Days 1-3: Traveling to Uganda and Arriving in Entebbe!

This was taken after church on Sun., June 7th. We'd "celebrate" our 15th Anniversary during the time I'd be gone. It occured to me, that we'd never been separated for this length of time before; I think the longest was a handful of days.  Everything about going to Uganda seemed to be a test that God was giving me: My family.  THE MOST important thing to me, under the sun, other than Him.  Would I choose the 'safe' route, and pass on the trip, or trust Him, and GO. So very thankful for my husband's continual support!

I wanted a pic with my kiddos right before I flew half a world away.   Here, I'm thinking:  OMG, whatttt am I doing?? Am I really willing to "risk" everything and take this trip? Conscience says YES.  But it really was a somber mood for me that day. As I had, and would, countless other times over the next few weeks, I took comfort in knowing that five other homeschool mamas (who were used to spending 24/7 with their kids, also) were likely having the same gamut of feelings that I was!  And even though it was heart-wrenching if I let my Mama Bear take over, I was ABSOLUTELY blessed by Jesus with a completely peaceful feeling about this trip.  It really was an amazing thing to experience.  I couldn't believe at times, that I could feel so sure about traveling so far away, with so many unknowns.  Definitely His doing!  Speechless.

It's time to goooooo!  I drove to Tulsa, to Nicole's, and her oh-so-kind Mama dropped us off at the airport with the other ladies!  I look at this and think about how much we had noo idea about what we were doing.  Ha!  Well, most of us.  Not Christy (far right)!  This was her 4th visit to Uganda!  What a blessing you are to me, Christy!

She thinks of it all.  I mean it.  Spoiled.

Flying over the big ocean!! I couldn't sleep.  Despite courtesy wine, Nicole and I were too giddy. (Where are those pictures??!) Who could sleep?  We were going to AFRICA!!!

After a 3 hour flight from Tulsa to DC (where we both met, and met up with, Sonya!), and an 8 hour flight from DC to Brussels, Belgium, it was on to Entebbe, UG!  I obviously completely missed the 'silly' memo on the photo above.  Also, the white shirted chest appears to belong to me... but alas, it does not... haha

After another long flight of about 9 hours + an unannounced landing in Rwanda (no joke - had no idea), we landed at Entebbe International Airport!  We were SO HAPPY to be done with the 30+ hours of travel and finally HERE! We had a really uneventful time with customs, our Visas, and with baggage claim - praise The Lord!  
Christy had arranged for a driver to pick us up at the airport and take us to Entebbe Airport Guesthouse.  It was so dark, as we arrived around 10pm that night, so any new culture input was severely handicapped.  The ladies at the guesthouse were very friendly.  Our driver and the staff unloaded our luggage, and we found some wifi!

I left the kids a small gift and note for every day I was away.  The note included either an encouraging Bible verse or Christian song, and was written on the back of a photo. The photo was either of them, or of us together.  I loved knowing that they were getting to read a special memory of mine about them, every day while I was gone. This first facetime at the guesthouse was definitely bittersweet.  I missed them, so!! And was so tired from traveling. 

 


Our room was more than comfortable.  Who cares if it took us a little time to navigate the mosquito nets??!

Some journal time before bed!  Feeling so grateful for safe travel, and excited for what lie ahead! On the journaling note... had fully expected to spend a great deal of time journaling so that I could throw into blog upon return.  I was able to journal thoroughly, for about the first two nights.. after that, the entries became shorter, and then dwindled to just a few phrases here and there... I became too mentally and emotionally drained to journal while there.  I did NOT expect that.  At all. 

Waking up the next morning... let's see what Africa actually looks like!

Soo many beautiful and unique flowers on the amazing garden-like grounds of the guesthouse.

 The attention to detail, and the amount of time spent cleaning - really cleaning, was really something.  This lady was singing the entire time she was cleaning.  It was so refreshing, and beautiful.  I wish I would have taken video/audio of all of the "zoo" birds that we awakened to!  There were toucans and all kinds of other colorful, amazing birds!

 Room 5 Roomies!! Who would've ever guessed that when we met as nurses 12 years ago, we'd be on this adventure together, now!?

 The first morning we woke up, our driver, Brian (right) and his brother, Steve, took us to Victoria Mall to exchange our dollars for shillings, at the bank, and to buy bottled water, as the tap water is not drinkable.  We had lunch at Cafe Javas and enjoyed trying to get a handle on using shillings, and also talking to Brian and Steve.

leaving Victoria Mall 

 On our second day, Christy's good friend, Francis, came to pick us up.  Here, Kerry is meeting him. He took us from Entebbe to Jinja, where we'd spend the next week. And where we could never have imagined all we'd see and do...

Goodbye, Airport Guesthouse....!