I'm home...

Blake, John John (Restore International's driver), and I left Kampala on July 10th to head up to Gulu. After about four hours of some bumpy, windy driving we arrived with no problem at all...Along the way, I saw the Nile (!), baboons looking for a handout on the side of the road, and we ate freshly BBQed beef and goat on a stick, called muchomo. Once we were at Restore's office/home where Blake stays I was able to relax a bit, but I was hungry to start seeing and exploring...

I thought I would just go for a simple walk...hah! So, I had just started walking when a small group of school children came beside me. A few moments later, I glanced behind me and there were several more just walking behind me giggling at the mzungu. A young girl, named Santa Acan, came alongside me and asked me my name...and thus began my little adventure that evening in Gulu...

My hair happened to be down and she said I looked like an Acholi (the predominant tribe around Gulu) woman. I guess some Acholi women have long hair...most of the young women's hair is shaved off. We continued to talk and she told me of how she had once written a letter to someone in the States, but somehow she lost that connection. She said I've been praying to meet someone like you...and asked if I would send her letters once I returned home. I said yes, but she did not know an address for me to send them to...Santa asked if I would like to see her house - I said yes not knowing where that would be or how long it would take to get there by foot. Off we went, and we wound through some neighborhoods of tukals and on up a wide path where there were many children getting water from a pump. I was greeted by many, and also asked if I would buy paper beads...Some of you may have seen these in Portland or elsewhere...they are beads made out of tightly wound paper and then coated with lacquer. They are really beautiful. Everyone here is looking for ways to support themselves...
Santa wanted me to meet her mother...we walked further into Gulu center and found her mom selling rice in the middle of a tucked away market. I met many women selling their grain or produce there. Her mother was so gracious and gave me two small bags of rice and two tomatoes.
We met many little ones who were delighted to see a mzungu or munu...I shook many little hands. :)

We left the next day for Adjumani - It took about 3 hours and the road was quite full of large potholes and large vehicles heading toward Sudan. We arrived safe and well to warm hugs and welcomes by Jeff, Michelle, Jaclyn, Rick, Faye, Esther (the cook), and Palma (housekeeper). Also, the 8 chickens and chicks that live here also came to say, karibu (welcome in Swahili)!

Blake and John John stayed until the next morning, and then left for Gulu. This is such a peaceful place...I felt at home immediately. I am so grateful...God always knows what He is doing. ;) The only hard part was saying goodbye to Blake. I am hoping he can come and visit in the not too distant future...This place will be like a retreat for him from all of the responsibilities he carries with Restore.

So, I've been here five days - Here is some of what I've experienced so far: Lots of laughs with Rick and Faye, and Jaclyn - they are wonderful, a tour around town with Jaclyn, meeting a few pastors and some of their wives, digging out in the fields with the kids from the Amazing Grace orphanage, Bible study with the same kids, church service at Liberty Baptist church, shopping at Gaga outdoor clothing market (mostly secondhand clothing/some new) for a new outfit for one of the young girls who is singing in a choir, and just getting my bearings!! Living in community is really great, and I've been learning my way around this kitchen and how things work here at our home. I will get to learn how to cook from scratch!

Some quirky things: We don't have electricity most of the time...or, we don't use it a lot of the time - They have solar panels on the roof and also a small propellar sort of thing for wind power. Green Oregonians would be proud! We get power from town from 7pm to 11pm each night...but, someone in charge of town power forgot to pay the gas bill and we haven't had town power since I arrived. So, dinner is by candlelight, and getting ready for bed is by the light of my camping headlamp. I love it!

Life is so difficult for those who live here...many people are sick right now with malaria and other health issues. Just today, Rick and Faye took a little one to be treated at the town clinic for some open wounds that have not healed. It is easy to feel completely overwhelmed by the deep physical need here...and, that's just the physical...Please pray for the people of Adjumani. And, please pray for us as we try to be who we need to be in the midst of all that is going on here...