After nearly 20+ hours flying, arriving at our hotel at 2 am (local time), we departed this morning at 9a for Sironko (Mbale, Uganda) to visit with our partner church, St. Luke’s. The trip was a little over 4 hours and this is the welcome we received…

The children sang songs of praise and the women got to jump in and dance!

Thankfully, I was taking this picture which saved me from embarrassing myself.

The Child Development Center (CDC) where we’ll be working for the next 4 days is pretty typical of what we’ve seen so far driving around Uganda. Mud, wood, bricks and cement make up most structures. Here’s a picture of some other buildings at the CDC..

We were fortunate enough to be invited over to the Bishop’s house for dinner with his family. It was tight and cozy, but full of love and good eats.  The wealth that Africans exude is beyond compare to the materialistic wealth we try to build and hoard for ourselves in America. Smiles are always in abundance here and despite their meager possessions, they willfully give whatever they might have to others (including us).  It’s a humbling experience and country.. our team is just breaking the surface and I’ll have more to share soon.

Please continue praying for us, our safety and for strong relationships to be built over the next several days. We have so much to learn.. Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the humble/meek/gentle, for they will inherit the kingdom of earth.” I can’t help but think how rich in spirit many Africans become despite their circumstances. Daily praying for God to provide your family with the next meal brings a whole new meaning of reliance upon God that we miss in America.. and certainly increases the level of gratitude for all His blessings.

More to come.. Here’s my favorite picture of the day.

Enza and a couple other ladies assisted at the water pump to help fill the jugs you see above. This little boy was just waiting his turn and probably stunned to see so many white faces!