(Recap)
It has been 15 days since I left Georgia, 20 days since I
left Uganda, and 38 days since I last posted a blog on here. I do not even know
where to begin. Some would say to me, “Well, if you blogged more often you
would not have to cram so much into one blog.� That is probably true, however,
even if I had blogged after every major happenings in the past two months it
would still be difficult to explain it all. Instead of trying to write out all
the details of every event that went on in Uganda, here’s a “top ten� recap of
some of the amazing things that went down during my last trip to Africa: (First
Five here, Five in Part 2)
left Uganda, and 38 days since I last posted a blog on here. I do not even know
where to begin. Some would say to me, “Well, if you blogged more often you
would not have to cram so much into one blog.� That is probably true, however,
even if I had blogged after every major happenings in the past two months it
would still be difficult to explain it all. Instead of trying to write out all
the details of every event that went on in Uganda, here’s a “top ten� recap of
some of the amazing things that went down during my last trip to Africa: (First
Five here, Five in Part 2)
1. My co-leader was the beautiful and wise Audrey Powell, who was on Team Crux
with me during The World Race, and I would not have picked anyone else to lead
alongside. She was an amazing person to work with and she has an anointing to
care for every person around her. Audrey is a woman of power and authority,
compassion and creativity. Though she and I claim we would never be friends “in
real life,� I am incredibly blessed to call her my sister and I am thankful
that she is in my life. I was honored to lead with her.
with me during The World Race, and I would not have picked anyone else to lead
alongside. She was an amazing person to work with and she has an anointing to
care for every person around her. Audrey is a woman of power and authority,
compassion and creativity. Though she and I claim we would never be friends “in
real life,� I am incredibly blessed to call her my sister and I am thankful
that she is in my life. I was honored to lead with her.
2. My teamconsisted of twenty four participants, ages seventeen to twenty three, with
nineteen women and five men. We split this giant team into two more manageable
teams, with twelve people based in Kampala, the capital of
Uganda, and twelve based in Lira, in the north central
part of Uganda. Everyone came from all over the U.S. and met at training camp
in GA only four days before we left for the trip.
3. The Lira team stayed in one place the entire time, and
they worked with Victory Outreach
Ministries. This ministry has a number of different depts. including quite
a developed agricultural program, as
well as being a base for Compassion International, keeping track of
and finding sponsors for over 200 children. The team was able to work closely
with several schools in the area,
some that were started by the church, as well as a school for the deaf. And
having stayed in the area the whole six weeks they were able to build some
great mentoring relationships with some of the students. The hope was to raise
up leaders among the students who would continue bible-studies, prayer times,
etc. after our team left, and we believe there were some very gifted and mature
students stepping up in these areas and sincerely seeking the Lord. The team
built lasting relationships with the staff
of the guesthouse where we stayed, gave 300 mosquito nets to the schools where they worked, and made a very
big impact on the entire community of Lira by holding a concert/church service for the whole town. The Lira team
experienced God in new ways and I believe they will never be the same- They are bringing Heaven to Earth!
they worked with Victory Outreach
Ministries. This ministry has a number of different depts. including quite
a developed agricultural program, as
well as being a base for Compassion International, keeping track of
and finding sponsors for over 200 children. The team was able to work closely
with several schools in the area,
some that were started by the church, as well as a school for the deaf. And
having stayed in the area the whole six weeks they were able to build some
great mentoring relationships with some of the students. The hope was to raise
up leaders among the students who would continue bible-studies, prayer times,
etc. after our team left, and we believe there were some very gifted and mature
students stepping up in these areas and sincerely seeking the Lord. The team
built lasting relationships with the staff
of the guesthouse where we stayed, gave 300 mosquito nets to the schools where they worked, and made a very
big impact on the entire community of Lira by holding a concert/church service for the whole town. The Lira team
experienced God in new ways and I believe they will never be the same- They are bringing Heaven to Earth!
4. The team based in Kampala worked with the Bugolobi Church of the Resurrection, Church of
Uganda (as it is officially called), located in Bugolobi, a small area outside
Kampala. But unlike most of our ministry opportunities, the team had a unique experience.
They travelled with a team of
missionaries from BCR (Bugolobi Church of the Resurrection) all around the
country of Uganda. They traveled (in the truck pictured) to
the north in Gulu (see Invisible Children) and did evangelism in schools; south
to Kabale to do more school
ministry; an hour and a half outside Kampala to a village called Kyampisi (pronounced Chyom-pi-si) to
work with children, dig wells, paint a school, and “slash� (an African form of
weed-whacking); east to Mbale to go
door-to-door evangelizing and praying; and stayed in Kampala to meet with
people in the Bugolobi area. It was incredibly exhausting for the team, but they all pushed through their
sickness, exhaustion, and discomfort to ensure that the gospel was preached to their Ugandan brothers and sisters. They
stood toe-to-toe with the adversity that holds their new friends in bondage and
cried out for the captives to be freed. I am very proud of this group for all
that they went through and all that they did to see God glorified.
Uganda (as it is officially called), located in Bugolobi, a small area outside
Kampala. But unlike most of our ministry opportunities, the team had a unique experience.
They travelled with a team of
missionaries from BCR (Bugolobi Church of the Resurrection) all around the
country of Uganda. They traveled (in the truck pictured) to
the north in Gulu (see Invisible Children) and did evangelism in schools; southto Kabale to do more school
ministry; an hour and a half outside Kampala to a village called Kyampisi (pronounced Chyom-pi-si) to
work with children, dig wells, paint a school, and “slash� (an African form of
weed-whacking); east to Mbale to go
door-to-door evangelizing and praying; and stayed in Kampala to meet with
people in the Bugolobi area. It was incredibly exhausting for the team, but they all pushed through their
sickness, exhaustion, and discomfort to ensure that the gospel was preached to their Ugandan brothers and sisters. They
stood toe-to-toe with the adversity that holds their new friends in bondage and
cried out for the captives to be freed. I am very proud of this group for all
that they went through and all that they did to see God glorified.
5. In Lira, we had the humble pleasure of staying at the
Alpha Resort Hotel, owned and operated by Pastor Johnson Ogema, one of the head
pastors for Victory Outreach Ministries. We were taken care of by the amazing
staff of Alpha, not only by their feeding us wonderfully delicious food, but
also by their making sure our beds were clean, our water was flowing, and our
sick were taken to the doctor. They are made up of incredibly caring men and
women who do whatever they can to see missionaries are taken care of whenever
they come through town doing God’s work. Here is a picture of the staff (that
was present on this day) and some descriptions of who they are:
Alpha Resort Hotel, owned and operated by Pastor Johnson Ogema, one of the head
pastors for Victory Outreach Ministries. We were taken care of by the amazing
staff of Alpha, not only by their feeding us wonderfully delicious food, but
also by their making sure our beds were clean, our water was flowing, and our
sick were taken to the doctor. They are made up of incredibly caring men and
women who do whatever they can to see missionaries are taken care of whenever
they come through town doing God’s work. Here is a picture of the staff (that
was present on this day) and some descriptions of who they are:
Alpha Staff (as Pictured Left to Right):
Teddy- Hotel Manager (and our mother)
Christine- Room Maid Extraordinaire
Dorkus- Kitchen, Service, Love and Care
Susan- Cook, Joy
Margaret, “Maggie”- Cook, Joy
Hope- All Around, Dishes, Big Sister
Moses- All Around, Chauffeur, Brother
Unknown (Did we actually know him?)
Bonnie- Hotel Finances, Brother
(Crouching) Cinderella- Cook, Quiet and Peaceful Presence
Not Pictured- Our Dear Brothers Jonathon and Patrick, our bus driver Alex, Pastor Johnson and family.
