Uganda 2008

Monday, September 22, 2008

Back in the U.S.

I'm back in the U.S. and getting back into the schedule. I've had some of my favorite Mexican food already and have spent some good time with friends and family (still need to go to my favorite sushi place, Mikuni). I've been really praying that I would come back from this trip with a different perspective. Seeing the face of poverty does hit you pretty hard, but it is my tendency to forget it once I'm home. I have been spending some time reflecting and realizing how truly blessed I am and reminding myself that my job is to invite people to open their hearts to a world that is filled with incredible need. The key for me is to not forget the faces and the stories forto allow the comforts of my life crowd out God's call to me to go and make a difference. I will be back in Africa in November and pick the blog up from there. Thanks for following.

Friday, September 19, 2008

The Brubakers

I met with World Vision UK for a lunch meeting and to compare notes on what we are doing to impact churches in our countries. In the evening I want to dinner with Bryan Belden and Dave and Jill Brubaker at a pub near their home. This is Dave and Jill's home. Jill had a baby girl three weeks ago . Dave's mom (Pam) is in town for a week and it was good to meet up with her. It was great to hang out and hear about their ministry in England and share a meal together. It has been quite and adventure here and I look forward to the next one. by

The London Eye

This is the giant ferris wheel on the Thames River operated by British Air. I rode it last summer with my son Uriah. It's a must do when you are in London.

The Royal Guard

Statue at the War Memorial on the Thames

Cool Gate

Big Ben Up Close

Big Ben and the Thames

Buckingham Palace

I was on my way to meet with World Vision UK and we drove by Buckingham Palace at 11:00AM during the changing of the guard. I was surprised at how many people gathered here.

Last Photo

We were on our way to the airport and stuck in a traffic jam. This boy came out of his home to stare at us. It was my last photo in Uganda.

Sunrise over the Nile

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Pictures

I've had to upload the photos of the safari and Nile boat ride from my phone which limits me on file size so I've gone back in and re-uploaded all the pictures in higher quality. You can now click on them and see them in greater detail I've also done some maintenance and clean up. I have some more pictures from the trip I will be uploading later today - enjoy!

London

I'm in London and it's Thursday morning. It has been quite a journey here. We had a six hour car ride back to Kampala. We visited with the offices of IJM (International Justice Mission). They are an organization that provides free legal help to orphans and widows who are being exploited. There office in Uganda focuses on illegal land grabbing that happens when a man dies and his family tries to take his property from his widow. Most of the time the widow is forced to find a new home. From there we went on to the airport only to find that our flight was canceled from Nairobi to London. The WV travel office was able to switch me to a British Airways flight that left around the same time but unfortunately I was stuck with a window seat for the eight hour flight or so I thought. When I sat down the lady next to me asked me if I wanted to switch with her friend who had a window seat on the other side of the plane. It was so nice to get about six hours of sleep on the flight and arrive in London refreshed and ready for a day full of meetings. I'm going to have dinner with Bryan Belden and the Brubakers tonight.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Staff Housing

There are some staff houses right below our lodge. They had a visit from a local - hippo. Notice the man coming out of the restroom realizing that there is a hippo in my yard.

Bored Like My Kids Home On Summer Vaxation

Our Van

When we returned from our boat ride we found this on top of our van. It was even taunting us. Kenny went after it but it lurched at Kenny and he turned back. Tim reached down to pick up a stone and immediately it ran away.

Love Birds

Trip Down the Nile

The white foam you see is created by the waterfall.

John at the Falls

The Murchison Falls

The Murchison Falls on the Nile River. Above the falls the river is 200 meters wide (over 600 feet) but at the falls the water passes through a section that is only 7 meters (around 15 feet) wide creating a very powerful movement of water.