Mon- Molly, Meg, & Tim

Greetings to you all from the Richmond half of the team! Since many of you do not know us, here is a quick introduction: Tim is a senior at Liberty University studying Business and Psychology, Megan is a grad student at the University of Virginia studying Elementary Education and African Studies, and Molly (Beth's daughter) is a graduate of Christopher Newport University and studied Philosophy and Anthropology.

(from Molly)
I must start by expressing my appreciation and thankfulness to all of you who have supported this trip through prayers and financial help! We would not be here without you. Everywhere we go in Uganda people are constantly thanking us for coming, and we always have to tell them that we are only here because of the support of hundreds of other friends and family back in the US.
Even though this is my 5th trip to Africa, I have continued to learn and experience new and different things. One of my favorite days was this past Friday when I got to go into Jinja town with 3 other men from Canaan to conduct some business and buy some things. It was my first time leaving Canaan without another team member. First we went to a huge outdoor market to buy some fresh produce. I'm not sure if I will ever get used to being the only white person in sight and constantly stared and gawked at! It was fun learning out to pick out the freshest pineapples, pumpkins, beans, etc and then negotiate the price. (Less than 50 cents per pineapple!) After the market we visited a youth vocational school where one of the Canaan boys will soon be attending to learn masonry. Then we went to several other shops to buy ply wood, concrete, long metal beams, wheel barrows, and shovels. It amazes me how everywhere we went the prices were negotiable, even paying for parking!
A lady from Northwest gave my mom some money to buy clothes for the children- we used some of the money to order 100 pairs of sandals from Kampala that should arrive here soon after we leave. The kids were sooo excited to learn that they would be getting new shoes. After completing our business I treated the 3 guys to lunch at one of our favorite little places in town called The Source. The 4 of us ate a delicious meal for under $10! Our last stop of the day was buying 100 small cups of ice cream for the kids. Can you imagine only eating ice cream once or twice a year?
There are so many cool stories to share, but it's difficult to write them all. It is very exciting to see this new relationship form between Northwest Pres Church and Canaan Children's Home. I am very proud of my mom for all of her planning and hard work she put into leading this team and look forward to many more trips in the future!

(from Tim)
wow...I don't even know where to begin. When Molly first told me about this trip i was really excited and as the time to leave approached, I found myself very scared and anxious at the same time. When we first arrived I was a little apprehensive and shy but i quickly got over it. Immediately the kids here welcomed us with open arms and I felt right at home.
Throughout the last two weeks I have been running around all over the place with the kids! The boys here love to play soccer and the recruited me to play with them. I am definitely not a soccer player! The boys didn't seemed to mind at all (as well as laugh at me at my poor attempts to play)! Last Sunday and today I had the privilege of helping lead Sunday school. I found that even way over across the world kids are not much different then home. They are very eager to listen and hear the word of God and are excited about doing so.
This trip has really made me realize the importance of servanthood. There have been times that I have felt incapable and even sometimes unwilling to be a servant to the wonderful people of Canaan. But thank God he has moved in my heart and has shown me the wonders and joy and leaning on his strength and relaying on Him. There is definitely nothing better the doing the work of the Lord and I am looking forward to the opportunity of coming back and doing his work at again at Canaan! Until next and and God bless- Tim

(from Meg)
This is my fourth trip to Canaan Children's Home, and each trip is always such a blessing. I am always touched by the people I meet here and encouraged by their faith. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to travel here again with your team from Ohio, and I want to share one recent experience that has inspired me in my walk with the Lord. The past few days have been a trial for me as I've been sick with stomach pain and headaches. The first night I was sick, I was sitting in the oldest boys' dormitory when a boy named Daniel, who was and is very sick with malaria, asked me if I was sick. I said "Somehow" (meaning, "I'm a little sick"). He said "We must pray," climbed out of bed, and shaking, held my hands and prayed for the both of us -- that God, the great Physician, would heal us. His faith and confidence in God's provision truly inspired me. Please continue to pray for my and Daniel's health. And pray that we'll have a safe trip home. We have so many stories we can't wait to share.