It's been quite a while since I've blogged around on here. Actually, I forgot I had a blog until recently, but I'm resurrecting it to fill in my loyal followers about my life, etc. So, an update:
Back in December 2014, I made two main goals for the year because I figured I'm not getting any younger and it's my golden year (On March 27 I turned 27... get it??) So my goals: 1) to run the Detroit Free Press Marathon; and 2) to go on a missions trip of sorts.
Marathon training started last week and gratefully my foot that had been super tight since I ran my car into a cow (♬I don't care, I love it!♬), feels 100% again. Since the marathon officials "strongly discourage the wearing of music devices", I've been trying to run without tunes which has given me plenty of time to reflect, pray, and think about the trip to Uganda.
So the trip: I've known even before December that God was pushing me towards a missions trip. In 2012, I went to Liberia, West Africa with a group of students from the University of Michigan (I know... they were good people though, and a few were Christians!), and combined we taught basic agriculture, engineering, English, math, and life skill courses to 400 high school students in 5 different camps across Liberia. It was intense and I learned a lot. BUT it was advancing a goal that, in the end, doesn't really matter. You can teach all the life skills you want to 80 students, but if they don't know the One who gives Life, it just doesn't matter. That trip taught me that 1) I LOVE AFRICA; 2) I was definitely going back to Africa; but 3) I would not return to Africa unless it was with a ministry proclaiming the Gospel.
In December, I knew this was my year to go back and started looking for organizations that ministered there. A few names were tossed my way, but nothing really stuck until I contacted Every Child Ministries (ecmafrica.org). My home church, Mt. Hope Bible Church, supports the founders of ECM and I just remember feeling that tug of longing to go back when they updated us on the ministry. In early January, I received an email from a staff member letting me know a team was going out in June to encourage and train some national teachers at their Uganda site. I was soooo excited- like an urgency in my chest telling me this was it- time to go!
I leave in a little over two months and still have a long way to go. First, I have to come up with one or two teaching methods to teach the national teachers. I don't have any "professional" teaching experience, but I have had several opportunities for informal teaching: Youth Works, youth group, Sunday school, substitute teaching, Liberia, I'm In Charge, my current job with Home Help provider training. I'll be pulling from these experiences and probably poling my favorite teacher-friends about their ideas, too.
Second, I need to raise $2,600 for the bare minimum trip expenses. According to ECM, I'm only at $200, but hopefully it's that low because Lansing mail goes to Grand Rapids now and online donations are not processed until the 15th of each month. I'm still two months out, but this is the part that makes me the most nervous.
With that said, I invite you to partner with me financially. There are a few ways to donate, and all donations are tax deductible!
- Donate online by April 30th: go to https://ecmafrica.givecorps.com/projects/3333-short-term-missions-sarah-scott and make a donation.
- Send a check with my name on the memo line by May 20th to:
Every Child MinistriesPO BOX 810
Hebron, IN 46341
Thank you so much for your support! Please keep me in your prayers as I embark on this trip.
Blessings,
Sarah Jane
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