Hello All!
It’s been a while since I’ve written to you all and, to be honest, I’ve had a hard time motivating myself to pick up the laptop and take this all down. So much has happened in the last few months, and I’ve had a hard time wrapping my head around all that God is doing here. I’m going to take you on a little tour of what some of my work has looked like over the past months, so settle in because this is a long one! (And pro tip: read those photo captions, there’s a lot packed in there.)
Though so much of my work revolves around grading and drainage, site layout and construction management, my favorite stage of design remains in concept and developed design. I really like the beginning stages of a project where I get to work with ministries and hear their heart for the gospel and the people that they serve. EMI usually approaches this stage of work through what we call a Project Trip. When EMI partners with a ministry, the first thing we do is send a team of engineers and architects from around the world to produce drawings and/or solutions to that ministry’s problem. This group of people and time spent in design is usually condensed to a 1 to 2 week Project Trip. I love these trips for so many reasons: late nights spent with designers and engineers, pouring over drawings with markers and a cup of coffee, praying and fellowshipping with new people. Even with all of that, the best part of these trips is interacting with ministries and hearing their heart. I want to share about some of the ministries I’ve had the honor of working with this year!
The Remnant Generation
Wow, let me tell you about this ministry. I have yet to meet such a hyped-up, energetic and passionate group of people. The Remnant Generation (TRG) is a ministry that seeks to rescue and restore the lives of young girls who are pregnant due to sexual assault and abuse. The founder Annabelle Nakabiri Ssebakijje, is a survivor of child marriage and sexual assault, and knows first-hand the trauma that so many young girls in Uganda suffer. TRG focuses on pulling these girls out of dangerous situations, provides family counseling, prenatal and post-birth care, as well as vocational training. Their goal is to restore these girls to their families, and society as a whole, healed and thriving as individuals and mothers.
Currently, their facilities consist of 2 houses. One is used as office space and the other is used as a home for the girls who had to be removed from dangerous situations. Vocational training you ask? Right now they’re teaching hairdressing using a 1 car garage as their salon. The salon is pack with about 10 people and a few babies, not to mention all of the equipment! Needless to say, when TRG purchased land outside of Kampala they were all too eager to partner with EMI and get a masterplan put together. Our team of architects, civil and structural engineers spent a week with the TRG staff learning about the facilities they needed. At the end of the week, we had put together a masterplan! Check it out below:
Though we are excited about these new facilities, both the EMI and TRG teams pray that one day the high rates of sexual assault and teenage pregnancy will decrease in Uganda, and these buildings will be used to serve the next challenge awaiting us.
The Gem Foundation
Many of you are familiar with this ministry, as we have shared a bit about them in the past. The Gem Foundation cares for orphaned children with special needs. Here in Uganda, children with special needs are often seen as a curse. This social stigma, combined with the extra cost of having a special needs child, often leaves these children abandoned. They are found in trash piles, on the side of the road, and in back rooms where they are neglected and malnourished. This ministry seeks to end the stigma around special needs children and provide a safe environment for them to learn and grow.
The Gem Foundation has been partnering with EMI Uganda since 2017, when we sent out a team to provide the masterplan for their new campus outside Kampala. Since then, EMI Uganda has been leading the construction of the campus, building a clinic, 3 homes, 2 assisted living homes and a founder’s home! Our design and construction team have been doing an incredible job on site (I’ve shared a few photos of what they’ve built so far).
As Gem seeks to expand their services, they reached out to EMI to provide a masterplan update. As with any ministry, things change over time! This update served to capture some of those changes and provide concept designs for 3 buildings. For my part, one of the things that Gem has been lacking is some exciting outdoor space for the kids to play. You’ll notice this masterplan has many walking paths and outdoor spaces for children and caretakers to enjoy. Afterall, it’s 75 and sunny almost year round!
Ekisa Ministries
This is a project trip I was just on this past week! Ekisa Ministries is based in Jinja, Uganda (where the source of the Nile is!) and works with families of children with special needs. Similar to The Gem Foundation, they seek to end the stigma around special needs here in Uganda and across East Africa. Ekisa’s focus is different from Gem’s, primarily focusing on family counselling, training and community engagement. We were so excited to work with this ministry that loves families, and it was a fantastic two weeks of learning from them and putting together a design for their 7-acre site.
Project trips always include a lot of prayer and introspection. This trip was very special for me as it reminded me of my passion for school campus design. I love working with teachers and caretakers as they strive to serve these kids. Ekisa has such a talented staff!
Each of these ministries hold a special place in my heart. EMI is a supportive ministry, lifting up others as they serve the needy and share the gospel. We have the honor of being those in the background, using the gifts God has given us to propel these ministries forward into all that the Lord has tasked them with. What an amazing thing the Church is. Each member of the body carrying the love of Christ to all the corners of the globe in their own unique way. This doesn’t come without struggle, mistakes and repentance, but it does come with salvation, redemption, and so much joy!
Arensen Update
We had such a great time with Hannah’s parents during their visit to Uganda in June! It was so special to show them around our new home and share our favorite things about living here (especially the fish and chips). We even were able to go on safari and spotted many beautiful animals.
Speaking of animals, after a lot of logistical acrobatics (thanks Mom!)… Radar the Corgi also made it to Uganda! He has been enjoying being outside all day and is making friends with everyone he meets.
For those of you who may not have already heard, we’re expecting! Baby Arensen will be joining us in late February 2023, and we could not be more excited. This means there is (yet again) a lot of change coming our way! Hannah will be transitioning to part time, where she will be stepping away from construction management and focusing on concept design and software training for our staff. We appreciate your prayers as we prepare to welcome the new arrival!
Pray With Us
We are so grateful for your prayers and support! Please join us in prayer and praise for the following:
Prayer requests:
- Please pray for a healthy pregnancy and birth of our kiddo! We will be giving birth in Kampala, and are grateful for the doctor we have found here.
- Lift up Hannah as she travels to Lira next week for a quick master plan update for one of our partner ministries.
- Pray that the Lord would provide discernment and wisdom for both Hannah and the design team as she transitions to a part-time role in January.
- EMI is planning to launch another office in the Middle East! Please pray for discernment while leaders decide which country to settle down in.
- EMI Uganda plans to start construction of the Research & Development building very soon! Please lift up our architects and engineers as they finalize details for the structure and commence with construction.
Praises:
- Praise the Lord that we have been seeing many salvations and baptisms at our EMI construction sites! Our team on site is doing an incredible job of ministering.
- We’re so excited to be expecting and are grateful for a healthy pregnancy so far!
- We thank God for the friends that he has put in our path since moving here. We are surrounded by such a loving community.
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?