Long day

(another photo of the village where our teamhouse sits)

"At least it'll make a good blog post, Mel" Phil said to cheer me up. :)

Monday was quite a long day. I was travelling to Kamwenge. It was to be a 5 hour trip. Usually quite beautiful, but not this time.

I had a brand new driver, George - this was his first day of work. We got directions and he drove the Pajero (small SUV) back from the garage where it was getting fixed. They took it for a test run to make sure it wasn't a lemon and we hit the road, optimistically - already two hours behind schedule.

Two hours into our trip we lost power. All I know is that it wouldn't accelerate anymore. I had one bar of cell network, so we made some phone calls and told our team in Kampala what was happening. Praise God we could communicate!

So we turned the car around and tried to head back, but with little luck. The Pajero stopped again just 5 miles down the road and this time we were really stuck and I didn't have cell phone service. Time for decision-making, Mel. So after hesitantly parking the car at the local police station (not really safe in Africa), I hopped in a taxi (aka. Mini Bus) back to Kampala.

About an hour later I got cell phone service and was told to get out of the taxi because our mechanic, Felix, was on his way to fix the Pajero. So I yelled at the driver to stop the bus, jumped out, throwing money and immediately saw Felix driving past. Only God could have orchestrated this timing! I flagged him down and hopped in his landcruiser and we drove an hour back to the Pajero.

It was getting a bit late, but I really wanted to get to Kamwenge, so they offered to take me in the Landcruiser - promising only two hours - which would get me there before dark - and I said let's go! Not driving at night is important in Africa for security reasons.

So three hours goes by, it was dark and we're driving super slow on this dirt road that seemed to be going to nowhere. I was sceptically wondering if I was ever going to make it to Kamwenge. I was all tense, super hungry, and getting tired. Bad combination.

Praise God, Phil called just as I was just about to break. He made me smile and laugh and assured me that everything was just going to be okay. And he was right! We arrived in Kamwenge at about 9pm - only 6 hours later than expected. It was a long day, but it ended well - my friend Stephen even had food waiting for me. Now I'm in Kamwenge and working with my team again. Tuesday was a good day - Praise God!

Oh these beloved rides to work - they make for interesting blog entries at least. And I didn't even include the huge snake part....let's just say I tried to get George to kill it, but we missed.

Answered Prayer: Home sweet Homes!

Just to explain to you a bit more of my life in Uganda, I will be living in two places while I'm here. 50% of my time will be in the capital city Kampala, and 50% in rural Kamwenge. Here are a couple photos of my new homes.

(Kampala: we are the first cozy apartment on the left - it's a very comfortable place)

In Kampala, I live in a pleasant suburbian community. I can take a nice jog, treat myself to ice cream and then meander to the coffee shop around the corner. I currently share this place with my Sudanese friend, Lagu and our American finance lady, Lori. It's also the SP guest so we have visitors coming through on a regular basis.

(Kamwenge: we have the office on the right, with a set of 12 rooms in the back)

In Kamwenge, we are renting this hotel from Justice, a widow in the community. It is a blessing to be able to support her. It will be used as our office space and our home. There are 12 rooms in the back so I will always have lots of company. However, digging a new latrine is going to be one of our first orders of business because let's just say the old one is all filled up. Oh the joys of living in Africa!

Water source

This is the photo of one of the water sources I described in my previous post. You can see the community - along with their cattle and goats - gathering water from the lake. It is a dangerously unhealthy scene. Though at the same time you get a glimpse of beautiful Uganda. The bright blue skies and lush green fields. It breaks your heart and makes you fall in love all at the same time.

I will be travelling back to Kamwenge on Monday for about 10 days to be with my team. Please continue to pray for us - that we would have wisdom and demostrate love as we partner with villages and local churches in Kamwenge.

I am so grateful for you!

Back to work!

I made it to Uganda this week after having a great time with Phil in Kenya. Phil and I were able to get out of the city for the weekend and visit Hell's Gate. We biked through the national park and hiked through the slippery wet gorge. It was so much fun seeing all of the zebras and camping with the hippos! Here's a few photos of our trip...to see some more, visit Phil's blog...he's a great photographer. :)

(Phil and I at the top of the gorge - it was beautiful - but you'll have to trust me)

(Caution: Zebra crossing!)

(Phil climbing down into the gorge...we got a little wet)

After saying goodbye to Phil, I arrived in Uganda and was swept away to a rural district named Kamwenge where our water project will be based for the next year. I saw the site where we'll be staying and met my wonderful staff.

It is evident that clean water is needed in the villages where we'll be serving. Our survey showed that only 2.6% of the area has access to clean water. After speaking to the people we found that their common water source is the swamp over the hill and a small pond where their cattle and goats dip as well. Hard to imagine, right? We will be the only NGO working in this area and I will be the only white woman for many miles in every direction. It's a privilege to be in such a remote area that has so much need.

Please pray that God will bless the work of our hands. That the clean water our project provides points to Him and not to us. That we will all love Christ more and more each day.

Thank you so much for your love and support!

Prayer for aid workers in Sudan

Please pray for three aid workers from Doctors without Borders who were kidnapped yesterday and are now being held for ransom in Sudan. They are a Canadian nurse, Italian doctor, and a French co-ordinator. Please pray for their protection and safety - and for their kidnappers. You can read the article here for more details:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7939223.stm

Please take the time to care for them through prayer today. They need our Lord.

Thank you so much.

Enjoying Nairobi

Thank you all so much for your many prayers. I arrived in Nairobi yesterday safely - no problems at all. Praise God! And I met a lot of great people along the way. It was a really nice trip.

So now I'm enjoying my time in Nairobi with Phil. :) We took a couple of walks today, had some great coffee at the Java house, and ate lunch at Amani Ya Juu. For us, it was a little slice of heaven. God is good.

I'm sorry that I don't have any pictures yet, but regardless I wanted to let everyone know that I made it in just fine. I'll be leaving Nairobi for Uganda next Sunday. Until then, I'll be busy enjoying Nairobi...

Thankful for you!

Moving

This is my childhood home. The house my father built for us 25 years ago. It's beautiful and perfect in our eyes.

Today the papers were signed to begin handing it over to a new young family. It sold the same day the For Sale sign was put up in the yard. Yes, in this economy, and in this tiny town! Praise God! He is so good to sell my parents' house so quickly.

Today my brother signed a lease for a new home of his own. He moves from the guys' apartment to his own place this week.

Also this week, I move to Africa. Unbelievable timing.

My entire family is moving right now. To new places. New homes. New people. If you have a sec, would you please pray for us. For relationships and church families. That my parents will find a new house in West Virginia quickly and I would find a place in Kampala. Thank you so much!