August Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

First, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been praying for the safe travel of this choir to Europe. We are here and did not lose one piece of luggage. The transition has been smooth and the children are slowly beginning to understand the dialect of the British people. Also this is an exciting time for the choir; we are in the process of bringing two more choirs to America. Lastly, school in Africa is going well and the children

from my last choir were able to see some of the previous aunties and receive a letter from me.

We are having so much fun in Europe and getting to learn about many things I never would have thought of before. Our first few nights in Scotland, we stayed close to the Highlands in Pitlochry. What a beautiful way to start in a new country. We rested there and enjoyed walking around the town and playing football. There, we also

met up with Auntie Rachel from Northern Ireland and Auntie Sharye, who has been working in the UK for a few weeks without us. It was so nice to reconnect and meet a new team mate. After Pitlochry, we started our tour, first with a performance for Annie Lennox at the Scottish Parliament and then three full concerts that weekend. It’s nice to start out with a busy schedule. After that weekend anything seems possible. This past week in Scotland has been a dream come true and now we have moved to England. At the border we saw the most wonderful sight of both Scotland and England. Creation is just magnificent and I can see God in everything.

So that is what has been happening on the other side of the world, now back at home. In America, choir 35 has been performing in Alaska and enjoying the beautiful Alaskan summer. The choir has not been to Alaska for a while, so it is nice to be able to share a little with them.

Also this month, choir 36 and 37 are preparing to come on the road. The Ugandans have already left for America and the Kenyans from both of these choirs should be arriving within the next week. Please pray for continued safety in traveling and strength for these choirs to create a sense of family which is so important for these children.

The past choir children are also benefiting this month. The African Children’s Choir Primary School in Entebbe has been blessed to receive 14 shelves of books from Libraries of Love and the organization is already planning on sending more. What a treat this donation has been. The first library at the school was only half a book self and now the children have so much more. The choirs on the road are also working to build this library. With every choir that goes home, they too bring books that were donated while on the road. Reading is such an important part of learning and it is amazing to see the children in Africa excited about God’s blessing.

Thanks to everyone who has been helping in my mission to impact the children in Africa. I pray every day they will not forget the impact they have in spreading God’s Gospel and making a better Africa through their own education. Please see more pictures on my facebook. With your help we can make a difference one child at a time.

With love and much thanks,

“Auntie Jamie”

Safe in the UK

We have made it safely to the UK. Amazingly, with 70 bags only 5 went missing, and we were able to receive them that same day. God is good!! I can't begin to explain how beautiful this place is. God's hand is clearly in everything.

I am also loving the time the team has been spending in devotions together. We did a lesson on prayer today, and several points really struck me. Our Tour Leader read a passage from the Screwtape letters about Demons hating when Christians pray. However, Screwtape said if demons can get us to be lazy and make us feel like our prayers have been heard, they will win. How often do we go about life not really convinced God is answering our prayers? How often do we feel that God knows all, so why should we tell him anything else? But just like the only way to truly know these children is by talking to them, the only way to know God is by doing the same. I learned two very important lessons about my job and God. First, if I want to be a good Auntie to these children, I must sit down and really talk to them. I have to ask them questions and find their pain and happiness. That is my favorite part of this ministry, knowing the children like no one else. My second lesson is to know God as deeply as the children and then some. I will say that is going to be harder, but it is truly worth everything I have. Without God, this team would fall apart, these children would still be hungry and people would go without knowing the true love of a father.

African Children's Choir Music and Arts Camp

This last week the choir was involved in the Kings Park International Church's Music and Arts Camp. The children had a blast and were able to create a long drum from plastic cups and teach American children all about Africa. The American children learned three classic ACC songs: O'Sifuni Mungu, You are the Shepard and the Can Dance. If you have never seen the Can Dance it can be found on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12j3eO5Z3fE&feature=related. It's pretty exciting and energetic. At the end of the week, all of the children involved in the camp were able to put on a show for their friends and families. Registration for next years camp is underway and camp should be even better than this year.