Missions in Uganda

I just finished teaching a "Missions in Uganda" class for students 6th grade and up for our homeschool co-op. Each week we learned about Uganda or a different orphan care ministry in Uganda. I thought I'd do a run-down here of what we've learned about each week - especially for those who missed a class and would like to catch up on what we studied...

ASSIGNED HOMEWORK TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE SESSION:

* Watch and discuss "Helping Without Hurting: Reconsidering the Meaning of Poverty" with your family at home...

* Read "Kisses From Katie" and be prepared to discuss on the last class session

* Come up with a fundraising idea for a ministry or organization that you are passionate about

WEEKS 1 and 2:

We watched a documentary called "Moving On". I love this video about a couple from the U.S. that adopted from Uganda. They also started a non-profit organization called "Light Gives Heat" where they partner with local Artisans to create consistent incomes where there once was none. Their website says, "Through our Brands SUUBI and EPOH, our In-Country Staff create long-term partnerships with Artisans to create beautiful handmade products that will soon grace the shoulders, necks, and wrists of fashion conscious consumers in America and beyond. In America LGH is committed to not only offering beautiful products and a way for people to support our Artisans in Africa, but LGH is also committed to creating experiences that call all of us to look outside ourselves, to find Beauty in the Risk, and to pursue big, beautiful, crazy dreams."

The following is the trailer for the video but the last time I checked, you could watch the video in it's entirety here.

 

WEEK 3:

This class session was spent learning about Uganda. We learned about it's location and culture by watching this video...

and we put together a lapbook about Uganda...

WEEK 4:

This session we learned about a non-profit organization called Arise and Shine Uganda. The director's name is Sharon Nyanjura and she has done so many great things for the Jinja area...

 After we discussed AASU, we had a very special guest (and also a friend of mine) come and show the girls how to roll paper beads like they do in UG.

We watched this video from Bead for Life that shows how to roll beads:

  

and we reviewed this handout that shows how they cut the paper in preparation for rolling the beads.
It was so much fun!

WEEK 5:

This session we learned about Project Hope Worldwide, a non-profit organization based out of Owasso, Oklahoma that has built an orphanage and school in Lira, Uganda. I have volunteered for PHW for about four years now and I am also their current blogger so it holds a special place in my heart ;-)

We reviewed these fact sheets for PHW...

And we watched these videos about the work they do in UG...

WEEK 6:

This session was spent learning about Amazima Ministries. Their website says, "Amazima Ministries was founded by 19 year-old Katie Davis in 2008. The organization, based out of Brentwood, TN, feeds, educates, and encourages orphaned and vulnerable children and the poor in the country of Uganda. In the Lugandan language, Amazima (uh-mahz-i-muh) means "truth." Amazima desires to reveal the truth of God's unconditional love through Jesus Christ to the Ugandan people."

We reviewed this info sheet...

Read these Katie Davis quotes...

"Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully"

"They knew their circumstances were due to the brokenness of this world and they simply praised Jesus for keeping them alive through it all."

"I believe anyone can be a missionary right where they are."

"When we stop to be kind when we don't really want to, that's when the sacrifice becomes most rewarding."

"Do not forget in the darkness what you have been promised in the light."

Watched these videos...

and we discussed her book, "Kisses From Katie"...

1) In the first few chapters, we see that Katie felt compelled to go to Uganda. When is the last time you felt compelled by God to do something?

2) Pg 32 - "God did not make too many people and not enough resources to go around. Because we were living in His world, there had to be a solution." What are the implications of this statement and how Katie challenges our standard of living?

3) In chapter 6, Katie tells us about Brenda. Why do you think she included this story in the book? Did it end differently than you expected?

4) In chapter 10, Katie comes back to the US for college. Talk about the difficulty Katie must have experienced between trying to balance her promise to her parents to attend college and leaving her children in Uganda for an extended period of time.

5) pg 132 - "I was learning that the powerless, broken, dependent place was actually the place where the Lord was closest to me." What a true statement. What sometimes gets in the way of our dependence on God? (pride, busyness, entertainment...)

6) What spiritual gifts do you see in Katie's life? What parts of the Fruit of the Spirit can we see manifested as we read?

7) In chapter 15, Katie and her family reach out to the Karimojong people. How is this experience with a different culture alike and different from Katie's initial entrance into Uganda? What experiences have you had befriending someone of a different culture? (This does not have to be out of the country, just like Katie there are different cultures in our city, schools and on our street)

8) pg 229 - "She wanted to live in both worlds, but it was becoming impossible. Her eyes were opened and her life was changed. She couldn't pretend to be the same person. She couldn't sit still in his world anymore; it made her head spin and her heart ache." What does Katie mean by saying she can't live in "both worlds"? Why do you think it was hard for Katie to let him go?

9) Were there any parts of the book that bothered you? If so, why? (what if you were the mother of a teenage girl, or a college student struggling w/ a call to missions...)

10) Katie says, "Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully" What do you think it looks like to have your life wrecked by Jesus?

11) Discuss the role of adoption in "Kisses from Katie". What parallels can we see between her family in Uganda and ourselves as members adopted into the family of God? What does the Bible say about adoption?

12) How has reading this book helped you be more open to the idea that God's plans can be far bigger and maybe even far different than the plan we have for ourselves? Does that excite you or scare you? 

(We have the audio version of this book and my girls love to listen to it at bedtime.)

Katie is an amazing young woman that has been used in big ways by God - what an incredible testimony her life tells!

I've had a wonderful time teaching this class and love the kid's hearts for being passionate about what God is passionate about.

Uganda in the 2012 Olympics

Links:

Live Streaming of the Olympics

Team Uganda Olympic Schedule

Uganda National Olympic Committee

Uganda Olympic Athletes (backgrounds and competition schedule)

Uganda Olympic News

Other Inspirational Ugandan Olympic Athletes...

Our Adoption Update

I just realized I don't think I've even posted on this blog that we are trying to adopt a child from Uganda. Sorry if this is new news to you - we've actually been looking into it since last Christmas and things are moving along pretty well, all things considering. We've learned a lot about international adoption within these past six months and still have much to learn but we truly feel the call from God to adopt and are seeking to follow His will.

The girls just received their passports and we're excited to travel to Uganda together as a family when it's time to adopt our child. You can follow our story on our adoption blog here. We truly appreciate your prayers for guidance and discernment as we learn through this process and wait on God's timing - often times a hard lesson to learn ;-)

Back From Uganda!

I just got back from a missions trip to Uganda and had an amazing time! Our team consisted of about 15 people and we had so much fun hanging out with kids living at Calo Me Lare, an orphanage that Project Hope Worldwide built. To see pics & videos of our trip, please visit my Uganda trip blog here.

Orphan Run 2012

For about the past eight months or so, I've had the privilege of working with some really great people planning a 5k and 1-Mile Fun Run, called the Orphan Run, that was held June 1st. Amazingly, we had about 1,000 participants and it raised close to $15,000 for Project Hope Worldwide. We owe it's total success to God - there's no other way a Run in our small town and being it's first year could have gone over so well without His hand on it. It was a super fun experience and I look forward to planning our 2nd annual Orphan Run to be held next year on Friday night, May 31st. Stay tuned for more details! ;-)

From the Mouths of Babes

I leave for a missions trip to Uganda soon so the kids at our church wrote letters to the children at Calo Me Lare, the orphanage we'll be working at. It's such a great experience for the kids to connect with each other in a different country and share life together. I'll take the letters with me and hopefully they'll get a chance to write them back.

Raising $ For Orphans In Uganda

Steve and I serve on a planning committee, along with seven other friends, for an event called "Kwero!" Kwero is an auction and dinner to raise funds for Calo Me Lare, the orphanage in Lira, Uganda that Project Hope Worldwide built. Thanks to the generosity of those who attended, we made....


 drumroll please...


 $162,000!!! $12,000 over this year's goal! 100% of the funds raised will go directly towards building new homes and a second school building at Calo Me Lare!

If you would like to view the short video that was shown at Kwero, click here and enter the password: Hope. And if you were not able to attend Kwero and would still like to make a donation, you can do so online here.

Here's some pics from our fun night...

My sweet friend, Shelli, fixed my hair for me - my first up do! ;-)

Kwero was held in the renovated Mayo Hotel Crystal Ballroom - such a beautiful place!

Flower arrangements were made by Heather's Flowers and Gifts

Each table was represented by an orphan living at Calo Me Lare. This is the little girl we actually sponsor. I can't wait to meet Anna when I go to Uganda this summer!

Silent Auction - ready to go!

Table assignments

Steve's mother made this amazing OSU quilt that was paired with an autographed OSU football and basketball. The three sold together for a whopping $2,000! The OU quilt was made by our sweet friend, Dina. It was beautiful, too, even if it was crimson and cream ;-)

This is one of the paintings that was sold during the silent auction. I thought it was so beautiful and my sweet hubby won it for me! I can't wait to hang it in our African-inspired dining room!

This is another painting that was up for bid at the silent auction. It was really neat for me to see because I actually took the photograph this pictured was created from on my first trip to Uganda. It's called "Saving Tracy" and you can read her story here.

Live auction! So fun and exciting!

My friend, Allison, and I

My friend, Nicole, and I

We had a great time celebrating transformed lives and we look forward to doing it all over again next year at Kwero 2013!