First week in Uganda: Sweet

The first week in Kampala has been great. We arrived late Tuesday night at the airport in Entebbe, about an hour and a half from our place. We only received 4 out of our 10 checked bags, and I was the lucky one to get both of mine! Even on that relatively short ride to our apartment, my eyes were wide with wonder. There were people all over the streets selling chicken on a stick, women carrying huge baskets on their heads, men holding hands (they do that when they're friends, it's not homosexual), and chickens and goats in the street. When we were within a few miles of our apartment, the paved road turned into a very rough dirt road. The part of town we are in is mostly dirt roads with lots of ditches which appear every time it rains.

I have been waking up each morning first to the muslim prayer call (yes there is a relatively high population of muslims here, but not as many as Christians) at 5am, and the rooster calls get me out of bed a few minutes later. I don't even need an alarm clock, it's great! I am rooming with the other male interns, Josh and Travis. We are breaking the ice, and I like these guys more and more as time goes by. They are both fun and have great hearts.

We have been doing orientation things this week. Each day, during meals or during our daily morning prayer, we have heard the testimonies of the staff and interns, how we all met Jesus and how He brought us here to Africa. It is especially bonding to hear about and see God's work in everyone's lives. On Friday, we had the opportunity to go on a scavenger hunt in downtown Kampala. It sure is different! People drive on the left side of the street, well, most of the time. The cheapest transportation is riding on the back of a motorcycle or "boda." I have seen people carrying things on the back of a boda that you would not imagine: car windshields, multiple children, a ladder, a weed-eater, etc. Ugandans have much less need for personal space, and it even shows in the traffic; near misses occur every minute! Yesterday (Saturday) we went to a town called Jinja near the source of the Nile, which you can see in the picture. We worked a bit on a project there for a youth retreat and met the family that is working there permanently and doing construction management with EMI.

Today we went to church at Amazing Grace Christian Assembly. It was so full of joy, energy and the Holy Spirit. I've never seen bigger smiles or more worshipful dancing. It was so much more fun than First Baptist Morristown, no offense, it's just the truth! I will most likely continue visiting churches and learning more about their theology, vision, opportunities to serve, and personalities. Please pray that I can get plugged into a great one for my growth.

Tomorrow we will get started in our office work. I am excited to put some of my education to work, finally!

I am enjoying all the new sights, all my new friends, the different food, the hot weather, the church, and most everything. However, I have been a bit depressed and confused at certain moments, being apart from family and friends, most especially Cristal, my sweet, supportive, loving fiance'. Nonetheless, I am keeping steady conversation with God and remembering that He brought me here and has great plans for my time here. One verse that is giving me much comfort when I am having doubts as to why I am here is 1st Corinthians 15:58. It speaks for itself:
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain."