Safari

After our first night of rest in Uganda we got back on the road for an eight hour drive on bumpy roads to a safari destination, the Mweya Safari Lodge in the Queen Elizabeth National Park.  On out way here we stopped at the Equator line in Uganda.

Once we  arrived at our destination we did a quick drive to try to see some wild animals before spending the night at the lodge.  This morning we got up early to drive around the park. Between last night and this morning we've counted six lion sightings, three elephant sightings, a few hippos, and several other types of animals. Late today we will go on a river boat to hopefully see more wild life.

Here is a picture of a female lion we saw last night. She was hiding behind some shrubs next to the road keeping an eye on some antelope. We speculated she was patiently waiting for nightfall to hunt.

As we continue team building and enjoying Gods creation we have been preparing to meet the kids. We've been practicing our songs, skits, etc. We are also studying Romans 12:1-21. I leave you with this: "For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."  I find it encouraging that through your faith and prayers we are together in this journey and are one body in Christ. 

UPDATE

We just got back from the river boat. We saw plenty of elephants, water buffaloes, hippos, a couple of crocodiles, some baboons, and tons of birds. 

Aloha Uganda

We are in Uganda. It was another long day of travel from Brussels. We are in Entebbe in a rustic place for one night. Tomorrow we will drive to a Safari destination.

I'll write more later. Keeping this blog up from a phone and limited wifi is a little challenging, but I am glad I can do it.

Blessings!

Greetings from Brussels

I met with the team in Newark, NJ. It was great to see so many of my friends from KCC. I am excited to spend time with them again.

Our team arrived in the morning of 12/28 in Brussels, Belgium. We were tired and wishing to go to sleep, but decided to go out to town instead. We took a 15 min train ride to the down town area. We visited the famous Grand-Place area. I'll try to upload some pictures soon. 

We spent the night here. We'll be heading out to the airport soon for another long flight to Uganda. We arrive there at 8:35PM.  

I'll try to write some more later.  

Blessings and thanks for following along. 

Getting Ready to Visit Uganda Again

It's been about three years since I last wrote.  As some of you may recall, this journey started as I began discovering that life is about love and relationships.  It never occurred to me that I would one day be going to another country simply to cultivate this.  After my first trip to Uganda I couldn't imagine not going back.  Here I am, continuing this blog, because once again I have this awesome opportunity to travel to Uganda.  I will be going with the same church I went with last time (Kailua Community Church).  I left many good friends in Kailua and I am very excited to see them again.  Not only that, I left many good friends in Uganda.  Most importantly, I have two kids there (Jessee and Norah) that I can't wait to see. 


I've explained this a few times, but I think it is worth repeating that although Rebecca and I sponsor Jessee and Norah through KCC and Siita Nest (the orphanage), my relationship with these beautiful kids is a little different than what you would expect.  Suffice to say that they call me dad.  Yes, it was hard to wrap my mind around that, but if you understand a little of the culture in Uganda and understand that kids grow up with many moms and dads because their real parents may not be around, then things start making sense. 


I still have to catch up on things with the team, but I understand we will be visiting one orphanage and three churches.  We have three teams; a medical team (I am unsure about this), a skit/games/crafts team, and a team that provides good and sound advice to the young adults we will be visiting.  On top of that, our pastor and another good friend will spend some time and provide training to some of the local pastors. 


We fly out the day after Christmas and we return January 15th.  This time we will be traveling via New Jersey, Brussels, and Uganda (Entebbe).  My friends ask me how I can get away from my wife and kids during the Christmas break and not get in trouble.  Well, I am blessed.  Rebecca knows what a life changing experience this was for me and realizes this is such a unique opportunity. 


I'll be missing my family, but I trust they'll be fine.  Here is a recent picture of our family doing some work outdoors.