OK, I'm back on line. It is only 5:19 on Sunday, and the first half of the team is headed to the airport to begin the long flight home! The rest of us are sitting on our beds taking a deep breath and preparing mentally for the next two weeks. For myself, I am very ready for a horizontal time out!!!
Friday morning we started by going to jail! They finally caught up with us and decided that is where we belonged. Can't say by the makeup of this team that they have it completely wrong!! We were greeted with nothing but kindness and welcomed into their temporary home. As we walked into the general area where there were approximately 100 men all dressed in yellow shirts and shorts, and three women, they were all singing for us. We were asked to introduce ourselves and share a word. This was something that was not on our schedule – in fact we knew nothing about it. Steven has asked us if we would take part in this as this is a ministry he is trying to start. In hindsight it was such a blessing. We all loved it. And he was so thankful that we were willing to step into this with him. This team has really been willing to do whatever they've been called to do. And when someone has been called to do something the team has been really willing to follow where they led.
After that, we headed to Kyemba's house for lunch. He could have fed a Roman army and had leftovers. We sat under a tree and ate all that we could, and even then there was a ton left over. The amount they cooked could have fed us for a week. He is such a wonderful man. He joined us in most of our adventures at Bulubandi and Top Hills taking an active roll in the building of the desks. Really I'm not sure we could have accomplished all we did without his active involvement. So we sat as a family and it was such a good time. We left there and headed back out to Kokombo where the team was really touched the first day. John went immediately to work continuing in the construction mode building shelves for the nurses quarters. The rest of us were in awe of a goat that had just delivered a baby. The baby was so stinkin' cute! So small and so dang cute! We then all wandered walking among the kids until Glenn pulled out the magic guitar. At that point the whole crowd sat down and listened and joined in. He is like a magnet. I got to hold the baby and sit and relax. It was wonderful. We left there and headed back to Phil's for a final goodbye. The team has really loved seeing their kids. They are such a beautiful group of kids. I loved seeing all the hugs and stories being shared back and forth. We all walked away with sadness that we had to leave them behind.
Saturday we got up and headed to Musana a school headed by a young American woman. It is such a fabulous place; hard to believe it was started by three women in their early 20's. The work they are doing there is amazing. Sadly, I was at the start of a migraine and I had to back out of the tour and spent that time sitting on the bus getting the headache under control. I've seen the place before and on Tuesday the four of us (Jaimie, Judy, Liz and I) are going there for dinner. I will have a chance to see it all and sit in conversation. I am so excited to do that. Our team was so impressed with all they've done in five short years. Wow is all I can say. Then we headed into Jinja for lunch and a little shopping (best guacamole ever) and then headed out to see the Nile. I have to say it is the first time I have ever squatted to go to the bathroom with the view between my legs being the beautiful Nile River. Kind of different to go to the bathroom with the Nile behind you and Bessie the cow in front! After all the girls peed on one section of the hillside Glenn then came over and told us about this great spot to walk down to the water. We all at once said we had just emptied our bladders in that exact spot. Glenn without missing a beat said, "I will be sure not to lick my sandals." The Nile is so pretty. Somehow just knowing it is the place where Moses was put in the basket is so cool. It is also cool to see that the natives don't think it is anything special. Haji then proceeded to take us on to Kampala where we spent the night. Kampala traffic is like nothing you have ever seen. It is worse than SA traffic I have ever experienced. And at a moment's notice the roads may be closed and then you are sent to a detour that doesn't resemble anything road like. Always and adventure. Especially with motorcycles pulling in and out. Not surprised that so many people are killed in accidents. It is crazy. It is definitely survival of the fittest!!
Today (Sunday) we got up and went to Gaba Church for worship. The church had lost its power so the pastor just started preaching without any music or singing. His sermon was on not having sex before marriage. He talked to the men and the women and how they were to keep themselves pure before marriage. He was serious and humorous at the same time. He preached in English and his co-worker translated in Lugandan. After the service the screen announced that the next service started in 2:30 minutes. By then the power was back and so we stayed for the worship portion of the service. It was awesome as it always is. I love that part of the service. They are so joyful. After that we went to a nice Italian Restaurant where I ordered a wonderful cheese pizza and just about ate the whole thing. As a final stop Haji dropped the bulk of us at a market for last minute shopping and then took Glenn and Jaimie to go buy a second guitar to leave behind. We had the chance to shop in the rain which is interesting since none of the market stands had power. So we literally couldn't see anything without the flashlights from our cell phones. Seriously after you walked in you could not see any of their wares to purchase. But it was fun to see.
Finally we came back to the hotel and let the team pack and change into comfy clothes to fly home. Please keep them in prayer for safe travels. As for the rest of us we'd appreciate prayers as well. We are on our last two weeks. It will be a slower two weeks but we will still be trekking on.
Love all of you and wish my family could be with me to experience this with me.
Friday morning we started by going to jail! They finally caught up with us and decided that is where we belonged. Can't say by the makeup of this team that they have it completely wrong!! We were greeted with nothing but kindness and welcomed into their temporary home. As we walked into the general area where there were approximately 100 men all dressed in yellow shirts and shorts, and three women, they were all singing for us. We were asked to introduce ourselves and share a word. This was something that was not on our schedule – in fact we knew nothing about it. Steven has asked us if we would take part in this as this is a ministry he is trying to start. In hindsight it was such a blessing. We all loved it. And he was so thankful that we were willing to step into this with him. This team has really been willing to do whatever they've been called to do. And when someone has been called to do something the team has been really willing to follow where they led.
After that, we headed to Kyemba's house for lunch. He could have fed a Roman army and had leftovers. We sat under a tree and ate all that we could, and even then there was a ton left over. The amount they cooked could have fed us for a week. He is such a wonderful man. He joined us in most of our adventures at Bulubandi and Top Hills taking an active roll in the building of the desks. Really I'm not sure we could have accomplished all we did without his active involvement. So we sat as a family and it was such a good time. We left there and headed back out to Kokombo where the team was really touched the first day. John went immediately to work continuing in the construction mode building shelves for the nurses quarters. The rest of us were in awe of a goat that had just delivered a baby. The baby was so stinkin' cute! So small and so dang cute! We then all wandered walking among the kids until Glenn pulled out the magic guitar. At that point the whole crowd sat down and listened and joined in. He is like a magnet. I got to hold the baby and sit and relax. It was wonderful. We left there and headed back to Phil's for a final goodbye. The team has really loved seeing their kids. They are such a beautiful group of kids. I loved seeing all the hugs and stories being shared back and forth. We all walked away with sadness that we had to leave them behind.
Saturday we got up and headed to Musana a school headed by a young American woman. It is such a fabulous place; hard to believe it was started by three women in their early 20's. The work they are doing there is amazing. Sadly, I was at the start of a migraine and I had to back out of the tour and spent that time sitting on the bus getting the headache under control. I've seen the place before and on Tuesday the four of us (Jaimie, Judy, Liz and I) are going there for dinner. I will have a chance to see it all and sit in conversation. I am so excited to do that. Our team was so impressed with all they've done in five short years. Wow is all I can say. Then we headed into Jinja for lunch and a little shopping (best guacamole ever) and then headed out to see the Nile. I have to say it is the first time I have ever squatted to go to the bathroom with the view between my legs being the beautiful Nile River. Kind of different to go to the bathroom with the Nile behind you and Bessie the cow in front! After all the girls peed on one section of the hillside Glenn then came over and told us about this great spot to walk down to the water. We all at once said we had just emptied our bladders in that exact spot. Glenn without missing a beat said, "I will be sure not to lick my sandals." The Nile is so pretty. Somehow just knowing it is the place where Moses was put in the basket is so cool. It is also cool to see that the natives don't think it is anything special. Haji then proceeded to take us on to Kampala where we spent the night. Kampala traffic is like nothing you have ever seen. It is worse than SA traffic I have ever experienced. And at a moment's notice the roads may be closed and then you are sent to a detour that doesn't resemble anything road like. Always and adventure. Especially with motorcycles pulling in and out. Not surprised that so many people are killed in accidents. It is crazy. It is definitely survival of the fittest!!
Today (Sunday) we got up and went to Gaba Church for worship. The church had lost its power so the pastor just started preaching without any music or singing. His sermon was on not having sex before marriage. He talked to the men and the women and how they were to keep themselves pure before marriage. He was serious and humorous at the same time. He preached in English and his co-worker translated in Lugandan. After the service the screen announced that the next service started in 2:30 minutes. By then the power was back and so we stayed for the worship portion of the service. It was awesome as it always is. I love that part of the service. They are so joyful. After that we went to a nice Italian Restaurant where I ordered a wonderful cheese pizza and just about ate the whole thing. As a final stop Haji dropped the bulk of us at a market for last minute shopping and then took Glenn and Jaimie to go buy a second guitar to leave behind. We had the chance to shop in the rain which is interesting since none of the market stands had power. So we literally couldn't see anything without the flashlights from our cell phones. Seriously after you walked in you could not see any of their wares to purchase. But it was fun to see.
Finally we came back to the hotel and let the team pack and change into comfy clothes to fly home. Please keep them in prayer for safe travels. As for the rest of us we'd appreciate prayers as well. We are on our last two weeks. It will be a slower two weeks but we will still be trekking on.
Love all of you and wish my family could be with me to experience this with me.
No comments:
Post a Comment