Another goodbye...Jan 23rd, 2014

My laptop has been reconfigured so many times here in Uganda so that it will beat the battle of 3rd world internet compatibility, that I don’t know if it will ever be the same.  This last post has been delayed as a result, but in a way it makes the description of the final day ripen like the Ugandan bananas we enjoyed...sweeter than it began.

We packed up most of our hotel rooms preparing for check out and headed to Chayah for our last morning in the house.  Devotions, a few special meetings with the older kids on some pretty poignant adolescent issues and the centers began.   We allowed them much freedom today to roam and wander into whatever activity suited their interests.  The two story chicken coop was finished, locking covers on the computer table installed.  More drama and art out front, computers up and running and every sort of craft they could think of with the extra supplies.  Stopping in town on the way to purchase some plastic containers provided at least some form of organization for the store room.  We brought out the sewing machine for a short project, and tried to clean up after ourselves and all the activity of the last weeks. 

The kids had learned the names of our 7 new faces and two things about each of them.  They proved themselves on day one!  Three of our team stepped up to try to match names with faces and though the kids attempted to confuse with silly expressions or hanging heads, the now weary travelers on the team matched their accomplishment without a hitch! 

Lunch was served and gift bags passed out.  Just about the time a few began to feel the inevitable coming, our swim party plan was revealed which saved us all at least for the moment. 

We left for the hotel, moved all the suitcases et al into two rooms, kept for showering and changed into our own swimming “costumes”.  The team met at the pool and began the arduous job of inflating an assortment of dollar store floating devices.  It might be just me, but it seems like what we save in money at that particular store costs us some stroke causing effort trying to get the air inside the plastic which seems to stick together like glue.

By the time the kids arrived we were organized and each had our stations for life guarding.  To our great pleasure and God’s mercy, 23 arrived and left still breathing.  The older ones are getting more courageous in the big pool, the little ones would claim the same, except that the marks on our team’s shoulders and necks would indicate more than one “death grip”. At least a couple of us may have been seen with 3+ little ones holding tight to the same strong shoulders at the same time. The cooks, Mary and Jennifer enjoy the water as much as anybody and Mary especially is delightfully entertaining with her expressions of thrill and terror...and again, don’t be misled, she can most often be found in the shallowest pool, certainly no more than 3 ft deep.

Swimming was followed by 30 minutes or so on the swings and slides close by and then a small bowl of ice cream was served. 

The moment finally came and somebody had to announce that it was time to wrap up this great trip .  12 Muzungus lined up next to the van and each little one came through and gave each of us a hug or handshake as they piled in to head back to their own home without us.  Tears and waves lasted the full length of the red dirt road leading out of the hotel compound and no one moved until the last head sticking out of the sunroof disappeared around the corner. 

We pray that every little thing we did and every big thing God did over the last few weeks is sealed into those hearts and the rest of the people of Kakira, Jinja and Njeru.  God’s glory was the goal but we are so grateful for the joy we experienced and the changes and challenges on both sides.  It’s not possible to come and not leave different, but it’s not generally an easy thing to describe or quantify.  It feels right to come, it also feels right to go home...somewhere between the two though, there is some sort of wrestling or restlessness in our hearts about how to process the changes God continues to make in us.  “True religion” and taking care of others, doesn’t require a passport or a “mission trip”.  Following Jesus and serving doesn’t require 3rd world circumstances or yellow fever vaccines...it just means being faithful where we are, living with an awareness that people need a savior EVERYWHERE.  I’m not sure you could find more darling faces than the ones who stole our hearts in Uganda, but people are in need anywhere.  So as we close this trip out and anticipate the baggage carousal at LAX and finally a diet coke with ice that proves “we are home” we know it’s only God who could have carried out all of his plans for us in Uganda.  Praise Him with us, he is worthy.