The team is now relaxing and debriefing at a place called Banana Village.
Its a great place of quiet and rest near the Entebbe airport.
They leave tomorrow EST at around noon for the journey home through Nairobi and London.
They will arrive at Logan at 5:10pm Tuesday night.
Please keep them in your prayers as they travel and adjust back home for the first week.
We'll have some more entries on the blog when the reports come back on Tuesday!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Photos from the top of Awari Hill (Konys hometown)
Prayer for healing of northern Uganda and the return of abducted children
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Quotes from team A
Team A has now just left for a 4 day village outreach near Jinja, the source of the Nile.
They have spent the last week in Kampala with Come Let's Dance and they were in the north with Child Voice from May 31 0 June 11.
All Students did not sign in on this....
SARAH GRIMM –
It’s difficult to find words to describe this experience. Thus far, I just feel blessed to be in Uganda. I’m being exposed to immeasurable new things – what resonates most with me at this moment is the vibrancy of life here, both in the Northern War Zone and in the Southern, westernized area, despite the staggering poverty, disease, violence, and government corruption. However, these struggles have also made an impression on me. The team I’m with is really wonderful and both of our host organizations have amazed me with the way that they serve God day-in and day-out. It is truly beautiful to see God’s kingdom spreading to bring redemption and renewal to this broken land.
MARET PAETZNICK—
Where do I begin? I guess overall I would say that my view of who God is and what he’s capable of is greatly expanding. In the north I saw how he is a God of restoration. The girls at Child Voice have witnessed unspeakable violence and have had terrible things done to them, yet today they are singing, smiling, and dancing. God is restoring their lives and it’s a beautiful thing. Here in the south I’m learning that God is passionate about justice and empowering the weak and fatherless and wants us to do the same. The ways that the young people at Come Lets Dance are serving God and deeply loving the people of Kampala is so inspiring. This whole trip has made me question what I’m doing with my life. . . but that’s ok. Thankfully God knows what he’s doing.
JOYCE WONG-
I am doing well. I will tell you all everything when I return. Okay, bye! Just kidding. I am currently in Nansana with Come Let’s Dance. I have visited the Katonga slum and the largest hospital in Uganda- Mulago Hospital. God has been showing and teaching me about how my faith is relevant in suffering and injustice, so ask me all about it. My time in Gulu, northern Uganda was incredible as well because I have witnessed God’s redemptive power in the lives of the girls, but that is all I will write. Read other people’s blurbs; they are more informative. I will say though that I feel more bold and courageous in professing my faith because God has been real to me here. Americans, I am not being a nutter, God is logical and real. TIFFANY: I will not be able to check my email until I get back. Please pick up your phone. I’m cash and Debit card-less. Actually, I might not want to leave Uganda just yet hehe. Peace and cheers!
THOMAS MOORE –
The bible is God-breathed, perfect and whole. At the risk of resting on some unstable and contradicting theology, I personally think we could invite the Apostle and physician Luke to write a second book to Acts with it’s focus on the African movement towards Jesus. It’s exciting to see and be a part of early Church growth. In America, we don’t see open-air “Crusades” with convicting sermons, exorcized demons and dozens coming to call Jesus their personal Lord and Savior. Perhaps it’s because of the hardened post-modern heart, or maybe just a lack of gutsy Jesus freaks that are willing to stand on some bold statements on The Gospel. Me? —I’m praying for the ladder to make the rest of my ministry in America as exciting as the last few weeks here in Africa.
CAITLIN EGER-
I am beginning to see Jesus on Earth. I am seeing Him through the actions, emotions, and words of people. I saw Him in the joy of the girls up north, whose lives have been redeemed and restored. I saw Him in the selfless service of the workers and interns at CVI. I see Him in the young adults at Come Let’s Dance, who have given up normalcy in defense and service of the poor and oppressed. I see Him in my fellow team members and leaders who come alongside each other in any situation. I see His anger in the anger of people who are fighting injustice. I see His compassion through people who show unconditional love to children who have never had that love. And though in this country I am seeing corruption, despair, hardship, and even death, I am learning to wait on God. And I will have hope.
Susie Veon – (IV Staff director for Team A)
Diane is especially fond of me. She likes the gray hair and the fact that I am Jaja (grandma). I like her a lot and we have talked about science together, which is her favorite subject in grade 5. She is a bright 11 year old that has been abandoned by a mom who cannot make it in the slums. At Come Let’s Dance, she goes to school and lives in a group home. The staff are working with mom’s like hers to try and help them do small jobs and begin micro-businesses so they can support and feed their children. Day after day the IV and FOCUS students play hard, carry water, work, dig, sing and pray their hearts out. This is an amazing student team and I am so proud of them and honored to be a part of this experience with them. I will be sad to leave but hopeful for the impact of this on the lives of these students and how God will multiply the blessing to both them and to the Ugandan children, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. Amen. -
Patrick Harner –
I love doing back flips. I remember the first time I did a back flip by myself, it took me over an hour to build up the courage and just take the literal leap of faith and trust I was going to land on my feet. This sounds silly but I prayed to God I would land on my feet. And I did. Being on this Global Issues Internship in Uganda has been a lot like that. Just the other day one of the staff of Come Let’s Dance invited us to go with her to Mulago, a government hospital in Kampala. She told us how folks there might be there for months with infected open wounds or broken limbs without treatment or friends or family to visit. Going there we had have little to offer just prayer, water, and friendship. At one point, amidst the sick and disabled, Matt, Faith, and I, became very hesitant. We needed to leap back into action and trust God was going to put us on our feet. And he did.
Erin Gumbs-
Tens of jerry cans, 1 pack of hair extensions and thousands of miles from home, my experience in Africa has been quite an adventure (to say the least). Despite some minor distractions (the novelty of sleeping in a hammock quickly wore off), the IV and FOCUS teams have shared much victory in experiencing the love of Christ in Uganda. Considering the devastation caused by war, disease and poverty in this region, the joy in the spirits of the people we have been serving seems almost impossible. Whether in the smiles of the mothers from CVI or the relentless grip of the children from CLD, God’s restoring power is something we are experiencing daily. For the first time in my life I feel like I’m fully experiencing the glory of His kingdom- and it’s a beautiful thing.
Ashley Walker-
I went into this trip hoping that God would give me some sort of epiphany, about what? I don’t know. But I figured that I’d know it when it happened. I never received such an insight, and was somewhat disappointed for the first half of our trip, but I guess that’s my fault for thinking that I would suddenly just realize my purpose in life. It’s actually a funny idea now that I look back on it. However, after the last week or two, I’ve realized that I don’t need an epiphany, because everything I’ve gone through has been an ongoing lesson that I’m sure, in the end, will result in the self-realization that I was looking for. I’ve seen the ways God work in the hearts of people, especially those who are weak and afflicted. To us, it seems like they have nothing, but in reality they have it all because of their strong and loving relationship with Christ. You can see his love in their smiles, and their personal stories only epitomize the work of his hand. The life accounts of the girls at CVI, and the interconnected testimonies of the staff at CLD are living proof that the Lord works in mysterious ways, and that only through Him can we be truly happy. And so with a week to go I look back on my time here in Africa, and know that despite all that I, and the group, has gone through, it is only bringing us closer to Christ, and for that I am truly thankful. So I still might not have one BIG THING that I’ve learned from this trip, but we’ve still got a week - so ask me when I get home ☺
Chris wepukhulu-
when I had of this mission I couldn’t imagine what I would benefit out of it because of the testimonies from the different missions we usually had at Makerere university. The most important way I was blessed in this mission was to get God ahead of everything I believed in and to practically look at implementing Gods work to his people in the different ways I could ever imagine which blessed so many lives.
I had never done any outreach to the internally displaced camps before, but I realized whatever little faith you have, you could use it to bless somebody. So to all those out there, faith comes from God and please at whatever level you are, please use it to bless some body.
“Seek yee first the kingdom of God and other things shall be added unto you”matt.6:33
They have spent the last week in Kampala with Come Let's Dance and they were in the north with Child Voice from May 31 0 June 11.
All Students did not sign in on this....
SARAH GRIMM –
It’s difficult to find words to describe this experience. Thus far, I just feel blessed to be in Uganda. I’m being exposed to immeasurable new things – what resonates most with me at this moment is the vibrancy of life here, both in the Northern War Zone and in the Southern, westernized area, despite the staggering poverty, disease, violence, and government corruption. However, these struggles have also made an impression on me. The team I’m with is really wonderful and both of our host organizations have amazed me with the way that they serve God day-in and day-out. It is truly beautiful to see God’s kingdom spreading to bring redemption and renewal to this broken land.
MARET PAETZNICK—
Where do I begin? I guess overall I would say that my view of who God is and what he’s capable of is greatly expanding. In the north I saw how he is a God of restoration. The girls at Child Voice have witnessed unspeakable violence and have had terrible things done to them, yet today they are singing, smiling, and dancing. God is restoring their lives and it’s a beautiful thing. Here in the south I’m learning that God is passionate about justice and empowering the weak and fatherless and wants us to do the same. The ways that the young people at Come Lets Dance are serving God and deeply loving the people of Kampala is so inspiring. This whole trip has made me question what I’m doing with my life. . . but that’s ok. Thankfully God knows what he’s doing.
JOYCE WONG-
I am doing well. I will tell you all everything when I return. Okay, bye! Just kidding. I am currently in Nansana with Come Let’s Dance. I have visited the Katonga slum and the largest hospital in Uganda- Mulago Hospital. God has been showing and teaching me about how my faith is relevant in suffering and injustice, so ask me all about it. My time in Gulu, northern Uganda was incredible as well because I have witnessed God’s redemptive power in the lives of the girls, but that is all I will write. Read other people’s blurbs; they are more informative. I will say though that I feel more bold and courageous in professing my faith because God has been real to me here. Americans, I am not being a nutter, God is logical and real. TIFFANY: I will not be able to check my email until I get back. Please pick up your phone. I’m cash and Debit card-less. Actually, I might not want to leave Uganda just yet hehe. Peace and cheers!
THOMAS MOORE –
The bible is God-breathed, perfect and whole. At the risk of resting on some unstable and contradicting theology, I personally think we could invite the Apostle and physician Luke to write a second book to Acts with it’s focus on the African movement towards Jesus. It’s exciting to see and be a part of early Church growth. In America, we don’t see open-air “Crusades” with convicting sermons, exorcized demons and dozens coming to call Jesus their personal Lord and Savior. Perhaps it’s because of the hardened post-modern heart, or maybe just a lack of gutsy Jesus freaks that are willing to stand on some bold statements on The Gospel. Me? —I’m praying for the ladder to make the rest of my ministry in America as exciting as the last few weeks here in Africa.
CAITLIN EGER-
I am beginning to see Jesus on Earth. I am seeing Him through the actions, emotions, and words of people. I saw Him in the joy of the girls up north, whose lives have been redeemed and restored. I saw Him in the selfless service of the workers and interns at CVI. I see Him in the young adults at Come Let’s Dance, who have given up normalcy in defense and service of the poor and oppressed. I see Him in my fellow team members and leaders who come alongside each other in any situation. I see His anger in the anger of people who are fighting injustice. I see His compassion through people who show unconditional love to children who have never had that love. And though in this country I am seeing corruption, despair, hardship, and even death, I am learning to wait on God. And I will have hope.
Susie Veon – (IV Staff director for Team A)
Diane is especially fond of me. She likes the gray hair and the fact that I am Jaja (grandma). I like her a lot and we have talked about science together, which is her favorite subject in grade 5. She is a bright 11 year old that has been abandoned by a mom who cannot make it in the slums. At Come Let’s Dance, she goes to school and lives in a group home. The staff are working with mom’s like hers to try and help them do small jobs and begin micro-businesses so they can support and feed their children. Day after day the IV and FOCUS students play hard, carry water, work, dig, sing and pray their hearts out. This is an amazing student team and I am so proud of them and honored to be a part of this experience with them. I will be sad to leave but hopeful for the impact of this on the lives of these students and how God will multiply the blessing to both them and to the Ugandan children, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. Amen. -
Patrick Harner –
I love doing back flips. I remember the first time I did a back flip by myself, it took me over an hour to build up the courage and just take the literal leap of faith and trust I was going to land on my feet. This sounds silly but I prayed to God I would land on my feet. And I did. Being on this Global Issues Internship in Uganda has been a lot like that. Just the other day one of the staff of Come Let’s Dance invited us to go with her to Mulago, a government hospital in Kampala. She told us how folks there might be there for months with infected open wounds or broken limbs without treatment or friends or family to visit. Going there we had have little to offer just prayer, water, and friendship. At one point, amidst the sick and disabled, Matt, Faith, and I, became very hesitant. We needed to leap back into action and trust God was going to put us on our feet. And he did.
Erin Gumbs-
Tens of jerry cans, 1 pack of hair extensions and thousands of miles from home, my experience in Africa has been quite an adventure (to say the least). Despite some minor distractions (the novelty of sleeping in a hammock quickly wore off), the IV and FOCUS teams have shared much victory in experiencing the love of Christ in Uganda. Considering the devastation caused by war, disease and poverty in this region, the joy in the spirits of the people we have been serving seems almost impossible. Whether in the smiles of the mothers from CVI or the relentless grip of the children from CLD, God’s restoring power is something we are experiencing daily. For the first time in my life I feel like I’m fully experiencing the glory of His kingdom- and it’s a beautiful thing.
Ashley Walker-
I went into this trip hoping that God would give me some sort of epiphany, about what? I don’t know. But I figured that I’d know it when it happened. I never received such an insight, and was somewhat disappointed for the first half of our trip, but I guess that’s my fault for thinking that I would suddenly just realize my purpose in life. It’s actually a funny idea now that I look back on it. However, after the last week or two, I’ve realized that I don’t need an epiphany, because everything I’ve gone through has been an ongoing lesson that I’m sure, in the end, will result in the self-realization that I was looking for. I’ve seen the ways God work in the hearts of people, especially those who are weak and afflicted. To us, it seems like they have nothing, but in reality they have it all because of their strong and loving relationship with Christ. You can see his love in their smiles, and their personal stories only epitomize the work of his hand. The life accounts of the girls at CVI, and the interconnected testimonies of the staff at CLD are living proof that the Lord works in mysterious ways, and that only through Him can we be truly happy. And so with a week to go I look back on my time here in Africa, and know that despite all that I, and the group, has gone through, it is only bringing us closer to Christ, and for that I am truly thankful. So I still might not have one BIG THING that I’ve learned from this trip, but we’ve still got a week - so ask me when I get home ☺
Chris wepukhulu-
when I had of this mission I couldn’t imagine what I would benefit out of it because of the testimonies from the different missions we usually had at Makerere university. The most important way I was blessed in this mission was to get God ahead of everything I believed in and to practically look at implementing Gods work to his people in the different ways I could ever imagine which blessed so many lives.
I had never done any outreach to the internally displaced camps before, but I realized whatever little faith you have, you could use it to bless somebody. So to all those out there, faith comes from God and please at whatever level you are, please use it to bless some body.
“Seek yee first the kingdom of God and other things shall be added unto you”matt.6:33
Quotes from our students
Team B was in Kampala with Come Lets dance from May 31 til June 11 and are now in the north with Child Voice International from June 13 until June 25.
Those students name you may not recognize are our FOCUS Ugandan partners.
Allie Hadwen –
I am in love with Uganda and its people. God has shown me true poverty in the city slums, pure joy in the faces of the children, strong faith, and an undeniable hope through the people and organizations that I have come into contact with. I only wish my family and friends could be here to experience all this with me! My verses for this trip have been Ezekiel 36:26,27 and Philippians 4:10-13. Hugs and kisses to everyone at home. I will see you all soon!
Sophia Shin –
Uganda has been humbling me and challenging me more and more each day. It has been during the times when I have seen and felt the extreme poverty and pain of the suffering parts of this country that I am reminded of Psalm 46:10, where we are all called to be still and know God; to know that he will always be exalted and triumphant. Seeing the need of these oppressed people has truly broken my heart, but to know that my God is still present and in control despite such conditions has been a great comfort and reminder.
Amanda Batstone –
My time in Uganda has shown me how our God is truly a global God. The love of God shines through the beautiful hearts of the Ugandan people. I have been truly blessed interacting with orphan children at the Kids House, children living in the slums, and children at Child Voice International. Although they suffer from poverty, they are still so full of joy. The opportunity to play soccer with the church team in Kampala was incredible too. Our team won both times (and we had two girls haha). Now that we are in Gulu, I am learning how to relate to young mothers who were formerly child soldiers. I am amazed and inspired by their ability to move on with their lives, despite their many hardships. This trip has been a very humbling experience, and I am constantly reminded of Philippians 2: 5-11. I am so thankful for this incredible experience.
Kate Doria –
I was expecting intensity, I was expecting memories, I was expecting a life changing experience that would somehow direct the path for my future and bring clarity to my existence. The stakes were high. In the meantime, none of these expectations are being fulfilled as I imagined. Each day is full of surprises and this adventure is unfolding in mysterious ways- perhaps it’s better this way.
Fact: The reminiscence of war is nothing a book or short film can accurately portray. Fiction: Northern Uganda is a hopeless place.
I cannot comprehend what happened here, I know what happened, but I don’t. I’m sitting in a classroom with bullet holes in the door from a massacre that happened in my lifetime. The young women who just finished braiding my hair were abducted by the LRA and lived in the bush. The six-year-old child in the Lokodi IDP camp carries a baby strapped to her back. The material needs seem overwhelming but instead of overanalyzing the devastation, I remind myself daily to be present. A friend once told me. ‘Abide where you are’, and I think it best summarizes my experience. I’ve come to appreciate the presence of others and decide that being present can be the best gift of all. When the sun is hot and the well is dry, when your stomach hurts and the lightening flashes, when the road is bumpy and you wonder if the van can pass, be present.
Thaddeaus Kusiima
My time in Gulu with the intervarsity members has been a blessing to, there has been a lot to do and think about but I thank God for how wonderful He has used us to preach His gospel to the people in Gulu. Many have given their lives to God through the word we have been preaching to them and l bless God for that, With the help of Child voice international in Gulu working with us, we visited a number of camps in Lukodi area where we found that a number of girls were raped by the people who never gave them a good will come from the bush so some of these girls were being helped by CVI. Many people are still getting saved and God is still using us in different fields for his Kingdom.
AMANYA JERRY;
I Thank God for this opportunity to do this mission project and moreover in an inter- cultural setting. I expected like to entirely to do out reach and then door to door evangelism in this mission but I thank God that my mind have been opened to different ways how mission is carried out.
Working in an inter cultural setting has also made me to learn a lot from my American colleagues. This mission has been valuable to me when I connect it to my academic work. Back at school, I study Social Sciences and I do take course units like Sociology and then Social Administration which connects to what these two partner NGOs(CLD And CVI)
Also my spiritual life has been impacted upon through out the mission, a thing which I will carry on to build the Kingdom of God.
AGABA PETER.
Listening to many testimonies from the saints of God opened my eyes to see how God is at work. I saw God use young people with little Education, with no money but with a passion in their hearts to reach out to the helpless, poor, despised street children, their mothers ,child mothers abducted by rebels and their children.
I have learnt a new dimension of missions called holistic missions .I saw that a at Come lets dance ministries and Child voice international.
I also enjoyed working with intervarsity students from America.
NDEGWA RACHEAL:
Am blessed and thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to be part of this mission. The testimonies I’ve heard from different people I’ve met they have touched me and my life won’t remain the same. God bless you.
KEMBABAZI GENEVIEVE:
I’m so much blessed for having been a part of the mission because I know that the grace of God can take me where it wants to take me. I’ve learned a lot because I’d never been for mission and I know that God has prepared me through this great mission. God bless InterVarsity, and I pray that He continue to do great things for all the guys that were a part of it. Love you so much! I enjoyed being with you. I hope we meet sometime in the future. Jah bless.
KYARISIIMA JUDITH:
I’m really privileged to have been part of this mission which has been life transforming and power packed. Surely it has been a mission of its own kind given that I’ve been on various missions I have really learned a lot through this. Therefore, I will live to testify of God’s goodness. May God bless you so much.
MOLLY BYRD:
Man, oh man! I don’t know where to begin. I have been stretched and challenged on this mission way more than I anticipated and in ways I could not have imagined. We have all been blessed to experience different aspects of Uganda and learn about the beautiful culture here. We have met inspiring people that are reaching out to their communities and really living out the gospel. I am excited to return home and put into practice the things I’ve learned here. One of my favorite parts of this mission was the opportunity to work side by side with Ugandan Focus students, whom helped us adapt to the culture and grew in Christ with us. I will miss this place and everyone here! Mukama Yebazibwe!
LAURA YEGGE:
We had a blast in the South at CLD for the first half teaching women how to start businesses so they can move out of the slums and provide for their children, helped humble the Ugandan men and the role of women by soccer matches which we won, helped build a new church for them to move to a new location, fell in love with all the kids at the kids home and learned how to truly LOVE HARD! Just being in the North for 5 days now working with CVI some have been evangelizing in former IDP camps and have truly witnessed miracles! Those that have stayed at the site have seen God through helping and spending time with the amazing girls and their kids. We’ve built so many lasting relationships amongst our team and working with the staff of Come Let’s Dance and Child Voice Int. We’ve seen glimpses of God’s beautiful kingdom in so many ways through the people and gorgeous country of Uganda. God is truly shaping each and every one of us in amazing ways. God bless!
NASSUNA SUSAN:
It’s an honor that I’ve been part of this great mission. It’s a life transforming changing. I have loved its dimension being that it’s been intercultural. I’ve learned a lot from our friends and then having heard those great testimonies, coming in touch with CLD’s Love Hard to the community, and then CVI’s love and compassion for northern Uganda. I thank the Lord so much for InterVarsity and the relationship they have with Focus Uganda. Yeah. God bless you big!
KAKO CAROLYNE:
The mission has been challenging, amazing, and humbling to me. I’ve learned a lot from it—spiritually and socially. Associating with people of different nations and evangelism in the different parts of southern and northern Uganda had made a difference in my life. I must confess that I’m not the same. I’m changed and blessed by this mission. God bless.
Those students name you may not recognize are our FOCUS Ugandan partners.
Allie Hadwen –
I am in love with Uganda and its people. God has shown me true poverty in the city slums, pure joy in the faces of the children, strong faith, and an undeniable hope through the people and organizations that I have come into contact with. I only wish my family and friends could be here to experience all this with me! My verses for this trip have been Ezekiel 36:26,27 and Philippians 4:10-13. Hugs and kisses to everyone at home. I will see you all soon!
Sophia Shin –
Uganda has been humbling me and challenging me more and more each day. It has been during the times when I have seen and felt the extreme poverty and pain of the suffering parts of this country that I am reminded of Psalm 46:10, where we are all called to be still and know God; to know that he will always be exalted and triumphant. Seeing the need of these oppressed people has truly broken my heart, but to know that my God is still present and in control despite such conditions has been a great comfort and reminder.
Amanda Batstone –
My time in Uganda has shown me how our God is truly a global God. The love of God shines through the beautiful hearts of the Ugandan people. I have been truly blessed interacting with orphan children at the Kids House, children living in the slums, and children at Child Voice International. Although they suffer from poverty, they are still so full of joy. The opportunity to play soccer with the church team in Kampala was incredible too. Our team won both times (and we had two girls haha). Now that we are in Gulu, I am learning how to relate to young mothers who were formerly child soldiers. I am amazed and inspired by their ability to move on with their lives, despite their many hardships. This trip has been a very humbling experience, and I am constantly reminded of Philippians 2: 5-11. I am so thankful for this incredible experience.
Kate Doria –
I was expecting intensity, I was expecting memories, I was expecting a life changing experience that would somehow direct the path for my future and bring clarity to my existence. The stakes were high. In the meantime, none of these expectations are being fulfilled as I imagined. Each day is full of surprises and this adventure is unfolding in mysterious ways- perhaps it’s better this way.
Fact: The reminiscence of war is nothing a book or short film can accurately portray. Fiction: Northern Uganda is a hopeless place.
I cannot comprehend what happened here, I know what happened, but I don’t. I’m sitting in a classroom with bullet holes in the door from a massacre that happened in my lifetime. The young women who just finished braiding my hair were abducted by the LRA and lived in the bush. The six-year-old child in the Lokodi IDP camp carries a baby strapped to her back. The material needs seem overwhelming but instead of overanalyzing the devastation, I remind myself daily to be present. A friend once told me. ‘Abide where you are’, and I think it best summarizes my experience. I’ve come to appreciate the presence of others and decide that being present can be the best gift of all. When the sun is hot and the well is dry, when your stomach hurts and the lightening flashes, when the road is bumpy and you wonder if the van can pass, be present.
Thaddeaus Kusiima
My time in Gulu with the intervarsity members has been a blessing to, there has been a lot to do and think about but I thank God for how wonderful He has used us to preach His gospel to the people in Gulu. Many have given their lives to God through the word we have been preaching to them and l bless God for that, With the help of Child voice international in Gulu working with us, we visited a number of camps in Lukodi area where we found that a number of girls were raped by the people who never gave them a good will come from the bush so some of these girls were being helped by CVI. Many people are still getting saved and God is still using us in different fields for his Kingdom.
AMANYA JERRY;
I Thank God for this opportunity to do this mission project and moreover in an inter- cultural setting. I expected like to entirely to do out reach and then door to door evangelism in this mission but I thank God that my mind have been opened to different ways how mission is carried out.
Working in an inter cultural setting has also made me to learn a lot from my American colleagues. This mission has been valuable to me when I connect it to my academic work. Back at school, I study Social Sciences and I do take course units like Sociology and then Social Administration which connects to what these two partner NGOs(CLD And CVI)
Also my spiritual life has been impacted upon through out the mission, a thing which I will carry on to build the Kingdom of God.
AGABA PETER.
Listening to many testimonies from the saints of God opened my eyes to see how God is at work. I saw God use young people with little Education, with no money but with a passion in their hearts to reach out to the helpless, poor, despised street children, their mothers ,child mothers abducted by rebels and their children.
I have learnt a new dimension of missions called holistic missions .I saw that a at Come lets dance ministries and Child voice international.
I also enjoyed working with intervarsity students from America.
NDEGWA RACHEAL:
Am blessed and thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to be part of this mission. The testimonies I’ve heard from different people I’ve met they have touched me and my life won’t remain the same. God bless you.
KEMBABAZI GENEVIEVE:
I’m so much blessed for having been a part of the mission because I know that the grace of God can take me where it wants to take me. I’ve learned a lot because I’d never been for mission and I know that God has prepared me through this great mission. God bless InterVarsity, and I pray that He continue to do great things for all the guys that were a part of it. Love you so much! I enjoyed being with you. I hope we meet sometime in the future. Jah bless.
KYARISIIMA JUDITH:
I’m really privileged to have been part of this mission which has been life transforming and power packed. Surely it has been a mission of its own kind given that I’ve been on various missions I have really learned a lot through this. Therefore, I will live to testify of God’s goodness. May God bless you so much.
MOLLY BYRD:
Man, oh man! I don’t know where to begin. I have been stretched and challenged on this mission way more than I anticipated and in ways I could not have imagined. We have all been blessed to experience different aspects of Uganda and learn about the beautiful culture here. We have met inspiring people that are reaching out to their communities and really living out the gospel. I am excited to return home and put into practice the things I’ve learned here. One of my favorite parts of this mission was the opportunity to work side by side with Ugandan Focus students, whom helped us adapt to the culture and grew in Christ with us. I will miss this place and everyone here! Mukama Yebazibwe!
LAURA YEGGE:
We had a blast in the South at CLD for the first half teaching women how to start businesses so they can move out of the slums and provide for their children, helped humble the Ugandan men and the role of women by soccer matches which we won, helped build a new church for them to move to a new location, fell in love with all the kids at the kids home and learned how to truly LOVE HARD! Just being in the North for 5 days now working with CVI some have been evangelizing in former IDP camps and have truly witnessed miracles! Those that have stayed at the site have seen God through helping and spending time with the amazing girls and their kids. We’ve built so many lasting relationships amongst our team and working with the staff of Come Let’s Dance and Child Voice Int. We’ve seen glimpses of God’s beautiful kingdom in so many ways through the people and gorgeous country of Uganda. God is truly shaping each and every one of us in amazing ways. God bless!
NASSUNA SUSAN:
It’s an honor that I’ve been part of this great mission. It’s a life transforming changing. I have loved its dimension being that it’s been intercultural. I’ve learned a lot from our friends and then having heard those great testimonies, coming in touch with CLD’s Love Hard to the community, and then CVI’s love and compassion for northern Uganda. I thank the Lord so much for InterVarsity and the relationship they have with Focus Uganda. Yeah. God bless you big!
KAKO CAROLYNE:
The mission has been challenging, amazing, and humbling to me. I’ve learned a lot from it—spiritually and socially. Associating with people of different nations and evangelism in the different parts of southern and northern Uganda had made a difference in my life. I must confess that I’m not the same. I’m changed and blessed by this mission. God bless.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Monument at Lukodi
This is a picture of Team B at the site of the Lukodi Massacre.
In 2004 over 60 residents of Lukodi were attacked and killed at the center of the village by the LRA.
All residents of the village had to flee to the town where they suffered much with not food or water. Finally they decided to come back to their village even though it meant danger from the LRA, but it was better than dying without water.
Child Voice set up this monument as a memorial to those who died and as a commitment to rebuild this village.
We are living within 200 yds of this at the Child Voice center.
The effects of the war in northern Uganda
All around us are the effects of the 20 year war with the LRA.
Burned out huts, uncultivated land, IDP camps.
On a more personal level, it seems each person we meet has a story of pain and lost loved ones in the war.
Rarely do we meet a child that has both parents still alive.
We meet people who have lost everything and are struggling to start over, now that there is peace.
We are falling in love with the 15 child mothers who have lost so much in being upducted and abused, but they are being renewed.
Signs of the KIngdom.
Yesterday we interviewed 4 former Child Voice students (formerly abducted and graduates of the Child Voice program)
They now had skills in parenting, vocation, relating to families and the community they did not have upon return from the bush.
More than skill, they now had confidence in God who leads and sustains them in the next steps.
They are light in a dark place.
The light of God in breaking in.
A women who had stolen some things from an NGO became a Christian on Tuesday and then later came to the NGO and confessed to them what see did!
Many we talk to who have trusted in destruction local rituals and practices have given them up to follow God.
The village of Lukodi, where we are living, has become more active and most have moved out of the camps and built homes on their lands. Fear of Kony and the LRA is less and less.
Joy is returning to this place.
We again made a trip to Kony's home town with the second team and Awari hill on Wednesday.
It was a time to say to people around we are no longer fearful of Kony and will go to his hill and pray.
It was a statement to local people.
The next post will be some quotes we are gathering from the students
Cheers
tom
Burned out huts, uncultivated land, IDP camps.
On a more personal level, it seems each person we meet has a story of pain and lost loved ones in the war.
Rarely do we meet a child that has both parents still alive.
We meet people who have lost everything and are struggling to start over, now that there is peace.
We are falling in love with the 15 child mothers who have lost so much in being upducted and abused, but they are being renewed.
Signs of the KIngdom.
Yesterday we interviewed 4 former Child Voice students (formerly abducted and graduates of the Child Voice program)
They now had skills in parenting, vocation, relating to families and the community they did not have upon return from the bush.
More than skill, they now had confidence in God who leads and sustains them in the next steps.
They are light in a dark place.
The light of God in breaking in.
A women who had stolen some things from an NGO became a Christian on Tuesday and then later came to the NGO and confessed to them what see did!
Many we talk to who have trusted in destruction local rituals and practices have given them up to follow God.
The village of Lukodi, where we are living, has become more active and most have moved out of the camps and built homes on their lands. Fear of Kony and the LRA is less and less.
Joy is returning to this place.
We again made a trip to Kony's home town with the second team and Awari hill on Wednesday.
It was a time to say to people around we are no longer fearful of Kony and will go to his hill and pray.
It was a statement to local people.
The next post will be some quotes we are gathering from the students
Cheers
tom
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Reunited at Murchinson Falls Park
From June 11-13 the two teams met at Murchinson Falls Park.
It was a grand reunion for the two team working in the south and the north at a beautiful setting on the Nile River.
We reflected upon the work done, lessons learned and the reality of God in our midst and had some fun.
My favorite story is called, "Holy Crap - the Bible is really real!" (quote from Tommy)
We are seeing the same power that Jesus expressed while on earth happening here in Uganda.
At one crusade a demon was cast out and people were running up to our students and asking to be saved.
There was even an account of a healing of a lame man.
We are finding that in the US we have placed our faith in a box, where we can control it and it works for us. Here God has broken the box. It seems we believe on a intellectual basis but we really don't believe in the living God who acts in our lives dramatically.
In New England we are good at raising skeptics, even those who are Christians.
Many of us came skeptical of these acts of power by God, but now have seen and experienced it.
We are also growing in prayer. People here depend upon prayer and live by it. Its inspiring.
We have had challenging speakers too!
ON the state of resettlement, the impact of the war.
On HIV AIDS and poverty.
We had the president of Child Voice share how to start on NGO and his vision for this work.
Back to our time in Murchinson Falls, we all took a boat ride and hike up the Nile. Seeing many Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, Water Buffalos. Later we took a game drive and saw a herd of Giraffes' of over 25....WOW!
As of today...June 15 the two teams are beginning their new sites in Kampala and Gulu with Come Lets Dance and Child Voice
All students are doing so well. We have only had minor stomach bugs, but nothing that has put a person down for the day.
More coming at the end of the week
It was a grand reunion for the two team working in the south and the north at a beautiful setting on the Nile River.
We reflected upon the work done, lessons learned and the reality of God in our midst and had some fun.
My favorite story is called, "Holy Crap - the Bible is really real!" (quote from Tommy)
We are seeing the same power that Jesus expressed while on earth happening here in Uganda.
At one crusade a demon was cast out and people were running up to our students and asking to be saved.
There was even an account of a healing of a lame man.
We are finding that in the US we have placed our faith in a box, where we can control it and it works for us. Here God has broken the box. It seems we believe on a intellectual basis but we really don't believe in the living God who acts in our lives dramatically.
In New England we are good at raising skeptics, even those who are Christians.
Many of us came skeptical of these acts of power by God, but now have seen and experienced it.
We are also growing in prayer. People here depend upon prayer and live by it. Its inspiring.
We have had challenging speakers too!
ON the state of resettlement, the impact of the war.
On HIV AIDS and poverty.
We had the president of Child Voice share how to start on NGO and his vision for this work.
Back to our time in Murchinson Falls, we all took a boat ride and hike up the Nile. Seeing many Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, Water Buffalos. Later we took a game drive and saw a herd of Giraffes' of over 25....WOW!
As of today...June 15 the two teams are beginning their new sites in Kampala and Gulu with Come Lets Dance and Child Voice
All students are doing so well. We have only had minor stomach bugs, but nothing that has put a person down for the day.
More coming at the end of the week
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
What are we learning here in Uganda?
Here is Team A bringing water back from the bore hole
In Luke 9 Jesus asks the question. Who do the crowds say that I am?.......then he asks, Who do you say that I am? He is speaking with men who have know him for sometime now and they know he is a great teacher, heals the sick and feeds the 5000. What is he asking?
We feel like Jesus is asking the same question to us at this point to us.
Who am I?
You think of me in one way in the States but I am breaking out of those boxes here in Uganda.
People here in Uganda trust God for their very lives, at home we trust him only if we get into trouble.
God has to come through here. At home, if its doesn't work out we have a back up plan.
there are no backup plans here.
We have moved from one reality to see another larger reality.
We will not be the same. We must integrate this larger view of God and not return to our smaller, controlled God.
We hope the next post will be on Tuesday
Tom for all the Uganda team
Two Hills in Uganda and one river
Sorry for the slight delay on entries, life in Uganda can be that way....the internet goes down with regularity.
The teams are now ready for mid-course site change and we leave tomorrow for Murchinson Falls Park for a two day mid-trip debrief.
The group in Gulu, Team A, has served Child Voice with abandon, drawing water from the bore hole, cleaning dishes and some cooking. (parents don't ever let your son or daughter say they can't do domestic chores...they are great at it.) They have loved the Child mothers and learned of their stories of struggle in being a former abducted child soldier and what that means to their lives now. They are well behind in education, skills in parenting and ability to provide an income.
Team A has also gone into the camps for service and sharing the love of Christ through hut to hut outreach.
People are very welcoming and very open to talk about spiritual things. They know they have great need each day for food, health and release from fear of evil spirits. The news of Jesus is very good news for them, unlike in the U.S. where we think we've got control of our lives (until the economic downturn...). People realize without God they have no future.
It has been hard to hear stories of escape from attacks on Lukodi village and how God protected them.
The Team B in Kampala with Come Lets Dance has helped to build a church, cared for kids at the Kids home, helped on the farm (that provides for the kids home), done child care at the Katunga slum, and served at the sewing shop (set up for mothers of the street kids.
They have seen desperation that at times brings sadness, but people of faith and hope in the middle of these dark places.
Both teams have scaled a mountain that has much significance.
IN the north, Awari Hill holds the picture of fear and death for the Acholi people. It is where Kony started his reign of terror from and was a evil stronghold. We went to there to pray for the healing of the north. It was a powerful time for some Ugandan Focus staff extending forgiveness to the LRA who had killed some friends and family of theirs.
In the South, the team climbed Prayer mountain last Friday night, which has had continual prayer for a number of years now. It is a place of peace and prayer for Uganda and the nations.
Both mountains are now places of light coming upon a dark nation.
One River
Tomorrow we meet for two nights on the Nile River at Murchinson Falls. It will be a time for reflection, exchanging stories, re-commissioning for a new mission for each team, and sight seeing. We hope to spot a lion or two and gain perspective on the last half of the trip. The two teams now total 45 staff and students are all doing well. There has been only slight stomach bugs and slight colds. We are eating very well.
The teams are now ready for mid-course site change and we leave tomorrow for Murchinson Falls Park for a two day mid-trip debrief.
The group in Gulu, Team A, has served Child Voice with abandon, drawing water from the bore hole, cleaning dishes and some cooking. (parents don't ever let your son or daughter say they can't do domestic chores...they are great at it.) They have loved the Child mothers and learned of their stories of struggle in being a former abducted child soldier and what that means to their lives now. They are well behind in education, skills in parenting and ability to provide an income.
Team A has also gone into the camps for service and sharing the love of Christ through hut to hut outreach.
People are very welcoming and very open to talk about spiritual things. They know they have great need each day for food, health and release from fear of evil spirits. The news of Jesus is very good news for them, unlike in the U.S. where we think we've got control of our lives (until the economic downturn...). People realize without God they have no future.
It has been hard to hear stories of escape from attacks on Lukodi village and how God protected them.
The Team B in Kampala with Come Lets Dance has helped to build a church, cared for kids at the Kids home, helped on the farm (that provides for the kids home), done child care at the Katunga slum, and served at the sewing shop (set up for mothers of the street kids.
They have seen desperation that at times brings sadness, but people of faith and hope in the middle of these dark places.
Both teams have scaled a mountain that has much significance.
IN the north, Awari Hill holds the picture of fear and death for the Acholi people. It is where Kony started his reign of terror from and was a evil stronghold. We went to there to pray for the healing of the north. It was a powerful time for some Ugandan Focus staff extending forgiveness to the LRA who had killed some friends and family of theirs.
In the South, the team climbed Prayer mountain last Friday night, which has had continual prayer for a number of years now. It is a place of peace and prayer for Uganda and the nations.
Both mountains are now places of light coming upon a dark nation.
One River
Tomorrow we meet for two nights on the Nile River at Murchinson Falls. It will be a time for reflection, exchanging stories, re-commissioning for a new mission for each team, and sight seeing. We hope to spot a lion or two and gain perspective on the last half of the trip. The two teams now total 45 staff and students are all doing well. There has been only slight stomach bugs and slight colds. We are eating very well.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Team in Lukodi with Child Voice International
Our first full day on Monday June 1, in Lukodi was very sobering.
We took a tour of the Child Voice Center and then went to the Lukodi massacre site. On May 19, 2004 the LRA raided Lukodi, surrounded the village and burnt down the huts with those who did not escape. Over 60 died. In the coming weeks and years the Lukodi people suffered much as they were the last to arrive in the other IDP camps and thus had the last of the huts, water and food. They suffered so much that they decided to move back to their village even though it could be dangerous.
Our students were very respectful of that place and then we walked into the present IDP camp.
We have been getting to know the child mothers and their children. Many of the kids were born in the bush while with the LRA and others from rape after returning as the girls are very vulnerable.
The students have jumped into life in the huts.
They have brought water from the bore hole, slept in huts, showered with a basin.
All have done so well.
On this team we have Ashley, Sarah, matt, Tommy, Cory, Erin, Joyce, Caitlin, Maret and Susie and Patrick as staff.
I will report on the team in Kampala next week as I travel there next Tuesday.
We took a tour of the Child Voice Center and then went to the Lukodi massacre site. On May 19, 2004 the LRA raided Lukodi, surrounded the village and burnt down the huts with those who did not escape. Over 60 died. In the coming weeks and years the Lukodi people suffered much as they were the last to arrive in the other IDP camps and thus had the last of the huts, water and food. They suffered so much that they decided to move back to their village even though it could be dangerous.
Our students were very respectful of that place and then we walked into the present IDP camp.
We have been getting to know the child mothers and their children. Many of the kids were born in the bush while with the LRA and others from rape after returning as the girls are very vulnerable.
The students have jumped into life in the huts.
They have brought water from the bore hole, slept in huts, showered with a basin.
All have done so well.
On this team we have Ashley, Sarah, matt, Tommy, Cory, Erin, Joyce, Caitlin, Maret and Susie and Patrick as staff.
I will report on the team in Kampala next week as I travel there next Tuesday.
Impact from last year seen in Uganda
When we finished last year's trip we left changed and satisfied but did not realize the impact our time there would have. This saturday morning (May 30) we woke up to a demonstration of the Art school made up of 10 street kids from the north at the FOCUS camp on Lake Victoria.
After last years program, one of the Ugandan students called Andrew, responded to God's call to care for these children and begin this ministry. With the investment of Amanda (our freshmen from Wellesley College) he began to invite kids in. Amanda came over in January 09 to help and two other Ugandan students with us last year, Saul and Regis, are part of the team.
I was amazed and humbled that this powerful work began out of the seed of God's work last year.
Calvin, the oldest boy is very gifted and his painting is his journey from seeing his village burnt to the ground by the LRA and darkness to more and more light in his life.
After last years program, one of the Ugandan students called Andrew, responded to God's call to care for these children and begin this ministry. With the investment of Amanda (our freshmen from Wellesley College) he began to invite kids in. Amanda came over in January 09 to help and two other Ugandan students with us last year, Saul and Regis, are part of the team.
I was amazed and humbled that this powerful work began out of the seed of God's work last year.
Calvin, the oldest boy is very gifted and his painting is his journey from seeing his village burnt to the ground by the LRA and darkness to more and more light in his life.
The two teams begin their work
Since the last entry we have crossed the pond to London, flown south to Kenya and Uganda, spent the weekend at a FOCUS camp with our new Uganda University partners, and divided into two teams who are now in northern Uganda and Nansana,near Kampala. I will try to load a few photos that will speak many words.
tom brink
tom brink
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