With God, It's Possible

Did you notice some details of the bus from a photo I posted a little while ago? Scroll down and read the tire flap at the back of the bus (please - it's the "Under Construction" post).

Now you know why I titled this post "With God, It's Possible." While God's timing is sometimes subtle, there are times it slaps you in the face. I had been questioning the long flights and a growing concern about what we'd find when we arrived at Lira Integrated School and whether there was any way we were going to accomplish something good. As they say, "oh ye of little faith." So this bus flap was a nice little slap in the face to remind me who was in charge and that I should be about His business. While the sport objectives were to be strictly secular so we did not step on the feet of the grant givers, our little crew gladly represented the faith-based side of the trip. Here is a sweet list of the planned endeavors for our team as a whole.

1. Conduct a large-scale basketball coaching clinic
Who was on the team? Representatives of International Sport Connection (ISC) led the basketball clinic and included coaching staff, support staff and kid wranglers (it's more fun to call them that instead of kid staff). Funding is provided by the SportsUnited Division of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. According to ISC officers and board members Jens and Megan Omli, ISC's mission is to

"connect vulnerable youth with caring adult mentors who are equipped with international-standard technical training and timeless leadership principles."

Mentor coaches from the U.S. and Uganda met with 200+ Ugandan coaches and coach candidates in academic and on-court sessions. Following each busy day, the evening program helped build camaraderie and reinforce lessons through games, mixers, talent shows and other activities. 500+ local boys and girls (we worked hard to register a 50/50 mix) played with kid wranglers (American teens, college students and Lira teachers who were organized by a U.S. professor) when they were not on the court learning basketball skills. Upcoming posts will feature more details of each program.


2. Teach swimming and develop swim instructors
I was the lead instructor trainer and one of my ACU students was excited to help. Unfortunately she stumbled in the dark the first night following the evening program and cut an almost 2" gash into the front of her left calf. Did I mention how very dark the night can be and how exquisitely bright the stars can be in Lira? It is and they are, but not quite bright enough to illuminate every little (or big) hole in the ground at the school.


3. Create a sewing classroom at the school
Rachel has created sewing rooms in many countries and the plan here was to work with a few women (preferably seamstresses) so they could maintain the sewing machines and teach the school children the life skill of sewing. J. built the work station tables and a large, central cutting table. I have tales to tell about how all this worked out (look for THAT post!).


4. Introduce Pickle-Ball
Dr. Curtis wrote the book about Pickle-Ball. She really did! She mentioned our plans to the creator of Pickle-Ball who promptly shipped a very large box to Abilene. Into our suitcases went three nets, many paddles and balls, the book and DVDs. John David, another ACU student, enjoys the game and was ready to teach.


5. Conduct Vacation Bible School (VBS)
Luke was in charge. We planned Bible lessons, crafts and games. Mr. Luke, as he became known, warmed up the kids with delightful songs and interactive motions. There were four of us and hundreds, probably thousands, of children wanting in the gates.

Sing with me, this little light of mine...

6. Deliver the dresses sewn by contributors to the Lira School Dress Project
With gratitude we received little girls' dresses from across the U.S.A. Sweet Heather in Alabama started the project with the hope of sending 66 dresses for the school's primary 1 girls. Instead our suitcases held over 260 dresses, 132 panties, and some toys.


7. Deliver New Testaments (with Proverbs and Psalms)
How best to deliver these unfolded as the week progressed. Oh yes, we have stories to share and I hope you'll follow in the coming weeks.

Previously I mentioned that the trip exceeded our expectations. One note here: we met American college-aged men and women participating in World Race (worldrace.org) who offered blessing upon blessing. Their help on the final day of VBS was stupendous! And yet, there was MORE in store for us throughout the week in addition to meeting them. So...as the kids played, bounced balls, made crafts, sewed tote bags, learned new sports, and learned many leadership lessons...I can say with confidence that one of the hardest weeks of one's life became yet again one of the best!

Let this journey begin!

Left to Right: Greta, Rachel, Luke, John David and J. (I'm behind the camera...)

We were a small crew. We were open to divine leadership. Our expectations were exceeded.

To begin: Five of us flew out of Abilene's regional airport with 15 bags loaded with donated sporting goods, vacation bible school supplies, little girls' dresses, and so much more! Our first travel blessing was the fee charged for each third bag. We had anticipated up to $200 per bag, but were charged only $50 each. Monies donated for luggage over-charges covered that and we were left with money that could be used for supplies we anticipated buying in Uganda. The next stop was DFW where we met up with John David and a few of the International Sport Connection crew. Onward to Detroit where even more folks joined the band of travelers. It pained me to be at Detroit Metro and not have the opportunity to visit with family, so I made sure to call them to let them know I was there! The call wasn't as fun as a spontaneous drop-in visit, which I have done in the past, but it was fun to talk while I was in state.



The first LONG flight landed us in Amsterdam. I enjoyed looking around and planning what I might buy on the return trip when there would be room in my bag for souvenirs. These wooden shoes of all sizes and colors may be kitschy, but I liked them. My plan was to buy a key ring pair in each color to give folks at home. Little did I know that our gate wouldn't be near a store selling these on the return trip so -- no cute wooden shoe key fobs for any of us. At least not yet.

Despite knowing the flights are long and the coach accommodations are not very accommodating, even for a short-legged person like me, the flight from Amsterdam to Entebbe was unpleasant. 'Nuff said!

So I'll get to some more details as I add posts, but for now will let you know that the travel required to reach Lira is worth it. The folks we were with were worth it. The people we were going to serve were worth it. And God had some surprises waiting for us in Lira!

To be continued (you know you want to know how/why our expectations were exceeded)...

Under Construction

Our recent trip to Lira has come and gone so you may ask, "where are your blog posts Lorraine?" They're here. Here in my heart. I hear them in my head and slowly, but surely they'll come out and I'll share. Our time was powerful. Our time was both long and short. Our time was punctuated by blessings and love from participants in the World Race. Don't worry - I'll explain in due time. I'm working on thank yous, and budgets, and reports, and readjusting to central daylight time, and getting The Dive Spot classes ready to go, and more! I will begin my blog soon and it'll be worth waiting for. Here's a photo to tide you over.

Our Vacation Bible School shirts. Need I say more? Thank you to Sparrow T's screen printing in Abilene for donating these.

Lira School Dress Project

Thank you to ALL who lovingly sewed one or more of these 200+ pillowcase dresses for the little girls of Lira Integrated School. This photo showcases the first 120 or so and as of now every little dress, panty, toy, etc. is packed 50 lbs at a time in luggage in readiness for the flights to Lira. A SHOUT OUT to Heather Flores for getting this project out of her heart and into the hands of many. Dresses arrived in Abilene from the west coast, the east coast and many states in-between. The final four boxes arrived just last week from an art class in Berryhill, OK. The students enclosed many short, hand-written notes for the children in Lira. Indeed, this demonstrates how we can be the hands and feet of our Lord in serving others. Thank you to all the helping hands!

It is Almost GO Time!

The pending trip to Lira, Uganda seems both a long way off and right around the corner. It seems a long way off because there is so much to do before we step on an airplane. The trip is, however, "right around the corner" since we leave in less than two months after planning for over a year. The school is facing a financial crisis that grew disproportionately when the bank pulled some shenanigans that I am certain could not occur here. Fussing over it's actions doesn't help, but money will help and I am seriously hoping you might feel moved to send a donation. We are still raising funds to cover trip expenses, but the school needs donations now. Micaela Esch is onsite and working with Beatrice. Check out her non-profit at empowereducationinternational.org. Her former club soccer team in Lubbock, TX is helping with a fundraiser: www.liracharitycup.org. For those in Abilene, TX or who know how to contact me, I can take donations locally and we will soon announce the date of a fundraiser at Rosa's on Judge Ely. We invite prayers as well!

Let us heap blessings on the children of Lira Integrated School!

The 2013 Team is Getting Ready!

May is the month. The team is getting ready. Lira, here we come once again! ISC Outreach will focus on a basketball coaching clinic. Approximately 200 coaches and 400 students will be led through basketball skill drills to build the number of players while the coaches will also develop coaching strategies to further the reach of basketball in Uganda. Coaches Sam, Albert, Sylvia and Janet are currently in the U.S. as part of a coaching exchange as part of a Sports United grant. During their visit to ACU, they met our athletic director and were introduced to Pickle-ball by Deonna Shake and Lynn Luttrell. The Abilene team will paint Pickle-ball courts on the basketball courts. Pickle-ball`s creator donated equipment for Lira Integrated School and we are grateful! ACU students John David and Greta will be strong contributors to our efforts as they lead games and help with swimming. We will deliver sewing machines so Rachel can start up a sewing class that another teacher will continue teaching after we leave. Luke, as our youth minister, will lead the sport and faith devotions and lots of singing and games as we celebrate the themes of "Jesus Loves Me" and "God Knows My Name." We are seeking individual support - no amount is too small. We begin meeting regularly soon to prepare for this sport camp.