by Chrissy Snelling

I thought I was ready for my Africa trip! Passport-check! Yellow Fever shot-check! Malaria pills-check! But little did I know what the Lord had in store for me. The most wonderful adventure with a fantastic team, humble and attentive leaders, the amazing people of Uganda and a beautiful, lush and green countryside.

Jeanne Little and Cynthia Collins were our fearless leaders. Their expertise and leadership planned such a worthwhile trip to the Kamukama Foundation house, the Ebenezer School and visits in the community of Bwindi. Our awesome team of twelve experienced: teaching students, encouraging teachers and staff, attending a PTA meeting, a hospital visit, a trip to the land that was farmed by the parents, and my personal favorite, home visits to the student’s houses. And oh, so much more! Every item of our agenda was perfectly planned out, meaningful and purposeful. Literally, I experienced humanity like never before.

The people of Bwindi were the happiest people I have ever met. They danced and sang and praised and worshipped Jesus all the time. They have so very little, but their joy for the Lord was so great! It was contagious. My heart was so happy! Everywhere we went we were greeted with numerous ” hellos” and the biggest waves from all the adults and children that were on the side of the road. The children are the heartbeat of Bwindi! Their smiles could light up a night sky!

I adored the students we got to work with in the dorms. We split them into small groups every day. We assigned a student leader to each group. That was a new concept for the children. Our bible lessons included a bible verse of the day, an objective and discussion questions. Leadership, encouragement, dorm life and sexual purity were some of our topics. The children were very bright. They enjoyed the small group discussions and participated with great enthusiasm. We also taught the children to play chess. They loved it! Chess taught them critical thinking, strategic planning, and patience. They couldn’t wait for game time each day.

The landscape was gorgeous, but the poverty was prevalent! The roads were awful and there were so many children outside playing by the street. They were not enrolled in school. It’s enough to break your heart. It costs money to go to school. However, one student attending school from a family can elevate the entire family. The family can have access to micro loans, health care, farming initiatives, and the hope of having a child that might attend university. Another option is trade school where a student can earn a certificate in a certain industry. Both of these provide well paying jobs.

Kamukama sponsors 650 students ranging from pre-school to university. Their school, the Ebenezer School, is the pillar of the community. It costs $35 a month to sponsor a student. The students correspond with their sponsors throughout the year. When I met Abigail, the student my husband and I sponsor, it was the highlight of my trip. The hug seemed to last for an eternity. Spending time with Abigail over the next 5 days was pure JOY!

I have never been on a mission trip. I have only participated in service projects that were in my hometown. Going to Uganda was an experience of a lifetime. God is on the move in Uganda. If you feel compelled to travel to Africa I hope you will go to Bwindi and visit the Ebenezer School. Is it a hard place to get to? YES. Does it cost a lot of money to travel there? YES. Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY. You will be amazed that you actually receive more than you give!