Hello Fam!
We would love to introduce you to the team going to Uganda in Summer of 2020. We wanted to share a little more about it, give some reasons behind why we are doing this thing, and invite you into the incredible blessing it has already been.
At the end of June, a team from Desert Springs Bible Church will be spending over 48 hours traveling to a country halfway across the globe to first love, and secondly serve. We will be spending 90% of our time in Kibaale, Uganda, which is a small remote village near the Western border of the nation. By Kibaalan standards, many of you reading this would rank in their top 10% in regards to socio-economics. You have a device to read this on, you most likely have a job, and are more educated than 90% of Uganda as a whole nation. Running water and electricity are not guarantees in the village but rather are a luxury experienced only every so often.
This is a whole team effort. DSBC is sending our team of 15 people (featured above) who are preparing our hearts to go and love the Ugandan people, right where they are. We are not going to solve the problems which ravage the nation. We are not going simply to build things and fix things. Going over to do that would be less effective- we’d send money instead. We are going down below the equator (not by far) to love on these people, and teach them that we have traveled to tell them that they are so special and loved. We are going to celebrate our humanity together and hopefully remind them they are not alone, they are worthy, and have dignity, three concepts which are receding in this world, instead of progressing. This trip isn’t about fixing, buying, or building. A check would do a better job than 15 humans. This trip is about love and empathy.
While we are down there, we are not going to just be walking around and hugging random children, while I’m sure it’s bound to happen sometimes. We will actually helping to create a literacy program, a library, and aiding in home visits for the children under the care of the organization A Perfect Injustice. This organization helps the village and greater area of Kampala in providing children with the necessary support when their families can no longer provide that care and have left them behind.
So why are we wanting to do this? Have you ever had something in your life in which you had to be a part of, say, or do? You can’t explain it. You understand that it doesn’t make sense, but you have to do it with all your being anyways? Yeah, it’s like that. For some, the only reason we are doing this trip is because of God sending us to love on these fellow brothers and sisters.
Africans, Ugandans, people from outside the U.S are not less than, different (negatively), or remotely unlovable simply because they come from a nation still struggling to build from its historical roots. They are all humans, who have flesh and blood, who belong in the family. If the library doesn’t get finished, it will be okay and get done, whether it’s by our group, or another that follows. What matters to us is that a child understands that they are loved, regardless of the circumstances they sit in. To see a child smile, laugh a little, and remember that someone somewhere cares and loves their existence is worth traveling oceans for. Why? Because those children grow into adults who turn around and do the same thing for other children. There is instant impact, future impact, and eternal impact. We’re in this for the eternal game.
Loving children who run away from it, because it’s what they have learned to do in survival isn’t easy. Going to teach educators who are incredibly disadvantaged and under-supplied gets very real when we can be thankful for our school desks or even a free education system to all students, even in the midst of a broken U.S educational system. Knowing there will be children starving on every street we walk and not be able to help is heartbreaking. However, this is where Jesus, love, and resources have such significance. It’s not about someone remembering our names, it’s about the impact the community and locals will continue to have on each other because of Jesus.
This is no small feat to travel across the globe and do this. There are 15 members of this team traveling, bringing supplies and fundraising. We have talked to many who would love to travel and cannot. We have an option for you. Although you may not be able to bless our family in Africa with your physical presence, you can be a blessing through financially supporting those who can be there physically. If you would like to bless this team traveling, those in Uganda, and be a part of this, you can donate here. Financially donating is not the only way to be a part of this. We absolutely also need your prayers, as we continue to draw closer to going and while we are in the country through re-entry into the U.S. If you would like for us as a team to know of your prayers, you can add them in the comments, or send us an email and they will be shared with the team. We so greatly appreciate it. Going, giving and praying are all incredible blessings, and all are immensely needed.
We are working on a blog to keep track of the team updates and keep in communication of all that will be going on while we are in country. Thank you for the continued prayers, financial gifts, and support as we continue to prepare and love Uganda.