TravelStream™ news feed for member erincastillo on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/erincastillo en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:00:05 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248789474/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248789474/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248789474/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:00:05 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Gaba, Uganda

This morning, we woke up to a powerful rain, and then took a boat back to Ggaba. Next, we went to an African Craft Market, debriefed with the Africa Renewal Ministries staff, packed, showered, and headed out at midnight to catch our 4 am flight to Egypt where we will have our 3 day team debrief in Dahab on the Red Sea. The Middle East team will also be having their debrief there, so we will be reconnecting with them before Israel.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248789287/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248789287/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248789287/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:56:00 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Bethany Village, Uganda

Today, we painted the ceiling of 2 of the homes, Worship House and Blessed House. Since it was the ceiling, we got pretty messy, but it was really fun and actually looked quite professional.

Then, Carsten had a great idea to gather all of the moms of the village after the evening devotions and encourage them, give them words, and pray for them. It was incredible, and the moms said that teams come in and out of the village all the time, and in 6 years, we are the first team to encourage and pray for the moms.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248787130/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248787130/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248787130/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:54:14 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Bethany Village, Uganda

This morning, we led all of the Sunday School classes here in Bethany Village and also part of the Church Service. In the evening, we split up and went to various homes to lead the evening devotions which we have done every night and will do again tomorrow. This has been one of my favorite parts of being in Bethany Village. It is a joy to be a part of one of the families each night and get to know them more. They usually worship through dancing and singing, intercede, share praise reports, have someone share from the Word of God, recite memory verses, share prayer requests, and pray. It is so fun getting to encourage them, love them, and spend time with them.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248786760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248786760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248786760/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:18:17 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Bethany Village, Uganda

I just want to say that our Creator is AMAZING! Throughout the world, we have discovered so many cool plants. In Thailand, there is a plant that is shy, and when you touch it, it folds up. Then, later on, it will reopen again. In India, there is a plant that if you tear a leaf off and break the stem in half, you can blow bubbles out of it. Also, there is a plant in India that stings you. Here in Uganda, there is a plant that produces a fruit like thing which has glue inside. What an amazing Creator we have!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248786134/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248786134/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248786134/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:12:04 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Bethany Village, Uganda

Today, we had a "Center Day" which they have ever other Saturday. Over 300 of the sponsored children usually attend this event. Throughout the day, they worship God, play games, break up into classes depending on age and have 3 sessions, eat breakfast and lunch, and a speaker shares the word of God. We helped to lead all these events and serve food, and we also joined the children in playing games including their local version of dodge ball which was really fun.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248785972/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248785972/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248785972/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:01:43 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Bethany Village, Uganda

Today, we took a boat across Lake Victoria which is Africa's largest lake and the second widest fresh water lake in the world. We will be spending the next 3 and a half days in Bethany Village where Africa Renewal Ministries' sponsorship program is based. There are 450 children currently sponsored, and 177 of them are either orphans or have been abused by their family. It is actually like an entire village in itself with different homes, a primary school, a church, and a medical clinic; they also hope to have a secondary school soon. Also, Africa Renewal Ministries does not use the word orphanage, but instead, they put the children into homes of 10 to 14 children and 1 mom. This allows the children to be able to say that they grew up in a home. Each home has a name like Favor House, Glory House, Worship House, Joy House, Blessed House, etc. There are currently 11 homes in the village.

Also, Africa Renewal Ministries is dreaming of planting all of the food they need for the village so that they can become self-sufficient. Currently, food is the largest cost of the ministry, and growing their own food would not only help financially but also teaching the children a trade so that they could make a living if they are not able to attend university. We are really excited about the next few days here in Bethany!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248417987/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248417987/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248417987/tpod.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:45:45 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Iganga, Iganga, Uganda

We had an incredible week in Bugono Village, and God moved powerfully! The people are so friendly and generous here. Most of the people do not have much at all, but before we left today, they gave us oranges, lemons, and eggs as gifts. It was also really touching to see them putting their crops in the offering at church as well as money. They live a very simple life here with no electricity and just one water pump for the whole village, but they are so rich in love. The houses are usually made of brick and mud, and the kitchen is usually a small mud hut. This was definitely the most remote place we have been to on outreach. It was such a blessing to live with these people for a week!

Things have pretty much been non-stop since we arrived in Uganda. We usually wake up at about 6:30, and don't eat dinner until about 10 pm. Throughout the week, we prayed at a hospital, built a kitchen (mud hut) for a woman, did a lot of door to door evangelism, and visited 4 schools. We also had Crusades every night where we set up a stage and screen in the trading square of the village and ran electricity off of a generator. We worshiped God which is so fun here in Uganda as everyone dances and shouts and rejoices. At the Crusades, we also did dramas, songs, dances, testimonies, and preached a Gospel message every night. And every night, we had people accept Jesus as their personal Savior, and many people were also healed of sicknesses, diseases, and pain throughout the week. Every night, a Christian movie was also played on the screen, and even after each movie, people gave their lives to Christ. Throughout the entire week, 140 people filled out the "decision card" choosing to accept Jesus as their personal Savior, and many more accepted Jesus at times when we didn't have the cards/pens available or who just didn't do the formality of writing their information down. We just used the cards to help the pastor and the church with follow-up so that these new believers can be discipled, given a Bible, and encouraged to join the local church. Our team is also planning on buying some Bibles so that the church can give them out to the new believers and the believers in the area who do not have a Bible.

On Friday night, we also had an "Overnight" which is all-night prayer and worship, and we held it outside. Actually, the team we are partnering with are part of Ggaba Community Church, and they do an "Overnight" every Friday night at their church. They are powerful in prayer and worship, and it was a joy partnering with them in facilitating this night.

All in all, it was an INCREDIBLE week! Praise God! And it was a joy partnering with the local church in Bugono Village as well as other Ugandan believers from Ggaba Community Church in the city.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248417789/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248417789/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248417789/tpod.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:38:04 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Gaba, Uganda

We arrived last night in Uganda where we are working with Africa Renewal Ministries. This morning, we had orientation in Ggaba which is near Kampala and then quickly left for a village called Bugono in Iganga. We are partnering with a team from Ggaba Community Church, and there are 25 of us in all. We will be sleeping on the floor of Bugono Community Church which is just a brick and mud building with open windows. We will be reaching out to the community in a variety of ways throughout the week.

Upon arrival in the village, we had the most incredible welcome I have ever had in my life. As we drove into the village, the children started screaming and running with the bus all the way to the church. When we arrived at the church, there were many families also screaming and rejoicing that we arrived, and all the women had their hands in the air screaming "Ay ay ay ay ay." I have never had such a warm welcome in my life. Another interesting fact is that here in Uganda, you greet believers by saying "Praise God," and after saying that you can then say "Good morning" or "Good evening" or the usual greetings.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248418611/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248418611/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248418611/tpod.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:57:52 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Ggaba, Uganda

Today, we went to Maranatha Christian School which is a part of the church we are living next to and partnering with. We split up into 2 groups and encouraged the Senior 1 and Senior 2 classes. After that, the pre-school children put on a show for us which was SO cute.

We also ate fried grasshoppers and sugar cane for the first time. And some of us spent the afternoon with a few of the youth from the church.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248418419/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248418419/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/erincastillo/4/1248418419/tpod.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:54:36 -0400 YWAM DTS - Africasia Team Outreach

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Ggaba, Uganda

For the past 2 days, we partnered with Mercy Ministries which is a part of Africa Renewal Ministries. We went into 3 different slums (Kabalagala, Kibuli, and Kawempe) and took bags of vitamins and food including rice, beans, and maze to different families in the slums. We shared the Gospel with the non-believers and encouraged and prayed for the believers. Again, many people accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, and again, we prayed for many people for healing.

I would like to share one specific testimony with you. We spent time in one woman's "house" who said she hadn't accepted Jesus as her personal Savior yet, and we asked her what was holding her back. She told us that she has sold her body in order to get money to support her and her child which she told us was born out of wedlock. She also said she feared that she would fail God again. But we encouraged her and shared Truth with her, and she decided to accept Jesus. I also really felt like God wanted to encourage her that she is a daughter of the King of the Kingdom of Heaven, and He is a God of abundance. She never has to fear lack. He is a good Father and will provide for her and her child and protect them. We also prayed with her and asked God to give her a job and give her ways to get out of the other situation. It was incredible just to meet this woman, comfort her, and encourage her.

We also joined a Life Group (cell group) at the church tonight and then encouraged and empowered the youth.
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