Reflection

Insecurities, Fears, and Truth

/ Gina Sawyer / 2 Comments

I want to share something that’s not easy. Lately, I have let Satan whisper lies into my ear that have made me feel alone, insecure, and unloved.

It’s hard making friends in new places, and I struggle when I see others with friendships I don’t have. I long for close friendships. Between finishing a challenging book and going through a Bible study, I have been convicted that I could be a better friend and a blessing to people I interact with. This is where I let Satan influence my thoughts, by hearing a truth but then letting him use that truth to hurt me. Continue reading →

Missionary Life – A mix of emotions

/ Gina Sawyer / 2 Comments

This past summer, we went to the U.S. for the first time since we moved to Uganda in January 2016. It was a wonderful experience seeing family and friends. We were blessed by our time with our partnering churches, and we couldn’t ask for a more supportive group of people who surround us. 

An interesting thing is that we also had the reality that life in the U.S. is so different than what we’ve been used to the last 1-1/2 years. Continue reading →

Ugandan Women are Strong

/ Gina Sawyer / 1 Comment

Ugandan women are STRONG! I have come to love, respect and build relationships with many Ugandan women, and I have also seen many other women living what is a normal life (to them), but is quite intimidating to me.

Some women will walk miles for water, reasonably priced food and other household needs for their families. Many women who live in the villages work hard all day in the garden/fields, and then return home to their family to do all the cooking, cleaning and caring for their children and husband. Many times they wake up before the sun has risen to do household chores like ironing, cleaning, and getting things ready for the day, before going to work. Even the many women with professional jobs in town still continue to manage the household in ways that astonish me. Continue reading →

Tips for Short Term Mission Trips & Travelers

/ Leland Sawyer / Leave a comment

dscn1635As someone who has led short term mission trips to several different cultures, I have had the pleasure to watch students and adults witness powerful testaments to the nature of God. I’ve been part of some amazing moments and memories that last a lifetime. I’ve also made more than my share of mistakes in coaching trip members on how to connect and communicate with people that we are ministering to during our travel. Continue reading →

Third Culture Family

/ Gina Sawyer / 4 Comments

As we are preparing for our first trip back to the US, we have had some processing we’ve had to do and will continue to do. Even the word for it is hard to encompass everything it entails…”Furlough” is not accurate because it is NOT a restful vacation, but instead a whirlwind of travel to see as many people as possible. “Home assignment” isn’t best because while Leland and I grew up in America, we have lived in Uganda for a year and a half and it’s our home now, plus Adalyn doesn’t remember it as home. Continue reading →

I Choose Joy

/ Gina Sawyer / Leave a comment

A couple weeks ago, I woke up with a cold turned into a sinus infection, ants invading my pantry and ruining bugmaster-pest-control-kelowna-ant-invasionsome food, spending over an hour clearing out my pantry and trying to kill the ants, having to explain the day of expectations to my house worker, dealing with questions and needs from my day guards, Adalyn seemingly asking a million questions or calling my name for something… all while trying to take care of an increasing to-do list that seemed to continually get pushed to the side. Continue reading →

Servant. Leader.

/ Leland Sawyer / 2 Comments

discipleship-bookOur team has been working on revamping our discipleship book that we use with the pastors/leaders as we work in small groups (cohorts). JP Robinson adapted the current book from some work that his pastor had done. JP coordinated with Dennis Okoth to fit the context here in Uganda. It has been a good book that has guided many of conversations with the pastors, but, as with anything, changes, tweaks and improvements are needed. So, in December JP set out to revamp the book as we prepare to start new discipleship cohorts in 2017. He recently asked me to write the chapter on servant leadership. And it got me thinking… Continue reading →

Reflecting on My Purpose

/ Gina Sawyer / 1 Comment

Wow, it’s crazy to think it’s been 1 YEAR since we packed up everything we own and moved across the ocean to Uganda. God has continued to be faithful through everything, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy. What a journey it’s been! Continue reading →

Different isn’t wrong…

/ Gina Sawyer / Leave a comment

There are so many things that are different here. Some things are more difficult, take more time or are frustrating because they are different from what we’re use to, but there are also so many things that are beautiful, sweet, interesting and amusing, which makes for a wonderful dynamic. I feel blessed to be able to live amongst this dynamic… Continue reading →

Nkya iga Oluganda

/ Gina Sawyer / 1 Comment

Nkya iga Oluganda (sounds like Encha yeega Oluganda) means “I am still learning Luganda.” Luckily, we are not learning how to read or write Luganda at this point, so we only write how it sounds to us, which is different for Leland and me.

99c519ad-3420-44e5-814d-b37fd053225a Immaculate, our language helper, is a primary school teacher who is not currently working, so she is able to help teach us every Wednesday and Friday afternoon for 1 hour. An hour doesn’t seem like much time but by the end of each lesson, our brain is fried and we are drained from trying to process and learn.  She is patient with us, she challenges us, she speaks slowly and repeats herself so we can understand. Continue reading →