Thursday, December 30, 2010

Raining Hope Chapter 11 Update 2

Raining Hope Incorporated
Chapter 11 – Update #2
December 2010

Wow! When I went to update the blog I was faced with a challenge...the page is all in arabic! I had to just blindly hit tabs according to where I thought the sign in was! Finally...success!

I have arrived safely in Dubai! The flight on Emirates was GREAT! Carol, Kiana and I left early for the airport yesterday because of rain and possible delays at the airport. There had been reports of delays because of the severe weather back east. God answered our prayers. We had NO traffic going to LAX from Ventura. For those of you that know Los Angeles, that in itself is amazing! When I walked into the airport, there was NO line at the Emirates counter! As I was walking up to the counter, the agent was already motioning that his desk was open!
When I travel by myself it is always a challenge with luggage. I was only allowed 2 free bags at 50 pounds each. I did have to carry a third piece of luggage that another ministry paid for. Excess pieces of luggage cost $175! The good thing with Emirates is you can go up to 70 pounds each and pay an extra $50 a piece. We packed the bags to the brim and expected our extra charges to amount to $275. But God answered our prayers! The agent only charged me the $175 for the third piece! Praise the Lord!
Since my flight does not leave for Uganda until Friday morning at 8:45 am, Emirates provides an overnight stay in one of their airport hotels. It is nice to have a place to lay down to sleep for a few hours rather than sitting up in the airplane! They also provide a nice dinner & breakfast buffet.
When I write again from Uganda it will be a New Year! In a book I am reading, “Lioness Arising” by Lisa Bevere, she had the following quote from the Bible.
“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the Lord their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king. God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’” Numbers 23:19-23 (NLT).
Lisa states how “these words contain so much about the faithfulness of God. His promises are sure and certain, and his blessings are irreversible.” As I travel to Uganda, my prayer is that I trust in God and His plans. I know my God is with me. He has rescued us out of Egypt. He will receive all the glory!
Happy New Year to all!
Kale,
Eydie!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Uganda trip - Chapter 11 - Update #1

Raining Hope Incorporated
Chapter 11 – Update #1
December 2010

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support this past year! It was nice to have friends and family come to celebrate my birthday yesterday (December 27th)! We had a very special time of prayer for my upcoming trip! Thanks to everyone who also sent greetings via Facebook! Your words of encouragement meant a great deal to me!

I will be leaving December 29th for Uganda! I will be traveling by myself to take care of ministry issues at the home. For those that are new to my updates, I title these emails as chapters. This is my 11th trip to Uganda so it is Chapter 11! You can go to our website, www.raininghope.org and check out my blog. It has past journal entries you can read to see how God has worked over the past 4 years!

We also have our 24 hour prayer chain. We took on the challenge of having a 24 Hour Prayer Team because of an emphasis stated in the International Mission Board’s book on Impacting Your World. "No church would send out a volunteer team without praying for its members. No believers would dare go to a foreign country and think they could make a difference without praying that God would use them and empower their witness with His Holy Spirit. But prayer is a way the entire church, not just those who go, can be involved in a mission partnership. The entire congregation should play a role in seeking God's will for overseas involvement. Church members should pray not only for those who go on mission teams - for health, safety and effectiveness - but also for the places the teams go and the people to whom they witness and minister. Continuing prayer for missionaries and local believers will expand the effectiveness of the team's ministry long after the team has returned home.”
If you would like to sign up for an hour of prayer, please contact Carol John at carol@caroljohn.com . If you have had a specific hour on the past trips, you can continue to pray during that hour.
Here are specific prayer request specifically for this trip:
Prayer Requests:
1) Travel – Pray for my flights:
Depart: Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Los Angeles International Airport – Time: 4:00 pm
Flight: Emirates EK 216
Arrive: Dubai International Airport
Time: 7:45 pm (Thursday, December 30, 2010) (Overnight stay)

Depart: Friday, December 31, 2010
Dubai International Airport – Time: 8:25 am
Flight: Emirates EK 723
Arrive: Entebbe Airport, Uganda
Time: 2:45 pm

2) New Schools
The children are starting school in a new district. Pray as I will be meeting with the new schools to make sure the transition goes smoothly.
3) New Manager
Solomon, our current manager of Raining Hope Children’s Home resigned due to the fact he has found another job. I will be working with him on this trip to find a replacement. Please pray that God would direct us to the chosen person. Pray for wisdom & discernment in all issues while I am there.
4) Pray for my family back here at home while I am traveling!
5) WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP
a. If you would like to help you can make an end of year tax-deductible donation of any size to help us pay off the amount loaned to us to clear all debts of the transition to the new home.
b. 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 .
c. You can also go to our website at www.raininghope.org You can make credit card donations at that site
6) Consider sponsoring a child.
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. You can sponsor a child for $30 a month that helps with school fees, food, housing & other necessities. Please contact us if you are interested in partnering together with us.
7) First Annual “Sit-A-Thon” – February 11-12, 2010
We’ve all heard of a “Walk-A-Thon” to raise funds. What about a 24 hour “Sit-A-Thon!” The weekend of February 11-12, 2010, Raining Hope will have its first annual event! More details are coming soon! You won’t want to miss it!

I will be in touch when I arrive safely in Uganda. As soon as I arrive, I will be going to a New Year’s Eve overnight service in Kakira! This is always a highlight to celebrate the New Year with my brothers & sisters in Uganda! Thanks for your continued support & prayers! We look forward to what God will do!

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

Friday, December 10, 2010

Annual Tamale Fundraiser!



Raining Hope Annual Tamale Fundraiser!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
8823 Denver Street – Ventura, CA 93004
805-340-7612

Homemade pork tamales (THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE RESERVED TAMALES! WE ARE ALMOST SOLD OUT!)
$18 per dozen
Baked Goods
African Gifts
2011 Raining Hope Calendars (new!) $20 each

Stop by for a cup of cider, visit with friends, and make a donation to the children of
Raining Hope Children’s Home for Christmas!