We recently started sending teams on mission trips to the African country of Uganda. It has become a well-loved place for World Racers, Real Life participants, and others who have visited this country that is rich in love and generosity, despite some of the horrors she has endured.
Last year, we launched a blog to catalog the experiences of our college-age participants who were serving in Uganda. Here are some of the highlights (click the titles to read the whole blog post) from the summer:
To the numerous Ugandans we nearly hit we were little more than a big
blue blur going way too fast. We were on our way to the war torn town of
Gulu traveling as a group of 35 in the back of a truck with all of our
equipment underneath us and around us.Gulu is a place that has spent
more than twenty years being trapped in the middle of a rebel war. Its
children have been kidnapped and brainwashed, scarring them for life and
begging the attention of international aid agencies.The ride to Gulu is a memory just begging to be written about. We
may have been a blur to those we met along the way, but to me the
country of Uganda was unrolling its giant green carpet before the
uninhibited adventurer, the dreamer of a thousand and one dreams, to
Joseph Batts.
-Joseph Batts, “I Killed“
In this place, I am finding that God’s
presence is inescapable. I see it in the people who have so many
struggles to overcome (such as the immense poverty and the darkness),
yet still have a certain joy about them. I have seen this most clearly
in the children. I love having the kids just hanging on my arms, holding
my hands, and smiling the widest smiles.
-Kayla Thomas, “More of You“
Lira is almost impossible to describe.
Emily, Travis and I are getting involved at a local Deaf school here and
I am currently falling in love with it and the kids there. I can’t wait
to learn more of the signs and be able to better communicate with them.
It is such a passion given directly from the Lord! During introductions
one day one boy started signing super fast to us and we were of course
clueless. As we stood there wondering what in the world he was saying
the translator started to smile. I knew it had something to do with God
because I did recognize that sign. After he finished we were told what
he had said: “We want to be friends with you all. Even though
we are deaf and it is harder to communicate we will be friends.
Although we have a unique language barrier we are bonded. We might be
different colors of skin but we are UNITED. We are all brothers and
sisters because of God. We will be friends because we are united through
Christ.”
-Danielle Peddy, “A Sign of Love“
The stories continue. This January, we’re launching World Race and Real Life teams that will be serving in Uganda, and we have opportunities for you to take a mission trip to Uganda this summer.
For opportunities to take a mission trip to Uganda, check our trip list for the most up-to-date information. However, here are a few trips to Uganda that you might be interested in:
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