Today we started the day at Sports Outreach doing morning devotions with the staff. Lydia spoke more about how to approach the trails in our lives. After she shared we had an awesome time of talking through some difficult questions as a group of believers. So many people shared the way that they saw God working through trials in their lives and how it has shapes their faith and understanding. After devotions we got to play soccer one more time with the Good News team. We split into four teams mixing our Messiah group and Good News team on each team. We got to bond with the players even more today and it was wonderful to play the sport we love with each other. Special shout out to the people in our group who aren't normally soccer players but did a great job playing with us today. We are so encouraged by the work that God is doing through the people on the Good News team. It has been incredible to hear their stories and the way Jesus has changed their lives. We find that we can relate in many ways even though we lived in different parts of the world for all our lives. We also got a tour of the Sports Outreach head quarters and learned what their amazing plans are for the future. Following that, we had to say good bye to our new friends because we will be traveling to Gulu tomorrow. We then headed off to separate slums for the afternoon activities. Half the group went to Chubuli and upon arriving there, we found we had four soccer balls and a whole lot of children. This was not a problem, we brainstormed and then split into two groups and did drills and played some pick up soccer. But most importantly, after soccer Aaron Faro brought the word! He shared with the kids in a creative and relatable way that God wants to give them purpose and fill them up just like a soccer ball filled with air has more purpose then a deflated soccer ball. By the grace of God one boy in this predominantly Muslim village accepted Christ after hearing the good news of Jesus Christ (Tony). Also, we got the pleasure of meeting the cutest little boy in the universe, sporting Crocs, a button down shirt and a never ending supply of laughter.

The other half of the group went to Katwe. Here they saw firsthand the chess ministry that we heard and read so much about. This is the place where the Queen of Katwe took place, which was a book we all read and a movie that Disney has made that comes out in the fall. They heard stories from some students of the Chess Academy. Then they split the younger and older groups. Sweets Dakota and Madi shared a testimony with the younger group. Simultaneously, the older chess prodigies of Katwe played some of our Messiah try hards in chess and it is safe to say they showed them how it's done (But Zeb kinda held his own). Then Kayla got to share part of her testimony with the older group and Robert, the director of the chess Academy shared as well.
All in all it was a great day and we will really miss our Sports Outreach Kampala friends. Please keep them in your prayers. We have connected so quickly with them in just a short number of days. Also pray for our travels tomorrow. Pray for our group harmony as we get to spend so much time bonding on the bus tomorrow.
Love Uganda 2016 (Nikki) 

Today was a very busy and incredible day! After an early breakfast we left at 8 to get an early start on the day. We traveled to the new SOI headquarters in Kampala to have morning devotionals with The Good News Soccer Team. After some meaningful and powerful words were shared, we split into two groups. 

One group participated in a training conducted by Coach Faro and consisted of Messiah Soccer players and the Good News players working on turning in soccer. Mean while the second group, made up of SOI people working in the area and the people from the Messiah team who are not soccer players, conducted water filter demonstrations with Sawyer water filters. The demonstrations were for prestigious leaders in the community and school teachers so that hopefully they would have clean water available in the communities and schools. It was an honor to present the filters to the community leaders, and they were very impressed by Sawyer's products' ability to turn very dirty water into clean, clear water. The water going from very dirty to very clean provided a terrific opportunity for Jordan to share the gospel. The soccer training was also very successful in creating relationships between The Good News Team and the Messiah Soccer players.  Also, it gave the Good News players new drills and information for coaching their own trainings with their respective projects. We were then provided a snack, and had some more time to build relationships. Before traveling to two different projects. 

We split into two larger groups. One large group went to a church to encourage the people working there. While there, they split into smaller groups one of organized 5v5 soccer that was interrupted by cows and chickens at times, and the other was playing basketball and chess with the kids. They were able to strongly encourage the people working there and create great meaningful relationships that will continue via email. And the soccer players were able to share their testimonies with the kids there and see them turn to Jesus. The spiritual leaders in that area at that church will be frequently checking on those kids and encouraging them for years to come. The second larger group met in a shack, did some introductions, and they played a few games of chess with the people there. They then hiked up a large hill that overlooked the city. At the top Jacob Bender was able to share his testimony. Afterwards they traveled back down, and played some soccer with the people there before reconnecting with the group and traveling back to where we are staying. 

We had a late dinner, and then, to wrap the day up, we shared as a group where we saw Christ working that day. We are very thankful.  

Hello family and friends,

This morning we had an amazing experience at Nateete Prayer Center. To get there we drove through some dusty dirt roads and finally arrived at the church where we were welcomed as brothers and sisters. A new experience for many of us was dancing vigorously throughout the service. We had the opprotunity to introduce ourselves to the congregation and  shared a song we had prepared. (We learned we are better athletes than singers compared with the choir of the church) We heard testimonies from the members of the church as well as two from our own team, Nikki, and Tyler. Nikki spoke on her own experience of fear and the transformation and confidence God provides. Tyler shared how God does not restrict suffering but promises that one day the struggles will end. The blessings and hope of heaven is so much greater than anything we encounter on earth that all things can be overcome. The pastor of the church spoke on how powerful words and faith can be when asking such an omnipotent God.

After coming back and receiving lunch at the hotel we embarked out to the slums of Nateete where we visited the original location of Sports Outreach International  (SOI). We were able to hear about the work that SOI is doing in the lives of three individuals. One boy, Paul, had previously been removed from school and a coach from SOI, Willis, has taken him as a mentee and worked with Paul to place him in the SOI home and remove him from dangerous influences. Two sisters we met (sorry we don't recall their names) were finishing their "high school" curriculim and hoped to become a lawyer and a pediatrician.

While touring through the slums we saw homes built with tin roofs, dirt floors, and trash scattered throughout the area. The children that lived there were extremely joyful and welcoming as they walked beside us through their homes.

Ending today we ask for prayer for Paul, as he is testing to be re-admitted to school and hopes to find a home with SOI. We also ask that you pray for the two sisters as they prepare for their tests to graduate from "high school". Lastly, we ask for continued prayer for our journey as it has only just begun and for the people we encounter to have the opportunity to share the gospel and God's love through our own stories.

Love Aroma Uganda 2016

(Jacob and Joelle)

After many hours of travel we have arrived in Uganda. We look forward to telling you more after our first day!!

Hello from Detroit

Hello everyone!

We have begun our journey to Uganda and are currently in the Detroit airport waiting for our next flight! The past two days have been packed full of great time to prepare together and get to know one another. On Wednesday night we started with a meeting with all of the Messiah athletes who will
be going on trips over the next couple weeks. There will be trips to Algeria, South Korea, Argentina and, of course, Uganda. We are so excited to be part of what AROMA is doing this summer!

We started off our morning with a cross run, reflecting on Jesus by carrying crosses in groups around campus with checkpoints along the way. The physical aspect of this experience added meaning, especially for us as athletes. Then, we took part in a demonstration from a Sawyer Products representative. She showed us the products Sawyer would be giving us, including sunscreen, bug repellant, and water filters. We also learned how to assemble 5 gallon water filters, which will be distributed while we are in Uganda and received our own mini filters! Later, we had a delicious lunch provided by Casey Stone and Nancy Luley. After lunch we had a meeting and talked about short term missions with Aaron Faro. We discussed the benefits and drawbacks of short term missions and discussed what our goals for the trips will be. There was another meeting later that afternoon when we talked about our testimonies and were given time to think through ours and prepare for sharing them on the trip. We then went to the wonderfully amazing White's house-- not to be confused with the White House, though it was just as nice. We played some yard games and ate an amazing dinner of chicken, macaroni and cheese, watermelon, and chocolate chip cookies! It was a great send-out meal. Then some group members shared their amazing testimonies. Finally, we headed back to school and had a send-off ceremony with all of the trips that are heading out today. We each held sticks of lit incense as we walked by the creek and prayed for our trips, that we would be the "aroma of Christ" as we head to our destinations around the world.

This morning we packed up and left Messah at 10am to go to the Harrisburg airport. Our first flight was smooth and we are currently in Detroit about to listen to some more amazing testimonies!



Love,
AROMA Uganda 2016
(Kayla)

Before We Go

Hello All!

This blog will keep you updated about our experiences in Uganda in the upcoming days! Our group consists of 15 people including Messiah athletes from 5 different teams (Track & Field/Cross Country, Men's and Women's Swimming and Men's and Women's Soccer). We will be working with an organization called Sports Outreach whose mission is "to recruit, train, equip and deploy committed Christian leaders in the proper use of sports ministry for the purposes of sharing the Gospel and alleviating human suffering."

We will technically begin our travels tomorrow as each team member makes their way back to Messiah for orientation. God has an amazing plan for this trip and we are excited to see what each day will bring as we meet and connect with God's people in Uganda. Any prayers are appreciated! 

If you feel led we would appreciate prayer for the Sports Outreach staff we will be working with in Uganda, the many people we will interact with, and for unity and vulnerability within our team as we get to know one another better!

AROMA Uganda 2016

(Kayla)

On Sunday, we went to church in a village outside Soroti called Kakise. We worshipped in a packed church for 4 hours. It's was awesome -I think it's the way church is meant to be! We sang, danced, heard the Bible preached, prayed, and danced some more. At one point, we were all dancing with our chairs above our heads. It was wild and fun. So much joy!

During the service, 4 women responded to the gospel and our team prayed with them to accept Jesus. Then we invited people to receive prayer for healing in their bodies. Dozens of people came forward, and every member of our team began laying hands on people and praying for them. Lots of people were touched by the prayers, but my highlight was when Nathan Eagan prayed for a man with hearing problems and God completely healed his ears! Praise God!

In the evening in Kakise, we played another outreach soccer match and had a crusade. Thousands of spectators surrounded the field, there were even people in the trees watching the game. Myself and Danny Rowe shared testimonies during halftime, proclaiming the good news of Jesus over loudspeakers to a silent audience of Ugandans. In the second half, we played really well and won the game 2-1. 

I scored a goal, but my real highlight came after the game. When the final whistle blew, I was immediately surrounded by a crowd of Ugandans. I shared the gospel with them again and asked if anyone wanted to give their life to Jesus. One boy pushed his way through the crowd and knelt down on the ground in front of me. I got to pray with him to receive Jesus right there on the soccer field. Praise God!

Monday was a travel day; we said tearful goodbyes to our Sports Outreach friends from Soroti, and got on the bus to Gulu. This is a city recovering to years of terror and war from Joseph Kony and his army of child soldiers -the LRA. When we arrived on the 40 acre farm that serves as home-base for Sports Outreach Northern Uganda, we were greeted by about 30 teenage girls singing and dancing for us. These girls had all been physically and sexually abused, and lived on the farm as part of a recovering program. They were all so beautiful!

We are excited for a day of ministry tomorrow in Gulu!

Danny Thompson