In May 2011, I received an email inviting me to be on the team that would pilot Watermark’s first kid’s camp in Uganda.  My first response was an automatic and definite “NO”.  I thought my reasons for not going were good ones.  First, I’m already on what I believe to be an important, high priority mission here in Dallas working with Watermark’s junior high ministry.  I didn’t want to sacrifice one mission for another. Second, I’d already researched the history of Uganda and heard stories of suffering, survival, hope, and redemption.  I didn’t need to go there in order to care.  Finally, my two pre-school aged sons aren’t at the ideal life stage for their daddy to be gone for such a long time.

After processing the decision with my wife, community group, and other close friends, all of my reasons not to go began to sound more like excuses.  They encouraged me to take what I’ve learned on the mission field here in Dallas and apply it in a new environment.  They championed the idea that God might use the immersive experience in Uganda to do something unique in my heart.  They offered to support and encourage my family while I was away.

After spending a week in the Pader District of Northern Uganda, I sure am grateful that I listened to their counsel and said “yes” to this once in a lifetime opportunity.  Everything about the experience was a new adventure for me, and I learned so many things.  Specifically, my horizons were broadened when it comes to ideas related to partnership, sponsorship, stewardship, and vision.

PARTNERSHIP:
I learned that Watermark’s partnership with ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries) is a perfect fit.  After spending a week working closely with their team, I can affirm that ALARM is absolutely the right ministry partner for Watermark.  Their staff is comprised of humble servants with hearts focused squarely and tirelessly on the task of making disciples.  They recognize that healing, reconciliation, hope, and restoration are only possible through God’s intervening work in the person, word, and body of Jesus Christ.

SPONSORSHIP:
I learned that sponsorship is supremely valuable to the orphans who receive support from Watermark and ALARM.  The provision of school fees, books, clothes, food, and sometimes shelter is worth infinitely more than the “sacrifice” of the $35/month cost to a Watermark member.  Whenever kids would share their testimony, the native crowd consistently erupted into cheering whenever a forgotten, abused, abandoned, lost, or terrorized child got to the part where they discovered that they were chosen for sponsorship.  Receiving a sponsor is often for a child in Uganda evidence that God has not forgotten them, that He cares for them, and has a plan for their life.  The opportunity to sponsor a child is the opportunity to be God’s megaphone shouting a message of love towards His precious children.

STEWARDSHIP:
I learned that I have a lot to learn about stewarding the limitless provisions God has made for my life.  I’m quick to express gratitude for the many blessings I’ve received, but I’m not as apt to exert effort to maximize the potential of those blessings.  When these impoverished kids are given an opportunity, they take full advantage and max it out.  They take nothing for granted and work hard to steward every resource to the fullest potential they can imagine.  What conviction and inspiration was served up by their example!

VISION:
I learned that my initial hesitation to travel halfway around the world to “do ministry” has been completely reversed.  This is my personal opinion, but I believe that we’ve got to go back and we’ve got to go soon.  Only 1/3 of the orphans sponsored by Watermark and ALARM had the opportunity to attend camp and it was an experience that I believe will have a lifelong impact on the individuals, their communities, and possibly even the entire nation.  Not only do the other 400 kids deserve the same experience, we need to follow up with and continue to encourage the first group.  I realize there are significant needs right here in Dallas, but these kids in Uganda have next to NOTHING.  No Watermark. No community centers.  No government funded lunch meal plans. Besides their ALARM mentor and the provision of sponsorship, they have NOTHING.  The least we could do is share the love of Christ with them on a personal and consistent basis.

Now, if I receive another email inviting me to participate in the next kid’s camp in Uganda, my gut response will be an automatic and definite “YES”.  My community group will have to talk me out of it! But they better look out, because I might just end up pushing them (and you) to take my spot so that more and more people can awaken and nurture a heart of compassion and love towards the beautiful and noble nation of Uganda!

David Penuel
Director of Junior High Ministry

-Rick Howard

-Lucina Thompson

The camp kids wrote down folks they needed to seek forgiveness from and “nailed” it to the cross as part of their commitment to pursue it.

The graduates from the ALARM Trade School led a parade through town to celebrate the event.  The trade school is the first school Pader has ever had, so the entire town showed up, including the Pader marching band.

Small group time for Kyle Kaigler and Adam Sandwick and a bunch of 17 year olds.  They are under a large tree, next to a giant termite mound.

- Rick Howard

Happy campers on their way back home with their mentors. May they continue in what they have learned.

Young Cooper sharing with trade school students about what it means to be Gods man. 2 Tim 2:2

Young Kirby teaching youth (age 18-30 in Africa) about what it means to be Gods woman. Col 1:28-29

Read this and finish and apply with students in Uganda. Reply now and tell us how You are applying His Word today.

Some questions to ask yourself every time you read God’s word. #sowhat #joshua1:8

Graduation for 2nd group of students (orphans/ex-child soldiers/poor) from Trade school God let us build. #james1:27

Will Wash-Joel Schubert-Cole Burdette teach the Word with excellence in Uganda 2 Tim 2:2 in action.

Just a piece of paper to you but life changing to Alice and her fellow grads.

- Chris Dishman

- Rick Howard

The next two photos show the trade school graduates on parade before the ceremony.

And finally, Harrison plays satan in the Watermark team’s original skit “A Heart That’s His” for the HIS Camp Uganda.  It follows the journey of a great soccer player named “Chosen” and two teammates, ”Redeemed” and “Loved.”  The kids watch as the players steal from and reject the Great Coach, “I AM”, for a soccer team led secretly by satan.  There, they believe they are in control and need to coach.  Two eventually reject the evil team and the Great Coach welcomes back “Chosen” and “Redeeemed”, forgiving them for bad choices they made.  They are restored to the team because “I AM”, the Great Coach, showed them grace.  He also allowed “Love” to go his own way, apart from ”I AM.”

Prayerfully, many have hearts that are fully His!  Our second camp began soon after the first group left.  There is so much energy and excitement!  One 16 year old girl told me it was her first journey and she was proud.  She is eager to learn and is soaking it all in!  Mercy is falling and our camp songs are already hits!”

- Tracey Beckwith

“On the last night of the elementary kids conference, a huge carnival was put on for the kids.  The smiles alone make this a successful trip, but our hope is that they come to know Christ…not just have a great memory.”

-Rick Howard

“If you haven’t taught others God’s word or showed others God’s love today then I’d like to know what you thought this day was for.”

“Over 20 and counting.  Jump in with us as we bring life in word and deed.  How are you going to invest today?”

“Name is worn off the sign but not the mind of God which is only place it matters.  Hebrews 6:10.”

Thoughts from Rick…

“Nothing hurts me as much as the face of an African girl living without hope…come soon Christ is all I think.  Bad theology, but hard not to consider as best answer.”

“Dinner preparation for 250 in Africa…WOW!”