Dear friends,
For the very final post, I asked NEGII team members to write a brief reflection describing what they learned, where they saw God, or what struck them most from our month together. I hope you will be as moved as I was by what they had to say!
Many thanks,
Sarah
Greg: On this trip, I learned about the importance of community in discovering and releasing our gifts and calling. I also learned about the importance of going into missions with nothing to bring except myself and Jesus. We’re often tempted to take something with us, like money or resources or expertise, but often what Jesus asks is that we bring nothing with us except the power and love of God. Then, when we interact with people, we see his power, and those whose lives we touch meet Jesus, not us.
Danielle: This trip has been amazing. I have experienced so many new and eye opening things. God has shown himself to me again and again and in many places I did not expect. I am so happy to have learned from the people around me and I can’t wait to share. It will be sad to leave this beautiful place but it will be great to spread this love to my friends and family whom I have missed dearly.
Abby: I know it would be pretty cliché to say that this trip has changed my life, but to be honest, there wouldn’t be any other way to describe it. God has revealed his calling for me on this trip: to love on people. This trip has been my beginning of God’s mission for my life, and there is no other mission I’d rather be fulfilling. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible.
Becky: On this trip I have learned more about life then I have in the last 19 years of my life. This trip has opened my eyes to the reality of the world. I have spent the last month conversing, listening, and learning about the suffering in the world. I have seen God’s presence and His work in situations even I thought there was no hope for. This trip has allowed me to witness God’s power and the future He has for His people.
Amanda: During my journey throughout this beautiful and rich land called Africa, God has made clear the impact Christian community makes when it models His heart for mankind. Christ has left us with an incredible responsibility to care for the underprivileged and I have hope that by facilitating peace, reconciliation and sustainability in individuals and in nations holistic healing is achieved. God has used my time in Uganda to challenge me to be an instrument of His peace, an advocate of His justice and a vessel of His love.
Teresa: Ugandans are a people who have witnessed more destruction and have more reason to despair than much of the world. To realize that these same people have a seemingly reckless hope in Christ is more than surprising – it is disarming. I have been truly disarmed by these beautiful people and by their trust that needs no material thing to assure them. I have been so blessed to serve them as a nurse, to learn from them, and simply to walk among them.
Maghan: Psalms 33:3-4 says, “For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything He does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.” I believe this, and I now believe this unfailing love of the Lord fills Uganda and Rwanda. In the midst of all the pain, suffering, sickness and injustice, I have seen the love of God, maybe more here then any other place I have been.
Miranda: I’ve seen a spectrum of people in Uganda—the kids in the slums to the leaders of NGOs. Jesus is the answer for all these people in every aspect in their lives. Only He has the power to heal the neglect, malnutrition, and alcoholism in the slums and provide guidance to leaders in how to bring reconciliation to Uganda.
Tatiana: I have had such a fantastic time here in Uganda and Rwanda. God has reworked my conception of what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ through the hope of the folks I’ve encountered here. The people working in the NGOs and the children they serve have shown me facets of Christ’s character I have never experienced. Lovelovelove!
Marie: Where is your hope based? So many global problems in one place can easily seem overwhelming; contrary to my ‘typical’ American response, money and organizations are only a temporary solution to a deeper problem. Money will run out, and outside organizations cannot provide everything for everybody. Thankfully, I’ve realized the eternal hope in Jesus.
Tracy: Uganda for me marks the beginning of a journey towards complete reconciliation, reconciliation of myself to God, myself to others, people to other people and people to God. I learned much more about how God will form my future and even though I do not quite understand it all, I am excited. From working with abandoned street kids and AIDS/HIV orphans as well as ex-child soldiers, God showed me his role as a Father. In this he also challenged me to model his example, as well as the many examples I have of parenthood I have in my life. I am beginning to realize that my testimony is essential to bringing reconciliation through Jesus to families.
Meredith: This journey has challenged me in so many ways. I am coming home with a far greater understanding of Christ’s heart for Uganda and for his children. My world has been stretched! I want to thank everyone who has followed, supported, and prayed for this group. May the wonders of the Lord be revealed to you as they have to all of us this month, and may His grace shine upon you. Love and Blessings!
Ken: God has been teaching me a lot about security on this trip, and how much we tend to value it back in the States. Whether it’s the way we spend our money and time, the way we relate to others, the way we share the Gospel, or even the way we try to limit God, we put so much value in being secure and in control. This trip has really shown me how much of an idol that has become in my comfortable American life – not that security is inherently bad, but it can easily become a hindrance to doing God’s work. I have been learning about boldly stepping out in faith and meeting God in what, by human power and logic, is “impossible.” I am so grateful for the countless ways God has been speaking to my heart this trip. Thanks again to everyone at home for your support.
Kelly: The underlying theme of the many lessons I have learned on this trip is reconciliation. First I had to reconcile my relationship with God. I have always struggled with the idea of a loving God coexisting with Evil. On this trip God has revealed to me that He doesn’t just coexist with suffering but that He is in suffering. Jesus embodied suffering so that humanity can be genuinely reconciled with one another and to our Creator.
Tina: In the love I’ve experienced through the street kids, the passion and faith of former child soldiers in the IDP camps, and the reconciliation witnessed between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda I have heard His gentle yet strong voice saying, “See. This is who I am.” And in Him, I put my hope and trust…
Yeona: This past month in Africa has been an adventure, and it’s been a blessing to take part in this God-ordained experience. I’ve learned so much from the local Ugandans and Rwandans—the faith with which Ugandans trust in the healing and transformational power of our God and the humility with which Rwandans have taken the wounds of their genocide to the foot of the cross have led to an expansion of my picture of Jesus. …and the sky here is beautiful. I will always cherish the moments of uncontained worship under the bright African stars.
Sarah S: Every time I experience trips like this one, I am struck by the dignity of the poor: their compassion for their community, their perseverance, and their ability to retain faith and humanity in the midst of intense suffering. I have so much respect for the people and the NGO’s we’ve encountered and am convinced more than ever that while the privileged have a clear role to play in fighting injustice, true and full justice will not come until the poor too rise up and reflect the image of God as defender, protector, and hope.
Katie: Despite the injustice in the slums of Kampala, the darkness in the lands of Northern Uganda, and the tension and fear in Rwanda – God has shown me again and again that He is able. The day of justice will come and His river of life will flow to all the lands and bring healing to the nations. There is hope for East Africa and that hope is found in God.
Sarah CJ (your friendly blogger): To return to Uganda after six years, to meet God again in this place, and to share it all with Greg was an incredible gift. What struck me more than anything on the project was the unique discipleship crucible that resulted from our partnership with FOCUS. I may have learned more on this trip about American "missions" culture, servant leadership, cross-cultural partnership, the power of God, and the relevance of the Gospel to a broken world than in all my previous years of ministry. Thank you, FOCUS!
Dear friends,
Today I am writing from my couch in Providence, RI—we are home safe and sound after another long but remarkably glitch-free travel day. The team parted ways gradually over the last 48 hours or so. Tati stayed in Kampala to begin another adventure, and Tracy and Marie left the group in London. Some of us traveled from JFK by car; others of us waited (and waited and waited, in some cases—I hope you are home by now, Mere!) for connecting flights. Thank you so much for your prayers for safe travels!
I never did get to write about Kigali before I left, so I wanted to fill you in on our last major adventure. As I mentioned before, we drove from Kampala, Uganda to Kigali, Rwanda for the weekend. (Any Ugandans reading this, it's okay to laugh!) The travel was much longer than anticipated—almost twice as long, in fact. We were hoping to make it in 8 hours, but it ended up taking more like 14. Somewhere along the way our faithful blue bus was dubbed "Eternity" by the group. ☺
The drive was absolutely breathtaking, however. Rwanda is known as "The Land of a Thousand Hills" and I'm sure we saw at least several hundred of them. We drove past brilliant green tea fields with huge "hills" (to a New Englander: mountains) cropping up out of nowhere on all sides, every one of which was cultivated patchwork-style to the very top. Here are some pictures of the drive:
Once in Kigali, we engaged in a jam-packed weekend of learning that reminded me in some ways of the Institute at the beginning of the project. From some previous travel and experience in Rwanda, I tried to line up a series of experiences that would help us understand Rwanda's history—in particular, the bloody genocide of 1994—and the remarkable ways that God is at work today bringing reconciliation between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.
Because of the short amount of time we had, the schedule was extremely tight. After 14 hours on the bus, I was sure that our Saturday evening program—a 6pm survivor story at the Genocide Museum—was toast. It was already a little past 7pm when we pulled into the parking lot, but we decided to try it anyway. And what we became fond of saying was that God provided us with a time change. It was an hour earlier in Kigali and we were right on time! Amazing.
The story we heard was heart-wrenching and painful, but helped us to ease into the reality of a post-genocidal society in a personal, tangible way. What became a theme for us throughout the weekend, and a helpful framework for thinking about our entire project, was the reality of suffering and pain (the "groanings" mentioned in Romans 8) punctuated with very real flashes of hope. When this young man was asked whether the nation had turned away from God after learning that several Catholic churches were complicit in the genocide, he described his own journey back to faith in recent years. He told us he came to a realization that though people and institutions in Rwanda had failed miserably, God never did. Through it all, God had been faithful. That kind of faith—a deep conviction of the goodness of God in the face of unimaginable suffering—was challenging to all of us and stayed with us long after we parted ways.
The following day, the miraculous provision of a taxi out of thin air when "Eternity" broke down meant that we were still able to visit the Genocide Museum as planned. We walked through exhibits detailing the various factors that led up to the genocide, the horror of those 90 days in 1994, the impotence of the international response, and what life in Rwanda has been like since. A mass grave outside (pictured below) provides space to mourn and remember loved ones, though only a fraction of the remains buried there were ever identified:
Needless to say, it was a heavy afternoon. Many of us left the museum with more questions than we had when we entered. Some of us wondered how we would ever find God in this place...
...and then we met with Antoine.
Antoine Rutayisire is the National Director of AEE/Rwanda (African Evangelistic Enterprises) and pastors an Anglican church in Kigali. He is also a genocide survivor and serves as the Vice-Chair of Rwanda's National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. As a college student, I worked with Antoine in 2000 and remembered his deep heart for reconciliation and contagious passion for Christ. I figured he would be the perfect person to speak to us about healing and reconciliation in Rwanda—but I had no idea just HOW perfect. Antoine was just exactly the person we needed to hear from. Our time with him was the highlight of the weekend and, for many of us, a highlight of the entire project.
He spoke to us about healing, about genuine repentance and forgiveness leading to lasting reconciliation, about the hope he sees for Rwanda's future, about forgiveness in his own life, about the cross of Jesus being the one place where both pain AND sin (from Isaiah 53: "sorrows" and "iniquities") meet and are lifted. I could never hope to do his words justice in this space, but suffice it to say that we were on holy ground that afternoon. We were deeply inspired, challenged, moved, and more aware of God's power and the reality of Ephesians 2 reconciliation than perhaps ever before. It was an incredible afternoon. We thank God for Antoine and for his ministry to the nation of Rwanda—and to us that afternoon.
From Rwanda, we traveled back to Uganda and spent the final three days of the project at a charming little place called "Banana Village" in Entebbe. We enjoyed hot showers (!), flush toilets, and a slightly slower pace as we debriefed together and prepared for reentry to the US. Here are a couple of shots from Banana Village:
One of the most exciting parts of this project is that reaching the US does not mean the end of NEGII. In many ways, this is just the beginning! Students were asked to come on the project with the expectation that they would bring what they learned back to campus in tangible, practical ways. We believe that there are many things we learned in Uganda—about God, about His people, about His purposes in the world—that our fellowships and campuses desperately need. And we also believe that there are resources on American campuses that could be leveraged and released to bless our brothers and sisters in Uganda. So part of our time together in Entebbe was used to brainstorm practical ways to serve as bridges between these two cultures for the mutual benefit of everyone involved. It was exciting to watch students dream and ask God how to use them in this process. Please pray for them as they bring these ideas and dreams back to campus!
I can hardly believe I've reached the end of our adventure and the final chapter of my journalism! It has been a pleasure keeping you updated—thank you so much for reading, praying, and walking with us. For my last and final post, I want to let the team tell you more about their individual experiences so do stay tuned for that!
Thanks again,
Sarah
Dear friends,
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post! I tried the other day, but the internet was too slow. We are in Kigali, Rwanda at the moment, about to head back to Entebbe, Uganda for our final debrief before leaving the country on Thursday. It's been a whirlwind trip to this stunningly beautiful country—14 hours of driving each way for a 40-hour visit—but it was so worth it! I hope to get a chance to tell you about it at some point, but for now I wanted to catch you up on the past week.
This is a post I wrote on June 19th. (Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad! :)
It’s been a full week! We had a fabulous time at Murchison Falls National Park, and I’m excited for the chance to fill you in on our adventures.
But first: Some of you may have heard news of LRA activity on the Sudan/Uganda border earlier in the week, and I wanted to let you know we are absolutely safe. We were already in Gulu when the attacks occurred and have continued moving south throughout the week. It seems that it was a small band of LRA soldiers who carried out two small attacks. They did not actually cross the border into Uganda and the rest of the LRA troops are still in the Central African Republic.
If you would like to pray, here are some specific requests: One LRA commander was captured during the attack—please pray that he will give up any critical information he knows. Please also pray that this will prove to be an isolated incident and not representative of a larger LRA strategy to move back to northern Uganda. Finally, please keep our friends at CVI in your prayers—for safety, protection, and for God’s perfect peace to reign over the girls and the CVI staff.
Thanks!
Now for what we’ve been up to: Tuesday was our final day in the IDP camps. We met first with a Survivors Club of former child soldiers who shared their experiences with us—from their abduction as children, to their years in the bush being forced to fight, to the long process of reintegration into society, to the current reality of life in the IDP camps. Their stories were eye-opening and extremely moving—we were so grateful for their willingness to share with us! Here’s a shot of Tom and Nancy with some of the group members:
They also taught a few brave “mzungus” to dance:
In the “afternoon,” we hosted an open-air worship service in the Cho-Pe Camp. As we have learned, however, time is elastic here. Things like rain, finicky generators, and a thousand other factors we don’t always understand frequently take the schedule and throw out the window—a good growth edge for task-oriented Americans! By evening the event was finally underway and it was a great way to wrap up this chapter of our project. Here are some pictures:
On Wednesday we headed to Murchison Falls National Park where we enjoyed some recreational time with our friends from FOCUS. Highlights included a boat-ride down the Nile, an early-morning game drive, and some spectacular views from the top of the falls. Here are some of the creatures we’ve marveled at. (Please keep in mind that I don’t have a crazy telephoto lens or anything on my camera—just a regular zoom. We really were this close!)
While at Murchison, we also spent some time lending closure to our partnership with FOCUS—praying together, blessing each other, and attempting to distill what we’ve learned from one another over the past ten days. From my perspective, working with FOCUS has been one of the most fruitful and beautiful aspects of the entire project. It is obvious that God has used each fellowship’s culture to speak into the other, helping us see ourselves and Jesus more clearly. Despite—or, in some cases, because of—the inevitable challenges we faced along the way, God has knit our hearts together in a remarkable way. We have come to love these brothers and sisters so deeply and we will miss them! Here are a couple of group shots by Murchison Falls:
FOCUS/InterVarsity Staff...
...and Students:
So that’s the update! It’s hard to believe we’re nearing the end of the project! Please pray that God will continue to speak to us and lead us during our debriefing in Entebbe as we prepare for reentry to the US.
I will not likely get a chance to post again until we are home, but I look forward to communicating the final chapter at that point. Thanks again for your prayers and for continuing to travel with us in spirit. We love you!
Hello everyone! First of all, on behalf of the entire group, I want to wish all of the Dads reading this a very happy Father’s Day—we are so grateful for you, we miss you, and I have been asked to send lots of love from people who wished they could have called you all yesterday!
We’ve come to the end of our time at Child Voice, and the goodbye was very emotional. The girls sang us a hauntingly mournful farewell song and few of us managed to stay dry-eyed. We learned so much from them in such a short time—we were captivated by their joy, and in awe of the remarkable healing process they are engaged in. Our team was the first group of visitors to stay with them at the CVI compound, so the depth of emotion was mutual—most of them didn’t make it through the song without dissolving into tears. We will miss them! Here are a few goodbye photos:
Since leaving CVI, we’ve had some time to chill out and kick back with our new friends from FOCUS, the highlight being an impromptu dance workshop by Peter and Rogers. I wish I got a picture of “the Toms” dancing to a special Father’s Day song, but we do have it on video! Here are some other shots:
Last night, we had the privilege of attending a FOCUS fellowship meeting at a nearby Clinical School (a university specifically for pre-med students). It was so fun to experience a Ugandan “Large Group” meeting! Their passion for worship and prayer is downright inspiring—and their ability to run a synthesizer, mics, and lights without electricity is so impressive! Maghan gave the message and reminded us of the critical centrality of the gospel in the efforts to rebuild and heal this war-torn land. It was a great evening. Here are a couple of pictures:
For the next couple days, we will be staying at a hostel in Gulu as we continue our work in the IDP camps. We are hoping to spend some significant time learning and listening to camp residents in an effort to determine how to bring what we’ve learned back to our campuses. If you think of it, please pray for natural opportunities for this to happen.
On Wednesday we head to Murchison Falls National Park to enjoy a few days of safari (yes, we will see big game!) as well as time to debrief and discuss what we have been learning with and from FOCUS. God has been doing deep things through our collaboration this week, but we have had little time to reflect and discuss amidst the flurry of activity—so this will be a critical time to digest and integrate the significance of our unique partnership. Please pray for our conversations and our last few days of fellowship together, that God would continue to teach us, mold us, and knit our hearts together in partnership and love.
FYI, I’m not sure when I will next have internet access—to give you some perspective, the internet in the entire city of Gulu was down the other day!—so it may be a while until my next post. ☺ But thanks again for walking with us and keeping up-to-date on our adventures. We love you all so much!
Greg: On this trip, I learned about the importance of community in discovering and releasing our gifts and calling. I also learned about the importance of going into missions with nothing to bring except myself and Jesus. We’re often tempted to take something with us, like money or resources or expertise, but often what Jesus asks is that we bring nothing with us except the power and love of God. Then, when we interact with people, we see his power, and those whose lives we touch meet Jesus, not us.
Danielle: This trip has been amazing. I have experienced so many new and eye opening things. God has shown himself to me again and again and in many places I did not expect. I am so happy to have learned from the people around me and I can’t wait to share. It will be sad to leave this beautiful place but it will be great to spread this love to my friends and family whom I have missed dearly.
Abby: I know it would be pretty cliché to say that this trip has changed my life, but to be honest, there wouldn’t be any other way to describe it. God has revealed his calling for me on this trip: to love on people. This trip has been my beginning of God’s mission for my life, and there is no other mission I’d rather be fulfilling. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible.
Becky: On this trip I have learned more about life then I have in the last 19 years of my life. This trip has opened my eyes to the reality of the world. I have spent the last month conversing, listening, and learning about the suffering in the world. I have seen God’s presence and His work in situations even I thought there was no hope for. This trip has allowed me to witness God’s power and the future He has for His people.
Amanda: During my journey throughout this beautiful and rich land called Africa, God has made clear the impact Christian community makes when it models His heart for mankind. Christ has left us with an incredible responsibility to care for the underprivileged and I have hope that by facilitating peace, reconciliation and sustainability in individuals and in nations holistic healing is achieved. God has used my time in Uganda to challenge me to be an instrument of His peace, an advocate of His justice and a vessel of His love. 
Teresa: Ugandans are a people who have witnessed more destruction and have more reason to despair than much of the world. To realize that these same people have a seemingly reckless hope in Christ is more than surprising – it is disarming. I have been truly disarmed by these beautiful people and by their trust that needs no material thing to assure them. I have been so blessed to serve them as a nurse, to learn from them, and simply to walk among them. 
Maghan: Psalms 33:3-4 says, “For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything He does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.” I believe this, and I now believe this unfailing love of the Lord fills Uganda and Rwanda. In the midst of all the pain, suffering, sickness and injustice, I have seen the love of God, maybe more here then any other place I have been. 
Miranda: I’ve seen a spectrum of people in Uganda—the kids in the slums to the leaders of NGOs. Jesus is the answer for all these people in every aspect in their lives. Only He has the power to heal the neglect, malnutrition, and alcoholism in the slums and provide guidance to leaders in how to bring reconciliation to Uganda. 
Tatiana: I have had such a fantastic time here in Uganda and Rwanda. God has reworked my conception of what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ through the hope of the folks I’ve encountered here. The people working in the NGOs and the children they serve have shown me facets of Christ’s character I have never experienced. Lovelovelove! 
Marie: Where is your hope based? So many global problems in one place can easily seem overwhelming; contrary to my ‘typical’ American response, money and organizations are only a temporary solution to a deeper problem. Money will run out, and outside organizations cannot provide everything for everybody. Thankfully, I’ve realized the eternal hope in Jesus. 
Tracy: Uganda for me marks the beginning of a journey towards complete reconciliation, reconciliation of myself to God, myself to others, people to other people and people to God. I learned much more about how God will form my future and even though I do not quite understand it all, I am excited. From working with abandoned street kids and AIDS/HIV orphans as well as ex-child soldiers, God showed me his role as a Father. In this he also challenged me to model his example, as well as the many examples I have of parenthood I have in my life. I am beginning to realize that my testimony is essential to bringing reconciliation through Jesus to families. 
Meredith: This journey has challenged me in so many ways. I am coming home with a far greater understanding of Christ’s heart for Uganda and for his children. My world has been stretched! I want to thank everyone who has followed, supported, and prayed for this group. May the wonders of the Lord be revealed to you as they have to all of us this month, and may His grace shine upon you. Love and Blessings! 
Ken: God has been teaching me a lot about security on this trip, and how much we tend to value it back in the States. Whether it’s the way we spend our money and time, the way we relate to others, the way we share the Gospel, or even the way we try to limit God, we put so much value in being secure and in control. This trip has really shown me how much of an idol that has become in my comfortable American life – not that security is inherently bad, but it can easily become a hindrance to doing God’s work. I have been learning about boldly stepping out in faith and meeting God in what, by human power and logic, is “impossible.” I am so grateful for the countless ways God has been speaking to my heart this trip. Thanks again to everyone at home for your support. 
Kelly: The underlying theme of the many lessons I have learned on this trip is reconciliation. First I had to reconcile my relationship with God. I have always struggled with the idea of a loving God coexisting with Evil. On this trip God has revealed to me that He doesn’t just coexist with suffering but that He is in suffering. Jesus embodied suffering so that humanity can be genuinely reconciled with one another and to our Creator. 
Tina: In the love I’ve experienced through the street kids, the passion and faith of former child soldiers in the IDP camps, and the reconciliation witnessed between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda I have heard His gentle yet strong voice saying, “See. This is who I am.” And in Him, I put my hope and trust… 
Yeona: This past month in Africa has been an adventure, and it’s been a blessing to take part in this God-ordained experience. I’ve learned so much from the local Ugandans and Rwandans—the faith with which Ugandans trust in the healing and transformational power of our God and the humility with which Rwandans have taken the wounds of their genocide to the foot of the cross have led to an expansion of my picture of Jesus. …and the sky here is beautiful. I will always cherish the moments of uncontained worship under the bright African stars. 
Sarah S: Every time I experience trips like this one, I am struck by the dignity of the poor: their compassion for their community, their perseverance, and their ability to retain faith and humanity in the midst of intense suffering. I have so much respect for the people and the NGO’s we’ve encountered and am convinced more than ever that while the privileged have a clear role to play in fighting injustice, true and full justice will not come until the poor too rise up and reflect the image of God as defender, protector, and hope. 
Katie: Despite the injustice in the slums of Kampala, the darkness in the lands of Northern Uganda, and the tension and fear in Rwanda – God has shown me again and again that He is able. The day of justice will come and His river of life will flow to all the lands and bring healing to the nations. There is hope for East Africa and that hope is found in God. 
Sarah CJ (your friendly blogger): To return to Uganda after six years, to meet God again in this place, and to share it all with Greg was an incredible gift. What struck me more than anything on the project was the unique discipleship crucible that resulted from our partnership with FOCUS. I may have learned more on this trip about American "missions" culture, servant leadership, cross-cultural partnership, the power of God, and the relevance of the Gospel to a broken world than in all my previous years of ministry. Thank you, FOCUS!
