中華歸主海沃教會

(3)東非烏干達短宣

--- Dustin & Valene

Our missions trip began with traveling for 28 hours starting in San Francisco, then through London and Kenya, and finally to Uganda.  We were a part of a team of 8 people consisting of members of Valene’s former church, Chinese Community United Methodist Church (CCUMC) in Oakland.  The ages of our team ranged from us, who are in our late-twenties, to a few others who were already retired.  Though this was our first time visiting Uganda or even Africa for us and most of our team members, we were comforted that our team leader, Aeri, had experience traveling to Uganda for the past 12 years.

We spent most of our time in Kumi, Uganda which is a small town in northeastern Uganda.  In Kumi we worked alongside a locally established and run ministry called Youth and Child Visionary Ministries (YCVM).  This organization originated about 10 years ago and consists of four primary leaders—Silver, Grace, Patrick, and Emanuel (nicknamed Ema)—, a number of board members (including two pastors), and a Praise & Worship band that play traditional African instruments and consists of about a dozen members.

[From left to right: Grace, Ema, Silver, Valene, Dustin, Patrick]

YCVM is a local Christian effort to care for the vulnerable and orphaned children of Kumi and its neighboring communities.  In addition to providing the basic needs of the children, YCVM sponsors the orphans to go to boarding school (the common practice in Uganda) to receive an education so that they have the opportunity to free themselves from and rise above the disadvantaged life dealt to them.  YCVM believes that educating the next generation is vital to the health and future of Uganda.  YCVM also shares the hope and joy of life in Christ with the people of Uganda through Praise & Worship (and dancing, lots and lots of dancing!).  The YCVM band and team members travel to villages, schools, and even local prisons to share God’s love.

YCVM’s future goals include sponsoring more children, providing housing to the children when school is on holiday, and to build its own boarding school that exemplifies and teaches Christian values.  We were able to visit and meet some of the YCVM sponsored children on this trip.  We were also able to see the house that was built for the children.  The basic structure is complete, however, plumbing and electricity need to be put in.  Then, once the windows and doors are installed, the children can start to live in the house.  One of the main missions of this trip was to help build the school.  Two years ago, YCVM received enough money to purchase the land for the school and build the foundation.  The school had not been worked on further until we had arrived.  By the time we left, half the school had brick walls reaching to window height!  They will continue to build the school until the money runs out.  They do not have money to finish the school, but they continue to have faith that God will provide the resources to complete the building of the school.

Every day was an amazing experience in Uganda.  We were in awe not only at how we saw God working in the lives of the Ugandan people and the members of YCVM, but how God took what little we thought we could offer and used us for great things.  God had revealed his glory and his work to us so clearly, that by the middle of the trip, we were starting each day in expectation of God to do something wonderful, amazing, and miraculous that day. 

One of these experiences happened early on our trip.  We were discussing the schedule with the YCVM team and found out that they would like one of our team members to share a message for Sunday worship.  Though before the trip, we were given the advice to be flexible, we didn’t expect to be asked to preach a sermon for two worship services.  At first, two of the older team members decided to share the task and share a testimony or share an encouraging word.  One of the YCVM team members revealed to us that the theme of the recent messages at church has been about “grace” and “salvation”.  Once Dustin heard this, he sighed and said to himself, “Oh, gosh.”  You see, first of all, when it was requested for someone to speak at church, Dustin felt that they weren’t asking for a testimony or sharing, but felt that they were expecting a bible teaching type message.  Because he had already prepared a devotional for the team that was about “grace” and “salvation”, he knew that God wanted him to speak, and all he needed to do was tweak his devotional into a message.  Dustin was very anxious about speaking in front of so many people, but felt that God’s clear call was enough to make him take a step out of his comfort zone. Valene sensed Dustin’s nervousness and became his personal prayer warrior up until Sunday morning.  When Dustin spoke during the worship service, God filled him with His words and His message, and he felt at ease.  Six women got saved and gave their lives to the Lord that Sunday morning.  The next Sunday, Dustin preached the same message in a local prison.  About forty prisoners accepted Christ that day.  We were completely humbled and in awe at how God used Dustin to preach His gospel and save lives.  How awesome is our God!

Another special experience happened on our two year anniversary, which we celebrated in Uganda on July 14th.  On this particular day we had two things to do.  First, in the morning we went to the site of the YCVM’s future boarding school and helped work on the construction of the school building.  Second, in the afternoon we went to an all girls high school to do worship and to share the love of God in our lives.  Before going to the school our team decided to have someone share his/her testimony to these high school girls.  Valene felt God tugging on her heart that this would be the day that she should share.  She personally does not like to talk in front of groups of people, especially a whole high school of people.  However, Valene knew that God would be doing amazing things that day and knew that she needed to allow Him to use her in the process.  During the one hour ride there, Valene began to get very nervous, so much to the point that she had trouble breathing and felt like she had a stomachache.  Valene really had to call out to God to be her comfort and peace.  When we arrived at the school, Valene quickly learned that there were about 400 high school girls waiting for us. Although she was still nervous, she no longer felt sick.  She allowed herself to dance and sing during the Praise & Worship time and felt truly filled with the Holy Spirit.  There’s nothing like dancing and singing at the top of your lungs for God!  Once the music stopped, Valene was introduced and invited to share.  She truly felt at peace and surrounded by the love of all those around her as she talked.  Valene knew that worshiping together had brought such a sense of community into the place.  She was able to share about her insecurities as a female, and how God continues to remind her that she is His daughter and His wonderful creation.  That afternoon, through God’s amazing power, we had the privilege of seeing over 150 girls give their lives to Christ.  We felt God’s presence in that place in such a powerful way.

Our time in Uganda was filled with so many emotions and moments: magical, transforming, heartbreaking, and inspiring.  Above all, it was truly God centered and God powered from day one. 

If you would like to learn more about YCVM, you can go to the website www.ycvm.org .  Information about donating directly to the organization can also be found on the website.  Also, there will be opportunities in the future to help sponsor children.

We know God wants us to go back to Uganda.  We don’t know when, but it will be in God’s perfect timing and will.  Is God calling you to Uganda?  Please pray about it.  =)