Throughout her life, God has been developing a heart for people of different cultures with Lisa: from tutoring students who were learning English while she was a high school student, volunteering in an orphanage in Mexico after graduating from college, serving as a leader on domestic and international trips with student ministries, being an active member of the Mission Team at her church (Village Bible Church), to living as a full-time missionary in Uganda, and developing a multicultural family.
Lisa grew up about an hour outside of Chicago, went to a smallish church, and attended public schools. She spent four years in Michigan, at Cornerstone University, earning a degree in Secondary Education. After spending her loan deferment period volunteering and residing at Casa Hogar Lirio de los Valles II in Chihuahua, Mexico, and seemingly endless hours selling shoes at Payless Shoe Source & tutoring children at Huntington Learning Center for two and a half years, God gave Lisa a full-time teaching position. For seven years she was daily lugging her bag loaded with papers (some graded, some not yet) and her thermal mug of hot tea to her high school classroom. She had tenure; she enjoyed working with the staff; she had seen God use her as His tool in the lives of various students, and her job was basically secure.
But Lisa began sensing God calling her to take a step of faith in a different direction. She know it seemed foolish to some…maybe many. Yet, it’s not easy to ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Eventually Lisa asked for a leave-of-absence from the superintendent and school board, so that she could venture off to Uganda for 13 months. When she sought the advice of her pastor about this decision, his response included these words: “you have to stop doing what is secure.” This got her thinking…Lisa had been holding on to what seemed secure to her, possibly to the point of being disobedient to God’s direction for her life.
But really, there is nothing secure about being outside of God’s will.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Well, after obeying, and serving God in Uganda for a year, Lisa began to feel convicted that her time was not up. The security of returning to a job back in America is what helped her have confidence to leave in the first place, but God was revealing that the leave-of-absence was really just His mercy on her in the midst of her weak faith. He was clearly calling Lisa to let go of her teaching position back in America and return to Uganda.
Lisa works with The Kabale Shepherd Center (TKSC) while balancing her roles as wife and mother in Uganda. TKSC works to rehabilitate street boys by introducing them to Jesus, providing for their basic needs, continuing their education, and so much more. Her responsibilities have varied over the years, and is currently serving as Administrative Support and Child Sponsorship Coordinator. Learn more about TKSC by clicking here.
Since Lisa’s initial embarkment to Uganda in 2013, life circumstances have drastically changed. In February of 2015 Lisa began fostering twin boys named Simon and Solomon. Eventually she started the process of adopting them. In January of 2021 she married Patrick, who joined her in the pursuit of adoption. In November of 2021 Lisa gave birth to their son Micah. In July of 2023 we received the court order in Uganda, granting us adoptive custody of Simon & Solomon. 2024 was a rocky year as Lisa had a baby girl, Moriah, in March who passed away 4 1/2 months later.
Since losing Moriah, Lisa has given time to pursue her interest in painting, and adds to her in-home gallery whenever she can. She is also working on another long-time hobby: writing. Look here to see what is happening with Lisa’s journey to become an author.
Check out the rest of our About Us pages to get more details about each family member.
Lubulwa Family 