Micah and Diane

August 15, 2008

Our friends Micah and Diane have been in the country the last week or two.  We took a coaster (a small bus) into Kampala last Thursday to meet up with them.  It was our first taste of Kampala (the capital of Uganda) which is much bigger and busier than Jinja.  The bus got stuck in traffic for a very long time and we decided we could get there faster by walking so we just got off the bus in the middle of stand-still traffic and caught a "picky-picky" (a terrible name for a motor boda boda a.k.a. motorcycle).  We then were able to weave in and out of traffic and reach our destination much faster!

It was so good to see faces from home and likewise for them.  We found our way to a VERY fancy Italian restaurant (we were quite underdressed) where we enjoyed Margarita pizzas and bread dipped in olive oil!  It was quite a refreshing experience for us all!  We then walked at least half an hour to "Garden City Mall" enjoying the sights of the city and reached it just as all the shops were closing about 6pm--too bad!

Back at their guest house we said our goodbyes and they loaded us up with a bag of Jelly Bellies (Thank you Micah!) and a few more candies and treats from Mama May, and we headed back to Jinja.  The next morning, we got a phone call from the girls--they too were now in Jinja!  None of us knew that the first contact they would be working with lives in Jinja as well!  So it has been fun to have some Texans around town and we've been able to see them at least every few days.  We took them to Amani (the orphanage) on Monday and we all played with babies for a few hours--and fell in love of course.  

On Sunday I went to a village church with them where we experienced African children dancing and dancing and dancing during worship.  It was incredible!  Micah spoke to the people and her words were powerful and full of truth!  I myself was inspired and reminded to line up straight according to God's Word which all comes down to loving God and loving the people I come in contact with in the same way I love myself!  Those two things are the most important things.  How quickly we get distracted thinking we have to do this or that or pointing our fingers at those who we think should or shouldn't do this or that, or looking out for our own interests when really it all just comes down to...  or shall we say "up" to...  LOVE.  hmm.....

Anyway, with that I'll wrap up this novel sized post.  The last few weeks in this new world of ours have really started feeling a bit more like home (at least for now) and the weeks are actually beginning to fly by.  God-willing we'll be back in Texas for Aaron and Rachel's wedding before we know it!  

Much Love to All!

Random Ps.  I just want to give a shout out to my pal Jess Clark... just because I think you're swell!