A Never Ending Journey

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

 

Today our journey finally started. This trip has been in the planning stages since December, a few short months after I returned from my last trip to Uganda. It seems like forever ago since we had our first team meeting in which nine other women expressed interest in going. This is the first time in our churches history we have sent a team of only women and as our Pastor described us we are a strong and mighty group, topped with compassion and gentleness. I'm very interested in seeing what we do in a male dominated country where women don't even qualify for second-class citizenship. Our day started very early as we had to be at the airport at 4 am. Because the summer rates are so much more expensive then other times of the year we opted for the least expensive flight, which started by sending us to LA! We then flew back over the US on our way to Amsterdam. Before we started the second leg of the journey we had almost left behind one suitcase, I'd taken the wrong carry-on off the plane (fortunately it belonged to a team member), two team members got turned around in the LA terminal and had to go back through security and we'd eaten enough food to feed a Roman army! I had started a book on the flight from SA to LA, just gotten into it and left it on the plane! The good news is that we all got on the plane and are now four hours into our nine and a half flight! I am so excited to be going back. I can't wait to see all the people I know. Each one of them holds a special place in my heart and I really look forward to reuniting with them. I also am very excited to see who God places in our path and who I will come to know during this visit that I don't know now. One of the college girls on our team, who lives in the next town over from me, I met for the first time in Uganda five years ago. We both knew the other looked familiar and couldn't figure out where we had met before. To realize it was half the world away is always amazing to me.

 

In the words of Judy Howitt, "After flying to LA (a 2 hour flight), a five hour layover, a ten hour flight to Amsterdam, an eight hour flight to Kigali and an hour flight to Entebbe, with all of our luggage, we are finally here. Here being Musana! That after Kyemba forgot to pick us up at the airport, Banana Village didn't answer their phone, and we found the three nicest cab drivers in all of Uganda to take us to our hotel for the night. So after getting up early, watching the monkeys play like little children, we ate breakfast, packed the car to the brim, drove to Kampala where we ate lunch with Haji (our former driver), exchanged money, and 2-1/2 hours later ended up in Iganga. We are so thankful to be here safely with all our luggage. It was great to see both Kyemba and Haji again and then to see Andrea, Haril, Yvonne and Sarah at Musana. Haji hasn't changed at all. He was as excited to see us as we were to see him!! He is just an awesome man! We hope to see him again on our way out of town.

 

On a personal note Judy has decided that Dave is not getting a t-shirt. Instead she is bringing him back a puppy and a goat! (Dave you might want to have words with her; from her talk and her expression she is mighty serious!) Sarah's little boy (a real chunck) is named Evan. Evans you can take that any way you want to! We spent the afternoon passing him around. Not a one of us wanted to give him up. Now we are at Sol Café waiting for Trivia to begin (Liz and Vicki have put together the questions) and Andrea and Haril just walked in with Dezi. Cody and Sam you will be glad to know that no one even acknowledged the adults!! But the baby drew an abundance of attention! And yes, we love the parents as well!! But the baby is so darn cute!

 

Julie's perception of the day, which is how we started the day with Tamara leading us in devotion is wonder and freedom. I've been here six times before and every time I look out I see something new to find wonder in. The beauty of the country. The hills and hills of tea growing in a beautiful shade of green. The sense of community. And then to arrive at Musana and see little Grace on the steps. It was like time had stood still. The children waving and yelling "Mzungu, Bye". The red dirt. The sights, the sounds, the smells. And the team has already jelled so well.

 

In closing, again in Judy's words, "Thank you Jesus, for safe travel, getting our luggage, the opportunity to partner with Musana, to love on the kids here, to help the staff and to see our friends and spiritual family across the world. We look forward to the days ahead and what God has in store for us.