Tuesday from Gulu

Dear Friends and Family:

We apologize in advance for typos (only have a short time on the Internet and don't want to waste it checking grammar). Today is Tuesday...we will recap yesterday and today for you. But first....THANK YOU for your prayers. We need them, treasure them and see God moving in thousands of ways.

Yesterday, we spent the day at the Home of Love Orphange. We were able to serve in several ways:
First, the women met with the female staff members and shared the "storying" concept with them. Diane and Cindy were able to introduce how we tell our stories as an offering of worship to God and so that we can love and support one another. Each of the staff women told of their lives and we were stunned at the grief and loss they have experienced. Every one of them execept for one has lost more than one child in the conflict or to sickness. Many of them were also abducted by rebels and abused. They are so grateful to be alive and are dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus as a result.

Second, Cindy, Julie, Mary Beth and Jeremy met with the Orphanage Social Worker, Bosco. They were able to share play theraphy techniques with him and equip him with a lot of good material to use in his work with the children. He was so grateful. Bosco is a young man, about 27 years old, and is one of the invisible children you may have heard of. For four years he and his siblings commuted every day to the city to avoid being abducted by the rebels. His parents were killed in the war.Please pray for Bosco as he share such an important gifting with the children at Home of Love.

Susan has been busy taking LOTS of pictures...we can't wait to share the faces with you!!!

Today, the women led a worship and sharing time with the Women of Hope, a group of about 60 women who lead HIV/AIDS support groups in their districts. Many of them are also suffering with the disease. Their worship is unbelievable...singing, dancing shouting with such gratitude. We prayed with them in groups and encouraged them in how to go back to their groups and share encouragment to their women. At the end, they came and put strands of beads around our necks as a token of thanks. We were told by the Action staff that this is the first time they had extended that gesture to a group. It is all of GOD and none of ourselves.

As a team, we are stretched beyond our wildest dreams, but blessed even more. We have had to think on our feet a lot, but God has given us everything we need at just the right time. We have volumes of testimonies of how we have showed up weak and God has filled us with energy and words that we did not have on our own.

We have laughed, cried and everything in between. Thanks for your prayers. Tomorrow we go to and IDP Camp to work with Child Mothers and their caregivers. Hope to report more later.

Love, His Team to Uganda
Gerry, Nancy, Cindy, Susan, Diane, Julie, Mary Beth, Jeremy, Sherman and Erin