As I prepared for the Mission Trip to Uganda (my first ever mission trip), I did my best to let go of any pre-conceived notions regarding Africa, third world countries, etc. and just be open to the experience.  I must say that the pre-trip "advice" regarding anti-malarial meds, garlic pills, bottled water, etc. as well as recommended items to pack (2 pages-single spaced!) made that a little daunting!  Nonetheless, I arrived in Uganda (5:30 am!) with both anticipation and openness to whatever was to come.  What came were gracious hosts; a beautiful country (reminded me of Hawaii in the winter months); more food than I could eat (and I did grow to enjoy the local cuisine); spirit-filled workshops (2) and conferences (1); opened eyed and joyful children; a mission team that really bonded (Go - Youths!) and an opportunity to meet some wonderful people.  It was moving to participate in worship services spoken, and traditional hymns sung, in the local language and know we really are connected globally.  As Treasurer of Uganda Christian University Partners (UCUP), our visit to the campus, although brief, gave me a great opportunity to see the great strides that institution is making (with our help).  I am grateful to be part of a Diocese that is doing so much to fulfill the Great Commission. 

Bruce Clark
UCUP Treasurer

This was my second trip to Uganda.  Because it was the second time, I found myself more relaxed, more ready to greet and be part of the fellowship with the people we met. The people make us feel special that we had made the effort to come to help.  They really honored us because we do come and even come back again.

I was very excited to see how much building had been done on the campus of Uganda Christian University in the two years since we had been there.  The Campus has become a lovely place as they reclaim the old buildings, build new buildings and work on the grounds.  It was just a delight to hear that the enrollment has grown.    It is such a marvel to see what God has done through many individuals to bring about such a profound place and to know that the impact on the lives of the students, their families, and the Country of Uganda will be great.

It was a special blessing to meet with the student our Bible study help support through Uganda Partners.  The experience there has changed his life and he was so grateful.  He along with about nine other Uganda Partners scholarship recipients came to a Tea.  Each one of them had a very special story of how God had redeemed their lives and prepared them for the future.  The gratefulness and their recognition of God at work was a blessing to all who heard their stories.

I enjoyed getting to know the team and was deeply blessed by our team devotions.  Going on a Mission Trip always calls for stretching out of our comfort zones and this trip was no different.   I rejoice to see God wooing each one of us beyond and in that was such was such sweet memories.   My hope is that in it all God was honored and He can use for
His glory.

Ginger Black,
Scholarship Sponsor

I thank the Lord for putting together a great team of youth and adults alike to help make this a most memorable trip. Here are a few of my trip reactions:

• Just like our last trip, I enjoyed the people of Uganda who are so gracious and humble despite their having so little.  Again, this shows that material things themselves - I was particularly impressed with the young people of Uganda.  At Bbira, for example, the many young people were so well mannered and behaved without any adult supervision. I think that we might learn from them how to better raise our children!
• I continue to be impressed with the amazing progress being made at UCU, not only with the new and improved facilities, but the expansion of the academic programs such as Nursing.
• Again, I was very impressed with the organization (and cool) demonstrated by our leader Momma Diane Stanton.
• I am grateful to our chaplain, Ft. Rob Smith for very meaningful devotions.
• I was grateful for the time to be able to have significant discussions with the UCU faculty on the directions for current and future academic programs.  We also began to discuss potential strategies for involvement with a World Bank project for 3rd world countries entitled the Millennium Science Initiative.

Murray Black,
Scholarship Sponsor and
Consultant to the IT Department at UCU

Although you hear it all the time, Uganda was truly nothing like I thought or dreamed it would be. Going to Uganda was such a huge blessing that I still have moments where I find myself in tears of joy, weeks after my trip, remembering what God did in my life during this trip. Certainly it was the greatest experience of my life and certainly it was just the beginning of this experience. Being in Uganda I felt home more if not equal to here. We are truly one family in Christ dispersed amongst this world and nothing can break those bonds. We worship one God and are one church with one large, spectacular family. When asked how my missionary work in Uganda went I thought about it long and hard and realized that I hadn’t done any missionary work… my purpose for being there was to learn better ways for my missionary work here. They certainly have their own problems alike to ours but in learning from each other we create better lives for ourselves as a family.

Trevor Burbank,
Youth Team Member