Sharon now in the Top 10! (better quality)

This is a much better quality version of Sharon's June 24 performance.  It isn't a summary of the whole show (see the original "Sharon now in the Top 10!" upload for that), this one shows Sharon's performance alone.

Sharon now in the Top 10!

A summary video of the 1 1/2 hr live show from Sunday June 24, including Sharon's full performance.  Five contestants from the Top 10  were put on probation, and again Sharon was not one of them!  It looks like she may have finally hit her stride, her performance (of a popular South African song) was fantastic with good judge reviews!  Two of the 5 on probation will be evicted this Saturday the 30th, which means Sharon will be in the Top 8!  She'll perform next this coming Sunday July 1st.  Stay tuned!

Sharon makes it through again!

This is a summary video of tonight's "nomination" show where all 12 remaining contestants performed and 5 were chosen to go on probation. Not Sharon this time!!!!  Awesome!!  She scraped through by the skin of her teeth!  Aggie (and the judges) said she chose a key that was too low for her.  So she still has a chance to shine! We know she can do better than she has so far, we've heard her sing. Maybe without the stress of probation that she had last week the coming weekend might be a better one for her. The whole thing is super-stressful though! She's doing so well to "keep it together" - I don't think I could!

This coming Saturday the 5 now on probation will perform and 2 will be evicted.  That'll leave the Top 10 who will perform again on Sunday, so Sharon will be in that Top 10!!

We're personally grateful Sharon's not on probation this week - last week was so nerve-wracking, thinking about it all week. It was stressful even for us.  We'll be able to rest this week &:-)}

Sharon now in the Top 12!

Sharon has been in Nairobi, Kenya, for about a month now, competing with other contestants in East Africa's version of American/Australian Idol. This is an edited version of 2 live shows: 1) June 10th, where 5 contestants (including Sharon) ended up on "probation" (candidates for eviction), and 2) June 16, where the 5 on probation performed and 2 of 5 were evicted - not Sharon!!! So she's now off probation & moves on to be in the Top 12! Sunday the 17th she'll perform again and 5 more contestants will be put on probation - hopefully not her!

Sharon makes it into the Top 20!

Sharon has been in Nairobi, Kenya, for about 2 weeks now, competing with other contestants in East Africa's version of American/Australian Idol.  This is an edited version of the full show that was on TV this past Sunday. Sharon has now made it into the Top 20!  We're so proud of you, Sharon!  From this coming Sunday the shows will be live!

Almost ???? in Uganda

I had a close call last night. I was driving home after dark and a truck had broken down partially across the road as it was trying to turn off into a side-road.  I knew I'd cleared the back of the truck but heard a **!!!BANG!!!** - I'd hit something!  The driver's side upper corner of the van had glanced off/nicked one of many huge electricity poles sticking out the back of the truck! They were totally invisible, being black, with no reflectors, no street-lights, and the glare of oncoming traffic.

I parked the van, ran across the road to the truck driver, who couldn't speak English. Next thing I knew I heard a **CRUNCH**, looked back, and a car had gone right UNDER the poles!! The driver was ok, fortunately, but he'd done a LOT of damage to his car. He spoke Luganda so had it out with the truck driver.

Long story short, we spent ~3hrs at the police station making statements, etc. The police here often have a bad name, but I was really impressed with these guys.  They were very professional (and very friendly).  They said it was negligence on the part of the truck driver.

Here are the photos (went back today to where the truck was left broken down). To me, how I jut nicked the electricity pole is nothing short of a miracle. How on earth did that happen??! Has to be God's protection. Look at it - if I'd been driving just 1ft further to the right, the poles would have come through the windscreen at head height!

I was lying in bed after getting home at about 12:30am thanking God that I wasn't dead, or in hospital with smashed eyes/nose/face/head!  I thought about how that would affect the family.  How I would probably have to go back to Australia, all our work here would be over, maybe someone would have to take care of me for the rest of my life....  They say driving on the roads here in Africa is the most dangerous thing you'll do here.  I'm so grateful for God's protection.  It wasn't yet my appointed time.

Sharon on TV! East Africa talent search.

Sharon has made it through round 1 & 2 of East Africa's singing talent search/contest!!  She is one of 5 Ugandans who made the cut and will be going to Nairobi, Kenya, for the next round on May the 18th, where she'll compete with 25 entrants from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda and Birundi. Congratulations Sharon, we're so proud of you!

Bible Way Discipleship

IMFC's Bible Way discipleship program is impacting people's lives from the slums, prisons, high schools, military and security guard organizations of Uganda's capital, Kampala, all the way out into the surrounding village areas of Uganda!  Learn more from IMFC team leader Joseph Esiana, and hear Zahara's testimony of how God has used Manna Ministry and Bible Way to change her life.

Diggin' out Jiggers

Last week I noticed something very strange on my toe.  Asking Aggie "Have you ever seen anything like this?" she replied "That's a jigger!" to which I replied "Oh no!"

After watching this video (IF you do, that is, *chuckle*), I'd encourage you to look around at other videos on the web showing how these creatures wreak havoc in the lives of so many people. What I experienced was just a tiny insight into this.

The Kisoro Kids ministry that we are part of is coming alongside families and schools in Kisoro, Uganda, to help improve their quality of education. This includes cementing dirt classroom floors where jiggers are living. All profits from our Aggie’s Arts project/ministry go to Kisoro Kids.

*WARNING* - this video contains graphic content

Aggie's Arts - Meet Gift Samanya

Each Aggie's Arts lady is a unique person with a unique story and unique life struggles. Meet one of the seventeen ladies in this video.

For more about the Aggie's Arts project/ministry, go to www.ugandajourney.org and click on "Aggie's Arts."