Dinner last night & fellowship today

Last night we were privileged to eat with all the missionaries & their families who live here, along with the other visitors who are here at GSF at this time. It was fun, fascinating, humbling and hopeful (to name a few emotions) as we met and learned about the way God has called each one to GSF.

Claudia, who is from Columbia, South America and has been at GSF for 15years. She has seven children- two adopted daughters, and five others who are either in the process of adoption or she is taking care of and raising. Her love of children and the Lord is so evident.

Mark and Amy Gwartney, who have been at GSF for six years, are the current directors. They have their four children here and have built a new home at GSF. Mark's mother, also named Amy, and his aunt Donna are both here visiting. It is his mother's 3rd time coming to GSF and each time she brings back more family members to visit and experience this place. It is her sister's first time visiting. They came from Tallahassee and Gainesville. Dori, Jan, and I had the pleasure of joining them this morning (Tuesday) for a bible study that Amy led for all the house mothers- and it was so powerful. I am so glad that we were here while they both are visiting- they have a lot of wisdom to share!

Sarah and Joey Beason are also visiting Mark and Amy- they are from Pennsylvania and their friendship with Mark and Amy goes way back. Sarah and Joey were missionary in their earlier days living in Indonesia, but now have three young children...and maybe more.

Steven Langford, has been at GSF for 10 months and is from Winston-Salem, NC. He has been here working with and teaching the GSF students who have moved on to secondary school and university. He encourages them and supports them in their continued spiritual growth.

Danielle, the GSF nurse, is fairly new to GSF, about 3 months, and came from the midwest.

Matilda, is visiting for the week before she returns to Sweden. She has been living on a nearby island ministering in one of Youth with a Mission's bases. She has said it is very primitive- no running water or toilets, but she LOVES it and the people. She has stayed at GSF before and wanted to come back and visit with Tom and Sharon before she returned home. She has a heart for the Lord and will no doubt end up working for HIM wherever HE leads her.

Lisa and David Fish with four young children have come to GSF to teach the MK's (missionary kids). They are from Athens, Georgia and have been here 6 months. Already they have beautified the school house, and are in the process of building their own home here on the GSF grounds.

Corrine and Daniel, newly married, are here serving together. Corrine is from Pennsylvania and Daniel is from Nigeria. They met at a Christian college in Texas. Corrine leads up the GSF child sponsorship program (for more info: gsfsponsorship@gmail.com ) while Daniel serves with EMI, Engineers Missions International, and is at GSF helping build the Fish's house. Later he will be working on helping build a secondary school in Jinja.

And last- Tom and Sharon Batley, our friends and Westover supported missionaries. Tom is in charge of maintenance for GSF and Sharon heads short term teams and visitors coming to GSF. Both are from Greensboro. Of course ALL these missionaries do SO MUCH MORE. In fact, it is really a 24/7 job with 90 children of various ages living on campus, and 300+ coming from surrounding villages for school.

It is amazing to see everyone's dedication and LOVE for the LORD! HE fills them with desire, strength, wisdom, courage, and stamina to do HIS work here. It is amazing to watch and experience.

Praise God for HIS workers who go forth and serve in full time missions! 

More photos

Our mosquito net beds

Steve Miller and Scott Bowman on bus as we depart Entebbe

A Boda Boda

serves as a taxi & transportation for just about anything~ 

saw one of these carrying a chair recliner on the back! 

First morning in Africa

Our Guest House Airport Hotel- Monday,  our first morning in Entebbe

(It took about 15minutes to upload this photo- so not sure I will be able to share ALL the photos I wanted to share of our first impressions...will keep trying!) 

First Morning at GSF

We arrived on Sunday night in Entebbe- tired from our journey, but full of adrenaline and excitement for being on African soil. God blessed us right away with ALL our 18 checked bags arriving with out incident. Then another blessing as we loaded up our cargo to go through customs. The customs agent took one look at us, asked us where we were going, and waved us through; nothing more- it took all of two minutes.

We were greeted by Tom & Sharon, Gracie, and Jan Foreman (the eighth member of our team who was meeting us in Entebbe from her Tanzania safari). It was a joy to see everyone and know our prayers of safe travels for Jan & for everyone had been answered! Hugs and excitement all around.
We headed to our guest house to sleep and shower. Ah, such sweet sleep after the journey...

Awoke early on Monday and we all had fellowship over breakfast at our lovely hotel. The first impressions of Africa in the daytime did not disappoint. It is lush, green, flowering, loud with birds singing, crickets, unknown chirps, buzzes, and noises. It is loud with life and vibrant colors. It is how I pictured Africa, but it is more stunning and wild.

We loaded up for our trip to Good Shepard's Fold. Driving through Entebbe, into Kampala, through Kampala on to GSF. Stopping for lunch, for rich African coffee, for gas. Marveling at the cities, the changes from Entebbe to Kampala, and then to the countryside. I will share photos from our travels below. And then we arrived at Good Shepard's Fold- our final destination.

What a welcome! All the children, staff, missionaries, everyone was at the gate, singing and dancing to welcome us here. We got off the bus and walked in meeting everyone, fist bumping the children (that is what they like to do) bringing giggles and smiles as we did. As we walked in, we learned what all the different houses were used for and where everyone was located- babies, toddlers, children, the school, the missionary children's school, the different homes for the missionaries who live at GSF, and our guest quarters for the next two weeks. What a wonderful welcome to Uganda and Good Shepard's Fold. Our hearts were filled.

We spent the next few hours unpacking, settling in, unveiling all the gifts everyone had provided from home for Sharon and Tom, for the other missionaries living here, for the children, and the house moms. One of the best feelings to bless them with the overflowing love of everyone from home!

We had the privilege of then having a pot luck dinner at Tom & Sharon's home to meet all the incredible missionaries who have given their lives to serving the Lord here at GSF. I will share more about our fellowship last night, and our morning time today when I can get back on and update, but for now we are going to morning devotionals with the girls in house #5.

Below are some pictures of our journey and welcome at GSF. We thank you ALL for your prayers, support and gifts that you generously donated - it brought tears of joy to Tom and Sharon, celebration from the other missionaries (especially the cheese!) and a feeling of love from home.

Ok- pictures to come later...having difficulty uploading right now.

Counting the Blessings

Steve Holbrook:

It’s less than 24 hours before our team departs for Good Shepherds Fold Orphanage in Uganda and while I’m sure the experience will have a large impact on my heart, my faith, and my world view as far as being blessed; it’s already happened!

Please let me share with you:

#1:  I was honored to be asked by my church, Westover, to lead this team of very special people to a very special place.  Savannah Meeks, Rowland Brazzeal, Scott Bowman, Jan Foreman, Dori Goebel & Steve Miller are the cream of the crop, trust me on that.  They have been so receptive, loving, generous and caring already and if for whatever reason we weren’t able to leave tomorrow, I would truly feel filled by the friendships that have already developed. It’s been a gift to have witnessed God impact their lives.

#2: I have been blessed by introducing so many folks to Tom & Sharon Batley, the missionaries at GSF, and the plight and hope for Uganda.  The full time, career missionaries are warriors; they are the ones on the front line dealing with hope and tragedy all the time- we will just be “visitors”.

Westover’s mission for our short term teams is to love on the folks who have committed so,so much for His purpose; we intend to do just that.  There will be an outpouring of some major US love going on in Uganda!

Watch this video about GSF if you haven’t already:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0CmoE4kgvM&feature=youtu.be

#3: I and my team have been so gifted by seeing the outpouring of prayers, financial support, and love.  For example, 15 or so of my Tuesday morning Outback men’s group gathered together this morning for breakfast and prayers for our team….so humbling. My heart was filled with love from these Godly men.

And we have received scores of commitments for prayer and financial support.  What an incredible thing to watch and see how God has used us to touch others.

The list of blessings goes on and on, but I feel like my team mates have done a much better job with their perspectives than I could ever do.  Please check the  team's previous blog posts AND be sure to sign up on the email link provided on this page so you can join us in spirit on our journey. Every time there is a new blog entry- you will receive an email notification & link to it.

With love and many blessings to you all!

Hands and Feet

Rowland: 

 

I woke this morning to the beautiful sun rise and a fabulous spring day.   Yeah, Spring, no snow on the ground.  But then my mind began to wander to thoughts of those so less fortunate than we.  Those in our own town and country, but especially those we will be with in Uganda next week.  It is an awesome privilege that God has afforded us to be on the team from Westover to go to Good Shepherd’s Fold orphanage to work along side the wonderful missionaries called by Him full time, including our special friends, Tom and Sharon Batley.  Each and every day these servants minister to the 99 orphans and 400 school students from the nearby villages.  My prayer is that I will be given the opportunity to some how be the hands and feet of our Jesus while we are there; that He would fill me with His spirit so that when our spirits connect, somehow, someway they might feel the Jesus in me.

 

Without the prayers and support of special ones like you, we would not be able to be going taking His and our love, Bibles, books, dvds, cd’s, sheets, towels, clothing, shoes, food items, candy, building maintenance materials and much more.   For this we say thank you very much.  We are leaving Saturday, March 22 and returning April 4 and we covet your continued prayers as we travel, while there and our return trip.   

 

May our Almighty God bless each of you richly.

A Blank Canvas

Dori: 

WOW – in 48 hours I will be on a plane (the first of several) on the way to Uganda!  

I don’t really know how I feel.  I’m excited, anxious, calm, freaking out, full of anticipation…my emotions run the gamut about every hour.  I feel like an artist must feel sitting before a blank canvas waiting for inspiration.  I have a blank canvas of 14 days in front of me and I am waiting with all the emotions above to see what God will paint through me, and my team mates, on that canvas.  One moment I am excited and full of anticipation.  Then the ten thousand things that need to be taken care of before I leave crowds into the space between me and the blank canvas….and I freak out!

Of course those are all silly things like buying dog food and leaving money for hair appointments and getting graduation invites ordered (my daughter graduates high school in a couple months)..those silly things that can or can’t wait, but I feel like I must get done so they don’t clutter the canvas while I am away.  

Truly I can’t wait to get on that plane and breath and pray and anticipate all that God has for us in Uganda.  Thank you so much to all that have supported us!  I can’t wait to share the painting God creates through us when we return!

Blessings, Dori