Traveling to London

Kampala, Uganda to London, England

Wednesday, July 29
Depart:    ENTEBBE/KAMPALA        9:05AM        BRITISH AIR     62   (767)
Arrive:    LONDON/HEATHROW        4:00PM

Uganda Youth Conference

Da’ Mission team is facilitating a Youth Conference in Mpogo, Uganda.  There are about 70 youth in attendenace for SLAM Uganda.  Mpogo hosts the first gathering of its kind.  This is a picture of the youth leading worship!

Jr/Sr High NSHVLL Week

By: Alison Loope
We can know that God is doing something powerful when we see 85 middle and high school students sitting together each night, discussing the bible and plans to change their hometown for Christ.  On June 21-25^th SLAM facilitated times of worship, bible study, service projects and team building activities for 6 youth groups from around the United States.  There was a sense of excitement each evening as the SLAM crew, youth leaders, and all the students gathered together to worship and reflect on a day full of service to those who have need in the Nashville area.  These young people took a week out of their summer to serve Christ and interact with others who wanted to do the same, leaving many of them speaking powerful words of testimony and in tears as they departed on the last night.

Students from Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Tennessee were challenged to lay aside the pursuit of any image other than the one they have been created in, the image of God.  Each night we dove into the Word to explore what it means for us as young people to pursue God in a world that is consistently presenting us with other options.  Each evening speaker shared the Word with boldness accompanied with stories of their experiences among those all around the world who have need.  The youth were encouraged to consider the situations of those they came in contact with not only throughout Nashville, but also around the world.

Despite the heat and humidity of Tennessee these 85 young people and their leaders cleaned the homes of elderly, disabled,  and forgotten living in the city’s high rises, washed the vehicles and organized supplies for a development center in the inner city, served food at the downtown Rescue Mission, and spent hours in conversation with Somali refugees.  At the end of the four days there were approximately 1,360 hours spent in ministry to those throughout the city of Nashville.  The students were challenged to not only participate in the tasks given to them at places like SafeHaven Family Shelter, Trevecca Towers, and Grace M. Eaton, but to also identify with the life of Jesus by connecting with the people there, whether they were adults, children, African or Hispanic.

The future is bright for these students as they continue to pursue God in their lives, leaving behind images of popularity, fame, and success that call their attention in this world.  We hope that which was begun in their hearts and minds during this SLAM NSHVLL Week  will be carried back to their homes and remain in their conversations as they seek to pursue Him in whose image they have been created!

Update

This trip has been more than a travel experience, and experience merley of new sights and sounds, though I have seen and heard many new things. What I have truly experienced can not be photographed or ever said: it will have to bee seen in my own life. The goal of this trip is to connect the word to the world. This is truly happened. So much of God’s word has come alive to me. I am learning every day how powerful God’s truth is, how badly it is needed here, and how this reality calls my life to action. God has been very present in my time here, reinforcing lessons I need to learn. To my family, I send my love. Mom and Dad, I miss you. Friends at G.O.D., Friends at camp, and all the wonderful people who have supported me, thank you for you prayers.

(Mom, I want to say especially to you that I am doing very well. I know you are worrying about me, but God is with me. I love you so much, and I really look forward to seeing you sometime after the trip)

Nairobi Update

This has been an amazing experience so far. We have gone many places and met many people. I am so glad I am here; there is no where else in the world I would rather be. I love these people. Regardless of their situations they all have one thing in common, they know how to be happy without the stuff we Americans are so used to living with. I am having incredible time learning and experiencing. Although it is difficult sometimes, I am so glad I’m here.

Worlds Apart…

The education that I have received has only opened my eyes and made me more aware of everything around me. The gospel is making more and more sense to me everyday. I was talking with a Kenyan named Chris, and also with Reuben and I found that a coffee farmer in Kenya will bring their coffee to the factories and the factory will record how much they brought. Then without giving them payment then, they send them home. After a few months that same farmer MAY or MAY NOT receive anywhere between 3-20 shillings(74 shillings to the dollar) per kilo. The factory sells it at 600 shillings per kilo. Just to make it real starbucks would make around 50,000 shillings per kilo and if you were to buy a kilo in the US you would spend around 1500 shillings. AGAIN the farmer MAY receive 3-20 shillings per kilo. There are also laws in place that say if you farm coffee, it is illegal to stop growing coffee. The government may jail you for attempting to change crops!! How can such an oppressive force still be in the world!? The Kenyan gov’t is enslaving its own people, and it is ‘legal’.

The need for change is always more and more prevalent. The song “Anything” has been a theme on this trip for me. I can’t do anything but everything I have to help those who are powerless to their situation like the Kenyan coffee farmer. I also have been trying to have a humble character(like in humble year) much like my Kenyan and Ugandan friends.

African princesses

The love and hospitality that we have been shown has blown me away. Never have I seen people so hungry for the word. From Rockynageka with Moses and the family to Robert and Mary in Mutunguru we have grown together and with God. There is much for us to still experience as a group and I believe it will all come in time. ? Cooking with each family has been amazing! The women and even men have taught me much in the outdoor kitchen as we stand in the smoke and cook on fires. Twice we have been given the Kenyan doughnut, mundas, or something of the sort. It is a special treat and through the feasts with have been given we see their love in such a simple aspect.

So, to sum it up, I love cooking with the women as they teach me and call me their daughter.

The pictures and media exposed to the poor Kenyans only give false hope (something Leah and I agreed that is one of the worst hopes to have). Driving though the manipulative signs and to the city of Nairobi, we continue to see the poor in the gates of the rich.

Some signs I’ve seen in the drive:

Buying is fun!

Victory Bar

Glory Driving School As you see, the “good life” is being able to use money for all the great things that it can buy, drink and be merry, and be able to transport and travel. This is only a small piece.

I love and miss you family as I try to represent all of you to our family here. We are doing good. Thank you for your prayers and we are doing the same for you!

We slept under the African stars on a HUGE rock ? it was the best sleep yet.

After all the stories I have heard from you it has been awesome to finally meet all the people in them. Moses and Ester, Kanjogo, Peter, Laurence and everyone else. Whew! and this is only Kenya! They are all very lovely even though they make fun of my voice. lol

I’m sorry my thoughts are everywhere, but there is only a small amount of time and many things running through my mind as it has been a while since we last wrote.

kenya

hello, I am learning the bible in depth and lots of my questions i had are getting answers and there are also questions that have come up that i cant wait to discover myself through learning the bible in depth more. These people live in the hardest living conditions i have seen and yet have the hearts of service i have ever seen before. They give all of themselves for us. this concept has been hard to grasp for me and have learned may lessons from the people.

I love you mom and dad and aaron and jenny!
shannon french

Next Page »