In my last post, I commented briefly on my upcoming mission
trip. Now, I want to expand on that! For the past couple years, I’ve been
wanting to go on a mission trip to another country; specifically on the trip to
Uganda that my church does every year. And this summer, that dream is finally
coming true!
In Uganda, we will be going to two different orphanages run
by the Good Samaritan Ministries, located in Masaka and Nambirizi. While most
of the kids we will be working with live at the school, there are many still
that walk from miles around to get an education. Learning is something these
kids have a passion for! They love
attending school! We hope to help that love grow by working on the construction
of the buildings. We will be putting new floors in, and hopefully putting up
some walls as well!
Other needs of these children we are going to attend to are
medical based. They do not have reliable medical supplies or the personnel to
administer them. We will be taking bandages, band-aides, ointments, creams,
anything and everything we can to help these poor children! They don’t get
nearly enough attention in that regard. Most of their parents have died from
HIV or AIDs, so for a lot of these kids, the most medical attention they
receive is when we are there once a year!
Now, while all the physical needs of these kids as obvious,
we are focusing also on the need that is most apparent: their need for Christ.
While I have never been to this country before, or met these children, I’ve
heard stories from the people who have gone there before me. These kids have a burning
desire to know Christ! Last year we brought them 800 Bibles, which was
not enough…. This year we plan on bringing at least 600 more! These children are so eager to learn, so eager to
build that relationship with God! It’s amazing. Again, though I’ve never seen
this for myself, the power and impact of what my mentors have told me is very
real. Even right now, as I’m writing this, I can feel their hurt, their pain,
their need, and their desire. I just wish we in America
would realize how truly blessed we are, and I wish people here could see their own need for Christ, and have the same
desire to have a relationship with God as these children do!
This is a huge project, and one that I am beyond excited about!
I get to indulge in many of my passions at every aspect of this endeavor! I get
to spread awareness of other peoples needs. I get to travel. And above all, I
get to share the glory and love of God with over 1,000 children! It’s amazing.
I’m honored that God has finally chosen me for this type of work. I’m also a
little terrified. This is something major: while we are there, we are providing
some of these kids their first glance of God (No
pressure!). I’m nervous to share my testimony with kids from such a different
background as what I am from. I’m nervous about the language barrier. But in
all this, I will keep my faith in God, and know that He will carry me through!
He will give the words I need, and He will keep us safe, and He will put us in
the right places at the right time so we may do the best work for His kingdom
that we can!
As you can see, there is a lot that goes into this endeavor…
I ask that you please pray for my team, this incredible journey, and me! Pray
for our preparation: this is a trip with many expenses to it. Each team member
needs to raise $3,000 to cover airfare, living, and food expenses while we are
gone. We need to receive all the medical aid donations in time, and it needs to
be enough to help all the children we possible can. We need to raise the funds
for the 600 bibles we plan to give out. Please pray for safe travels; that
everyone is able to get the immunizations they need, passports, and visas. And
pray for the people we will be helping and speaking to. Pray that their hearts
are opened wide, and they may receive the love of Christ. I have seen many
wonderful things happen because of prayer, and I know God will follow through
on this as well!
I covet your prayers and appreciate them beyond measure; if
you would like to step out beyond being a prayer partner, and join us in this
mission financially, that would also be a huge blessing! Or, if you would like
to donate medical supplies, that would be amazing as well! All donations can be
mailed to:
Lake Bible Church
(c/o Emily Coombes)
4565 Carman Drive,
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Any checks written need to be made out to Lake Bible Church,
with Emily’s Mission Trip in the memo line. Also, while we are gone (we fly out
of PDX on Father’s Day) I will be posting on my blog as I am able! My desire is
to keep everyone who has partaken at all in this journey to feel as if they are
there beside us! Thank you all so much for your support from the very beginning
of this blog, and thanks to many of you who have helped form me into the person
I am now, to be accomplishing such a mission as this! My heart goes out to all
of you!
Loving Thoughts,
Girl With No Name
(Hmm. Maybe now that I’ve stopped my identity-free posts, I should
come up with a new signature?? Any thoughts?) J
