Hello family and friends! I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying your summer. Since our last update in our Christmas letter, we have not experienced much change, but we have experienced quite a bit of busyness! Craig has just completed year one of his two year MBA program, and I am working at Baylor University as an Academic Advisor. Participating in our Life Group Bible study and serving in the high school youth keep us actively involved in our church.
In December of 2005, I was shown a two hour documentary entitled Invisible Children; it is a film exposing the horrors and atrocities that have taken place in war-torn Uganda. According to Invisible Children,
“Tens of thousands have been injured or killed by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda. Since 1986, the LRA has abducted and brainwashed more than 20,000 boys and girls to fight as child soldiers in his militia.”
This documentary began a work in me that God has been fostering for quite some time. Last spring, when I was teaching high school English, I was able to show the film to my students as part of a writing project. They too gained an interest in Uganda, and several participated in an Invisible Children/ Uganda awareness event with me! I began to pray for more opportunities to become involved in what the Lord is doing in Northern Uganda.
After carrying this country in my heart for a year and a half, God has opened a door for me to minister to the people and children of Uganda!
Craig is not able take time away from work and school, and unfortunately, he will not be able to join me on this mission trip. We committed my desire to join the short term team unto the Lord, and we both feel he has given His approval. Though, without Craig, it will be a challenging journey for me, I believe the Lord wants me to experience a time of complete dependency upon Him for strength, wisdom, and discernment.
On August 3, 2007 I will be leaving with 15 others from our church for 10 days to share Jesus in Uganda.
Peace is slowly returning to the region after over 20 years of unrest. Praise God!
Strategically located in Northern Uganda, Restoration Gateway, our Uganda church plant, will make a 500 acre plot on the Nile River--home. The community will be established with the following key elements:
• Loving homes, education and health care for 300-350 orphaned children
• Biblical training for missionaries and local pastors
• A health care institution to provide ministry to the sick, as well as teaching for physicians, dentists, nurses, and other healthcare workers
• A camp for children and a retreat center for Ugandan pastors
• Agricultural and fishery projects to help sustain the community
• An on-site sanctuary for worship and teaching scripture
• A school for job training and professional skill development
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”
James 1:27
We will be working with our newly-formed long-term team to build homes for orphans, hospital, and training center for pastors. This is an incredible undertaking that has gained the approval and blessing of the president of Uganda.
We’ll be living on the land for eight or nine days (either in tents or mud huts) as we build Restoration Gateway and share the love of Jesus in the surrounding villages. Last summer the team saw over 100 people commit their lives to following Jesus. Many are now involved in a newly formed church.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew. 24:14
