Greetings from Kampala, Uganda! It's been a busy and fulfilling two weeks since I landed here in my new homeland. And a blog update is long overdue, so here is what has been happening since you last heard from me. I met up with a KidZ at Heart USA team here on January 11th and we hit the ground running in preparation for a KidZ Ministry Equipping Conference (KMEC) at University Community Fellowship (UCF) Kampala January 14-18th. The KMEC was such a huge success! We had over 140 participants attend from all over Uganda and they were very eager to learn and walked away even more equipped to do children's ministry throughout the country. I was able to help train children's ministry pastors and leaders alongside Gordon West, co-founder of KidZ at Heart, in an advanced workshop about Spiritual Formation for Children. It was truly eye-opening to so many that attended and they were very thankful. During the week I was also able to attend a launch team meeting for KidZ At Heart Leadership Academy (KAHLA) East Africa. It's apparent that God is the midst of doing something very big here in Uganda regarding children's ministry and I've very honored and blessed to be a part of it. More news to come on this soon....
Our team was also blessed to attend a children's concert called Celebrate Kids last Sunday. This is a once-a-year event where various churches throughout Kampala come together with their children's ministry to sing and dance and celebrate a certain theme about God. This year's theme was the Word of God. It was so much fun seeing the creativity and talent each church brought to the concert!
The KidZ At Heart USA team flew back home last Monday and I stayed on in Kampala to start getting myself settled. Uganda is a beautiful country with the kindest of people. God has really blessed me with incredible missionaries and UCF church family members to help me along the way. Pastors Grace and Micah Rwothumio have been wonderful as I stay at their team house until I find my own accommodation. And a UCF church member named Godwin has been incredibly helpful as we search for my housing and vehicle (which I have just purchased! A silver Honda CRV, pics to come soon!!!). I really don't know what I would do without all of their help. God is very faithful!
So these days I'm learning to drive in the crazy city of Kampala (traffic and the roads can be a nightmare), I'm searching and believing God to show me the perfect accommodation very soon, I'm connecting with so many children's leaders that want more KidZ At Heart training, I'm trying new foods (Ugandans eat many fresh fruits like pineapple, mango and banana, fresh-grown vegetables, pocho [corn maize], matoke [boiled and mashed green banana] ugali [millet], chipati [Asian flatbread], and cassava), and I'm listening to all of the crazy animals sounds this city has to offer (birds and monkeys). It's quite the adventure!!!
I'm also praying and believing that God will provide and many of you will partner into the ministry work I'm doing with KidZ At Heart here in East Africa. Together we can make such a huge impact here for the children. Some of my current financial and prayer needs are as follows:
- Most all of the accommodation within my budget is unfurnished. Furnished places are ridiculously expensive. Therefore I'm in need of at least $2,000-$3,000 to furnish my place ASAP. (This includes such things as a bed, kitchen appliances [refrigerator, stove, microwave, washing machine], desk, living room and dining room furniture, etc). I've been told I can get some really good deals so I'm believing it will only cost this much and even less.
- I'm believing in more monthly partners which would allow me to sponsor several children throughout Uganda and cover their school fees. More monthly giving will also help in regards to my travel finances throughout Africa. In June I go to Tanzania with a KidZ At Heart team.
- Please pray for my Uganda work permit to be processed smoothly and in a timely manner. It is currently in process and we have an agent working on it.
- Please also pray for a smooth transition into this new culture. I truly believe this is where God wants to use me in this next season.
I'm very blessed to be doing what I'm doing here in Africa. And I'm forever thankful for each of you that has helped in your giving and with your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I'm excited about this new adventure and what God has in store!
Be blessed,
Shannon
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