EMI: Designing a World of Hope
A photo of us in front of the EMI Uganda office. This was taken during our vision trip in December and is one of the few unmasked moments of that trip!
We are moving to Uganda! We are incredibly excited to be joining an organization called Engineering Ministries International (EMI). We are going to be living in Kampala, which is the capital city of Uganda. It’s a large, bustling city on the shores of Lake Victoria.
EMI is a Christian organization that provides engineering, architectural, and construction management services to other organizations throughout the world that are working to alleviate poverty. The vision of EMI is to see people restored by God and a world restored through design. This vision couldn’t align better with the calling that we feel God has put on our lives. We both have felt called to the mission field for quite some time, and are thrilled to be able to use the talents that God has given us to further His Kingdom.
What is Our Role?
Hannah will be continuing in landscape architecture, working as a landscape designer and providing a new, fresh perspective to the office. Bruce will be working as a mechanical engineer in the Research and Development group, which is involved in a wide range of projects from materials testing to design projects that fall outside of the scope of EMI’s civil and structural engineers.
We were able to take a vision trip to Uganda in December. Though it was a unique travel experience full of testing, masks and social distancing, we are so grateful we were able to go! Our week was spent getting to know the office, going on site visits and talking to clients, as well as doing some work. Hannah got to work on tree planting plants, site inventory and some site design. Meanwhile Bruce was in the R&D workshop, testing efficient wood burning stoves. We had a great time applying our skills in a new setting. We also attended office devotions, worship and prayer. Despite being socially distant and wearing masks, we felt very welcomed by the team there, and are excited to start working with them soon!
We are hoping to mobilize to East Africa in August, after which we will be attending cultural training and getting a feel for our new work environment. We can’t wait to get started!
While visiting in December, Bruce got to help Daniel Propst (pictured) with testing of efficient wood burning stoves made of local materials.
Hannah will be learning many new plant species. These banana trees, for example, are just some of 95 varieties found in Uganda!
Projects We're Excited About
Delivery day! September 2020.
Late last year, the International Justice Mission’s sea can was delivered to EMI Uganda’s Workshop! This ordinary shipping container will be fully retrofitted into an office and interview rooms for Kampala’s Gender-Based Violence Unit at the Kibuli Police Barracks. We are excited to see this shipping container turn into a safe space for those who have suffered violence. The R&D and Workshop teams are up against some challenges as they seek to find ways to keep the container cool (without air conditioning) while also making it sound-proof. Learn more about IJM
Pray With Us
We are so grateful for your prayers and support! Please join us in prayer for the following:
- Our continued health and wellbeing as we move up to New York State this month
- That we would be able to get vaccinated soon!
- Wisdom as we seek to minister and love on family, friends and partners during a time of social distancing
- For our brothers and sisters in Uganda as the vaccine begins to be administered there
Praises!
- Bruce finished work on the 26th! After many months of non-stop work, we are both grateful for the opportunity for him to rest.
- We are so grateful for our families who are housing us for the next few months! We have been very pampered by Hannah’s sister here in Virginia, and are thankful for the time we’ve been able to spend with family.
Stay Connected
Each year, EMI’s people complete over 100 development projects which serve the poor and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To keep these design services affordable for Christian ministries, professionals like the Arensen’s on EMI’s staff are responsible for raising their own salaries. We are so grateful for God’s provision through the generosity of donors. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with the great things God is doing through the Arensen’s ministry at EMI?