For general enquiries
Destinations is the missions project of Taigum Community Church.
For general enquiries please contact the office during business hours.
Phone: +61 7 3265 3100
Facsimile: +61 7 3265 4280
PO Box 256,
Taigum, Qld 4018 Australia
Email Taigum: admin@taigumcc.org.au
General information: info@destinations.com.au
Uganda
David & Kathryn Guinea
January 2004 appeared like it would be just like any other year. Going to work, filling our roles at church and generally just trying to live the best we could with what we had. Seeking to find what exactly God had for us. Then without us even realising things just seemed to be different. At the beginning of the year Pastor Gary Levens prophesied over our lives that we would have a break through ministry and that we would break through where others could not, but that others would follow and go even further. When something like this is said you just don’t know what to expect. Was it something to do with music, which we both enjoy and were good at or something completely different.
Later in 2004 Taigum hosted the Watoto Children’s Choir, a choir that was from Uganda that tours around the world to raise awareness and funds for an orphanage/school/community in Kampala, Uganda. While they were with us they mentioned about donations, but also that they allowed teams from around the world to visit and build a house or classroom for them. At the time God was speaking to us about love, so we were obviously moved by seeing the choir. On the way out of the car park I suggested to Kathryn that we should go and build a house for them. It was just one of those things that you say you should do and everyone goes “yeah, that would be a good thing to do.” But Kathryn straight away said “Yes, we should!” So pretty much straight away we started preparations to take a team.
So in June/July 2005, after much effort raising funds we headed to Uganda and built house Number 76 at Suubi Village, just outside of Kampala in Uganda. We took a team of 12 people, most of which were from Taigum, and most of which were strongly impacted by the experience, so much so that as soon as we returned home they were asking about going again in 2007 to build another home.
New Years 2005/2006 came and we were at a friend’s place, where Pastor Gary & Judy were also. We got to talking about various situations around the world. When out of nowhere, Pastor Gary just popped up and said that he and Judy had been praying about starting orphanages to rescue children in various locations around the world, and that Kathryn and I kept coming to them as they prayed. Again, another instance where you just say “Yeah??? That would be a good thing to do!” But some how God had been preparing us and somewhere in the next three months we went from thinking that someone should do that, to, WE are going to do that.
Around the middle of 2006 we decided to return to Uganda to attend a conference run by Watoto, about starting orphanages, emphasising partnerships between Western and African churches. While we were there we visited some people that we had been put in contact with in Kabale (South West Uganda) and established some ties with them.
After our second trip to Uganda in 2006, David wrote a personal journal, which is available to see on the internet at www.destinationuganda.wordpress.com.
Email David - d.guinea@destinations.org.au
Email Kathryn - k.guinea@destinations.org.au
Uganda
Quinton, Erica & Amelia Siddans
When I visited Uganda in 2005, as part of a Watoto team, I realised that my heart was not in Australia, but in fact it was in the work of helping the orphans of Africa facing hunger, poverty and the debilitating effects of Aids. Having seen the dramatic change in me this rekindled Erica’s desire to help the children of Africa. For so long both of us have been discontent and unfulfilled living a “normal day to day life” in a world obsessed with self and material possessions. All our lives both of us have had a passion and heart for the children of Africa and a greater service to God.
In June 2006 when Dave & Kathryn Guinea shared their vision for Destinations they asked us to pray about what kind of involvement or role God wanted us to take on. We both recognised it as an opportunity of a lifetime and a calling from God. It was an easy decision to make. We both felt the calling to spend at least 1 year in Uganda to help establish the project. Looking back, we can now see that God has been grooming us for a time such as this from an early age.
At first, we did have some reservations about taking Amelia to a third world country while she is so young, but God has called us as a family and regardless of what happens, we acknowledge that his will for our lives is perfect. Not only will the experience sow into Amelia’s little life, but as a result she may sow into the lives of others one day.
It is with a great sense of excitement that we step into the will of God in our life and for the first time we are experiencing a sense of contentment and fulfilment, despite the challenges ahead. Whilst we understand that the adventure ahead will be a challenging one, we thank God daily for calling us to carry out this amazing work for him.
Email Quinton & Erica - siddans@destinations.org.au
Uganda
Phil Hollands
The first time I returned from Africa in 2005 I felt I needed to seriously re-evaluate my life. What were my goals, where do I invest my time and money, and more importantly, do all these line up with the will of God? After much analysis I came to the conclusion that yes, to the best of my ability I live as Christ instructed, but I'm a pretty bad investor. To be honest my investments / sacrifices were shallow. I always gave myself a buffer that insured I wouldn’t be in a vulnerable position or to be without. After looking back I could see I had created a partition from God because I purposely held back - and how can God truly grow in someone if they are tentative in their faith and offer mediocre sacrifices?
To understand what is a good sacrifice to God you must be hearing from God and be open to instruction. Samuel questioned Saul about his sacrifices (1 Sam 15) and wanted to know why he traded off obedience for sacrifice. Samuel understood because he was hearing from God, he knew straight away Saul’s offering was bad. Samuel wasn’t condemning sacrifice to God but he wanted to make sure it was from the heart and not something out of habit. I guess the only way to offer a pure sacrifice is out of obedience. Only out of obedience can you have good discernment about the validity of your sacrifice because you are listening to God.
After much thought and prayer (and the fact I fell in love with Africa) I'm going back to be obedient to the call of God and invest all my time and all my money and leave nothing in reserve.
Email Phil - p.hollands@destinations.org.au