Watermark in Africa

“Parting from the “secondary” (teenagers) Camp, was such sweet sorrow.  They sang for us and we for them…the voices sounded like angels.  When we asked for testimonies of what the kids learned, we hear of lives overcome by hopelessness yet now filled with love and promise of a future and hope…not just here on earth, but forever in heaven, as many trusted Christ.  The defining moment was driving out to the sound of a group of girls singing the Camp theme song based on 2 Chronicles 16:9 “Look high, look low, everywhere we go, He’s lookin’ for a heart, a heart that’s His.”  Praying that this truth becomes reality for 250 Ugandan children.”

-Lucina Thompson

Closing ceremonies at the Young Leaders Conference…these young men and women were challenged to be “doers of the Word not just hearers of the Word.”  It was a great finish to a week of teaching on servant leadership, biblical conflict resolution, and Bible basics.  We asked them to commit to God that they would seek forgiveness from the number of people equal to the pieces of candy they took.  We gave out A LOT of suckers and pray that the simple seduction of candy will not keep them from being obedient in this effort to start the healing process in their lives.

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

Thoughts from Todd, giving further proof that the Lord is there!

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.

“Another amazing day being humbled by the joy in these precious kids faces.  These children sing with such incredible passion, I feel like it’s a taste of what the singing will be like when we finally meet our Savior face to face.”

- Chris Dishman

If you have ever wondered how to prepare 3 meals a day for 200 adults and kids, here is your tip for the day.  Three women who faithfully prepare meals for all the kids and mentors at camp this week.   Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”  These ladies live out this admonition.

- 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.”

“Today our first camp ended and the second camp began.  It was hard to say goodbye.  It had only been two and a half days, but friendship and love had been shared, fun was had, laughter was heard, hugs were given and tears had been cried.  But most importantly, Jesus’ love had been shared.  The children were taught about creation, God’s perfect plan, His love and forgiveness.  Kids have trusted Christ and some have given/or asked for forgiveness for the first time.

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

Tweets/Thoughts from Todd…

“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!”

“You always wonder when leaving the comforts of home what God is up to in your own life, and the lives of the folks you will be ministering to…in our case, 250 orphans from various regions of Uganda.

It didn’t take long for the hand of God to be evident to me: my family sponsors a 13 year old boy from Kampala named Dominic.  We were unsure which kids would make it to camp and unsure of the kids ages we would be leading.  Upon receiving my group of young men, the first child I met was Dominc!  He is a great kid – bright, speaks good English, loves his friends well – but has had an extremely difficult life.  Our sponsorship has allowed him to continue in school and therefore given him opportunities to develop his obvious leadership gifts.  I can’t wait to see how God is going to use this young man!

Day 2 of camp…as we were working through the Gospel, I asked for each kid to share a bit of their life story, and how they had been affected by the years of war.  I have read books and seen movies of the war torn years in Uganda, but was completely unprepared for the pain and tragedy each of these 12-15 year old young men had experienced.  Without exception, each boy has had an immediate family member killed, one head of household was 13 years old.  As we were discussing Romans 3:23 and the sin each of us has committed, one of the boys replied, “I’ve killed people.”

What a privilege to let him know about the love and forgiveness of Christ, and that God has an amazing plan for his life.  The topics of God’s love, sovereignty, redemption, and forgiveness (see Genesis 37-45) have never been more relevant to me than to see them applied in northern Uganda.  What a privilege to know God is at work here, and will use many of these Watermark sponsored orphans to change the course of Uganda.”

-Kyle Kaigler

Tweets from Todd:

• Dateline northern Uganda: God uses redeemed idiots & selfish fools like me to provide & care for broken suffering kids.
• I know my friend @TimTebow lost but I also know 34mill Ugandan friends (not to mention 2 bill Chinese) who couldn’t care less. Col 3:2  Not to mention 50 million plus destroyed American children who never saw daylight b/c we have forgotten the least of these.
• What is white/red/black goes off at 4am does not have a snooze button and has a $20 bounty on his head?

• Based on talk I hear around where I am my guess is offer will be $200 by Friday. If it gets to 2k I’m all over it.
• Pipe cleaners-2 cents bandanas-50 cents   getting to be a kid again-priceless.

• Kids up with roosters rarin’ to go.  Water wells cranking-laughter abounding-breakfast served-sun burnt mazungas ready to go again.
• Starting training of mentors, pastors and trade school students today…teaching from Gods word on ldrshp & equipping them to 2 Tim 2:15

Praying for trust to grow between counselors and kids, and that any who don’t know Christ personally, will understand and act upon HIS GRACE when the Gospel is presented.

Romans 10:9-10  
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.