But that’s getting a little too far ahead. Let me back up to November 2011. All of the Freshman Studies classes at University of Tennessee at Martin were recommended to attend a presentation on the last day of class. I didn’t know what to expect. I found a seat in the Elam Center between two Alpha Delta Pi sisters. We were planning to get dinner later when Dr. Belote stepped up and introduced Jana Ogg.
Jana founded Switchboard Ministries. This ministry is like a switchboard and matches college students with organizations that do mission work. As part of her presentation, Jana showed a video that told more about Switchboard and the reason it began. I was shocked to learn that there had been a twenty-five year war going on in Africa. To help fight this war, children were abducted from their homes, some forced to kill their parents and other unimaginable tasks. Many children ran away from the danger and abuse while others were made into child soldiers.
As the video finished I felt something move in my heart that
said “Go.” My first reaction was to jump up and run down to the floor and beg
Jana to take me with her when she returned to Uganda. But my mind quickly
caught up with my heart and I knew there was a lot more to getting to Uganda
than running down the bleachers, probably falling once I reached the bottom,
and begging this familiar stranger to take me halfway across the world. My mom
would not be happy.
As I walked out of the Elam Center I wasn’t concerned about
the fact that I would be late to my next class; I was too busy thinking “I’m
going to Uganda.”
Over Christmas Break I filled out an application for
Switchboard, waited until the last minute to apply for my passport and prepared
for the best and worst outcome. When I returned to Martin in January, I had
little hope I would go to Uganda. The strong urge I had in November was
dwindling. But God was not done and in a couple of weeks, my parents brought my
passport to me and I completed and mailed the Switchboard application the next
day.
Spring Break came and I had not received any indication that
I would be going to Uganda until March 5th when I received the call
that turned this “Doubting Thomas” into a trusting believer. The call was from
Jana Ogg. She asked me a few questions and I answered as honestly as I could.
Jana explained that there were two types of trips happening over the summer.
One trip was for construction and another was for orphanages. I was adaptable
and pretty much told Jana I really didn’t care what type of mission trip I went
on as long as it was in Uganda. Jana told me about a ministry called H.E.A.L.
Ministries who would be going to Uganda to work with orphanages. She warned me
the money was due soon so she was going to email me the information once she
hung up the phone. That night I checked my email and sure enough there was the
next stepping stone towards Uganda.
The next dilemma: telling The Parents, well, The Mother. I
told my mom simply. She was balancing my checkbook (don’t laugh) and she asked
why was I trying to save my money. I replied I was going to Uganda. She said
“No you’re not.” I said “Yes I am. I got the call yesterday from Jana Ogg at
Switchboard.” My mom couldn’t believe it.
When preparing for a mission trip, it’s not smooth sailing.
The next dilemma arrived by phone call from Ms. Lisa Syler of H.E.A.L.
Ministries. I had called Ms. Lisa the day after Jana called me. When Ms. Lisa
called me back, she told me the airfare was due in three days. I had three days
to raise $2,000. Praise the Lord the money came through and I paid for my
airfare on time. The other $1,500 was the next goal to reach.
After Spring Break, I returned back to Martin filled with excitement
as I told my sorority sisters and classmates I was going to Uganda on a mission
trip. Since then it has been a whirlwind of support letters, fundraising, yard
sales, bake sales and plenty of prayers.
I have received and raised my goal of $3,500 to help
replenish my credit union out of which I took the airfare money. The extra
money received will go towards touring London during the thirteen and a half
hour layover we will have there on the way to Uganda, souvenirs and meals.
I cannot put onto words how God has amazed me throughout
this experience. From having barely enough to pay for the airfare ticket to
having well over enough, God does provide. If you want to be humbled radically
by the all-powerful God, raise money for a mission trip. If He wants you to go,
the funds will show.
In three days I will be flying out of Nashville
International Airport on the way to Entebbe, Uganda in Africa. From Entebbe a
team of nine others and I will drive four hours to Jinja, Uganda where we will
be for the next two weeks.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? ”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8 NIV
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