More House

Just a little over a month to go....  The house will have the basic structure up very soon, the walls are quick!!  I have just found that we will need solar power, an added expense I was not figuring into my budget.  Alex tells me that the regular electricity will be very expensive as the house is a bit outside the bulk of town, they would charge us for the power poles to get out to our house.  He tells me solar panels are $580 each and we need at least 2 of them.  If anyone feels led to help us out with this part of the project it would be a huge deal!

It's happening!!  This is for real!!  I can't even get my mind around this.  If you've ever been to another country, you might know that it is a different world, so much so that it seems unreal from here.  I am in a weird emotional state about this trip.  I can't quite think it's actually real.  I am looking forward to so many things about this visit.  I will get to see old friend I haven't seen in 6 yrs, meet my newest nephew, see again the other one...  Hanging out in the country I love for almost 3 months!!  I know God has great things planned for me, so I'm just leaving myself open to whatever He has in mind.  All is well.  Uganda, here I come!!

So it Begins

Construction has begun on the house!!  I have wired Alex the majority of the money for the house so they could get started.  The rainy season is coming and can make building difficult, so we're trying to get the house up before then.  Well, that and I don't want to have to live without a bathroom for too long.  ;)

Very different process, so I'm fascinated to see how this goes.  Hopefully Alex will be able to upload more pictures as we go so I can see.  I will share as I am able.  

Pretty good sized footprint it looks like.  Gonna be awesome!!  I will bring another $2K with me when I go to finish out the process.  Alex and I will be painting the house ourselves to save on labor costs.  It's gonna be fun!

Please pray for me as I come to mind.  This is a pretty big thing I'm doing (in my mind) Pray for my safety and provision and that God will make my path clear as I seek out connections in the village.  I will be stepping outside my comfort zone in a major way, so pray for courage.  :)  Thanks friends!

And another new picture of another day....

Update March 30

I just passed the '50 days to go' mark.  :)  If you've ever been out of country you might now the unreal feeling I have at this point.  Such a different place to be, it's difficult to even fathom.

I have sent an initial chunk of money to Alex already and building has begun on the house.  Yay!!  I wanted to get it started now to avoid too much "white tax" and so I didn't have to live too long without a bathroom.  lol - Also Alex told me it was best to get it done before the rainy season.  So far his internet has not been good enough to send me pictures, but as I receive them I will post.

I am excited about the possibilities of this trip.  I've realized with short term mission trips we often get more out of it than the people we went to see in terms of inner growth.  On my 3 previous trips I was with a group and was able to stay quiet and let the others do most of the talking to people.  I won't have that chance this time, so even though it will be a challenge, I am glad to be pushed out of my comfort zone so far.  I have been pursuing training all these years, time to get off the bench!!  Put me in coach!  I'm ready to play.  :)

I don't have a big plan of scheduled events.  I know that I will be able to go with Violet to the adult English classes she teaches and learn some Luganda, so I'm looking forward to that.  I hope I can spend some time with the kids at the school too, kids are always the best part right?  ;)  Other than that I want to meet people in the area and get a clearer picture of the needs in this village.  When I return full time I want to have a strategy for how I can best serve the people around me.  This time I won't have the resources to do much, but next time I hope I will.

This time will allow me to build a stronger bond with Alex and Violet and their two boys and brainstorm together with Jesus to discover what our future holds.  I have a huge vision in my head, but getting it down into a workable form will be helpful.  Some things require building time, so we will figure out how best to build what God has been showing me over the years.  I will probably give a more precise vision update when I get back.

I do not want to go build a ministry that depends on me.  That is pointless.  I want to do what I can to use the gifts God has given me to equip and train those around me, wherever I may be.  My goal here is to share whatever I have to share to help the people.  I hope to find good solid people that will join me in this mission.  I think about that old saying about "give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day, teach him to fish, he'll eat for life."  That is pretty much what I am thinking.  I want to use my gifts to set something in motion that will continue on far past my time.  I will be in search of people that will be disciplers and prayers and worshipers and adoptive parents, and business people...  I want to help them help each other.  It's not about pouring money in so much as helping them see what they already have and utilize it.  As my current church says... "Find a need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it."  Everyone is capable of doing that.  :)

Overall I am excited to be back in the country I love.  I do not look forward to the long day of travel, but at least I'll have 3 months in between instead of the 2 week normal.  I have a 27 hr day on the way there and 33 hrs on the way back.  eek!

I would like to ask for prayers to cover this trip.  I wrestle to stay out of the fear zone as I head out alone.  I do feel very safe in the village and Alex and Violet are amazing guides, but there is risk always in a foreign land.  3 months is a long time.  I know that it will be so hard to come back too.  I would love to have people willing to pray for me any time I come to your mind.

Also when I return I will need to find a job ASAP as I am spending everything I have for this trip.  I am trusting God for finances all around.  For this trip and after.  I haven't worked since Christmas so add a new job to returning culture shock and jet lag....  ug.

If you have any questions, I'd love to share any answers I have.  PM me on Facebook is probably the easiest way to reach me.

Thank you to all who have shown support and interest in my mission.  I am so grateful for those who have believed in me and sown financially into this trip as well.

Alex has sent me a bunch of pictures of the land we will be building on.  He and his friends are working hard to clear land right now to be ready to build starting in April.  I am sending money ahead to get the house started so it will be done before the rainy season hits.

 Violet

Wish List

As I am preparing to head out, I have received some requests to bring things with me.  I thought I'd post here in hopes that someone may be able to help out.  I guess this is easiest for locals, but maybe if you are Amazon shoppers you could have them shipped to me.  But if you have things laying around the house and are willing to donate, I'd appreciate it and my Ugandan family would be so grateful.  If anyone has a Costco / Sam's membership maybe for the spices in larger size?

• The Circle Maker (paperback)
• Garlic Salt
• Taco Seasoning
• Johnny's Seasoning
• a frying pan
• a lightweight working laptop
• books by Kris Vallotton
• iPad for Alex

If you would like to help with the personal items I need on this journey, here are some things I want to take with me.

• Baby wipes - 
• essential oils for mosquito/malaria protection (Lemon Thyme Eucalyptus globulus and Thieves spray)
• frisbee or other light fun items to play with the kids.
• Vitamin C 
• Mosquito Net 
• Sunscreen 

I will update this as I think of things and receive things.  I have to limit my packing, so think light!  Thank you for all who join me in fulfilling my calling!!

The Details

So, I just purchased my ticket to head out May 17 - Aug 3!!!  That is just over 2 months away and I'm super excited!  If anyone has ever been overseas, you might understand how I'm feeling.  Uganda is a different world.  When I was there, the US felt like a weird hazy dream, and once I returned here, Uganda felt like a weird hazy dream.  The reality of each is so different, it can be difficult to make the mental transition.  So I bought a ticket, but the reality is still not catching up.  Very strange feeling.

I've been looking at the numbers, trying to determine how much money this will take, and to give you, my friends, an idea of what is needed.  I would very much appreciate any help I can get as I head out to lay the foundations of my future.  I am willing to give everything, but I also want to give you the opportunity to sow into what God is doing.  We are a body, and we each have a part to play.  Will you ask God if He would have you partner with me?

Plane ticket ................................$1635 (paid)
House ..........................................7000
Ugandan Visa ................................100
3 months of bills here ..............,, 1500 (I am keeping my room so still have rent)
Travel shots ..................................253 (paid)
Travel Medical Ins. .....................130
Misc. expenses while abroad ......   ???

As you can see, I'm already just over $10,000 for this.  I want to have a good cushion for the unexpected and for whatever I will need for the 3 months I'm there.  I will probably need to buy water unless I can figure out a good travel filter to take with me.  The construction of the house could have additional costs, especially once they see the color of my skin.  I won't have to pay for lodging, as I will stay with Alex and Violet, but I'm sure there will be other costs along the way. I will update this as I figure out what they may be.

If you would like to donate, here are the options for now.

• checks can be mailed to:  Jessie Osborne, 652 Almond St. , Yuba City, CA 95991
• Facebook - there is an option in the chat window to send money directly to my account 
• Paypal - UgandanMzungu@yahoo.com
• Venmo - I'm currently having trouble accessing this, so hold off on this option for now.  

If you'd like to pray:

• Safety and smooth travels
• Health - malaria is a risk 
• Divine connections - I hope to meet some good local people who will join my team.  
• Wisdom - To see what I need to see and go where God wants me to go.  Dreaming sessions with my local family about what we want to see happen down the road.  General good sense while out and about in a strange world. 
• Courage - As the only mzungu, I will be given opportunities to speak and pray for people most likely, and that can be scary for me.  This trip will stretch me in every way.  :)
• Favor - that I won't get hit too hard with the "white tax"
• Provision - finances to do everything and not be completely broke when I return.  A job quickly when I get back.

  

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers.  :)

Uganda 2016

Time for another update!  It's been 3 years 3 months since I last set foot in my beloved Uganda.  As of 2/15/16, I have been seriously looking into going back this year for a 3 month trip to build the home that I would live in when I finally get to go back for good.  I've been chatting with my mentors and trusted friends and with Alex to get some idea of what that might look like on the ground.  He already has a plan in place, he just needs the money.  The timing seems right to head over in May or June.  Lots of details to be worked out, but for now, this is the basic plan.  :)  I'm super excited!

This visit would take every cent I possess, so it's a pretty big deal.  I would be cashing out my 401K retirement fund since I quit my long time job (and paying the tax penalty for early withdrawal).  The money was already intended to build a house, so that isn't changing, I just see the stocks going down and down and I want to do this before the money disappears altogether.   As of right now I think I have just enough for the travel, the building, and my bills back home for the time I'd be gone.  Of course this means I'd be broke by the time I got home.  I would not have a job to return to this time, so all around this is quite a big exercise in trusting God.  To go will be a huge risk, but God has been leading me in risk lately quite often and He has never let me down.

The house I build is not just for me, it will be occupied by my Ugandan brother Alex and his wife Violet and their two young boys.  Alex is the town soccer coach and youth pastor.  He is an amazing man of God with a great gift for reaching young people.  I have known Alex and Violet since my 2010 trip when I was there for 6 weeks.  Alex's ministry is a big deal for the local youth.  His coaching talents help them grow their skills so much that they often get scholarships to the bigger and better schools.  Education is such a huge deal for these village kids.

 The Kalemas in 2010 (my last visit)

While I am there it will be much easier to lay the groundwork for my future life in Uganda.  I will be able to pick the brains of my friends and start strategizing for my ministry.  I will have time to start building relationships in the village of Masulita and getting a good idea of where the needs are greatest.  My hope is to find creative ways to meet the practical needs of the people, I'm trusting God for strategies to break the cycle of poverty and bring hope where it has gone missing.  I want to find ways to make life easier so that parents can have the time to focus on their kids more.  This visit would allow me the time to get to know some people and really get an idea of what I'll need for next time.  I also hope to find trustworthy people who will join me in my endeavor and be those I can entrust my ministry to when my time is up.  I want to build something that the locals will carry on and change their world without me.  Being a mzungu, I will most likely have many opportunities to speak to the church and to the schools, I would love to spend time with the kids, help them with their English lessons...  and I will in turn work on my Luganda lessons. :)  I believe this will be a time of incredible personal growth, preparing me for the work God has called me to.  I have been working toward this goal since 2007 and am eager to get over there again.

I left my heart in Uganda, and I'm really getting excited about the prospect of returning to this beautiful land in the near future.  If you would consider teaming with me in prayer and if possible, with finances, I would appreciate it greatly.  I do have a chunk to work with at the moment, but as I said, it will drain me completely.  I'm told the house is about $7,000 for a 3 bedroom house with a western kitchen and bath.  I do not know yet what my living expenses will be while there.  I will need to buy water for sure, I'll stay with Alex and eat with the family.  Travel plus bills at home will be around $3500.   I would like to have a cushion for the unexpected as well.  It is very difficult to be surrounded by need and to be unable to help.  Leading up to the trip I will need to spend on a new passport (already in process) and my travel shots, as well as supplies to take with me.   I'm still working on those figures, but that is my initial estimate.  After I return I will need a job ASAP, so a little extra cushion to tide me over would be great too.  I had initially planned on looking for a job in March while I still had some money leftover, but now my plans are changing and I'll need a longer timeline.  I will be looking into some temporary job options soon.

I would appreciate your prayers at this time for wisdom and clarity to get all the details worked out.  I would also ask if you'd please consider supporting me financially.

Ways to donate:
1) Facebook - in the chat window there is a $ to send money (username BaseballGrrl or Jessi Dawn )
2) Venmo - send money from your phone (search Jessie Osborne or UgandanMzungu@yahoo.com )
  --the methods above go directly to my bank account (with no fee) which would be helpful while I'm gone to replenish, and for those who wish to donate while I'm gone too.  :)
3) Paypal - UgandanMzungu@yahoo.com (Jessie Osborne)

3) Cash or check (message me for address)
4) For locals, I can collect your CRV bottles and cans and take them for recycling
5) I'm willing to work odd jobs as I am able. (Temporary employment would be great too.)

Thank you to all those who have already been supporting my dream financially and thank you to all who will consider me in the future.  I covet your prayers at this time as I make this big decision.  Thank you!!
Feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.  :)

 I miss this food!