Serving Leadership in Uganda

“By putting the needs of others first, you empower people to perform at their best. When members of the community see your passion and your commitment through your actions, they want to be connected to you.”?–National Society of Leadership and Success

It’s easy to define servant leadership. It is a style based on the desire to serve and give to your community. However, I knew that to truly understand the term, I needed to experience it firsthand. With a compass in my hand and a magnet in my heart, I set out on a personal quest to Uganda, Africa.

The plan was to visit several churches, primary schools, and friends in Kampala and Kasese.?I am neither a pastor, a teacher, nor a youth director. I am just a girl who loves the Lord and felt drawn to the magical people of Uganda.

Brian Winters, my high school Math/Science teacher, is my favorite teacher. I have also referred to him as my spiritual leader. We have always stayed in touch and would share meaningful happenings and local connections with each other. He shared his experiences in Uganda with me during a lunch with his colleagues, and I have wanted to travel to Africa ever since. I knew that the people of Uganda had great needs for things like water and education. But I couldn’t figure out exactly where I fit into the puzzle. “How could I possibly help?” I wondered.

Nevertheless, I just knew that I was called to show up and to serve. The Lord directed my steps, and thanks to nearly 10 years of listening to Brian share stories and photos of the people of Uganda, my desire to be a servant leader intensified.??I was able to say “YES” to the calling in my heart to serve with Brian in Uganda.

It always impressed me how Brian could call each child by their name as he told me of his missions. I felt a strong desire to meet these amazing children and the leaders in the community who took care of them.?I had once given financial support to the children, and Brian created a photo with a caption that read, “Charli’s Angels.” Naturally, I needed to meet these sweet angels whose faces stared back at me every day from the photo hanging in my office.

As I reflect on the remarkable experience, I can share many lessons that I learned along the way. But there are two that are especially important.

1. The most significant thing that I learned from the trip was that as you serve others, your love for them grows.?I could truly feel my heart overflow with love and joy to be in their presence. I especially felt this with the beautiful and selfless work of the team of pastors who served with us.
2. I also learned that all you have to do is show up.?God will instruct those around you about how to use your gifts. I had no plans when I arrived.?By the end of the trip, I had helped share the Living Water of Jesus with more than 2,500 students, twirled a baton made from a eucalyptus tree, led a bible study for women who didn’t speak English (via a translator), played with children in a poor fisherman’s village, and I led an Empowering Women conference with 25 women who were inspired to build their own businesses and create financial security for their families.?This is just a small sample of the incredible things I would like to share with you.

I know now that Servant Leadership is more than just a term. It is all about getting out of our comfort zones and showing up for the team that needs us. I hope you will all see value in serving. Here is my story…

On our way—an eventful journey

We began our journey to Uganda at 9:18 a.m. on May 5, 2022.?

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