Uganda Trip 2009
By Alice Meredith | October 12, 2009
Hi, my name is Alice Meredith and I felt inspired after seeing and hearing the Watoto Children's Choir to do something for this important ministry to the children of Uganda. In April 2009 I went with a team from Edwardstown Baptist Church to Uganda to build a house as part of a village for orphans through the Watoto Children's Ministries. This work was founded by Gary and Marilyn Skinner from Canada who responded to God's calling to start a Christian church in Uganda to raise up the next generation of leaders. After 25 years this work has expanded to include many orphanages and schools. More info visit www.watoto.com.
We began our Ugandan trip by spending time in Kampala where we visited the Watoto church and joined in their 25th year celebration concert, which was a fantastic experience of exciting African exuberance and enjoyment of Christ. A morning visit to the Bulrushes Babies Home was a wonderful chance to interact and play with these beautiful African babies and gain an insight into the valuable work that is being done by the African workers. I visited the Bbira Village and Subbi Villages in Kampala, each of which are set in different surroundings and landscapes. We travelled to Gulu, to the north of Kampala where we spent some time building a house using mud bricks and mortar. We built alongside local workers who some spoke English. It is great to build a house for children who don't have a home.
Overall, this trip has really made me think and realise that friends and family are important. It has really given me an insight into how people in a third world country live, how they do the day to day chores without some of the equipment ie washing machines which we take for granted. The children are cheerful and happy, and they take great care of what they have and are grateful for what God has done for them and praise Him with all their hearts. I encourage everyone to go to a third world country and experience the culture as it really makes you think and value our luxuries.