GRANTHAM, Pa. - This past month, AROMA Sport's Ministry sent out a mixed trip of 17 students, staff, and alumni on a global church visit to Uganda. The team spent the 12 days serving alongside long-term partner, Sports Outreach. AROMA has been sending teams to Uganda in partnership with Sports Outreach since 2012 and we are so blessed to continue this partnership.
See below for some testimonies from the trip...
"While in Uganda, we had the amazing opportunity to serve alongside the Sports Outreach staff in both Kampala and Gulu. A large portion of our trip was learning more about the ministry of Sports Outreach and spending time encouraging, serving, and worshiping with their staff. Our team was able to assist the SOM staff with their existing sports ministry programs using specifically soccer, volleyball, and basketball to invest in relationships within their communities. In addition to running sports clinics, our team was able to distribute over 130 Sawyer water filters to communities, churches/schools, and families who are in great need for clean water. The generosity, joy, and hospitality that the Ugandan people express was such an encouragement to our team. I was specifically blessed by spending time with the Sports Outreach staff and hearing more about their stories and their commitment to share Christ's love in their communities. It is truly a lifestyle not just something they do Monday-Friday; they showed me what it looks like to be the hands and feet of Jesus." -
Holly Motheral, Head Women's Volleyball Coach/Assistant Director of AROMA
"An impactful moment during the trip for me was in Gulu when we were asked to help clean up all of the grass that was left on the field after the grass had been trimmed. There was a ton of grass to pick up since the field was pretty big there, so I know that the rest of the guys assigned to that task weren't super excited to get started on that. Thankfully, we were able to receive some help from a group of kids that were hanging out at the Sports Outreach campus. As soon as we got to work, the kids were sprinting with the tarp full of grass and diving into the piles of grass that we had made. It was the funniest thing to watch and quickly turned from a burdensome task into a joyful experience with the kids. That night, as we were sharing highlights from that day, all of the guys had the same highlight and shared how much fun we had that day doing work with the kids, and reflected on how such a monotonous task could become such an entertaining one. We were able to apply this lesson to our own lives and express our desire to bring joy into all areas of our life. While we might have been less efficient than if we were serious the whole time, we were able to learn how important it is to bring a joyful mindset into every area of our life and be a joy to other people in our life just like those kids were to us." -
Josh Bratager, Men's Soccer Team Member
"Going on this trip as a teacher, I walked into the Catch-Up School for students that were behind due to lack of financial support and education, and I felt my heart drop to the bottom of my stomach. I walked into a shed-like building that was smaller than the size of my Health and Phys Ed office, with three blackboards, and three small benches. No supplies, no desks. The teacher then explains that this school building holds three classes of 10-13 students, each with one black board, and no separation between them. Tears slowly started to burn my eyes as I continued looking around, stopping my gaze at the door. "Whoever knocks, (the door) shall be opened" was written above the exit of the door. I was reminded that Jesus does not ask for us to provide these students with our own five thousand fish and loaves of bread. He asks us to have the faith to bring our crumbs that HE would provide for those who knock on our door. All we need is a willing heart to open the door, and the Lord will provide. Yet He also challenged me with how He provides in different ways. He also blesses us with provision that we would bless others. On this trip I have clearly heard Him calling out, "I have given you all you need. Are you willing?" Traveling and serving for a week was one yes, but I've come back and realized that even after I've given things up and donated them, I lack nothing. He still provides for me in abundance in order that I would be a messenger and vessel of those provisions to those near and to the ends of the earth." - Kaitlyn Laird, Women's Soccer Team Member
"One of the leaders from Uganda shared her story with us about her conversion to Christianity. She described that from a very young age her father brought her to all the bars and gave her access to all the drugs that he took. She was raised in a slum and did not know Jesus. She attempted to take her own life, but she told me, "Jesus preserved me." Now, as a Christian, she is working with Sports Outreach and displays so much contagious joy. She is a true example of joy that can only be found through Christ. Her story inspires me to be grateful for what Christ has done in my life and to be joyful." -
Caitlin Lielbriedis, Women's Volleyball Team Member
