Lighthouse Team to visit orphans in Uganda on mission trip

Cath Stott, Lighthouse Project Administrator and Pam Semp, Lighthouse Project Centre Manager

Cath Stott and Pam Semp, members of the Lighthouse Project staff team, are setting off to Uganda later this week (14-25 October) as part of a mission trip with their church, the Upper Room Christian Fellowship based in Middleton town centre.

The trip is in support of local people in Kampala, Jinja and Busembatia where the church and local charity Lifeline East Africa support many orphans by sponsoring their education, and providing somewhere for them to live.

Both Pam and Cath have visited Uganda before on similar trips, but no two trips are the same as they often encounter unexpected challenges and needs when they arrive.

Pam says: “It is about 12 years since I was last there and I’m so excited about visiting the children again. It is such a privilege to be able to go and to be a part of their lives, and I’m keen to meet them again and strengthen the support that we provide.”

There is a group of eight in the team and they will be taking various items, such as children’s clothing, toiletries, gifts and aid as part of their luggage allowance.

In preparation for the trip Cath and Pam recently held an afternoon tea event at the Lighthouse Project to share about the work and to raise funds for them to give away when they are there.

They managed to raise about £80 from the event by selling toiletries and small gifts to those who attended.

Cath says: “As a trustee of Lifeline East Africa these trips are really important in helping us develop the work. I can’t wait to go back and the children are really encouraged and excited every time we visit them.”

“The trips are always inspiring and the children have a way of getting inside your heart so we generally come away with far more from them than we are able to provide through the aid we take.”