Hello Everyone!

I made it safe and sound to Uganda, though my butt is still sore from so much sitting! My longest flight was about 8 hours, which wasn’t too bad because I was so tired I slept for over half of it.

So far life in Uganda is very different from the US, but also very similar. The toilets are outside and you must squat over a hole in the concrete. But that really isn’t as bad as you would thing. And bathing from a bucket is quite nice! You just soap up and rinse off and you are done! Though it feels a little awkward to do this outside without a roof over my head. There are walls all around me, don’t worry.

I live with a wonderful Ugandan family, which has become my family, as well as a roommate from my program. My Ugandan dad’s name is Henry, and he is a pastor of a church just up the road from us. His wife is Irene and she goes to school in Kampala where she is studying to be a nurse. They have three kids which are now my Ugandan siblings; Elijah, Rebecca, and Enoch (pronounced Eh-nook). They have helped Holly (my roommate) and myself feel very at home. And the food is fantastic, though repetitive. My favorite food thus far is Matoke, which is kind of like mashed potatoes, except it is bananas steamed in banana leaves. There is not much flavor, but when you put soup broth on it, it is wonderful!

Tomorrow we are all leaving to go to Rwanda for 10 days. Please pray for me during this time as I am concerned about the suffering I am going to see. While I do not shy away from suffering, I get overwhelmed when it is so much all around me. And we have a 15 hour van ride tomorrow and I get motion sick just thinking about it! So please pray!

Love to all!

Joy