I'm going back to Africa!

To my dearest family and friends,

Well, I am really excited to say that I am going back to Africa!!

It was a life changing experience going back in September 2013. I didn't want to leave. I remember the sights (crowded streets and vendors everywhere), the smells (diesel fumes,  sweet smells of nature,…), the sounds (people yelling, kids clapping and singing, horns honking) and most importantly the abundance of love. Wow, do Ugandans love on you like crazy! . After coming back home, I was able to take what I learned and spread the awareness of the country and its people.

I didn't know when I was going to be able to go back. I prayed, and the Lord sweetly told me that before I went back, I had to run the Rock and Roll half marathon, which was supporting water wells in Africa. Well, that happened. And through Him and 250 miles of running later, with all of your help, our SA team was able to raise over $27,000 which gave water to over 540 people for LIFE! That's crazy talk right there friends. Praise God!

This year when we go back, a team of 10 will be staying at a place called Musana. For those of you who followed my blog on our last trip, this place rocked my world. This sweet ministry is changing the way the world thinks about ministry, and in 2014 was able to provide 86% sustainability in their own ministry! I can't wait to get down and dirty learning how they work, and how we can spread their influence. For more info on Musana and why they do what they do, go to http://www.musana.org/ But be careful, your heart will melt and you will be writing this letter soon to get there yourself.  
: )

This is the sweet stage at Musana, each tile individually placed. 

Here are some quick excerpts of Musana's story:

Musana Community Development Organization was created when our team of founders of Ugandan and American University students discovered 162 children living at an orphanage in the worst conditions imaginable. These kids, aged 4-14, were sleeping in three tiny rooms without beds or blankets on a rocky dirt floor. Rats climbed over them as they slept and their bedrooms turned to mud when it rained. Their bodies were covered in rashes, and many suffered from bacterial infections from the unsanitary latrines. During the day, they would fight over a spot in the long line to receive their one meal a day that only teased their empty bellies. Day to day, these kids were hungry, bored, uneducated, unloved, and completely hopeless.

In September 2008, Musana Children’s Home was established and moved 80 of the 162 children into a place they could finally call home. They are happier than they have ever been, getting three meals a day, proper medical care, a good education, and most importantly… LOVE.

Our desire is that Musana not be a charity, but rather a social business that is completely owned and run by the local community of Iganga. We are making strides toward that goal by: employing more than fifty Ugandans on staff at MCDO, making up the day and boarding school that educates more than 430 kids (100 fully sponsored); supporting children in surrounding villages in local primary schools and our boarding school through a rural sponsorship program; sponsoring older secondary school students through a school sponsorship program, sending our graduates to higher education institutes; establishing a microfinance project to educate and help local widows and impoverished women start their own businesses; and developing various sustainability projects that include: a tilapia farm, a dairy cow project, a chicken project, an agriculture project, a café/restaurant, and a craft project that employs women in rural areas and equips them with skills of making jewelry and tailoring. MCDO is run by locals and empowers locals to make a difference in their communities by enabling them to be economically and socially independent while maintaining their dignity, and in return teaching the children the same thing!

I share this to let you know that we are not going to "do" anything. From July 7-22, we get to share HIS love to HIS children in Uganda, East Africa. They are "doing" it there, we just get to go love and support them.

I will be traveling and working with an awesome group of people, people you would all love. We will get to go spend a full week partnering with Musana, will work with Pastor Wilson from Tree of Life who has a new feeding program (be still my heart), get to spend some time with our missionary, Phil, and visit and love on our kids at Hope Ministries. We are going to let HIS light shine.

I truly believe that we ALL have a purpose and part in this. Some of us go, some of us pray, while others of us send. Up until now and my last trip, I was the one in prayer and the one at the airport waiving and crying as the teams left, and was holding signs and cheering as they came back. This is where you, my sweet family and friends, come in. It is only by support from others that will make this opportunity possible for me. The most important need for our team is PRAYER, while we are preparing, on our way back, and especially while we are there. Even though I've been before, this is still not what I am used to, and I cannot do this alone. Please pray that I remain healthy, so that I can be a willing disciple while I am there. If you would like to be a part of our prayer team for the trip, please email me so I can let our prayer team coordinator know.

Please join me in praying this scripture for me and our trip…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Lastly, we rely strongly on financial support from family and friends. The total trip will cost each of us $3500, with payments due each month. This is a LOT of money, and any and all contributions would be greatly appreciated. God willing, if I surpass the cost of my trip, all additional monies will be put towards the trip. Checks should be made out to Riverside Community Church, Uganda trip in the memo line. (Please don't put my name on the check) Please mail the check to me (please email, FB, comment or text me for address)and I will send them on to the church. If you would like to donate online, you can find our Uganda paypal page at  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3YR4UPTV3DC8W. Please email our missions team at overflow@connect2riverside.com to let them know you made a donation in my name (again, please don't put my name in paypal).

I know that for many these are difficult times.  Please know from the bottom of my heart, if you cannot help financially at this time, I totally understand. The Lord has had our own family in situations where sometimes we could help financially and other times where we could help only through prayer. I am trying to live in obedience and am so excited about this opportunity. The thing I most appreciate is your thoughts and prayers as I prepare & GO. If you would like to receive updates on my trip, please let me know and send me your email address! I cannot thank you enough for supporting me in fulfilling God’s promises.

Blessings to all of you,

Jennifer Taylor