During the middle of January a team from the Charlotte, NC region went on a short-term trip to SOI ministry sites in Africa.  The report below is a recap of their time, written by the trip leader, Dustin Swinehart.

People ask me, do your trips of Africa ever get boring?  I appreciate the question, and I can understand why they might ask that.  My answer is a resounding “NO”!  Every trip I am on is different than the one before.  Every team I get a chance to be with is unique to itself.  Every time I step on African soil something unexpected and life changing seems to happen.  I never get bored of seeing a team step into a project that is infinitely bigger than them.  I never get tired of being a part of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And I never get "ho-hum" about God doing a life changing work in and through my life. 

Twelve of us went to Africa.  Our goals were simple: 

• To see and serve with the Sports Outreach Ministry (SOM) staff for 5 days in Gulu, 1 day in Kampala, and 2 days in Nairobi. 
• To come along side our African staff to encourage and further the work that they spend everyday doing. 

Our outreach programs would include 4 medical clinics, one day of construction, 4 soccer outreaches and showing the Jesus Film movie in a village. 

Medical Clinic
2,000+ people.  That is a big number.  That number only carries significance when we understand that just about every one of them has little to no access to medical care.  2,000 people that were able to see a trained medical professional, get a diagnosis, receive prescription medicines and have someone pray for them about their medical needs.  That is a humbling and powerful opportunity to offer a community.  We would see over 500 people a day; by God's grace, and the hard work of the team, it was a very orderly, controlled environment that served the people in a dignified and Christ-centered way.

Construction
We spent one day making bricks for a school that we are building in a village called Pugwini.  It was hot, it was tiring, it was dirty, but it was awesome.  There is something unifying and incredibly satisfying to serve in this way.  Things heated up when we had one brick machine team of Americans trying to beat a brick machine team of Ugandans while a few hundred people from the village watched and cheered.  Sadly, but not surprisingly, the Ugandan team beat us . . . by ONE BRICK. 

Soccer Games
We had a team of “somewhat” soccer players.  Of the 12 on our team, I would say 3 to 4 had played soccer beyond a middle school recreational level.  But something happens when you get on the field.  We played hard, laughed a lot, tried not to get hurt, and somehow we won 3 games and lost 1.  This is such a fun and unique part of the trip when you get a chance to laugh at yourself and build friendships with the other team in a very simple but powerful way.

Jesus Film
This is a Hollywood produced movie that is a word-for-word and story-by-story enacting of the Gospel of Luke.  The cool thing about this is that it is translated into just about every language on the planet.  We were able to set up a movie screen, sound system and projector in as remote a village as you can imagine.  As the sun went down, the movie started.  A few hundred people in Pugwini Village sat for 2 hours and listened and watched the Gospel in their own language.  We were blessed to sit with them as many saw their first ever movie.  I was so encouraged when everyone started standing and cheering and shouting at the scene of the Resurrection.  (It made me wonder if I am as excited as they were when I am reminded that Jesus died and then rose for my sins.  I will stand and cheer for a football game, but will I for the Resurrection?).  When the movie was over, about 40 people received Christ as their Savior.  Praise the Lord.

So, was I bored with this trip to Africa?  Absolutely not.  I am just so humbled and thankful that I get to do this as my job.  Thank you for praying for us, God did great things both in and through the team.

I have come to give you life and life to the fullest.  (John 10:10)