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!