The Road to Uganda

In June I plan to go to Uganda with my church. It’s an exciting opportunity for a number of reasons, one of which is simply that every missions trip I’ve been on has been life-changing and faith-strengthening, and I haven’t been on a missions trip since 2005. I’m a little bit excited.

But I don’t want to do this alone. I’d like you all to pray for me and the team as we get ready. To help with that, over the next several months I intend to blog about this trip (hopefully weekly, but we’ll see), as well as reflect on those past missions trips and how they impacted my life.

This first post is hopefully going to be the least interesting. It’s my support letter. I haven’t even finished sending them yet (and some of you reading this may get a physical letter, especially if you’re related to me). But, hey, it’s easy content and I have to start somewhere, right?

Perhaps more importantly, though, will you pray for me and the team?

  • Pray for our fundraising efforts, especially for the teens. This trip ain’t cheap, and only a few of us can afford to pay out-of-pocket as necessary.
  • Pray for the details (especially since I’m the one pulling a lot of them together, hah).
  • Pray for Welcome Home Ministries. I learned this past weekend that a number of the orphans are about to age out of their particular orphanage (which is age 0-6) and due to a shifting political environment, they’re not certain where those kids will end up long-term.

Hi friends!

I hope you’re enjoying Fall! It’s always amazing that even as a single woman who hasn’t been in school for over a decade, my life still revolves around school schedules.

Over the last several years (and over my entire life, really), God has been extraordinarily faithful to me, moving me both personally and professionally in ways that have brought me closer to Him. One big way is through church. About three years ago, I became a member of Red Cedar Church, a small but extremely community-focused church which excels at both preaching the Gospel and teaching me to love my neighbors very well.

Next June, Red Cedar is sending a small team to Uganda to work with Welcome Home Ministries, an orphanage that seeks to return children to their families whenever possible. While there, we will:

  • help with everyday tasks, such as laundry (which means the local staff will have more time to spend with the kids).
  • partner with local churches for a VBS-like program and a community worship service.
  • work with a medical mission team to serve approximately 700 people.
  • connect with a local Bible training program for pastors.

I’m particularly excited to travel with about a dozen teens on this trip and see what God does in their lives. My own missions trips have been life-changing, and I can’t wait to go as a “seasoned adult” (as the team leader put it) and help them process how God is working in their lives.

I’d love for you to partner with me in two ways. First is financially. We have each been asked to raise approximately $2500 by January 1 to cover expenses (particularly airfare). I would be incredibly appreciative if you choose to partner with me financially. For a tax-deductible contribution, you can mail a check made out to Red Cedar Church with Uganda 2020 and my name in the memo line and mailed to Red Cedar Church, 550 Grand River Avenue, Okemos, MI 48864. If you prefer, you can use Venmo to make a non-tax-deductible donation; just search for “Red Cedar Church Mission Trip” (@Uganda2020).

More importantly, though, I covet your prayers. This trip will be rough physically, and if it’s like any of my previous missions trips, it will be rough emotionally as well. But it will be so, so worth it for the ability to support Welcome Home Ministries, and for the spiritual growth I expect to see in myself and the teens. Over the next few months I plan to blog about my past experiences with missions trips and my hopes for this trip to Uganda, and I’d love for you to follow along and pray with and for me.

Whether you choose to support me financially, through prayer, or both, I deeply appreciate it!

P.S. You can follow the trip on Facebook too!

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