‘The Great Outdoors’
Why a new event?
The needs of the tertiary students are quite different from those of the Karis teenagers and school-aged children, who are so wonderfully catered for at Summer Camp (happening next year!) and the Summer Celebration. Often the timing of the semesters do not allow tertiary-educated students to attend.
So, earlier this month, our KFLM team hosted a special event just for them. 33 students from university, vocational institutions, and apprenticeships were accompanied by the Karis team and the Church Community Mobilisers for a day of feasting, fellowship, and fun.
The students embarked on a wonderful day out to ‘The Great Outdoors,’ an eco-friendly forest resort, located 45 minutes from Kampala. This is the first time that such an event has taken place.
The 33 tertiary students with their hosts and guest speaker at The Great Outdoors
The day’s activities
The day included breakfast, a sumptuous lunch, and an evening tea. There were times of worship and praise together. Times for the students to wander around the beautiful gardens, talking with one another and taking photos. There was also time for board games, skipping ropes, and table tennis!
Breakfast is served!
Enjoying a delicious lunch
Let the games begin
Worship outdoors
Time to enjoy nature and each other’s company
A joyful message
The students were joined by guest speaker, Rev Dr Grace Lubaale, who spoke on “enjoying your youth,” referencing Ecclesiastes 11:9-10. (Rev Dr Grace is a lecturer at Kyambogo University and a priest of the Diocese of Kampala.)
As maturing young adults, Rev Dr Grace wished to equip the students with the wisdom to manage the freedom and responsibilities that come with this stage of life.
He encouraged them to enjoy their youth by getting involved in church ministry, reading their Bibles, and welcoming the Holy Spirit into their lives. He also encourged them to stay healthy and apply themselves in their studies and work.
Rev Dr Grace concluded by sharing his own journey through life, giving space for the students to ask questions, before praying and blessing them.
Rev Dr Grace Lubaale
A surprising response
The Karis team said it was a refreshing day that allowed the students to open up and share about their lives in ways the team had not expected.
The KLFM team thank Rev Dr Grace for his time, the UK partners for helping make this possible, as well as the CCM’s, The Great Outdoors organisation, and the students themselves whose enthusiasm made the day so beautiful.
We also extend our thanks to the Karis team for sacrificing their public holiday in order to give the students a day so rich in purpose and meaning.