In Africa!

So it’s been a while since I’ve updated. Sorry about that! The past few weeks have been busy. Since I last updated, I’ve made it to Uganda! This place is amazing, and it’s really hard to explain in words. But I’ll try…

Anyways, so after a great (but long) orientation in Colorado Springs, me and the team flew out to Uganda. We left around 8:30 last Monday night, and got to Uganda at 7 AM Wednesday morning. That’s a lot of travelling. It was fun, though. We got to travel through London (a place I’ve always wanted to visit) and spend about 8 hours there. We saw the basics of the city and then flew out to Uganda. Once we arrived and made it through customs, we were picked up and got a ride on a mutatu (a bus/taxi thing that is supposed to hold around 14 people, but usually holds a lot more). We met our intern director Jill, and got to visit a youth camp being built right outside of where the airport is in Entebbe. It was a really cool place that will be for a African children’s choir that pulls kids of out of the slums. Cool ministry. After that we began the many meetings and more orientation. Jet lag was pretty rough and I literally almost fell asleep walking down a street at one point.

Over the past few days since we’ve arrived, we’ve gone through plenty more orientation about how things go here, and we’ve also got some more training. The full time staff here are great. Hearing the stories of how God has called them here to serve the poor using their engineering/architecture skills was great. The full time staff consists of Brad Crawford and his family and Janet Strike (my project leader). Some long term volunteers (they stay for around a year or so) consist of the Burgs and Jill. Just thought I would throw those out there so you know who I’m talking about in later posts.

I’ve had plenty of interesting experiences since being here, and it would take forever to list them all….even already. But some big point were going into the city for the first time and seeing how crazy it is. There’s a taxi park where these small buses get so packed together you could literally walk across the tops of them and not have to jump. The city itself is also crazy busy with people. Lots of people. It’s a great place, though, with some cool markets and other various things. It’s really fascinating. It’s also really easy to see the needs (both spiritual and physical) in the city from just walking around. Hopefully I’ll get some chances to minister to people around there at some point.

Another high point was church! We went to Amazing Grace Christian Assembly, which was a great experience. The worship was really celebratory, which I loved. They danced as they sang, and I just loved to freedom and expressiveness. Overall, I really enjoyed the service, and I’m looking forward to checking out some other churches around town. I think next Sunday I’m going to go visit Calvary Chapel, which is in town. We’ll see how that is.

On Saturday, we went to Jinja to drop off the construction management interns and have a service day. We helped dig some foundations for a building and bend some rebar. We got rained out near the end, which was actually fun since I ran through the rain putting stuff up. Got chased by some kids. Fun times. That was a great day really.

Today is Monday, which means it was the first day of work! Today we spent a lot of time learning how the office works (computers, etc.). Then we got to work. I spent most of today getting some info to use to get a map of the area we’ll be working at on the trip. It’s a secondary (high) school for girls AIDS orphans. I also spent a little time looking at some stuff for fish ponds that we may be designing for it. That’s new stuff to me, but it seems interesting. We’ll see how that comes. Tomorrow through Thursday me and a few other interns are probably doing some surveying of a site near here. Should be cool. I get to refresh all that surveying knowledge I got in school/work. Overall I’m looking forward to the work.

Anyways, that’s a very quick recap of my time so far. If you’re curious the food is great. Pretty simple. Lots of beans, rice, and bread. But I’ve loved almost all of it so far.

Thanks for all your prayer and support, again! I couldn’t be here without you guys. If you would continued to pray for God to guide me during this time and give me boldness in strange new situations. Also, please pray that I’ll be flexible and seek to glorify Him through work and every other situation I find myself in. I want to make the most of this time (I know I’ve said that a lot, sorry). Well, until next time, see you guys!

Covered By Christ’s Mercy.
Kyle

Orientation!

Hey everyone!

So I've spent the past week in Colorado Springs at orientation for EMI. It's been an amazing experience. This place is beautiful. As I write this, I'm actually looking at Pike's Peak out the window. Crazy. Colorado is a great place, and there's so much beauty here that it's almost impossible not to glorify God in your mind when you see this place. It's crazy to think that the same God that created these mountains is the one that desires a relationship with us and has called me to Uganda.

This week has been long, but a great preparation for Uganda. We've spent a lot of time this week discovering how God has equipped us in different ways. We've done personality tests, spiritual gift tests, formulated mission statements, and plotted out our life story. Lots of deep thought. But it's been good. Just so you know, I'm a practitioner (a perfectionist that's task-oriented but can be outgoing at certain times), one of my dominant spiritual gifts is service and giving, and I have the natural strengths of seeing things in life connected together, strong belief, and responsibility. I also was surprised at how some of the tests pointed to how I value relationships. I knew that was sort of true, but the more I think about, I really do enjoy being intentional in relationships. That's something I'm definitely going to be focusing on while in Uganda.

We've had lots of sessions on many different things, and I won't go through all of them here. Some of the highlights include culture training, where we learned how North America tends to differ from other places in the world. It was really eye opening, and it will really help as I adapt to Uganda's relationship-oriented (not-task and time oriented) culture.

One of the best parts of the week for me was hearing every interns testimony. God has done some awesome things in out lives. It's really col to me how God draws people to himself in different ways. It's not this simple formula, it's really complex, but awesome. It also brought us all closer together, since we know where we're coming from and what God has done and is doing in us. We also got to be really honest with each other, so that's great. I love honesty.

Hearing all these testimonies really got me thinking. I honestly don't know the testimonies of a lot of my Christian friends. Thinking about how much closer we became because of that really put in me a desire to be a lot more intentional about things like that back home. I guess that's lesson one.

God has also been revealing some inner issues to me lately. There's definitely some sin in me that God is wanting to get rid of, and so it's a tough process. I love it's happening, because I hate sin in my life, and so God sanctifying me like this is great. But it's discipline, and that's never easy. If you could, really just pray for humility for me.

But we've also done some fun activities like hiking and rock climbing this week, which has been great. I've got to see more of COS, so that's great. Great times.

So I leave for Uganda TOMORROW! Our flight leaves tomorrow night at 8:30 PM. We fly through the night to London, have a 8 hour layover there, then another 9 hour flight to Entebbe airport in Uganda. Crazy. Please pray that God protects us according to His will, and even gives us opportunities to share what we're doing while traveling.

Well, that's it for now. The next update will be from Uganda! I hope everyone is doing great back home. The adventure is about to really start, and I'm excited to let you all know what happens and how God works.

Much love in Christ,

Kyle Bryant

Leaving On A Jet Plane (The First of Many...)

Well, it's finally here...I leave in the morning.

It's funny how I've spent so long thinking and planning for this trip, and now it's hard to believe I'm actually going. I don't really know what to say to people when they ask how I feel. It's hard to explain. I just know I'm ready to do this. Sure, a part of me will miss home, friends, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Texas, etc. But I know God has set this deal up for me, and so I'm ready.

A big thanks goes out to everyone who has supported me in this. I literally wouldn't be going without you. God has encouraged and really surprised me in all this. At points the money didn't seem like it was going to be there, then suddenly it was. All the praise goes to God. He's the only One who deserves it, anyway. But, of course, I'm still so appreciative to everyone who contributed! You've become a partner with me in the ministry I'll be doing over there, even though you'll p ' robably never set foot in Uganda with me.

Well, I don't have much else to say right now. It's been a good summer. Full of all kinds of things I didn't expect. But God is good and He keep drawing me closer to Himself and opening my eyes to His Kingdom. It's a good Kingdom. Things are backwards in His Kingdom compared to the way we view the world, but that's how things really should (and will) be.

A friend of mine posted a facebook note the other day that really go me thinking. In it he brings up Matthew 16:18:

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock. I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Anyways, so he pointed out that gates are a defensive tool, not offensive. Kind of seems obvious now that I think about it, huh? But if you think about it, so many of us get so caught up in feeling like we're fighting off Satan and sin and worldliness, that we forget that Christ told us that we're going to be attacking hell. We're to be on the offensive, not defensive. That was good for me to hear, since the closer this trip gets, the more worries get thrown at me. I need to realize that my tim over there is for me to storm the gates of hell and bring CHrist and hope to people, not for me to have to just fight off attacks. Sure, I'll need to be defensive, but offensive, too. That gets me pumped.

Anyways, from here on out, I'll be posting from other places (aka not home). I' spending a week in Colorado Springs for orientation for EMI, and then I fly out the 24th for Uganda. Not sure how readily available the internet will be, so it may be a week before you hear from me again. If so, have a great one, and pursue the Kingdom! It's coming!

much love,

Kyle

Been A While

So, it's been a while since I've blogged. It's actually only the second time I've posted so far. That'll hopefully change once I get to Uganda. I'll aim for once a week.

Since the last update, I got a job! That's a pretty big blessing considering how things are right now. I'm a construction inspector with the engineering firm I worked with after my first year of school. It's a little different than what I'm used to, with being on construction sites all day checking measurements and making sure things are being built right, but I'm definitely thankful for it, even if I don't always seem that way. I'm learning a lot about the construction side of things, too which helps. And I'm learning about decentralized wastewater treatment systems (fancy, I know). They're kind of cool, I guess. Anyways, having a job really helps right now! God provided for me in that way, so I'm really thankful.

Aside from work, things in Mobile are good. The first few weeks of life back home were tough, especially because I really wasn't sure how I got back here. I guess I just didn't see myself back in Mobile living at home working construction stuff again. Part of me wanted to be back at camp, even though God pretty much told me that wasn't where he wanted me this summer (which was hard to hear). I stuggled with that, especially when I looked around at life and wondered, "God why am I hear watching guys dig holes in the ground, when I could be sharing Christ with kids at camp again?" Hard question, but I eventually realized that God wants me at this job this summer to be a witness for Him to the guys I work with just as much as He would want me being a witness to kids at camp. Seems like a obvious answer now, but it was hard to see in the midst of things. Applying it is hard, though, because of the kind of people I work with on site. They're not exactly the kind of people I'm used to being around. They're a little rough around the edges. But I'm praying for boldness to being a witness for the gospel to these guys, and I'm praying that the Spirit would work through me to draw these guys to Christ. It's all in His timing, anyway.

But basically, I'm cool with being in Mobile now. I actually kind of like it a little bit (don't tell my parents ha). I'm getting lots of opportunities to serve at church and other ministries, and I get to hand out with some old (and new) friends. Yeah, I still miss camp, but I know God has me here for a reason, even if it's now always so obvious.

As far as Uganda goes, it's getting close! Last night, I got to meet up with two guys that will be there working in the construction management side of things. That office is in Jinja (spelling?), which is about an hour away from Kampala, I think. They both went to Auburn (mmm rivalry), and are cool guys. I'm excited to hang out and serve with them more, even if we're not working in the same city.

I also got the majority of my shots yesterday (2 in each arm...ouch). Just missing yellow fever, they were out! But I'll get it soon (the shot, not the disease). I'm also preparing by learning more about Uganda and doing some reading that EMI gave me. I watched the latest Invisible Children movie, too, to kind of get an idea of what's happening in the northern part of the country (crazy stuff).

Lastly, I do have a concern. The support raising process is going really slow. I've only got about a quarter of what I need for the trip, and I only have 5 weeks until I leave. I'm trusting God to provide it, but the closer it gets, the more faith it takes to say that. I really want to do this (obviously), and I feel like God has led me to this and confirmed it with scripture, but to see the money not there is hard. I'm trying to get in contact with a few more people now, so we'll see how that goes.

Well, that's that for now. Life is good. God is good. I hope everyone else is having a great summer. I'll try to blog a little more as August 16th gets closer (that's when I'm leaving).

PRAYER REQUESTS THIS TIME:

-That God will provide the money for the trip

-That God would allow people to experience His blessing and faithfulness through giving for His kingdom

-That I would have the boldness to be a witness for Christ at work

-That the Spirit would work in the lives of the guys around me at work, to draw them to Himself

-That God would give me direction for after Uganda

Step One

So, it looks like thing are finally getting started here.  I've got the blog up and going!

So...if you're wondering about the colors, they're the colors of Uganda's flag (or as close as I could get them, anyway). I was trying to stay with the whole Uganda theme.

But the past few week since I found out that I got the internship have been busy. Since then I've finished finals, graduated from college, and moved back home. It's been kind of surreal, since it feels like I just started college yesterday. However, as I was packing up today in Tuscaloosa, I realized how truly blessed I've been for the past four years. I don't mean that just in the standard way of having good friends (which I have had some great friends while in college), but I also mean in the extent that God has grown me over the past few years. He's given me so many great opportunities to serve and learn. It was kind of funny because as I was packing I was kind of bummed out, because I'm leaving all my friends and everything that I've known for the past few years to go back home, but as I looked through all of the memories I had accumulated, I couldn't help but see how amazing God has been to me. It made it hard to pout when I realized how much I had been given.

Over the past few weeks I've gone through lots of different feeling about Uganda. There was the initial excitement stage, which was followed by the logistical "getting it to work" stage, which was then followed by the "oh wow can this really happen" stage, which was then followed by the "maybe this isn't what I'm supposed to do" stage, which finally led to the "God has led me to this so I will follow Him" stage. A lot of stages, I know. But I figured this would happen, since this whole path of going to Uganda is a little different than that of a normal new college, and is not really what I even expected to be  doing about this time. But I'm trusting God will guide me and supply all I need in this.

So now I'm beginning the support raising stage, which is new for me. I've never had to ask for money thing before, so it kind of feels strange at first. Like I'm soliciting or something. But a packet EMI sent to me highlights all the different times Paul asked for financial help in his ministry. It was quite a bit. From those scriptures I can see that supporting missionaries and people in ministry is just as important as going yourself. God says he will reward those who live sacrificially for the gospel, in both giving and going. Cool stuff. So that makes me feel less like I'm soliciting, and more than I'm offering people an opportunity to join with me on this crazy adventure. It also makes me want to be supporting missionaries myself as well, when I get back form Uganda. I haven't really been obedient in that area, and I'm honestly excited to be part of that when I'm not on the support raising side of things.

Well, that's about all for now. I'm in Mobile for the summer, and I start the whole summer job search process tomorrow (maybe...the temptation of a game of golf has reared its ugly head). Hopefully I can find a job with decent hours so I can enjoy my time here. But, the economy is kind of crazy right now, so I'm pretty flexible. I know God has all of this worked out, so I'm not worried. Anyways, I'll keep you all updated as thing progress!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- summer job in mobile

-God will provide my needs financially for Uganda

-God will prepare me for my time there