Heat. Sweat. Red Red Dirt.

Hi All!  Virtual team, family and friends

I am so sorry we are behind on posting specifics of our most northern Uganda visits and outreaches. We still have two very important and moving visits along with huge breakthroughs in development - saving the best for last!  Haha!  Due to network and long long days I am behind and the team is exhausted, unable to write or post themselves. So know that I will be coming back to Jan 16 and 17!   On Jan 18 I split from the team as they toured kidepo game park for Denis' graduation present, while I took those who came to Palabek for VHT training from our other remote village partners home...the way long road home, let me tell you!  I went back to Gulu to be sure the farming gods way conference we are co hosting in this region is set. Thanks to Denis and Bosco and Terence for some pre organization!  We all met up on the farm the eve of Jan 20 in anticipation and preparation for Denis graduation party from Makere University - sponsored son of Tom and Angie, Leigh and Matt.  (Which deserves a separate post entirely! We are so proud of him! Yes I found and bought two American made kind of cakes for the party and carried them from Gulu!) We are also celebrating Margaret certificate in tailoring sponsored by the Rieland's - so thankful Mariel can join us!  So sorry to find Brenda had become ill. She is such a trooper tho and powering thru it!  All know she is okay and on medication!!  Pray she gets well quickly and soon prior to that long long plane flight home. I would like to take this time to thank this veteran team for all of the love, service, sacrifice, advice, wisdom, grace, forgiveness and much much laughter and joy!  Thank you for praying and loving all of Gods children unconditionally!  For you all at home - this kind of mission trip is not for the faint of heart.  I, myself find it harder all the time - maybe it is age or menopause but the heat is almost unbearable this time of year.  This team rarely if ever complained!!   This is an excerpt I wrote my boyfriend - not to garner any type of sympathy as this is truly a gift and a treasured experience, an honor and a privelege to put it all into perspective!!  (I am sure he is not one bit impressed with my descriptions after asking if there were showers here - haha!). I read this to the team last night as we were packing reminiscing and preparing to sleep communally in a large round hut with grass thatched roof, in a less than single bed with simple mattress under a torn and worn mosquito net (that fell down on Brenda).

"Yeah, they have showers haha! I got stung by a bee in the outdoor shower remember!  The shower  now is actually a pretty good one. Feels so good to be In it - cold shower. But as soon as get out, the heat wave brings on the sweat. Then just step outside and the dust and wind and dirt roads just rain - red red dirt. Mix it with the sweat and become a sweltering dripping filthy mess! No way around it. Our tubs are full of it. suitcase full of it. hair is stuck with it. I pull dirt wads out of my nose and ears - haha!  Heels and toes are so cracked and rough and can't get the imbedded dirt out no matter how hard I scrub. Then daily more dirt gets in them. No I don't walk barefoot - flip flops. Lost my shoes from the start but then again too hot to wear shoes".

The team has endured a lot, yet they are veterans and also knew what they were getting into. Except Carol who forgot they don't serve American food here - haha!  We all cried and talked with our loved ones for the last night together. Bittersweet as our MOU with our beloved Emmanuel Clinic comes to and end and we give wings on eagles and angels to fly on their own.

All team members  say they will be back. I am forever grateful!  I miss you peops, my special special friends!  I love you!

- Till we meet again, as I embark outside the gate on the public transportation and foot journey north...to the next development and training  venture - "Farming God's Way"

- Nadine