HughHarris

We are closing in on the end of our trip. Work on the teachers quarters is going well.

We just finished our 5th day at Jireh and it’s not going to be easy to leave! The exterior walls are now completed on the new section of the teachers quarters and the vents are going in with the rafters will be going up next. These quarters will house up to 11 people or more and will even include a “shower” in the new section. Our new friend Alex is the brick layer and his crew of Johnny and David are becoming friends. I never knew a Cliff Bar could mean so much to someone.

The dental clinic is finished now and Dr. Ames saw over 177 patients and extracted 34 teeth. Overall he says the oral health of the Jireh children and staff is quite good. Dr. Boyd is now finished with the medical clinic and has been relegated to throwing bricks and mixing mortar.

The FCA girls spent some quality time sharing their stories with the Jireh girls and the Jireh girls shared their stories as well. These are life-changing events and ones the Father uses to help break down barriers and encourage ALL of our students in their faith.

June 9, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | 1 Comment

A Guest Post on the Jireh Uganda Trip From Andrew Ellis & Others

Andrew Ellis:

This has been an excellent trip in many ways. Before leaving I was under the impression that it would be a simple trip to come help with a few construction projects and then go home. It has been much more than that. I did not think that what I am doing now would make as much of an impact as it has. Even though we are not finished I can already tell that even just our team simply showing up means more than I could ever imagine.

I have been challenged on this trip physically and emotionally. We are working on repairing and building teachers quarters requiring about six hour days of construction “Uganda style”. I also got sick yesterday which took out a lot of my energy. It is going to be hard to leave.

I have become attached to a few of the kids here. They are all very smart and very motivated. It is very encouraging to see people who have nothing monetarily so rich spiritually. I made a friend called Kakooza Robot who is a very good artist. He looks up to me and likes to follow me around whenever possible. I look forward to seeing him every day. I do not think his real second name is Robot, but I really badly want to believe that it is.

andrewpierceellis.wordpress.com

Lynn Vander Elst:

We’re having such an amazing and challenging time in Uganda. The first day at Jireh Children’s Center we received a warm and gracious welcome from the children; a blessed time of singing and dancing. God is graciously showing us our spiritual poverty as we spend our days ministering at the orphanage. What a blessing and a privilege to be here!

Stuart Boyd and Emmy Deloach:

We are having an amazing time and the children are little angels:))))) We are learning so much from them. Its not too hot surprisingly. we miss our moms. the bus rides are interesting. and the tea is fantastic. we are learning Lugandan and singing a lot of songs with the children. the building project is going well and for the most part we are all healthy. olyotya bukwano!!? i am engaged to linda – stuart

Gemma Rocha:

I’m at a loss for words when it comes to describing how amazing this missions trip to Uganda has been. The love and the joy the children in Jireh display to each other and to us is unbelievable. Every day we wake up early but are so excited to get the day started with the kids. We have learned a variety of Ugandan phrases and songs (we’re not that great) but we have fun singing along with the kids. As a team we have worked together and have accomplished so much. We have learned so much from these kids. I will always remember this trip above others.

June 8, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Update from Jireh.

We have access to the Internet now with the acquisition of some air time. Sorry for the delay in posting. Things are going well. Dr. Ames has seen over 166 dental patients and extracted over 30+ teeth. Dr. Boyd has seen 60+ students and treated many for various dermatological issues. The re-roofing of the teachers quarters is going well. We have completely pulled off a roof and are building new rafters and and a new sheet metal roof. We are also extending the building by 2 rooms. We are laying brick and mixing mortar with the Ugandan work crew.

FCA Students and alumni are teaching classes and playing with the children and some have been helping in the medical and dental clinics. Our accommodations at the Garden Courts Hotel are very nice and the food is outstanding especially if you like chicken, rice, potatoes, and pineapple.

We have been working on the Ugandan praise songs that Pastor Benjamin wants us to sing this Sunday at his church in addition to the ones we are bringing from the US. Dave Deloach and Lisa Harris are preaching this Sunday at Mountain of the Lord.

Stay tuned!

June 7, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Work is moving along @ Jireh! Dental & Medical Clinic going well & construction on teachers quarters.

Yesterday was a great time with students and we all went back to the hotel very tired. Today there has been good progress on the teachers quarters. We are re-building the roof and extending walls to provide privacy for 4 living quarters. Sawing African style is quite the experience. We purchased building materials yesterday and had them delivered up the hill to Jireh. Mixing mortar & completing the framing for the new rafter system will be completed today.

Dr. Ames has seen over 152 children now making a much-needed assessment of the oral health and hygiene of the students. At current count he is going to need to make over 15 extractions. Dr. Boyd has been working on multiple skin cases and have helping with their overall medical care.

Many of the ladies on the trip have been helping with games, artwork, and lunch preparation as well as helping on construction and in the medical clinics.

Everyone is doing well and falling in love with the Jireh students, teachers, and staff. Leaving is already going to be hard to do.

June 5, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

We are at Jireh Children Center! What a trip and what a wonderful place.

We made the final leg from Nairobi to Kampala and then the “3 hour” bus ride to the Garden Courts Hotel and the accommodations are very nice. The food was delicious and the rooms were very comfortable. Last night even though we were blurry eyed we practiced our songs and got a good nights rest even with the Prayer Calls going out and some discos with the music going loud. Some of us had our first experience with mosquito nets and cold showers but we are on an adventure right?

This morning we took the short bus ride out to Jireh and the children are so excited to see us. Some of our friends from our last trip are still here including Joseph who helped me build rabbit cages last time as well as Herbert the artist. We had a quick spot of tea and now the group is touring the facility and meeting all the children.

More to come later!

June 4, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Uganda style works well! Shot cards arrive!

The shot records cards made it! Thanks so much to Wendy Webb, Gina Nuenke, & Hannah Cropper for going above & beyond the call of duty & getting out in the wee hours to fax & email the shot records prior to us leaving the London Hilton.

We are now in Nairobi, Kenya after a 7 plus hour flight. Everyone is great! Just had one ambient induced bad trip on the flight here. We ate flying with the England Rugby team so we feel very safe & there are certain female types on the trip that are enjoying the view!

Also, Dave got some sleep!

June 3, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | Uganda FCA | Leave a comment

Out first little snag. Going “Uganda Style”

Well we hit our first little snag. May not be a problem but might be – we have 3 of our team that forgot to bring their Yellow Shot records card. Kenya Air is asking for them so we are at the hotel now getting a little sleep & working on getting the yellow cards faxed to us before we leave London.

Be praying that families are hearing phones ring & emails going off @ 4 am to see the request to fax the cards to London.

The joys of travel. Stay tuned.

June 2, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | FCA Uganda | 1 Comment

Uganda Update. Very smooth trip so far

Here’s who’s on the trip:
Hugh & Lisa Harris
Lynn & Ghislain Vander Elst
Sheila & Dr. Rich Ames (Rachel Tannahill Grandparents)
Rachel Tannahill
Dr. Alan Boyd & Stuart Boyd
David Deloach & Emmy Deloach
Andrew Ellis
Sydney Calhoun
Gemma Rocha
Elizabeth Webb
Molly Newbern
Dede Cropper

This is our 3rd trip to Jireh Children Center & School since 2008. FCA has partnered with Pastor Benjamin & Mama Jaque to help the 200 plus students who live & go to school @ Jireh. Our goal is to first love on the children & build teacher housing & a nursery as well as a medical & dental clinic. It’s going to be an adventure & way to much fun!

June 1, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | Uganda FCA | Leave a comment

Leaving NY headed to London. Everyone on board & settled.

June 1, 2012 Posted by hughharrisfca | Education | FCA Uganda Trip | Leave a comment

Uganda Here We Come! 17 FCA folks head to Jireh Children Center

17 FCA students, parents, alum, and grandparents leave for a return trip to Jireh Children Center in Masaka, Uganda. Pastor Benjamin, Mama Jacque, and the Jireh Children have agreed to host us again. See what’s going on at Jireh at the link below.

http://www.hewillprovide.org/

We will be updating the blog here as we have limited access to the internet. We fly out tomorrow from Nashville at 12:00 & head to New York then London with a 13 hour layover there, on to Nairobi, Kenya and finally in to Kampala, Uganda. We will finish the journey with a 3+ hour bus ride from Kampala to Masaka.