I am so sad to be leaving

I feel heartbroken to be leaving Uganda today. There is something about this place, this experience, the people, the love that is shared here that makes this place hard to leave. The relationships that you develop while doing the things that we have done here are hard to part ways with. I will miss the Ugandan friends I have made while here and I look forward to returning next year... hopefully for a longer trip.

Safari days

Crocodiles...

Hippos...

Beautiful sunsets...

Giraffe...

Elephant...

African Buffalo and bird friend...

Need I say more!

The falls. I must say that seeing the power of this water as the nile comes into a narrow fall was so powerful.

Hello friends!

Here are a few pictures of the safari that we went on. One wasy by land and the other by water. We also saw Merchison Falls off of the Nile river. It was beautiful to say the least. I even saw a rainbow. It is amazing to see something do beautiful here after experiencing days of seeing nothing but poverty and filth. So I hope you enjoy these pictures. They are nothing close to seeing it in person, but I think they are still pretty amazing...

Finally... I see Adrine!

I made it to Kamwenge to see Adrine yesterday. I was overwhelmed with emotion when I arrived in her village. When I met her a year ago she had a grim future ahead due to a disease called obstetric fistula. Adrine lost her child, her husband and then was left with infection seeping from her body and stayed confined to her home due to the condition she was in. She had no money for treatment or any means of getting better, only getting worse, she became isolated, was living in extreme poverty, and had no hope. Her community had outcast her and she felt all alone. That is when we found Adrine, last year. Since then, she has had surgery, become sponsored and in now living a life that she never would’ve imagined. The emotion I felt as I approached her village was relief and familiarity.

I can relate to Adrine in a way. I know what it feels like to feel alone and unloved…unconditionally. Our situations are different but the need for love is a universal need that none are immune from. This last year has been quite an interesting one, to say the least, but it has also been a life changing one for me. I was engaged last November and I can honestly say that I had never felt more loved in my life. I thought that the love that I had been looking for my whole life I had finally found… until he left. This was not an unfamiliar pattern in my life. While the pain of him leaving was there, there was also this certainty that I was not alone, not this time. Last year while I was here in Uganda I begged God to make His love for me real to me. I was tired of looking for love in all the wrong places and always feeling so unfulfilled and empty. God made good on His promise to me. I have never felt more loved by my Savior than I do today. Its not that he didn’t love me before, its just the His timing is perfect. My life has changed in ways that I can not explain this last year. I now know that I am loved unconditionally and that love has changed my life. I wanted Adrine to feel that love. I think a woman’s biggest fear is that she is alone and I want her to know that she is never alone and she certainly is not forgotten. I am attaching some pictures of gifts being exchanged between us. You have to understand that the last thing that any person living here in Africa expects is someone from America to travel 10,000 miles to visit them and bring them gifts or send them money every month. I hope this was a mission accomplished!

Just some pictures of our first day in the villages

Last night we had some time to sit with the team and discuss what everyone thought and was feeling in regards to their first time ever seeing somthing like this. Many people felt sad and were in disbelief of that they saw, and rightfully so. Another, sad that the children we saw wouldnt smile. I felt something a little different this time... I was not overwhelmed with sadness. I felt very happy to see all of the familes we visited last year, now with hope in their smiles and food in their stomachs. I felt happy to see the children healthy and not weeping fluids out of their nose and eyes. I still have a hard time believing that people really do live this way, with basically nothing, but in comparison to what I saw last year I cant help but feel happy about the improvements being made in their living conditions. My emotions are much different this time. I know that not every family in Africa is going to be sponsored, but one family at a time. It is making a difference in the lives of one family at a time. And for these familes I feel so much happiness! I am posting some pictures of the welcoming ladies and the children we visited.

Huge progress in Busia

Today was a great day in Busia. We visited a family that we met last year when we were here, who was in desperate need of sponsorship. Humphry and his siblings look great and are making so much progress with the sponsorship money and they look so healthy! What a difference from this time last year! Humphry lost both of his parents to AIDS and has been taking care of four siblings on his own. He is only 17 years old! We got to see Humpry laugh and play soccer today and actually enjoy being a kid for a while. It was amazing. This family is now in school, has medication when they are sick, eats two meals a day and Humphry has a new bike to transport people as a way to make income. To see Humphry a year ago go to my old posts and see his story!

Made it to Uganda!

Hi All,

I just slept about 15 hours after not sleeping for about 32. I did get a few hours on the last flight but that was it for about 3 days. Anyway, enough of that I am here and we are going to be leaving for Busia in about 2 hours. I am going to post a few pics of London. I will have more when I get back from Busia.

Getting ready to depart

WOW- I have a lot to get done before I leave on Monday! Time flew by! I am really getting excited to be back in Uganda and visit some of the families I saw last year. The amazing thing is this time, they will be fed, clothed and hopefully healthy due to the sponsorship they have been receiving. I have included a map to show you the travels while we are there and it is indicated by the pink line. We will be staying in Kampala. I am going to be going to Busia (borders Kenya), which was the very first village I went to in Africa, Kamwenge (just outside of Fort Portal), which is where Adrine lives (YA!) and a new village called Namyoya. This is where we are building a new church thanks to the people at Community Christian Church! Lots to look forward to. I also get to go the safari this time and I can not wait! I know if my dad were alive he'd be envious because this is his kind of thing. He loved nature and animals and the great outdoors! As far as travel goes we fly into London at 6 in the morning and don't leave there until 8pm. The good thing is that we get to sight see in London and then we are getting a hotel to catch some Zs and shower before we are on to Nairobi. This is a great thing, believe me! The bad part is that it is a long few days of traveling and I am hoping my luggage doesn't get lost--that would stink big time! I want to thank everyone who made this possible by supporting me! I have to be honest and say I wasn't sure Id even make it close to my trip costs, but God is faithful! I raised about $1,000 in just a month! So thank you to you all and also to all of you who are saying prayers and sending messages of support and encouragement... those are much needed as well!
So bye for now and more to come in the next few days! Love and blessings!