Our family

K-J is our fashion queen.

She loves to change outfits several times a day and always wants to match. She insisted on wearing this birthday hat with high heel slippers all afternoon!

The girls also love going to the pool near our house

A-G loves the water and is becoming quite a good little swimmer. We are very grateful and blessed to have such lovely daughters... and to live in such a beautiful place with amazing swimming weather all year long!

The Center of Hope has been a busy and happening place the past two months! We had a big celebration to start off registration for the new term and now have between 50 -70 students enrolled in English, computer and sewing/crafts classes

A-G with Abraham (one of her "brothers") at the Center of Hope A BIG thank you to Mary Jane C. for providing funds for 3 sewing machines for the Center of Hope!! The ladies are working on patchwork quilting patterns!

Drawing and designing patterns

Shelah's awesome class!! I LOVE my class!!

Taking time out from English lessons to try new foods. Ironically this is a Korean dish being served by a Sudanese!! Each time I am with this group of people I feel so privileged. They truly are special.

More students at the Center

Home Life

The girls decided to have some fun with sidewalk chalk the other day and decorated our front steps!

Kaelah-Joy showing off her handiwork!

KJ floating in the pool

and licking the water...

Goats for the orphanage purchased by our neices and nephews!

Thank you William, Ronette and Tori!!

Lino and girls with the goats

Happy kids at the Redeemer House!!

Family comes to visit:

So this report is being written by Melody Kortbein, Jade’s older sister and also his seventh grade math teacher. During Jade and Shelah’s visit during September 2009, they started talking to all of the nieces and nephews and asking them when they were coming to Uganda to visit. After much prayer, it was decided that I would accompany my children, William (age 17) and Ronette (age 15) and my niece, Victoria, a.k.a. Tori, (age 15) to Uganda from the end of June and the first part of July.

Tori, Melody, Ronette and William with their eight bags of luggage

We had a wonderful visit, had lots of fun, and worked very hard. My journal was over 14 pages long – so I won’t share it all. But I would like to share some of the highlights. The work that Jade and Shelah are doing is time consuming and hard. But to see the gratitude of all of the people that they work with is heartwarming.

We spent our first couple of days helping to clean up the Center of Hope, located in Kampala. My church, Niceville United Methodist Church in Niceville, Florida, collected money during VBS to buy the English curriculum needed. They also raised enough money to provide children’s books for the library. Jade, Shelah, and their team are also working at the Center of Hope to create a playground for the children of their students. In addition, they are building a “hut” to practice outreach in the more rural parts of Africa. It was great to meet Dickens, their day guard, who is a pastor of a local church. He is keeping the Center safe, as well as growing some wonderful vegetables and flowers in the compound.

Ronette and Tori got to “set up” the library

The Center had also just acquired several computers and a Xerox machine. William was able to set up the computers and network so that the Xerox Machine could be used as a printer, scanner, and copy machine.

William “networking” the computers together.

Though the center was not too busy while we were there, they were signing up new people to take the English classes that they offer. It was also wonderful to finally meet Peter and Harriet that I had heard about in the past. The work they are doing there is so beneficial to the neighborhood and to the people involved. We got to experience life in the city by taking a taxi ride as well as several boda-boda (a motorcycle taxi) rides. The city is always busy and there are people everywhere.

We were able to visit the small village of Greek. Though work seems to be moving slowly, there is progress that can be seen. We visited the nearby school and took them a soccer ball. I was amazed at the number of children (and cows) that attended the school. The two pastors that we met were so appreciative of all of the work and supplies that Refuge and Hope are giving. The trip was long and difficult – but the scenery was beautiful.

Workers showing progress on the multi-purpose building

Children coming to greet us at the school near Greek. Notice the classroom under the tree.

Though we were not able to see all of the projects going on with Refuge and Hope, we did discover one of our own projects right across the street from Jade and Shelah. There is an orphanage located there that is home to 7 boys and 7 girls ages 4 to 14. We were very touched by these children and the songs that they sang to us. We were pleased to be able to provide a meal and some new shirts for all of these children. Ronette and Tori also wanted to buy a goat for the children so that they can learn responsibility and hopefully get some milk. That project is still ongoing and we hope to continue to support these children.

Orphans expressing thanks for their meal and new shirts

Ronette with two of the children

William teaching one of the orphans how to play guitar

Tori taking pictures of the kids

Since I am a school teacher (Ronette and Tori have expressed interest in becoming teachers) we were able to visit several schools. Two of the schools were located in slum areas. We chose to “tour” the slums when we were done with our visits. The people who live in these areas have to overcome so many adversities. I think the kids came away with an appreciation for all that they have been blessed with. The primary and nursery schools were our favorites because the children seemed so excited to meet a Mzungu and they loved to sing for us and sing along with us.

Children at Little Light Preschool

Children at Gracious Lord Primary School

Children at Hope School

The work that Refuge and Hope is doing with the Sudanese boys is amazing. It was so great to meet 4 of the other boys (we had the pleasure of introducing Lino to the USA when he came to visit in June) before we left. They offered many insights to what life is like at school in Uganda. They are each unique individuals and have different gifts and talents. I am certain they will all succeed in life, as well as in volleyball.

Another rousing volleyball game at the Acker home.
I am very proud of my baby brother and his wife and all of the work that they are doing. I would encourage you to continue to support them and all of the work that they are doing.

FUN THINGS

On a personal note, we did find some time to do some “fun” things. We toured Amsterdam in our layovers going over and coming back. The only problem we had was that the kids were suffering from jetlag during our tours of the canals. While in Uganda, we enjoyed the Ndere Troupe dancers show, we went swimming at Speke resort, we visited the Martyrs’ Shrine, we visited the source of the Nile River, we went shopping at Friday market, we hiked to Sipi Falls, we hiked to Murchison Falls, and we went on Safari. We were exhausted at the end of our 13 days, but I feel like we would do it again. We loved it.

The kids “enjoying” the canals of Amsterdam

Ndere Dance show, William and Lino got to participate

Melody getting help hiking to Sipi Falls (like she had a choice)

At the source of the Nile River

At the Martyrs’ Shrine Ready for Safari, where we saw thousands of animals

In front of Murchison Falls

William and Ronette performing at the Sudanese church.

On the airplane!!!
Getting to crash in Mimi's lap while she read stories

Six Flags

What a blast!!

Lino wasn't very impressed...

except with the turkey leg that he devoured

Lino was totally unamused with rollercoasters.
His comment, "why would people pay money to scare themselves...if they want to be scared they should go to where there is a war"
It was a very fun day and we left very wet and very happy.

Jade engaged in his favorite stateside activity...eating :)

Visiting Melody and family at the beach.

(This was Lino's first time to ever see the ocean)