.m. just so I could say bye to the boy. Ok his name is Will. So we go say goodbye to Will then off to pick up a couple of others that were also going on the trip. There were twelve of us going in all. For five of us it was out first trip. Not to worry, we were covered in plenty of prayer, we were annointed with oil and nicknamed the five stones. So off we went the flight was uneventful. When we arrived in Addis Abba,Ethiopia there was a slight eight hour hold up.  No biggie.. just a little time. We headed from Addis Abba,  to Entebe, Uganda.  Our new home for the week was only 20 minutes away from the airport. It was dark and late our driver skillfuly drove very quickly (these are not paved roade you know) these are some VERY bumpy roads.  We were warmly greeted at Banana Villiage  http://bananavillage-uganda.com/banana_village_rooms.html  Then we went to sleep... in a Toukoul hut, a fake Toukoul hut.
          The next morning we ate breakfast we had poridge, I ate it is all I am going to say.  Then off to the Abba house. This is the orphanage House of Friends sponsers.  We went from room to room in the school section  seeing all the kids. Each time we entered a room they would say in unison WELCOME FOREIGNERS!! (how did they know?)  It was so sweet. Then we each introduced ourselves  to the children and teachers. There were 20-40- kids in a class, about 12 class's. We were able to share recess with the kids. They love to play soccer.  I did not play soccer I had three little girls that noticed my camera and so we spent our time taking pictures, they love to see themselves in our digatel cameras.  What joy it was to spend time with the kids.  If you look closely at the picture there are three different little girls holding my hands. The one is reaching up to touch my hair. They were are so very curious to touch out hair.

          Ok so restarts the growing of my roots in Africa... such a beautiful county...such joyful beautiful people.

            Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart.    1Peter 1:22