Settling In

The past few weeks here have been exciting! Of course, the most wonderful and exciting thing was that Corinne and I became engaged! It was a blessing that her parents were able to share in the experience while they were here visiting Uganda. We all went to dinner, along with Corinne's roommate Casia, at a restaurant outside of Jinja called the Haven. The Haven is a beautiful location on the banks of the Nile River. I proposed to Corinne there after dinner and she said yes! : ) I am excited about our future life together and the plans God has for us!

At the Haven in front of the Nile

Corinne said yes!

Coaching soccer at Heritage International School has been going well! The boys are showing great improvement, and I have been able to pray with them and speak into their lives, especially in situations where there is conflict on the field that needs to be resolved.

I am now used to living and getting around in the city of Kampala. I have been able to attend some Sunday services at Gaba Community Church, and I hope to become more involved there. I have also adjusted to Engineering Ministries International office life, which has its colorful aspects. One day during lunch, one of the staff kids gave a very informative homemade PowerPoint presentation on the Three Mile Island incident. Another day, part of the office compound flooded as a result of torrential rainfall (and drainage issues)!

Paul testing out the new office wading pool

There are a number of different projects currently being worked on by EMI, including a hospital and a mission station in Burundi. The project trips to these sites returned recently, and it is wonderful to see and hear the reports of how God is using these ministries in the East Africa region.

One of the teams I am on has been able to do surveying and complete preliminary design work for the African Children's Choir Training Centre in Entebbe. The Training Centre building design consists of a main section with a practice stage and common living and dining areas. There are also two dormitory wings on either side that will house up to 40 choir children. The ministry leaders are excited about the design and are currently deciding where best to place the building on the site. There is also construction being completed on a rainwater harvesting system that EMI designed for the existing facilities.

Surveying at the African Children's Choir site

Performing a Percolation test

Rainwater harvesting construction on one of the dorms

As a praise report, interns Samantha, Belinda, and David made a successful border run into Rwanda this last weekend in order to get new visas for Uganda. They now have an additional three months to be able to stay here legally!

Also this last weekend, Corinne and I were able to visit George Byabagambi and see his ministries in Mbarara. George is a Ugandan pastor and bishop who has planted many churches in western Uganda. He is currently starting an orphanage ministry just outside Mbarara as well. You can check out more about George and the work he is doing here!

Please continue to pray along with me for the following:

• Wisdom for Corinne and I as we make plans for marriage
• Amazima/GSF as they work to purchase land for the Secondary School
• The new EMI Long Term Volunteers the Hornes as they settle into their new home here
• The completion of projects and continued sorting out of immigration issues at the office

Blessings!

Joy In Serving

Greetings from Kampala! These last two weeks have been ones of orientation and settling in. The people of Uganda are friendly and relational. Much about the city is very familiar - the sights, sounds, and smells, the power outages, boiling and filtering water, public transportation, mosquitoes, kerosene lanterns, bargaining at the market, and the list goes on. There are also a number of things that are different from Nigeria, the most notable of which so far are the side of the road cars drive on (left), traditional wear being less prevalent, and the apparent indirectness in the interactions of the people.

The first Saturday we were here, the new interns were taken on a Construction Management tour to project sites in Entebbe. At these sites we looked at facilities that Engineering Ministries International worked on for three different ministries: Calvary Chapel Entebbe, Music For Life - African Children's Choir (a project I will be working on), and Cherish Uganda.

Calvary Chapel kids having fun

Confined masonry wall and exposed trusses at Music For Life

Inspecting the forces at work in a gazebo at Cherish Uganda

I have really enjoyed hearing the stories of my fellow interns and growing closer in relationship with them. You can get to know them too and read about their time in Uganda at the following blogs:

Anne Herron - http://anneemiuganda.blogspot.com
Belinda Tam - http://byyt-emiea.blogspot.com
David Stringer - http://davidwithemi.wordpress.com
Daniel Nyongesa - http://danwexzar.wordpress.com
Meggie Meidlinger - http://archafrica.wordpress.com
Paul Smith - http://paulinuganda.wordpress.com
Samantha Forbes - http://anengineerinuganda.blogspot.com
Uriah McCall - http://uriahuganda.blogspot.com

All the spring 2013 interns in front of the office

Last weekend I visited Good Shepherd's Fold orphanage (GSF) near Jinja. I got to spend time with my girlfriend Corinne and meet all the wonderful kids and staff. I am part of the EMI project team working on the planning and design of a GSF/Amazima Ministries secondary school, and it was cool to see the ministry work being done. It was also exciting to see the progress of the toddler house renovation. On Sunday I attended church with the GSF community, and it was a blessing to worship with them.

Good Shepherd's Fold entrance

Light of the World Church at GSF

I also started volunteering this week as an assistant soccer coach at Heritage International School. I am looking forward to coaching and ministering to this group of 11-and-under boys in the coming weeks. Plus it's great to be back on the field again!

Dutifully waiting for positioning instruction

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go back out to Music For Life with an EMI project team. We walked the site and met with the ministry leaders to discuss the planning for a new Choir Training Center. We were able to meet some of the kids as well. The work that MFL is doing and the vision they have for the future is inspiring!

Praise God for the work that He is already doing this semester at EMI East Africa! Please pray for GSF and Amazima as they plan to purchase land for the secondary school in the next few weeks. Also, a volunteer electrical engineer that worked with EMI passed away suddenly yesterday. Please pray for his family during this time of loss. Finally, a group of interns and staff from the office along with volunteers is currently on a project trip in Burundi. Please pray for success in their work and safety in travel.

Thanks, and God bless you!

God's Workmanship

I have made it safely to Kampala, Uganda! My internship with Engineering Ministries International is officially underway.

Orientation in Colorado Springs last week was excellent. One of the most amazing things about it was the way that God so closely brought together a diverse group of interns and long-term volunteers in such a short period of time. It was cool to learn of how God is working in the lives of each of my new friends and fellow interns. As we travel out to various offices and project sites around the world, I have no doubt that God will continue to do an amazing work through each of us.

The orientation sessions were engaging and practical, and the EMI staff that gave them were passionate and willing to invest their time and wisdom to prepare us for ministry. There was introspective reflection and discussion of testimonies, personality traits, and spiritual gifts. There was very interactive practice of various cultural scenarios. There was a technical session on the "tricks of the trade". The worship and prayer were meaningful and empowering. And the accommodation and view at the Hideaway Inn and Conference Center were wonderful!

The view from the Hideaway

All the interns and long-term volunteers

The orientation week ended on Sunday with a service at New Life Church and then a trip to see beautiful rock formations at the Garden of the Gods. On Monday morning, I flew out from Denver along with my fellow EMI East Africa interns - Anne and Samantha. Over the next 30 hours, our travels took us first to Dulles International Airport in DC, then to Brussels, Belgium, then to Kigali, Rwanda, and then to Entebbe, Uganda.

After a bit of a delay and an extra form to fill out, I finally made it through customs in Entebbe late Tuesday night - but with only a 2-week visa instead of a 3-month visa. Praise God I was able to make it through customs, though! And thank you for your prayer for journey mercies in travel.

Corinne was able to meet me at the airport when we arrived! What an incredible, joyous blessing it was to be with her again after 6 months. She came to Entebbe with the EMI East Africa intern director, Phil Greene, to pick everyone up at around 11:30pm. From there we took a taxi bus to our housing in Kampala. Corinne spent the next day with us and was able to meet some of the EMI staff before leaving to go back to Good Shepherd's Fold Orphanage.

Rock formation at the Garden of the Gods 

Samantha, me, and Anne about to board our flight

Reunited with Corinne in Kampala!

These last few days in Kampala have been ones of project, cultural, and geographical orientation. The combination of the travel and adjusting to a different environment have been taxing, but I am excited to be here and I'm excited to serve!

Please pray for the following:

• Quick recovery from jet lag for all of us new interns
• Details to be worked out to obtain a special pass (extension) for my Uganda visa 
• Wisdom for getting into project work and community involvement

Thanks, and God bless you!

Daniel

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Happy New Year

Less than a week to go! Orientation for my internship with Engineering Ministries International will start in 4 days.

My New Year's Eve was spent with friends, and it was a time of fun, fellowship, and prayer. Last week I was busy packing up my apartment and moving things into storage. On the plus side, I am already packed for the internship!

Also, this last Friday I received an update on support raising from EMI. It is currently $8,835 - 93% of the total support needed! I am humbled and blessed by the way God has raised supporters over the last few months, both in prayer and finance. Thank you for your generosity and for being a part of the sending for this work.

Dave and Katelyn Canche have graciously allowed me to stay with them in Longview until I leave. I have been doing a lot of reading this week - both of EMI training materials and the Word. Please continue to pray with me for spiritual preparation for the internship. My flight to Uganda will be on January 21st, after 8 days of orientation in Colorado Springs. I am excited about this opportunity to serve for the Kingdom!

New Year's with friends

Good News of Great Joy

As we finish up this last week before Christmas, I look forward to celebrating the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - as the prophets foretold:

          For to us a child is born,
              to us a son is given,
              and the government will be on his shoulders.
          And he will be called
              Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
              Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
          Of the greatness of his government and peace
              there will be no end.
          He will reign on David’s throne
              and over his kingdom,
          establishing and upholding it
              with justice and righteousness
              from that time on and forever.
          The zeal of the Lord Almighty
              will accomplish this.

          Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

I also look forward to sharing this message of hope through my semester of service with Engineering Ministries International. The internship is now 3.5 weeks away! By God's grace I was able to finish up finals and the semester well last week. Now I am in full preparation for the upcoming trip to Uganda.

Please pray along with me for the following requests:

          1. Wisdom in setting things in order and packing for orientation and the internship
          2. Spiritual preparation for ministering to those with whom I will be building relationships
          3. Provision for the remaining financial support to be raised

Thank you for your continued support through prayer and giving! There is still, however, much funding that needs to be raised for the internship. I will update support raising progress using the thermometer on the right side of this page. If you feel led to make a donation, please do so online at https://emisecure.org/donate.html.

Have a blessed and merry Christmas!

Ever Thankful

Hello all! I hope that last weekend was one of reflection and gratitude for everything God has provided and of remembrance that we can (and should) give thanks every day.

Time is quickly approaching! The start of my internship with EMI is about six weeks away. I now know the ministry project I will be working on while in Uganda. Good Shepherd's Fold Orphanage - where my girlfriend Corinne Stoltzfus is serving - is planning to build a secondary school near Jinja, Uganda in partnership with Amazima Ministries. They have asked EMI to complete the Master Planning and Building Design for this school. For more information on each of these ministries, please visit their websites at the following links:

You can also check out Corinne's blog by following the "Corinne in Uganda" link on the right.

Thank you for your prayer and support! I have started receiving financial contributions, and I will keep you updated on support raising progress. If you would like to make a donation, the easiest way to do so is online at https://emisecure.org/donate.html. My EMI intern account number is 2997.

Please continue to pray along with me and all the other interns as we continue preparing to serve. God bless you!

Designing a World of Hope

Greetings, from Tyler, Texas! I am excited to share with you what God is doing in my life. In the pursuit of the Lord’s call for me to use my passions, skills, and education to minister to those in need, God has opened up a wonderful opportunity for me to serve with Engineering Ministries International (EMI).

EMI is an organization whose vision is to design a world of hope for the physically and spiritually poor while proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. The staff is comprised of professional architects and engineers from around the world who volunteer their services to overseas ministries. Examples of projects include churches, hospitals, orphanages, schools, and wastewater treatment. EMI’s head office is in Colorado Springs, CO, and it also operates overseas offices in Canada, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Uganda, and India.

UGANDA

I will be volunteering as an engineering intern at the Kampala, Uganda office from January until July 2013. During this time, I will complete a project trip to initiate the design of a needed ministry facility in the region. I will then return to Kampala to help complete the design for the project.

I would like for you to be involved in sending for this ministry work. The most important thing that I need is your support though the power of prayer! At this time, please pray for spiritual preparation for myself and for the other interns that will be serving in ministry at EMI.

The total expenses for the internship will be approximately $9500, which I will need to raise in support by December 20^th, 2012. If you feel led to make a financial contribution (tax deductible) to this opportunity, donations can be made online at https://emisecure.org/donate.html.

Thank you for considering being part of my team in what God has called me to! If you have any questions or are interested in receiving prayer updates via email, feel free to email me at the address listed on my complete profile. For more information on EMI, please visit the website at www.emiworld.org. Take care, and God bless you!