Chapter 10 Update #7

Chapter 10 Update #7
October 23, 2010

Thanks to everyone who have been praying for me as I have been adjusting back to life here stateside. It has been good to be home with friends and family.

My trip back home was good…but my luggage did not arrive with me at LAX! For some reason, the bags never got transferred to the plane in London. They all arrived in one piece on the same day, just next flight! Thank goodness that British Airways delivered the bags to my house! The bags showed up via messenger late Saturday night.

I have been in constant contact with Solomon since coming home. All is going well with the transition. Pastor Paul said that they are all doing fine at the house. He said on the first day they went back to school, he stood outside as one by one they filed out of the house! What an amazing picture of grace!

The new landlord came and met with Solomon last weekend. His name is Hudson. He took Solomon around the neighborhood to introduce people to our ministry! Hudson seems very satisfied with our group occupying his home.

Solomon has been working to get everything in order to register Raining Hope in the new district. He has to meet with quite a few individuals and officials. Continue to pray for him that it will be a smooth transition.

I have been working on getting the sponsorship files updated. We have 38 students that we are taking care of through Raining Hope. Some of the older students are currently in boarding school. The majority of these students will be housed in the new home. We also have 3 full time staff, Solomon as manager, Annette as the main houseparent and Loy as our cook. Two of our older students, Charles & Peter are becoming Solomon’s right hand men.

Through a generous donation made towards food, the children have been eating well. Solomon is doing a great job managing the food supply. He just wrote to tell me that food prices were rising, so he bought extra that should last them for a longer period. I am watching the finances being managed well as Solomon is a great steward of God’s resources.


Calendar of Upcoming Events:

I am leaving tonight for the Fresno area. Pray for me as I will be speaking tomorrow, October 24, 2010 at 11 am. I will be at Annadale Baptist Church, 1511 14th Street, Sanger, CA 93657. The pastor is Ernie Sanchez, Sylvia Hernandez’s uncle. I am looking forward to sharing with the congregation about what God is doing in Uganda. They have a heart for missions. Pray that God would be glorified. If you are in the area, you are welcomed to join us.
I will then stay in the Fresno area as our California Southern Baptist Convention is Tuesday, October 26-27 in Clovis. I then plan to travel to the San Francisco Bay Area to visit my family for a couple of days.

I serve as a lead chaplain with the California Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief team. There will be Disaster Relief Training - November 11-13, 2010 (Thursday-Saturday) Registration on November 11th is from 4:30 pm-6:30 pm. Session begins at 6:30 pm. Concludes on Saturday at 12 noon.
This is an introduction to Disaster Relief, DR Witnessing, Chaplaincy, Cleanup, Damage Assessment & Mass Feeding. If you would like serve on the Disaster Relief team, you must go through the CSBC Disaster Relief training.

Place: Ventura Baptist Church – 4515 Ralston Street, Ventura CA 93003
For more information you can contact me or contact Cathy Glover at 559-229-9533 ext. 255.

We are also excited that Kiana is involved in the production of “Oklahoma” through the Performing Theatre for Young Artists.
Dates of the performances are
Saturday, November 13th: 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 14th : 4:00 pm Gala (specialty food & drink) & Reception / 5:00 pm showtime
Saturday, November 20th: 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 21st : 4:00 pm
General Admission: $15 adults/ $12 Children or Seniors
Tickets bought before November 4th will receive $1 off per ticket.

Kiana is very excited and invites anyone to come & support her! You can email me back or contact me by cell phone to let me know if you would like to purchase tickets. The Raining Hope office is also in the same building, Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura 93003. We plan to host a reception in the Raining Hope office before each performance! Please RSVP to purchase tickets as soon as possible. The space is limited. Email eydie@raininghope.org

Upcoming Fundraisers:
Annual Tamale & Christmas Boutique – December
First Annual “Sit A Thon” – February
More information soon on these events. Get ready to order your tamales!

Prayer Requests:
1) We praise our God for answered prayer. All is going well with the move to the new home. Solomon was able to get the outdoor structure taken down from the old house. He will be moving the wood to the new house this weekend. This is what we use as an outdoor dining area. Pray as he needs to get the structure set up at the new house.

2) School.
a. All is working out well to finish the third term. Continue to pray for Pastor Paul & Margaret as they house our children so they can finish school.
b. We did pay the balance of school terms that we knew we owed. However, we were loaned that money at home so we could pay it off in one place back in the states rather than owe the multiple people here in Uganda . We still need assistance with these fees.
b. We discovered on the last day that we owe an additional amount of school fees that was unexpected. This is an additional amount of approximately $1,500.

3) WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP.
a. If you would like to help you can make a tax-deductible donation of any size to help us pay off the amount loaned to us to clear all debts.
b. Contact our treasurer for Raining Hope Inc., Carol John at carol@caroljohn.com as soon as possible.
c. You can also go to our website at www.raininghope.org You can make credit card donations at that site.

4) Continue to pray for the transition. They will not all be together at the new home until December and the end of the school term. Pray for Solomon and the staff as they prepare the house during this transition.

5) Pray as we shift the name from Living Hope Children’s Home to Raining Hope
Children’s Home! Solomon will be working on all the necessary paperwork and meetings. Solomon asks for prayer that every office he enters that he will find favor. Solomon is working on revising our constitution to reflect the new name.

Chapter 10 Update #6

Chapter 10 Update #6
October 8, 2010

It is Friday, October 8th and I have arrived safely in London . Overnight stays in London are challenging and expensive! After spending the past 10 days in Uganda , it is always difficult to pay close to $8 one way for the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel! I also had a mocha & rustic bread with dipping oil for dinner…and I think just that cost close to $14! I took my leftover bread with me so I can have a snack later! Funny…in Uganda you don’t want to waste food when so many around you don’t have enough. In London , I don’t want to waste any because it is so expensive!

This is a different Holiday Inn than the one I stayed in with the ISP team in May. It’s actually smaller than my room in Uganda …yet it has a warming towel rack in the bathroom, an electric trouser press again the wall in the entry, and internet connection in the room! The hotel is also configured in a circular design. I literally walked the complete circle to get to the lifts (elevators) because I turned the wrong way from my room! It was like a scene from a movie…I thought I was never going to get off this floor!

We left Jinja at 5 am to arrive at the airport in time to catch my 9 am flight. Because Solomon knows his way around Kampala so well, we were able to dodge the morning traffic and make it in just over 2 hours. He is amazing! When we got to the airport, there was extra security being taken. We think it is because of the visiting dignitaries that are arriving for the Saturday celebration of Independence Day for Uganda . They also wouldn’t let any cars drive up to the departure area. Surprisingly enough, it was not too crowded once I made it inside the airport.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday all seem like a passing blur to me! So much was accomplished in a very short period.
Solomon went to the local council’s office on Tuesday to start the process of registering our ministry in the new district. I had to go into town to pick up some things from friends. One of the ladies who used to work at the Hotel Paradise now works at a computer training center. She had stopped by the hotel to visit with me on Monday. As I visited her at work, I was also able to meet her boss. After praying for their business, he had me sign their guest book. He was so excited because I was the first “muzungu” to sign his book! (White person).

There finally was a hint of coming rain. There were dark clouds and even thunder! I was sure that the rain was just around the corner! Yet…still just black clouds hovering…thunder booming. Where was the rain? I heard it was in California ! Yet that is where the funds were slowly coming in to support the work. As I looked up at the dark clouds I had a sense of how the Israelite children must have felt as God led them out of Egypt . He led them cloud by day and fire by night. He was leading the way out. I was full of peace knowing that He was leading us out and to trust in Him.

On Wednesday, Solomon & I had to travel to Kampala . Just driving through Kampala is always the adventure. At one point Solomon asked if I wanted to drive! My response was a very firm “no” followed with a laugh! I told him that I would have to graduate to that level. Traffic was so congested that when we delivered an envelope to someone in Kampala for Robert, that person just met us outside and we passed it to him out the window as we barely stopped. Now that is special delivery!

We went to meet the new landlord to negotiate the details of the rent face to face. We found a parking space in the midst of the craziness of the city. We actually had the meeting in the car! Hudson is one of two brothers that takes care of this property. We came to an agreement and was able to secure the larger home we had been looking at for 6 months at $400 a month! We will need to come up with the additional $2,400 to pay for the following 6 months. It is an answer to prayer that they accepted less than the full one year’s rent.

After the craziness of the city, we traveled to the outskirts of town where it was much more peaceful! We went to Sheila & Michael’s home, the friends of Denise Levette who we visited on the last trip. I had a few things to give them from their son, Aaron. We found just Sheila at home that afternoon. We stayed just for a short time, sharing with one another over freshly squeezed passion fruit juice and popcorn!

Thursday became the day of freedom & celebration! The money from the US arrived on Wednesday. I was able to go and pay off many of our outstanding bills and school fees. With all of the reconciliation that was begun on my trip in August, much had been uncovered and then put in order. We had a very clear picture of what was actually owed. Solomon is doing an excellent job at this end for us. Brandi & Kurt also facilitated this for us as they helped with setting up the budget. We want to start brand new!

The landlord of the current home paid us a last minute visit on Thursday. We had a very great meeting and left on good terms. He graciously gave us to the end of the weekend to vacate. We will be dismantling the outdoor dining area that we constructed as that timber belongs to us. He has given us until next weekend to complete that. He is going to remodel the home and use it again for his family. He said I am welcomed to come back and visit. This was only God who could orchestrate such an exit. We have also come to appreciate their caretaker in this past week. The miracle of reconciliation is a powerful tool that points people to the grace of a very loving God. During our time of prayer as we completed our meeting, it began to rain! It actually began to POUR! There was thunder and LOTS OF RAIN! There was so much rain that the landlord had to wait until it let up before they could leave. I went outside and watched the children running and laughing in the rain becoming drenched! I wish that you could have all been there to experience the love of God pouring blessings out on us. It was worth waiting through the week of dark clouds hovering over us. The outpouring of rain at the moment we prayed with the landlord was powerful. It became so strong that the sound of the rain almost drowned out Paul’s voice.

The rain let up enough for us to start loading up the trucks that we had rented. We had to make four trips to the new home in Bukaya. We brought some of the beds and whatever the children wanted to take to leave at the new home. They will take just their personal belongings to finish out the third term at the alternative site.
With each trip, we brought the children in small groups to their new home. It was an experience that “you had to be there” to see their expressions of joy when they saw the house for the first time. One group made it there with the first truck before I had arrived. When we pulled up to the house, the children came running out. I barely got out of the van when about 7 children came and all hugged me at the same time with such joy and smiles on their faces! They are so happy. They LOVE the new home. As each group of children came the reaction was the same. They love their new home. They send their greetings and their thanks to all of you back home who have made this possible by your generous giving. They have seen the hand of God in all of this. They have experienced the benefit of being “strong and courageous” even when it was difficult to hang on. They know that God has a plan and a future for them. Jeremiah 29:11 has become alive for them. Thank you all for that part that you continue to play in their lives as He uses you to accomplish His will.

We had not started moving back and forth until just before dusk. So by time the last truck came for the night with the last load of children it was already past 11 pm. Pastor Paul had remained with us through it all. I had asked him to bless the new house for us as we begin a new chapter in our lives as “Raining Hope Children’s Home. Even though the prayer was all in Luganda as we joined our hands in prayer…I understood it as a prayer of blessing not only over the structure of the home but for the ministry of Raining Hope in Uganda and stateside. It was a powerful moment and a precious way to close out this 10th trip of mine. When I arrived at the house that evening, I stood out on the upstairs balcony. As I looked out into the darkness of the night…in the distance…lightening with the sound of thunder.
We have left Egypt and are entering the Promised Land. It is good.

Here are our current prayer requests:
1) We praise our God for answered prayer. Even though there are still things that still need to be moved…God answered our prayers that we were able to get in the house before I left. I was glad to be with the children and dedicate the house before coming back to the states. Thank you.
2) Schoool. We did pay the balance of school terms that we knew we owed. However, we were loaned that money at home so we could pay it off in one place back in the states rather than owe the multiple people here in Uganda .
We discovered on the last day that we owe an additional amount of school fees that was unexpected. This is an additional amount of approximately $1,500.
3) WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP. Thanks to those who have already helped sacrificially in giving to assist the children.
a. If you would like to help you can make a tax-deductible donation of any size to help us pay off the amount loaned to us to clear all debts.
b. Contact our treasurer for Raining Hope Inc., Carol John at carol@caroljohn.com as soon as possible.
c. You can also go to our website at www.raininghope.org You can make credit card donations at that site.
4) Continue to pray for the transition. They will not all be together at the new home until December and the end of the school term. Pray for Solomon and the staff as they prepare the house during this transition.
5) Pray as we shift the name from Living Hope Children’s Home to Raining Hope Children’s Home! Solomon will be working on all the necessary paperwork and meetings.

One last thing that sends us over the top in knowing that it can only be God who orchestrated all of this…
We had asked you to pray for the solution as to how the children could finish the third term. The way schools work here in Uganda it would be very, very difficult if they could not have completed this term. The solution that we had first come to was the school where most of the children attend had offered to board all of our children until December. This is what we thought the solution would be and were praising God.
But God had another solution.
We had called Pastor Paul in to help us with a different school. Little did we know that God had more in store for us. Turns out, the director of the school that was going to board the children was asking for a pretty large amount of money to board the kids. It was going to be more than we were equipped to handle.
But we serve a God that says, “Nothing is impossible with God” and “He does not give us more than we can bear.”
The solution … Pastor Paul has graciously offered to house our children in his home until the end of the term. We will just pay for cost of food. It will be tight quarters but he will also use his garage to help facilitate this. Because God has already begun the reconciliation in August … we were able to come to this point of working together. Again… you had to have been there to experience this moment of coming back together. I am overwhelmed with how good our God is.
The power of reconciliation. Overwhelming.

I arrived in London and made my way through customs. I found my bus to the hotel. After checking in I received my keys to my room. On the key card were the words..
Holiday Inn – Now Relax.
I started at LAX with the words… Re: LAX as their slogan.
I end with this word from God…
RELAX
He is taking care of our children in the Promised Land.
We have left Egypt . No turning back, no turning back. No more wandering. We have entered into His promise and His blessings.

38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 41 I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.
Jeremiah 32:38-41

I will leave London soon to head back to the states. Please keep me in your prayers as I travel. I will be back in California about noon on Saturday.

Thank you for partnering together with Raining Hope!

Kale!
Eydie
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Chapter 10 Update #5

October 5, 2010

Sunday was a great day of worship! Solomon, Godfrey & I went to Revival Christian Church in the morning. I always have such a great time of praising God with my brothers & sisters in Christ at RCC. At one point the children’s Sunday School teacher passed a note along to call me out to visit their children. They were singing a simple praise song that I taught them the sign language to! We also signed our traditional “Follow You” to Michael Priebe that they love!
At the close of the service, one of the ladies came to me to talk with one of the visitors. This young lady was visiting from Ireland. She is there for 9 months working with a business. But the lady that approached me said, “Can you please talk to her and explain about having a relationship with Christ? I am not sure she is understanding me.” So we had a great conversation. I was able to share my testimony with her and encourage her about her lengthy stay in this beautiful land. She expressed that she already had accepted Jesus as her Savior! God is good!

Solomon, Godfrey & I went to the Sunset Hotel for our lunch. Solomon had me drive to and from the hotel, church and hotel. The two of them actually sat in the row behind of me. I think that Solomon is enjoying being chauffeured around!

Sunday afternoon we went to Cornerstone Church for a music conference. Annette had been the organizer for this event. It was a wonderful time of praise and worship! They had different singers from all over come to share. By time we stopped by the conference had already begun. Even though it was not interpreted into English, I enjoyed myself so much! I could understand basically what was going on throughout the service and enjoyed just being in the presence of God! It was great to be back in fellowship with our brothers & sisters in Christ at Cornerstone! The power of reconciliation is a very humbling experience. All things are possible with God.

Monday arrived to a great surprise in the staff devotions. I always enjoy the Monday fellowship because they go around the table and have everyone share. The topic is, “What did you learn in church yesterday?” It is good to hear others share. If you did not go to church, you simply must say, “I was not able to attend yesterday.” The response is, “Praise God. May He bless you,” Keeps everyone accountable! But when it came to Esther her response was, “I have a surprise. Please close your eyes.” I thought, “Wow. This is new!” Everyone was quietly clapping while our eyes were closed. Then she said, “ok you can open your eyes!” To my complete surprise, she was standing next to Apophia from the business center…with a pink lei around her neck! They said, “It is Apophia’s Golden Day!” They all then began chanting, “Golden Day! Golden Day!” I was shocked! It was a sweet moment to be a part of this! They then went around the room, and each person gave a word of encouragement to her. To see something we started with our CBU team, passed on to a group here in Uganda…wow! Someone told me later that the ways in Africa are not one of encouraging one another and lifting one another with good words. When they saw our groups having “Golden Days” they said they wanted to start doing the same. It is making a difference here with their workers. God is good.

Solomon & I took one of our girls, Margaret to the hospital today for stomach pains. We showed up to a very crowded waiting area with a very LONG LINE in front of us. As we tried to decide what to do, Solomon looked up at a sign that said something about Jinja Hospital working in cooperation with a local ministry. This other group is the one that Solomon had been with when he stayed at Global Seminary. His good friend is part of this group. He got on the phone and made a call. We were able to get right in. The doctor diagnosed that she may have an ulcer and prescribed medicine to take for a week. Even the medicine was just given to us. Our God is so good.

Solomon and I went back to the two houses that we are considering to rent. We finally met the woman who is renting the smaller house. After going inside the house, we have decided that it is much too small to meet our current needs. We went back to the bigger house but was not able to get back inside. Solomon has been negotiating with the landlord over the phone. It looks like he is willing to rent it to us and we have agreed to pay only 6 months in advance. This is far better than requiring the full year. As I was standing in front of the house, I thought how God takes care of every little detail. Something I have thought of was, “When we build our house…I would like to have a porch.” When I looked at the house I realized that not only do we have a front porch, but upstairs there are two balconies! We have not only 1 but 3 porches! God supplies our needs…with excess!

We bought more food for the children as well. The food we bought last month was just coming to the end. Solomon is doing a great job keeping the supplies stocked. We bought more rice, maize flour, onions and food for our supper. When we pulled up to the house Solomon said, “You know, when I left this morning, David & Emma opened the gate for me to leave. They said, ‘Uncle Solomon, when you come back can you please bring back rice….and…Aunty Eydie!’” Solomon said, “I have accomplished what they asked!”

The children are in school and don’t arrive home until 5 pm. We make the most of the time we have together as it is shorter than when I come during holiday periods. Last night during devotions, I gave out all the letters and the combined letter from those of you who sent in a note of encouragement. They were so excited to receive your love and encouragement! I was about to close our devotion time…and they said, “to the right…to the right…” Ha! It was later than normal and I was just going to close out the time. They reminded me that they wanted to do the “Cupid Shuffle!” So we actually went through it twice!

When it came time to venture back to the hotel, Peter was going to join us. But I ended up having 8 other children come in the van to escort me home! Sharon sat with me in the front seat, and 7 other boys were in the back. Solomon said, “we are going to America!” Henry laughed and said, “Sharon, remember the first time you went to the place Aunty Eydie stays? You said, “I have been to America!” So it was true! But as we drove up to the hotel, Sharon said, “This looks like a palace for a King.” Solomon said, “You never know. Maybe Aunty Eydie is a Queen!” ha!
Actually…just a child of the King.

What a privilege to serve Him in such a wonderful place. The children all piled out of the car to give me big hugs. The guards later commented, “Wow. You have many children who love you. That is so great.”
It is great. It is amazing. As our children say…Our God is good…all the time. All the time…God is good. And that’s His nature…wow!

Here are our current prayer requests:
1) Pray for the final negotiations of the two story house. Pray we get all finalized before I leave so we can move in.
2) School. The children are in their third term of this school year. We have a possible solution to finishing the third term. Pray as we are meeting with someone from one of the schools this afternoon.
3) WE NEED YOUR HELP. Thanks to those who have already helped sacrificially in giving to assist the children. In the midst of a struggling economy, we recognize the generosity of your gifts. Thank you for caring for the children. If you would like to help in this critical need of moving into a new home, you can make a tax-deductible donation of any size. Contact our treasurer for Raining Hope Inc., Carol John at carol@caroljohn.com as soon as possible. You can also go to our website at www.raininghope.org You can make credit card donations at that site.
4) Continue to pray for the transition. Pray especially for the children and for the staff. Pray for all of the relationship that are involved.

Kale!
eydie

Chapter 10 Update #3

October 3, 2010

The past two days have been filled with many activities. I went to the staff devotions on Friday morning and the message was on finishing well! That being the theme of our ISP trip in May with CBU…it was very encouraging to hear the message that Edward had for us that morning. When I saw him in the business center later he also told me that they have been carrying on with “Golden Day!” For those of you that are new to these updates, during the course of the trip, each person will have a “Golden Day.” That is the day they are chosen to be loved on & encouraged all day long. The hotel staff loved the way they saw us honor one another. They said they should also do the same for their staff. On my last trip I brought them some of the Hawaiian leis I give to signify who is having a Golden Day. Edward said that they have started having them once a week! They are loving it! The power of a word of encouragement!

I spent Friday meeting with various individuals regarding our upcoming move. The
devotion time in the evening was spent talking with the kids about the move. They are so excited!! If all goes through with the house that we have found, it is in another district. They actually are excited about moving to a new area. The only questions they had were what to do about finishing the last term. But the children are seeing God’s hand at work. They are full of hope and excitement! They are ready to move, even with just these few days of notice. They are ready to do whatever is needed. We have amazing children! Thanks to all of you for your prayers. The end of the devotion time the children asked how everyone was doing…one by one! They would say, “How is…” If any of you reading this have come to Uganda…you can be sure that your name probably came up in our conversation. Even those of you who have not been here but who I have talked about…they asked!
We also went to see Pastor Paul in the evening on the way back to the hotel. I had surprised Paul as well as he didn’t know that I was in town. We had the greatest time of sharing with one another. We talked for hours! We spent a long time just catching up with our lives! Just like what the children did at the home, we went down one by one how everyone back in California is doing. Paul sends his love to all of you!
Annette was also with us escorting me back to the hotel. She was all dressed up this time looking very “smart.” That is the word used meaning you are dressed nice. It turns out that she had never been to the hotel! Solomon, Annette & I had our dinner there in the restaurant which was a treat for her. The funniest story of the night was about her daughter Sharon. Both Sharon and her brother, Henry had accompanied me back to the hotel from time to time. One time Sharon went back after her first visit to the hotel and told them, “I have been to America!” We laughed so much about that! She really believes that the hotel was America. I began to ponder on that and had a sobering thought. If she thought my simple little room at the hotel was where I was from…what would she think if she visited us in real America? What would they think of our big houses and all of our “stuff?” I also wondered how they could think I only live about 15 minutes away from the home…and only come to visit 4 times a year?
Saturday was another new day for me. I tried to spend some time on the computer to do some work as we are trying to make the decisions about the move. The good thing about the Business Center is when the power is about to go down, a warning bell will go off. It gives me just enough time to close out what I am working on. If only we could live our lives like that. When danger is approaching, we should heed that quickly to the warning signs. Sometimes it would be nice if the warning signs were that clear!
Solomon had to go to Kampala today to take care of some study. So he decided to leave me the car! Now, in all the times that I have been here, I have not ever driven. Solomon decided that it was time. He said not to worry. They have made me a resident here…and said it was time to take the step of driving. Robert Otile was also in on that conversation and was surprised to find out that I had not driven as of yet! So with their encouragement … they sent me off with these words, “Just remember to stay to the left and watch out for the boda boda’s!” Ha!
I only ventured from the hotel to town. I parked the car and left it in one spot…in front of Rita’s shop! I walked all around town visiting all of my friends in their shops. I ventured back to the hotel and was so excited about my first day of driving! When I drove in the complex, two of the guards were so surprised to see me in the drivers seat! For some reason, driving has turned out to be the seal on my becoming a true Ugandan!
This trip has been a follow up to the reconciliation that began in August. I have been hearing what God has been doing in the lives of individuals who have made significant steps in making things right with individuals. God is raining down His blessings in response to obedience!
We continue to trust God in what to do next. The current landlord is sending someone today to collect the money for the rent. We just have to pay the electricity & water bill and we will be free to leave the property. Praise the Lord!
Here are our current prayer requests:
1) We are still praying about the 2 story house. We are in negotiations about how many months we have to pay in advance. They seem to want us in the house. Pray they will accept a lower amount than 1 year in advance.
2) The second house we are considering is quite a bit smaller. With only 3 bedrooms and the outside quarters it wouldn’t work to house all of the children. But if the other house falls through, we have this as an option.
3) School. The children are in their third term of this school year. Continue to pray about this item. We are trying to determine how they can finish the term where they are at.
4) WE NEED YOUR HELP. Thanks to those who have already helped sacrificially in giving to assist the children. In the midst of a struggling economy, we recognize the generosity of your gifts. Thank you for caring for the children.
a. If you would like to help in this critical need of moving into a new home, you can make a tax-deductible donation of any size.
b. Contact our treasurer for Raining Hope Inc., Carol John at carol@caroljohn.com as soon as possible. You can also go to our website at www.raininghope.org You can make credit card donations at that site.
5) Continue to pray for the transition. Pray especially for the children and for the staff. Pray for all of the relationship that are involved.

Kale!
eydie

Raining Hope Trip - Sept 27-Oct 9, 2010

Chapter 10 Update #2
Urgent Prayer Requests
September 30, 2010

I have arrived safely in Uganda! I actually had to come to Africa to get away from the heat wave we were having in California! The day I left we checked the outside temperature going through the valley in Southern California…it read 110 degrees! Who would have thought it was hotter in Los Angeles than Africa! Ha!
I was greeted at the airport by Solomon our manager of the home. Picking me up from a 7:45 am arrival means he must leave at 4:30 am from the home! We made it back to the hotel in Jinja by noon. After eating lunch, we decided I would go to the home the next day. That ended up being a very wise choice! I went to the room to unpack…but made it as far as the bed. I decided, “I am going to lay down for just a minute!” I was completely out! The next thing I knew, I woke up and it was dark outside! I slept a little bit longer then woke up thinking it was morning. To my surprise it was only 10:15 pm!
But I have quickly recovered and have fallen into my normal routines of life here in Uganda! It is so encouraging to be greeted by family here at Hotel Paradise! Only a couple of people knew I was coming back so soon. Most thought I was coming back in January! When Edward found me here this morning, he said, “Wow! You know this is now home for you. It is natural for you to even show up like this and we say, of course you are here! You are home!”
Breakfast in the restaurant I was greeted in Luganda by the staff. Webale kukomawo (welcome back from where you have been) is the translation. I learned something new today. Between Luganda & Lusoga dialects, which are both used here… it is actually “kale” that is the spelling for “bye” in Luganda. As I always sign my correspondences “kare” even though it sounds similar it is spelled different. Solomon was also proud that I have learned how to count from 1-5! Even though English is the common language used here…it is good for me to learn more of the local language!
Staff devotions as always is a great way to begin the day! Douglas led this morning from a passage in Matthew 4:17. The theme was about repentance and turning to God. As our ministry has been focused on reconciliation, this message today continued to encourage us to always “…walk with integrity. Blessed are their children who follow Him.” (Proverbs 20:7)
Today Solomon, Charles and I went to look for houses to rent. Charles has taken us to the area that he grew up at. He is well respected in that area and knows many people. We have found two houses that are possibilities for us. These are also our current prayer requests:
1) The house that we are considering is a large two-story house. It has enough bedrooms to accommodate our children & staff.
a. Their original offer was $500 a month. They have accepted a counter offer of $400 a month which is what we have been paying at our current property.
b. We still have not determined what they require as a deposit. Many places require payment for the full year in advance. Pray for this part of the decision that they will accept a lower amount.
2) The second house we are considering is quite a bit smaller. The compound grounds are great but the house only has 3 bedrooms and outdoor quarters with a few more small bedrooms.
a. They are asking $300 a month. However the landlord is wanting a full year paid in advance.
b. This would be a savings compared to the other house. But it is questionable whether we can fit all of the children in this home.
3) School. The children are in their third term of this school year.
a. The home we are considering is not in the same area where we currently live. That will mean the children relocating to another school. This will be fine for the new term in January. The decision is what to do about the remainder of this year.
b. We are exploring the options involved in moving the children at this stage of the school year.
4) Informing Parents & Guardians. We will be informing all of the parents & guardians of the options they have concerning the move.
a. Pray for Solomon, Charles and I as tomorrow (Friday) we will be trying to contact all of the parents. This is a challenge as this involves going to all the various homes. Not everyone here has a phone. We will possibly have one large meeting with the parents this weekend. Pray for wisdom, discernment & understanding as they receive this information.
5) The third option that we have if we do not receive enough funds to move into a new house will be to send all the children back to their parents & guardians. This will be temporary until we have the move-in funds. We have to be out of the current location before I leave to come back to California.
6) WE NEED YOUR HELP. Thanks to those who have already helped sacrificially in giving to assist the children. In the midst of a struggling economy, we recognize the generosity of your gifts. Thank you for caring for the children.
a. If you would like to help in this critical need of moving into a new home, you can make a tax-deductible donation of any size.
b. Contact our treasurer for Raining Hope Inc., Carol John at carol@caroljohn.com as soon as possible. Her phone number is 805-377-7387. You can mail checks to her attention at 507 Fernwood Drive, Oxnard CA 93030. She is going to wire whatever funds come in by Monday morning. It takes a few days to arrive here.
c. You can also go to our website at www.raininghope.org You can make credit card donations at that site.

7) We had meetings with all of the staff today about the move. Pray for us tomorrow as we will be talking to the children as a group about the move.

I did spend time with the children today at the home. Because we did not tell them I was coming…it was a HUGE surprise for them to come home from school and find me there! Sharon was so surprised that she just could not stop giggling! Many of the children who had gone home for holiday in August were all back at the home. I have already seen many of our children that we missed in August.
And of course…I couldn’t leave tonight without our now traditional “cupid shuffle” dance!
The children are happy & full of hope. The reports since Solomon has taken over the managing of the home have been so encouraging. They children are more on a daily schedule. Funds are being managed extremely well. The kids are being fed well. God is using both Solomon & Charles in tremendous ways to bring stability and hope to the children of Raining Hope!
We are packing and leaving Egypt. No turning back, no turning back. Our breakthrough has come. The blessings are pouring out! Thank you for being a part of what God is doing.
38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 41 I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.
Jeremiah 32:38-41
Please feel free to contact Carol John while I am traveling if you have any questions or would like to help. You can also reach me by email.

Thank you for partnering together with Raining Hope!

Blessings & peace to you!
Eydie
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Uganda Trip - September 27-October 9, 2010

Chapter 10 Update #1
September 25, 2010

Yes, Chapter 10 means…trip #10! I will be leaving on Monday, September 27, 2010 to return to Uganda. I will be traveling by myself this time. It works well for the projects that need to be taken care of this time.
1) We will be moving out of the current property to a new home. Here are the answers to the questions that are most asked…
a. Question: Did you receive the full $5,000 needed to move? Answer: Not quite. We are still in need of approximately $2,500 to clear our balance.
b. Question: Where are you moving to? Answer: We have been looking into various homes for let (rent). There are various options. Solomon is waiting until I arrive to make the final decision.
c. Question: How much do you need to get into a new place? Answer: Not sure. It will depend on the new landlords. We are looking for a place to rent between $300-$400 a month. If we had $1,000 that should suffix for the move in cost.
d. Question: How many children do you care for in the home? Answer: We currently have 40 children and youth. Some are away at boarding school. We have 3 staff members and their families that we will also move with us to the new facility.
2) It became necessary for me to travel to Uganda to help facilitate this move. This trip had less time in between than most of my trips. I want to thank my family and friends for understanding and supporting me as I go. My husband, Michael, daughter’s Kiana & Heather, and friends (especially Carol & Sylvia) do a tremendous job going into “Africa mode” as they call it. Thank you all for supporting me in this way. Love you all!
a. Question: Did you get the necessary funds to travel? Answer: Not yet. With the cost of the airline ticket, accommodations, & in country transportation, we are in need of approximately $2,000-$2,500.
3) Question: Is it too late to send money to help? Answer: No. We do need your help. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation or any size you have a few options:
Contact our treasurer for Raining Hope Inc., Carol John at carol@caroljohn.com . Her phone number is 805-377-7387. You can mail checks to her attention at 507 Fernwood Drive, Oxnard CA 93030.
You can also go to our website at www.raininghope.org You can make credit card donations at that site.
If you have already sent in money…THANK YOU! We trust God to do what only He can do. ( Matthew 14:17-21)
4) Question: Are there any other needs? Answer: Yes. I want to highlight 2 items:
a) Used laptop. If anyone has a lap top they are no longer using, it would help our home tremendously to have one that Solomon could use to keep our records.
b) Van transportation. We are still praying for the funds to come available for the van we use while in country. It is in great shape. We could use the van to transport the children to and from church. There are times they can not attend church because we cannot afford to rent a van. Cost is currently $5,000.

We have claimed The Promised Land. We are packing and leaving Egypt. No turning back, no turning back. Our breakthrough has come. The blessings are pouring out! Thank you for being a part of what God is doing.

38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. 41 I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.
Jeremiah 32:38-41
Please feel free to contact Carol John while I am traveling if you have any questions or would like to help. You can also reach me by email.

Thank you for partnering together with Raining Hope!

Blessings & peace to you!
Eydie
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11