Preparing for the Journey

We are SO excited to go and serve the people of Uganda and Watoto!!! Our team of 16 Mercy graduates and 2 staff will be leaving on Wednesday, July 20th… in just over 2 weeks! Each member of our team has been working diligently to cover the cost of the trip and also to pay for the 4 classrooms that we will be building for the children at Watoto. Although we are ready to get over there and serve, we are still in need of raising the rest of the finances to cover all expenses. As of today, we have raised over 80% of the money needed for our entire 18 member team… and we are believing God for the rest! If you are interested in being a part of this journey and partnering with us financially, please go to www.mercyministries.org and click on "Donate Now." In the notes section, please put WATOTO. This will ensure that these funds are directed toward this mission trip!

This blog has been created specifically for this trip. We will be posting regular updates on it as we continue to prepare for this trip, as well as while we are serving in Uganda. On here you will find photos, quotes, prayer requests, praise reports and general updates on all that God is doing in and through our team--we know that this is going to be a life-changing mission trip for us as we “let our light so shine before men.”

Also, we would love to have you partner with us in prayer. Please pray with us for the people of Watoto that we will be working with and serving during our two-week trip. Pray for safe travel and cover every aspect of our travel, including luggage, flight connections and a quick adjustment to the time zone differences. Lastly, please pray that our entire team would be in good health and that God would use each one of us mightily in the lives of the people that we come into contact with. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Please make sure to check this blog daily for updates!

Finally, one of our team members, Aubrey, is an incredible artist! God restored Aubrey’s love for art and painting while she was a resident at Mercy—and now as a graduate, Aubrey uses her artwork to express what God is doing in her life and heart! Aubrey wanted to make a special painting that was for THIS mission trip—it took her several months, but it is finally complete! Here is what Aubrey wrote about her artwork entitled “Marks of Mercy”—

“Isaiah 61 reveals the hope of transformation through faith in Jesus, and His desire to redeem His children. My sin had made me a prisoner and I was a slave to my addictions. Yet in that place of captivity, my broken heart encountered the tangible love of Jesus through Mercy Ministries. Isaiah 61 is not only a testimony of what Jesus has done in my life and what He desires to do in the lives of every one of His children, but it is a commission to share the love of Christ with a lost and dying world. The Lord is calling us to support and encourage those who the Lord has called to Watoto, as they bestow on these children a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Every word in Isaiah 61 seems to resonate with the heart of Watoto. The picture is of the entire continent because I believe that when children receive the love of Christ and are taught to make Him the Lord of their life, it changes the course of a generation, that generation changes a nation, which can impact a continent, to becomes a beacon of hope to the rest of the world... all for His glory!”

We are so proud of Aubrey and LOVED this painting so much that we want to make it available to everyone! ALL of the proceeds from this artwork will go directly to support this Watoto mission trip—helping us to raise the rest of our team’s finances! If you are interested in purchasing one of Aubrey’s “Marks of Mercy” prints, you can purchase online by emailing Aubrey directly at marksofmercy@yahoo.com. “Marks of Mercy” prints are available in stationary cards for donations of $2.50 or more (5 for $10), 8x10 prints for donations of $10 each or more, 11x14 poster for donations of $20 each or more, 12x18 poster for donations of $25 each or more. In your email to Aubrey, please specify the size, the quantity, shipping address and how you would like to pay for the prints. Aubrey also has a PayPal account, so you can pay by credit or debit card—just specify that in your email. Prints will be mailed within 7 days of your payment being received. Thank you again for your prayers and support!