Mark Hunnicutt

Uganda: Thurs 7/29 Itinerary

We are traveling and being led by the worldwide ministry of Compassion International. Compassion is a proven partner for local churches to make an earthly and eternal impact. I challenge you to explore the pages of their web site concerning Compassion's philosophy, mission, programs and operations.

In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. – Compassion's Mission

Our itinerary for today…

8:00am     Breakfast

9:00am        Travel to Compassion Child Development Center to learn more about the Child Survival Program (CSP)

Location: Lugazi Community 40km east of Kampala. This is a hillside community of approx. 52,000. The people of this community work as market traders or laborers and earn the equivalent of $30 a month or $1 a day. We will give out the majority of Baby items that you donated today.

11:00am    Welcome, greeting & orientation

The Compassion team in this community will describe the work that is going on there. We will then have the opportunity to do hands on ministry.

1:00pm        Lunch (Lugazi is known for its tasty guinea pig)

2:00pm        Home visits

Team members will visit with kids they have been sponsoring.

5:00pm        Travel back to hotel

6:30pm        Dinner with pastors from our implementing Church Partners

We can feel you prayers and I can't wait to share what God is going to do today!

John 11:17-32 Don’t live a passive “if” faith but a passionate “but” faith. Jesus is always the solution…

Scripture

20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask."

23 Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again."

24 "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day."

25 Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?"

27 "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God." 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, "The Teacher is here and wants to see you." 29 So Mary immediately went to him.

30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Observations

• Martha = active faith / Mary = passive faith
• Martha went to meet Jesus!
• Martha, But You are still the solution Jesus
• Mary, if you would have been here = no problem

Applications

• Trust doesn't mean being passive
• It also doesn't mean aggressive
• Trust Jesus as "the" solution at all times
• Actively pursue any indication of Jesus' presence in a situation
• Live a "but" faith instead of an "if" faith

Prayer

I ask that You help me live in trust. I don't want to play out situations in my mind then if You don't do "it" still passively trust You. I want to trust You no matter what my feelings or friends say. I love You Jesus and thank You that I'm not in charge. You have given me Your promise and You have the power to fulfill!

Uganda: Day #1 Debrief – Some of the sights and insights from my 1st full day in Uganda.

 
- Team assembling and getting ready to go

- Compassion trip leader, Kevin Meyers, briefing us on what we are going to experience

Note: This group of people make up an amazing team from all over the US. I'm constantly amazed at the caliber and quality of people God allows us to meet. I've been blown away by their hearts and attitudes.

 
- These offices are the administrative headquarters for the 275 projects (church partnering with communities)and 75,000 children.

- They receive 100's of pieces of mail daily from sponsors all around the world for these kids. This caring correspondence is sorted and translated then placed in a project box for delivery.

- The Ugandan Compassion office team was one of the most organized and effective teams I've ever been around. Very competent Christians using their gifts to do ministry.

Note: People are the heart of any organization. Every one of the employees at this Ugandan office is from Uganda. Some even came up through the Compassion process and are now giving back. I Could have stayed all day to talk systems and structure with them.

 
- This is Makerere-Kivulu and the first of several Child Survival Programs (aka: Projects) we will visit.

- The second picture is Vincent and his young brother and a neighborhood friend.

- Third, some jewelry that Vincent's mom makes to support her family.  

Note: Vincent's dad died of AIDS 3 yrs ago. His mom and little brother are currently HIV positive.I stood stunned at this remarkable family. They were so thankful to God and appreciative of the ministry of Compassion. This family receives meds, job training, and school scholarships through Vincent's $38 dollar a month sponsorship.

Look and listen to more of their story through these two short video clips.

 

Uganda: Wed 7/28 Itinerary

Good morning! It is 6:49am Uganda time and 11:49pm NC time. I'm interested to hear how you parents explain its Wed here and Tuesday there to your kids. Just tell them that Mark & Cheryl can time travel ;-). No pictures from yesterday because it was dark from airport to hotel. Security is tight! Drove by the Rugby Club where terrorist bombers attached 3 weeks ago. Sobering, the whole bus got quite. We had a near accident with a motorcycle. The bus driver slammed on the brakes and my head slammed into the windshield. I was in front seat digging through my backpack and smack. I got a good view of the whole thing…

Our itinerary for today…

8:00am     Attend devotion and Compassion Uganda country office.

Compassion employs about 80 native Ugandans. The majority of them including a young lady we meet last meet where sponsored children.

10:00am    Orientation

We will have an opportunity to investigate the Compassion systems etc…

11:00am     Travel to Compassion Child Development Center to see Compassion's Complementary Intervention (CIV) Program.

Location: Makerere-Kivulu, 1.3 miles north of Kampala (map), Uganda. The sponsored & unsponsored children live on this plain. It has a resident population of 30,000.

12:00pm     Home visits in community

Some of the people with us are actually going to meet their sponsored kid! This interaction is going to be special.

1:00pm        Lunch

2:30pm        Local market

5:00pm        Back to hotel

John 10:39-11:16 Jesus uses sick situations for His glory and my growth…

Scripture

11:1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord's feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, "Lord, your dear friend is very sick."

4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this."

Observations

• Lazarus was Jesus friend
• Great plea for Jesus
• Jesus answers the question, why?
• He is sick for my glory

Applications

• My prayers need to be personal, who isn't Jesus friend?
• Trust Jesus to get glory out of sick situations
• View every situation as an opportunity to bring glory to Jesus

Prayer

God, you are working things this side of heaven for your glory and my growth, EVERYTHING. I ask that you give me Kingdom eyes. I thank you that I testify personally of Your miracle working power and getting glory.

 

Uganda: I think it is amazing that you can literally be anywhere in the world in 24hrs! Blog post of travel itinerary…

I think it is amazing that you can literally be anywhere in the world in 24hrs! I'm not afraid of flying but I'm terrified of boredom. I've got my Kindle loaded with good books and my Droid media player with songs. I'm also going to give myself a crash course in digital photography by going through Cheryl's new camera manual. I'm going to try to sleep some but your tips have taught me to nap and keep moving around. Please pray for our safety and that I'll have an opportunity to share Jesus with those sitting around me. I would hate to cross the sea with the Gospel and not share with those across the seat.

If interested you can track our flight on www.flightview.com

Trip Itinerary

Mon 7/26

12:07pm    Delta flight #4086 departs Asheville

1:55pm        Delta flight #4086 arrives in Detroit

4:05pm        Delta flight #252 departs Detroit

Tue 7/27

5:55am        Delta flight #252 arrives in Amsterdam

11:00am    KLM flight #561 departs Amsterdam

7:50pm        KLM flights #561 arrives in Entebbe

Transfer to hotel and check in