Send Off and Prayer Party

God ministers to me through my friends and family. It was such an encouragement to see so many of you at our home last night. Thank you for the taking time. I wish I had taken photos! John Williams read scripture and began us in a powerful round of prayer for the Visiting Orphans team and the spread of the gospel message. After the prayer session, Barbara reminded me that I had a blog to debut. This accountability just might keep me from further procrastination. As requested, I am sending this blog address out to as many people as I know. Please send it farther.

On Saturday I'll fly out of San Antonio to Dulles with my missions friend, Lisa. We are calling on all of you to lift us up in prayer! In Dulles airport we'll finally meet up with our 12 other teammates from across the U.S. before boarding an Ethiopia bound flight. We'll arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday, June 21st and travel home July 2nd and 3rd. Here's the official roster and itenerary.

Team Members:
Amanda, Simon , Alyssa, Zack, Holly, Dave, Elle, Chris, Lisa, Danielle, Audrey, Mindy, Heather, Nate

Basic Itinerary:

Saturday, June 20 – Flights to Ethiopia

Sunday, June 21 – Arrive in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia 7 p.m.; airport transfer to Ethiopia Guest Home; first team meeting/plan and prepare

Monday, June 22 – 3 hour bus ride to Kidmia in Gunchire , Ethiopia ; afternoon in Kidmia (http://www.kidmia.org/); night at Negash Lodge in Wosillo , Ethiopia

Tuesday, June 23 – bus back to Addis; afternoon at America World Transitional Home; team meeting/plan and prepare

Wednesday, June 24 – Morning at Mother Teresa Orphanage (over 400 children); afternoon at AHOPE HIV Orphanage (http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/history.html)

Thursday, June 25 – Morning soccer ministry to street children in Addis; Compassion Int’l drop in center in Kechene/Lafto in the afternoon

Friday, June 26 – Airport transfer; depart 11:30 a.m. (flight 0811) to Entebbe , Uganda ); arrive in Entebbe at 1:30 p.m.; airport transfer to Jinja , Uganda ; visit Amizima Ministries in Jinja (http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/ and http://amazima.org/)

Saturday, June 27– Canaan Children’s Home (http://www.canaanchildrenshome.org/) or Amazima Ministries

Sunday, June 28 - Canaan Children’s Home or Amazima Ministries

Monday, June 29 – ****morning with Compassion****; afternoon at Amani Baby Cottage (http://pluto.matrix49.com/15669/?subpages/About.shtml)

Tuesday, June 30 – transport to Kasana/Kiwoko to visit New Hope Uganda (http://www.newhopeuganda.org/about_us.htm); night in Luweero , Uganda at Hope Again Guest House

Wednesday, July 1 – depart for Entebbe via Kampala; small group departing for Rome will transfer to airport to depart 5:15 on ET 0810 to meet connecting flight (not me); most members (that's me) to Bethany Village in Kampala via 30-minute boat ride and later picked up at Gaba Church (http://www.africarenewal.org/index.php?module=articles&tid=2&topic=22); night at Airport Guest House in Entebbe

Thursday, July 2 – morning activity to be determined…more kids to love!; transport to airport; depart 5:15 p.m. for Addis on ET 0810 to meet connecting flight to US; fly to US

Friday, July 3 – Arrive back in US (various times depending on final destination); Rome group still in Rome