Uganda Update – March 19, 2012

It was a nice surprise to get a phone call from Garret today. They’ve finished their assignment in Uganda and are about to head back to home base in Ventura, CA. Included in this update is the email update we received from the intern team…Thanks for holding them up in prayer. 

- – -

Hello all,
We have just finished our final day here in Uganda. On Saturday we had an amazing all-day high school event with over 600 students in attendance, representing 26 schools from around the Kampala area. Many students responded to the message and we had an incredible time with the church leaders. On Sunday, we ministered at the main campus during both services as well as at the Bwerenga campus. It was truly an amazing day. We spent the afternoon at Pastor Bob and Sharon Wagar’s house where we enjoyed a wonderful dinner and had some team debriefing time.

Today was a day of rest and fun as we enjoyed the beach, sailing, tubing, swimming and went to a rather sketchy zoo were some of the animals were enclosed in cages and others were not. We returned with all limbs intact and are now cleaning up before dinner and a VERY long plane ride home. Please pray for continued strength and safety as we travel and that all team luggage would arrive with no incident. I will send an overall synopsis of our trip upon return and include some photos.

We cannot tell you how grateful we are for your prayers. These two weeks have been so marked by grace, joy and incredible opportunities. We really sense that your prayers have made this a successful trip. God is truly doing amazing things in Uganda and it has been such a joy-filled time of prayer, ministry and partnering with what God is doing here. I believe that there will be much fruit from this time of ministry.

Many blessings!

Casey and the intern team!

Uganada Update from Garret

Yanna received this email from Garret on March 14th. While it’s a few days late in posting, it is encouraging to read.

- – -
It has been a powerful first few days in Uganda. We spent the first 5days on an island located about 22 miles from the mainland doing crusades in different villages. We saw many delivered, saved, and filled with the holy spirit.  Shared my testimony on the first night and got to pray with many people on each night. Almost everyday we went out beforehand to the villages simply preaching the gospel and sharing about Christ … I felt like I was apart of the early church! We are now working with life church in entebbe for the rest of the trip. We will be be alongside their interns, leading worship in main services, and also leading a conference where they expect to have around 700 youth. I was supposed to preach today at one of the high schools but it didn’t work out… There will be many more opportunities to preach though I am sure. Anyways, just wanted to drop you

A quick note to let you know I am alive and well. Tell dad to keep spreading the prayer updates that are sent out!

Love you lots,

Garret

March 16, 2012 – Uganda Update

Hello dear friends and family,

Today marks our 9th day in Uganda and what a trip we have had so far! Yesterday we spent the entire day with the Ignite intern group here at Life Church in Kampala. We helped lead a marvelous prayer time in the morning. I cannot describe the beauty of Ugandans, Canadians, Russians, Mexicans and North Americans all singing the praises of God together. It was truly amazing. Jay and I taught intern classes and Pastor Bob Wagar moderated a very lively discussion about culture and worldview between all of the interns. We joined the Life Church interns and staff for lunch and then had some much needed rest back at the “mansion” (appropriately deemed so after the peril of our first several days experience on Jaana Island . In the evening we all split up and participated in about 8 different life groups with key church leaders at Life Church. It was such an honor to learn from them, encourage one another and stand with their small groups in faith for growth and impact in their city.

This morning was Janna Malamura’s birthday and we have been celebrating all day . And Caleb Price’s birthday is in 2 days . After a moving prayer time together, our team headed to the Bwerenga campus, a 20+ acre lakeside property owned by Life Church. We had hoped to engage in some much needed repair and construction on this facility, but as is often the case here, plans had to change last minute. We decided to do an impromptu evangelism crusade in a nearby fishing village instead. The heat was nearly unbearable and our persevering team was beginning to feel the effect of long days of ministry. We were all quite weak and tired, but we came together and had a fabulous opportunity to lead many people in this small impoverished village to Christ. This village is very near to the second campus of Life Church and these people would easily be able to walk to church. The level of poverty and need in these small fishing villages is beyond what most of us have ever seen, and it truly stirs up new compassion and prayer for God’s grace to transform the brokenness and meet their many needs. Although we felt as though we only scratched the surface with our efforts, there were many good seeds planted and we trust that God, who began a good work will surely carry it to completion. After a much needed nap, our team is now at the church leading a regional worship training and preparing for weekend ministry.

Tomorrow we join the Ignite interns again for more specific teaching and discipleship training, as well as an evening youth service. On Saturday we will be doing a high school outreach event with several hundred youth and joining Life Church in some creative events and an evening youth service. Sunday our team will be stretched to the max as we serve on worship team and children’s ministry for three services. Jay will be preaching at the main campus in Kampala and I will be preaching at the second campus in Bwerenga. Please pray for much grace and strength as we reach deep for lots of energy and spiritual stamina for these days of intensive ministry.

Several of our interns have bug bites that have become mildly infected. We may make a trip to a clinic tomorrow to see if any specific treatment is necessary. Nairobi flies have a pretty vicious bite. But do not fear! I am making SURE that everyone is well hydrated, well fed, has plenty of healthy options and is taking their malaria medication . We will have a rest day on Monday, but the next four days will require every bit of strength that we have, so we truly appreciate your prayers for continued strength, travel safety and wisdom in the many daily decisions we are making. Our desire is to be truly effective as we partner with what the Lord is already doing here at Life Church and in Uganda. Thank you so very much for standing with us in prayer!!

Blessings,

Casey and the Intern team

March 14, 2012 – Uganda Update

We just returned from five very intensive days of ministry on an island about 20 miles into Lake Victoria. There is a small church on the island and about 1000 people total on an island predominately controlled by fear, drunkenness, prostitution, manipulation and false religion. During our stay on Jaana island, we had several training sessions with church leadership, assisted with two medical clinics, preached multiple times at various crusade events, and saw many people saved, delivered and healed. People were so hungry for the presence of God and were very responsive to our evangelism efforts. We ministered in two schools and had the opportunity to preach at two different church venues. The power of God was so evident! It was a time of faith-building and partnering with what the Lord is already doing on Jaana Island.

The conditions were quite rough, but God gave us much grace and the local team was very hospitable. We endured a very faith-building journey home as the sea tossed our little boats around. We prayed the entire three-hour boat ride home and were very relieved to be safe on dry ground. God was our source and confidence and we are all stronger in faith for the journey of the past five days.

The next few days will involve much discipleship training and leadership development through Life Church in Kampala, some construction/building efforts at a nearby retreat center, high-school evangelism and ministry through the local life groups in Kampala. Please continue to pray for our team.

1.  Safety as we travel and continued health for our team

2.  Life Church in Kampala (unity, leadership training, encouragement and discipleship)

3.  Neighborhood evangelism efforts (boldness, authority, love, that God would prepare hearts)

4.  No distractions!

5.  Spiritual Authority for effective ministry

6.  Team (unity, holiness, no fear or anxiety, love for the people of Uganda, health and safety, grace for the interns to preach boldly)

Please pray as the Lord leads you and feel free to email us with anything specific. We will not have electricity or internet access over the next five days, so I will be sure to send an update once we return to the mainland.

Thank you so much for standing with us in prayer! We truly sense the grace of God and are SO excited about what He is doing here in Uganda and how we can partner with the ministry team here.

Many blessings,

Casey, Jay and the Intern Team

March 6, 2012 – Uganda Update

As most of you are aware, Garret joined Generation Interns in September, 2011. Generation Interns is located at City Church Ventura in Ventura, California. On March 6th, he and his fellow interns departed from LAX to a short term mission in Uganda. Here is the first of their posts…

- – -

Hello All,

Well – today is the day! Our intern team of 16 departs this morning for Uganda on our very first mission trip from The City Church Ventura ever! We are so exited for all that God has in store. Thank you so very much for being willing to stand with us in prayer during these two weeks. We truly believe for miracles, divine opportunities and connections, safety and so much more!

We will be sending email updates as often as we are able. Please feel free to contact us with any specific scripture verses or things that the Lord speaks to you in prayer for our team. We can be reached attaitcasey@gmail.com. We can receive text messages at 206-465-3083.

 

Please pray for:

 

1. Our flight: We have a 50 minute connection in Amsterdam. Pray we make our connection!
2. Our team bags: Pray that all of our luggage arrives safely and that nothing is lost, stolen or broken.
3. Safety in travels, wisdom in the many decisions that will be made each day.
4. Unity among our team members.
5. Grace to recover after long travels.
6. Health and protection over each intern.
7. Pray that God would speak to each one of us as we travel and that He would give us His heart for the Ugandan people.

 

We are so honored to have you join with us in prayer as we go to the ends of the earth!

Many Blessings!

Casey and the Intern Team

Back at It!

I decided it’s past time to wipe the dust off this blog and get to publishing again! There’s been a lot going on…lots of reasons…should’ve, would’ve, could’ve…they all end up as didn’t…so today we’re going to try to change that. Not really going to make any promises about what will be on here, just going to try to get going again. So if you’re following, great. If not, hope you will.

Garret is in Uganda, where he has been for the past 9 days. It’s been an amazing trip for him and the Generations Interns from City Church Ventura. That’s been his home since September, 2o11. He’s doing great these days, looking forward to first year being finished and getting back home where he can get back into life here at home.

I’ll post his updates so you can follow them and if you are so inclined perhaps you’ll join the Prayer Warriors who are standing with him and his fellow interns during this time away.

Spencer just got home from a week in Atlanta, GA where he and 23 other people from our Youth Group spent the last week assisting Jeanne Mayo and Master’s Commission in hosting Canvas, The National Youth Leader’s Convention 2012. There were over 2000 youth pastors and leaders there. So he had an amazing experience there as well.

So over the coming days, here’s hoping to get you updated on a few personal and family items and then start encouraging you with the written word.

Thanks for stopping in,

Russ

Home From Vacation!

Well, as the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end!” And so we find ourselves home again after a wonderful time away together. Our week was great. Now that we’re home, we’re right back into the swing of things, the main thing being our upcoming conference – GENERATIONS UNITED!

It’s good to be home! Hope we brought some sunshine – although it doesn’t look promising!

Here’s my greeting!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3KXOhIYw-I

Pastor Russ