One Step at a Time: We Love You, Uganda!

Such an amazing trip! I always say Uganda is just a short distance from Heaven. I forget how much I love it until the plane sets down, and then that wonderful "coming home" feeling returns! We met the mission team from Metropolitan Baptist Church, as we did last summer. They are THE BEST group to do missions with. Zack and Dana did a great job leading us!

There is a young man, Samuel, that was adopted from Uganda, and he returned with the group to see his Ugandan family. We went to his village. Happy times watching their reunion!

We also painted and fenced a church! We painted the inside and outside of the church at Wakisi, and built a fence around the property. We did not finish the painting, but accomplished LOTS of painting. The fencing was completed. We cleaned brushes at the local water well. The children seemed to think that was quite entertaining to watch! It was a wonderful time of working alongside the Ugandan church members on their church. Of course, they worked circles around me! They also showed me how to scrub cement floors, and get the paint spots off. Hard work, but I loved learning from them!

Our group split up on Sunday, and attended five different churches. Larry and I attended Pastor Mathias's church. This is the church we helped with a children's teachers' workshop in October. I was so blessed to go to Children's Church and hear them singing, and reciting passages from the Bible. It doesn't get better than that!

We had a birthday party for the kids at Mashah, complete with cake, drinks, party hats, toys, and dancing! They loved it, and so did we!

Then, the next week, we visited eight schools! We played games...tug-of-war was a hit; made a craft, and presented the Gospel message. We were joined on the mission trip by KKREW, a young Christian music group. They are outstanding Christians, and have a great rapport with the kids. I loved being with the kids of course! Nothing better!!!

One evening, we held a service at Elevare for the Wakisi community. Through a fund-raiser event, Elevare was able to buy clothes for each child that came! They each received a "top and bottom" outfit! Their faces were such a blessing! They were so excited! This same fund-raiser allowed us to hand out shoes at some of the schools. Too fun!!!

Larry and I have fallen in love with Pastor Mathias and his family. They have become part of our family. We were able to go to Junior's Visitation Day. It was a special time visiting with the whole family, including meeting sweet Petra, and precious Mitchell.

We have learned so much about faith from our African family and friends. They depend on God completely, and it is such a blessing to see them live out their faith. My goal is for my Heavenly Father to say I have that kind of faith someday. As Pastor Mathias said, "God is the only one who does not make mistakes and can not be questioned." We loved, as always, being in Africa! God led us there, just as He always leads us...One Step at a Time!