After going to Uganda for several short trips, we began contemplating how we could do more. Since airfare is the majority of our cost, staying longer seemed like the logical next step. We proposed the idea to Pastors Rafe Wright and Makumbi Johnson, who agreed that this extended stay could meet multiple needs. It made even more sense because the Stanleys are in training to become long-term missionaries in Uganda.
So what will we do during these 2 months?
June: For the first 3 weeks we're in Uganda, much of our focus will be on learning the language and culture. We will learn how to shop in the markets and cook for ourselves. We'll learn how to do our laundry as the Ugandans do. As we go about learning the day to day life of a Ugandan, we'll be seeking every opportunity to share the love of Christ with the people we are living among.
Youth Trip: A team of youth from Christ Fellowship will arrive in Uganda on June 28th. They are joining with Victory Living Word Church to host a conference aimed at teaching pastors how to develop a youth ministry for 11-18 year olds.
Here is a description from our church:
"During the pastoral training last winter 2012, Jon Ewton taught about raising up and preparing the next generation. He challenged pastors to look at what they are currently doing, how they are training and discipling what we would call “our 6-12 grade students”. This discovery has opened up a huge opportunity of growth for Ugandan youth. Currently, half of the country’s population is under the age of 15
and little is in place to Biblically train these young people. For the past 12 months, Pastor Johnson and Jon Ewton have been in talks about CF’s role and how we might go about training Ugandan pastors in this area. In June, CF will lead a pastoral training conference solely for Student Ministry."
At this time, we are planning to assist with this youth conference but our role is yet unknown. We simply want to pour out all that we are in service to God, so we are ready and willing to help when the time arrives.
Church Plant: On July 5th, we will join a second team from Christ Fellowship for a trip similar to that of the past few years. From approximately 8am-4pm, we will host medical, dental, and vision clinics to help meet the physical needs of the Ugandan people while sharing the gospel message with each person. For the remainder of the evening, we will join our brothers and sisters to hold a gospel outreach. Floyd and Kim will help lead American style worship and we'll all enjoy hours of dancing while the Ugandans lead worship in their style. A Biblical message will be shared and we pray that many will come to know Christ for the first time. We will repeat this experience in 4 different villages, leaving behind a new church with a local pastor to carry on the mission.
The After: After a few years of what our pastor likes to call a "water walking encounter with the Living God," we wanted to see what life is like when the team leaves and we remain far from home. So, as our American partners head home to the U.S., we will return to our summer home in Uganda. We will go back to every day living and continue to seek opportunities to share the love of Christ with our neighbors. We hope to get a small taste of what long term missionaries experience.
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