The Return

Tomorrow the team begins to leave Uganda. We have traveled for over 40 hours the last week from Kampala to Gulu, Gulu to Adjumani, back to Gulu, then yesterday back here to Kampala. It will be another week before everyone on the team returns, but one at a time we return to the world we left not too long ago.

After leaving Adjumani we visited one of the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps outside of Gulu. We were able to again partner with CPA (Concerned Parents Ass.) in a Solidarity Day. The beginning of the day consisted of welcomes and introductions, traditional music and dance. Then the girls (Alyssa, Jennie, Brandi, Sarah, & Holly) went away to fetch water, build fires, and prepare food. The guys (Adam, Ben, & Jared) did the work of digging in a field and watching with the older men as the young kids herded the cattle then rested under a tree waiting for the food while eating sugar cane. There was not question who worked harder. Whose stomachs worked harder was no question either as Adam & Jared were expected to taste food from several huts. The day concluded with a soccer match between the camp and CPA, which the camp won 4 / 0. The ride to and from the camp was an hour of four wheeling at 40mph. As we shared dinner with Ben & Holly and the staff of CPA the director thanked us for our discomfort and willingness to go and see things that, as he stated, "not even the President of Uganda has seen". It was another bitter sweet farewell as we left Ben & Holly.

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, we traveled the six hours back to Kampala. Exhausted we arrived to fresh vegetables, artichoke dip, and guacamole thanks to Shane and Julie with CLD. Jared, with great assistance from Alyssa, carved the turkey (which also required removing the full stomach of the turkey). We had a stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and even cranberry sauce thanks to Brandi and Alyssa shopping in London on the way over. It was a wonderful meal and celebration as there were over 20 people, both Ugandan and American, sharing time together. Our prayer of provision and thankfulness was poignant as we recognized how greatly we have been blessed after spending just the day before among some of the worst poverty and need on the planet. We ended our time sharing what we were thankful for. Many of us were reminded of the friends and family we have back home and how greatly we miss them.

Today the team has spent some time in Kampala resting and carrying on the American tradition of shopping the day after Thanksgiving. It is limited as CHOGM has most of the city closed due to security of moving the Queen and the other delegates from the countries. Tonight we plan to share out last meal together as a complete team. The journey, both physical and spiritual, has been significant for every one of us. We thank each person who has journeyed with us through our posts, emails, texts, and calls. We will see you soon.

Grace and peace.
(Jared)