By Megan Seals
During summer break, Union students spent their time doing various sorts of activities — from being in their hometowns with their families to traveling to new cities for jobs or internship opportunities to vacationing at the beach. But many students chose to spend their time off in service.
Some members of the Lady Bulldogs basketball team, including players and coaches, spent their last weeks of summer break traveling to different cities in Africa.
Seven teammates and the coaching staff went along with professors from Union and some people from the Jackson community. The group departed Aug. 8 and spent 10 days in Africa. Within their travels, the group visited a number of villages in Uganda, such as Jinja, Entebbe, Palissa and the capital, Kampala.
The group visited several orphanages, schools and churches in Uganda, taking care of the children and orphans while also sharing the love of Jesus.
“Just the smiles on the face of each of the children was my favorite memory from the trip,” said Kayla Hudson, senior political science major. “They simply wanted to be held and loved on. We went there thinking we could teach them so much, but in turn, we learned so much from them.”
The inspiration that lead the women to organize this trip was from the Visiting Orphans organization. Visiting Orphans is a Christian nonprofit organization that seeks to help orphans in distress.
Visiting Orphans works to fulfill the biblical mandate that is written in James 1:27.
Visiting Orphans has conducted several mission trips for churches, schools and individuals from around the world. Their mission is to help raise orphan awareness in the hopes of each orphan experiencing the blessing of family through reunification, transitional services and adoption.
Hudson discussed the lessons these children taught the team throughout their trip.
“These children have almost nothing, but are so content with having the love of Christ,” Hudson said. “Last, I learned by putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations it allows the Holy Spirit to truly work inside of you.”
