Africa 2023

After breakfast our drivers had us on the road at 6:45 to try to see the elusive preditors that hunt at night. The morning was cloudy with spots of rain. Our safari vans had the tops up ready to see GOD's amazing creation. The big bull elephant who seemed to own the road to the lodge was grazing in the field as we rode by. Baboons and several different birds were at the check station into the park. It was a cool morning, but we northerners from NY are tough so it felt good to me. Amy Lynn, Norma Jean, Janet, Lynn, and I were in the "singles" van with our driver Robert. We all stood in anticipation of what we would see. The rain started and flashes of lightning were in the distance. I did have a fleeting thought that I was hanging onto two metal rods. IN every direction you could see the 4 types of antelope grazing, water buck (largest),Cobb (the national antelope),Jackson Hartebeest, and the Oribee (smallest). Intermixed within them you could see water buf...

SUNDAY APRIL 23, 2023 It is so hard to believe that this amazing journey is more than half way through... Today, after a rolex or omlet breakfast in Jinja, we loaded the vans for our trip back to Kikondo for Sunday service. I have to admit that I have been very curious about the church service here as every day has been met with joyous celebration by our Ugandan family. What will the Lord's Day bring? The roads are full of people, some shopping and others walking in beautiful, colorful clothing as they are headed to various churches. Vendors with their wares line the sides of the road dotted with chickens, cows and goats. A herd of cattle cross in front of the van and the cries of children "How are you?" lift in the air as we drive pass the paths and driveways that stem from the main drive. Roadwork signs warn of "deep digging" as rock and cement drainpipes await their placement in the vast ditches along the orangish-brown clay that is the foun...

Because there are so many of us, getting from point A to point B becomes a process. Mornings come early and nights can be either early or late depending on how the adventure wrapped up that day. We have two vans and a car that we burden down with what seems to be tons of equiptment , food to give away, glasses, clothes and other needs for our grandma visits and the island ( yesterday we took a ton of supplies by boat to the island)Everything is pretty remote so you dont just " run home " to get anything. Today we went to Kikondo, for the third day. Everywhere is a long long drive. This is a small village with a church and a school. ( We came to help all three of these.)when we would drive into the village, down a long narrow holler past a prison with lots of holes and interuptions( cows, goats,motorcycles children and chickens) The road itself followed along acres and acres of farms which are manned by prisioners in bright yellow uniforms with guards present and some guards...

The second week of adventures starts with cloudy skies, but it feels refreshing, outside. The birds are singing and alarm clocks are ringing. Now that I am up, I am preparing for the day. I wonder what the day will bring. All I know is that God's love will shine through. Breakfast is eaten outside. I see fellowship and laughter, especially when a bird slides down the tin roof and lands on the ground. The sun is starting to shine through the clouds. My water bottle is filled for the adventure to Kikonda Church of GOD where the eye clinic will be held. As I ride, I see people walking, even little ones;some are walking alone. Motorcycles have the driver and up to three passengers or some type of goods, such as fruits or empty pop bottles. The road was smooth then very bumpy. We travel fom the city to a rural area. As we approach Kinkonda, they become more muddy and cow paths.I saw rice fields, corn and coffee plants and Kasabi (tapioca) plants. We arrive at our dest...

Today we began doing eye clinics at Kikondo (pronounced Chikando). It was so humbling to arrive to the singing and dancing of the adults and children, even waving branches as they honored us. For all of us, it was an honor that was reminicent of how Jesus was welcomed upon his arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. As the tarps on top of our vans were removed, covering all the eye glasses and gifts that we brought to share, people came from everywhere to help. Adults, teenagers, even children - two at a time- carrying these heavy bags of glasses into the church, where we set up our clinic. In spite of struggling with language barriers, we served over 100 people, giving prescription, readers and sun glasses to all who came through the clinic. We were so blessed by each person who came, especially the school children in the afternoon. However, the highlight of the day for me was the joy that was expressed by everyone in our group after the clinic ended and we waited for our ride back t...

So many feelings, so many thoughts, what to share? Yesterday was a travel day. We were up by 7 and had a nice breakfast and recovered from the heat some. We had the opportunity to run the staff through our clinic and gave out some glasses. There was lots of time to reflect on this experience so far. The country is beautiful, the people are so friendly. The need is so great. God commands that we love our neighbor. When Jesus was asked "who is our neighbor" by the disciples his answer was not just the people we know and like but the people we may not even know or don't even like. The Ugandan people are easy to like. We could learn a lot from them. Can you (me) love the people we don't even know? My challenge is to love that person at church that I have not met yet and to support missions like you have all supported all of us. A vacation this is not, the great commission this is, but how amazing God can make it! Jeff Morhous

Today we finished up our clinic in Bukasa. Today we completed vision checks for people in the surrounding community. We completed eye exams for 350 people today. After our clinic time yesterday we had some concerns for an important piece of equipment that started acting up during the clinic yesterday. We prayed over it and I am happy to report the equipment worked perfectly all day. God does indeed care about the little things. Today we provide sight and the ability for so many to see and read and we were blessed to watch them read scripture as they tested their new glasses. We were especially blessed to provide sight to Stephen. Stephen was a man about 40. He came to the clinic wearing his vest that is required to drive his buda buda ( motorbike). He was being led around the clinic and it was easy to see he could not see. His prescription was very strong. He had never worn glasses and his script was measured at -11.00 and -7.00. He was basically only seeing moving images. W...

WHAT AN AWESOME God we serve! Today we had the privilege of going to BUKASA PRIMARY SCHOOL and doing some jja jja visits. We arrived in the morning and set up our clinic. I had the honor of being part of the Visual Aquity team with AmyLynn, Dina,Sunday and Alexander(a local young man). Today we served the students and faculty of Bukasa. It was so much fun working with them! They are so proud of their new glasses or sunglasses. They sang some songs for us and the kids enjoyed watching what we were doing and having their pictures taken. They love to see themselves in the pictures. In the afternoon I went with AmyLynn and a lovely young social worker named Nora. We walk from the school into the main part of the village to meet with the jja jja's. We stopped at the grocery store to pick up food gift bags. We take rice, beans, bread, corn meal,sugar for their families and we also took some toiletries and stuffed animals and an article of clothing for a child. They are so appreciative ...

After listening to soothing rain last night, we encountered t he heat today. We're taking some time to get acclimated. At Secrets Guest House, Derek and Angela provided respite for a short night and a feast for the new day. Fruit here is fresh with papaya, pineaaple and watermelon aplenty. We traveled through remodeled roads and played a tennis match with our heads trying to take it all in. For a good part of the afternoon, we unpacked supplies and sorted into suitcases for delivery. Pretty dresses were paired with new underwear and hairties, School supplies divided out for delivery, and soaps, lotions, shampoos, stuffed animals and personal care items readied for thirty visits to Jja-Jjas and their families. We are blown away by the generous outpouing of items donated to gift to so many grateful hearts. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 expresses my conviction. We have already experienced so much grace & peace in getting eleven people and thirtythree suitcases safely to Africa. Now we pray...

  In two weeks, we'll be zipping up suitcases and double-checking backpacks. We're heading to Uganda for Eye Clinics and home visits. The glasses are all catalogued and ready. Clothing donated and school supplies gathered. We even have a new wedding dress to bless a bride for her special day. However, the most important thing has not been gathered. We are still in need of something crucial and asking for your help. Would you be our Prayer Warriors? 1 Corinthians 13 says our best efforts will fall flat if we don't come equipped with love. And not just any kind of love, but the supernatural all-encompassing grace-filled love of God. When days get long and we get grumpy from the heat, we need the Lord to fill us with His calming sweet presence and joy.  Would you join us? Here's a Prayer Calendar to use for prompts. Thank you! Lana Keller, Lynn Smith, Norma Jean Angelo, Amylynn Stafford, Janet Hadley, Rob Robison, Dr. Donna & Jeff Morhous, Dina & Mark Marchincin, a...