A Uganda Christmas Tree

Hello everyone, Christmas Week is here! We are building a Uganda Christmas Tree to represent the spirit of giving and help raise funds for our upcoming compassion trip to Uganda, which is coming quickly.
We need your help! Here is an easy way!

There are many parts of the Uganda Christmas Tree. (as you can see)

1 Trunk - $100

24 Branches - $25, $50 or $75

28 Ornaments - $10

1 Star - $150

Unlimited Presents - $ Any amount

Please "Comment" your pledge below and we will add it to the Uganda Christmas Tree so we can see her come to life.

Every donation makes a difference big or small. We are honored and grateful to have you, our friends and family, as a part of this mission.

You can honor your pledge and "follow" progress through the links to the right of this post. We commit to keeping you updated on the Uganda Tree as well as the details of our trip in February.

Just as we are all vital parts of one unified body, all these vital parts of the Uganda Tree will make it complete with your help.

Let's build us a Christmas Tree!!!

Much Love,
- The Kanapkey's

A little bit about our Ministry Partners in Uganda.

The need for spiritual strength and community development is very real in the beautiful country of Uganda. In the midst of much poverty, there are also attacks heading into Uganda from multiple directions in Africa as Islamic groups, cults and others look to take advantage of the weaknesses of a region where education is not abundant and resources are not plentiful. It is our hope that the work that God does through us and these partners in Africa will help to add strength and stability through the power of the Gospel as we “Go” and be The Church, The hands and feet of Christ.

 

Hesed Ministries in Uganda, East Africa:

In July we had the opportunity to partner with Hesed to put on a 4 day Pastors Training conference. For these for days we poured into around 40 - 50 men and women leaders of the local Church. We provided training and discipleship in the areas of Biblical Foundations, spiritual living, living out the gospel and much needed community health and hygiene principles.

We were extremely humbled on arrival when we met the men and women Hesed had brought together for us. Many of the men were Arch Deacons who have responsibilities and influence over 100+ congregations in Uganda. You can imagine that at first we felt ill-equipped to teach people of such status, but they were extremely humble and hungry for the knowledge God equipped us with.

We built many rich relationships and really fell in love for their humble, giving and gracious spirits. God graciously blessed us materials, resources and preparations.

We really felt that our time was extremely fruitful  in strengthening and equipping these leaders with truth and knowledge that will be magnified and increase as they take it beyond the walls of their church buildings and cast it into their communities.

Hesed will continue to strategically organize groups of key people that we can teach, train, encourage and equip on each of our visits to Uganda.  Our hope and vision is for them to grow in their ability to recognize and serve the spiritual and physical needs of their local community. Our women teachers for the next trip hope to bring some of the women leaders into the community to see some of the very real needs of the orphaned, forgotten and hungry children. We hope to open their eyes to the need that are right next door and inspire in their hearts a desire  to serve these needs.

Founded by Michael and Florence Kyomya in 1995, the ministry’s objective is to be a catalyst for spiritual renewal and growth in the Anglican Church of Uganda. These 2 have the biggest hearts I have seen and their vision is amazingly clear. Here are some key focuses you will find on their website.

Evangelism and Discipleship

Establishing a Culture of Prayer

Noble Women of impact

Community Development through Busoga’s Women

Reaching Young People for Christ

Pastoral Training and Church Leadership

·        Reaching Ugandans through music, theatre and dance.

 

Amazima Ministries, Jinja Uganda

Also while in Uganda, we had the pleasure of going to see and briefly be a part of an amazing work God is doing in Jinja, Uganda. Mostly we just played and worshiped with these amazing children while showing God’s love. I think our hearts were more touched by the children than our own presence. But our eyes were opened to this Amazing ministry and the very real needs of millions of children in Uganda.

We hope to at least provide support to Amazima. Just being there you can see how far this ministry can make an American dollar go. It feels like anything we could give up providing more resources to this ministry and these children as a sacrifice well made!  In the Lugandan language, Amazima means "truth." Amazima desires to reveal the truth of God's unconditional love through Jesus Christ to the Ugandan people. Amazima Ministries was founded by 19 year-old Katie Davis in 2008. The organization, based out of Brentwood, TN, feeds, educates, and encourages orphaned and vulnerable children and the poor in the country of Uganda. They do this through:

·         Education Sponsorship

·         Masese Outreach

·         Community Outreach

·         Vocational Projects

·         Discipleship

You can read more about Katie and Amazima on her website or her book, Kisses From Katie

 

Children’s Prison and Orphan Ministry, Uganda

One of the things we most looked forward to on our trip in July was our visit to a children’s prison,… where there are many kids that have been placed there for simply begging on the streets. Because no one will claim them, they are forced to stay there until they are 18. This is just of the many places in Uganda that you will find abandoned, deprived , hungry and orphaned children.

 

We were able to visit this prison with Foodstep, where we worshipped, prayed, preached, played  and showed loving acceptance to some amazing kids. Many of these children showed a faith and love for God beyond anything we have experienced in the states. One thing is for certain, the gospel was very real in this dark place of depravity! In the midst of much pain and suffering children are experiencing love and truth because these organizations have a passion to take a stand and we have hearts that say “Yes” to God’s promptings to go half way around the world to show love to these children!

 

Between 2 ministries we are working with in Uganda, Foodstep and Sixty Feet God is doing some amazing things. The kids are hearing and living out the gospel, having some of their most basic needs met and most of all experiencing what it means to be loved so that they can know what it means when we tell them “Jesus loves you.”

 

We hope to continue to work with one or both of these ministries and we are planning to return to the prison we visited in July on our next trip.

 

In Between the Lines, People of Uganda

We realized that beyond the obvious ministry opportunities we had lined up, there is ministry all around us. I  really believe that Life is a Ministry, just like We are the Church. When we are at home and when we are traveling half way across the world.

While out and about in Uganda we came across many amazing people with some of the most humble and giving spirits. People who had very little wanted to offer us the best they had, for simply being “visitors” They served us in such amazing ways it brought tears to our eyes.

Along the way we also made some great friends with our bus driver Rajab and his traveling companion Keith. We came to love these men as we learned their stories and really look forward to seeing them again when we return to Uganda. Since we have returned we have had the opportunity to stay in communication with and encourage our new great friend Keith.

 

We continue to pray for the new friends God has granted us in prisons, on the playground, at the conference and especially those he granted us in between the lines!!!

Response of Responsibility; Return From Uganda

This is NOT a recap of what an amazing, inspiring and impactful (not a word) time we had in Uganda. Hopefully that will be soon to follow. This is more of a spew of thoughts and emotions that have been inspired by our recent travel....

We have seen and experienced that God's love is bigger than the United States and so is the responsibility He has entrusted us with. Take one look at the life of Jesus, take one listen to his desires for how we relate to one another, meditate for one moment on what he commands of our lifestyle and it is hard to miss. It has become ever-more clear to me that it is our duty to give, to serve, to be a resource and to fight for justice in the current state of life. I'm not sure I should of had to travel to Africa to see that.

   It is in our desire to see God's kingdom come more fully into the present that a passion is ignited that would move us to give our lives completely to His purposes. In love and compassion our actions can lead us to a place where we are no longer living for ourselves but allowing "ourselves" to be used in the restoring work God is already doing to create His will on Earth as it is in Heaven.

I can say with confidence that God's will is to see His plan of restoration come to full completeness. So for us, doing His will is as simple as following His commands to love one another, to die to ourselves and to care for those in need. Because when we do these things, God's will is being done as His creation moves closer to His desired state of peace, purity, and Glory...

You never know what kind of feeling you will have when you return to your home in America with all the cush and convenience our country affords us. Many warned us that coming back from Uganda we might expect to feel anger or disgust about all that we have...and all that we waste. I think it is right to look at all that we waste with a holy discontent but my perspective, returning to the U.S, was slightly different than I expected. Rather than feeling guilt or the need to renounce all that I have, instead I look at IT ALL and think of what a great responsibility we have as Americans who have been entrusted with so much excess of resources. Us Americans, who have been born into (with no merit of our own) this great country that affords us so many resources and liberties.

We often live life thinking we deserve what we have because we have "worked so hard" to earn it. We even wonder why we should "GO" to another country to help others. After all, we have all kinds of needs here and no one is coming to bail us out.We waiver, complain , him and haw about our 401K's and the condition of our financial portfolios. As if everyone in the world has them and we are the only ones who are having these little set backs.
            I even find myself regularly complaining about stupid things like the taste of the water (once a year) and having too many cars parked in my drive way... RIDICULOUS, I tell ya'!!!

But to me, it seems,.. that not a single one of us has done anything to earn the privilege to be born in a country that affords us so many conveniences to complain about.... You could call it lucky, but I am beginning to wonder. According to Jesus, these are the things that bring us farther from God's blessings because we become paralyzed, distracted and enamored by the tyranny of ownership.

So should we renounce all that we have? Maybe, if that's what God is calling you to do. But for me, I am reminded that perhaps with our great blessings comes great responsibility. The responsibility to give our lives and resources to helping the meek, weak, poor, hungry and oppressed of other lands.
 The truth as I see it is that our most desperate times in America hold a fraction of the struggle of those in a majority of the other countries in our world. Many of our our homeless in America live better than those with "homes" in other lands. This doesn't mean there isn't a great need for our love and compassion right here at home.

The point is that the terms RETIREMENT, 401K, CAREER PATH, WEEKEND, VACATION, ASSORTMENT, CHOICE and DRIVEWAY don't even exist in the world of many of those we share this planet with. Running water? Electricity? Closet? 2 pairs of shoes??? these are all things that would get you an unexplainable look of confusion from the hearts of many in conditions most of us could hardly comprehend. Myself included of course... but hat is the challenge I face today...

It seems we all have a choice,... We can sit on our piles of material accumulation with entitlement, like kings in our own domain... or we can humble ourselves and become the servants we are called to be. We can allow ourselves to be a conduit of resources to those who were not born into a life of excess. A conduit of resources to those who have not been afforded the opportunity to have, or better yet, to squander much of anything.... a conduit to those who live among words I don't understand; HUNGER, THIRST, HURT, HOPELESSNESS, SLAVERY, GENOCIDE, MALNOURISHMENT or just plain STRUGGLE... All which rise out of POVERTY, another word I can't really comprehend. But I am trying.

I personally have a long way to go. But I am now forced to live with this new challenge and conviction...
  That Heaven on Earth is not coming any closer through my stockpiles of meticulously collected objects and storehouses of carefully guarded liesure time. I hope as a community and a family under God you will all encourage me to remember that becoming great isn't about what I can GET out of this world but what I can ADD through the work our Lord can and will do through us. Many of you have already encouraged me through your great response to our preparations for the trip to Uganda. We loosened our grips on much of the stuff that cluttered our lives to help those who have greater need through that Monstrous Garage Sale and selfless contributions!
We look forward to where God is leading us through these revelations of His will above our own. We are praying about where He will lead us next. But until then we already know what He has asked us to do....

"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”      Mark 10:43-45

Pray...

So, we are days away from leaving for Uganda.  We are super excited and can't wait to see how God uses us while we are there.  We have been preparing our hearts, minds, curriculum and luggage for this journey.  We appreciate everyones support and prayers and thought it might be helpful to attach a prayer calendar so you can pray for specifics each day.

Click here for Prayer Calendar

You can also get ministry updates by "liking" Uganda July 2011 on Facebook.

Click here to go to the Uganda July 2011 Facebook page

Thanks again, we'll see you and tell you all about our trip when we return.  Thanks for partnering with us!

Jason and Carrie Kanapkey

Women...Uganda...Blessings...What's this about?

As you know, we are going on a mission trip to Uganda!  Last night our mission team of women got together for our first training session! See, the women in our group are going this July to teach, and learn from, a small group of women. We will be teaching them some Bible study methods, as well as some important health and hygiene lessons.  It's exciting because this small group of women will be able to take what they learn and go out to teach and influence others in their community. We are so grateful that God is already preparing the hearts of these strong, intelligent, beautiful women to spend this week with us.

The ladies on our team have decided we'd really like to make this training practical by equipping them and leaving them with practical gifts when we go.  We have already been hard at work raising money for our trips and this would be an additional expense.  So, we are asking if any of you would want to help us bless these women in one of the following ways. We would be SO grateful and you would definitely be impacting many lives in a significant way.

1. Donate 20 of the same item. (There will be approx. 15 women in our training and up to 5 serving us at our guest house that we want to include.)  Please contact me for a list of items so that you can choose--we don't want the same ones to be purchased.  Examples are certain medicines for the health portion, band-aids, tweezers, markers or pens, magnifying glasses, page protectors, etc.

2. Donate money for items we can get there.  We would love to make sure all the women have Bibles and to give them Bible handbooks, but these would be better bought over there because of the weight in transporting. The same might be true for some soaps and other items.

3. Donate an item for a Facebook online auction.  We can't plan a fancy event because we're using our money and our time preparing for our journey, but if several people want to donate an item, we will be so glad to put an online auction on Facebook to run for a week in June and advertise for the donor.  We will let everyone know when it's up and send the link out!

Thank you for your prayers, support and love,

Carrie and Jason Kanapkey

Beer for the Homeless

I surely got your attention with the title. Don't worry, our passion for compassion did not lead us to go hand out beer to the homeless.... But it did lead us to spend a day volunteering at the first North Texas Beer Festival raising awareness of the Samaritan Inn, Collin Counties only homeless shelter.


Since the organizers of the festival were kindly donating the proceeds of the silent auction to the Samaritan Inn and we regularly volunteer at the Inn, we were asked if we were interested in volunteering for the Beer Festival. Being the brew enthusiast that I am, I jumped at the opportunity and volunteered us to represent the Inn.




Many people piled into Plano Center and stood in long lines to get their 1 ounce samples of the latest creations from their favorite breweries. We found our home sandwiched between the New Belgium booth and some college athletics something or other. Since we didn't have free beer to give out we weren't exactly the hit of the show. While people slowly moved by waiting for their samples of New Belgium's latest many tried their best not to make eye contact with us while others inquired about what we were doing sitting there is our purple Samaritan Inn shirts.


I must admit, I had a few samples of my own,... so we made small talk about beer, answered questions and educated the North Texas Beer Culture about the good work the Samaritan Inn is doing for the homeless in Collin County. We naturally did our best to tell everyone how they could get involved. Many were passionate about the work we were doing and others thought volunteering might be a great way to teach their families that there are people in need out there. The thing that most surprised us was how many people had no idea that there was even a problem with homelessness in Collin County. We had a chance to share our hearts with these people and reminded them that many of the people they know may be just one paycheck away from homelessness themselves. And that the families and individuals that find themselves in new of a place to stay are more often people just like you and me; trying to make ends meet, looking for purposeful relationships and hoping for a break.

We had a great time talking with many great people, and a few crazy ones,... If anything we were able to open a new groups eyes to the needs of others right here at home. And I was reminded once again that there is more to life than filling our bellies with beer, our homes with stuff and our lives with serving ourselves.



For more information about the Samaritan Inn, the amazing service they offer to the community or how you can get involved go to http://www.thesamaritaninn.org

$2170 Garage Sale!!!

Who would have ever imagined how God would show up at a garage sale!!! Your probably tired of hearing about the garage sale last weekend but I thought I would share the results.

After everyone came together with donations, help and prayer we had an amazing turnout. People were buying stuff left and right and we couldn't have done it without everyones help. We raised an astounding $2170 at our "standard issue" community garage sale!!!!



We have been humbled by how He inspired so many to partner with us, giving of themselves, crazy items and other resources. Considering we started with almost nothing to sell, there is simply no way this could have ever happened without the help and support of our loved ones and Gods clear blessing over the whole thing.
Already God has shown us how huge he is and how amazing an impact we can make when we unify as the body of Christ to show his love to the world.

We can't even smell Uganda yet and God has already begun working in our hearts and through our lives as we have been raising support for our mission trip to Uganda.

Each day God revives us with new passion and energy as we see that each action, each step, and every word we speak for Him matters and is actually making a difference. We move forward in amazement as He lights the path with victories and His undeniable presence.

It is such an honor to share in the work of living our lives as a ministry of compassion in partnership with you and the Lord Jesus at the center. Thanks to you all for your love and support!

In His Love, Jason and Carrie Kanapkey

He Works in ALL "Things"

God is Huge and so is the monstrous explosion of contributions that He has delivered to my Garage through faithful and giving souls. I cannot give enough thanks to all the wonderful people who have come together to help us work toward our goal to make the Uganda trip possible. But I will try,... Thank you!!!
We are blown away at how many people have given so much to the cause which is now developing into a MoNST3rOUs garage sale., which I am now calling the Godrage Sale!!!



Many people of the body of Christ (also called The Church) have unknowingly unified for this common cause.
They have come together and given:
- funds
- time
- sweat
- car loads of donation
- truck loads of donations
- helped pickup donations
- loaned us their truck to pick up donations!
- sacrificed things they once cherished
And more sweat equity beyond words!!!!  All this as answered prayer, which many others have done for us.
As we have rummaged through it all for hours on end and sweated getting the "Stuff" from one place to the other... the value of "things" seems to take a new life. As we price new items in their original box for fractions of the original price, we look forward to how it will put a dent in our fundraising goal. But in no way do the dollars compare to the joy we get in seeing people sacrifice for the love they have for each other and the passion they have for Gods work.





God tells us that " in all 'things' he works for the good of those who love him AND are called according to his purpose." ... And he has certainly begun using the "things" in our lives to faithfully do so. Funny how the moment we give things up for him he begins to use them for our good and his purpose. Better than sitting in a dark closet, I gotta say!
Through love effort and a nudging from the Lord, we have pushed through the tyranny of owning stuff and began to let the "things" work for us as we do the work of the Lord as a body of faithful believers.

The garage sale is this Saturday in Craig Ranch on White Stallion Trl. Starting at 7:00am.
You gotta see what God has done!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Why Garage Sales Rock!!! Un-Used and Un-Necessary!

It is so awesome to see people getting amazing deals on stuff they want and need while enjoying the therapy of having your home purged of items that clutter your life and your home! On April 30th the Grubbs family did us an amazing service of handing over "an entire garage sale" to raise money for our Uganda Mission Team (seen below)!

 As we unloaded their garage that was full of little treasures at 6:30am, we were amazed as people began to pull up and swarm around asking for pricing an hour before the sale was even supposed to start! We worked our butts off and God spared us from the dark storm clouds above. We raised over $600 for our team and had a great time helping the very generous Grubbs family unload the items that were taking over their garage.

When we look around our homes at all we have, we begin to see doubles, un-necessaries, un-used and un-appreciated items. It seems that all these items laying around our homes can be of good use to other people and help us to do some good in our communities and around the world.

 We are currently taking donations for The Kanapkey Garage Sale that will take place this Saturday, May 7th. If you have any of these "un" items around your home, you'd be amazed at what a treasure it could be for a "garage sale shopper". We would really appreciate your donations! All the proceeds from the garage sale will go to put a dent in the $6600 we have been asked to raise to make the Uganda Mission Trip possible.

Email us at imcreated@gmail.com or make a comment below if you have any items we can pick up this week! Thanks to the Grubbs and all you who are supporting us in any way!

For more inspiring ways to make good out of the "STUFF" in your lives. Checkout our friends site http://www.rethinkgood.com/.

Compassion Uganda

Hello Family and Friends, Have you heard the news?

As many of you have heard, we (Carrie and Jason Kanapkey :) ) will be joining PTCC in their second mission trip to Uganda in Africa! During this trip, which is set for July 19^th thru July 30^th 2011, we will be partnering with two amazing ministries Hesed International and Foodstep Uganda Ltd.

We are extremely excited about what God is going to do in us and through us during this 2 week trip to Uganda. As we have begun preparing our hearts minds and bodies we are also in the process of gaining prayer partners and financial support to make this mission possible. Many of you have received our support letters in the mail. This is something new for us… We have never solicited support for anything like this before, we are so grateful for those of you who are partnering with us on this mission through prayer and we really appreciate those of you who are prayerfully considering financial partnership. Our hope is that many of our friends and family will be able to share in this mission with us.

In His Love, Jason & Carrie Kanapkey

Get Involved!!! Help Us Out!!!

                      “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”

Get your heart involved too!    Count the ways...
1. Pray for our entire PTCC team, the children at Kampiringisa, and the Ugandan pastors.
2. Prayerfully consider financially supporting us. We’ve each been asked to raise $6,600 total for the
two-week trip (July 18-31). Donations are tax-deductible if they are made out to
Preston Trail Community Church with our name, Jason and Carrie Kanapkey, in the memo.

Please mail checks to us at 8020 White Stallion Trl McKinney, TX 75071.

- You can make donations online at http://bit.ly/hGn7mv This will direct you to the PTCC online giving site where you can select Jason or Carrie Kanapkey in the drop down box. (Log-In Required, these donations are also tax deductible.)

- Or for an easy on-line option, you can make donations through our Chip-In Site:  http://jasonkanapkey.chipin.com/mission-trip-to-uganda (This form of payment is not Tax Duductible)

Here are our support raising goals/deadlines:

April 5th: $400 – Already paid!
May 1st: $1320 - Paid!
June 1st: $3300 - Paid!
July 1st: $4890 - Paid!
July 17th: $6600

Many of our team menbers are still raising funds and can definitely use your help. Anything above our $6600 goal will go to the rest of the teams goal.

3. Donate to our Garage Sale!!! This has already happened. Many people donated, God provided and it was a greater succcess than we could have ever imagined. Thanks to all who were involved. See "$2170 Garage Sale" above for details.
4. Buy Coffee!!! Yep, If you already buy coffee you can redirect your coffee purchases to this link: http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheKanapkeys $5 from each bag of coffee purchased will be added to The Kanapkey’s Uganda fund. Plus you are already helping the families of those who produce the coffee by buying this Fair-trade coffee.
5. Pour your heart out! Since we know so many creative and talented people, it has always been a dream of ours to do fundraising through the avenue of the arts. We are looking for friends and family to contribute their artistic abilities. So please consider pouring your heart into original pieces of art (paintings, jewelry, handmade goods, ect…) that we can use to raise support through an on-line silent auction.

Our Mission Partners

Two amazing ministry partners Hesed International and Foodstep- Uganda.

Our first partner is Hesed In ternational - www.HesedInternational.org. Their goal is to “deepen the roots of the church in Africa”. Our role with Hesed will be to provide a teaching, training and coaching conference for church and community leaders in Africa. We will also spend time serving in conjunction with the Foodstep Uaganda Ltd - www.kampiringisa.org group at Mukisa, a Rehabilitation Center for children. Their mission: “Touching the lives of children unfairly and unjustly imprisoned. Giving a hopeful future to former child prisoners in a loving home”. They provide medical care, spiritual guidance, worship, teaching and loving to children that are considered there to be the outcasts of society. The majority of the children there are orphans who were either abandoned by their family or picked up on the streets by police. If no one claims them, they are left to remain there until their 18th birthday.

Tie your heart to this mission, Make a Contribution Right Here!!!