Team 1 wraps up their Uganda experience.....

It is always sad to me when a team comes to an end.  If you have never experienced being on a mission trip with team members, you have missed a spiritual bonding that can never be broken.  The teams spend two weeks together, share serving in the field, testamonies, encouraging each other, building each other up and share a love for the people that they have served.  When the team bonds spiritually (and this team did), they are closer than just being friends.  They form a common bond that cannot be separated.

Team 1 fell in love with Amani Baby Cottage, Canaan Children's Home, Serving His Children, Ekisa, Amazima, the Crisis Pregnancy Center, and the Bujagli and Masese Outreach programs that HEAL is involved with.   Each team member has his own favorite place but everyone loved all the programs.  I think what was enjoyable to me as Trey, Lynley and I observed and assisted this particular team, was the joy and excitement that sincerely came from them.  They laughed, cried, painted, cleaned, taught, danced, sang, played games with kids, served women and children by teaching crafts, handed out shoes, handed out sweeties, and just sat and talked and built relationships.  And they fell in love with God's people in Uganda.

So when people ask me "What are the benefits of a short term missions trip?"  I smile and say that I cannot possibly name all the benefits but here are just a few......
the local people are encouraged and feel loved.....
the ones serving are lifted up and grow closer to Christ....
children get to laugh and play for a while when they sometimes don't get the chance....
awareness is raised of the needs.....
the name of Jesus Christ shines brightly for all to see from those serving AND from those being served...
and God gets to use HIS plan as he changes the lives forever for those serving.

Team 1 is flying home as I write.  They will process their experience for months and maybe even years to come.  They saw God's glory in the people and in His creation through the animals and landscapes observed on Safari.  For many, this is a once in a lifetime experience.  I have asked a couple of the team members to write a blog and I'm hoping to share that soon.  I'm sad to see them go but I'm thrilled to see God's plans at work.  I, too, get a once in a lifetime experience by seeing first hand God moving His people to complete His plans in Uganda.  The front row seat is pretty amazing and I"m enjoying the ride that God has allowed.  Team 1, Trey, Lynley (HEAL intern) and I give God all the praise and glory for being allowed to be on this journey together.