Daily Diary Week 4
Sunrise over Queen Elizabeth National park
Since I last wrote we have had a short break from 'doing' anything and everyone is looking very relaxed. We discovered a resort pool we could use and went last Saturday and Monday to relax there ( It is definitely the poshest place any of us have ever been to) It's a beautiful 50 metre pool with seats in the pool beside the bar!!!! and we basically spent the day there swimming and sunbathing ( Aran got burnt beyond belief on Monday despite suncream) Fair play to Aran though, he's basically learnt to how to swim while he's been here....heather taught him, and I think swimming goggles were a revelation! Rowena got burnt in the shade!!, Simon got burnt on purpose and Rachael and Sarah B are as brown as any Irish person has a right to be!
On Sunday we went to the big Pentecostal church in Kampala and sat through 2 1/2 hours without flinching!...the choir were amazing (40 strong with all the moves!)
One Tuesday we left at 4.30am for our 6 hour drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the west. We got there at 11 and booked accommodation and then headed back to he park for a 2 hour boat ride to see hippos, birdlife and water buffalo. Then we had a 2 hour park drive where in all honesty we didn't see much wildlife. However the next morning (again up at 4.30am!!!) we left for a morning drive when we saw LOADS!. Deer, water buck, vultures, hyenas, monkeys, baboons, an elephant in the distance and even a hyena bringing down a cob deer and eating it alive!!!! ( yeuch) We only got back last night, but stopped at a drum makers on the way home...how we're going to get them all through customs is beyond me!
Jenny has been unwell with a chest infection, but we got here sorted with a doctor and the prescription worked fine, she also sprained her ankle but is in good spirits, pray for her though for a full recovery. As I mentioned there is a lot of sunburn around, but also that seems to be healing well and there are mossie bites all round after the trip, but no one is reacting really badly.
The group are in great form, and looking forward to Sunday when we go back to Pastor Deo's church to say goodbye properly and for the last time (mainly to the kids) that's it really....we'll see you on Monday!
Lynne
Simon and Moses
hippos!
Jeremy and Alex playing with the Boys Brigade band
With the boys brigade in Kampala
relaxing at Speke resort
Meal out at the Italian with Jenny and Sharon, David, and Robena from Adonai house
Home….week 5
Well
we’re a week home, and it’s all starting to sink in and for me there
was a kind of grief in coming back. Firstly as I loved it there – the
people are warm and funny and love God in all they do in their lives and
that is so refreshing to be around. More often then not when someone in a
church greets you they don’t ask your name they say ‘Do you know
Jesus?’ or ‘Are you born again?’!
But secondly, I realised as we were about to go into the arrivals lounge
in Dublin airport that this would be the last time we would all be
together as a complete group for some months. Stu, Jeremy, Rachel and
Sarah left for more holidays almost straight away, and while they are away
Heather and Alex leave to go college abroad.
Being with this wonderful group of young men and women has been one of the
best experiences of my life as they have become family to me… and I hope
I to them! Everyone of them
excelled at what they did and not one remained unchanged by the experience
of Uganda. I pray that we as a church can continue to maintain contact
with Rachel, and Pastor Deo and his church and be able to bless them as
much as they blessed us during our time in Kampala.
God
Bless
last night!