Preparing for mission travel is not pretty.
As a team we spend months preparing – physically, for the 2+ days of hard core travel – today we fly from Charlotte to Atlanta to Amsterdam to Kingali to Entebbe, Uganda, followed by a 6-hour drive to Bududa. Spiritually, we have spent time preparing our hearts and souls for the journey that lies before us, caring for each other, turning to Psalm 120 as our guide. Logistically, we have prepared for time away from families, jobs, day to day responsibilities.
Nevertheless, that 24 hours before departing is frenetic – months of preparing quickly evolves into a two-day evacuation notice. However, for this trip, the eve of our mission travel to Uganda fell on Ash Wednesday, a day where we are reminded that all of God’s children are from dust and to dust we will all return. The Ash Wednesday gift is that by facing our death we are also given the gift of our lives back. How will we live? Knowing our days are numbered, how will we help them count? Where will we let ourselves go to serve, to love?
So, today, we go, we answer the call to lean in, to step out of what is comfortable and known, saying yes to God’s hurting yet loving world. What do we need? We need to GO, but we also need you – our family of faith – to pray for our team, our mission, our partners – we need you to travel with us. In a week where much has been hard for our community, our MPPC family, our hearts, God continues to knit us together as the body of Christ so that we may love, serve and heal with brothers and sisters in this church, community and around the world.
Our Sprout Outreach disciples made bracelets to build relationships with our friends in Uganda.
As we prepare, we give thanks for MPPC’s Sprout Outreach disciples that said yes to learning about Uganda and exploring a way to build relationship with our friends in Uganda – we will take all of you with us as well. These bracelets are packed in our bags and will be a tangible way that we build community and faith with the Children of Bududa.
Check back here often as the Uganda mission team (Alan Lewis, Alison Hinshaw, Kathleen Price, Bryan Brooks, Virginia LaFar, Kaylee Pratt, Court Young) shares the journey with all of you in the weeks to come.
Peace,
Court Young
Director of Outreach
Myers Park Presbyterian Church