Elise Visits the SOUP School

I’m Elise – lover of books, adventures in all their forms, riveting conversations, good food, and most importantly, Jesus. This January marks the beginning of my fourth year volunteering with this crazy-awesome non-profit called the [SOUP]  (Sponsorship of Orphans in Uganda Project). During that time, I’ve planned events, attended conferences, managed websites and social media, written letters, created ambitious strategic plans, and loved three hundred Ugandan kids I’ve never met more than I ever thought possible.

This summer, I have the opportunity to go an visit those kids who I've loved so dearly from afar. From May 28th to June 9th, I'll be getting way out of my comfort zone: eating posho & beans three meals a day, learning to live without A/C or running water, navigating Ugandan transportation, and whatever other unpredicted adventures come my way. 

I'm going with a team of other [SOUP] volunteers from Berry, and while we're there we will be helping out in a variety of ways. Right now, we're planning on running a VBS for the school's students and doing whatever else the school needs most once we're there. If you want to meet the rest of the team and hear more about why we're going, go here (I've also got a more detailed profile there too! 

If you're interested in supporting me as I prepare for this trip, first of all, thank you. Your support means the world to me. Here are the ways you can help: 

 - Prayer. Please pray, pray, pray. Pray that I and the rest  of the team will be able to mentally and emotionally prepare for what we will be experiencing on this trip. Pray that we will grow closer as a group through our preparations. Pray for safety while we are there. Pray that we will return with stories and experiences that will help us further the [SOUP]'s work from the States. This is the most important thing you can do for me and the rest of the team as we prepare. If you are willing to pray for us, please let me know so I can pray for you too! 

 - Advice. Have you been on a similar trip? Visited Uganda? If you have reading suggestions to help me prepare, food I need to try, sites I need to see once I'm there, or any other recommendations, please send them my way! I love hearing stories and learning from the experiences of others. 

- Financially. That's what this page is for, after all! I'm fundraising to cover the cost of my plane ticket + food and accomodations once I'm there. If you would like to help this trip possible for me, you would have my deepest gratitude. (And I'll also send you updates via photos and blog posts as I prepare, during the trip, and afterwards!) Anything you would like to contribute would put me one step closer to meeting those sweet children. 

If you have questions or would like to hear more about the trip or my involvement, don't hesitate to reach out to me! My profile for the trip is here  and my contact info is at the bottom of the page. I'd love to set up a coffee date (or Skype date) to tell you more!