We are part of something bigger..
If you receive our newsletters, you might have read somewhere that seven of us from the US and one from the Netherlands travelled miles away from their homes last month to visit and connect with our big Ugandan family. They joyfully share their main highlights from the trip.
“A highlight of this trip was that I felt very welcomed by such a joyful people wherever I went. One day as I was walking home with two ladies from the US Team, a three- to four-year-old girl approached me just to give me a big hug. During another visit to a school, as I stepped out of a classroom, I suddenly felt a small hand in mine—it was a girl’s hand. She held my left hand confidently, unafraid to express what was on her heart. This was an eye opener for me to meet such a joyful and appreciative community despite being poverty stricken. Secondly, I loved the unity among our US and Ugandan team members. The fellowship among us was both very natural and precious. Sharing experiences and testimonies formed a special bond among us. Thirdly, it was amazing to pray for others and see God at work within them. Some got healed instantly, others some time later. One elderly lady, in particular, was delivered from severe stomach pains and she was able to work the land in two days. The teachers’ workshop on Bible story telling with Samuel Davis was also such a big highlight for me. I am very grateful to be part of this team.”
TCI Family celebrating Helena's Birthday
“For me, the highlight of the August 2024 Uganda trip was the people! First our team that the Lord put together, and how by the end He had knitted us together. The last morning in Kiburara, one of the young women who served us stated how she had seen such unity in our group - that was such a blessing as it answered our prayer that God would give us unity. This was my first time in Uganda and Africa. From the moment we arrived, I felt the warm welcome from our Ugandan team. The singing, dancing and drum playing - wow, what a welcome! As we shared meals, times of worship and prayer, laughter, tears, fun van rides, games and relaxing times - this team felt like family! I came home with such an appreciation and respect for TCI, the people who support the work on the ground, and all those around the world who support this precious work in this nation. I saw the hearts of those serving the families, the schools, the neighborhoods and I came away with the true definition of love - putting God first, seeking Him in all things, and all other things will be added. (Matthew 6:33). This was a life changing experience for me!”
The singing, dancing and drum playing
“A big highlight is the gift of being part of a group led by Frank and Sue, who have hearts for the Lord, the people of Uganda, and for one another. We are also thankful to God for the amazing opportunity to meet with a group of secondary school teachers, and to be used by the Holy Spirit and Jesus as we prayed with them. Thirdly, we are grateful for the opportunity to visit primary schools and a preschool, and pray with and for the teachers and students. Underneath being welcoming, open and loving, they face a lot of life hardships and pressures. Their financial barriers (e.g. school supplies and personal hygiene items are a big burden) and emotional distress (caused by dysfunctional families and bread winner demands) with no knowledge or access to counselling services weighed heavily in our hearts. However, we are grateful that God is there and we are just His hands and feet. Fourthly, it was a blessing to gain a deeper understanding of life and culture in Uganda. We got to attend a Christian wedding, and learn about wedding customs – including the journey a young man must take to win his bride, negotiate the bride price, plan the wedding; the isolation and preparation of the bride before the wedding, and the celebration itself. At the end of the trip, we sat together as a group at Lake Mburo and shared our experiences of God’s work in using all of us during our time in Uganda. We were joined by a warthog, and further away monkeys and baboons, and in the distance, hippos.”
“The biggest highlight for me was one on one time with people. Whether it was with our team or with students and teachers at the schools, we got to see God move while ministering to people in the various ways they needed. It was a blessing to pray, listen to stories and learn about the work in Kiburara. The animals were also such a joy!”
“I had an emotional time when we are welcomed with drums and dancing at Pastor Moses’ home. It is like that all the time when we get reunited. Our work also felt more personal rather than abstract by being on the ground. The highlight for me was praying for people for example one old mother who received physical healing and healing in her marriage after a long time of struggling. A second highlight was the faithfulness and ambition of Kiburara Alpha and Omega secondary school teachers- far away from their homes (they could have been working for higher pay in government schools) and the primary school teachers, who sometimes only get half pay. The unity of our team was also a highlight”
“For me it is always a blessing to share with the people we love our experiences in Uganda. Our team had a heart to bless the people they came into contact in a special way which is God’s heart; I was especially glad that we took some time to pray for the late Pastor Lauben. Our team was also very flexible to the Spirit’s leading. Everyone was a great help to us (with reports, photos and notes). It was wonderful seeing God use the gifts and talents that He has put in each person in the team for his plans and purposes. It is such a privilege being part of something much bigger that the Lord is doing; we won’t know the fullness of it until we get to heaven”
The team praying for Pastor Lauben
Truly a welcoming, loving, God- filled, celebratory, unifying, learning and life changing experience!
_ by Gloria Nderitu