Meet the Team Uganda 2013 (Mbarara)

Joe Chong

Name: Joe Chong Occupation: Network Analyst # of trips to Uganda: 1

Why I’m going to Uganda: I’m going to Uganda because I want God to use me in any way to be a blessing to the people in Uganda.  The people of Uganda have deeply touched my heart since the first time I was there, and my heart is to see them live in the fullness and purpose that God had intended for them and see the Kingdom of God reign in their land.   If I could be a cereal box cartoon character for just 24 hours, what would I be? Why?? I would be a Trix rabbit and be the first Trix rabbit to get the Trix cereal.

Natalie Mak

Name: Natalie Chong (nee Mak) Occupation: Musician, teacher, music teacher # of trips to Uganda: 3

Why I’m going to Uganda: James 2:26 says: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." This is the verse that drives me to do what I do. I have been to Uganda, I've seen God's power with my own eyes. And now that I've seen it, I cannot just sit here. God's love for us is immense and immeasurable and it's in all of us.  Personally, His love cannot be contained in me, it is too big for my four walls, and it is way more appealing than my comfortable North American life. I am so excited to return to Uganda to see God's glory manifest! If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? I'm a person who thrives on multi tasking. There are several jobs that I would love to have and I could probably do them all at once. I would love to be a professional competitive Scrabble player, someone who puts music in films, a scent creator, a children's television host/puppeteer, a food critic, and a personal shopper. At the moment, I play Scrabble on my iphone, I imagine music in films, I smell things, I sing children's songs, I describe food to anyone who will listen and I shop for myself, my husband, my family and my friends.

Joshua Chee

Name: Joshua Chee Occupation: Student # of trips to Uganda: 0

Why I’m going to Uganda: This is the first time since our church has been going that I have had the chance to go. I know that going to Uganda will force me to step out of my comfort zone. However, as long as I am obedient and willing to put in the preparation, God will use me as a blessing to the Ugandans as well as bless me through them. Fun Fact: Lakers are winning the championship this season (2012-2013)

Uganda 2013 Meet the team: Rebecca Woo

Name: Rebecca Woo Occupation: Registered Early Childhood Educator # of trips to Uganda: 2

Why I’m going to Uganda: Since my first trip to Uganda in 2008, I felt like a part of my heart has been left in Uganda. My second visit broke my heart as God showed me that there’s nothing in this world that I can do or offer that take could away the pain and suffering they have experienced. This epiphany helped me realize that it’s only through God’s love can things be changed and moved. So for this upcoming mission, I hope I can relay that same love that God has given me unto others. Would you rather breathe under water or fly? I would rather breathe under water so I spend more time with nemo.

 Herman Lam

Name: Herman Lam Occupation: Engineer-in-training # of trips to Uganda: 2

Why I’m going to Uganda: I've been blessed and privileged to have all that I do and it is my earnest desire and joy to pour back and to be a blessing.  To intentionally impart who you are is the principal reason why we as TLCF return to Uganda year after year, and it is the reason why I am going again.   My heart since I was a teenager was to be a blessing and encouragement to those around me.  I love to help, being part of brightening up people’s day, and equipping people with principles and skills they can use throughout life.  This is my heart returning to Uganda again as my second trip. What I look forward to on a day off or weekend: A crisp cold winter morning, with the sun just breaking the horizon; the smell of a fresh coffee brewing and the quietness and peacefulness of the moment.

Meet the Team Uganda 2013 (Rubongi)

 Gabriel Wee

Name: Gabriel Wee Occupation: Pastor # of trips to Uganda: 2

Why I’m going to Uganda: Why I'm Going to Uganda: Uganda has such a special place in my heart - this will be my 3rd time going to Uganda - 1st time leading a huge group! My wife and I have been so blessed to have parents that pray for us, a church family that supports us, leaders that push/encourage/believe in us, and friends that love us that going is a natural overflow of what we've received. We feel that sharing these blessings with others is a MUST. To not do so would be selfish.... and we definitely don't want to be selfish =) If you could eat anything... What would you eat? BeaverTails!!!! Biased? Yes....

 Karen Yong

Name: Karen Yong Occupation: Personal Trainer # of trips to Uganda: 0

Why I’m going to Uganda: I have always had a heart for the nations and after so many doors have been closed for me to go to Uganda, this one is finally wide open! I am so excited to see how God has touched so many Ugandans in the past and even more thrilled to see what new things God has in store. I believe this experience will teach me things I never knew, meet people that will impact my life forever, and more so to witness God’s love like never before. Yay!! If you could only choose one thing to eat forever, what would it be? Burritos. Chicken, steak, hali, beef. Top if off with guac, jalapenos, corn, salsa, cheese, sour cream. That’s the stuff.

 Timothy Velez

Name: Timothy Velez Occupation: Student # of trips to Uganda: 0

Why I’m going to Uganda: The stories of past team members has inspired me and sparked a desire to go. Many pictures and videos of the Ugandan people for some unexplained reason began to captivate my heart. I want to go to Uganda to serve them in any way I can. I want to understand what everyday life is for people outside of North America, and especially in a third world country. I’m not exactly sure what I have to offer or give them but I simply want to love the people and show them I care.    What smell do you wish you could bottle? Summer sunsets. I’m not even sure what that should smell like but it sounds marketable and is my favorite time of day and season!

 Jennifer Ng

Name: Jennifer Ng Occupation: Registered Nurse # of trips to Uganda: 0

Why I’m going to Uganda: I always wanted to know what it’d be like to serve in the third world. What can I offer? How can it be sustained? Is it what they need? For me, there is a special honour in serving the marginalized; something in my Spirit knows that God LOVES it. I’m particularly excited to spend time in learning the healthcare needs of the Ugandans: the gaps, the resources and the ingenuity of the people. I could learn a lot from them in terms of streamlining care.                                   What smell do you wish you could bottle? I wish I could capture the scent of freshly baked bread. It elicits feelings of warmth, satisfaction and wonder. I’d stuff it in my bag and indulge on trips to and from work on the subway.

 Laura Ma

Name: Laura Ma Occupation: Business Analyst # of trips to Uganda: 0

Why I’m going to Uganda: In the past couple of years, I have experienced God’s goodness and faithfulness in amazing ways. I know that all the experiences are not meant for me to keep it to myself, but to share with many others, so as to bring encouragements to men and praises to God! I’m excited to bring my stories and who I am today to this totally different culture, and see what God may do through me. I also long to have a crazy adventure with God and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Uganda trip seems to be ideal to fit this purpose. I’m sure it will totally blow my mind.                                   If I could choose to live in any place, imaginary or real, where would it be? Narnia, where all the animals are talking, various mythical creatures are present, and endless adventures are waiting to be embarked on!

Derrick Chan

Name: Derrick Chan Occupation: Student # of trips to Uganda: 0
Why I’m going to Uganda: Hearing stories from past Uganda missions teams also made me want to see for myself what God’s doing in Uganda. I feel that God has something that He wants me to see in Uganda. He’s been stretching and preparing me this past year for something and this trip is another leap of faith to see where He’s leading me to. What smell do you wish you could bottle? New car smell

Uganda 2013 Meet the team: Andrew Pubalasingam

Name: Andrew Pubalasingam Occupation: Student # of trips to Uganda: 0

Why I’m going to Uganda: I feel like I’ve received so much from the people around me that I need to give out. I have always loved and have a heart for missions as I've been to others in the past. I’m going out of faith and obedience to God and would like to give out all that I can offer in hopes of touching the people there. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, If a woodchuck could chuck wood? There are many variables that need to be factored in when answering this question like the weather, the season, the size of the wood, the age of the woodchuck, the gender, and even the environment. But according to scientific research an average sized male woodchuck could chuck around 700 pounds of wood.

Uganda 2013

In May 2013, Toronto Life-Spring will be sending another team back to Uganda. Like previous trips, we will be partnering with multiple ministries. The team will consist of sixteen members from Life-Spring, Donna Parachin from Unstoppable Blessings, Don Boyd, and six others from 'ONE' ministries in Los Angeles, CA. This will be TLCF’s sixth time sending a team and we are more than excited to see the fruits of past trips as well as see what God will be doing this time. The team will be split into four ground teams visiting various regions including Rubongi, Mbarara, Soroti, and Kampala. 

This year we will continue our partnership with Uganda Deliverance Church in Rubongi and Soroti where we will be conducting village conferences, evangelism crusades, house to house visits, and doing life with the locals. We will continue to build on projects that are already in progress such as the rainwater harvesting project. We hope to dream of even more projects.

Mbarara and Kampala are brand new doors that have opened for Life-Spring to walk into. The focus will be on training the pastors and leaders to be better equipped with their ministries.

If you would like to partner with the teams through prayer support, there will be a 40-day fasting schedule that will be posted in April. We will also be hosting fundraising events that will be announced in the beginning of 2013. For more information about this mission trip you can contact Pastor Gabriel Wee. The Uganda team thanks you for all your support and prayer as we partake this amazing opportunity together as a family.

Greetings from Burkina Faso

Mike and Kathy Steinborn, our missionaries to Burkina Faso, report that "Burkinabe nationals are taking over the actual work of bible translation and [they] are transforming into a training centre for translators not only for those from Burkina but also from numerous countries from Francophone West Africa." Praise God!

Greetings from Mike and Kathy in Burkina Faso