Akalabai, here we come!

In just a few days, the 2015 Uganda Mission team will set sail (via airplane) to Uganda. We will be serving in a village called Akalabai. The team has been meeting for a few months, praying and preparing for the unknown riches that God has in store for us during our time in Uganda. First Presbyterian Church of Midland commissioned us to go and serve, agreeing to participate in the mission by intercessory prayer and active support.

Our team is a mix of Uganda Mission Trip veterans and first-timers. We are parents leaving behind children, collegians sacrificing a portion of summer break, community professionals and called ministers - excited and nervous disciples of Jesus Christ. Collectively, we are dealing with a host of distractions, obstacles, and temptations from the enemy. We humbly ask that you join us as we prepare to serve and the be served by The Kingdom of Heaven in Akalabai, Uganda.

The 2015 Uganda Team members include…

Gregory Bartha – Dr. Bartha has served Midland as an outstanding and trustworthy physician for many years. Recently, he has packed up his life and said goodbye to his community and recently moved to Uganda to serve as a full-time medical missionary. He will meet up with the team in Uganda. The team members describe Dr. Bartha as faithful, servant-minded, a good listener, and a patient man who loves the Lord. Dr. Bartha is thrilled to call Uganda home and says that he is inspired by the faith of the people there.

Allison Davis – Allison has never been on a mission trip and is excited to see what the Lord has for her in Uganda. She is a wife and a mother. She is nervous about leaving her 7 year old (Addie) and 4 year old (Crawford), but has always wanted to serve and could not pass this opportunity up when the Lord was clearly working things out for her to go. Team members describe Allison as kind, loving, and loyal. We have been inspired by the impact of her family on her faith and her willingness to go boldly and trust in the Lord.

Andrew Green – Andrew has been to Uganda before and is excited to go back to once again serve God and see His Kingdom at work. Andrew is a graduate student here in Midland and works in finance. Team members describe Andrew as both calm and passionate (which is fun). He is described as being a person of joy and of peace, reflective of the love of Christ.

Audrey Grimes – Audrey is a junior at the University of Texas in Austin. She is studying acting in the College of Fine Arts. Audrey is a spirit-filled, joyful, and radiant young woman who we are excited to have on our team. She is great with kids and adults and is a veteran of Uganda Mission trips.

Missy Grimes – Missy has been to Uganda several times and has served overseas in several other capacities. She is passionate about health and artistic expression. Missy is compassionate and wise. The team describes her as a great listener, encourager, and an extremely knowledgeable person.

Cynthia Howard – Cynthia invented Uganda. Ok, not really, but she has been going for a long time and works hard year after year to organize the logistics and be the driving force that the Lord uses to move the trip from concept to reality every year. Cynthia is a strong leader and a faithful servant. The team is very inspired by her dedication to serving the people of Uganda for the glory of God. She serves overseas and in the local community, working hard to love others and share the joy she has received in Christ.

Rachel Howard – Rachel is a wife and a mom to two boys (3 yrs. and 5 yrs. old). She is passionate about photography and video editing and the great outdoors. This is her first time to serve in Uganda and she is looking forward to meeting the people there and sharing about her relationship with Christ. The team describes Rachel as fun and servant-minded. We are uplifted by the joy she carries and excited for the great addition she has been (and will be) to the team.

Pat Hunter – Pat is extremely passionate about both local and foreign mission work. She has served God throughout the world for many years, always available for God to use her and always serving with grace, kindness, and goodness. Pat is described as a devoted disciple and as on of the best examples of a living-sermon. She loves God in nature, particularly birds, and is excited to see old friends in Africa and to walk the trails.

Garret Lang – Garret is a Uganda veteran who is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the word of God. Garret swims in deep waters and encourages others through his teaching. Garret hungers for righteousness and is full of goodness and kindness. His enthusiasm for truth and for the heart of the gospel is inspiring.

Carolyn Price – One year after nervously agreeing to serve in Uganda, Carolyn was helping organize the team retreat for her second year trip in 2015. She is a mighty prayer warrior and is gifted in teaching and music. She inspires the team toward kindness and encouragement. Carolyn is open to sharing her gifts and loves people really well, always pointing them to the heart of God. Her love for Jesus settles like a beautiful cloud over all that she does.

Laura Price – Laura Price is a 3^rd grade teacher in Mesquite, Texas. She went to Africa as a teenager and is excited to experience Uganda in 2015 through the lens of a new stage in life. Laura is passionate about kids and is excited about sharing her faith with others and for her faith to grow by her interaction with the people in Uganda. The team describes Laura as kind and sweet, with a patient joy about her that equips her very well for service to the Kingdom of God.

Debbie Spinks – after a lengthy hiatus, Debbie is returning to Uganda to serve with the team over the next two weeks. Debbie is described as a caring mother, an engaging spirit, and an energetic pursuer of God. Debbie is a strong and inspiring woman of God who is living a great story and is excited to share and grow during her time in Africa.

Walter Thompson – Walter is a pastor at FPC Midland and our fearless leader. He is leaving behind a new baby as well as his wife and two other daughters. Walter serves the Lord by empowering others and by sharing his own story. He is patient and fun-loving. The team describes him as weird and smelly. Just kidding. The team describes him as gentle, a calming-influence, and a man at home on the mission field.

Joey Willis – the most bearded member of the team and your Uganda Blog narrator has served as a youth pastor for ten years, travelled the world as a missionary, and recently released a Christian Fiction novel. The team describes Joey as wise, insightful, and devoted. They’re too kind.

Kylie Willis – Kylie is originally from Canada and has been in Midland for nine months. She is active in youth volunteering and served the Kingdom of God throughout the world on The World Race in 2013, where she met her husband. Kylie is admired for her vulnerability, her honesty, and her joyful attitude. Kylie is excited to see the beauty of the people in Africa and to walk alongside their stories as well as invite them to impact her own.

Karen Winkler – another Africa veteran, Karen serves with a humble and gentle soul. She is particularly excited about the Women’s conference and the medical clinic. Karen serves faithfully and whole-heartedly. The team describes her as strong and kind, perceptive and dedicated, compassionate and giving. She is filled with the spirit and her love of Christ is contagious.

Rudi Woerndle – Rudi is a first-timer, excited to serve in Uganda. Rudi is a lawyer, author, and family man who has dedicated his life to becoming the best disciple of God he can be. He is articulate, vulnerable, and full of wisdom and truth.

We are so excited about the journey and are thankful and blessed to be able to share our journey with you. We will be blogging throughout the trip and you can subscribe to this blog (TOP RIGHT of this page) to get an email update when we post a new blog.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

The 2015 Uganda Mission Team