Learning Dental Hygiene in Arut

Video 1: Dr. Sunday Akintoye teaching on good dental hygiene. 

Video 2: Woman from Arut telling the people what she learned.

Uganda Dental Clinic Video

Dr Sunday Akintoye gives us a brief walkthrough of the dental clinic in Arut in Northern Uganda. Some of these people have suffered with dental pain for a long time. And while this doesn't look like a western dental office these people leave with much needed relief.

Pray for Jeremy and Sunday as they fly back (7-30/8-1)

Successful Medical and Dental Missions in Gulu.

Sunday at Arut treating a dental patient

We had a very successful medical and dental missions outreach in Gulu. Although the final count is yet to be tallied for those that received medical care, we performed dental extractions for about 226 people in both Dino and Arut. These were people who otherwise learned to bear their dental pain on a daily basis. It was a delight to see the joy on their faces; some even came back the next day to thank us for the pain-free sleep they enjoyed after their tooth/teeth were extracted. We thank the Lord for the prayer of the Saints because everything went on smoothly. To God be the glory for the great things He has done.

~Sunday

Large Turn Out in Arut

Sunday giving dental hygiene education to the waiting crowd at Arut.

After two full days of ministry in Dino, we spent another three full days in Arut, Northern Uganda located just 1 hour’s drive from Uganda-Sudan boarder. In Arut, we also provided medical and dental care, medications, and organized programs for the children and youth. The large turn out of the people made it more conducive to teach good oral hygiene practices. Patients lined up each day waiting to be served, but some had to be turned away by dusk.


~Sunday

Working Together in Uganda

Dentists And Dental Students Serving the Acholi People. 

Sunday and some members of the dental team at the end of a day's work

The dental team is comprised of three dentists (one each from USA, Nigeria and Uganda) and three wonderful dental students from Howard University Dental School, Washington DC. To God’s glory our team blended together from the first day. I headed the dental team providing extensive years of clinical practice, teaching and research. Ambrose from Nigeria provided dental mission experience and Andrew from Uganda, a great resource person is also involved in medical/dental missions within Uganda; both of them provided additional dental instruments and sterilization equipments. Alicia, Courtney and Patrick, the three dental students were very committed and their enthusiasm was contagious. I cannot thank our interpreters enough for making it possible to communicate with the people. Please keep us in your prayers because we are scheduled to provide dental care for five consecutive days.

~Sunday

Gulu District: Open for the Lord's Work

Sunday checking blood pressure of a young patient in Dino, Gulu District

Immediately after the Sunday service we boarded the bus for our trip to Gulu, Northern Uganda to begin the fieldwork phase of our trip. It was an exhausting 6-hour trip, but we were all glad to settle in our rooms in ‘Hotel Free Zone’.  The next day we were off to Dino, a remote part of Gulu District. Although the trip was expected to last 2.5 hours, it took us 3.5 hours because of the bad road condition. We set up our activities at a former war camp converted to a ‘supposedly’ local health care center that doesn't seem to be used often. Interestingly, there was a large crowd already waiting there for what has now become an annual ‘health fair’ for this region. We provided medical, dental and wound care, gave out medications and ministered to the children about the love of God. It was gratifying to see the relief on their faces. Glory be to God.

~Sunday

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Jeremy demonstrating a science experiment for the kids at
Uganda Jesus Village.

FB post from Jeremy: Spent the last 2 days in Dino, remote Northern Uganda, doing medical clinics for people who essentially have no other source of healthcare. Got bitten and peed on by one little girl with acute Mzunguphobia, but all in a day's work... Doing the same in Arut for the next 3 days. Will be sure to keep my fingers away from small mouths!

NOTE: Mzungu is Swahili for white person.

Here Am I, Send Me

Worship team at Streams of Life

We attended the 10.30am service on Sunday at the Streams of Life Church, Kampala pastored by Pastor Gerald Mwebe. As expected the worship session was very inspiring. Although the singing and dancing went on for about 1hr 10minutes,  some of us were still yearning for more. Richard, President of Adonai Partners Inc. delivered the sermon based on Isaiah Chapter 6. He challenged us that if we seek the Lord just like Prophet Isaiah, our lives will never be the same.  Our eyes will be so opened the magnitude of the work still left to be done on the mission field that we will say like Prophet Isaiah ‘Here am I, send me’

~Sunday

Leaders and Pastors iGNITED

Pastors and leaders at the altar committing to Missions

The two-day Leadership and Missions Conference took place at Makerere University Conference Center. It focused on transformational leadership and empowering leaders and pastors for mission.  Attendees included local pastors and faculty members at Makerere University. I was one of the seven speakers at the conference. My talk, given on the first day focused on ‘Strategic Priorities for Leadership’. Jeremy anchored the first day with a ‘Working it Out’ session on application of all the information presented. There were 144 attendees on day 1 and 175 on day 2.  A total of 70 leaders answered the altar call to commit their ministries to missions. These were further invited to a training workshop on day 3 to prepare them for life on the mission field.

Sunday giving his talk at the Leadership and Missions Conference.
Jeremy summarizing the day's events

Save The Street Kids

Youth and young adults praying for Monica (red blouse); 

who received Christ that day.

Some of us attended the iGNITE Leadership and Missions Conference for two days while the rest of the team ministered on the streets of Kampala. The Namuwonga Community is one of the ‘slums’ in Kampala. Team members ministered from house to house praying and sharing the love of Jesus. The next day, some team members ministered to ‘Street Kids’ in Kamwokya community. These kids often roam the streets because they have no homes to go. Poverty was displayed in the worst graphic form in these regions as young mothers could be seen sleeping on the street with their children. Our team was hosted by ‘Save the street kids’ Ministry that caters to children taken off the streets. Several people in these communities opened their hearts to Jesus. Unfortunately, many can’t read English language, so a major challenge will be getting them Bible written in their local language.

~Sunday

The Year of the Youth.

The team this year has a high percentage of youth and young adults ranging from high school students to college students, dental students and graduate students. It is gratifying to see their excitement for God’s work. In Kampala, we are all staying at Tal Cottages Kampala, a decent Hotel/Conference center with a swimming pool (even though we will have no time to swim) and free WIFI when it is accessible.  Our first full day was devoted to ‘on site-training and cluster-specific team trainings. An important message from the training sessions is to remember that we are in Uganda to demonstrate the love of God. We sorted the medications and dental supplies so items that are of limited supply can be purchased here in Kampala.

~Sunday

Miss Yah!

The first day of training in Kampala meeting new friends.

About 22 hours after leaving home, I waited at Addis Ababa International Airport for my connecting flight to Entebbe Airport, Uganda. I suddenly felt lonely, missing my family. Jeremy my fellow missionary from Victory travelled two days ahead of me, so I also missed the company of Victory colleagues that I took for granted last year during the 2011 Uganda mission trip. It just does not feel the same without my Victory fellows. The two-hour layover in Addis Ababa seemed like an eternity. I think I felt a little more tired than anticipated………..because I miss my family and Victory brothers and sisters. However, I am comforted that you are all praying for us and I am making new friends this year too. After about 30 hours of travel time, we arrived safely in Kampala. Glory be to God!

~Sunday

Return to Uganda

July 16th - 31st Jeremy Nuttall and Dr. Sunday Atkintoye will once again be joining Adonai Partners in Uganda. They will be working in Kampala for a few days and then heading up to Gulu in Northern Uganda to conduct medical outreach to the villages of Dino and Arut. This year Sunday will be doing simple dental procedures such as extractions. In the US Jeremy works on the research and development side of HIV/AIDS prevention but it is in Uganda that he is able to truly see the need for his work. Pray for both of these Victory members as they encounter people desperate for a touch from God, both physical and spiritual. 

A Few Impressions

Our time in Uganda may have come to an end for now but I think we can all agree that this is an enduring work. Adonai Partners is reaching children, families and leaders in great numbers. Here are just a few impressions from members of Victory:

Sunday- "Never underestimate your abilities.  Visit Acholi land in northern Uganda.  You will be amazed how God will use you."

Barb- "Africa gets into your heart and draws you back over and over."

Claire- "It’s a culture shock in a good way."

Jeremy- "This trip has rekindled my passion for the Lord.  It has also refired my anger against injustice and poverty again."

Kim- "We did the real stuff on this trip!" (New Testament/Hole in our Gospel kind of work- the things Jesus would do!)

Jane- "In the face of greatest need, God is alive and moving with Adonai Partners."

Joanna- "God has outdone Himself here!"

Robert- "Speak the Word and it will speak Love.  Our job here is not in vain.  The silver and gold we have to offer is in us."

Britney- "I may be coming home to America, but I left my heart in Africa."

Margaret- "How awesome it is to be part of miracles, signs and wonders."

Dan- "We need to take the experience and grow in our faith from it."

Cassandra- "I prayed to see through the eyes of Christ.  It’s amazing what I saw that I would otherwise have missed."

_____________________________

Britney and Al give us a clinic tour before they are swamped with people for the day. Also taking place are dental clinics (under the tree and children's ministry beyond the tree)

Four Days of Medical Clinics

After two very long but very fruitful days of ministry in Dino, we went to Arut on Thursday & Friday. We were greeted with a song and some speeches before we began a medical ministry to the people.

Upon receiving a number, Al directed the people to Britney to be weighed. Britney had to be creative to get the weights of crying, squirming children. She even got “baptized” once. After being weighed, people were directed to triage where Joanna might take their medical history, Jeremy would take their temperature and Claire would take a blood pressure reading. Then Margaret would then direct them to any free doctor, escorting them if need be. After a consultation, Jane might do a wound dressing while Cassandra and Barb worked in the pharmacy to help fill prescriptions. In addition to all this, Sunday set up a dental teaching station under a tree on an anthill. Children learned about dental hygiene and got free toothbrushes and toothpaste. As this entire medical ministry happened, Kristie took pictures and helped out in the pharmacy when they got busy.

While the medical ministry was a big focus, the children’s ministry team was not idle. They entertained children teaching them God’s word through stories, skits and games throughout the day. They also fed the children lunch.

Everyone on the team has been stepping up to do whatever is needed. Our elder statesman, Robert, has been a magnet to young men. Dan has walked the entire town and found lots of opportunities to pray for people and Kim has been a great motivator and role model.

It has really been a great time of prayer and service to the people of Uganda. We will never be the same again.

~Barbara

The entire Uganda Team of 45 from eight different nations!

PS. At the end of the last medical clinic the village danced traditional dances in celebration. But as we went to leave the battery on the bus went dead, so as team, we had to push the bus to get it started. Another of our many memorable moments!

Only the Beginning

Sunday and Al bring a quick video up update:

Sunday recaps the first day and plans for day two which will be completed by the time you read this. Continue praying for us as we adjust to the time difference and the culture. Pray that God would work through us in a powerful way.

~Kim

Just Days Away

As I sit here in my hotel room in Kampala, Uganda, having been here several days, I am excited to have a team from Victory join me next week. I have found the people of Uganda to be very gentle, laid back and soft spoken. They are hungry for the Word of God! The needs are many but people are hopeful. I have been interviewing many kids from around the country who have been impacted by the Book of Hope. It has been a huge blessing to encourage these new believers in their faith, several of whom were Muslim. I can not wait for the team to arrive to share ministry with them as we reach more children, encourage pastors and help with the physical needs of the people in the North through Adonai Partners. Please cover the team in prayer, everyday. There will be more joining us from MD, NY and Nigeria. 

The long flight starts very early Tuesday July 19th and I will meet them on this side on Wed, July 20th just after noon-time. The time difference is 7hrs, so jet lag will be a factor for a few days. The vegetation is tropical as the equator runs through Uganda but the temperatures are very comfortable in the high 70s-low 80s. However, the mosquitoes have taken a liking to me.   

We will post here as often as internet allows. Feel free to leave comments for team members.

~Kim

To Africa We Go

Kristie & Margaret at the International dinner.

There has never been a doubt in my mind that Victory (our church) would go to Africa one day. The time has finally come. On July 18th-Aug 3rd sixteen people will travel to Uganda to take part in a variety of missions work with an organization called Adonai Partners. We will hold a Pastoral leadership training in Kampala and then we will drive five hours to the north into the Gulu area to do dental and medical work as well as children's ministry. We will arrive just as a water project is being finished and will witness first hand the benefits of delivering clean water. It will be exciting to further the work that Adonai is doing, but also to get a vision for the direction of missions at Victory.

We are currently in that oh-so-important stage of fundraising. I've not met too many people that enjoy this part but it is so vital and faith building for those involved. Partnerships and relationship are key to any missions endeavor. One person does not go alone. Just as a team of 16 does not go out alone. We each have to have a support system behind us: those that pray and those that give. Whenever I am out of the country I often feel like the old Verizon commercial, you know the "can you hear me now" guy where he is on the phone but has a whole team of support people behind him. 16 people may be physically going to Uganda this summer but in reality there will be several hundred of you along side of us in support. Perhaps you will be one of those.

A big part of fundraising are the deadlines that happen months before the trip ever commences. We are approaching a very critical deadline on May 18th. This is airplane ticket day. 75% of the funds must be raised by that date in order to purchase the plane tickets. Those not meeting the deadline will not be able to participate. And so this plea is for any of you who want to help. Your participation is needed right now! If you know someone on the team get behind them as ask how you can help. No amount is too small or large. The key here is to jump on board and partner with us so that all of Victory and all our friends and family can reap the benefits of making a difference where hope is needed. 

Visit the prayer and giving tabs above for further instructions. 
Together we CAN make a difference in Uganda. 

~Kim