This is my third summer traveling to Uganda, but this year my trip has started a little differently. In previous years, I’ve arrived at our ministry campus with a large group from GOD Int’l. This year, Lydia and I are on our second immersion trip, meaning we are in Uganda longer than our previous trips and have projects to implement as part of our curriculum at the Institute for GOD. We’ve come to Uganda ahead of the larger group. The first of our tasks this summer is to help with preparing the campus to host over 200 people for various ministry events.
At the beginning of this trip, Mr. Garner taught from Genesis 1 about the importance of taking dominion over our environment and ordering it so it is hospitable for people to live in, and more importantly to be educated in. This summer so much Bible teaching is going to take place on our campus here in Uganda. I’ve been so blessed to be a helping hand to our cooperatives and students here in Uganda as we do various tasks like landscaping, cleaning, gathering supplies, and organizing spaces. Normally they are doing all this prep themselves, and though they are very capable people, it can be a lot to manage, so extra hands are certainly beneficial.
It’s also been so sweet to put in the work alongside our friends, the Institute students from Uganda and Kenya. The quality time we are getting is so special because we are building up our friendship through hours of doing ministry together. That is the kind of relationship building that lasts a lifetime. Most people maintain friendships because of their shared culture or experiences. It’s a gift to be able to maintain our relationships with the students here in EA, and we’ve been able to do that because we share a love for God’s word. This year’s theme for the summer is Nu Nation, and I certainly feel that theme coming to life as we continue deepening our bonds of friendship despite our differing cultures and worldviews.
All of the preparations we’ve done have only made me more excited for what’s ahead. This summer has already been full of sweet memories, laughter, and hard work. I can only imagine there is more to come, and I can’t wait.