Transforming Uganda

This summer, Jackson Senyonga and Christian Life Ministries have hosted about 120 guests from the United States for short-term mission trips, with winter mission trip coming up in December, the number of guests is expected to go beyond 150. Praise God!

My family and I, Pastor Jackson Senyonga, just returned to the United States from our summer long trip home. It was a glorious time of ministry on several fronts.

Wow, what an amazing experience!

After almost two weeks in Uganda, working with Christian Life Ministries I hope I have the opportunity to return. Our team was quite busy helping dozens of children, moms and a dentist; painting six homes, hanging clothes lines and various other small projects. We experienced a true blessing when we were able to meet and play with hundreds of kids and be blessed by their love. Love not only for us but for God. It was a tremendous sight to see them preaching the Word to the younger kids and leading us in worship. Being able to develop relationships with different children made it all that much more special to be able to do these little acts of service. We were no longer just helping out a few kids and moms but we were helping our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ. They blessed us more than we could have ever imagined.

 One thing that always seems to happen on a mission trip is that you go to serve the people and in turn they serve you and bless. This happened not only in the ways that I just shared but also by Pastor Jackson and his team sharing with us what they, as a church, have learned about prayer. Over the course of a morning several members of the staff shared some incredible life stories and the prayers that went with them; one woman was healed from HIV/Aids! Pastor Jackson continued by giving us some principles that they have learned through their trials about prayer. The blessings didn’t stop there, after sharing some great insights they proceeded to pray over our entire team. It was a great reminder of how much God is at work around the whole world not just in our own little area.

 I do not know if I will have the opportunity to return to Uganda and to serve alongside Christian Life Ministries in the future, but given the experience and the transformation that takes place I will if I can. Christian Life Church is working on Transforming Uganda, and they are, but they have also transformed us. Thank you to all who helped this trip a success; or those of you who want to experience this for yourself – you can – this December or next summer.

By Greg Weaver

We all made it home, can’t wait for the next trip in December.  More info coming soon.

The last three days have been hit or miss regarding internet, so I apologize for lack of information.

The last four days have been ministry days at the orphan village in Seeta. It has been a beautiful site to see the team interacting and connecting with children. It is really evidence that just our being here has impacted these children in a special way.

The Oaks team has departed and returned home. We miss the personalities that this amazing group of people brought to our team, and we are happy that they have made it home safe and happy. We look forward to feedback as to how this trip has impacted each individual.

The Dental clinic has been running strong. Many patients have been seen, and many pains have been healed. For many that have been praying for God to heal them, Dr. Dan was the answer to that prayer. It has been awesome to see the Cornerstone clan at work, calming the children and the mums before their scary, but ultimately rewarding, time in the chair.

We have reached our goal to repaint 5 homes, thanks to our interpreters. It is amazing how much difference a fresh coat of paint can make in the feel of a home. The moms and boys were so happy to have their houses painted.

The Oaks team finished decorating The Mighty Oaks home. It is beautiful, and the residents are very proud of their new abode.

A project that just came about last minute, the clothesline project, surprisingly had a huge impact. Lines weren’t up 5 seconds before they were covered with clothes. Today, which is laundry day, it was nice to pull up and see no clothes thrown across bushes getting dirty. All clothes were up on lines.

The mums have been really touched this trip, from the towels and small gifts to the Moms in Touch presentation, it is evident that they are spiritually and emotionally renewed as you walk by and are greeted with a friendly, confident smile from a woman that works very hard taking care of 12 or more children. I really wish the Oaks team could experience the last few days and see the difference in the moms.

All in all, it has been a beautiful couple of days. Team members have been connecting with children and moms, and each day I am taken back by a Godly or humble act bestowed upon me by one of the moms or children. This is a wonderful place to serve, as I have seen the impact we have had on the people here, and I have experienced inside of me an impact much greater, just as God has promised us.

-Tasha Lucas

I am very proud of our team and all that they have accomplished today:

Dental Clinic :: Dr. Dan, Donna O., Connie, Brenda, and Gina started seeing children today at the orphan village today for their dental clinic. They saw 40 children and one interpreter.
Mum’s Ministry :: Many of the team, after assembling towels and gifts for the Mums and the children in their houses, presented the gifts to the mums and prayed for them. It was so heartwarming to see how thankful they were for the smallest of gifts.
House Décor :: The Mighty Oaks house is painted with the designer colors and ready for furniture and curtains. The curtains are sewn.
House Painting :: One house is completely finished. Another is well on its way to being completed.
Bev’s Physical Therapy :: Upon chance, Bev found Slyvia, a little girl that had a stroke. She worked with Slyvia and her mom, Jennifer, to implement some exercises so Slyvia can learn to walk.
Clotheslines :: Greg, Jeff, and Tim went through almost a full roll of wire today putting up clotheslines. It wasn’t a split second after the lines were done that they were covered in clothes. These make such a difference in the lives of the moms and the lives of the clothes.
Lightbulbs :: Tim went to the houses and replaced burned out lightbulbs with new ones so that there is light in the homes.

The Oaks team heads home tomorrow. Please pray for safe travels for them. We will miss them!!

Today was a day intended for a little sight seeing. We headed off to Jinja this morning, about an hour and a half drive. We visited first the B— Falls. This is a very popular spot for white water rafting because there are Class 5 sections of the Nile (White Nile). We saw not only the gorgeous landscape and the astounding power of the water, but also some crazy folk kayaking and taking the jerrycan down stream. Many of the kayakers spend a good percentage of the time out of view of spectators as the water swallowed them whole. The jerrycan people, well they are just plain crazy. They went down the waves floating on top of a 5 gallon plastic container.

After some moments to take in the wonder, we headed by bus to the source of the Nile. There, we first ate lunch. Our Fish and Chips for many was an experience as the fish came out whole, eyes and all, welcoming us to dig in. Some did, some didn’t, but all in all, it was a great experience eating with view of the Nile River. We even saw some wildlife over lunch, including monkeys, birds, and a colorful lizard. After lunch, we walked down to the river and boarded two boats, which I would describe as large row boats with a small awning overhead. They did have small engines on the back. Our guide James took us to find wildlife, and as a result we got to see monkeys, one with a baby, three monitor lizards, and a variety of neat birds. We heard a little bit about the Nile, including the fact that it takes 90 days for the water to travel from the source of the Nile to the Mediterranean Sea as it is 4000 miles long. We stopped off at an island that is at the beginning of the Nile River. There, we saw the exact marker for Mile 0 of the river and many members of our team literally crawled (“like cows” according to James) across the Nile to the marker. It was great fun, and our guide James was wonderful.

Afterwards, we had some time to souvenir shop before heading back to the hotel. We had a taxi van plus the coaster on the way back, but due to mechanical difficulties with the cab, we all scrunched into the bus again. I guess that is one thing about being in a country with many older vehicles.

The meeting was beautiful, with worship songs lead by Tim on guitar and Amy at lead vocals. Our people of the day were Chris and Donna P. Here is how their day went:

Chris said he had a wonderful day and that he enjoyed the time to relax. He talked about the 20 minutes he sat on a rock overlooking the falls, with time to calm his mind. He was proud that he didn’t spend a dime, which made the group laugh because most of us knew his refusal to pay the bathroom troll that insisted on charging each participant. He liked the fish and loved the opportunity to stand with his feet in the Nile.

Donna P never dreamed she would see the Nile, and was so excited about that part of her day. She kept thining about yesterday during church, in which people kept thanking her for coming. She felt, “Don’t thank me! It is a privilege to be here!” She is enjoying getting to know not only the team, but also many Ugandans, on a different level. She said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better day,” and she was amazed that we were among the last people to ever see the falls.

Tomorrow’s people of the day are Dan, Donna O, Nancy, and Amy. We will be wishing Dan a happy 60th birthday!!

Today was a day intended for a little sight seeing. We headed off to Jinja this morning, about an hour and a half drive. We visited first the B— Falls. This is a very popular spot for white water rafting because there are Class 5 sections of the Nile (White Nile). We saw not only the gorgeous landscape and the astounding power of the water, but also some crazy folk kayaking and taking the jerrycan down stream. Many of the kayakers spend a good percentage of the time out of view of spectators as the water swallowed them whole. The jerrycan people, well they are just plain crazy. They went down the waves floating on top of a 5 gallon plastic container.

After some moments to take in the wonder, we headed by bus to the source of the Nile. There, we first ate lunch. Our Fish and Chips for many was an experience as the fish came out whole, eyes and all, welcoming us to dig in. Some did, some didn’t, but all in all, it was a great experience eating with view of the Nile River. We even saw some wildlife over lunch, including monkeys, birds, and a colorful lizard. After lunch, we walked down to the river and boarded two boats, which I would describe as large row boats with a small awning overhead. They did have small engines on the back. Our guide James took us to find wildlife, and as a result we got to see monkeys, one with a baby, three monitor lizards, and a variety of neat birds. We heard a little bit about the Nile, including the fact that it takes 90 days for the water to travel from the source of the Nile to the Mediterranean Sea as it is 4000 miles long. We stopped off at an island that is at the beginning of the Nile River. There, we saw the exact marker for Mile 0 of the river and many members of our team literally crawled (“like cows” according to James) across the Nile to the marker. It was great fun, and our guide James was wonderful.

Afterwards, we had some time to souvenir shop before heading back to the hotel. We had a taxi van plus the coaster on the way back, but due to mechanical difficulties with the cab, we all scrunched into the bus again. I guess that is one thing about being in a country with many older vehicles.

The meeting was beautiful, with worship songs lead by Tim on guitar and Amy at lead vocals. Our people of the day were Chris and Donna P. Here is how their day went:

Chris said he had a wonderful day and that he enjoyed the time to relax. He talked about the 20 minutes he sat on a rock overlooking the falls, with time to calm his mind. He was proud that he didn’t spend a dime, which made the group laugh because most of us knew his refusal to pay the bathroom troll that insisted on charging each participant. He liked the fish and loved the opportunity to stand with his feet in the Nile.

Donna P never dreamed she would see the Nile, and was so excited about that part of her day. She kept thining about yesterday during church, in which people kept thanking her for coming. She felt, “Don’t thank me! It is a privilege to be here!” She is enjoying getting to know not only the team, but also many Ugandans, on a different level. She said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better day,” and she was amazed that we were among the last people to ever see the falls.

Tomorrow’s people of the day are Dan, Donna O, Nancy, and Amy. We will be wishing Dan a happy 60th birthday!!

Today we:
- Went to CLC and saw Pastor Jackson speak
- Toured the radio and TV stations
- Went to lunch with much of the pastoral staff of CLC at Shanghai Chinese Restaurant
- Went to visit a fellowship plant at Nambole

Today was Andrea, Jeff, Joyce, and Donna M’s “person of the day” day. This is their recap of today:

Andrea, who spoke during church to the thousands in attendance, felt that God was speaking to her the whole day. “The last few days have been amazing for me because I have gotten to watch our team shining with the light of Jesus.”

Jeff said, “I had a really good day. It is always a blessing to hear Pastor Jackson speak”. Talking of the orphanage, he liked when he saw the children praying. He was refreshed to see that these kids are content with nothing, always smiling. “There is no depression like our kids when they don’t get a video game. It is awesome to bring these kids up in the Lord.”

Donna M said that it was a good day. She said it was a privelege to go to Chrisitan Life Church and that Pastor Jackson’s message really spoke to her.

Joyce was marveled at the threads that God has been weaving in her life. We all look forward to seeing what those threads continue to form as the weave gets longer and longer.

Sorry, it has been a few days since we posted, I have been busy receiving our teams and getting the ministry going at the orphanage village. God has brought together a wonderful team; we are 25 strong willing servants to be used of the Lord.

After two airport runs and a couple of late nights our whole team was together. The desire of our host’s Pastor Jackson and Eve with Christian Life Church (CLC) is for us to experience what God is doing through their various ministries. From their work with 1,000 orphans in two villages, (the main one here in Seeta, and a smaller one up north in Lira) to their radio and TV work, and church planting fellowships. Thus our trip is part vision trip and part service.

We are working at the orphan village in Seeta a variety of ways; painting the inside of homes, furnishing four homes, a number of small maintenance projects and a dental clinic. We will visit a couple of CLC ministry sites along with spend a morning with Pastor Jackson and staff to hear what the Lord taught them in the discipline of prayer. The team has done an amazing job of connecting with the children and mums. They are learning how a simple word, smile or act of kindness can bring such happiness. We have had a few bumps, yet all have responded with such grace and patience.

Several highlight for me: The first was getting a note yesterday from Rusty. She is Frank’s sister who the Lord brought us together last year. Frank is the oldest of three children. His father was brutally killed by a neighbor in a land dispute in front off all three children. Their mother died a year later and with no family who could take them in, CLC was able to give them a home and future. Frank dreams of becoming a doctor some day. In the note Rusty was thanking me for being a friend to her brother, for caring for him, returning to visit him, for giving him a few things that he has shared with her and their other brother. I was blown away with the maturity of this 10 year old, to be thanking me for loving on her brother. I was so thankful that the Lord had lead me to bring her a small gift and we had fun yesterday playing in her home with it along with several or her house mates.

The second is seeing how such a small act of compassion can have an amazing impact. The cheering that went up from running some new stronger cloth lines for the mums. The team before us had installed a new cloth line, which was wonderful and had the supplies for another and asked if I could put it up for them. We purchase some stronger wire and decided to expand the clothing line project to replace old lines and install new ones as well. It just so happen it was on a day big laundry day and the mums where so thankful their clothes were no longer touching the ground from the weighted clothes mixed with the weak lines. Also, we discovered that a number of the homes didn’t have working light bulbs. Last summer’s team brought light to each home, but 35 of them needed one or both of their bulbs replaced. To hear the cheers as we brought light again to these home that had been in the dark for weeks was so cool.

Finally seeing a vision come together is rewarding. The two main churches from the states that are here serving sponsor over 100 children between them. I thought a great way to blessed these sponsored children would be to give them each a small gift from each church, knowing many of their sponsors would not be able to come and visit them personally as well I wanted them to see their sponsors are part of a larger movement of God that works through His Church. This also helped to model I hope to future teams how they can bless a larger group of children then just the few who happen to have their sponsor along on the team. I also hoped this would help grow the vision of the sending church, that sponsorship is not just an individual thing, but can be a part and churches vision and extension of their ministry into the lives of the children. We had an amazing time together yesterday morning, worshiping together, sharing from the Word and loving on them. You can see some photos from the last two days on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=189457&id=697403537&l=c86c4ff251 and we post some more on the TU blog soon. Thanks for walking this journey with us.

Blessings, Asher