We're Back!!!

It has been nearly a week since we left home. I have been keeping track of our activities and writing about them, but this is the first opportunity I have had to post them. This post is rather long, but it will get you caught up!

September 8, 2016

The trip is long, but to arrive at Entebbe Airport and see so many smiling faces there to greet us…there are no words. Our Ugandan family are truly amazing people. All of you reading this should come here right now and meet them!

We arrived late last night after a delay in Rwanda. It was 2 AM by the time we arrived at the hotel and we were very glad to crawl into bed.

A bit of a sleep in was needed this morning so it was nearly 10:00 when we arrived at the office. What an amazing day it has been. Greeting team members who were not at the airport and seeing so many friends all around the building. What an amazing time.

Then came the time to unpack all the things we brought with us. Tools are always a big hit with the team, but I think they liked the Twizzlers the best (shhh Don’t tell Greg).

By mid-afternoon, it was time to get up and wander around the building because when that intense jet lag hits, one is at risk of falling off their chair! However, the fact remains that one must stay awake to try to get over the jet lag. Who knew staying up until 8:00 could be so challenging.

September 9, 2016

Every day just seems to get better and better. Jet lag is usually a frustrating experience, but last night it was a gift. We went to sleep at 8:30 PM because we couldn’t stay awake any longer and we woke after an AMAZING sleep, only to realize that it was 11:00PM! God started to give us ideas about ways we could better support the team and the ministry here. As one idea came up, it snow balled into another and another. It was a wonderful way to spend jet lag hours- instead of laying there being annoyed!

Today we were taken for lunch by two of the organization’s leadership team. What a wonderful time of hearing about the organization’s successes and plans for the future. It was also an opportunity for us to share our vision of what we can do to be more involved while in Canada, as well as when we are here in Uganda. There is so much going on already and so much potential for the future. I am so glad Watoto is an organization that continually reevaluates and changes to meet the needs of an ever changing society.

As we were leaving the restaurant and walking through the parking lot, I was shocked to see my friend Joanna. In a city of at least 1.5 million people, what a shock and a huge blessing to just “bump into” her! Some of you may be saying, “Who is Joanna?” If you go back and read previous blogs, you will learn a lot about her, but I will give you a little update.

Joanna is from Sweden and came to Uganda in 2013 to volunteer for one year. During that year, God showed her some of the huge needs here and she made the decision to stay. Initially, she had joined with an already existing Ugandan organization. That partnership has since dissolved and Joanna now has a NGO (non government organization, aka non-profit or charitable organization) that is registered here in Uganda, as well as in Sweden.

When I met her in the parking lot, I immediately told Greg and the others to go back without me and I would walk back when I was done. So back into the restaurant we went to have a nice cool drink on this hot Ugandan day. What an amazing, blessed time we had together and the hours flew by very quickly.

September 10, 2016

What an amazing day filled with the richest of God’s blessings.

Greg had an amazing sleep last night and woke refreshed this morning. I did my usual sleep from 9-11 PM and then was awake until after 3:00 AM. The good news is that today is Saturday and we didn’t need to be anywhere so we could sleep in. I am not much of a sleeper inner, but I slept until 10:20 this morning. This is the first day we haven’t been walking around like zombies. Hopefully our clocks are resetting themselves and we will be on Uganda time!

After stopping to pick up a quick lunch, we headed over to see Joanna and the kids. You will recall from 2013 posts that Joanna was living in a house with over 50 children. That is no longer the case. The children have all been resettled with families and Joanna is assisting them by helping to find better living conditions and sources of income.

Several of the children in Joanna’s organization continue to dance. Today we went to see Joanna and to watch the dance team practice their routines. Most of the children did not know we were coming so when we walked in the door, the place erupted and dance practice was interrupted for hugs, hugs and more hugs. Several of the children said the most beautiful things to us. They told us about the huge impact we had in their lives, yet we feel like we did so little- just a few visits when we were here in 2013. They told us how they have missed us and how they were so very glad to see us.

While praying, the oldest boy said, “It is very easy for people to forget about us here in Africa. I thank you God that Greg and Lorenda did not forget us.”

When he finished praying, I told him and the others that it is very HARD to forget them- something that we could NEVER do. It is completely impossible for us to ever forget them. These children have impacted our lives in such huge ways and we love them dearly- they needed to hear that and we both made sure they heard that message today LOUD and CLEAR. I think they were rather surprised to hear how much they meant to us.

There are a couple of great lessons for us all there:

1.     You never know the impact you have in someone’s life. You may only be with someone for a very short period of time, but never underestimate the impact, either positive or negative, on both parties.

2.     People need to know how important they are to us and how much we love them. Whether that person lives on the other side of the world, across the country, down the street or in the same house. Tell them today and make sure that they know- don’t take that for granted!

We have learned that when we volunteer to meet a need in someone else’s life, we walk away feeling like we have received many times more than we have given!

To say we were blessed today would be such a huge understatement. God’s goodness is overwhelming.

Do you have someone in your life that you could impact? It very often is a small thing that you do, but it can make a lasting impact. It doesn’t have to be a child in Africa, it could be the lady next door who needs her lawn mowed or the boy down the street whose dad just walked out and he needs someone to play catch with. Opportunities are all around us, no matter where we are on this planet. Why don’t you commit to making a difference in the life of someone today? What’s stopping you? Believe me, if you do it with the right heart, you will get much more than you have given.

September 11, 2016

Today was one of those days where you just stand in awe, with your mouth hanging open and your eyes filled with tears and ask, “What could I possibly have done to be this blessed?” Of course, the answer is “Nothing”. God blesses us because we are His children and He loves to lavish us with wonderful gifts.

We started the day worshiping with our dear friends at Watoto Church. The energy and the passion are amazing. Pastor Julius delivered a wonderful message, as always. He is just a gifted preacher. If you don’t believe me, go online and listen to him yourself at www.watotochurch.com

More wonderful gifts came when we got to see the beautiful faces of Joanna and her children. What an amazing group of kids and we had the privilege of hanging out with them for most of the day.

Then we were treated to supper made by some of the older children. Brian, the oldest of the children (he is not a child anymore, he is a young man), is studying to be a chef. Judging by the meal we had, and the fact that he is such an amazing and determined young man, I have no doubt that Brian will be an amazing chef.

Joanna and her amazing group of kids really cannot be explained in words. They are strong, resilient, intelligent, feisty, fun-loving, kind, lovable, loving people that I wish you all could meet. Tonight we went to a dance performance with them. It was a Ugandan cultural dance show and the kids were watching, not performing. At least they weren’t performing until the end of the show when the host invited everyone to come down and join the party. They then became the center of attention and were surrounded by kids and adults alike. Each one of them has such a magnetic personality that you can’t help but be drawn to them. They made sure that we were down there dancing too- I think that was for their entertainment!

It is such a privilege to be able to play such a small part in building into the lives of these amazing young people. Please continue to pray for Joanna and the lives she touches everyday here in Uganda. I am truly humbled.