Send Michelle to Uganda

Friends and Family, I have some really exciting news to share with you! After a great deal of soul searching and a lot of tugging from the Lord, I have decided to walk in faith to a Ugandan village in East Africa on my first international mission trip. I will leave July 4th or 5th and return July 13th. I have been fortunate to make Matthews United Methodist my church home over the past 2 years and I have been introduced to the most amazing organization founded by Pastor John Shinundu Mukuya.  In 2000, Pastor John founded Kidron Valley Ministries, a Christian, rural-based community organization located in Naminya Village in Uganda which includes a Children's Home and Orphanage, along with a medical clinic and community school. This ministry began out of Pastor John's heart for those affected by the extreme poverty and high rate of death in Uganda leading to a increased number of orphans, vulnerable groups of poverty stricken people, along with poor health and food insecurity. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to love and nurture not only the children in the village, but also the land. We will be doing a lot of physical labor to get the schools in better working conditions, as well as provide the children with much needed love and attention. I feel that at this time in my life, God has called me to provide for these innocent children and Ugandan people the way I care for my own family on a daily basis. I am especially eager to get to work with Pastor John on his Self Sustanence program.  He has built a farm that is a mixture of tradition and innovation. It provides food and milk to the children of the orphanage and is the centerpiece of their goal to become financially self-sustainable. You can see the program at this link http://kidronvalleyministries.org/self-sustenance/ As many of you know, my family has a long agriculture background and currently I am teaching high school agriculture education. My focus in my profession is the future of agriculture and it could not be more important than right in this village in Uganda. Not only are they sustaining the ministry with the program, they are  teaching the widows how to take care of themselves and their children for the long term.  I am praying that I can be of service to them and learn from them as well.   My goal is to raise funds to help in covering my travel expenses and cost of living while we are in Uganda. Any monies I raise over and above the costs will go to Kidron Valley Ministries to help the community. I would be humbled and grateful if you would consider financially supporting my mission trip. Please know that every little bit helps. Anything you can offer is appreciated. Gifts can be made right here on my Go Fund  Me page or if you prefer to write a check you can mail it to me at the following address. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please watch this video to see all that my church family at Matthews UMC have already been able to accomplish at Kidron. https://vimeo.com/86068167 Michelle Edens 8900 Golf Ridge Dr. Charlotte NC 28277 checks made out to : Matthews UMC note Uganda mission trip, Michelle Edens