Hey there Smogonites! I don't normally post threads like this, but I figured it's worth a shot. I am scheduled to go to Uganda in a little over two weeks as part of a mission trip. Myself and my 7 team members will be traveling to a small village in Kaberamaido, Uganda that our church partners with as part of a self-sustainability mission. We spend time with the kids who are part of the program, give medical exams, bring supplies, help teach the villagers valuable skills like farming, soap making, and other vocations, as well as contribute toward purchasing land for farming plots, building wells, and bringing electricity to the village. The ultimate goal is to help this village, which has been decimated by AIDS and other diseases, be able to sustain itself by 2017.
I realize the vast majority of Smogon is not religious, so I don't expect many to see the trip from precisely my perspective. However, I want to assure everyone that the purpose of this trip is to give aid, not to "spread propaganda" or "indoctrinate". We want to do more than just send money to a place we hardly know. We want to be involved in the education and treatment of the people we support.
I have created a small, basic website for the purpose of collecting donations for my trip. The overall cost is around $2500, which includes airfare, required vaccinations, and the actual expenses of the project. Obviously this is a significant amount of money out of my pocket, which is why I am asking friends and family to give if they can. I am making the same plea to you, Smogon, for help.
If you are interested in donating to my cause, you can do so safely and securely through the website I have listed below. All donations are through Paypal, which everyone should recognize. Any amount of money is welcome, so don't feel obligated to give a certain amount. If you do not want to give, that's fine too. The website is as follows:
http://xjrich.wix.com/operationuganda
Thanks in advance!
PS - In order to make this a legitimate discussion thread, feel free to talk about experiences you have had or seen with mission work. It does not have to be/have been religious affiliated, just any time where you were involved in projects or trips geared toward helping people less fortunate than yourself. Share stories, photos, philosophies, even disagreements if you so choose. All I ask is that you keep this topic free of flaming or insulting.
I realize the vast majority of Smogon is not religious, so I don't expect many to see the trip from precisely my perspective. However, I want to assure everyone that the purpose of this trip is to give aid, not to "spread propaganda" or "indoctrinate". We want to do more than just send money to a place we hardly know. We want to be involved in the education and treatment of the people we support.
I have created a small, basic website for the purpose of collecting donations for my trip. The overall cost is around $2500, which includes airfare, required vaccinations, and the actual expenses of the project. Obviously this is a significant amount of money out of my pocket, which is why I am asking friends and family to give if they can. I am making the same plea to you, Smogon, for help.
If you are interested in donating to my cause, you can do so safely and securely through the website I have listed below. All donations are through Paypal, which everyone should recognize. Any amount of money is welcome, so don't feel obligated to give a certain amount. If you do not want to give, that's fine too. The website is as follows:
http://xjrich.wix.com/operationuganda
Thanks in advance!
PS - In order to make this a legitimate discussion thread, feel free to talk about experiences you have had or seen with mission work. It does not have to be/have been religious affiliated, just any time where you were involved in projects or trips geared toward helping people less fortunate than yourself. Share stories, photos, philosophies, even disagreements if you so choose. All I ask is that you keep this topic free of flaming or insulting.
