Last week in Milwaukee.

Well, my last week in Milwaukee has finally come. It felt like it was a lot farther away, and then all of a sudden... here it is. It's bittersweet, really. I'm really ready to pack my life into boxes, move out of my house, hang out with my family for awhile, and re-pack my life into a 65 liter backpack. I feel like I can't truly start thinking about the next chapter of my life (Uganda) until the Milwaukee chapter is officially over. So, in that sense, I'm so ready to get out of here.

But I'm also really going to miss Milwaukee. The people I've come to love as brothers and sisters, the places I frequent, the weird quirks that make me smile all over the city, my job and all the people there. I have five more days here and I'm going to bring my camera everywhere. I'm going to photograph things that I'll miss. Then I'll post them here.

I've been incredibly surprised and blessed these past couple weeks by how supportive and excited about my upcoming trip random people have been. While serving at Anaba, I've met a lot of people who ask what I'm doing this fall, all to which I say simply, "I'm going to Africa." Mostly everyone wants to hear why, what I'm doing, who I'm working with, and if it's safe.

Last week, I was serving two ladies. They were so excited and interested in what I am going to be doing in Uganda, and they ended up tipping me 25 dollars on their 15 dollar tab. The little note next to her signature said "Blessings to you!" Seriously, that gift is SUCH an encouragement to me! I wish I could have hugged her and thanked her, but she was gone by the time I saw the tip.

There have also been multiple regulars that come in to Anaba that I sort of know who have asked for my blog website and said they will follow it. Knowing that there are people who support what I'm doing and want to stay updated on it is enough to encourage me to push forward, even when it's hard. Things like that are why this trip is a reality. I hope that all you regulars are reading this right now... if you are, I just want to say thank you so much.

My mom has been a huge blessing this past week too. I talked to her on the phone for an hour the other day, telling her all about the chaos that's going on in Uganda for multiple reasons- one being the bombings in Kampala. I asked her if she was scared for me, and she said, "Well, I mean, I worry about it a little bit, but I'm not scared. I know you're doing what God wants you to be doing. I know this trip is happening for a huge reason. And that makes me not scared." I love that. So much faith. My mom is one of the most faithful women I've ever met. She's seen some really hard times in the past four years, and yet she continues to praise the Lord through it all. And she's been so blessed. It's really true that if you delight yourself in the Lord, he will give you the desires of your heart. I've seen it first hand.

That's all I've got for you right now. Stay tuned for photographs of my favorite things at the end of the week. :]

Love, Brynn

Bombings in Kampala.

Yes, I know. I know about the bombings in Kampala.

If you want to read about it, check out the BBC.

No, that will not stop me and the crew from going.

Just an update. :]

Amazing. Watch this please.

http://iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Brian_Welch/

WATCH THIS VIDEO!!

Financial Update #1

Hey Supporters-

Thought I should update you on my financial stuff. My total cost for transportation/food/lodging in Uganda is $3000. I just mailed in a big stack of checks to Village of Hope, the total was $1847.

SOOOO I am about $1000 short at this point. God's good, and I have 3 weeks or so left to get this money. If you guys could pray about it, that'd be amazing!

Thanks!

Love, Brynn

Countdown: 55 Days

55 days until we leave the country.
Whoa.

I don't think it's really hit me yet that we're going to be there for four months. Seventeen and a half weeks. 123 days. 2952 hours. The longest I've ever been away from the comforts of home was last year in Uganda for five weeks. I started counting down after the two week mark. After just 14 days, I was ready for a hot shower, a variety of foods, clean feet, no mosquitoes, and no cultural barriers. But... 123 days. What have I gotten myself into? But honestly, I'm so pumped. I'm so ready to break down, stand back up again, love Uganda, hate Uganda, and probably never want to leave Uganda. I know already that it's going to go entirely too fast.

I can't tell you how many times so far in these past three months I've felt like God has literally sat me down, put his strong fatherly hands on my little girl shoulders, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, "Slow down. Wait. Focus on Uganda." I keep getting distracted. I don't know why.

Well. So far, I haven't really used this blog for anything Uganda related. And really that's what it's for. After Uganda, I will use it for the rest of my travels (hopefully there will be so many), but right now, it's for Uganda. I want my friends, my family, and my supporters to know what's going on while I'm there. I hope to upload video, photographs, and write story after story of the amazing things that go on.

So, that's that. Signing off for now... it's bedtime.

Love Brynn.

God's good. God is always good.

I'm learning to praise him daily for that fact.

Two Weeks Following Paul: Day 1

Acts 9

Today, I started what my Bible calls a "Two-Week Guided Tour." It lists a bunch of topics that one can choose from, like "Women in the Bible" or "Prayers throughout the Bible" or "Social Justice" or "Two Weeks Following the Ministry of Paul." The four I just listed are the ones that sounded the most exciting to me, and I started with Paul. Today, it had me read Acts 9.

I've read it before, but that's the cool thing about the Bible- you can read the same thing time and time again, and each time, you'll learn something new. I love it.

Today, it really hit me that God will use whoever he wants to use for his mission. Paul (Saul at the time) persecuted followers of Jesus. He hated them. He wanted them to die.

What's crazy is that Paul turns out to be God's main man. He eventually (not long after his conversion in Acts 9) travels all over, and also finds time to write letters of encouragement or instruction to tons of churches. Those letters then became like half of the New Testament. SO CRAZY!

I love this, because it's proof that even though I mess up, even though I'm not perfect and I don't always seek the Lord like I should, God's got bigger plans, and he will make sure they get carried out. So encouraging. I can rest easy.

Be Holy

Far too often I forget what's most important.

Lately, aside from school and work, I've been thinking almost solely of Uganda. Packing lists (I know... I've still got 3 months!), fundraising, thank you cards, emailing my contacts, malaria medicine, haircuts, doctors appointments, dentist appointments, buying a backpack... These things are all important and are necessary to think about, yes, but I've gotta be honest with you- thinking about and planning for these things is taking up time that should be spent in prayer about this trip. Time that should be spent reading the Word, learning more about how I can be Christ-like; learning more about how I can love and serve Uganda better.

It discourages me that I don't put prayer and reading at the top of my list. If it wasn't for God giving me a heart for Uganda, this trip wouldn't even be happening. But how can I keep this heart if I am not filling it up with love and wisdom from God's word? If I focus only on the outward aspects of this trip, I will get overwhelmed. I will forget why I am passionate about this. It will seem like too much work.

But when I open up the Word; when I am encouraged by reading and learning how to love and serve Uganda better... I get excited again. And I think that's pretty legit. It's pretty clear to me that God has to be central on this trip, otherwise I will burn out. I can't do it on my own. Nor do I want to.

Here's what I read tonight. Just what I needed, really.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action;
be self-controlled;
set your hope fully on the grace to be given you
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires
you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as he who called you is holy,
so be holy in all you do;
for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially,
live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
For you know that it was not with perishable things
such as silver or gold that you were redeemed
from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
but with the precious blood of Christ,
a lamb without blemish or defect.
He was chosen before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Through him you believe in God,
who raised him from the dead and glorified him,
and so your faith and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth
so that you have sincere love for your brothers,
love one another deeply, from the heart.
For you have been born again,
not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,
through the living and enduring word of God.
For, All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever.
[1 Peter 1:13-25]

Support Letter (see below for VIDEO!)

Here is my support letter... kind of edited to be a blog version!


Hi! It’s me… Brynn!

Well, I’ve seen or talked to SOME of you recently, but some it’s been far too long! But if you got this letter it means you are an influential person in my life and I care about you, and I want to update you on what I’ve been up to lately! I also want to share with you what the next year has in store for me.

I am currently finishing up my second year of school at the University of WI- Milwaukee, pursuing a double major in Film and Global Studies with an emphasis on Communications. The “college life” is everything that I hoped for and more. I have wonderful and fun friends, I am involved in a nearby church called Epikos, my classes are challenging and interesting, I work at a restaurant called Anaba Tea Room, and I tutor two first graders at a homeless shelter once a week. I am incredibly busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

One big thing that has been on my heart for the past few years now is Uganda. This beautiful country is currently in the midst of what is now Africa’s longest running war. For over two decades now, a rebel group called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has terrorized northern Uganda- abducting children and forcing them to fight and kill. The northern Ugandans (the Acholi tribe) have been forced to move into Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps, but the conditions in the camps are not good and food is scarce. Currently, the LRA is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda has thus been “at peace” for two and a half years. But it is not secure. No one knows when the rebels will return, but everyone expects that they will eventually.

As some of you know, last summer I went to Uganda with my friend Bryce. We went simply to help with a young organization (now 3 years old) called Village of Hope (www.villageofhopeuganda.com). VOH is currently in the process of preparing 100 acres of land for 400 orphans and ex-child soldiers of the war. The land is in an area of Uganda that is safe and war-free (so the kids won’t have to worry about being abducted again) and VOH is building houses and schools as well as planting acres and acres of agricultural fields for subsistence farming. Their goal and vision is that these kids will be safe and have hope for a future- for themselves as well as their future families. Last summer, Bryce and I spent five weeks there meeting these amazing kids who have escaped from the rebels, learning first-hand about the horrors of the current civil war, clearing land for agricultural fields, setting up solar panels so the village will have power, and hauling water for the construction workers.

Needless to say, my heart is stuck in Uganda. I can’t learn about the conflict and meet those kids and NOT go back to help. I believe and support the mission that VOH is fulfilling in Uganda right now; I want to see these kids safe and full of hope. The only way this can happen, though, is if VOH gets the rest of the needed funds as soon as possible! The more people who hear about VOH, the more funds will come in. Here’s where I can help… this fall for four months (August 18-December 19) I will be leading a team to Uganda to make a documentary for VOH. The documentary will tell the story of how VOH began, the stage it is at, and where it is going. We are hoping to highlight a couple kids who are currently living in the IDP camps, but will eventually move to the land. Documenting this transition will be huge, and will help people here in the United States see that change is taking place and that their money is helping!

I have already bought my plane ticket for this trip, which was $1700. I feel so blessed to have been able to buy that, but I can’t make this trip a reality on my own. I still need about $3000 for transportation, food, lodging, and film equipment. I would like to invite you to partner with me by supporting me financially on this endeavor. If you would like to contribute, just send cash or a check to my personal address (email me for the address)! If you would like to receive a tax-deductible receipt for your donation, make your check out to Village of Hope, but please put my name in the memo!

Even more importantly, please pray for our team as we are preparing for this trip and while we are in Uganda. We have a lot of planning, work, and hardships ahead, and it will not be possible without the power of prayer backing everything we do and every decision we make! Prayer is a huge way that you can be a part of our team.

I wish I could introduce you to all of my amazing team members… but since I can’t, we made a video that introduces us all and explains a bit about our goals for this trip! Please check it out at www.filmforhopeuganda.blogspot.com. This is our team blog, which we will update throughout the trip with stories and photographs from our four months in Uganda. I also have a personal blog, www.whereisbrynn.blogspot.com. This is the blog that I will be using to write more personally about what’s going on in my heart and my head, and what God is teaching me. Save both sites to your favorites and be sure to check them regularly for updates! Lastly, we have a team email as well. If you’d like to join our email list (we will send out updates whenever we update our blog, etc), shoot a quick email with your name to filmforhopeuganda@gmail.com.
THANK YOU! Feel free to contact me with ANY questions!

Also, take a look at my photographs from Uganda last summer at:
www.brynnungertravels.carbonmade.com
(You have SO many websites to look up! Don’t get overwhelmed!)

Thank you!
Brynn Unger

Support Video