a heart for uganda

last week, we attended a fundraising banquet for ministry work in uganda. one of our pastors has such a heart for uganda, and his love for these people across the globe is contagious. it is not uncommon for him to take different members of our church with him to use their gifts and talents to bless our brothers and sisters in Christ in africa. after laura came home from her first trip to uganda two years ago (i think?), she was determined to organize more and more help for the suffering people in uganda. what a blessing it is to hear about children that once had no hope... that have diseases and disabilities that go untreated because they cannot get to a doctor... and loving hands have taken them and given them the help they need. there are countless people that are in need of healing, both physical and spiritual. it seems so trite to say that i sat in an air-conditioned room with electricity and comfortable chairs and ate a huge meal all in the name of supporting this ministry for the sick and helpless. there is so much more i should be doing. but i do want to share about the banquet.

in addition to the delicious food (which is a huge understatement),


we enjoyed hearing the testimony of a beautiful ugandan woman. after surviving her mother's attempt at aborting her and after losing her sister during her third abortion, God opened doors for her to begin a pregnancy resource center in uganda. God has used her and others to save hundreds of babies from the horrible reality of abortion in her city. praise the Lord for what He is doing in uganda. this precious woman also attended our ladies' retreat the next evening, and it was such a blessing to get to know her a little better. (i am sure she thinks we are all crazy now, but i hope she was also encouraged!)


several of us sang a couple of songs during the banquet, God of this city and a new hallelujah. i still can't get the words out of my head: arise, let the church arise. let love reach to the other side.


there were beautiful items for sale that were made by the precious hands of the ugandan people. this basket was not made by a machine.


and these beads... i love these beads. the women of uganda make these out of paper. aren't they wonderful!? the proceeds go to help the students of a christian school in uganda.


cylle sells hundreds and hundreds of these beads in hopes to give as much help as possible to the students across the globe. and lauren (on the left) is getting ready to work in uganda for a year! i am sure she will be of great service during her time there... and maybe she will learn how to make these beads!


i think the beads were a big seller at the banquet! nancy did her part to help the ugandan ministry...



here is a close-up of the bracelets...


and this is just a fraction of the colors to choose from. i could not stop taking pictures of them.


if you are local and are interested in purchasing some of these beads, cylle is planning on having an open house in november to sell the hundreds of beads that she has in stock. i'd be happy to let you know more details about that... so just let me know! i wear mine all the time, and just wearing them is an effective way to spread the word about this important ministry! (and i am a testimony to their durability with my grabby 9 month old!)

i have never been to uganda. i have seen the pictures and heard the stories. i wear the beads and pray for those hands who made them. but i have never been there. if the pictures and the stories bring me to tears, i cannot imagine the impact that actually being there has on an american christian. everyone always comes back and says that they were blessed more than they felt like they blessed the ugandans. i would love to go one day. i would love to hug the bright-eyed, totally content boys and girls, and i would love to share Christ with them. i would love to sit down with the mothers and learn from them as they give literally all that they have for their children. i would love to do more than blog about uganda and wear beads. i would love to reach to the other side.