Grace Baptist Church Travel Team

Under leadership of Steve and Kim Clark
(Trip Report written by Steve Clark)

The Grace Team consisted of 7 members plus Kim and me. We ministered in Kampala for two weeks with the primary focus being to establish a pantry for the staff in Kampala.The Grace Team’s goal was to encourage the staff for their service to the Lord. Our mornings were spent in devotions with the staff and then a work period on the container to put in shelving for the pantry items. The Good News Football Club (GNFC) members helped in the building of the shelving.

The time these members and the Grace men had in constructing the shelving was a joyful and fun activity. Break periods were used to bring out the guitars and strum to their hearts content.  Items for the pantry were brought from the U.S. and also purchased locally. There were a few times of stress in the overall development of the project, especially the local shopping portion. God was good and all appreciated the whole project. This is a new concept to the Ugandan way of thinking and the meetings with those in charge were very productive.

With the Grace Team working on the pantry, I worked with some of the GNFC members on making some solar ovens, and on our last day we demonstrated the fireless cookers. Robert and Samson made a rice dish and placed it in the fireless cooker which continued to cook the meal while we were in the meeting. The staff was very interested, especially in the fact of the reduction of fuel cost for preparing meals. Moses could not believe how much Robert was saving in fuel costs. With some fuel costs doubling in the recent economic price hikes, this is a great alternative for staff.

Our first full day in Uganda was spent in orientation in the morning and then we headed for Entebbe for a soccer and net ball outreach. The outreach resulted in students and bystanders making a decision for the Lord. I was very impressed by our staff’s sharing of the gospel with the students and their compassion for them. The second day we divided into two groups and participated in community service in two projects, Katwe and Bwaise. On Sunday we attended the church service in the project we had served in the day before.

In the afternoons we were divided into groups and we did ministry in the various projects, from sharing children’s stories, talking with small groups, answering tough theological and biblical questions, to just relating to the attendees. Several highlights stand out, from Dave and Sheri being asked to visit a mother (prostitute) and share the gospel with her (which she accepted), to our visits to the Remand Homes where we shared with the prisoners. Ed, who had also spent some time in jail, was able to share his story with these young offenders, and that was a big step for him.

At the request of our staff, Kim and I were able to share about marriage, and saving yourself for marriage on several occasions. At the detention center outside of Kampala we shared about marriage, Jon shared his testimony about a bad relationship choice bringing him back to Christ, and Dan’s Timothy sharing also led to 5 decisions to follow Christ.

The Grace Team also wanted to provide a meal for the SOM staff in the form of an American style picnic. We invited the wives and children of staff and the setting was fabulous!

Kim was privileged to do a Bible Study at the School for the Physically Handicapped with the women and teachers.  She took the Grace Baptist Church Team ladies on a tour of the campus.  She spent a few moments with Florence (a Kampala School for the Handicap staffer) to encourage her with scripture as her son was murdered while away at the university.  Esther, Job and Karen Kyazze came to visit Kim at the hotel.  They had a great time talking together.

 

After the team left, we evaluated the Grace Team’s impact with the SOM staff.

Here is a list of what the staff appreciated:

• Jon’s music
• the picnic
• establishment of a long term project
• faithfulness with supporters money
• message given to the school in Natetee
• humility shown at the picnic
• didn’t give up with the delay
• teamwork
• Sheri’s message with the lady in Katwe
• personal notebooks given to staff were encouraging
• their serving attitude revived them
• knowing staff names before coming (one of our team members had pictures from a former visit)
• prayers for the staff before meeting them
• and the small things they did for the staff