Happy (belated) New Year!
January 2017 has started off fast and furious but oh so good. I’ve been in Uganda for nearly two weeks now and have seen, learned, and been reminded of so much.
We started off lodging at a college near Kampala for our first week of training. Every morning started off at 7am sharp with a workout. One morning we had to walk/hike with all our gear. I thought I had done well with my packing but am already dropping stuff. 
Then we had teaching sessions throughout the mornings and afternoons, and worship in the evenings. Towards the end of the week we also did team building activities and then were put into our first set of teams for ministry! Meet Jessica, Rosa, Kylee, and Cary – I’m excited to do life and ministry with these beautiful ladies!
During the week, some of our exercises took us outside the compound into the village and market. We did prayer walks and talked to the locals we met along the way.
Friday night a group of ten of us went with Pastor Patrick to a “fellowship”. This essentially is a church service held with people in the community that Patrick has already met and built relationships with. These fellow brothers and sisters in Christ were so gracious and thankful that we came; it was a privilege to worship with them and encourage them in the Lord.
We also met students at the college and church members that help with ministry throughout the week. I had the opportunity to eat with Violet and Ruth several times and get to know them a bit. They are taking classes at the college to be able to teach.
It is amazing to me to see the connections and relationships that can be started and built with people in just one week, both on and off the squad. I’m looking forward to what God has in store when we are in a place for a little longer.
We have a few more days of training this week and then will split into our teams for eight days of ministry in Uganda before moving on to Rwanda. I have accepted a logistics position and will serve the squad with one other by finding transportation and potential lodging between countries and would appreciate your prayers for guidance and wisdom with this!
Thank you all for your prayers, support, and interest at the beginning of this World Race journey! It’s been a huge encouragement to know I’m not alone in this, but have a team of loved ones state-side running this race with me. Whether at home, on my squad, or a local, we do this together. Love you all and may God bless you with an amazing 2017!
