The Most Wonderful Adventure

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!

Finding Hope in Uganda

by Julie Addington

No matter how hard I try, it is difficult to fully put into words the emotions stirred by experiencing firsthand what the Kamukama Foundation is doing in Uganda.

Our amazing leaders, Jeanne, Carol, and Ann did such a great job preparing us during this time and setting the stage for what to expect. It was so important for the next six days to realize that you can’t help everyone, but helping ONE person makes a difference. Little did I know that remembering that would help get me through each of the following days.

After what felt like the movie, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, we finally arrived in Buhoma where we hit the ground running and the real adventure began. During the six days, we worked closely with KKF’s incredible staff and each day was packed full of meaningful projects. We started with the process of registering some of the 600+ students that KKF sponsors and giving them each a handwritten letter from their US sponsor. It was a tedious process, but watching their faces light up when they received a letter from their sponsor was priceless ….. so if you are a sponsor WRITE THOSE LETTERS! ☺

We did many activities at the Ebenezer school working with the kids and alongside the teachers. We set up their new library and taught Social & Emotional Learning skills through fun games and activities each day. We toured the brand-new dorms that are truly game-changers for the students, giving them a safe and stable home with nutritious meals. The majority of these children have never slept in an actual bed.

My favorite day on the trip was the most humbling and emotional day for me. We were guests at the Ebenezer PTA meeting where parents who walked miles and miles to be there actually presented us with small, beautiful gifts of gratitude. They danced and sang because they were grateful their children had the opportunity to attend school.

There is unimaginable poverty in this tiny village, yet these parents are no different than any other parents in the world. Privileged or not, we all share the same hopes and dreams for our children.

That same afternoon we visited homes of some of the sponsored students. I saw photos of a U.S. sponsor nailed to a primitive wooden wall. It was the only thing on the wall. The parents were so proud that their child had been chosen for sponsorship and kept pointing to the photograph of the stranger who had made school possible for their child.

I have been on mission type trips to Haiti and Ghana so it is hard not to compare experiences. The biggest take-away from this trip is that I felt HOPE everywhere the Kamukama Foundation had a presence.

KKF started by helping one little boy go to school but it has grown into so much more. Unlike some efforts where people come, help briefly, and move on, KKF has remained consistent. They have moved slowly, intentionally and with deep respect for the Ugandan people, earning trust along the way.

I saw hope in the eyes of the children attending school. I saw hope in the parents. I saw hope in the fields of Project Harvest. I saw hope in the teachers and staff serving there. And I returned home with hope as well, the reminder that helping even one person truly can make a difference.