Returning to Uganda

I travelled back to Uganda in November 2015 (sorry this post is 6 months overdue!!!) with my friend Amy. We had a wonderful two weeks visiting Amy's sponsor child, catching up with my friends in Uganda, and going on safari. When I started writing this post, I thought I could do the whole trip in one... except that it has gotten quite long. Instead, check back tomorrow for a post about Kireka Home!

Day 1:

We spent our first night at Matoke Inn (the AIM guest house). We spent most of the day relaxing and giving Amy her first boda boda ride (in a calm area of town!) Geraldine (the secretary at Kireka Home) came to visit and we were able to meet her baby boy! Late in the afternoon one of Prince's drivers for his company came and brought us to their house. Easy day!

Matoke Inn has the most beautiful tropical plants in their compound!!

Geraldine

Geraldine's son Miles

We stayed with Prince, Heidi, and their adorable baby Naomi! They could not have been better hosts! While I had high hopes that we would come home and cook for everyone every night, our days were very long and we would not have eaten until very late! Heidi graciously had a hot meal ready for us each day when we got home! I just love this couple and their hearts, it was such a blessing to be with them and get to spend time catching up every day!

Left to Right: Amy, Prince, Naomi Gail, Heidi, Laura

Day 2: 

In college, Amy was very heavily involved in UW-LaCrosse's InterVarsity group. The group sponsored a child through Compassion International. After we graduated, Amy realized that the group was not consistently able to raise the monthly support so Amy took on sponsoring Joshua. Amy arranged with Compassion before we arrived and thankfully Prince agreed to drive us on the four hour journey in the rain. It was such a special day to see the Compassion program and then for Amy and Joshua to meet. Joshua's family prepared a very generous meal for us and even gave Amy a chicken (while this seems crazy to Americans, this is a very valuable gift in Uganda). I wish I had more pictures, but I was primarily taking photos on Amy's camera. If anyone is sponsoring a child through Compassion or is thinking about it, I was very impressed with the programs they set up, their vulnerability in sharing where the money is used, and the support they give each child and their family. 

Going to see Joshua was the farthest I have been into the village. We were very thankful for Prince (on the right) and his wonderful dirt road driving skills!

Amy and Joshua exchanging gifts - in the shelter the family built just for our visit

The chicken in the car on the way home.... I was sitting closest to it and may or may not have screamed every time it moved!

Day 3: 

It was rainy season while we were there which meant moving around on boda bodas (our planned transportation) was not possible. We had planned to spend the entire morning at Kireka Home, but due to rain, we only were able to spend two hours. I cannot even express to you the joy I felt upon returning. It was so special to see the teachers, students, and the teacher's children in a place I once called home. Many of the students we know and love were still there and remembered me. However, there were also a few that could no longer afford the school fees that were not there. I had spent a lot of time with Samaya, Claire, Maira, Moses, and Doris and was very sad to not find them there. While we were there I was able to walk to pick up Esther from school. (If you are new to the blog.... you have to understand that Esther's mom called me "Momma Esther" while I lived there. If her mom couldn't find her, she knew to look first at my house.) Esther and I were both so happy to see each other! However, when she found out I was leaving less than an hour later, she was very angry. She didn't realize that I had not come back to stay. It absolutely broke my heart.

My heart was so full to see Esther (on left) and Jeremiah (on right) in front of my old house

It was so wonderful to see my friend Teddy again!

We left Kireka Home to spend the afternoon with Christine and Berinah to go fabric shopping downtown Kampala.

The taxi park is still chaotic!

Amy looking at fabrics with Berinah

I just love all of the bright colors in African fabrics!

Day 4:
We started the day by planting ourselves at a coffee shop and having friends come to us! We first met with my friend Esther's parents. Esther is a student at IIT that attends my church in Chiago. It was such a blessing to meet her parents, bring them gifts from Esther, and bring Esther back gifts from Uganda.

Esther's Mom and Dad

Margret (she use to own the little shop right outside the school) met us next. It was wonderful to catch up with her, hear about her life now in the village, and hear how God has been working on her heart.

Amy and I with Margret

Christine then met us and took us on a taxi out to her home. We were able to visit with Teacher Annette, Abole, Christine, and Berinah. They all use to live next door to me at Kireka Home. It was wonderful to catch up with them! Plus they served my favorite gnuts with matoke!!!!

Left to Right: Christine, Laura, Berinah, _____(sorry I cannot remember their house helper's name), Amy, Annette, Abole

Teacher Annette and Abole

Day 4:

We had a late start again due to rain, but travelled across Kampala to meet Uncle Francis with Father's Heart Mobility to do a small wheelchair distribution. This was one of my favorite ministries while I lived in Uganda, and it was a pleasure to be reunited with Francis and his team. At this time, his wife and kids were back in Canada so I missed them! Due to the rain, very few people were able to come receive chairs, but the few that did warmed my heart!

Amy and I with Francis and his team

The little boy we helped fit in a wheelchair

Day 5:

In the morning, I spent more time at Kireka Home while Amy rested. We then met a series of friends in the afternoon.

Catching up with Kazibwe

Visiting Desire

These women are amazing!!!! They are working tirelessly to fight for children with special needs in Uganda.
From Left to Right: Julie, Florence, Sue, Amy, Laura

Day 6:

We were able to spend the full day at Kireka Home! I really wanted this day to be all about spending time with the teachers and their children. We started by heading to the market to buy food for lunch (gnuts, matoke, and pineapple of course) and then Amy and I "tried" to help prepare lunch. As usual this meant Amy and I sitting and visiting with everyone while they prepared the food. 

Esther wanted to hold my hand the entire way

Esther and I making our way to the market

Desire and Benita were so sweet - these two sisters are best friends. They were either holding hands or shoulders the entire way. 

Left to Right: Desire, Benita, and Esther at the market

Look at all of that fresh produce! YUMMM!

Amy and I had quite the adventure with our boda bodies this day. Throughout most of our time in Uganda Isma and Geoffrey drove us around. In the morning we had Jeffrey and his friend and his friend had a flat tire. This left the three of us to squish on to one boda for the remainder of the drive! Then on the way home, Isma ran out of gas leaving us on the edge of the highway with Geoffrey while he ran to get more fuel. This was not a proud moment for him, but Amy and I thought it was hilarious (as Im sure did most of the people driving on the highway staring at the two muzungus standing on the side of the road).

Geoffrey, Amy and I squeezing onto one boda

Isma adding fuel to his boda

Amy and Geoffrey - poor Isma... we all could not stop laughing!

Day 7:

We spent the day with Prince, Heidi, and Naomi. We went to church with them and then relaxed back at home. Apparently  I failed to take pictures on that day... but here is little miss Naomi

Naomi Gail

Day 8-10:

Safari time!!!!! Amy and I travelled with three friends (Julie, Danielle, and Donna) to Murchison Falls National Park. We went with Red Road Tours (Note: they're working on their new website is still a work in progress) which is Prince and Heidi's tourism company. Both when my Mom visited and my Dad visited back in 2013 we traveled with Prince and each time had an unforgettable trip! We started by visiting the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and then went on to do an evening drive, morning drive, and night drive at Murchison Falls. There are other things you can do there, but we were so glad to have a full day between our drives to enjoy the view of the Nile and relax in the pool! On our way back to Kampala we stopped at Murchison Falls, the most powerful waterfall in the world!

No big deal... just hanging out in some bushes with two rhinos behind us! Left to Right: Laura, Donna, Amy, Julie, and Danielle

The two female rhinos we saw

The male rhino. Apparently they had to cut off his horns to keep him from hurting the young rhinos :(

The drive to Murchison Falls - this is why Prince's company is called Red Road!

On the ferry crossing the Nile - Left to Right: Donna, Julie, Danielle, Amy, and Laura

Chacos - Check; Sitting on top of the car - Check; Ready for an adventure - Check 

Giraffe

Lion Cub

More lion cubs! We saw about 16 different lions and around 24 lions total. (We saw some of them twice) God really blessed us on this trip!

Up early.... positioned on top of the car and ready for adventure! Adventure we got.... see the elephant below!

Momma and two baby elephants

And then this happened... this elephant started charging our car! Thankfully Prince was driving and knew what to do!

Momma lion - her three lion cubs were playing in the trees back away from the road

Moving to go join her cubs

This might be my favorite picture from Murchison falls. I just love how unique God made all of the animals!

The best decision of our trip was to spend a day at the pool!

Momma lion and her cubs again

Super hard to see but that is a leopard yawning!!!! Leopards are incredibly difficult to spot and each time I have done a night drive with Prince we have spotted one!

Just a lion sleeping on the road

Group selfie on top of the falls (minus Donna!)

Murchison Falls

Driving home Julie was really enjoying the fresh air outside of Kampala!

Day 11:

Back in Kampala we had almost the entire day before we had to catch a flight home. We were able to meet with Christine and Berinah one last time and then have Thanksgiving dinner with Heidi and Prince before flying home.

It was so sad to say good bye to Christine and Berinah! They have been such wonderful friends and only God knows if our paths will cross again. 

Amy and I in the skirts Christine made for us out of the fabric we bought downtown

Lessons Learned:
Overall it was a wonderful time of reuniting with friends, reconciliation, and peace. It has been difficult to keep in touch with many due to difficulty accessing internet. I am also really bad at responding on social media.. making it even harder. It was so wonderful to see so many of my friends again and catch up about their lives. It was also a wonderful time of reconciliation. There are some cultural differences that have come between me and a couple friends since I have been home, ultimately leaving me feeling very hurt and used. God gave me such a peace as we met with these friends, and I was able to walk away with a different outlook on our friendships.

Ever since I moved back from the Uganda, I felt this internal turmoil of not knowing if God wanted me to live in Africa or continue to live in Chicago. I spent a lot of time praying that this trip would give me clarity as far as God's plan for me in this season. Before I even left, God made it very clear that for now he wants me to live intentionally in the city of Chicago. It gave me so much peace as I returned to know that I am living where God wants me to be for this season!

Whew! If you are still reading and you are not my mom or one of my aunts I think I owe you a gift! Come back tomorrow to hear a little update about Kireka Home!