Peaceful, calm, serene--that's how our first full day on the ground in Jinja began. Our first stop was to spend time with the YWAM Uganda staff and see the terrific impact they are having in lifting up the marginalized people that live around them. They run a vocational training school, a Bible School & the most amazing preschool ever! What I loved about the preschool is that it's open to poor families who normally couldn't send their kids to school. So the rich and the desperately poor kids learn & grow side by side. In a nation that's had decades of disunity, this school is shaping the next generation in incredibly tangible ways.
Stay tuned for part 2 of Day 1!

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Africa, here we come!

Our team flew out of Dallas last night, we've landed in London, had a few hours to stretch our legs, and will board our plane to Uganda shortly. It was so chilly in the airport we asked for blankets, and ended up with two giant table cloths!! they worked.
During this mid-trip respite as a team we've been talking about adoption and God's heart for orphans.
As we board our Uganda leg, the excitement for what is ahead is building in my heart!
Stay tuned for more from the head waters of the Nile.

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Pushba - no pictures alowed!

I held my breath as I followed Suresh into the ward of the women's HIV/AIDS hospital. Garbage and pools of dirty water lined the broken walkway leading to the entrance. Sorrow hung like a heavy cloud in the air all around us. Suresh and I were here to visit Pushba. To my surprise when we approached her bed I realized she was only about 17. She started talking to Suresh in Tamil and slowly tears streamed down her face as she struggled for breath enough to tell him about her failing health. I waited for Suresh to translate her words.
Pushba is an AIDS orphan herself. Both her parents have died and now she is all alone dying in an AIDS hospital, in some of the most deplorable conditions I've ever seen.
As I stretched my hand out and began to pray for my new friend, peace came like a light in the darkness. I prayed for the healing touch of Christ, for His goodness & kindness to surround her. As I walked away I knew this is exactly where Jesus would have been when He walked the earth. He loved the ones no one else would touch. Will you join me in praying for Pushba?
There are no pictures aloud at this hospital... But I don't need them. I will never forget the things I saw today.

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Update from Chennai

It's great to be back in Chennai again after about a year. Wonderful to see the children growing, changing and maturing. As I sat at Little Lights Home I remembered meeting the children at this shelter over four years ago for the very first time. They were little, and they were wild. One boy named Joe had just been rescued from a life of being chained up to a tree like a dog while his parents (lepers) begged each day. When we arrived this time he calmly smiled a big smile and came & sat beside me and shyly reached for my hand. What a change in him! So thankful to be a part of that change. We talked about the "Not Forgotten" team that came with me from Life Church a little over a year ago. There were big smiles as we reminisced about that time. That message continues to have a huge impact on them.

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Teens rescued from the streets as children find hope

This trip marks another milestone for our jewelry project. Yesterday we held a refresher training course here in India by video from one of our amazing designers & trainers, Heather.
We also interviewed a group of young women and heard about the time in their lives of living in hunger and fear on the streets before coming to this rescue shelter. The highlight for me was hearing how much they love making jewelry. Vijaya* said she is saving her earnings for college. They are earning approximately eight times what they would in another job, and they are able to make jewelry when they have free time, after their studies are done.
Our professional cameraman, Mike, has captured incredible raw footage that can be used for a Hope's Gate video.
If you would like to purchase jewelry made in our project contact info@hopesgate.org or if you would like to make a donation to help us produce a video of our project see the donate page.
*name changed

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This is what love looks like

Today our team visited the "comforter" children's home, which is home to 32 children, half of whom are HIV positive.
Hope's Gate brings volunteer teams to homes like these to encourage, help and consistently let these kids know they are not alone in the world. I was able to pass on some special photos, letters & gifts from a recent volunteer team I brought from Texas. I started thinking this is really what love looks like.
There is a little girl at the Comforter home whose life has been drastically impacted by the AIDS virus. I noticed she was a little sad when I first arrived...not her normal smiling face. I had a picture for her though in my bag. It was a picture sent to her by Kelly in Texas who met her in November. You see Kelly can't forget * Manju and today that love & commitment made a sad little girl smile.
*name changed

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Good Shepherd...safe haven from the streets

Sitting in the room listening to nine little children rescued from living on the streets sing and talk about their dreams was such a refreshing start to an awesome day. Each one has a unique story, but all have one thing in common: life was hard before coming to this shelter. They were hungry, lonely and sometimes neglected and abused. Now they are safe, loved, and happy! I've never met more grateful kids. We walked with the kids to a local pizzeria, and there were some huge smiles as they competed for who could eat the most slices. We interviewed the kids in order to better understand their life stories. One 11 year old said "I'm beautiful because God made me special". I just want to say to the staff of GSH, you rock! Stay tuned for part 2...jewelry training with the teens rescued from the streets!

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