The team arrived safely in Entebbe and have since arrived in London, and are at the Holiday Inn. Upon arrival in London, those lost e-mails from when the Blackberry went down, suddenly appeared on my e-mail so here they are. Enjoy!!!

MOSAIC DAY:
What a day! So many kids with such joyous hearts & smiling faces. These kids
remember your name & details about your life even if you're not their sponsor.
They have begun to believe that we really do love them, caregivers believe in
the healing power and comfort of God when we pray for them. I saw the newly
sponsored children beaming at the message of love brought to them. Really, you
cannot believe it until you see it. John bogdan was sitting on stage when a tiny
boy came up. The girls tried to get him but he needed a dad and went straight to
John who cradled him closely & began to stroke his head. The child immediately
fell asleep, so safe & secure. A touch, a smile, a prayer is all that's needed
to lift a heart. Many sang & performed as did we for them but SO badly! Godfrey,
janet, ezra & family, rachel, joan brian, sheila, mercy, loyce,daniel, evas,
innocent and on & on. Mosaic grows like a beautifully tended garden...slowly but
in God"s timing with flowers blooming everywhere . Sunday trudie preaches at the
cathedral, jennifer on radio, Freeman & john partner in recovery event. There's
a huge sign in downtown heralding the big event :) prayer mountain in afternoon
then farewll dinner w/bishop. Will be good to see him. Team whethered storm well
(for most part) and is better for it. Tired and won't mind getting to a shower
or bath or running water. Gideon sends love & has been a blessing.thank you for
praying for us. Love to all, keri

SUNDAY: Amazing full house for a VERY successful recovery event! John B knocked it out
of park with his testimony. Trudie preached @ cathedral & j. Schro on radio this
am. Tearful and touching farewell dinner. On the road early in am. Will write
again later. Love you all but hate to leave BUT many do need a shower :)

Hello all,

The teams e-mail access is down and I have only received two, one sentence texts. All is well there and Mosaic Day went fine, it appears. The team attended church today and will wake VERY early on Monday to make their way back to Entebbe. On the way, they will stop and shop at the Equator and will then go straight to the airport. After a lay-over in London, they will be on their way home, hopefully CHANGED by what and who they encountered in Uganda.

Pray for traveling mercies, continued health for the team and continued focus on our Lord and his will for the team and his heart for the people, children and leaders of Uganda, the saved and lost alike. Pray that the team has changed hearts and that they will continue to remember what they saw and felt there. Pray that they will continue His work, even as they return to their lives here.

If I hear form them again, I will post again, if not, I will ask Keri to post a final one on her return.

Thanks for following and for your prayers!!

TODAY's e-mail from Keri:

Leaving this morning for the Mosaic Vision building project. John Bogdan will be leading the build team. After lunch, half of the team will split off and will go to the Kinyansano Girls School at the invitation of headmistress Jolly. Stef, Stephanie, J. Moreland, Freeman & I spent this morning in devotion in the word. J. Moreland & Stephanie designing Mosaic Day. Trudie staying back, still ill. Tea last night with Vasta.

As the team moves into the weekend, they will spend the day building at one of the Mosaic orphan's homes. It is likely that they will be building a latrine which will help a lot with sanitation.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is Mosaic Vision Children's Day. This is a very special time when the travelers will get to have FUN FUN FUN with the children. All of the orphans will be transported from their homes in the villages and the surrounding areas and will come to enjoy a day of soccer, games, talking, relaxing and just 'being'. It is great to watch them be relieved of their struggles, if only for a short time, so that they can be children again. No worries about what they will eat that day, who may come to prey on them, how they will find time to study, how they will stay healthy. It will be all about JOY.

They will also enjoy an awesome meal!! I remember my first time in Uganda at this event. There was a sweet, but shy and withdrawn 3 year old named Flora. At mealtime, she stood in line and FILLED her plate. When I say FILLED, I mean heaping!! Every centimeter of the plate was covered, to every edge and was strategically piled as high as she could get it without dropping it or losing some of the food. I thought to myself that there was NO WAY she could eat all of that food and if she did, I worried that she would become ill. Well, she ate every bit of it and proceeded outside to play and run and have fun, without incident. Her eyes were definately NOT bigger than her stomach. It was great to watch her be a princess for a day, sitting on His throne.

Pray for the team, that they may prepare a fun day of games and that the orphans can feel the JOY that the Lord wishes for them. Pray for the team that is building, that they make progress and complete the project put before them. Pray for the team going out to the school, that they can begin building a relationship with the girls and the headmaster, that will be a long a fruitful one.

Pray that the travelers are resting and that they remain knit together, as one in His service. Pray for Trudie's healing because God knows we need her powerful prayers over this team and the children of Uganda. Pray for more people's hearts to be moved towards sponsorship of children. Pray that these sweet babies will feel the Lord's light on them today and always.

Thanks for your prayers and for your time in reading about the team. They so value knowing that we are all following them and praying over their time in Uganda.

Kelly Boaitey

SAD FACTS:

-Currently, 550 in every 10,000 women in the Rukingiri area die during childbirth. Many of causes (bleeding, breach births and infections) could be EASILY prevented with a hospital in the area.

-HIV infection rate in Rukingiri area is 31%, despite the rate in Kampala nearing 7%. Many of these cases could be prevented should there be a medical facility that can administer medications during childbirth that would prevent mother to infant transmission.

-Almost 1 in 7 children under the age of 18, in Rukingiri, is an orphan and one in 7 children do not live to see their FIFTH birthday.

How can this be you ask? It is the reality of many in Rukingiri, an area that has been hit HARD by the AIDS epidemic as well as lack of healthcare that could prevent many, if not most deaths by preventable illness.

The good news is that a hospital IS BEING BUILT in Rukingiri. The Crossing began a partnership in 2007 with the local church and the hospital is almost complete. Please see the e-mails below, received overnight from the team in Rukingiri that describe their recent visit to a medical facility in the area as well as the Rugarama facility that we are partnering to build. The Kisizi hospital is outside of Runkingiri and is serving as a model for the Rugarama Hospital in Rukingiri.

FROM THE TEAM-Headed to Kisizi Hospital to see the 'model' for Rugarama. God brought us an unsponsored Mosaic child with severe affliction of nerves & muscles that we now carry in the van with us to Kisizi Hospital for treatment. Isn't God's plan so perfect? Her name is Vanessa. She was left on a doorstep as an infant. She has flourished in spite of her circumstances and we are praying for a full healing of her right side. Sometimes she faints from the pain and temporarily loses control of her face and mouth when she comes to. She is 12 yrs old and very articulate.

TEXT #2-Leaving Kisizi Medical Center, model for Rugarama. Incredible place! Think UCLA in the middle of Ugandan nowhere. 2 hrs of almost impassable dirt roads into the hills to find a city of medical care. Acres of bldgs., expensive equip., dental, vision, mental health, many operating theaters. You can't believe it. Founded in 1958 by John Sharp, dr. & missionary. People from rukungiri have to somehow get here for their serious care. If people in US could see this, then Rugarama would be FULLY FUNDED. I never realized the full significance of what we are doing as a church. HOW WILL WE TELL IT?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. If you are interested in joining the effort to open the Rugarama Hospital which will bring medical care to area in desperate need, please feel free to contact me, Kelly Boaitey at kboaitey@ca.rr.com.

Please pray for the final funds needed for the hospital opening. Please continue to pray for the team, for Trudie's healing (she is a bit under the weather) and for the Youth Conference which will continue through Sunday. Pray that God continues to throw open doors and that we will be BOLD enought to walk through them as servants of the King. Pray that the team will continue to answer his calls on this trip. Pray for the orphans---not just those that are being cared for by an organization, but mostly, for those, like Vanessa, who have not yet been taken up. May they feel His holy presence and see that our Lord is working furiously to reach them, through this church, the teams that go and the people who continue to work on their behalf, even when they return home.

So blessed we are to be part of this work!!!

Yesterday we went into the day not knowing what was happening or going on at
all. My group had 2 locations to hit. 1st was a primary school with the most
precious kids and we had a great time sharing and singing and approx. 40 kids
accepted Christ. Our next location really made me see the true meaning of
'africa time'. We waited for about 2 hrs to eat lunch (mind you it was about
2:00 by now) and lunch was goat. I learned today that goat and I don't do well
together. Once the secondary school conference started, I realized these
highschoolers were going to be a tough crowd. And yes, they were. But we pushed
thru and even though we don't know many accepted Christ, I think we reached a
handful. There were about 1200 that were at the conference combined for the
first group. The 2nd group however, had an amazing time and there were about 950
at their conference. Today both groups had a phenominal day! My group was in
front of a crowd of about 850 and about 300 accepted or recommitted to Christ. I
LOVE the singing and dancing the kids do! At every conference they do
'presentations' for us which is a couple songs and dances and it makes me squeal
they are sooo cute performing! Our other group was in front of a crowd of 840
and about 95% of them were saved today!! Between Lauren and I, we may come back
with all the little kids that uganda has to offer. We have 3 more days of it and
were headed home so keep us in your thoughts and prayers!
Love u lots and miss u!
Emily Celek

This e-mail came late last night from Stephanie Gonzalez, a first time traveler with the Crossing's team to Uganda (second time traveler to Uganda). Stephanie is an impressive young woman with a heart for Uganda and for improving education there. She is working with Patrick Devusser to grow relationships with local schools in Rukingiri. Hear her heart after her experience there-----God is opening ALL kinds of doors there!!!:

Hi Kelly,

We all miss you and wish you could be here with us! We met Janet today, she is
the most incredible little girl I have ever met...10 years old and HIV positive
and yet can not take a smile off of her face! All thanks to you & God providing
her with hope and showering her with love!

The remainder of my email talks about my meeting with a school teacher here who
wants to connect her students with students in America, can you post this email
on the blog or forward to those on the email list?

Tonight around dinner time I met with a woman named Jolly who is a school
teacher here in Rukingiri, Uganda. She teaches students between the ages of
13-18 at an all girls Christian school. After coming to spend a month in
Conneticut(to aid her dear friend who flew there to recieve prosthetic hands
after losing both of them when a crazed man tried to murder her along with her
husband) and a day in New York she realized that everything she and her students
knew about our culture was misunderstood. After that trip God put it on her
heart to raise a body of students who were more informed and accustomed to other
cultures.
After my last trip to Uganda in 2007 God placed the same vision on my heart
and so together Jolly and I are in the process of devising a plan to put GOD's
plan for the students here in Uganda and in California into action. Originally,
she wanted to have the students communicate via snail mail but after some
talking we both decided that it is not the most reliable method. However, she
really wants her students to practice their hand writing so we are considering
scanning(she has one) some of the letters her students write until they are
comfortable enough to start typing. Jolly does have reliable internet connection
in her classroom, so this method of communication could work. I will also be
putting her in contact with Patrick Devusser, who is currently a teacher for the
NMUSD to see what other ideas he may have or what teachers he may know that
would be interested in CONNECTING their classroom with a classroom here in
Uganda! Furthermore, Jolly has started a book club at her school to encourage
the girls to read but because so many of the students are so eager to learn they
do not have a variety of books nor are they able to obtain enough copies of the
same book for the girls. So if any of you know someone that could help her and
her students please contact me.

I also ask that you pray that God places the same vision he has given me,
Patrick and Jolly on the hearts of teachers in California because with out their
cooperation this may not work.

God Bless & thank you to everyone who has supported our team in Uganda,

Stephanie Gonzalez
Stephgonzalez4@gmail.com

Awoke to a beautiful day looking forward to devotion at diocese. Martin led us
and J Bogdan gave beautiful message on spiritual warfare and the power of
obedience. Miss the Bishop but had good time w/ laughter and joy. Every year I
watch this relationship grow...like a child; taller, wider, more confident. We
must not doubt the strength of what God grows here. Out to the field again.
Sadness at Sheila & Mercy's as Mercy has fallen prey to a man who has used her
BUT that sin has brought her young uncle back home to look after the women which
is a blessing. Prayed against the sin of lust and shame, for the salvation of
the young perpatrator & for the strength of the young uncle. For the restoration
of Mercy. Janet is beautiful & healthy & loves mother kelly :) Martin & I never
stop talking and he has grown to a fine man. You can tell Gideon has missed us.
Much rain, mud & sliding today but we find a way to follow God's steps. Tomorrow
we go to hospital and will have Emily give Youth conf. Report tonight. Love to
all who make this happen. Please know it would not without you and all here know
and pray for you :). Love keri

Friends and Family of the Uganda Traveler Team,

It is funny to me that there are guidelines for communication and electronics use for our teams that travel to Uganda. My understanding has always been that it is to help people focus on God's work, his whispers and what he wishes for us to see there, without all of our worldy distractions.

That is the PRIMARY reason but now I have a new reason------because 9 times out of 10, the communication just ain't gonna get here!!

So sorry for the long silence but I have been waiting for communication directly from the team. Keri got a new Blackberry loaded with everything needed to communicate with us so that we could pass along info. The info I have sent out so far was coming directly from our partner's staff at Mosaic Vision Ministries, who are coordinating the team's itinerary. Yesterday, after growing weary of waiting, I asked that they ask Keri if her phone was working. Well, lo and behold, she was e-mailing me but nothing was making it all the way here.

Long story short, after changing the battery on her phone, I received the following two e-mails in the last 12 or so hours.


DAY ONE: We say goodbye to compassion kids this am & many mosaic kids that stayed over.
Crazy night with amazing performances by kids led by ezra & damari. There is
deep bonding between sponsors & kids now after years of visits and even new
sponsorships. Trudies kids clung to her like life itself and Emily was beautiful
w/Rose :) (received 9:23 PM Monday)

TRANSLATION AND EMBELLISHMENT BY ME: Everything is going as scheduled. They also visited the Child Survival Program on Monday AM and Keri texted that it was a powerful visit. Mothers and children being cared for and are grateful to know that our church is so committed to them. In the afternoon, Keri refers to the sponsored children visits. This was the time that people were able to visit their sponsored children, either from Compassion International or Mosaic Vision. This is always an amazing time, a time when sponsors have the opportunity to look into the eyes of a child that they have been writing and praying for for months, may even multiple years----SO AMAZING.

Day 2: What a day. Haven't debriefed with other team yet but our pod was stuck in
thunderstorm on a mountainside in little house, no lights, lightening flashing &
a room full of orphans dancing & singing for us. Like a movie. We offered a
couple of weak songs but sung with heart :) we slogged back to van through
plantation in mud, me in my 99 cent thongs (forgot my shoes this am) then
crawled down mtn. One rock at a time to get back before dark. Spielberg version
out soon :) Deeply impacted by Mosaic today. Many tears & prayers. Went to
Shallon's house where we helped build latrine I think. Remember bad blonde cow?
She was no where to be seen. We are tired, thankful & some of us broken. (Received 8:43 AM, Tuesday)


TRANSLATION: Today was a hard day for the team as they were out in the field visiting some of the homes where many of the Mosaic Vision orphans live, alone as most have lost their parents and families. Child visits are always rough as the scenes that are encountered are difficult. Broken is a perfect description of how God brings many to their knees when coming face to face with His children, feeling the pain and sorrow he feels daily for 'the least' of His.

Tomorrow is a second day of field visits for part of the team. Please pray for their continued protection in the field, for the drivers and the staff that cares for our team while there. Pray that both the team and the children will encounter the Love and presence of our Father during these visits.

For the other part of the team, it will be the beginning of the Youth Conference. Pray for travelling mercies as they go out to their sites. Pray that their words would touch hearts and that they can truly reflect His light.

More to come as I hear from Keri or other team members. Rest assured I am sending as I receive.

Pray and continue to know that the team is well and is wrapped in His cloak of protection!

Kelly Boaitey