The Overview

For the past six years, I have been drawn to the Orthodox Presbyterian mission in Karamoja, Uganda. As a freshman at Geneva College, I roomed with Emily T, from whom I heard countless stories about the struggles and joys of living and laboring on the mission field. Those stories and my friendship with the her family planted a desire within me to someday serve in Karamoja. This coming September, I may finally get that opportunity.

The Karamoja region lies along the northeast edge of Uganda

The Orthodox Presbyterian Uganda mission has been in the Karamoja region since 2000. The goal of the Mission is to labor, with the grace given by Christ, to establish an indigenous church that is self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating.  Currently, there is no indigenous reformed church in Karamoja. The members serving on the Karamoja station labor in the areas of evangelism, church planting, leadership training, village Bible instruction, literature production, literacy training, medical care through the work of Akisyon a Yesu Presbyterian Clinic, community health instruction, and other works of mercy such as vocational training, well drilling and the operation of a work-for-food farm.

I have been appointed by the Orthodox Presbyterian Committee on Foreign Missions to serve as a missionary associate to Karamoja, Uganda starting at the end of August, 2015. My plan is to be in Uganda for just over 11 months, returning August 2016. While there, I will have several roles. First, I will assist in the work of the Karamoja Education Outreach (KEO). In order to equip children who will be entering the public schools, KEO functions as a preschool for five-mornings per week, teaching basic Karimojong literacy, numeracy, health, Bible, and simple English lessons. In addition, KEO tries to provide early-morning and afternoon lessons for shepherd boys and girls who have to help their families at home and thus will probably never be able to attend school. KEO collaborates with the nearby public schools, seeking to support them and increase the Christian witness and outreach through education. My role within KEO will consist of teaching, possibly helping with local literacy outreach, and connecting with the local children.

Village of Nakaale, Karamoja, Uganda

My second task on the mission will be to tutor some of the missionary children. Currently, the plan is for me to teach Caleb O. (8^th grade) science and math. Depending on my responsibilities with KEO, I may also tutor Megan O. (6^th grade) in a few subjects and possibly get to teach logic to Josh T. (12^th grade), which, ever the philosophy major at heart, I am very excited about. Finally, my last responsibility will be to jump in and help wherever needed.

I am thrilled by the possibility to finally serve on the mission that I have heard so much about. I believe that God has been preparing me over the past several years in many ways, from my enjoyment of soccer (or football) which the local children love to play, to my experience in adventure education, which I anticipate will be helpful both in my work teaching and for life in Karamoja—an adventure in itself, I am quite sure! Thank you for your consideration and prayers.