Uganda: Celebrate 2017 (Original post January 13, 2018)

I’m in Uganda today, traveling across the country between two very different projects. The first part of the trip was largely administrative. We were following up on some projects that we had begun with schools in Progressive Missions network. It has been a great time so far.
Often, when you do these types of trips, it can be tiring and even disappointing. Sometimes you find that people have not done what they have promised. Other times, you find that funds have been mismanaged. You may even find that conditions in the country have changed and derailed what seemed like a good idea. Quite often, this type of trip can be pretty disappointing. These are the times when you must revisit your calling.

God, is theirs really where you called me?
God, is this what you had in mind?

If you engage the mission long enough and at a personal, relational level, you will come across seasons like this. If the mission only brings a smile to your face and never a tear to your eye, you haven’t been at it long enough or you haven’t gone deep enough with the people whom you serve.
We have experienced these seasons before and I know we will again, but this trip has been a real joy. It’s as though God has allowed us just a glimpse of the impact His church is having. Here are a few of the celebrations.

• The children have shoes to protect their feet. The Stafford Crossing family sent bags full of shoes in June. The kids love them. Many of them are now under new management. As kids outgrow the shoes, they are passed to the next class for another life.
• The wells you funded are pumping out healthy water. In the village of Syekobero, the local mosque has a shallow well with unclean water. It was the only source nearby but you had to be Muslim to use it. Our well has healthy water and is available to the entire community. The other well has been covered up and everyone in the village gets water from New Hope Church. You can imagine the Gospel conversations that happen around this well.
• We have acquired land to expand the church and school in Nanjeho. On the land, we have built a kitchen and latrine. Soon, we will start construction on the church building and classrooms.
• We were able to make a loan to one of prior students. She used the money to open a medical clinic. She has finished paying off the loan. In 2017, she delivered 11 healthy babies in her clinic and treated hundreds of kids for malaria, parasites, and dysentery. The clinic is called Restoration Medical Centre.
• We now have nearly 800 children enrolled in school where they receive healthy meals, a quality education, and most importantly, an understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• There are 120 pastors attending classes at our Bible school. We have four campuses around Uganda. They are studying together and strengthening their doctrine so they can lead their churches well. I had the privilege presenting a seminar on how to lead like Jesus. These pastors are eager to learn.
• One year ago, we introduced a model for discipleship groups connected to the local churches. This year, they are going strong and each one has multiplied at least once. There are over two dozen groups meeting in homes for the purpose of growing as disciples.

This last week has really been encouraging. I feel refreshed. I have a big smile on my face because I see the positive impact of many years of investing.
The coming week may look a little different. I just arrived in a town called Hoima, in western Uganda. Tomorrow, I will be visiting a refugee camp nearby. You see, as hard as life is in Uganda, people are running here from Congo and Sudan. I can only imagine what conditions are like in this camp. We received permission from the Ugandan government to enter the camp and see how we might serve the needs of the refugees. I have several church leaders with me and my hope is to empower them to be on mission in their own country.
Please pray that I am able to process what I see and pray that God makes clear how His church can partner together and serve the needs of these refugees.