Planking

Well it's been two solid days of building now and we are all feeling it!
The classroom is starting to take shape and everyone is pitching in with thier bit.

We have made so many new friendships with the local builders and learnt so many lessons about not only building but life as well!
been blessing us with great weather (not too hot) and amazing friendships.

We have to finish the windows tomorrow and then hopefully on Friday put the final touches to the new 
technical room which we are building.

Hard at Work

On Saterday we are heading up to the National Park and then visiting another village called Ngooloo (spelling not correct),
So there are lost of things still ahead.

African Bricks - Katie

God is so good.

The Team

Bullrushes Baby Clinic

Well today we began the job we really came here to do, build a classroom. We have been told we are constructing a technical lab for tertiary students in Suubi village which is exciting. We began today and have laid the first 6 levels of bricks on a beautiful site overlooking the outskirts of Kampala.

Suubi Build Site

We are all pretty tired now though and have 3 more full days of building ahead of us.

Everyone is well and healthy so thanks for all your prayers!

Had an amazing first day at a church service in a village called Bbira. Open air church with hundreds of little kids running around and typical African music leading us in worship. Amazing!

Today we are going to Watoto Central for orientation and then off to Bullrushes Baby Orphanage to help out there.

Please keep praying for safety and protection over our team.

Arrived safely in Uganda! Everyone is a little tired, but very excited.. Thank you Lord for looking after us so far. Off to Church tomorrow at Bierra Village.

Well after a grueling 18 hour flight we arrive safely in JHB last night and are now enjoying a massive breakfast! We are so looking forward meeting the rest of the team at lunch time today, and then it off to Uganda!

We are all excited and just jumping on the plane. Next stop Africa!

Well last years trip was amazing. This year a team from Manly (and surrounding areas) are heading off to Watoto for another two weeks of building and whatever God has in store for us.

Please pray that the ash cloud over Australia and NZ doesn’t cause any issues and that we all arrive safely!

Thanks to everyone who has helped make this trip possible! Especially all those people who helped fundraise..

Grant Harbor

So sad to be leaving, don’t want to go I love it here so much. Such a life changing experience that I think no only me but the whole team will keep close to their heart forever-Ellie

About to Leave for the journey home after an amazing trip. Looking forward to the end of whats going to be a 30 hour trip

Andrew S

Have had an absolutely amazing time in Uganda. It’s been one of the best experiences of my life. It’s so sad to leave, feels like we’re leaving our home.
- Grant A

Gonna miss the Ugandan people they are so gorgeous. Uganda has touched us all and I don’t want to leave. great life changing experience.
Georgia

“Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again. Oh baby, I hate to go”. It’s been such a life changing experience. This won’t be the last time I come to the beautiful country of Uganda. Weelaba for now.
-Shannon H

I know that as soon as I arrive back in Australia I will want to come back to Uganda immediately. I love the people, I love Watoto and I love this country! Weelaba Uganda. :’(
- Peter

Have had an amazing experience here, and I love everything about Uganda, truly the most beautiful country in the world. Am very devastated about leaving and I know this will not be the last time I visit Uganda.
- Tom H

The time I spent in Uganda has been incredible. It has been a great experience that I will never forget. I really hope that I will return to this amazing country once more.
Tom G

This whole experience has been amazing. I really will miss uganda and hope that I will have an opportunity to visit again.
-Matt low

Good times in Uganda are coming to an end.
-Jordan Heckendorf

After a long nine and a half hour bus trip from the safari back to Kampala it feels like I am home again. The natural landscape and animal life in Queen Elizabeth Park was beautiful and we also enjoyed relaxing by the pool in the hot equatorial sun. Three days left in the most beautiful place on earth, I don’t want to go home, but I do love you Mum and Dad! – Pete

It feels great to be back in Kampala. The beautiful landscape and animals shown in the safari were inspiring and exciting as a hippo was caught eating grass next to the cabins. The warmth of the Watoto hosts was very welcoming as everyone was tired after the long trip home. Looking forward to sharing the experiences. – Tom G

The long trip back caused, or almost forced, a time for reflection, not that it was unwelcomed. The freedom of the open plains, the brilliantly idyllic mountain roads, river sunsets and roaming animals enabled a strong sense of awe and inspiration. The moments spent at the lodge, although at first seemingly removed from the rest of Ugandan culture eventually enabled the meeting of great individuals and awesome stories. On arriving back in Kampala the reminder of the ever present Ugandan vibrancy and elegance of this country welcomed me back. Leaving will be a saddening experience. -Andrew Leeson

I wish the Roosters had slain the dragons, but alas, not the case -Jordan Heckendorf

Day 7

Today we had the pleasure of meeting a young man named Bright and also his Watoto mother and having them show us their home. The hospitality which they presented was overwhelming to most of us, especially comparing to Western society. Bright is a very special man in which all of us should follow in his footsteps, for he is made in God’s image. Over the past four days, he has us constantly revising and rethinking what is actually important in our lives and I can see that many of us have already let go of our materialistic ways. I hope this doesn’t change when we come back to Australia. Bright pulled all of us kids into his room which he shared with three other boys. He presented Peter Clark with a white shirt and stated “I want you to wear it, and think of me. It’s my favourite shirt…It’s all that I have”. This sent a shock-wave through all of us. He was willing to give away his possessions to someone like us who have so much more, but this was for the sake of remembrance.  He then went on and shows us thirty or so photographs of his mother (who he hasn’t seen since he was one), his Watoto brothers, pictures from a sponsor in Canada, and photos of him as a young boy. We could tell that he was proud of these photos, and that they were his most prized possessions. For him, he saw a light in what we may of seen as utter darkness. He asked if we could possibly pray for him and to remember him when we are back in Australia. He then covered his eyes and began to cry unashamed. Many of us, including me broke down into tears. Those tears were free-flowing and for not only Bright but for every child in this world who hopes to have a better life so please…please pray for Bright, for he hopes to have a “bright” and successful future. That’s all he asked. He is an absolute blessing to all of us, and has changed every aspect of our lives, and I thank him for that. To give him something from all our hearts, we each wrote a letter in a sketchbook for him. Andrew Leeson sketched a photo of Scotland Island for which he was really thankful. I hope he realises he has impacted the rest of our lives. For Bright.

— Shannon Hildebrandt

The most touching and amazing experience and day in my life. Uganda is the most beautiful country on earth.

-    Peter Clark

Having such an amazing time in Uganda, it’s the most amazing place, and our interactions with the lovely people of Uganda have been especially good. The building has gone very well and we finished with plenty of time left on the last day. The bus trips have been really good as I love just looking out the window at what is going on in the streets of Uganda. The food at the guest house has been really good, and we have been very well fed. And thanks mum and dad for the card.

-    Grant Angus

I have been having an amazing time in Uganda, and have had some of the greatest experiences of my life. The building has been finished now, and I think the entire team is highly satisfied with the end product. Uganda is one of the most amazing and remarkable countries in the world, and I am feeling privileged to be here right now.

-    Tom Hemingway

Hello,

Finished the construction of the classroom today and it looks pretty good. I am ready ready for a big sleep. Too bad we have to get up at 4am for a six hour bus trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park for our safari.

Go the chooks!

Jordan Heckendorf