The impetus for the mission trip was a partnership that Grace United Methodist Church (UMC) in Vidalia established with Wanyange Central UMC in Jinja a few years ago. This was preceded by a commitment that the South Georgia Conference of the UMC made to The East Africa Conference of the UMC to support that conference through gifts, prayers and partnerships.

As a result, Grace UMC has been able to help Wanyange UMC make a down payment on a piece of property where a church will be constructed, rent a storage building that currently serves as the church, establish a sewing center (treadle powered machines) to help the local women develop a source of income, bought a cow for pastor Isaac Kyambadde of Wanyange Central UMC, and also provide him with a monthly stipend. All of these things may sound trivial to us in the United States but when you consider the following factors, these "small" contributions become quite significant.

Life expectancy in Uganda is 45 years. Only 3% of the people have access to electricity in their homes and businesses. Over 300 people die each day as a result of the Malaria epidemic in the country, and 40% have no access to clean drinking water. The average annual income for a Ugandan is $340 (US). Two million of the 30 million people in Uganda are orphans, with 940, 000 of those children orphaned by the HIV/AIDs epidemic there.

These numbers are staggering and can easily be written off as just another statistic from Africa. After all, we grew up being jokingly told by our parents at the dinner table about the starving children in Africa. Unfortunately the reality is that children and adults are still starving to death in Uganda and the rest of Africa at alarming rates.

So how as Christians do we respond to this crisis? That is something each Christian must answer for himself. For those of us that traveled to Uganda on this mission trip, our response was to go as God called us. And simply being there to show the love of Jesus to a people pleading for the hope and mercy that come only from Him was a trip we will never forget.

The mission trip started in Atlanta and 27 hours later we arrived in Entebbe, Uganda – without our luggage. Fortunately it showed up a day later but wearing the same clothes for three days probably quickly acclimatized us to a country far different than any of us could have anticipated where dirt and well-worn clothes were part of the culture.

We started our first day incountry worshipping at Wanyange Central UMC in a very energetic and powerful service. During that service, the leader of our team was able to present a sermon to the congregation through an interpreter speaking in the native Lugandan language on the meaning of Christianity - a seemingly simple message but one that the African church, like many US churches, needs constant reminding of. The churches there, although numerous and well attended, are very much like the early Christian church in the Book of Acts. They struggle with what some consider simple tenants of our faith, yet have a hope and belief in our Lord Jesus Christ that He will sustain them despite the conditions stated above.

Also during that first church service, an 18-year-old member of the team presented Pastor Isaac with a guitar he had donated and brought from the US. Pastor Isaac was very grateful.

The following four days of the mission trip were spent presenting the pastor training conference to approximately 20 pastors and 60 church leaders and leading Bible school activities among the more than 200 children. During the pastor training sessions, the pastors and church leaders were instructed on the biblical structure of the church, giving back to the church, supporting each other and sharing resources (again from the Book of Acts). In addition, the concept of small groups working within the church to disciple each other was introduced to the attendees. At the end of the week, the pastors and church leaders were presented with certificates and Bibles. Some attendees had never owned a Bible of their own.

Returning to the United States after a mission trip to a place like Africa is obviously a cultural shock. Some of the members' biggest fear was that we would too soon forget the sights, sounds and more importantly the people we all met while there. But God provides, and through prayer our hope for the people of Africa will be sustained and not simply drowned in the American culture in which we live.

One week after returning to the United States, the Ugandan Thunder boy's choir performed at Unity Baptist Church in Warner Robins. Their appearance was confirmation that despite what may happen to us, God will never forget the people of Africa. Pray for Africa!

If you want to go to Africa there are mission trips going there all the time from the Middle Georgia area.

Bobby Gale, a Middle Georgia missionary who has made several trips to Africa, may have said it best: " The world is a dangerous place, not so much because of evil doers, but because of Christians who look on and do nothing."