Bethany and I are heading out to Uganda and Israel with our church ROCKHARBOR at the end of the month. We are raising support for this trip and we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and family. We are about 70% funded as I write this, so if you would like to give towards our trip and the ministry we will be a part of there, please follow this link! I wanted to do a series of blog posts before, hopefully during, and after the trip to give you a little more insight into what God is doing in us, and in the lives of the people we meet along the way. This post will be about Uganda- and the next one will be about Israel.

Have you ever heard so much about a place that it feels like you’ve been there? That’s what Uganda feels like to us. Uganda has been a place that has been close to Bethany and me for the last 10 years or so. For me, it started back in high school. My older sister came home from college with a documentary called Invisible Children about a then war torn country in Africa. That documentary significantly impacted me and and many others in my generation. Over the next 10 years I would see dozens of my friends go to live in Uganda for months at a time, my sister help start a jewelry company (31BITS) to help empower Ugandan women, and become part of a church that helped to plant a church in Uganda (GBCC- more on them in a minute). When I met Bethany, she was working with an organization called Krochet Kids, that was- you guessed it- based out of Uganda. When you are this close to a place- it feels as if you’ve been there- but the funny thing is, we haven’t!

People have been asking us what we are most excited about for Uganda. I think I am honestly most excited to stand in one spot, do a 360 degree turn, look up, look down, and see the place with my own eyes. I am excited to meet the people and to hear their stories. To hear about the pain, the perseverance, and in the midst of hardship, the presence of God.

One of the unique parts of this trip, is that we are going to celebrate. Ten years ago, ROCKHARBOR helped plant a church called Gulu Bible Community Church. A church that has itself planted 17 more churches (or campuses) in the villages surrounding Gulu. We are going to join with our brothers and sisters at GBCC to celebrate their anniversary. This will be the first time that all the village churches will be meeting together in one place. And from what I am told, Ugandan people know how to celebrate! There will be lots of singing and dancing- so pray for us- that we can keep up!

One of the things I am most excited about is to learn from my brothers and sisters in Uganda. Some of the most impactful times in my life and ministry have been being taught and prayed for by Pastor Martin (the lead pastor at GBCC). He has an amazing story, and a gift of giving to others what he has received from God. I am excited to continue learning from him and to grow in ministry. We are also excited to meet Gerald- the child we sponsor through Christ the Center Ministries. We are excited to encourage, and be encouraged by him, in person. We are excited to jump in wherever we are needed- whether that’s spending time with kids, praying for the sick, listening to stories, or dancing and celebrating. We are excited to step into whatever God has for us there. We know that God is going to do so much more than we can hope for, and we are excited to jump in!

Ways to Pray for us: that we would make the most of every opportunity, for unity in the team, for health and energy, for power from the Holy Spirit, that we would be an encouragement to the people of Uganda and GBCC.

To learn more about our trip or to give financially CLICK HERE.

Other Links: 31Bits / Krochet Kids / Invisible Children / Christ the Center Ministries