Students travel to help children

Natalia Hoyo and Melissa Mage aren't spending their summer vacation tanning on a beach or screaming their lungs out on the roller coasters at Islands of Adventure.

They aren't lying on the couch watching The Tyra Banks Show or episodes of The O.C. either.

Instead, these two UCF students are spending four weeks in Kampala, Uganda, working with Nkumba Ministries to help the children of the orphanage participate in Bible studies, and host a talent show for the local residents.

"I just believe so much in the value of a human being, in seeing and redefining the value of love and the cry of the people," said Hoyo, a sophomore social work major. "I am inspired by Africa — their cry, their hurt and their pain."

Hoyo and Mage, a senior music major, are going to Uganda by themselves and meeting up with leaders at an orphanage in the Nkumba Ministries. The women connected with ministry officials last year when they visited Orlando to speak about the orphanage. Mage spoke to Seggy Hannington, a ministry administrator, and managed to keep in touch over Facebook.

"It just worked out to where we felt God calling us to go, so we just decided to shoot [Hannington] a Facebook message and within an hour he e-mailed us back," Mage said.

Just like that, they began their planning for Uganda. But affording a trip to Uganda was not an easy feat for two college women not exactly making six-figure salaries. The women had to raise $3,000 in order to go.

Hoyo and Mage organized an event on Main Street to raise funds and awareness and visited Mage's church to ask for donations from the patrons. The women managed to raise $1,440 that day just from church members who wanted to show their support, Hoyo said.

"It's just through people just believing in us and wanting to support in whatever way they can, and if it's money or it's prayer, it's just been great to see that we haven't had to pay from our pockets as much," Hoyo said. "It's just been people seeing that it's not our money, it's not their money, it's money for the Kingdom, it's just a gift."

With the help of the community, the two students managed to afford their trip without a crush on their wallets. But financial preparation wasn't the only thing the women had to struggle with before departing Florida.

"We're only allowed to wear long skirts and cap-sleeved shirts, so we had to buy crappy stuff from Ross," Mage said." "We're putting ourselves in another culture completely for the glory of God so it's about changing our mindset completely."

The women are staying in an apartment close to the orphanage, arranged by Hannington and Nkumba Ministries. Hannington, who has worked with the ministry since 2004, will be their guide and main contact for the trip.

"I am so much moved by the fact that as young as they are, they have decided to pack their bags and leave their comfort zone and come work with the underprivileged," wrote Hannington in an e-mail interview.

Hoyo and Mage have set up a blog to update family and friends on their experiences in Uganda. They also plan to upload videos directly to YouTube. Students can visit the blog at culturedblog.wordpress.com to leave comments and read blog entries from the women.