Pastor Abbe, he's one of the residents of the house I've been staying at, has been asking me to come visit his church and it's members for some time now, and I finally got the time to do so on tuesday. After work at Wentz, I came back to the house to meet up with Pastor Abbe. Our first stop was a visitation at Kampala International Hospital. Fred, a electrical plant worker and a member of Pastor Abbe's church, was involved in an accident and received extensive electrical fire burns on his arms and face. Pastor Abbe refers to me as Dr. Chris or doctor, all the time, and even though I've explained I'm not a doctor or technically even close to being one he still introduced me to Fred as a doctor. So, naturally Fred went on to explain everything that had happened to him, what the doctors were doing, and how he was doing. It broke my heart hearing all that he had to say, knowing that there was very little the doctors there could do. But Pastor Abbe prayed for him and that was about all we could do.

On a side note, i was able to talk to a few of the nurses and a head doctor at the hospital. While none of the employees really knew how many beds there were in the hospital it seemed like they might have had around 200 inpatients at the time. They have staff on the clock 24/7, however the specialists aren't on a usual schedule, instead they are on an on-call basis. Because it's an international hospital, there was a surprising number of non-africans there. Overall, not a bad facility considering where I am.

Next we went to what Pastor Abbe called "an alter" which was basically a meeting place away from the church location. To get to this area, we had to walk through two separate huge marketplaces, dozens of random alley ways, and actually walked in and through two homes to get to this open meeting place. Apparently he had told his church that I was coming that evening so when we arrived, there was a welcoming party of 30 women and children that sang traditional African songs for me. 

After talking through Pastor Abbe (he translated for me) for a bit, we moved on to the actual church location where I thought there would be a church. Instead it was another open section with a few rickety old benches amidst the clutter of the tiny houses. I was a again greeted by a few of the church members and leaders and spoke with them for a bit. Then went on out way home. The feeling and experience of the people I met that night was very similar to that of the other churches, welcomed, appreciated, praised, and undeserving of all of it.

Yesterday and today were typical days at Wentz, helping with whatever I could at the reception desk, the usual immunization help, and occasionally sitting in with the  doctors. Everything is back to I guess what could be considered "normal" haha..

Well, I think its safe to say that in the past ten days I have experienced almost all there is to experience here in Uganda. 

The people

have been incredible. I have never felt so appreciated, welcomed, or unworthy in my life. They have openly accepted us into their offices, their churches, and their homes. 

The places

vary from city to city.  Wether its downtown Kampala (which is the capital), or "the bush" out in Mubende each and every place has been distinct and has a special place in my heart

The churches

may have been one of the most impacting things. It has never been so apparent that, we as christians in America, are weak in faith, prayer, worship, or anything else to do within the church. To many of us are fair weather christians, that go to God when it's convenient, or when we want something. If the churches here have taught me anything it is the virtue of faithfulness.

The faithfulness

in itself needs a category. In ALL situations the christians of Uganda turn to God in faithfulness. Wether they are happy/sad, before/after they do anything, even in blessing/tragedy.

The safari

was fun as well. While it doesn't quite pertain to the whole medical mission trip thing, I think it was a great experience as part of being halfway across the world in such a beautiful place.

Like I've said before, to tell everything that has happened in the past couple days would take three or four pages of this blog. Most of the stories you'll have to come over when I'm home to hear haha.. 

As a closing thought, my first month here in Uganda is approaching and if the next two months are anything like the first, I couldn't be happier.

Had my first hot shower since I've been here, yeah.. three weeks since my last shower that had hot water.. This morning we visited Bethany Village, we met some of the kids and had a tour around the grounds. It has was by far the most beautiful ARM supported facility and location we have come across. After that we left Kampala again for the second half of our ARM supported sites road trip. We drove to Jinja today and we went to the source of the Nile river, that is where the Nile begins to be "The River Nile". Many jokes about "denial" were made...

We'll stay the night here in Jinja, then leave tomorrow for Sororti 

I've spent the last five days with 16 people visiting Uganda from the US lead by Johnny Karls. They are all mostly from Oregon, but some are from Colorado and North Carolina. I met up with them right as they pulled into ARM headquarters in Gaba and been with them since then. The first day we spent in Gaba and the surrounding areas. We were given the tour of ARM headquarters, school and church attached to it, I helped show everyone around Wentz, and then we drove up to the Loving Hearts orphanage. We parted ways for the night, but I was up at 5:00am Saturday morning to get on the bus with my fellow mzungus to make the three and a half hour drive to Mubende. 

We arrived at Cachungwa (an ARM supported sponsorship program) by 9ish on Saturday morning. Right off the bat the kids came and swarmed around the bus, greeting us in broken english. Even if we couldn't understand what they were saying, the emotion and looks on their faces was plenty to know that they were ecstatic to have us there. Honestly to write everything that happened there would take half a day. To summarize it, it is best to just say that I have never felt so welcomed, so appreciated, or so loved by kids in my entire life. they could not get enough of talking to me, asking me where I was from, asking how many kids I had, why I wasn't married yet at 20 years old, having me repeat Lugandan phrases, and they especially loved when I would pretend to lift imaginary invisible rocks and throw them around. We spent three days there helping teach sunday school, being expected to give a spontaneous on the fly lecture about HIV/AIDS, or answering any of the questions the local pastors or officials had. 

During our time in Mubende, we visited Mulette (another ARM supported sponsorship program) and got a tour of the campus along with their new medical clinic. The clinic should be up and running by the end of october, so I will probably be visiting it again while I'm here.

There has been soooooo much that has happened in the past few days I know that I am forgetting or leaving stuff out. I'll just have to tell you all the individual stories of the people we met, the things we saw, the incredible ways we impacted the children, and the even more incredible way the children were able to impact us.

Highlight of the day: We went to the very nice section of Kampala today on the way back from Mubende. In a big pretty nice shopping mall, we had lunch in the food court. I ordered the biggest cheese burger I could find, which ended up being in a Lebanese restaurant oddly enough. It was aallmmosstt as incredible as having my mom's cookies, I was so happy to have some Western food hahaha...

the view from the window in my room

My room

I drove on the wrong side of the road sitting on the wrong side of the car today! I mentioned to Dr. Martin that at some point in the three months that I'm here, I wanted to try driving a right-sided driving car on the left-side of the roads. When I was walking out the doors from work Dr. Martin followed me out, threw me his keys, and said, "You might as well try it now, right?" I'll say it was quite the mind teaser, the drive selector was on the left side of the steering column, the rear view mirror was to my left, and even with the seat all the way back/down I felt like I was driving a mini-mini-van. I stuck to the back roads today, there's no way I have the skill/confidence to drive amongst the other crazy drivers, boda-bodas (motorcyclists), or random oblivious pedestrians. The only problem with the back roads is they are.. well.. let's say.. rugged. I'm sure there were a few instances where one or even two of the tires came completely off the ground. Dr. Martin said I drove the roads like I had done it before, I told him the closest thing I've had to driving these types of roads is in a golf cart on dirt roads in Michigan.. and they are nothing alike.

Another first today, I was able to help and observe the nurse as she gave out immunizations. While most of what I did was observation, it was all in the intention that I will be able to do it in time. For now, my responsibilities were weighing the babies, giving a polio vaccination (two drops from a glorified eye dropper on the tongue), and documenting all the info and vaccines administered. On a side note: the first person I have ever administered any type of drug/medicine/vaccination is a 3 month old named Duncan, quite a proud moment for myself.

I also saw myself on TV tonight. Gaba Community Church puts their sunday service on one of the many christian TV channels here. It was very easy to pick myself out of the crowd. The group from the US arrives here tomorrow, I'm excited to meet them and begin seeing more of this beautiful place.

I dont usually pass these kinda things on, but this one really moved me to do so..

"THE ROOM" as written by a 17 Year Old Boy.  

This is excellent and really gets you thinking about what will happen in Heaven.

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was What Heaven Was Like. "I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce. It's a killer. It's the bomb It's the best thing I ever wrote." It also was the last.

Brian's parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teays Valley High School  in Pickaway County .

Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them, notes from classmates and teachers, and his homework. Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven.

It makes such an impact that people want to share it. "You feel like you are there," Mr. Moore said. Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day afterMemorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted. 

The Moore 's framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. "I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it," Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. "I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.

Here is Brian's essay entitled:

"THE ROOM"

 In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read,""Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At."

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at:"Things I Have Done in My Anger","Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.

Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I Have Watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. 

One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards.

But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore"People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room.. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. 

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes.

Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room.. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files.. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive.

The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

This girl was brought into the clinic today for a full check-up. She was abandoned at one of the local orphanages yesterday. No one knows her name, where she's from, or why anyone would want to give her up. She really liked playing peek-a-boo with me while the doctor and the orphanage employee talked.

New discovery for the day: I stick out more late at night than any other time of the day. I literally felt like I was glowing walking down the street while on my way home much later than usual. I might as well have been with the added number of stares I had.

My time at Wentz gets better and better with every day I spend there. I was able to sit in the lab and see what goes on in there. I was shown how to stain blood samples in order to see if a patient has malaria. In addition to that, the doctors have continued encouraging me to voice my opinions and ask the patients questions whenever I am able to sit in with them. So, I've been throwing in my ideas or thoughts helping the doctors in a few cases. Taking the patient's blood pressure has also become a standard procedure for me, the reason being I sit much closer to the patients than the doctor, putting me in an optimal place to do so. Tomorrow I'm hoping to be orientated in helping give vaccinations! So we'll see how that turns out. 

I was able to try some jack fruit and chew sugar cane, my host is determined to have me try every type of food here. I am completely ok with that. 

The other day I went to the local supermarket and got a small journal that I've decided to write any important info into instead of accumulating tons of random scrap paper with small phrases or words or what have you. I also started journaling each patient that I sit in with while the doctor does his thing. I'll write down the symptoms, what the doc thinks, what tests are done, and the result. (No HIPPA laws  out here haha). So I think that writing all of it down to be able to review at a later time will be pretty beneficial, plus remembering all the new/differnent meds, terms, etc wouldn't be an easy task otherwise.

Had another humbling experience as an infant came back to the clinic today. (semi graphic material to follow, not for the weak stomached) He was brought the first time after the tip of his finger had pretty much been completely cut off in some sort of accident. The doctor and nurses did what they could and try to attach it back on it's place and sent him home to come back again to check the progress. Today when the infant was brought back I sat in with Dr. Martin as he unbandaged the finger. Without going into detail, it was pretty bad and even though the doctors here did what they could, it didn't take. Because of some complications, most of the infant's finger was amputated with the hope that this will be the end of this injury. Now the really humbling part of this is, were this to happen in the States, I think that there would have been a specialist that could have fixed it. On top of that, were the circumstances at the infant's home different then they probably were, more of the finger could have been saved. The clinic did everything that could be done, but because of the situation here in Africa, or more specifically in Gaba, there was nothing else they could have done. This is just a small example of the way things are here.. I feel for the people that live here, and I feel very blessed to have the privileged life that I have.

During another patient's visit, the woman carried her cute little baby girl in with her. While the doctor talked with the patient the little girl stared at me with a typical baby stare as I smiled and said hi. All of a sudden the baby burst out screaming. The mom couldn't figure out what had happened, but I acted on a hunch and walked out of the room. A few moments later the child calmed down. When the patient left I walked back into the doctor's office and sat down. Dr. Martin and I figured that it was probably the baby's first time ever seeing a white person, a really big one at that, so she probably got scared.

My sleeping patterns have definitely changed in the past week.. Going to bed at 10ish and waking up at 730 is a big stretch for me but it's beginning to get easier. Tomorrow begins another week at Wentz followed by the beginning of my 6 day excursion mentioned previously.

Church was great this morning, followed by a relaxing day of watching american movies and ugandan tv. Its customary for christians here to not prepare food for dinner on sundays, so I write this as I eat a couple of my mom's cookies. Speaking of food... I have begun to crave any type of food familiar to home. So hamburgers, burritos, steak, a bowl of cereal with cold fat free milk, etc. Is it bad I already know what I want to have for dinner the night I get home three months from now? haha

My ugandan word bank is slowly growing, I've got about 20 words/phrases written down, and about 2 memorized. "Muzungu" is "white man" and "Njagala emele" is "I want food" Not a bad start if I say so myself..

Gaba

Wentz

Yesterday Larry arrived in Uganda and came by to Wentz to drop off a few things from California that I either forgot or realized I needed since I've been here. In addition to what I had asked for, he delivered a box full of my mom's home made cookies. I can't ever say I've ever been so happy to eat a cookie. And as much as I wanted to keep them all to myself, I shared them with the staff at Wentz and the people here at the house I'm staying at. They all loved them, so mom when you read this you can say that your baking has been enjoyed all the way out to Africa.

Today is my day off, so I have been enjoying it by sleeping in and lounging around. Just in case anyone was wondering, I don't have to cook, clean, or anything of the sort. I've tried. But they won't let me, insisting that they should be doing it for me. I think it's a combination of cultural thing and I think because they figure I'm helping out with Wentz and ARM that this is there way of helping me. Again, I've tried, but I'm not complaining that I don't get to do that haha.. 

If there's anything that I've not included on the blog feel free to ask. I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thursday 9/9 8:00pm

Well, it has been a full week and a day here in Uganda and I feel as if my feet are finding their pace here both literally and figuratively. Today at work a "large group" of white people (6 people) from Texas came to donate a couple suitcases full of medical supplies for the clinic. We chit-chatted for a bit while two of the women caught up with some of the clinic's nurses and once they left almost every employee of the clinic came up to me during one point of the day to ask, "Was it good for you to see white people today?" I replied, "Well, yes, but I kinda like being the muzungu of the town."

Yesterday I was offered a great opportunity that was too good to refuse.. Next friday there is a group of US ARM supporters coming out here to check things out and see what they are supporting while donating money/time from the US. They will be traveling to some of the ARM supported places/facilities/groups here in Africa. The group would start here in Kampala. From the morning of the 18th they would leave for Mubende to visit places (three sponsorship places and a farming area) there then come back to Kampala the morning of the 21st. Then in the morning they would go over to Bethany to check things out over there. That same afternoon (the 22nd) they would leave for Jenja, check things out (project called Mayuge, a sponsorship program), stay there for the night. Then the next morning (the 23rd) they would leave for Soroti, check things out there (another sponsorship program), stay for the night. Finally, and my personal favorite, the 24th would be a day completely dedicated to going to a game preserve, including a land/driving safari and a water/boating safari/cruise. I am very much looking forward to this.

So, yeah.. That's what goin on out here. haha

p.s. I hope to be able to upload some pictures in the near future. Only thing is that its a long process and I'm being graciously given internet without charge. To upload pictures takes a good deal of time and amount of info down/up loading. Don't worry, if you still feel like you didn't see enough of the trip, I'm sure there will be plenty of picture viewing nights at my house when I return.

Monday 9/6 8:09

My second day at Wentz.

I walked the entire way to and from Wentz back to the house I'm staying at, by myself. I'm surprised I didn't get lost, not that it's complicated, I just tend to be directionally challenged. It's about a 30 minute walk there, then 30 minutes or more on the way back (because it's mostly uphill). I worked at the reception desk for most of the day. I actually handled some of the things on my own this time. For example I entered 100+ patients name's, info, and amount payed or owed on their running bill. It was a little tedious, but what got me the most was that ALL of the names were new to me. They were spelled odd, with multiple consonants in a row, but what made it the most fun was that all of them were written by doctors. Which means that it looked like a chicken scratched the names on the paper, with its left claw at that. 

Toward the end of the day Dr. Martin pulled me aside to talk about my stay here. He asked what I expected out of the stay, and what he or I would be able to do about that. After explaining my hopes, as opposed to expectations, he told me that I would be able to do a good deal of those things. On thursdays the clinic gives out vaccinations, so I will be trained to help with that. I will be able to shadow all the different doctors, nurses, lab tech, and pharmacists there to experience and learn what they do and help out with their jobs. There are a few medical groups (nurses, or doctors, or people) that will be based out of Gaba, but will travel to the outer parts of Uganda, I was offered to be hooked up with them to travel with them. Also, I was offered an opportunity to go over to Bethany village with some of the nurses from Wentz to help out over there. This little chat was a fantastic pick-me-up when it looked as if reception was the only thing I was going to do. (I still would have done it, but its nice to know I can do more hahaha)

After our talk I spent some time sitting in on Dr. Martin's last few patient's appointments. A few different cases with different diagnoses, which I helped diagnose one. The girl was having abnormal swelling on the outside of her ear, and when the doctor wasn't completely sure what was going on I threw out the idea of cheap earrings and/or contaminated ear buds for an ipod or the like. (The patient's mom asked if I had an opinion because after Dr. Martin's introduction, she figured I was pretty much a doctor too) 

But what was shocking (to me at least), was that 5 out of the 8 people that came in during my time in there, were all malaria cases. I was later told that more than 60% of the patients that will ever come through those doors are there because they have malaria. More people die from malaria than HIV or AIDS. Dr. Martin said something like 1,000,000+ kids die of malaria every year. It was very humbling to think of that. After the patients had all been seen I just sat and talked with Dr. Martin about the whole malaria issue and how it effects him personally, if it's even bearable to deal with that every single day of his life. Knowing that its completely likely he may never see that little kid again. Truly humbling.

On a lighter note, I had a group of kids follow me for a while on my way back from work. They kept fighting for the attention of the "muzungu" or "white man", which is what any kid in passing would call me. They insisted that I keep giving them high fives, I think they were seeing who could get the most. Oh, and I've decided that I will keep my rain jacket with me at all times. While I didn't have to go out in it, it poured pretty hard today. I would not want to be out in it haha...

Sunday 9/5 9:15

Today I attended church here for the first time. And let me tell you, it was quite the experience. First off, if any of you have felt out of place before, try being one of the 4 white people in a congregation of 200+ singing, laughing, dancing, yelling Africans. It was quite moving. In fact, I tried dancing a little bit just to not stick out so much, any of you that have seen me "try" to "dance" can picture this quite vividly. We also went to a small bible study before the service. Pastor Peter peached a sermon, which was in english and also translated in ugandan, on baptism which offered some good insight. Towards the end Pastor Peter had an alter call and invited people to come forward and come to God or to recommit to God. There were people speaking tongues and/or ugandan, people screaming, and people falling over. The bible study and service went from 10 to 11, then from 11 to 1:30. Definitely a little different than my small Lutheran church upbringing.

For the rest of the day I think we'll just sit back and relax. Which sounds good to me, I haven't slept well the past two nights due to extremely odd dreams. I'm pretty sure it's one of the side effects of the anti-malaria medication that I'm taking. 

As a closing note for a Sunday afternoon, Pastor Peter asked the congregation, "Do you think you need to be baptized?" He immediately followed it up with another question, "Do you think God would promise us something that we don't need?"  

Saturday 9/4 2:37pm

Worked at Wentz yesterday! They've started training me as a receptionist/clerk/medical records/greeter person. I will be responsible for signing people in, finding their chart/creating a new one, seeing that the doctor meets with the patients, bill paying, re-scheduling/telling when people can come back for what they need, or a tall/strong guy to reach/lift things. I'm not sure what that exact title is hahaha.. But, I apparently came at the right time though, I will be taking the place of one of the staff members that is going on a maternity leave beginning next week.

Today I was given the day

I was recently talking to friend from school, he was asking what was going on over here in Africa. In response I told him pretty much what was on the blog, but also wrote some things that were somewhat sudden realizations for me:

"All the planning that I did prepared me pretty well for what to expect here, but at the same time it didnt. haha.. Its surreal being here, I know i am physically here, but at the same time I cant believe it."


"..only thing is i miss everyone a ton. which i expected. even my mom said its not like being away at school where i could drive home for a sunday dinner with the family."

These things are both good experiences, I in no way am complaining. I just look at them as challenges that have been given to me to overcome and be a stronger person for it.

Thanks to everyone who reads the blog! It's somehow encouraging knowing that I can share all my experiences with you guys. 

God bless,

Chris

Thursday, 9/2 9:00pm

My first official day here in Uganda!

I got to meet almost everyone that I have been in contact with here for the past month or so, with the exception of Dr. Martin. I meet him and get the tour of Wentz Medical Center tomorrow morning.

Wednesday 9/1 8:36pm

I MADE IT!

A day and a half later than expected, but I type this sitting on my bed in the house I will be staying at for the next month. 

It has been another long day, being up at 5:30 to get on my plane from Dubai, fly from there to Entebbe, and with a brief stop in Addis Ababa. Upon arriving in Entebbe I made it through customs and got my visa with out any problems. It probably had something to do with the $50 "mandatory bribe". I would have felt somewhat taken advantage of after this, but even more experienced travelers that I was talking to said that they paid today as well, its pretty standard.

I got picked up by two guys that do work with ARM, Joshua and Jackson. Joshua described his job as pretty much "driving here and there or everywhere", which is what he did. And he did it very, very well. The rules of the road are much more aggressive than back home (a gross understatement), so it's a good thing I won't be expected to drive.

Joshua Dropped me off at the house I will be staying at. It is Abby's house and she rents rooms to other people as well. I met Kathy and Blessed, two girls that live here, and have yet to meet the guy who lives here as well. I believe he is a pastor? 

Speaking of pastors, on a side note, I was told that Francis Chan will be visiting with people out here and preaching in church soon.

It is very fortunate that Abby has a wireless internet card which will allow me to use the internet. I'm sure that my usage will be a lot less than the past week in Zurich and the airports, but I will be able to use it from time to time.

As soon as I am able to post this, I will be going straight to sleep. Hahaha I'm ridiculously tired, so tired I fell asleep for a few seconds or minutes three times while typing this.

Tomorrow morning I'm leaving with Abby to go to a nearby hotel where a good number, if not all, the ARM people will be at. This will be a perfect situation to meet everyone here and really dive into everything. 

Pictures will be posted from a few days ago and whatever I will start taking of Uganda as soon as I get the chance. Miss and love all you guys!