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.