The (sleepy) HungaryWilsons in Budapest

Zsofi wrote:

Dear Riverside Community!

We made it safe to Hungary! Thank you all who have remembered us in your prayers. We felt them. On our long flight, though the plane was almost completely full, we hade an entire row of seats just to ourselves! A welcome blessing, especially for a pregnant mommy.

Anyway we just wanted to say good-bye and express some of our thankfulness. We are so grateful that God brought us to your church during our time in Texas, and we have enjoyed all the time we could fellowship with you. Thank you for your love and support! In particular:
Scott, you are a very gifted teacher, leader and both of us have learned a lot from you. Thank you for your love and giving us the opportunity to serve at Riverside! Jenny thank you for serving us free drinks at the Loft and always making us feel absolutely welcomed. John and I have been to many coffee shops but the Loft is clearly the best!!! John R., thank you for helping both of us to share in the amazing experience of the Walk to Emmaus. It has changed our hearts! Cathi, thank you for your gentle love and please tell Emily that she has been a special blessing to Mrs. Zsofi! My dear 4th Day Group, I am privileged to know you and I loved our meetings. Thank you for encouraging me, I have learned a lot from each one of you. Jamie, thank you also for the maternity clothes! I also want to thank all of my counselees. I enjoyed my time with each one of you and I am thankful that we could be together on an exciting journey of discovering more of God’s plan and healing for you. Evans and Esther, thank you for bringing us into your Life Group. What a special group! We love each one of you and will miss you. Phillip, you made John very happy with the golf clubs. He will miss playing. Mel and Wendy, thank you for the books, the inspiring discussions and the tomato soup dinners! :-) John and Linda, we appreciate your support, your gift came at the perfect time! Jenni and Robert, thank you for connecting us with Dr. Cox. He has been so generous to us. Cindy, thank you for the precious goodbye card and everyone who has signed it. We will treasure it. And thank you all for the lovely baby shower. Baby Wilson is blessed by having so many people loving him or her even before the birth.

This list could go on and on, but let me close this post by thanking everyone in the Riverside Community for giving us such a great spiritual home during our time in Spring Branch. You have changed and blessed us more than you probably realize. We will miss you and look forward to seeing you again!

With our love,
John and Zsofi

Ps: I don’t know if there will be a Riverside blog after this summer, but you can check for pictures and updates from us on our blog.

We are in the Netherlands!

Well, we are having our 3 hour layover here, then we have a 7 hour lay over when we get to New Jersey, then on to Austin, yeah!!

This has been the most incredible journey for all of us! We have laughed, cried, definitely been stretched in every way from some fear to total joy! God has given us the best time and we can't wait to tell you about it all when we get home! I have already typed this once and got kicked off, so this will be shorter but we are all safe and very happy to be coming home!

The finally for us was yesterday with a boat ride to the islands where they have built Bethany Village! We got to see African Renewal Ministries version of their schools and homes for the children! It was like fantasy island for the orphans! I was so thrilled for them all! For me, I love to see God's glory and He knows that I love being on the water and I had asked to hike in Africa and see a monkey! We did it all yesterday! I can't tell you what it did for me! We all have awesome pictures to show you and as we ate at a five star hotel yesterday on an island, we wanted to send you pictures and joke with you that we were really in the Carribean! Thanks for the great trip! It truly has been amazing and we are all grateful that we have seen more people accept Jesus than we could have dreamed! We got to love on thousands of children, watch each other shine using the gifts that God gave us, and meet some wonderful people! There is so much need here that we will have to pray for dissernment on where all to start! But there is definitely a calling here! We have all felt it and obviously God has blessed our efforts!

We have all had so many wonderful memories built with each other! We are all also sick of fish filets, french fries, and french toast! The jokes and laughter will be something that we will cherish forever! The question is "where will we eat out first when we get home?" With options like Ox-liver stew or fish soup how could we not miss mexican food? I got a little whiny the other day as I looked at another menu that made me sick and thought, Lord, I am ready to go home. I have reached my breaking point! I admit that I am a wimp, in case no one else wants to fess up!!!

We are all ready for some awesome Riverside hugs and very thrilled that it will be Sunday when we get home so we can see you all at church! Jack is ready for Jim Jones' hugs! I just want to see you all and just be there! You are all so special! A few days into the trip, someone commented to me (because I was so frustrated with the computers) that it didn't matter if I blogged, we could just communicate with you when we got home. I said "YOU DO NOT KNOW OUR COMMUNITY!" We are like family and we want to know what each other is doing and how we are! They care if we are o.k. and how things are going. We all felt tied to you no matter how far away we were! So just know, as I listened to Jeremy Camp's song "RIGHT HERE", I cried as I thought of you all and felt like - God you are right here with me and all of these beautiful, hungry African people, then I thought of how close I feel with all of you and how much we missed you and it touched my heart like you will never know!

There is so much to tell; none of us will ever forget all of the sweet hands that we have held or the kids that almost knocked us down at they even came up from behind to grab our legs with kids all around us in front! Or watching Rick, Brian and Josh draw them in and then make a loud noise and watch them scream and run off only to come right back for more! Just know that it was amazing and you all should experience this in your life time!

We will see you on Sunday! We love you all and we are all so blessed to have each other and be a part of what God is doing through Riverside! I hear that you have had quite a great time and have been blessed while we were away and that is so great!

If you get this, pray for our remaining travel journey! And thank you all for the blogs back to us! They meant so much!

Love you! Teresa

Hello from Court

Hi everyone. First off, thank you all for the blog responses. We just love reading them. Wes, you are so sweet. Cathi - thanks for your encouragement, it helps! Han - what can I say?? I cannot wait to see you! Jen - thanks for The Loft updates...gives us a little piece of home...love you! All of you, thanks so much!

We had a great, relaxing night last night. Today, we head off to a village called Mawembe. Please pray for us to all hear from God as to where He wants us and Riverside to partner...

I feel compelled to tell you about Iganga...there is SO much though. I dont even know where to begin. First off, one of the days, we went to New Grace orphanage and school. On this one site, they have a seminary for BOTH men and women, an orphanage, a clinic, a school, and a church. THere were over 500 kids in bright purple uniforms that were more ecstatic to see us than any we have seen. I got off the van and began to cry...I know, most of you are thinking, well...it is Courtney - she is a crier. But, I have been surprisingly reserved this whole trip until I got to this place. So many of us just had tears running down our faces. Not because of the desperation, but because of the joy and the hope. Many of these children are orphans from the North (the war). The government picks up truckloads of them and drops them off in town. Our African trip leader (Peter) is the New Grace director. He has a heart and a vision for these children so he started New Grace. THe kids often just get dropped off at New Grace for Peter to "deal with" The faces of these children...I cannot describe with words.

At New Grace, the teachers are ALL volunteers, the Pastr, is a volunteer, the Head Master...a volunteer. Peter...volunteer. None of them get any more money than what it takes t ocover basic needs for life. Thier water well is dirty and shallow. Their pits (toilets) are nothing that any child should have to use. Yet, they are all so happy. They feel called to this place by Gd and therefore, in thier eyes, do not feel like they can walk away. They do not have the money for orphans dorms, so the orphans sleep on the floors of the church, the clinic and classrooms. The female orphans sleep in what was the Pastors sleeping quarters. THey have meta bunk beds stacked so close together. There are 40 of them seeping in a 12 X 20 room (if it is that big). This is their reality...everyday, the number of rphans grow. Peter gives much of his salary to feed them all...I could go on and on.

The thing that broke me, was thier joy and thier resolve. The Pastor was so clear as to what God called him to...to educate men and women, to take care of orphans and widows. He and six of his family members are living in a room. Together. That is all he can afford. He rides his bike 20 miles both ways to his parents house to get food for his family. As he shared all of this, he had the biggest smile on his face...he has the joy and peace of God because he knows he is doing what he has been called to do.

AS I looked throught the "orphan book", I was overwhelemed...page after page of AIDS orphans... Having a parent die of AIDS is like having a cold to us. SO COMMON!

The joy and hope in these kids and adults was overwhelming. They loved learning...felt blessed to be at New Grace... There are so many needs...

I will sign off now, because I cannot put words that are adequate and it is frustrating me... just know our hearts were tugged and God moved while we were there.

Love to you all! Hanna - there are so many 3rd optioners here...I understand it better now...it looks like Jesu :)

Court

The Adonai - Wednesday

Oh my gosh! We have seen Heaven in Africa! We have just arrived at the Adonai Hotel and we are all rejoicing at the beauty of the hotel. Linda is currently dancing to the Christian music playing and it really is awesome! Brian is taking a HOT shower that is basically the size of our last hotel room; it really is huge! This is the best reward that we could have right now!

What a wonderful adventure this has been and we have mixed emotions about coming home! I think that Marin and Sarah want to move to Africa! Courtney, Brian, Jack and Josh I think would stay a few more weeks! Linda, Jenni, Rick,Sonya, and Teresa are all ready for a pedicure and our own beds!!! Well, maybe Rick won't do the pedicure, but he is ready to see his girls and his dog!

We are all blown away at God's movement here! We fed the homeless this morning and actually took in some orphans off the street and put them into Peter's school and orphanage in Iganga! Tomorrow we are going to the islands to another orphanage. Wes, I can't promise any life vest, but you have to know that God has been so amazing at going before us every where we have been and totally provided! Now that we are totally safe, I have to say that at the hotel that scared the pants off of us, (like to the point that Jenni was in tears) she actually left her key outside her door to her hotel room all night and nothing went wrong! They do a walk through the hotel every night and lock whoever is in - in and whoever is out - out! We have been very safe everywhere we go.

We have laughed so much and literally been in the bush everywhere we go. The roads sometimes are truly 2-3 feet wide with potholes that are hilarious. Well, they are to me because I laugh when I get nervous! Let's just say that I have laughed alot! The roads are really just bike trails and I thank God that Peter knows his way around!

We have seen thousands of children follow Jesus as their Savior and we don't even count any more. (We were only counting because the other team required it, but it was neat for a while) Now we just stand in awe at the scene before our eyes as God has prepared the harvest and all we did was present the truth!

We have been teaching the women and the men, also! To teach in a culture that you may be the 4th wife or been kicked out of your home because of their new faith, I have to tell you that we have been stretched, challenged, and stumped. But no matter how hard the circumstances, we have to teach them to be faithful to the God that loves them and wants the best for them!

We have so much to tell you and I have to say that the internet has frustrated me to the point of wanting to pull the cords out of the wall! I finally realized that I was spending money on this instead of feeding children with it! Where we are at is so nice and this actually works, so it is a pleasure to communicate with you!

Know that we are all very happy, healthy and missing you all very much! Continue to pray for our journey here and we will all be home very soon! Be bless and bold! God is mighty! We love you! The African Salvation Team!

Riverside around the World

Riverside around the World

June 24
Greetings from Iganga! Today we saw many of the invisible children in the streets of Iganga. The invisible children are orphan refugees from Sudan and northern Uganda who flee south to escape the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) terrorist group. The govt. dumps many of them here in Iganga, because the road from Sudan ends at the outskirts of town. The kids scavenge through the city dump in the morning in search of food. Today we will feed many of these kids at the orphanage that Servants of the King operates. Thanks Cathy...for trying to raise awareness back home about the plight of these children.
The crisis is real. Please continue to spread the word. Gotta go...it's Worship time...
Love and miss you all,
Sonia

Riverside around the World

Riverside around the World

Monday June 24th

Greetings from Iganga! Today we saw many of the invisible children in the streets of Iganga. The invisible children are orphan refugees from Sudan and northern Uganda who flee south to escape the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) terrorist group. The govt. dumps many of them here in Iganga, because the road from Sudan ends at the outskirts of town. The kids scavenge through the city dump in the morning in search of food. Today we will feed many of these kids at the orphanage that Servants of the King operates. Thanks Cathy...for trying to raise awareness back home about the plight of these children.
The crisis is real. Please continue to spread the word. Gotta go...it's Worship time...
Love and miss you all,
Sonia

Iganga - from Court

Hello! we are here...in Iganga. safe and sound! the internet service here is spotty at best. i pray this will work. the adventure to get us here was hilarious and memorable. rain, muddy roads, traffic like i have never seen before. all 11 of us were in a van together. it was such a ride. we got to see the source of the nile river and the falls at the nile. it was beautiful...we were all looking at each other in unbelief that we were even here.

i will tell you there were some teary eyes when we got to the hotel. it is stretching all of us. it is good though. we are actually at a "nicer" place than we had planned on staying. praise god!

if someone sees teresa's boys, please tell them she will call them soon. she tried and then got cut off. make sure they know she is fine as wes is out of town.

Courtney and Brian

Hello everyone! I have not written since the Amsterdam airport...Teresa has
been on top of it so I know you all are up to date. First of all, I am
feeling better - whoo hoo! Thanks for your thoughts and
prayers...especially from my sister! Love you!

Today was an awesome day! The best yet - for me. The school we went to had
such an awesome spirit! We had 130 kids stand up today and accept Christ. It
was awesome. They had such amazing questions too. One kid asked, "Do you
have any books that I can read to help me follow Christ?" (He was 12) We are
buying bibles in their language and are leaving them with most of the
teachers at the schools. So, I encouraged him to talk to his teacher. This
school seemed to me like one of the more poor schools...that is SO relative
let me assure you! We are in the middle of the bush of Africa so you can
imagine what "more poor" looks like in those terms. But, the feel of the
school - the spirit of the place was like a breath of fresh air. The
teachers were all so happy to be there and to be with the kids. They were
overwhelmed with the fact that we brought them bibles. I wish I could
explain how their faces lit up when we gave them to them. God's Word is such
a precious gift to these people. They were elated! There were so many kids
here that were visibally hungry - starving! They had huge bellies and thin
little faces! Yet, they sat so attentive as we told them that God - who
made them, loves them and died for them. Looking in those hungry eyes is
something that will never leave me. It a strange mix of despair and hope.
They are desperate for so much, but are so thankful when they meet Jesus and
even meet us...they teach me more than I ever could them.

Some of the kids sang for us as well. They were like little shining lights!
There was one little girl that just sat next to me, and Sarah had one that
clung to her as well. They just touched us and put their arms around us.
They could not get close enough to us! That is fairly rare for this culture.
They are usually pretty timid, however, these kids just wanted to be touched
and loved on so badly!

I asked the Head Master if there were any orphans, and he said yes, walked
out of the room and then summoned me out. When I walked out, 100 or so kids
were walking towards me. He said, here are the orphans. I was overwhelmed.
They sat in front of me and I just told them how loved they were. I cried
and told them that I was not crying because I was sad, but because I was
overwhelmed with how much Jesus loves them. It is a sight to be looking in
to the eyes of children who have felt very little love and feel very alone
in the world, and try to give them something that will bring hope! I am
thankful and humbled for the opportunity for these conversations. It is
something that I will have to let roll around in my heart for a while...

Brian was surrounded today. He sat on a bench that was about 4 or 5 feet
long with 3 kids in each arm. Again, they just could not get close enough to
him. It was like one little girl was just hiding in his chest. They are so
sweet!

Thanks to those of you that have written! We love staying in contact.

Yesterday when we all got up and danced with the kids who put on a
traditional African dance for us (yes, in the middle of the African bush -
what an experience), Brian was taking video...we have proof. We all kept
saying we were in the middle of National Geographic.

You should see Rick Hollands moves. Who knew that that guy had such moves.
He was so great. Everything he has been doing has been just awesome. He is
so open and excited about everything. The kids love him in his camo hat and
pants. They just giggle when he comes to them or introduces himself. I
cannot wait for everyone to see Teresa on the video dancing with the African
Pastor - it is awesome

Josh and Brian had us all rolling last night with their stories and wierd
faces they make. Josh has been so fun with all the kids. Every time we
stop somewhere, he gets out and blows bubbles...the kids go nuts!

Elizabeth, I am thinking of you a lot. Not sure why, I just can only
imagine you meeting these people. Wow!

There is so much more I could write, but my mind is a blur. I love this
place, these people. Hope to write more later. We have only one more day
of ministry here and then we go on to Iganga - it is about 7 hours from
here. We are told this is "nothing" compared to what we will see there. I
cannot fathom that - we will see. Call us anytime on our phone. Several
people have the number! We love hearing from home :) We are 8 hours ahead
of you....No wake up calls please:)

Hello from Masaka

Sonia and I are reporting from the "other" team. The children are beautiful
and the pastors and Headmasters of the schools are radiant for Jesus. Today
I felt they were doing such a good job teaching the children that we were
the confirmation that , yes, what they had been taught was in fact the
Truth. They knew all the commandments, the Lord's prayer; they understood
sin and heaven. I sensed that they were amazed most with the cross.
Courtney and I realized that they needed to understand their need to actually choose
Him. I felt that God wanted me to emphasize the Kingdom of
Heaven..."mugulu" and tell the children that Jesus said the Kingdom has come.
"obwakabaka mugulu bunze" (The Kingdom of Heaven has come) I want them to
know that when Jesus is in them, the Kingdom is there, wherever they go...He
never leaves them. So many raise their hands to choose
Jesus. Prossy, one of our interpreters, taught me to say "Jesus loves you"
and "Follow Jesus"..."jesu okwagala" and "Goberere jesu" They hear the
Message and are saved, but they can they follow Jesus.
They are more receptive than I've seen in America.

The school today was without a roof and the English alphabet was written in
chalk on a piece of wood. Sonia and I met with the kids "under the mango
tree", as directed by the pastor. (sounds like a song title!) Our
translator for the Primary 3 group was great. Juliet listened to us say a
sentence, then would rattle on for a full minute preaching to the kids.
Sonia and I were almost out of a job! We worshiped in the van with two
tachers and Kenneth, a teacher at the second school. We
have so much to learn from them about joy and worship.

They loved the mirror and their photos on the camera. When we left, I said
"mugulu" and pointed to them and to me.. I said we would wave and say
"I met you in Uganda!!

Love ya'll Jenni

Greetings from Africa

Today we visited a very rural school. We traveled up a bike path to get there! The kids treat us like rock stars! They are so precious, but there are so many needs. Many of the kids are orphans, many have malaria - but they are encouraged by our message of hope. Yesterday, after Jack and I taught a salvation message, a little boy followed us out to the van to ask us more about Jesus. I was overwhelmed by the look of hope he had in his eyes. I wished that we could take him home with us! Thanks for your prayer John! I love you. Please continue to pray for our health.
Love Sonia

Africa Phone Number

If you are interested in contacting the Africa Missionary Team they do have a cell phone. They would love to hear from you. Next week, they will most likely not be able to blog, so the phone will probably be our only means of communication. You can purchase an international phone card online at www.speedypin.com (from USA to Uganda).

AFRICA CELL PHONE NUMBER: 011-256-774-208664

"GO" Team: We love you guys and are constantly praying for you!! You are all amazing people. It is so cool to see how God is moving through you all!! Stay strong and know that you are well loved! - BB

Mattresses and bibles

We bought a case of bibles today and passed them out...everyone wants one! We have to fill that need! They are 7.00 each. I love their hunger for the word!

There are 70 mattresses that we need to buy for orphans that sleep on the dirt that we will be visiting next week . That is literally life to them to get them out of the parasites in the dirt. be praying.

Pray for these needs to be met! Love, T

Life in Africa on Thursday - from Teresa

Bathroom stories...Well, we (I am leaving off names for protection of myself, they might kill me and leave me here!) we have had people pee on their feet, people cut their butts on reeds in the bush, someone peed on their skirt, Linda and I do have our own room, but our toilet doesn't flush and hasn't since we arrived! You have to just laugh at the situation because it really is funny! We literally like going in the bushes because it is cleaner! We are hearing that the situation at the orphanage next week is going to worse than anthing we have ever seen and we may want to put in bathrooms for the children! Be praying about that!

We were all laughing last night because we feel like we have been here for a month! There are many reasons, some being very good! We have seen more people come to Jesus than I have in my entire life!

I can tell you that God is very sad that we took him out of the schools in America and we are missing many blessings of eternal value! We need to pray about getting that changed, seriously!!!

Before I get kicked off, I love you Colton, Carson, Cameron and Wes! I miss you very much! I have been showing your pictures around Africa and they love them! Pretend that I am hugging you right now and Wes.. please be holding them and praying with them for me every night! Be sweet, know that I miss you and I really can't wait to come home!

Angie, thank you for all of the free music that you downloaded and Stacy thank you (and Kyle) for the speakers, they love the music ministry that you helped me bring here! I can't wait to tell you all about it!

I am sending this one...I haven't had much luck today. Love ya! T

Our journey continues...Wednesday

We started today like every day, with an awesome worship time! Oh my! God’s presence was so powerful! Thank you Lord! We all knew it was going to be a great day! Were we ever right!!!

It started out by giving another Frisbee out and there was an armed guard with a big gun checking Brian and Courtney out! They do not know to trust us yet! When they were done playing, the guy made the sign of the cross on his chest to Brian! It is so awesome! Brian and Courtney are great wherever they go! They are naturals! Josh and Jack are the class clowns and God is using them in such a neat way! They are such a delight to be around!

O.k., I just heard that our numbers of salvation for today was 238! We have seen 777 come to Jesus since we have been here! Is that mind blowing? In case you wondered “Why Africa, maybe you have your answer now!” Cool!

Then Courtney started asking Pastor Peter about the orphanage that we are going to visit next week and since he is the Pastor over the place and they have the papers on each child proving that they have no parents, it would be easy to adopt a child! Guess who was freaking out! Linda and I said that they should take two and …I can’t tell you all that Brian said to me, but it was funny! He really appreciated our enthusiasm for a growing family!

People here really take pride in their homes! I saw a young girl sweeping the dirt in front of here home. That’s all there is …dirt! Boys, start sweeping at home, o.k.? Just kidding! They mop the floors here by hand with a rag seven times a day! Wow! I don’t think that I will ever gripe about doing laundry again, either!

There was a lady that got saved at breakfast, she just walked up to Linda and asked if she could sit down and the next thing you know…you guessed it!

There was even someone riding on a bicycle today that accepted Jesus. I don’t know all of the details, but who cares!

I scared a group of kids when I blew a bubble with my gum! I’m sorry but it was so funny!

A man from Kenya wants Linda and I to come teach their women. The Servants of the king want us to come back in February to do the same thing here! I have to get through this trip first! Sometimes I feel like I have been here forever!

The children are so sweet, to approach us, they kneel before us. We are not worthy of that, it is really a weird feeling!

We gave away a lot of bibles today and there is such a huge need for that. They are 7 dollars each, does anyone want to buy a bunch for us to give away?

I had my first day of sharing the gospel by myself today to two classes! It was awesome; thank you Lord for the opportunity to share your love. One of my interpreters was Muslim! Cool! We went up and talked to him afterwards and he said he loved Jesus, who knows, that was neat to me though!

Last year the school that we taught at today had voodoo heads hanging in all of the school windows! No children accepted Jesus last year because they were scared of the white people. They were literally still sacrificing children there last year and Phil had to ask them last year to stop their tribal dance because they were celebrating the death of children! This year, the heads are all gone! Servants of the King is going to build a new church on the property. It costs around 2,000 to build a church here!

We were asked yesterday if Jesus was African or European? Isn’t that cute?

We ended the day at the other teams school. We pulled up just in time to see the tribal dance that they were putting on for their group. Before we knew it, several of us were dancing with them in the center of the area! I danced with the Pastor! Courtney, Rick, Jenni, Sarah, Josh, myself and several others were out there! Jack decided that we were hurting relations with the country of Africa by dancing with them! It was a scary sight! We had so much fun! My oh my!!! I felt like we were all in the middle of National Geographic! Fun! Fun! Fun!

Well, I know that this is a lot of thoughts all at once, but I don’t want to get kicked off! There are no lights in here and this computer is ran totally by a generator! Life is good at home, eh?

We love you all! Thank you for your comments and remember that if you call us, it doesn’t use any of our phone minutes, so we would love to hear from you!

Be blessed and know that we are all healthy and happy; we are being used up! Stay sweet and know that there is no place like home!

The African Go Team!