I will be hanging out at the ARM office on Wednesday until I get ready to leave tomorrow night so I am going to be brief in wrapping up the rest of my visit. Sunday I went down to Buloba community church for service. There was a mix up with my accompanying person so one of the pastors drove down to pick me up and I arrived late. But all was well. The service was great. The kids were all there, the children's choir sang and the adults sang and of course I had to give a greeting. I was excited to see that Rahman's mother came to church! They are pretty devout muslims- she attends the mosque every friday they say. So I know this is the second time she has come- the first being the first sunday right after I sponsored Rahman. I pray that what she heard sinks into her heart and what Rahman brings home from Sunday and from school and center days speaks to all of their hearts. May she come to know Christ through the testimony of her son! Who sang Baby Jesus I love you…you are my savior…for me to video in his home saturday. glory.
I went with the pastor and family to go eat at some new small resort place. Very nice pond with tables and basically a big bar area. The girl had to walk all the way across the parking lot and up a hill to an outdoor kitchen to get our food- the building with the kitchen is currently in process. I felt so sorry for her. She sort of literally ran up the hill. But I got to eat Chicken! and french fries! Even if it was chicken on the bone- not my fav I gladly dug in.
We left as a big charter bus from a catholic school came with a load of high schoolers. Oh and what was funny as you pull into the grounds there is a fake cheetah on a log that you pass and a fake dead antelope draped over the log like it killed it. Nothing says welcome to the resort like dead animals and their predators. TIA. haha
I went to pastors house and on the way they bought some pineapple and tangerines. Literally from a guy on a bike walking next to the road. I got to enjoy some of that pineapple before the day was over- one of the best things about Uganda. Freshest pineapple ever! And they brought out some gnuts for me to eat. And ended up giving me a whole little container full. I think they felt sorry for me and all the beans and posho. It was a fun afternoon full of listening to stories about my kids and general goings on with her family.
Monday was spent packing and meeting with Jeff the principal and working on looking through their library to see what other social work and other books may be good for them and emailing some of my old professors for some input.
My 5pm pick up turned into 7pm and with the independence day eve traffic and a couple of stops we ended up arriving in Kampala- Gaba about 10pm. I got a HOT shower and slept 9 hours. It was delightful. I don't know if I have shared this on the blog- if I have, please forgive me…
I am staying out past the Speake Resort which is the nicest resorts in Kampala, located on Lake Victoria. Because of independence day and it being the 50th year there are quite a few world delegates here. There is a road block to get over into this area and then a machine you must drive over so they can review your car. Not sure if it is some sort of camera or an actual xray machine. But there are constantly police escorting people around and whizzing past folks.
My driver Jack decided to take advantage of this. As a police man drove past there was one official car behind him and another unofficial car. He got in behind that guy and we drove quite away past all the cars pulled over. Saved probably ten minutes in the bad traffic! Nothing like a police escort home. He stopped well of the turn off the main road to avoid getting in trouble. So funny. TIA. I told Jack if I ever need to get out of the country in a hurry I am calling him or another guy I know here. And at the first road block the police man was questioning where we were going and then he asked me if I had a gun. Jack and I simultaneously laughed and said no.
I forgot to share the story about when he ran out of gas on the way to Buloba…will do that later. I have pictures. So funny.
Today was sleeping in and going to visit Patricks brother and his new wife. I got to sit and watch a pirated movie while they all chatted in Lugandan and I caught up a little bit with Amo. good times.
I will try to post more in AMS during my layover – they have free wifi (are you listening Atlanta Airport?…) But I dont know how much time I will have to actually sit with the layover. I plan on waiting in that line to get a dr pepper that they will allow through security. Eye on the prize to stay awake and on US time for the trip home. Jetlag is not my friend and I fight it with a vengance.
(sorry my posts seem to talk a lot about food!! I am just beginning to process some of this and will be back to share more Godly posts later…I promise he is here. Like the text at church on Sunday spoke!)
On with a few photos:
Rahman's mom, Resty's Grandmom, Resty and Rahman sporting their new clothes. It's cultural not to smile in photos and unless they are reminded sometimes they forget!
Thats the bathroom that is white, up beside it is a tin roof building. yep. thats the kitchen.
My g nuts- peanuts but smaller. Glory.
Reading my book in my room- you can see the open ceiling. Shout out to Ellie for the book mark and Cole D and Beth for the book suggestion. good read.
Partial view out my windo from the college. The hill slightly to the right was the hill with the house I always joked would be mine. It's currently available I am told. ha
More to come as soon as I can!
Thank you more than you know for the prayers. and emails and comments and texts. You village people are the bestest ever in the whole wide world. I promise. I set to post this Wednesday morning your time. I will be packing to leave as you read it probably. Sad but happy at the same time on that. Love this place but currently ready to come home and pray and talk through it with some of my villagers.
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