In Gulu and resting...

Tonight I sit in my hotel room after a 3rd grueling day of travel. After arriving in Entebbe Wednesday Night we slept and then began the long trek to Gulu. My body and my spirit are tired from being cramped and folded in airplane seats for 2 days and then a full day bus ride over rough roads. Getting to Uganda and then to Gulu is just hard. No easy way to do it. Times like this can make you think, “ Is this worth it? Are we as a team, and as individuals, making enough of a difference to warrant this much time and comfort?” Sometimes I wonder...

But then we arrive at the hotel in Gulu and the local pastors whom we have worked with the last 7 years are there to greet us with smiles, laughter, hugs and excitement. We ask how families and children are. We inquire about work and ministry, as well as, any other item of interest development over the years. And of course the answer is, “Yes this is worth it!” This is like coming to a family reunion. I get to encourage, and be encouraged, by men and women who I care deeply about and care about me. They want to know how Kysia and Jonah are doing; they loving seeing updated pictures. They laugh, hug, and welcome Kariel to Uganda with genuine joy. They thank us for coming back again to serve and share in ministry with them.  The tired bones and aching muscles disappear as we enjoy a sort of cold Krest or Stoney and re-connect.

So much has happened over the years here in Uganda. And we as a team and a church have engaged in a piece of the bigger story God is writing for the people he loves. It is worth it.

Tomorrow the team heads to visit the World Vision Children of War Rehabilitation Center. This is holy ground. The center is how I first heard of the war in the north. It was what God used to move my heart out of its comfort zone and ask what could I do. There may be former child soldiers and sex slaves there to meet with us. We are not sure. It will be powerful either way for the team to see and hear the stories for the staff and/or children. It will be a tough day when first timers hear for the first time. But it will be a good day.

We then will spend the day with Pastor Soloman at the Layibi UMC church where we will be ministering to children and visiting some income projects our church has helped support.  We will worship, pray and bless the church. This trip is about slowing down, listening, learning and sharing. Soloman is a great man of faith and family, I love spending time with him and his wide smile.

Everyone is safe and sound in the hotel. We have eaten and divided the bags for ministry. We are about to go to sleep. Thank you for your prayers and support. We feel the hand of God over us. The team is getting along great. Friendships and community are being developed and encouraged. Everyone is ready to be used tomorrow to be a blessing.

I will post an update when we return tomorrow. Your family member or friend is an inspiration to me. Many do them shared today they had been wanting to come on this trip or get to Uganda for many years and it never worked out till this year. God has a great plan for the team He put together.

The trip was pretty uneventful (great thing!) but we did see the Karuma Falls and some wild baboons. One of them screamed at us and almost jumped in the bus! Dangerous animals!

Peace my friends. Talk to you tomorrow. Prayer is needed for a tough but incredible start to the day,

Blessings,
Chris