Answers to some common questions

* With the recently renewed interest in the LRA and the people it has affected, will a trip to RG allow me to meet and minister to victims? *
Yes. We are thankful that the Kony2012 campaign has reminded the world not only that there are people still being attacked by the rebel group, but also that the restoration of a people and of their hearts, minds and families takes years. God led founders Tim & Janice McCall to northern Uganda to help bring restoration to the people that have suffered greatly at the hands of the LRA. Many of RG's neighbors are internally displaced Ugandans that fled the LRA further north. A mission trip to RG is a perfect opportunity to meet and hear the stories of people that work for us that were themselves abducted and managed to escape, or whose children were abducted and never seen again. Some of our orphans' parents or other family members were killed by the LRA. A visit to RG will allow you to minister to these precious people that are rebuilding their lives. Your life will be changed by them as well!

What size of teams do you take?
Teams may be of any size, from one person to as many people as you can recruit.

What will we do while we’re at Restoration Gateway?
There are many ways to be involved at RG! Depending on the time you go and your team's skills, you could do medical or dental work, paint murals, teach sewing, do construction, mechanical work, or video/photography. You could do anything related to orphan ministry, such as leading youth programs, counseling children, teaching at RG's school, tutoring English or doing a Vacation Bible School program. We encourage each team to first look at the skills and abilities of those on the team. Spend some time thinking and praying about how you might use those abilities. Then let RG know what you would like to do. We love working with teams to see how we can further the call of God on their life as well as further the work at RG.  Many teams visit nearby Murchison Falls National Park as well. 

What are some of the difficulties of a trip to RG?
RG is in a remote area of northern Uganda, on land that is still being developed. This means that there is very little electricity (for lighting or for recharging computers/iPods) and that water is carefully conserved, though our well water is safe to drink. Food will be basic, traditional Ugandan, and repetitive, plus you will need to cook many of your meals over a two-burner butane cooktop. There is very little shopping close by, and certainly no tourist shopping. For individuals (those not coming with a team), the limited interaction with other Americans can cause loneliness at times. Transportation is limited.

What are some of the joys of serving at RG?
In addition to the difficulties, there are of course many joys in serving at RG! One of the biggest rewards is seeing the cheerful smiles of the RG orphans, as you play and spend time with them, or the gratitude shown by those receiving much needed healthcare.

What would I need to do before going on a trip to RG?
Among other things, preparations for a trip to RG would include obtaining a passport; getting immunizations as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and starting malaria medication; getting overseas health insurance; and working with a travel agent to purchase airline tickets, after verifying dates with our office.

What’s the next step?
If you are interested in going to serve at RG, the first step is to contact us. We will send you more information about visiting RG, and an application to complete, so you can tell us when you’d like to go and what you’d like to do.

 
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