Jinja Mission Team - Busoga Churches of Christ

The Smiths--Deron, Becca, Abby, Makayla, and Toria--were in Jinja from 1994- 2002.  Deron worked primarily with the village churches.  He enjoyed discipling leaders, teaching in the Busoga Bible School , and facilitating marriage seminars in the village churches.

Terri Taylor, the sister of Greg Taylor, originally came to Jinja for one year but stayed for three.  She was in Jinja from September 2000-August 2003 where she taught kindergarten and preschool for the Jinja Team kids, organized and taught children's Bible class at Jinja church, and trained Ugandan children's Bible class teachers. Additionally, she taught a weekly Bible class for neighborhood kids on Wakoli Lane under a mango tree and a weekly Bible class for ex-pat missionary kids in Jinja.

Currently, Terri teaches the kids of the Mbarara mission team but is planning to be a part of a new ministry working with orphans called "Source of Hope-Uganda" that will open November 2007.

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John, Sara, Nate, and Brynn worked in Busoga from 1994-2002.  They have been blessed to return to Uganda for visits in 2004 and 2006. Nate most misses Blue Band and chapatis from Uganda .  Brynn misses boda boda rides.  John and Sara miss the team, the Ugandan people, and the slower lifestyle.

Although they miss all those special things about Uganda , they are now making new memories in Michigan where John and Sara both work for Rochester College .  John teaches Philosophy and Ministry classes.  Sara is the college's campus minister.  Nate plays the trumpet in his middle school band, and Brynn enjoys playing soccer.  They all love their little Lucky dog and all their new friends on Cloverport Avenue in Rochester Hills.

The Bartons attend the Rochester Church of Christ, which supports the Bogle and Manry families, so that has been a great way to stay involved in the mission work in Busoga.  They are also involved in recruiting and preparing college students for summer mission internships in Mbarara and Jinja. 

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Mark & Marnie Moore were part of the original Jinja Mission team. The Moores stayed in Uganda for nine years, from March 1994 until March of 2003. Mark worked planting village churches along with everyone else on the team but also worked with the town work and was one of the leaders in beginning the Source Cafe.

Mark and Marnie now live and work in the Washington DC area where Mark recently finished graduate school at a university there.  Marnie is a full time mom and part time RN.  Mark works for SAIC (www.saic.com) is part time minister at a church (www.springfieldchurchofchrist.org) and is in kahootz with Clint Davis in a non-profit called the Kibo Group (www.kibogroup.org.)   

Mark has travelled to Uganda every year since leaving and hopes to keep that string alive as long as he can. The summer of 2005 the entire Moore family returned for a few weeks after spending the summer in England. In 2006, Mark returned for a few days to Jinja as part of his current job in Washington.

The Moore's added a girl to their family in 2006... their first child NOT born in Africa. Rylee Louise Moore was born in February 2006 and hopes to make her first trip to Jinja someday soon.

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The following was written by Terry Langford, Adam's father, after Adam tragically passed away in an auto accident in Uganda.

Loving son and brother, Adam Langford , died in a car accident on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, in Uganda .  He was serving his Lord and Savior as a missionary with his brother, Ben, and two other families.  He had been in Uganda just over a year.

Adam was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  He attended schools in Oklahoma City, Midland, TX, and Edmond, Oklahoma.  He was a 1997 graduate of Edmond Santa Fe High School and played on Santa Fe’s 1996 state championship soccer team.

Upon graduation, he attended Oklahoma Christian University , where he played four years of varsity.  After graduation, he lived in Portland, Oregon , before moving to Uganda in December 2005.

Adam lived life to the fullest, enjoying many adventures, both home and abroad.  He had a heart for missions and loved working with the people of Uganda.  Adam touched the lives of so many people.  His enthusiasm, sense of humor and love of life were a blessing to all.  Adam, you will be missed and we will never forget you!

Adam is survived by his parents, Terry and Kathy Langford of Edmond; brother Ben and wife Kym and their son Eli of Jinja, Uganda; brother Jonathan and wife Leta of Kansas City; grandmother Joan Laird of Edmond; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, teammates, and friends.

The Adam Langford Memorial Leadership Scholarship has been established at Oklahoma Christian University in Adam’s honor.  If you are interested in contributing to this fund, contact Oklahoma Christian University, Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136. (405.425.5094)

I was blessed to have been on the Jinja team from May 2001 – October 2003.  While living in Uganda , I enjoyed teaching the team kids full time for one school year.  I then phased out of the school setting and began working in the village with church member who desired to start nursery schools in their church buildings.  I facilitated and organized teaching seminars and training classes with Erika Pierson .  I spent several days a week in the village observing teachers and working with the children in their schools.  It was a ministry I had never dreamed of working with and God truly stretched beyond my comfort level at times.  I returned to the States, due to some unresolved health issues in 2003.  I have fully recovered and have my complete strength back, praise God.

I was surprised with a blessing beyond my imagination, about a year after my return.  I met my future husband, Heath Amos, as we made a trip to Rwanda in the summer of 2005 together.  We worked at Roz Carr’s Orphanage for five weeks together and surveyed the country for future missions.  We were married on March 11, 2006 and have been living in Lubbock , TX .  I teach 5th grade science at Iles Elementary and Heath teaches Bible at Lubbock Christian High School .  We have recently joined a mission team to live and work in Rwanda , and plan to leave in September 2008.  We are so thankful to be with three other amazing couples and feel that our cup overflows.  We look forward to years of living and serving others together. 

Email Rebecca

In 2001 the Abney family settled in Portland, Oregon. We enjoy the city and love being close to Heather’s family. The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place to live.

Heather home schools our three children, Zachary, Josiah, and Avery-Kiira. The kids are doing well and participate in a variety of activities, mostly music and sports.

Brent went back to school and now has both his MBA and his Certified Financial Planner practitioner designation. Brent purchased a financial planning practice just outside of Portland, and has really enjoyed running his own business.

Our family is very blessed to be a part of East County Church of Christ in Gresham, OR. Heather is very active with the children’s ministry, and all of us involved in the missions efforts. We feel fortunate to be the sponsoring congregation for the Langford families.

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I spent 2001 and 2002 in Uganda helping to manage The Source of Life Resource Center.  The Source helped support our team’s work in the Basoga region.   I co-managed the ISP, library, Internet café, computer-training center, and food service café.  I also managed craft sales and helped to market The Source’s own line of “Kiira Kawa” coffee.  These things made up my task list but my service was mentoring the Source employees.  In addition, I mentored and taught the women of Jinja church. I wrote small group bible study material and taught bible classes and seminars when given the opportunity.  I was actively involved in the work of the church and in the lives of the men and women that I grew to love so much!

I am currently an Assistant Professor of Business at Rochester College in Michigan.  While here, I hope to influence students to think about a life of purpose combining business and missions.  Part of this influence includes helping to prepare Rochester College students for a six-week internship program to Mbarara and Jinja Uganda .  I was married on May 20, 2006 to Scott Cagnet who is now an honorary member of the Jinja Team.  Scott works for Rochester College as the Director of Admissions. 

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I spent one year (2001) in Jinja but it was one of the most unforgettable experiences I'll ever have. Not to say I have nothing to look forward to, but to say that I regard my time in Jinja and role on the team as the meaninful and significant in many so many ways.

I worked at The Source Cafe and Resource Center alongside American and Ugandan Christians with a goal in my heart and mind of furthering God's Kingdom. The Source was a hub of activity for the churches in the surrounding villeges and in Jinja. We had worship services and bible studies throughout the week, in addition to running a cafe, craft store, library, computer training courses and internet cafe.

I also got engaged at the Source of the Nile so Jinja will always be special to me for personal reasons! My husband David spent a year in Kenya teaching at a Christian secondary school and spent some time working with the youth group at Jinja Church before returning to the states.

We are now in Doha, Qatar, until December 2005. David is a PhD student in Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, PA. CMU has started a branch campus here so we came along to help get things going. David will be co-teaching a Robotics lab class and continuing his research while I keep busy with my 2 jobs. I am working in the Human Resources Department as the Orientation Administrator and I'm telecommuting to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Check our our website: www.dlduke.com.

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