Spring Break...

Like any other Texan, when it starts to turn cold, we immediately wish for the warmth of the summer!  And this girl is no exception! 
This week has been so cold!  I find myself reminiscing of my time in Uganda.  The weather is absolutely perfect there!  Not too cold, not too hot...
And while yes, this is one of the awesome things about Jinja, Uganda, there are so many more that turn my day dreams over to this place. 
I think about the families I have met and befriended.  The children I have played with.  The homes/huts that I personally sprayed down with insecticide and wondering how they are doing.  Its been a little over 3 months since I was there, and the insecticide works for 3 months, so I find myself thinking about how the treatment worked, and do they need another treatment.  Wishing I could go check on them myself.  Thinking about the little baby that was born one day while we were in the village, and the mother who proudly handed her child over to me to hold, wondering how that sweet baby is doing.
It's days like today that I long for the next trip to visit these people that have stolen my heart.

You may not have had some of these experiences, but you may find yourself curious as to what it's really like.  Curious if it's something you could experience.
Today is a good day for you then:)

If you are at all interested in seeing this place for yourself, helping these people, serving, please contact me because Healing Faith is now offering a Spring Break trip (March 7-16)! 
This will be an incredible time, where you will get the chance to see firsthand the ministry that Kari and Jason have begun.  You will get to have hands on experience in serving the people of Uganda.

If this at all sounds like something you would be interested, please contact me for more information!
Feel free to share this with all of your friends and family;)

Rachel Driskell
rachel.driskell@yahoo.com
979-324-4018

July 15

Today I woke up singing my little heart out. The song was 10,000 reasons. Which happen to be so fitting for today's plans that God prepared for me. Today I volunteered to lead Devotion. Something I never done. Today I realized something very important. This hole trip I have been asking God to provide me with strength and courage. So it was really amazing when I realized that the theme for me, on this mission has been focused around facing my fears. I have overcome so many things starting with the preparation for coming here. John 15:7 is the verse I chose for today's morning devotional that we do every day. We get up and we find a place and have alone time. We pray, read and just listen to what God wants. We listen with our hearts.
  So we started today like any other. we headed back to Kagoma Gate and finished the job we started. Hanging nets, educating, spraying pesticide, and loving on the the people there. It was another very full and busy day. I think I may have gotten a bit dehydrated today. When we arrived back at the Segners I started filling a little sick. But I powered through without having to get an IV and ate and started to think about the devotional that I was to lead tonight. We did our worship outside under the little cabana area in the Segners back yard it was so beautiful out tonight. Since I wasn't feeling well, and I had never led a devotional. I really didn't know what to do. So I just asked everyone about the fears that they had faced being here. How they overcame them and what it all meant for them. It was great, I learned more about each person on the trip and I was so proud of what God had done in my life.
   Tomorrow we are supposed to have an off day. we are to go camping and really use the time to rest our bodies and minds. Ive been reading the book of Psalms while I have been here. Today was Psalms 18 was really on my mind. I cant wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Her are a few pics from today Guys Love yall!

 

Coming home...catching up

We've already been home longer than we were there, which seems weird.  I miss my team members and especially the Segners and the people of Jinja.

We were unable to blog much while there because of lack of wifi (which we all agreed was a good thing!) and lack of time when near wifi.  So I journaled while there with blogging in mind.  I have begun to journal our daily experiences on my personal blog.  If you want to read about it head over to: driskellgurlservinghim.blogspot.com

~Rachel 

July 14

  I woke up this morning to another beautiful.Today I really miss Zoey I have been writing in my journal and I wrote to pray for Zoey and her Salvation.  She has been asking me about wanting to be baptized. I've talked with her about this, and she seems to be doing it for all the right reasons. She is such a little blessing and loves learning about the lord. I can defiantly see her here in Africa with me in a few years. That just feels my heart with Joy.
   Today we went to the Welcome Home orphanage. This was so very emotional. I was so happy to see all of the little babies. We were welcomed by smiling faces the children were happy to see us too. We were only there for a couple hours and it was so hard to leave. I already cant wait to go back. Today I met to little girls Marta and Rebecca. They are the cutest. I also got to hold a little baby. Makes me want another.I was walking around and for a moment it slipped my mind where I was. I thought it was a daycare. When it came back to me that these little ones were not going to be picked up at six and go home. I started to tear up. Then I felt a little hand tug on my shirt and I turned to see a little boy. He wanted me to swing with him. I wiped the tears away and went on about the day.
  Like each night we had dinner at the Segners which is amazing. Thanks to Opeo for the amazing cooking skills. She helps the segners prepare food for all of us hungry people. The Segners are also helping her get he catering business started. Then had are nightly worship and devotional. Its so amazing worshiping God with the team. We are a small group but we sure know how to raise our voices to God.
   Tressi, Rachel and I laid in bed for a while tonight and talked about our lives. This is what I have been praying for. That God would allow me to open my heart to people. I believe more and more this is exactly were I am supposed to be. Our friendship is growing and I feel more at ease sharing a room with two girls. This is something that I have never done.  I'm glade I have chance to experience this. I'm so very thankful to God for everything in my life. Time for bed, till next time friends.

                                             
                                                                  Tressie drawing Clint with Chalk

   
                                                          Rebecca and I playing
                                                      Below is me loving on a baby

  

Kagoma Gate: Day 2

Today was incredible to say the least. We broke into our groups from Saturday and went back to work. We started right where we left off- trying hard to get to everyone so everyone felt heard and knew their need was met. We went home to home educating the community about Malaria, hanging nets, and spraying insecticide. We even had one man help us from start to finish with the net hanging. Cody-Cody was the only net hanger in our group and was very respectful of other people's belongings- trying not to move anything or mess anything up. This man, Steven, was so selfless, he helped just to help, moved from home to home, and would do whatever he could, move anything, search for supplies, just to help us reach every home. I believe our team went to thirty homes- mostly because of his help and knowledge. The people were so thankful and welcoming- no one was ungrateful, no one was wanting more- everyone was just gracious. Our translator Teddy did an amazing job helping us communicate with the villagers. At the end of each visit, Teddy asked if we could pray for the home and the family, the people could NOT wait for us to start our prayers. After the Amen's, you could tell their hearts were touched, we were truly showing Christ's love through this amazing program the Segner's have set up. Today, our group saw two people accept Christ as their savior. WOAH! God is so good. It has been such a blessing to serve The Lord and the Segner's here in this place. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us and what else we can get done together as a team for The Lord. 

Love from Jinja, 

Tressie and the AMAZING July 2013 Team

Day 3: Fellowship

This morning we visited Acacia, the local church where the Segner's attend. It is difficult to describe just how exhilarating it is to be there with other local missionaries and local Ugandans all worshiping our creator of the universe, but it is something I will never forget. We sang familiar songs like Oh Happy Day and At The Cross led by Several local villagers and hearing their voices sing those songs brought such warmth to my heart. What a beautiful thing God is doing here. I have to go for now...to be continued...

Jessica

July 13

13 of July.. I woke up with a heavy heart very emotional at 4am. I think it finally hit me i was here. we were to go to Kagoma Gate today and I didn't know what to expect.This was a day of teaching. We had two other mission teams with us. Soul Hope and Welcome home. The welcome Home group worked as a translater for us. They did a fabulous job. We went from home to home and hung nets, spray mosquito repelant, and talked with the adults about prevention and symptomes. It was wonderful.
  Though that is what we were to do. I think I learned so much about the people in the village it was an amazing experience. I met a young girl around 14 that was abandoned by her parents. I was told this is unusual for Ugandans to do. They are very loyal people. But she couldn't go to school cause she didnt have any money and she raised herself. Her name was Lucy. She is a very shy young girl so pray for her please.
   We put nets in almost 100 huts out of 300. so for one day that is major. It was very disheartening when we had to tell some families that we couldn't do there homes that day. We made sure they new we were coming back for them. Some were more upset than others for sure.
    I think the funniest thing was the little babies that were walking but, not talking or potty trained walked around with no pants on. It was so cute. I picked a little boy up and my friend Tressie was like,"be careful he will pee on you." HaHa So cute. I can't express how emotional being there made me feel but I can tell you this. It was the best and worst experience of my life. Best because I am so blessed to meet these amazing people. Worst because though i would love to trade my life for thiers, I can't.
  We ate lunch on our way back to the Segners. PB&J, chips, and bananas. Then we had the best evening with music and devotion and Prayer. But before this I had a complete break down. I tried to call home but my Aunt Jewel left her phone at My Aunt Kathy's, and I couldn't talk to the kids. I had to leave the house I bold like a baby. Bobby messaged me and told me the kids were at his parents so I got really exited. when I called them the kids had just left. Talk about being dissapointed. Wow. It was horrible. However I finally did get totalk with them a while. I was so happy and felt so much better. So word to the wise if a family or friend is out of the country keep up with your phones.






this Bible verse I fund today really hung in my heart
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, But whoever walks with fools will suffer harm!


I need prayer for my family. That Bobby will stay strong through this. I know he misses me. I am getting closer with my God and my path is mine to travel.

-Pam