Hi dear friends. This is Emily. Since founding The Lulu Tree four and a half years ago, my husband (Trent) and children {Aiden (9), Kasher (7.5) and Aria (3.5)} have patiently put up with my coming and going to Africa, with my tears and my sleepless nights and my pacing the floor in prayer and concern over lost wires and lost babies and basically trying to understand and be obedient to this calling. They’ve seen the photos and the videos and they’ve hugged me and donated their money and they’ve sacrificed a mama and wife.

Now, finally, at my husband’s suggestion, I get to share Africa with them. We will be flying to Kampala, Uganda over Christmas, from December 21-31.

We will be sleeping in the same Mission House that our national team uses when they work in the villages, and will be spending every morning and evening doing devotions and prayers and basically being family with our Uganda brothers and sisters.

During the day we’ll be worshiping and eating with pastors and teen mamas and playing with babies and kissing jajjas (grannies) on the cheeks and witnessing the children’s ministry in the slums. We will also be helping to pack Christmas hampers which will be distributed amongst the Ugandan grandmothers and grandfathers and, on a personal note, I (Emily) will be baptized in the Nile River by our Uganda pastors.

We invite you to join our journey on social media (@TheLuluTree on Facebook or the_lulu_tree on Instagram) and to pray for us. 

• • Pray that Trent and I are strong and courageous so that our strength and courage pass down to our children.

• • Pray that we are united in vision and purpose and that the devil gets no foothold in our family; that we are able to rejoice in all the Lord is doing through His people, and to encourage our Lulu family in Uganda.

• • Pray for all the usual things like health and safety and protection over suitcases, but please, most of all,
  • Pray that our hearts will be broken — not shattered, but broken — to make room for a greater love for God’s people.

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.… 1 Thess. 3:11-13

*Please note, no Lulu funds were used on this trip, nor are ever used on any Lulu trips. We believe in covering our own expenses so that your donations can go directly where they’re supposed to go–to those who need it most. In 2018 we are proud to announce that only 3% of all funding went towards US administration (ie. cost of wires and bank charges); 97% of donations given were used directly by our African teams in front line ministry. To learn more about our commitment to financial integrity, please go HERE.