Spending Spring Break on the mission field

Uganda (MNN) — It’s the start of November, which officially puts everyone in the Northern Hemisphere one step closer to winter.

If you are already looking forward to Spring Break, have you ever considered vacationing in Uganda?

“We have a partnership in a village called Kamonkoli, which is in eastern Uganda,” says Alison Wilson of Orphan’s Heart, which works alongside Hines Ugandan Ministries in Kamonkoli.

In March, Orphan’s Heart is sending a short-term mission team to join them.

“We’re entering the call to be the ‘hands and feet’ of Jesus, and so we would encourage anyone–regardless of their skill-set, because we can use everyone–to come with us.”

Spring Break in Uganda

For the past five years, Orphan’s Heart, Hines Ugandan Ministries, and the Kamonkoli church have been meeting the needs of orphans and widows through a school, medical clinic and biblical outreach.

In 2016, Orphan’s Heart is sending four short-term mission teams to Uganda, including the trip in March–the same time many schools let out for Spring Break.

“When we go [there], we really focus on children’s ministry,” Wilson says.

“We help distribute food and supplies, and we’re also able to share our faith through action and words while we’re there with the children.”

Education

In two school buildings, over 150 Kamonkoli kids learn from local teachers using curriculum based on the Word of God.

When short-term mission teams come, “You can read to a class, or lead an art project, or teach a science experiment,” explains Wilson.

“Things that seem basic to us are really exciting to them [the kids] to experience for the first time.”

A feeding program, provided through the school, ensures students have at least one nutritious meal each day. Along with participating in classes, short-term mission teams get to help prepare and provide lunch to the students.

Medical missions

While local practitioners operate the medical clinic day-in and day-out, help from visiting Orphan’s Heart teams is always welcomed. Team members can help with clinic organization, bookkeeping, developing clerical systems, and so much more.

AWANA Club

The focus of Orphan’s Heart and their partners isn’t limited to meeting physical needs in Kamonkoli. They make sure spiritual needs are addressed and met, as well.

During each short-term mission trip, “We lead hundreds of children at a weekly Awana Club on Saturday. We teach Bible stories and then reinforce those by leading crafts and activities and games,” says Wilson.

“On Sunday, we participate in a local church service. We’re able to teach Sunday school, and sometimes people from our mission team preach.”

Learn more about the school, medical clinic, and AWANA Clubs here.

Time to go!

Spending your Spring Break serving others may seem like a foreign concept. It’s a sacrificial one, for sure.

But, according to Wilson, it’s worth it.

“You can become ‘fast friends,’ I often say, with people you meet on the mission field,” she notes.

“It’s a deep friendship because we have that common bond of loving Jesus and wanting to share that with one another.”

Sign up here – better hurry, though! The application deadline is November 9.

“I hope that people come back with a vision to share what they’ve learned and what they’ve seen,and what they’ve been exposed to, and to recognize all the blessings that they have in their own lives,” Wilson concludes.