
The Jr. High Inner-City Denver trip has been a huge success. We've learned a lot about poverty and homelessness. We've learned a lot about our city and its needs. We've learned a lot about ourselves and response to such issues. I've learned that Jr. High students can be quite mature, at times,nd be quite fun as well. We've been working with ministry called "Open Door Fellowship" which is an amazing ministry that owns nearly one city-block worth of houses for former prostitutes, drug addicts, single moms, the disabled, etc. It's been an honor to work with them.

Now it's off to London for 3 days with my senior guys. They're a bit spoiled getting to go to London as their Senior trip, but fortunately our lay-over for Uganda is in London so we just moved our flight a couple days earlier. Each student (5 of them) gets to pick the one thing they want to see/explore in the city, besides all the common sites. I'm excited to get there and have no pressure to do anything - just relax, see the city and get ready for Africa.
On the 31st of July we fly on to Entebbe, Uganda. We'll stay a night in Kampala and then head on to Lukaya for our mission project of building a shelter for orphans of the AIDS epidemic. We'll also be working in an orphanage for a couple days. And not to be too spoiled, we're taking a 2 day safari through the jungle. Being a Pastor to Students is hard sometimes...

I have lots to say about each of the trips so far, even about going home and seeing family like the twins and 99 year old grandma Doris (the lovely lady pictured above). I also have thoughts on my returning to Africa some 5 years after I was kicked out of the Ivory Coast. I'm not sure what to think of all that, but that event led me to this one, so trusting forward is all I've got.
Pray for us as we go, for 3 weeks in a foreign country is hard, no matter how many times you've done it. And to be in a place where we'll see things and experience things we've never seen before, never felt before, never eaten before, will be a trying but ultimately rewarding experience.
See you all at the end of August...
