This team of twelve is on fire, full of the holy spirit. In only three day, so much has been done that if feels that we have been here for much longer. Uganda, Africa has been absolutely heart warming. The children living at Canaan are so full of joy that it makes me wonder who is blessing whom. Each day brings new challenges but more reason to fall in love with this place, more so the people in it.

Thus far, my role has been primarily in the schools and working with staff at Canaan. Each morning, Cindy and I walk to the Canaan school, only a quarter of a mile away- passing by children who shout “muzungu” which has become an endearing term for us white folks. Once we arrive at the school, the children there share the same enthusiasm. The school is filled with almost 600 children and only 4 teachers. There are few supplies, no school books and hand made notebooks. Some of the children do not even have shoes. Even though to an American, they may seem poor, they are so rich in spirit. At the end of our Bible lesson today, the children asked questions. We three adults were fumbling through the Bible to find the answer. God is amazing. They may lack running water, they may lack clothes that fit and even shoes for their feet but their souls are well.

Each day, we await the children to get home from school; they attend school from early morning to 4p, sometimes 5p. Entertainment is what you make you make it here. Today, four of us rolled an old bike tire to one another and laughed hysterically as we chased it. They have taught me that less really is more and that love is truly all we need. There is minimal social akwardness, even though the language barriers make it difficult to verbally connect. The children walk up, reach for a hand and smile. They are happy to simply be with us, sitting on a bench, speaking their language and we speaking ours. Of course some try to teach us Luganda and then find it humurous to hear us attempt to pronounce the words.

I, being the only member of this team, who does not attend Stony Point has been incredibly blessed. There is no doubt that God put this team together; we can find humor in most anything and have had a great time doing God’s work. Each of us has been willing to do just about whatever has been asked. I cannot end without mentioning that the food Mama Rebecca has prepared for us. Not one of us has had difficulty adjusting to the different food. We have all remained healthy (with all of our luggage). God is good.

Tina Motley