Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Ashley is the winner of the arcade.  I am sure they will enjoy playing Galaga, PacMan, Ms. PacMan, Donkey Kong and many many more games.  Thanks for everyone's participation and support.  Stacey and the rest of the group leaves on Monday 7/16.  Thanks Eric for this contribution, its an awesome arcade!  My kids will definitely miss it!

video of drawing.

Attention Gamers! Win an Arcade!

For drawing results check here    http://theadventuresofthethomasfamily.blogspot.com/2012/07/winner-winner-chicken-dinner.html

We live in a country of opportunities.  Most of us don't have to worry about having clean water or our next meal.  Have you ever considered those who are not living here?  Have you considered that a child dies of starvation or a preventable disease every five seconds?  Have you ever considered that given knowledge, people can and usually will make a difference in this and future generations?  What are you doing to impact the world?  Wanna make a difference?

Now you have a chance to make a difference and a chance to play in the past.  Our good friend, Eric, has devoted hours of time, dedication, and love to creating a custom full size video arcade capable of playing over 8,000 games.  Reconnect with your youth; remember games like Frogger, PacMan, Donkey Kong and so much more- including many newer games as well.  Show your kids that you really can play with the best of them.  The best part is, ITS FOR A GREAT CAUSE!  Here is your chance to WIN A FULL SIZE ARCADE for your very own.  $20 gets you a chance to win. The more money you invest, the more chances you have to win. But, more than that, your $20 (or more if you want more chances) will hopefully show people half-way around the world that they are loved and they matter.  Child or adult, EVERYONE deserves to be loved.


There will be a raffle drawing to win this arcade on July 9th at 7pm .   The drawing will be recording with a link put on here as quickly as we can after the drawing.

So you may be asking.... “Where is the money going”?   Eric has graciously donated his “labor of love” to the team of 9 from Preston Trail Community Church going to Uganda in July.  All proceeds will be donated to the mission.  

The first initiative of this mission is to show the love of Christ to others.  There are several ways this team will be engaged while in Uganda.  First, they will provide a teaching, training, and coaching conference for church and community leaders in Uganda through a ministry called www.Hesedinternational.org.   The past conferences have been a huge success.  We hope to be able to continue with our past success and continue to build meaningful relationships with the local church and community leaders there.  It has been really exciting to see how God’s work is spreading there.  


Second, they will serve in conjunction with the Foodstep group www.Kampiringisa.org at Rehabilitation Center for children.   Their mission:  “Touching the lives of children unfairly and unjustly imprisoned.  Giving a hopeful future to former child prisoners in a loving home”.  They provide medical care, spiritual guidance, worship, teaching and loving to children that are considered there to be the outcasts of society.  Their hope is to pour into these children and show them the love of Christ. The founder of Foodstep in Uganda has been able to sponsor children to be released from the prison into her care.   There they receive food clothing, shelter, schooling, but most importantly they receive the message that they are precious and special to God.  This team will also have the privilege of loving on and encouraging these children and their care-takers.  The teams work with Foodstep has expanded this year so we are excited to see how that relationship continues to grow with our partners there.

See Shawn (sltintexas@gmail.com) or Eric (tranericn@gmail.com) for additional information or tickets.

Good luck and may God bless you!

Stacey- Uganda bound!

MONTH OF MAY INCENTIVE!!!!

Mother's Day Gift of Generosity:

Do you have a Mom, wife or grandmother who has it all?

This Mother's Day, instead of flowers, give the unique gift of a donation to the Preston Trail Uganda Team. Give the gift of generosity. The gift that keeps on giving.

Pick out a gift and we will attach a card (below) to go with your gift. Or, if you like, we can personalize your card as well. Just let us know what you want to say.

Hi Friends and Family,

I am thrilled to say that I have the privilege of returning to Eastern Uganda for a second time.  Shawn just returned from a similar trip in March, and we are excited and honored for our family to be a part of this mission once again.  For those of you who do not know, our past two trips have focused upon several ministries:  visiting children at a remand center, helping with a ministry that helps severely malnourished children, and the bulk of our time has been leading a Biblical conference as well as health and hygiene training.

While in Uganda in February-March, Shawn picked up some beautiful jewelry along the way.  So, we are selling this jewelry in an effort to raise money for this trip in July and God willing, will repeat the same efforts in the future.  So, if you are interested in partnering with our team of 5 women and 3 men going in July, I would appreciate prayers and any financial support you feel called to give. 

 

Here is where the jewelry comes in…  As incentive to support our team, I am setting up “gifts” to be given at each level of financial support.

Here is the breakdown…

Giving Level:  $25-$49   Ugandan Paper Bead Necklace 

We have all shapes and sizes.  Lengths ranging from 50”-68”.  If you have a specific color I am sure we can make that happen. We have some really unique ones as well with larger beads mixed in.  Over 100 to choose from. 

First come, first choose…  :)

Giving Level:  $50-$100  Two Paper Bead necklaces (of your choosing), or a beaded ring (only 1 left-dark blue color)

Giving Level:  $101-$200  Choose from paper bead bracelets (only 5 left) or a beaded ring (one left) + two necklaces, or a paper bead bracelet +two paper bead necklaces

Giving Level :  Over $200  Ugandan hand embossed wallet , ladies wooden bracelet (light brown and multi-color bracelet on left...sorry other two are gone), or any variation of above + I am going to call this bracket the shoot for the moon bracket…just for fun…

We thought this was a fun way to get people behind our team’s mission, but in all seriousness we appreciate ever dollar given toward helping and equipping in Uganda.  We know that if you give you are not giving to receive a bead necklace, or some trinket  but because God placed it on your heart to give.  To those of you who have supported us so faithfully in the past year we say thank you and we couldn’t have met God’s calling without you. 

And, if you don’t want the incentive and still want to give, that’s ok too. :) But, if you do want something, let me know what you would like. 

Send any donations to Stacey Thomas 5225 China Berry Dr. McKinney, TX 75070

All checks need to be made payable to Preston Trail Community Church.  This is a tax deductible donation.  

You may also send cash, or make checks payable to me, but these will not be tax deductible.

Thank you as always…

Love & blessings,

Stacey Thomas

The Homecoming- I'd love to live there

I'm sorry this is so late.  It seems like it is easy to get back into the "the real world" and put off reporting on the things I saw and experience.  After a rough day at the remand home, we visited a place where some of the children get to go who are able to leave.  They call this place "The Home Coming".

Before I get too far into what a truly wonderful place this is I feel like I must tell you about dinner.  Imagine having a long emotional day.  Imagine having your heart strings tugged in all sorts of directions.  Being called out by a young boy named Peter- the rock.  We just needed to spend some time unwinding, talking, and processing what we had just experienced.  The main missionary asked us if we were interested in going to get something to eat.  She threw out a few ideas, then we metioned a place we had heard about.  A pizza place on the shore of Lake Victoria.  As the missionary described this place, I thought- pizza and a wonderful view.... I'm in!

We get there and find a place right next to the water.  We talk for a while, make our pizza orders; settle in for a great view and a wonderful local soft drink called "Stoney".  The missionary's husband starts telling us about this place.  "In a few minutes," he says "they'll light those lights on poles.  Bugs from the lake, called sausage flies, will be attracted to them.  You will be among them."  I chuckled and thought...foreigners sure word some things weird.  I don't use the phrase be among the bugs very often.  Well... about 30 minutes later, I was definitely among them.  The bugs were so thick it was like it was snowing sausage flies.  For once I was glad our food was late.  They were everywhere.  They'd land in your hair, down your shirt, in your ears, on your legs.  After a while we got used to them.  "T-I-A" we'd say (it stands for “This Is Africa”).  It was fun watching the girls freak out, mainly Rebekah.  That was worth the wait just see her jump every few seconds as she was assaulted by the bugs.  Anyway, it was a great way to let off some steam after an emotional day.

.....back to "The Homecoming".  If a child is lucky enough to be able to leave the remand home, and get a sponsor, they get to go to the homecoming.  We drive into the home and drive through its main gate and are greeted with a great view.  The house is set on approx 20 acres.  it is a few hundred yards from Lake Victoria.  Off in the distance is a wetlands area full of beauty and wildlife.  Outside the fence is a wonderful jungle with monkeys chattering in the trees.  It is a home that is rented from a neighboring orphanage. 

As we drive through the gates little children run to greet us.  It is a common site in Uganda that never gets old.  We get out of the car and they all run up and hug the missionary and her husband.  They call them mommy and daddy.  I spent most of my time with the missionary's husband.  He knows all the kids stories.  For many of them, their life prior to "The Homecoming" is filled with sadness, trama, and often times abuse.  As we walk around he asks each child if he can tell their story.  He treats all of them with kindness, respect and love.  We are told many heartbreaking stories- stories of abuse, the effects of witchcraft, and of the strife of poverty and hopelessness.  We meet one small boy who is new to "The Homecoming".  We are getting a tour of the boys sleeping areas at the time.  The little boy has found a guava tree and has a load of them.  He has lifted the bottom of his shirt up to create a basket and his shirt is full of the fruit.  He climbs up on his bed, goes to his bunk box and dumps them in.  The missionary's husband leans over and whispers to the boy, "Don't you think the rest of the boys would like some of those".  The little boy gives us a quirky smile and shrugs his shoulders.  The missionary's husband tells us, "He is new here and still thinks we'll stop feeding him, so he wants to keep them all."  He then goes on to tell us the boy’s story. He was part of a group of beggars run by an adult.  He must have been barely 6 years old. This little boy knew this was not a lifestyle he wanted so he had run away.  He had convinced a restaurant owner to hire him as a dishwasher.   In exchange for the washing dishes, he would get to eat scraps of food left by the customers.  "He is one smart little boy," the missionary's husband proudly said.  He looked at him beaming as if it was his own son who just hit a homerun at a little league playoff game.

As we walked the grounds he introduces us to other children.  Each had a story that would break your heart.  The boy who had his eye destroyed by a witch doctor so the parents would have good luck.  The young boy put into prostitution at the age of four.  The little girl who had been tourtured by a witch doctor for four days straight before she escaped.  Everyone there had a horrible, heart breaking first chapter of their life, but the second chapter and beyond was truly filled with hope and love that was provided at "The Homecoming".

As the day went on, I heard a story of a huge python that lived in a cave outside the fences.  That is all I needed to hear to go out on an adventure.  We were led by one of the older boys, Derek,  who was a leader there and had 4 younger boys in tow.  It was a good walk as we played with the boys along the way, letting boys be boys as they wrestled with us, played tag, and just had fun.  We'd talk to the older boy spending some time getting to know him.  He was so respectful and a great role model for the younger boys.  We got to the cave and suddenly everyone was scared to go in.  We had a few from our trip that were the brave first ones to peer into the cave.  No huge snake was seen but if I were a huge snake, this is where I'd live.  We'd have fun with each other by sending one close to the cave and tapping his leg with a long stick and watching them jump......Or trying to push one person to the mouth of the cave and yelling for the snake to come eat supper.  It was a great time.

As time to leave grew closer we were happy to get a small performance by a young lady with a great voice.  If American Idol ever goes to Uganda this girl needs to sign up- her voice was beautiful.  We then delivered books, children’s' Bible, and supplies and gave everyone good-bye hugs.  It was great end to a long day.  The people in Uganda are beautiful.  Their stories while heartbreaking are inspiring.  I am proud to know a great set of missionaries doing a great work to a deserving set of kids.  Please pray for "The Homecoming", the missionaries there, and the children they serve.  May they continue to grow in the Lord and be an inspiration to people all over the planet.  I can't wait to see them again!

2 incredible girls, sad news and a bouncing baby goat

Today we visited Serving his Children.  It was started by a young lady named Renee a few years ago.  They serve severely malnourished children in a village named Massesse.  When i say severely malnourished children, I mean SEVERELY malnourished children. 

As we travel to their location, we drive through a village that has the worst poverty we have seen so far.  Shacks made of sticks, mud, manure, metal, and anything else they can find to cover themselves.  Kids are running around, many of which are not very well clothed, if at all- but you can be guarantee when they see you they will come running and waving and yelling "Mazungoo" which I guess is the local word for "here comes a bunch of white people". We pull through the gates and are immediately greeted by the staff, Renee and her assistant Danielle.  They give us a tour of their grounds and we meet some of the people who maintain the place..and of course the 2 goats- one of which is 4 weeks overdue on delivery a baby goat.  Her location is a great irony in what absolute beauty Uganda has to see which is contrasted by absolute pain and heart ache that is caused by extreme poverty.  Off in the distance is a spectacular view of Lake Victoria but in your much closer view is severe poverty and the chaos of life that is Massesse village.

As we go inside it is nice to see how organized she was and well thought out her program is.  She has baby beds, a triage area, and mattresses for the mothers to sleep on.  It’s very clean- and not just Africa clean.  It is clean even by American standards. 

Shortly after we arrive it is lunch time and we get to see the small children that are there as well as their mothers.  Many of these children look like what I remember seeing long ago on the cover of National Geographic.  Extremely malnourished children, and I mean extremely malnourished.  Their legs are literally just the size of their bone.  Faces are sunken in, eyes pretty much just glossy and staring.  They would blink very slowly and their moves were slow and deliberate.  Many had severe sores on their bodies and many had ring worm.  One child was suffering from measles and malaria on top of their issues related to malnourished. 

Renee and her staff does a great job.  Her role here is to rehabilitate the children and teach their parents skills to take care of their children.  The problems normally arise when a child stops breast feeding.  Parents here do not know how to feed their children properly once that happens.  They go from nutrient rich milk, to a heavy carbohydrate diet and they get smaller and smaller.  Add on top of that severe disease such as malaria, or chronic diarrhea and you have a recipe for disaster for small kids.

After the tours are over, we get our tasks for the day.  We are to help with some projects around the house while the ladies do some health training with the women.  Our two tasks are painting a new gate, and repairing the outdoor kitchen that had blown over. 

As we start on the fence, it is apparent that Mazungoo working outside the gates is worthy of an audience of small African children.  In the spirit of "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" we tore up our sandpaper and put them to work sanding the gate.  They loved it.  They didn’t know what they were doing or why they were doing it…but they did whatever they were doing with enthusiasm.  As their arms were up sanding, I’d sneak by and tickle them under their arms and they'd laugh.  I'd cover up their eyes and their friend would laugh and chatter off something that I didn't understand but you can guess it had one word… “Mazungoo”.  Once done with sanding, I taught them an important American lesson passed down from generation to generation....the high five.  They caught on quickly and were soon pro's. 

The other project ended up being mainly masonry work as the new outdoor kitchen was going to be better constructed as the old one.  We were helping to start on the foundation.  Not much to tell there except that Jeff, Paul, Brett, Jason and I will be sore tomorrow.  We got a lot done but the local staff will need to finish the foundation... along with the entire rest of the project :)

In between trips to back and forth to the areas we were getting sand I noticed a small movement in the corner of the yard.  As I looked closer, I realized the goat which they have been waiting 4 weeks to give birth had delivered her baby goat.  Of course being a bunch of city folk, that completely distracted us as we watched for its first steps, tried to come up with a name, and figured out what college the baby goat was going to go to when it grew up (j/k).  It was pretty fun and a good break from moving sand and finishing up the finally touches on the gate.

As the day continued, somewhere in between discussing baby goat names and mixing concrete we heard some heart breaking news from Renee about Moses, one of the young kids that used to be in the habitation center.  Moses was a boy with a great story that my wife Stacey got to meet when she was here in July.  Moses was literally found in a basket on the Nile abandoned by his mother.  Sound familiar?  Well Moses had gotten better and went home with his family.  I forget the exact specifics but his family had dropped him off at a children's home.  While he was there he had contracted Meningitis and passed away.  The group had tracked his story while he was there for quite some time and felt connected to this little boy, although most of us had not met him.  It took us a few minutes to recover from that news.  It’s a tragic reality of Uganda, and Africa, and much of the rest of the planet.

In between tasks, and goat, and spending time with the mothers and children, I got to play outside the gates with the kids.  They learned high-fives, “give me” fives, and fist bumps.  Play got rougher and rougher as boy do and fist bumps turned to playful punches, “give me” fives turned into hand slapping and new  game emerged called pile-up on the Mazungoo.

Eventually game time was over, we said our final good-byes, wished Renee and Danielle and all the babies and mothers good luck, and we were heading back home.  Serving his children is a great program that could use some assistance.  Check 'em out.  They have amazing story and is another inspiring story of another young lady going off on her own and serving the people of Uganda…. All at the ripe age of 20-something.

Tomorrow we go to church and some of us will speak in front of over 300 people......nervous much?  Say a prayer.  We’ll need it.

First Day in Uganda- A Great Day!

Today was a great first day in Uganda.  We originally were going to go to visit M1 with sixty feet but due to some government regulations all of their activities were on hold.  We ended up visiting with Ernest and Momma Catherine instead.  Anyone familiar with sixty feet will know them as a local couple that got involved with sixty feet early on.  They really are quiet rock stars of Uganda.

Our drive to their location ended up being twice as long as normal since we got a little lost. Apparently there is 2 sections of the same town with the same name...we went to one, and we should have gone to the other.  We finally meet them and drive down a long bumpy dirt road.  Between the initial drive and this drive we saw a lot of how the local people live.  There is some pretty extreme poverty here.  Similar to what I've seen in Mexico, but probably a little worse.  A lot of shack houses, tin roofs, and people everywhere.  Kids loved when you acknowledge them with a wave and they'd excitedly wave back.

When we get to Ernest and Momma Catherine's house, we meet the group.  We met some local pastors, Boaz and Fred, and some of the nurses for sixty feet.  it was great to see their enthusiasm.  They were so excited about the work the Lord is doing and excited to tell us about sixty feet and their day to day ministry. 

We also got to walk to a local school where one of the pastor's wife is a teacher.  The walk there led us through a small village.  If I were to make a movie and create an African village, this village would be just as I imagined for the set.  Kids playing, a small fire here and there, chickens, pigs and goats running loose, poorly constructed homes with half-dressed little kids running around.  Everyone was nice and they all waved.  Once we got to the school we had a tour.  It was similar to pictures of schools i had seen.  Small building made of 1x6 type material.  split bamboo or some other plant lined the floor.  No lights.  Small benches in rows and posters on the walls.  The things the kids learned there were very similar to what my kids learn.... parts of the body, letters and words, manners, counting money etc.  After the tour we were treated to a performance from the kids.  At such a young age, these kids can dance and sing, and play a mean drum.  We played a few games with them and they performed some skits.  it was a really neat experience.

We went back to the house and spoke some more with the local ministers.  They were excited to tell you some progress that had been made since the last PTCC conferencce.  After some long discussions, plans were made to look into hosting a conference there locally possibly in addition to the ones going on through Hessed in jinja.  That is a significant development and opens up huge possibilities to what the local church can do through its local ministers and through God. 

Some of the best moments (besides all the singing and dancing) was the stories that Ernest & Momma Catherine told.  They told how they got into ministering for children, the pains they have endured because of that , and their joys.  Boaz shared some of his past and told us of the losses his family had experience due to HIV.  We heard from Fred and got a glimpse of the pure excitement he has for the things he does.  I couldn't help but reflect on the amount of excitement I have for the things I am involved with-  i have a lot of soul searching to do and reflection coming in the future.

We spent hours talking, studying, worshipping.  I have not been a part of something like that before and it was nice to be in the presence of some great people doing a great work.  We also played with the kids outside.  I think they could perform all day long.  We had a lot of fun!

All in all, it was a great first day in Uganda.  i couldn't have asked for more.

Great weather, great fellowship, great food, great singing and dancing, and great view of a beautiful Lake Victoria.