Uganda Prayer Support Update

Here is a brief update to those of you who are supporting Kathryn and me in preparations for our two-week mission trip to Uganda from July 30th to August 15th. We really appreciate your prayers and encouragement!

Some bumps and bruises, but the team is beginning to “gel”

Our little team of 6 had our fourth group meeting this past Tuesday. To be totally honest, it didn’t go as well as we would have liked. After some reflection, we see that the culprit was mainly our lack of spiritual preparation. I think that I (Brent) in particular am learning that for an activity like a mission trip, having a full agenda and everyone completing their homework is just not enough. If we, and especially I, are not prepared spiritually, then things just won’t work very well!

Still, I think this is part of the process of “getting real” with each other. We must learn how to forgive each other and resolve our conflicts, or we will never be able to survive in Uganda!

Parent’s Night Out - first real chance to work together

From an emotional low on Tuesday after the meeting we came to a euphoric high on Friday at Parent’s Night Out. The event was a HUGE success! Our Uganda Missions Team was assisted by some 15-20 volunteers from our church. Together we took care of 34 kids on Friday evening for 3+ hours. The purpose of the event was both to raise funds for our trip and to give parents a much needed “night out!”

The event went off without a hitch! We split the kids up into groups by age. They had counselors who stayed with them, and rotated through stations in which they did crafts, played games, enjoyed snacks, and learned about missionaries.

The kids seemed to have a TON of fun, and I don’t think the volunteers were too far behind. As a team, we raised close to $500 that we will share to cover our trip costs. But I think that for our Uganda Missions Team, the sense of unity and trust that starts to develop after successfully completing such a project far outweighs the monetary gain. I was so encouraged to see how we rallied together in service for God!

An abundance of blessing!

We have been blessed by a tremendous outpouring of generous giving, both by those in our church and by our own friends and family. Praise God, Kat and I are well on our way to covering the cost of the trip!

It brings to mind Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

When we are faithful with a little, God blesses us with a lot! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Prayer requests

Our hosts for the trip, Dave and Darlene Eby, wrote recently to tell us that a tragedy has occurred in their midst, involving their good friends and fellow missionaries in Uganda, Scott and Laura Scheffer, of Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. Laura and one of Scott's workers, George, were killed after being struck by a car outside a restaurant. Laura left behind Scott and four children, and George left behind a wife and two young children. Please pray for these families and the Ebys, who are most distraught.

Please pray for the development of our ministry and activities. Over the next month we need to work with the Ebys, a team from Connecticut, the Mission to the World (MTW) staff in Atlanta, and our contacts with Ugandan nationals to put together an itinerary. The communications challenges are daunting! I take solace in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God knows what is going to happen, even when I may not see the whole picture!

Closing

Thanks to all for your love, support, and encouragement! It has been humbling to plan this activity, but in a good way. Every time we get puffed up and feel like it’s our work, God most courteously smacks us back down. But every time we rely on Him alone, we see that He is faithful.

All blessings,

Brent and Kat