As the church's website administrator, I route prayer requests through to our prayer warriors. These six people are committed to praying for those in need.  And I've noticed a lot of need lately.  People are dealing with really tough life issues on a daily basis, and it is easy when we have smooth sailing in our life to get complacent about those in need. When I make the effort...a meal, a prayer, a smile, a card, a kind word...I am reminded that I have been there and was lifted up through others making the effort to do these things for me.

Six weeks and two days until we leave for Uganda!  A lot of exciting things are happening!

• The women of Lake Union Church organize an annual pie and ice cream social. This year it is August 12 and the free will offering will be donated toward the Uganda mission project.  Now that is cool!
• Water tumblers just came in and members will make paracord handles (purple and orange, of course).  The water tumblers and paracord handles will bring in more funds to help the Uganda project. They look great!
• There is a kickball event on August 5 at 4 pm at the Annandale City Park.  People are invited to "sponsor" a soccer ball for us to take to Uganda.  The church is filling a large suitcase of gifts for Siloam Community Outreach!
• And funds continue to come in for the building of the school.  We are at ~35% and, through faith, continue to send funds a bit at a time to Pastor Peter for the continued progress on the foundation and building. My heart is touched by each and every contribution.

Many thanks to all involved in this project!  And our friends in Uganda also give thanks for everyone's love and support!  Larry and I are excited to see our Uganda friends soon!

I like to canoe! Well, Larry likes to also but for different reasons. For me, a canoe glides through the water effortlessly and quietly.  We can skim over rocks or trees in the river if there are just a few inches  of water.  Larry loves to fish and gently guides us down the river with no intention of making time.  I sink down into the front of the canoe (with my legs over the side) and sleep; it is so peaceful. It is like meditation, taking in the fresh air, nature, and listening to the many sounds you hear on the way and just relaxing in the moment.

I think of life like canoeing. There are times I should relax, times I should paddle, and times I should let someone else steer. We can choose to go upstream, but it is a lot of work and not a wise use of energy.  When I dip my paddle in the water, I can really move the canoe along and I try not to be in conflict with the person steering or it can end up an emotional mess.

If you haven't tried canoeing and like the outdoors, I highly recommend it.  Start on a small lake first and wear a life jacket!

Well, I feel like this Siloam Community Outreach Project in Uganda is like that. Traveling there in September is downriver of our relationship with Pastor Peter and I am trying to chill out knowing other people are steering and God already knows where we are headed.

Pastor Peter and I talk about having the "faith of a mustard seed" (Luke 17:6). We are taking one step at a time on this project based on available funds and we are now at a point of needing ~$2k to finish up the concrete pour.  The church has raised ~$2k to date...with your help!

Want to see more detail about our progress on this school?  Check out http://www.lakeunionchurch.org/by_the_numbers_and_progress_updates.  There is a link on this blog and the church website as to getting in this canoe and helping build a school in Jinja, Uganda.

Encouragement

Sometimes it can be hard to find encouraging words, particularly the right words at the right time.  And sometimes we are looking so hard for our own encouragement that we forget to encourage others who need it. I try to remember to pause throughout my day and be in the moment with others so I don't overlook such a need.  The blessing is usually mine.

In Uganda, life is tough work.  Each day includes getting water, starting a fire, gathering food, boiling water and cooking the food (rice, beans) over the hot fire, washing clothes and hanging them up, cleaning up dishes and cooking pots. The next day you start over again.  So, in the midst of minimal things in Uganda, love, faith and encouragement are treasured.

Project Update - Step by step, we walk in faith and share our love and encouragement through our support of a permanent school for the children of Siloam!

• Progress on the building project - http://www.lakeunionchurch.org/by_the_numbers_and_progress_updates. 
• Fundraising - We are at ~20% ($8k still needed).  As we receive funds, we take one more faithful step forward on the building project.  
• Help us be ready for the next step of this project and donate today! http://www.lakeunionchurch.org/siloam_project

Prayers needed -

Pastor Peter is asking for prayers (hope, strength, love, encouragement) for his friends (pics below).  The young man (orange shirt) is an orphan and needs added prayers for support. Whatever you pray will be heard, from the heart, by God. Pastor Peter and I thank you!

I've been praying about our trip and this project all week and telling myself it is in God's hands and that's where it needs to be. If you know me very well, that is a challenge in itself since I like to make stuff happen!

And there are some wonderful things happening which are encouraging.

• The nonprofit, Color My World, reached out to me after I tagged Pastor Peter on my last FB post. They are friends with Peter on Facebook and wanted confirmation that if they helped that their support would end up where intended and would have impact. As a result, they are securing a couple of used laptops and Kindles to send with us in the fall. This is a big deal to our friends in Uganda.  Tech gadgets are expensive and hard to come by when all of your money is used for food and shelter! Yet they are so important!
• T-shirts and string bags are selling and water bottles are ordered and soon available for sale. The proceeds definitely help move the fundraising bar on this project.
• The children attending Siloam are hoping to sell arts and crafts to provide income for their families. Lake Union Church supports this and Pastor Peter is gathering photos of the items along with price and we will list them in the "Online Support - Siloam" store (http://lakeunionchurch.org/siloam_project) soon. Part of the cost of each item will go directly to the child's family with the remainder toward the school building project.  Check the link occasionally and watch for these: paintings, coin purses, baskets, and more.  Larry and I will bring purchased items back with us from Uganda.

More to do! 

• So far, the church has received approximately 15% of the needed funds ($10,000). What a blessing! 
• We still have quite a way to go to get to the $10,000.  I *intensely dislike* asking for support since I know how this goes.  Everyone get tons of calls and requests to support various needs and you just can't help everyone. I keep telling Larry that when we get to Uganda he will be very surprised as to how little "stuff" they have and how much love they have for others (and God).  However, Siloam needs this school.  An education is the key to getting the younger generation out of poverty.  We can't even imagine...

Please pray as to God calling you to help with this.  We leave in 10 weeks for Uganda and hope to see the new building well along as to progress.  

Looking forward to coming back to Uganda, reconnecting with Pastor Peter, and spending time at Siloam Community Outreach!  (I snagged a couple of pictures from our last trip to Jinja, Uganda.)