Uganda Team Update
Hello from the Uganda team!
We have spent the last week recovering from jet lag, nursing
ourselves back to health (mentally and physically) and appreciating our
families and beds more than ever before.
Thank you for your prayers, we definitely felt them, and although we are
very happy to be home we had an amazing experience that we would love to share
with you.
Our team had a plethora of really cool opportunities like
visiting schools, clinics, well dedications, villages and local NGOs. One of the things we loved was arriving
at schools and villages and being met with the singing and dancing of
children’s choirs. There’s nothing
like experiencing other cultures and people groups to introduce you to a
different side of the Creator whose image they are reflecting. What a blessing!!
Mission 4 Character had its huge Anniversary Event while we
were there, so we got to see and be a part of that. Heights partners with Mission 4 Character to print manuals
that can be brought into schools, government and a group of widows that meets
weekly. The manuals take principles
from Proverbs and show how to practically apply them to life. Being able to see and hear the stories
of transformation was incredible.
Another thing that Hope 4 Kids (the organization we went
with) does, is provide safe water to villages. There were several well dedications during our time in
Uganda, which are a really unique experience because you are able to go to the
original water source and see for yourself the conditions, not to mention
seeing how far these women and children are hauling water, before you gather
with the community and celebrate the new well.
My personal highlight was Smile Africa, an organization that
feeds and houses children from the Karamojong people group who were on the
streets, as well as rescuing babies who were abandoned. The masterfully talented Jena Duncan
painted a beautiful mural for the baby home at Smile Africa (pictured
below). Here are some of the faces
of Smile Africa:
It is always such a blessing to serve beside our brothers
and sister in Christ from different places. A lot of times I think we go on mission trips to “change the
world” but the only change we see is that of our own hearts. I was truly humbled to see the work
that these incredible people are doing day-in and day-out to serve in these
ministries in Uganda. Thank you again for covering us in prayer!
P.S. We got the chance to see Hippos (my favorite mammals) and I couldn't go a whole blog post without sharing, so here you go!!
On behalf of the team,
Deborah Strombeck
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