Saturday, May 23, 2015

Back in Action, Leaving July 23rd

Well, It has been quite some time since we have been on the ground in Uganda. Since the addition of our beloved Kingston to our family, our home has been a place of immense growth and learning… One thing is for sure. With the new love that has developed in our lives through parenting Kingston the capacity of our hearts has grown too. Over the last two years we have thought of our friends and ministry in Uganda often and now we feel ready to take new steps ahead in this journey with our Ugandan brothers and sisters. 


We have really been thinking through and praying about the right opportunity to get back to Uganda. It’s been hard because our time together as a family is so limited and precious due to the demanding times of this generation along with our 2 full time jobs. As an answer to our prayers, a unique opportunity has come that will allow us to continue the adventure of investing in our friends half way around the globe.   We wish we could say that the three of us were  heading out together but it is with great excitement and anticipation that we tell you that I, Jason Kanapkey am planning on going back to Uganda in representation of our family on July 23rd - 31st with our team from Preston Trail Community Church! 

Our team will continue our work with local Uganda ministry partner, Foodstep and Native partner, Hesed International. We have been serving along side and supporting both of these partners for several years and this will be my fourth time being a part of their ministry and care for the Ugandan people. 

Our team will begin their time serving the children and leaders of Footstep before I arrive four days later. With Foodstep the team will be visiting a children’s prison where we have personally been able to serve, love, give and share the gospel of Christ. Our team will also spend time with Foodstep at the Home Coming, a home of about 103 kids that Nathalie removed from a children's prison. Here the team will spend time, loving the kids and showing them they are valued and loved by God.


  I will be joining the team before they journey further east to Jinja where we will be investing in local Ugandan pastors and putting on a discipleship and ministry conference with Hesed International. I am so excited to get back to Jinja because I have really developed a passion for working with the pastors of this areas to grow in discipleship and the ministry of Christ. In the past we have worked with pastors and leaders from the Anglican Church. This time we are starting what will be the first of 3 conferences for a group of independent pastors. These pastors are a bit more evangelistic in nature so I am excited to see how we can partner with them to help broadcast God’s word and the love of Christ into their communities. During our time with the pastors and women leaders, we will pour resources, training and encouragement into these amazing people. We will be teaching on biblical marriage, foundational church forming principals, recovery programs and biblical interpretation. These leaders will take what they learn into their own churches, communities and villages to expand their knowledge of God’s word, understanding of the gospel and even vital health and hygiene practices for the community. On our past trips I have developed some cherished friendships with these pastors. I can’t wait to meet this new group of brothers and sisters in Christ!



We like to say that some of the best ministry opportunities happen “In between the lines” of our formal ministry endeavors. That’s another reason we are anxious to get back to build on some of those precious friendships we have developed as we forge new ones Our team of about 7 are beginning to prepare the teaching materials and activities for the July trip and conference. Please pray for God’s wisdom, truth and love to be reflected through all they will do and say while in Uganda. We will be praying a great deal about the Men, women and children we will meet along the way. We can’t wait to see what God does in our hearts and through us on this journey.

As always your partnership in this ministry in a crucial element to the success of this mission.  We would love to hear from you… We value your words of encouragement, your prayers, and of course,.. your financial support also keeps us moving. The trip costs an average of about $3200 per team member. Please consider how you will be a part of this next trip, which is less than 2 short months away. You can contact Jason through email at imcreated@gmail.com  Also, you can follow our progress during the trip by going to facebook and “like” our page called Uganda Ministry at Preston Trail and see the right side of this page for ways to help.  We are looking forward to continuing to build on relationships and forging new ones. We are expectant to see God continuing to change all of our hearts and transform our lives.
 


Serving With You,
           Jason & Carrie Kanapkey