Greetings from Uganda dear Family and Friends!  It’s a beautiful, warm and sunny day and we all feel so blessed to be here in Kampala, ready to serve and work alongside our friends as God leads us. Our team consists of Dave Molzahn, Elizabeth Neithamer, and Lisa Corso from Midland, Barbara Corso from Fort Collins, CO, and Diana Stubig, and David and Karen Viele from Holt, MI.  Karen Glenn had planned to join our team, but at the last minute found she was unable to make the trip.  Our journey began 2 days ago, as the Midland component of the team left Midland on the Memorial Presbyterian church van, picking up the rest of the team on the way to the Detroit airport. We hauled with us a full complement of 2 or 3 suitcases apiece filled with music and stands for our growing music program, tools to use at the ACT Center, and gifts for our MukoHOPE orphans from their sponsors.  We also each hand-carried a violin to be used by our young violinists.  Last year they were so excited to begin playing the violin, and we look forward to continue working with them!  We left Detroit Tuesday evening, flying overnight to Amsterdam, then continuing on to Entebbe, Uganda, with a brief stop in Kigali, Rwanda.  Wonder of wonders, all our flights were on time and all of our luggage managed to make the trip in one piece! It was wonderful to be greeted by Generous Turinawe and her family, making us feel like we’d come home J. With the luggage piled high on top of our van, and violins on our laps, off we went to the Adonai House, our home in Kampala for the next couple of days.  After 23 hours total travel time it was a welcome relief to arrive in Uganda, and we’re very grateful for safe travel.

Thursday began with breakfast and planning out on the veranda, enjoying the beautiful morning. Our driver for this trip will be Rashid Kibuuka. We’ll miss our friend Christopher, but look forward to getting to know our new friend, Rashid! We’re still adjusting to the time difference. FYI, Uganda is 7 hours AHEAD of Eastern Standard Time.  After breakfast we set off with our to-do list, stopping first to exchange dollars for schillings, which took some time to complete the negotiations.  The bank started out at 1:2318 and we ended up at 1:2495.  Then on to purchase minutes for our Ugandan cell phones and the new computer being delivered to the office.  Impressions of Kampala……red volcanic dust everywhere, boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) zooming in and out of traffic with total disregard for their own safety (or anyone else’s!), busy and constant activity at all hours of the day and night, cars driving on the left (British-style) instead of the right, bright colors, exotic plants, and guards at every place of business.  After taking care of house-keeping details, we were treated to a delicious lunch of chicken, rice, beans, carrots, bananas, etc. at Generous’s house. After lunch, Karen, Diana and Generous visited Dr. Maria Park Kim, who runs a two year university level music school and a newly developed youth orchestra. We took a tour and met a volunteer cello teacher who attended a Middle School in Kalamazoo, Michigan and studied with one of our Marshall Music clients! Dr. Kim will be presenting a concert on May 11^th, but unfortunately, we will still be in Kabale. Afterwards, videos both educational and entertaining were purchased for use at the ACT center. After dinner, Generous brought Frederick over to meet with Dave and discuss the solar power at the Empowerment Centre. A delicious dinner of Nile perch at the Adonai House was the perfect ending to the day.

During our 3 weeks in Uganda we will continue with the music program, visit and work with the orphans, visit schools in the area, develop relationships and work on different pathways the children may follow in the future.  We will evaluate and work to develop the handicraft (MEP) program.  We will visit and assess various agriculture sites, and also visit the Ikamiro clinic, continuing to develop plans for further growth.  Improvements will be made at the ACT center, building shelves, and improving security, lighting and Internet capability. We know that that God will be with us every step of the way, and we ask for your prayers as we step forward in faith.