"Amazing", "Wonderful", "Life-changing", "Unbelievable", "Very humbling". These were just some of the responses of the New Mossley team members who enjoyed the privilege of visiting Uganda in July.
Our work involved us in working with over 100 "street kids" and refugee children who were housed in a government run camp called Kampiringisa aged between 5-18 years. It was deeply humbling to work with children who have virtually nothing except "what they stand up in" and to see the smiles come to the empty faces of children who have know so much heartache and trouble in their short lives is truly heart-warming and deeply challenging. To see their hunger for the word of God and their responsiveness to that word, to hear them joyfully singing the praises of God and the ease and enthusiasm with which they learn simple choruses and Bible stories is absolutely thrilling, specially when you realise that the only English word some of the refugee children from Democratic Republic of Congo knew was the word Genocide. What a humbling experience it is to see their appreciation of simple gifts like a T-shirt or a pair of shorts or trousers.
The team also visited a number of local churches, sharing in the worship services. The members also worked in a Christian Primary School at the Stephen Jota Children’s Centre, where over half the 400 children are "parentless" because of the ravages of HIV and Aids. We were able to provide 36 beds for the hostel where 108 "parentless children" are provided with very basic accommodation and care.
We were also privileged to be able to work at the "Jesus Cares for All" rehabilitation centre where houses are being built to accommodate the street kids. Our team were able to help with painting, building, carrying bricks, installing ceiling timbers, mixing cement and concrete and generally labouring to the builders who were there.
All in all, it was a truly wonderful and rewarding time, when God used his people in a marvellous way and we would like to thank those responsible for the gift from the Concorde fund which was a real encouragement to us as we sought to raise the necessary finance for the trip.
