MISSION TRIPS

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Gandhi

Updates From Uganda July 2016:

Going to Uganda was the single best experience I have had thus far in my life. The joy in 50 children's eyes field my passion to change the world even more. I will have a testimonial video soon going to into detail of how this trip was 100% sent from God. I am also working on a short visual of all I captured there! Thank you so much to the supporters who have donated or purchased a Shalom Band. Remember a little does a lot in the eyes of Our Heavenly Father. If your heart desires to feel this experience and to soon go, I will be taking a team next year. Contact through email for more information! Hope these pictures bring joy and Love to your hearts and souls! Be well Beautiful people! 

UPDATES ON TRIP AUGUST 2017

In this trip, I allowed God to lead me into whatever He desired I should do. I am no longer working with previous directors I met last year that led Malta's Children Centre. They have discontinued their work with the children. I worked with an orphanage 15 minutes away from the kids I worked with last year. When I went to visit the kids, the director of the school and pastor of the church asked for my help in raising funds for school fees. I prayed about it and the Lord allowed me to obtain 51 sponsors for all 51 children. They are now under Love Exchange United. I have decided to carry on sponsorship for the children for terms to come. The Lord provided very quickly for these children so it was evident for me to keep this going for them. I also raised a great amount of donations. I was able to get them all new school shoes, socks, clothes, food for their families, lots of candy and nice meals, new backpacks, lots of school supplies, and other things all thanks to the many donors. Snapchat, Instagram, and just being able to connect to back home in the midst of my trip helped all the willing donors see where everything was going to. Some sponsors even were able to FaceTime the children.  I plan to go back in December to bring iPhones for them to keep and update me on with convenience and teach them how to use it. I will also get updates on the children so that I can send it to the sponsors. Thank you to all those who have played a part in making this all come together so well!

UPDATES ON TRIP JULY-SEPTEMBER 2018

I was able to take along two wonderful people with me to Uganda. Nathaneal served with recording music with the children. They recorded over 20 songs with his production system. He was also able to donate a guitar and fix the drums for the church. He did community outreach with church members in his free time throughout the village. Mariah came along the trip right after her college graduation. She did arts and crafts with the children and met the needs of individual children. She also was able to meet the child she had been sponsoring through Love Exchange Sponsorship Program. They both served in a way that they were also touched. Love Exchange was able to add 25 children to the Sponsorship Program, totaling 71. There condition of sleep was to be found in harsh conditions, so around $1,100 for all the 71 children to have a foam mattress to sleep on. We also funded parties, had many meeting meals, new clothes, and hygiene products. Also, in this last year 10% of the school fees funded by Love Exchange Sponsors have went to reconstructing and expanding the school building! It was a wonderful long trip of connecting and learning.

UPDATES ON TRIP 4 MAY-JUNE 2019

It was great to be back in Uganda again. I went by myself this time but was able to bring lots of luggage of treats and toys. When going I try to bring things I can’t get there. Luggage can get full quickly so it’s important to bring specific things. Things that are lightweight and unique. Since things are cheap in Uganda, it is easier for me to just buy shoes, clothes, toiletries, or any other needs there. This last time I brought fun games and toys. I also brought cool snacks that I knew the kids would like. I brought Hot Cheetos and Tony’s seasoning and they found that pretty interesting, haha. This trip was centered on seeing the kids again and getting updates. Since Love Exchange has been successful in getting sponsors for their education, it’s important that I always keep the sponsors updated every term. I made it a goal to go once a year to be pro active in the kids lives. This time I took more time getting to know the new kids I added to Love Exchange Sponsorship program as well as mentoring them and helping them perform better in school. There is a lot of pressure for these kids. They don’t live a normal life like we do in America. We always have everything we need, even if we are poor. The priority in the village is the garden. This is how people eat basic foods or even make money from what is grown. Children wake up before the sun comes come to start chores and planting or gardening. They are tired and hungry throughout the day. At school, they serve beans and cornmeal. (This is the most normal basic meal to be eaten.) It’s humbling to see their lifestyle. It’s also truly inspiring to see how strong they are. This is normal for them. It’s honestly unfair that so many villages in so many countries live like this, while it’s extremely different in other countries. It’s like two different worlds in one world. I am glad social media has helped both sides be more aware of the other side. Even though I don’t like to show the children my life in America, (my home, my clothes, or car), I know that they understand that in different places there are different lifestyles. They are so wise. Wisdom grows from a humbling place. It grows with there are less worldly distractions. I have learned more from having less than having more. Money only offers resources. It does not nearly offer the amount of knowledge one can get from experience. After 4 trips in 4 years to Uganda I have merged myself into their culture as much as possible. I’ve learned that it is so amazing to learn someone. Every individual is so unique. I’ve see depths of who the Lord is and it is only by yielding to His Will. This life can teach us a thing or two, but God is the enhancement of life. God is the high of life. God is the cherry on top of everything while also being the whole thing that we later on see.

UPDATES ON TRIP 5 MAY- APRIL 2021