Uganda Trip 2024

Earlier this month, a small team of 4 traveled to visit our ministry partners in Uganda. During the trip, they were able to walk the site of the future Empower Women’s home. There are several phases of development that need to be completed before it will be ready to support 12-15 young mothers and their children, but as Damalie, Empower Women founder reminded us, we won’t “minimize small beginnings”. Already, trees and crops have been planted, land cleared, and the beginnings of a well have been started. In addition, a pit latrine has been dug. The next phases of the build will include finishing the well and erecting an enclosure around the property. We are excited to watch Damalie’s vision unfold and her dream of a safe haven for these mothers come to fruition in the future!

The team also traveled to the homes of several of the children in the Shiloh Horizons Family Sponsorship Program. They were able to thank the foster parents for the care they were providing, pray for them, and provide encouragement. The sacrificial love they are giving can not be understated. It was such a joy to visit with the children and their families!

In addition, there were several mothers visited that are a part of the Empower Women program. The need for support is great, and we are prayerfully hoping that several of these young mothers will gain sponsors in the coming months. While the mothers and babies are well, sponsorships would improve food stability as well as the living conditions for these new mothers and their children.

Lastly, the team traveled to rural Kibuku to visit the children and ministry leaders of Ebenezer Children’s Home and Ebenezer Nursery and Primary School. The days were filled with singing and dancing, soccer, nail painting, jumping rope, letter writing, photo taking, and a special student lunch on Friday. Saturday was Visitation Day, so parents of many of the students visited their children at school and met with teachers to hear more about their child’s educational progress. In addition, the team visited the site of the future children’s home, which is in the initial stage of construction. They spent time worshipping with Ebenezer Church and were able to participate in a foot washing ceremony for the children.

This time spent strengthening relationships with the children and ministry leaders was invaluable and restorative as traveling to visit our partner ministries and the people they serve is an important part of the relational foundation of Hope Grafted In. We are already looking forward to the opportunity to be together next year! If you are considering joining us in the future, visit our website, as future travel dates are already posted for 2025! We would love to introduce you to our friends or travel you with once again. We promise it will be filled with God moments!