African Adventure

I've been putting off this blog entry forever now because how can you summarize an amazing experience in just a few paragraphs. So I'll try my best! At the end of March I traveled to Northern Uganda with my mom, Aunt Julie and cousin Mary to visit my Aunt Janice, Uncle Tim, cousin Mary Ellen & family at Restoration Gateway for two weeks. Restoration Gateway was founded by my aunt and uncle in 2007 on 500 acres of land on the Nile River. Not only is it home to them, but home to 71 orphaned Ugandan children and nearly 100 Ugandan nationals who have found refuge and work there. This is in response to a long and horrific civil war and the country's AIDS epidemic, which has left the people desolate and traumatized. In yet, in spite of all of this tragedy it was inspiring to see the spirit of the people overcoming such hardship.

My time there was a combination of spending time with my relatives, exploring Uganda and lending a hand with the orphans and school at RG. My experience in Uganda is one I will never forget and always cherish. It was an amazing adventure to say the least! There were hundreds of memorable moments on my trip, but I will share some of my favorites and then let the pictures speak for themselves:

-Entering the Entebbe airport upon arrival & all the lights go out.
-Being woken on our 1st night in Uganda in the hotel by a group of men singing harmoniously as they walked to work.
-When your 50 lb bag feels like a heavy load until you watch Margaret, a Ugandan worker at RG, put it on her head and carry it effortlessly down a 1/2 mile path to where you are staying.
-Playing netball with the girls in the kindergarten class.
-Working with the children in the classrooms.
-Walking about 7 miles to Karuma , the nearby village, and back with my cousins and the Baylor girls.
-Sitting under a papaya tree sipping a cold Coca Cola and discussing Ugandan culture with Joseph, a Ugandan accountant at RG.
-When you sleep under a mosquito net and are sure to tuck the net under your mattress in order to keep the bats, rats and other creatures out too.
-Biking to Karuma and back with my cousin Mary on a bike with no brakes or shocks up and down a bumpy road.
-Laughing and talking after dinner in pitch darkness with fireflies offering glimmers of light.
-When the total darkness showcases the beauty of the stars above you.
-When you get ready for bed by flashlight because the electrical power is erratic and unreliable.
-Being offered white ants (termites) as a snack.
-Painting the alphabet on one of the classroom walls.
-Talking with Robert, a Ugandan employee at RG, about the politics of Uganda.
-Spending time with my cousin Mary Ellen.
-Each morning being woken by the melodic sounds of birds and the jarring sound of a rooster.
-Watching the Ugandan boys at RG play football (soccer).
-Having my hair braided by several of the Ugandan girls during the football game.
-Going to the market in Dima.
-Reading and playing with Mary Ellen's youngest boys, Aiden and Ezra.
-Climbing the water tower to watch the sunrise over the Nile River.
-All the beautiful smiles of the Uganda children and workers at RG.
-Sitting in my aunt & uncle's container just visiting with our family.
-Seeing all the giraffes, elephants, cape buffalos and other exotic animals on our van safari.
-Coming upon hippo footprints in the sand.
-Having a heart-pounding encounter with a 15 ft crocodile on the boat safari.
-Being surrounded by hippos as our boat made its way down the Nile.
-Eating a delicious dinner at Acholi Inn where the LRA used to stake out during the war.
-Wiping tears away as the Ugandan children serenade you with songs of farewell.

WARNING: PICTURE OVERLOAD AHEAD