July 3

There's more pictures and a video below this.

Today is the first leg of our journey home. I got to drag everyone out of bed early this morning – as in 4:30 am – so didn’t really have time to write anything prior to our departure for the airport. Right now the plane is over the Mediterranean and according to the moving map it appears we’ll be flying directly over Palermo, Sicily. Someday I’d love to see the area – and the rest of Italy, and the rest of Europe – on the ground.

Yesterday was nice end to our stay. After a leisurely morning, we went to a local hotel that had apparently agreed to let us use their pool briefly. Ken had decided that he wanted to be baptized in Uganda, so along with the KIU students we all attended the event. Branden, Cameron and Kennedy participated in the baptism. Once they were dried off, we shared Communion with the students.

Then it was off to do some shopping. Since I’m posting this prior to our arrival home I’m not going to tell anyone what they’re getting for gifts. I did purchase a traditional African shirt for myself. And no Alex, Nick and Cameron – T-shirts that say “Mzungu” on them are NOT traditional African shirts!

We spent the afternoon with the students and it was a very bittersweet time. Many stories and perceptions were shared. Every one of us have developed very strong friendships with these folks. They have truly touched our hearts. When your travelers get home, ask to see pictures of Kennedy, Antony, Aaron, Patrick, Vivian, Sophie, Manu, Grace, Evelyn, Jackson, Brian – all of them. Let us tell you about them, about what wonderful people we have discovered, about their remarkable love for the Lord.

From the celebration with them, we have found that we are not the only ones who have been touched. Patrick, Brian and Sophie told us how they had not been particularly active in the campus church, but joining in with us has shown them a new meaning, a new fervor for their faith. Aaron and Antony told us how Ken and I have given them a new role model for parenting. Kennedy told us that he has never worked with a team that they’ve grown as close to, that they’ve been able to develop the relationships with like they did with us.

And on my heart this morning (or afternoon or whatever time it is now!), I am still praying for their ministry. I’ve mentioned a few times over the past few weeks that the KIU students are primarily Kenyan, with some Tanzanians and Rwandans mixed in. There are very few Ugandans in their group. If one thinks of the logical conclusion to this, you’ll realize that the majority of them will return to their home countries. Yes, there will likely be others to take up the mantle behind them, but I’m praying that they would gather more Ugandans into their group – people who not only love God but who are truly devoted to their country. I would like to ask those reading the blog to pray for this as well.

Michael – our wonderful driver – showed up at the guest house at 5:30 am to pick us up. Accompanying him were Kennedy, Antony, Aaron, Manu, Patrick, Jackson & Vivian. As we’ve become used to, we were not allowed to carry our own baggage out to the bus, nor were we allowed to unload it at the airport. Once the unloading process was complete, there were numerous hugs and a virtual flood of tears as we said our goodbyes. As Sam said yesterday, it was like saying goodbye to your best friends.

And now we’re off to London to play for a day. I’ll likely give everyone a report of that as well before we return home, but in the meantime I’d like to tell you a little about what I told the group yesterday afternoon. I told them that I had originally accepted Christ as my savior at age 7, but that since there was no support for that around me, the faith was allowed to dwindle to almost nothing. The Lord pursued me, however, throughout my childhood and early adulthood until I came back at age 23. I told them that my enormous, overriding concern before leaving on this trip was that we would come over to Uganda, lots of people would be saved, and then they’d be left on their own. I worried incessantly that there would not be a support system to teach them, to disciple them.

I then told them how overjoyed I am that these KIU students ARE that support system, that the people who have sought a relationship with God through Jesus do have a support system. I also told them that we will be coming back, making a return trip to Africa. The fact that I said “we” was quickly grasped by Branden – he interrupted me to make sure he was hearing correctly. “Excuse me Dale, but by saying ‘we’, you’re including yourself, you know.” I told him that I was very aware of that.

So we’re “Out of Africa”, ladies & gentlemen. I know that each and every one of us left a piece of our heart there.

Kayla’s Comments

Hey everyone it’s Kayla and I am writing to you from the airplane in low spirits. Coming on this trip to Africa has been the single most exciting moment of my life. I had no idea that God was going to work as much in my heart as he did these past few weeks and I am so grateful for this experience. From the moment of stepping off of the plane in Entebbe and talking with Matthew I knew that this was going to be incredible and sure enough it was.

To me and I know for almost everyone else, this trip required me to step out of my comfort zone. I was shocked at some of the things that I did such as sharing my testimony at three different schools and going around in the slums sharing the word of God to others. Let me be the first one to tell you that this wasn’t easy but I am so glad that I had this opportunity to evangelize and grow in my relationship with the Lord. Another thing that I didn’t expect was to create the kinds of relationships that I did with the KIU students. They are absolutely amazing people that just give off this genuine love for each other and for Christ that it truly inspires me. I have bonded with them so much in particular with Sophie, Patrick, Brian and Emmanuel that I know I have created lifelong friendships with them and can say that I am going to miss them so much and they will always have a place in my heart.

I have been having a hard time ever since saying good-bye to all of the KIU students at the airport and I truly just didn’t want to leave Uganda. If I could, I would have wanted to stay for the whole summer. This is just the beginning of my journey with God and I have so much more to learn and grow from. Uganda does hold a special piece in my heart as Dale mentioned earlier and I would absolutely love to return with this team and ministry and I’m praying that it is Gods will for this to be a reality soon.

Katie’s comments

Hello America, this Katie writing from the plane.  Dale just caught me as I was reading scripture and really processing this mission trip so it was great timing to write you. To be honest I don’t even know where to begin and how to sum up this mission to you. Words will never do justice to the work of the Holy Spirit. Pictures (2200 I’ve taken) will never show the true work of God, the extreme poverty, or even the beautiful people of Uganda.

Going into this mission I knew I would leave changed and challenged. But never did I believe I would have my life flipped upside down. God has really stirred my heart these past few weeks in ways that have frightened me. To be honest I don’t know what this looks like but I know it includes Africa in some way. My prayer is that each one of you who has been reading this blog gets the opportunity to hear the amazing work of God from the team. God took a small team from Portland and a team from Africa and together made miracles happen. God took the obedience and willingness of us all and used us to His glory!! From the demon-possessed girl, to the Muslim converts, to feeding the people in the slums God was at work. I sit here in awe of a Mighty God we serve. This mission was an opportunity that I pray each one of you has the chance to do. The harvest in Uganda is RIPE!

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.- Matthew 9:37,38

The people are in need of a Savior. The people are thirsty for hope, life, Jesus! I am challenging you as I have been challenged. These people are desperate. These people have faces, these people have names, these people are children of God! They deserve clean water, food, and to hear the good news of Jesus! I apologize if I seem overzealous but I am writing from a deep passion, real experiences, and the call of Christ in my life.

I thank you all for following us on this journey! Next time I pray you join us in loving Africa! It will change your life! :)