It has been several days of intense travel to Africa and we are weary but God is most certainly sustaining us. Tuesday night I was able to get about 4 ½ hours of sleep (preparing to leave the country for 12 days) followed by 3 hours on Wednesday night (had to sleep on the plane and when I finally fell asleep, they woke us up to eat at what was 3:30 AM to our bodies) and 2 hours Thursday night (flew into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at about 8:45, but due to the lines and inefficient systems, we did not leave the airport until about 11:45). Our team was taken to the Ethiopian Guest House where they had supper waiting on us (don’t forget it is about midnight at this point). We were so grateful for their thoughtfulness that we sat and ate though most of us just needed a bed. After dinner at midnight we were asked to go outside because they had a special treat for us. Following them outside, we see an awesome bonfire, fireworks and sparkling apple juice! They had remembered that it was New Years Eve and they wanted us to celebrate just right – incredibly thoughtful and very fun, even if we were functioning on less than 8 hours of sleep over a two-day period. So between the New Years celebration and lots of people having to get in line for a much needed shower, bed time did not come until about 3 AM. We had to be up bright and early the next morning as we were to be at breakfast at 6:30 so we could load up and be back at the airport at 8:00. We were headed to Entebbe, Uganda where we will be spending the next four days and then we will head back to Ethiopia to spend the rest of our time before heading back to the states.
We were a little weary to be boarding another plane, but knew it was a fairly short flight (2 hours was sissy stuff compared to the 20 or so that we had flown the previous two days) and so we pressed on. Though I had really wanted to use that time to catch up on some Bible reading, my lack of sleep overcame me and fortunately I was able to spread out on the plane and take a good nap. About 30 minutes into a deep sleep, I was shaken by some turbulence. I sat up, not too worried, as turbulence on most flights is normal. The turbulence continued and grew with such intensity that people were thrown out of their seats, food was tossed all over the plane and my mother-in law was left drenched in red wine from the man sitting in front of her that was drinking it when we hit turbulence. I have never been so physically scared in my whole life. Please pray that members of our team are not filled with too much fear to board another plane as we have many flights left ahead of us.
Anyway, we finally made it to Entebbe, Uganda and were very thankful to be on the ground. Upon entering the airport we had more forms to fill out and hoops to jump through, but the process was way easier than the Addis airport and we were grateful. We got directly on a bus (after seeing some awesome monkeys playing in the grass by the parking lot) and began a three-hour journey to Jinja, Uganda. We barely made it out of the airport gate before the truck carrying all of the luggage had a flat tire (you have to LOVE Africa) so we wait a little bit more. The tire change did not last very long and we were on our way again. Are you feeling like we will never get there? So did we! Nevertheless, the drive to Jinja was beautiful and the ride there was very fun and full of adventure (as driving anywhere on the continent of Africa would be, I’m guessing). We had the windows open the whole way and were so glad to have fresh air blowing in our faces (remember we have spent a whole lot of time in airplanes up to this point).
Speaking of African air – Africa still smells the same as it did almost twenty years ago when I first came to visit this wonderful continent! Who knows exactly what the smell is, but it is very distinctive and it seems to follow you wherever you go. I instantly remembered the smell and I also remembered why I fell in love with the people of Africa last time I was here. They are beautiful and generous and always have a big smile on their face.
Upon arriving at the Kingfisher Resort in Jinja (don’t let the word “resort” fool you) at about 7:00 on Friday night, we ordered dinner and waited “African style” for our food – meaning we ate about 10:00 at night. Everyone went quickly to bed after a good meal and I had a full night’s sleep for the first time in four days. Oh my, did I sleep. The only reason I woke the next morning was because a huge African bird swooped down in front of our little hut/cabin and gave everyone a BIG wake up call!
So that catches you up to today, which is Saturday, January 2, 2010. Our team was very excited about getting up this morning to do what we came to do – work with orphans and children in need. After a hearty and wonderful breakfast (a sweet Ugandan man was making fresh omelets – Yum – accompanied by delicious fruit), we headed to Katie Davis’ house to hand out shoes to 300 children and feed them a meal. We arrived at Katie’s house about 9:30 this morning. Some of the team began playing with the children outside and doing crafts, some began packing the bags of food that would be sent home with the children at the end of the day, while some of us stayed inside to organize shoes for the kids that would be arriving soon.
As the children arrived, they would come in Katie’s front door, get their feet washed and dried, get them sized and then wait patiently as the most awesome crew of women searched and searched for just the right shoe for everyone (which was not an easy task!). We fit shoes on sweet children for about 5 hours straight and it was 5 of the most wonderful hours I have had in a long time! The reality that we were meeting the physical needs of children in Uganda and being the body of Christ to those kids was really amazing. There is always joy in obedience to God’s word!
The line for shoes continued to grow and grow so Nancy Smith began telling Bible stories on her felt board to give the children something to do during their wait. When Nancy couldn’t tell any more stories because she could not be heard above the music that some of the other children had begun to sing, she told the children she needed to pack it up. The kids begged her not to quit and told her she needed to ask them questions to make sure they had listened (when is the last time you have heard a child in America ask to have listening comprehension questions given to them)! Isn’t that awesome? I did have to ask someone to take over my shoe station to go listen and record the beautiful African singing that was going on outside – there is nothing like it in all the world!
After all the shoes had been passed out and all the children fed, we ate what Josephine and Joanne had cooked for everyone that day – pinto beans that would rival almost any from the great state of Texas (huge compliment), rice and chicken (Joanne told me she cooked 40 chicken for today’s meal). We all ate our meal with our fingers and it was fabulous! The rest of the day was filled with clean up, pictures and loving on more children.
We were so dirty and smelly and tired as we walked back to where we were staying, but out hearts were full and the sweet children in this Ugandan community had new shoes and a full tummy – God was so good to use us for His glory today!
Not that this day needed any more exclamation points, but as soon as we got back from Katie’s we were told to head down to Lake Victoria (oh right, I forgot to mention that our resort sits on beautiful Lake Victoria, sounds exotic, doesn’t it?) because we were going to take a boat ride on the lake to see the mouth of the Nile River. Can you believe it – the mouth of the Nile! We go unpack all of our belongings from the day and head down to the lake, hop on a boat (that only had a small leak!) and begin our journey. We didn’t have to go very far at all before we were gazing out at the headwaters of the longest river in the world! We then proceed to observe some of the most beautiful and fascinating birds I have ever seen. What made the whole bird watching experience even more fun was Sheri’s love and knowledge of birds. Between she and our boat driver, we were able to identify every bird we could spot! As we drove back to shore, the sun was setting over Lake Victoria – it was a perfect ending to a perfect day!
Between the boat ride and dinner Sheri found a man at the front desk that said he would lend us his cellular modem so that we could get connected to the rest of the world for a few hours and try to catch you up on our lives over the last four days. I know that I have worn you out with details, but it has been such an adventure and I wanted you to be able to share in it somehow.
Thank you all for praying for our team because we have certainly sensed God’s hand in all things. Continue to pray that as we meet physical and emotional needs of the children we encounter, that we will also meet their spiritual needs as well and minister to them with the great gospel of Christ that will ultimately meet all of their needs!
I am so glad you arrived safely and have had such a good day! Your descriptive writing is so beautiful I feel like I am there! Wish I were. Oh well, I am there in the sense my prayers are with you all!
ReplyDeleteMay God continue to use your team to bring His glory to the orphans there! The Nile really? Awesome! Robin C
Wish I was their!! Praying for y'all!!!
ReplyDeleteI mean there.....
ReplyDeleteI ran into all of your families at Tazikis after church today. I was so glad to hear that there was a post and couldn't wait to get home and catch up. Loved reading about all your experiences. Praying for you all! I also enjoyed catching up on what God is doing in your life and the visit to Houston. Give all those sweet ladies a hug from me and know we are praying! Love ya, Joan
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