By Andrea Dujardin-Flexhaug

WHEN you are pulling up stakes in your lifelong home, and moving thousands of miles to a foreign continent, to say it is a major undertaking is an understatement.

For the Aylards, a Kelowna-based Christian family of six, the planning for their departure to Kampala, Uganda feels monumental. But Project Aylard is forging ahead, with an April departure in the works for Pat, his wife Tara and their four young children in tow – for a two-year mission with Engineering Ministries International (eMI).

“It’s kind of funny: in the last 10 years, I think God has been quietly grooming me for eMI,” said Pat, who works as a civil engineering tech/project manager  in Kelowna.

Having taken two short previous trips to Africa with eMI – one with Tara last year – Pat saw firsthand the need for engineering skills there.

“While I was over there, I was blown away by what I saw. The poverty and dilapidated infrastructure was something that I kind of expected. But what I didn’t expect were the stories of hope and restoration that give you an energy boost like nothing else.”

Pat’s wife was also struck by the extreme poverty in Africa.

Tara said: “I guess it just  bothered me enough to want to help, and God ultimately was the one who placed it on both Pat and my hearts to move there.”

Their sponsoring agency is a non-profit Christian organization  of architects, engineers, surveyors, building techs and others who donate their skills to serve the poor and needy around the world.

The eMI mission is to bring together design professionals such as Pat to minister to the less fortunate in developing nations. They proclaim the gospel of Jesus through helping develop hospitals, schools, bridges, orphanages, water supplies, electricity and other practical needs.

“I’m excited!” said Pat. “It’s something we have been thinking about for years, and planning for the last year.”

He added that it is a little overwhelming “when I think about how much there is to do before we leave, but I’m trying to check something off the list every day.”

And so is Tara, who has been busy with tasks such as taking the children – Jordan (aged 10),  Brenden (8), Cooper (5), and Leah (4), for required  immunization shots earlier this year.

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A sample entry from their trip blog reads: “The day we were dreading is over! Four kids, 12 needles, $1,000 and whole bunch of tears.” She said all of the kids are looking forward to the move in different ways. Jordan  and Brenden are “excited about meeting new friends, and for the adventure of a new place,” said Tara. Cooper and Leah are “just excited about the plane ride – and to see monkeys.”

Of course, all of the family will have major adjustments to make, and they will miss relatives, friends and church family they leave behind. But the Aylards plan to keep in contact through email, Skype and phone calls, and through a blog detailing their activities.

The Aylard family attend Willow Park Church in Kelowna, and the congregation supports them fully in their mission – which is important to the Aylards for many reasons.

“There is a lot that could go wrong spiritually, physically or emotionally while we’re in Africa,” said Pat, “so we feel the prayers of our church family is very important.”

As far as the safety aspect is concerned, Pat noted that “for the most part” Kampala is a safe area of Africa, with sporadic riots taking place at times due to tribal issues.

“I’m not really concerned for our safety, but am fully aware that we need to be smart about how we live there,” he commented.

He listed several areas that need attention,  including food and water, home security measures, illnesses such as typhoid and malaria – all things that require caution and education.

“I think there’s more of a risk in being too safe and missing out on the abundant life we are called to live,” he said.

While Pat will be busy volunteering his engineering services with various projects, the children will continue with their education at an international school.

Things will be dramatically different from what they are used to, but as Pat said: “When Jesus walked the earth, he was constantly taking the ideas of the day and turning them upside down. I’m at a point in my career where, from a worldly standpoint, it makes no sense to leave my job and move to Uganda. Sometimes the hard decisions, that don’t make any sense, make the most sense.”

To find out more about Project Aylard, and to offer support, go to their blog at teamaylard.blogspot.com.

March 2010