Shawna

Hi my name is Shawna. I'm  28 years old and have been a hairstylist for 10 years. I'm engaged to be married this June all the while God has blessed me with the opportunity to go on this amazing journey to meet wonderful people and touch someone's heart. I grew up going to Church but I never got any opportunities to know of or do anything like this before. A friend of mine went last year and it really sparked interest in me and I felt this urge from the Lord to go and do this. While in casual conversation I was lead to Rachel and Imani Tumaini Upendo. So grateful for her contacting me and asking me if I would like to join this Journey. How could I say no?! This is not about me; this is about something bigger. Since I've never been on a mission I am unaware of what to expect but I have no fear in that God has a plan for me and I am riding along for the journey. I'm so excited with anticipation to see what God has in store for all of us and to tell you all about what we experience. 

                                       My fiance Paul and I    

Tressie

Hi, I'm Tressie! I am a kindergarten teacher here in College Station and I have a passion for educating children. I have felt the Lord tugging on my heart for doing mission work in Africa for several years now, but it wasn't in His plan for my life until this summer. I have an amazing support system full of friends and family who are in support of my desire to follow the Lord's calling. My heart is already being prepared for this country and the people. I can't wait to go and serve Him and for my heart to be forever changed. 

*My phenomenal family... I was blessed with fantastic parents*

*My sweet puppy, Lola and I.*

*My best friends from high school!*

 

Rachel

Hi!  My name is Rachel. I have been given the amazing opportunity to lead this team to Jinja, Uganda!  I am so excited to see what God has in store for us as we take this journey, so clearly laid out for us.

I am a mother of 5 beautiful children, a wife to an amazing husband, and most of all a daughter of Christ.  I love my family so much, but I love my God even more!  He has specifically called me to mission work, whether here working for my church, Brazos Fellowship (www.brazosfellowship.com), or working on the non profit I co founded Imani (www.imani-africa.com), or leading and organizing mission teams!!  I have been extremely blessed to meet some incredible people with a heart for the Lord.  The ministry we are going to visit, Healing Faith (www.healingfaithuganda.org), is run by some very dear friends of mine. They have been a part of our church since the beginning and we are so blessed to see them go as the Lord called them.  They moved their family (Jason, Kari and their 4 beautiful children Karson, Everett, Hadlee, and Pierce) to Uganda just a mere 3 months ago (give or take) and it seems like a life time already!! I cannot wait to go and hug their necks!!!  I am so proud to call them friend, and so blessed to be able to pray for them and the adventure the Lord has sent them on!!

Stay tuned for updates from our team, as we prepare, begin, go through, and end our journey together!

My beautiful children

My husband Chris and I