Twelve compassionate and adventurous individuals made the two-week journey to Uganda this summer. They are back in the US, but their hearts are still lingering in the communities of Uganda. Chris, Anita, Emaleigh, Thomas, David and Tim joined the team from the Boston area, while James, Sarah, Ryan, Isaac, Jim and Christian joined from various places in New York State. Despite a rough start with a flight delay and missing baggage, Team #7 was unstoppable!
They jumped right into action! During their first 3 days in Uganda, they facilitated a National Youth Conference in the village of Kawanda. Approximately 200 delegates from all over the country were in attendance. An entire day was reserved for “Stewardship and Service Projects.” The group built fences, repaired potholes in roads, painted, fixed computers, cleared a path to a water hole near a church, and even went into the village to sweep storefronts and the fronts of people’s homes. The people in the community were completely bewildered as to why this group of young people would be serving them in this capacity. These projects served as a tangible way to express to the folks in the community what it means to love your neighbor as yourself and likewise, to help the conference attendees learn practical ways to impact their communities. Overall it was a huge success!
After the youth conference, the team made visits to multiple tank sites to assess the physical condition of the tanks and serve the individuals within these communities. The Massachusetts group not only raised enough support money for their travels, they also raised an additional $3500 to have a tank installed in Nakawa. The team had the awesome opportunity to witness part of this installation first-hand! They finished off their trip by spending a few days serving some of the poorest of the poor in the slums of Uganda. Here are some highlights from their journey:
They tested out a manually operated UV water filtration system Labeled the water tanks with our logo Rode on Boda BodasRepaired gutters so they would capture rainfall more efficiently Taught about oral hygiene and distributed toothbrushes Gave out temporary tattoos, balloons, coloring books and toys to the children Gave out smiles and hugs Fit individuals with eyeglasses Had a round table discussion with local small business owners Spoke at church and school gatherings Loved on the people Played some serious soccer Received the love and gratitude offered by the amazing people of Uganda
Even though the team had a very busy agenda, they still made time to sit one-on-one and talk with individuals. They still made time to play and laugh with the children. They still made time to impart hope into the hearts of the Ugandan people. Because our teams build upon the outreach of the teams that have gone before them, the relationships we’ve made within each of our water tank communities continue to grow stronger.
The Ugandan Water Project staff and Team #7 thank you for partnering with us to make this trip a reality. The team made a lasting impact in the lives and hearts of the Ugandan people. The Ugandan people have undoubtedly taken up residence in the hearts of the team members. We have trips coming up in late February and May, 2011. Maybe it will be your time to go!
Written by: Michelle C.- Trip Coordinator









