Happy Birthday LOLGM!

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LOLGM is one years old!

"For each of us, there is a place on the frontlines” - Eric Greitens, The Heart and the Fist

One year ago on April 14th, 2010, Light of the Lord Global Missions Uganda was born. One year ago, a brotherhood was forged by strangers from opposite ends of the earth. One year ago my life was radically altered. One year ago, everything changed...

But, this post is not about me and my personal story; it’s not about any individual or team achievement; it’s not about highlighting our victories or overcoming defeats. Its purpose is to signify that limitation is an illusion and that God created a world that requires us to live with risk. As John Eldredge says “God has a battle to fight, and that battle is for our freedom.” Former Navy SEAL Mark Divine teaches his mentee’s about the short term pain of suffering as compared to the long term pain of regret - the higher the risks and the stakes, the higher the suffering required to prevail. Also the higher the regret associated with failure. I would add: the higher the risk, the higher the suffering, the bigger the reward. 

My mission is to facilitate action, to forge powerful relationships, and to shine light on the miracles taking place by some of the most unsuspected people in the world in order to inspire others to step up to the frontlines and to honor and fight for their highest potential. 

April 14, 2010 - April 14, 2011...

1. LOLGMU Kampala-based ministry launch

The ministry was founded in a small village named Kirombe, located on the outskirts of the capital city of Kampala. Led by our local leader, Aba, its primary purpose is to serve as a refuge of love, hope, and empowerment. 

Highlights

• Nursery school and Sunday school for 30+ children
• Counseling services, adult literacy classes, Bible study
• Formation of a 15 member musical squad and choir team
• Employment for various ministry related positions: keyboard player, interpreter, security guard, and a five member pastor team
• Held a traditional Uganda wedding ceremony 
• Adoption of our first orphan. Baby Light was abandoned in a trash bin outside of the LOLGMU office in Kirombe. She represents our first supported orphan. 

2. Mary’s Milk   

Mary’s Milk is the first enterprise created and operated by LOLGM members in Uganda. It is a retail dairy store that provides an impoverished village access to an undersupplied yet beneficial product: raw milk. Most importantly, it serves as a driver for economic development. Indirectly, the store supports the entire supply chain: farmers, milk collection centers, dairy suppliers, and dairy wholesalers. Furthermore, it supports all the equipment manufacturers, from the milk cooler to the cleaning supplies. Directly, one small store can employ three or more people plus provide thousands of people to access to fresh milk. Last, Mary’s Milk serves as a sustaining enterprise for the other LOLGM projects that support the communities we serve. We have plans to expand the enterprise to multiple retail outlets and one day be a nationally recognized brand.

3. Ministry of Security 

Our leadership team played a major role in the success of the Love Kampala Festival hosted by the Luis Palau Association. The event included international superstar’s like Andrew Palau, Nicole C. Mullen and Jamaican hip-hop artist Papa San. 

See here for a background on our involvement in the festival. 

Papa San

Our leadership team also partnered with the daughter of the legendary Billy Graham, Anne Graham Lotz and her organization, AnGel Ministries, by facilitating her and her teams travels and research within Uganda in preparation of their November 2011 event in Kampala. 

LOLGMU partnering with AnGel Ministries

4. Forging powerful partnerships and expanding west 

In the Fall of 2010, we positioned Jackson, one of our most inspired leaders, to expand southwest into the rural, underdeveloped village of Nyeihanga. A town with no running water, Nyeihanga is ripe with opportunity. As a result of a miraculous partnership with a local family, LOLGM acquired nearly 60 acres of land that can be utilized to help transform Nyeihanga into a thriving town. Here, we wish to liberate the potential and creative ability of the locals through various empowerment projects.

Nyeihanga

5. Unleashing the productive energy and ambition of Jackson! Watch the energy brought to his newly established ministry in Nyeihanga




6. Construction and implementation of The Kathryn and Dwight Owen Education Center

Lead by Jackson and other leaders in the community, The Kathryn and Dwight Owen Education Center stands as a small private school established primarily to serve orphans and vulnerable children in Nyeihanga. It is currently undergoing a complete renovation while serving roughly 35 children. In the evenings, the school teaches adult literacy classes and vocational skills training. 

7. WOD for a CAUSE - Give Back, No Excuses! 

WOD for a Cause was LOLGM’s first major fundraiser and community outreach initiative. It was an honor to partner with Kyle Maynard and the No Excuses CrossFit family. Kyle epitomizes courage and is a hero to our Ugandan friends because they are able to see that no odds are insurmountable. The event turned out to be an incredible experience and huge success, having raised over $5000. The money is going directly to the renovation of the school and soccer field in Nyeihanga. 

8. LOLGM’s first volunteers arrive in Uganda

My high school friends, Erin Sardo and Brian Given, were married in February and are now taking a year to travel the world and experience some of the most unique places on earth. Incredibly, they have chosen to volunteer for LOLGM for two months! They will work with Jackson to help develop his initiatives in Nyeihanga. It is my hope that Erin and Brian lay the groundwork for future volunteers, interns, and full-time members of LOLGM. Stay tuned for guest posts from the lucky couple. 

You can follow Erin and Brian’s journey here

9. Ongoing and future developments in Nyeihanga

• Renovation of a soccer field and organization of a local sports club
• Construction of a chapel to sit next to the school
• Creating a partnership with Opportunity Uganda, a local Micro Finance Institution, in order to bring economic empowerment to the community 
• Poultry, dairy, mushroom, and fish-farming co-ops
• Finding a way to bring running water to the village!

What comes next? If I told you we could accomplish all of the above in one year, one year ago, I would have told you that you’re crazy. However, I’ve been transformed by the knowledge that when you actively engage in life, jump into the ring, join the fight on the frontlines, and do it in faith and trust in the Lord, anything is possible. The future holds great wonders and miracles for us to participate in. Bring it.