Exciting Updates for Journey International

Greetings family and friends,

 Rhonda and I wanted to send out an update of some exciting happenings for Journey International over this past month. We know some of you follow us on social media, some through our website, and others rely on email or direct mail. Feel free to share!

We often get asked what it is like to travel with all the Covid restrictions? Also, how we endure the long flights and layovers that can mean from 24 hrs to over 30 hours in flight transit. Then we have approximately a 7-hour drive to reach Lira and our home. 

Our standard answer is, we pray for each step. Masks are not optional, as well as Covid Testing, so it just goes with the territory of international travel at this time. We simply do what we have to do to get there. I (Russ) can sleep like anything on the plane. I call it forced relaxation, while Rhonda on the other hand… is a different story. 

Our advice is when the Lord calls you to something, do whatever it takes to fulfill His mission.

Visiting the Baby’s Home

One of the first things we do once we get settled in Lira, is head to the baby’s home. These are children from 0-3 years old. Some have been abandoned, some orphaned, and others are vulnerable in their current situation. Believe it or not this is where we come to get refreshed. We get  to love on these children and the amazing staff. As we were returning to the US last December, their milk cow died right after giving birth. Can you imagine a baby’s home with no milk?! Through the generous supporters of Journey International, we were able to provide a very nice milk cow for the home this past month.

Pauline’s Journey

Many of you have followed the Sarah – Pauline story. She is the young girl who was severely burned in a hut fire along with her sister Immaculate. Unfortunately, Immaculate passed. 

Today Pauline is in school for the first time and excelling greatly! We continue to work with Sarah, praying for a bright future. There is also an older sister Prisca who is also supported by Journey. Your giving helps provide the basic needs for the family, as well as schooling and supplies for these two beautiful girls as they pursue hope for a better future.

A visit from the US Board of Directors

Recently we hosted the US Journey International Board of Directors in our home here in Lira. It was such a blessing to have them here with us again in this new capacity. They followed us on our daily life here, with a lot of travel around Northern Uganda and into the bush where we visited with children and families suffering from Nodding Syndrome. We visited two of the Salvation Sheds, (one in a Gulu Slum, and one in a refugee camp near the Sudan Border).

We also traveled out to a church to visit a ministry that we partner with at Journey. “Ladies of Destiny” helps young child mothers get a new start on life. Through our partners giving we have been able to purchase 6 tailoring machines, supplies, and set up 6 stations for hairdressing. This vocational training along with the Good news of Jesus is transforming lives. There is a desire to expand the vocational training to other areas such as agriculture, craft making, and a boy’s program for construction etc.

Salvation Sheds Update

ALL three Salvation Sheds are going through final construction activities, and are already in full use. These Sheds create a meeting space for the local communities, training for Pastors, leaders, and providing discipleship. These Sheds are basic structures that provide a church home for so many who were worshiping under a tree in the elements, or in small over crowded structures. 

Our Journey team and partners are currently reviewing locations and plans for the next Salvation Sheds. Possible locations include Lira, Northern Uganda, Sudan, Lake Victoria, and Odek (Nodding Syndrome area). These Sheds have proven to be the best form of evangelism we could ever think or dream of. We thank the Lord, and you for making these possible!

Nodding Syndrome outreach

Our Journey Team continues to visit the homes of children and families suffering from Nodding Syndrome. They bring basic supplies such as food, cooking oil, soap, and known needs of the family. On a recent Journey to some of the homes we discovered a pocket of children and their families in an area that had been previously missed. We are assessing the families and will be identifying the needs. As of now we know for sure that several families will be added to our outreach program, which currently serves 10 families. One can feel overwhelmed by the need, but we are able to encourage and pray for these families as we share the Good News of Jesus in word and action. There are stories to be told in the future as we push forward to those who are  most vulnerable…

BIG NEWS!

We have Land! 7 acres was recently purchased in Odek (Omoro District). The very area and epicenter of many of the children and families suffering from Nodding Syndrome. We have felt and known for years the Lord was calling us to this place. We just didn’t know what it would exactly look like. Our Board of Directors (US & Uganda) and Journey Team are beyond grateful for the sacrifice and giving it has taken to make this a reality. Thank you! We truly believe the Lord will use this land, and future structures such as a Journey Center and a Salvation Shed to expand His Kingdom even beyond this place. The Lord uses the weak things of this world to bring about His Salvation, Freedom, and Healing. More to come about this exciting news…

Journey is official!

We began our Ugandan Registration in May of last year. Although we could move forward as a Ministry, we still wanted to feel the Official Permit and Certificate in our hands… This past week we received both Documents! Praise the Lord!

Thank you each and everyone who is praying for us at Journey International,  encouraging us, mentoring us, and giving! May the Lord repay you in ways we cannot.

We appreciate and love you!

Russ and Rhonda