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July 2, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Working with street children, venomous snakes, and soccer—lots of soccer
We’re feeling right at home here The end of this week marks the halfway point of our trip. Truthfully, it feels like we’ve been here forever—in the best way. Asher plans to live here when he’s an adult. We’ll see where God leads him, I guess. Here’s a bit of what we’ve been up to. Last Friday we went to Pambazuka. An auntie took our boys around the compound for a while while I sat with Pastor James, a young man who is finding his way in his pastoral vocation. I heard about his hopes and his hesitations, and I was able to encourage him while also answering some questions. While we chatted, Rebecca met with the nurses on staff to answer questions about antenatal, maternal health, postpartum, and newborn care. There are a lot of harmful myths that she was able to gently dispel. After that, I led a devotional for the entire staff and we share a meal together. On Monday I spent the day with a local ministry called Jinja Connection. Their mission is to rescue and rehabilitate children who live on the streets of Jinja. I joined the social workers for a walk through town to seek out the children and invite them freely back to the centre. About 25 kids joined us to spend the day together. They started the morning at the rugby field, learning from professional rugby players who are volunteering their time to teach the kids. Around midday they regathered at the centre to wash themselves, their clothes, and receive a meal. They then did an hour or so of “class”, learning math and language in English, and then we headed to the soccer field. There was video evidence that I’ve since permanently deleted of me being manhandled by children on the soccer field. My legs are still hurting. On Tuesday we journeyed to Ekisa Ministries, the work of the family that’s hosting us here. Ekisa exists to help serve children with disabilities. We were so compelled by the work that they’re doing there. It was also Verity’s last day with us before she left to return to Australia. We savoured every moment with her. On Wednesday morning we said goodbye to Verity. It was so sweet to be reunited with her after all these years, and she was a tremendous gift to the people of Uganda during her time with us, teaching life saving first-aid to many groups during her short time. We spend each Wednesday afternoon at Amani Baby Cottage simply enjoying the kids. “Warm bodies to play with the children” is what they need, so that’s what we bring. This week, we also brought two new soccer balls thanks to your generosity. My legs hadn’t yet recovered from Monday, but these children were a little easier on me (the oldest is 6). We had more than one snake encounter this week (mom, this is a good time to tune out). The first one evaded us without capture, which is likely for the best since it was identified as a deadly Jameson’s Mamba by the photo we took of it. The next time we saw a snake we knew what to do. We called Steve from Snakes Uganda, and he came with all the necessary tools to capture it. Although this one was harmless, a gentle Battersby Green snake, he caught it nevertheless and relocated it to the national forest. We celebrated Canada Day with milkshakes, and we’ll spend The Fourth of July at the pool. We’ve caught more lizards and tree frogs this week than a 5-year-old can keep track of. The sun is hot, and the passionfruit juice is cold. Next week is shaping up to be full, with visits to Jinja Connection, antenatal days in the village, our weekly visit to the baby cottage, and more. Ebola Update 🦠 Life in Jinja continues completely undisturbed. Ebola is not breaking out here, although the situation in the Congo is still very serious. Pray that the Canadian government laxes the 21-day isolation requirement by the time we’re headed home. Stay Updated I’m planning to write one of these posts every other week or so while we’re away (depending on internet access). To stay up to date on our trip in real time, subscribe to these posts below to get them sent directly to your inbox whenever we write. Grace and peace.
Alexander, Rebecca, Asher & Aiden To get in contact with us directly now or while we’re away, email alexander@lifeabundantniagara.com. We’ll be checking in regularly.
July 1, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
I'm not an ornithologist
“Look up!” The two words that are ever ready on the tips of the tongues of all birders. Folks who are scientifically engaged in the study of birds get a fancy name: ornithologist. But for me and my clan (and many of you who are reading), we’re just birders. Not just birders, though. Birders are people who notice. Noticing, especially in our digital age that lures us constantly into attention deficit, is an act of spiritual practice. I’ve written to you recently about that. Look up, and notice what you see.How to see God From my stoop here in our temporary home in Jinja, Uganda, I can currently see and hear many birds. It’s been the joy of our time here by the Nile river. The Maribou Stock looms largely overhead. The Eastern Plantain-eater is somewhere in the distance, calling out with vocals that are easily mistaken for a monkey. And just in front of me, a Blue-breasted Kingfisher sits perched on a branch. It’s brilliant blue feathers arrest my attention. Her fire-engine beak is poised for a catch. Thanks to the Merlin Bird App, we’ve been able to identify many of the new bird species that we are seeing and hearing. I have a “life list” of 165 bird species logged on the app. One species in particular sings his morning song to us daily. Merlin describes his tune as “loud and complex vocalizations, including a mix of rattles, scratches, and piercing whistles.” In my words, I’d describe the song as beautiful—a complicated set of diverse sounds, but each with purpose and none without meaning. When I looked up I expected to see a bird that visually matched the complexity of her song. What I saw was unexpected: a plain black bird. At first sight, the Rüppell’s Starling appears boring and bland. Black. Singular. But when she soars into the sun, she shines iridescent. Purple and green, blue and maroon. Simply stunning. One caught the attention of our entire family just the other day, shining in the sun as she sat atop the iron fence. We all looked up. As she drew our attention up and towards the sky, we saw a splash of another colour: electric green. There, next to our beloved Starling, was a four-foot-long Battersby Green Snake. The tale of capturing that snake is another story for another time, because I’ve rambled on about birds for long enough to arrive at the point. Looking up as an act of spiritual practice, the art of noticing, is not just to see the good, the true, and the beautiful. Looking up from our feet as we journey on the path towards home alerts us to dangers and diversions that could cause us to stray. Our spiritual formation is not a destination, it’s a journey. It’s been called “a pilgrimage of the soul—if we want to keep growing, we have to stay on the journey, we have to stay on the road.” We must resist the despondence of staring at our feet as we trudge along. Instead, with our eyes up, we look for the signposts of the journey towards home. We meet at the Table, and receive our food for the journey. And we walk with our heads held high along the narrow path, for on our pilgrimage, we are being saved. Grace and peace,
Pastor Alexander
June 25, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
A trip to the village to deliver life saving kits
It’s been a full week We’ve been at work each day this week, serving different ministries and many people. Here’s a bit of what we were up to. On Monday Rebecca and Verity went to visit Pambazuka Ministries here in Jinja town. They toured the home, visited with the directors, and planned for how we can serve them while we’re here. On Tuesday Rebecca and I went back to YWAM, the place where we first met in 2011. We saw many old friends, met some new ones, and felt all sorts of nostalgia walking around the grounds where we lived and learned to love the Lord all those years ago. We also went to visit with our friends Claire and John. Claire is from the UK, and we met her at YWAM back in 2011. She met John there, and she has lived in Uganda with him ever since. We saw their home where they run a sustainable farm, welcoming the community on a daily basis to share in the fruits of their labour and also showing them how to farm for themselves. On Wednesday morning, Verity taught first-aid skills to about 50 missionary kids who are living here in Jinja. In the afternoon, we all went to Amani Baby Cottage, a home for orphaned children. Since 2003, Amani has cared for over 430 children. Today, they are caring for 33 children between the ages of 3 weeks and 7 years. Their immediate goal is to nourish the children while they are with them, and the longterm goal is to reunify them all with their family of origin or a forever family through adoption. Me and Verity, Asher and Aiden spent the afternoon simply playing with and loving on all the kids. Rebecca worked with some of the newborns, doing some head to toe exams and bottle feedings. Our plan is to visit the cottage every Wednesday. On Thursday, Rebecca and Verity were up early to head to the village. Alongside Redeemer Ministries, they travelled for hours to deliver 115 birth kits to pregnant women. These birth kits contain everything that’s required for a woman to be welcomed into the hospital to give birth. Without these supplies, they will be turned away. Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to fund most of these kits. In addition to delivering the kits, Rebecca was able to spend a few hours answering questions from all of the expecting mothers. While she was spending time with them, Verity went to the village school to teach the girls about menstruation. On Friday (as I’m writing this), we’ll be heading back to Pambazuka. I’ll be spending some one-on-one time with a pastor who is looking for some mentorship. At the same time, Rebecca will be meeting with the nurses as they plan to construct a new maternity ward. They’ll be looking to her to learn about best practices and what to prioritize. Our Saturdays will be set apart for rest and reconnection. Tomorrow we’ll take the boys to the pool and see if we can find some monkeys. We’ve been enjoying all the simple pleasures here as a family. The boys are enthralled by all the nature. They’ve caught tree frogs, all sorts of lizards, and made an attempt at domesticating a monkey. We’re spotting and logging a new species of bird each day. Asher’s new favourite fruit is passionfruit, and Aiden eats “g nuts” (ground nuts, which are basically peanuts) by the handful. Rebecca and I are savouring each mango, avocado, and even the occasional local soda. Ebola Update 🦠 There has been one new case reported in the country since we arrived. Also this week, a French doctor who was working in the DRC tested positive for Ebola upon returning home. Life in Jinja continues with business as usual. Stay Updated I’m planning to write one of these posts every other week or so while we’re away (depending on internet access). To stay up to date on our trip in real time, subscribe to these posts below to get them sent directly to your inbox whenever we write. Grace and peace.
Alexander, Rebecca, Asher & Aiden To get in contact with us directly now or while we’re away, email alexander@lifeabundantniagara.com. We’ll be checking in regularly.
June 19, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Our First Week
Our first week, in the books I’m writing to you on late Friday night, sweat on my brow, stars in the sky. Our first week in Uganda is coming to a close. We travelled all of Monday and Tuesday, arriving in the Pearl of Africa late Tuesday night. The boys did as well as we could have hoped during our air travel, and our 5 hour trek to Jinja on Wednesday felt like a breeze. We’ve settled in nicely here. We’re staying in the home of some American missionaries who call Uganda home. They’re back in the US for the summer, so they opened their doors to us. We have a little extra space here, so Verity (our British friend that we met in Uganda back in 2011) is staying with us for the next two weeks. She arrived on Thursday. Today, Verity and I (Alexander) travelled to Hanak International School to teach first aid training to primary and secondary students. It’s the last day of their school year, but the teachers were so eager at the opportunity for us to teach these emergency skills that they brought us in to end their year. We spent the morning teaching about 30 primary students, roughly grades 1-3, and the afternoon with a group of secondary students. We taught them emergency first aid skills like CPR, choking, wound care, snake bites, and drowning. Verity is a first-aid instructor for YWAM in Australia where she lives and works. What’s Next 💡 Next week, we’ll be connecting with Pambazuka Ministries to serve pregnant teens in their care. Rebecca will be teaching prenatal and postpartum care, breastfeeding and newborn care, and bringing menstrual education to schools. She’ll also be teaching nurses some midwifery skills. Ebola Update 🦠 The Ebola outbreak in Uganda is completely under control. There have been no new cases reported in the country since we arrived. Life in Jinja is business as usual. Stay Updated I’m planning to write one of these posts every other week or so while we’re away (depending on internet access). To stay up to date on our trip in real time, subscribe to these posts below to get them sent directly to your inbox whenever we write. Grace and peace.
Alexander, Rebecca, Asher & Aiden To get in contact with us directly now or while we’re away, email alexander@lifeabundantniagara.com. We’ll be checking in regularly.
June 15, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Aaaand we're off!
You’ve sent us off. That was the word at church yesterday: we’re not just going to Uganda, but our community is sending us. That delineation matters. We feel it, too. Your prayers, your kindness, your generosity. They are the wind in our sails. What’s Happening This Week We’ll arrive in Uganda late Tuesday night. We’ll spend what’s left of that night in an airport guesthouse, and then we’ll finish the final leg of our journey to Jinja on Wednesday. We’ll take some time to settle in before our work begins on Friday. Verity, a British friend of ours from our first time in Uganda, will be flying in on Thursday to spend two weeks with us. This Friday, Verity and I (Alexander) will be leading first aid training in a local school. We’ll teach CPR, wound care, and other basic life saving skills. Fun fact: Verity works full time with YWAM Medical Ships in Australia and Papua New Guinea! Ebola Update 🦠 The WHO reports that the Ebola outbreak in Uganda is completely under control. As of today, there have been 20 confirmed cases, all in isolated care in the capital city. Life in Uganda is business as usual in every district. How to Pray For Us 🙏 Our Travel – pray that our travel day, although long, will be smooth. Let’s believe that our bags and our boys will arrive to our destination in one piece. 🙏 Our Arrival – pray that the boys will ease into their new environment gracefully and easily. 🙏 Our First Week Of Work – pray that the first things we put our hands and hearts to will be fruitful. Stay Updated I’m planning to write one of these posts every other week or so while we’re away (depending on internet access). To stay up to date on our trip in real time, subscribe to these posts below to get them sent directly to your inbox whenever we write. Grace and peace.
Alexander, Rebecca, Asher & Aiden To get in contact with us directly now or while we’re away, email alexander@lifeabundantniagara.com. We’ll be checking in regularly.
June 2, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
We made our best effort
We just couldn’t do it. In all of our planning and preparation, there was one thing our list that didn’t get done. It wasn’t for lack of trying—it was a lack of faith. As many of you know, our family of four is headed to Uganda for the summer. You can read all of the updates about our trip here. The items on our to-do list are legion. There are all the things we need to pack and prepare to be in a far-off land for the better part of two months. Quick drying towels. Battery backups. Mosquito repellant. Then there are the things that we need to tie up and tidy before we leave our house and home behind. Empty the freezer. Pause our car insurance. Text dad to cut the grass. One thing in particular that we wanted to do in light of leaving our house this year was to let our garden rest. There’s a generational practice that can be traced back all the way to the people of Israel in the land of Sinai of letting the soil rest every seven years. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying “When you enter the land which I am going to give you, the land will observe a Sabbath to God. Sow your fields, prune your vineyards, and take in your harvests for six years. But the seventh year the land will take a Sabbath of complete and total rest, a Sabbath to God; you will not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Don’t reap what grows of itself; don’t harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land gets a year of complete and total rest.” We’ve owned our home for 6 years, and in that time we have thoroughly sown and reaped. Rebecca was in the backyard plotting and plowing our growing space before we even moved a single piece of furniture into the house. Our garden has fed us well, taught us plenty, and been a source of joy and nourishment for many people in our community. We know the law of the Lord, and we see how it echos the natural laws of the land. The ground needs to rest. We know this. Since we are going to be away for the summer, we chose this year to be our soil’s Sabbath. And we couldn’t do it. Our garden isn’t full by any means, but we just had to sneak a few radish and sweet pea seeds into the soil to squeeze in an early harvest before we left. Between the two of us, we just couldn’t find the Christian courage to let it go and leave it to the Lord. It’s easy to call it the plague of our times—the false sense that we can provide everything we need for ourselves, or the belief that no one is going to sustain our lives if we’re not the ones to do it—but it’s truthfully the plague of our kind. We trust our human selves more than we trust our creator to sustain, provide, give life, and assure safety, and as a result we end taking hold of things that were never ours to handle. The real kicker is that God’s instruction to Moses had a provision clause. “But you can eat from what the land volunteers during the Sabbath year—you and your men and women servants, your hired hands, and the foreigners who live in the country, and, of course, also your livestock and the wild animals in the land can eat from it. Whatever the land volunteers of itself can be eaten.” Honouring the Sabbath is an exercise in many things, but in this case it’s a practice of faith. Do I believe that whatever God gives will be enough? We’re still learning to trust God, evidently. And our next chance won’t just be six years from now—I’ll likely have an opportunity to prove where I’ve put my faith six seconds from now. And then six minutes later. Each and every moment is an opportunity to release my grip on the things I want to control and relax into faith in the One who is the giver of all life. Grace and peace,
Pastor Alexander
Our church is situated on treaty land that has traditionally been home to the Hatiwendaronk, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe peoples, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
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