The first half of this week was spent finishing up a leadership conference, and entering into our first SLAM week in Uganda, East Africa. We finished up a weekend of empowerment for these Ugandan and Kenyan leaders. Our weekend was spent facilitating SLAM (students living a mission) presentations that went over all of the major aspects of SLAM, and spending quality time in worship and in Gods word with our leaders. After a couple days of being with them, we went over to our GOD campus and began facilitating our SLAM week.
This was the first week where our leaders on internship handed over the reigns to us and gave us the opportunity to lead SLAM. We spent our entire week in Nashville learning each of our SLAM roles and being trained by a professional in each of them. So when it came time for us to step up and use what we have been shown, we felt ready. It was a little scary and overwhelming, but our leaders trusted us. They trusted our capacities and wanted to give us the opportunity to step up and enact the roles that we have been given responsibility over, while they were still there to monitor and help.
So Monday at around 5pm, we began registration and SLAM week began. I was in charge of registration, which lasted about 4-5 hours. Students were coming from all over, and it required a lot of time of waiting and preparing for all of the students arrival. Each students eyes were filled with eagerness to learn gods word, and excitement to be in a place that was away from their home for the week. After a couple hours….we eventually began our first session, and the Lord really met us. He was present in our gazebo and showed up for the first session of a long week.
Flash forward to the end of the week…filled with a lot of learning curves. But, God’s grace filled the gap between our failures, and the needs of the kids we saw in-front of us. The kids sweet smiles and teary eyes spoke to the feeling of everyone in the room. They were testifying to how their perception of muzungu (white people) changed, but most importantly their perception of God and his character has changed. They came to know of the illumination that comes from following God. And, how God loves and cares for them. I will never forget the faces of the kids I met this SLAM week. I will hold their stories close to my heart and pray for them daily.
I am so thankful that our leaders trusted us with such an important task of helping facilitate SLAM. God is continuing to develop our team, and giving us the ability to use our gifts for bringing his kingdom here on earth. Please pray for all of us as we are finishing up our trip. The Lord has already been near, but we need the prayers of those around us to lift us up to continue serving and drawing near to the Lord. Love you all- Gabriella Lasater