Lyantonde is marked by the red pointer, KCC is at the green pointer
It may not seem like football, mud, the Gospel, VBS, and gardening all have much to do with one another. But for Emmanuel Youth Outreach (NHU’s youth ministry), each of these tends to play a part in their missions trips.
This year’s main outreach took 26 EYO members, mostly current and past NHU sons and daughters, to the area around Lyantonde, several hours away from Kasana Children’s Centre. The trip ran from August 29 to September 5.
EYO members tie sticks onto the branches which serve as a structural framework. This is one of the steps in building a mud house.
The team served residents of four villages in a variety of ways:
~~Built two mud houses
~~Helped work in six gardens
~~Hosted Vacation Bible School sessions for kids in two areas
~~Facilitated a football (soccer) tournament for five teams
~~Held four showings of films related to the life of Jesus
The new round hut (typical in the Ugandan bush) continues to take shape.
Note the rocks inside the framework of sticks.
It was a week of hard work for the members, who also ended up mostly sleeping on the ground and having to haul water from 2km away. The following Sunday as the team shared about their trip at Kasana Community Church, elder Geoff Britton praised God for the New Hope sons and daughters who not only served well, but also demonstrated strong leadership skills during the outreach.
One of the work teams walks out to help a community member with gardening
The EYO team had ministered to this same area before, in 2009. One of the members of this trip recounted how a lady came running to meet them, reminding them that she had given her life to Christ during their previous outreach. They were encouraged to see that the fruit of their previous outreach had continued growing and developing!
For Bogere Francis, one of the drivers for New Hope Uganda, the trip was an opportunity to visit his home area. He had moved to Kasana in 2009 to join New Hope, and he enjoyed the chance to return with a whole team of friends! Bogere said that his family used to sell alcohol, but there has been a change in the family and they ended up welcoming the EYO team when their original accommodation plans fell through. Moreover, Bogere’s nephew and niece, from a Muslim background, accepted Christ while the team was there!
EYO members talk to kids at one of the VBS sessions
There were also many other stories of people being touched by the Gospel of Christ lived out in the actions of the EYO members. Around 350 children attended the VBS sessions; and on the team’s last evening in the area, 30 people made professions of faith!
Please join us in praising God for the work He did through the willing hearts of His servants. Please also pray that He would continue bearing fruit from EYO’s mission trip to Lyantonde.
Shaking hands between football teams before the final match of the tournament
Thanks to EYO members Perez, Bogere, and others for the information and photos used here.
Compiled by Esther Carey,
Interim Communications Coordinator