I wrote the first part of this a while ago but was not able to finish it, so it sounds like it was written in Uganda during the first week and that’s true.
In the world’s eyes, it can look as though our freedom is being taken away on this trip (give up your summer to serve others? Don’t have control of your schedule? Etc.). But I would argue that my eyes are continually being opened to the wonderful life that God has in store.
The theme of dying to yourself has been really present on this trip for me. On internship you are going to be put in uncomfortable environments that are going to test your will power to endure challenges, but also, your power to submit your will to the Lord.
Since we got to Uganda, it has felt like we’ve been going non stop. We had to pick it up into high gear once we got off the plane because there is a lot to do here. No more dilly dallying or lolly gagging. We are on mission. Not the mission trip where you spend a few days with the locals and few days at the beach. No. There are people here who need us to invest into them. There are people here who are in love with God’s Word and need it. It’s time to start watering so God can start growing people.
So far we’ve put on a SLAM leadership conference in Entebbe Uganda where we did Bible studies and presentations on how to run a SLAM camp. A lot of the leaders I met last year and I can’t explain the joy I felt seeing them again and spending time catching up. We then wrapped that up and attended a church and visited a school as we made our way to our campus in Kabonge so we could start setting up for a SLAM service camp for students across Uganda. (Also, if you don’t know what SLAM is, please go check it out on the web— slamweb.org—it’s a pretty awesome program).
Once we got to campus, we worked hard to get ready for students to arrive for the service camp. As someone who has participated in this internship before I have extra responsibilities, specifically helping with service project implementation. This role had me staying up late, making sure students were getting to service projects the next day, learning to put into practice the word that they were taught.
It’s really tiring, but I also realize that if I want to continue this in the future, it takes hard work. In fact, I will be going for the rest of my life for the Lord, non stop work for his kids to learn about him. It’s denying what I would want to do for my life, trying to find comfortability and luxury. Some people might see it as restricting, but it is freeing. Not just for me, but it creates freedom for all the youth that we are serving. It’s freedom for kids to be themselves, to love learning God’s word, and to live the way God wants them to. There is freedom in that. It takes sacrifice and denial of self, but it’s worth it for the body to thrive.