Uganda Update # 10

We received a call from Marissa Sunday morning. We were pleasantly surprised. She was in Moroto, and they had come down off the mountain to get some supplies. She did not have much time left on her calling card and the time ran out while I was speaking to her.

She sounded great and was still very excited about being there. It has been over 30 days in country for the team. Sometime this week she is going deeper into the mountains with a smaller team. They will be trying to make contact with some tribes that have not had much contact with the outside world. So please pray that God will open the door for the Gospel to be shared with these lost tribes. It is a very difficult hike, high in the mountains, so pray for strength, stamina and health. Continue to pray for Christy Brown as she and her husband make the decision when to head home and have the baby.

There is an update from Awe Star out today. Also, remember the Peru team that Kelsey and Kaleb Abbrat are on.

June 30th, 2009

The Awe Star Office has received a text message from Tye and Christy. The report is that ministry is going well. They continue to ask everyone to pray for rain. It is one of the keys to seeing God move among the villagers. As they are entering the homestretch of the work in Uganda they are asking that your prayers be focused not only upon the ministry to the Karamajongs but you would also pray that the team will finish the race unified, focus and healthy. Many times we are asked what is the hardest part of working on foreign soil and the answer is …the last thirty minutes. As you get near the finish line it is easy to begin to transfer you thoughts to back home, getting a hot shower, eating a home cooked meal, seeing family and friends. Pray for the team that their best ministry will happen in the last…thirty minutes.

Blessings to all,

Jack

Uganda Update # 9

Got another update from Awe Star. It is good to hear things are going well. Prayer warriors keep praying. I believe this trip will be a pivotal experience for a lot of the team members. Not only are they ministering to unreached tribal groups, God is doing a work in these young people, preparing them for their future.

I am excited, curious, maybe a little apprehensive on how this trip is going to affect Marissa. She has the heart to serve her Saviour where ever He leads.

Here is the update:

June 26th, 2009

Team Uganda has sent us word that ministry is going well. They are currently focusing on two villages. One village is full of the blind, deaf and lame. This team understands the ministry to the “least of them.” Pray that their love for these outcasts would open door for the love of God. In the other village God is letting the team lay down the basic frame work for the gospel. The are excited that they are now living in huts and become like the Apostle Paul said, “becoming all things to all people so that a few will know.” To continue to pray for their health, safety and ministry. Pray for the RAINS to fall! That the Karamajong will know that our God has sent this team.

Also, there is another Awe Star team in Peru, in fact there are several Awe Star teams across the globe. A good friend of Marissa's, Kelsey and her brother Kaleb Abbrat are in Peru. Check out their update here.

Thanks,

Jack

Uganda Prayer Request!

I got a message from Terry Singletary tonight. There are several members of the team who are sick, including Christy who with her husband are team leaders with Larry. She is pregnant.

Since several of them are sick it could be a stomach problem because of bad water. Terry suggested it could be failing water filters. So please pray for healing and health for all the team members and a good clean source of water.

BTW, Missy's message to me yesterday said she was healthy. Her prayer request was for continued good health!

Thanks,

Jack

Uganda Update # 8

We got a more detailed update from Awe Star today. See it below. Sounds like a tremendous time for Missy and her team. Wow! Praise the Lord!


Team Uganda got to move into huts prepared for them by the Tepez people. Hut living brings with it, interesting challenges…like how to hang the mosquito nets to prevent the maximum number of mosquitos (and friends) from participating in their experience.

Training has given way to real life in the mountains of Karamoja. The teams head out each day to visit neighboring villages, and are working hard at building relationships with them. They are seeing first hand the difficulties of tribal living, where malnourishment (not the team themselves) is prevalent due to famine. This is all the more reason that they would love to see the rain come whenever possible.

The team is broken over the lack of basic provisions the Karamojong people have. Their way of life is very hard.

God is doing and incredible work!

Please continue to pray over the ongoing need to remain healthy, the significant spiritual needs of the tribes, the ministry opportunities, for the team to continue to thrive amid a difficult way of life, and for many opportunities to Story with the people.

We praise God for keeping this group and watching over them!

Thank you for lifting this team up with your earnest prayer support.

Uganda Update # 7

I received a text message this morning at 04:53 from Missy. Larry Singletary' wife Terry got one from him Saturday, saying all is well, the huts are finished and the teams are going out. Larry had told me right before he left that the roofs were not yet on the huts. So that means the teams have a roof over their heads now.

Here's Missy's message to me this morning:

Pray constantly 4the team. Im healthy nhappy. Pray for continued health! Luv yal

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Jack

Uganda Update #6

I got a text message from Missy today. I am in recurrent flight training this week. I checked my phone just before stepping into the simulator for training this morning and found this message:

We r goin up the mtn 2moro. Doin great. Got lots of stories to tel. Larry wil b here 2moro or sat. Pray much. Luv yall! missy

I am not sure how she sent it but I do know they have a SAT phone. There is also an update on the Awe Star page. Check it out. It says pretty much the same, but it was nice for me getting a personal message.

Blessings,

Jack

Uganda Update #5

I had breakfast with Larry Singletary this past Thursday. He told me there had been a problem with the radiator on the Land Cruiser and they were waiting for a part to be bussed up from Kampala. At that time he wasn't sure how long it was going to take, and the team was not going to leave Moroto for the mountain until the Land Cruiser was repaired.

With Larry busy getting his daughter married this weekend I had not heard any updates. I did not know if they had started their hike to the mountain or still in Moroto. Well, there is an update at the Awe Star site. They are still in Moroto waiting for the part. Here is the update below, or go to the Awe Star site to read and comment. Blessings........Jack

June 6th, 2009

The team continues to adapt to the culture of the Karamojong. They were unable to leave for the mountain yet, so remain encamped near the Tepez tribe in the village of Moroto. They are building relationships, and learning what methods work best in that process. At this point, it looks like the team will remain in Moroto until Wednesday the 10th or so. The team is waiting for a small part which plays a vital role, on the Land Cruiser. Once that arrives, they will head up the mountain. They are in the process of preparing a discovery team to head up the mountain to check conditions and let the tribe know they have arrived down below, and will soon be coming. Their huts are completed except for roofs. Once the Tepez men see that the team is nearby, they should be motivated to finish the huts. Regardless, the team is equipped with tents to live in until they are ready.

We are most thankful for the health of the team and would appreciate continued prayer support for the same. The team is learning so much about the Karamojong culture, and are adapting to their way of life. A little more time in Moroto will help serve that purpose, and keep a wider array of foods available!

Stateside, Larry’s daughter Jackie is getting married today! Larry will leave for Uganda on Monday, and will make his way to Moroto to join the team. All look forward to being united as a whole team.

We praise God for this team and for your labor in prayer on their behalf!

brent

Update!

Made it Moroto!!!

June 3rd, 2009

The team has arrived in Moroto without any issues! They are doing very well. They are getting situated in a motel for the night and will pick up supplies while in the city. They plan to spend a second night in Moroto before heading up the mountain. While in the city they are to meet with a government official. If he is available as promised, then the team hopes to begin their trek up the mountain on Friday. If delays occur for any reason, there are a couple of Tepez villages of the Karamojong right close to Moroto. The team will be enjoying the local cuisine and getting familiar with many friends of the Singletary’s and Brown’s from previous trips. The culture is very different and yet such a blessing to encounter!

Please pray for continued health while they are there. Please lift up the many old and new relationships that will be forged. Please also lift up their stamina in the long hike ahead.

Kaylie(for Dad)

Uganda Update #3

Talked with Missy this morning. She was in great spirits! They leave very early Wed morning, 3:00am, which will be 7:00pm our time. It will be a long bus ride of around 300 miles. Could take 10-15 hours. Pray for safe travel. The bus rides can be quite harrowing at times.

The team is excited and ready to go. Missy loves her small team of Colin and Sarah. They get along great. A few of the team members have colds, so pray for good health.

Kampala is a busy, crowded city, and she is ready to get out to the bush. I am sure the air will be cleaner and she loves the wide open spaces. I can only imagine the sights, sounds and smells she is experiencing. She got on her facebook and sent out some emails this morning, so I will post her email here.

Thanks to all for checking out her blog and your continued prayers. She is where she needs to be and is excited to be part of God's plan in Uganda for now.

Here is her email:

Howdy folks!! Tomorrow we leave Kampala for the mountains of Karamoja!! yay! Our time in the city has been fun but I have decided that I will NEVER move here. Too many people. :)We've had all sorts of adventures! :) Oh, and I just LOVE my team! They are awesome and their is such a great balance of personalities. We really work well together. Especially our small team (me, Sarah and Colin).

PRAY!!!!

We are entering an atmosphere of evil. Spirits and demons are common. But we know the battle is already won. Pray for us; bind the enemy that we may reap the harvest. Ephesians 6:10-20 describes our needs perfectly. Pray this over us everyday. I pray the Lord will bring our team and the people constantly to your mind. We cannot do this without your prayers. Thank you!!!

Oh yeah, pray for miracles! :) I'm expecting great things from God. He is so awesome.

Love y'all!

~MW~

Update #2

Hello Uganda prayer warriors! There is an update from Marissa's team leaders on the Awe Star web site. Click on the highlighted Awe Star and the link should take you to the update.

If not, here is the website: http://www.awestar.org/ugandatu2009/

Thanks for your prayers.

BTW. Missy's brother Jaron is with a team of 5 in the Philippines helping at an orphanage. Here is the latest update from Brooke Boriack:

This morning we went first to a nearby ministry called "Safe Refuge." They take in girls off the street that are pregnant and give them a safe place to have their babies. They had about 4 women there right now, and 4 more coming today (two of the girls coming today are 14 - raped). There were 4 babies there!!! 2 were twins - SO PRECIOUS!!!! It was very hard to leave them. Ate Red showed us around - I LOVE her! She is so precious. The boys were able to move some furniture for them. After that we went to 2 separate slum areas where we performed a skit, Ate Red gave a gospel presentation in Tagalog, and we handed out 150 washcloths, bars of soap, and toothbrushes. It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. That was the poorest, dirtiest place I've ever seen, but I loved it. The kids were precious, but some where not even half-way clothed. I took pictures.

Transportation here is an adventure - the guys love it! We've used the taxi, the train, "Jeepeys" and these motorcycles with an attaching side to ride in. It was a BLAST!

It's SO humid here! There is a constant layer of moisture on me. But I'm growing used to it.

We get stared at EVERYWHERE we go. It's slightly disturbing, but not too bad. Hannah REALLY gets stared at...and so does Jaron. He's literally twice as tall as most of the kids. In our skit, his part demanded that he "show off his cannons"....and all the kids LOVED it. A few have started to call him Goliath.

The food has been pretty good...we won't be introduced to balut until we're in Zambales... they're really into rice. :)

We went through the market.......the meat section was indescribable.

We're going to head off to Zambales in an hour or so, I think. That will be about a four-hour ride, but I think we're taking our own van.

John is currently fixing the bathroom sink. I am so glad we brought tools.

We went to church yesterday at the mall (malls are the thing here - they are everywhere), the worship was INCREDIBLE! Talented, and Spirit-filled. The preacher "preached" in English, but he regularly wove in and out of tagalog...it was so funny.

I absolutely love it here. I wish we were staying longer.

Brooke

Pray for them at the Lord's leading. They will be returning in two weeks.

Blessings,

Jack