The Uganda Experience

Thanks to everyone for making the Uganda Experience a great success!

We have had several requests about the possibility of still being able to give toward our fundraising goals for the Kampala Children's Centre. The answer to that question is 'yes'. Cash donations are still being accepted! 100% of your donation will go directly to KCC, and your donation is tax deductible.

Thank you for your support!

Simply, make your check payable to Wellspring Church, memo 'Uganda', and mail to the following address:

Wellspring Church

222 Lincoln Street

Kensington, CT 06037

Attn: Uganda Experience

On Saturday, April 5, we at Wellspring opened the doors on our first silent auction, The Uganda Experience, to raise money for the Kampala Children’s Centre in Uganda. This event was inspired by The Restoration Project, last year’s art exhibition and sale that not only was a success as a fundraiser for Uganda, but also as a great night out for Wellspring members, friends, and family. The Uganda Experience promised an evening full of the sights and sounds of Uganda, along with the opportunity to bid on auction items which ranged from gift certificates and gift baskets, to authentic Ugandan craft items, and vacation home rentals.

Upon entering the church, guests were greeted by an atmosphere and sensory experience unlike anything they had seen here at Wellspring. The café, lobby, the Loft, and the Space were all transformed into African marketplaces, full of palm trees, hand-carved Ugandan crafts, rustic décor, and many time-worn elements one might see traveling through Kampala—old oil barrels, discarded tires, burlap bags of coffee and beans. The smell of hay and burning candles mingled with the aroma of authentic African food. Guests were treated to samples of cassava root ,goat with peanut sauce, many hot hors d’ouevres, including sambusas (Ugandan meat pies), beautiful fruit topiaries, and Ethiopian coffee all throughout the evening. African music and photos of Uganda could be heard and seen wherever our guests went, and if they listened closely, they could even hear the bizarre sounds of hippos, monkeys and other wild animals! The sanctuary became a theater, showing the movie Father’s Heart (the story of KCC) and in the Loft, members of the first Uganda mission team ran booths and tables illustrating Wellspring’s Bridge to Uganda. The Space was transformed into a sort of African café, and hosted Dr. Dennis Waring, a world music authority who gave his audience a truly interactive and educational African music experience. Later that evening, Mark Wuesthoff led guests in an African drum circle, which was both fun and stirring.

The auction itself was buzzing with activity and excitement. Between 300-400 guests were in attendance that night, and each area of The Uganda Experience had a good crowd of people enjoying themselves. There was great fellowship in the air, laughter and conversation, and good-spirited competition over the auction items. Matt Jedynak MC’d the auction and kept the bidding alive and progressing with his witty commentary and encouragement. By the end of the event, nearly all of the 150+ auction items were sold to bidders, and many others generously donated to the Kampala Children’s Centre and the projects Wellspring Church is planning for them. Between ticket sales for the event and winning bids, thanks to its generous attendees, The Uganda Experience raised $21,300! Unbelievably, we have also received an additional $24,580 to date, which is a combined total of $45,880 towards our goal of $51,750!! The outcome of raising this amount of money is that we will be able to provide for KCC: a 5 day Children’s Camp including hot lunches for every child, every day, a large playground onsite at KCC built by our team this May, a well, which will provide clean, safe drinking water and real sanitation, and a mini-bus for KCC to transport children to and from the places they need to take them.

All glory and honor goes to the Lord for His blessing over this event and His people that so lovingly opened their hearts and wallets for this important cause. Many people also generously donated their gifts, services, time, and energy into making The Uganda Experience happen, and we owe them our gratitude and appreciation. To anyone that was involved in any way, thank you so much. We are overjoyed to be able to participate in what the Lord is doing on each side of this Bridge to Uganda!

For questions or additional information, please contact Pam Zinn at (860)539-3569 or pzinn@sbcglobal.net

See you next year at The Uganda Experience!

Information on Kampala Children’s Centre can be found on their website at www.kampalachildren.com.

Click on the images above to open a larger image in a popup window.

Click here to see a gallery of the event.

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