After 30 plus hours of travel to get to Uganda, we spent our first night in Kampala. We met Sam Lutalo and he shared his testimony with us. We met with Robert Kantende CEO of Sports Outreach in Uganda, and he shared his story with us. Hearing the testimonies of staff was impactful because they gave up other opportunities, such as professional soccer, to serve with Sports Outreach and share the gospel.
Seeing the slums of Kampala was very eye opening because I have not seen such poverty before. They have so little and yet they are content. After a five-hour drive from Kampala to Gulu, we met with the staff and we were introduced to the girls at Christine’s house. They greeted us with a song and dance, and welcomed us into their home. We had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of the girls. We were asked to pray for and encourage each girl. I was brought to tears because these girls had forgiven their abusers as a result of receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior through hearing how Jesus wants to be a part of their life. Some of these girls did not know Jesus and how much he loves them until they came to Christine’s house.
The training on trauma we did went well! The staff appreciated how unique and different our training was from other trainings they had been to. We trained the staff on attachment, intergenerational trauma, how the brain responds during trauma, and more. Building trust when healing from trauma is vital, and so I had the staff do some trust building exercises on my day of training. They had to blind fold a partner and tell the partner where to go. Everyone participating was laughing and having fun. At the end of our four-day training, each staff member was presented with a certificate with their name printed.
One of the days we were in Gulu, we got to visit with the girls from Niki’s village. It was there these girls showed us how to braid hair, and they displayed the handmade items they created (e.g bags, purses, headbands, skirts, blankets). I also enjoyed playing games with the girls from Niki’s village and Christine’s house; played games, made smores, played with play dough, and read stories to them.
One thing that I have thought about again and again is how impoverished these people are, yet how rich in spiritually they are. I want to thank you all so much because without your support this trip would not have been possible. We have already discussed the possibility of going back in the future to continue their work. Please continue to pray that the staff will use what we taught them to impact those in the community and the girls at Christine's house.
Seeing the slums of Kampala was very eye opening because I have not seen such poverty before. They have so little and yet they are content. After a five-hour drive from Kampala to Gulu, we met with the staff and we were introduced to the girls at Christine’s house. They greeted us with a song and dance, and welcomed us into their home. We had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of the girls. We were asked to pray for and encourage each girl. I was brought to tears because these girls had forgiven their abusers as a result of receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior through hearing how Jesus wants to be a part of their life. Some of these girls did not know Jesus and how much he loves them until they came to Christine’s house.
The training on trauma we did went well! The staff appreciated how unique and different our training was from other trainings they had been to. We trained the staff on attachment, intergenerational trauma, how the brain responds during trauma, and more. Building trust when healing from trauma is vital, and so I had the staff do some trust building exercises on my day of training. They had to blind fold a partner and tell the partner where to go. Everyone participating was laughing and having fun. At the end of our four-day training, each staff member was presented with a certificate with their name printed.
One of the days we were in Gulu, we got to visit with the girls from Niki’s village. It was there these girls showed us how to braid hair, and they displayed the handmade items they created (e.g bags, purses, headbands, skirts, blankets). I also enjoyed playing games with the girls from Niki’s village and Christine’s house; played games, made smores, played with play dough, and read stories to them.
One thing that I have thought about again and again is how impoverished these people are, yet how rich in spiritually they are. I want to thank you all so much because without your support this trip would not have been possible. We have already discussed the possibility of going back in the future to continue their work. Please continue to pray that the staff will use what we taught them to impact those in the community and the girls at Christine's house.