"… your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action." 2 Corinthians 9:2

The first two weeks in June, our family went to Uganda for a vision trip. We enjoyed the hospitality of our team members, Curtis and Chris DuBose in Kampala. The purposes of this trip were…

• to get an idea of what life will be like in Uganda. (It was the first time in the country for Pam, Tim, and Celeste.)
• to get to know both our missionary and Ugandan colleagues in ministry.
• to develop a clearer vision for the ministry to which God has called us in Uganda.

We are pleased to report that all three purposes were fulfilled. We’re more excited than ever about what God has in store for us in Uganda. Read on to learn about some of our experiences.

Emma, the college dean, took us out to the future campus site, a beautiful piece of property overlooking Lake Victoria. The college presently shares with Zana Presbyterian Church, where Emma serves as pastor. We worshiped and Bruce preached there our first Sunday in Uganda.

Scared, alone, and completely abandoned at a crowded, smelly, market in downtown Kampala, a two-year-old girl waited in vain for a loved one to come and take her home. After many hours a compassionate business owner finally dropped her by the police station. There she waited two long days for her rescuer who never appeared. Convinced that her family had forsaken her, the police passed her to an orphanage. Three days later, Celeste, and I (Pam) found her sick and alone in a dark, drab room. No one had time to deal with sick children. Even the healthy children received minimal care.

As I held her feverish body, I wondered if she would survive. To me she represented the nearly two million Ugandan children who are orphaned.

God has not forgotten these children. He is the "Father of the fatherless." The still, small voice that drew me to an orphanage would someday take me back to proclaim His love to the children.

The itineration is going well, though the pace will have to pick up to meet our summer 2004 departure goal. Christ Community Church (Pensacola) has helped by offering Bruce part-time employment.

• For the new graduates of Westminster Theological College as they move to their fields of service.
• For God to raise up churches and individuals to contribute to our financial support so that we can leave for the field next summer.
• For wisdom in managing our time – especially for Bruce as he serves in the church and itinerates.
• That this period of itineration would be more than mere "fund-raising" but would afford us some genuine opportunities to minister to individuals, families, and churches.
• For our son, Tim, as he completes his senior year of high school and makes plans to attend college.