Amazing Athens!

Athens was beautiful, and oozed history! We arrived in Athens on Thursday afternoon. We found our hotel, which was so charming. It was located in the Psiri Area. It is considered the "working class" neighborhood, and was so interesting. We would watch men arriving at their small store fronts, raising the gates, and pulling out their goods, from used books, to hubcaps, to antiques! They would chat, eat breakfast and drink coffee before the customers came. 

We went exploring that afternoon, and found The Plaka. This is a charming, cobble-stone street area. It is more touristy, but has shops with EVERYTHING OLIVE...olive wood, olive oil, olive soap! They also have beautiful lace! We found the Parliament, and also many old churches and orange trees! That night, we ate at a charming Greek restaurant! The waitress translated the menu, and it was delicious! the Greek salad and the Greek yogurt were especially tasty!  Yum! 

The next day we went to the Acropolis Museum, and then The Acropolis. Among the ruins, was The Parthenon. I did not remember that it was the temple built for Athena. Much damage was done, and many statues were taken over the years as armies conquered Greece. It was interesting to see the restoration work that is being done. Columns would have a lighter shade of stone that was the restoration, filling in "missing" parts of the ruin. It is difficult to imagine how all of these ruins were built so many years ago, how the apostle, Paul, walked the same steps, and to imagine all the "life" that has happened there! We LOVED it! The view of Athens was stunning, such a squashed-together city! It was amazing to think how, just as God leads us One Step at a Time, He has led others as well!

An Orange Tree, and a Greek Sign!

Typical street in Athens

The Plaka

View of the city taken from The Acropolis

View from the top!

Beautiful Statues!

The Parthenon and Larry!

The Parthenon and Me!

Mount Lycabettus

The Greek flag flying at The Acropolis

View of Athens from The Acropolis. You can see the Mediterranean!

A huge Cypress tree!

Quaint "lamp shade" street!

So Blessed to go to Uganda!

What a wonderful trip we had to Uganda! The purpose of our trip was to help Pastor Mathias conduct a seminar for children's church teachers. We took a curriculum and some teaching "hints" and off we went! It was WONDERFUL to be there! Uganda is absolutely beautiful! Everything was green, and lush. Even though Dubai is pretty in its own way, Uganda is absolutely gorgeous! Pastor Mathias and Frances were THE BEST, sharing their home with us! 

We spent Friday and Saturday doing the seminar. We began each day around 11:00, stopped for lunch around 1:30, and finished around 4:00. It was such a blessing to work with the teachers and hear how committed to the children they were. Some of them had teachers helping them that THEY had taught previously! That's what it's all about! They were excited about the material we brought, and were planning to use it in some churches the very next day! 
On Sunday, we went to church at Pastor Mathias's church. I always tell them it is my favorite place to worship! Then, to hear the teachers use the training to teach was such a blessing! After church, we went to one of the hospitals. There are no words adequate to describe it. Mathias kept trying to explain it to us, and I think decided that "a picture is worth a thousand words." Beds were crowded into rooms. It was not clean, with very few nurses and doctors. Families must stay at the hospital with their loved ones to provide food, wash their bedding and clothes, and make sure they have everything they need. Family members sleep on the floor by the bed or outside. Even though I am trying to describe the conditions in the hospital, it is beyond words. It is impossible to describe the awfulness there. 
We went out to Wakisi where they were having children's church. What a blessing to see Lea teaching the children about God! We then went to Mashah Village, which is the orphanage associated with Eleváre. The children were absolutely precious, and it was so good to see them again. There are twenty-one children there now. 
On Monday, Mathias took us back through Kampala to Entebbe to catch our flight home. We stopped in Kampala to buy beads!!! What fun!  The area where we went was in Kampala, and houses were crowded close together. Mathias knew just where to go! When he told them we needed beads, women came from all directions with beads! Mathias is quite the "deal maker!" 
This trip was such a confirmation for us! God is so good! When Mathias asked us to come, I found myself saying "yes" and could literally visualize stepping off the "edge." God helped me find resources to adapt for their curriculum; He gave me friends to help me prepare my presentation and pray, and He stood right beside us the whole trip...One Step at a Time!

Yum!

Esther's son, Emanuel...Ema for short!

Isn't he the cute?

The church is beautiful!

Esther cooking lunch for all of the teachers.

Larry organizing!

David had a nap!

These were the precious teachers that attended the seminar.

Children at Mathias's church, and Jennifer and Daniel

Children's Church!

Mathias preaching, and Andrew translating on Sunday.

Isn't she precious? I LOVE this picture!

More than friends...family!

New church building at Wakisi

Children from Wakisi that came to children's church

Lea and the children after she taught children's church

The new kitchen at Mashah Village

Precious children and Mamas at Mashah Village

LOVE this picture too!

Kids at Mashah

This little boy was at the "beads" house! So cute!

Beautiful beads!

This little one kept grabbing my shirt and then running away!

Uganda...a Piece of Heaven!

We absolutely loved our trip to Uganda! It is my favorite place to visit, and truly feels like home when I am there! It was so good to see friends we love so dearly, revisit precious churches, and see the The Met church property (Elevare' and Mashah) again! So much work has been done, and it looks absolutely beautiful! The children and adults of Uganda have a very special place in my heart! 

We met the team from The Met on Saturday, and drove by bus from Entebbe, through Kampala, to Jinja, where we stayed at Sergios! What a wonderful hotel! The grounds were beautiful, the service great, and the food delicious! I was counting on losing weight in Africa...not so much! Ha! After arriving, we went to Mashah, the orphanage, and met the sixteen children that live there! They were precious, and their smiles beautiful!

On Sunday, we went to church! Larry and I went "quickly", and that is a relative word in Africa :), to Pastor Zachariah's church, then also attended Pastor Mathias' church! I LOVE worshipping and praising our Lord in Africa! There is nothing like it! I find myself closing my eyes just to hear the beautiful worship and language. It is such a time of total surrender and focus on praise! I cannot express the closeness to God I feel when I am in Uganda, especially in church!

That evening, we celebrated at the orphanage with a birthday party for all if the children! What a fantastic idea! (thank you, Terri!) I'm not sure who enjoyed it more...the children or the missions team! There was singing, dancing, party hats, party favors, gifts, cake, drinks, AND most importantly, happy children! Just like any other birthday party, right?

On Monday and Tuesday, we worked at Evangel Church, painting the outside of the church, and building a fence. It was such a blessing to work alongside Ugandan church members, laugh with them, and get to know them better. The fence was built to completely encircle the church property. We painted a primer, then TWO different top coats! I must admit I questioned Mathias' wisdom in challenging us with two colors...but it turned out beautifully! When we were there two years ago, we met church members on Sunday, but to work alongside brothers and sisters in Christ was such a blessing. I was covered from head to toe in paint, and was very tired physically both evenings! It was so awesome to see the progress, and see the beautiful end result!

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we visited a total of eight schools, and held two children's festivals at Elevare'. The format was the same at each school and festival. K-Krew, an African music group, and the youth group from Evangel Church would begin with singing with the children. We all said what a boring group we would be without these young people! They would worship and praise God, and JUMP for Jesus! When they were done, our part was easy! Our group would then do a craft, and recreation with the children. The ones in charge of planning these activities did a fantastic job, picking activities that were both meaningful and doable! The parachute was a huge hit!!! Members of the group would also present the gospel and testimonies. It is estimated 3,000 children attended, and 350 decisions to accept Jesus were made! 

During one of these school visits, I had the most amazing experience! I remembered a little girl from our trip two years ago to Uganda. She had the saddest eyes, and came to the medical clinic at Elevare' both days. She sang with me, and read the two books I took with me over and over! I have prayed especially for her for two years. When we made plans to go this year, I talked to God a bit, and said, "I know there are many children in Uganda, Lord, but it would really confirm our service there if I could see that sweet girl again." As best I could understand, her name was, "a bire." in Uganda, they put their last name or significant name first. Anyway, at one of the schools, a young girl came up to me and said, "You are Beth!" It was her!!! Her name is Beth Babiere! She wanted to know where my Jesus books were that told about Him doing miracles like walking on the water, and feeding the 5,000 with the two loaves and five fish! Well, needless to say, we had a wonderful visit, and I told her my tears were happy tears!

On Saturday, we enjoyed the Nile River, and took a jet boat ride on the river! I said it was like dune bashing in the desert, only on water! :)

Larry and I were so blessed to be able to stay an extra day! We spent time with Mathias and his wife, Frances, spending the night with them! What an honor and blessing! We are so thankful to call them dear friends! What a testimony of faith they, and their four children are! On Sunday, we attended "part" of church and Mathias and Frances took us to the airport. 

We had such a precious, precious time in Uganda! The team from The Met was such a blessing. It was so good to be with them. There are moments in my life when I truly feel like I am exactly where God wants me to be! It truly feels like Heaven, for I cannot imagine Heaven being any better than these moments! I am so thankful for these times! And as always, I find that, God  leads through these moments as well,  One Step at a Time...

Roadside Market

Picture taken from the Bus

I LOVE this picture!

Gorgeous Smile!

Pastor Mathias' family...minus Jr!

Precious!

The Whole Crew: Children, Mamas, Pastors, Missions Team!
Taken at the Birthday Party

"It's Your Birthday!"

DJ Brian!

One of the sweet ladies who came to the church while we were working.

I wish I was even a little bit this flexible!!!

Building the fence!

Painting!

Many times people living close would come when we were at the schools.
This lady and her sweet baby walked over while we were at our first school.

Larry praying with one of the students.

My sweet friend and her sister!

What kid doesn't like a parachute???

One of the classrooms!

I took this picture while we were walking up to one of the schools.

The plants (AND KIDS)  are beautiful in Uganda!

Children running in to Elevare' for the Children's Festival!

Sometimes it's really hard to stay awake!

The finished product!
Church Members stayed up late Saturday night to finish the  church sign!

Children's Church

"Lady of the Night", this plant opens and smells heavenly at night!

Nile Rive