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

Update from Israel

Through Breaking Christian News, I read that Hamas attacks are aiming farther north closer to Tel Aviv this week.  I am anticipating God's move.  The world shall be stunned by His Power and Might.

As we worshipped at King of Kings Sunday evening and praised our Lord God together as one, the reality of  "leaning on God's protection" took on a profound meaning to me.  Not just for my own personal safety but the safety and preservation of Israel and Her people as a Nation. Tears flowed as we raised our hands to worship God.  

Last Friday was Purim - a day to remember how God rescued the Jews from total destruction.  Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, had in recent weeks given President Obama a decorated scroll telling the Biblical story of the Book of Esther.  He said, "Then, too, they wanted to wipe us out".

Schools were closed for three days to celebrate Purim.  Many dressed up and many got drunk.  

None of us understand the reason why (for the next few weeks) no food or clothing will be sent out;  but instead, families will use the vouchers to shop at participating stores.

We will use this time to do a major job of storing away all winter clothes and bringing out the summer ones.  This involves hours of sorting and organizing plus maneuvering heavy containers up and down the tall shelves using ladders.  Please pray for safety for all the volunteers.  Thank you.

Shalom,
Lilian 

Update from Lilian Ma in Israel

It's freezing cold here in Israel.  I am actually writing this email in bed because there is no central heating and the apartment is quite cold. 

We work Sundays to Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with half an hour lunch in between.  The warehouse is bone-chilling cold and I have been wearing six layers of clothing every day since I arrived.

At the warehouse, we fill orders for needy families. We send out food packages and clothing and household items depending on their needs.

The Lord has opened up the windows of Heaven after years of drought and years of on-going prayers; and now since December, Israel is experiencing record breaking rain falls since 1937. 

Jerusalem has also received a new blanket of snow last week.  There is no bus services on Shabbat.  I share the apartment with a lady who is from California and we usually stay in, do laundry, cook, and take naps to recuperate from the week-long manual labour.  

Sundays after work, all the volunteers will drive together into Jerusalem to attend church at King of Kings.  We are about 10-15 minutes outside of Jerusalem.  Once a week on Mondays, we go grocery shopping in the area.  

Before entering any buildings or parking lots, cars and people are searched by security.  It's not unusal to see soldiers buying grocery with their machine guns hanging on their shoulders.

Please pray for God's protection over Israel and her people as rumours of war circulate. 

My return date has been moved from May 3 to April 24 after I found out that I shouldn't over stay the 3-month tourist visa or else the Israeli Government has the right to deny future entries. 

Will see you in two months.  Thank you for the prayers!

Blessings,
Lilian

Uganda 2012 Team Video

Update from Noah Okiror

Florence and I spend January and a bit of February in Uganda ministering. That was in answer to invitations from a womens' group, rural pastors' seminar and youth rally organisers. The schedule was tight but we managed to pack all the meetings plus a little time with relatives, in that five weeks.
 
Its always a privilage indeed to be God's vessel and we saw what God can do when we step out in faith. The youth, pastors, childeren and womens' groups were ministered to; to the extent that an open invitation has been given to us and all those we can mobilize, to go again. We too were ministered and we will never be ther same. Thanks so musch for your support and prayers.
 
We are right now in Singapore catching up with family over here and may be visit our spiritual families/partners in Cambodia and Thailand; before heading back to Toronto.

Uganda mission update. View photos    Download all You are invited to view noah's album. This album has 12 files.