Sunday, October 9, 2011

The Garden and The Well

Hi Everyone,

Hope everyone is doing well....hope you got some rain!!!  We did in Wimberley and are so thankful.

I just wanted to check in with you and let you know all is well with IChooseYou.  I have gotten a couple of emails from Aida and from Sarah.  The children are doing well in school and are healthy and happy.  The mamas are working hard sewing and making jewelry.  We hope to have more items when Morris and Aida come to the states in January. 

Two of my Texas State students, Callie Ecret and Jessica Chapman have started a new facebook page called "The Garden and The Well"...go check it out.  They are wanting to raise money to drill a well in Namatala and to have a garden to feed 400 (yes, 400!!) people!!!  They are doing all of the research and the fundraising so check it out, help out if and however you can and most especially pray for Callie and Jessica and this big project that God has laid on their hearts!!!  Thank you and bless you girls!!!

Also, would appreciate spreading the word that we are looking for sponsors for our sweet little IChooseYou kiddos.  Cost of food, clothing and medical is continuing to go up so if you know of anyone that would love to sponsor a child please send them to the website   http://www.ichooseyou.net/   or email me at ichooseyouministries@gmail.com .

I am working on updating the website...please be patient with me....I am learning as I go.  I've had a sweet lady offer to help me and I am going to call her but I need to find a day to do that!!!

If you all would, I would like to ask you to pray for the following:

1.  Health for our IChooseYou children
2.  Health for our IChooseYou moms, dads and siblings
3.  Continued prayer for Regina...she is better but still not completely healed
4.  Continued prayer for Agnes....she too is better...pray for her salvation and her health (picture of her at bottom of page)
5.  More sponsors for IChooseYou so we can help more children
6.  Baby David (Loru) is doing well...praise God!!!  Have had good reports about him!
7.  Another praise....Sulli, Maureen and the JaJa (Baby David's family) are doing well and are going to church and studying the Word!!
8.  Pray blessing for Pastor Morris, Aida and their family
9.  Blessings for our sweet Sarah that works in our office
10.  Blessings for our IChooseYou Sewing moms and the work of their hands
11.  Blessings and guidance for the new Garden and Well project
12.  Blessings for all of our IChooseYou sponsors and supporters

We all know how important our prayers are for our Ugandan family and for each other...I hope you will join me in prayer for them and for each other.

If you have a prayer request or if you think of something that I have left off, please add it to the blog!!!

Love and blessings to all of you,
Becky

This is a picture of Agnes!!!  She is doing so much better!!  God is so good and He does answer our prayers...please continue to pray for her to KNOW the Lord!!

Monday, August 15, 2011

It's a good day in Namatala!

Good Monday morning!
I have just received an update from Aida (in her words)...

1.  Baby Loru was taken back to the hospital last Friday (Aug. 12) and he had surgery on Saturday, Aug. 13, praise God everything went well!  He is recovering.  The parents are always coming to church and they are thankful.

2.  Agnes continues to improve, and she looks much better, every Sunday she comes to church.

3.  Regina was taken to the hospital and the results showed that she had STI which is something like candida, she was put on medication, but still she is not feeling well.  I think we need to take her back and test for HIV.

4.  Continue to pray for the children and their families.  They are dealing with malaria but getting medication for it.

5.  Continue to pray for us because the price of food is going high every day, it is difficult to budget.

Aida wrote, "Greetings to all of our sponsors, we love you soooooo much, Aida and the IChooseYou family."

Thank all of you for your prayers.  Please continue to lift all of them up and the rest of the IChooseYou children and their families.  As we all know our prayers are all BUT the BEST thing we can do...We love our family in Uganda but the Lord loves them more than we do!!!  As they say in Uganda....God is good all the time...All the time God is good!!!

Becky

 This is Baby Loru/David and Mama in the hospital after his second surgery.
 Agnes....looking very smart!  She is doing so much better!
 Regina getting her CT scan done.
Baby Loru/David and Mama Loru and Papa Sulli...I think this was taken before the last surgery.

Friday, August 12, 2011

What's going on....Is...

Hi Everyone,

Thought I'd better give you an update today.  So here we go:

Ted is doing pretty well.  The doctor in San Antonio could not help us but we saw a doctor last week in Round Rock that thinks he can...Thank you Lord!!  Ted will have a procedure on Aug. 23...would love to have your prayers for that!

Crosstalk is going great!!...Had CT Community groups going all summer and they were amazing....thank you CT leaders for your faithfullness!  Rise Retreat was last weekend and it went very well...Callie, John and everyone ... great job!!

Now for Baby Loru/David:
They were late getting to the hospital last week and the doctor left so it was postponed until yesterday (Thursday) kind of.  Glenn sent Callie a text this morning (they are 8 hours ahead of us...so around 4ish in the pm for them) saying that they were at the hospital for cleansing today and that the surgery will be tomorrow....so I am thinking that his surgery will be on Saturday...Friday night/early Saturday morning for us.  I ask again for  your prayers...for the Lord to guide the surgeons hands, for Him to guide the nurses and everyone else that is working on Baby Loru/David and for peace and comfort for Mama Loru/David (Maureen) and Papa Sulli.  Also for this to be the last surgery for this little guy and that he will grow up strong and that the Lord will use him and his family in mighty ways to serve the Kingdom!!

Thank all of you, the IChooseYou family, for your love, your prayers and your faithfullness.

I will update you when I hear something...I hope all of you are blessed today!

Becky

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Baby Loru/David's second surgery

Well Hello IChooseYou Family,

It's been such a long while since I have updated the blog....We have been home about 6 weeks...wow, how time flies and how life does keep on going.  Ted and I have been very busy....going to doctors and hospitals and I'm back at work with Crosstalk.  Ted did have to have 2 more units of blood when we returned and we have a doctors appointment on Monday with a new doctor...looking to see if he can help with that darn ole tumor in his small intestines.  We would love you prayers concerning this and I will try to be better at updating the blog to let you know what is going on.

Crosstalk is going great!!!  We are getting ready for the students to get back to Texas State...we will meet some Freshmen this weekend at "Rise"...go Callie...so proud of what you are doing!

Now...for Baby Loru/David....

If you remember, this is the baby that we found in the village of Namatala with the intestinal problem.  He had his first surgery when we were still there and he has done great with the wonderful nursing care that he has gotten from Becca and Taylor while they were still there and by Paul after they left.

Well...tomorrow, Friday...late tonight for us...Baby Loru/David will have his second and last surgery!!  Please everyone pray that he does well with this surgery and that the doctors and nurses will be guided by the Lord throughout the procedure and afterwards.  Also, let's pray for comfort and peace for Mama Loru/David (Maureen) and Papa Loru/David (Sulli).  God is still in the miracle business and we have been blessed to watch how His miracle has unfolded in the lives of Baby Loru/David and his family!!!

If you are wondering why I am calling him Baby Loru/David....David (which I need to start calling him) is his new Christian name...oh our God is so good!!!

So, watch for the next update on this miracle!!!


Hope all is well with all of you.
Blessings,
Becky

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Florence (Flower),Callie and Hailey....am I drowning???

I Am A Karamojong...I Talk Like a Karamojong....I Walk Like A...

Hi Everyone,
Sorry that I am late updating the blog....we have been so busy!!  Let me highlight the last three days...

Friday....started out with Chapel at Covenant School.  Had a great time teaching the 200 plus students.  After Chapel we went to Namatala (we love going there and spending time with them).  We went looking for Agnus so we could doctor her leg.  We walked around for a couple of hours and never did find her...someone said that she was out looking for food (probably in the rubbish piles).  We will go back in the morning (Monday),  I have to change her bandage, hope she still has it on.  We will take her some food.  We then had lunch at Momma Aidah's.  We then went next door to see the sewing ladies and bought some wonderful beads and bags from them....they are working so hard and doing such a good job!!!  I asked Flower (Florence) if she wanted to go to the hotel with us and she could swim and spend the night....she was so excited.  She had never done anything like that before.  Callie and Hailey took such good care of her.  We laughed and took pictures of her in the pool and then after they cleaned up we had a Pizza Party!!!  That new for her too and she loved it.  It is so fun to experience new things with the kids.

Saturday was a big day for us....we had so much fun!!!!  Wasswa (found out how to spell his name!) and Momma Aidah  picked us up...on Aidah time :) and we went to the store to buy peanut butter, jam, bread, bananas and sodas. We fixed all of the kids and their families an American lunch...peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!!!!  (150 plus sandwiches) and they loved it!!  Then we had so much fun with the "store" that we set up for them to come in and pick out new play clothes, shoes, undies and toys.  After that we gave them new baseball caps for the boys and headbands with flowers for the girls....oh my goodnes they looked so cute!!!!....many pictures were taken.  After that the kids sang some songs for us then the mommas put on their skit and sang for us....what a wonderful day we had with our IChooseYou family!!!   They are all such blessings.

Today, Sunday, Callie, Lauri, Linda and I went to church.  We had two sick ones....Ted and Hailey had the stomach stuff....so they couldn't go with us...they are much better tonight....Thank you Jesus!!  Church was typical 3 hours.....we had fun as always....Africans sure know how to worship and praise the Lord!!! The best thing happened in church today... Baby Loru's daddy was in church.  When they asked for the first timers to stand and introduce themselves, he stood up!!!   He said, "My name is .... and I am from Namatala.  Some Christians came by and saw my baby and helped us and took him to the hospital.  I was a Muslim but now I am Born Again!!!! Oh my gosh....it was awesome!!!  Of course I was crying like a baby and everyone was clapping!!!  What a morning!!  As we left church we headed to the hospital to see Baby Loru.  As we walked in he was standing up in his crib and hanging onto the bars on the window and looking out!!!!   It was so good to see him do that...he was fussy which we took as a good sign....God is so good!  We came back to the hotel for lunch then Wasswa picked us up about 5:15 and we went to see and say "Goodbye" to the ladies....that was sooo hard.  We have such a great IChooseYou family.  They are going to be in a ladies conferance this week so they won't be sewing...but that is so good for them.
We had fun because some of the kids were there with us....they were playing and we took so many pictures....I can post more of them when I get home....internet is slow here and it takes forever to post pics.

So there are the highlights from the last three days....hope all is well at home with ya'll.  It will be so hard to leave Uganda on Friday but we are going to be glad to see everyone.

Love and hugs to all of you,
Becky

Thursday, June 9, 2011

WHAT AN AMAZING DAY!!

Hi Everyone,
It has been an amazing day.  Wasawa picked us up this morning and we went to the hospital to see Baby Loru.  He is doing well...he had 3-4 teaspoons of milk and kept it down this morning.  They still have him on an IV a few times each day.  He was alert....he is a tough little guy....he whines a little but not much and he isn't crying!!!  Pastor Morris will pick up some meds tomorrow in Kampala and bring them back to the hospital for him....I will try to post some pictures of the little guy....I am having problems with my pictures because the internet is really slow here!

We put on a "Small Wound Clinic" in Namatala today....Amazing!!!!  We saw 60 children and 4 or 5 adults in a two hour span.  Most were not too bad but some where in pretty bad shape.  It is hard because we don't have doctors with us to give out medicine....so many coughs, colds, worms, malaria etc.  but we did what we could....cleaning wounds (which took a lot.....when they bleed they put manure on the wound to stop the bleeding), putting anti-bacterial cream and hydrogen proxide on them then bandaging them.  We are just trying to keep them from getting infected. 

After lunch we went back out and stopped and visited a young lady that had surgery in December to remove a mass in her stomach....she has not been able to get off of her mat since then!!!  She was so weak....we prayed for her and sat with her for a little while but that is all we could do....we will check on her tomorrow.  Then we set up our little clinic again...a young lady came out with some of the worst wounds that I have ever seen....Becca cleaned them and bandaged them then the rain started.....after standing under a metal roof on a shack waiting for the storm to pass....Wasawa and Ted came to our rescue!!!  They drove the van right up to us and we slip slided to the van (we needed a boat!) but we got out of the village.  We will go back tomorrow and I will re-dress the girl's wounds and check on the others.  There is so much need here, it breaks your heart....please join us in praying for a medical team to come next year....we need it!!!!

We are so blessed.....God is healing little Loru, we are seeing people come to know the Lord, we are loving on so many people and our IChooseYou family is wonderful and so fun to be with.....Thank you Lord!!!!

Please keep little Loru in your prayers, the lady with the bad wounds and our team.  We have a great team....what a blessing they are.

I will try to put some pictures up soon.
Good night everyone....love and hugs to all of you,
Becky

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

out of surgery

Hi Everyone.....had a great day today!!  Baby Loru (found out how to spell his name) had his surgery today.  He was in the "theather" operating room for 6 hours....it was a tough surgery but he is sleeping well tonight!  We got back from the hospital around 9:30 tonight and will go back in the morning to check on him and his parents.  Thank you for your prayers....please keep praying that he heals well and no infection!!  God is really moving....and we are so thankful!!!!!
We have a busy day tomorrow...Baby Home then an IChooseYou Board Meeting at 5:00.  I will update more tomorrow...it's after 11 and I am tired....going to bed :)
Love and Hugs to all of you,
Becky

Monday, June 6, 2011

WHAT A DAY!!!

What a day it was today!!!  Team Two is here and we are up and running.  We started with breakfast at 7:00 this morning and prayer in the Wanale Hut at 8:00.  Wasawa picked us up at 9:00 and we headed for Namatala (no sense in waisting time!)
First stop was to see baby Loru and his momma Maureen.  He was his sweet little happy self!  His daddy was there this morning.  He came over with tears in his eyes (he is/was Muslim) and said that he "sees it now" that he is going to change his ways that he has to and that "he has seen the light".  I talked to him for a few minutes asking him what he meant by that and he told us that "he knows".  I continued to ask him what he knew and he just keep saying that he has seen the light and that he had to change.  I asked him if he wanted to know Jesus and he said yes.  I asked him if he knew what Jesus had done for him....he listened and then said yes then Becca led him throught the prayer.  After that he had big tears and was so happy....WOW....now both mom and dad have received Christ and are going to go to church...there will be some men to follow up with him!!!!  Isn't God so good....He knew when little Loru was born with this medical problem that some Mazungus would be walking in Namatala and stop and see this baby.  He know that the mom and dad would see how God is working in their lives and that they would come to know Him....how blessed we are to be a part of this, to see God working right in front of us....He is amazing!!!
Please kAfeep Loru and his parents in your prayers.  I think his surgery will be around 9:00 in the morning (Tuesday)....while you will be asleep.  Please pray for God's perfect healing throught the doctors, that He will guide the doctors hands and for no infection at all to set in.  Also for his parents....peace and continued faith and knowing that they are loved and that God has them in His hands!!
After all of that we saw Regina....she is the lady that received Christ last week, that is very ill....came crawling out of her hut and we prayed over her two different times last week.  Regina is doing much better!!!!  She was outside and sitting at her neighbors hut and she was eating!!!!  We prayed over her again and we will go back to see her again tomorrow or in a couple of days!!!  Godd is so good!!
We went to see Margaret that was sick last week....she is a little better but still needs prayer.....we sat with her for a little while then prayed with her....what a jewel she is (we think she is in her 90s....she says that she is younger then Ted...they have kidded about that for 4 years!!)  I love that lady!!!
We took Lauri to see where Musa (YumYum) lives....and she got to meet his mother, Harriett.  We are looking for a 12 year old boy that Ted and I talked to last week....he is a Muslim but really wants to go to school....we will see what God does here!
We spent the afternoon with Darby's Sewing Ladies....had such a good time with them!!!  Margaret (Momma Flower) is trying to teach Lauri and I how to make the paper beads....we each made two pretty good ones while the ladies had made several necklaces....hahaha....they are getting a kick out of how slow the Muzugus are!!
Hassin and his new bride, Juliette came to the hotel and had dinner with us tonight to celebrate their marriage....they are so sweet....we all enjoyed being with them so much.
Well....know that everyone is doing well here....we are blessed!!
I'll update tomorrow and let you know how Baby Loru is doing.
Love and Hugs to all of you,
Becky

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Team Two

Hi Everyone,

Just a short note to let you know that Team Two has arrived!!!!!

Ted and I had an awesome morning at church....man, these Ugandans really know how to worship!!!!  Then Team Two got here about mid afternoon.  They are doing well....very tired...it is a hard trip.  We relaxed and talked for awhile, ate dinner now everyone has headed off to bed.  We have a busy week planned.....heading to Namatala in the morning then meeting up with the Sewing Ladies after lunch.  I can't wait to show them around and introduce them to everyone.

Please keep LaRu Lesse (the baby from Namatala) and his mom, Maureen in your prayers.  Took him to the hospital today and they started the cleaning of the intestines  this morning.  He goes back to the hospital tomorrow (Monday) for another cleaning and they will admit him, then the surgery will be on Tuesday....please pray for complete healing, recovery and no infection.  Prayers for the surgeon and everyone in the operating room.  Thank you and I will report back with the news!!

Thank you for your prayers....they are really felt all the way over her in Uganda.....we send you our love, hugs and many blessings.

Thank you Lord that Team One made it home safely and that Team Two made it here safely!!!

I'll write more tomorrow....Goodnight!

Becky

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Thankful hearts!!

Saturday was a wonderful day. Darbs and I had the privilege of going out into the Namatala village and visiting the huts of almost all of the sewing ladies. They were so honored that their "Teacher" came to their house. Darby prayed over their homes. We were both humbled and honored to see how they live, up close. Their joy is overflowing in the midst of unthinkable living conditions! The mother of one of the new girls that had just started attending our PiNK Bible study this past week, accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior this day!! God is so good and He is working through this amazing group of women. They are impacting their village! They are a Heartgroup in every sense of the word.

While Darbs and I were out, the rest of the team divided out the monthly IChooseYou supply of Flour, Sugar, Soap and Vaseline. Then, the IChooseYou families came, with their kids to get their monthly supplies. Becky interviewed them to, including some new kids, to update their bios. They are all doing great! What a fun day of laughter and playing. It is truly a giant family!!

Sunday was an outstanding day, beginning with church in the morning. Darbs, Becky and I had the privilege of teaching the women, while the younger girls taught the kids. Nothing compares to worship in Africa!! A long day, but a very rich one! After church, we served lunch to the IChooseYou familes as well as the rest of the church. Then, they "performed" for us!! The IChooseYou moms performed the most precious skit illustrating where they came from and how IChooseYou has changed their lives. They literally acted out how they used to live, compared to how they live now. The moms and the children sang and danced for us. We heard and felt over and over again just how thankful they are for us. Aidah said that if we could look inside their bodies to see their hearts, they would be jumping up and down. We ended it with handing out their new backpacks filled with school supplies, new IChooseYou t-shirts, socks, sponsor letters and gifts. Again, they simply could not contain their joy. It is amazing how something that seems so small to us can bring them such happiness. What a lesson to learn!





As Aidah says, 100 years from now, it won't matter what kind of clothes you wore or what kind of car you drove or what kind of house you lived in. What will matter was what you did in the life of a child!!

Monday we had the opportunity to go to Lulwanda Children's Home! A terrible road to travel on, but well worth the trip. Darbs got to see her little Davis again and introduce him to his "brother and sister" Josh and Micah. It was precious! The Lulwanda kids are incredible and are so happy secure in their home there.

Today was spent back with the sewing ladies and bead making ladies for some of us, while others went back out into Namatala village. By the way, the mother of the sick baby we had discovered in the village - well she acceptted Jesus as her Lord and Savior today. Her baby will have his surgery next Tuesday and it is not going to be too expensive! Thank you for praying for that! His life has been saved. Morris said he will definitely be an IChooseYou kid one day when he gets older. :)

Over and over, God is showing up and showing us that He is in control and we are playing our roles in His master plan. It is such a privilege to be here, working for Him, watching glory being brought to His name!!

The trip for team 1  is winding down and it is hard to say good-bye to our family here! Thank you all again for your support and prayers. I don't think you will ever fully understand what you are doing for these kids and their families here in Uganda. God bless you!

,Brandi & the Team

Friday, May 27, 2011

Another great day!!!

Hi All.....hope this fines everyone doing well.  Team One is doing great!!!  Such a good team...working hard and everyone is enjoying beautiful Uganda.  We had another good day.....

We started out this morning at 6:15 in the Wanali Hut with Kyla leading worship and Micah leading our prayer time.....what a wonderful way to start our day with the sun coming up over the mountains!!!

Our driver picked us up at 8:00.  We dropped off the team at Covenant to teach this morning while Becca and I went to Morris and Aidah's house to meet the lady and her baby.  She and the baby were there waiting for us.  Morris decided to take her by himself because he did not want Becca and I to go into the hospital because of the deseases....we wanted to go but he really thought we shouldn't.  So off they went and Becca and Darby and I went to the market to look for sewing supplies for Darby's sewing ladies then because we had time and we were already in Mbale Town we decided to pick up the monthly IChooseYou supplies for tomorrow.

After we took the supplies to Covenant we returned to Morris and Aidah's.  Morris and the lady were back....the doctor said that the baby was doing ok and that the wound around the intestines was not infected....Thank you Jesus!!  Morris will take her back in the morning hopefully for the first of three surgeries....please keep praying for this little guy, his mom and for the doctors performing the surgery.

After Ted, Micah, Kyla, Taylor, Brandi and Josh finished up at Covenant they joined Darby, Becca and I for lunch.  After we ate we went next door to where the ladies sewing room is and while Brandi was teaching the Bible Study it started raining.  We had a wonderful afternoon....around 20 to 25 women and children in a small 10x12 room.....some sewing, everyone talking together and we were holding babies for about 2 1/2 hours in the pouring rain.  The ladies sang beautiful songs, we laughed together and really got to know one another with babies sleeping, children playing, toads hopping, rain beating down on the metal roof and lots of thunder....what a wonderful day!!
What a blessing these ladies are and what wonderful things Darby is allowing God to do through her!

We will have a big day tomorrow (Saturday).  We will start at 8:30ish at the IChooseYou office filling bags with the flour and sugar that the families receive each month along with their vasaline and soap.  They will all meet us at the office around 1:00 to pick up their monthly supplies.  Josh will take pictures of the kiddos while I will update their bios and talk to the families and the children....it's gonna be another great day in Uganda.

Hope all of you are doing well....we send love and hugs to all of you.....will write more tomorrow!

Blessings,
Becky

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Oh Happy Day!!!

Greetings from Mbale and Namatala, Uganda!!!! 
I am happy to report that all is well with Team 1...everyone is healthy and working hard and loving on a whole bunch of precious African children and their parents.

Now for a brief update of our last few days (or not so brief):

We arrived in Mbale on Monday after stopping at, what I call, the "African Wal Mart" to buy the kiddos their very own "real" backpacks and then of course we had to stop at Ling Lings to eat lunch.  After about a 6 hour van ride we were greeted by Noah and his staff at our wonderful "home away from home" Mt. Elgon Hotel.  They always make you feel so good with their big smiles, hugs and just wonderful Ugandan "YOU ARE WELCOME"!!!  As the team was very tired we ate and then went right to bed....it's been a whole year since I have gotten to bed by 9:30 :) 

Tuesday was a slow day.  I met with Aidah to discuss what we were planning on doing over the next couple of weeks and Darby met with Margaret concerning the sewing ladies.  After that we went to Covenant to chat with Head Master Stephen and peek in each of the classrooms.  After that we went to see where Darby's Sewing Ladies were...it is a very nice place....it's wonderful to see the ladies sewing inside on the machines while ladies sat on matts outside making beads and straw matts and their little children playing in the area around them....talk about "Community"....what a great start for our first IChooseYou "HEART GROUP"!!!! Way to go ladies!!!
We had a wonderful treat...Joyce, Justine and their mother Sarah came to the hotel and had dinner with us.  We sponsor Joyce and my sister, Julie, and my brother-in-law James sponsor Justine....we enjoyed spending this time with them.

Wednesday we met with Headmaster Stephen again and got our "marching orders" from him.  We ate lunch at Aidah's then the team went to Namatala with Becca and Taylor and Sarah.  I went with Aidah to see the pig farm and to buy supplies for the IChooseYou children.  It was another good day in Uganda!!

Today, Thursday, Aidah had to fly out to Tanzania for a few days to prepare for a church planting team...she will be back on Saturday evening.  The team met at 6:15 am for our prayer time and then had breakfast.   Our driver picked us up at 7:45 and took us to Covenant to teach Bible (Micah and Ted), art (Kyla and Brandi), PE (Taylor) and music (Becca and Becky).  I was fun and full morning....so many happy children....how much they bless us.  Darby  went to work with her sewing ladies....I think she will post an update about that later.  At lunch time we went to Aidah's...ate then hit the road again.  Brandi had her "Pink" Bible Study then Sarah took us back to Namatala.  We went to several of the kids homes.  Most of the moms were sewing (that's good) and the children were in school (that's good) so there was no one at home but we just walked through talking to people and allowing the little ones and the other childrent that are not in school hang all over us....fun times.
I would like to add that Josh Burleson is videoing (do you still call it that??) and photograhing everything that is going on and that we are seeing and is doing an amazing job....even with several children hanging on his arms and asking to be lifted up...he is great!!!
After being in the village for a couple or three hours we came upon several huts with moms and children around.  A lady went over to Becca and asked her to look at her son.  After Becca looked at him she realized that he was very ill.  They called me over and showed me the problem....his intestines were protruding outside of his body.  After asking her some questions and Becca putting a moist then dry bandage over it we told her that we would take the team back to the hotel and come back and get her some help.  We did deliver the team then we went to see Pastor Morris at his office.  We told him what the problem was and he went with us back to Namatala to see the lady.  After talking with her we found out that the baby (11 months old) was born with this condition and that she had taken him to the doctor a couple of times but did not have the money to have anything done.  The baby has only had powdered milk all his life with nothing else....he needs help.  So our plan is that in the morning (Friday), Becca, Taylor and I will go with Morris to take the mother and baby to the hospital to see what can be done....please pray for this precious little baby and mother and that we can get him into the hospital.  Also please pray for the medical cost...you know me, I can't just walk away from this situation and I know that Becca and Taylor can't either! 
What a day....God is so good.  This is what we ask for as we walk through that village that we love so...we want to do God's will and to be the hands and feet of Jesus....were He leads, we will follow. 
So, all of this to say...all is well...we are all so happy to be serving the Lord here in Uganda...Sponsors....Your children are doing well....are so happy and they send you their "Greetings"!
Love and Hugs to all of you,
Becky

So much has been going on!!

We have done so, so much in the last 2 days, where do I even begin? Well, yesterday morning, we were back at Covenant School where there are 200 students. Out of those, 41 of them are IChooseYou kids. As soon as we walk in their classrooms, we recognize them, the "chosen ones" instantly and they know us and they look at us with these precious brown eyes and smile, knowing that they are special. It's like they are saying "thank you" without saying a word. All of the IChooseYou kids are absolutely darling and are doing so well in school!


During outside recess time, I finally saw my little Mudua Irene. I hardly recognized her, she has hair now! As soon as our eyes met she came a runnin and grabbed me and hugged me so tight!! It was a hug from God! She knew exactly who I was and you know me - tears, they were-a-flowin !!!!! Mudua has a baby sister now - child #9 in the family!!  So, her hair is looking quite "Buck-wheat-ish" at this point and she says she wants long hair - she has never had any hair. So, I've hired Sara, our first IChooseYou graduate to put braids in Irene's hair. I can't wait to see how it turns out! 

Later, we went on over to the IChooseYou mom's sewing room to relieve Darbs for just a bit and gather them for their PiNK class (or "PiNK it up" - as Becky would say!). As we handed out the PiNK t-shirts, I was  astounded at their gratefulness, and the fact that we had exactly enough t-shirts for every woman present!! I just love how God is into the details! They were all dancing around, jumping for joy with, you guessed it......the African "yiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyi" sound that they make when they cannot hold their joy inside!  The love was all around simply engulfing me!! So, we sat in a big circle and had our first {PiNK} Bible study lesson of the week, on the Full Armor of God (Ephesians 2:10). They soaked it in and were very receptive. Margaret (a.k.a.  - Mama Flower) was a great translator and they later expressed to her just how much they need encouragement like that and to get into the Word of God and that it was "very good teaching". These women have all been through such unimaginable hardships, yet they are still smiling, still loving on each other. They do community like nothing I've ever seen. We could learn a thing or two from them about how to do "Heartgroup!"





Then, we headed on out to the Namatala village for the first time. Even after you've experienced it before, you are never desensitized to the severity of this place. It is truly unbelievable. Kyla, Micah and Josh all had incredible eye opening experiences as they encountered absolute joy from the beaming, dirty children living in the absolute unthinkable circumstances! Again, we learned lessons! I received an awesome confirmation from God when we were at Mudua Irene's hut. I met her entire extended family and they were so grateful and loving toward me. One of the ladies I met, who was her Aunt, just so happened to be one of the same women whom I had prayed for last year, shared the gospel with and she received Christ! I will never forget her face as I have a picture of her holding the Bible I gave her. How could I have known that she was the aunt of our IChooseYou kid!!! There are no such things as coincidences. She is still attending church, she said!!

Becky and Mama Aidah checked out the IChooseYou pig farm and it is doing great! The pigs are doing well and they have already planted corn there. It is good!

So, today, we once again taught in the Covenant classrooms where we rotated in the classrooms teaching Art, Music, Bible Story and P.E. We got to fingerpaint rainbows, sing amazing songs and plant seeds of God's love as we played with them and loved on them. Becky sang and danced up and down the aisles, Micah and Ted shared Bible stories, Kyla got to be the star art teacher! Taylor got a full workout in at P.E.  It was great!

Once again, we headed out to Namatala this afternoon with no agenda except to follow the Holy Spirit wherever He lead us. And He sure did that!! We took Ted to Margaret's house - a precious woman and dear friend of Ted's who claims every year that she is 75 (which is clearly way off!). As they embraced, Ted said "I'm older than you!" It was adorable! She is the same woman who has the graves of her husband and all 5 of her children around her tiny hut - they all died of Aids. Yet, Margaret is full of the joy of the Lord!



As we made our way through the village, God directed our attention to those whom He wanted us to pray for and those who needed conversation and encouragement and help. I mean to have someone come in and ask them about them, is a rare occasion. These people simply love to tell you all about themselves and their families - all you have to do is ask! We were followed, of course, by a parade of little children all holding our hands - we called the Mzungu parade!  God lead us directly into a situation that was an absolute divine appointment. I just can't share the details here but let's just say we were able to step into the life of a helpless scared young mother and most likely, save the life of her baby today!!! We were able to pray for another very, very sick woman, near death with no hope! I am certain that she and her beautiful daughter will be taken care of because of God's healing touch and His great mercies. If you think about it, please keep a Karamojong girl named Elizabeth and her sick mother in your prayers tonight. Also, please remember a baby boy in green (I did not know his name!) He desparately needs healing!



It was a rough afternoon but God is good. I so wish we could scoop them all up and take them for medical care but it is just not possible. The needs are too great! We believe the greatest thing we can do is pray and that is what God sent us here to do!  Please continue partnering with us in prayer, this week. We just never know where God will lead us next! He loved us deeply today as we were humbled to our knees!! We saw Jesus all around this place and it is beautiful! We are all doing great here. All is safe and good. We are super excited about all of the awesome footage that Josh is capturing with his video camera. It will make for an awesome IChooseYou documentary! You go Josh!!

God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

Love you all and miss you!!

Hugs,
Brandi & the team

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Sewing Club

Greetings from the ichooseyou sewing club!

Today we really got to work organizing and figuring out what we are going to do for the rest of the time here. They are ready to learn some new and more difficult things. Yeah!

All the same people are here (so good to see the same ladies from last year) plus 7 or 8 more! ...more children have been chosen for ichooseyou so more parents are welcome to sew or to make something that is "marketable" as they say. Some of the new moms are wanting to do different things such as making Bead necklaces, earrings and bracelets to sell. Also braided door mats. I'm all for that...whatever talent you have, use it! We'll be buying supplies here for that, praying our US dollars will go a long way here. :)

They had 4 sewing machines stolen from the last location so they have moved to a permanent room that can be locked up.

Tomorrow we'll continue to work on some difficult things. Please pray for great comprehension and understanding for them. This is tough stuff and can be tedious at times. Pray for patience for them.

Thank you to everyone for your support, can not put into words the difference you are making in the lives of these women and their families.

Love you Jones family.

Darby/Mom

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Sweet Reunions!!

Oh what a day!! We finally got to go to Covenant School today to be reunited with our precious IChooseYou kiddos for the first time! Ted finally got to see his sweet Joyce.......his IChooseYou girl whome he loves VERY much, whom he has not seen in 2 years! What an emotional moment when they got their first hug together......(first of many, I'm sure!) Ted was in Heaven!! Let's just say that smile never left Papa Ted's face all afternoon!

- I was disappointed that my little Mudua Irene was not there at school today as she was home sick. :( I am praying that I will get to see her at school tomorrow.
- Emily & Dustin - I saw Faizo and got his picture! I told his grandma about you.
- Josie - I gave Goret that big hug you asked me to deliver and I told her mother how much you love her!

After that we went on over to the rented room (next door to Mama Aidah's house) where the IChooseYou mom's sewing club now resides. I cannot find the words to describe this reunion moment!!! Darby is quite famous here and as soon as she walked up, all of the ladies jumped up and started dancing and singing and hugging her! I mean how do you spell their squeal sound they make......you know, the Africa "lilililililililililili" sound that the women make when they are excited? (Those of you who have been to Africa know what I am referring to!)......yes, that sound! I have never seen such excitement and happiness. They still have their class going, the ladies are still sewing and learning new sewing skills. We were also pleasantly surprised to find a new group of IChooseYou moms, sitting in the grass outside of the  sewing classroom having their own little bead-making class and door-mat making class, lead by Jennifer, a brand new IChooseYou mom who speaks English very well! For those moms who are not particularly interested in sewing, they too are learning a skill that can provide income for their families. This little group included Goret's mom, Faizo grandma and Stanley's mom, just to name a few. Starting tomorrow, I will have the privilege of teaching our frist PiNK session and giving them t-shirts. It's so funny because we had 20 PiNK t-shirts donated and there just so happen to be 20 ladies, alltogether!! God is so good!

Once they were finished with their sewing for the day, they pulled out a chalkboard and all gathered in the room for their daily reading and writing class. Aidah's son, Timothy, and his wife are teaching these beautiful women how to read and write. What a beautiful sound it was to hear them alltogether, reciting their ABC's! These women are amazing! God is amazing!! Uganda is just plain amazing!! What a privilege it is to be a part of God's team that He sent here to encourage, teach and equip our "team of Ugandans" to empower them to change their culture, to give them all hope for a new future! And it all starts with loving them with God's love!

I just have to say thank you, once again to all of you who are IChooseYou sponsors. You just have no idea what a difference you are making in the lives of these kids and their families. They have such hope and joy and YOU are a big reason for that!!




The "newbies" on our trip were overwhelmed! Josh, Kyla & Micah all got a taste of what Uganda love is like! Were were all absolutely enveloped in the amazing love of God today. And this was just day one......................................:)

Monday, May 23, 2011

Looks like we made it!!

We made it!! We are here in beautiful Mbale, Uganda. It was just as I remembered it. It feels just like coming home! The great thing is that it was a little rainy and nice and cool today! A first for me!

The flights went well, no delays, no problems. The entire team came together in London - all 9 of us. Tomorrow we will go to Covenant School to see all of our precious kiddos and give lots and lots of hugs!! Thank you all for your prayers. All is well and safe and good here in Uganda! God has answered every prayer so far and has provided us with everything we need to serve His precious people!

Much Love!

,Brandi

P.S. - I love you Loren and Luke and Tony!!!!!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Uganda is upon us!

Well, it's here! It's time, once again for a new IChooseYou team to journey to Uganda. Team one will depart this Saturday, 5/21, team two will arrive two weeks later and some will remain in Uganda the entire 4 weeks. We are full of excitement and anticipation over what God is going to do in Namatala through this trip. He has given us a clear vision of what His will is for the Karamojong tribe in Namatala. Through reaching these people with the love of Jesus Christ, He can and will change the entire culture of Uganda, reconciling them back to Himself. He chose them and they are a Holy people, He treasures them! What a privilege it is to watch God work through the children, the future generation of Uganda! We are all humbled and honored to be a part of God's work there! Wow!

With this being said, we thank you all so, so much for your support and your prayers. We could not do any of this without you. IChooseYou is a huge team effort, from the child sponsors to our financial supporters, to our prayer partners, you are all so important to us! We ask you now, to specifically lift each of us up in prayer while we are gone.  The team is specifically asking for prayers for confidence, wisdom, energy, strength, good health, travel mercies, safety, unity, peace, courage, compassion and love for these precious people! We believe that God has already gone before us and prepared hearts and paved the way. His angels are there, waiting for us and Jesus Himself is ready for us to arrive and "grab onto His robe". We pray for salvations, for healing, for education, for the sewing business and the pig farm to flourish, and for fun, loving times to abound!! As the Word of God is taught, we pray for open minds and open hearts. When His Word goes out, it does not return void! As we step out in faith, we have an unspeakable confidence because our hope is not in our efforts, but in Christ alone and His Mighty Power!

We plan to update this blog while on our trip so please follow along. I know it gives peace to many to hear from us! Keep in mind, the internet connection is not so great in our hotel. It is hit or miss, so be patient - we will blog when we can.

We love you all! Grace & Peace to you!

In His Service,

The Team:
Becky
Ted
Brandi
Darby
Micah
Josh
Kyla
Laurie
Linda
Callie
Haley
Becca
Taylor

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, "Here I am. Send me!" - Isaiah 6:8

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

There is so much going on!!!

Greetings!...HAPPY SPRING!!!
WOW....can you believe that it is the last week in March??!!  Where does the time go!!

We have our team together and we are getting ready to go...less then 2 months we will be on the ground in Namatala, Uganda!!  We have so much to do and we need your help!!

First, if you are sponsoring a child will you send me a letter and a picture of yourself and your family.  The kids really love getting this from you...it helps them put a face and some sweet words with the love that they receive from you on a monthly basis.  I know it takes time but please do this....think of how it feels when you get a letter in the mail or even a message from a special person on facebook or an e-mail....come on, sit down and write a little something to YOUR CHILD!!!! Send it to me...Becky Ball, IChooseYou,  P.O. Box 1357, Wimberley, TX  78676.  It would be great to have this by May 10....thank you so much.

Next....the 2011 Team is having a Fundraiser Dinner and you are invited!!!  So please come and join us!!

IChooseYou Fundraiser Dinner

Where:  Cypress Creek Church
When:  Saturday, April 30, 2011
Time:  6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Cost:  $15.00 per person
Tickets are available at the Cypress Creek Church office...see Darby or you can contact Brandi Silva, Josh Burleson, Micah Burleson, Kyla Donner, Callie Eacret, Lauri Bunch, Linda Bueltel, Ted  Ball or Becky Ball...or email me at ichooseyouministries@gmail.com .


We are raising money to take supplies with us on our 2011 Trip to Namatala, Uganda...such as...backpacks, medical supplies, (we have had someone donate the money to buy the children's school shoes!), school supplies, and also (after we get there) buy mosquito nets, possibly mats to sleep on, vegetable seeds, paint to paint the outside of the school, and other things that might be needed.  Also, we will spend a day (each team) at a baby orphanage that is very poor.  We like to take flour, sugar and beans to them and if we have or can get some medical supplies and/or mosquito nets, then that too is a great need.  So, this is what the Fundraiser Dinner is for.

The food is being donated by TEXAS ROADHOUSE IN SAN MARCOS...THANK YOU TEXAS ROADHOUSE....You Rock!!!


Besides dinner, we will have a silent auction, we will have IChooseYou T-Shirts for sale, items that our IChooseYou ladies have made, lots of pictures and hopefully live music....it will be a night of fun, fellowship and a time to get to know other IChooseYou family members.

 Invite your friends to come so they can learn about IChooseYou!!!

One more thing....We ask for your prayers while we are gone...prayers for safety, for good health, for safety and health for our family members that we leave here and for us to follow what the Lord has for us to do while we are there.  As I have said from the beginning of IChooseYou...it belongs to the Lord.  This is His work and we are just following His lead.
"Who will I send as a messenger to my people?  Who will go?"  And I said, "Lord, I'll go!  Send me."  Isaiah 6:8
Also, pray for the Ugandan people to see Jesus through us...it is so not about us, it is all about Jesus!!
Members of the team are as follow:
Becky Ball
Ted Ball
Darby Burleson
Brandi Silva
Josh Burleson
Micah Burleson
Kyla Donnor
Lauri Bunch
Linda Bueltel
Callie Eacret
Becca Willett
Taylor Van Duinen

We need your prayers and we thank you for your prayers!!!!!

SEND ME YOUR LETTERS AND PICTURES!!!

HOPE TO SEE YOU ON SATURDAY, APRIL 30!!!!!!

Thank all of you so much for being a part of IChooseYou.  What you are doing monthly for the children in Namatala, Uganda is truly life changing.  YOU ARE A BLESSING!!!!!

Praying God's sweet blessings to each of you,

Becky

For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God.
Of all the people on earth, God has chosen you to be His own special treasure.
                                                                     Deuteronomy 7:6

Friday, March 4, 2011

Meet Musa


I would like for you to meet Musa, better known as YumYum.  This first picture was taken within the first year of IChooseYou.  YumYum had been in school for 3 months and was still a little shy.  The second picture was taken the following year and needless to say he is no longer a shy little boy.  Two of our team members, Taylor Campbell and Julie Mac Gray gave him the sun glasses to put on and taught him the "gang" sign....he is such a little mess....we all love him....he is so fun.
Musa, YumYum will be 10 years old this year.  When Momma Aida chose him to be an IChooseYou child he had to learn that he did not have to go through the "rubbish" piles to find food.  Momma Aida tells the story that one day a friend of hers called her to tell her that "one of her kids" (in a school uniform) was going through the rubbish piles and was not in school.  Momma Aida went to see who it was...it was Musa, YumYum.  He was scared when he saw Momma Aida because he thought that he was in trouble and that he was going to be punished. She sat down with him and told him to look at her face.  She asked him if he thought she looked angry.  He shook his head, "no".  She then told YumYum that she loved him and that he no longer had to get his food from the "rubbish", that he was now an IChooseYou child and that he would be fed at school and at home, that he would not go hungry again.  Also, that he could go to school and learn so that he could grow up to be a man that works and takes care of his family.  YumYum has not gone back to the "rubbish pile" again.  He has gone from the unsmiling, hopeless, shy little boy to the happy, fun, laughing little boy that is full of hope.
We can't wait to go see Musa, YumYum....wonder what he is up to now....we will report on him when we get back from our upcoming trip in May.
If you would like to help Musa or any of the IChooseYou children...go to IChooseYou.net and sign up to sponsor a child...make a difference in a child's life!!!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Uganda trip Fundraising Garage Sale!!

Don't miss a BIG fundraising Garage Sale (benefitting the upcoming Uganda trip in May) !!

Saturday, March 12th
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
19 Serenade Circle (in Woodcreek North)
Wimberley, TX

Saturday, February 26, 2011

News from IChooseYou

Hello to Everyone from the IChooseYou Texas Office!!

Just wanted to give you an update on what all is going on...


  • Morris and Aida were here in January!  We visited with them in Houston on January 22 where we attended the Grace International Dinner with Mike and Mary Thrasher.  We enjoy this with the Thrasher's and Morris and Aida each year.
  • Morris and Aida were in Wimberley for about 10 days this year.  They spent a day with Ted and I while they were here.  They updated us on the children...which all are doing well in school.  They have had to deal with many of the children coming down with malaria but because of the generous donations that we had received the children did get the medical attention that was needed. We also made some plans for our upcoming trip in May/June....it's going to be a full trip...so much needs to be done.
  • Darby was able to come over and spend some time with Morris and Aida.  Darby and Aida made plans for the ladies and their sewing projects.  They are learning so much and are so excited about working!!!  Darby raised money to hire a teacher to work with the ladies to teach them how to read and write!!!!  Is that wonderful or what!  
  • People who were/are interested in going to Uganda gathered that evening to get to know Morris and Aida and hear from them what is happening with IChooseYou and how God is blessing the work and the families in Namatala.  Our time with them was wonderful....too short but what a blessing!

  • We are having problems with the pig farm.  I'm not really sure what all is going on....of course it has to do with money....feeding the pigs (cost have gone up) and paying the workers.  I am still learning that we see things so differently then they do in Uganda....I would appreciate the prayers for this venture.  If any of you know someone that has a heart for starting businesses in 3rd world countries and/or knows anything about pigs....please send them my way....I am way out of my league!!

  • Our next trip to Uganda will be in May...we are taking 2 teams this year.  Here are some prayer requests that we would love to have you join us in praying for:
1.  Health and safety for our 41 IChooseYou children and their families
2.  Wisdom in selecting 9 additional children...should we add more at this time and if so which ones.
3.  The ladies sewing club....how and where to sell their goods.
4.  The pig farm....wisdom, understanding and good communication with the men, healthy pigs, workers and funds.
5.  The team that is going this year....as they raise their money for the trip, for their health and safety as they prepare to go.  
6.  For possible fundraisers...we need to raise money for 50 backpacks (about $500.00) and for food to feed all 41 IChooseYou families one day that we are there (around 200 people and the cost is around $600.00) and for new school shoes 50 children x 20.00 per child ($1000.00)...it all adds up fast!!  We would like to paint the outside of the school....would like to take food to a Baby Orphanage and we would like to set up a small wound care clinic....so all in all we are looking at raising around $3,500.00 to $4,000.00!!!  

I am sure that I have left something out of the prayer requests but if you would just pray for the trip and the families in general that would be wonderful...thank you in advance for your prayers.

Sponsors and Donors, thank you so much for being a part of what God is doing through IChooseYou...you are making such a difference in the lives of these children....they have a hope and a future because of your love and care.  Some of them are alive because of your love and care....times are hard here but in comparison we have so, so much and we have so, so much to give and you are!!!!  Thank you and bless you.

I will try to update the blog again soon...when we know when the fundraisers are, etc.  

Blessings to each on of you,
Becky
www.ichooseyou.net  ...  spread the word....sponsor a child....make a difference in the life of a child!!!!



Saturday, January 1, 2011

2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


I hope everyone has had a wonderful CHRISTmas and your New Year has started out with many blessings!!


I believe that 2011 will be an amazing year for IChooseYou...and we praise God for all that He has done these past two years.  As I was reading this morning...in Genesis 1:27..."God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."  WOW, He created you and me in his image....he created all of our children and all of our IChooseYou children and their families in his image...He created EVERYONE in his image.  We know this, we have read this over and over again....but this morning it hit me just how much he loves me, loves you, loves our IChooseYou kiddos and loves everyone that HE CREATED!!!   Being created in his image also means that we are to be like him, be the hands and feet of Christ and I know that he smiles when he sees how each of you and your commitment to IChooseYou is "being like Him".  He puts in our heart the desire to help those that are in need...He puts in our heart to "to be the change that you want the world to be".  I am so blessed to be in this ministry with each and everyone of you.  Hang on for a wonderful and blessed 2011!!


Becky


Stepping out in faith is giving God the opportunity to be God.