Hello Houston...

As you can see from the suitcase picture Mary Kate posted, they are packed up and on their way to Houston this afternoon. She phoned before, on the bus, and they expect to fly out tonight to Dubai (one of the stops on the way to Uganda).

Last night was an exciting time at their Commissioning Service. We, here at home, were able to watch the end of it "streaming LIVE" on our computer. (I think the service was like 2 hours long). We just caught the flag recessional which was very nice. Each flag of the country GE is headed for today was represented, and the kids followed "their flag" out, and had a great time of prayer for the country they will be going to. Mary Kate said it was really AWESOME!! and knows God is going to work in Uganda! Some of the teams were on their way to the airport or on buses right after the service. Mary Kate was at least able to get a good night sleep and leave this a.m. It's definitely a "missionary bus" trip to Houston, but at least it has air-conditioning. I don't think Texas is her favorite place, but it was an important stop and the training was so valuable.

Of course she is excited to get to Dubai since she's never been that far east. With the time change and the long flight, they will stay the rest of the night at a hotel in Dubai and fly out Friday a.m. to Kampala, Uganda.

Dubai is in United Arab Emirates and sits on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. It is home to some of the tallest freestanding buildings in the entire world. AND, they have a cool, I mean REALLY COOL, area called Palm Island and The World. If you click on http://www.theworld.ae/ or http://www.thepalm.ae/ you will see something you won't believe. The country has literally put man-made islands in the water in the shape of a palm tree and of the world map. These islands are privately owned communities (BIG, BIG $$) but what else is an oil-baron to do with his billions? (Sorry, just a little tourist note on Dubai) I hope Mary Kate can get a look at those places from the air, since they are unimaginable. I'm sure she will get her passport stamped there :)

She will be responsible for her girls in the hotel, and no one goes anywhere without a male to accompany them!! Each MIG (Ministry Group) has 4-5 kids and at least one of them is a guy, for safety, EVERYWHERE outside of Texas.

Friday a.m. they will take off for Uganda with a little stop in Ethiopia. Good thing she can sleep anywhere, anytime, because I'm not sure she will know what time it really is by then. They will be 7 hours ahead of us when she reaches Kampala, Uganda. They will hit the ground running, filling the first full day with ministry and work on getting to know the culture there. I'll write more about what she will be doing in Uganda after they get there.

Please continue to pray as they travel, and that God will use this team in a mighty way to change the world...THAT'S what it's ALL about!