Top 10 moments of the trip......

On these trips there are many moments that stand out: good, intense, impactful and of course funny.  Here are top ten list of some of the funnier moments on the trip

10.  Aaron somehow picking up a Ugandan accent while being here. 
9.  The immenient long call stop by one of the team members.  Not saying who, but he sure looks like a
      former Marine
8.  Baby Mitchell hoping around the hotel in Gulu like a rabbit singing a song because he lost a round of   
     Left Right Center dice game
7.  Mr B having a 2 hour conversation with an older man at our soccer game that could only say 4 phrases
     and that is all the conversation consisted of
6.  Ashley providing a seat for YT in a van that was packed full.... his lap for the rest of the ride
5.  Singing Sweet Caroline to our waitress, Caroline, in Gulu each time she came to our table
4.  Baby Mitchell's big revelation about his options ........  I will let you hear about it in person
3.  Ashley's 9 Marinda a day consumption.  Something truly amazing
2. YT being asked to translate Tim's english into English because the Ugandan leader could not understand
    Tim's accent
1.  Realizing that word for thank you and rabbit are the same word and having no idea what we have been saying to people when we greet them

So to all of you who prayed for us on the trip we all say

Thank You ....... or Rabbit   (Affoyo)

YT

over the river and through the savannah...

Oh the places you get to go when you travel across the pond! We have had a wonderful experience here in Uganda, from worshipping with new friends, sweating together under the African sun, laughing together and in the last day or so getting to see God's creation in a whole new way... it's been AMAZING!
Remembering back to a week ago when we first crossed the Nile on the way to Gulu, we were overtaken with it's power and might (and a little disappointed that we were not able to take pictures due to security issues). While we were there YT encouraged us that we would have an even better chance to experience the might of the Nile. Well, that is just what we have gotten to do.
Monday we left Gulu early and headed toward the closest National Park. We drove into the park and were immediately accompanied by several different types of antelope, monkeys and elephants in the distance. We knew the next 24 hours would be an experience not to be forgotten. We checked into the beautiful Paraa Safari Lodge that overlooked the Nile. Soon after, we headed down to the water to take a boat ride up the Nile to Murchison Falls. On the way we got up close and personal with hippos, alligators, birds of all kinds, warthogs (pumbas), elephants, and many more. WE WERE ON A BOAT IN THE NILE!!?!
As we got to the Falls we began to see what YT spoke of earlier in the week, the MIGHT of the Nile. Little did we know just how close we would get. We got off the boat and actually hiked all the way to the top of the Falls (through a down pour in the forest... thankfully Ashley's camera dried out and none of his National Geographic quality pictures were lost!) It was incredible to see the power of the Falls and the beauty of it all. Of course, the men pushed the boundaries to see just how close each could get to the water, we took lots of photos to share with you, then headed back to the boat. The MVP of the adventure was Mr. B who hiked as if he were still in his twenties, never missing a beat.
We ate an incredible dinner, got a great night's sleep, and woke early to try and see the lions and leopards in the park. We piled into safari jeeps and took off. We drove the large game park (the African Savannah) taking in the glory of the Lord in his creation. We were on a hunt for the king of the jungle (the Lion) and on the way we saw giraffes, buffalo, water buck, elephants, more antelopes, more monkeys, more warthogs, and even a squirrel. However, the only signs of the beloved lion were his massive footprints on the road. As far as seeing a leopard... well, Aaron thought he spotted at least 3 along the way as he searched the lower limbs of each and every tree. Overall, we were still left with a longing to see some big cats but were overjoyed with God's creation we did get to see.
Afterward, it wasn't long until we boarded the van to head back down south. We had a few necessary stops for some short calls and one emanate long call ;). Now we are in Kampala with one more day ahead of us. We will get to visit at least one slum before heading for the airport.
We are so grateful for all your prayers and support along the way. We are sure that they have made all the difference in our journey here. We look forward to seeing you and sharing a piece of the joy of Africa with you.

Mixed Emotions

Hey Life CC,

   Another awesome day complete here in Uganda!  Today is a day of mixed Blessings:  We attended 2 Worship services today, one in the morning at Koro Farm and Lajwatek in the afternoon.  Tim preached at both services, and I think was “out-preached” by Dennis the interpreter who is a preaching machine.  Seriously, Tim and Ashley shared a powerful Word to all!  After the afternoon service at Lajwatek, we had a bore hole (well) dedication ceremony, an event that brought tears to our eyes, thank you Life Community Church for the generosity that allowed this to happen today – Our God is an Awesome God.

  Unfortunately, today is our last day at Gulu and to be with the SOM Team.  We are all saddened by having to leave all the friends we have made.  We were able to share a dinner with almost all of them followed with an awesome time of Worship and Fellowship.  I have never met a group of people so dedicated and focused collectively on the mission of changing their world for Jesus.  They have changed all of our lives, and we would be wise to emulate them in continuing to reach the lost and needy in our community.

   I feel I can speak for the whole team, on how much we love the people here and know in our heart of hearts that God is alive, moving and doing mighty things in this place.  There is hope for a people that just a couple of years ago were hopeless.  We leave in the morning for a destination that will be disclosed on tomorrows Blog.  Thank you for praying for and supporting us during the last days.  We love you all.

To Doris, Amber and Ashlee, I love and miss you, and thank you for allowing me to follow thru on the mission God has called me to over here.  Until Thursday, Stay Blessed.

All Praise to Him,

Jim

P.S. Out of 6 people from the team here while I’m typing this, Mitchell, who is a native Ugandan was the only one that knew how to spell emulate, go figure.

We played a soccer game, the score 2-1 and we....................

     WON!!!

      Hello people from Life Community Church and the others who are reading this blog post. This morning we went to the village of Lagutu and played a game of soccer (or football). We showed up for the game and saw a large group of people on the side of the feild ready to watch the match, along with the football team from the village, all in bright red jerseys. We played a half game of soccer, only 40 minutes, and had a blast. We had a couple of the SOM (Sport Outreach Ministries) staff on our team and we played great. Ashley headed the ball three times in succession and then kicked it towards the other teams goal. Afterwords we split up into teams of two with a translator to give our testimonies. We also heard the testimonies of some of the people who live in the village.
     Earlier in the day we went to the village of Paguiny. Here a man named Santino and his family gave their life to Christ a few months ago, along with 40 others. We went to the village to see and encourage them. Aaron gave his testimony and Whitey gave a message to the people living there. Whitey also gave them a Bible written in Acholi. The son of Santino, whose name is Bonaface, was able to read it so the people there will be able to have the word of God and learn from it. Mr. Blevins prayed for the sick and Ashley prayed for those who wanted to become saved. We had a great time both at Paguiny and in Lagutu. It is wonderful to see people give there lives to Christ and to be so excited about recieving a Bible, something that we take for granted many times in America.
     After lunch and a short rest we went back to Koro Farm where we had a prayer and worship service in order to prepare for tomorrows Church services. The prescence of God was very strong in the building as we prayed for those who needed prayer and as we prayed for the staff of SOM. The staff of SOM is so wonderful and dedicated. Truly God is using them to reach Gulu, Kampala, and all of Uganda. We ended our time there with a meal before we came back to the hotel.
     A quick side note to my family. I love you Mom and Dad. I greatly value the support that you give me and you are wonderful parents. I will be coming home, the rest of the team will not let me stay here and they make sure that I am ok. I have a 15 second time limit to be outside their sight before they said they would start looking for me. I love you Stephen, Ethen, and Corbin, I will be home soon.
       Lauren
     Funny moment of the day:
        Learning the difference between rabbit and hello/thank you. Both are spelled the same (Afoyo) but the prenouncation is different. We may have been waving to people and shaking their hands and saying "Rabbit, Rabbit" the past 3 days that we have been here.

Day 3

Hello Life Community Church,

How do I begin to tell you how amazing today has been.  Let me start by saying that we have had a blast.  We started the day on a mission to break a previous brick making record.  We went to the Lajawatek village church/school site where the well is located.  We pressed forward with every ounce of strength we had n us.  We had an awesome team spirit and a joined sense of purpose in what we had been called here to do.  I will tell you that by the end of our time there Life CC now not only holds the Softball trophy but also the record for the largest number and best quality bricks ever produced in the village of Lajawatek.  We are so honored to be here representing you all.

We then went to do house visits in the Lajawatek village.  We had the opportunity to visit the home of the lady Ester that we had shared about last trip who had been raised from the dead.  We were reminded about how god has a purpose for each of us.  He is so good!   We also went to pray for an older gentleman named Simon who was very frail and had very little strength.  We shared with him about Jesus and prayed for his healing. 

We also took the long walk of what was once a heart breaking journey for water.  We had the memories of seeing the Children drinking and fetching water from the water hole.  The sight of the water hole had not changed but we were able to rejoice in the fact that they now all drink clean water from the well.  We all have seen God demonstrating His love through the people here in Gulu.  They have performed dances upon our arrivals and have served as if we were kings and queens.  A note to our spouses we would be most honored to be received home in the same way.  

We talk often of what a wonderful opportunity that God has given to us by being here.  We only wish that you could all be hear and share in the joy of serving our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

I would like to say to my team mates from February that you are greatly missed and Tim and myself have been reminded often of all the fun and moving times that we had shared together.  To my loving wife I love and miss you very much and thank you for your servants heart that has allowed me to return to the people of Uganda.  To my wonderful boys I love you and will be home soon.

I will close by saying thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  We can feel your prayers and can see God answering them in the things He is using us to do.  We pray for all of you that God affirms the calling and purpose that He has for you as well.  We have been reminded that we are often times distracted by the busyness of life and the challenges that each day holds.  But praise God that we can accomplish all things in the name of Jesus.  And that we need to take the time to be still and listen to the the whisper of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Have a blessed day!

Your Life CC team

Ashley  

PS.  Of the many funny highlights of the day, mine would have to be YT sitting on my lap in the van because we had so many people riding with us.  That and drinking 9 Marinda Fruities for dinner (for those who don't know, that is like drinking 9 grape sunkist sodas)

Day 2

UNBELIEVEABLE! This is about the only way to describe today.  What’s up Life CC, it is Aaron tonight giving you all the update about today and it is an honor to do so.  The day started with a worship service at the farm, which was an incredible experience.  I have sung worship songs my entire life, but today the simplest of songs… “This is the Day That the Lord Has Made”, made me cry like a baby (for the first of many times today).  After worship we went to Lajwatek.  We were welcomed with a tribal song and dance that was amazing.  Shortly after arriving Aloysius took us all down to the well.  Today Pastor Tim, and the entire group were able to drink CLEAN water from the well… It was unbelievable.  Ashley and I made bricks that will be used to build a daycare/ church facility.  I have never had so much fun working a shovel, and spending time with my brother doing something with so much purpose.  We all led “small groups” in the afternoon which was really cool to be a part of.  Lauren and CC actually had a lady accept Christ in their group.  The highlight to the day I would say came when we couldn’t find Pastor Tim and Dustin.  We knew they were safe, but they had disappeared.  When they came back to the main area they had an older gentleman with them.  Upon returning Aloysius went up to speak with them and was informed that the most senior member of Lajwatek – not in age but in political stature, made a decision to accept Christ!  PRAISE GOD, the GOD of the universe is alive and well and doing amazing things in Lajwatek. 

                We left the village and went back to the farm for lunch and a house visit to a wonderful lady and her 3 small children.  We played a soccer game that Ashley got the only hand ball in, but it was a blast.  Gunny as I loving call him from his days in the Corps, or Jim to everyone else, was hanging out with Mr. B, or Pastor Tim’s dad during the game.  They started hanging out with some of the kids at the farm and enjoyed giving the children the time of their lives.  The kids got to see themselves on a camera after their picture was taken.  They were also given some water with a Propel packet in it, and drank so much Mr. B says he heard them swishing when they walked. 

                On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a house that Aloysius has helped with pigs.  The children came from everywhere and it was so amazing to stop and see them.  The children loved Gunny (Jim), as he showed them his USMC bulldog tattoo and pretended to bark at them.  As we walked out I looked back and it looked like something out of a movie as Gunny had kids everywhere around him following him, as they went.  Awesome!

                Back at the hotel we ate a great dinner, and came into the room we are now in, where we sang some worship songs and prayed over Dustin, pastor Tim, and Mitch  (a director at SOM).  We will be going to bed soon, but this will be a day that will not be forgotten.  Thank you all for your prayers, keep praying, the enemy is working, but PRAISE GOD, HE is stronger.  Thank you all and since I get to write tonight I want to tell Faith I love you so much, I miss you, thank you for caring for our boys, and please tell them how much I love them.  You are an incredible spouse and I so thankful for His grace of giving me you for my spouse.  I love you, I’ll see you soon.

Funny Events of the Day:

1)      We found out that if you took a chicken that is definitely someone’s, even though it is in the middle of nowhere, you will be taken back to the elders, condemned as a thief and will probably end up as a pile of ashes

2)      As pastor Tim and Dustin were talking to the Lajwatek senior member, the man we now call John, looked at Dustin pointed at Tim and said I can’t understand him.  If you didn’t catch that Dustin had to translate Tim’s English into English because John couldn’t understand.

Aaron

Day 1 in Uganda

Hello to everyone back at home.  Team Uganda, consists of me (Tim Blevins), Ashley Lindbert, Aaaron Talley, Jim Willoughby, Lauren Wilson and my dad, David Blevins.  We are being led by Dustin Swineheart and another Sports Outreach team member, CC.  (I have know idea what her real name is.) 

The flight over here was an easy 24 hour journey.  Ashley sat beside a few crazy ladies on one flight that were trying to dance for Ashley. (Jeana- Ashley did nothing wrong, but he is always a hoot).   He always makes friends fast.  We arrived in Kampala and went straight to our hotel then to bed.  Everyone but Jim slept well.  Currently he is running on a total of about five hours of sleep over the last three days. 

Today, we got up ate breakfast and headed for Gulu which is about 5 hours north.  We crossed the Nile River, saw some baboons and made it to Gulu only to be welcomed by some of the friendliest people on earth at the Sports Outreach ministry.  We spent a few hours touring the ministry / farm and marveled at all that was going on.  These folks are amazing.

Tonight, we are at our new hotel in Gulu.  I have to be honest, we are not even close to suffering in these rooms.  We have very comfortable rooms, nice showers with warm water and great little place to eat.  So folks were doing great.

Tomorrow, we are going to visit the Village that Lifecc adopted, called Lajwatek.  We are very excited to see the new well that was dug earlier this year.  I want to give a quick shout out to the team that came here from the church last Feb.  Tomorrow as I see the well, I will be thinking of you.  So Dave, Rebecca, Rachael, and Jess you guys rock for being a part of the team that came to Uganda first. 

And to Lifecc... Thank you for supporting us and caring for the people in Lajwatek.  You donated money and have prayed for the adopted village.  Because of you a well is dug, a church is meeting and crops are being planted. 

To the wives and Lauren's dad and mom.  Thank you for the sacrifice you are making so that we can be here to share the Good News of grace through Jesus Christ.

And since I am writing this I get to give a special "I love You" to my awesome wife. 

God bless,
Tim Blevins

And they are off!

The team is off to an amazing 10 day trip to Uganda! What an adventure this will be. Please pray for safe travels and that the Lord would do a might work in and through them.  The team will be meeting Dustin Swinehard and CC Reynolds in Atlanta in a few shorts hours and then across the pond they go...