Alaska STM: Hikes, Fellowship, and Heading to Port Alsworth

Today, we traveled to the Hope Partners Africa Care Center in Kampala to meet more VBC-sponsored university students, as well as a handful of primary students. The primary students traveled by bus most of the night from Kayanja, about a 5-hour trip. They joined us for lunch and then headed back to Kayanja, so it was a very long day for them! I got to see Chance, a university student, whom Tina and I met with last year in 2025. Her first question: "Where's Tina?!?" I meet with two extraordinary young men: Nicholas is completing his third year of law school (sponsored by Niki), and it’s obvious that he loves the Lord. He shared a vision of how he wants to “pay it forward” as a lawyer / public defender for those who are less fortunate and underprivileged. Joab is working on his mechanical/automotive degree (sponsored by Scott & Naomi). He is currently in a 3-month internship with the Kampala Police Department. Our team leader, Kate, has an amazing ability to connect us with students we can relate to. I get to share with Nicholas how Niki, Tina, and I went on a mission trip to Alaska in 2021. Of course, Joab is sponsored by Mr. Scott and Naomi, and I know them as well!

This week, I am teaching in the Feelings classroom at the Crossroads English camp in Piedras Negras! The students have completely captured my heart! They bring so much joy to the classroom every day as we learn English emotion words and healthy ways to handle big feelings. Today, we talked about deep breathing and practiced a few different ways to do this, as well as some scenarios where this would be helpful for emotional regulation. The rainy weather has made switching between classrooms a bit of a muddy challenge lately, so please pray for clear skies. Most importantly, please pray that these amazing kids see and feel the love of Jesus through our short time together each day! Becca Rousar, Mexico Team 2026

Another 7 AM team devotional & breakfast, and we are off to our next school… Hope Primary School in Mbarara. These are the same 350 or so students that we had worshiped with on Sunday. Village members sponsor 26 of them. As with every school visit, the students sing and dance to welcome us at a student assembly. Kathy shares her message about God the Father vs our earthly father, and Craig speaks with the parents/guardians. At the staff lunch, I sit next to a math teacher named Didas Mpora. It’s my turn to offer a word, and I talk about reconciliation. I tell a story about two brothers who get into a terrible fight and don’t speak to each other for weeks, months, or even years. That’s how our relationship is with God. We broke the relationship with God because of sin. God was the injured party. The difference is that God is the one who reconciled us to himself through our Savior, Jesus Christ. I sit back down next to Didas, the math teacher. With tears in his eyes, he explains that God was speaking directly to him through me… he and his brother haven’t spoken for over a year after a terrible family situation. Now I knew why God had given me this particular message to share! It’s what Tina and I call a “God wink”. There are advantages and disadvantages to meeting with students in groups rather than one-on-one. One obvious advantage in a group setting is that the students feel more comfortable and open. In my opinion, there is also a distinct potential disadvantage. Every kid we meet with gets something… a small bag… perhaps a coloring book and crayons for the littles, or a toy, pencils, and a notebook for the older children. In the end, those things don’t matter as much. What these students are looking for, regardless of whether they are in elementary, high school, or university, is a relationship with their sponsor. The things they cherish most are a letter and pictures of their sponsor’s family! If you sponsor a child, thank you! You are making a generational impact. Please… in addition to the financial support… write a short letter or send a picture if you can!

Today we kicked off the first day of our English Camp! 🎉 We started with lots of energy, smiling faces, and excitement for everything God has in store this week. We’re thankful for the opportunity to serve and can’t wait to see what He will do! ————————- ¡Hoy dimos inicio al primer día de nuestro Campamento de Inglés! 🎉 Comenzamos con mucha energía, sonrisas y entusiasmo por todo lo que Dios tiene preparado para esta semana. Estamos agradecidos por la oportunidad de servir y emocionados por ver todo lo que Él hará. Jason Orozco, Team Mexico 2026

It’s another early morning as we head out at 6:30 AM to attend church with 350 joyful children from Hope Primary School in Mbarara. Worshipping in Uganda is wonderful! Many of the songs are in English, and they’re familiar to us. What a joy to be able to worship the one true God and his son Jesus Christ, with our brothers and sisters, thousands of miles away from home! Next, we went to the Living Hope hostel, where a number of Village Bible Church university students live and attend Bishop Stewart University. We get to “go deep” with these students. In my case, I meet with a young man named Emmanuel, who is completing his third and final year at university and is currently in a two-month internship. Emmanuel has applied for a full-time position at the company, and he is excited to show me his letter of application. He is also the first person in his family to complete college. I get to tell him that I was also the first person in my family to complete college. It was a small bonding opportunity! God is at work here in so many ways.