First and foremost, I made it safely to Uganda! I couldn’t have asked for a better transition into this new, beautiful country I will call home for the next three months. My flight from Denver to London went very smoothly and I had the whole aisle of seats to myself so I was able to rest and sleep very comfortably. I had a short layover in London and boarded a plane about two hours after landing for Uganda. After being on a plane from 5:15PM Sunday to 11:30PM the next day I was ready to be done traveling and settle into my room at Show Mercy.
Driving through Entebbe and Kampala at night was definitely an experience. The streets were crowded with cars, people and boda-boda’s (scooter taxis). People were driving on the wrong side of the road and traffic laws simply did not exist. I had two very nice gentlemen pick me up and drive me back to the Show Mercy base where I felt nothing but welcomed and loved. During the drive back to the base I could do nothing but thank the Lord for fulfilling this promise that He placed on my heart so long ago.
I walked into my bedroom where I was welcomed by a very sweet note from my roommate and a food basket from the Show Mercy staff. I scrounged through my luggage until I found some pajamas and got ready for bed. As I lay in bed it started to rain and I could hear what sounded like a hundred different animals and insects singing me to sleep. I sat in bed smiling as I thought about all of the things the Lord was getting ready to reveal to me over the next few months. I hardly slept at all my first night here but laid peacefully in bed just soaking everything in.
We woke up for breakfast on Tuesday and I was introduced to many of the team members and Show Mercy staff. Everyone was extremely welcoming! So many people called me by name and welcomed me warmly to the breakfast table and into their conversations. We left shortly after breakfast for Wakiso where we prayed for people in the clinics and other team members walked around the market talking with and praying for people. After lunch we headed to Katiooke and took water to elders in the village that are in the Show Mercy Elder Care outreach.
This place is so beautiful. Yes, some may see poverty and half-naked children but I see something different. What I see I cannot explain, it feels so natural to my eyes. I just see people, looking for answers and asking for love. I see people looking for relationship and my heart is so content in this place.
Things I am thankful for so far on this journey. Safety. My flight and transitions into this country were way easier than I anticipated. I am also thankful for friendliness. Everyone has welcomed me and been extremely friendly, their attitudes have made my adjustment much easier.
Things I look forward to. Relationships. I am looking forward to getting to know the intern team (there are 6 interns including me) and building lasting relationships with them. I am looking forward to open doors. I know the Lord is going to use this internship to open doors for me and allow me to seek Him with more of my whole heart.
As always, thank you to everyone who has prayed over my journey. Seriously. This transition has been ridiculously easy, like too easy. I know that it’s your prayers because without them things would not have went smoothly. Praying for you also, praying for blessings and answers in your heart.
With a thankful heart,
-V